You Might Be A Writer If...

Recently I've had the pleasure of stumbling across Messy Mondays on YouTube. These videos are all very funny, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be this one right here.

"You Might Be A Homeschooler If..."

It's inspired me to try and come up with my own "If" list. So here goes.

You Might Be a Writer If...

1. Instead of insulting people, you go home and make them villains or monsters in your latest story. Or the village idiot...it depends on how mad they made you.

2. Although you may use them from time to time, "words" like LOL, ROTFLOL, YOLO, and #anything outside of personal social networking make you want to cover your dictionary's ears.

3.  You cry when you write your own character's death scene.

4. You go into cardiac arrest when a real live spider crosses your path, but your dream job is slaying horrifying monsters in a fictional world.

5. You think Coffee has water in it, so it counts.

6. You can't remember where you put  anything, but you have all your notes and drafts organized perfectly in your laptop and/or binder.

7. You're one reason thinking while driving should be illegal.

8. When the inspiration is flowing, cookies and milk are a balanced meal.

9. You start basing your opinion of music on how it relates to the story you're working on at the time.

10.  You've had your friends and family read so many drafts that they feel like lab rats by now.

11. You and your local coffee shop barista are on a first name basis.

12. You have you own special chair in said coffee shop — right next to the outlet.

13. If you ever find someone sitting in that chair, refer to #1.

14. You have an opinion on lined paper and word fonts.

15. Your internet search history looks like the content index for 1000 Ways to Die for Dummies.

16. You get excited when you find real typewriters in antique shops.

17. Writer's block feels like Multiple Personality Disorder, because you're arguing with the creative voices in your head.

18. No matter how bad writer's block gets, or how many negative reviews you receive, you know you will never stop writing. The creative voices won't shut up if you do...

There you have it. At least, these are the ones I've thought of. If you have something you'd like to add, please comment below. I'd love to hear what you think.

First Impressions of Canada

It's official! I'm a globe trotter! This past week, I visited a foreign country for the first time — Canada. My aunt and uncle live there, and I flew to Alberta in order to pay them a much overdue visit. Here is a brief summary of my trip, with lots of pictures.

I'll start my story with describing the baggage claim area. There was one little football display in a corner of the room, but everything else was hockey, Hockey, HOCKEY! Let me tell you, I've heard that Canadians love their hockey, but I didn't realize just how much they loved it until then. It's like you walk through customs, and then BAM! Welcome to Canada! Coming from a country that loves football more than just a little bit, this sight caused me to literally laugh out loud (in a good way...I'm easily entertained). Hope the border agent didn't hear me...

Next my aunt took me to Tim Horton's, a beloved Canadian coffee/sandwich/pastry chain, and I have to say I'm sold. No, I'm not going to go on and on about everything I ate as well as what I saw, but I am going to take a moment to say this. The food was delicious. Two thumbs up from me.

Then we went to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest mall in North America and the tenth largest in the world. Most of the time I'm not a mall person unless I'm with friends, but this place is almost an inclusive resort. It contains a theme park, a water park, a hotel, a movie theater, a full sized skating rink (apparently the term skating automatically implies ice there), and a lagoon with a life size replica of the Santa Maria and a sea lion show. I didn't try to count the stores. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Afterward I spent a lovely week with my aunt and uncle in their home in the country. Here are a few scenic pictures of the area. 

Even with all the fun things I experienced in Edmonton, I think this was my favorite portion of the trip. The community was tight-knit and warmly greeted me as if I was already one of their own, making me feel right at home. Even though this was my first visit and I only stayed a week, I don't think they've seen the last of me.

 

 

 My cousins' tree fort —>

  Photo credit goes to Cousin H

 

 

 

 <— Photo credit to Cousin H

         again.

Finally, my aunt and I spent my last night in Edmonton so we could have a girls' night out and see the

sights on Whyte Avenue. It's a really cute shopping center with lots of nook-and-cranny type stores, as well as cool little pubs and bars. I must confess that the latter was especially interesting to me, because the legal drinking age in Canada is eighteen. Therefore, I had the unique
experience of dining in an Irish pub for the first time. It will be a few more months before I can do that here, so I guess I'll have to exercise some patience now that I've had a taste of
"freedom." Ha ha.

Just before I left, my aunt asked me if Canada lived up to my expectations. The honest answer to that question is no, but only because I didn't have expectations to "live up to" in the first place. Canada is a country I've wanted to visit for a long time, but the draw was more my family than because I had a burning desire to be a tourist. I simply hadn't thought much about it, that's all. Well, it definitely surprised me with its beauty, and it's people doubled that beauty with their friendliness.

I think I can say that it gave me expectations by the time I left.  

Readers' Favorite Book Review — Violet Eyes

Today I received an email with my first ever "official" review for Violet Eyes from a big organization...and it's four stars!

Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

"Living in the small home of a healer woman who took her in after the brutal slaying of her parents, Maia is destined for more than just a life picking herbs. When she has a chance encounter with some soldiers, she finds out more about herself than she ever knew. Events are about to lead to some pretty big adventures and more chance meetings with people she never knew existed. Evil has taken her family and it’s threatening to take over more than that if The Resistance can’t overcome it. But The Resistance is finally set to win after more time than anyone can remember under the thumb of the evil Zorach. Violet Eyes by Katharine Bond is the story of a young girl with more than a little adventure and danger ahead of her.

Maia is the type of girl that any young girl wants to be. She may be quiet and shy from the start, but she’s not afraid to stand up for what she wants or what she believes in. She’s determined to right wrongs and create a good life for herself and her family. That’s something anyone reading this book can relate to and it’s something that I found intriguing as well. It’s part of what drew me in with this book. Of course, the adventure definitely doesn’t hurt matters and the fact that you don’t know what’s going to happen next makes you want to keep reading all night. Violet Eyes is most certainly the whole package."

If you want to see the source, here is the link. 

So excited!

Valley of Tears

Those who have read Violet Eyes know I've written about death; but I have to tell you that I have no experience with losing someone dear to me. I've lost family dogs (which was awful), but never before have I had to grieve for a human being so close to me that losing them rips a hole in my heart. Nearly all my words were imagination.

In a way, that changed this week. A good friend of mine lost her father in an accident, and he had many years left compared to the average lifespan of a man. It was totally unexpected, and his death hit the family hard. I never met him, but I witnessed my friend's hope and grief during this traumatic event, and for the first time I have a slight understanding of just how awful this kind of loss is.

There is one part of death that became apparent to me as I watched my friend go through her valley of tears with the passing of her father. When you submit yourself to the will of God with faith and hope, there is also true charity. It's hard to explain how, but amongst the grief there is a comfort — a drawing closer together as you're reminded of how fragile life is and how every moment counts. In my friend's case, her father was taken when he was in perfectly good health, and I imagine that might make it harder than if she had time to prepare herself for his eventual death. But as I watched her family pulling together, saw the friends who supported them, heard the story of how their neighbors tried to help save his life, and prayed with my friends for his recovery, I didn't see despair. I saw love.

There is a saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and I think it applies here. It is possible to take a very bitter attitude towards the death of a loved one; but if we open our hearts and remember faith, hope, and charity, God can use tragedy to make those of us left behind stronger in virtue than ever before.

Please pray for her family, and any family who has lost a loved one. Then go spend time with yours. I will certainly try to spend more time with mine.

Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way.

 

Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it.

 

Pippin: What? Gandalf?... See what?

 

Gandalf: White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.

 

Pippin: Well, that isn't so bad.

 

Gandalf: No... No it isn't.

~ The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Top Ten Tuesdays — Studio C

Hey there! Time for another list, and this time I've got an extra-fun one for you. Recently an acquaintance of mine told me about this comedy sketch television team called Studio C, and I've been binge-watching ever since. The thing I like most about them is that, while still being hilariously funny, they're clean enough that my two grade school age sisters can watch with me. Here are my ten favorites.

Note: I'm not listing them in any specific order of favoritism. There are so many more, and just about all of them are awesome. Go check them out on Youtube when you get bored. These are just the ones that struck me as especially funny.

Enjoy.

1. Cupcake Wars Interrupted by Jealous Husband  — I've never seen this show before in my life, but the skit had me busting up laughing.

2. The Ground is Lava — Kids and their imaginations...

3. Career Placement Test — Demonstrating the not-so-random results of career placement tests. Computers really do know us (mwahahahahaha).

4. A Man's Brain — No explanation needed, ha ha. (sorry, guys)

5. Google Translator — Oh, the dangers of internet dating! Especially when reliant upon Google Translator to help you communicate.

6. Kyle's Cop Ride Along —  I can't think of a good way to introduce this one. It's just a cute goofball sketch. Very funny.

7. The Mad Scientist Creates Junior High School — Everything makes sense now.

8. The Unusual Suspects — Another goofball comedy. My brother and I are Batman fans, and we loved this.

9.  Blame It On The Butler — Who else could it be?

10. Fake Boyfriend — This was too funny to not share.