King Smartphone : Sarcasm Time and Reality Check

Dear King Smartphone,

You have brightened our otherwise dull little lives with those apps and fast Internet service of yours.  We really appreciate the fact that everything we need, you will give us.  We can send messages instantly.  We can take, save, send pictures and even use those fancy photo edit apps to spice up our 2D lives and post them on popular networking places like Facebook or Instagram.  We also appreciate some free services you offer and enjoy the great connection.

King Smartphone, you are every single aspect of our lives we really thank you for all you have done for us.  Wherever we go, we take you along because without you, we know we are nothing.  Nothing at all.  Thanks to you we have also learned how stupid and childish it is to be patient.  Patience is so old fashion!  Why be patient at all when you can give us all in just a matter of seconds?

Your world, King Smartphone, is much better than the world we live in.  To immerse ourselves further into your digital haven, we purchase every new version of you and completely shut the world out.  Who needs that world where everything is so unpredictable.  Thank you King Smartphone for providing us with a predictable world.  Everything is a lot less surprising and we can even meet our favorite movie stars at the right place and time and not have to think "Darn, I missed it!" later when we see the news on TV.

We terribly wish we could live in your world, leaving this dirty world behind.  The digital world would be such a paradise for us.  Never would we need patience.  Every second is wasted in this old world.

We conclude now that without you, we are nothing.  Our lives are intertwined with yours and there is absolutely no way we can go back.  Why would we ever go back anyway?  Look at this perfect world you have created.  You are everywhere in our lives.  You are with us when we fall in love, you are with us when we've had a bad day, you are with us in the car, you are with us at work or school, you are with us when we eat, you are with us when we talk with our friends.  We would rather talk through you than look up and waste seconds to talk face to face.  Who in their little minds would ever think of talking face to face when surely your superb texting system is much faster than having all those "um"s and "like"s in the middle of our sentences.

Thank you all that you have taken over, King Smartphone.  We appreciate your dominance.

Sincerely,

Users of King Smartphone

We Are Here: a poem dedicated to the tigers so few in this world

In the trees we rest
In the grasses we play
A shot rings out
In the middle of the day

We protect our few young
From the creatures with no fur
Our fangs, claws, and growl
No match for their guns
Though we try to save our stripes
And tell our cubs to run
They are faster
They are more
Not intimidated by our roar

In the trees we rest
In the grasses we hunt
Escaping from the bullet
Is an impossible stunt

We've seen them take our friends
Our mates, parents, and cubs
They will never return
They will be cut up and sold
The no fur creatures
Their hearts are cold
But we're still here
Hanging on a thread
Hoping not another shot
Will leave a tiger dead

In the trees we rest
In the grasses we play
A shot rings out
In the middle of the day

Religion and Politics: the Heavy Stuff

So, um, I don't really talk about the heavy stuff because well, you know, I don't want people to crash my blog...

The two things that are heavy
Religion = Which I will never talk about because I don't care about other people's religions.  They can believe whatever they want.  I don't care.  They can even believe that dust is god for all I care.  As long as I can converse with them like two civilized people then its okay.

Politics = Which I'm afraid to talk about just because of what it is.

I'm not sure if I should talk about politics... *winces*  But maybe there's nothing to be afraid of and all of you are telling me to just spit it out.

Well, one this is for sure; I don't like discrimination.  If you ask why all I can say is, "Because its mean and I don't like it."  My reasons are pretty simple, you see.

I like the Obamacare.  Why?  Because even though I don't know much about it, it sounds pretty good from the information that I know and Japan seems fine with the similar healthcare system they have.  But really, truly, seriously, I don't know much about it so don't jump on me *flinches*.

I also thought of another thing; maybe the U.S needs a woman president.  You know, some mother power to straighten things out.  I'm not feminist.  Besides, I hardly know what "feminist" means.  And I'm not saying I don't like President Obama.  He sounds like a pretty good person to me.  I always forget his name's Barack and not Obama.  Obama is his last name.  Right.  Gotta remember that.

Anyway, that's that!  *smiles weakly*

Race and Culture Stereotypes

Imagine you're in a small room with five other people.  They all speak a different language than you and come from different countries and wear their cultural clothes.

What do you see?

Do you notice their clothes?  Do you make stereotypical observations?

Now imagine you're in a small room with rive other people.  They all have the same clothes on.  T-shirt and jeans.  The simple outfit.  All the jeans are the same plain blue and all the t-shirts are white with no designs.  What do you see now?  Do you see their faces?  Perhaps that's the only thing you notice now.  More so than when they all had on their cultural clothes.

So focus on their faces.  What do they look like?  Do they look like you?

When we look at others from a different country we tend to make assumptions.  But in truth, we all have noses, eyes, mouths, cheeks, chins, foreheads, lips, eyebrows, necks, legs, arms, backs... how many more body parts do I have to list?

Can't you see?  We are all the same.  So many similarities yet the few differences separate us.  Let me list them:
Religion
Country
Tradition
Language
Skin color

Huh, that's not many is it?  Compared to all the similarties we have.  It's not just physical either.  We all love, we all feel emotions, we all eat, we all drink, enjoy time with family and friends, we all create, and so on.

You see?  There is no such thing as race.  And, culture stereotypes are liars.  Though only an exceptional few may actually apply.

Ideas to Counter Global Warming

These aren't ideas posed by any official and I warn you that I'm pretty strict about if they are possible or not.  Some of you might say, "Pshh, there's no such thing as global warming!"  So if you don't believe me, don't read this post!

Anyway, some of these are my ideas built upon rumours or other things I've read or heard.  Don't jump on me too much on this, okay?

So before I start, and there are five points-like things, I'd like to briefly talk about my evaluation.
First, it is a scale of 1 to 4 so there are no inbetweeny "3"s.  The scale is, for example if I gave a point-like thing a 4, that means it is the easiet to accomplish.  Also, if I give it a 1, it is the hardest to accomplish.  The middle is, 2 for a little bit hard, and 3 for a little bit easy.  As you can see there is no such inbetweeny thing otherwise each and every one of them would be inbetweeny.  No, we have to strict about these matters.

Okay, enough with the boredom explanation.

Solution A: Cooperation of the countries
                    => Global warming is not just one country's problem.  All of us are part of this.
                    Evaluation for accomplishment = 1

Solution B: Electricitized Petroleum or Oil companies
                    => In recent years, gas guzziling cars are becoming more and more electric starting with the famous Prius.  But if we erase oil companies completely, the work industry may collapse and we'll get tons of unemployed people maybe even causing mayhem through the world.  So, here's where I thought, why don't we sell electricity instead?  Sell it like we do oil and gas.  Have not gas stations but Electro Stations.  We could probably even learn to sell power by the wind, by the tide, and by water.  We might be able to "farm electricity".  People can get jobs there.  They can work as those who regulate the farms.
                     Evaluation = 2

Solution C: Stop production of plastic food containers (the kinds that food comes in when you buy it at the groceory store)
                    => Different from paper, plastic takes much longer to decompose so stopping the production of plastic would definitely be better for the environment.
                     Evaluation = 4

Solution D: Forest restoration
                    => Forests can always be restored.  If people burned the trees down, cut them down or whatever, those people can recreate the forest that once was.  People can bring fresh nutrition-packed dirt to a land that has been turned to ashes.  If they cut down trees and leave stumps, they can make sure the stumps grow fresh branches or they can plant new trees.  Planting new trees is something you can do even in your local neighborhood.
                    Evaluation = 1

Solution E: Eliminate air pollution
                   => This will be easy if Solution B is completed (Evaluation = 4)
                         All industrial areas need to stop using oil and coal and work solely on electricity.  Once this is possible, surely the problem of air pollution can be solved.
                   Evaluation without Solution B completed = 1

WARNING: Solution B to D can only be possible once Solution A is completed otherwise we're going nowhere.

For You To Think: Will we always fight?

People seem to be prone to have wars for whatever reason.  So I pose this question.

What if all of civilization died out for a couple of decades and then was reborn into this world again?  Would we still fight each other for power?  Are humans doomed to have wars and internal skirmishes that result in the deaths of many?

If you think about it, animals also have wars.  Not big ones involving large groups but small ones over rights of territory or the males might fight for a mate.  It's kind of like a war, don't you think?

Think about this and write your answers in the comments.

What is bullying?

Maybe some of you out there reading this have been bullied.  Maybe you haven't.  Or maybe you don't really know or don't want to talk about it.

But I'm going to talk about it.  Just to let you know, I've been bullied in my first and second year of junior high.  The second year was probably the worst year.  I had no friends in my homeroom class to support me.  Anyway, well, I don't feel ashamed of having been bullied.  I mean, it wasn't my fault... well... actually it kinda was but the inside of my desk was none of their business...

Okay, enough about me.  Let's talk about bullying.  What is it really?  I believe that it can be put into three categories.

Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens

"Sound of Music" should've come to your mind.  If you don't know it, look it up.  Then go and watch it.  Very nice movie.  Kind of a... classic I guess.

So, I thought I'd tell you what I do when "the dogs bite", when "the bees sting", when "I'm feeling sad".

Some of them are true and some are fake.

1. Photo edit
2. Read comics
3. Eat
4. Shout curses into the air
5. Cry
6. Lovey dovey my cat (she hates it)
7. Read a book
8. Watch grasshoppers climb around my window screen (actually it's just that there's one there right now... whoa)
9. Watch DVDs
10. Listen to music

So, 3, 4, 5, 8 are fake.

Anyway, what do you do to make yourself happy when you're sad?

Wanting and Needing

Humans have desires.  We always want something or other.  That book, that CD, those shoes, those shirts, skirts, scarfs, pants, sandals, etc.  We always want to go places; Spain, America, Japan, India, France, Alaska, Guam, Madagascar, etc.  We always want, want, want, want, want.

But between the thick strings of want, we also need.  For example, we need money to have what we want...most of the time anyway.  Maybe there are cases when we want something and then we just get it.  There are a lot of other things in life that we need besides money.  We need medicine, we need, mostly, an education of some sort, and if we run out of things in the household that will help us stay clean or live a healthy lifestyle, we would also need those things.

Sometimes I think about this when I buy things.  We want something.  We need something.  If you think about it, those two things are very very different.  See, even if we want something, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll need it or anything.  Maybe we don't need comic books.  Maybe we don't need movies.  But want seems to always be stronger than need.  We want comic books and movies.  Sure we know we don't need them but we WANT.  Need kinda loses here.

If we didn't succumb to any wants, what kind of life will we be living?  Like poverty?  Or will we just have a simple life with only the things we need?

Think about all the things in your room.  Think about all the things that are yours, that you own.

Technology Kills Us

Literally.

I hear about how people are less active because our societies are so advanced now, how they have unhealthy social lives, how they actually die from technology... it's sad.

Less active people can become obese and obese people can suffer from diabetes and other diseases.  Some that can be fatal.

A lot of us can have unhealthy social lives, too.  Because we might be at the computer every day and only leave to eat and go to the bathroom, we might not come in contact with people.  People need people.  Without them we can become closed up inside ourselves.  We are social creatures.  We need interaction for a healthy life, believe it or not.  To release stress, instead of doing a hobby, apparently it's better to interact with people.

We can also die from technology.  I heard about a boy in... either it was Taiwan or China... who was at an Internet cafe playing a game.  He sat there for forty hours and then dropped dead.  His friends, though they were sitting in next to him separated by walls, didn't notice he was dead until a few hours later when they finished their game.  Crazy, huh?  He was soooooo into the game that he didn't even stop to answer to his body's needs.  I'm guessing his friends did though.

Now when I sit at the computer I'm always afraid all the blood is going to stop flowing in my body if I sit for more than a few hours.

For a long time I have rejected technological advancement.  Like thin-screened TVs or Blue-ray.  Now I see those in my house.  My parents are always up to keeping up with stuff.  I'm more resistant to that.  I mean, do we really, really, really, REALLY, need those stuff?

People have also grown less patient over the years.  Now we want something faster than what we already have.  Do any of you remember what the big bulky computers were like?  Do you remember how slow they were and how that didn't really bother us at all?  Now we get impatient if we have to wait for only a few minutes, no, make that thirty seconds!  It's ridiculous!

Boy what a bunch of irritated, unhealthy, anti-social human beings we have become! Thank you, O' Technology for making us this way! (sarcastic tone)

What a world this is becoming, eh?  I'm really afraid what will happen in ten years' time.  Technology is taking over our lives so quickly...  What will become of us?

"I'm gonna write a book! :D "

Whoa!  Hold your horses!

Do.  You.  Really.  Know.  How.  Hard.  That.  Is?????

No, you don't.  Of course not.  You've never written a single thing in your entire life... and no, essays and reports don't count.

Sometimes these people joke that they'll write a book.  They think it's such an easy thing to do.  As easy as saying "I'm gonna go swimming! :D".  Nope.  It's not that easy.  Take it from me, I've been trying for... 5~6 years now.  The only novel I did actually finish writing, was the one I did for Camp NaNoWriMo.  It's not edited so it's not finished though.

And... and, and, and, I have this novel that I've edited about four or five times.  I've been working on it for over three years now and that's just Book 1 and partially Book 2.  Neither are finished.  I'm planning on having a Book 3, too.  Recently I figured I would have to write a Book 4 for it to all work out in the end.

And well, let's not get into the details about editing, shall we?  Let me tell you this, IT ISN'T EASY TO DO BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET RID OF PARTS YOU LIKE a.k.a YOUR BABIES.  It's really hard to get rid of those.  But sometimes you gotta let go.

Next comes the publishing deal.  If you ever do finish editing, the next step is finding a publisher.  I often hear about authors who have gotten rejected tons of times.  I'm really afraid to send my draft anywhere yet.  Wanna get it perfected as much as I can first.

Even if they do accept your writing, what if the rest of the editing process doesn't go well and you never get to see your book?  But even if you get your book, what if hardly anyone buys it?

The book world is a tough one.

It's really hard to be good enough like J.R.R Tolkien or J.K. Rowling or Stephen King.

Well, if you do "write a book" and I don't mean like a first draft, I mean a Book.  Capital "B" Book.  You can only call it a Book once its been published and bound together and distributed.  Then, alas, finally, you have written a book.  But until then, all you have are drafts.  Nothing is ever complete, you know that?

The novel I told you about, the one that has Book 1~possibly 4?  I keep editing and editing and editing and editing and editing... never ending editing.  I betcha anything even published successful authors like J.K. Rowling don't feel like their book is perfect.  It's never perfect.  So, well, you have to come to this... stopping point, I guess.  You have to find a place to put your foot down and say, "Okay, it's good enough."

My dream is to see my book at a bookstore and people buying it and enjoying it.  Not much about money and fame.  Sure if it gets it it's a plus but not everything has to be about money and fame.

Those of you out there, wanting to write a book for money and fame, not gonna go so well.  Let me tell you that.  NOT gonna go so well.  You might, just might get money but fame... I'm not sure.  Looks kinda grim.

Well, anyway.  Someday you might see a book written by N. J. Folettia.  Until then, this blog is probably the closest thing.

So you wanna-write-a-book people out there, think about all the responsibilities first.  Sorta like caring for a pet.  Think and then act.  Don't act and then think.  Do it in the write order (pun intended).

This is the sort-of cover for my future book.  Liaffon (Lee-ah-fawn).  The image is taken from the Internet.  What I really want is a glamorous city beyond the hills and the title should be golden embossed letters.

Verbing and Adjectivey, Verby and Adjectiving

Isn't it interesting how you can "verb" things or "adjective" things?

Once I wrote a poem and in it I said, "Trees vultured over the car" only to later find out that "vulture" can't be made into a verb.  But I refused to change it.  I mean, why not?  It happens all the time.

Some of you might know already but "email" didn't use to be a verb.  It was a noun.  But nowadays its common to say "I will email you tomorrow."

So, why not try to verb and adjective lots of other nouns?  It's really fun to do especially if you're into creative writing.  If people know the meaning of the noun, then no doubt they will know what you mean even if it's changed to a verb or adjective.

Today I wrote a small fiction story about waves and ocean.  I said, "The tide pool serpented across the shore."  I don't think "serpent" can be a verb but, here you are!

Maybe we can even say "the serpenty tide pool snaked across the shore."  Can you picture that?  It does make sense doesn't it?

Here are some words I'd like to verb and adjective (oh, the first two!).

1. verb
2. adjective
3. tree
4. table
5. chair
6. river
7. umbrella
8. shoe
9. sloth
10. money

Do you think something could umbrella?  If so, what would it mean?  To open up like an umbrella or to look like one?  What about shoe?  Could something shoe?  Could something be slothy or could it sloth?  Could something money or have moneyness?  How about river?  I bet something could river up the driveway or something like that.

If you come up with a way to do this or some meaning or sentence, comment below! (Yes, yes, I'm too lazy to do it myself.  Yes, yes, I admit it.)

A creative story. Wrote from Inspiration. Enjoy!

Inspired by Nat G Hal Blog  http://nateghalblog.blogspot.com/#!/2013/04/mythical-creature-creative-writing.html

Thank you for the inspiration!!

So, here it is, a creature who lives in something we abandoned and a child finds the creature.
I forgot about the mythical creature part but, oh well. 

And, I'm not happy with the title.  If you have an idea for one, let me know in the comments.

First and Last, Always and Never

The sky was dark and the cold air was biting her legs.  The only warm things were her tears that trickled fresh from her eyes.  It was past dinner and she hoped her parents would come looking for her.  They knew all her hiding places.  But something inside, maybe a child’s intuition, told her they were too busy fussing over her sister.  Her older sister Meggy was tall and slim and almost became a model when she was in junior high.  Loina didn’t really understand about all that then.  She was only eight.  Too busy with braiding her doll’s hair and throwing all her dolls around in her room, squealing with delight when they hit the ceiling.

It was all her sister’s fault for being so perfect.  Loina was chubby around the middle, her hair was a strange brownish blonde, and her feet were too small to hold her big body up.  As she padded up to the forgotten tower she liked to go to cry her eyes dry, she cursed herself.  Meggy was in high school now.  She was sixteen.  Loina was only ten still.  But she knew a few words.  Meggy used them a lot.  Her parents never got mad when she used them.  They only got mad at poor Loina.

Now in the corner of the lowest level of the tower, her favorite spot, Loina sobbed.  Why?  Why didn’t her parents care about her?  Why didn’t they even look at her once?  They didn’t even seem to notice when she basically shouted into their faces that she hated them and was running away.  She wouldn’t really run away though.  She always sulked back before it got too dark.  The monsters of the night really scared her sometimes.  Meggy called her a baby once and Loina ran to Mama.  But Mama didn’t scold Meggy.  Mama told Loina to grow up.  She said,

“You’re a big girl now.  So don’t go crying about monsters, do you hear?”

She heard.  But she didn’t want to listen.

Loina lifted her head from her soggy sleeve of hot tears.  She sniffled and stopped.  What should she do now?  Go home?  No, not yet.  She’ll stay as long as she can.  Maybe Mama and Daddy will come after all.  Maybe they still cared about her?  Even just a little bit?

She never went up to the top of the tower.  She was afraid of the monsters.  “But,” she thought.  “If the monsters do get me, it won’t matter.  Mama and Daddy don’t care about me and Meggy will be happy I’m gone.  I have no friends either anyway.”  So, she climbed the stone stairs.

Each step brought back the adventurousness in her.  Sometimes stone crumbled underneath her feet but she didn’t stop.  Once she went right through a cobweb but she merely brushed it off herself before continuing on.  Half way up she began to puff up the stairs.  Her heavy body became her obstacle.  She knew she needed to get thinner but… Mama and Daddy didn’t care what she ate.  She didn’t care either.

At the top of the stairs she whispered, “I made it!”  The lightning of victory shot through her and she almost squealed out loud.  But something moved in the corner and she clamped her mouth shut and held the sound back with her two spongy hands.

She stared out into the corner, into the top tower that looked out over the town she lived and further off, at the city.  In the corner, right by the window, was a curious light green blob.  Since the tower was slightly darkening, the green blob seemed to glow in the dark.  Or, was it actually glowing?

“H,hello?” Loina called out to the blob.  Though she didn’t know if it could speak she knew it was always polite to start with a greeting.  She’d learned that at school.  Not her Mama.  They never paid attention to their youngest child.

“H,hello,” the blob replied and turned around.  It had eyes like a snail that stuck out from the top of its head.  But its hands were like a person’s hands and it had a mouth like one, too.  But it didn’t have a nose and no feet either.  Loina silently wondered if it could smell very well.

“My… I… um, my name is Loina.  What’s yours?” Loina took a hesitant step forward.

The green blob came forward, too.  It outstretched its blobby hand.  “Kemmy.  I live here.”

Loina smiled and took the hand without hesitation.  It was a friendly gesture that she trusted.

“How long have you lived here?” Loina sat down on the hard rocky floor.  Kemmy came to sit next to her, stretching out his body like a slug so he could bend his middle.

“A long time.  Humans have long forgotten this place.  Abandoned it.  So I took over.  They don’t notice.  I don’t mind,” he looked her up and down.  “I think I can trust you not to tell anyone about my secret place?”

Loina nodded with earnest.  This was her very first friend she wasn’t going to let him down.

“Good,” he nodded.  Did he have a neck?

“Where are you from?” Loina began her bolt of questions like any ten-year old.

“Somewhere,” he said matter-of-factly.

“That’s not a place.”

“Sure it is!  It’s the name of the place.  Somewhere.”

“What’s it like?”

“It’s okay.  But we’re just born out of nowhere and when we get to Somewhere we all feel lost and left out.  We have no friends or family.  Some of us try to make friends with others.  But we’re so different it’s really hard.  Then, like me, some of us leave to find a new place to call home.  A lot of us come to Earth.  It’s so peaceful in lots of places and there’s lots of abandoned places we can make our homes.  Sometimes some people come in but they never find us.  I was surprised when you finally decided to climb the stairs.”

“Why do you glow?”

“Everyone from Somewhere glows.  It’s… kind of our thing.  Like your thing is to sing.”

Loina shook her head.  “No.”

“No, really, you’re really good.  Why don’t you sing for your parents?”

“They don’t listen to me,” she stuck out her bottom lip and sighed.

“Have you tried to get them to listen?” Kemmy turned his eyes so they looked right at her but his body didn’t turn.

“Yeah…”

“No, you haven’t really tried.  You need to really try.  You need to tell them how you really feel.  Not how they want you to feel.”

“You know a lot.”

“Yeah, I’ve been living here for forty years.”

Loina looked at him up and down.  He didn’t look at all old to her.  Kemmy laughed at her expression.  It sounded like a chuckle and a giggle at the same time.

“My days are longer compared to your days, Loina.  For you, I’ve only been here for forty days.  Each day is a year for me.  Goes by really slowly.”

After a pause he added.  “But my memory only lasts for two years.  Then the next year, it starts all over again.  I know this because I’ve been keeping a diary.  I disguise myself as a kid and go buy notebooks at supermarkets and stuff.  The cashiers don’t even look at you when you buy things.  Really convenient.  Today is my last day for another two years of memory.  As we speak, I’m writing the diary with my tail,” he looked behind him.

Loina didn’t notice at first but behind Kemmy stretched a really long tail with tentacles at the end.  It was grasping a pen and jotting down words in a notebook.

“Wow!  You can do that?” Loina watched wide-eyed.

“All of us from Somewhere can.  It’s so we can write down if we wanted to while that thing is happening.”

“Oh,” Loina nodded.  Then she heard a familiar sound.

“Loina!  Where are you?  Loina!”

It was Mama.

“Loina-girl!  It’s past dinner!  Where are you?”

It was Daddy.

Loina stood up to balance herself on her small feet.  “I think I need to go.  Like you said, I’ll tell them.  Like you said, maybe I’ll sing, too.”

Kemmy nodded and smiled.

“Will I see you again?” Loina bent down to hug her new friend.

“Of course.  I’ll always be here,” Kemmy hugged her tight.  His blobby body felt soft and spongy.  He was also chubby around the middle.  For once, Loina didn’t mind her chubby stuff and her spongy stuff.  For once, she didn’t really care.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.  Will you remember me?” Loina asked as she made her way to the stairs.

“I’ll remember you,” Kemmy waved with his blobby green hand.

“Promise?” she said and started down the stairs.  She turned around to see him still sitting there waving at her.

“Promise…” his voice was soft.

“Loina!” came Mama’s voice.  Without a second glance back, Loina hurried down the stairs, her heavy footsteps echoing through the tower.

Mama hugged her close and Loina told her heart out.  They made a deal.  From now on, they would watch their little girl grow up.  Meggy was big enough already to handle herself most parts.  Loina was happy now and couldn’t wait to tell Kemmy about it tomorrow.

*    *    *

The next day was Saturday.  Loina woke up early to go see Kemmy.  She left a note on the table saying she would go outside for a little bit. 

His secret was safe with her.

But when she reached the tower, breathing heavily and clutching her middle, Kemmy wasn’t there.  All she could find were forty days’ worth of diaries and a few dried up pens.

A tear stung her eye and she pushed it back.  Did he leave?

“Kemmy!” she called.  “Kemmy!”  But only her gasping voice echoed through the tower.  Light trickled in from the open window and shone on the diaries.  Loina picked the top one up and flipped to the page Kemmy must’ve left off.

“Dear, Loina,” she read out loud, surprised to find the last page was a letter.

“I’m glad we finally met.  I liked talking to you.  I told you I only remembered two years at a time.  What I didn’t tell you was that yesterday (your day) was my last day.  We only live forty years (our time).  I was hoping you would someday come up so we could talk all day.  I’m glad you decided to come when you did.  I’m glad I could meet you before I left.  Oh, and you can keep my diaries.  I wrote in them just for you.  About all kinds of stuff.  I can read minds.  I didn’t tell you.  I thought you’d be afraid.  So, well, this is the end.  Goodbye, Loina.  Thank you for being my last and only frie”

It ended right there but Loina knew what it was supposed to be.  “You were my first friend, Kemmy,” she sobbed and tucked the notebooks under her arms.  Then, carefully, she went back down the stairs and out of the abandoned tower.  She only turned back once.  Hoping Kemmy wasn’t really gone.  But the tower just stood there, half broken, half crumbly.  Grass shoots sprung out around it here and there.  Rusted metal bars stuck out from pieces of stone like thorns.

Loina turned around and trekked back home.  She had a home concert tonight and she needed to get ready and pretty.

“Somewhere over the rainbow,” she sung softly as she made for her house.

Her Thoughts Made Her Laugh

Don't you ever have those times when something you said to yourself in your head sounds funny?  Don't you ever have those times when while you're talking with yourself in your head, you make a mistake and it sounds so darn funny?

Today, I was thinking (duh!  of course!), I said to myself, "Standing up."  Okay, that's not funny but then, I can't really remember what I was thinking about, I said to myself, "Standing down."  Which then I corrected it quickly to "Sitting down."  But "Standing down" sounded so darn funny for some reason.  Well, isn't it funny?

Here's a watercolor picture I drew.

It happens often when you're thinking to yourself that your own mistake or joke can be so darn funny...  Writing in this way reminds me of a story I wrote called Zippy-Doi.  The word itself was something I heard on a bus.  This group of college students were speaking in Chinese or Korean and something they said sounded like "Zippy doi."  So, I made a story about what such a thing as a Zippy-Doi is.

Okay, maybe I'll post it up but only if any of you are interested in reading it.  See, it's REALLY long.  It has sections... sort of... but it's basically just one LOOOOOOONG chapter.

Would you really like to see it?

If you do, comment below and I shall post it later.

Camp NaNoWriMo! We have a WINNER!

Woot!

I have 51996 words and my goal was 50000!  Yay!  I made it!

See, even someone who is such a procrastinator like me can accomplish something!

Just wanted to let you guys know... if anyone is reading my stuff, that is.

You who are, I'd like to say thank you!

Woot, woot!


P.S.
My novel is 14 chapters long.  But the last chapter has only 2 pages :/

 

My original cover idea for my story.

Camp NaNoWriMo! 6 DAYS LEFT! My experience is your gain

Yes, yes, uh huh, 6 days left.  Hey, that's less than a week.

I have officially 47995 words and my goal is 50000.  Sometimes I hate my novel.
Sometimes I feel like squealing with glee like an idiot because some ideas are SUCH A GENIUS!
Mwahahahaha!

And sometimes I really really really want to do some online games rather than write more words onto my annoying little novel thingy.

But I always push myself.  How do I do that?  How ever do I get past the wall of Writer's Block?

Yes, here it is!

The secret to writing for a whole month every day!  And not just NaNoWriMo but also for any story, any novel, any time!

The hint is:

KEEP THE STORY MOVING FOWARD!

Always tell yourself that.  It should work.  Don't describe in detail what your character is doing sitting on the couch while reading a book.  Say they read a book until midnight.  We don't need to know if they were humming a little tune or listening to their iPod.  Keep the story moving forward.

Bold and Italics is the best I could do though I did want to emphasize it more than that...

FORWARD!     There, that's much better.

Anyway, where was I?  Oh yes.  Even stories that have slow beginnings, they eventually pick up don't they?  And hey, you can't stop the rollercoaster once it starts moving, right?  Unless you do those crazy cliff-hanger things and expect the readers to wait while you figure out what to do in Book 2.

Well, anyway, that's my advice for NaNoWriMo.

KEEP THE STORY MOVING FORWARD!

The Truth About Love

I didn’t know
I didn’t know what to do
Didn’t know what to say
He spoke to me
                    so kind
He helped me
                    so thoughtful

I didn’t know what to do
Didn’t know what to say
He told me he loved me
                   I was blown away

Sometimes love can be as simple as this poem, which I wrote myself, and it can be as easy as one, two, three.  You meet someone that just warms you up from the inside and covers you up with a soft blanket.  Their smile will mean the world to you.  You might stutter when you talk because you are nervous and embarrassed.  You will hold hands, tentatively in private and then in public.  You will kiss and it would be the most wonderful thing you have ever experienced.

Summertime In Me

A soft shade of peachy hue

Reflected in the waves

Turning glass to jewels a many

Seashells serenade

A song so calm, a blanket soft

Echoes in the ears of children

Sandy ground a sugar brown

Beautifully golden

Light blue sky so azure

A reflection in the sea

Seagulls fly, glide, and cry

Sad songs once stolen

Songs of which you once knew

About the love of heart

My feelings hurt, a prickle pain

More, lest you throw the dart

But

BRING IT BACK! The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

... is one of the best novels I've ever read.

The movie was action-packed and amazing effects.  But, no sequel.  I waited.  Anyone else who enjoyed the movie waited.  But it was seen as anti-Catholic.  Uh, WHAT　THE　HECK!

People let things like movies get to them?  Seriously, do you think Philip Pullman was trying to cause a revolution against the church or something?  No, I don't think so.  I've written stories that might be questioned but I didn't write them because I wanted to cause a revolution or something!  I just wrote it because, I like writing, I enjoy it, and I wanted to write something powerful and something that people could engage in and feel the tension and enjoy.  Bet Philip Pullman thought the same.

And I'm reading the sequel, The Subtle Knife, now and it's so amazing that it deserves to be a movie like his first one and the movie of the first one didn't even get to the end of the actual story.  Lyra is going to find her father.  THE　END.  In the book, she finds her father along with a dark secret, read it yourself to find out.

The Subtle Knife, does, yes, have more bible stuff in it.  But I mean, it's just a story.  Seriously.  And sometimes people write stories about bad government people.  But, hey, it's just a story.  Ah, some people can be so... easily triggered into all that blah stuff.

If, I say, if Philip Pullman made a documentary like Al Gore that is supposed to provoke people, and talked about anti-Catholic stuff and ENCOURAGED people to think like that, then, yes, it's fine to ban that stuff if the world wanted it gone.  But hey, I mean, this, The Golden Compass, is just a movie.  A great plot, a great story, lots of tension, great acting, loved Pantalaimon, he was adorable...  And it's just a story.

Any fans out there?  I wish they made the sequel of The Golden Compass.  The books are a wonderful read and it would be amazing to see it on the big screen.  Don't you think?

Just to let you all know, I'm Catholic.  I've had a Communion.  I went to a Christian junior high and high school.  I know about the bible and the stories and stuff... but I read His Dark Materials trilogy... er, only up to the second book now though.  Why do I read it?  Because I enjoy it.  It's a really good read and Philip Pullman is so smart how he brings stuff together from the first book and ties it all nicely into the second... oops, don't want to spoil it too much for you.  I'm not getting all mad at him for talking about the church stuff and things like that because I know it's just a story.

Really.  Do you really think he meant what he said and he said what he meant?  Nah.  Are you kidding me?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Compass_(film)#Controversies
Here, read this.  At the end of the Controversies part it says that Nicole Kidman wouldn't have played a part in the film if it was anti-Catholic.  See?  She knows it's just a story.  If you don't like Wikipedia and hate it and don't trust it, contact Nicole Kidman herself and ask her what she thought about starring in The Golden Compass.





Let's bring His Dark Materials trilogy back to the big screen!!!!

Those who are famous, those who are regular

A lot of famous people get their words published on news sites.  A lot more get tweeted about.  Sometimes it's stuff that matters and sometimes it doesn't matter.

A lot of us regular people can basically say anything we want and word won't get out.  A lot of people probably won't tweet what other people say... much, anyway.

So, why is it that when famous people say something it stirs people up?  Sure when we say something it'll also stir people up but only those who are our friends or happen to be nearby.  I think if people want to make a remark about some famous person made saying it is stupid or sexist or racial, they should look back at themselves because those famous people were originally just like us, normal everyday people you would pass on the street.

Now if a disaster occurred and you suddenly found yourself equal with a famous person, what would you do then?  You know what you would see?  You would see someone who is famous but is nothing but a normal person on the inside with opinions that any normal person would have.  Just because we are normal, doesn't mean we can say bad things about people just because we know it won't get out there in the news world.  Famous people can't be the only ones picked on.  It's not fair.

It's April! Camp NaNoWriMo!

You know I write... er type.  You know I've been updating my blog more than I was a few years ago.  You know I kind of like ranting to people about lots of things.  Well, today you'll learn something else.  Something new and sparkling and shiny and great and expensive... okay maybe not expensive but anyway...


I   Like Writing.


You: Okay?  Big deal?


Me: No, I mean like you know like, um like, creative writing like?  (excessive use of "like" alert.)


You:You mean like novels?  You mean like vampires?


Me: I've never written about vamps.  No one will read my story if I did.  I write lots of stuff.  Besides zombies and vamps.  Almost everything but zombies and vamps.


Yes, I certainly do write.  And here's to prove it:

Oh yeah!  50,000 words here we come *sings*.  Today is only day 3 but hey, writing a novel in a month, sure, I'll make it... hopefully.


Now you know about me, how about I know a bit more about you?  Do YOU like writing?  Comment below!

Maybe I SHOULD really think about making YouTube vids out of my blogs... blah, I don't want to appear on camera.  I don't want to watch myself...  How about if I only show you my collection of stuffed animals while I create my vlog...

Are Celebrities (actors, actresses, and singers) Human?

Sometimes people think celebrities are
too popular
too rich
too pretentious
to be human

Sometimes people think celebrities
aren't human
That they don't do anything but
sing
get drunk
die
dress up in crazy outfits
and never ever do anything
we consider "human"

Sometimes people think celebrities
don't go grocery shopping
don't change diapers
don't get sick
don't show compassion toward others
don't suffer in life

Sometimes people think celebrities
aren't human

But just because the media doesn't show that side
doesn't mean they aren't
Celebrities are just normal people
and the only difference is that
they go on stage
television
magazines
The only difference is that
they are famous
chased by the media
have a little more money than the normal folk

Sometimes people think celebrities
aren't human
But the truth is
they go grocery shopping
they change diapers
they get sick
they show compassion toward others
and they suffer in life
just like us

Celebrities aren't immortal
They get old

Celebrities aren't crazy
We all are
Look around
Everyone does crazy things

Celebrities aren't stupid
They are only human
Whatever they do
is just us
reflected in them

Sometimes celebrities
are just human
Sometimes they are "people"
and people judge them
for being human
for doing what humans do
for being real
for showing the most extreme of what
a person
with persistence
and a love for life
can do

Sometimes people think celebrities
aren't human
but
they're wrong

How do you make your blog popular?

Person A:  er... write about popular topics?

Person B:  uh, I've already tried that.

A: How about put in tons of pictures!

B: Done that, too!

A: How about changing the title of your blog?

B: Did that like... thrice and four times and maybe even five.

A: Well... change of format?

B: Did it.

A: How about... a catchy post title.

B: I try every time, you know.

A: Tell your friends?

B: What if I don't really want them to know?

A: Okay... advertise?  Like... facebook?

B: I just kind of answered that question, you know.

A: Right.  So... all I can think of now is... make another blog that anyone can see and advertise this blog in that blog!

B: But what if that blog isn't popular either?

A: ...I give up.

B: Me, too :(

A: Blah!  Does anyone have any ideas?

B: Yeah, can you help me??????  Pretty please with ice cream and chocolate syrup and sprinkles on top?

Darn those LANGUAGE BARRIERS!

Have you ever had trouble with language barriers?  I have.  And believe me, it ain't pretty fella.

Anyway let's start with something that happened to me.  I was telling my Chinese friend how I can't take spicy things.  I said, "Even pepper is so hot that my throat burns."  My friend was like o.O

She thought my throat ACTUALLY burned when I had spicy things.  It was just a metaphor.  I had to explain to her that my throat didn't actually burn, sheesh.  But you can't blame those who aren't native English speakers so...eh.

Now let's talk about me as the foreigner and People as the natives.  In Japan, I don't feel like a foreigner because I lived most of my life there.  But now in America, even though I do know about the culture and stuff, sometimes I feel a language a barrier between me and the native English speakers here.  For example, hard complex words.  You guys learned them like a piece of cake in junior high and high school so obviously you are used to using those kinds of words.  But me, I can only recognize a few because I took the SAT and had to practice my vocabulary.  I can't really remember any but I know there were a few that my friends used that I only recognized by sound but couldn't remember what they meant.  Maybe I should study the SAT vocabs again...

Anyway, it's getting to be dinner time so I'll be going now.  I might add some on and in that case I'll just write below this sentences, adios!

The Truth About Japan

I surely do hope someone comments on my posts.






It's 1:02 in the morning so don't jump on me if... I go a little nuts on this, okay?

Some people think that they know Japan really really really REALLY well... just because they watched one YouTube video or heard about one thing in the news or something.

Uh, uh, do you expect all of Japan to be like that?

For example, there is this YouTube video I watched about a Japanese Pet store.  Now, even I haven't seen meerkats and flying squirrels in a petshop in Japan and I have lived in Japan for... well, since I was three.  That's a long time.  And, uh, uh, not all pet stores are like that okay?  So... don't get your hopes up you YouTube commenters.

Another thing; a lot of people seem to think TOKYO when they hear Japan.  Uh, not everywhere is like that and please, TOKYO is CRAZY.  I lived there for only two years and I know, okay?  My advice to those who want to visit, I know TOKYO is glamour Japan but... no, it's just like the Japanese version of New York City.  I've never been to NYC but if you have, then don't go to TOKYO.  Go to the countryside where you get to experience the REAL Japan.  Sorry if my CAPS are annoying.  I'm just trying to make a point without having to go out of my way and make the letters "bold".

Okay... so... and... not everyone is superly superly interested in JAPANESE traditional festival thingies and stuff soooo... don't ask so many TRADITIONAL questions, okay?  I... don't know.  Sorry!

And... you can eat or drink in the bus in Japan.  Some YouTuber said you can't but it was probably just in that certain region.  Everyone does it.  The trains, duh, everyone does it even more there.  Relax, it's Japan.

Another thing, just because we are ASIAN doesn't mean we are super smart.  I'm dumb... er, maybe not dumb but I know I'm not smart.  And just because one smart chinese boy did an awesome thing on YouTube, doesn't mean we ASIANS can all do that.  Don't get your hopes up you YouTube commenters.

And um... oh yeah, we have McDonalds, Denny's, Seven Eleven, Mister Donut... so relax.

And... just be polite, don't talk on the phone in the train, don't be loud in public, stick to the status quo... and you're good to go to Japan.

If I think of any more stuff I heard that annoys me that people say and they think they know Japan inside and out, I'll update this post.  But for now, goodnight folks!

All kittens are cute!

http://gma.yahoo.com/photos/is-this-the-world-s-cutest-kitten-1361461567-slideshow/

Seriously folks?  The world's cutest kitten?  Hey, all kittens are cute!
See, I'll show you:

"We arez kute kitteh."

These other pics, I think I got them off the internet.  Prepare to drown in cuteness!

Even these photogenic iPhone wallpaper kittens are cute!


If you didn't think they were, either you don't like kittens, or you need glasses or something.

This one kitten apparently doesn't want to forgive those of you who thought kittens were ugly or only one certain kitten was cute.

Catastrophe in the future

Read this article.
http://news.yahoo.com/higgs-boson-particle-may-spell-doom-universe-152236961.html


Just think, in billions of years our Earth may not exist any more.

Even though most of us, who are living today, will be long gone, it feels weird that the place that has existed for us for such a long time will be destroyed.  I know, I know, we won't be alive so what do we care?  Billions of years in the future.  It's too far ahead for any of us to be living.  But still, everything, I tell you, EVERYTHING that we have always known will no longer exist in the far future for our descendants.

If the study is correct, our Earth has an expiration date pasted one it.  Even the seemingly eternal planet has limits.  Nothing lasts forever except love.  This Earth... ah, this Earth... our descendants (if we're all still alive with all these wars going on) will perish in a catastrophe that is unstoppable.

Look to the far future.  Can you imagine our planet Earth without any human beings?

Love, Peace, War, Eco, and More

So, now that I've belted out all that about Eco stuff, how about some comparisons that might help you in your life?

Which is more important or better for our lives:

1. Partying    or    Studying


2. Riding a gas guzzling car   or   Riding an eco friendly one


3. Fighting wars    or    Making peace


4. Furs on you     or    Furs on the wild beasts


5. Burning trees    or   Planting them


6. Living    or    Hiding



First, let's go over number one; oh, this is easy, right?  It's "Studying".  Good studying can get you a good job but good partying can only get you drunk.

Number two: Eco is better of course.  Why, it will help getting rid of this global warming issue so we can go back and focus on all the fighting we seem to like.  So that naturally slides into 3.  Making peace is our ultimate goal all the time but we always seem to get ourselves entangled into a mess of fights.  We don't need to fight to make peace.  All we need to do is talk it over.  Actions always have reasons unless the person in totally insane.  But if their action was caused by being insane, then insanity will be their reason... huh, okay... so even that has a reason!

How about 4?  People who are animal lovers would definitely not buy any furs or tusks or horns right?  Well, think about it.  Is it really, really, necessary to have animal furs in your closet?  No.  We don't "need" them.  We merely "want" them.  Wanting and needing are two different things.  We can want candy but we don't need it.  We need to eat healthy even if we don't want it.  Sometimes I don't buy some thing I WANT because I know I don't NEED them.  Know what I mean?  And then, yeah, if we want to protect the extinct animals, we should start out by thinking about that.  Do we want it or need it?  We're not cavemen or cavewomen anymore so why would we NEED animal furs anyway?

Okay, on to 5!  This is easy right?  I hope so.  Burning trees are definitely better.  Have you tried it?  It's quite thrilling.  Ha, gotcha!  Of course planting them is better!  It saves the environment.  Look at it this way: Earth is your pet.  Man's best friend.  But he is not an ordinary pet, he can provide land and shelter and food for you.  All you have to do is make sure he is clean and healthy and has lots of trees in his cage.  So, littering the streets would be like if you littered the cage of your dear pet.  What kind of pet owner would do such a thing like that?  I sure wouldn't.

Last is something that will benefit you in YOUR life.  It's better to live it.  Carpe diem.  Live life to the fullest.  So don't hide who you are.  It's important to not be ashamed of your true self and get out there.  You never know, you might be surprised how much more people will like you if you showed them who you really are.  I believe that "self" is important.  It's what defines you. 

You know how there are many different kinds of cats, right?  Ragdolls, Siamese, American Short hair, Sphinx, Ragamuffin, Turkish Van, Calico... but they are all Cats aren't they?  Now think of people.  There are many different kinds of people, too.  Tall, Short, Bubbly, Happy, Smart, Gamers, Quiet/Shy, Readers... and we won't think about race because we are ALL people for heaven's sake.  Yeah, there are many different kinds of people aren't there?  But no matter what kind of person they are, they are still people, right?  Like the cats.  All kinds but still the same.  So if you're worried about sticking out, don't be because we are all People.  There's no way that can change so relax and enjoy being yourself.  If it takes time to come out and show people who you are, then take your time.  Nothing should be rushed.  But one thing; if you are not married and are looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend, remember to be yourself to them.  A fake person will just hurt you and your partner.  When I go on dates, I always make sure I'm myself and not someone else.  With real partnership, you shouldn't have to pretend to be something you're not.

Anyway, that's the end of the lesson or whatever it was.  A blog?  Huh, some blog.  If there are other things you would like me to compare or talk about let me know in the comments!

And thank you for reading! :)    :)    :)