Last night I read The Giver by Lois Lowery -- it's a story most middle schools, or high schools require their students to read. Because my school only forced upon us stories like Ethan Frome and A Separate Peace, I never had the chance to read it in my educational career.
A childrens' book and only 181 pages, I managed to finish it off in just over two hours... but don't let that deceive you. The story has a profound message and Miss Lowery paints a beautiful world of sameness and executes her ideas very well. I noticed in the beginning of her story she has very little description of anything surrounding the main character, Jonas, because everything is the same, it is not important enough (in their world) to pay attention to it. As his powers grow, after he is "selected," and as he discovers that there once was something more to life than just being polite, perfect and the same, he begins to develop a greater sense of the world at large and many things blossom for him. He realizes that life is more than what it seems.
It really struck me when the twelve year old boy started to see colors and had no idea what they were. Then when he started to actually FEEL; pain, happiness, and the "true" meaning of love was it showed him he sees that there is a purpose; something deeper than just being the same...
The Giver is a book that I would have loved to read in school. It is exactly how I try to live my life, realizing that there is always some deeper meaning to everything... I try to keep my eyes wide open so I miss nothing and I always want to experience everything that I can. Because there is too much that is spectacular surrounding us, not to pay attention to it.
It is also a great lesson for children, teaching them not to take advantage of the smallest things in life because everything, in the greater sense, is important -- especially the choice to choose.
The story was somewhat left with an open end, it made me feel as though he had made a difference, if only in his young companions life, which was all that mattered to him.
And for me, that is the greatest gift you can give.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The MythBusters
To add another notch to my random girl status, I have to say that I do have a variety of interests. I don't watch much TV, which I've already stated in another post quite recently, however, I forgot to mention MythBusters.
There is nothing like it on television, I enjoy watching these grown men (Jamie and Adam) break things apart, rebuild and recycle the many different myths trying to either Bust (as the title clearly gives away) or Confirm (sometimes Plausible, but they try to tackle every angle for confirmation or... well, not) the task at hand.
One of the reasons I enjoy the show is for pure entertainment value, the hosts are filled with quirky boy-like humor. To see someone doing something they clearly love, always warms my heart. And when something seems to be working out the way they expect there is a get giddy excitement you can feel in the air; the enthusiasm is catching.
In the course of their seven year stint on The Discovery Channel they have proven or busted over 700 myths. Including the funner ones, in my opinion -- the action movie myths, James Bond myths, Shark myths and the scurvy free Pirate myths. The next season is starting within a mere seven days and I just wanted to tip my hat to them. If only because I enjoy the way their minds work.
I am somewhat addicted to science (my stepsister is a marine biologist and I can't ask her enough questions, which I'm sure she can get sick of.) I don't understand half of it, and it usually has to be broken down in laymen terms for me. But that doesn't stop me from absorbing it all into my brain and holding onto it dearly.
Tonight, a rerun from 2008, they had a myth where they wanted to make a hot air balloon out of lead. I sat there watching it excitedly wanting so badly for them to make it work and with the help of Adam's ingenious idea of an origami balloon layout... it worked!! I was tickled.
I think it goes along with the fact that I always love to see how things are made, get a view of the behind-the-scenes process. Old wives tales, Urban legends and many many other myths have been tested by these two fun loving ex-stunt coordinators, and their sidekicks... though that word does not do justice to Carey, Torey and Grant, who have remarkable science capabilities of their own.
The show is riddled with failures. They try to sort out the details, expect the unexpected, and they can adapt to anything. Which is also a testament to the human brain and how it really works, but this is a post for another random thought. I'm not about going to get down philosophical here. I just want to give a shout out to the men and one woman who entertain me with quirky little knowledgeable thoughts, figures, facts, best of all explosions and demolitions.
I can't wait to see what the eighth season brings us, what new myths Adam and Jamie will bust and just how much more that poor dummy Buster can take. I am sure it, whatever they do it will be bigger, better, funnier and more destructive than ever.
There is nothing like it on television, I enjoy watching these grown men (Jamie and Adam) break things apart, rebuild and recycle the many different myths trying to either Bust (as the title clearly gives away) or Confirm (sometimes Plausible, but they try to tackle every angle for confirmation or... well, not) the task at hand.
One of the reasons I enjoy the show is for pure entertainment value, the hosts are filled with quirky boy-like humor. To see someone doing something they clearly love, always warms my heart. And when something seems to be working out the way they expect there is a get giddy excitement you can feel in the air; the enthusiasm is catching.
In the course of their seven year stint on The Discovery Channel they have proven or busted over 700 myths. Including the funner ones, in my opinion -- the action movie myths, James Bond myths, Shark myths and the scurvy free Pirate myths. The next season is starting within a mere seven days and I just wanted to tip my hat to them. If only because I enjoy the way their minds work.
I am somewhat addicted to science (my stepsister is a marine biologist and I can't ask her enough questions, which I'm sure she can get sick of.) I don't understand half of it, and it usually has to be broken down in laymen terms for me. But that doesn't stop me from absorbing it all into my brain and holding onto it dearly.
Tonight, a rerun from 2008, they had a myth where they wanted to make a hot air balloon out of lead. I sat there watching it excitedly wanting so badly for them to make it work and with the help of Adam's ingenious idea of an origami balloon layout... it worked!! I was tickled.
I think it goes along with the fact that I always love to see how things are made, get a view of the behind-the-scenes process. Old wives tales, Urban legends and many many other myths have been tested by these two fun loving ex-stunt coordinators, and their sidekicks... though that word does not do justice to Carey, Torey and Grant, who have remarkable science capabilities of their own.
The show is riddled with failures. They try to sort out the details, expect the unexpected, and they can adapt to anything. Which is also a testament to the human brain and how it really works, but this is a post for another random thought. I'm not about going to get down philosophical here. I just want to give a shout out to the men and one woman who entertain me with quirky little knowledgeable thoughts, figures, facts, best of all explosions and demolitions.
I can't wait to see what the eighth season brings us, what new myths Adam and Jamie will bust and just how much more that poor dummy Buster can take. I am sure it, whatever they do it will be bigger, better, funnier and more destructive than ever.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Coffee
Coffee is an intricate part of everyday life for many people. I had personally never found coffee to be quite as appealing as most, and except for when I was a small child, I didn't drink it.
I understand that many people use coffee as a pick-me-up with the caffeine and whatnot, however caffeine has no effect on me, so I had no excuse to drink said topic of my post.
That was until a stressful day at work, I found myself craving something to stamp out my frenzied emotions and longed for a cup of warm, sugary goodness. It was easy for me to find a drink, simply because I work in a place with a cafe embedded in the building. But there were so many choices. I didn't know what would be safe. I didn't want just a plain cup of coffee. I knew it would be a waste of money and of product.
As my eyes ran over the menu, I found a drink which sounded appealing. The Carmel Mocha. 500 calories of carmely, espresso infused, steamed milk and chocolate. OMG! I thought I died and went to heaven. My stress and worries faded away with each sip I took, I was instantly relaxed and put at ease with my surroundings and I knew that nothing would bother me for the rest of the day.
Sadly, I tend to be a glutton, latching onto something when I find I like it. I become additcted very easily (which is one of the reasons I stayed away from the harder stuff in my college days.) So at first, I was cautious, drinking only the one drink soothed my frustrated beast for the moment. But once I found myself out and about, I was curious to find out how differently the Mocha's compared.
These yummy drinks are basically made the same way right? Nope. I discovered, I have no ability to judge any coffee by it's color. I am not by any means a "coffee connoisseur," I quickly found that not every Mocha drink is equal and for that I am happy I found Caribou. A cute little coffee house (wow, how cool are those places! Hello 1996!) in my neck of the woods where the Mocha's are not too sweet and not too bitter. Their Carmel Mocha's are just right for me.
*Deep breath in and out...*
Happily, I have not yet become addicted to these warm treats. I am pleasantly suprised to say that I have controlled my glutton status, just knowing I will be able to get a little treat for myself now and again is good enough for me. And now I can say, that I am a coffee drinker.
I understand that many people use coffee as a pick-me-up with the caffeine and whatnot, however caffeine has no effect on me, so I had no excuse to drink said topic of my post.
That was until a stressful day at work, I found myself craving something to stamp out my frenzied emotions and longed for a cup of warm, sugary goodness. It was easy for me to find a drink, simply because I work in a place with a cafe embedded in the building. But there were so many choices. I didn't know what would be safe. I didn't want just a plain cup of coffee. I knew it would be a waste of money and of product.
As my eyes ran over the menu, I found a drink which sounded appealing. The Carmel Mocha. 500 calories of carmely, espresso infused, steamed milk and chocolate. OMG! I thought I died and went to heaven. My stress and worries faded away with each sip I took, I was instantly relaxed and put at ease with my surroundings and I knew that nothing would bother me for the rest of the day.
Sadly, I tend to be a glutton, latching onto something when I find I like it. I become additcted very easily (which is one of the reasons I stayed away from the harder stuff in my college days.) So at first, I was cautious, drinking only the one drink soothed my frustrated beast for the moment. But once I found myself out and about, I was curious to find out how differently the Mocha's compared.
These yummy drinks are basically made the same way right? Nope. I discovered, I have no ability to judge any coffee by it's color. I am not by any means a "coffee connoisseur," I quickly found that not every Mocha drink is equal and for that I am happy I found Caribou. A cute little coffee house (wow, how cool are those places! Hello 1996!) in my neck of the woods where the Mocha's are not too sweet and not too bitter. Their Carmel Mocha's are just right for me.
*Deep breath in and out...*
Happily, I have not yet become addicted to these warm treats. I am pleasantly suprised to say that I have controlled my glutton status, just knowing I will be able to get a little treat for myself now and again is good enough for me. And now I can say, that I am a coffee drinker.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Pollock
Yet another way the human mind works in mysterious ways. A recent development found in one of Jackson Pollock's painting shows there are hidden treasures beneath the surface of everything.
All you have to do is look hard enough.
The article Decoding Jackson Pollock revealed something phenomenal and now is showing that the mentioned artists work did have semblance, meaning and may have been planned out from the beginning. Structured in a way that only a person who was really looking for something deeper, would notice.
Granted it is just a theory for now, but it prompts me to take a life lesson from this. Never take things for face value or for granted, you never know what you will be missing.
All you have to do is look hard enough.
The article Decoding Jackson Pollock revealed something phenomenal and now is showing that the mentioned artists work did have semblance, meaning and may have been planned out from the beginning. Structured in a way that only a person who was really looking for something deeper, would notice.
Granted it is just a theory for now, but it prompts me to take a life lesson from this. Never take things for face value or for granted, you never know what you will be missing.
The Pop Culture
My head is filled with remarkable things which have no substance whatsoever, seriously, I once won a Trivia Pursuit simply by knowing what Buffy had secretly named her steak (Mr. Pointy for anyone who may be wondering.)
I often wonder what room could be made in my brain without all of the pop culture references floating around in my head. But honestly where would the fun in that be?
With the media providing more than enough information and access to the pop culture world, it's hard not to get sucked into the fun, random knowledge and lighter side of life.
My, now favorite, source is NPR -- the Monkey See blog. Though they have a host of sections, shows and pieces dedicated to the pop culture phenomenon. The Monkey see blog is littered with a wide variety of all things. Ranging from Books though music and Television it is a haven for the lover of all media.
I have started taking advantage of the daily emails just to get my fix. I always find myself pleasantly surprised, even when I might not be completely interested in the topic I still read it just to have something a little bit different in my head, besides you never know where an idea will sprout up from.
NPR drops little tidbits from many different genres whether it be main stream, cult or art house. They include it all in podcasts, blogs, articles and radio. They are dedicated on finding a nitch for everyone. I truly recommend checking out the sight and seeing what they have to offer for you.
Some of the information may be considered vapid, however I don't think that it is. Everyone has different interests. It's nice to know even in a world torn and filled with anger people can still find joy in the lighter side of life, granting them a few moments of solace and helping them through the tough spots.
I will keep filling my head with useless information just to stay in touch with the sunnier side of life. Just to keep me going through the rough patches. Brain space be damned! Rock on Pop Culture, rock on.
I often wonder what room could be made in my brain without all of the pop culture references floating around in my head. But honestly where would the fun in that be?
With the media providing more than enough information and access to the pop culture world, it's hard not to get sucked into the fun, random knowledge and lighter side of life.
My, now favorite, source is NPR -- the Monkey See blog. Though they have a host of sections, shows and pieces dedicated to the pop culture phenomenon. The Monkey see blog is littered with a wide variety of all things. Ranging from Books though music and Television it is a haven for the lover of all media.
I have started taking advantage of the daily emails just to get my fix. I always find myself pleasantly surprised, even when I might not be completely interested in the topic I still read it just to have something a little bit different in my head, besides you never know where an idea will sprout up from.
NPR drops little tidbits from many different genres whether it be main stream, cult or art house. They include it all in podcasts, blogs, articles and radio. They are dedicated on finding a nitch for everyone. I truly recommend checking out the sight and seeing what they have to offer for you.
Some of the information may be considered vapid, however I don't think that it is. Everyone has different interests. It's nice to know even in a world torn and filled with anger people can still find joy in the lighter side of life, granting them a few moments of solace and helping them through the tough spots.
I will keep filling my head with useless information just to stay in touch with the sunnier side of life. Just to keep me going through the rough patches. Brain space be damned! Rock on Pop Culture, rock on.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Inkling
Inspiration can spark from anywhere or anything, for any reason. But it is the metamorphosis that transpires from the murky inkling which is truly amazing.
It starts with a wisp of an idea. A smokey veil you can run your fingers through. Soon the smoke starts to take form, pluming into something obtainable; a picture, a character, a scene where the remarkable happens. The birth of a story is honestly the most pure thing my mind can accomplish. I am satisfied and full in this place and at one with myself when a small thought starts to mold and shape itself into something writable.
It grows arms and legs. Soon hair and facial features sprout up. At last the character emerges, very fictional to the outside world, but very real in my head. starts to have a voice... a meaning, I can hear them speaking to me as they tell their story.
The length of time this takes varies, of course, but it feels like an eternity when I'm inside the foggy depths of my imagination. When I take a breath to come up for air, at times I find I've been immersed for hours, many times just a mere few minutes have passed.
It can come to me in flashes, another time it's solely the character. Someone who has a story to tell and so they chose me. They came into my head for a reason, for a purpose.
I write the words, spinning and weaving their world together as the images show themselves to me. I experience their feelings and go through what they go through... pretty rough sometimes because it's usually grim and bloody. However, it makes me a better writer with each story that I tell.
I can't wait for the day when I write something phenomenal, something which will make one person believe in me. But for now, I'm happy with the blanketed, cozy feeling I get when I produce such a piece. It's contradictory really because though I'm warm and fuzzy I am also buzzing with a heightened energy which will only release me when the story is finished.
It starts with a wisp of an idea. A smokey veil you can run your fingers through. Soon the smoke starts to take form, pluming into something obtainable; a picture, a character, a scene where the remarkable happens. The birth of a story is honestly the most pure thing my mind can accomplish. I am satisfied and full in this place and at one with myself when a small thought starts to mold and shape itself into something writable.
It grows arms and legs. Soon hair and facial features sprout up. At last the character emerges, very fictional to the outside world, but very real in my head. starts to have a voice... a meaning, I can hear them speaking to me as they tell their story.
The length of time this takes varies, of course, but it feels like an eternity when I'm inside the foggy depths of my imagination. When I take a breath to come up for air, at times I find I've been immersed for hours, many times just a mere few minutes have passed.
It can come to me in flashes, another time it's solely the character. Someone who has a story to tell and so they chose me. They came into my head for a reason, for a purpose.
I write the words, spinning and weaving their world together as the images show themselves to me. I experience their feelings and go through what they go through... pretty rough sometimes because it's usually grim and bloody. However, it makes me a better writer with each story that I tell.
I can't wait for the day when I write something phenomenal, something which will make one person believe in me. But for now, I'm happy with the blanketed, cozy feeling I get when I produce such a piece. It's contradictory really because though I'm warm and fuzzy I am also buzzing with a heightened energy which will only release me when the story is finished.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Monsters
There are many things I enjoy about writing but by far, creating the monster is my favorite... I use the term Monster loosely, evil is evil anyway you slice it.
There is something fabulous about letting the darkest part of my mind take over unrelentingly, giving the baddie control to show me the most vicious parts of humanity and let go of any good to be purely malicious.
To be cruel without forgiveness is something that many of us know nothing about. But when you strap on the characters persona a whole new life and set of values takes form.
My monsters are nothing more than human. I have yet to dive into the world of creature creating. However, I look forward to the day I make that leap. For now, my evil-doers are in human form. They display a hint of nasty in the start, progressing deeper and darker into the pit where their heart should be as the story spins its sick tale.
I've only dabbled with self-acceptance of my love of all things horror for the last couple of years. And now that I have thrown myself into it so whole-heartily I am finding more and more fascination from how the first bloody seeds started to grow.
Though not writing, Universal Studios published a book of their monsters, from the birth of the very first silent horror film into the 1940's and 50's. They have a list of casts ranging from Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and many many others, including Vincent Price.
The book breaks down the costumes, the sets, who was in what movie, a little spotlight piece on the studios main players, the plots and what the censers would and would not allow (I'll tell you it's nice to know that even back then people tested their boundaries away from the norm as they tried, and most times succeeded, to get things past the rule-makers.)
It's interesting because new questions are now popping up. I have always loved a good movie horror or otherwise, but to see things broken down in such a way, gives me an appreciation for just how far movies, technology and humans have come.
Plus it makes me hungry to find out more...
Including where the stories come from, I have set myself on sort of a Horror-Quest and I'm going to start researching and reading anything that would promote the birth of the genre I enjoy so much. I can't wait to see where it leads me. I am certain it will make me a better writer and a more well-rounded individual for me to find the roots, folklore and other things that will allow my brain to think in a new and different light.
There is something fabulous about letting the darkest part of my mind take over unrelentingly, giving the baddie control to show me the most vicious parts of humanity and let go of any good to be purely malicious.
To be cruel without forgiveness is something that many of us know nothing about. But when you strap on the characters persona a whole new life and set of values takes form.
My monsters are nothing more than human. I have yet to dive into the world of creature creating. However, I look forward to the day I make that leap. For now, my evil-doers are in human form. They display a hint of nasty in the start, progressing deeper and darker into the pit where their heart should be as the story spins its sick tale.
I've only dabbled with self-acceptance of my love of all things horror for the last couple of years. And now that I have thrown myself into it so whole-heartily I am finding more and more fascination from how the first bloody seeds started to grow.
Though not writing, Universal Studios published a book of their monsters, from the birth of the very first silent horror film into the 1940's and 50's. They have a list of casts ranging from Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and many many others, including Vincent Price.
The book breaks down the costumes, the sets, who was in what movie, a little spotlight piece on the studios main players, the plots and what the censers would and would not allow (I'll tell you it's nice to know that even back then people tested their boundaries away from the norm as they tried, and most times succeeded, to get things past the rule-makers.)
It's interesting because new questions are now popping up. I have always loved a good movie horror or otherwise, but to see things broken down in such a way, gives me an appreciation for just how far movies, technology and humans have come.
Plus it makes me hungry to find out more...
Including where the stories come from, I have set myself on sort of a Horror-Quest and I'm going to start researching and reading anything that would promote the birth of the genre I enjoy so much. I can't wait to see where it leads me. I am certain it will make me a better writer and a more well-rounded individual for me to find the roots, folklore and other things that will allow my brain to think in a new and different light.
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