Brave

Tomorrow is the big day! Finally the time has come, and I'll be seeing my first Broadway show! It's so exciting. I'll wait to say anything more because tomorrow evening or Monday I'm going to make a post to tell you all about it.

Lately I've been doing better at keeping up with my writing. I haven't been doing a lot, but it's better than none. Also, I think I say that way to often, so I'll try to update you on my writing in a way that is different and not quite as repetitive. Hm.... This is harder than it sounds. Like, way harder. Um, let me put it like this. I'm on chapter two and my character has gone through so much that it should be more like chapter four. Maybe five. Also, she's a very tough gal to work with. Her name is Gaelic for Elizabeth, so Ealasaid. For fairly obvious reasons I can't say Ealasaid said, after she speaks. That is a rather troublesome thing to work with, yet I cannot bring myself to change her name. Even though when I think of the name Elizabeth I think of a red headed girl, not brown-blonde.

I have continued reading Anastasia: The Lost Princess today. Lately I just haven't been reading as much, so I finally continued a bit. It's such a different perspective than I'm used to. Ever since I learned of Anastasia's story I figured she had to have died. Thing is, everywhere I read it always says weird contradicting things such as, "DNA scans prove that the entire Romanov family died in the Ipatiev House that night, though due to missing DNA either Anastasia or Maria might have survived. Maybe even Alexei though it's inconclusive." I mean, I'm only paraphrasing, but that is literally what I see written everywhere. It's extremely frustrating. Due to James Blair Lovells book my opinion on whether Anastasia survived is being heavily questioned. It's so totally possible that Anna Anderson was Anastasia. But I can't find actual conclusive results on her DNA test, so it's impossible to say for certain. One thing is for sure, Anna Anderson was more than a mere impostor if she was not Anastasia after all. I'm going to start on a post about the Romanov's soon, though the exact topic I've yet to decided. I keep going between a post about Rasputin, or about the Ipatiev House and near the time of the Romanov's death.

Oh yes, just recently I got a new nightstand! My old one was a little table that has been around for as long as I can remember. It had a few scribble marks and wasn't the best looking. My new one it part of my desk set, and has a huge draw that I have no idea what to put in it. It's all quite glorious. Also, we're getting closer to when Daniel and I move into the bigger room, and Daddy moves the office into our room. I think we might start working on it in the next month or so. Daniel and I still haven't decided on a color for out room. I want something less neutral than a boring brown, grey, or blue-grey that we have around the house. But the room has to still have a neutral feel, since someday we want to sell the house. In my mind I see a glorious red, but I'm sure if I went with that color it wouldn't turn out half as good as it does in my head. We we'll probably pick a nice shade of blue or green.

About three times today the chickens have started making a ruckus, and I've gone to the door seeing if the coyote has returned. He's becoming a frequent visitor, and needs more than a human appearing on the upper deck to permanently keep him away. Now whenever I got to the door and check I bring an air soft. Ideally I'd get the BB guns, but my air soft are much easier access. Hopefully old wolfy with leave our chickens be.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about horses, and how I've planned my future. It just makes me want to spend more time at a barn, but I haven't found one to volunteer at yet. I sent a message to a barn that a friend goes to the other day. But that's the irksome thing about equestrians. None of them seem to have a second to reply to emails. I don't really understand not replying. When I receive an email I'm like, boom, gotta respond. These people obviously don't. Kind of like my alarm. Some people can lazily lay, letting it go off for a while, but when I hear my alarm I shoot up trying to turn it off in a panic. Almost as though it'll explode if I don't turn it off quick enough. It's weird.

I've almost memorized the entire song of Let it Go in French. It's quite fun to sing it. I've almost memorized the Healing Incantation from Tangled in French too. That one is so short though, so it's easy to remember.

While browsing Freegal a while back I discovered a cover that Peter Hollens did, of the song Brave by Josh Groban. Well I fell in love with it, and just the other day decided to listen to the actual song. It. Is. Amazing! Oh my gosh, I love it the more I hear it. You have to go check out both versions.

Fear Not, I'm Still Here

Since I haven't posted for like, six days or whatever, I decided to make a quick post before bed. I dunno why, but I just haven't thought about my blog these past few days.

I've started writing for real, and my novel Heart of Fire is almost at 6,000 words. Yeah, tiny and all, but it's a start of course. My goal is for all my books to be a minimum of like, 150,000 words. Thing is, I don't think any of them have enough plot for that. Terrible, I know. Luckily I have found a path of unending possibilities to lengthen Heart of Fire. I can't wait to get the first draft done. On another note, I should seriously keep editing and going through Believe. After all, I got the first draft and all. But it needs help and a complete re-write. That's never gonna happen when it's becoming a dusty old file on Scrivener.

After reading a friends blogpost about experimenting with bangs, I seriously want bangs. I do this all the time. See, I'm always afraid to get my haircut. I mean, with curly hair you just don't know how it will really turn out, and these days I just brush the top of my head a little if I don't shower, so I'm not used to hours in the bathroom styling my hair and such. But I love the look of bangs. But bangs are short hair, and short hair and curls often don't mix. But bangs would look so pretty! But the struggles! I really don't know. Deep down I want bangs. It's not the same commitment as going from hip length hair to shoulder length, as I keep wanting but deciding not to do. I dunno, what do you think?

I seriously need to write another history post. My list currently includes, writing about the wreckage found of the Titanic, Rasputin who was the last Tsaritsa's holy man and who has creepy eyes, and either facts about Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, or Mary Queen of Scots. I've also been thinking of writing about real rumors and stories of Robin Hood, and history surrounding the Crusades to the Holy Lands led by Richard the Lion Heart (son of Eleanor of Aquitaine).

Today I finally started exercising. I must say, it felt good. While running on the elliptical I finally got around to continuing H2O. I only have one episode left until the season two finale. The running went great; I was able to run 1.16 miles in 25 minutes. My goal was to run at least a mile in that time. As for the target exercising, well. Lets just say there's room for improvement. I find myself doing the exercising too fast, but with time I'll get better. I'm just glad I finally started, after finally getting the proper exercise clothes and a much needed yoga mat. I kind of doubt I'll feel sore tomorrow, so that's why my target workout wasn't too great. Hopefully I'll be able to go slower on Wednesday.

I would write more, but alas, it's late and I should be sleeping right now. Well, it's not that late, but I should be getting to bed anyways. See y'all tomorrow! (Okay, yup, yeah. Saying y'all is still strange. We have friends who moved up from Georgia, and whenever they say y'all I can't help but giggle inside. It sounds so funny; almost cute).

Something to Look Forward To

About a month ago our family decided something. For about three, four years now we've been on a serious spending freeze. We haven't gone on vacation in a while, and barely got to go to Oregon last year. Basically we stay home and don't go out. But this is year two of Trebon, and things are really starting to look up. While this isn't for sure, we've decided to act as though it will happen no matter what, but we're planning on going on a Disney Cruise in March 2016. I'm really excited, and I think having something set more than just, if we can, really helps. This year, we're also very likely going camping, which is something I've missed the last few years. Camping is the best.

For years now I've wanted a good camera. I've got a little silver point and shoot, but the picture quality is beyond terrible. So now that I've got a good paying job I'm going to get a really nice camera. My budget is around four hundred to five hundred dollars, so it'll be a while before I save up enough. All yesterday and this morning I was looking at different cameras. So far I have three contenders, but will almost positively go with the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. It doesn't have changeable lenses, but it's still an amazing camera. I can't wait until I can finally buy it, or whatever camera I actually decided on. My plan is to have it in time for the Cruise, but hopefully sooner.

Since watching Phantom of the Opera with Tiana for the second time, I've become completely obsessed. I just finished listening to Act II from the 25th anniversary cast, which is my favorite. The music is just so amazing! I'm planning on reading the book soon. Also, it's only twelve days until Tiana and I go and see Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway! That is going to be so exciting! Then it's only a few more months until we see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, which now that I'm even more into it, will be ten times more exciting! The Overture is my favorite song, and in the production we're seeing the chandelier swings from the stage and over the audience! Gah, it's going to be so epic. Then of course I cannot stop listening to Wicked, which is amazing. Someday I'm gonna see it on Broadway.

For my Gaelic I'm writing everything I learn from Mango Languages into a notebook, which is collage rule and has seventy pages. I was looking at it today, and I'm about halfway through the notebook! Already! Seems like I'm just starting. I wonder how much faster I would learn if all this time I was surrounded completely by the language. I'll admit, practicing alone takes it's tole, but at least I'm not learning the world's hardest language, Chinese! I'm so glad English is my first language. When you really think about it, English is insanely hard. Actually, it's the second hardest language to learn. I used to think it was easy, but it totally isn't.

Ugh, my stomach hurts. Not sure why. It might be something I ate. Oh, and we're having chicken wings for dinner. Fried food on an upset stomach? Ugh, that does not sound appealing.

Brunuh Ville released a new song, Song of the North. It's eleven minutes long, but I love it! Yet another vocal with Sharm, one of my favorite singers. It kind of goes along with the song King of the North, just a tad.

Happy Valentines Day

Just thought I'd make a quick post before bed, seeing as it's Valentines day and all. Actually, I didn't even realize it was Valentines day until I saw peoples' posts on Facebook. We've never really celebrated the holiday before, so for our family it's pretty much just another day. Way back when, Valentines day was celebrated to honor the saint, Saint Valentine. I don't really know much about the story, just what little tidbits I've read whilst doing history research.

We just finished watching Maleficent. I saw it in theaters, but Daniel and Daddy had not. I really like the movie. Since watching it the first time I've found that Elle Fanning (Aurora) is just how I imagined my character Madeleine from my story Believe. Visually, that is. So it was kind of cool watching her in a movie, after casting her as my character in my head.

This morning after waking up I heard the chickens making lots of noise in the backyard. Apparently we've got a coyote visiting again. He was seen around the chicken coop that morning, evidently interested in our hens. My mom scared him away just by stepping outside. Then later I was on Daddy's computer, and the chickens started at it again. I stepped outside in time to see the coyote trot away, jumping casually over the fallen log and into the brush. Before he disappeared he turned around to stare at me. He was so cute! It makes me want a dog, preferably a German Shepherd or Husky, and I just wanted to go pet him and cuddle him. Obviously that was never gonna happen. I made a tiny, tiny noise and he turned around and we haven't seen him since. A part of me wants to see the coyote again, but the other half doesn't. He, or I guess maybe she, would have definitely gotten one of the chickens if they'd been roaming in the yard that morning. Thank goodness they weren't.

You know how when someone asks the age old question, if you could have one superpower, what would it be, and you can never quite decide? Well, it's taken me some time, but without a second thought if I could pick one it'd be flying. So what if I'm afraid of heights. I've had so many dreams where I could fly, and they felt so real. Course, it was really frustrating. In most of the dreams I was being chased, and flying was an odd and complex thing. But dreaming of having the power is almost like having memories of flying. So that would be the first superpower I'd get, and if I could get another it would no doubt be breathing underwater. That used to be my first pick, but you can only use it in water. Flying you could use anytime.

So much for a short post before bed. Oh well, as I wrote I slowly remembered things that have been on my mind lately. Now I'm going to sleep. My back hurts a little, probably from the chair and position I was in all during the movie.

Movies and the Telly

I have found a way to make pronunciation charts for Gaelic songs! As of the moment I only listen to Julie Fowlis, though that's beside the point. On YouTube I can slow videos down, and by doing so I can actually catch how each Gaelic word is pronounced. I'm working on of her songs right now, so I have a new way to practice and get around Gaelic. Singing! This is working out quite well.

Today I think I'll either watch Tangled, or Brave. In French of course. Probably Brave, because it's from the library and I can only keep it for a week before having to return it. Unless I can renew it, in which case I could have it longer. I really wish I could watch Brave in Gaelic. Well, I don't actually know for certain that it's not available. But I highly doubt it, as I've said, Scottish Gaelic is a dying language. That's a little bit why I wanted to learn it a little more than Irish Gaelic, though it's also because I'm interested in some of Scotland's history. Plus Scotland is just beautiful. I've seen pictures of the Isle of Sky, and it looks amazing. I'm actually basing a place in Heart of Fire off of the Isle of Sky.

The Flash recorded yesterday, but with Sereina's work schedule we don't get to watch it the day of. So tonight we'll be watching Flash, then Arrow! The next episode is Canaries, which I kind of read a full synopsis of the episode a while back. It's what made me feel more hopeful for Black Canary. Oh yes, speaking of Arrow, I wrote and sent out my first ever fan letter yesterday. You may have guessed, but it's going to Stephen Amell/Oliver Queen/The Arrow. I'm asking for an autographed photo, so I hope I get a response soon. If/when I get a response, then I want to write the rest of the cast and get all their autographs. Colton Haynes is high on the list, and Emily Rickards, Willa Holland and Manu Bennet. Arsenal, Felicity, Thea, and Slade. Oh Slade, I really liked you before you went crazy killer. Of course I want everyone's autograph. Can't forget Malcom/John Barrowman. Thing is, would I want an autographed picture of John as Malcom, or Jack?!

Since we're on the topic of television, I should mention that tomorrow we're planning on watching Million Dollar Arm. We saw a trailer for it in the theater a while back, and Sereina just got it from the library. It looks like it'll be a good movie.

We got waffles again! Yeah! We hardly ever get breakfast food, so I usually have toast or something. I've been trying to eat less bread, since it's just carbs and it's expensive. But I still end up having two slices a day, cause I can't find anything else for breakfast.

Oh, looks like I've got some Trebon work to do. For those who don't know, our business name is based of the French words for very good, Tres bon. So the actual name of the busniess is Very Good Business Stratagies. Kinda funny, don't you think?

Far From Over

I have a small head ache, and I'm wondering if it's from the orange juice I drank. Ever since I stopped eating sugar I've become really sensitive to certain drinks. Grape juice for instance. I really love it, but when I had too much I got a really bad head ache. I can't be sure that my head is hurting from the orange juice, but after drinking it for a bit I didn't feel the best.

Oh yay, my check just came in the mail. Now it's just a matter of getting to the bank and cashing it, then I'll buy my time turner. Or, hm. Sereina's birthday is coming up, and she's going to the Disney store. Maybe I should save my money for that, and buy it after. But I really want that time turner. Ack, I'll figure it out somehow.

So I'm getting near the end of plotting Heart of Fire. Or so I thought. I didn't really have a good end, and as I continued plotting it kept getting flimsier and weirder. Deciding I should take a break, I started browsing Pinterest to maybe find inspiration. Then I see a picture of a cavern of sorta. Neatly carved walls with Celtic patterns. Perfect. All of a sudden I realize, this book is far from over. If I felt I had enough, I'd make it into a trilogy or something. So then, the book is not over. But there's a small problem that has to do with about eight other characters. Then I remembered another pin I'd seen a while back, of a large group holding lanterns and picks and such, and blam. Yes, blam. I started to realize where this book could start going. It's definitely got it's rough edges, and by no means does it follow the writing rules. That's one thing that irks me, when people say your book must start, then there's an incident, the stakes, final end battle of sorts, then the conclusion. I mean, it's so cookie cutter. That's partially why I don't like a lot of writing tips. They tell you to follow a mold, and I think writing is all about breaking the mold. Not to say there aren't good rules and ideas, but sometimes people get hung up on rules. They're more like guidelines anyways...

Now I am practicing L’incantation de la Guérison, or The Healing Incantation, from Tangled in French. I'm going crazy on this. I've also been trying to figure out A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal (Noble Maiden Fair) because the two singers sing it a little differently (one is of Gaelic origin, the other is not) and every tutorial on how to sing it is different and doesn't sound like how the singers do it. Ack, I wish Google Translate would get Scottish Gaelic. That's what makes learning these songs in French so easy.

We have been watching Psych like crazy lately. Just a few months ago we were starting the series, and now we're on season six. Heh, reminds me of when we started Doctor Who. Watching series one in three days... ahh, good times. But anyways, I'm sad because the show didn't get renewed for this year. So season eight is drawing closer and there will be no new episodes. That makes me sad, because Shawn and Gus are epic. They do crazy stuff. It was so funny, one time there was sudden shooting, and Gus jumped behind a car. But he jumped unnaturally high as he dove for cover, and it looked so funny. Shawn on the other hand crouched behind a pole that did literally nothing to hide or protect him. Ahh, they're awesome. There's an episode coming up called Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger. Now that's bound to be an interesting episode.

So far today I have not watched Tangled in French, and I kind of doubt that I will. Maybe I'll find the time tomorrow.

Queen of the Soup?

One of our most common dinners is chicken noodle soup, which I enjoy. But sometimes we have it a little too much. Most of the time Sereina cooks it, and I've only made it like three times. When I made if a few weeks ago everyone was blow away by my mad skill. My dad has proclaimed that only I shall make soup. Perhaps I'll call myself the King of the Soup from now on. Only thing is, I hope I can recreate what I did the first time.

I think I've just about got the pronunciation down for Let it Go in French. Now it's on to memorization! It's so much easier to find resources for practicing French, versus Scottish Gaelic. I'm going to have to be very diligent in practicing Gaelic, since it's so easy to get caught up in French songs and watching movies in French and things. I've been trying to think up ways to practice my Gaelic, since I have no one to practice with in person. My best idea so far is making work sheets for myself, to write and read Gaelic. But that would take a lot of work, so I'm trying to think of other ideas. I have some flash cards, but I've basically memorized them all and I haven't made ones with new words and phrases in forever.

Yesterday we stopped by Historic Flight, and out front there was a deer! It was just happily munching on the grass; it's not too often you see deer in such a populated area. There's a busy road right there, and yet the deer was just happily munching the grass like it was in a forest meadow. Reminds me of when I was little, and a deer, and two fauns were in our backyard (I forget, but there might have been a buck as well). We don't live in the country, and the green belt beside our house is too small for the deer to live there. But there they were, happily eating the roses.

I've got a lot to do tomorrow. There's a huge pile of blankets and pillows in the bathroom that need putting away, then Daniel and I need to clean our bathroom, and I still haven't gotten my old desk out of my room. Then of course I've got school, and I'll have to do a few loads of laundry as well. It's going to be a busy day. Hopefully I'll find some time to sit down and watch Tangled in French while beading or something. After I learn For the First Time in Forever in French, I want to learn it's reprise, then some songs from Tangled. Specifically the Healing Incantation. I also want to practice singing Noble Maiden Fair from Brave, the only Disney song in Scottish Gaelic. I already know how, but I want to listen to the song again to make double sure that I'm pronouncing everything correctly. OH! I could watch Brave in French too! I'll have to get it from the library though. Dang, too bad they didn't have Brave in Scottish Gaelic. At least, I doubt they do. How fitting that would be if I they did though...