Theme Songs

Hey! I was tagged by Christian with a book tag. A couple of questions really made me think and started me on a wild goose chase:

Does your novel have a theme song?
Assign each of your main characters a theme song.

Wow. How awesome is that? "The Mirror" already had a theme song in my mind, Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell. But the second question was a little harder to answer.

I went straight to Youtube and started listening to X-Ray Dog's stuff. Do you know who/what that is? I didn't. I mean, I'd listened to it before and I knew that it was great for this sort of thing, but I didn't know what it actually was. Turns out X-Ray Dog is like a company in California that does theme music for movies. Perfect.

Those of you who know me can testify that me + an idea + picky-ness = laaaate night. I was up til 1AM last night listening to tons and tons of X-Ray Dog, search for something that embodied the four characters I'd chosen as my mains.

Finally, out out absolutely nowhere, Darren's song hit me full force. My eyes widened, my mouth fell open, and I clicked quickly to the tab playing the song. "Fight for Glory." And that was Darren's song.

Darren ~ Fight for Glory by X-Ray Dog

I looked some more, sifting through this and that, trying to ignore the fact that it was 12:48AM. I was losing hope fast when Paige's song found me. It was a great moment of "Oh my gosh...this is it..."

Paige ~ Truth and Lies by X-Ray Dog

(I've always thought that Decode by Paramore fits her too, MUCH better than it fits Bella and Edward, for whom it was written.)

I scrambled through more and more music, dismissing some and listening to others. Eventually, something that sounded a bit like Narcissa came to my attention.

Narcissa ~ Flight of Dreams by X-Ray Dog

(And yes, that is also Luna Lovegood.)

I'm not completely satisfied with Narcissa's. It's definitely very good and very close, and it might grow on me, but as of now it doesn't quite fit her. She's quieter and less...funny. Somehow the music makes her sound like a hilarious and fun character. And, I mean, she is, but in a quieter, almost weaker way actually.

Luken

Ah, Luken. The last song to find. Luken may be my favorite character. I'm not sure. He's tall and brooding and mysterious, BUT he's not dark. He's arrogant, determined and strong, with streaks of sadness and desperation.

And I have not been able to find a song like that.

So...heh...I'm not going to ask you to help me out or anything...BUT...if you had spare time...or new an arrogantdeterminedsaddesperate song, I'd love to hear about it :3 Keeping in mind the other three and their style, suggestions would be EXTREMELY appreciated :) I hate it when I start something I can't finish.

So, with that, I'm off to paw through some more X-Ray Dog in search of Luken :)

~Kendra

Lessons of Snow

Today has been a Monday: slow and somewhat unproductive. It hasn't really been unpleasant though. I've had a good day, I just hope that tomorrow won't suck because of the things I didn't get done XD

We aren't reading a play in Shakespeare for a couple of weeks. Instead, we're focusing more on the poetry part of the class. That's fine by me. The only thing is, the assignments feel really restrictive. Lots of times they'll inspire me to write something I really like, but then I just have to do it over because it's not "an alliterative poem with the same number of accented syllables in each line" or something.

Oh well. It DOES force me to write, which is really good. I need that, even though I'm doing a lot better with writing now that I'm not so stressed.

Anyway, after that boring rant, here's one of the poems I wrote today. I'm using it for my "euphony" poem (I have to write cacophony tomorrow).

Lessons of Snow

Whirring, swirling falls the snow.
Tiny drops of feather-light lace
Twinkling flakes of playful cold
Wander down with innocent grace.

The world is peaceful, calm and still.
The snow seems warm despite the chill
As people stop to smile and say
"I hoped that it might snow today!"

Hot cocoa calls as flurries float.
The snow flakes settle on the grass.
Dizzy and friendly they come now.
You never know how long they'll last.

Some people say they don't like snow.
It tells them when they can come and go.
But as for me, I like the flurries.
We miss so much in our great hurries.

The snow falls at whatever pace
And sweeps the world in dusty white.
It shows us how nice life can be
When we go the pace God says is right.

~Kendra

What's Up With Me

So. Hey :)

I've been thinking and evaluating and struggling with some things lately. Some of it's academic, some of it's personal, and some of it's creative. This year, you know, my goal is to be more myself. To become more the person I feel like I'm supposed to be. Lately I've been feeling like I have to choose between being myself and keeping up with certain aspects of school.

God has blessed me with two facets to my personality: academic and creative. Normally, they coexist fine, but more and more, I've been feeling like they...well...can't.

I can keep up with my school work. I can do great. I can be a model student and get straight A's and tell you everything you want to know about Nietzsche and his Ubermensch, but when I sit down to write, I've got nothing. Nothing.

For a while I dismissed it as a phase. Writer's block. Um, really LONG writer's block...a year and half's worth of writer's block, and getting worse every day...

In 2008, I read 40 books. In 2009, I read 39 books. In 2010, I read 20. Counting school books.

I stopped journaling. I stopped wanting to call my best friend. I got about eight colds in six months. I started putting on an act 24/7 of being the same Happy Healthy Fun Creative Kendra I've always been. I wasn't really very happy anymore, but I figured hey, I was making good grades and that's what counts.

I was beginning to think that I'd have to make a choice, and I knew I had already decided. Writing is who I am, reading is what keeps me going, but it's not what the world (or my parents, I thought) cares about. I can't even tell you the number of times my mom has told me to "stop working on my story and get back to my schoolwork."

Eventually I could do that for myself, and a little too well. I stopped writing because I didn't have time. I figured I could pick it up sometime when I did.

But guys, it doesn't work that way. You use it, or you lose it. I was losing it and I didn't know what to do. I made time for writing, but the words wouldn't come because I was so stressed out about what I SHOULD be doing. Even when I had legitimate "free-time," all I could do was veg out in front of the TV or click around on the internet because books didn't interest me, my words wouldn't come. I resigned myself to giving up creativity, and although it felt like cutting off my right arm, I was already halfway there.

When this year started, I knew I needed to do something. I was becoming dangerously angry and jealous of the homeschooled friends who had time just to enjoy being alive. I would read blogs and want to tear my hair out, thinking "Why can't I be her/him?" I was doing well in school, but completely miserable and losing myself in the sea of dates, atoms, charts, conjugations and theorems.

Good grades definitely count. Especially when you're (please excuse the potential arrogance) really blessed in the intelligence area and are 150% dedicated to getting into Wake Forest University. Good grades do count. A lot.

But is the syllabus more important than my soul?

I always thought homeschooling was about doing what was right for you, not about teaching to test or squeezing you into a system. I know God wants me to do my best and stretch my mind, but at what expense? I don't think he wants me to sacrifice my creative side for my academic side. I think there's a way for them to work together...maybe? Hopefully?

I finally breached the subject with my parents a few days ago. I tried to explain how I feel. Honestly, I didn't expect a great reaction. I expected something along the lines of, "Kendra, you're just being lazy because you're struggling in subjects that don't come naturally to you. Stop daydreaming and hit the books and everything will clear up soon."

But that didn't happen. My parents listened to me and took me seriously. We didn't argue and we actually understood each other.

That conversation definitely goes in the top three Must-Have-Been-God moments of my life.

We arrived at a pretty simple solution:

- We're ordering an algebra curriculum on DVD that I can do every day.
- I'm postponing chemistry until this summer. Without a background in algebra 2, chemistry is borderline impossible.

It doesn't sound like much, does it? But the way I feel is a 180 degree turn-around. I used to sleep until 10 o'clock because waking up was just too stressful and depressing. I used to write a total of 0 words a week. I used to be frustrated and didn't get alone with my parents very well.

It's been four days and I've gotten up earlier, feeling excited and so much full of ME. I've written more in my notebooks than I did all of last summer. I like my parents.

I just feel good. I feel like I'm enjoying life. I feel like I might try to do chemistry today just because I feel like I can.

I know this was a really long post, and possibly not something you're interested in, but I just felt like posting about it. I guess I sort of want insight. Do you think I did the right thing? I feel good, but every once in a while a shadow falls across me and I wonder if I should have just kept things the way they were and tried harder...

Comments are great... :)

~Kendra

Happy Thanksgiving!

(EDIT: .......it didn't work.......so I'm posting it really quick now before I have to go.)

I don't know if I'll have time to post on Thanksgiving ("today"), so I'm gonna use the auto-post thing. So, technically, I'm writing this when it's not Thanksgiving, but you'll READ it on Thanksgiving... XD

But don't worry; sometime soon, I'll post about what happened today.

I hope you're having/had a great Thanksgiving!

Girls' "Word Names" I Made Up
451. Peace
452. Survivor
453. Rumor
454. River
455. Tally
456. Trust
457. Every
458. Legend
459. Soul
460. Story
461. Lyric
462. Atlantic
463. Props
464. Amaze
465. Ocean
466. Anime
467. Memory
468. Lake
469. Lymrick
470. Echo

Things I'm Thankful For
471. Words
472. Talents
473. Writing
474. Freedom
475. Books
476. Family
477. Friends
478. Friends that are more like family
479. Straighteners
480. Internet
481. Education
482. Dance
483. Laughter
484. Music
485. Teachers
486. Advice
486. Friends that can drive
487. Food
488. Licky (my doggie :D)
489. Eyeliner (I really am...)
490. Razors (See above.)
491. Heat
492. Philosophy class/Philosophers
493. Languages
494. The chance to go to Europe this summer
495. My blog
496. My camera
497. My iPod
498. Thinking/Opinions
499. Challenges

500. The God who made all 499 other things possible.

~Kendra

Second Person Singular

Have you ever written notes to yourself? Just any kind of notes. Letters to yourself in the future, or story ideas in second person?

I've written letters to myself in the future. When I was thirteen, I wrote a note to myself to read when I was sixteen.

There's something really great about doing that. When you read the note, you're more than just reminded of how you used to be; it's like hearing from a different person. It's like who you are now is completely different from who you were then. It's like seeing yourself from another person's point of view; and who hasn't wished they could do that at one time or another?

Today, I was jotting down ideas for a story that popped into my head. I found myself writing sort of TO myself. Saying things like "this is where you put in the weird stuff that'll happen" and "you don't know why yet, but she decides to keep it a secret." I just replaced all the "I"s with "you"s, and the difference was strange.

When I read back over my notes, the ideas felt different. Just the simple word change transformed my scrambled thoughts from "just something I wrote down" to "someone's fascinating ideas." When I my words were talking to me instead of being an extension of me, I was able to look at the thoughts more objectively.

It's hard to see yourself as others see you. But if I write to myself, when I read it over, it feels like someone telling me about their story, not me reading my own stuff. And it's like seeing myself as a separate person.

I probably sound a little crazy right now, but you should try it. Write a letter to yourself to read in a month, a year, or ten years. Talk to the "Future You" like a separate person. Or write down a story idea substituting the word "you" for the word "I." I think you'll see what I mean.

Who knew second person singular could be so exciting?

~Kendra

"The Clockwork Angel"

Hellooo everyone! I hope everyone has had a pleasant week and weekend :D

The Scavenger Hunt is officially over! Only three people won :P Congratulations to...

Third Place: Tragedy101!
Second Place: Noelle!
First Place: Elizabeth!

Yay! I should have awards for you today, but I don't have them yet. Give me until tomorrow if you would :)

By the way, you know my obsession with (the amazing, hilarious, awesome, witty, clever, sarcastic, arrogant, extremely attractive) Jace? And the trilogy he lives in called "The Mortal Instruments?"

Well.

Cassandra Clare has started a new trilogy that happens hundreds of years before "Mortal Instruments." I've been wanting book one, "The Clockwork Angel" for months. I got it yesterday at Sam's (that's like Costco)!

It.

Is.

Great.

I'm only about a third of the way done, but it's great! I'm not completely in love with the characters yet, but that's only because I'm not finished. They're great. Cassandra Clare did a great job of creating a new story and new characters. I would have been tempted to make my hero and heroine just like Jace and Clary, even if by accident. The main guy, Will, is witty like Jace, but he's completely his own character, too.

I've also laughed out loud about 10 times already. I pretty much NEVER laugh out loud at books. I mean, inside I might be rolling, and I might grin or chuckle, but Cassandra Clare always has me giggling out loud and re-reading paragraphs just because they're hilarious.

Seriously, I'd read this book for Henry alone.

And he's not even the cockycutefunnyguy of the story.

~Kendra

Contest

So. I have a challenge/contest for you. But I also need help. This contest serves three purposes:

Purpose 1: I've never held a contest like this before, so it's a first. W00T!
Purpose 2: Exercise your creativity. You need it. I'm doing you a favor.
Purpose 3: I need this for a story idea.

Who: IF YOU'RE READING THIS YOU MUST DO IT. MWAHAHHAHA. Not really. But please do. It'll only be really fun if a lot of people do it. All you people who read faithfully and never comment, this is your day to comment.

What: A funny family contest. Everyone's family is weird. Some more than others, but we're all weird.

I need your funny stories.

Your little incidents. That one relative and how they always do (you fill in the blank). How you can count on your aunt to start a food fight, or the way your uncle never calls anyone by their real name. Stuff like that.

Tell me, and I'll post some of my favorites, and maybe put it in this story... (if you don't mind, I'll ask you first). I'll also give you credit if my story ever gets anywhere XD

Oh yeah. And an award. I think that's pretty standard for blog contests :D

When: RIGHTNOW. And until, oh, I don't know...til next Saturday. The 24th.

Where: Here. You can post your stories or funny bits as comments, or you can email them to me at livinglovinglaughinglearning@gmail.com.

Why: I covered that already in the little Purposes thing.

How: That's kinda with Where. So scroll up if you missed that.

Please do it. Even if you think you have nothing to offer, try. Oh, and here's the best part:

They don't actually have to be true. You can make them up! Of course, when you get your imagination going, you might decide to keep the ideas for your own stories! That's awesome too, but if you wouldn't mind, tell me anyway just for the contest part. I won't use anything unless it's okay with you.

So yeah. I know this was sudden and really jumbled, but...do it XD I'll know if you didn't. There is a page views thingie and a thingie that tells where you are in the sidebar >:D

~Kendra

Growing Up (unedited)

I used to be funner, lighter, less dark. I used to think about different things. I used to read. And write.

It's probably just a growing up thing. But it's weird. It's weird to think about graduating in two years, and then comes the rest of my life, just like that. I'll be grown up. No more having other people help me or be responsible for me. "When I grow up" is just around the corner.

I don't even know how I'm supposed to do this.
I don't know how to do stuff.
And I like being a kid.

Why is this so hard?

~Kendra

Finally

Y'all know I've been having kind of a rough time lately. Well, these past few days have been just what I needed :)

Sunday:
Play practice went great! My dad took me and we talked a lot in the car. I love that. I don't really talk to him like I used to, and I miss that.

After play practice, I came home and just sat in the living room with my mom and dad :) Sometimes it's nice just to be around. We watched some TV and I colored XD [Shut up. You're never too old to color.]

After dinner, my dad and I walked down to the lake to feed the fish. The sun was shining just right and you see the little swarms of gnats near the water. A boat motor made a loud sound and all the gnats JUMPED! It was the funniest thing! My dad wondered if you could make them jump with your voice. He said "JUMP" in a low voice and...

They did! It was really weird, and equally hilarious.

We went back to the house and Daddy watered the grass while I kicked the soccer ball and played basketball. When he was done, he played with me. I got six shots in a row, which was good for that night. I was missing like 80% of all the shots I took XD

I picked daisies for my mom.

It was a great day.

Monday:
Memorial Day!
"I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me."

We can't forget :)

To celebrate Memorial Day, we went down to the lake! My friend Brianna and her little brother Michael came over, and we went down to the beach. Before long, lots of other people had joined us. A few hours into swimming and having fun, a thunderstorm came up! We got a canopy up just in time.

I love thunderstorms. And this one was cool. Not the most amazing one ever, but it had a giant crack of thunder that made me grin.

Some of the kids, including Matt, were actually in the water when lightning struck nearby. Matt said he felt like someone had kicked him in the chest. I wasn't in the water when it happened. I was jealous XD

The whole day was just amazing. Hanging out with friends, doing random things, I even got to DRIVE MY DAD'S CAR. In the neighborhood, but still, with just me and Brianna in the car. Please don't have me arrested.

Tuesday:
I slept late and just kind of chilled around the house. My mom and Lizzy are at a practicum, so it's just me and Daddy at home. We went to this new frozen custard place, which was awesome. Then we went to Wal-Mart to get stuff on a massive list I had just made XD I also got CHEAP CLOTHES! Who doesn't love cheap clothes? I got a skirt and a shirt for a grand total of $9.70. Alriight XD

We ate at Subway.

Play practice went amazing. I'm learning the dances better than I thought.

Daddy and I watched episodes of The Office :) I love that show.

Today:
Another sleeping in day. It felt great.

I laid outside in the sun for a while. It felt soo nice out. I'm not really one of those girls who can just "go out and tan". I get really bored really fast XD But I'm pale. So, I took notebooks, books, and my iPod and managed to stay quite happy for about an hour. Then I got up and played basketball until I satisfied myself with a beautiful three-pointer.

After dinner tonight, a thunderstorm blew up. It was so beautiful. Daddy and I went out on the screened-in porch and watched the bright lightning and listened to the thunder. I love those peals where you can hear where the crack starts, and then follow it as it rips around the sky :)
Daddy had to go to band practice for our church, but I stayed outside and listened to the storm. God is so cool, you know? I think thunderstorms are one of his finest ideas :) It even inspired me to write a little. A beginning of a story that will never go anywhere, but hey, I like it.

So basically, I've been having an amazing past few days. It's finally starting to seem like the best summer ever.

~Kendra

Narcissism At Its Longest

So, I'm late >.< Awel Prince is having a blog-party-give-away thing and I loved the questions. Unfortunately I'm too late to enter the giveaway, but I really want to answer the questions. Hope that's okay!

**I'm having trouble with links not working, so sorry about naming your blog and not linking back to it :(**

1) What's your all time favorite blog/blogger? Yikes! Picking favorites is terrible >.< To name a few...Rear Window, The Word Crafter, Teen Justice, One Sparkling Star and My Life's Graffiti.

2) How do you personally define forgiveness?
Forgiveness is when you finally banish your hard feelings toward someone and can genuinely love them in Christ.

3) What object of your possession has the most sentimental value in your eyes?
I'm a really sentimental person; I have a lot of little things that mean a lot.

4) What song do you consider your personal theme song?
Hmm, Relient K has a ton of great songs that really resonate with me at different times. Up and Up, Best Thing, and Must Have Done Something Right come to mind with my life right now.

5) Do the opinions of others about you really matter to you?
It depends. Actually, no. It doesn't. Yes, they matter to me. I'm pretty much always either trying to make a good impression, or shock people >:D

6) Do you ever make up words?
OH MY GOSH YES. My family--no joke--made a dictionary for all our made up words. We are insane.

7) Off the top of your head, do you know what your middle name means? (You can look it up though! :)
Uh. Marielle. Something about the sea. *looks it up* Ah. Awesome. "Star of the sea."

8) What's is something that never fails to make you smile?
Cavender.

9) What person has touched your heart the most?
Hmm, in what way?

10) Give a scene in a book where you really understood what the author was trying to convey.
I'm sure there have been scenes like that, but nothing will come to mind.

11) What do you think of HTML? Is it the ENEMY or your friend?
Uh...I have no knowledge on this subject whatsoever.

12) What person comments the most consistently on your blog?
Hmm. I feel like it's a pretty good balance actually.

13) Who is your personal hero/heroine (fiction or real, or both)? Why?
My dance teacher. She is so amazing. I want to be just like her when I grow up.

14) Are you curious or are you satisfied knowing that "that's just the way it is"?
Wow, anyone who knows me knows that "just because" is one of the most frustrating things you can say to me.

15)List the your top 5 favorite songs. Do they have anything in common? Why do you love them?
They're not necessarily in order here...1) Call Me by Shinedown, just because I love the song. 2) Forsaken by As I Lay Dying, I love the lyrics and the sound, and it makes me feel awesome. 3) Painting Flowers by All Time Low, I think it was a clever take on Alice in Wonderland. And I just like the song. 4) Treasure by Flyleaf, I love the lyrics. For some reason it gives me chills. 5) Numb by Linkin Park, again, love the lyrics. And I love Linkin Park. Ugh, it kills me to only pick 5 XD I have sooo manyyy and for different moods, times, reasons.

16) Do you ever get into arguments with...your characters? (that's if you write a book :). And if you don't write, do you think you would?
I do, yeah, and not just about the stories they're in. Paige Walt argues with me all the time, but mostly about my own choices. "Kendra, what are you thinking? Don't say that, try this..." etc.

17) While reading a book or watching a movie, were you ever blown away by an unexpected plot twist? What was it and how did you react?
Inkspell and the Mortal Instruments come to mind.

18) What's your personal opinion of i-designs? (orignal, I know, but I really want to know! :)
Hmm, I'm not sure what this is talking about actually...

19) What's your favorite color combinations?
Blue and green in all variations.

20) What's your favorite comic book series?
I have never read a comic book in my life to be honest.

21) What is the oldest book you've read? How old was it? (By old, I mean, like antique books...the manuscript doesn't have to be old, just the copy of it. :)
Oh, hmm...I'm not sure. Our books are all in good condition, so it's hard to tell how old they are. We have an old LotR box set though.

22) What character in any movie or book, would you say is the MOST like you?
Well, Belle from Beauty in the Beast is always freakishly like me. Betsy from the Betsy-Tacy books is also amazingly similar to myself. Even the events of her life mirror mine! It's crazy!

23) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Hmm. I'd just be nicer. I don't feel like I'm a very nice person. I feel like I'm selfish and greedy and mean more often than not.

24) As a child, what was one thing that always frightened you? This could be something real or imagined! :)
Being out of control. Any way, shape or form was my biggest fear.

25) What's your life motto?
Carpe diem, of course.

26) As you're sitting in café, you're given a note: "It's in your best interests to meet me at 7 P.M. tonight, alone, at Pine and 4th." How would you react?
I'd go to Pine and 4th, of course! 'Course I don't know if I'd go alone. No one ever does and it always turns out awesome anyway XD Plus if I got a creepy note like that and didn't tell anyone, I know of a few people who would be ticked XD

27) Name seven of your favorite books.
Ugh. This is too hard. Mortal Instruments, Farsala Trilogy (those are six books together) and...Sophie's World.

28) Name your absolute favorite font (you can have more than one though)!
I don't have one.

29) Have you ever cried over...a book or a movie?
Uh, duh XD

30) What's something that's brought you so much comfort?
Books. Books, books, books.

31) Describe what you would call a perfect moment.
I'll know it when it happens.

32) What's the fastest you've ever read?
Hmm, I read Brisingr in two days.

33) What's your favorite book/movie genre?
Books, fantasy. Movies, action.

34) Do you say one word a lot just because of the way it sounds? If so, what's the word?
Hmm...actually, no XD

35) What's something you thought you'd hate, but ended up loving?
Root Beer.

36)Do you prefer British or American spellings of words (ex: the British favourite to the American favorite)
I do not have a preference. Although British spellings seem to have unnecessary letters, and I dislike unnecessary things.

37) List a few of your favorite names.
:O Oh my gosh, I was doing this just today. And I was having a lotttt of trouble. Here's what I got:
Boys:
1) Matthew
2) Jordan
3) Seth
4) Ryder
5) Everett
6) Cole
7) Drew
8) Jayden

Girls:
1) Khloe
2) Avery
3) Juliet
4) Lauryn
5) Raegan

38) What is your favorite movie?
I love The Matrix. But I also love Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. And the Bourne movies...

39) Imagine you're writing a story, and one of your characters keeps something buried in a box where no one will find it. What's in the box and what's its significance?
It's obviously meant to be a secret.

40) Was this boring? (be honest! :)
Nope. I love fill-outs.

If you wanna do it, that's cool with me :)

~Kendra

Book Tag! (Way Better Post Than That Last One XD)

Yeah, I'm posting twice in the same day. But I figure that's okay for the following reasons:

1. I haven't been posting much lately, so this will compensate a little.
2. I have some awesome news (3 actually) to share.
3. I forgot to thank some new followers :O
4. I got tagged by Silver Angel!

First things first, thanks for following, duck_sister, Marissa, Silver Angel, and Jennoula2009! Wow! :D (Sorry I couldn't find links for duck_sister and Jenn!)

Now, awesome newses XD

I FOUND MY MOOD RING!!!!!! :O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O I had totally given up, but it turned up in a notebook case! I do not remember putting it in there. Am I the luckiest person in the world, or what? ;) Another Fortuna Kendrae.

Awesome news #2: I GOT A CALL BACK FOR DANCE IN "THE KING AND I"!!!!! YAY! :O :D I think Cavender is coming with me, so he'll get to see me either sink or swim, lol XD Hopefully I'll swim. And gracefully XD

News #3: I'm on Facebook. There's a little gadget on the right...scroll down. Keep scrolling. Keep--yeah, there. Add me :D

Okay, now for the awesome tag from Silver Angel (whose blog I like. Check it out.):

Rules: 8 books you'd like to live in (mine aren't in order) and why, then tag 8 people! Easy ;)

Book 1: "Eragon". Sorry, but Alagaesia is awesome. And because it's necessary to continue the story. You know the green dragon appearing in the fourth book? Yeah, I'm the Rider. Oh yes.

Book 2: "Lord of the Rings". Surely this doesn't need a Why?? *sigh* If you must know, it's because I think Tolkien was one of the greatest fantasy geniuses on the earth. His world is so complete, it's hard to believe it doesn't really exist. Every race has its own back story, its own legends, its own customs and ways of life. It's just so rich with detail, and I'd love to meet the Hobbits :) Elves, too, but I do love the Hobbits.

Book 3: "The Chronicles of Narnia". Tolkien was a genius, but Narnia holds an irreplaceable spot in my heart. My friends and I once thought we had actually found Narnia in the backyard of my school. I'm not so sure we were wrong...Talking trees, knights in shining armor and wolves have to mean something, right??

Book 4: "The Mirror". Is it egotistical and/or cheating to want to visit my own book? I want to know that I got my characters right, and I'm sure there's a lot I'd have to see to describe accurately. And I wanna meet Luken rlybad.

Book 5: "Peter Pan". Never land is right up there with Narnia. No lie. And Peter Pan is freaking awesome.

Book 6: "The Farsala Trilogy". Really cool books. Kinda hard to explain, but awesome.

Book 7: "Sophie's World". That is such an epic book. It is truly something. Like philosophy, mystery, suspense, fantasy and education wrapped up in one. It is so cool. You have to read it some time in your life. Really, it's so eye-opening and AWESOME.

Book 8: "Uglies series". It's set in the future. Scott Westerfield has an incredible mind for technology. It would be so cool to use some of the gadgets first-hand. And the problems introduced in their world are very interesting.

Thanks for the tag, Silver Angel! That was fun!

I tag...
Bleah
duck_sister
Marissa
Tay in Real Life
Kailyn
Breanne
Katie G.
Avalon

~Kendra

P.S. I know it's too late to do the blog parade Bekah was having, but the questions are so fun. Would it be okay if I did them in a tag sometime?

My Daybook: Week 9

Date: 4.10.10
Starting time: 4:53pm
Mood: uninspired
Outside my window: sunny and leafy :D
I'm thinking: about fire fairies
I'm reading: kind of nothing
I'm listening to: the old computer hum
I'm wearing: navy basketball shorts and a brown T-shirt
Yesterday, I: did school
I'm excited for: Cavender might come over tomorrow
I'm sad because: I have school on Monday.
I'm hungry for: nothing
The song stuck inside my head is: "Comatose" by Skillet
I want: to do well in school
I love: warm weather
I loathe: school
This week, my goal is: get done with school
Ending time: 5:55pm

~Kendra

Cinderella's Fairy Godmother

Thanks for following, Shruti and Milly-Mischief (sorry, I couldn't find a link to your blog)! New followers always shock and delight me :D

I'm not supposed to be be back FULL-KENDRA-FORCE until Easter, but I feel pretty good today and decided to post. (It's warm and sunny again. I'm definitely seeing a pattern.)

Judging by the poll over there, y'all would like to hear more about my life. I can do that. Here's what's been happening with me lately:

Church.

School.

Classical.

Dance.

Stress.

Cleaning.

Repeat.

And TA-DAAAAAA!

Yeah. Now you know why I haven't been posting much.

No, I could probably turn some specific instances in my life into real posts. That might actually be good. I'll do that. That is, I will after Easter when I feel like putting legit energy into this blog XD

But then, according to the omniscient poll , you're also interesting in my writing. Hmm >:D

I think I've posted this before, but it's a short story I wrote for school last year called "Cinderella's Fairy Godmother".

“Oh no!” cried Cinderella, her bright blue eyes widening. She watched as her cruel Stepmother shut the door, locking Cinderella in her attic bedroom. Cinderella ran over to the heavy wooden door and yanked on the handle. “Please! Let me out! Let me out! The grand duke will be here any minute with the glass slipper! Oh, you’ve got to let me out! Please!”

Of course, the Wicked Stepmother paid no attention to Cinderella. She slipped the key into her pocket and smirked in evil satisfaction as she walked down the winding stairs to the main part of the house. It was only a matter of time now before one of her real daughters would be a princess. Cinderella’s little glass slipper had to fit one of them. Deanna and Caroleena’s feet couldn’t be that much bigger.

“Girls!” she shouted when she got to the parlor. “Hurry up! The duke will be here soon!” The Stepmother sank tiredly into a chair. Being a selfish control-freak was exhausting.

Caroleena and Deanna charged into the room.

“Here we are, Mother!” Deanna announced in her bossy, nasally voice. “Is the duke here yet? Where is he?” Stepmother rolled her eyes.

“He isn’t here yet,” she snapped. “But we must be ready when he comes. We must conduct ourselves as true ladies. Remember, the poor duke has been traveling around the kingdom all night looking for the maiden whose foot will fit into the glass slipper. We must act with grace and poise.” Deanna nodded. Caroleena looked baffled.

“We’re gonna poison the duke?” she gasped.

“Poise, not poison, you idiot!” Deanna sneered. Caroleena blinked.

“Oh,” she said. “I get it.” It was obvious that she didn’t. Stepmother sighed.

Now, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother was watching stealthily and listening carefully from outside the window. She smiled to herself. She knew just what she was going to do. Then she sighed and shook her head. Being a Fairy Godmother was a tough business. Always helping others, never doing what you wanted, being selfless all the time. Where was the fun in that?? The Fairy Godmother shook her head harder to rid herself of such thoughts. No. She knew what she would do. She trotted off to get ready.
~~~
Bang, bang, bang! Came a knock on the door. The Wicked Stepmother leapt up from her chair.

“That’s the duke,” she said. Caroleena and Deanna stood up as well. “Be ready, my daughters. Remember what we talked about. Grace and poise.” She glided over to the door and opened it, revealing the duke and his large, walrus-like mustache.

“By order of the king, I am to try on this glass sl—”

“Oh, yes, yes, the slipper,” interrupted the Stepmother, stepping aside to let the duke pass. “Do come in.” The duke pulled at his mustache.

“Yes, of course,” he said, coming inside. He looked over his shoulder. “Come along, Ichabod.” A short, fat, bald man waddled after the duke, carrying the slipper on a purple pillow.

“Do sit down.” The stepmother motioned to some chairs. “These are my daughters: Caroleena and Deanna.”

“Hi,” Caroleena giggled.

“Good morning, your grace,” greeted Deanna. They both curtsied. Caroleena lost her balance and crashed into the tea table. The stepmother pursed her lips.

“So, your grace,” she said to the duke, stressing the word “grace” and giving Caroleena The Look. “How would you like to do this?” The duke blinked.

“Oh, well, yes, um, are these your only daughters and the only maidens of this residence?” he asked, clearing his throat. The stepmother pasted a smile on her face.

“Yes,” she answered. “This is it.” The duke gave a quick nod.

“Alright, then,” he said. “I’ll just try the slipper on them one at a time.” The stepmother nodded. The duke looked at the stepsisters. “Will one of you please come forward?” They both rushed at him as if they’d backed into a spear. The duke was so startled he fell back into the chair behind him.
“Poise,” hissed the stepmother through gritted teeth. Deanna regained her composure and folded her hands neatly. Caroleena just giggled and blinked. The duke recovered and motioned for Ichabod to hand him the slipper. He did. Caroleena kicked her shoe off and thrust her foot into the duke’s face, wiggling her toes.

“Oh, do me! Do me!” she cried. The duke gently pushed the frantic toes away from his nose.

“Yes, alright, my dear,” he agreed. “Just place your foot into the slipper there—” Caroleena did.
Well, sort of. She got her toes in, anyway. The rest of her foot didn’t even go into the shoe.

“It fits!” she cried. The duke blinked.

“Well, not exactly, my dear—”

“Does so!” Caroleena whined. “See??” She put her foot back up in his face. Deanna sniffed.

“Your foot isn’t even in the shoe, Carrie,” she snorted. “Only your toes.” Caroleena scowled.

“So? They’re toe shoes!” she snapped. The duke shook his head and removed the slipper.

“Next.” Deanna waltzed up to him and delicately slid her foot into the slipper. Well, nearly, anyway. Her foot was smaller than Caroleena’s, but it still stuck out the back end. She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout.

“No fair!” she whined. “Mother! Make it fit!” The stepmother’s nostrils flared.

“I don’t understand it,” she said to the grand duke, forcing a laugh. “It fit perfectly yesterday. Deanna does have a history of growth spurts, though. Perhaps—” The duke shoot his head and stood.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said. “But the slipper just doesn’t fit either girl.” He put the shoe back on Ichabod’s purple pillow. “Thank you. We’ll be on our way.” He turned for the door.

Just then, a flash of blue light came from upstairs. Tiny footsteps pattered down the steps.

“Your grace!” came a sweet voice. “Oh, do, let me try the slipper on!” Cinderella appeared. The duke stopped abruptly and looked at the stepmother.

“You told me those two were the only girls here!” he protested. The stepmother forced a smile.

“Well, I thought surely you didn’t mean scullery maids, too—”

“Every maiden,” the duke insisted. He motioned to Cinderella. “Come, my dear, and try on the slipper.” Cinderella walked over and sat down. Ichabod trotted over with the slipper. But he didn’t make it. The stepmother tripped him with her cane. He flew head over heels and the slipper hit the floor and shattered. Everyone gasped. Cinderella scowled, which was quite out of character. She muttered something under her breath that sounded a great deal like “Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo,” and there was a blue flash that came from the general area of her apron pocket. No one noticed either strange thing, though, because they were all preoccupied with the broken slipper.

“Oh no!” sobbed the duke. “Now we’ll never know! What will the king say?”

“I can help,” Cinderella cooed. She extracted something from her suspicious pocket. “I have the other slipper.” She did.

This brightened things considerably. The duke tried the slipper on Cinderella, and it fit. With much trumpet sounding and rejoicing, he led her out to the carriage to take her back to the palace to the prince. Caroleena and Deanna ran behind the carriage halfway to the palace until they both collapsed from exhaustion.

The prince was thrilled to see his mystery girl and they began planning the wedding at once. The prince showed Cinderella her grand room.

“It’s beautiful!” she cried. She looked at the prince with loving eyes. “May I have a minute?”

The prince nodded and left the room. The second he was gone, a blue flash of light exploded around Cinderella. When it faded, there stood the Fairy Godmother! She shook her head.

“It’s going to take me a while to get used to Cinderella’s shape,” she muttered to herself. She smiled in satisfaction. “I tricked Cinderella, changed myself into her form, and am going to marry the prince.” She nodded happily. “Finally. I’m doing something I want and getting out of that awful Fairy Godmother business.”

So, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother married the prince instead. And no one ever really found out.

Titles

The lovely Laura has awarded me! She holds a Modest Outfit of the Month contest on her blog, and the picture I submitted won. Awesome :D Thanks, Laura! You can see the post HERE.

Hang on, lemme think of something interesting to post about.

Okay, I actually have several interesting ideas, but I'm really, really tired right now and I don't feel like putting that much brain into a post. Sorry.

My inspiration has somewhat carried over to today. I haven't written any more of the Random Story, but I came up with two cool book names. I have a list of titles that I think would be awesome for books. Now I just have to write books for all of them XD

Wanna see some of them?

No?

Oh. Okay.

...

...

...

Hah, admit it, for a second you thought I'd actually let that go. Tee hee, no such luck XD

I have a freaking ton, but seven of my favorites are...

1. California Rude
2. Black Christmas
3. Pride and Arrogance
4. The [Real] Difference Between Love and Loathe
5. The Intruder Letters
6. Maps of Life
7. The Wind Reign

Think they're any good? Possibly. Absolutely no fair stealing them. I play to write books to stick on the ends of all of them XD

Anyway, I'm very tired and I think I have an ear infection, so I'm done posting for today.

But, since you all practically begged for some "fun stuff like challenges" in the poll over there (-->), here's a challenge:

Come up with a book title. I don't care if you already have a book going. I don't care if you're not a writer. I don't care if a friend usually names all your stories (*cough* Gabby named my entire series *cough*). THINK OF A TITLE.

Oh, and tell me in a comment, cest vous plait?

Thanks :D

~Inspiration

Inspiration - arousal of the mind to special unusual creativity. From the Latin "spiro", meaning "breathe".

I honestly think I'd forgotten what it felt like. That feeling when you have to write. When all the sudden you've met someone new in your mind. When the world seems like such a perfect place to base a novel. When you feel that special wheel in your mind start turning. When your usually ADD mind is immediately focused. When all the sudden, you feel inspired.

In my experience, there are two kinds of inspiration: the kind you can act on, and the kind that just drives you insane.

Sometimes when you feel the urge to write, you know what you want to work on. All the sudden you have a brilliant idea about how to get the girl out of the dungeon, help the boy finish his sword, or encourage the purple giraffe to try parasailing. Sometimes all you know is that you want to write something with this new character you've just "met" or that your story needs to include walking through a field of daisies.

But then, there's that maddening sort of inspiration where you don't know what to write. Your spirits are soaring, your fingers are itching to fly across the keyboard, you feel light and happy and excited and you just have to write...what?

I absolutely hate that feeling where you just might die if you can't write something, but you haven't the slightest idea where to start. It's even worse if you honestly try to put something down, but it just doesn't feel right. Doesn't it just make you want to shake your brain?

As soon as I have some advice on how to tackle that, I'll get back to you.

This morning, I experienced the first kind of inspiration. The good kind. I think it has a lot to do with the awesome weather we've been having.

I didn't spring (ha, pun) into action with an amazing new chapter to add to Mirror or anything, but I sat down at the computer and opened the document I wanted to work on. I wrote about twenty-five hundred words that I actually like. That really isn't all that much, but it's more than I've written in a long time. Actually, I have a confession to make:

Until the past couple of days, I haven't written a single word of fiction since December.

DECEMBER. As in LAST YEAR.

Can you believe that? I couldn't believe it myself at first, but when I did the math, that's what I came out with. I even double-checked (which is more than I can say for my algebra).

Anyway, today has been pretty good. Inspiration this morning, inspiration this evening, and it looks like I'm going to finish this week's school work ON TIME for a change.

Things fell into a black hole awfully fast last week, but it looks like things are starting to look up just as quickly.

Life is a highway? I don't think so, Rascal Flatts. More like a freaking roller coaster. A roller coaster paved with worries, fears, laughs, good ol' days, irritation, and occasional inspiration.

And a heckuvalotta school work.

Enjoy your weather, and I hope you get hit with inspiration this week--the good kind!

Kendra's Warm Weather Rant

Notice anything different about the blog?

...

...

-_-

Oh, come on. *I* could notice this.

Yes, I've changed the blog back to its default theme. The warmish weather is inspiring me :D The background is totally new. I like it, and it matches the blog colors so perfectly. I got it from The Cutest Blog on the Block. I'd definitely recommend looking around over there!

Anyway, I see nine of you have voted in the poll over there. You are now my favorite followers. To those of you who didn't vote, I'm offended. I'm going to go cry myself to sleep in a corner, wondering why the world is such a dark place.

Nah, I'll probably go stalk some people on Facebook or maybe I'll write something. I feel like writing something. (Sit down, Kyle, I don't think it will be The Mirror.) I feel like writing about kids in the south in the summer hanging out and doing what we kids in the south do in the summer.

I watched "To Kill A Mocking Bird" last night. Can you tell?

Warm weather always sparks my creativity. I think I've always done my best writing when it's warm outside. Winter just kills me inside. It's cold, and wettish, and pale, and you can't DO anything unless you live where it's cold enough to legit ice skate. Where I live, you have to drive yourself to an ice house and pay to skate around for two hours will trying not to trip over little kids and gag at all the couples giving PDA a whole new definition.

And it's cold. Which I hate.
I like warm weather. All the good stuff happens when it's warm outside: playgrounds, cook-outs, picnics, bare feet, T-shirts, ponytails that don't make your neck cold, tanning, pools, lakes, the Forth of July, fruit, no school, freckles, getting in shape. What is not to like?

*thinks hard about this question*

I got it: bugs.

Bugs are a huge downside to summer, especially if you're like me. It's like the arachnophobic and OCD sides of me come together, making it impossible for me to sleep until I've checked every corner of the room for eight-legged terrors.

You also have bees, wasps, and yellow jackets. Bumble bees do not actually bother me. They're fuzzy and round and adorable and they look cute on the flowers. Wasps on the other hand are hideous and BIG and yellow jackets are like the Mafia of the insect world. They're always up to something and if you mess with one, the entire freaking hive comes to haunt you.

Then you have the mosquito/fly/crane fly category. Do I even have to go into this? Mosquitoes are loud little disease factories with long tongues (note the spelling of that, Cavender). Flies barf on your food. Crane flies were designed specifically to add to my paranoia. (Come on, they are HUGE with long, creepy legs, and they're so...*shudders*...just awful.)

But. Other than bugs, warm weather is completely perfect.

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go write something truly brilliant and charming, full of lovable characters and believable dialogue laced with underlying morals and a surprise ending.

Nah, just kidding. We all know I won't get past the first three pages. But for some reason, I'm going to go write it anyway...

You will never understand me. But neither will I, so it's okay.

Go enjoy your weather.

~Kendra

If I Were...

A fill-out I got from Cassie...

If I were a gemstone, I'd be tiger's eye.
If I were a scent, I'd be midnight pomegranate.
If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be black converses.
If I were weather, I'd be a thunderstorm (only not a scary one...hard to explain XD).
If I were a facial expression, I'd be one eyebrow raised.
If I were a car, I'd be this (which I believe to be a Lamborghini):
If I were a time of day, I'd be twilight.
If I were a month, I'd be July.
If I were a place, I'd be Sorayoni.
If I were a liquid, I'd be Coke.
If I were a taste, I'd be sour (like the gummy worms :D).
If I were a sea animal, I'd be a sea anemone.
If I were a food, I'd be Cheez-Its.
If I were a color, I'd be teal. Or silver.
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a guitar.
If I were a flower, I'd be an orchid.
If I were a song, I'd be Lux Aeterna.
If I were a planet, I'd be Saturn.
If I were a object, I'd be a journal.
If I were a fruit, I'd be blueberries.
If I were a sound, I'd be scatting. Just kidding XD I'd be laughter.
If I were a day of the week, I'd be Tuesday.

~Kendra

Record

Dudeeee.

It takes real talent to screw up every part of my whole life! Yay for me! I beat a personal record of sucking!

Ignore me -_- I'll get over it.

~Kendra

Where Did I Go?

Hey :)

Well, I'm back. I mean, I'm still being this weird, happy person, but I'm feeling a little more like myself, too XD

My writing style has gone extremely south lately. I used to be fun to read, I think. I used to say things in creative ways that would make me chuckle. I used to feel like words were my best weapon, my own little minions to express exactly what I wished.

I don't feel that way anymore, and it really bothers me.

What happened to the girl who said at least mildly interesting things like:

"School is killing me. Or more like hacking me to death with a bloody ax." (October 11: "...Hi."

and

"FIRST AND A HALF (because 'second' sounds too late)!" (September 8: Imagination and Irritation)

and

"Just keep me in your thoughts...and hopefully tonight will keep itself in my thoughts, too..." (August 15: My Life, the Psycho Mystery Story?!)

What happened to the girl who said she liked the moon better than the sun?
What happened to the girl who found out that blue inspired creativity and thus painted her room that color?
What happened to the girl who convinced her grandpa that she drank lemon juice for snack?
What happened to the girl who planned to read "Paradise Lost" over Christmas break?

~~~~~~~
Hours later:

Whatever. I'm too tired to work on this any more. And it's not even yesterday anymore. It's 12:02. So, I missed Friday anyway. Fail.

*sigh* Sorry. Never mind.

~Kendra

Day Five On This Alien Cloud of Joy

It's not like I don't feel the sad/crappy/annoying/suckish things that happen, it's just like they roll off because I have better reasons to be happy.

School is going fine. Nothing to report there.

Writing is nonexistent. But I'll get inspired sooner or later.

Family is a'ight, which is basically as good as it gets XD

Sickness is getting better. Now my throat just hurts, but I think it's from coughing. I got sick of being sick yesterday and decided I'd be done with it today. So far so good. I've scheduled myself to be 150% back to normal by Saturday at the latest, lol :D

Guess what happened Monday? ELLIE (bff :D) TURNED SWEET SIXTEEN!!!!!!! WooT! :D

Music: I'm swimming in glorious iTunes cash from my birthday :D And I want more music. But I'm being really picky and I can't find anything I want. I dunno. Any suggestions? In general, I have really eclectic taste in music. However, I don't do country, Disney stars trying to sound sexy, or praise-and-worship type stuff (like, I don't really enjoy Michael W. Smith, lol). So...lol, if you're dying to help me out, I need music XD

Other awesomeness: Cavender is coming to church on Sunday :) And then he's coming to my house, then to a friend's birthday party with me. Awesome.

That's all. kBai.

~Kendra