I'm alive. Yes, well, I am. I've also started school (11th grade, woo-hoo!) and finally, FINALLY found a format for my fourth novel (the one I kept flip-floppin' on), I'm hoping I'll finally be able to start the stupid thing. Anyways, I know I've been gone for over two months so this is just a "saftey splash". I'll be back to blogging later on in the year (I'm hoping), I'm just preoccupied right now. I'll catch y'all on the flip-flop.
K.D.A.
• 4 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Ahhhhhhhhh, silliness from my BFF/Manager, Hals. Go here for her latest post.
I'm alive. I know, it's had to believe but I am. It's been a good while since I last updated. Seems like I'm fallin' away from blogging and internet all together. The whole shabang seems boring to this one, rather spend my day outside (in a bookstore) than at the computer all day. *siiiiiiiigh* So with that, I'm probably going to be off and on every few months or so.
Nothing new has happened around here. I'm kinda, sorta out for the summer, still have a few more books to go. It's been hotter than a hound dog chasing a rabbit on a hunt these last few days. As I hear it, the heat will only increase. Great. Rain stops now the humidity rolls on in. My hair frizzes now! T.T
At the moment, I'm mapping out my made-up country. Yeah, I went back to that. Mrs. JK Rowling inspired me (again) and now I'm mad at her (again). Why? She made it seem too easy making up all that wonderful stuff. And so did George Lucas (I'm mad at him too), and C.S.Lewis (also mad at him), and J. R. R. Tolkien (I'm mad at them all). I'm so mad I should sue. XD Mostly likely one can do that these days. Ino. *shrugs* It's been fun. Interesting and intertaining. Helping to sharpen my skills! :)
Went to the bookstore three days ago and bought two books by Robert Graves and Dante's Divine Comedy. I also got me some watercolors and a kit so I can teach meself how to paint. :p Fun, fun, fun. And yesterday, we went to the Gangster Museum of America (located in our very own Hot Springs Arkansas located down the street from the Arlington Hotel), wax museum, and Lake Catherine. I fed the duckies while they fished. I even named them! Let's see...there was Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Equinox, Francine, and the mama duck, Gemima. :P Silliness. Had a good time though.
And this concludes an update.
Auf Wiedersehen. Kayla.
P.S. Here's some more nonsense courtesy of Mother.
You Know You're From Arkansas If...
1. "How 'bout them Hogs" is a common phrase around your house.
2. Everyone you know has been on a "Float Trip. "
3. "Vacation" means driving to Hot Springs or maybe even Branson.
4. You've seen all the biggest bands ten years AFTER they were popular.
5. You measure distance in minutes rather than miles. For example, "Well, Conway's only 20 minutes away."
6. Up North to you means Missouri.
7. The phrase "I'm going to the Lake this weekend" only means one thing.
8. You know several people who have hit a deer.
9. Your school classes were canceled because of cold.
10. Your school classes were canceled because of heat.
11. You instinctively ask someone you've just met, "What High School did you go to?"
12. You've had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
13. You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
14. You see people wear bib overalls at funerals.
15. You name your dog after a Western movie star. Ex: "John Wayne", "Clint Eastwood", "Jimmy Stewart"
16. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
17. You know in your heart that Arkansas can beat Texas in football.
18. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition. Example: "Where's my coat at?"
19. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, animal or grain.
20. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
21. You think of the major four food groups as beef, pork, catfish, and Sweet Tea.
22. You carry jumper cables in your car and know that everyone else should.
23. You went to skating parties as a kid.
24. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, ranch and ketchup.
25. You eat dinner at noon and supper at night.
26. The local paper covers national and international headlines in one column, but requires six pages for sports.
27. You think I-40 is spelled and pronounced "ah fahty."
28. You'll pay for your kids way through college unless they want to go to UT.
29. You think that "deer season" is a National Holiday.
30. You know that you can't get anywhere without going through Little Rock first.
31. You can't think of anything better than sitting on the porch in the middle of the summer during a thunderstorm.
32.You know what time to be home for curfew -- not because of the law, but because of the mosquitos!
33. You've said, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."
34. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Football.
35. You know if another Arkansan is from the Ozarks, Northern, Central, or Southern part of AR as soon as they open their mouth.
36.You failed world geography in school because you thought Paris, London, Bismark & Nashville were cities in Arkansas (& they are)!
37. You think a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
38. You know what "Wooooo Pig Sooie!" means.
39. You go to Magic Springs and Wid River Country every single day of summer--even when it's not that hot.
40. You actually get this and forward it to all your Arkansas friends.
• 5 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Dixie Chicks song Landslide. I like that song. And they sing it so nicely. Ever heard Travilin' Soldier? That's a good one too.
Ahhhh...I'm lazy. *lazy smile* So lazy. I think the rainy weathers been gettin' to me cause all I wanna do is sleep. Sleep and write and draw. Mostly sleep though. The state of Arkansas had more tornados pass through--again. So far three touched down. Details are sketchy and probably won't be straightened out till a week later. But we had them. River will never go down and those people in White County will be stranded on their "island" even longer if this keeps up.
The story Lollipop is coming along slowly. Not too sure about the plot yet, but it's coming. I'm redoing all my other stories, "spring cleaning" if you will. I'm also revamping my poems and song. So it's been interesting. Haven't been on the computer that much for various reasons, one is that I have a book with 250 pages that I have to copy notes from in three weeks and I'm only on chapter four. I got this book a week ago. -_O Problem? Yeah, I know. Shouldn't have gotten all those other books. I have zero self-control when I go to the library. :D
Mother's Day is coming up and I'm going to be drawing a picture for Mama. This should be interesting. I can only draw my characters and landscapes of rolling hills and she wants a picture of a cat. -_O Problem? Yeah, I know. I'm going to do my best though. :D Mama deserves it.
All rightie then! I'm going to go to sleep. Going to go sleep my life away. Naw. :D I'll sleep when I'm dead.
Au revoir. Kayla.
• 5 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
It has been Tornado Centeral for two weeks. Last week we had ten tornados all in one day and just this week we had three or four more. I tell ya, *sigh* this weather is killin' me. The River's up though. It's up high. It's even higher now. This weeks tornado, not too sure if it touched ground or not, brought a lot of rain which means more flooding. Our road was flooded from two houses up! Brother and I got pictures of it and treked through it. It went down after an hour, though. Curious as to what the river looks like now. The wonders of nature. :D
So, I am currently rewriting my second novel because, honestly, you can never just write it and it be spetacular in the first go, you have to rewrite till your fingers bleed and then some. I also have this great idea for a short, angsty story with the title "Lollipop" (Word of the Week) which I'm going to do at some point in time...hopefully.
So I'm doing that. And while I'm doing that I'm pulling ten pages a day in schoolwork from each book (five books = fifty pages = one day's worth of work). So far I've finished Social Studies and I'm hoping to finish Word Building today, and Mama's being a real dear and checking the books I've already done. *sigh* I still have Math, English, and Science to finish. And I haven't even started on Math and English! Ah, well.
On a lighter side of the sky, click this and humor me. I promise it's not a bug or anything, it's just somethin' that'll make me a happy kitty. *fanged smile* Cliiiick itttt.
And a bit more links just for the click and educational purpose of it.
For your amusement: Build your own city, a few silly poems that are made by little kids, and all sorts of quizes.
For all you writers out there: a list of things to help develop your characters and this really cool website dedicated to writing; they're also looking for writers, I believe.
Soooo, if you're brave enough to journey to the deep take a look at the writing links. >:D
Au revoir. Kayla.
• 4 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
I'm extending my "vacation". It's so nice to relax and sleep in a hammock in the sun. Listening to the waves roll by as the gentle spray kisses your slightly sunburned skin. Nothin' but the ocean and me, ah, what a life. ... Phfffft. Naw, stuff's been goin' on. I'm too tired to explain. I got tons of schoolwork to do, research to sum up, and a story to conjure out of thin air. Too busy to do a blog. So! Another week and we'll see what happens.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
Go here to read and critique Manager's story.
• 2 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
This is an epitome saying that I am taking a break from blogging. My mother is on spring break and I'll be far to busy running and hiding from her to keep up the blog. I'll return from wherever I end up soon, perhaps. Depending on how well I pick up on a few things I might stop blogging for a while. I have a terrible amount of stuff I have to do and one of them includes life and all its little despicable details. I'll know by the end of this week supposedly and will post whatever the out come may--might--will be. Till then,
Au revoir. Kayla.
And since I'm not going to be here, ya'll can shimmy on over to Hals blog and comment on the third chapter of her story. Click to get redirceted to chapter.
• 4 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
The song sung in Phantom of the Opera at the Opera House when the Phantom first *puff of smoke* appeared. Hmmm...I can't think of a THING to write so I'll just prattle. Friday night Mama, Colonel, and I went out on the town. Ate a sub at Firehouse Subs and then went to Best Buy. We got two movies each! :D Hoozah! Colonel got: Hitman and 3:10 to Yuma ands I gots: American Gangster and Saw IV. So far we has watched Hitman and Saw IV and I'll stop talking like dis. After that we went home cause we were hungry. O__O Colonel and I stayed up till twelve watching movies. Surprisingly, brother and I get along quite well when all that sibling rivalry is out of the way. And...a few other things. *eye twitches* But other then that we're relatively nice to one another! I want to now direct your attention somewhere else. Follow the neon sign. No, not the one that says "Free Hot Dogs". No, not that one the other one. Yes, that one. My song...my song is coming along rather slowly. The people on my writing site have critted it and one person (by accident, they thought it was the poetry section) said a few things and now I am discovering my "inner poet" basically, I have turned it into a poem. Yes, I know I can't write poetry. Yes, I am well aware that my song hardly seems like a song. Will you stop laughing? No? Fine then, continue on. Don't twist a muscle. My stories are coming along rather slowly. I've become obsessed with writing a good poem for once that I have, unfortunately and unconsciously, forsaken my other pieces of art. Ah well, they'll get over it. I'm in a rut anyways. Laziness and all. Which brings me to this next paragraph: Real World Syndrome can be a drag. Ugh. I have so MUCH school work to catch up on while trying to do everything else. AUGH. That's all I have to say about that. Speaking of "that", "augh", and "critter" I need to go critique something. Hm. Au revoir.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 3 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
REM's song It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine). Long title. It's an interesting song. Can't understand a lick of it. :P
This is a note. Notes can also be classified as an entry just as well as a memo. Memo would also do.
So! We have snow. Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow. Snow. But we don't have a lot. About two inches at best, and it's melting. :( Mena had a foot of snow. We had...nada. Sucks livin' in city limits. The way the snow came about in a funny story: It was suppose to snow over night and they had all the school's closed and everything. Well, I wake up on Friday morning and the grounds just as dry as it is in Spring. :D The poor weater man was insisting that it would come. "It's coming! It's coming! It just stalled on I-40." It came though, around eleven. Now it's melting.
Ugh. I wrote a song. A song! I write comedies and tragedies, not songs. But no, I did. Now I have to revise it. -.O Yeah...there are three things Ol' Kayla CAN'T (and this will go in the history books) Do. One is, of course, writing a short story, two is writing a poem, and three is writing lyrics. Ugh. I'm giving myself a headache. I wrote a song, submitted it to my writng site, they told me what was wrong with it, and said I need to fix it. So, UGH. But there's some good news, I have at least TEN ideas for stories. :D That makes me somewhat happy if not, possibly, even more depressed. .... Hahahahaha! I sound like an old maid. :D
Okay, okay, I'll quit my whining. I have to go and do schoolwork and catch up on my reading. Au revoir.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 5 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Said by the oh-so lovely Cheshire Cat who hails from American McGee's Alice. I love that game. A pity my computer's a curmedgeon.
You won't believe what happened to me. Well, you should really considering my rotten luck. Anyways, my keyboard went on the fritz a few days ago and I couldn't type without a number coming up. We all knew what happened to it AFTER Mama decided to share a bit of information with me. We tried hooking up the wireless keyboard, but it just wouldn't work (as always) so we're using the old Gateway computer's keyboard. *rolls eyes* I'd say something witty about now, but I'm afraid of jinxing poor William here.
So, yesterday brother, mother, and I went to NLR Airport and saw a B-17 and two other planes from WW2. It was great. :D We got to go all up in them and got too see two take off. I'd love tot ride in an airplane. That's one for the Busket List. Also, Colonel and I bought a 50 calibur bullet. Those suckers are huge! But it was a fun day. Glad Mama took us.
Have to go eat breakfast. Au revoir.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 6 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
The quotes by Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service which, in turn, is from the collection of Hayao Miyazaki himself. Great animater, great producer, does wonderful work.
Anyways, I don't have much to say so this won't be an entry really, just a quick note. Refer to the title if needed.
So! Getting on with the note: My friend has updated her blog with the second chapter of her story. Please go there and leave a review and be nice about it: CLICK ME!!
That's all folks.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 8 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
The quotes from the Wkiquote page marked "Mark Twain" and is located in the "unsourced" section. Basically, they don't know if he said it or not. Nice quote though.
Whelp, it's Monday. I'm late on my post. Which isn't acceptable. I really gotta start taking charge of what I do, that's a character flaw right there. Anyways, not much has been happening. There's chaos that has commenced within the first week of Valentine's Day and most likely won't stop for quite awhile. *yawn* Which is all goody joy for me 'cause I don't care either way. Except when I lose sleep, haven't had that happen yet. Ah, I went to Barnes & Nobles yesterday and bought Beowulf, The Art of War, and a book on English grammar. The Art of War is great, I told the Colonel that he might want to look at it before he joins the military: he just gave me that tell-tale look "I don't read unless I have to or it's a magazine with trucks and guns and hunting". *rolls eyes* Oh brother! I'm going to have to go back in March to update a few books and buy some more research ones. I have to order a few over the net so I better get Mum to run that by me. *yawn*
In the way of writing, I'm creating a military. Don't ask me how I'm doing it as it's rather pathetic. Honestly. *huff* Ah wells, sometimes you gotta do what you don't wanna do. I've been working on a few short stories and one of my main ones. The main ones coming along slow as I gotta get a book before I can continue it. The short stories are really just dabbles and spamming up my computer. But dabbing's fun. It's useful...sometimes.
*yawn* Wells, I got stuff to do today. Got two tests, one social studies, one math, to do and I have paper-thin books to finish before the end of February. Au revoir.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 5 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
From Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I have finished the first book and am now on the second. So far all I got to was "the white cat" which is the first words in the book. Excluding the poem and chapter name and number. So nothing interesting has happened as of late. Went to see a movie Friday night, No Country For Old Men. Yeah, that was confusing. I refuse to look on Wikipedia because I want to figure it out myself (and this will last how long...?). During the middle of the film they killed the main character. Then killed his mother-in-law and wife then the killer just walked off into the distance like it was some Western. And the ranger, he retired! It was odd, definitely not your average justice film. But besides that it was funny and pretty good. I still don't see how it was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Saturday I went down south of Arkansas to visit my aunt and her kids who came up from Louisiana. They were at Papa John's house (my dad's dad). Strangely enough, we had a pretty good time. Didn't get to hear the stories my great-aunt told because I was outside talking to my little cousin and a girl she knows, but I made Mum tell me some of them. We didn't stay too long, three or four hours at best. It was fun. I haven't seen my aunt or cousins in two years. My writing has been interesting. I decided to turn my main story into something different (surprisingly it's working out well) then my other two stories are coming along good, one of them sounds like a script. Not to sure about that. Might just post it on TW and see what happens. Ah, and this spring or summer, I'm going to post another short story. I don't know what it'll be about, but it's comin'. So keep an eye out for that. Ms. Sarah awarded me the Excellent Blog award. Thank you very, very much. ^_^ And a tag that Ms. Karina let me borrow: Name: Kayla What’s your favorite food: Junk food. And blueberry's. Favorite band: I can't say. I'd most likely get shot. Can I just go with...um...Breaking Benjamin and Nightwish? Hat or no hat: HAT! Favorite movies: More shots. Ugh, the Saw movies, Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Howl's Moving Castle, Clint Eastwood's, John Wayne's, um, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and, er, that's all I can remember at the moment. Oh! And the Godfather trilogy. Yeah, that's it. What’s your favorite flower: Gladiolas. Favorite item of clothing: Dark, boot-cut, long-legged, blue jeans. I love my jeans. And boots. Favorite color: I'm obsessed with the colors blue and black. Favorite song: Eh, um, er...how's about "How to Save a Life" by The Fray? Yeah, that has to be my favorite. ADD 2 questions to this tag and pass it on Who I tag: anyone and everyone. Bye-cha. Kayla. *Edit* A tag from Ms. Jordan: 1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. "2 tbsp. garlic powder; 2 bunches of green onions, chopped--"
Age: 15
Hair color: Dark, curly brown
Eye color: I say blue, others say hazel
Glasses: You bet
What do you wanna be when you grow up: Writer, I suppose.
Favorite shoes: tennis shoes and BOOTS. @__@ I love these things.
Do you like shopping: Bleck. Not clothes shopping, any other's fine with me.
Favorite sport: Bleck. Wrestling, soccer, basketball.
Who do you have a crush on: Bleck. Um, ... let's just say John Cooper from Skillet. He's a bit cute.
Do they like you: Ino. *shrugs* Never met the guy.
Do you wanna get married one day: Yeah sure, why not?
Color of your toothbrush: Blue.
Bracelets or no bracelets: No bracelets
Earrings or no earrings: I have yet to decide. My ears aren't even pierced.
Do you floss: Nope.
Do you have pets: Yup.
What kind of car do you NOT like: How's about every car out there save the Hummer and Chevrolet?
What’s you favorite cartoon: ... gahs, this is tough. Let's see, um, huh. I'm just gonna say: Gokusen. Yeah, Gokusen and Desert Punk. Yup. That should do it. Moving on.
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What can you touch? The computer tower.
3. What was the last thing you watched on TV? Some sci-fi B-movie on the Sci-fi channel.
4. Without looking, guess what time it is. 11:34.
5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 11:34
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? The tellie.
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? Walking in the door from walking outside from getting out of the car...last night.
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? The keybored
9. What are you wearing? PJ's.
10. Did you dream last night? Most likely.
11. When did you last laugh? Last night.
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? ... paint.
13. Seen anything weird lately? Eh, my cousin nearly got trampled by a horse. Oh, and my dad's family was laughing and getting along. That was pretty weird.
14. What do you think of this quiz? Interesting.
15. What is the last film or video you saw? Spellbound.
16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? Books, CD's, movies, video games, a house.
17. Tell me something about you that I do not know. Eh, I have a few skeleton's in my closet. And some are still fresh.
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? Interesting question. What would I do...hm...I can't think of a thing. Changing one thing won't help. You would have to change a hundred things for anything to work. And even then its probably pointless.
19. Do you like to dance? When no one's looking.
20. Comment to George Bush:
Eh, hello, sir?
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? Brat 1?
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? Brat 2?
23. What are you listening too? The TV and the dryer.
24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gate? "Would you care to join our archives staff?"
25. What one book, besides the Bible, has changed your life? An assortment of old books.
26. 3-5 people who must also do this quiz on THEIR blog: guitarchick911, writergirl, youngwhisper, JusticeAndMercy, and anyone else.
• 7 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Those Nights by Skillet.
We went to WinterJam! We went to WinterJam! *dances* Friday night, Manager, me, Rachel, Robbie, Manager's mom, and two other adults, and Heidi all went to Alltel Arena and saw Skillet, MercyMe, NewSong, Mandisa, BarlowGirl, and a few other's preform. It was great. Really, really loud, but great. I was sitting between Manager and Robbie and kept annoying him. Seriously, it's always fun to annoy a boy. We stayed steated till Skillet came to the stage then we went all...fangirlish. I thought Haley and Rachel were going to fly over the balcony what with all the head-bangin'. Then, during intermission, we went to the floor and met Mandisa and Group 1 Crew. Didn't get to meet Skillet though 'cause BarlowGirl was on and Heidi wanted to see them preform. And apparently intermission was the only time you could see the bands. So, yeah, that kinda sucked, but it's okay. See 'em next time, I suppose. By the time MercyMe came on Robbie and I were tired. So we prattled. And prattled. And prattled. Then it was over. So we all got into Haley's mom's van and drove back to McDonald's where, but of course, they were packed with people from the concert at Alltel (this was at midnight). So we went to Wendy's, got what satisfied us, and waited in the lot for Mum to pick me up. I dropped the moment I got into bed.
Then! Today, we went to the shoe store (...) and bought combat boots! ^O^ Okay, so they're simply the boots firefighters and police officers wear. Still wicked cool. Then we went to Mammaw's where we visited. And now I am home typing this and listening to Dial M for Murder. Not much to say other then Friday night.
As for my story: I have come to a certain conclussion that I REALLY don't like. Ugh...I have to trash a complete novel because it's...it's just not original. So I have to go with my second novel and revise EVERYTHING. I'm not even going to complain. It's too depressing.
So that's all that I got worth saying. Sorry it's not big, long, or elaborate with quips and dips, but I'm tired. And I'm going to bed. G'night.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 14 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Over the Hills and Far Away is a song by the Finnish symphonic power metal rock band Nightwish. Now THEY are a good band. Symphonic power metal is combining heavy metal and opera music to create an awsome sound that anyone can enjoy. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is symphonic.
Sooo...it's that time of week again where I update and tell all about my week. I'm gonna chop it up a bit 'cause my memory spand is equivelent to that of a goldfish's.
Friday: Went to Barnes & Nobels and bought bookies. Let's see, I got this book on ninjas (only got it 'cause the cover looked cool. What? It was shiny! I like shiny things) and got two books on stars. One's a field guide which, I suppose, I really didn't need and the other is a book on constellations, it shows you the location of Draco, Scorpius, and all those other wonderful patterns and a book with the complete works of Lewis Carroll. Then, we went to Hastings where I got a CD by Nighwish. Yup, listin' to it now. Very muse-like-ish.
Saturday: I don't know what we did that day. I think just mope about.
Sunday: I don't know what happened on this day either. Didn't go to the boosktore, of that I'm sure. :d
Monday: Mum was off cause of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Good thing too 'cause we spent part of our day trying to get the van to start. *rolls eyes* We were stranded here for three or four hours with two cars that wouldn't start. We kept switching out batteries and charging them. Finally, we got the van to start (well, they did, I was inside doing something. I'm not even going to tell you how they got it started, I don't even think I want to know) and headed off to Sears where they got a bigger and better and more expensive battery charger. If this one doesn't cut it then we have a serious problem.
Tuesday: I can't remember what we did that day. Think it was important though. Ino. *shrugs*
Wednesday: Ah, now I remember this day. Colonel and I went with mother to tutour a kid whose going to get his GED (...) when fifteen minutes thru the lesson the power in the library went out and the librarians were closing it down. Came on ten minutes later. But that's okay. We went to Hobby Lobby where Mum got two blocks of clay for the school-kittens and Colonel got a Black Hawk model. Then we went to Barnes & Nobels where I proceded to point out every single book I wanted whether I need it or not (hey, they were classics). Anyways, I would up buying three mangas: DragonBall vol. 12 and 13, Inu-Yahsa vol. 31, and an Latin-English/English-Latin dictionary. I was trying to find a book on stars (not the constellations, just the stars) but they didn't have any so I gotta go back at some point in time and buy that book. Then after that we went to Subway and ate then went home. And all through out the day (well, when we left) I was nice and chatting to everyone. I mostly do that when I'm upset. Colonel, before we went to the library, slammed my hand in the door (it didn't hurt. Honest. Well, it does now, but it didn't then) and I spent my $75 dollar gift card at B&N when I wanted to pend my $25 dollar one. So, yeah, those two things kinda chapped my hide (more the gift card thing then the door-slamming-on-hand bit). But it was a good day.
Thursday: Did nothing. Typed stories, did Latin. Nothin' worthe mentioning.
Friday: Not a thing to tell. It's only 9:26 AM. Mum forgot to pay the Dish bill so Brother's in his room sleeping. Suppose I'll have to wake him up later. Men are so melodramatic.
Anyways, that was my week in detail, well, the parts I remembered at least. *yawn* I'm tired. It's been the longest week since I can remember (three-second memory spand). I'm gonna go back to doing whatever I was doing before.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
*Edit*
I confiscated this tag from Writergirl06. Uh, how shall we say...? it has been "borrowed without permission"? >:D Naw, I thought it was cool and thought I'd give it a swing.
Five Favorite Senses Tag.
A) Favorite Five Smells
(1) Diesal
(2) Roses
(3) Wood (cedar, pine, et cetera)
(4) Sheets when they come off the line
(5) This flowery sent that's been hanging around
B) Favorite Sounds
(1) Dumptruck
(2) Music
(3) Rustling of the leaves
(4) Typing
(5) Silence
C) Favoite Tastes
(1) Orange Sherbert ice-cream
(2) Coffee
(3) Blueberry's
(4) Peppermints
(5) Tea
D) Favorites things to feel
(1) The wind
(2) Clean sheets
(3) Rain
(4) Velvet
(5) Cold steel
E) Favorite Sights
(1) Cat sleeping
(2) Mountain tops
(3) Two years ago my daddy took Colonel, Mum, and I to the airport to watch the planes take off. It wasn't anything big, but it was cool.
(4) My family sitting at the dining room table at Mammaw's house gossiping and laughing.
(5) Sunny days
• 6 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
And in the pretense that you do not like what you find, simply drop it in the lake and find something more interesting. :D I added that bit. The quote in the header is from the Cheshire Cat out of American McGee's Alice. I want that computer game. Alas, Willie here is highly incompetent of comprehending the signifigence and reality of his owner (namely me) needing him to work properly and orderly. He's such a simpleton.
Just in case you missed the post last week (...) I'm going to repeat what I said: Manager has written a story. She posted the first chapter on her blog and would like those who haven't read and crited it to do so. The link is here: CLICK ME! Please be nice about it when you do comment and be honest. Thank you and moving on.
Nothing of interest has happened in my infamous life. Ah, wait, I did start my online school and it's been killing Kayla Time. That and TW. I have five subjects: Science, Social Studies, Math, English, and Word Building. I'm a few pages away from Social Studies and might just finish it today just for the sake of it. I have a lot of Science to do and about...one, two, three--four, five, yada, yada, yada...sixteen pages of Math. So, yeah, I got to do some work.
Writing has been a bitty bit slow. I'm re-editing the quote file (the horror!) and typing up one of my short stories while getting one to post on TW. Now I remember saying that I would post the draft of the first chaper and I'll do so...soon as I say a few words. *clears throat* I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Ms. Dixiebeauty who is turning twenty the twenty-second. :D My birthday present to you.
Note: This is a draft of Chapter One of The-Book-Which-Currently-Has-No-Name. Ignore the words in blue. Those are words I have to deal with at some point in time. I also started it from the beginning so you can get the feel of it. Oh, and I left a bit of the ending out because it just didn't quite cut it. So! With further adiue I give you:
Chapter One
One could already guess that this girl was up to no-good as she scurried across the castle way, watching her step as she did so. Anyone who wasn't blind could tell she was of some threat as a katana hung loose at her left side. The black metal sheath slapped at her camouflaged leg in a rhythm, a hand grasping the cloth handle firmly as she jumped, accidentally brushing the ruby at the hilt with her finger. It flashed red but ceased as her hand went up to touch a wooden door. Yes, she had reached the castle. Perfect.
If the sneaking around wasn't a dead give away then the perfect precision in which she picked the iron-clad lock was. Looking at the thing dully for a moment, the girl chunked it over her shoulder with a shrug. No use in keeping it, to rusted to do much good. Grasping the door she yanked it open with an odd air of grace and authority. She slid thru the small opening calmly, placing the palm of her hand on the door so it would close quietly. Last thing she needed was a squeaky door.
Very stealth like the girl somewhat ran down the hall, boots not making a sound as her head looked left and right. Door, door, shoji, shoji, door, door. She was looking for a hallway. The man specifically said a hallway. He just failed to mention in which direction. The girl silently cursed the vendor at the market place. Why she had trusted a human as sneaky as him, she had no clue, the way he merely shoved a diamond incrusted lamp under her nose caught her attention. Again, the girl didn't know why. She preferred rubies over diamonds any day. Sighing, she shook her head, "They won't like this one bit, that they won't." she muttered contemplating if she should go back and forget the whole "mission", then she saw the hallway. Bingo.
A soft "tack" sound vibrated off the walls as she ran down the long dark hallway. It reminded her eerily of her uncle's dungeon except with a more homely feel to it. 'Which is quite weird, you have to admit O brain of mine, because dungeons are intended for torture and death! Not exactly quaint, little cottage material.' Stopping in front of two great oak doors, the girl clasped the dragon headed handle in her hand and pulled. A great groaning sound echoed thru the silent castle like a gong, vibrating off every wall, shoji, and door around. The girl all but froze as she made a mad dash in to the forbidden chamber. She'd never live it down if she was caught and tried as a petty thief. Though it wouldn't matter considering the fact that ninja's don't get caught. Not this one anyways.
Pulling a torch off the wall she struck a match against the marble and lit the piece of wood, a smirk crossing her beautiful face as it luminated a soft glowing light. Her aunt was right after all, torches are best for sneaking mission, who would have thought. Clasping the handle of her sword for slight comfort the girl walked the length of the treasure troved room, head looking left and right as she eyed mountains and mountains of gold, gems, rubies, and, without doubt, stolen priceless antiques. It wasn't known as Fortress Rosuto-kin for nothing.
Not to be swayed by the pretty, shiny things (even though she would have loved to sit on top of one of the mountains and count to her hearts content) the young girl walked up to a red-wooded cabinet. It had carvings of mountain landscapes and oceans with dragons flying over head. The stranger knew almost at once that it was very old, and very dusty, meaning it was a priceless antique. Best not set it on fire then.
Setting the torch down in its little holder on the wall she opened the cabinet and began to rummage thru trying to find what she was so desperately looking for, the thing that had caused her mother to drag her out of her nice, warm bed in the middle of the night. The girl resolved she would never forgive that woman even if she did give her a wicked, awsome sword and peanuts. Thus, she resolved to muttering to herslef to let out the pent up anger, she didn't want to get tried for destruction of preceless, albiet stolen, antiques.
"No, no, she said it would be in a cabinet that looked like crap. ... Okay, so she didn't say 'crap', but the definition of 'really old and ancient' is 'crap', sorry father if I have spoken against you. Hey! Seventh Century maps, now these are old!" she mused unrolling one to look at the ancient doodling. After a moment she shrugged, tossing it to the side as though it was nothing. She was more then certain one of her aunts would have killed her if they witnessed such a thing.
After awhile the girl cursed and swore in a long-dead language. "Where is it?!" She snarled resisting the urge to slam the armoire door shut. It wouldn't do to wake the castle up. 'Course what does it matter?' She thought gloomily, her eyes wandering over the room for no reason. 'It's nearly dawn and the spells wearin' off the sentries.' Heaving a great sigh the young girl was about to leave when something caught her interest. It was buried under mountains of gold, had not the sapphire stone sticking out from the silver handle caught her sharp eye in the torch light, she might have missed it completely and crawled home empty handed. And that simply wouldn't do.
Grabbing the torch of the wall she walked briskly to the "item" and examined it, well the part that was sticking up anyways. Nodding her head in small satisfaction, the young maiden set the torch down in the gold, some way off so it wouldn’t collapse as she shifted the mounds of money. It wasn't that hard as she pocketed some of the gold with a catish-grin and threw some of it to the side. 'No sense in taking more then you can carry; after all, don't want to be weighed down when running.' She thought connivingly as the girl dug like a dog till she reached the blade.
Grabbing the hilt she yanked it with ease out of the treasure, ignoring the whooshing and collapsing sound as she did so. Her face was graced with a sinister grin as she twirled the katana between her fingers with perfect ease. Yes, at long last she had the Legendary Sword of the Moon. Who was it who said she couldn't do it? James? Oh, she would definitly show him all right. Sliding it in to the folds of her belt the girl walked quietly out of the room, shutting the door with precise ease behind her. Striding confidently (and why not? she just completed a very hard mission!) down the hall the white-haired girl would have taken the time to admire the sunrise, if she didn't hear a very loud ringing.
'Wait? Ringing? Blazes! The spell's wearing off!' Clasping her hand around the hilts of the two swords she ran thru the hall keeping to the shadows and not making a sound. It was ironic that the young maiden remembered her training, she never did pay much attention choosing to spar and romp around with her kin or the other children instead. It was more ironic that it would sneak back in to her mind again, especially when the "plan" was coming up. The white-haired teenager knew she would need all the luck, training, and memories she could get and she would need it soon. Very soon.
Slipping thru the very door she entered thru the stranger ran across the courtyard yet again and jumped over the gate just as the sun peaked over the mountains and the spell broke. No doubt, by the time she reached her destination, the manor would be in chaos finding the lock broke and the treasure room missing a few "assets". Nothing they couldn't replenish, for a band of thieves the Mikado Clan was quite cunning.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 7 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
I've taken a shine to old Southern gospel lately. It's kinda scary. The song is called Down To the River To Pray and is sung by Allison Krauss & Union Station. I heard it off of O Brother, Where Art Thou? though. It's a good movie. Ya'll should watch it.
Before I go any further I want to announce that my friend (Haley) has posted a bit of her story on her blog(click it). She's really nervous about posting it so go over there and tell her what you think. And be nice about it! I can't have Manager all upset. EDIT: I edited the link because she posted a whole chapter. Now go read it! Go on now!
Now with that done, I'm really sorry I've been MIA for a week. I just have a newly acquired account at Teenage Writers. I'm hoping to post some of my stories on there and get a bit of crit on'em. I'll basically just post short stories. Oh! Which reminds me, Ms. Dixiebeauty asked about a chapter in my book. I'll post the rest of it when she get's back home and settled in. :D I don't want her to miss it. Plus I have to do some editing. Like how much I can post with out putting up the whole chapter. But look for that.
Brother and I have been sick for awhile and finally just got better. (Colonel's watching Clint Eastwood's movie Heartbreak Ridge. It's surprisingly good). Saturday Mum's talkin' about draggin' us to a basketball game at her school. *sigh* Joy. Maybe I can play sick.
Other then that, nothing else has been happening. My favorite cousin on my dad's side (only cousin I see and that's only at Christmas we shall call her...Nickles) turned twenty the sixth. My other cousin, Talkie, birthday is coming up the nineteenth. I don't know how old he'll be, somewhere in his early to late twenties. So that's all that's been goin' on. I'm IMing Manager right now and in a moment I'll have to get off and clean before Mum get's home. Catch ya'll on the flip-flop.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 9 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Titles from Mr. Edgar Allan Poe's phenomenal work The Raven. It has come to my immediate attention that I have neglected to fulfill my quota of poems by Sir Poe, of course the neglect was partly due to a series of unforeseen unfortunate events and my habitual proneness of forgetfulness, nonetheless, I have decided to post, in this new century, one of his works known as The Haunted Palace (I just read it yesterday, a part of it, in The Fall of the House of Usher, seemed pretty good), so I'll let fine persons such as yourselves read it at the end of this entry. Or skip to it, which ever catches your fancy. :) So! It is the year two-thousand and eight (2008). Anyone have any New Years resolutions? Me, I have none. Don't have time for them and don't have the patience for them either. (Which should be fact enough to know I need them, but I'm just to pig-headed :D ). Nope, this year I'm going to a just go with the flow and swim with the fishies. All I'm gonna do is write, draw, read, watch movies, get annoyed, and write some more. Then perhaps in the year two-thousand and nine I'll declare world domination. Should be easier then since I'd be able to drive at that time. :D Sounds like a golden plan to me! Bye-cha. Kayla. The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe In the greenest of our valleys By good angels tenanted, Once a fair and stately palace-- Radiant palace--reared it's head. In the monarch Thought's dominion-- It stood there! Never seraph spread a pinion Over fabric half so fair! Banners yellow, glorious, golden, On its roof did float and flow, (This--all this--was in the olden Time long ago,) And ever gentle air that dallied, In that sweet day, Along the ramparts plumped and pallid, A winged odor went away. Wanders in that happy valley, Through two luminous windows, saw Spirits moving muscally, To a lute's well-tuned law, Round about a throne where, sitting (Porphyrogene!) In state his glory well befitting, The ruler of the realm was seen. And all with pearl and ruby glowing, Was the fair palace-door, Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing, And sparkling evermore, A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty, Was but to sing, In voices of surpassing beauty, The wit and wisdom of their King. But evil things, in robes of sorrowm Assailed the monarch's high estate. (Ah, let us mourn!--for never morrow Shall dawn upon his desolate!) And round about his home, the glory That blushed and bloomed Is but a dim-remembered story Of the old time enrombed. And travellers now, within that valley, Through red-litten windows see Vast forms, that move fantastically To a discordant melody, While, like a ghastly rapid river, Through pale doors A hideous throng rush out forever And laugh--but smile no more.
• 4 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Free Bird by my all time favorite Southern rock band: Lynyrd Skynyrd. I have their thirty years of great hits CD. Nearly burned it up. Be my second one if the little bugger succeeded. How was everyone's Christmas? Holly and jolly? Get plenty to eat? :D That's good. I got everything I wanted minus the notebook and iPod. Bummer. Ah wells, I got two gift cards and birthday money to spend at Barnes & Nobels. Booyah!! *triumphant pose* And, brother and I got an extra gift card to Hastings which means I can get a CD. And I have just the one in mind. >:3 Besides the gift cards, I got a ceramic doll, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Avril Lavigne's new CD, coffee and mugs, a stress ball, a thick Jane Austen book that contains Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, and I also got...um...oh! and a nutcracker and a globe shaker. That's from Mum and Colonel. From Mammaw I got: purple sweats, a jewelry box, and one of the two gift cars. From Papa John I got a make-up bag (which one of my cousins, Emily, loved to death) and a flying, Styrofoam helicopter. That's it. :D No iPod or notebook...or new desktop tower. I did, however, get to see my new little cousin. ^/\^ I got to see Cash! I got to see Cash! And I got to tease his mama all day! *wags tongue* It was so fun! We were all just poking fun at her. Well, I was, don't know if anyone else was but I was. It was nice though. On Christmas Eve night we didn't go to Mammaw's, choosing to have an early Christmas with her that same day, we went to a place called Garvan Woodland Garden's where they had Christmas lights out. It was cool. It pleased mama so I guess it wasn't too bad. She made us pose. Bleck! XP I hate posing for pictures, especially when mama has a camera. Then on Christmas day we went to Mammaw's for lunch. First one's there! Then one of my cousins came with her two kids and poor husband, then the rest of them started filing in. We sat, ate, and gossiped like always. Then the next day, the twenty-sixth, Mum and I went to Comp USA cause it was going out of business. I got some RW-CD's and a new mouse pad for William, he really needed the pad. It has an iceberg on it! ^_^ Yes, I know that's senile but it's really cool. It'd be cooler if they didn't have this stupid black bar advertising heaven-knows-what across it! But that's nothing...yet. ^_^ Then today I started stacking my boxes in to my closet (they were shoved in to a corner in my room) when I was so rudely interrupted by the realtor who wanted to show the house! Who wants to buy a house this so late in December and right after Christmas?! It wasn't to pleasing as I put everything back. That was annoying. Then we loaded up the dog and drove to Hot Springs where we took these *cough* "pig-trails" *cough* to everywhere. Brother actually said: "Are we still in Arkansas? Are we even in the US?" Yes, brother's crazy. Then we got in to this long discussion about how redneck it was out there. I just didn't want the old relic known as a van to break down! All though, there was this logging company back there...but we made it out alright as you can see me typing this. Anyways, I'm gonna finish what I started tomorrow. *sigh* And I was hoping to get it all done today. :( It's an American tragedy! Speaking of American tragedies (if you can call it such), what do ya think of the new blog look? I think it looks good, got a few kinks to work out, but it's good. Got rid of that hideous yellow. XP I loath yellow. Pink is a saint compared to that wretched color! Bleck! Drama over. I decided that since it's going in 2008 I oughta change my avie and blog look. I'll probably change them later on, but a new look to brink in the New Year. ... How corny was THAT? Well, Mum's off for another week (have mercy) and won't be going back till seven days after New Year's. She's already talking about draggin poor bother and I around everywhere in the state of Arkansas. I think I heard her say something about arrowhead hunting. /:) Can we say "American tragedy"? Thought so. Well, pray for me. I might not survive. Seriously. I could be dead before the New Year's even comes! Yes, there's the drama again. *sigh* To the doom. Bye-cha. Kayla. P.S. I forgot. On the sidebar, under "Places to Visit" (which was formally known as "links") I've added links to my short stories. I haven't checked to make sure they're still good or not, but I'm to tomorrow. It's eleven and I'm tired. But anyways, if anyone wants to read those then their they are. Now I'm going to bed. I can't keep up these all nighters. G'night. December 28 P.S.S. I just checked out the links and they're working so if you want to go read the short stories by all means knock yourselves out. I have to go unload the car now.
• 9 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect. ~ Oren Arnold
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? ~ Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Christmas Blessing During this Christmas season:
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
which is love. ~ Anon.
Two things upon this changing earth can neither change nor end; the splendor of Christ's humble birth, the love of friend for friend. ~ Anon.
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~ Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby
Then Bob proposed: "A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!" Which all his family re-echoed. "God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all. ~ Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~ Ebeneezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! ~ Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol
And he cried: "A merry Christmas to all! And to all a goodnight!" ~ The Night Before Christmas
Bye-cha. Kayla.
• 5 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!
Ah, how true. Those who fight battels with their minds and wits have conquered those who fight battles with blood and sweat. Though that says nothing of the Cold War. How can you expect to win a war without death? It's enevetable. There's another quote: "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. " And if you've seen The Godfather then you know this one: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." ... O_O I'm starting to sound like my brother. Bleck! XP The first two quotes are from the Sun Tzu and the last is from The Godfather.
Speaking of The Godfather, I stayed up till three o'clock last night watching it. Didn't wake up till nine today. Which is good 'cause I'm gonna stay up Monday night to watch another movie: The Curse of the Golden Flower. It's a foriegn film with subtitles. Love those foriegn films. Then...I guess that's all the movies I have timed. Well, wait. There's Desert Punk, but the Colonel timed that, not me. Which is good too cause I don't watch it smack-dab in the middle of the night. Uhh, sorry. I like movies. ;p
So this past week's been interesting. Earlier in said week I got new glasses, Mum forced me against my will. Turns out my eyesight got worse. Soon I'll be having those big, thick lensed glasses. Then the day after that she drug me to Burlington Coat Factory where she forced me (yet again) to get a new coat. I about threw a hissy-fit when I couldn't choose a camoflauged coat from the men section. Then I started going off on how I am NOT going to wear a dead rat on my shoulders ("If I want a dead animal on me I'll go out and kill and skin it myself!"), then I started going off on how the coat's looked too "girlie". I think I said something about how degrading it was for women not to have a decent coat. Then, after five minutes of looking and ranting, I found the perfect one and now I am content. (Phfffffftt). Then, later on in the week, we went to Pines Mall where I got all my Christmas shopping done. Let's see...for Mum I got her: the new Trans-Siberian Orchestra CD, the new Alan Jackson CD, and a pin. Brother got her a pin, a VInce GIll CD, and a radio. Then for him I got: a movie and Josh Turner CD. He looooveees Josh Turner. So, yup, it was a good day. I got Inu-Yasha vol. 31 'cause you can't expect to take me to a place where a Waldons (the only Waldons in the center part of the state of Arkansas to my knowledge, mind you) is and not expect me to get at least one manga. So, yup. I'm semi-happy. Glad the week's gone.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed on Once Upon A December. ^__^ Glad you all loved it. I was really worried that it wouldn't meet anyone's approval, but thank you all. In the way of other writings I'm slowly rewriting Classified Document 61 (previously Classified Document 16), it's very, very slow. The document is over twenty-five pages long and has lots of discription, which is a bit of a surprise on my behalf 'cause I suck at writing discription. I'm also working on the Character document, it's a bit scattered and chopped up so I'm trying to get it glued together...and I'm using "Super Glue". ;P All my short stories are at a stand still as I pick and prod'em like you would to see if a mackerel is actually dead. So don't expect another short story till Spring or Summer. In the way of drawing, I'm basically carrying my pad around and doodling. It's the First Stage known as Slacking Off. ;d
Well, guess that's all I can think of to say. Gonna meander about here. TRY to get my junk in to my closet, do the laundry, string up hotwire (I really need to do that), clean, write, stare aimlessly at the computer screen, and fight with my brother while taking care of my sick Mum. *sigh* I'm gonna go eat some ramen.
Bye-cha. Kayla.
*Later*
Whelp! Just got done putting up the Christmas tree. It went fairly well. Brother had to be the first one to put the presents under the tree, of course he couldn't have waited to get scotch tape...so he used masking and electric tape. Very intriging. The blue clashes with the red. Since Mum doesn't have a stocking I decided to let her use the cat's. She seems happy. Of course we put Coop's stocking up, seeing as how he's the only dog. Might have to go buy brother another present since he got me three. *sigh* Guess I'll have to get the game Gun after all. Oh, brother.
• 11 Those Who Spoke. • What Say You? • Bleck!