Week Twenty-Two: Catch-up.

So, once again, we come to that time of the week where I have a blog to write and put up, and I don't have any idea of what to say.

This happens to me quite a lot, once per week, even. Instead of pretending that I have a proper topic to write about, I'm just going to start typing and hope for the best.

The funny thing is, I have so much that's going on, it's absurd that I don't have a blog topic or any sort since there's just so much going on in my life.

Next weekend, I'll be going to Pride, and I'm actually really excited, because not only will this be my first Pride, it'll also be the first time I'll be seeing my ASL tutor face to face since August of last year. Practicing ASL in person will be so much simpler than doing it via skype call. Not that I don't love skype, (and I DO, trust me), but 3d will be nice. xD

In addition to that, I've been playing around with ideas for this coming November's NaNoWriMo (I know, I know...I'm a little early. Hush.), and that's been fun.

Internet Prom was fantastic, Emily was a charming date and we danced in our respective homes with representations of our dates (I picked a unicorn for my dance partner), and it was wonderful. We got all dressed up and everything. Here's our prom photo, I'm in the dress. She's the unicorn.



The same day as Internet Prom was Relay For Life, which was both emotional and a lot of fun. I love Relay, and I even got a new haircut, pictured in my Internet Prom photo.

All of a sudden, there are a bunch of really exciting things that are happening.

What's going on in YOUR lives?

Week Twenty-One: Spy Mission

I thought that I'd share something that I've written in the writing workshops I attend every Wednesday night.

It's a mostly-true account of myself at age...oh, goodness. Nine? Eight?

I do hope you enjoy. ^__^


_________________

We were young, playing spies and chasing after imaginary villains. Hidden behind ferns in a headquarters made of a sheet and some sticks, the largest danger was mosquitos. That didn’t stop us from sneaking about, buzzing in with walkie-talkies every few moments to check on each other.

I was off on an important mission, a completely arbitrary surveillance case against our neighbor. Armed only with some camouflaging scraps of fabric, one half of the walkie talkie set and a staff to lean on…or beat off wild dogs, should the need arise.

Taking care not to step on a single twig, lest I alert our prey to my presence, I wove my way through the branches. A horrific sight froze me in my tracks. Some sort of bug with far too many legs had decided to take a stroll up my leg. Stoically, while suffering from some sort of internal panic and subsequent potential stroke, I grabbed a nice long stick and flicked it off my leg, only taking a new breath when I saw the poor insect hurled through the air and strike the dirt with a pathetically small thud.

No time for grief over this fallen soldier from the enemy, I still had my mission to carry out. Moving closer, I pulled out one of our more brilliant scientific creations, a high-tech recording device, and set it down, tucked behind the tree and set it’s metal spring in rotation to capture any enemy activity, stacking the wooden discs underneath it for power sources, and securing the whole conglomeration with a few brightly colored ribbons to pick up our signal back at basecamp.

Slinking up to the dense thicket around our neighbor’s pond, I chance a look behind me, and see that I have been followed. In fact, I’m being watched at this very moment. His arms are widespread, and there’s blood on his hands. Unseeing eyes gaze directly at me, and the expression on his face suggests extreme displeasure.
That Jesus statue is one of the more terrifying lawn ornaments I’ve seen. I’ve met this adversary before, and while his appearance is fearsome, he’s nothing to worry about.

I pull out my binoculars, and scan the house for any danger. A thought strikes me, fear coursing down my spine. What if neighbor Bob has a gun? What if he doesn’t recognize me? WHAT IF HE SHOOTS ME? A dilemma has now presented itself. Do I dare show myself and risk getting shot, or do I creep back, and risk being thought of as a thief and shot anyway?

I could radio back to basecamp, but what would they do, other than potentially get caught and gunned down as well? No. It was better to finish this mission alone.
From far away, a voice in anguish called out. My every muscle tense, I wait for the message to finish.

“GIRLS, LUNCH!”

My highly trained senses are detecting that sustenance may be ready. Picking myself and my gadgets from the leafy ground, I begin to sprint back to the house. I will finish my mission another day.

Week Twenty: Prom

Prom.

Since I’m unschooled, nineteen years old, and not planning on attending high school or college, not having a prom kinda comes with the territory.

No standardized tests, no running to classes that you hate, no staying up until 3am to finish all the homework, no cafeteria food, and no prom.

Actually, one of the reactions that I got with surprising frequency when I was a younger unschooligan was “but, you’ll miss PROM!”Apparently, this was intended to make me clap my hand over my mouth and scream “OH GOD NO SIGN ME UP FOR SCHOOL NOW I CAN’T MISS PROM”.

Get a high-priced dress, hire a limo, rent a tux, ask a opposite gendered partner to the dance, feel like a loser if you’re not asked to the dance, get a corsage and a spray tan, go to the dance.*

(My god, the things I’ve missed.)

Except that I do get prom.

Every year, my local homeschool group has put together a prom for all of the, 11 to 18 year olds. Every year, I’ve searched for a dress at the thrift store, did my hair in the bathroom, fussed with makeup**, and then went to the dance with a group of whoever in the area homeschool community is going.

This year, I’m simply too olde*** to go. There’s some tiny part that misses going, although as the years have gone by, many of my friends have stopped attending, so my group has grown smaller, and I’ve enjoyed the dance less and less.

Arc’s friend (and by extension, my friend) invited me to a wonderous event, in which we would get dressed up in fancy dress and romp about in the dirt and grass. Unfortunately, it falls on the SAME DAY AS RELAY FOR LIFE. So, I shan’t be attending that (this year, at least).

However, a wonderful person has created Internet Prom, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Prom. On the internet.

I made a video and asked my friend Emily to the dance, and she said yes. So now I’m excited. ^__^

Here’s the video of me, so you can see what I look like in my everyday life, and then dressed up.


And now, I have a question for you. Are you going to Internet Prom?

See you next week,
Whimsy

* Not saying that EVERYBODY’S prom experience is like this, but from what I’ve seen, most are like that.

**The one day of the year where I actually take the time to voluntarily to put on makeup. It just makes my skin feel all eeeeeuuurgh.

***Any excuse to use that spelling. Any excuse at all.

Week Nineteen: Mothers' Day

Happy Mothers' Day!

Week Eighteen: Shanta

Greetings, blog readers.

Years ago, when I was all of 5 years old, mum, dad, my sister and I went to pick out a family dog.

We went to this guy's house, and wayyyy in the backyard, there was a kennel with a literal PILE of dogs in it.
At the bottom of the pile, beaten down by her bigger brothers and her father was the only female dog in the litter, a beautiful husky with one blue and one brown eye.

We took her home and named her Shanta.

She lived with us for 13 wonderful years.
This past Friday, the most wonderful dog in the world passed on.

The house seems so empty now...

~Whimsy

P.S.
I've been reading all your comments, and I will reply VERY soon.