Oh. My. God.
I missed a day of BEDA. Let the flogging commence.
...
KIDDING.
Anywhozer...
I have honestly no clue about what to blog about. I feel like it's kinda lame of me to just make a list of god-only-knows-what, so I shall attempt a coherent blog.
Let's talk, y'all. (I am not southern, yet I use y'all when I type. Go figure.)
I have come to the conclusion that I need a name for my audiance. Something short and sweet, so I can call you something other than "dear reader(s)".
First, I thought that since I am a blog-ger than you as the reader might be blog-ees, then I changed the spelling about a bit and came up with bloggies.
I then realized that "bloggies" seems like a four-year-old's name for plural blogs. ("Mama, mama, lookit mah bloggies!" Why a four year old would have a blog, let alone two or more is beyond me)
So, scratch that.
Bloggetts sounds to feminine and bloggles sounds just plain...dumb. (You'd stop reading if I called you bloggles, wouldn't you? Yeah, thought so.)
What to do, what to do...
And then I realize, with a blinding flash of realization, this:
if this is the most I have to worry about/make decisions about/freak out about, my life is pretty dang good.
And it is.
So, after all that, I guess I'm back to "dear reader(s)" and I guess that's okay with me.
So what if it makes me sound a bit odd, or old fashioned, or what have you, my other linguistics point in that direction as well.
There was no point to this post. I have ended where I began, calling you all my dear readers.
I don't mind if you don't. ^_^
Off to enjoy today, and hopefully write another blog before bed tonight so that I can be caught up with BEDA,
~Whimsy
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
BEDA day six: Twitter Camp.
I am tired, it is the end of my day, and lookie here! I'm blogging.
I have a sabbat at my house tomorrow, so I will try to write a blog, but doubt that THAT'LL happen.
What I did today:
- Sung the Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella songs. Way. Off. Key.
- Rubbed ice up and down my sister's arm, and pretended that Moaning Myrtle was licking her.
- Cleaned two bathrooms. Riveting.
- Edited video.
- Ate chocolate.
- Joined InvisibleEleven on Camp Twitter.
- Realized that at 18, summer camp is something that I will not be attending. Ever.
- Was both happy and a bit nostalgic for something that I never did.
- Remembered that yes, I did go to summer camp. A pottery camp set in ancient Sumer, and Greece.
- Remeniced about said camp.
- Recalled that I disliked the other campers.
- Was thankful that I never had to go to summer camp.
...so, that's MY day. I am completely tired, off to bed.
~Whimsy
I have a sabbat at my house tomorrow, so I will try to write a blog, but doubt that THAT'LL happen.
What I did today:
- Sung the Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella songs. Way. Off. Key.
- Rubbed ice up and down my sister's arm, and pretended that Moaning Myrtle was licking her.
- Cleaned two bathrooms. Riveting.
- Edited video.
- Ate chocolate.
- Joined InvisibleEleven on Camp Twitter.
- Realized that at 18, summer camp is something that I will not be attending. Ever.
- Was both happy and a bit nostalgic for something that I never did.
- Remembered that yes, I did go to summer camp. A pottery camp set in ancient Sumer, and Greece.
- Remeniced about said camp.
- Recalled that I disliked the other campers.
- Was thankful that I never had to go to summer camp.
...so, that's MY day. I am completely tired, off to bed.
~Whimsy
Friday, August 6, 2010
BEDA, Day 5: Join me in NaNoWriMo this year?
Since this is a blog that is about writing (and other things as well) it seems only fair to talk about last year's NaNoWriMo.
Last year late in October, somewhere about the 20th of the month, my sister decided that it would be a good idea for the pair of us to write our own novels in November.
I think that you should join me this year for NaNoWriMo. It'll be a crazy ride, but someone has to take it!
Having written a detailed-to-the-max 50 page outline for a story a year or two (or three) ago, and rembering what madness that was, and the fact that I had about 10 days to prepare, I said no, as a sane person would.
Since my sister is SO not sane, she kept poking at me until I caved and made my NaNo account. I spent about three days working out a plot on lined paper, and came up with something that was drastically different than my usual attempted fare of fantasy-epic-adventures; a novel about teens putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet.
I love the idea, since in April of that year I had played Mercutio in my theater's show of the same, and therefore was bound and determined to give my main character, Alan, the same role.
I am so sick of not having lgbt characters show up in YA fiction, that I made Alan, Stephan, Melanie, Emily, Tanya and Oliver (all characters from that year's NaNo) either gay, lesbian or bi.
There were plenty of straight characters as well, but I found the need to include the lgbt ones irrisistable.
Mt book went off in a direction that I had no plan for it to go, and I am so glad for that. The creative flow of NaNoWriMo is unstoppable.
I noveled whilst getting ready for opening night for a show, and at the cast party, where I should have been socializing with my castmates.
I gave myself permission to make a glorious muddle of things, to add the man who says "dorf", the traveling shovel of death, and Katherine Bloodsaw.
I wrote late at night in a film noir setting, clacking away at my typewriter as the hours grew longer and I included dreams involving God, a gay man, and a missing pair of glittery jeans.
I word warred with random strangers, flipped out every time I wrote another thousand words, and I had a mentor who kept me on track to the 50k finish.
The long and short of it is this: Everyone should do NaNoWriMo.
Everyone should have a chance to douse their inner critic and do what makes them feel good.
Hell, douse the outer critics as well! They aren't you, and you need to nurture your own creative spirit. Nobody else can, will, or even should do that for you.
I guess that this stands as my open invitation to you all, then.
Come, join me, make mistakes, make art. Throw yourself into the joy of creating something that wasn't there before you started to make it. Live your life to the fullest everyday, and don't let the nay-sayers ruin your dreams. Dream big, dream on, and never, ever, ever stop.
Who's with me?
~Whimsy
Last year late in October, somewhere about the 20th of the month, my sister decided that it would be a good idea for the pair of us to write our own novels in November.
I think that you should join me this year for NaNoWriMo. It'll be a crazy ride, but someone has to take it!
Having written a detailed-to-the-max 50 page outline for a story a year or two (or three) ago, and rembering what madness that was, and the fact that I had about 10 days to prepare, I said no, as a sane person would.
Since my sister is SO not sane, she kept poking at me until I caved and made my NaNo account. I spent about three days working out a plot on lined paper, and came up with something that was drastically different than my usual attempted fare of fantasy-epic-adventures; a novel about teens putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet.
I love the idea, since in April of that year I had played Mercutio in my theater's show of the same, and therefore was bound and determined to give my main character, Alan, the same role.
I am so sick of not having lgbt characters show up in YA fiction, that I made Alan, Stephan, Melanie, Emily, Tanya and Oliver (all characters from that year's NaNo) either gay, lesbian or bi.
There were plenty of straight characters as well, but I found the need to include the lgbt ones irrisistable.
Mt book went off in a direction that I had no plan for it to go, and I am so glad for that. The creative flow of NaNoWriMo is unstoppable.
I noveled whilst getting ready for opening night for a show, and at the cast party, where I should have been socializing with my castmates.
I gave myself permission to make a glorious muddle of things, to add the man who says "dorf", the traveling shovel of death, and Katherine Bloodsaw.
I wrote late at night in a film noir setting, clacking away at my typewriter as the hours grew longer and I included dreams involving God, a gay man, and a missing pair of glittery jeans.
I word warred with random strangers, flipped out every time I wrote another thousand words, and I had a mentor who kept me on track to the 50k finish.
The long and short of it is this: Everyone should do NaNoWriMo.
Everyone should have a chance to douse their inner critic and do what makes them feel good.
Hell, douse the outer critics as well! They aren't you, and you need to nurture your own creative spirit. Nobody else can, will, or even should do that for you.
I guess that this stands as my open invitation to you all, then.
Come, join me, make mistakes, make art. Throw yourself into the joy of creating something that wasn't there before you started to make it. Live your life to the fullest everyday, and don't let the nay-sayers ruin your dreams. Dream big, dream on, and never, ever, ever stop.
Who's with me?
~Whimsy
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
BEDA Four: Gushers for Breakfast
I think that BEDA is (for me) Blog-Once-Every-Day-Before-You-Go-To-Bed-That-Night, because I am so not getting one up in every 24 hour day.
I am a night owl. This can cause problems with everyday life, because everyone else runs on, you know, daytime-time. I would be MORE than happy to wake up a 1pm, 2pm and go to sleep at...4am? That's more my kind of timetable.
However, The Rest Of The World does NOT follow by the 2pm-4am waking hours, so I have to get up early...ish, and go to bed early...ish-not-really. We're talking, say 9am to 1am? I know, REALLY early, huh? Not at all. I hate getting up early, I really do.
This summer, I went to Infinitus, a Harry Potter conference, and on the first day, I STUPIDLY gave in and told my friend to wake me up at 6:30 am so I could meet her at 7am.
I was so tired, I nearly fell asleep in my breakfast. (Breakfast was ginger ale, potato chips, cotton candy and gushers, for the interested. I have never eaten more crap in a meal in my ENTIRE life, but hey, what's vacation for?) Needless to say, I was WIRED all day long, until the night (read 2:30 am), where I crashed upon my bed and went out like a light.
Where was I going with all this? I do not know. Whatever.
Anywhozer, I took a writing test today, and learned that I write like Douglas Adams. This made me VERY happy, until I re-took the test twice more, and got two other authors. The lesson with that is: don't trust internet tests and analyzing whatnot, more often than not, it is crap.
If you are interested in who you write like (and who wouldn't, after my GLOWING review), please CLICK HERE and find out. If you do, tell me in the comments. A friend of mine got J.K. Rowling, and I admit, I was a bit envious.
Signing off before this gets far too long,
~Whimsy
I am a night owl. This can cause problems with everyday life, because everyone else runs on, you know, daytime-time. I would be MORE than happy to wake up a 1pm, 2pm and go to sleep at...4am? That's more my kind of timetable.
However, The Rest Of The World does NOT follow by the 2pm-4am waking hours, so I have to get up early...ish, and go to bed early...ish-not-really. We're talking, say 9am to 1am? I know, REALLY early, huh? Not at all. I hate getting up early, I really do.
This summer, I went to Infinitus, a Harry Potter conference, and on the first day, I STUPIDLY gave in and told my friend to wake me up at 6:30 am so I could meet her at 7am.
I was so tired, I nearly fell asleep in my breakfast. (Breakfast was ginger ale, potato chips, cotton candy and gushers, for the interested. I have never eaten more crap in a meal in my ENTIRE life, but hey, what's vacation for?) Needless to say, I was WIRED all day long, until the night (read 2:30 am), where I crashed upon my bed and went out like a light.
Where was I going with all this? I do not know. Whatever.
Anywhozer, I took a writing test today, and learned that I write like Douglas Adams. This made me VERY happy, until I re-took the test twice more, and got two other authors. The lesson with that is: don't trust internet tests and analyzing whatnot, more often than not, it is crap.
If you are interested in who you write like (and who wouldn't, after my GLOWING review), please CLICK HERE and find out. If you do, tell me in the comments. A friend of mine got J.K. Rowling, and I admit, I was a bit envious.
Signing off before this gets far too long,
~Whimsy
BEDA, Day Three: Quirky
I completely realize that yesterday's blog was LONG.
I know, I know. You have to understand that when I am passionate about a subject, I tend to be long winded. Forgive me, readers who looked at that monstrosity and said "no friggin' way".
Let us talk about something else today.
Let's talk about quirks. We all have 'em. Some of us love 'em. Some are stranger than others.
Here's a list of my quirks:
I talk to myself. Correction. I talk to books. I know this is odd. I'll be at a library and see a book that I like. I'll say "Now, don't you look interesting" as I pick the book up and thumb through it. This has the pro of amusing myself, but the con of freaking out the other patrons of the library. Oops.
I cannot STAND ricotta cheese. The stuff sends shivers down my spine. I won't touch anything with that vile abomination in it or even near it. Not. Kidding.
I am a naturally messy person. Dear reader, if you could see my desk, you's wonder how the hell I'm composing this blog post on it. MESS. However, my library in the other room is organized by Author's last name, and within that, what books go chronologically in the series, and from that, what copies I got first. Since I have no fewer than 4 copies of Prisoner Of Azkaban, this is a needed precaution.
If someone messes with my library...woe betide them.
Did I mention that each book has a tag in it where I have the name of the person who checked out the book and the date it was checked out, so I know who has what book of mine at all times? Because I have that.
What other quirks do I have? So far, I have covered cheese and books. Not much variety there.
Let us think.
I change my voice around all the time just for the hell of it. Scottish, English, Medieval, high pitched voice, deep voice, robot, singing everything...you name it, I think I've done it.
This is why I amuse myself so well.
I can stand in front of a mirror, entertaining myself by twisting my face into un-godly shapes. When I was little, I scared myself by doing this in a dark room with a only a flashlight to see by. I think I'm scarred for life. Still.
Those are but few of my quirks.
What are yours?
Leave them in the comments! I read(and subsequently eat)every comment.
~Whimsy
I know, I know. You have to understand that when I am passionate about a subject, I tend to be long winded. Forgive me, readers who looked at that monstrosity and said "no friggin' way".
Let us talk about something else today.
Let's talk about quirks. We all have 'em. Some of us love 'em. Some are stranger than others.
Here's a list of my quirks:
I talk to myself. Correction. I talk to books. I know this is odd. I'll be at a library and see a book that I like. I'll say "Now, don't you look interesting" as I pick the book up and thumb through it. This has the pro of amusing myself, but the con of freaking out the other patrons of the library. Oops.
I cannot STAND ricotta cheese. The stuff sends shivers down my spine. I won't touch anything with that vile abomination in it or even near it. Not. Kidding.
I am a naturally messy person. Dear reader, if you could see my desk, you's wonder how the hell I'm composing this blog post on it. MESS. However, my library in the other room is organized by Author's last name, and within that, what books go chronologically in the series, and from that, what copies I got first. Since I have no fewer than 4 copies of Prisoner Of Azkaban, this is a needed precaution.
If someone messes with my library...woe betide them.
Did I mention that each book has a tag in it where I have the name of the person who checked out the book and the date it was checked out, so I know who has what book of mine at all times? Because I have that.
What other quirks do I have? So far, I have covered cheese and books. Not much variety there.
Let us think.
I change my voice around all the time just for the hell of it. Scottish, English, Medieval, high pitched voice, deep voice, robot, singing everything...you name it, I think I've done it.
This is why I amuse myself so well.
I can stand in front of a mirror, entertaining myself by twisting my face into un-godly shapes. When I was little, I scared myself by doing this in a dark room with a only a flashlight to see by. I think I'm scarred for life. Still.
Those are but few of my quirks.
What are yours?
Leave them in the comments! I read(and subsequently eat)every comment.
~Whimsy
Monday, August 2, 2010
BEDA day two: Unschooling vs Homeschooling
So, after posting my "I have returned from the land of dead bloggers" post, I got a comment asking me more about homeschooling. I promised that I would have a post up, detailing my thoughts on said subject, and here it is.
A common misconception is that homeschooling and unschooling are the same thing. I have had conversations like this:
"What school do you go to?"
"I'm unschooled, so I don't go to school."
"Oh! So, you're homeschooled!"
At which point, I have to decide if setting the record straight is worth the feeling of ripping my hair out by it's roots.
Here's the difference:
Homeschooling:
- Curriculum is used
- Is simply a way of learning
- Depends, but projects are usually graded
- Mom or Dad acts as "teacher"
- Children learn what they are told to learn
- Essentially, this is "school at home"
Unschooling:
- No curriculum
- Is a way of learning and a lifestyle philosophy
- No grades, tests, "homework"
- Mom and Dad act as guidance so that the kids can teach themselves
- Children learn what they want to learn, when they want to learn it
- Essentially, this is life-long-learning
Does that makes sense? Do I need to elaborate further? All right then.
In some, (most, I think) but not all U.S. states unschooling is perfectly legal. There are no compulsory schooling laws, and for that, we should all be thankful. There's no compulsory working law that says "everyone, once they reach X age must go into work in a factory" so why should there be one that makes going to factory schooling compulsory?
I digress.
Unschooling is a lifestyle where children of all ages are counted as just as important as adults, where at the end of the day the goal is to have lived free, not be fed a mash of information that you will never use again in your life, unless you go into a specific field.
The previously mentioned commenter asked how I would get my high school diploma.
Well, I'm not going to. I don't feel I need one. However, if I did, I would have to get my GED. I would do that by studying up and taking the test, like everyone else.
I can get my GED at any time I want, so it's not like if I don't get it TODAY, I'll never get it.
Usually, after getting asked about my GED, I get asked about college.
Colleges LOVE unschoolers. We are self-motivators, we are free thinkers, and those things are what colleges like.
How would I get in?
I would take the entrance exam. Just like everyone else.
If they needed a GED, I would get a GED. Just like everyone else.
Or, I could take courses at a community college and then transfer over to a larger school when I had enough credits. Just like anyone else can do.
The last question I was asked in the comment I keep referencing back to was "What happens if you have a falling out with whoever is teaching you at home?"
I have never been asked that before.
I have been asked if I am Amish, however. Go figure.
Anyway, in answer to that question, I don't really know.
My dad, who moved out of my house when I was nine has always been a supporter of unschooling, in spite of his being a high school teacher.
Both my moms (one biological, one not) have been amazing, helping me along my path, supporting me in every way, and overall being the two most fantastic womyn I could hope to call "Mom".
Last week, my dad told me that he didn't support my lifestyle, that he thought I wasn't independent, that he thought the business I'm starting will fail, that he essentially thinks that I am shooting myself in the foot for later in life.
I explained to him, just as I have explained to you, all about unschooling.
I thought he understood. I thought he had supported me for years. I guess not.
I know plenty of grown unschoolers who live rich, varied lives that don't look like the mainstream way. They are all amazing people, their life paths just don't follow the typical direction. They travel, own their own businesses, give speeches, make music, and all live perfectly full lives without school.
He seems to think that there is one life path, get GED/ high school diploma, get fast-food/checkout-clerk job, college, graduate, get job in area of degree, move up corporate ladder, (Get married, one assumes is in her at some point, dunno when), set aside money, keep moving up corporate ladder, retire, die.
I wish he could see that I am doing with my life what is right for me, instead of trying to make myself fit into the conventional world.
Not everyone is the same, why should our lives look like the same?
~Whimsy
P.S. Any more questions? I'd be more than happy to do a part two. I just don't know what is interesting to the general public. xD It's my life, see, I find it all interesting.
A common misconception is that homeschooling and unschooling are the same thing. I have had conversations like this:
"What school do you go to?"
"I'm unschooled, so I don't go to school."
"Oh! So, you're homeschooled!"
At which point, I have to decide if setting the record straight is worth the feeling of ripping my hair out by it's roots.
Here's the difference:
Homeschooling:
- Curriculum is used
- Is simply a way of learning
- Depends, but projects are usually graded
- Mom or Dad acts as "teacher"
- Children learn what they are told to learn
- Essentially, this is "school at home"
Unschooling:
- No curriculum
- Is a way of learning and a lifestyle philosophy
- No grades, tests, "homework"
- Mom and Dad act as guidance so that the kids can teach themselves
- Children learn what they want to learn, when they want to learn it
- Essentially, this is life-long-learning
Does that makes sense? Do I need to elaborate further? All right then.
In some, (most, I think) but not all U.S. states unschooling is perfectly legal. There are no compulsory schooling laws, and for that, we should all be thankful. There's no compulsory working law that says "everyone, once they reach X age must go into work in a factory" so why should there be one that makes going to factory schooling compulsory?
I digress.
Unschooling is a lifestyle where children of all ages are counted as just as important as adults, where at the end of the day the goal is to have lived free, not be fed a mash of information that you will never use again in your life, unless you go into a specific field.
The previously mentioned commenter asked how I would get my high school diploma.
Well, I'm not going to. I don't feel I need one. However, if I did, I would have to get my GED. I would do that by studying up and taking the test, like everyone else.
I can get my GED at any time I want, so it's not like if I don't get it TODAY, I'll never get it.
Usually, after getting asked about my GED, I get asked about college.
Colleges LOVE unschoolers. We are self-motivators, we are free thinkers, and those things are what colleges like.
How would I get in?
I would take the entrance exam. Just like everyone else.
If they needed a GED, I would get a GED. Just like everyone else.
Or, I could take courses at a community college and then transfer over to a larger school when I had enough credits. Just like anyone else can do.
The last question I was asked in the comment I keep referencing back to was "What happens if you have a falling out with whoever is teaching you at home?"
I have never been asked that before.
I have been asked if I am Amish, however. Go figure.
Anyway, in answer to that question, I don't really know.
My dad, who moved out of my house when I was nine has always been a supporter of unschooling, in spite of his being a high school teacher.
Both my moms (one biological, one not) have been amazing, helping me along my path, supporting me in every way, and overall being the two most fantastic womyn I could hope to call "Mom".
Last week, my dad told me that he didn't support my lifestyle, that he thought I wasn't independent, that he thought the business I'm starting will fail, that he essentially thinks that I am shooting myself in the foot for later in life.
I explained to him, just as I have explained to you, all about unschooling.
I thought he understood. I thought he had supported me for years. I guess not.
I know plenty of grown unschoolers who live rich, varied lives that don't look like the mainstream way. They are all amazing people, their life paths just don't follow the typical direction. They travel, own their own businesses, give speeches, make music, and all live perfectly full lives without school.
He seems to think that there is one life path, get GED/ high school diploma, get fast-food/checkout-clerk job, college, graduate, get job in area of degree, move up corporate ladder, (Get married, one assumes is in her at some point, dunno when), set aside money, keep moving up corporate ladder, retire, die.
I wish he could see that I am doing with my life what is right for me, instead of trying to make myself fit into the conventional world.
Not everyone is the same, why should our lives look like the same?
~Whimsy
P.S. Any more questions? I'd be more than happy to do a part two. I just don't know what is interesting to the general public. xD It's my life, see, I find it all interesting.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
BEDA Blog 1
So. Hello, dear reader! I am doing BEDA (Blog Every Day August) this year. I have no present clue if this will pan out, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
So, without further ado, here is BEDA Blog Number One.
I have a secret Twitter account. It's not that I do stuff on Twitter that I don't want my moms to see, no, they both know about it.
No more is it secret because my cheeks are flushed about who I follow (mostly Harry Potter folks, authors, a few youtubers, and other assorted geekery) or that I tweet too much, too little or use #hashtags.
No, it is simply because I have a twitter. I have laughed openly at the "twitterverse" for years, and I now have given in to my friends (who do not live ANYWHERE near me) saying "get a twitter" over and over and over and over and gone and gotten an account.
I feel like a hypocrite.
You know why?
Because I still laugh at the Twitterverse...dispite being a part of it; I roll my eyes at hash tags...whist using them, and therefore, I am a hypocrite.
~Whimsy
So, without further ado, here is BEDA Blog Number One.
I have a secret Twitter account. It's not that I do stuff on Twitter that I don't want my moms to see, no, they both know about it.
No more is it secret because my cheeks are flushed about who I follow (mostly Harry Potter folks, authors, a few youtubers, and other assorted geekery) or that I tweet too much, too little or use #hashtags.
No, it is simply because I have a twitter. I have laughed openly at the "twitterverse" for years, and I now have given in to my friends (who do not live ANYWHERE near me) saying "get a twitter" over and over and over and over and gone and gotten an account.
I feel like a hypocrite.
You know why?
Because I still laugh at the Twitterverse...dispite being a part of it; I roll my eyes at hash tags...whist using them, and therefore, I am a hypocrite.
~Whimsy
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