Cartoons - the best brain rotter of all time!

On the Jukebox: "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
Mood: Okay
Quote: "Remember how I used to call you 'lamb chop'? And then you would call me 'liver snap'?" ~ Cats and Dogs
Flair: Marc Anthony and Pussyfoot

When I was a kid I loved Saturday mornings because it was the one day of the week when there were cartoons on TV for hours. Kids these days are so spoiled! There are entire networks devoted to cartoons. There are cartoons in prime time and cartoons made for toddlers (Little Bear) and some made just for adults (SpaceGhost, Flintstones, and Futurama). Most cartoons are still nothing more than thinly disguised toy advertisements. About once a year a full length feature film would come out that was animated. That was a big deal in my family. It seems like some kid movie comes out every month and at least half of them are not live action. But are these cartoons good for us?

Unfortunately, not many of these cartoons have a good influence on children. My family was not allowed to watch Looney Toons when we were growing up because as small children my brother Josh, hit me over the head with my dad's guitar. He was imitating Speedy Gonzales. I still remember it so clearly. My mother said, "Monkey see, monkey do, no more Looney Toons for you!" It was also cartoons that taught us to call each other stupid names. To say the least, my mother was not a fan and limited our time and content.

On weekdays we watched Inspector Gadget, GI Joe, Voltron, and He-Man. On Saturdays, it was Smurfs, Kidd Video, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Scooby Doo, Carebears, The Getalong Gang, Transformers, and more. The 90's brought new classics such as Recess, Sailor Moon, Doug, Yugi-O, Power Puff Girls, Animaniacs, Johnny Bravo, X-Men, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, The Simpsons, 2 Stupid Dogs,and Dexter's Laboratory. This decade I'm a fan of Phineas and Ferb, Sponge Bob,and Dave the Barbarian.

Why am I telling you this? It explains a lot about my warped sense of humor and cocked eyed outlook on life. It also shows that I prefer the simpler times of childhood. I don't cringe nearly as much when watching program rated Y7 as I do when I watch other Television programs. Besides - even shows meant for really young kids have jokes that are a nod to the parents who are watching with their kids. I like getting the inside jokes.

PS: My favorite Merrie Melody of all time is "Feed the Kitty" starring Marc Antony and Pussyfoot.

The Circle of Life

On the Jukebox: "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al
Mood: Groovy
Quote: "It has been suggested that Stephen Hawking stole his Brief History of Time from my fourth-grade paper." ~ Legally Blonde
Flair: Rochambeau

Paul Hawken said, "Everything is connected... no one thing can change by itself."

Is that true? I haven't been able to decide. I will agree that there is a certain order in the universe and that the laws of nature are finite. However, I believe that a single human can undergo change that need not involve or impact on a colony of fire ants in Zimbabwe. I also believe that removing cows (which supposedly cause global warming by emitting high levels of carbon monoxide) from the circle of life would have the same devastating result as introducing kudzu was to the southern states.

I'm not saying that campaigning for environmental awareness is bad. I'm saying that those who take up such a cause should educate themselves thoroughly on facts not political dogma. It's hard to stand in the way of progress, but so many activists try anyway. It infuriated me to learn that protesters halted the construction of the Luling Bridge/ Interstate 310 off ramp because of some supposedly "endangered" frog. (Why are these new, endangered, or exclusive species always discovered near human infrastructure projects and not some remote jungle?) The bridge was complete but the exit would traverse the frog's swampy home. It took almost ten years for the state to do a study and complete that two mile section of road. What was the result? The frog was thriving because the road improved the resources of the marsh area and now the frog was considered as plentiful and bothersome as the Biblical plague.

I understand that the universe is made up of the same molecular matter; tiny neutrons, quarks, leptons, and such. I understand that the energy and life force that powers each of us is from God. I can see the spiritual connection between all of His creations. In that aspect I am willing to admit a connection between everything. Yet, I believe that as individuals we were given agency. No one and nothing can force us to change. It is a decision we must come to on our own. There are influencing factors, but it is ultimately up to us to decide the outcome of such forces. Does witnessing injustice cause us to become callous and cruel or do we become a crusader or do we continue to lead our same quiet lives? The choice is entirely ours. Since I have a busy day ahead of me I'm going to leave this thought unfinished and visit it again another time.

I took a walk alone last night
I looked up at the stars
To try and find an answer in my life
I chose a star for me
I chose a star for him
I chose two stars for my kids and one star for my wife
Something made me smile
Something seemed to ease the pain
Something about the universe and how it's all connected
~ Sting

Channeling the Muse

On the Jukebox: "My Immortal" by Evanescence
Mood: Amused
Quote: "It's bad to be dewy-eyed around smart people, but you can always secretly despise them." ~ Cold Comfort Farm
Flair: Princess Peach

Where does inspiration come from? Everywhere!

Last night my friend Kim B. came over for hot cocoa and conversation. She asked me about my other writing projects that I haven't allowed her to read (yet.) I summed up my Amiya series for her. I told her that often times I like to start with a familiar structure and build upon it, then I shared some of the things that have inspired my stories. I once read that there are only 10 stories in the world and that all stories are some form of one of those stories. I don't know if I entirely believe that or not, but there sure are a lot of Cinderella stories aren't there?

Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet off of an older poem called Pyramus and Thisbe. The musical Westside Story is a updated retelling of the same tale. Pushing Daisies is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a modern twist. The Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon is a Christianized retelling of the Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche. Pintosmalto is an Italian version of the story and most of us are most familiar with the French version known as Beauty and the Beast and it's numerous retellings.

The basic theme of this particular tale is: Man sells daughter to mysterious 'beast' who treats her kindly and eventually wins her love. An interloper comes along and ruins the breaking of the curse or causes additional obstacles before the happy resolution. Pretty basic stuff - it's not plagiarizing to start with an archetype and then branch out. There aren't many new ideas out there but there are plenty of ways to adapt and update universal themes. It is interesting to note that the retelling of this particular tale evolved over a thousand years into it's most recent Disney incarnation.

My Amiya series would be classified as YA Fantasy-Romance (ages 12 and up) aka fairy tales. It's a collection of love stories set in a idyllic kingdom filled with intrigue and valor. I chose the poem "The Sailing of the Sword" by William Morris as a starting point for one of the love stories. Another is based on a mix of "Taming of the Shrew" and "King Thrushbeard" (same archetype)and yet another is based on the song "When We Dance" by Sting. I can't help it. I read things, hear things, and see things and immediately it becomes part of my subconscious stream.

The Sailing of the Sword

Across the empty garden-beds,
When the Sword went out to sea.
I scarcely saw my sisters' heads
Bow'd each beside a tree.
I could not see the castle leads,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Alicia wore a scarlet gown,
When the Sword went out to sea.
But Ursula's was russet brown:
For the mist we could not see
The scarlet roofs of the good town,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Green holly in Alicia's hand,
When the Sword went out to sea,
With sere oak-leaves did Ursula stand;
O! yet alas for me!
I did but bear a peel'd white wand,
When the Sword went out to sea.

O, russet brown and scarlet bright,
When the Sword went out to sea,
My sisters wore; I wore but white;
Red, brown, and white, are three;
Three damsels; each had a knight,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Sir Robert shouted loud, and said,
When the Sword went out to sea,
`Alicia, while I see thy head,
What shall I bring for thee?'
`O, my sweet Lord, a ruby red:'
When the Sword went out to sea.

Sir Miles said, while the sails hung down,
When the Sword went out to sea,
`Oh, Ursula! while I see the town,
What shall I bring for thee?'
`Dear knight, bring back a falcon brown:'
When the Sword went out to sea.

But my Roland, no word he said
When the Sword went out to sea;
But only turn'd away his head,---
A quick shriek came from me:
`Come back, dear lord, to your white maid!'---
The Sword went out to sea.

The hot sun bit the garden-beds,
When the Sword came back from sea;
Beneath an apple-tree our heads
Stretch'd out toward the sea;
Grey gleam'd the thirsty castle-leads,
When the Sword came back from sea.

Lord Robert brought a ruby red,
When the Sword came back from sea;
He kiss'd Alicia on the head:
`I am come back to thee;
'Tis time, sweet love, that we were wed,
Now the Sword is back from sea!'

Sir Miles he bore a falcon brown,
When the Sword came back from sea;
His arms went round tall Ursula's gown,---
`What joy, O love, but thee?
Let us be wed in the good town,
Now the Sword is back from sea!'

My heart grew sick, no more afraid,
When the Sword came back from sea;
Upon the deck a tall white maid
Sat on Lord Roland's knee;
His chin was press'd upon her head,
When the Sword came back from sea!

Doesn't that make you wonder what sort of love story I made up for the third sister who narrated this tragic poem? Did Sir Roland love her or not? Was he too afraid to voice his true feelings? Why didn't he ask her what she wanted? Who was that lady with him when he returned? What did the third sister, who I named Bronwyn, think about while the Sword was away? What were the individual personalities of the three sisters and their knights? Where did the Sword sail to? How long was it gone? Were any of the sisters tempted by new suitors?

Did you notice the second and last line of each stanza are the same? It gives the feeling of ocean waves crashing on the shore. The story I wanted to tell also has the feel of the repetitive rhythm - the girls walk every day and watch for the Sword's return. Bronwyn records her thoughts in her journal every day. There are set habits that give the story a feeling of rhythm. Of course there has to be more to the story than William Morris eluded to in his poem and I feel inspired to tell it.

Mr. Write

On the Jukebox: "At the Beginning" by Donna Lewis & Richard Marx
Mood: Excited
Quote:"One girl is worth more than twenty boys!" ~ Peter and Wendy
Flair: Modesty

Today is shaping up to be a great day. Grant is out of town and that means I will be spending my time down in the basement enjoying some uninterrupted writing time. Don't get me wrong: I adore my husband and desire his company, but there are times when I can be more efficient if there aren't any tempting distractions. Not to mention that I can skip cooking and go to bed around 2:30 AM if I am in the zone. I expect to crank out some good stuff very quickly. Yay me!

At the moment I'm working on the urban fantasy romance series Ethereal Dreamer. I've spent quite a bit of time crafting strong male characters that each have their own unique attractive qualities. While all my test readers confess to developing crushes on my guys, there are some of my readers who swoon over the handsome professor Simon Peter while others who prefer the clever wisecracking Alex or the spiritual Moroni, or the gallant Stanislaw, or the guy next door Dominic, or even the dreamy and mysterious Endymion. (Sadly, adorkabale Fisher has very few fans even though he's a nice guy...)

I'm proud that each character has a distinctly different personality and that it's hard to decide which one to root for. I'm often asked which of these men is based on my husband and whether any of the others are based on other men I know. The answer is, "None of the above and all of the above." These are fictional characters and even though they have hints of realism to them if you fall in love with the men from my book then you may have unrealistic expectations about romance and marriage. Sorry!

Simon Peter may have Grant's coloring but that's about it. Grant is more like Alex/Moroni in his personality and sense of humor except maybe not quite as outgoing. Grant's not likely to spout flowery prose, sing duets, or put up with Jerusha's shenanigans but he does like Simon's car. Dominic and Fisher (who aren't primary love interests) are based on my brothers and guys I used to date. I drew from the qualities I admired and the pet peeves that irritated me. Endymion is what my dream guy would be like - fun in fantasy but probably really irritating in real life.

Jerusha's father Darris Reniholdt, is probably my favorite and most realistic male in the series. He's based on what I think the ideal mature male would be like. I took things I admired about my own father and my father in law, my friends' dads, bishops, and bosses and mixed them into the the perfect patriarch. He's a handsome dad with graying temples and more laugh lines than worry lines. He's intelligent, prayerful, considerate, deeply in love with his wife, devoted to his family, enjoys his profession, and appreciates the natural beauty around him. I often claim that the character most like myself is Darris's wife Tamsin so that should tell you something too.

Preschool Swears

On the Jukebox: "O-o-h Child" by the Five Stair Steps
Mood: Good
Quote: "Never create a masterpiece in the dark." ~ The Wizard of Oz
Flair: Where's the soap?

When I was growing up my parents did not tolerate swear words or sassing in their home. Anyone who had a slip of the tongue was treated to a good soaping. Sometimes if my mother was feeling generous she'd let us pick which bar of soap we wanted to suck. I preferred Ivory because Irish Spring was nasty! While such disciplinary actions may have curbed the traditional naughty four letter words that we picked up around the neighborhood, it had another interesting result: an entirely new language of substitute "bad" words culled from our travels and experiences.
Here are a few examples:

Bee Feathers:
Pronunciation: \ˈbē ˈfe-thərz\
Etymology: Middle English akin to Old High German
Date: 1945
Origin: Grandma Helen Snow
1: an eccentric notion or fancy
2: the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the wings of hymenopterous insects (superfamily Apoidea)that feed on pollen and nectar
3: small things that cause irritation and often instigate larger problems

"Oh bee feathers! That stupid decimal point threw off my calculations again."

Pizza Shoe:
Pronunciation: \ˈpēt-sə ˈshü\
Etymology: Italian, perhaps of Germanic origin;
Date: 1985
1: a shoe made typically of flattened bread dough spread with a savory mixture usually including tomatoes and cheese and often other toppings and baked
2: something resembling an edible shoe in function or placement
3: another's delicious place, function, or viewpoint
Synonym: piece of crap

"My old bike is a pizza shoe, it makes grinding sounds when I pedal!"

Punkluke:
Pronunciation: \ˈpəŋk ˈlük\
Etymology: Latin Lucas
Date: 2000
Origin: Haven Snow
1: a young inexperienced young man who thinks he knows more than he does
2: one who claims to know everything and wield authority without mercy
3: an ignorant bully who refuses to back down and resorts to dirty tricks

"That punkluke pinned me down and dangled a loogie over my face."

My "Much To Do About Something" List

On the Jukebox: "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul
Mood: Okay
Quote: "I wish the goblins would come and take you away!" ~ Labyrinth
Flair: Today while the sun shines

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a list maker. I wish I could say I get to cross everything off my list in a timely manner but I usually don't. I do find that I get more done if it is written down and that's why I've composed a list of stuff I ought to get done this week if I can cram it all in. Realistically, I'll probably get about half the stuff done. I like to throw a few easy things on the list to help me get started. It helps keep me motivated. It also helps remind me when I need to work on a particular personality trait. I've learned that I don't take time for myself unless I schedule it - thus there are a few things on my weekly list to make sure I am nice to myself as well as to others.

1) Enjoy the lemony fresh scent of recently cleaned bathrooms

2) Order Adobe CS4 for Tracy

3) Finish Visiting Teaching (appointments on Mon and Thurs)

4) Get house appraised (decide what to ask if we sell)

5) Run the Spotbot

6) Check on Tricare Reserves

7) Write tithing/fast offering check

8) Count blessings

9) Show Grant that I appreciate him

10) Be kind to Tamsen even though she's on the naughty list

11) Schedule a bowling party for primary class

12) Make new Zune playlist for working out

13) Check on Jennie and see if she needs help with her move this weekend

14) Write a bazillion pages in ED2

15) Help Grant get all his paper work together for new unit

16) Scan youth group pictures for Facebook friends

17) Go to the gym every other day with Grant and/or Kim

18) Prepare decorating/organization plans and budget for Melissa

19) Treat myself to a yummy marshmallow mint brownie from Cutler's

20) Arrange a luncheon with UOP friends

21) Plan a ED test readers get together

22) Start scrounging boxes

23) Wipe down the fridge (inside and out)

24) Clean out cold storage

25) Watch Masterpiece Oliver Twist

26) Attend RS Enrichment planning meeting

27) Start gathering items to donate to public library

28) Write Julie and Cindy

29) Update and organize audio and picture files on external drives

30) Call my mom

31) Catch up on ironing

32) Fix ED genealogy list

33) Write script for RS B-day party

34) Figure out what's for dinner all week long

35) Wipe down base boards

36) Follow up on hospital bill

37) Get cats their shots

38) Take massive pile of paper to be shredded

39) Catch up on Sailor Moon episodes

40) Breathe!

People are People

On the Jukebox: "Take My Life" by Scott McLean
Mood: Calm
Quote: "Everything we do is so wholesome!" ~ Roman Holiday
Flair: If you feed them they will come...

Today I was pondering what it is about certain people that makes me curious about them. There are some individuals who stick out of the crowd because of their eccentricities. I'm always trying to figure out what makes people tick. For example: what possessed the lady I saw at Costco on Friday to wear a parka, scarf, and gloves with apple green flip flops? Why do some of the women in my ward dress impeccably but never inspect what their kids are wearing before they leave the house? Why am I so interested in what other people are thinking?

Perhaps it's because I like to make up little stories to explain their idiosyncrasies. Through my observations I've come to conclude that most people have really kind hearts and good intentions. Almost without exception I can label my closest friends as goodie goodies. They have varying degrees of likability and cuteness factors but over all they are good people who make the world a better place because they get out of bed every morning and look for opportunities to serve others.

It often surprises me to discover that these friends were not extremely popular in school. Each of them excel in some way or another. Each is a good person who contributes to society. Some are funny, others are somber, some are outgoing while others are calm. I like the way each is like a piece of a puzzle that when assembled gives a better picture of who I am. My friends bring out my good qualities. My enemies bring out my weaknesses so it is definitely better for me to surround myself with positive people who supply inspiration. Good people tend to see the good in others so even when I am not at my best they give me the benefit of a doubt. I like that good people understand that being human means having things we struggle to overcome. I like that they cheer for others to succeed. I adore that they offer prayers in behalf of those who need assistance. I am grateful to associate with the cream of the crop.