Change the World

Picture Prompt Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

     The unhappiness in the world. People who speak the same dialect but don’t speak the same 'language'. ie When two people are saying the same thing but don't know they're saying the same thing and they start to get frustrated.  Can we just get a universal translator or something?
     Also, people who are purposely annoying or mean.  I'm gonna beat trolls with a frying pan.  Srsly.  (Just wait until my anti-teasing/prank rant on Day 50)

Favorite Book?

Picture Prompt Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King -  An awesome origin story and I just realized that I tried to turn my '08 NaNoWriMo into something similar. Wow.  I love all of the Mary Russell books (except maybe A Monstrous Regiment of Women 'cause it deals with uncomfortable interrelationship stuff, though it's my favorite ending).  For those that haven't seen any of the books, young Mary Russell, a modern (for 1915) genius with a passion for theology who just lost her entire family, meets middle aged Sherlock Holmes, Victorian gentleman, mostly retired consulting detective, and apiculture enthusiast.  The two immediately hit it off intellectually and become fast friends.  Holmes begins training Mary, without her knowledge, in the art of detection, which culminates in a chilling and thrilling case at the end.  In many ways the book is a series of short stories that illustrate the development of Mary's personality and the Russell/Holmes partnership.

Dinotopia Lost by Alan Dean Foster - I love dinosaurs and the idea of them living in peace with humans, which is part of why I love the whole Dinotopia series (the writing is also superb).  This is one of the two books for 'adults' and has pirates, dinosaurs, hostages, primitive hot air balloons, and a once in a generation storm.  In middle school I made a board game based on the book.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson -  My go to audiobook while cleaning my room.  It's for teens but there are some great plot twists.

Imitate Their Faith by Jehovah's Witnesses -  I was so happy to get this book this summer!  I love the in depth look at the Biblical people, including Esther and Ruth.  I also enjoy the look at Mary and Joseph.  They are so mythical and glossed over to many.  It's nice to see them humanized.

In the Belly of the Bloodhound by L.A. Meyer -  While I love all of the Bloody Jack series, Jacky is able to take control in a bad situation, in her female form rather than disguised as a man.

The Iron Marshall by Louis L'Amour -   I don't know why I like the book so much, but I keep returning to it.  I like most of Louis L'Amour's books and they are a must-read on camping trips.  I especially like the Sackett saga, one book of which, Ride the River, features the adorable Echo Sackett, one of Louis's few female MCs.

Ophelia by Lisa Klein -  Hamlet is by far my favorite play by Shakespeare and I always found Opheila to be a very interesting character.  How much was she faking?  When did it become real insanity?  Did it really?  This is Hamlet from her perspective and behind the scenes.

Q in Law by Peter David -  Absolutely hilarious.  Anything by Peter David is gold but this book has Q and Lwaxana Troi on the Enterprise at the same time.  Poor Picard.

Currently (re)reading -  The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  In the past week I've reread The Little House in the Big Woods, The Little House in the Prairie, and On the Banks of Plum Creek.  I'm currently rereading By the Shores of Silver Lake.  Not sure why I skipped Farmer Boy.  *shrug*

Room for Improvement

Picture Prompt Day 22 - Something you wish you were better at

Come to the edge Life said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge Life said.
They came. It pushed them . . .
And they flew.
- Guillaume Apollinaire

      Jumping out of my comfort zone, taking that next step without having the five beyond it mapped out.  This has gotten worse since I graduated from high school.

Steps image from http://lowenddslr.com/img/steps-led.jpg

To Forget, What Bliss

Picture Prompt Day 21 - Something you wish you could forget

     When I think of all the missteps I've made when interacting with others, it's sad that I can't narrow this down to one event.  There is so much that I regret and so often I will wander around with the nagging feeling I've done something wrong, that there is something I should be ashamed of, even when I am sure I've made no huge social blunder that day.  I was happy to see danisnotonfire's video, Cringe Attack, the other day, where he talks about his own experiences of randomly reliving horrific mistakes he's made and the cringes and faces he makes when reliving the events.
     One instance that still bothers me and is on my "I would go back in time to change this and therefore my life" list happened in early eighth grade.  I had seen someone I admired with a pencil stuck in their ponytail or bun, so that became my go to hairstyle (and it was vary handy, I always had something to jot down ideas and homework lists with).  My middle school was shaped like an 'H' with another crossbar at the bottom for the counseling center, front office, and lockers.  The main crossbar on the 'H' was also full of lockers and where the 'cool kids' hung out between classes, making it extremely difficult to navigate so I avoided it almost all the time, except for this one day.  
     For a reason I can't remember I broke pattern and headed down the short but packed hallway, dodging all sorts of people, pencil tucked firmly in my ponytail, when all of a sudden I felt the pencil pulled out.  I whirled around and saw one of the most popular boys (and he was one of the handsome ones and boy did I have a crush on him at the time) holding my pencil.  I wish so bad I could have changed my facial expression because the annoyance I felt came across as something sinister and he immediately gave my pencil back with profuse apologies.  He meant it in jest and the instant I turned around I knew any possibility of being his friend was gone and I regretted it.  If it was any of the other popular people I would have been happy for the fear, I wanted nothing to do with their shallowness, but he had been kind to me and talked to me in some of our other classes and had an awareness of others that the other kids lacked.  If I had laughed or smiled as I turned around, instead of resorting to anger, I think I would have made more friends, been more accepted, learned to feel more comfortable when interacting with others, opened me up to a whole new circle of school friends, and changed my life completely.
     This is one of the key moments I will find attacking me with a cringe on a regular basis.  I can still feel the slide of the smooth pencil against my scalp, the press of other students against my back, the instant stab of regret and shame, the awkward smile I offered in vain.  Why is anger my default?  Why do I feel the need to constantly defend myself?  I guess that's what therapists are for.

To Travel, To Travel

Picture Prompt Day 20 - Somewhere you'd love to travel

     I'd love to wander the moors of Ireland.  Yes, I realize it's wet and grey most of the time but so is the state I grew up in.  I want to spend a year working on a traditional Irish farm.  I know it would be back-breaking and I would be miserable for the first several months but it would be so good for me.
     I'd also like to go back to Yellowstone.  We used to go as a family every two or three years.  Now it's been nearly six and I crave it the one might crave a favorite food.

Likkle me ♥

Picture Prompt Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little

     I was adorable.  And that is that.  And I have always liked putting things on my head (in this case, it's a clean margarine tub).

Insecurity

Picture Prompt Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Physical insecurity - My smile by far, or at least that massive amount of gums I have (and the huge front teeth I had until stress and the Kafer habit of grinding our teeth wore them down).  I may admire horses and their freedom but I have no desire to look like one.

Emotional insecurity - Talking to people without a purpose (invite them to an event, arrange an appointment, compliment them for something, get information from them, etc).  I think too much.