The Essential New Year's Eve Post

Once again, I've been lazy. That's how I do with these thingies.
I suppose I'll have to buck up and keep you, my loyal followers, entertained and amused.
Anyway, 17 days until I move to Los Angeles. Six days until I hit Chicago again. It's all happening so fast.
Here are my LA updates:
-I have a place to live in Glendale/Burbank with two seemingly awesome roommates.
-I am looking for a car.
-I am applying for jobs for weekends/nights. If anyone has any ideas of where I can apply, let me know.
-If I have Rock Island followers (very doubtful, but mad props if there are), come in and see me. It's the last time you can get delicious ice cream treats that I made.
-My room is in boxes. For all intents and purposes, I think I'm transient.
-No idea what's going to happen or with whom I am staying in Chicago. Possibly Nick, possibly anyone else.
-One of my very best friends, my dearest Teenerz, is a hot mess and I may or may not get to see her again until May. I'm distraught. Teenerz, I will do my best to get to DeKalb. If not, I shall write you and call you and all of that important goo.
-If you know folks in California, let them know I'm coming and send me their contact info. Please. I don't want to be lonely.

So that's about it. If you, dear reader/follower/browser/creepass stalker can help or encourage, keep me posted.
I'll try and do the same.

Now, for the current situation. The moment:
My New Year's plans to sit at home and watch LotR yet again got screwed up by Michaela's having plans (she 14, for goodness sake!), and my parents having plans, and the neighbors coming over. So it looks like it might just be the first one for me. I'm a little upset, but the first one, as I told one of my adoring fans (okay, not fan, but whatever) last night, holds all of life's answers. I watch it every New Year's Eve, and I swear it gives me direction. It's like talking to God indirectly, I've decided.
Does that make Peter, Fran, and Philippa prophets?

I have lost my creativity recently. My ideas have gone away when I need them most, and I think it's because I am afraid. Maybe I need to be inspired. General Patton, my hero, never got scared. Or if something scared him, he met it head on. Rommel, for example, should have scared the living daylights out of any military tactician, but Patton read his book. Those glorious bastards. I need to read something or see something that will make me believe I have ability. Or will at least clear my head enough to let me think. This brain in my head has rallied in mutiny, and it's running away with all my thoughts so that I can't trace it.

I'm out for now. Off to rock out to Guitar Hero until it's appropriate to hear God through Frodo and a little guy named Sam G.

It's Been Far Too Long

I am back in Rock Island. Funny how this is where I get my best writing done. I think it has to do with The River.
But damn it, I am so sad. I think. I'm not actually sure how to feel right now, because I am also ecstatically happy, anxious, excited, and ready for Christmas.
Nick loaned me The Princess Bride and it was wonderful to finish a novel again. And to be so engrossed I could read it in a day. For those few hours, I felt like myself, completely, entirely, and wonderfully. I can't wait to devour another book. Or to talk about this one. I love when people give me books. Honestly, aside from going to the movie theater to watch a movie, there is nothing more connective that I can think of. More genuinely connective. There is an intimacy to words that I cannot even begin to explain because I don't know if anyone else shares my sentiments. And with movies in the theater, there is this shared experience and celebration of imagination. People are silent and still and the collective consciousness prevails for that two hours.
I hate to see relationships that work change. And I just went a changed a lot of them. Changing relationships means that you usually have to express sentimentality, and I am really bad at it. I truly do care about people. I love--yes LOVE--most of my friends. But it's so hard to express that. It's so hard to just walk up to... oh, we'll say Christine or Andy since they were near-successes in the good-bye department and say "I love you and I love that you are in my life, so please stay, even if it means that it will be in a different capacity because I want to stay in yours" without missing the point or sounding clinical. Also, too many people gave me gifts. Give me your time, maybe write a note, but gifts? Oh, they were all charming and wonderful gifts--but it's so uncomfortable and I can't explain why. Let me just say that I did not receive a single gifty-gift for my birthday this year. Just a tattoo. And it was the most perfect birthday ever except the one where I got Chicklet, but giving a living creature as a gift also constitutes not a gifty-gift. Especially when it's Chicklet.
The point is, I am sad and confused and I really just want another night like Friday night, and another night like Saturday night, and maybe Tuesday night as well when I had tea that turned out to be coffee with Jordan. There was something terribly funny about meeting in the middle during all that snow fall.

Fairy tale later today, I PROMISE. I need to get lunch and unpack.

Thank You, Thank You

In the spirit of the holiday, I suppose I should make a list of... 50 things for which I am Thankful. This can include people, things, or events.

1. My faith--Relient K sums it up best with "For the Moments I Feel Faint."
2. Cream Soda--As much as you should "never underestimate my Jesus", also never underestimate the power of your favorite beverage after a long day.
3. My parents--Dad is a crime-fighter and Mom saves little kids, even if just for a little bit during their school week.
4. Michaela--I love that girl more than anyone can know.
5. Caleb--even though he hates me.
6. The Mississippi River--my soul and my car keys are there.
7. The jobs I've had--from Whitey's to Kenwood to PacSun to The Cage, I've yet to have a bad job or a bad boss.
8. Bathrooms--I can't help it, but I just love bathrooms. It's the one place where, even in public, you are offered a good amount of privacy.
9. "All These Things that I've Done" by The Killers--nothing like dancing anywhere anyhow and singing along with nearly anyone.
10. Cheeseburgers--best food ever. Medium well with either American, Swiss, Provolone, or Cheddar cheeses, ketchup, mustard, and (maybe) three pickle chips.
11. Chips and Cheesy Salsa--I love this shit.
12. Miss Mittens--We've been together for nearly 15 years, and she has yet to fail me or fight me.
13. My pets-Ariel and Jack, I love you.
14. My new tattoo.
15. Talking on AIM every day with Nathaniel.
16. Talking to Cody at least 2 times a week in the film offices.
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring--BEST MOVIE EVER. No argument.
18. Zoolander and Tropic Thunder--Ben Stiller, keep doing what you do.
19. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane--great book.
20. Summertime bike rides along the bike path with a camera.
21. Swing sets.
22. Chick flicks that film kids make fun of me for.
23. My hooker boots.
24. Revelations that tell me to start a cultural revolution. Yeah, it's true. I'm the new Ginsberg, and I've already picked my Kerouac. Auditions for Cassady and Burroughs begin tomorrow.
25. Hair dye and hair cuts and change.
26. The guys on the 20th floor of 2 East 8th--while some of you will be getting a sub-category, all of you together (Andy, Mike, Connor, Justin, and Austin), you all fill this collective need in my life for friends and neighbors and a safe space when bad things happen and I'm in crummy Chicago.
27. Andy Hannon--You are a great friend who reminds me of what I am capable. I only hope you can see it in yourself and realize that you are one of the coolest fuckers on this planet. I cannot believe I just wrote that word--and I did it for you Hannon--something that rare means you must be special.
28. Mike Altstadt--sorry if I treat you like my kid at times, I know I'm not your mom, but you never fail at brightening my day with Castle Crashers, Oreos, or just a hug.
29. Justin Spilker--I cannot wait to call you when I meet celebrities. I'll miss you a lot.
30. Christine Fiedler--Girl, you're my only female friend, and you have no idea what that means to me. You're also the greatest at saving my ass in a problem spot.
31. Wrigleyville.
32. Michaela's Nintendo Wii.
33. French horn music at Christmastime.
34. Midge the 1996 Deep Plum Honda Odyssey minivan that I love.
35. TAing with Riley on Tuesdays.
36. Sabrina Drobnich--best roommate I could have gotten.
37. Amtrak Trains--sans terrorists with meat tenderizers and potato mashers.
38. Watching movies in the theater--It never gets old. Milk reminded me of this recently when everyone still managed to leave smiling after an assassination.
39. Michael Bay movies, Vin Diesel movies, and other guilty pleasure films and friends like Jim who tolerate them because of either good scores or complete badasserie. Jim, I'm also supremely thankful for you, and I think you're as awesome as a Bay film.
40. Saturdays in The Cage--Nick is terrible and mean, Dan is hilarious and my greatest superior, Mac is probably drunk off of panc-juice or in need of panc-porn, Jon is geeking out over something Star Wars or Batman related, and everyone else is just in and out, except JJ who is napping.
41. Smoking Hookah-it's delicious and relaxing.
42. Having friends in my gen. ed. classes--Holden Wilson and Stefan Morrison are lifesavers.
43. Daniel Plainview being created and perfected in There Will Be Blood.
44. Matchbox Twenty--yes, they're my favorite band and I'm finally comfortable admitting it.
45. Whitey's Ice Cream and Oreos--together, they are perfection.
46. My mom's tacos.
47. Pink and Green Chuck Taylors--the only kind of Chucks for me are the ones that are pink and green.
48. Reading new books with friends--1984 anyone? Me and Jordan loved it, and so will you.
49. Watching a country on the brink of change--and no, B-Rock isn't that change. WE are. S0 perhaps what I am thankful for in this slot is the recent surge of power that I feel as an individual part of the collective consciousness.
50. Troy Polamalu on the Pittsburgh Steelers--He can jump over men and tackle other men and be an icon all while being so precious and softspoken.

So there we are. Fifty things for which I am thankful. I could go on for 50 more, I'm sure.
Here's to chanting the beauty of the good.

It's Been Awhile Since I've Fairytaled

It never ceases to amaze me how Life insists that I be wrong for thinking logically. Right now, the circumstances in my life are (vaguely, and I apologize) something like this:

I leave in 2 months for Los Angeles. TWO MONTHS.
Something new and exciting has just started here in Chicago.
In all likelihood, it will be impossible for said new and exciting thing to remain in my life in LA.

So there that is. And I am not stressed about it, and I don't think it's wrong, but I don't know what to do.

How is it that I am okay with this?

Now for dinner stories:

Aurelia arrived at City Hall just ten minutes early. City Hall in Hardenstall contained a ballroom which also doubled as a meeting hall, and, in this case, a banquet hall. There were about fifteen other people in the room when Aurelia walked in--city officials, servers, and two of the three dignitaries--and she remained mostly unnoticed. Prince Reginald, however, was just entering the room from a side door as discreetly as he could when he spotted Aurelia moving along the edge of the crowd. He ducked behind a small plant as she moved his direction. He did not want anyone to notice him so that he could speak to her.
As Aurelia walked the edge of the crowd, she passed close to the two Outsiders and wondered where the prince was. Then she caught a snippet of their conversation:
"I do hope that seamstress arrives soon."
"Do you think she is the one?"
"Yes. The Judge said she lives outside of town."
"That gives us ample opportunity to speak with her."
"Precisely. But there is something about her. She does not look like these people, and she certainly has a gift."
"You're right. She is the sorceress."
Aurelia hurried past them and stopped a moment. She stood directly in front of Prince Reginald, nearly in tears.
Prince Reginald had heard the conversation as well, being near enough and very good at reading lips. He reached out to Aurelia, who recoiled at his touch.
"It's just Prince Reginald."
She made a move to leave him.
"Please, I heard their conversation, and we are not here for you. At least, not to my knowledge."
"Please, Your Highness, tell me what's going on."
"Come outside with me, and I will fill you in."

The two left the way Prince Reginald entered the room, and both thought they went unnoticed.

Sealing My Fate

Today I turned in my application for my Semester(s) in LA. There is no turning back at this point--I'm ready to go. It's time, to lamely and nerdily quote Rob Dyrdek and Chris Boykin, to DO WORK.
Last night, I hung out with a large group of very good friends and watched The Office. It felt so good to be laughing and smiling. Not that I don't do that regularly, but it was different last night. There is a peace about the direction my life has taken in which I know who I am, I know my merits, and I can love everyone for theirs as well.
No fairy tale today. I have a screenplay to develop and a world to embrace.
Also, as a note, regardless of my political opinions and standings, which no one in my life can legitimately say they know but me, it was really cool to see so many people so happy about a political figure on Tuesday.

Straight into the fairytale today:

Straight into the fairytale today:

Prince Reginald rode away and tried, with great difficulty, not to look back at the beautiful seamstress. He knew that he should be less distracted. Luren may be massing forces and there may be a Lurenese sorceress harbored in Hardenstall. But that woman was so beautiful, and she did not fall flat on her face when she saw him. She looked him in the eye without defiance and without fear. When he spoke to her, he forgot he was a prince; he forgot, for a moment, about Luren and about all his responsibilities.
"Your highness?" Lord Urbond rode next to him, straightening his horse, who was about to head off the path.
"Sorry, I was... well, I'm concerned, obviously."
"Yes, but you need to at least make it to the meetings today if we are to solve any of our problems with Luren."
The problems Lord Urbond was referring to were, of course, the growing threat of Luren going to war with Evars. Having lived in peace for over three centuries, Luren and Evars were neutral neighbors. However, about 16 years ago, the Lurenese ambassador's daughter, a born sorceress, was abducted and lost somewhere in Evars. It was thought to be by one of the family's many Lurenese servants, and the search continued and was evenutally dropped. However, peace remained between the countries. It was not a political crime, but a personal one. Lately, though, one Lurenese magician had attempted, in hopes of solving this long mystery, to connect with the girl's magical side, to see if she was still alive or at least magical enough for her corpse to give a read. This magician, an enchantress named Ulianne, was convinced that the young woman was still alive and hiding in Evars. However, some other magical force was clouding her ability to get a good read on the whereabouts of the girl.
Of course, Luren took this to mean that someone in the kingdom of Evars was harboring this young woman under magic, which would, of course, require consent of the Evarian government. So, negotiations began for the permission to search Evars for the missing young sorceress.
Prince Reginald took responsibility for this matter. His father, unknown to any but a few, was falling seriously ill, and the Prince was taking on more and more responsibility.
Of course, this left the Prince wondering why this girl was supposed to be so important and how a sorceress powerful enough to break through a magical shield had gone unnoticed for so long.

Aurelia closed her shop early that day. She had to create a gown for her dinner that evening--something fit for royalty, but it was the first time she would be composing in the city limits. Her methods, being magical, may have turned some unwanted attention her way, so she preferred to work in her shop without interruption.
Using finest silks and lace, she created in just half an hour, a dress worthy of a princess. However, she stared at it awhile and realized its decadence might give her away. Somehow, though she didn't understand how, she knew that Lord Urbond suspected that she had a gift. And in just thinking about making the dress less, it morphed into a still elegant, but much simpler, creation. Through it all, she could not quit thinking about her interaction with the prince. He looked nervous--almost as nervous as she felt. And as she thought about him, she realized she could see him in her mind. This happened when she thought too long on people. Though, it did not happen often since she had so very little outside contact. He was in meetings with the city's mayor, asking permission to set up camp on the outskirts of town near the great lake--and near her house.
Curious as to whether or not she could control the Prince's thoughts and actions, since she could see them, she projected, or she felt she projected, a location about a mile west, beyond the cliff, where her house would be out of sight.
To her surprise, when she tuned back into the Prince's meeting, he selected the location on the map. However, in addition to her relief, Aurelia felt a twinge of guilt.
She shook her head and stood up, clearing her mind. She put on her dress and did her hair, getting ready for dinner that night.

Coloring Books, Howl, and Chips and Cheesy Salsa

Today, I managed to scrape together 30 pages of a screenplay that might now have a direction. My coffee pot became a geyser when I forgot to put the top lid down. Steaming water spewed all over my kitchen at 6:13 a.m., and all I could do was turn off the coffee maker, clean the mess, and shut the lid. My coffee came out fine less than seven minutes later. The epiphany, of course, was that my character had a dilemma that he ignores or quite some time. I spent ten minutes wondering why my coffee maker sounded funny. Then he fixes the problem and cleans the mess. First, though, he has to acknowledge the problem. I had to walk into the kitchen. There was a moment of panic when I realized I might get hit with some steaming-hot water droplets. But what else could I do? And what else can my character do? The mess would only get bigger and more dangerous. Same with Eric (my character). So, Eric and I had an epiphany, and now things are going much, much better. In fact, I may repeat the instance in my screenplay for symbolic effect.
Also today, I got to throw around ideas for another person's screenplay. I got to use what I had learned in class to help someone else develop a wonderful idea. Granted, it's just a Production 1 film, but it can still be good. It can be a wonderful short. I am excited to put this into production.
Fairy tale tomorrow. I'm in a good mood and want to fall asleep on a high note. Alas, Aurelia cannot keep ending on high notes for long, so I'm going to save her for at least one more day.

Plus, my day was spent rediscovering past loves, not past pasts. I had my first dish of chips and cheesy salsa in five days, my first rereading of Howl in about three months, and my first coloring book in countless years. All glorious; all reminders of why I should love myself. The chips and cheesy salsa are just delicious, and my taste-buds are meant to love that over-processed goodness. Howl --especially part 3, is not just about Rockland, but Rock(Is)land, where you, my dear reader, would wind up madder than me, because I've survived the damned thing. And the small triumph of finishing the picture with all the colors in their place in the lines is most wonderful.

Good night, good night!

Back to Samantha

I am so back right now.
This weekend, getting out of town and forgetting to obsess about my friends broke the habit a little bit. When I did get back to Chicago, I just went and watched the game with a new friend. It was great. Then I watched an experiment with a dead man. I can't wait to die for Sabrina soon.
Anyway, there is a fairy tale that must be written...

When Aurelia walked into Hardenstall the next day, bags of finished clothes on her donkey's back. With representatives from Shorin arriving today, she had decided on some strange whim to dress for the occasion. Though still very modest, she wore a light purple dress that seemed to dance even when there was no wind. Her face looked less concentrated than normal, and she walked with a half-smile, singing not just to herself along the lonely road, but to any living creature that could hear.
Upon arriving in town, she saw that there was already a line outside the florists where she rented. As soon as everyone saw her with her bags and bags of clothes they made way. She tied the donkey and went inside. Ten minutes later, the shop was organized enough to begin letting the line file in. Each customer seemed more pleased than usual with her output, and many even looked to notice her own change in appearance. She received a myriad of compliments, and with each, her smile grew a little brighter. By the time the last customer filed through, she looked as though she had had the best day of her life. It was only 10 in the morning. The representatives from Shorin were arriving at 11. No one knew exactly which dignitaries were supposed to come, but everyone expected a small parade and a bit of pomp.
Aurelia opened up her portion of the shop and placed some fresh flowers in the windows. With the mass of colorful fabrics in the back, billowing in the slight breeze, her own magical appearance, and the flowers, it looked as though she had created a fairy world within her room.
She stood in the doorway like a guardian angel, ready to usher anyone willing into her realm.
Earlier than expected, the town crier announced the arrivals of the representatives.
"Make way, one and all for our great and noble lawmen from Shorin!"
As he spoke, three men on horses rode into town in a straight line.
"Please make way for Lord Urbond, Minister of Foreign Relations."
The streets became lined with people who did not care so much about the titles, but about what these dignitaries looked like. Aurelia was the only one who seemed shocked that someone dealing with foreign relations would come visit a town in which the closest foreign neighbor lived miles across water.
"And now, give your respects to Duke Rendenmort, Advisor to the King."
As the first two men passed her shop, they actually seemed to notice Aurelia's slice of heaven amidst the small-town reveling. Each paused a moment and regarded her. She took in each of their faces, trying to figure out what their intentions could be in Hardenstall.
"And last, please bow before your Prince Reginald."
The whole town paused a moment, then immediately took to their knees. Aurelia was last to do so, because at that moment she realized why they were there--the green lights across the lake, these men in charge of all of Evars, the Prince himself--Evars was going to war."
As the prince passed, she was still standing. Immediately, she fell, not just because of him, but because she realized what this would mean for her quiet life outside this quiet town. She could not be noticed. Wishing she had dressed less fine that day, she made a move to enter her stop, thinking the Prince had passed. What she had not noticed was that all of them had stopped just 30 feet beyond her window, and as she rushed inside, they all watched, then spoke.
"You, mademoiselle--wait."
Embarassed and still lost in frantic though, Aurelia paused. As she turned, a gust of wind blew through the main street, and she looked so wild an angelic that everyone stared. Her hair blowing around her face never covered her expression of indignation at being told she could not hide. That lavender dress actually moved like the ocean or like clouds roaming across the sky, and for that moment, she looked superhuman. However, the gust of wind stopped, and instead of indignation, she showed confusion and perhaps a little fear. The Prince Reginald was lost in the previous image, so it was Duke Rendenmort who spoke first.
"My dear, please, are you from this town?"
"Of course. I live next to the great lake, on the cliff, outside the town, but I do business here, and these people are my neighbors and friends."
"And you are a seamstress?"
"Yes."
He paused for a moment, then asked the woman next to Aurelia, a woman named Tania wearing a skirt and blouse from Aurelia, to stand.
"Ma'am, have you used this woman's services before?"
"You mean Aurelia's? Yes, this skirt and this blouse are her work, actually. She did the blouse just last night."
Aurelia looked nervously at each man's face. As she looked at the Prince, he caught her eye and gave a slight half smile. She attempted to smile back, but her nervousness would not let her.
Duke Rendenmort turned back to her.
"Aurelia--that is your name, yes?"
She nodded.
"Well, Aurelia, your skills are impressive. Where did you learn?"
"Finishing school. I went to a lovely finishing school in Shorin, sir."
This was a blatant lie, but it was the first thing she could think. She knew it would be easy to catch, and she wasn't sure what the punishment would be for lying to the king's own advisor. However, she could not answer his questions. She did not sew, and she certainly did not remember where she received her abilities to create clothing and manipulate fabric. In fact, she was not even from Hardenstall, but she had been there for so long, she hoped none of the townspeople would blow her cover.
However, before he could speak again, Duke Rendenmort was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from the Prince. He whispered something in the Duke's ear, and then spoke.
"Aurelia, we are sorry to trouble you. We were merely struck by the beauty of your store window, and, to be embarassingly frank, your lovely appearance. Please join us for dinner tonight--where-ever we may be feasting. As for now, let us get back to business, gentlemen. Again, madam, my sincerest apologies at bothering you. Good day."
Aurelia was finally able to return a smile. However, as the procession ended and she walked back into her store, she realized that her way of life was in great danger.

W. and Other Such Nonsense Keeping Me Up at Night

Sabrina, my roommate, bought a clock that sings the MeowMix theme every hour on the hour. It just woke me up because it never gets dark enough in the city, and I wasn't really asleep to begin with, so I thought I'd write.
Yesterday, I think I upset one very close friend, and one friend that may have deserved to be treated badly. Call me Hurricane Samantha, because I literally went on a rampage in which I let everyone know how I was feeling and then tore each person apart. No one deserves that. Well, perhaps the not-so-close friend deserved it just a little, but not in the manner in which I brought the pain.
I just need a day off from myself. Most of these problems are caused by my own obsessing and my inability to let things go.
Wow. Okay, that may have been a bit too much self-awareness for the night.
On to other things:
I saw W. See it. It's not phenominal; it probably is just a flash in the pan, but it is bizarre, and I truly want other people's opinions, because I am simply not sure what to make of it. Condoleezza Rice was done terribly, but I actually talked to someone tonight who thought it was just right. I disagree, but I want to know more!

Keep me posted, and eventually, we'll get back to this fairy tale.

Forget Emotion; Give me Logic

I am just going to post a quick rant before I go back to an episode of The Office (US) that I am waiting on.
Today, I realized that I am slowly becoming overwhelmed. This is finally catching up to me, right at the same time that I am facing my emotions for the first time in a long time.
These semesters in LA, the intense amount of writing I have to do, the constant balance of maintaining friendships, and the former potential for finding a relationship have all been weighing me down. At least one of those might have gone away, but I have no idea what's going on, so the weight has increased. Perhaps I need to stop analyzing everything. Maybe I need to just give into emotion and trust people a little bit.
But really, what good has emotion every done anyone? And trusting people with my emotions? With personal information? Yeah, right.
I learned my lesson. I was right the first time. Moving on now...

Los Angeles is really far away. Being on one's own is a scary business.
This has been looming over my head for quite some time.
Oh well. I thought, for a week, I had a really good thing going in Chicago. I should have remembered that I have expectations for a reason. I retract my statement regarding those expectations from my last post.
What now?

I'm going to finish this episode and go to bed.

This is all too much.

Samantha of the Island

I am home this weekend. Michaela wanted me to be around for homecoming since Mom and Dad couldn't be. So far, it's been great. Coming home is not usually this pleasant. I should learn that my expectations mean nothing this fall.

I'm going to fairy-tale it up now:

That night, Aurelia left Hardenstall with several lists of orders, bags of clothes needing mending, and only 10 hours in which to complete everything. No one actually expected her to finish, but for some reason, no one argued when she continued to take orders.
Back at her cottage, Aurelia went through her normal routine with her animals. She sat down to work, completely un-phased--humming pleasantly to herself. As she hummed, the clothes that needed mending seemed to stir in the bag, which glowed just a little. The skirt she was working on formed in her hands as she traced the patter on the fabric. No sewing, no pins, just touch. As much as it should have looked unnatural, Aurelia's nonchalant behavior made it seemed that every piece of clothing ever came into being this way. The animals made no movement. It was normal for them as well. She checked each order off the list, and within just a few hours, she had completed her work.
As she finished the last item, she stared out the window and jumped. Instead of the lights of Luren, something closer, something green loomed closer on the horizon.
"It's coming together," she whispered. She knew it was strange that anyone from Shorin would ever stoop so low as to pay attention to Hardenstall. Aurelia smiled. Something stirred inside her--something she had never felt before--excitement. She hummed faster; she couldn't be tied down with chores tomorrow morning. The Representatives from Shorin were coming, and she needed to make an impression.

Right at My Fingertips

It's really funny how I can have plans--really really good ones--and then somehow, something happens and suddenly, my plans have to be altered. Still good plans, but definitely not what I expected.

Yesterday, I took yet another step in the adventure to LA. It feels really real right now, and I feel young and vulnerable.

Vulnerability seems to be the lesson The Big Guy has been trying to teach me later. I've been praying more, hoping for his strength and guidance. As much as we grew closer this summer, I became a little complacent and fell back into self-reliance.

I'm going to skip the fairy tale tonight. Too much else to write. More later.

Why Am I Taking Psychology of Women?

All is well. I've already got more homework than last semester, which is great, and (perhaps) a means of downloading textbooks for free. We shall see. But I am going to end up more misogynistic than ever if Wednesdays keep up like this. Oh well. Women are just people like men are just people and every person is different. It's that simple.

I miss way too many people these days. Perhaps I should stop talking. But that's just trite--using Catcher in the Rye like that. Apologies, droogs.

Now, back to our story:

Aurelia was quite content with her life--not that anyone ever asked. She had a cat and a wrinkly dog that accompanied her as she tended to her house on the cliff. In addition to her house, she had a fairly large garden, four sheep, chickens, an alpaca, and some visiting birds for which she cared. At night, she would take whatever vegetable for dinner and perhaps a chicken and prepare dinner for herself. Most clear nights, since Evars is a temperate kingdom and Hardenstall the best climate in all of it, she would eat on her back porch overlooking the vast lake. Some nights, she thought she could see lights from the neighboring kingdom of Luren. Though not terribly friendly, Luren left Evars well enough alone, so lights were all Aurelia ever got to see. She dreamed of the day that a ship might break the horizon. The cliff was near a great little grotto, perfect for anchoring ships. Strangers, visitors, new faces would be great.
One day, the warmest day, Aurelia woke ready for chores. She took last night's table scraps to her alpaca, fed the chickens, let the sheep out to pasture, and grabbed a pile of finished garments to be taken into town.
"Let's see, I have Madame Gorin's skirt, mended yet again--she'd better be more careful leaving her carriage. And the new baby clothes for the Lenendorfs. Ah, and Judge Carapel's new gown. Quite a stately number indeed. Let's hope it lasts."
As she counted items, she ambled down her pathway, accidentally shutting the gate on her cat.
The walk into town was just as normal as always. Birds flew overhead in the warm wind, and no travelers passed Aurelia. No one ever visited her, and since she was the only person living on this road, no one ever took it. She only got visitors in events of fashion emergencies--torn hems on the afternoon of a grand dance, a stain the day before a wedding. No one ever actually came to see Aurelia.
When she arrived in town, everyone she passed greeted her haphazardly. She went to her store--a room she rented from the florist--and waited for new demands and owners to come get old clothes.
Judge Carapel was the first to arrive.
"Hello, Aurelia. Is the gown ready?"
"Yes, Madame Judge. I hope it's to your liking," said Aurelia, grabbing the robe and presenting it to Judge Carapel.
"Oh marvelous. Just what I needed. We have some representatives from Shorin coming to visit! I don't know why, but I do know that they have important matters to discuss with our Mayor Ferlun."
"Well, I am glad that you think my work represents Hardenstall so well."

Shorin, at the center of Evars, was the great kingdom's capital city. Aurelia had actually lived there as a child, but remembered very little out of the hustle and bustle. In fact, this was the time Aurelia had lived with her family, and she remembered nothing of them at all. After Judge Carapel left, Hardenstall's residence poured into the shop, making requests for all sorts of finery in time to impress the king's representative's from Shorin. Aurelia wrote everything down and carefully planned her schedule to accommodate all the decadent demands. After several hours of lines out her door, residents expected Aurelia to start turning people away. However, she continued to simply take orders and measurements and old garments needing to be made new. No one believed she could get everything done, but Aurelia never said a word.

Hellweek, Revisited

I am still alive after last week. There is a God, and he does perform miracles.
When I arrived at my apartment in Chicago, a monster had set up a lair in what I thought would be my own little 26th floor paradise. Not wanting to disturb her monstrosity, I switched rooms only to get sick with an ear infection. That was something entirely new to me. Thank goodness it wasn't mono.
Sabrina, my new roommate, was a good sport about all of this, and I'm very glad to say that I am finally unpacked and she and I have a great little 17th floor apartment that everyone should come visit. (We have two extra beds in the closet... seriously... stop by.)

Now, to tackle this semester--what may be my last in Chicago. EEE!

Somedays, I wish I could just write a fairy tale. Perhaps that will be the purpose of this blog: to create my own serial fairy tale, complete with all the magic and tragedy and romance that every good fairy tale should have.
Here goes:

Once upon a time, in a land over seas and mountains in the west, lived a beautiful girl named Aurelia. She lived alone on a broad cliff overlooking a deep and blue lake. Sometimes, she would walk down the cliff, beneath the part that jutted out over the water, and spend time along the water. Other times, she would walk the path that lead to Hardenstall, the little town nearby. She was a seamstress, so she would meet with her clients in the town, delivering newly finished dresses, trousers, and blouses for anyone who wanted really good craftsmanship. She was known throughout the nearby villages as well for her expertise in weaving fabrics, invisible stiching, and fade-resistant dyes. Everyone in Hardenstall practically worshiped her for making them the most beautiful town in the kingdom of Evars. However, for all her merits among the townspeople, Aurelia did not have many friends. She dressed plainly, sang to herself as she walked into town, and refused the advances of the town's many eligible bachelors. Many thought her touched in the head, while a few others whispered of her snobbery. You see, her skills had made her very rich, and, because she lived alone in a small cottage and dressed simply, she had saved enough money to be the richest citizen in Hardenstall. Many of the towns more decadent residents resented her for this.
So Aurelia lived her life, an unknown celebrity on the edge of a lake at the edge of a town on the edge of a great kingdom.

Stay tuned for another post...

A Quick Hello

I'm going to try this blogging thing. It seems like a good time.