Are Your Words Working? // lagging behind on goals and schedules

We're onto the twenty-first day of the month. Only ten more days left before August. Are you on target? Are those words working just how you planned them to be?

For me, I have to admit that the answer is actually no.

Now, I know it sounds bizarre. "But Jane, you finished your camp nano goal aaages ago and you finished your novella and what's wrong with all that??" And all that is completely true but I had (and still have) a few other things planned for this month, and it was all nicely scheduled out on my dry erase whiteboard calendar. (seriously though, if you don't use one of these, you need to try it. It's amazing.) 

I aimed to finish writing on the 15th - tick that box.
I aimed to have at least 25k - tick, again.
I also aimed to have a teensy bit of an easier time - and I think I can check that off too.

But then we get to the second half of the month.

I hoped to finish one of my critiquing novels on the 17th.
I hoped to finish the book I'd been given for free from the author to read and review.
I hoped to dig right in and get down to editing A Sprig of Green right away.
I hoped to finish my rough edits + synopsis.
I hoped to start on a beta reading novel so I had plenty of time to finish it before the end of the month.
Not even mentioning that I really really hoped to have plenty of free time to read the Road Rules book and prepare for my driving test.

None of that went according to plan. And looking at that list, I can honestly see why. I had unrealistic expectations. There was no way I was going to be able to do all that and school and life. I'm an overachiever sometimes and I like pushing myself and giving myself challenges. A lot of the time, I also overestimate myself. I simply cannot fit that much in. And adding to that, all the random things that just pop up unexpectedly and snatch away some of that precious time that I'm desperately trying to balance.

BUT. That's not where the story ends. We're only just getting to the best part.

I'm actually okay with this. I can see that I'm not up to the level I was hoping for, but that's okay. Maybe I don't need to be. I'm right where God needs me at the moment. Because when I'm here and I'm falling behind, I can look up and know that He's got a plan and, my goodness, it's better than ANYTHING I could ever come up with.

And sometimes it's in times like right now, when I stop and look at my goals and what I had hoped and planned to get done, that I realise that it really is better this way. I didn't finish a lot of those things because I was busy.

I was busy living.

So today, I want to encourage all of you, whatever you're doing - whether you're falling behind on goals, whether your striving insanely to reach them before you run out of time, or whether you're sitting right at the top and relaxing already. Whatever place you're at, stop and take a breath.

Take time to look up to God and just smile. Smile because what He's done. What He's doing. And what He will do.

Take a moment of every day and live.


How are your goals and plans working out?
Do you have any methods for keeping on track or scheduling out your plans?

Lando Erif - an off-side story :: Don't Get Into a Staring Contest With the Mountain Dudes

Early mornings. Video calls to the other side of the world. Critiquing, brainstorming, writing tips giving, theme assisting.

Basically this week has been crazy.

But today I'm dropping in here with a proof that homeschooling is the best. This is how the story goes.

One day, my history book told me that I had to write an essay about the cold war. I was feeling uninspired, so I asked my teacher/mum/most-wonderful-mother-in-the-world if I could write it in story-style instead. And she said "okay, as long as it still has the information in it that it needed and everything." (or something along those lines)

So I wrote my cold war essay, as if Lando had written it, and it was so much fun. Wherefore I am going to share it with you today.

Hope you enjoy this surprisingly educational Lando story...essay...thing.

The Cold War – told by Lando Erif

You remember that history lesson you had on the Cold War?

Neither do I.

It never made much sense to me really. Two countries threatening each other but never actually doing anything? Just why?

And besides, what’s the fun in that?

I know, I know. Nuclear bombs, what’s more exciting than that?

Dragons for one, but I guess I’m biased.

Vegemite sandwiches are surprisingly exciting too, though you wouldn’t know it unless you knew me.

But I suggest we keep it safe, and I’ll stay as the anonymous author of this Cold War story.

This is my point of view on the whole thing.

I can’t guarantee much historical accuracy.


It all started with a dude called Usa.

And another dude called Ussr.

Usa was big and strong and half the world loved him.

Ussr was big and strong and half the world loved him.

It was really just asking for trouble.

They used to be best bros and had great times smashing things together, but then they started getting a bit full of themselves.


They were hanging out in Europe having fun cleaning up after the Second World War. It was a big job, lucky they were both big guys.

I guess they were getting a little tired and all, and probably sick of having people mix up their names. It finally got on Ussr’s nerves.

Usa was being an idiot, playing around and tossing aeroplane wrecks around for fun. He turned to his friend, flexing his muscles. “I’ll bet I’m stronger than you now,” he taunted, balancing a navy ship on his thumb.

Ussr glared. “You do, huh? Try me.” Without waiting for Usa’s answer, he stomped away toward Russia.

“Hey guys!” he yelled, storming up. “I’m the greatest.”

Naturally they all believed him.

I don’t blame them. I mean, what can you say when a super-powerful dude comes crashing into your country? It’s either obey him or run away screaming.

Unfortunately, running away screaming wasn’t much of an option. Ussr was strong, and he didn’t want anyone running to Usa for protection.

He was the greatest.

It wasn’t long before Usa heard what was going on.

“Seriously man?” he asked, strolling over to Russia in five minutes. “You think that’s super?”

“You come any closer and I’ll blast you with my nuclear powers,” Ussr threatened.

As you can see, the friendship went downhill fast.

“Hahahaa, nuclear powers. I like that. Like you’ve got any nuclear pow—YIKES!”

Ussr pulled out a handful of nuclear bombs from his jacket pocket, waving them under Usa’s nose

Usa did the only sensible thing.

He ran.

Back in America, he started plotting. Ussr had tons of those bombs but he wasn’t the only one who could make them. And Usa had an even better plan.

He lay low for a while, building up his nuclear bombs and his minion armies and his strength by eating plenty of French fries.

Finally he was ready to make his big move.

After eating one final plate of French fries, he stepped over to Europe again.

“Hey peeps,” he grinned at the European countries. “I got me a plan.”

And before you could say ‘pass the fries’ Usa created Nato.

Nato was a big guy.

As big as Usa and half on Europe combined. Lucky thing, because he was made to totally smash Ussr, and Ussr weren’t no midget.

“He’s perfect!” Usa yelped. “Come on, bro,” he said. “Let’s go blow some heads.”

Naturally Ussr saw them coming.

A guy like Usa must be hard to miss, but Nato?

He was like a walking Eiffel Tower.

No, scrap that, he was like a walking mountain.

Ussr sat in his fortress for a moment longer, letting his enemies approach. He chuckled evilly.

They had no idea.

In that time Ussr hadn’t been idle.

He may have been eating a couple of famous Russian pancakes, but mostly he’d been playing with bombs.

As Usa and Nato stormed through Germany, he decided they’d gone far enough.

“Go get ‘em, Warsaw,” he said, waving his hand casually.

Suddenly some super-fast something crashed down in front of Usa and Nato. A massive wall cut straight through Berlin.

Now that is some super-fast wall building.

Usa totally freaked. “What’s going on?” he yelled, watching all the terrified little people scurrying about on the streets. “USSR! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU COME OUT NOW OR I’LL BLAST YOUR FACE.”

Technically that doesn’t make sense but hey! He didn’t have much time to think up a response.

If I’d been Ussr, I would’ve run for my life. But Ussr just did his evil laugh (mwahahaha) and strode up to the fuming Usa.

“Hello Usa,” he said, spinning a long bomb between his fingers. “Who’s this midget you’ve got with you?”

Usa’s eyes widened. Nato’s eyes narrowed.

“I am no midget,” he rumbled.

Have you ever met one of those massive guys who make the ground vibrate when they talk?

Nato was like that.

Only it was a full on earthquake.

Dude, he was terrifying.

And no one likes being called a midget by their enemy.

Nato pulled a fistful of bombs from his pocket, glaring at Ussr.

Things were about to get nuclear.

Even Ussr quailed back.

I don’t know what would’ve happened then, but Warsaw chose that moment to return to his master for a nice tasty reward.

When he materialised out of nowhere, everyone jumped.

Ussr regained his confidence. Usa quaked in his boots.

“It seems, Usa, that while you were distracted a while back, you missed a major development.” Ussr gestured upward to the towering Warsaw. “Please meet Warsaw Pact. Warsaw, say hello.”

Warsaw grinned widely with a ‘hi enemy, wanna die?’ kind of look. “Warsaw says hello.”

If you thought Nato’s earthquake voice was bad, Warsaw’s was totally nuclear.

All the humans shrieked and ran for cover. The bricks of the Berlin wall trembled and Warsaw almost wrecked all his hard work. The ice in Switzerland melted off the mountains, and everyone in Hungary stopped being hungry.

It was like an explosion.

A nuclear explosion.

And he’d only said hello.

Yup. Things totally just went nuclear.

“Where did that thing come from?” Usa demanded, trying to stop his knees from knocking together too loudly.

“This.” Ussr patted the huge guy’s shoulder (man, you’d have to either be very brave or very crazy to do that. I’m thinking Ussr was a bit of both) “This is my military alliance with East Europe. Surely you must have noticed him before?”

“I didn’t eat that many French fries,” Usa protested.

Meanwhile, Nato and Warsaw were looking each other up and down.

That, to begin with is more than I could do. I’d just have to look up and up.

Next to Warsaw, Nato looked like nothing.

If Nat was a mountain, Warsaw was Mount Everest.

No kidding, the guy was huge.

Those French fries must’ve been really good, or Usa would’ve noticed him earlier.

Things could’ve gotten messy just then, but Warsaw had just built a massive long wall at light-speed. That’s gotta be tiring.

He didn’t feel much like bashing things just then.

And Ussr hadn’t given him his medal for breaking the wall-building world record.

“Warsaw hungry,” he rumbled, causing half of the Spanish population to start speaking Latin. With that, he turned and strode back toward Russia.

“Uh, time for a tactical retreat, Nato,” Usa suggested, backing away slowly.

Leaving a few minion armies behind to clean up the mess, they returned to America. Usa sank into his chair, ordering a tableful of French fries. “Phew, that was close.”

Nato just stood, glaring across the ocean at Warsaw.

Warsaw looked up from his lunch and grinned a ‘hi enemy’ grin again.

As I said, the guys were massive.

This went on for quite a while. Warsaw and Nato over-sea glaring. Ussr chuckling evilly in his fortress. Usa drowning his woes in French fries, hoping for a brilliant break-through plan.

Every now and then the now-arch-enemies would stretch and head off to taunt and threaten each other with bombs and nuclear explosions and broccoli soup.

Little minion armies grew bigger, and got glaring lessons from Nato and Warsaw. Unfortunately they had to stand a little closer together for their presence to be quite as foreboding.

Meanwhile, neither Nato or Warsaw had blinked.

After such a long time they couldn’t give up, no matter how sore their eyes were getting.

This was a matter of strength. There was no giving in.

But come on, you complain, didn’t you say something about wars? This isn’t a war. And I don’t see anything cold about it.

You’ve got a point. But I’m getting to the cold right now.

Ussr, living in Russia as he did, woke one morning with a really bad case of Autumn flu. His nose started running like mad and his throat was like he’d swallowed a handful of sand.

The worst thing?

He couldn’t do the evil laugh thing anymore because it hurt too much.

It wasn’t long before he got bored.

He quit his fortress and started glaring around Europe. He noticed that Warsaw wasn’t as big and scary as he used to be.

The minions in some-Czech-place-with-a-really-weird-name were misbehaving. They’d even tried to stop some army tanks in some town called Plague.

Or Prague.

I forget which.

You get to pick.

“What, no!” Ussr shouted, getting a really bad coughing fit. “You’re meant to be on OUR side…cough...What’s the deal with that?”

It was a catastrophe that called for immediate action.

“Come Warsaw,” Ussr coughed. “We need to…cough…go…cough cough…Czecho…cough…slovakia…cough cough.”

The two headed off, storming down on Czech in a whirlwind of used tissues.

“What do you…cough…think…cough cough…” Ussr gave up trying to talk, waving his hand at Warsaw to finish.

“Warsaw says, what do you think you are doing?”

His voice might’ve gotten a little quieter than before, now that he was only an ordinary mountain, but it was still scary.

The Czechs checked themselves and ran away screaming.

Warsaw was saved!

But the little rebellions kept chipping away at the mountain’s roots.

He kept on glaring at Nato, but now they were eye-to-eye.

Ussr was getting even more worries now. His cold hadn’t gotten any better and he’d used up Warsaw’s entire supply of tissues.

This was bad news.

He had to get more tissues, but only Usa and Nato had any.

Time to start being scary again.

Ussr and Warsaw stormed across Europe. In Britain an annoying little Peace Pledge Union popped up, but Warsaw totally squashed it.

In half an hour they had reached Cuba.

Nato had seen them coming, of course.

It was hard not to when you’re having a years-long staring contest.

Usa heard his bro’s grunted warning and glanced up from his French fries. When he saw Ussr and Warsaw he went completely nuclear.

“RIGHT. THAT’S IT,” he roared so loud the entire world heard him.

All of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and everywhere-else-I-haven’t-said-yet held their breath.

“MINIONS! SMASH THEM!” Usa commanded.

What could they do but obey?

I mean, what would you do if a giant guy with smoke pouring out of his ears in mushroom clouds told you to do something?

Me? I’d take the broccoli soup any day.

When Ussr saw the Nuclear-Usa and Nato charging south he was so terrified he fell into the worst coughing fit yet.

“Warsaw…cough cough…I suggest…cough...tactical…cough cough cough…RUN!”

Warsaw agreed and all his minion armies used their own bombs to blast their Cuban fort out of existence.

A tactical retreat (that looked an awful lot like running in terror) was made, and the world let go the breath they’d been holding for a very long week.

Nuclear war temporarily avoided.

And so Nato and Warsaw went back to their staring contest, Usa stopped eating French fries and headed over to Europe so he could keep a closer eye on Ussr.

Ussr? He sulked in his fortress, blowing his nose on bed sheets because his cold still hadn’t gone away.

This could have continued for who knows how long, but luckily for you and me, it didn’t.

Maybe Usa and Ussr just tired of the whole war thing, or maybe Nato and Warsaw talked them into it (because after 40 years their eyes must have been roasted).

Somehow, the two arch enemies met up. Ussr explained, very nicely, about his unending cold, Usa sat nodding sympathetically and…BOOM.

They were best buddies again.

Finally Warsaw blinked and then dissolved into 15 mini Warsaws. Nato went to the optometrist because he was pretty sure he’d gone far-sighted after all that staring.

Usa shared his French fries with Ussr forever onwards.

And Ussr’s cold disappeared like something blown up by a nuclear bomb.


And so it became known as the Cold War, although my teacher assures me it’s not because the USSR had a cold and ran out of tissues, but because there was no actual fighting.

I told her, whatever, but there sure was broccoli soup.

She disagreed on that fact too.

Staring contests?

Another nope.

I ask you, what’s the fun in that?

- end -

AND THERE is the best example of my creative essays that I do for school. Homeschooling is the best and there's no way you can disagree with that.

Disclaimer: I also do write actual essays, but that isn't anywhere near as interesting and only this one really deserves mentioning. Although at some point I might post one of my LotR essays that I have to write for my literature course. (YES. I'm doing a course on LotR. WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING BEING THE BEST??)


Have you ever done some creative writing instead of an essay?
(I can't be alone here, right?)
What's your favourite subject for school?

Theme Mastery // Kingdom Pen writing course

Theme has always been a struggle for me. It's such a tricky part of writing, and I've never been able to work out what in the world I was meant to do with it.

How can I not be preachy, but still be Christian in my writing? Can I write a 'Christian' novel but not specifically mention God in it? Or am I just wasting my time? Would it be more profitable to go to town and bash people in the face with a bible? (I promise I've never actually thought this one until just now. XD)

And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this battle of doubt and confusion.

But over the last few months, I've been learning. I've been killing my brain over theme and character arcs and experiments in living. (And enjoying it, don't get me wrong)

And I've been doing that by taking the course Theme Mastery: How to Write Christian Literature that Captivates

You might have heard the name Josiah DeGraaf, or maybe the site/community of Kingdom Pen. (If not GO DISCOVER THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I PROMISE THAT YOU WON'T REGRET IT) *ahem* Anyways, Josiah is the amazingly talented writer who made this course, and it was through Kingdom Pen that I found out about it.
Or rather, I found out that it was a) theme and b) severely discounted for a limited amount of time for beta testers to sign up. So of course I jumped right in. (I know, I'm just such a ooh-look-it's-free person. Although technically it wasn't completely free this time.)

And it was SO AMAZING.

Every single lesson: I learnt a heap of things. Every single bit of homework and reading work and discussion. It all made me think and learn so. much. stuff.

I used to have a vague idea of theme and that it was nice thing to have and that it needed to be good and done well and not preachy and blah blah blah. But I didn't really grasp the full importance of it, and nor did I fully realise what exactly it even was.

But then all that changed and now I know how to plot out a novel's theme and do venn diagram mashes of Experiments in Living and tie in the theme with the plot and characters. 
(Note: in theory I know how to do this. I have the information in my brain, it's just a matter of practice as I work things out more and more and I'm never ever going to stop learning in this area, I know that for sure.)

And what's more, I didn't learn just about theme. I learnt about humans and personalities and it made me think more about why people do the things they do.

And trust me, that can be really interesting. Let me show you an example:

Me: Why is that dude eating a doughnut?
Sister: Um...because he likes doughnuts, I guess.
Me: But...but why?

It makes you question everyone's motives, and therefore makes you better prepared for all circumstances. Why is that lady fiddling with the brim of her hat? Maybe she has a secret weapon hidden beneath it that shoots poison darts at unsuspecting- *slumps unconscious* Because you never know when that might be important. *sage nod*

And noooo I'm totally not getting distracted now. Totally. Not.

Basically, this course legit and honestly actually changed my life. And guys, I'm telling you right now, it was a change for the better. Some of the homework got me to delve into my own faith and study the bible and the whole course is pointing to Jesus over and over.

It was such a good reminder that I'm writing for God, not for anyone else in this world.

AND GUYSSS. CHARACTER ARCS ARE SO COOL. I love them. So much fun to work with and plan out and agh. It was amazing. HAVE I SAID THAT YET? (Shhh, yes Jane, you've screamed that about twenty times in the last five minutes) And foil characters and Experiments in Living and Poetic Justice and Mimesis. And you allll need to buy the course and learn about these epic things because honestly it's so much fun.

I feel like I'm just gushing and flailing about this now. *ahem* But it's all true. 
Spoiler: my original plan for this post was for it to be a book review style, only a course review. But then I forgot about the post until late at night, so the content slipped into flailing and shrieking and everything that my blog normally is, I just try to live in the delusion that I'm actually intelligible sometimes. XD


Back to it.
Theme Mastery has a super good resources list and reading and homework assignments. And eeep so many things that are just so good, and it's all designed to teach and develop skills. It takes work, yep. Sometimes it took me over an hour to do the homework assignments (*cough* totally wasn't procrastinating there) but they helped so much. And the hands-on examples of how everything really does work were great to see.

Also - Josiah quotes Aristotle and Plato and a bunch of old, dead, wise philosophers (along with several not-so-old and several not-so-dead wise peoples) and how cool is that? It applies. What they said then, is true just as much today as for the writers in their time.

And the great thing is that the course is self-paced and once you buy it you have it foreverrrr. And it's a full family license and everything so siblings are no problem and they can just borrow accounts and all that fun stuff.

But the best news of all...

*drum roll please*

The course got released to the public on the 22nd of May.
AND Theme Mastery is currently ON SALE for heaps less than it normally would be. SO GO CHECK IT OUT NOW BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU IT'LL BE AMAZING AND LIFE CHANGING AND EEP JUST DO IT.

And just in case you haven't noticed all the handy links, click HERE to go to the Theme Mastery page thingamy. (Also, if you scroll down far enough you can see that they put my testimony on their page. I am so honoured.)


Are you going to check this course out more?
(*cough cough* AND PROMPTLY SELL YOUR SOUL TO BUY IT. But actually no, don't sell your soul because that wouldn't be good and you wouldn't be able to appreciate it as much without a soul.)
Have you got any good tips on writing theme?
(Because I'm not styling myself as any sort of expert or anything and I want to know what your thoughts are)

My New Lookin' Blog and a 'Lovely Tag'

As you probably have noticed, I have redone my blog! Thanks so much to my sister, Clare, for helping me. I just decided that it was time to upgrade to something cooler. New year, new look, eh? How do you like it?

So this 'Lovely Blog Tag' (I'm not entirely sure what it's called) was...er...given/tagged to me by Clare -- my great source for receiving such tags...But guess what? I had to make a picture myself this time! *Gasps* Oh the horror!

So here are the rules that always come with things like this:

Give seven fun facts about yourself, and then give this tag to fifteen other great blogs.

Wait, what?! Does that say fifteen? Phew...okaay, I dunno about the 'fifteen' but I can do the fun facts bit. And here we are:

I am an expert at going. "Here, I'll show you how to do it," and then failing utterly at whatever it was. Oh, and then I laugh at my own idiocy and make a mental note not to offer again. A mental note which I almost always lose, forget, or just plain ignore.

I have three real fake swords/katanas. As in, I have three metal, ornamental-and-therefore-not-sharp swords. They're pretty cool, but the only problem is that Clare wants to take photos of me with them...Oh, the woes of having a photographer as a sister.

I attract bruises. They just seem to like me -- and I like them too. I've had some very interesting looking ones from archery, and it's so fun to show them to people and see them wince. Particularly if the bruises don't actually hurt much.

I don't like chocolate. I don't like most sweet things actually. Some biscuits are okay, and cake is too, but generally I'll say no to basically anything else.

Right..so I've got up to number five now. Umm, my watches have a habit of smashing several days after I get them. Seriously, the last...four, I think, have broken no more than a month after I was given them. The first one I got on a Christmas about four years ago I broke the next day. But, I got another watch for this Christmas and it's survived with only one scratch! So far...

I am doing Potions for schoolwork this year. Well, not Potions technically. The cover of the book says Chemistry but Potions sounds much more interesting. I'm kind of getting slightly worried and more determined at the same time about that book. Clare started it, but switched to something else because it was too difficult, Alice probably wasn't going to have to do it. I was fine with all that, it just made me want to go, "Oh yeah! I can do this." And then I was told that Zach had also done it (this I already knew) but then I found out that he hadn't actually finished it and had gone to a different chemistry thing. That's got me worried. But it also makes me want to succeed even more...So I really don't know...I'm kind of just going to wait and see what it's like.

I think having a birthday on the 29th of February would be so fun. I could go around saying that I was three and a half! Can you just imagine that? It would be hilarious!


So there we are, fun facts about myself are all done, but if you wanted to read some more you can check out my 'About me' page. It's a whole page full of crazy facts.

So, fifteen other blogs. I'm thinking that I'll tag...one.
Sarah (Novus Papilio) here is an excuse to go do another blog post!

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to check out the latest Fragment of If Adventure Comes Your Way, and leave a comment while you're there.

Fare Thee Well!

Cool books and Giveaways

No, sadly this is not a giveaway that I am doing. I may do one someday, but I don't know yet...
Anyway, this is about a giveaway from Kingdom Pen!

You may remember that my half-done novel, The Bridge of Anskar, was/is being written using the 'One Year Adventure Novel Curriculum'. Daniel Schwabauer (I dare you to try pronounce his name) invented that. I've also read two of his novels: "Runt the Brave" and "Runt the Hunted" and liked 'em both heaps. Naturally I really, really want to read "The Curse of the Seer" as it's the next book in the series.

So, since I follow the Kingdom Pen place, I came across this giveaway! Yay! And since I'm such a terribly nice person (and because it gets me more points) I decided to do a blog post about it. That way, all of you can find it and enter as well. Just to tempt you, here's the synopsis:

Everyone thinks Eli is afraid of the dark, and they’re right. But it’s not because he can’t see in the dark; it’s because he can. After his father is murdered by kingsguard mice, Eli is tortured and condemned to death.

With the help of Tira-Nor’s old seer, AlBaer, Eli escapes his executioners and discovers that his mother, who was sold into slavery in Cadrid years before, may still be alive. Finding and saving her becomes his passion, but can he survive slavery, cruel taskmasters, foreign armies, the hatred of his own people, and even death itself? AlBaer can’t—or won’t—protect him from the supernatural evil that stalks him, and Eli must try to unravel the seer’s curse alone.

Cool? I reckon it is. Mr. S (what we one year adventure novel-ists call Daniel Schwabauer, probably because we don't know how to pronounce his last name) also did an interview thing. If you click on the picture, or right here you can go to the Kingdom Pen site and read it. All writers should also follow it, because they have some really good posts.

Giveaways are always fun...maybe I should think about doing one...But for now, just go, have some fun and enter into the Kingdom Pen Giveaway!

Fare Thee Well!

'Brace Yourself'

So...something happened that, a while ago, I wouldn't have ever expected. I've kept you all in suspense, although most of my followers already know, because they've seen me. I almost considered not doing a post just for a certain cousin of mine (yeah, Jessica, I'm talking about you...),  because I thought it would be funny to just turn up at Christmas time and freak her out. I did rather want to see her face when she saw me. But...just 'cause I'm nice, I didn't. 
Right, so to get right to the whole point of this post:

 I Have Glasses.

Okay, it all started with the projector at church. I'd been having trouble reading it and I eventually mentioned it to someone. This resulted in a frown and a few weeks later, an eye test. To use the exact words of the Eye-Doctor-person: "You are the best case for needing glasses that I've had today." (Sorry about that very generalised summary, I could go into more depth, but it's not much of an interesting tale.)

Yeah, so after that I had to choose frames for the glasses. Those who know me will also know that I really don't like making decisions. Really. And this wasn't just any decision, it was one that was going to stay around for quite a while. In the end I decided on a black frame, nice and simple, nothing fancy, just like me really (In case you didn't know, I have a strong distaste for most things fancy).

Last Tuesday they were ready so Daddy and I, along with my three littler siblings, went down to pick them up. When I put them on I just said, "Wow." I couldn't think of anything better to say. It truly is wow-ish. Driving back home I read out about every sign we passed just 'cause I could, and commenting on all the jacaranda trees, that are flowering now, had so many flowers! The trees have so many leaves, the grass is so...umm...grassy, my feet look really small, not to mention that I can't work out if the ground looks close or far away.

Sadly, Tuesday and Wednesday were all cloudy, but finally on Thursday the sky was clear. And at night I went outside to look at the stars. So cool. I thought I could see heaps of stars before. But now? Now I can see loads more. And they're not just random blobs of light, they're actually more like holes in the sky, opening up into some other realm full of adventures and fantasy.

Naturally my sister Clare, who is also a photographer, would not allow me to do a post without pictures. So we managed to find a sunny few minutes just before the sun set the other day and she took a few photos. 

Yep. Just a few (I know, it's amazing). As I said, it was only minutes until the sun set so I am still to be subjected to a more lengthy photo-shoot. But to look on the bright side: I don't even have to pay! Which is a good thing, because I've already spent all my money on Christmas presents. Two Christmas presents (Guess what! They were books!).
I didn't really have much money to start off with. Actually I still haven't earned the money to pay my Mum back. I'm doing that at the end of this month though, so it's all sorted. I still haven't had any inspiration as to what to give any of the rest of my family yet, but I'm working on it. 

Right, sorry, I'll get back to the point.

One sad thing is that I can't show other people how much difference the glasses make. Everything looks so amazing! But if I'd always been able to see this much I wouldn't think it was amazing, it'd just be normal. I think all my siblings have tried on my glasses, most thought things looked really over sharpened, but my almost-two-year-old little sister, Ann, didn't say. She just stared at me and then smeared her hands across the lenses so I had to clean them if I wanted to see anything other than smear. I wonder why she did that? (Sorry...sarcasm runs in the family.)

Basically I have to wear my glasses all the time unless I'm doing something that's close; like stuff on the computer, reading and school work. Apparently if I wear them while doing that kind of thing my eyes could get worse. And I'm already half-blind enough, so I'm fine with taking them off. :)

 So there we go. Now you know that I have glasses. To finish off this post I think a poem (written by Skilf, naturally) about my glasses would be fitting. She wrote this as if from my point of view, after I told her about my glasses. She seemed to find it rather amusing when I mentioned the church projector being the bane of my life, as you will notice...

‘The Bane of My Life’

Oh the bane of my life, the projector.

To glasses and short-sightedness lie,

Forever to squint, or glasses to wear,

For I have the myopic eye.

Pray, come near me not, my dear friends,

For catching, my case may well be,

And you do not want to have glasses,

All the bother and annoyance, trust me.

All the smudges and all of the dust specks,

All the smears and the random chap’s stare,

I haven’t decided, but they might just be worth it,

For all that they rather impair.

For now I can see, what astonishment!

An amazing occurrence, I’m sure.

Oh the stars in the sky are quite brilliant,

Of the trees and the land I see more.

So maybe, just maybe, I don’t mind much,

Does the benefit outweigh all the blight?

I am yet unsure, but I’ll say one thing;

Glasses ain’t that bad...well, not quite.

Fare Thee Well!

If Adventure Comes Your Way - Fragment Three

Right-oh.

Today we are going to a Homeschool Conference (If you click on the link and look at the picture you may just be able to spot me. I'm quite difficult to discern but I'm in the front row and the two people to my left -- my sister and my Mum -- have my two little brothers sitting on their laps, oh I'm also wearing a skirt if that helps...see if you can find me. It's like 'Where's Wally', just 'Where's Jane' instead! Sorry to say, but I think your chances are low.) , so I won't be hanging around for long. 

Yesterday I had a nice/busy day writing, packing and helping everyone else get ready, and today everyone's feeling nice and relaxed, no one's stressed at all...okay, maybe that's an under-exaggeration but only just in my case. :D

I'll stop jabbering on now and let you get to the story. Option one got it this time, with 4 votes. Option two got 3 votes and option three got 1. Thank you everyone for commenting and I've considered being mean and particularly thanking Zach but I decided not to; aren't I nice?

I raised my eyebrows, wondering if I was supposed to be struck with terror as she spoke the name. I’d never heard of a ‘Yerra Hacaz’ before, and that was saying something as – being a De Corlette – I’d heard and met my fair share of knights and noblemen.

Before I could ask further questions the door behind us was thrown open and two guards entered. “Lady Louise, your father requires you,” one said, after a frowning glance at Maree.

“Oh,” I replied. “Sorry.” I turned awkwardly to Maree, “I’d best be going now.”

“Sure,” she answered tightly, barely looking in my direction.

The guards ushered me out the door, locking it behind them. I hoped that they wouldn’t mention to my father where I’d been, because I had no doubt that he would not be amused.

My father was in his private meeting rooms, sitting behind his large desk piled with official papers. “Ahh, Louise,” he said, looking up as I came in. “I would like you to meet our guest.”

He waved me to a position behind his chair as the door opened and a footman announced: “Sir Creighton of Sean Iister.”

A brawny knight stepped into the room, his surcoat adorned with a glowing red Manticore as I had formerly noticed. “My lord,” he murmured, bowing his head to my father, then turning to me, he stepped forward, covering the distance between us in one stride. He placed a knightly kiss on my hand, bowing low, “And you must be the renowned Lady Louise De Corlette?”

“Yes, Sir Knight,” I replied.

Lord De Corlette rose. “Please take a seat Sir Creighton, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he said.
Sir Creighton obligingly sat on the large and elaborate chair in front of my father’s desk. “I have heard much of your fame in my many travels,” he remarked flatteringly.

My father responded with a modest nod. “Why, thank you Sir Creighton. I’m afraid I cannot say the same of you,” he added.

Sir Creighton shook his head sadly. “No, not many have heard of me. I am but a traveling knight of no particular importance.”

As he said the words I got the distinct feeling that something was not quite right. Most knights like this Sir Creighton always tried to remind people of the great things they’d done. There always were the humble few, but they were generally the ones that everyone already knew what they’d done.

I jerked back slightly as a loud crash came from somewhere above us, I looked up at the ceiling, almost expecting to see a large crack. My father laughed. “One of the servants must be feeling clumsy today,” he said offhandedly, before returning to his conversation with the strange knight.

I scrutinized Sir Creighton as he talked, trying to see past the knightly mask. Maree seemed to think he was some kind of evil person, but the knight before me was the height of courtesy and chivalry. But things like that can be faked, I thought, but maybe there is no fake and Maree is crazy after all. 

A second thump from upstairs brought an end to the conversation for a moment. My father frowned up at the ceiling, and then continued, “Yes, anyway. Lord Grindlevalch has been quite...”

I stopped listening again, wondering why all the servants were suddenly feeling clumsy and had started falling down stairs. Quieter thuds began to reach us, and they continued at even intervals, accompanied by faint voices, that could be interpreted as shouts.

My father steadfastly ignored these noises, but Sir Creighton became increasingly curious as to their origin and I noticed him carefully manoeuvring to conversation in the direction of captives. Eventually he went with a straight out question. “Do you have any prisoners, perchance?”

“Yes we do, as it happens,” my father returned, unaware of the glint in his companion’s eyes. “A girl actually. Strange thing, quite mad.”

“A girl?” Sir Creighton asked. Being practiced at concealing emotions as I am, I could immediately see his barely veiled interest.

“Yes. Brown, curly hair, not terribly tall, dreadful clothes. Know her?” I almost felt like I could slap my father, something was definitely wrong, and spurting out information about a prisoner wasn’t going to make things better.

Sir Creighton shook his head. “No, never heard of her,” he replied.

I narrowed my eyes, even a half blind person would be able to see that the knight wasn’t being entirely truthful. Apparently my father was more than half blind (figuratively speaking, not literally).

“She was making trouble in the market place this morning, and when my soldiers brought her here we discovered that she is most certainly a lunatic,” father continued.

“Yes, quite so,” Sir Creighton said. Suddenly he seemed to notice that I was watching him and he raised his eyes to mind. His hazel eyes were shallow, faked; like the eyes of someone who has much to hide. He looked back to my father, “If you will excuse me I must just have a quick word with one of my men.”

“Certainly, Sir Creighton,” my father allowed.

The Knight rose and strode to the door, disappearing for a moment. The low murmur of voices came from the anteroom and then our guest returned.

“Perhaps some refreshments?” my father asked.

Sir Creighton nodded, his talk with his soldiers seemed to have cheered him up a good deal, and he wore a pleased smile instead of his former frown, I wasn’t sure which was more disconcerting. A footman was sent for tea and the conversation droned on.

I actually jumped as a ground shaking crash exploded above us. This time even the etiquette practiced Lord De Corlette could ignore it no longer.

“Louise, perhaps you might ask one of the soldiers to investigate the source of the noise,” my father suggested calmly.

“Yes father,” I answered, hurrying to the door.

When I was out of sight of the footmen standing by the doorway I started running. I had no wish to call the guards, I was going to find out what was going on myself. Perhaps I should have called them, things would have ended up quite differently if I had. But I guess the ‘Adventuring Spirit’ was taking stronger hold every minute.

I ran along the long hall, heading toward the noise, which came from the direction of Maree’s quarters. I burst in the door, almost forgetting to unlock it before I came crashing through.

 “I don’t beleeve thees!” Maree roared at no one in particular, kicking the wall repeatedly.

“Maree?” I asked hesitantly.

She spun around at my voice. She stopped kicking the wall and just looked at me. “You’ve a met ‘im theen?”

“Yes, but his name is Sir Creighton, not Yeroa Hecars or whatever it was,” I said uncertainly.

Maree closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “What eef he were lying?”

I didn’t reply. The reason being that...

***

1. I’d just become cross eyed, staring at the point of a sword that hovered just in front of my nose.

2. I was unwelcomely interrupted by an unexpected tap on my shoulder.

3. A tapestry on the wall crumpled to the floor and a gaping hole was revealed behind it.

***

Please comment away, although I probably won't see and publish your comments until Monday. But why should that stop you? I'll have a nice 'welcome back' pile of comments I hope...

Fare Thee Well!

The Silhouetted Horsey Award!

Right, another post finally. I figure that about seven of my 24 (now 25) posts are "award thingys". So they can be useful sometimes when you can't think of anything to post about. Apparently this award has no rules other than answering random questions. From looking at the picture (below) I was wondering if the name of the award was 'Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award' or 'Sisterhood of the World Award Bloggers'. If you read from left to right (ignoring the tree) then it could look like that. But as Clare has written it the first way in her post, I'll go with that.

See look, it's a silhouetted horsey!

Now for the interesting questions to be interestingly (or not so muchly) answered.

1.What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten?

It could be a wilted rose that had been in my hair for half the day...But I couldn't be sure.

2.Would you rather visit any fantasy realm you wish and die on a desert island, in a battle, or stuck up a tree; or would you prefer to live a long long life here on earth?

Well, I'd like to live in Middle earth, and I wouldn't mind dying in the Battle of the Ring, but to be realistic that could never happen so maybe I should just live my life in my own world. Besides, I have been to middle earth, when you read Tolkien's books it is impossible to stay in yourself, you are simply pulled out of your cosy house and plunged into an adventure. Much like Bilbo, now I come to think of it. (I'll have to stop there, otherwise I'll go on for hours, quoting thousands of things, and if I really get going I might never stop.)

3.If you had to be locked in a small room for one day with one other blogger who would that be? (the room is completely bare except for one light in the roof )

Hmm, I'd choose Sarah. Imagine what sneaky schemes we could come up with then! It's just a pity we wouldn't have anything to eat. Maybe we could escape through a window, if there is one, and if there isn't then maybe we could say the light was a skylight and climb out it, or just bash the door down.....Or we could dig for treasure...

4.What is the biggest number of words you have written in one day? 

2,000 and something or other (I think). The longest chapter I've written has 5416 words (in the first draft), but I didn't write that all in one day.

5.Do you write stories? If so what is the hardest thing about writing them?

Yes, I do write, I'm currently up to the middle of chapter 8, but I've written quite a bit in 9,10 and 12. The hardest thing about writing is writing. I mean, to actually write something you like is so hard, I rarely do it. I don't like most of my writing, but "I'm my worst criticizer" and I know you have to write bad before you can be good, so I'm practicing.

6.What is your opinion on popping candy?

I thing it makes most people go crazy, especially someone I know....but with other people it has no effect. Personally I've never touched a piece in my life, as I have heard and seen dour tales of its side affects.

7.How many blogger awards are there in the world?

At least 50. Probably thousands....

8.How many awards (to do with bogs) have you been awarded, and how many have you not done of those awarded?

Well.....I've been awarded 8.....but.....I've only done.....7......sorry Clare....I am admonished....

9.What is the coolest bruise you have ever got? and which colour bruise do you prefer?

The best bruise I've ever got was from archery. It was so cool! It was a new bruise on an old bruise, it was an oval shape with disgusting (according to those who aren't experts on bruises) brownish colour around the outside, and a more green bit in the middle.
Really dark blue and purple bruises are really good too.

10.What languages do you know, pretend to know, have attempted to know, wish you knew?

I know English, well actually I don't, I know Australian (big difference). I can write (transliterating) in both Elvish (Tolkien's elvish of course) and Gnomish (comes from the Artemis Fowl series). I am learning Spanish for school which is cool and since I'm doing the age of exploration for history, the Spanish do lots of cool things around then (apart from the Spanish armada, which is not so cool). I attempted to learn French, but....yea. I reckon it would be really fun to be able to speak and write (Tolkien) Elvish properly.

Now, since there are no rules saying I have to nominate people, I wont be breaking any when I don't. So that's all good!
Thanks for taking the time to read my random ramblings.

~ Jane, Misty Maiden

My Life Right Now

   I've been trying to think of another blog post that I could do, when I saw that Clare had done a 'Life Right Now' post, I thought that maybe I should try do one as well, so here goes.

Seeing... the laptop screen, the trees outside the window, the birds in the trees... and that's about it.

Hearing..the annoying humming/groaning noise that the laptop makes, the washing-machine, birds and my brothers.

Smelling... the fresh air wafting in the window.

Tasting...ummm, not much really...

Wanting...to be able to get up to the first branch of a really, Really tall tree, (and really wide as well) so I can climb it.

Feeling...the cool breeze, and the inclination to go outside and climb trees.

Wishing... that it was lunchtime.

Thinking...What?! Thinking? I never do that, much too dangerous a pastime.

Laughing...at myself, I don't know why though...

Dreaming... nothing, well I appear to be awake, if I was asleep I wouldn't be typing this now.

Reading... Brotherband book four, Slaves of Socorro. Well actually I can't read it because Daddy is reading it to my sisters and me as a read aloud...oh, what a let-down.

Recovering...from not being allowed to read Brotherband, but it might take a while to fully recover.

Singing... well, I'm not singing anything, until Clare comes along and starts singing the dreaded song that is probably still stuck in her head. I can hear my 4 month old sister 'singing' though. It sounds so cute.

Wearing...as Clare said, I'm wearing clothes... a dark red velvet skirt and a pink shirt, and no I do not like the colour pink.

Preparing...for being starved, or famished, or something of the sort
   
   Horace said, 'Let's get on with it, Halt, I'm famished.' 
   'Are you ever not famished?; Halt asked, but Horace was already heading for the inn.
~ John Flanagan, Ranger's Apprentice 8, The Kings of Clonmel
   
   'Let's get something to eat. I'm starved,' Ulf said. 'You're always starved,' Wulf replied. 'That's because I'm older than you. I've been waiting longer for my dinner.'
~ John Flanagan, Brotherband 3, The Hunters 

Remembering...that I had forgotten something.

Trying...to work out what I had forgotten.

Questioning...Why, in the name Thomas, the TH isn't pronounced.

Fearing...that Clare will try and get 'Let it Go' stuck in my head.

Watching on YouTube... an El Cid video for school.

Hurting... does that mean am I hurting, or am I hurting something? Either way, no I'm not hurting, myself or anything else.

Calling...no one, I'm hopeless at phone calls, I can never think of things to say.

Working...on finishing my school work, except that I already have, so I can't really...

Emailing... my sister Alice. Usually I don't email, but she sent me a random one so I sent her a random one...it included a funny Olaf video.

Gluing...nothing

Cracking...my big chocolate Easter egg that I haven't eaten yet because I don't like chocolate.

Thanking...God for lovely sunny days, a wonderful family and good books.

Turning...my head,  my eyes, myself...

Realizing...that it is nearly 1 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet...

Checking...that I saw the time right.

Organizing...myself to go get lunch.

Moving...myself.

Reckoning...that I am really starved now.

Needing...to eat lunch.

Anticipating...lunch...and reading more Slaves of Socorro. 

Regretting...that I didn't eat lunch before.

Loving...the look on your face as you read this.

Googling...the Random House Australia site so I can link to it and 
you can read the beginning of Slaves of Socorro if you want to.

Choosing...to write this.

Smiling...I am, because you are, and smiling is contagious.

~ Jane, Misty Maiden