Of Weather, Piano, and Accidental Caffeine Dependency

A year ago, I was a polar bear sliding across the icy terrain of my yard. This year, the weather has been just as temperamental, alternating between the usual freezing temperatures of early March and the warmth of late spring. I prefer the latter. Walking to work in the cold is never fun for me, but I do recognize the beauty of the cold, for if not for red tipped noses and ears, I might not remember to love the kiss of the warming sun on my cheek. On the days when the weather has been pleasant, I walk for about an hour. It's a learning experience in some ways. I'm able to examine myself apart from the constricting world of concrete and right angles, where I am just me. I have learned and been reminded of the following.

• Wild flowers in late winter make me laugh with joy.

• I have a habit of addressing the animals I talk to as Beautiful. (No. They do not talk back.)

• Finding an armadillo makes me ridiculously happy for some unknown reason.

• Downhill was made for running down with reckless abandon.

• God's magic and miracles are everywhere, from the enchanted threads of spiderwebs to the ground that supports the weight of my overflowing heart.

• Outside heals wounds I don't remember I have.

When I'm not outside, I tend to be easily found near a piano, having finally begun learning to play this year. I've been a singer for years, but the piano has always held an enchantment for me. When I was a child, my mother would play piano in our house very rarely, but every time she did, I would hurry over to her as fast as my little legs would carry me. Sometimes, I would sit on the piano bench next to her until I couldn't make myself hold still any longer, but more often, I would dance, imagining a prince or just spinning in endless circles to the point that I either sat down or fell over from dizziness. She would play more often at my great grandmother's home, or my aunt would play. After they left that piano, I would scramble onto the bench and try to play like they had, my feet swinging in the air. Short, disconnected melodies would stumble from my finger tips, but as time went on, I seemed to create more dissonance than harmony, and I eventually left the piano to itself. Even my attempt to teach myself to play when I was in junior high was short lived.

This past fall, I was brought back to the piano, largely by Wolfe. He was a new friend who one day mentioned that he was going to go practice piano, and on a whim, I asked if I could come listen. Eventually, I would regularly join him when he went to practice. As he learned on YouTube to play new pieces of slowly increasing difficulty, I sat on the floor in the corner of the practice room, my head leaning back against the wall, and the piano wrapped me in its familiar voice, singing its ballads and lullabies. Wolfe has told me that he probably would have eventually stopped practicing if I hadn't been coming to listen. Without him, I likely would never have considered trying once more to learn the songs of the piano. Currently, we're taking a beginning level class together, and I am loving it. I find myself increasingly fond of three four time, waltzes in particular, but other pieces as well.

I have officially fallen in love with the piano once more. My sister was apathetic as to this development. However, once I mentioned to her that I was hoping to eventually be able to play theme music from our favorite anime (in particular Mikoto Suoh's theme from K Project), she took a sudden interest in my progress. I look forward to being able to play it for her eventually, but also to be able to play it myself, feeling the motion of the sound and letting it flow through me like electricity through wires.

Also of recent interest, I ran out of my usual morning herbal tea in early January. Mornings, cold ones in particular, tend to be rather hard to face without a warm cup of tea. In the face of the void my herbal left behind, I utilized a box of black tea for the rest of the month. It wasn't too different until I simultaneously ran out of the black tea and gained more of my usual herbal. The Monday I switched back was merely groggy at first, but eventually I became convinced that either my skull was attempting to liquefy or some kind of heavy gremlin was doing its best to wrap its jaws around my head. By evening, I had a low level migraine that was barely fended off by the caffeine in soda. The next day was marginally better, but still painful. That Wednesday, I decided that if my skull was going to throw a temper tantrum, I was not going to give it what it wanted. Thus, I have quit caffeine all together, including black teas and most sodas. I'll likely return to my previous ways in a few weeks (oh how I miss my usual dark sodas and the occasional black tea), but I don't plan on drinking black tea every morning anymore. Coffee is an absolute no. I refuse to start that habit. No matter how lovely it smells, I cannot abide the taste.

In Case of Campus War or Invasion

College or University campuses are often much like their own worlds; even ones that are open to the public to wander about in have a different feel to them than the rest of the towns they occupy. Within campuses are different factions of students, usually created by residence halls, majors, and/or clubs. These factions are highly competitive, frequently competing with each other with tooth and nail in campus events.

One day it may not end with the games.

One day, a faction may rise, smearing the blood of their enemies across their faces (or maybe just the ketchup from the student cafeteria), and declare that they will take campus by force, regardless of offers to surrender peacefully.

One day they may spread to another campus in their maddened frenzy for power.

Or

Zombies, aliens, or both will invade campus.

Regardless, college and university students have various options to increase survival.

---

Prepare

Always be as prepared as possible before war or invasion breaks out. Your friends will be grateful for a reduction of team deaths or captures by the enemy on your part.

Campus Familiarity: Indispensable.

Layout: When running and/or hiding from an enemy, know where you are and where you are going. Trying to use a map will slow you down. Maps do not show you short cuts either. Take walks around campus often, exploring new areas.

Buildings: Know which buildings store what materials and which would make for the best base of operations. Is there chloroform in the science building? Where is the clinic, and what antibiotics are readily available there? Which building is easiest to barricade and defend? This is all important and should be taken into account. Unless the business building is the best built or closest to several buildings that you will need access to, it is not likely to make an efficient base.

Rations: Starving during war or invasion is less than ideal.

Campus Bookstore: The campus bookstore rarely has only books. Generally this is where students can find shirts, jackets, umbrellas, and other various merchandise that has the school name and mascot on it. There are also microwavable foods and candy bars. Clothes and food are fundamental rations.

Vending Machines: Know where the vending machines are. Take special note of what each one has to offer. Chances are, there will be some variation.

Store Runs: College and University students will often take trips off campus to buy food items that the bookstore or vending machines may not have, such as canned foods. When on a food run, purchase a little more than is absolutely necessary and stash it somewhere safe. Unless there is a sale, buying extra in bulk is not recommended because, as a student, you have little money and need to pay for laundry, which is still important at this point.

Dorm Rooms: Be aware of how much food is where. Chances are, many of your neighbors will die in the initial outbreak of violence as well as later on, and their food stashes will be free for your use.

Team: Yes, this does have to be a group project if you want better chances of survival.

Basic Team Building: This may be difficult for introverts (like myself) to accept, but long-term survival requires a team, and that means socializing beforehand in order to identify the best candidates. These people will need to be able to get along well under the worst conditions as well as have practical skills. Never select someone based on appearance. Betty may be pretty, but if she has nothing else to add, she'll likely get someone killed. If one of your candidates is in a relationship, either reject that one or be prepared to support the extra member (unless you wanted both of them anyway). Melodrama is a headache at best. Also: pick people who are just a little crazy, but also reasonable. Balance between logic and free creativity.

Recruitment: Be tactful. If they think you're insane, they'll have nothing to do with you.

Leader: Having a leader is crucial. This will be the person who will make decisions and has to get along well with the team. He or she must be logical and caring. Life must be valued, but willing to be sacrificed when necessary. It's a hard role, and while many may clamber for it, very few can be trusted with it. Be wise when selecting your leader.

Other Offices: You will need people of widely varying skill sets. Your team may designate jobs such as spy, procurer of transportation, etc. You could also have only the leader named and the rest simply teammates. So long as everyone is somehow useful, the team should hold together.

Weapon Planning: Anything is a possible weapon, and different team members will be skilled with different types of weapons. Know who is best with what and then provide it.

Alternate Plans: Have a plan B. Also have many, many more plans. Know where to flee on campus and off. Do any of your teammates live far away from campus and other civilization? Go there. Anyone have ammunition at home? Stop there on the way. But always, be willing to change your plans.

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During

Team Work: Listen to your leader, cooperate with your team, and be willing to set yourself aside for their sake. A lot will go wrong, but it may not go as badly as possible.

Base and Rations: Be aware of how long you will be able to stay at your base. Rations for that location will eventually run out, even if you feel inclined to experiment with cannibalism (not recommended). Know how long your rations will last and how far you will be able to travel on those rations before needing more. Plan accordingly.

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 Many thanks to Jason for his help with this post as well as for his valued friendship.

A Writers' Questionnaire

I was challenged to do this over a month ago. I only just found out. I think this means that I need to get on more often. If any bloggers that read this want to, I strongly encouraged them to fill this out on their blogs as well.

1. How much writing do you do on average?
Not enough. No only have I not blogged recently, I am also somewhere over a month behind in my journaling. Hopefully, I'll get back into rhythm this summer.

2. What's the last thing you wrote?
A journal entry about rain, wet robins, and colors.

3. Is it any good?
It was all right. It wasn't something that I edited or put much effort into, but it certainly wasn't bad.

4. What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
My second grade journal. It has six entries, the formatting and spelling are terrible, and it takes a bit of effort to decipher the handwriting.

5. Favorite genre of writing?
Personal anecdote, oddly enough. Until I really started blogging seriously, I was strictly a fantasy writer, but there's something about my own stories that makes the flow more real. Second to that are fairy tales.

6. How often do you get writer's block?
If I'm trying to write a book, about seventy percent of the time. Blogging is maybe forty or thirty. Journaling is almost never.

7. How do you fix it?
I leave it alone and draw. I have periods where I can draw, but I can't write, and I have periods where I can write, but I can't draw, so I bounce back and forth. I almost always have a creative outlet somewhere.

8. Do you save everything you write?
Only when it comes to my journals. Other than that, I still have some papers from high school and one from junior high, but I try not to keep everything.

9. How do you feel about revision?
"It is perfectly okay to write garbage as long as you edit brilliantly." C. J. Cherryh

10. What's your favorite thing that you've written?
Probably "Hooded," but I think that if I put my mind to it I could write something better.

11. What's everyone else's favorite thing that you've written?
I don't exactly know. Possibly "Attack of the Killer Migraine," but no one has ever told me a favorite.

12. What writing projects are you working on right now?
Catching up on blogging and journaling.

13. What's one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Most of nonfiction. I'll write anecdotes and maybe an essay or two, but I detest writing research papers, biographies, and histories. I likely will have to write some in the future, but I seriously doubt that doing so will be my own idea.

Valentine's Day 2014

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are the recipient of many hugs and much chocolate. In my life are many prominent couples: my grandparents, my mom and dad, my brother Ace and his fiancee, and my youngest brother and his girlfriend. These couples are horribly sweet, and I love them very much.

That being said, there are some pretty awesome singles in my life too: my three oldest brothers (as far as I know), my wonderful older sister, and some of my close friends. Some of those said friends are rather proud of being single and celebrate the fourteenth of February as Singles Awareness Day. I don't quite think that the word used should be awareness though. Celebration, that works better. Awareness is most often used for diseases. It makes it sound like we're going to die unless we get boyfriends (or girlfriends as the case may be). Please, enough with the melodrama. Being single is actually pretty awesome when it's all said and done.

• All the chocolate you buy can go to you (and deserving friends, but they don't have to know that you have chocolate, and what they don't know won't hurt them).

• So much time is freed up when you don't have to be in contact over text or social media all the time, let alone actually being with someone.

• You don't have to shave (to be quite frank that does apply to both genders).

• Money spent on gifts and dates can be spent another way, say books, video games, car or truck, or even chocolate. (There's no going wrong with chocolate.)

• You don't have to check with the boyfriend before you schedule something. It's really all about spontaneity.

• You can drop off of the grid of communication for a full week and no one would make a fuss. 

• Bacon.

• You can be as geeky or crazy as you want. No one will restrain you.

• There are no friends of the boyfriend that you really dislike that you have to put up with, when there is no boyfriend.

I thoroughly enjoy being single, but I won't bash couples. They have the gift of one another. Please don't complain about them being happy together. That doesn't speak well of you, even if you're otherwise awesome. 

So, happy Valentine's Day, dear couples. Enjoy each other. In your loved one you have a constant comfort and (hopefully) entertainment.

Happy Singles Celebration, dear singles. Don't worry about being a third wheel. Be a unicycle! Those are really cool and take a lot of talent.

Much love,
Kara
 

I Am Not Afraid of the Vacuum Cleaner

Well, I'm not. My father, however, is convinced that I am. He does have reasons for thinking so, but those reasons are wrong.

Dad's reason #1: I close my door when he starts vacuuming.
My reason #1: I am almost always at my computer, listening to my music. I close the door so that I can still hear my music.

Dad's reason #2: I leave the vicinity when he starts vacuuming.
My reason #2: It honestly depends on what I'm doing. Usually I'm already in my room, but if I'm in the area being vacuumed and don't need to hear much at the time or recall an urgent errand, I actually stay put and curl up on the furniture to keep out of the way. Sometimes I think my father might have selective memory.

Dad's reason #3: I would run upstairs when he started vacuuming when I was little.
My reason #3: Know what? I was genuinely afraid of the vacuum cleaner when I was little, but I'm not now. I have come to a more reasonable understanding of the world after several years.

Why I was afraid of the vacuum when I was little:
1. It was loud.
2. The cats were afraid of it; presumably, they had good cause to be.
3. It ate things, toys, beads, and I'd even seen it try to eat my sister's hair.
4. I was told repeatedly not to go near the lawn mower when it was on. It would cut off my toes. The vacuum cleaner is basically a lawn mower for the inside. I was being smart and safe by running away.

If I had seen very many AI films at that age, I probably would have had vacuum nightmares too.

On The Killing Of Spiders

Spiders are not good, but I think we already know that.The issue with getting rid of them is that often you have nothing to kill them with nearby and no bug killing spray. Actually this isn't true. The following is a compiled list of objects that are great for killing spiders, organized by common location.

The Bedroom: The worst place to find spiders.

Shoes- Flipflops work best. They don't have crevices that spiders could accidentally end up in instead of being squished.

Books- If you are able, hardbacks work best. You can wipe the spider guts off right afterward. With paperbacks there's a chance it might soak in. If your hardback book has a dust jacket, take that off. No use ruining it.

Tissue Box- The sides and bottom are great for smashing arachnids, as long as the spider isn't in the box.

Jewelry Box- Only use inexpensive, not antique ones, okay?

The Bathroom: A room filled with bottles.

Bottles- Most bottles in bathrooms are made of plastic, which means it's okay to slam them against the wall in the name of spider killing. Just be sure to use the sides as most bottles have a dent in the bottom.

Toilet Paper- Unused. Definitely unused. This method is a little unsettling once used. You can feel the spider pop under the weight of your hand through the paper.

Bars of Soap- I recommend this as a last resort, and you may want to cut off the part that smooshes the spider.

Air Freshener- Yes, it is possible to drown a spider in this stuff.

Faucets- If the spider is in the tub or a sink, it is entirely possible that you can drown it/ squish it with, what to spiders is, high pressured water, or simply force Itsy-Bitsy down the drain.

The Living-room/Entertainment Center: When you dearly wish you hadn't opted to sit on the floor.

DVD Boxes- It's doubly satisfying if the face of a disliked actor is on the side you use for spider squishing. "Ha! You get spider guts in your face!"

Coasters- As long as you don't absolutely slam it down on the spider, you should be able to avoid breaking these, as my father once did.

Cd Cases- They're flat and hard. Could you ask for a more reliable mode of spider exterminating?

Remotes- If you want too, you could.

Magazines- Especially helpful if the spider is on the ceiling or simply too high on a wall.

Durable Game Systems- Hey, a spider is a spider. Do you really want to take the chance that it will turn into more spiders?

The Kitchen: Mmmm! Want some of this cream of spider?

Dishes and Cups- Please only use the plastic stuff, it's not worth a perfectly good plate or glass to kill one spider. Plastic is just as effective, but paper plates aren't too useful for really big spiders.

Not Knives- Trust me. It's too small a point to get a spider. They are too fast and little.

Cutting Boards- Most cutting boards, these days, are made of wood or thick plastic. Take that you eight-legged abominations!

Cookbooks- Here, Mr. Spider, have a taste of this recipe!

The Blender- Look, if a spider is in your blender, sometimes the only thing you can do is slap on the lid and make a spider smoothie, but I wouldn't recommend drinking it.

Pans- Big, flat, and they make a satisfying clanging noise. Sounds good to me.

The Stairwell/Hallway: Where there are, virtually, no weapons.

...- In this place, the best course of action is, whilst screaming like a little girl, running back the way you came, grabbing a weapon, and racing back, full kilter, to destroy the spider. Do not stop screaming until you are absolutely certain that the spider will never move again. This helps in the intimidation factor. Although, if you plan on using dangerous chemicals, I wouldn't recommend inhaling.

The Study: Just another place that spiders don't belong in.

Papers/Notebooks- They're in abundance, you can't argue with that.

Paper Weights- Hard, with a flat bottom. Unless you have a fan on or an open window, they really aren't useful for much else.

That Memo Your Boss Gave You That You Need An Excuse To Lose- "Sorry Sir., just let me look... Ah! Here it is! Oh... that's why I threw it out. Look, it has spider guts on it! There's even a leg!"

The Keyboard Keys- If the spider crawls in the keyboard to hide, and you are willing to take out the keys and clean afterward, by all means, press a lot of keys hard. I'm rooting for you.

Reference Books- If you have nothing else, there is not much of a choice, but please, be careful with them. They are, after all, books.

The Utility/Laundry Room: A likely place for spiders.

Cleaning Agent Bottles- Remember the deceptive arch often found on the bottoms can often spare the life of a spider, if a human warrior is unsuspecting.

The Washer or Dryer- If a spider is in an article of clothing, throw it in the washer or dryer. Run as many cycles as you want, just remember to empty the lint filter.

Other Things: These are found in different rooms, depending on the occupants' whims.

Cleaning Sprays- If the toxic chemicals don't kill it, you can drown it in the stuff. This includes but is not limited to window cleaner, carpet cleaner, and furniture polish.

Pill Bottles- They're a bit small, but still effective, if you can pin a spider between it and a hard surface.

Fly Swatter- Not just for flies, and they allow for the use of excessive force.

Hairspray- Either the spider will be poisoned, drowned, or stuck to the wall to starve to death.

Vacuum- While it might be considered cruel to suck a spider into a confined space with large amounts of dust and no amount of food, it can also be cruel to your sense of security to leave a spider in your home.

Spider Killing Tips: Just to be helpful.

At the very least, wear socks- Spiders can't bite through socks, much less shoes.

Have a partner- I cannot tell you how many times I have had to run to another room to get a suitable weapon. Having someone watch the spider while I left the room, has sealed the fate of many an arachnid that might have lived, simply because it moved while I was gone.

Be careful with flammable materials- Hairspray and other non-spider friendly chemicals tend to be highly flammable. This means don't use them if the spider is standing anywhere near an open flame or is in possession of a lighter or flamethrower.

Always be aware of where there is poison- The poisons can not only kill spiders and most other bugs, but it can also hurt people and small animals.

Keeping spiders away- The easiest trick, with spiders, is to not give them something to find in your home. The fewer bugs in your home, the fewer and smaller the spiders will be. Simply cleaning up after a meal, being aware of crumbs, and washing dishes can cut back on the number of bugs in the house.

25 Lessons Learned From Fairy Tales

Hey! I haven't blogged in almost a month, and it has been killing me. Okay, I know I've gone without blogging for longer periods of time, but that was when I would go a month or two without touching my computer. I still do that, but I'm not right now (obviously). This is something I've been thinking about writing for some time, so I finally got around to it yesterday.

1. Always be nice, especially to old and/or disabled people and children.

2. Know if you have faults. That's the only way to overcome them.

3. Show mercy to animals.

4. Especially if you are the eldest or middle of three siblings, all of the same gender, keep in good relations with your younger sibling or siblings.

5. People aren't always as they seem.

6. If you love someone, fight for him.

7. Do not succumb to jealousy.

8. It means nothing to be born into poverty.

9. Be careful what you wish for

10. "The third time's the charm!"

11. Stick to your family. Never abandon, disown, or dishonor them.

12. If someone makes a point of telling you to do or not do something, it's best to listen and obey.

13. There are people in this world who would do you harm.

14. There are those who will defeat all obstacles to defend the innocent.

15.  No one is entirely invincible.

16. Every obstacle can be overcome in some way.

17. Don't take candy from strangers.

18. Be likeable. Good things happen to likeable people. Bad things can happen too, but there is a guarantee of good things.

19. Don't boast.

20. Finish things you set out to do.

21. Don't make promises you won't keep.

22. Be wise.

23. Life can be unfair, but you can shape it.

24. Always be polite.

25. There are happy endings.

Babies, Kittens, and Love

You probably recall my kitten Lil-Bit, a sweet little calico that I was able to adopt along with her living shadow with teeth of a brother. However, Insta-Purr is my sister's. I don't have to take the blame when he wakes people up in the mornings. He does. We used to let Lil-Bit and Insta-Purr sleep upstairs, until Insta-Purr started hitting the doors at night. There was once when he actually opened my door by throwing himself against it repeatedly because my door didn't latch that night. I would throw him in my sister's room or in the basement. The kittens sleep in the basement at night now, and now I can sleep at night. The little monster has something against letting me sleep; I'm sure of it.

I appear to have run off course. Lil-Bit has become an important part of my family. She will curl up with me to take a nap. All I have to do is pick her up and take her to wherever I have decided to lie down. I feed her before bed and she sleeps on my floor when she feels like it. Normally the floor is just fine, but recently she will jump on my lap and from there to my desk. She only does this when my computer is on though. When she was a little fuzz ball, she would walk all over the laptops of my mother and sister. She was quite talented at it too. It was within her grasp to pull up windows media player without even looking at the keys.

A few of the blogs I read are posted by mothers. They talk about the challenges, but mostly about the love they have for their children. In my eyes it's not that different than having a kitten. This in mind, I have complied some similarities and differences of kittens and children.


1.You change the diapers/litter box.

2.You feed them.

3.When Christmas comes, the breakable ornaments are moved to the top of the tree.

4.Valuables are moved out of their reach.

5.If they cry you feel bad for them.

6.They chew on things they shouldn't chew on.

7.They are adorable.

8.People will come if you ask them to see your baby/kitten.

9.They enjoy being out in nice weather.

10.Both can be frustrating.

11.Babies/Kittens are interesting to small children.

12.They look like perfect angels in their sleep.

See? They really are quite similar. No doubt I forgot some likenesses though. The following is a list of their differences.

1.Kittens are fluffy.

2.Litter box training is easier. Cats already have the instinct to bury their waste.

3.When babies get scared they cry. When kittens get scared they fluff their fur out and are adorable.

4.Kittens can climb the Christmas tree, so rearranging the ornaments doesn't help.

5.Kittens are born with sharp claws. These cause pain.

6.On average, cats are less expensive than babies.

They're similar and different, but in the end aren't we all something small that needs someone to take care of us? God made each of us different and similar. It's not that hard to see that with other animals too. He made us and He takes care of us. He gives many species' mothers the instinct to protect their babies. It's hard not to believe in His power and love when you see a baby of any species. Especially when it's a kitten, in my case.

Today I am content to sit by Lil-Bit, as she approaches the year old mark, and marvel at our Lord's power and love. Good night my sweet kitten. I'll see you in the morning.

A Little Bit Of Tidying And A Dash Of Stress

My room and my study are the same place; I spend more time there than I do in the other rooms of the house. As a result, that is where I put my stuff down when I don't want to put out the effort to put it where it belongs. Yes, that is a complicated way of saying 'I have a messy room'. Actually though, that's past tense now. I cleaned my room in late May of this year. Somehow, this has affected my brain.

Since I have cleaned my room, I have become more organized than my sister, the responsible one. This doesn't just refer to our living quarters. For example, I rearranged the movie bookshelf. My sister helped a little. I don't organize like most people. The following are some of the sections we now have.

Science Fiction/Joss Whedon
Old Cheesy Movies (Gremlins, Time Bandits, etc.)
Westerns/Action Movies
Shakespeare
Fairy Tales
Heroes (not the T.V. show. Different movies that have come from comic book heroes.)
Movies We Wish We Never Bought
Literature

I had a phone call so I had to leave my sister to finish putting the categories on the shelves. I was impressed when I returned to find that she had organized Historical Figures in chronological order of the figure. However, I do not think that our Inspirational Movie section should be arranged by time period. If they deal with the same issues I will put them together, otherwise time shouldn't really matter there. The categories are in no "logical" order, but it makes sense to me. It's very much like my bookshelves.

Back to the main topic. The point is, I've always been unorganized. When we were little, my sister and I used to joke about how the toys on the floor were booby traps. We always knew where to step and other people had to stay strictly to the path that snaked around our bed. What I want to know is how cleaning my room triggers a need to organize little things. Cleaning still holds that subtle dislike, but tidying is fine. There is a difference. Cleaning is the big stuff, the attic, the teenager's room, that huge pile of dishes on the counter. Tidying is the little stuff, putting the small pile of laundry on coat hangers in the closet, putting something left around back where it goes, reorganizing. Big stuff is made up of little stuff, but if I can still view the little stuff as building up to the big stuff I stress. I sort of flip out after doing a tiny amount.

"This is such a big thing!"

"Why must I do this today? Why not tomorrow? Why not the day after tomorrow?" (The call of procrastination, I know it well.)

"There might be a spider in there!"

"I can't do all this!"

"Can I do it later? I want to stay in this book for a few more days."

"I was perfectly fine before. I don't see why it's all that important."

"I think something moved! Was it a spider?!"

"Nap please? We like naps."

"EEeek! Spider!"

Somehow, even if I have all the time in the world, big stuff triggers something in my brain that puts me in panic mode. In sixth grade, I would cry from the overload of stress. I guess I just stress easily, but it's okay now. My mother used to stress a lot too. She still does, but she says it's not as often or bad as she used to. She was the one who taught me how to avoid stress. Maybe that's why my brain has decided to have a strong love of tidying. In order to protect me from a meltdown, it minimizes the likelihood of me encountering something that could cause a meltdown. Huh. How about that. Well, that or I'm just plain crazy ,which is just as, if not more, likely.

Family Fun With Boogers

In Elementary, boogers are the grossest things in the world, but somehow funny. I provide you now with a little game. I learned about it when listening to a CD my father was playing. English Majors was the title. The person speaking on the CD at the time said that, in fourth grade, he would take a movie title and replace one word with the word "booger" or "boogers," just to get a laugh from his classmates. This can transfer into a fun car game for long trips or just something to do when you are bored. Here's what I came up with.

Black Boogers (Black Books)

Sky Captain and the Booger of Tomorrow (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow)

Mountains of Boogers (Mountains of the Moon)

The Secret Life of Boogers (The Secret Life of Bees)

Lonesome Booger (Lonesome Dove)

Booger Grit (True Grit)

O Booger, Where Art Thou? (O Brother Where Art Thou?)

The Booger Princess (The Little Princess)

Finding Boogers (Finding Nemo)

Booger Boy (Steam Boy)

The Dark Booger (The Dark Crystal)
Where the Wild Boogers Are (Where the Wild Things Are)

Kung Fu Booger (Kung Fu Panda)

Pale Booger (Pale Rider)

A Midsummer Night's Booger (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

The Merchant of Boogers (The Merchant of Venice)

Love's Boogers Lost (Love's Labors Lost)

As You Like Boogers (As You Like It)

Rikki-Tikki-Booger (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi)

Little Shop of Boogers (Little Shop of Horrors)

The Remains of the Booger (The Remains of the Day)

The Perfect Booger (The Perfect Score)

A Booger with a View (A Room with a View)

A Room with a Booger (A Room with a View)

Phantom of the Booger (Phantom of the Opera)

Second Hand Boogers (Second Hand Lions)

This isn't a game for just movie titles though. It works just as well with books. If you look at someone's bookshelf and burst into giggles because you did this to their books in your head, people might start thinking you're crazy, unless you explain.

Fellowship of the Booger (Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien)

The Wizard of Boogers (The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum)

What-the-Booger (What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire)

Here There Be Boogers (Here There Be Dragons by James A. Owen)

Booger Rider (Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke)

The Screwtape Boogers (The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis)

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Boogers (The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Booger (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Boogers (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling)


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Boogers (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling)

Harry Potter and the Booger of the Phoenix (Harry Potter and the Booger of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling)


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Boogers (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling)


Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Booger (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling)


Harry Potter and the Deathly Booger (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling)

Booger Like This, Cat (It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville)

The Tales of Booger-the-Pooh (The Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by Ernest H. Shepherd)

The Hunger Boogers (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)


The Booger Games (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)


Catching Boogers (Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins)

50 Uses For a Brick

This started as something to keep me occupied in my free time. If someone hurts themselves or others using these uses, it's their fault and I'm not to blame. Just want to make that perfectly clear. Also, please remember to cite if you uses these.

Obvious Uses

A bookend

A paperweight

A doorstop

Something to hold things down outside

A blunt weapon

Building material

Games

Hide and Seek: The seeker has a bag of bricks, which makes them slower and easier to run away from. However, when the seeker sees someone that is not on base, not already out, and playing the game, the seeker throws a brick at the player. If the player is hit with a brick, the player is out. Last one standing and not the seeker wins.

Jacks: This is a two player game. Player One throws the brick at Player Two and picks up as many pebbles as possible before hearing the brick make contact. Remember to take turns.

Stack the Brick: Build a tower with bricks. See how high you can make it before it falls on your head.

Brick the Bucket: Throw bricks at a bucket until it has been properly demolished.

Other

Pet brick: You don't have to feed, clean up after, or groom this lovely pet.

Painting canvas: Paint the brick. Six different surfaces included.

A tool for fixing computers

A tool for creative writing prompts: Not that I have ever heard of a teacher asking for 50 uses for a brick. (hehe)

False cell phone: Paint on a few buttons on and attach an antenna of some sort.

Soap: Scrub hard enough and all the dirt will come off.

A projectile: Just find or build a catapult.

Instant messaging: Write your message on the brick and throw it through the recipient's window.

Tool for making paint: Gather plants, berries, and/or bugs and mash them with a brick. Different combinations will make different colors. Poison Ivy makes a beautiful green.

A stage: ... for bugs.

A taser: Carry this around in your purse and hit creepers with it.

Wind gauge: Place a brick outside in view of a window. If the brick doesn't move it wont kill you to go outside. If the brick flies away, then it probably will.

Small child entertainment system: Seat a small child before a brick and tell said child to scream when it grows legs and walks away.

False chocolate: Cover the brick in mud, let it dry, put it in tin foil, and give it to your younger sibling. For almonds, peanuts, etc. add rocks.

A plate: Okay, a smallish plate, but it's still a plate.

Musical instrument: Different kinds and sizes of glass make different sounds when you smash them with a brick.

Art: Put a brick on the bookshelf, mantelpiece, or some other place where people will notice it. Say it is art and no one will argue.

A therapist: Dress up, draw on, and paint the brick until it looks trustworthy. Tell it all your deepest sorrows.

A dentist: Why pay a bill to get rid of that sore tooth?

The ideal boss: Mr. Brick never yells at, docks the pay of, or fires his employees.

A form of currency: Why not?

Shoes: Attach straps and you have sandals or flip-flops (one size only).

Reusable spider killer: Just remember to wash afterwards.

Remote control: Point a brick at someone and tell them to do as you say. Chances are, they will.

Anti medication: Powder the brick and ingest in order to be sick. Enough brick powder may kill you, but not if you put it into the tomato soup you gave your noisy neighbor.

A writer's block breaker: Hit anything hard enough with a brick and it will break.

The perfect gift: Who doesn't want a brick?

A coaster: Larger than a normal coaster, but does that really matter?

A doodily-whooper: Whatever a doodily-whooper is, I am sure a brick can be applied to it.

Instrument of persuasion: If you hold a brick menacingly enough anyone can be persuaded to agree with you.

Student discipline: This needs no explanation.

A weight: Sometimes you just need something that weighs the same as a brick.

A candle: Attach a sting on one end to a brick and light the other end on fire. Keep away from flammable objects.

Emergency brake: When a small(ish) person comes careening towards you on a bicycle (this is clearly an emergency situation),throw a brick at the child. It will stop advancing. Remember to leave swiftly, before a worried/enraged mother arrives on the scene.

A friend: You won't fight with it and it will never betray you or think you're stupid.

False book: Disguise a brick to look like a book and give it to a friend. Watch them try to open it.

Warmer: Heat the brick and hold it in your frozen fingers or rest your icy toes on it.

Cooling device: Put a brick in the freezer for a long period of time then apply to something that needs to be cooled. Example: a sick child's forehead.

A nightlight: Coat the brick in glow-in-the-dark paint and leave it in the light for several hours. Once it is dark where you would like to place it you can put it there and enjoy it's light.

Growth stunter: Attach a brick to the head of someone you don't want to grow. If they continue to grow add more bricks.