Dear Music -

You’re like a benchmark for me. Whenever I start buying and hoarding music into playlists that take over my iPhone’s memory space, I know something big is about to happen. Some story that will suddenly take over and demand to be written. The same thing happened with Origins. It’s happening now.

There is a story building up, and you’re what’s helping it take shape.

I don’t know about other people, but I know that whenever a book starts developing, there are telltale signs. I stay up late listening to the same song over and over and over again, re-daydream the same snippet of scene to see it just right, to mold it into the perfect sense of the song that inspired it.

So, with that, I’m off to listen to more of you, Dearest Music, so I can figure out this book you’re making for me.

Love,

An Avid Listener

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3. Dear Inspiration: Lois Lowry

So, that regular internet I was supposed to get for free from my new apartment complex? Yeah… still trying to work that out. I’ve been internet-less for FAR TOO LONG, yes? YES. Hopefully that will be remedied soon.

IN THE MEANTIME, I have been busy! Writing stuffs, lots of stuff, applying for college, getting pissed off at the transcript request processes of my previous schools, reading, trying out new recipes to feed the Ninja, and oh, PLAYING LOTS OF XBOX 360.

Yes, everyone, I’ve become A Gamer. And I LOFFS IT. Of course, like any good Gamer’s Wife, I’d played all the Halos. (Unfortunately, I played it on Ninja’s profile and I need to replay them on my own profile to get the achievements.) I even giggled my way through Portal (well, most of it). But I mostly just watched Ninja play.

But there came a day that all that changed. As I browsed through GameStop while Ninja worked some trade-ins, I saw the previews for Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. I could tell the way they were selling it that it was part of a series, and man did it look good. I ended up going home with Assassin’s Creed, while Ninja walked away with some games soon-to-be-released games reserved.

It was a good thing he didn’t have any games, because 3 days after that I stormed my way back into GameStop and got the two latest. I played almost NON STOP until I finished Brotherhood. And then I felt lost.

And then Ninja mentioned Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Really, since I discovered Assassin’s Creed, I’ve been playing some XBox almost every day. I fell in love with Alistair in Dragon Age and Kaidan in Mass Effect. I’m giggling at Portal 2 (need to wait for funds first, damn it). I’m salivating for the new Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (shiver!). I’ve been playing (and replaying) all the Dragon Ages and Mass Effects.

Through all that time, I’ve been developing countless of stories, almost all of them developed from whispers of ideas while playing these games. My nights have gotten accidentally longer, which is always a good sign for my writing spirit. It means that I’ve basically thought up of the whole backbone of the story and just need to write it.

And those are always my best stories.

See wut I did thar? I brought it back around to WRITING. Because that’s what I do! WRITE. And play video games. And other stuff.

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Why would an apartment feel more like home than a house? Well, I’LL TELL YOU.

It’s the way we’re making it our own.

When we first got married, the Ninja had bought his own furniture for his efficiency apartment. I worked with what he had, but there wasn’t much space or stuff. When we bought the house, I went out and got sets of furniture all in one go. Then we couldn’t afford to do much else, except some paint. We got the necessary stuff cheap, right away and then… just sorta… stopped.

Now, the furniture and design aspects are coming together a little more slowly. My parents gave me their old couch – and I mean old, it’s about as old as I am. And I LURVS DIS COUCH. I also took along an old rummage-find chair, and we got a great table – that is NOT bar-height. We’re still waiting to get the bed that we absolutely love, as well as art, decor, and *sniff* bookcases.

But that’s what’s great about it all! We aren’t buying things on the fly. I’m really being smart about what exactly we want, where, what colors, etc. Best thing, though? We’re making sure we can afford everything without credit cards. Why?

BECAUSE WE PAID OFF ALL OUR CREDIT CARDS!

We went through a lot to pay that off (we sold one of our cars and got me a bicycle). So really, there is NO FREAKING WAY we’re gonna pay off credit card debt and then just create more, even if I really want my bookcases. And I do. Ohhh, I do.

My stores of choice? Goodwill, Ikea, Target, and some local places. I’m also finding loves online, like Etsy, and a few surprises. I’m loving the whole process, and being on our own again. I can’t wait to finish decorating my new home and show you guys!

(and I don’t want to talk about my still missing Shadow)

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So, moving to Washington State didn’t work out. All kinds of stuff, but most of all my roommate lost my precious basement kitteh, Shadow. It broke our hearts. She’s chipped, and wonderfully friendly, so we’re sure that Shadow has found a new home, and either she’ll be great with them or one day come back home to us. But I couldn’t stay there, knowing she was taken from me because of someone else.

Ninja and I drove back down to Texas a few days before Christmas. We’re staying with my parents while we wait(ed) out the holidays. The one thing most frustrating about the holidays is that everyone is off, or hours are different, and whatnot. With all that over, we’re looking for jobs, an apartment, and applying to colleges.

That’s right, kids! I’m going back to finish my degree! Well, I’m changing it. From History to Literature, with a minor in Geology. It’ll probably add about a semester (maybe 2) to my last 2 years (I’m technically a junior), because I already have a lot of history credits. But while I like history, it’s the reading that I like the best, the literature. And it’s on my dime, so might as well get a degree in something I absolutely love and would enjoy doing and ALREADY do with all my reading and analysis and writing.

With the lack of internet at my mom’s house, I’ve been reading LOADS. And I mean A LOT. I haven’t read this much in a long time. And I’m loving it! Some of the books have been good, and some I’ve absolutely ADORED. I go to the library, pick out my max of 15 books, and devour them. About 1 a day, sometimes 2. Right now I’m getting books of 2010, because I felt like I’d missed out on a lot. I’m occasionally also buying books off my Nook, and I’ve got classics that I’ve been picking up at thrift stores and whatnot. (I still can’t find a cheap copy of anything by Vonnegut, let alone Slaughterhouse Five. Been wanting to read that one so bad!)

I am still writing, but only bits and pieces here and there. Life has been so hectic and weird, and so has been my writing. I sense a book growing out of the snippets I put down, but we’ll see. I feel like a writer newly born. Everything is so fresh and new and the world of my words feels vast and easy and far reaching and untouched by all that I’ve learned since I wrote what would be the beginnings of my first novel ever. It’s wonderful to play with my words again, like a child in a sandbox.

Well, that’s the lo-down on what’s been going on in my life. Sorry I’ve been gone so long! I’ve really missed you all. Hopefully soon I’ll be online in a new apartment.

What’s happened with you guys over the holidays?

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Shadow

Black Short-Haired Cat, clear yellow eyes, thinning spot above left eye, 3 white hairs on her side, claws should still be rounded from filing, Microchipped, fully vaccinated.

About 1 year old, full grown but small, indoor cat. Visiting from Texas so she hasn’t acclimated. She’s very affectionate and playful (when not scared). We found her breakaway collar on the 6^th (Dec), so unfortunately she doesn’t have that.

Please email me with any information you might have! Will work out a reward if found and brought home safely.

We miss you Shadow!

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