Little Women

When i was younger, Jessie (my cousin), my sisters and I would play little women. Jess was always Meg because she was the eldest; i was Jo, i not only came in as next eldest but i was the writer of the group, then Audrey-she got to be Amy because of those golden locks. Becki, who should have rightfully been Amy because she was the youngest invented a character named Peppermint because no one wanted to be Beth because Beth dies. (sorry to those who’ve never seen the movie or read the book).

Here i am, 21 years old, who knows how many years later. i’m an English major getting ready to graduate and i’m still a writer. watching Little Women today made me remember and realize why i’ve always loved writing. it’s about inspiring people; keeping those who’ve passed on alive in pages; about preserving memories and creating worlds.

i greatly miss writing. i miss being able to dive into a completely new world; to leave the cell phones, ipods and crying babies (hello TVA) behind. to envelop myself in words has been my greatest desire for as long as i can remember.

it’s time to start writing again.

Kingdom of Heaven

so i have to watch Kingdom of Heaven for my war & culture class. i’ve seen it before, and i’m sure i’ve had a lot of the same reactions i’m having now, but watching it this time around after reading A World Without Islam, it’s a different experience. i feel more for the Muslims.

[Warning: this next bit might sound slightly egotistical]

i’m glad i’m the kind of person who is willing to look at both sides and not simply accept one side of the story.

there are some really powerful one-liners in this movie. excellent things that i keep thinking “I could use that for the title of my paper” and i keep jotting them down (i haven’t figured out what i’m going to write about yet, so i can’t pick a title).

i think it’s sad how many people out there will only ever know what they’ve been raised on. it’s not wrong, it’s just kind of sad. there’s such wealth and richness in what we can learn from and about other cultures. it’s sad that some people will always and forever believe that Salt Lake City, Utah is it. that there is no need to travel or learn anything about anyone else.

yeah, i’m a mormon, but i don’t consider myself dogmatic (most mormons i know aren’t either, but bad apples and all that), nor do i consider myself close-minded (again, most i know aren’t but there are always a few). i want to learn everything i can about every religion and culture. i really wish i had the gift of tongues; i would love to learn all the languages. unfortunately, i’m a bumbling idiot when it comes to languages…what can you do? :)

Things that make me smile

• finding Legos when i pick up my school folders
• finding my flash drive after HOURS of looking
• vanilla ice cream with a strawberry swirl served in my “I’m allergic to mornings” mug
• Taylor swift music; especially, “ours,” “never grow up” and “the best day”
• knowing that God cares about when I lose things like my flash drive—even though it isn’t necessary to my eternal soul :)
• rainbow bright
• kittens
• my husband
• when puppies walk away from me (that cute little waddle with their tails flipping and flopping all over)

You would think...

being a tutor would afford me lots of pleasant one-to-one chats

working for 8 hours in a day would completely fulfill my need to communicate with fellow intelligent human beings

that if I came home and actually had energy, I would do homework and read for the next day’s classes

you would think i would, might… but i don’t.

I realized tonight as i tutored an old friend that i greatly miss conversation, even if it’s about brainstorming. i miss the little intricacies that come from having known someone for FOREVER. i miss being able to say more than “hey, how are you?” and “Here’s how we fix this sentence” my JOB is talking to people…so why do i still feel—at the end of working for 8 hours—that i haven’t said anything to anyone?

…drawing a blank

So i’ve been “trained” to look at a text and pop a paper out of it. Hello Moll Flanders, why is there no paper popping? It’s no use looking for literary devices…maybe hyperbole…that could work. Let’s see something like…

Daniel Defoe’s main aim in writing Moll Flanders is to demonstrate, through hyperbole, that it is possible to make mistakes and still live happily ever after as long as remorse comes eventually.

no.

that’s a horrible thesis.

is it even a thesis?

you know the worst part about this?

 

i’ll probably end up using that thesis for lack of a better one; the fact that the paper is due tomorrow almost ensures that will be my thesis.

bad Moll Flanders, blocking my brain like this. Sheesh.