Ramnosities, just for you.

Hello once again friends. It's high time I give ya'll an update on me. Besides the whole "I'm Crazy, I'm Storyfingers." thing, which I must say was brilliant, I'm pretty sure some of you want to know more about me. Weeeell, I'll start slow and just give you a few facts (and opinions) about my recent history. (Being the weird way of saying "the past few weeks.")

1. Just so you know, college life is harder than I thought. I mean, come on, I actually have to think!

2. I'm definitely not a geography expert. I discovered this when I had to take some diagnosive map quizzes, about the cities, countries, and regional geography of Europe. Ew! I think I got about one mountain range in the regional physical geography one. The other twenty-eight or so labels were hit and miss. The cities I was a little better at. Paris only took a few guesses, and Berlin. London I got on the first try! Oh, and Kiev, Ukraine. But I think that's it. Again, there was a list about thirty long. And the countries one...well, you'll laugh at this, but I couldn't for the life of me find Liechtenstein. Anybody know where that is? I guessed every country I could see, to no avail. Hmmm. Remind me to google that, somebody.

3. My thoughts about going to the State Fair. (In music!) *Gasp* Me? Really? Wow! I'm...I'm...speechless with delight! I get to perform my piano contest piece at the State Fair! *Groan* How much stuff do we have to pack anyway? I'm halfway down the list, and our car's trunk is full! *Worried sigh* Mom? I don't have any cute not-quite-so-formal dresses to wear! What should I do? (The answer happened to be "Go shopping" and I did.) *Delighted sigh* Oooooh, what a cute dress that is, and on clearance too! I just adore that pattern! *Weary sigh* (After loading the car) I need a bath. *Thoughtful smile* I'm sure I'll have more sighs to add when we come home, but you'll have to wait!

4. There are a lot of homeschooled juniors doing PSEO through Northwestern College. (Yes, that's a clue about me.) I'm meeting quite a few neat people through the forums online in my classes. What fun!

5. I spent a two dollar bill today. What fun! I handed it to the lady (I was at Hugo's, buying candy...I needed it.) Anywho, I handed the cashier my money, and she started to put it away. Then she said "Oh, it's a two! Haven't seen one of those in a while!" She held it over the cash registry and wondered for a moment where to put it. Then she (rather distractedly, I thought) gave me my change and turned to the next costumer. It's so fun to take people by surprise like that.

6. I'm knitting fingerless mittens! They're going to be so cute when I finish (if I ever do happen to get around to that!) Here's a link for a post about fingerless mittens (on Friend Blogger's Blog) so that you can see pictures. Mine a actually green, kind of a muted, light, mossy green. They're comin' along pretty good though, I don't' think they'll take quite six mos! (View link...)

7. It's past my bed time (which usually makes no difference whatsoever...) so I have to go. Toodles, all!

Storyfingers Booklist

I'll be the first to admit that my vocabulary is not exactly what one would expect of a typical teenager. Truth be told, I'm not, so of course, that rather explains the first statement. Well, to be precise, it explains why the first statement isn't so odd after all. Still, I'm guessing you're all seeking some sort of enlightenment as to why I'm even blogging this. The fact that I use weird lingo is partially due to my extraordinary friends, true, but it is also largely due to the books I read. (My family would translate read as devour.) For those of you who didn't know, books are some of the most wonderful things in the world. They can be the most powerful tools, they can be the most excellent educators, and they can take you places that no jet, camel, kayak, or foot could go. You can find books about anything and everything, logical, ridiculous, or a queer combination of both, with a good measure of realistic fancy. (Do you believe sentence #1 yet?) So I've decided to post a book list for you. I won't post every book on my aforementioned list, just a few of my favorites. (After all, you'd get sick of a list that takes a decade to finish...) Just a note in passing, if you see an "S" after a book, then that book is the first of a series. Sometimes I may not recommend the entire series, so watch for ensuing titles by the same author.

1. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. This one is full of detail and beauty! S

2. Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery. Another creative work of art!

3. Rebecka of Sunnybrook Farm by L. M. Montgomery. This one I loved!

4. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. This one is great for mid-teens and adults.

5. The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis. This one is a great first-of-a-series! S

6. Any book by Dr. Seuss! These are great for all ages. I love them, my little brother loves them, my mom loves them.

7. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. "The enchanting prelude to..."

8. The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. Wow! Wonderful books! One of my favorite authors, for sure. S

9. The Yearling by Marjorie Kennen Rawlings. This one made me cry, sure sign of a well-written book. Great work, Rawlings!

10. Miracles of Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen. I love the rustic setting in this winter/spring tale.

11. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Goes right with the above.

12. Rethinking Worldview by J. Mark Bertrand. This is great for those of you who like to think.

13. The Elizabeth George Young Woman's Collection by Elizabeth George. Girls-reading-my-blog, get this book and read it cover to cover. Don't scoff at the pink hard-cover, this is an amazing set of books! (Sorry guys, had to post that.)

14. The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin. I love the puzzles in this book!

15. All things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot. This country vet has stories just waiting to enrich your life. S

16. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. This is not just a kids book!

17. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. The next three books go with this one, but don't try to tackle them all in a row!

18. O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King.

19. The Moor by Laurie R. King.

20. The Game by Laurie R. King.

21. Redwall by Brian Jaque. Captivating tale! S

22. Urchin of the Riding Stars by M. I. McAllister. This is a wonderful read, good for ages 7-107. Seriously! S

23. Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. This is great for anyone who loves writing/grammar!

Thanks all, for hangin' in there through that list. I could add to it, but don't tempt me! These are only a few off the good books I've enjoyed, and I certainly hope you enjoy some of them also. By the way, it is very helpful to keep a list of books (including authors) and when you read them. My list is several pages long, despite the fact that I forgot most of the books I've read before I could write them down!

Noticing Things

I bet you all thought I was done posting about color. "I mean, seriously, Storyfingers?" But nope! Actually, this time, it's more of a tip than an example, but it still includes an exercise. Some of you will take this seriously. (Thanks, guys!!) And some of you won't. (Fine then, be that way. Just kidding.) But anywho, I was talking about color. Be patient with me, this is a several part series. It requires cooperation.



Step 1. Sit down by a window (or preferably outside) and write down all the colors you see. Don't leave anything out. This really shouldn't take too long...All right, got that done? (Yeah, I'm serious!!!)



Step 2. You're going to rewrite your list. This time, don't just jot down green grass, brown trees, blue sky, white clouds, yellow bird. Cheater! This time, make a point to notice the vast array of colors around you! The grass itself may be a sort of translucent emerald, but that clover leave is a shade darker, and that pine cone is a rich chocolate. Oh, and that prematurely yellow leave is golden with light brown flecks on it. Get what I mean? Ok. Go rewrite that list. *Don't forget to label what's which color!*



Step 3. Pay attention.



Have you noticed how well details color a story? For example. "It was a bright, sunny day." This sentence can be colored ever so much better by merely adding a few details. Case in point. "The sun was shining in just the right sort of way, that it made her want to turn cartwheels in the grass." (Absolutely no idea who she is, just seemed to fit.) Go back to my previous post and read some of the story samples; pay attention to how the details make the story more captivating. Or, check out Friend Blogger's blog and read her post about using $2 bills. Notice the descriptive details she uses.


Step 4. I'm not in the least bit joking. Go see how much fun it is to write a descriptive paragraph, using the new details you never even knew were available. If you want to see this in action (or should I say, in print) here are some good books you should definitely read.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montegomery

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Coloring a story...

Trust me. This isn't as bad as you think. I know most of you are groaning, "But coloring is for little kids!" Ah, but it's not. I'm going to post some coloring pointers, and some samples of colored stories. And then you'll understand, and suddenly, you'll be telling all your friends that you've been practicing coloring...Ha. Gotcha. Ok, listen up. (Sorry, but "Read up" didn't sound right...)





I'm going to start by explaining that color can be added in a few different ways. One way is in the characters, what they do, say, how they feel, etc. I'll call this the Crayon option.

Secondly, color can be expressed in the surroundings. E.g. Was the sky dark and stormy? or was it a golden sunrise? I'll call this color Colored Pencil option, because it's slightly more subtle.

And finally, color can be expressed in the narrative, neither describing the people, or places, but merely in the words used to convey meaning. The narrative. I'm going to call this one the Watermark option, because it's not as easily noticed.





Now for colors. You can use any color really, but I'm going to use Gray, Green, light Blue, and Red/Yellow for my demonstrative colors.





I'm going to give samples of these colors right now, starting with Green.



1. Sample #1 is from a story I wrote for Easter about the thief on the cross next to Jesus, who repented of his sin. This paragraph takes place just after he's been thrown into prison, and uses Colored Pencil and Crayon options, respectively.



"The guards grabbed my arms and dragged me through street after street towards the palace, or--more accurately--the dungeon. They threw me into a tiny stone cell. It was dirtier even than the alleys I was used to sleeping in, and it stank"..."I sat there for hours, wondering what would happen. Well, I wished that I could wonder what would happen. Unfortunately, I knew all to well that the punishment for criminals like me was death...by crucifixion. So I sat and waited for the inevitable, with dread weighing like a stone in the pit of my stomach. I waited without even the invisible motion of lengthening shadows to inform me of time. With agonizing slowness, the minutes became hours--became eternity. It was a living death.



2. This sample is from a story I wrote about the naming of Thief River Falls. (If you want the whole story, leave a comment and I'll send it to you. This goes for all my stories.) In the story, a band of Dakota is secretly living in Ojibwa territory, and occasionally they go on raiding parties against the Ojibwa. They've just come back from a successful raid, and are celebrating. The very next paragraph, however, contrasts the green with grey, as the Ojibwa angrily meditate their losses.



"The Dakota warriors were triumphant in their mission. Dances of celebration are held in the center of the village around a huge bonfire. Braves dance wildly, waving their arms, chanting and stomping. A warrior with a fierce mask beats a small drum, tapping out the dance rhythm. Women tap their feet and clap in time to the drum and dancing. Children watch from the shadows, sitting in a circle outside the ring of dancers. Firelight flickers on their faces. A small boy imitates the dancing with exaggerated hilarity, causing his friends to stifle giggles.

"The people of Kemoj Aki village are rejoicing. It is a time of peace now. The braves have defeated their enemies and come home with few casualties. The secret village has remained unnoticed. So the believe. and thus they celebrate. Above them the silver stars twinkle and the Milky Way glows.

"The same stars are shining above a far away village, close to Red Lake. The wind sighs eerily through the grass; here a different dance is taking place. the warriors are more fierce. As they dance, they yell. the drum beats louder. Under his mask, the drummer wears a scowl of hatred. The women do not keep time with their feet but with their voices, wailing and chanting. Their clamor carries far in the still night. Children crouch or sit quietly outside the circle. The flickering fire illuminates their faces randomly, revealing not fear, but determination."



3. And now a paragraph of blue. This paragraph is from a story by (None other than...) Friend Blogger! Of course, I'm sure she'd be glad to share a copy of this story with you, leave a comment on her blog. The girl in the story has just received a bird feeder for Christmas, and she proceeded to hang it outside her bedroom window with the help of her Dad.



"The snow w3as gently falling around us, just like it should on a Christmas day It was fluffy snow, and the world was so silent I could almost hear the flakes hitting the snowdrifts. The little feeder swung in the cold wind and a light dusting of snow already lay on its roof. But pretty soon my hands were so cold they felt like they weren't even there, so we went it.

I got a cup of hot chocolate and sat in my room on my window seat. I fluffed a goose down blanket over my knees and listened by Mom playing Silent Night on the piano. It was cozy and somehow that bird feeder hanging outside my window fit into the scene."

4. Finally, a bit of red/yellow. I thought these two colors went together to well to separate. This color sample is from one of my favorite books, The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. The scene is the birthday celebration of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit. (If you aren't familiar with hobbits, leave a comment, and I'll be the first to welcome you to the world of film!)

"There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices. There were green trees with trunks of dark smoke: their leaves opened like a while spring unfolding in a moment., the their shining branches dropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits, disappearing with a sweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces. There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes."

And finally, a sentence that not only makes me smile, but embodies perfectly, the Watermark option.

"When Mr. Bilbo Baggins announced that he would shortly be celebrating his Eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton."


Now a challenge. Write a short essay or story, whichever you are more comfortable with, and practice using all three types of coloring. Use different colors. Be dramatic. Be subtle. Splash one scene full of bright blue, sea green, and aqua-marine. Shade one page with pale, sunshiny yellow and translucent emerald. "Magic" up an over-cast tone using browns and grays. Dash back the darkness with brilliant gold and crimson. Use your imagination as only you know how, and go start coloring. :-D

"Bert"

Introducing Bert, friend and fellow writer. His work speaks for him.

"The Great Journey"

It is a brilliant night. Across the dome of the black sky, the Milky Way glows. To the north the Great Bear glimmers. To the south, Orion burns. On all sides, stars and planets gleam. The night sky blazes with celestial light.

Amid the starry night sits the great whit e palace. From its windows radiates a brilliant light. Like a full moon on a clear winter night the palace glows with light.

Inside the palace, on a throne of glittering crystal, sits the Prince. On his head gleams a crown of gold. Down from his shoulders flows a robe of dazzling white. Across his chest shimmers a sash of gold. On his feet shine slipper s of silver and gold.

Surrounding the Prince on his throne is a choir of thousands, robed in snowy white. Facing the throne and with arms raised high, the chorus joyfully sings: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come."

On the polished marble floor before the crystal throne stands a group of elders, dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold. Their faces are radiant and their arms raised high in worship. As the choir sings, they too sing.

High above the Prince on his throne, winged creatures fly in slow, majestic arcs. As they fly, these creatures join in the chorus of praise.

At the center of this cascade of worship, the Prince leans forward on his throne. His chin rests in his hand. A thoughtful look rests on his face. His blue eyes gaze into the distance, to a point far beyond the palace walls.

Minutes pass. Suddenly, the Prince sits up. "Rising to his feet, he steps down from the throne. With slow steps he begins to walk across the throne room. As he passes by, the elders remove their crowns and fall to their faces before him.

The Prince passes through an archway and onto an outer balcony. Stopping at the railing, he looks out over the night sky. A quiet smile plays on his lips. Cupping his hands together he shouts: "Let there be light!" From between the Prince's fingers a glow emerges. He opens his hands. Above his palms hover lights the size of fireflies. He gently blows into his hands--poof--and a new galaxy sails out into the waiting universe.

Looking out at the starry firmament, the prince focuses his gaze on a distant point of light. As he watches that light, a look of sadness spreads over his face. A tear forms in his eye, and then rolls down his cheek.

As the Prince gazes into space, a figure wearing a golden crown and carrying a jeweled scepter steps onto the balcony. it is the King. Walking up to his son, the King stops, and then follows with his own eyes the path of his son's gaze. After a minute's silence, he speaks. "My son, it is time."

"Yes father, I know. It is time for me to leave."

As the prince says this, a deep sigh passes his lips. "Father, I am ready to go. I am eager to go. I long to go to the dark planet. My heart breaks for the people there. I am restless until I have carried out our plan to rescue them."

The prince turns to face his father. Tears stain his cheeks. "But father, even though I am ready, it is hard to leave. My heart breaks at the thought of leaving you."

There is a brief silence. The king speaks. "I know son. My heart also aches for the dark planet. so many there are lost. So many are hurting. So many live in darkness. So many do not know my love for them. I, too, have longed for this moment. I have longed for you to go and shine the light of our undying love for the people there to see."

The King pauses, "Son, we both know this is a dangerous mission. It will cost you everything. It will cost you your life."

The King lays his hands on the Prince's shoulders. "But do not be afraid!I go with you on this journey. I will be with you every step of the way. I will be with you there, just as I am here. When your mission is done we will be together again."

Taking in his father's words, the Prince nods his head and smiles. With shining eyes he turns and again looks out at the speck of light in the vast ocean of stars.

Reaching up to his head, he slowly removes his golden crown, and lays it on the bench next to him. Taking his golden sash in hand, he slides it off, folds it, and lays in on the bench next to him. Taking his golden sash in hand, he slides it off, folds it, and lays in on the bench.

The Prince closes his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he savors the sounds of the angelic choir. From the palace radiates the joyful chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb to receive honor and glory and praise."

Reaching down to his feet, the Prince removes his golden slippers. Then, slowly, he begins to pull his glistening white robe down from his shoulders.

*****

It is a brilliant, starry night in the village of Nazareth. Young Mary awakes from her slumber. Butterfly wings flutter in her womb. Sitting up in bed, she puts her hands on her stomach. She smiles. "The Angel's promise has come true!" she whispers. "God has come to save his people. Immanuel!"

The Art of Tubing

We were gone last weekend, enjoying ourselves at the lake, and gathering blog material. (Well, I was the only one worrying about that.) I discovered that some stories are best told in pictures (despite my adament faith in words) because try as I might, it is nearly impossible to make a ligible record-of-happenings while riding in a boat pulling a water skis or a tube, and trying to get good pictures for your mothers scrapbook.

So I resorted to photos. Oh, well, I couldn't resist a short blurp about the importance of pictures, and art of tubing.

The art of tubing requires several participants. The person-on-the-tube has perhaps the most dangerous job, because not only must he hold on for dear life, but he is also supposed to show off for the camera. The driver has the rather-boring-but-still-a-blast sort of job, because he has to drive *forever* to make sure everybody gets a ride, but he also has the opprotunity to whip them off the tube at will. The spotter has the easiest job, simply watch the tuber, and make sure the driver knows when the tube is empty. A.K.A. the person-on-the-tube took a spill. And finally the photographer. Ooh, my favorite. The photographer has to make sure that he gets the best pictures possible, lots of them, and yet doesn't fill the memory card or kill the batteries before the last tuber is done. It's difficult too, because the instant you think you've got plenty of pics, and put the camera away, the most exciting thing is sure to happen.

This is Friend-on-tube at the beginning of the ride.

Oops! Bad picture!

And the tube skips across the water, but the tuber hangs on tight! You can see the spray from the boat in front of my lense.

Tuber got some air...and I caught him as he was coming down!

Oops! Bye-bye tuber, don't forget to write!

Well, ok. We did swing around and pick him up.