Composing Cat

31 Days in pictures 2012: Day Eleven

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Eleven 2012:
A picture of something you hate.

This is the same answer as last year. More than likely, it'll be the same answer every year hereafter. I don't hate anything. My mother taught me that. You don't hate anything. It's nearly the same as murder. Hate causes so many bad things. Most hate is simply a bi-product of ignorance. People hate things because they don't understand them. They don't take the time to understand them. It's different from them so they hate it. Hate feeds the world with madness. Hate has brought down whole nations and crippled groups of people. People who could have (and many who have regardless) contributed greatly to this world. Hate kills out the goodness in this world. There is so much to gain from being different. If it were not for difference we'd simply be robots doing the same things over and over and over. Where would we have gotten without the unique contributions of those who are different from ourselves? I do not understand how people can hate. Especially hate because of a color, or a gender, or nationality or look or a view. We are different and rightfully so. We make the world a better place, a brighter place, a place worth being in because of our unique ways. Hate is unnecessary. Hate is what it is. I don't like it. I wish that in my life time I could make the world see the damage that hate does. All I can do is do my part in my little part of the world each day and hope that each live I touch will touch that many more and so on and so on until it spreads like an epidemic across the nations and squash out hate.

So what is that you strongly dislike?

(No, I'm not going to say hate because that would cancel out everything I just said)

31 Days in pictures 2012: Day Ten

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Ten 2012:
A picture of someone you do silly things with.

I don't really like how I look in this picture but it is a perfect example of how even taking a family photo with these guys can be silly. Yes, It's my crazy children. They're now at that age where we are sillier than serious. We have had entire days of talking in funny Russian voices or Welsh. Every time we do something there's something silly about it. Even a ride to Church can be made silly. I was raised with humor and so were my guys. We do so many things that will last as memories...happy memories. Of throwing sticks in the creek after a rain storm and running around the car doing a Chinese fire drill just because we can. I'm their mother first and foremost. I know I've had to teach them right and wrong but I'm most proud that I've taught them to stop and laugh once in a while. If it takes sitting in a booth at an eatery talking in weird accents then by all means we'll be that weird family doing so. I wouldn't trade one embarrassing moment for it. Plus, look at all the ammo I'll have to use to tell embarrassing stories to my grandchildren about their fathers. hee hee

So do you do silly things with?

31 Days in pictures 2012: Day Nine

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:36:00 +0000

First off, Happy Valentine's Day to the Blogsphere! I'm not a huge V-Day fan. It's another one of those holidays that reminds those of who don't have overly romantic other halves that we are missing out on something. Something that makes others giddy with excitement. Personally, I'd love that. But it doesn't happen any time of the year for me so why should I expected on a specific day. That's not to say I'm not loved. I know I'm loved. I just am not flowers and cards kind of loved. An oil change or brake job here and there but no flowers or candy or cards. Actually, I can't remember but one time in the last 11 years that I've gotten a card from my other half. But this post is not about my Valentine Woos. It's about the pictures. So on with the pics:

Day Nine 2012:

A picture of someone who has gotten you through the most.

I think this was my answer last year too. It's my parents. Look at those smiles! They have been there for me more than I've ever deserved. They taught me to love unconditionally, cry when you need to cry, scream when you need to scream, but always remember to smile and laugh at yourself from time to time. To never take life so serious that you miss the little moments that make it all. They're the perfect friends and they perfect role models. They're not perfect and they never expected me to be. They love me for all my flaws, for all the talents they think I have, and for the things that make me the individual I am. They've stuck by me when even I wanted to give up. I don't know what kind of person I would be if it weren't for them. I hope to be half as awesome as they are.

So who's been there for you? Who has been the one to get you through the most?

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Eight

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Eight 2012:
A picture that makes you laugh.

Confession time. I have very odd children. They take great pride in being completely outside the box. This picture gives me the giggles because it's a perfect example of how one can act silly for the camera without knowing the others are doing a photo bomb in the background. (By the way: my oldest - the one on the right - is not a serial killer. He just plays one on film) This was Christmas day at my mother's and the one in the middle was singing a cover of Red Solo cup but replacing it with Orange Thermal Cup while posing for the camera. Little Bit, the one on the left, was sliding in the frame doing an impression of a spy and the oldest doing is dangedest to look as creepy as possible. Mission accomplished. Yes, I have to laugh a lot because it's so much cheaper than real therapy. Ha! Ha! I wouldn't trade all the weirdness for one sane moment if it didn't involve these guys. They put the smile, the giggle, the heart in my everyday life.

So that's my odd but true picture that makes me laugh. What picture makes you laugh?

You don't have to play along, just leave a comment below and tell me what picture puts some jiggle in your belly.

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Seven 2012:
A picture of Your Most Treasured Item.

I have many things I treasure. My Children, my Bible, my home, my Jeep, my job, my Laptop, my dishwasher, my microwave, my Netflix, my cellphone, etc. For this I think I'm going to have to say this:

I think that's pretty much self explanatory but in case its not. I love my Kindle. Not a Kindle Fire...Just a plain Jane Kindle and my little red cover with the cool mojo stand. I like it because I can carry lots of books with me and have them at my finger tips. I can also set it to read to me on my long drive home. It's my friend. I bought it for myself with the trade-in program (if you have textbooks you want to get rid of you should check it out). I love it. It helped me get through my mono days this year and it's always nearby to let me escape the mad world I live in. I love it because my make believe friends live in there and the worlds I would never get to visit are too. It also helps that when I need a break form getting lost or need a different distraction, there's a couple of games on there too. The built in dictionary helps too. Sometimes a word or two can mean so many other things and to be able to just click and get the definition is a wonderful thing. So while I know there are many other things in my life that might be more valuable, I treasure this the most at this moment, right here, right now in time. I don't know what I did before I got it. Oh yeah! I remember, I lugged books around and had stacks everywhere (Ok. I still have the stacks but you get the point) I love my Kindle.

What about you? What's your most treasured item?

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Six

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Six 2012:

A picture of a person you'd like to trade places with for a day.

Once upon a time ago, I wanted to change places with just about anyone. As I've gotten to know myself better (that seems to be one of the benefits of getting older) I am really starting to like me. I'm not so bad. I can even be kind of enjoyable. So I thought about this and wondered who I would like to trade places with for a day. There's so many possibilities and I really had a hard time with this one. While I wanted to answer differently than I did last year, my choice is the same. My friend Teresa.

Why? Because she's super cool. Ok truly it's because I admire the life she has built for herself and her family. She's home schools, she's crafty, she has a great sense of humor, and a wonderful dedication to her community. She's just one of those people you meet and think to yourself, "Gee! I wish I could be more like her." I've just always admired her for being her. Having said that, let me also say that I have really grown to love the person I am becoming. Every day I learn something new about myself. Sometimes I even feel a wee bit self absorbed (don't we all) but all in all I love who I am becoming. So other than this question for the day, I don't really want to be anyone other than who I am. I'm pretty cool for a geeky ol' klutz. I'm happy in my own skin. That is amazing to me considering where I came from.

What about you? Who would you trade places with for a day?

(I'm sure you guys have more imagination with this than I did)

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Five

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Four: A picture of your favorite Memory.

I took this picture with my middle son, Wesley during a record breaking rain. This is the stream on our property that is normal less than a babbling brook. It was a ragging force this day. It wasn't until a few days later that anyone noticed the picture resembled an angel. The best part of this day, though was watching my nearly grown 6 foot something son play in the rain! Priceless!

What is your favorite memory?

Don't forget to link your post below!

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Four

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Four 2012:
A picture of your favorite night.

This is a picture of a sudden summer storm rolling in. The sky was majestic! I grew up with hurricanes and tropical storms but I had never witnessed a storm rolling in like this one. The sky was lined with rings of clouds engulfing the area. That night Mother Nature played a beautiful symphony of thunder and rain all around us. The sky lit up with lightning like pyrotechnics at a rock concert. It was such a relaxing evening. The sound of thunder clapping the sky above and vibrating the earth beneath us...the rain dancing on the tin roof over our heads...the lightning flashing to reveal the wonders of the black rings above. It was amazing. No one was hurt and nothing was damaged. It was just another one of God's amazing treats to remind us how great Mother Nature truly is.

What was your favorite night?

Don't forget to leave a comment or link below.

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day Three

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Three: A picture of the cast of your favorite TV show.

I'm posting a picture of my favorite regeneration of my favorite TV show. For those of you who follow you'll know what I mean by that. (For the rest of you, check HERE)

Let me just say that I LOVE, LOVE everyone of these guys that were with the 10th Doctor but that doesn't mean I don't like like the 11th Doctor. Those of you who follow Doctor Who know that you have a certain Doctor that sticks with you and you just can't seem to let him go. David Tennant was that Doctor for me. I also love Catherine Tate as Donna. I always felt they were kindred spirits in a way. But enough of that. This is a picture challenge not my babbling post for the week.

So who's your favorite cast?

Don't forget to link your post below!

31 Day in Pictures 2012: Day Two

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Day Two 2012:
A picture of you and someone you used to be close to.

Robyn & Me Christmas 1988

This and still is one of the best people on earth!
Robyn was my saving grace at one time. She was there for me in some pretty dark times and stuck by me as I tried to regain some sanity. I don't know that I would be who I am if it hadn't been for her being there for me when I thought I had no one else. We're many miles apart now and both have completely different lives but I hope she knows how much she meant to me then and still does. She grew up to be what she always was at heart...an amazing nurse!

So who are you wishing you were still close to?

Don't forget to link your post below!

31 Days in Pictures 2012: Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Last year (2011) I started the year off with a “31 days in pictures” self-challenge. Somehow, I got redirected to one of those old posts and thought why not do it again, a year later. Kind of like see where I am now and where I was. It’s always good to look back once in a while.

So without all my usual babble Here we go...

Day One 2011

and now

Day One 2012

A current picture of me and 15 facts

Me at Christmas 2011

I graduated from College with an Associates of Arts in 2011.
I love my job even though when people ask me what I do I simply say I answer the phone.
I still bite my nails.
I turn 40 on February 25^th and am looking forward to it.
I think better without shoes on.
I want to go to Alaska before I die.
I have an irrational fear of dentists. (Even though I have the nicest one on earth)
I sleep with my laptop next to me where most would have a significant other. (& I'm ok with that)
I've never really feared being alone.
I love to eat frosting out of the container sans cake.
I didn't start plucking my eyebrows until I was in my 30s.
I like that I’m not just like everyone else but sometimes wish I could feel more at ease trying to blend in.
I've dated the same man for 11 ½ years but I’m the one that doesn't want to get married.
I love bracelets even if they look tacky.
I secretly watch videos on how to do eye makeup and up dos even though I don't wear much make up and seem to always clip my hair up.

And that is me in a nutshell…well, no, not even close really but you get a small glimpse. Looking back at last year, most of what I wrote is the same. I just realized that of all the things on both lists, I only repeated one: The bare feet thing. I’m not sure why it helps but I can think and create better without the constraints of shoes. That has never changed. (By the way, I get that from my mom who used to hide her shoes as a kid when she left the house.) As for everything on last year’s list, they still apply.

So that was Day One. If you want to play along I've list the topics HERE. Just link below or on the Challenge page so we can all follow along.

Happy Reading everyone!

Cat

Sunday Sayings 2/05/2012

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

"No great man ever complains of want of opportunity"
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pinks and Blues and Bipolar too

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:39:00 +0000

Yesterday, on the extremely long drive to work (roughly 30 miles one way) as I often do, I let my mind wonder about. It usually comes back with some great topic to scribble about, a line or two to start a poem, or a to-do list if nothing else. I watched the shades of pink and pale blue intermingle across the sky as daylight started to take over and it reminded me of my Bipolar. It's kind of like that. I've never hid it. I don't out and out advertise it but I don't hide. It's part of me. Part of who I am. Back to where I started. Pinks and Blues. Most of the world that sees me, sees the Pinks. The smiles. The Sunshine. The Bright, happy girl. And for the most part, at this time in my life, it isn't all fake. In the past, sure, it had to be a front. At times now it still has to be forced. However, for the most part I'm becoming happy with who I am. I've excepted the many flaws I have and have actually accepted some of them as strengths more so than flaws. At work, at church, even among my friends, I'm the Pink one. The Blues? I'm still there too. I'll always be there. Much like the morning sky, you can't separate the two. There was a time in my life when I wanted to. Desperately, I wanted to separate them. I wanted to paint over, erase, ignore the fine lines of the Blue bleeding over into the Pink. I see now though that the Blue, next to the Pink, makes it POP as they say. The Blue enhances the Pink. Makes the truly Pink moments brighter.

I even miss the Blues at times. Some of my best works have come in deep dark Blues. That's when the most creative moments come. The Muses even come and stay. I have a better appreciation for them now. I want to master the ability to control the moments...to be able to dive into the Blue shades and dig out the bits that make the words and moments flow so naturally but be able to return when I want to. That would be amazing. But to control such a thing would be wrong. It wouldn't be organic and that is the truly great thing about the color spectrum between the Pinks and the Blues. The shades in between make life worth living.

Funny thing about the Pinks and the Blues, sometimes they contect in incidental moments and you don't know until much later. This lovely moment happened yesterday morning around 7 am. I got home yesterday close to 6ish. There was one of those lovely manila envelopes waiting for me on the table. I love those padded packages. It means I've received a book to review. There's always something wonderful waiting inside (sometimes not so wonderful but that's another story). It was a book sent for me to read and review: A Hidden Madness By James T.R. Jones

"A Hidden Madness tells the story of an accomplished individual who has reached the pinnacle of his profession despite suffering for over thirty years from the severe mental illness bipolar disorder. He has done so mostly in silence because of fear of stigma. Extreme childhood bullying helped cause his condition, which has seen him hospitalized five times in psychiatric facilities for periods as long as six months. It is an eye-opening voyage through the little-understood realm of severe mental illness featuring its powerful medications, periodic hospitalizations, often rocky relationships, and light as well as dark moments. The story offers both real hope for those afflicted by serious mental illness and deep insight into their many symptoms, numerous drugs, periodic crises, and potential triumphs. It shows that by being compliant with a medical regimen of therapy and medication, getting help and support from others with the same illness, benefitting from a loving family, discovering coping mechanisms to get through every day, having caring and understanding friends, and being too stubborn to let a disease ruin his life one can enjoy a successful and fulfilling professional and personal life".~ Amazon blurb

I remember when my mother and father were first told that I was, as they liked to call it back then, a Manic-Depressive. (Whoever came up with the term Bipolar has my eternal gratitude. It fits so much better. It is like living in two worlds at times.) The doctors actually instructed my mother to put locks on the cutlery drawers and had her afraid of me. In general, most Bipolars are content with self hate...we don't attack (in general). I am blessed that I have several things going for me. I am in the generation where we sought help, I have an amazing support system (parents who wanted to know & help and children who I've never hid it from), I had the opportunities to educated myself, and of course, I am not a severe case. Each person's is different. I can function and most of the world has no idea that I'm considered mental ill. I am so excited to get to read Pro. Jones book. To get a glimpse into the life of someone who has Bipolar and has, in the eyes of the world, become a success, is a victory of sorts. Many people don't even realize that many of us with Bipolar are intelligent, crafty, creative individuals, and an asset to the rest of the world. It is such a huge leap from the days when I was first diagnosed.

I'm also excited that Pro. Jones teaches in the state I now call home. Somehow, that makes it feel more personal. I don't know. I'm crazy after all. There's a fine line there. So now I'm off to catch some moments of peaceful reading before the world starts buzzing again.

Migraines, Meds, and Mental side effects

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:37:00 +0000

I've recently experienced an increase in migraines. I've suffered with them since I was about ten. I love how we always say suffer. Like anyone enjoys them. Anyhow, I went from having two a year to having about four in five month period. Recently, I had a three day one that had a wonderful slurred speech tag along. Apparently, this is not a good thing. While my coworkers found this quite amusing my doctor did not. Actually, he did snicker a bit. Since he's my cousin this was completely appropriate. He decided that since I also have a history of aura migraines and several occasions of my left side going numb that it was time to try daily treatment. His drug of choice for my daily treatment was Topamax. Now let me just add this disclaimer. What is said in this post is what I experienced personally. My father is on the same medication and has been for several years and has not experienced any of these symptoms. Therefore, I am in no way try to hold the makers of this drug responsible for what I experienced. This post is all about how weird I am.

After just a day or two of taking this new medication (which by the way has a side effect of weight loss BIG PLUS, right?) carbonated beverages began to taste vinegary and like dirty socks. Actually they kind of burned my throat when I drank them. My mouth also started getting dry a lot and I had that fuzzy tongue feeling. I could deal with this. I mean, I figured this was just in my head or a sinus thing. I mean, I always have some kind of sinus drainage. After the second week I noticed I started forgetting words. I knew that there was a word for what I was thinking about but I couldn't find the word. I would try to say words and they'd come out jumbled and jibberish. Much like a baby trying to learn to talk. Again, my coworkers have had a ball with this.

Week three and I went to work and couldn't find the print button on Internet Explorer (Granted I do not use IE regularly but still I'm a geek I should have known). I stared at the screen for two minutes before the office ditz pointed it out to me. Thus began my journey into the realm of stupidity. Yes, I said stupidity. Turns out there's a couple of rare side effects with this medication. Since I'm such a unique person of course I had to get these rare side effects...at least a few of them...the most annoying ones.

The first one I notices was the dry mouth and then the bad taste of carbonated beverages. Next was the loss of words. I love words. Words are one of my favorite things on earth. I've lost them the past few days and I'm not to happy about that. I've had trouble concentrating on simple tasks. Then the babbling talk started. I can't take it anymore. I've turned into a moron. Worse than that, I've turned into an average memory person. The one thing that makes me exceptional at my job is that I can remember where everyone is located, what they do, their extension, yada yada yada yada...today I couldn't remember someone's last name. All I could see in my minds eye was a tumble weed blow throw my head. Not cool.

So I'm stopping this crazy whacked out medication. Yes, I'm calling my doctor and getting his advice but this was a trial period for this to begin with. I hadn't even worked up to the amount he wanted me on so I feel that I'm safe to stop this nonsense. I will, however, call to be advised how to do this safely for my health. This experience has taught me I really don't want Alzheimer's or Dementia. I think I'm going to have to run that 5k with my son next year to raise money for research. This has been a terrible experience. I don't like being slow. I don't like having sock mouth. This has been a scary and stupid feeling experience. I don't like not remember simple things like words. I want to write and if I can't remember the words to write the things that are in my head there's just no reason for me to breath. Ok maybe that's a little overly dramatic but hey, I'm a girl! I'm allowed to be a drama queen every now and then. I love words and I love being a live. Living and writing are two things the just kind of go hand in hand.

Something as simple as a teeny, tiny little pill can change your whole way of thinking literally scares the crap out of me. I think I'm going to really have to start asking better questions before I say yes to any kind of altering chemicals. So now I'll wait for this stupifying medication to work it's way out of system and regain my knowledge and my smarts. I want to get back to my crazy ol' self. That's enough wackiness without being a stupid on top of that. Wish me luck! Lord knows I'll need it!

Sunday Sayings 1/29/2012

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can-there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did." ~Sarah Caldwell

Saturday Babbling

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Yes, I'm just going to babble. Sorry, this should just take a few minutes. I'm prolonging the much needed room cleaning. Why is it that Saturdays don't change when you grow up? You still have to do your chores before you can go play? Oh well. I'm happy to report other than some very pesky migraines I'm recovering from the great Mono chaos of 2011. I seem to be getting my manic self back. This past week one of my many muses came back. This one? The poetic one. She's so weird. She really needs meds but I love what she puts out there so I hope she'll stay around for a while. She usually does come around close to the big V day. Not one of my favorite holidays. Not that I have anything against love and all that. Personally, I really like love. I love it really. It's all the hype and pressure that goes along with it. I feel the same about New Year's Eve.

But I am babbling more than I really meant too. Did I have a point? Let's see. I told you I was getting better, right? Yes. I told you one of my muses was visiting? Yes. What else was there? Oh yes! I got a reclassification at work. I love that term. Like I was misclassified all along. A book on the wrong shelf. I have a littler nicer title and a bit of a higher number on the ol' pay stub too. That's always nice. I'm about to start earning it in the next few months. It's all classified. I love that too. Reclassified. Classified. We run a higher education institution but you'd think it was mission control at times.

One thing I've learned being there is that when you put a bunch of extremely intelligent, talented individuals together their egos tend to make them a tad paranoid and that's not just the teaching faculty. I'm talking about the staff as well. So when big or small changes happen in some other department they all tend to panic. We, as whole, are "transforming" system wide to change with the times and everyone is either rolling with it or buying into paranoia. You got to love it. So what my babbling is trying to say is this, some time in the future I can tell you all my exciting news about the new things I'll get to do and why I have a new title and more money. Until then no one but few know. How funny because I'm still be a nobody and what I'll be doing will in no way threaten anyone there.

On another note: I let someone read some of my work and she loved it. Why is it that when someone new reads something I write and really seems impressed it shocks me? I mean, I want to write and have people enjoy it but when someone reads something I've put out there here's the drill: I pull it up on the screen. Reread it. Question this line. That line. Reread it. Repeat. Reread it. Print it. Reread it. My heart pounds. I mentally beat myself for about twenty minutes. Reread it. Take a deep breath. Hand it off. Mentally beat myself for awhile more. Then tell myself to forget about it. Reread it. Then tell myself to just brace myself for the truth. This is growth. Then when something like what happened this week happened I'm floored. How can someone like it that much? I mean, it was mostly the poetry and to tell you the truth, I've never been a big poetry fan. It just comes out. I don't know that I could sit down and write a poem if I had to on demand. And to read someone else's and tell you what the author meant? It just depends on if they were as mentally unstable as I am.

Oh! Back to my point. I still find it hard to believe that the things that come out of my head (and heart sometimes) are enjoyed (or even understood) by others. I've always had these weird little worlds in my head that only I understand. I guess maybe I'm not so weird or maybe I'm just finding people out there that's as strange as I am. Who knows! I'm just going to roll with it and entertain the poetry muse while she's in town and wait for the prose or dark muse to come. Who knows who will visit next. They never call ahead. They never let me know when they're going to leave. I just enjoy them while they're here. Maybe someday I'll make a place for them all to live permanently in bliss.

That's all the babble I'll subject you to for now. You may resume your regularly scheduled sanity now. OH! One more thing! Just to let you know. I had so much fun last year with the A-to-Z Blog Challenge that as insane as I've been with illness the past year I'm going to participate again for 2012 so look for postings to come if you want to join or just follow along. It's in April so check back for info to come! Everyone have a great weekend. (I'm secretly, well not so secretly, praying for snow. One really good snow and I'll be quiet I promise!)

Happy Reading everyone!

Cat

Books vs Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:07:00 +0000

This post is inspired by a friend on Facebook. He happens to be the theater director at the college I work at. He posted:

"The Rotten Tomatoes" web site is a good sourse for getting a variety of movie reviews. But I wish there was a way to filter out the reviews by the people who read the book"

"Why would you read the book when they'll just make a movie out of it?" This question comes out of my son's mouth at least once a month. He's not alone. I know several adults who feel the same way. I think they're missing something though. Movies show us someone's point of view about a story. It's their ideas of what the characters look like, how they act, how they think, how they handle situations, and even how they sound and move. A book on the other hand gives you so much more room for finding your own creativity. That's right, I said your creativity. I know a book is written by someone else with their own ideas and descriptions but we all interrupt things differently. It doesn't matter that the author describes a character or a room down to the very last detail we still have the freedom for our minds to shape the story. Even if an author describes a curved cherry side board down to the brass lion head hardware, our minds still pick the shade of the cherry lacquer, the exact location and depth of the curve, the exact tone of the lion's mane, even the length and width of the spindly legs that jut up from the floor. Now what I see and what you see will no doubt be two incredibly different images in our heads and truth be known, we could never convey that exact image out to anyone else. Those little details shape a story in our minds. Each word adds to the mental imagery that paints its way across our minds as the story progresses. That's what makes great fantasy stories great and what makes historical fiction so real. Our minds create things that couldn't possibly be reproduced in as great detail in the actual realm. At least not as we see them in our mind's eye.

So does this mean I don't like movies? No, not at all. I love movies. I do have difficulty watching a movie AFTER I've read the book. I will read a book that I've already seen the movie but once I've read the words and then try to watch the movie I tend to pick the previous apart. It's not the movies fault, nor the director's, nor the actors', nor even the art department's fault. It's my mind's fault. My mind has set up a system to interrupt words based on what I've read before, the things I've experienced in life, and my own creative juices. How on earth could some entertainment organization possibly know what is in my head? That's why when we read a book and then see the movie we cut it a part. How many times have you seen a movie that you had previously read the book to and said to yourself (or everyone else) "That's not at all how I pictured that character?" Nearly every time I'm sure. We've all done that. That's simply because we did not see on that screen what our mind produced as we were reading the words. As humans, we don't like to be wrong. If we've invested hours pouring through the pages of a book, investing our time, mind, and heart into characters and places our mind has created for us visually only to step into a theater and find something totally off from what we imagined we get defensive and say they did it all wrong. But did they really? Or did we? I'm sure authors often think people have totally misread their characters because we assume they will be what we envision in our heads. The author may have envisioned something much different. So who is wrong? None of us. Reading exercises our creativity. Yes, someone else wrote the story and laid out the ground work but ultimately it is our minds that shape and create our mental images. In a movie, we are letting someone else do that for us. So why are we criticing a movie based on the same criteria we do a book? To me that's like judging a country song against a dubstep song: a classical ballad against a rap song; a blues piece against a pop culture hit. They are the same yet they are completely different.

Movies are great. Movies entertain quickly. We invest a grand total of an hour and half to two hours to a movie. A book? Any where from a couple of days to a week or two. How could we possibly expect to get as invested in a movie as we do a book. We pour ourselves into a book. We let someone else do the pouring for movie. What I'm trying to convey is let's get off the movie industries back for a while about movies not living up to the book. They aren't supposed to. They are not books. They are movies. We've paid someone a lot of money to do the creative thinking for us. Let's not bash them for not living up to something we spent a lot more time on creating images in our mind. Books are amazing art forms that give us the freedom to think, to create, to invest ourselves in and get lost in. Movies are great art forms as well but the difference is they give us the opportunity to relax, not think so much, and just enjoy. Why would we curse them for allowing us to let go?

If you find you go watch a movie you read a book to and it disappoints you terribly, don't do it. If a movie comes out and you've read the book recently, pass the movie over at least until it comes out on DVD. Give it some time until you have let go of your personal investment in the book. You may still pick some things a part but it may not be as personal an insult to your sense once you've given it some time. Also, don't run out and read a book that the movie is coming out soon. You'll just be setting yourself up for disappointment. Ultimately, remember the disclaimer before every movie that comes after the book "BASED" on the book...That's right BASED not word for word but based on the book. That gives the writers creative freedom to take the basic concepts of the book and create a wonderful new story. Just try to enjoy both mediums for what they are - entertainment. Let me also add that since so many of us have been guilty of judging a movie because of the book we read prior that I have to give kudos to the makers of the movie The Help. I read the book over two years ago and was so leary of the movie because I really allowed myself to get invested in the characters of the book. Ema Stone was NOT what I pictured for Skeeter but WOW! Did she do an excellent job as the main character. The movie was excellent just as the book was. In some cases, the movie drove home some of the point even better than the book by giving a visual presence that my experiences couldn't have.

A book can be an adventurous, creative medium that sends our minds and hearts across time and space for a few hours, a few days, a few weeks. A movie can do the same thing only the trip is shorter and we let someone else choose the vehicle and do the driving.

Happy reading and see you at the movies!

Musing Mondays (Jan. 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:46:00 +0000

Musing Mondays is a bookish meme hosted by MizB on Should be reading.

This week’s musing asks…

What is/are the first book(s) you’re reading for the new year?

I didn't get to read as much as I wanted to this past year. I didn't even read as much as I did when I didn't read on a regular basis. This year I want to read back on my old level. (Thanks to mono) While I was off for a good chunk this past year, I had no ability to concentrate on any book. One thing I have done is keep up with the freebies on Amazon for my Kindle. I have so many books on there now I don't know where to start....13 pages full. So where to start?

I think I'm going to start with one of my brain candy books. One I waited for, for what seemed like forever: One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel by Jeaniene Frost. I love this series. I'm not a huge PNR reader but this one of two that I have kept up with and will continue to read.

So what's number one on your TBR list?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Sunday Sayings Jan 1 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Happy New Year's: Positive Resolve

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Happy New Year's! Good bye 2011...Hello 2012! Another year to make resolutions. To make promises that we swear we'll keep... lose weight...write more..blog more... stay within our budgets more... read more... visit Aunt Sally more... etc...etc...etc... Why do we do that to ourselves? We put so much focus on our short comings and failures. We plan way more than anyone could possibly do in one year then beat ourselves for not accomplishing the impossible. We forget that life gets in the way most of the time. (What good does it do having goals to better our lives if THEY get in the way of living our lives?)

More importantly we focus on the wrong things...the negative...our shortcomings. We should be focusing on the positives of the year not what we failed at. What was good this past year? What did we do right? What were the moments that made us smile? Laugh? Feel accomplished? Proud? Satisfied? What were the moments...the milestones...even the thoughts that warmed our hearts and souls?

I say if you can't be positive, toss out that worthless list of goals or resolutions...doesn't matter what you call them, they're the same...a list to remind us next year of our big hopes and where our short comings are. Now this isn't to say that I don't have things (goals/resolutions) that I want to do or that I even don't believe in lists. I love lists. I just think at this time of the year when we reflect on the passing of the year, we focus too much on the negative...on the failures we think we've made. The world reminds us that enough, why should we beat ourselves even more with it? Did you really lose out by not writing a 100 pages everyday? What were you doing on those days you didn't write one single word? I bet I know...you were living!! 'Could have been bowling with friends or walking with nature. It could have been holding someone's hand in their last hours or holding a baby during its first. The point I'm trying to make is that just because we didn't accomplish these things on our lists doesn't mean we didn't accomplish anything. We may just have accomplished more than could ever be put into words much less be put on a list.

I have a proposition for you this year. Go on...set your goals or resolutions. But for every one you make, reflect on (even write it down) an accomplishment from this passing year. A moment you smiled or made someone smile. A moment something warmed your heart or something you said or did that warmed someone else's heart. Even a moment when someone recognized you for something positive. Or a moment someone noticed your good deed but you remained anonymous. So I say, yes, write your list, plan your goals, but reflect on not just your short comings...heck, I say forget your short comings all together, focus on the positive things of this year. The world is cold and negative enough without us adding to it. Let's add some positivity and hope into the world starting with ourselves.

Need some help focusing on the positives? Check out marcandangel.com It's a great site that gives you practical tips for living a more positive life. (I am in no way affiliated with them. I just really like the site and it motivates me to live a more positive life).

Whatever your plans for the coming year, I wish you all a safe and happy New Year and the very best 2012 you could possibly have!

glitter-graphics.com

Teaser Tuesdays (Sept 6th)

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:49:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"The man's face, if one could call it that, was grotesquely deformed. The skin was a mass of twisted gray tissue, with no discernible nose, eyebrows, or ears, and his mouth, partially open to reveal pointed white teeth, was no more than a slit. But it was the eyes that froze Phil in place."~Hybrid by Brian O'Grady

Now it your turn. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your two ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

MIA: Illness and blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:49:00 +0000

I've been MIA for a straight month now. While I'm sure I've not been missed I hate that I let the blog itself down. So why the silence for so long? For the month of July, I struggled with steep and tiredness and a sinus infection and just a basic sense of getting old and being mentally whiny. At the end of July I couldn't shake the complete exhaustion and sickness. A final trip to the doctor, a ton of blood work, and a week later I found out I had mono. I experienced body pains, digestive issues, and the total and complete exhaustion of every cell in my body.

You would think with a month off of nothing but bed rest I would have gotten tons of things done but mono aka The Kissing Disease, has a life of it's own. I found myself having to take a nap after a shower. I ate many of my meals from a straw and I couldn't concentrate on anything that wasn't on mt Netflix queque.

I'm happy to say I'm recovering. Coming back to the land of the living. I even dug out a stack of books from my TBR list and starting in on them. I've taken something from all this as far as this blog is concerned. We all need to have back up content. Something for those few who are loyal readers to have to read and reflect on. In the coming weeks I'll be working on such a back plan. Something to fill the voids of unplanned absences. I'll also be working on regular content. Something worth reading. I love my blogging world and the friends within it. I love being able to express myself, my views, and sharing books and thoughts.

Thank you to those who have checked up on me. For everyone else I wish happy and safe Labor Day weekend.

HAPPY READING!!!

Sunday Sayings (Aug 1st)

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:09:00 +0000

When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they take better care of it there.

~Cecil Selig

Sunday Sayings (July 31st)

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:41:00 +0000

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."

Oscar Wilde

Musing Monday (July 25th)

noreply@blogger.com (Cat) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Musing Mondays is a bookish meme hosted by MizB on Should be reading.

This week’s musing asks…

Do you need to have your owned books out where you can see them, or are you okay with them being stored away?

I can't stand to pack books away. That's evident by the mounds of books around my room. My bedroom, aka the Brain Cave, has a book shelf and then stacks throughout the room. Not the best places for books. I am an odd reader though. I don't hold on to books unless they really, really leave a mark on me. Then I have an uncontrollable urge to push them on to the people I love so they don't stay very long. Now that I have a Kindle I've kind of cut down on the book storage issue. (For those of you who say I love to hold a book, I was right there with you but have quickly grown to love my Kindle. Oh and if you just have to hold a book check out The Click Heard Round the World for an awesome cover project).

I tend to trade out my books for other books at my favorite little used book store, Book and CD Hut, to support my own book habit and to support the local economy (small town USA needs your help). I've also thought about participating in a BookCrossing which is a way to connect others with books. The idea of leaving a book in a coffee shop, a laundromat, public bathroom, or even on top of a car for someone else to get the joy of reading really gets me excited. Yes, I know I'm a geek and I'm loving it.

As for the original question? I never pack books up. It's like stifling a person in a box to me. I have my beloved keepers and I have my beloved "who's going to read this next" stacks. All in all I'm a happy with my arrangement and my relationship with my books.

What about you? Do you display your make believe worlds proudly for all to see? or Do you keep them safe in a climate controlled box? Either way, happy reading everyone!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

PS: CMASH has a great book giveaway for MY RUBY SLIPPERS

THE ROAD BACK TO KANSAS over at CMASH Loves to Read Go check it out. She's got some great book reviews as well!