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 |  A new year, a new blog, same mess of a writer. |
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It's been a while, but since the world is a mess, I might as well take a crack at this writing thing again.  I Write in 2019 ▼ 12 Stories in 12 Months ▼  |
| Date: 03.14.17 -- Day 34 (Day 14 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: N/A - Informational Video on Consent Prompt: Talk Tuesday! - Define "consent". Consent is a huge and extremely important topic. Consent is something that is not talked about enough, imo. I'm at university. I worked at a community college. Issues of consent are prevalent in almost every sphere I walk through, yet it is one of the most difficult and frustrating conversations to have and to teach. The best and concise way of explaining it to others, one that I personally believe in, is that consent is necessary and mandatory. This means that whether it is a sexual situation or an exchange of items or matters of privacy (usually in shared living space), consent is required before doing something that involves another person or their property. This eliminates a lot of ambiguity that happens when someone tries to guess someone else's intentions. Consent, as a general definition, means giving permission for something to happen. However, sexual consent and privacy are the two biggest issues that I face on a regular basis because consent seems to be a wonky concept. Stories where consent is violated that I often hear from fellow students is rooted in fear -- of being physically or mentally hurt if they do not submit to someone's demands for consent or that an attack is their fault because they were "leading someone on" or "showing signs" of permission. Peer pressure and emotional manipulation are also common tools used to inflict pain. Too often the onus is on the victim for what happened to them. This is never the case. Too often the attacker believes that so-called hints or signs gives them the right to do as they wish. This is absolutely not true. Consent should never be assumed. No one has the right to invade someone else's personal autonomy. Sexual assault and rape in this country are staggering and must be stopped. It is crucial that we teach our communities that consent is a must. I believe we can begin stopping the prevalence of sexual assault by helping children to learn consent at an early age. Here are two articles about how to teach children about consent  and rape culture . It is important to have these conversations early so that children will understand how to navigate situations that require consent pop up. But the key, at least for me, is simple -- consent is mandatory. |
| Date: 03.13.17 -- Day 33 (Day 13 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "Lose It" / Oh Wonder Prompt: Motivational Monday! - Actor William H. Macy, born on this day in 1950, once said, "Everyone hooks up with George Clooney. He's a genuinely cool guy. He's using his powers for good." How are you using your powers for good? This is a wonderful, difficult prompt, and something I struggle with every day. My daily goal is to do some good, especially in such a chaotic world. Sometimes my body or my brain don't seem to cooperate with me, and it takes everything I have to sit upright and breathe. Sometimes it's not letting the pain, mentally and physically, cloud my attitude towards others. However, it is crucial, for me, to do good in both big and little ways. For the past three years I've been a volunteer tutor, specifically for students with difficult schedules and are first-generation college students as I been blessed with easy access to education. This has been a gift my grandparents and parents have worked hard for, to give me, my siblings, and my cousins are better life and education than they received. By being a personal tutor to these students, donating time and the knowledge I've acquired, I hope I'm paying forward the opportunity that was given to me. This experience has been wonderful as I've been able to get to know my tutees (I prefer students because tutees just doesn't have the right ring to it) and building solid friendships with each one of them. Many people in my community are going through tough spots, so whenever I can, I like to help them through those difficult times. I believe we all go through rough patches at one point or another, and I was raised to give whenever I had a bit of something, even if all I possess is a dollar and the shirt on my back. The hope is that I can pass on my good fortune to others, and if they find one day they can as well, it truly is the gift that continues to give. It is my firm belief that we are stronger as a people if we work together and look after one another, especially our most vulnerable. If I have extra, whether it's time or monetarily or knowledge, it is my hope that I can use my powers and privilege for good. It is a struggle at times, but it is struggle worth fighting for. |
| Date: 03.12.13 -- Day 32 (Day 12 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "Express Yourself" / Labrinth Prompt: Sunday News! - In a television appearance he'll never forget, a professor speaking on a BBC News program Friday morning was hilariously interrupted when his two children walked into the room. - - if you were being interviewed on television for something of importance, how would you handle a situation where your thunder is about to get stolen by someone/something that has no relevance to the subject?I'd like to think I would be able to hold my composure with as much grace as the interviewee in the article was able to, but I can be honest and say it would be a good day if I didn't bust out laughing. I mean, little one was having a grand ole time boogeying to her own beat. She had a mission to dance and dad talking to his computer was not going to stop her. And then the mini in the walker strolled in like the place was theirs. One can only imagine what an average day in that house is like without cameras. So, really, I would be lost with no hope of survival, and can only hope that the interview was not live but taped. Holding composure, for me, only happens when I have time to plan. Speaking in public used to make me literally sick to my stomach or had me closing my eye through the whole ordeal. True story: I had earned a spot in my elementary school's talent show during the third grade, was absolutely terrified, and solved the problem of not hurling on the audience by keeping my eyes closed the entire time I sang. I still cannot listen to "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride without cringing in remembered horror. It's taken me years to be able to give a presentation or speak in front of people about something important without looking like I'm dying, and there is a 50/50 chance that it will not go well anyway. The idea of giving a television interview makes me want to run away screaming just a little. If I had to do a television interview, I would either need a minimum of two weeks worth of prep or be told I was going on air fifteen minutes before the actual thing so as not to have time to freak out or let my fight-or-flight response kick in. If someone wanted to steal my thunder, there is a very good chance I might just hand them said weather with a pretty bow on top. I might even buy them dinner after for doing me a solid by interrupting with a non-sequitur. Better to give away glory than to terrify a television audience with a scene from "The Exorcist". |
| Date: 03.11.17 -- Day 31 (Day 11 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "Lost in My Mind" / The Head and the Head Prompt: Creation Saturday! - Who wins in the ultimate battle of Good versus Evil? The Parricorn or the Sharkhorse?  vs.  This is a difficult one as both are majestic creatures, but alas, I need to believe that good will beat evil. Although I wonder how they were both destined to be either. What made the Parricorn the guardian of good and what made the Sharkhorse the guardian of evil? Was it a long standing feud, long destined to come to battle? Or was it just circumstance that pitted the two against each other? So many questions as to what led to this ultimate war. In terms of just weapons and predators, the Parricorn has both its beak and its feather/horn working in its favor. If the bird shares the same qualities as the parrot, the range of motion of its beck will allow it to better attack. The Unicorn also has qualities that are somewhat mysterious and will potentially help it win. But the beak and horn only have one point of attack so it would take more pecks to cause harm. The Sharkhorse has multiple rows of teeth and a truly powerful bite. Also the power kick of a horse's legs help in a frontward assault. Unfortunately, it does not have the range of motion the Parricorn has, and would be stuck only attacking its enemy head on. My hope that there are other ways for this to settle as they seem like formidable enemies that would probably tear each other apart, leaving none alive. If only it were not a battle of good and evil, but something that could be reached by compromise, for this seems like a fight that will be waged forever with no clear understanding of what the victor wins but death. |
| Date: 03.10.17 -- Day 30 (Day 10 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "You Belong to Me" / Patsy Cline Prompt: Fun Fact Friday! - On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful call with the telephone. How much of a factor has the telephone (in all its forms) had in the difference between society now and 140 years ago? [I apologize for the lateness of this post. I had a work emergency that spilled into overtime, and by the time I got home, it was well past the post due date. Hopefully this will not happen again!] I believe that the telephone has had a major impact on society, and has led to the sharp rise of innovation throughout the world. When you think about the jump in communications alone, the telephone becomes a major force for change. Long distance conversations could then happen in real time. The sharing of information was/is nearly instantaneous. And with the advent of the telephone, the landscape of how we create and operate commerce shifted dramatically as industries were both lost and found by its usage. After the telephone, we now have the internet, computers, mobile phones, and other tech that keeps up connected. Information is now more accessible than ever, and with this accessibility, we have been able to affect great change. There are downsides to the telephone as well. The fast innovation we often overlook the consequences of our progress. One thing that definitely comes to mind is waste management. The parts from these technologies are not easily broken down and disposed of. The materials we need to make these techs work are in limited supply, often taken without permission, and can vastly harm human life to mine it and dispose of it when we're done. The consequences are not always apparent, but can come at a great cost. Ultimately, the telephone was a huge factor in speeding along technological creation 140 years ago, and has shaped society to what it is today. |
| Date: 03.09.17 -- Day 29 (Day 9 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "Moneygrabber" / Fitz and the Tantrums Prompt: Wildcard Round! - Tell us about a time when something that has basically always been a detriment to you turned out to be really useful. This prompt was a difficult one to write one as I'm not sure if I've had a moment or situation where this has worked. Most of my detriments have remained just that - detriments. But there are a couple of moments where I've been lucky, so I'm going to paint a picture of one of the few times I survived the county fair. Most of my childhood involved moving around a bunch. Economics, divorce, and family illness all led to interesting moving arrangements. However, I was lucky enough stay in the same state, California, which is huge but keeps things tidy. I lived in southern California for the first seven years, particularly in a region that wasn't well known for county fairs, so when it made to our neck of the woods, it was an exciting time. When I was five, my god-sister was visiting from the Bay Area simultaneously when the county fair was in town; going was a done deal. Rides, games, fried food, crowds - joy by all. Well, kind of. Crowds were not, and are not, something I handle well. There are too many things going on, so much stimuli, that I immediately become a pillar of dread. However, this detriment was not my saving grace this time around, although it was helped. The detriment that came to my rescue was my inability to not be clumsy. One of best descriptions of myself is the fact I can trip over my own two feet on level ground. Constantly. At least once a day. And this night was no different. It was the last night in the fair was in our county before it moved on. The air was cool and crisp as the sun had just disappeared below the horizon. This was a treat as the fairgrounds were packed. Luckily, short stack, 5-year old me was wearing my neon blue and pink jacket to keep the wind at bay. The first few moments were fun as I took in all the blinking lights and cotton candy scents. This was my first huge fair and the excitement was contagious. I was sandwiched in between my brothers and trying to keep up with their quick steps as we made it to the first ride. However, the joy left the moment we finished the carousel. I was getting bumped left and right by the other fair-goers, could barely hear anything through all the noises, and I could barely keep up with my family. So in that fear of getting lost and semi-running to keep them in sight, I inevitably tripped over my shoelaces, falling to my knees. This was a gift in disguise as the two people behind me was a gentleman who had at some point had a few drinks, a few chili dogs, and what could only be described as some bright blue sweet, had taken an ill-advised turn on the tilt-a-whirl. After stepping off the ride, he must had felt sick to his stomach because he promptly projectile vomited over my head from where I had tripped, barely missing me on the ground recovering from my fall. My family had noticed my absence, scurried back to find me, and had seen my stroke of luck. It was something. I was a bit traumatized. To keep me in sight and my luck rolling, I spent the rest of the trip either on one of my brother's shoulders or clutching my mother's hand. Everything was kind of tinged after that near hit. It's hard to have fun after I realized what could have happened. I just had this facial expression of near-wonder, eyes big, few words, little trust. Really wasn't a fan of crowds after that experience and remain distrustful. But at least my clumsiness came to my rescue when I needed it the most. |
| Date: 03.08.17 -- Day 28 (Day 8 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge) Music: "It'll All Work Out" / Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Prompt: War Chest Wednesday! - We are always learning. What are you learning now? Right now I'm learning a few things. All of them have their own unique qualities. Academically, I am currently taking a Lifespan Psychology course, which is nice. We spend a couple of weeks on each stage of life, and at the moment we're wrapping up our final module, although I'm unsure how I feel about the last assignment. One of the things we need to do to finish out the class is to complete a case study on ourselves. I'm terrified, but it should be interesting. That aside, when I have a moment, I want to rewrite the notes I had from another class on ceramics and working on a wheel, which I no longer am in due to health reasons. My hope is that when my hands get better, I can give the class another shot, and when that day comes, I want to be prepared. On my own free-time outside of class and working, I have discovered "Great British Bake Out" (Baking Show in US) on Netflix. It's delightful! This is one of the first competition shows where I'm rooting for everyone, and there seems to be less drama than American competition shows. Unfortunately, I found this at midnight after a long bought of insomnia, and it was exactly the opposite of what I needed for sleep. I think I blasted through three seasons in two days. One thing I will say about the show is that I'm learning so much about baking while watching the contestants create their food. Pastry still terrifies me, but now I know what I need to do to achieve all those lovely golden layers. I find that I've been watching different documentaries on food and cooking. Food is such an interesting commodity and art form. It carries so much worth in our lives, and we've come up with a variety of ways to make it more than just a delivery system of nutrients. Flavors, textures, presentations. How many dishes are there that connect to certain memories or different parts of our cultures and heritages? The taste of my grandfather's adobo or the smell of my mother's orange chicken. My only regret is not having a kitchen really designed to experiment with, but I want to get back in and play around with cooking and baking again. If anyone is looking for any decent food documentaries to watch, I would recommend GBBO, a five-part series called "Cooked", "Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown", and "Chef's Table", particularly Nancy Silverton's episode in Season 3. And if you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear about them! |
| Date: 03.07.17 -- Day 27 (Day 7 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge) Music: "Pennies from Heaven" / Billie Holiday Prompt: Talk Tuesday! - Which musicians, actors or athletes do you wish you could've seen perform live while they were still in their prime? I grew up with loads of different types of music. My parents brought a lot to the table of my musical education, and I mean that quite literally! I was quizzed at times, at dinner. Who collaborated with what band during this time period? What song influenced this chart-topper? This album was drew from what genre of music? We moved quite a bit, so long car rides meant long playlists. My siblings and I were also required to talk music lessons for at two years to help with our musical knowledge. (Fun fact: I played the violin for four years, but never really played as well as I had hoped.) There are so many people I wish I could have seen in their prime! I've written before about wanting to see Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Ritcher performed live. Anything with Yo-Yo Ma. It's such a lovely interruption of Vivaldi's work while encompassing the full range of emotions throughout the seasons. The blues and jazz greats - Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Chet Baker. The hard rock bands of the 70s like the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin. And the true funk masters Earth, Wind, & Fire, in their original formation. But the person I would have loved to have seen the most is Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday was a fond favorite on my mother's old Victrola. When I was little, we used to dance around on her bed with feather boas, sometimes silly wide-brimmed hats, and sing along to Billie's beautifully deep voice. She was the first singer I ever cried to. And her singing only grew better with age. She lived a difficult life, and those hard times were hard on her vocal chords, but it was that life experience that gave her the depth that many others don't quote have. Her heartbreak, her wisdom, her struggles made her music all the more real. To see her performing live would have been a pure joy. Luckily, athlete-wise, I was able to see Teemu Selanne skate during his last years before retiring. It would have been something to see him at the beginning, when he was first dubbed "The Finnish Flash". Actor-wise, there are several that I hope to see one day. As someone else mentioned, Sir Patrick Stewart or Sir Ian McKellan on stage would be something amazing in Shakespeare. Audra McDonald is really getting into her prime so to see her act would be lovely. There are really so, so many to choose from! |
| Date: 03.06.16 -- Day 26 (Day 6 of 30-Day Blogging Challenge) Music: "River" / Ibeyi Prompt: Motivational Monday! - Musician David Gilmour, born on this day in 1947, once said, "It's a very tempting thing to try and relive your glory days when you get a little older and you worry that people have forgotten all about you." In what way or ways does your writing preserve any kind of legacy? Legacy is a weighty word. I'm not sure I have something in my writing that holds a legacy, at least not yet. There's so much of the craft of writing I feel I need to learn, both on tone and technique. My hope is that one day I will have something unique so someone can read a little something from me, and know from the wording that I've written it. If my writing can be a comfort to someone, or a revelation, I think I will have created a sense of a legacy. From my perspective, when it comes to preservation, I think I carry my family with me. Our history, our cultures, play in everything that I do, and I see reflections of them in everything I write. There is a responsibility there as well. There are so many voices that were not heard that should. This past year, I think that's happening more in the mainstream of media, and it's thrilling. I can only hope that change will continue and that I can be a part of that wave of bringing to life forgotten and/or ignored stories. However, I want to push back a little on Gilmour's quote. I'm not sure I'm afraid of being forgotten in the long run. If one or two people remember me or my writing, that would be lovely, but I don't think I would be crushed if I just faded away. And I'm not sure I'm a "glory days" type of person, lol. It seems that I've been trying to outrun much of what has happened in my past, traumas I don't want to shade everything I do or create. It's a tough place. But that may change one day, and I'll feel that temptation to relive a better time. That actually sounds a bit nice, and maybe I'll be fortunate to get there. |
| Date: 03.05.17 -- Day 25 (Day 5 of 30-Day Blogging Challenge - March Edition) Music: "Stereotypes" / Black Violin Prompt: The Sunday News! - As people who write things that can be seen on the internet, we understand how important grammar is. The real question that remains, however, is how sick are you of this guy?? Pace yourselves, 'cuz there's a lot goin' on in there.I wrote a long post last night right after the prompt was posted. Then, promptly deleted it. There was a great deal of rage, fear, and overall disgust for the person who currently presides in the White House. I deleted it because it didn't really answer the question, at least how I interpret it. Does the misspelling in his tweets bother me? A little. However, the frequency, misinformation, and scare tactics bother me so much more. Here's the thing - I use to be that person. The snob who would creep on other people's writing habits or how well they did or did not use their grammatical skills. I didn't have the right to do it, and I kind of suck at it myself, but I would turn my nose up at people who didn't have perfect grammar until it was pointed out to me how absolutely ridiculous and hurtful I was being. There are many reasons why someone's writing it not correct all of the time - learning disabilities, speakers of multiple languages, bad days - and having someone pointing it out is usually done to shame others, not to be helpful. It's a weird type of gate-keeping that can be destructive and harmful. So this prompt gets to me. I loathe Donald Trump with the raging fire of a thousand suns. I despise him and every member of his cabinet. What is about to happen next to my country is going to cost us all dearly, and many people are not to going to survive it. There are both millions of words and no words to describe the destruction this administration has done, and is going to do, to this nation. His grammatical mistakes are the least of my problems. |
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Week 1: December 31st - January 6th:
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