Faith, Hope, and Love

This Halloween is truly happy, because early this morning I became an aunt! What a thrilling moment (and maybe slightly scary new role) for me! So Halloween will now officially be one of my favorite times of year, cause I'll get to celebrate (and spoil) a nephew! Overall, it's actually been a pretty fun Halloween. I normally don't do anything. Being a Christian, I'm not anti-Halloween, but I don't really celebrate it either. Also, having immigrants as parents meant the idea of buying costumes and having their children go door to door begging for treats from strangers was lost on my parents. My first time to trick or treat, oddly enough, was in Nigeria. The missionary families would take their kids house to house in the Seminary and Baptist Medical Center, and then there would be a Halloween Bash at the Ellison's house. One year I was a figure skater (and spent the whole time in the van because I couldn't roller skate) and then there was my last year in ...

It's official. I signed up for the National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo ). This means I have 30 days to write 50,000 words or more, successfully completing a novel. I have no outline. No characters. No ideas. Okay... some ideas. But nothing really developed. I kind of decided to do this on a whim. I've had a few friends take up the challenge in previous year, and have been tempted to join, but always had some excuse as to why I couldn't do it. Well, I was seeing a lot of promo for it and then a friend of mine said she was doing it and asked me to add her as a writing buddy. And that's when I took the plunge. I've found a few tools to help me, too: Google's Writing Nook  and Scrivener .  And maybe along the way, I'll figure out what I'm sending as my writing sample(s) for my MFA applications! Wish me luck for next month! (And feel free to keep me accountable.)

I've started on my applications!!! Yay!  Although, not so much on working on any of the bucket-load of writing I need to do. Especially since my list of schools has grown from twelve to twenty! No intention of applying to them all, but it does make this process a little bit harder as I try to make decisions, etc. Right now, my biggest struggle is the personal statement. Each school has different lengths... and ultimately I need to answer the questions, why do I write and who do I want to be as a writer.  And that boils down to Anne of Green Gables and Chimamanda Adichie. Now to somehow articulate it in 350-800 words.  Anyway, I also started my online class, A to Z Grant Writing, and so far... so good. It's been pretty basic information, but I can already tell that by the end of the six weeks I would have learned so much. Hopefully it'll land me a real job, too. 

This week, I impulsively decided to listen to NPR. Although people assume that I listen to this radio station all the time (must be the journalist thing or something), I actually have only tuned in when my dad is in the car (in his world, only the news, classical music, and the occasional hymn or sermon is worth listening to). But this week, I was sick of listening to KLTY with their horrible commercials and over-the-top promotions, not to mention the same songs playing over and over and over again. And I thought, "why don't  I listen to NPR?" Without a good reason, I promptly switched the station. And I loved listening to the radio so much more this week. I'll be honest and say that sometimes the news and politics talk make me want to snooze, but for the most part the programming has engaged my mind during the generally mindless commute I make at various times during the day. I think my favorite show is A Way With Words , a language show. The English language i...

So, I had the morning off with full plans to be extremely productive. And have I been? ... not so much. First of all, I woke up with a bad stomachache, so I just laid around in bed for a while. I got a call in to work, and was a little grateful I had a legitimate reason not to come in.  I did however, choose not to go back to sleep and I guess I haven't been completely unproductive. I officially enrolled in an online class with Brookhaven College. A to Z Grant Writing. Hopefully this class will give me an edge on applying to grant writing positions with non-profits. I think I'd enjoy working in that environment--it'd be meaningful and rewarding. Not sure if I want to do it full-time, but I have noticed that a lot of places look for contract/freelance grant writers, who I guess they hire as needed. I also think I could use my grant writing skills not just for money, but for charity. I have a few friends who are running or trying to start non-profits, and I wouldn't m...

Last week Thursday, I won tickets to see "Shrek: The Musical" through the Dallas Summer Musicals. With those tickets came free entry to The State Fair of Texas. Can I just say I was beyond thrilled?! First of all, I've been wanting to see "Shrek," but couldn't justify paying to go see it--for one, I no longer have a full-time job and money is tight, but also, I've gone to see A LOT of shows throughout this last year and while $25-$40 for a ticket might not sound like a lot, it adds up. I mean, I had just gone to see "My Fair Lady" last month! Also, I've really wanted to go to The State Fair. I went last year with my old co-workers and it was fun, but I didn't really do much or stay late or anything. And the only other time I remember going to the fair was in high school, which was years  ago. So my friend Nik and I headed down to Fair Park a little early and enjoyed the fair, eating lots of junk, watching pig races, and the grand ...

From Shakespeare we get some of the most famous quotes and sayings. From fairy tales we get some of the most famous stories and plots. Both offer a wealth of inspiration for writers, including Sarah Strohmeyer , author of "Sweet Love," "The Cinderella Pact," and "The Sleeping Beauty Proposal." In "Sweet Love," Julie Mueller, a divorced single mother of a teen who lives above her parents in a two-family home. She's a workaholic and seeks career advancement to make amends for everything else she finds lacking in her life. When Julie's mother signs her up for dessert classes, she's sure there's a catch. And there is: one of her classmates is none other than Julie's childhood (and although she refuses to admit it, adulthood) crush, Michael. Strohmeyer begins the novel with Shakespeare's Sonnet 56, which begins, "Sweet love, renew thy force...," and "Sweet Love" is truly a novel about renewed love. Readers...

It took a week or so, but I finally am able to use my computer again! The virus is gone! Granted I had to completely wipe my memory and am starting from scratch, more or less... but in a way, that's refreshing. It's a clean slate, and new beginning. And that's where I am in my life in general. A misguided judgement led to things falling apart. And so, "let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start." Over the last few weeks, I've begun to feel liberated in a way. And this past week without my computer has really given me time to actual live life and think about it in a new way versus trying to work out a system that had obviously collapsed around me. For one, I've officially decided to go for my MFA next fall and with a renewed computer plan to right fervently and furiously until December 1st when the first deadline hits. I'm still trying to decide if I should go for 12 programs, or lower the list down a bit. But with my par...

... or my computer did anyway. And it makes getting online quite the adventure! So, I may not be blogging for a few days! Sorry!

I got the tutoring job!!! Yay! I felt the interview on Friday went well, and thought I would get the job (or at least was very hopeful!). But then she mentioned that if I took a sample SAT or ACT and hit a certain score, I could also tutor the verbal section for test prep... and then I got nervous. While not hitting the required score wouldn't eliminate me from being able to tutor English in general, I kind of felt not  being able to do so said something not so great about me. Plus, being able to tutor test prep meant I would get paid more. And with barely $300 in my bank account, I needed the extra money! So I had planned to spend the weekend studying for both tests (I got to pick which one I wanted to take). I didn't, and probably did a total of 15 practice questions. But I felt confident. I have a master's for goodness sake... if I can't ace a standardized test... Well, I decided to take the ACT, which I sat for this morning... and I aced it. So you're lo...

I've finally gotten through the list of the Top 50 MFA programs in the U.S. I was discussing my pursuit with a friend and wondering if I being foolish to go for the top  programs only. After all, those are a lot more competitive, and therefore my chances of acceptance are lower. And unlike when I applied for graduate school, I only plan to do this once. If I don't get in this year... I won't be applying again. Or at least not any time soon. We both came to the consensus that if I'm not good enough to get into any of the top programs, maybe I shouldn't be going for my MFA in the first place. I want the best training I can get, so why not go for the best? From the 50, I've narrowed down my choices based on location, program offerings, and the provision of full funding (I already owe a hefty sum from my undergraduate and graduate degree... no more loans for me!). All of the deadlines are between December 1st to January 15th, some require the GRE, and all require...

I'm emotionally drained. Which makes me physically drained. Which is apparently quite obvious to those around me. I've gotten a lot of "Are you okay?" "Are you sure?" "What's wrong?" and other concerned remarks and questions within the last few weeks.  My response is generally, "Yeah, yeah!" with an occasional, "just a little tired..."   Some people buy this, and conversation moves on to other stuff. But a few feel propelled to give me a hug and to "feel better soon!"  I guess in general, I'm a relatively bubbly and peppy person. I try to always keep a smile on my face. I laugh a lot. I'm goofy and quirky, and I might even venture to say I'm a little bit funny. But lately, I haven't been feeling any of that. I mean, I try to be me--but lately, I haven't felt peppy, bubbly, or funny on the inside. And when you don't feel something inside, it's hard to project that on the outside.  I ...

Tonight, my friend Meredith White became Meredith Clark. It was a beautiful wedding, and I took lots of pictures to prove it! It was a bit awkward at first, because I seemed to be the only one at the church who brought a camera with me. And during the reception people kept approaching me asking if I were a photographer (or one of the hired photographers). I wish I could have said, "Yes! I am!"  However, while I'm not a professional photographer, I think I took some pictures worthy of professional status. Here are a few--the rest will be uploaded to my Flickr Photostream . Shots of the invitation  The cute and quirky reply card Wedding Program Mr. White with Meredith The newlyweds Cutest pose ever! I love that I was able to capture the newlyweds still kissing, while their parents looked at each other adoringly. Groom's cake and Wedding cake This was just a fun picture! Gig 'em Aggies! WHOOP! Farewell! And ...