"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" ~ C. S. Lewis

Monday, March 8, 2010

Creative Writer Award


So, Palindrome gave me this award a while ago, but I kept forgetting to post it and the follow up list... but late is better than never, amiright?

Now I'm supposed to list 10 things that make me happy... (drumroll please)

1. Reading and Writing. Okay, so maybe this is a gimme, but I spend pretty much all my time doing one or the other. I'll go through phases. When I was trying to finish the rough draft of Unexpected Miracles I read very little. But right now I haven't really written anything (except these blog posts) in probably a month or two. Which makes me feel like a lazy bum. But in that time I've read about 15 books. Now I'm feeling the muse coming on again, so my reading will probably drop off while I write furiously for a couple of weeks. (At least I hope so) So I guess it kind of balances out. The point is, my life just wouldn't be complete without either of these things. So they are definitely #1 on the list of what makes me happy.

2. My family. My sister, AchingHope, is probably my bestest friend. We talk about just about everything in the world and I don't know what I will do when we eventually end up going our separate ways. I get along fantastically with my parents and we hang out and do stuff together as often as our schedules allow. Just last night my Dad and I watched like 4 episodes of X-Files just for fun. I can talk to them about pretty much anything and they are super supportive of me and my dreams. My other sister, Rae, is married, but we're still close and I'm so excited that she and her husband are coming on vacation with us in May! Both of my brothers are insanely talented in similar and different ways. They're both incredible musicians and I love falling to sleep at night to the sound of Dave's organ or Joe's accordion.

3. Pumpkin Custard. My Mom makes this quite often - it's basically pumpkin pie without the crust. I could eat it for every single meal and never get sick of it. She made it yesterday and I think I ate 3 servings of it throughout the day.

4. My blogging friends. That's right, all of you reading this, and some of you who aren't. I have enjoyed "getting to know you" guys through your wondrous posts on your own blogs and through your often hysterical comments here on mine. It's weird to think I have friends from all over the world through this community and I love it. Thanks to all of you who take time to read here. I'm sure you all are as busy as I am, but you take the time to read my random ramblings and it's so cool.

5. Local High School Musicals. I don't know if this is true everywhere (I'm sure it is) but we have some exceptionally talented high school students and teachers that put on really professional, fantastical shows. On Saturday AchingHope and I went to see "Curtains" at one of the local HS and it was phenomenal. There are several more coming up in our area and I am doing my best to go see as many of them as I possibly can. Another local school is doing "Seussical the Musical" and I forget what the other one is that I'm hoping to go see. But FUN!

6. Crocheting. A recent skill I've been developing. Haven't done much since I finished AchingHope's blanket, but I love the feel of the yarn between my fingers and seeing something cohesive come out of a few twists of the wrist and hook. Amazing.

7. Old Cartoon Movies. You know, like Anastasia and An American Tale and Land Before Time (The original ONLY) and Cinderella. They just don't make movies like this anymore. there is something about movies made before they really had computer help that just have an almost, I don't know, purer quality about them. There's an honesty to some of them that is missing in a lot of current animated features. It's like now a lot of the focus is on - wow, look how amazing this effect is - and less emphasis on the storyline and the building of the characters. It's not universally true on either end, but there's just something that's been lost. Okay, rant over.

8. In a similar vein - Older TV shows. I love things like The Cosby Show, Family Matters, Get Smart, Home Improvement, M.A.S.H. and older cartoons like Darkwing Duck, Gummi Bears, Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers, and a bunch of others that aren't coming to mind right now. There is definitely no current TV like these older sitcoms and cartoons especially.

9. Playing Wii with my friends. There are a couple girls from work. We're all about the same age and every so often we try to get together for a Wii date. We grab some Italian food and then spend the afternoon burning off the calories. It's so much fun to hang out while playing it.

10. Patterned Socks. I really like getting socks that have something fun on them. like lizards or ladybugs or crazy argyle patterns or Christmas trees or dogs or cherries. Yeah for fun socks!

All right, so there is my list.

I am realizing that I need to expand my list of blogs I troll, 'cause I think most of the ones I follow have already gotten this award. but I will pass it on to....

Ashlie @ Nonsense

10 comments:

Joan Crawford said...

Land Before Time (The original ONLY)

You said it! I loved the Little Mermaid too *time for Jenn to start doing some saucy shoulder shrugs* :D

I love Cinderella but I never cared for Sleeping Beauty. She's weird, that one. Even now, on all the Disney Princess merchandise, she always has a strange, detached look. Like she is a closet Valium addict. That actually makes sense!

I also liked Aladdin although I was probably too old. Like 3 years too old to be crazy about a cartoon movie.

*walks away singing "...And don't forget the importance of body language..." while swinging her tentacles*

Hannah said...

I love a ton of the old Disney cartoons! I will post about it...

I also love the Secret of Nimh and Don Bluth's Thumbelina. So so many cartoons I love. I will definitely have to post about all of them.

I've never had pumpkin custard but I have a feeling I would love it smothered in Cool Hwhip!

I don't like crocheting, too confusing. I do love knitting. I'm currently knitting a baby blanket for a preggo friend. It's very therapeutic.

I love all the old 80s cartoons! I miss those days but am so glad Netflix has all of them.

I love all your answers!!

WV: oushee- I fell and bumped my knee and now I have an oushee?

Ashlie Hawkins said...

@Joan - Ha! Love the Ursula shout-out! I remember going to see The Little Mermaid in theatres for my birthday and my friend and I agreed to hold hands during the scary parts! I think I was like 8 when it came out, such a funny memory. Can you believe Ariel was supposed to be 16 in that movie?

@Sonshine - you should post more about crocheting! I learned to knit last winter and really want to learn to crochet!

Sarah Ahiers said...

it's totally awesome when you have a large family that you're close too.

And they don't make animated movies like the used to. The Secret of Nimh? awesome.

I can crochet too! But my blankets always end up crooked. I don't know why. sadface

JennM said...

@Sonshine
I'm touched! Thanks so much for passing on the award!

I will use it as inspiration to post more often! When I post the ten things that make me happy, you'll find that we have a few in common, as games and friends are a biggie in my life too:)

@Joan
I'm touched! Thanks so much for remembering that this girl LOVES her a saucy should shrug!

Rebecca T. said...

@Joan: I love the Little Mermaid! I actually entered a drawing Disney had when the movie came out and I won a Little Mermaid activity book and a My Little Pony Fashion Barn! It was the coolest thing EVER! The first thing I ever remember winning. And who says when you're too old to be crazy about cartoon movies? My favorite movie last year was Up and I'll shout it loud and proud!

@Palindrome and Falen: Secret of NIMH! Yes! Oh my goodness. I have the song, Flying Dreams from that movie on my MP3 player.

@Palindrome: pumpkin custard is AMAZING with Cool Hwhip! And I will say it like that forever now :P

I want to learn how to knit, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Everyone tells me my crochet looks like knitting though, so maybe I don't have to. :D

@Jenn: yeah! I can't wait to read your list :)

Unknown said...

Haha... It's funny because I just did this post too, and I put Musicals as well.

@Palindrome and Falen: Secret of Nimh!!!!!!

@Sonshine: We have to watch the Secret of Nimh next.

Hannah said...

@AchingHope & Sonshine- If only you lived here, I would just let you borrow my copy of the Secret of Nimh! LOVE IT!

Hannah said...

if your crocheting looks like knitting, you are a frickin genius! My mom tried to teach me how and it was like, first you do this and twist and turn and presto-chango!! A circle!! And I was all, WHAT?! Needless to say, I don't crochet very well.

Austin Gorton said...

Little Mermaid is hands down my favorite Disney movie (though my wife prefers that Valium-swilling Sleeping Beauty).

They re-released it in theaters for its 10th anniversary or something. I was in high school at the time and a group of theater friends and I went to see it. At one point I looked around and realized I was the only guy over the age of eight in the theater.

I was lucky to go to a high school with a phenomenal theater program. We did Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Shakespeare, all kinds of stuff. They're doing Les Miserables this spring and I'm excited to check it out.