Gasp…Children’s Literature?

As a writer of horror, the morbid side of life, and the occasional sci-fi/fantasy, I have started a project that is pretty much the opposite of all that I write. This past summer I had an idea flash into my head. I should write a story for my little girl as a gift. I would love to be able to give her something that is really apart of me. Serenity is all rainbows and princesses, not something I typical use in my stories. So I venture into the world of children’s literature (talk about horrifying). I want it to be me (true to my writing), while being Serenity appropriate and about things she is into. I think I am off to a great start in the set up of the characters and plotline, but I have gotten stuck. The beginning of the adventure is where I have gotten completely blocked. How to make an adventure that is kid friendly, but won’t be too simple. My hope is to create a story that will grow with her allowing her to appreciate it as much now at five and into the years ahead.

 

How the Current Economy is Affecting Me. (let’s try this again)

My original post somehow got lost on its way to posting here. By some means or another, my “about” page was posted here. (It was most likely my fault.) I don’t remember it exactly nor do I relish the idea of writing it again. I’ll try to give a good recap.

 

I was asked two weeks ago to start working part time. I was not that unhappy about it. Now that Dan has started his own business, Reborn PC, and works fulltime, we have found ourselves pressed for time getting things done. During the week it all we can do to keep up with Serenity’s homework, afterschool activities, and feeding everybody. I have been looking forward to reading books with Serenity since she was born five years ago, but by the time everything is done it is time for her to be in bed. The weekends are filled with time spent cleaning the house and laundry.

 

One of the bigger reasons I am excited is for my writing. I will have time to focus on the career that I would like to have. I have been doing some research for the last few months on freelance writing (I saw this whole part time thing coming a while ago—stock market going kablewy gave me the clue) We shall see how that goes. Writing has been a passion of mine for many years so I am thrilled with the idea of being able to focus more of my time to it. Freelance will not be my only objective, I will also work on fiction writing that is my true passion.

Disney part 2

Sorry the posting took so long. Coming home from a vacation is exhausting and any leisure time I have had I just wanted to spent resting or hanging out with my husband whom I hadn’t seen for a week. There was so much fun and good times it will be hard to sum up the rest of our trip, but I’ll try.

 

One of the hardest things to do at Disney (for me at least) is to sit still. There is always something to do and I feel like I have to experience everything during the vacation. Serenity was right there with me wanting to get up early and stay out late. One of Serenity’s favorite things was to talk to Mickey in our morning wake-up call. No one else was allowed to answer that call. My mom frowned each time we asked for an early morning wake-up call. (6am or 7am depending if a park had early hours that day) She could not understand the need to be there as the park opened. Mom just did not understand that the best hours are when the park first opens. By the middle of our vacation as my feet were screaming at me that I had tortured them enough, I looked down at Serenity, my five year old that has been keeping up with me step for step and ride for ride. I realized that maybe she was tired as well. I could tell she was not going to give in first and suggest she rest. So it was my job as the grown-up and utters the words that I never thought I would speak at Disney World, “Do you want to go back to the hotel early and rest.” It was heart breaking for her to think that there was all this fun there was to be had and us going back to the hotel to rest, but my poor worn out child looked up at me and just nodded. I don’t think she could even form the words. One thing that helped was staying at a Disney Resort. Serenity felt like she was not leaving Disney when we went back to the hotel. Towards the end of our vacation she was ready to stay late to make sure she got everything she could in before we left.

 

I was glad that I remembered that many of the little girls dress up as Disney Princess at the parks. I made sure to pack all her Disney Princess outfits. At first she was just excited to be allowed to wear her dress-up stuff in public, but once in the park everyone address her as princess or your majesty. They would bow and sometimes she would be given Disney pins for free. (The Disney souvenir pins are big at Disney right now; we got her more to be a surprise for her birthday in April) Serenity got a little bit of a big head about it, but luckily she did not bring it home with her. She even tried to proclaim that it got a little annoying to be called princess. I told her I would tell everybody to stop then if it was so annoying, she then decided to shut up about it being annoying.

 

Serenity was real nervous about the rides in the beginning but by the end of the week her favorite rides were Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain. She loved the roller coasters. Her most exciting and favorite event had to be the Disney Princess Lunch. She enjoyed that even more than the Mickey Character breakfast. The princesses are the thing almost every little girl dreams of and to meet them and talk with them (something Mickey and friends are not able to do) was heaven for her. Getting her to stop talking to them was hard, she liked having their attention. I tried explaining that the princess had to greet all the other little girls here, but the look she gave me said “I could care less about those other little girls at this moment.” She did not say it out loud but trust me that was what she was thinking.

 

I wish that I could convey the excitement, enthusiasm, and joy that I witness in Serenity, but I would not be able to do it justice. This trip is my best Disney World vacation. To watch your child see Disney for the first time was for better than any of my own experiences there. She cried as we left that Saturday afternoon. I wanted to cry with her. Serenity is already planning her next trip there. She was just asking me last night how long I thought it would be before we went back. I told her it would probably be after Savannah turned five and we could all go together. She was horrified. Serenity told me she could not possible wait that long.

Disney World Part 1

It has been about ten years since I was last at Disney World. So it is no surprise that I have been very excited about the trip, but it was shock to realize that I having more fun watching Serenity experience Disney World than anything else. (Not that I didn’t make my fair share of demands when it can to what rides to go on. One can ride Dumbo and Small World only so many times)

When we entered the Magic Kingdom on the first day, Serenity eyes were wide and her face was fixed in permanent state of awe for the next several hours. She insisted that we ride the Haunted Mansion first. She saw it on the travel channel months ago and had not stopped talking about it. Somehow Serenity missed out on the fact that it was going to be spooky. She was not please and has declared that she will never go on that ride again for the rest of her life. The Magic Kingdom was open late that night and we stayed till 10:30pm. Serenity and her Papa, my Dad, rode Dumbo one last time as I waited at the exit with hot chocolate for her. (It had gotten cold after the sun went down)

The last few days we have been park hopping and shivering in the cold (Florida is not supposed to be this cold, but Disney magic is still good even in the cold.) Serenity favorite ride has turned out to be Star Tours, the Star Wars Ride at Disney Hollywood Studios. Two things that Serenity has enjoyed as much as the rides are the shopping and getting the autographs of the Characters and Princesses. We are not allowed to walk past any gift shop without Serenity inspecting the merchandise as she adds items into her mental list of souvenirs wishes.

One of my funnier stories of this week is only indirectly related to Disney. During one of our visit to Epcot, I got Serenity an ice cream sandwich that was in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head with his face on it. (That is important later.) While she was eating her ice cream, she asked me why there were signs about not feeding the birds. I start to explain about how birds will poo on you when I realize that she does not know what happens to food after you eat it. So I explain. She looks at me in confusion and holds out her ice cream and says, “This turns into boot-boot?” I nod my head. She then asked in horror, “Will I see his face?”

On that note, I am turning off my computer off and going to bed.

Welcome to Orlando, Sort of

Our journey to Disney World started today. My dad made his proclamation that we would leave by noon so of course it was 3pm before we got in the car to leave. Now this was partly due to the fact Bobo the cat found a way to escape his imprisonment and hideout into parts unknown. Finally we were on our way and much to my astonishment my five year old daughter did wonderful on the 7 and half hour trip. 

On the first 2 nights of this trip we have to stay at a non-Disney hotel, since they are completely full.  As soon as we walk into the Ramada you feel how not Disney it is.  The Ramada just does not have the Disney Magic. The smell of chlorine smacks you in the face as soon as you step into the lobby (because the pool is in the lobby) We were then greeted by nothing, all the hotel clerks were apparently on their break I guess and every obnoxious  giggly  tween in the known universe was in this lobby. Eventually Ms. Frowny Face appears to check us in.  I think I preferred the tweens, especially after she tells Dad about the resort fee they are charging us to stay there.  Of which she does not know any details about and would not tell us if she did (the last part I am making up but I think it’s true, she looked like she would love to make up more bad news to give us)

After finally getting checked in, the luggage loaded the cart, and waiting for Dad to walk back the 5 miles from parking the car, we head to our rooms to unpack after which we sent Dad to return the luggage cart and to get ice.  Lucky for Dad, he got some company on the elevator ride back up. A drunkard thought Dad would love to about his plans for shall we say “a roll in the hay” he had planned for his woman. But our sobriety challenged man was not completely useless; he did tell Dad where to find a working ice machine.  We are now all in settled in our rooms excited that tomorrow we will go to the Magic Kingdom and all three adults are happily playing on our laptops while the 5 year old sleeps.  Luckily our hotel has free wireless internet (we will probably find out there is some wireless tax on our bill when we check out). We did have to click to accept or decline to their agreements in order to get on the internet.  Does anybody every read those things? There may be a knock at the door any moment with someone from the staff saying “I’m here for your first born.”  So Will, if anyone from the Ramada shows up at your house for your enslavement, Mom and Dad did indeed sign away your rights in order to get on the internet. But the good news is that Serenity, my daughter will be there to keep you company. Tomorrow is going to be great.

 

Starting out

As I write this first post, I’m unsure of the best topic to blog about.  I read my brother’s posts at his blog-

 http://ramblingsfromredrose.wordpress.com/

so I’m aware of most of his topics, but my views of being a pastor in UK would seem kind of hollow seeing as I do not live in the UK and I am not a pastor.  His views of the church and the religious topics are wonderful, but most days I struggle with the simple task of being nice to others.  I go through the day trying not to think that the world is being procreated with morons. Some days are harder than others. I am thankful that there is no rule in regards to being nice to your computer. I feel much better after a good blessing out when my computer doesn’t do what it’s supposed to be doing. (I am fully aware that most of the time I am at fault, but I still feel better) So instead of worrying about religion, I am going to be excited by the fact that I am leaving for Disney World this weekend.

I hope as I blog more that I will find my own voice and my own brand of topic that will interest others as I have seen happening with my brother.