Fragile my foot.

[Orville's note: Names have been changed for the sake of privacy. Then again, if Snowl was really concerned about keeping things quiet, she wouldn't bother posting anything in this blog. But that's just my opinion. And what do I know since I'm just an owl.]


Snowl: So guess who's in here chatting with Mr. Boss...? I feel like my turf has been invaded. Must prepare minions for sneak attack on danger-danger.


Renee: Wait a min... you mean cleavage girl?


Snowl: No, lol. I meant our fun-dangerous male friend. I'm officially invited over for the evening again. super. Renee, SAVE ME FROM MYSELF! AUGHHHHHH!


Renee: There is no help for you.


Snowl: That's what I was afraid of.

~~~

So I was recently buried alive beneath a suffocating mound of blankets and then sat upon by my arch rival in taking over the world. As he snickered gleefully at his little ploy, I dramatically emerged from the depths to strike at his weakest point--the tickle spot. [Of which he has many.] As said arch-rival scampered away in giggly defeat, I of course gave chase--who wouldn't?--only to have him bow out ever-so-humbly by saying he refused to partake in such play with a girl since girls were more fragile than boys. 


Fragile my foot! You just knew I'd win this tickle-fight!


*simmergrumblesimmer*


Since when is it okay to sit upon suffocating females but not okay to let them tickle you to pieces?? The injustice. bah. 


I feel the need to say thank you to another of my friends who has proved very helpful in the editing process of my book [that she might actually finish in another ten years or so]. Besides the comments that rip my main character to shreds, he has actually been very helpful in working out some of the kinks I've been stuck on (yay for rewriting chapter 4! again!) and catching smaller things I overlooked (changed ack-centz any-von?).


During this editing process said editing friend has given me wonderful insight into the male psyche [since Snowl is female she tends to need all the help she can get in this department]. Overall, Mr. Ef (editing friend, as he shall now be called) was (dare I say?) impressed with the reactions of my main character [despite his repeat stupidity] in how he would interact with a new female interest. Mr. Ef then gave me a multi-page breakdown of what exactly was going through said character's mind on each smile, look or word from the new female character. It was quite insightful, I must say. 


So of course, as with all fun reading/writing, I then tried to see how much of this new knowledge [the girl was handed a freakin' gem of information] on the page really applied to real life. And the results of this inside scoop? 


I have concluded that insecure males simply need to buck up and realize that if they want something, they need to freakin' grow some [*ahem*] and pursue it. (or in this case, her.) [Ouch.] Seriously though! How long does a guy expect a girl to wait around for him to decide if he's interested or not? This isn't rocket science! Generally speaking, most girls know within five seconds whether or not they'd date a guy. We're really not nearly as complicated as people make us out to be. [Yes, but Snowl...] No buts! Ok, ok, sometimes getting to know a guy better will shift that initial call (quite likely for the better, if a guy is bothering to put time into pursuing a girl), but in general, all the excess mind games of trying to figure out how interested a girl is are quite unnecessary. If anything, those excess stall games will only cause great confusion and annoyance on the girl's part and do more harm than good. Especially if the girl is impatient. [Like you.] Like me. Wait, no. [Ha!] 


So long story short, bluntness is generally the best option. Like a girl? Tell her. Know a girl likes you but don't return the feelings? Tell her. That way she doesn't have to keep wondering and waste time/emotions on it. Just be honest. We can handle it, really. We're not as fragile as we look. 

blah blah blah (gotta love the originality...)

Today was a gray day that could have never happened and my life would be the same.


These days make me melancholy.


Work went well, I suppose; it was just me and the boss in the office--did some editing, filed files for about 3 hours... got stuff done, left around 4.


Zoomed 45 miles south to pick up the room mates from the airport--it's about a 50 minute drive, and ol' Trisk only gets about 18 miles a gallon on a good day, and this was through mild mountains--you do the math--so the landlord-roomie graciously gives me 10 bucks off this month's rent. The other roomie skipped the thank you and went right into an accusation about not moving the trash bin away from the street. Whatever. Next time they can get a taxi and save me two hours and 30 bucks. *grumblegrumblegrumble* Or just fly out of the airport in the town we live in... heaven forbid you spend the extra 20 bucks and save someone else the hassle and gas money to take you and pick you up. Sorry, I'm venting.


Finally getting back was nice--tried out a new chinese place with one of my favorite people, then crashed on her couch for about 20 minutes later on, ha. [Snowl has excellent social skills as I'm sure you can tell.]


Made it home for the night around 8-ish, cleaned some dishes, attempted to accomplish something with my bank account online but of course the bloody thing decided to freeze up, so I suppose I'll phone tomorrow about it... so I called it quits put in a movie and painted for two hours. Ironically, my hand randomly selected 'He's not that into you' from my movies case [she's useless in decision-making when like this so I actually picked for her] but it was basically perfect for my recent grumble-state about relationships in general. [[I promise I'm not usually this moody. *sigh* I hate feeling this way. angst angst angst. Thank you, Tiny Tim, for the word of the weekend.]] And to top off my evening, while I was finally starting to calm down for the night I spotted a centipede-like demon-bug scurrying under my bed. How wonderful. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Calling

(Umm… so if you’re one of those ‘anti-religion’ types, you might not care for this one. But I felt I needed to post it. This is one of my [likely rare] ‘serious’ blogs. It might seem out of place with the others. Er, that’s my disclaimer.)

A phone ring, a bird trill, a shout across campus, a fire within—so many types of calling labeled under one word. Sometimes we wait anxiously by the phone, hoping a certain someone might also be thinking about you. Sometimes it’s your job to answer if someone calls, and your hands feel all clammy in nervous anticipation (what if you don’t know what to say? Bumblebumblebumble.). Sometimes a whistle sounds and you’re unsure if it was the black beater’s driver that just rumbled past, smile hanging lop-sided out the window, or if it was (preferably) the black bird perched on the wire overhead.

It’s amazing the tingles a set ringtone can trigger when the one calls you’ve been hoping for.

Perhaps that’s what the small voice is like—not so obvious, not so loud, it doesn’t vibrate your pocket, it doesn’t drop white poo on you from above (hopefully). For me, the calling’s soft, like a turtledove’s coo—when it stirs me, I have to stop and listen. Locate the source. Not doing so would… would… why wouldn’t you stop to hear? To push through and ignore would physically ache. Like unheeded curiosity. If you just investigate, follow the sound—who knows where it’ll lead?

I’ve been trying more to listen. Listening is the easy part. The trouble is stopping to do so. And when you do pause, but still don’t listen—that’s when you feel the jar-jolt of error. You can tell when you pushed away, and when you missed it. There’s almost a tangible sadness left hanging in the air as you walk away from it. At least, there was when I did, the few times. [slow learner.]

I’ve been trying more to listen. I like to paint, to draw, to stretch my imagination, to spread color, to fiddle with words, to mix ideas on a page or canvas or screen. Sometimes I feel I’d be better off stacking numbers or dusting off history, studying law or finance or something ‘practical’ that could benefit mass society.

But that’s not my calling, is it? Even the thought jars the breath in my lungs.

I’ve been trying more to listen. Trusting in something beyond yourself is scary—what if you wait too long, and suddenly it’s too late? Drat. Shoulda taken that waitressing job. Phooey. Missed out on peas this year. How can you know it will all work out?

You don’t. But you trust that God will see you through. That doesn’t mean you sit on your bum and do nothing. It means you make the time to pause, to wait, to listen, to pray. Be still. He will come through for you. Just trust, and listen. Your journey will not be the same as mine, but God is the same, and he is faithful. This past year has been a giant lesson, and I feel I’m finally learning to wait. And in seven days, God completely came through—last minute miracle, everything fell into place. I could not have orchestrated it better. I don’t know what he has planned for me. I don’t know what he has planned for you. But I’m learning, slowly, to wait… to listen. He’s calling out to us. Stop and hear.

It's just a... minor... compulsion...

So I have officially butchered my sleep cycle this week--after only getting 4 hours of sleep last night, I conked out shortly after 1pm today and didn't wake up until dinner time. That said, my body is now under the illusion that we have an entire day to get the three reflection papers and journal card assignment done for tomorrow when in fact we only have a few hours left. So of course instead of starting those, I ended up on here. Cheers to self-discipline. 


Speaking of which, does anyone else have minor compulsions that, if you do not obey, you find yourself utterly incapable of doing anything else? I have this problem with art, and sometimes with writing. I'll be sitting at my desk, minding my own business, and suddenly *VWHOOMPH!* an image strikes me, and I have to have to have to creaaaate! [That doesn't mean these 'images' turn out particularly attractive, it just means Snowl will waste three hours a day working on them instead of doing what she needs to do. And then she wonders why she's up until 4 doing homework. Silly human.] My most recent obsession is a texture piece. I'm not really sure where I'm going with it yet, but it's the fourth piece I've done in this particular style, and it's the first piece I've done that involves multiple panels, so that's been a fun experiment. Last night instead of working on either of my papers due the next morning I found myself scribbling a Wordsworth poem on the metallic ocean waves. Then again today before my mind lapsed into blackness I found myself tearing dried leaves for forest texture while watching Prince Arthur flirt with the Once and Future Queen Gwenevere on youtube. [Good show, but the way, if anyone is into Arthurian legend or fantasy.] Is anyone else helplessly struck with a random compulsion from time to time? What do you find as your distractions? I can't help but notice these things happen most when I have too many other things going on to justify it, but I normally give in anyway. I have three other art pieces made this semester as proof. Bah.

"Round."

"My first thought upon seeing her was 'circumnavigate.'" 


[Be warned, Snowl's about to go into a rant.]


Alrighty boys--for any of you who failed to learn it in Social Relationships 101, -never- call a girl "round." Nothing good can come from it. Either she'll think you're calling her fat or well endowed. Either way, you're likely to get slapped. 


One of my creative writing buds recently decided to write a couple of his gal-friends into his newest story. Yes! A character based on me--how exciting, right? Such an honor! Said writer friend even gave me a list of special power options to pick from. I was pretty pumped about it. Who wouldn't want to be portrayed as an epic sassy heroine with mad fighting skills? Who even trains owls to do her bidding? Pretty cool, huh? I thought so until said name-sake character was introduced with the rotund adjective "round." And he wasn't saying I was well endowed. In fact, said "friend" thought it would be a cute idea to base the character's appearance on her owl-loving. So she has a round face, round glasses, etc etc. *POP!* There went my starry-eyed dreams of epicness. (Not that there is anything wrong with being round, it's just not particularly fearsome. Feeear the Snowl.) [I personally loved my character--who wouldn't want to be based on an Eurasian Eagle Owl? So stylin'.] Oh, and Orville made it into the story too. He does my bidding and talons-attacks my enemies. Owl-minion, attack! [...] *Orville slashes foes to shreds* Snowl: MWAHAHAH! I am invincible!! >=D [Don't let this go to your head, Snowl.] Right. Sorry. So anywho, after reading this line, and then having a couple other fellow-writers read it, our little anime-loving-nerd-group-of-awesomeness proceeded to give feedback on the writing. Which then turned into a series of 'round' jokes. [Hence the quote at the top.] And although said writing friend hopefully knows I was joking about taking offense to this description (after all, it's not like I can manipulate water in real life either) (that you know of), it still seemed worth noting to all other young men (who hope to reproduce someday) that your life will be considerably easier if you learn a few tips on what to say (or not to say) to a girl. "Round" would be one of the words to avoid. [Duly noted.]


Thus ends my rant for the evening. Have a good night--and when you're reading a new best selling fantasy in a few years with an owl girl complete with a trained minion named Orville, you can grin at knowing the backstory to this tale. 

Back to Reality... Sorta.

[Disclaimer: the following content might not be suitable for all genders. Gents be warned. Due to this, Snowl has requested I look over this to make it more palatable for my fellow males. -Orville.]

*poof!*

And like that the happy world of writers and dreamers was over. Or separated, at least. Ways parted, vans puttered, and Dr. Nelson missed our last exit on the way home, adding an extra 20 minutes to our 14 hour drive. But at least we made it safe and sound.

Now our happy group has returned to the dreary world of exams and final papers and presentations. But I don't want to whine about that, so let's move on, shall we? [What's she whining about? I'm the one smelling like stale hair from people smushing me with their heavy skulls like a pillow...]

There's something more pressing tickling my mind, one of those things people only whisper about with good friends behind closed doors or in isolated booths over coffee. It's one of the most annoying yet thrilling diseases, consuming yet irrelevant, distracting yet oblique. They sneak up on you like gum on the sidewalk, until you're stuck with it everywhere you go, each step an annoyingly sticky reminder of your latest inconvenience. I'm speaking of crushes, of course. Why is it our insides suddenly decide without consent to get all gooey over some guy or girl? [In Snowl's case it would be guys, just to clarify.] These things tend to sneak up when least practical, like at the end of summer when heading back to school or the end of school when heading home for summer, or even when you're getting ready to graduate and don't even have the hope to pick up the next semester/summer when you get back. You know there's no point to act on it, but it plagues you anyway. Why must this happen??

I have successfully evaded this deadly disease for a considerable block of time. It's not hard to do when you purposefully cut yourself off from most human contact, especially from friendships of the opposite gender. [Poor kid's kinda a hermit. PLEASE drag her out of my room more often.] And it's never the studly peacocks prancing around campus that spawn this mental illness--the ones girls fawn over when they've nothing better to do--it's the ones you aren't watching for that sneak up on you. My downfall is a tendency to become too attached to good guy friends. This is normally countered by distance; out of sight, out of mind. Or time. When you're friends with a guy [or girl, for any guys who stumble across this] for long enough, you tend to slip into that safe brotherly/sisterly relationship. Yet every now and then circumstance thrusts one out of the comfort of normalcy and suddenly you find yourself thinking of a certain someone's smile when you should be listening to Dr. Knowall's droning speech, or perhaps you're hearing their words in your head when you should be reading about molecular biology. [A topic Snowl is completely ignorant on.] It's like some small parasite wiggled into your brain and despite your best efforts refuses to unlatch from your conscious. Then you actually see said crush and your heart gets all fluttery warm and you're sure they can see it in your face but despite everything you're fighting to maintain control and "play it cool" because you fear their reaction if they knew... 


The term "love sick" comes to mind. I'm not sure love is the appropriate term for this affection, but sick could not be better stated. If only some remedy were known to cure this ridiculous distraction. Goodness knows that's normally all it is. [Thank you for sharing with us. Now for your own sake, Snowl, get back to your homework.] ... Fine.

Quoting Conference Hoots.

Alrighty, time for a "real" blog (beyond the intro, *DUN DUN DUNNNN*). In recap, a group of almost 30 peeps from EU (profs and students) migrated north for the Festival of Faith and Writing this past Wednesday. The conference had sessions all day Thurs. - Sat. (today). It was all [fantabulistically] awesome, but the highlights by far were the people. So instead of dragging on with a mini-summary of each session, I decided to hit the highlights via the best way: quotes. [Thank you 2 1/2 years of hs yrbk for tattooing constant quote-scribbling on my soul.]

The first set are quotes from speakers from the conference, the second set are quotes from peers. For reference, MJ, Jesse and H-bomb were my awesome roomies for the duration of our hotel stay. Good female bonding time. :)

~Snowl

~~~ Conference Quotes~~~

"There are 3 Rule of Writing: the problem is nobody knows what they are."

--Brady Udall

~~~

"You can't really steal someone's ideas... people do all the time and nobody cares."

--Brady Udall

~~~

"When a reader picks up a novel, she is entering a long-term relationship. A poem is like a one-night stand. The novelist must bring the reader through the pages."

--Brady Udall

~~~

"Sports writing is a great career to go into if you want a drinking problem and several divorces."

--Chip MacGregor

~~~

"God is like your mother who keeps telling you to clean your room over and over again, so you clean your room just to shut your mother up."

--Sharon Flake

~~~

"When you put your mess out there, you provide a place of healing for others."

--Sharon Flake

~~~

"Developing a literary journal is like sucking your head through a straw."

--RELIEF Editor

~~~

"We have a slogan but I can't remember what it is."

--Christian Amondson, Wipf and Stock Publishers

~~~Memorable Moments~~~

MJ: Wow! Martin, you have really nice calves!

~~~

MJ: I like gay people too. My best friend in high school was gay.

Jesse: Guy or girl?

MJ: Guy. He hit on my boyfriend though. We're no longer friends.

~~~

MJ: I'm not a lesbian.

~~~

MJ: (getting out of the shower) Are there any boys in here?

Jesse/H-bomb: No.

Me: Not unless you count Orville...

~~~

Me: You're right MJ, he does have really nice calves.

~~~

I tried to upload a photo on blogspot but it was taking its jolly-sweet time, so I gave up and used photobucket. Which worked.

6:30 a.m. is a God-forsaken hour. As Jesse said the other morn, "If you are awake and a Taco Bell isn't open, go back to bed." Amen, Jesse.

~~~

"I don't think Burgess is slutty. It's all the butch man-women living there now." --Jesse

~~~

MJ: (repeat) I'm not a lesbian.

~~~

H-bomb: Let me know if this music is too loud.

Jesse/MJ/Me: Omgosh its so loud/turn it down/can't hear myself think/etc.

H-bomb: *pause* Whatever.

~~~

MJ: (repeat. again.) I'm not a lesbian guys... *nervous laugh* yeaaaah... I wish I had a boyfriend.

~~~

Hotty-Man (steamin' in the hot tub): So... what are you two doin' tonight?

MJ & Me: Uhhh

Me: We've got an 8:30 morning session. ... So we're going to bed early.

~~~

Jesse: I am a territorial beging, and if a creature comes crawling into my dorm room, they're going DOWN.

H-bomb: I'll remember to not come to your dorm room...

~~~

J: You're getting up at 5 in the morning?? Why?

MJ: Because I'm not gonna be able to pa--look at that mess. Gonna take me forever to clean that up.

~~~

Martini: Stop staring at my calves!

~~~

Maybe you just had to be there. Or maybe you were, and secretly snickered on the inside when reading this. I'm hoping for the latter either way. Happy writing. Snowl signing off. Zzzz~~