(DA) New Chapter of The Woman Returns

Check out the latest chapter of The Woman Returns on Fanfiction.net

>>>CLICK HERE<<<

If you like it, leave a review on the site!

-Brandolyn

(DA) Comparative writing

Today is day 48 of 365 of the Duelling Amateurs challenge I am doing with Jason and Alex.

It's been amazing to follow each other and read their thoughts but for a while I was feeling very off put because I consider Jason and Alex 'Intellectuals". They hear topics, or ideas and write them down in very thought provoking manners. They have such deep and succinct writing.

I love it. But I cannot relate to it.

What I mean is, I was comparing my writing to theirs. I was trying to think "deep thoughts" and getting frustrated when I couldn't. My writing was becoming frustrating, tedious and painstakingly slow, until I realized that Jason and Alex can write like that, but I don't have to.

I am a creative writer. I can come up with deep meaningful works but the messages are told through fiction.
My brain, and Jason and Alex's work differently. We write differently and that's what makes us compelling. Each of us write with our own voice, not with a borrowed voice we read somewhere else and are trying to emulate.

It was quite the realization, and once I saw that I was comparing myself the Jason and Alex, I was able to see that "I" wasn't writing anymore and that's why I wasn't enjoying it.

Now, I'm loving every moment of writing- even the creative blockades.

-Brandolyn

Have you ever compared yourself to someone else, and lost focus on your own voice or talent? How did you get over it?

Visit Jason >>>HERE<<<
Visit Alex >>>HERE<<<

(DA) Humanity was built to support each other

I think we, as humans, often forget one of our most basic instincts; to help others.

Ever wonder why it feels so good to help out another person? Because it's what we're meant to do. Imagine you helped people all the time, how fantastic would you feel? Answer: AMAZING.

I find people have an easier time helping animals than they do humans. Why? My guess is that animals are seen as inherently 'innocent', while we can look at people and judge them and their situations. It's harder for us to help a person because we know that they, unlike most animals, are not inherently innocent. They made choices, or decisions that affected their surroundings and circumstance.

It's harder to help people. And that's why it's so important.

Let's get back to basics. Help people. Don't judge, just do what you can for another human being and see how you feel.

I know from experience how much a small act of kindness can affect someone.

-Brandolyn

If you need inspiration or help with ideas on how to help people, check out the charity Random Acts.

(DA) Catch up with Washburn

Check out my alternate blog A Drop of Brandy and a Biscuit. Where I talk dog training, raising, vet bills etc. Pretty much everything you encounter owning and raising a dog. Plus lots of pictures.

Catch up with the past year >>>HERE<<<

-Brandolyn

(DA) Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles Review

Check out the trailer and review at Alternate Screen.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Hercules Trailer Review

Check it out at Alternate Screen!

-Brandolyn

(DA) If you love your job,

If you love your job, I can tell.

I love to see people happily working at what they do. Today I went to get my hair dyed and my stylist obviously loves what she does.

-She was dancing to the music as she worked away on my hair. It was almost as if she forgot I could see her in the mirror, but she was having a great time.
-She was constantly smiling and cracking jokes, and when she saw I wasn't going to go read magazines in the waiting room she went and got me the Wireless password so I could use the internet on my phone. (She also brought me some hard candies from the waiting room because she 'didn't want me to miss out' on the free treats.)
-And when I mentioned that I really liked the current song on the radio, she disappeared to turn up the volume so I could hear it better.

I could tell she loved her job because she made it fun, and genuinely cared about my experience. It was refreshing to see someone love their work so much.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Paragraph by paragraph

Last night I was able to push though a blockade I've had with my novel "Guardian of the Forgotten".

I've been frustrated lately because I'm focusing so hard on my Duelling Amateurs posts that I feel I've been neglecting my books. I know the writing I'm doing is helping my craft in the long run, but it doesn't feel the same.

So last night I sat down and told myself I wouldn't sleep until I wrote another sentence. I spent a long time staring at my computer, and an even longer time starting sentences, then hitting backspace to erase it again, until I eventually had one sentence that I really liked. That sentence turned in to 2, then 3, then a full paragraph, and another.

It wasn't a 'productive' night where I wrote pages and pages of work, but I felt more accomplished and productive writing those 2 paragraphs last night, than I have with my book in a long time.

Hooray for little accomplishments!

-Brandolyn

(DA) Duelling Amateurs

With my abnormally busy work schedule this week I've been struggling with posting my daily writing without a panic.
"It's 11:30pm! I have to get home and transfer my writing from my journal, onto the the computer, and post that onto FanFiction, and then post that link into my blog!" Drama.

It's been weighing on my mind so much that I woke up in a panic last night having dreamt that I fell asleep and it was 11:57pm, and I had forgotten to post something that day.

At least I know I'm Dedicated to DA, even in my sleep, but perhaps I need to build up a reserve of writing so I don't have to panic, on busy days.

-Brandolyn

(DA) D&D as escapism

One of the things that has always drawn me toward the game of Dungeons and Dragons is the aspect of character creation and story telling. There is definitely a major aspect of luck with regards to what your character can accomplish (dice rolls determine the success or failure of your actions). But the versatility of the worlds means you can create whole, compelling characters with back stories, and play with others in a world of someone's creation. For a story loving creative person it's the perfect escape from reality, and also helps creativity flow when you've hit a dead end in your creative endeavours.

Today started a new campaign of D&D with a group of my friends. All of our characters are radically different, with varying levels of detail and back story. We got to introduce ourselves to each other and then set off on a few minor quests to endear ourselves to one another before deciding to embark on a major journey together.

I often get very attached to the characters I create, and have continued to write stories (or even the campaign in most of it's entirety) as a few of my full length novels.

I love the creativity and how completely you can immerse yourself in the game. If you've never tried it, and are interested I suggest trying it out. If you don't know where to go, message me and I'll try to help you find a group or try a local merchandise shop.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was recommended to me by friends and authors I follow on social media. It is the first book in a trilogy, so naturally I asked for the first book for Christmas so I would have some reading over the holidays. 

I got the book from my father in law (my mom also got the book for Christmas from my sister) and it sat unread throughout the busy holidays until after my celebrations on New Year's Eve. Not quite tired after all the celebrating I decided to read myself to sleep. 

This is the wrong book for that. Divergent was new and exciting. The characters are compelling, the world is familiar (set in Chicago) and yet unbelievably different. The world we know is so old that the residents of Chicago don't even know that name. 

This world is fun to play in as a reader; much like the world of Harry Potter has school houses, and Hunger Games has Districts. The world in Divergent is separated in to Factions that readers can easily align themselves with or struggle against the oppression that is the confinement to one Faction. 

The characters are charismatic, curious, risk takers that take no time to adore. The story is fast paced and exhilarating. 

If you like new worlds, political tension, physical challenges, personal growth and plot twists then Divergent should make an appearance on your night stand. 

It's the first book of 3, so if you fall in love with the characters and the world, there's more to read. 

I think it is suitable for young teens and up. There is quite a bit of violence, rule breaking and self discovery, so it may not be for everyone.

-Brandolyn

(DA) The Woman Returns, chapter 3

Check out chapter 3 of The Woman Returns on FanFiction.net!

Let me know what you think if you've been following along with their adventures.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Waiting around... cont'd

Apparently the actors and production staff we were working with did not think we were wasting space yesterday. 

I was a little skeptical that our efforts and "waiting game" like job would come off as lazy. But to my relief and great delight the cast gave myself and sister in-law a lovely card at the end of tonight's show. It was full of the sweetest sentiments, "Thank you for hemming my pants", "Thank you for being so welcoming and high spirited", "Thanks for being so thoughtful", "You were always there when I needed you", "You SPOILED us." 

I loved working this show, but it's always nice to hear that your work is appreciated. And now I have another Thank You Card to add to my collection from clients, patrons, production crews and actors. 

Great day overall. We even got invited to eat with the cast (I'm not sure if that's technically stepping over any boundaries, but it was very flattering and the food was delicious!). And now to sleep. 

-Brandolyn

(DA) Waiting around...

I spent the whole day at work (8AM-11PM) and most of today I spent feeling utterly useless.

Don't get the wrong idea, I had a great day! I just didn't feel like it was necessary for me to be there. I spent the day working with friends I haven't seen in a while, and showing the workings of one of my jobs to my sister in-law. We spent a lot of the day waiting around, but when we were busy we:
-steamed a whole show's worth of costumes
-repaired minor damages
-spray painted cone hats
-made lists of costumes, quick changes and pre-sets

My sister in-law had to leave before tonight's show and in true theatre fashion, everything broke half an hour before the show.

The half hour call comes on and:

-1 hem falls out
-2 zippers break
-3 dresses rip
-a hook and eye fall out

I live for this kind of chaos! This level of excitement and pressure makes all the waiting around worth it, because I never felt more useful at work then when all these actors threw their breaking garments at me and I had to fix them.

The show went over very well and everything was fixed on time. Tomorrow will be more of the same; washing, steaming and minor repairs, then a few quick changes and whatever else is thrown at us. I may even get to do some more wig work tomorrow!

I can't wait.

-Brandolyn

(DA) The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in out Stars by John Green 

This book came as a personal recommendation from my best friend. She has a lovely collection of books I hope to one day read through.

Actually I'd heard very positive things about this book, and the author; New York Times Best Selling Author of Looking for Alaska- John Green, from a number of people and with the movie coming out in the spring I wanted to have read it before I saw the film.

I started The Fault in our Stars and was already laughing out loud on the second page. I thought there must be something wrong with me, this is a book about people affected by cancer; family, friends, survivors, fighters and those that fought the fight until they couldn't fight anymore. But as I read my favourite well written passages aloud to my husband (which ended up being most of the first chapter) I realized that this was that kind of book. It's sad, but it's also real and funny.
It's a work of fiction (I had to keep reminding myself) but it is so real, and so true that if you are sick, or have ever been sick, or known anyone who's sick, it will hit home.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 16. Although I am currently feeling very healthy, I haven't always been so lucky. I am on treatments but I know what it is like to know there is no cure for your situation. This book was like a breath of fresh air. The author doesn't hide the reader from pain, or speak about being sick as an observer. Instead he breaks the wall between observers and the sick and helps the reader to see a true glimpse into some of the struggles of those who are fighting.

It's a beautiful story told through the eyes of a beautiful character who is smart, funny and continues to learn about life, love and the world as she continues treatment of her terminal case of cancer. The book is not meant to be a comedy (or maybe it is), but the main character is funny and you can't help but laugh along with her sense of humour. The same way you can't help but cry along with her parents, or with her as she looks at her abandoned swing set.

It's a lovable story full of metaphors, told eloquently through bright shining eyes.

If you read this book, which I suggest you do, be prepared for laughs, tears and to read it quickly. I'm not suggesting you rush through it, just understand that you won't want to put it down.
I read it in 2 sittings.

I think this book can be read by young teens even though some of the language is advanced. Have a dictionary sitting nearby and learn some new words!

-Brandolyn

Have you read it already? What were your thoughts?

(DA) Chapter 2 of The Woman Returns

Check out Chapter 2: The Invitation in my FanFiction "The Woman Returns".

Sherlock has just discovered his wife is missing. Who took her? Why was she taken? And Where will he find her?

Find it HERE.

-Brandolyn

(DA) A sleepy poem

Unorganized chaos.
Language barrier.
14.5 hours, no break, no food.; except skittles. Yay skittles!
Microphones. No Microphones. YES MICROPHONES!
Upstairs, downstairs, lobby, party room, repeat.
USB keys instead of CDs... to use on a CD player...
Piano here, piano there, pianos everywhere.
No do not light the candles!
Are those real fish?
Yep.
Don't tap the mic, just talk. Talk. TALK! Yes the mic is on. Just talk.
Please just talk.
Please.
Last song. Almost.
Clean up; where does all this stuff go?!

This was my day. It was exhausting and I loved it.

-Brandolyn

(DA) A little bit of FanFiction

I've just started a new story based on the characters and universe of BBC's SHERLOCK. And today's submission of writing is actually the 1st chapter of my new story called The Woman Returns. 

This is the 4th story I've written about Sherlock Homes and his wife Brianna Turner. Of course John Watson, Molly Hooper, Mrs. Hudson and Mary Morstan are all key characters in the story too and for the first time in my FanFictions this new story features the captivating and mesmerizing Irene Adler.

Check out my stories HERE at FanFiction.net. If you are interested in my stories but haven't read them;

The Pieces of Sherlock's Heart is the first in the series, and by far my most popular story.
The Undesirable Case is the second story, and the next most popular.
Buttons and Ice cream is a short story originally written as FanFiction, and adapted and posted on my blog as a short story with different characters. The story's sweet, but it's not very popular.
The Woman Returns is the 4th story, and is currently incomplete. Chapter 1 of 7 (I think) is posted. So far, it has no reviews.

I don't know why I find FanFiction so easy to write, but I can just sit down and the chapters just spill from me. It's quite the confidence boost when I'm feeling blocked writing my novel. (I was particularly proud of all the references to 'classical Sherlock Holmes' in The Undesirable Case.) If you notice any of them while reading, let me know!


-Brandolyn

(DA) I love reading but...

I find some books frustrating.

I have only ever had one book I hated so entirely that I didn't finish it. It was called "The Snow Spider." I have no idea who wrote it, and I tried to read it a long time ago and remember nothing about it. So even when I don't like a book I endeavor to finish it. 

I started reading the Divergent series by Veronica Roth at 2:00AM on New Year's morning. It was so good I read it completely in one sitting. I loved everything about it. A creative new world, a new outlook on humanity and human nature and easy to love & hate characters. 

Insurgent is the second book in the Trilogy. It starts off slow and took me about 7 chapters to get to a point where I devoured the book. I finished it in 5 sittings. 

The last book of the Trilogy is called Allegiant. This book introduced massive plot twists, new characters and a new writing style and I did not take all that change well. The book sat on my shelf for 5 weeks. I read a chapter here, and another chapter there and was not impressed with anything I was reading. The characters and their choices frustrated me. I thought I knew the characters and then they would make choices I found very out of character in new surroundings. 

I really struggled with the new writing style. 2 books had been just from the main female character's point of view and then the third book jumped between the main female's point of view and the main male's every other chapter.

It got to s point where I was actively scowling and sneering at points in the book. I had to just keep reading because if I stopped reading I would never pick it back up again. Finally around page 450, I gave the book an ultimatum.

I told the book that for me to actually consider liking this book it had to:

• not do what it told me it was going to do (ie. the characters made bad choices and I needed it fixed)
• give me a reason why there had to be 2 points of view
• 3 major plot points (which include spoilers so I won't elaborate) had to change

to name a few. 

And to my surprise the book actually met every term of my ultimatum! The ending had some corny moments in it, but overall taught the reader some very important lessons. 

I am thrilled with the Trilogy, I have issues with the last book but I got over them by the end. Great story, really neat world and characters you want to believe in. 

Have you read it? What were your experiences with it? 

Have you ever had a book you just couldn't finish? Why? What was it about that book that bothered you so much?

-Brandolyn

(DA) The 2014 MS Walk

Having multiple sclerosis means that one morning you may not be able to walk when you wake up. Or that you may suddenly have impaired vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. The symptoms of MS are many and vary for everyone. Its estimated that approximately 55,000-75,000 men and women in Canada have the disease, and every day about three more people are diagnosed.

I was diagnosed at 16, when I went blind in my right eye. Since then therapies and medications have helped to control my symptoms, but most days are a struggle. 

JOIN MY TEAM or DONATE here: 2014 MS WALK BRANDY'S BANDITS

or just leave nice words of encouragement. Hugs are also appreciated!

-Brandolyn

(DA) Little joys

Winter was so harsh this year, that today was absolutely lovely to enjoy. It felt like spring had come. 

I took the dog to the dog park; without a hat and gloves. AND stayed warm. 

I chopped the ice at the end of the driveway without a jacket. 

And I took a chair in to the back yard and got to enjoy the sun and read a book outside with the dog ran around enjoying the weather. 

It's nice to be surprised by things that I had forgotten I enjoy so much, and take for granted. Soon spring will be here and I can bike, and run and enjoy the outdoors as much as I can!

-Brandolyn

(DA) Be a "Reacher"

Reach for the stars. Strive for greatness. Don't settle for mediocrity.

I've heard these phrases hundreds of times, so why doesn't everyone take them to heart?
I have recently made a conscious decision to be the best version of myself I can be. I'm exercising regularly, eating well, in the pursuit of my dreams and goals and living my life as fully as I can.

I have goals to learn new things, manage my activities better, cook more of my own meals, read even more books (not just fiction), complete one of my novels in the next year, become more of a financial provider for my family and run a 5K, 10K, mini triathlon and Spartan.

What else could I ask of myself?

Every day I come up with another goal or dream; raise $1000 for MS research, travel to Europe and climb a mountain, to name a few others. But I'm choosing which ones are tangible right now. I can learn new things every day; whether it's by reading a new book or learning a new skill at work. Raising money for MS research will take time, travelling to Europe will require some savings and climbing a mountain will take a lot of training (much more than the training for a run or mini triathlon).

What are the things you are doing to make sure you are a "reacher"? Are you in the pursuit of recognition for your hard work at the office?
Are you changing your routine to include more exercise? A better diet? more time with the family? Better financial decisions?

What are you striving for and how are you getting there?

-Brandolyn

(DA) Describe a fictional Character

The second challenge given to me by my brother in-law was:

Pick a fictional character and describe everything you can about that person in explicit detail. Don't look that person up, just go on memory. Close your eyes and make it real in words. 

And the character I think I know best is Harry Potter. EDIT: this post was hard to write because I couldn't figure out what was personal information and what was plot points, so some part are very brief, others are long winded and detailed. 

Harry James Potter is the only son of James and Lily Potter. Before his birth, a prophecy was made about a boy born at the end of July and a terrible man who was known as Lord Voldemort. Born on the 31st of July, and Lord Voldemort assumed he was the prophesized person who could kill him. In an attempt to save his own life, Lord Voldemort hunted down the Potters. 

Harry and his parents were placed into a safe house in the English town of Godric's Hollow where Harry had a very happy and loving first year of life, until his family was betrayed by Peter Pettigrew, an old school mate of James'. Voldemort found out where they were hiding and killed James and Lily before attempting to kill Harry too and then disappearing. 

Harry survived the attack, with little more than a lightning shaped scar on his forehead, but was orphaned. He was sent to live with his only living relatives; his mother's sister Petunia, her husband Vernon Dursley and their young son Dudley at #4 Privet Drive in Surrey. 

Oh, and I should mention, James, Lily, Harry and Voldemort are wizards.

Harry was seen as a burden on the Dursley family and was forced to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. He grew up as a small boy, thin and gangling, not ever getting enough to eat and having to wear old hand me downs from his overweight cousin Dudley. Living with the Dursleys Harry was expected to stay quiet and do the cleaning, the cooking, the washing up, and never got any nice presents or anything new. 

Harry is know for his black hair that refuses to be tamed by a comb and always looks messy and wind blown, for his bright green eyes that he's told are exactly like his mother's, his round spectacles and the lightning bolt shaped scar above his brow. 

When he is 11 Harry discovers he can talk to snakes when he accidentally sets a python loose at the zoo. Shortly after letters come to the house, inviting Harry to his first semester at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Upon learning he is a wizard and had wizard parents that were murdered, and the same man tried to murder him too, Harry learns he is known to most wizards as "the Boy Who Lived", and every wizard knows his name. He is famous.

Harry becomes fast friend with a half giant named Hagrid, who buys him a snowy owl as a birthday present. He names her Hedwig. Around the same time he discovers his parents left him a lot of money, and the wand that chose him has the same core as Lord Voldemort. DUN DUN DUN!

Harry goes off to school, is mesmerized by everything magical. He is sorted into Gryffindor, and meets his best friends Ron and Hermione in that house. Harry proceeds to spend the rest of his school career with mischief following in his footsteps. He is not an extraordinary wizard, but he has heart and determination to do what is right. He excels mostly because of his name and his good heart.

He meets a young Slytherin boy named Draco Malfoy, who becomes his least favourite person. They aren't enemies but they are the farthest thing from friends. Harry has no patience for bullies. While defending another Gryffindor from Draco, Harry learns he has a gift for flying on a broom and is recruited on to the Gryffindor Quidditch team at the age of 11, as the Seeker. Making him the youngest seeker in a century. His father was also a Seeker for the Gryffindor team in his youth.

Harry fight trolls, pixies, a giant three headed dog named Fluffy, mermaids, skrewts, a basilisk, infarie, Voldemort's snake Nagini, dragons; including a Hungarian Horntail, and a blind one in the basement of Gringotts Bank, Death Eaters and various incarnations and followers of Lord Voldemort. He has used poly juice potions to impersonate Ministry officials and classmates.

He later becomes a Triwizard champion, and faces Lord Voldemort, and is actually part of his "resurrection", watched Cedric Diggory die and becomes Triwizard champion (not for that reason, but it happens at the same time).

He fights Voldemort at least once a year during his schooling, then when his headmaster Dumbledore discovers the existence of horcruxes, Harry, Ron and Hermione leave school in pursuit of the hidden pieces of Voldemort's soul, so that they can destroy them and Harry can kill Voldemort.

Harry has a love interest in Cho Chang and later with Ginny Weasley.

During his adventures to find the Horcruxes, Harry discovers the existence of The Deathly Hallows and owns each of them at some point in his life.

His patronus is a stag, like his father.

He sacrifices himself for his friends at Hogwarts and lets Voldemort kill him. His selflessness saves his life, Voldemort kills the part of his soul that attached to Harry when he tried to kill him and gave him the lightning bolt scar. Harry survives and a fight to the death ensues. Harry wins. YAY!

Harry marries Ginny and has 2 boys, Albus Severus Potter and James Sirius Potter.

WORD VOMIT OVER!

*fewf*

-Brandolyn

(DA) Take a deep breath

Today I got to experience a rare thing: a good day.

I had enjoyed a few positive experiences in the previous days:
-watching my sister in-law's last play of her final year of her undergrad
-a positive end of session class at the Professional Actor's Lab
-A lovely night of wine, cheese and good company with two of our closest friends

So today I woke up without an alarm (a joy in itself), went to work and met some lovely ladies tending booths for International Women's Day, watch some young kids dance their hearts out during a presentation of Grease, and then hoped in a car to drive up to a family birthday celebration.

The day started with the positive memories from the days prior, and was full of smiles, laughs and good family. We are currently celebrating 7 birthdays, and there were 7 cakes, dozens of cup cakes, 2 pies and jello. I dare you not to enjoy yourself when you are surrounded by that much desert and family you don't get to see as much as you'd like.

Today's post is titled "Take a deep breath" because I often have to remind myself to appreciate these moments as they happen. They are so precious, and it doesn't take long to appreciate them. By reminding myself to take a deep breath, I force myself to take a quick moment, breath it in, then as I let the air out I rejoin the world fulfilled in the joys around me.

-Brandolyn

(DA) There are stories everywhere

As a creative spirit I can make up a story to go with just about anything. While sitting on the bus I like to use a combination of observation and creativity to make up stories about the lives of my fellow commuters. When I'm walking the dog I see fantastical events play out in the forests around me with sprites and unicorns and dragons. But one story that has stuck with me was the discovery a friend of mine made.

My friend was weeding a plant bed near a local park and was surprised to find a pair of boxers. Naturally the boxers went in the trash and they kept working until they found a contraceptive wrapper.

Apparently this plant bed had had a few visitors. I grimaced and "ewww-ed" during the story when it was appropriate, but the next part made me laugh out loud.

The third item of trash that was found in this public flower bed was an ultrasound picture of a fetus.

I couldn't believe what an amazing look into the lives of two people this little flower bed was!  We have no idea if any of these items are related to each other in real life, but why couldn't they be? For me the story of the trash in the flower bed is the story of a couple, giving in to passion in the park and creating a life.

Amazing.

-Brandolyn

(DA) A little overwhelmed...

I may or may not have had a bit of a break down/ epiphany tonight (definitely may have), and realized that I have a lot going on.

Here's a glimpse into the things I'm doing at the moment:

-participating in Duelling Amateurs, the daily writing challenge
-Running W.A.C "Weekly Art Club" a group on Facebook
-writing for Alternate Screen, the TV and movie review sight
-writing a full length novel, this first book in my first trilogy
-reading "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
-acting classes
-working 2 part time jobs
-daily drawing
-squash
-training my dog
-going to the gym every day and training for a 5K, a 10K, a mini Triathlon and the Spartan.

and of course all the shovelling, cleaning, laundry, cooking etc that comes with being a grown up.

All of this I'm doing while also having to be very aware of how much I sleep, how good my diet is and that I get all my vitamins and medication to treat my MS.

I learned a long time ago that just because I have a disease, doesn't mean I can't keep living my life like I want to. Look at the list of things I am juggling at the moment! I can still do it, I just have to be very aware of myself and how my body is feeling, and make sure I treat my body well so that it can keep up with me.

Finding out that I have MS didn't ruin my life, it just made it a little more complicated.

And I can handle complicated.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Fantasy Landscape Challenge

After one of my latest posts my brother in-law came to me and suggested a few challenges to help me get out of my creative funk.

The first is what I'll be working on today. "Find a picture of a landscape and try to tell a story about what seems obvious but also what you can't see in the picture, like events or memories that happened in this landscape."

And of course, in my creative funk, I couldn't pick a landscape. So I had my brother in-law pick one for me. I have never seen this before and have no idea where it's from or where it actually is.

To passersby this is a little house on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland. The house is orderly, and well kept, and there isn't much of a lawn that needs to be mowed, but the view from their "backyard" is what makes people stop. The house is situated on a plot of land that has been nick-named "Picture Ridge" where locals and tourists stop to admire the view of the cliffs and the Ocean.

The little house on the cliff sneaks into many of the picturesque landscapes taken from "Picture Ridge" and is commonly called the "Ridge House".

As lovely as the house and scenery is, the location is not what makes this place beautiful.

"Ridge House" is known as Home to the Murphy family. Margaret and William Murphy bought this house as a starter home shortly after they married in 1949. William Murphy, 20 at the time, was a fisherman. If you ask him now, he'd tell you he's always been a fisherman and will be a fisherman till the day he dies, but now he does it recreationally. His wife, Margaret, was 18 and a seamstress. If you asked her now if she was still a seamstress she'd shake her head and smile politely.
"No." She'd say. "I'm just a mother, and grandmother, who happens to be able to repair my kids' favourite clothes."

Margaret and William had intended this house to be a starter house and never expected to raise four boys; Robert, Charles, Arthur and Peter, in their little house but  the cost of four young boys stretched their pockets thin. The house was small and loud with 6 bodies bumbling around in 3 bedrooms, and fighting to share 1 bath.

As they grew up they watched their boys race down the stairs on towels pretending they were on magic carpets, or watched them scamper across the ridge in the fall when the grass was yellow and crunching under foot.

When they first got the house William had screwed a paddle from his first boat on the wall in the kitchen. No one knows why. Margaret never asked, and William never said. It hangs on the wall vertically and Margaret used it to measure the height of her boys every Christmas. She would line them up; which was a task, with the promise of cocoa and a gingerbread man if they stayed still long enough for her to strike a line with her pen at the crown of their head on the shaft of the paddle. Peter always spent the day before Christmas walking on the tip of his toes trying to stretch his legs and make them longer so that he might get taller than his brothers.

During the winter when it was really cold, the Murphy's would gather in their parent's room and listen to Margaret as she read their favourite books aloud. Robert had an old copy of  The Lord of the Rings that he favoured, while Charles and Arthur preferred the Redwall stories, and Peter liked Peter Pan. Although they all liked different stories, and they had heard them before, the only time that the Murphy house was ever calm was when Margaret was reading to her boys. They would pull the mattresses in from the other rooms and gather in a makeshift pillow fort, while Margaret would snuggle into their father's lap; who'd fall asleep before the first chapter was finished, but his hands would stay snaked around her waist holding her close. The boys would set up their pillows and blankets and watch Margaret with rapt attention. Margaret would make voices and accents for each character, and run around the room imitating battle scenes, or flying around the room as if she were covered in pixie dust. When Margaret was reading the boys were watching. It was the only time the boys ever really watched their parents.

Eventually Margaret and William started watching their boys lives from the windows of their little house. The four walls were too small and they boys couldn't stand to be in them very long.

Margaret and William continued to watch as their boys learned to skate on the frozen water beyond the ridge and started to join the neighbours in friendly hockey games. They watched as they started to blush when they were asked about some of the neighbourhood girls.

As the boys grew up they became less mesmerized by Margaret. They found her stories childish, and annoying. In the winter when it was cold they would seek refuge from the cold in the solitude of various rooms of the house and busy themselves with work or school. The family would fight, and brothers would form alliances to trade rooms and avoid one another. They fought with each other, they fought with their parents, they fought with themselves. Margaret and William watched helplessly as their kids drew lines on the floor and dared each other to cross it.

One day while William was at work Arthur and Robert got into a horrible fight. Peter barricaded himself in his room, and Margaret and Charles tried to ease the tension, but the brothers were so loud they couldn't hear them. After the fight with Robert, that ended in a broken nose and a sprained wrist, Arthur moved out. Robert went off to University in Toronto that fall.

And then the boys grew up.

They went off to school across the country, found partners and jobs, and only called their parents for their birthdays, but were often too preoccupied with their own lives to get the dates right; they were usually only off by 1 or 2 days,  and Margaret always said she didn't mind, but they always visited for Christmas.

The "Ridge House" got very big and very quiet when they boys went away. The ocean stayed blue, and the rocks of the ridge never changed, but when the grass turned from bright green, to yellow and brown, then slept under a blanket of snow, the beauty on the ridge would change. When they boys would come home for a visit at Christmas, they would bring their wives, partners and children to the little house, and it would turn back into their home.

William and Margaret, now aged and lined would line up their family with the promise of cocoa and gingerbread to take a family photo, and when tempers got too high, Margaret would reach for the nearest book, sit in her husbands' arms and read for her family.

The family they had started with had seemed so big, 6 people in 3 bedrooms, but now there were wives and grandchildren; 13 people squeezed into that little house, and even in this small house the spaces between  the brothers was too much. Things that had been said in anger or frustration kept them apart, and even the size of the house could not get them close enough again. But when Margaret pulled Peter Pan off the shelf and started to read, the eyes of her children watched her mesmerized once more.

They watched her not just for her tales, but admired her for her patience, her generosity, and watched as their father's arms squeezed her gently as he slept- loving her through his dreams. They looked around the room at siblings they had fought with and nodded silent apologies. They let go of their grudges and resentments surrounded by the bigger family they had created, and that Margaret had brought together.

“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” 

-Brandolyn

Wow, I just lost myself in that. I started this 2 hours ago! It's long, but I hope you like it.

(DA) The Lego Movie Review

EDIT: Apparently last night's entry just got saved as a draft, but I did post yesterday, check the date stamp on the website if you need to.

***

Today's writing is a short blurb about the Lego Movie.

Please find it on ALTERNATESCREEN.com if you are interested.

-Brandolyn

(DA) With the best of intentions

I joined Duelling Amateurs with the idea that by writing every day, my writing would eventually improve. But I'm noticing that although I post something every day I've had a very sudden drop in my creative writing. 

I enjoy how much I have been able to post on ALTERNATE SCREEN, and some blog posts that differ from my regular "Here's what's cooking today" posts, but I have barely written more than a few pages in my novel. 

Duelling Amateurs was supposed to help me write everyday, and build up my confidence to post and share my work but instead I've been focusing so heavily on coming up with topics for my daily writing that I haven`t made time for creative writing. 

I thought Duelling Amateurs would help me power through writing my novel, but so far it's the opposite. Now that I'm aware of it, I'll make a conscious effort to change it. 

I can still write every day, but I'll also be posting updates about my creative works. 

-Brandolyn

Do what you Love, and Love what you do

A T-Rex and Stegosaurus sat on either end of the center piece of the head table; my surprise Firefly reference for my husband.

I wish this post was about finding a job you love and pursuing it, but I'm afraid I'm not there yet.

Instead this is about finding out what excites you, surrounding yourself with it and loving it while it excites you. When  I was young I discovered I had a passion for Fiction and loved to read. I surrounded myself with mountains of books on my book shelves, dressers and side tables. I always felt at home surrounded by a lot of books.

In high school when I started to ask myself "Who am I?" I started to discover how much of a nerd I am. I like to think that it started from my love of books with the Harry Potter series, but that's probably not true. I was a nerd before Harry Potter.

I love board games, I love TV and Movies, comic books, graphic novels, etc... but my nerdyness really flourished in University when I accepted it whole heartedly. There are bigger nerds out there, but I am proud of my passions. As such it felt natural to combine what I consider "nerd stuff" into my wedding.


Yesterday a friend said that they were thinking about a wedding without any nerdy references because they might regret it in 20 years. That's a good point. People change, tastes change, passions change, however, I never even considered if I would regret my nerdy wedding choices in 20 years because for me and my husband it was all about right now. Who are we right now? What excites us right now? And for us, the answers were easy.

In 20 years I should write another post about whether or not I regret some of my choices, but at the moment I am thrilled with what we decided to do.

from our engagement shoot. Live Long and Prosper- Star Trek

If you weren't there here are some nerdy highlights:

"Something old" our bouquets out of our favourite novels.

My bouquet and the boutonnieres were made from "The Hobbit"

I had a T.A.R.D.I.S earring dangling from my bouquet. It was a gift my Uncle brought for me from GenCon so I would have "something blue"

Red "10th Doctor" Hightop Converse. Believe me, they were comfy to dance in!

And,

Because "Bow ties are cool!"

And don't forget,

Because our wedding needed to have swords.

AND EVERY WEDDING NEEDS 

To happen in Jurassic Park.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Annual Melee of Kindness

As you can guess by the title of this post March 1st is the Annual Melee of Kindness. It's a day designated to going out of your way to do some nice things for family, friends and/ or strangers. It is endearingly called AMOK, so my best friend and I spent the early part of the day running AMOK, going around town doing nice things for other people. 

If you follow some of my interests and personal activities you will know that I participated in the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen, aka GISHWHES in 2013. Both GISHWHES and AMOK are associated with the charity Random Acts which encourages Random Acts of Kindness and I was thrilled to participate in both.

Today for AMOK I was driving around with my my best friend picking up the perfect ingredients for our surprises and delivering them to her family and friends. I bought a few treats for my hubby, donated 2 boxes of clothing and books to a nearby Good Will, bought some surprise gifts for friends I was seeing later and bought a coffee for the person in line behind me at Tim Hortons. 

I did a few little things today and had a bunch of ideas that I didn't get to, but instead of thinking "oh well, next year," they are things I can do any time and I plan to do more often. I think that's the idea; to get people thinking of the little things they can do and watch how much that little act brightens other people's day. 

We don't have to wait for a specific date once a year to do something nice for another person. It should be on our to do list 365 days a year. 

-Brandolyn

For a little information about GISHWHES my best friend and creator and editor of Alternate Screen's account of our experience HERE!