Natural vs. Unnatural Creativity

The other day I heard two people talking. They were discussing how Dr. Seuss must have been on something in order to come up with his stories. I have heard the same thing regarding Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I remember being told in elementary that ALICE IN WONDERLAND was a jab at the political goings on of the time (now I would know to call it a political satire). And yet, it is book meant to entertain children. I find it interesting that we as a people when we can’t explain how someone came up with an idea have decided that a substance must be involved. I can tell you I have read things by people who have been using at the time, (RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER anyone?) and there is a significant difference between the writing. I don’t know why people would rather believe someone to be high and creative than sober and creative and I don’t know why a lot of children’s authors are accused of this. I have seen a book completely complied by people who were using and it is not Dr. Seuss or ALICE IN WONDERLAND. I wish I could say that every story about an artist using drugs was bogus, but it is nice to think that there are a lot of people out there who are plenty creative by more natural means.

Electronics are Evil (Some of the Time)

I hate computers. I can use them moderately well, but they drive me bonkers. I am battling with our netbook. It wasn't booting up, but now it doesn't want to remember that it use to have Windows on it. I've been trying to re-register our Windows, and the sticker is gone. I mean the Netbook is only four years old, who would have guessed that the sticker on the bottom of the computer would eventually wear off. I guess this just means that I need to do a better job of keeping track of all of the password keys and junk.

Over Christmas vacation I obtained a Nook. Now before all of you judge me, though I am probably to late, let me explain. My coworker sold it to me at half price. I knew that I would want one eventually for when I travel. This last week I had an appointment and instead of cramming my thousand page WHEEL OF TIME paperback into my purse, I just took the Nook. It was really useful. I also have manuals for Church. Yet I have yet to read anything on it when I am home. And it isn't because I haven't been reading. I have read a quarter of the WoT book and finished Jessica Day George's PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS.

On this note, the last WoT book came out on the 8th. Let me rephrase, the hard back version came out. The e-book is coming out in April. Moose and I went to B&N website on Sunday and were surprised to see 46 one-star reviews and 48 five-star reviews. The majority of the one-star reviews were because the e-book wasn't out yet. I hope that someday the e-book is included in the hard back. I would even be willing to pay a little more for that, since I have an e-reader now. Who would have guessed I would have gotten one so soon.

How Dare You

There is no review this week. I was told Thursday evening that girls between the ages of 10 and 16 do not read books over 200 pages. I was told that I write short, inconsequential books for girls between the ages of 10 and 16. My first thought "How dare you!" Granted, my emotions tend to make my memory foggy. It wasn’t meant in that tone, but this isn’t the first time that this fellow has made a comment to that effect. He explains that his audience isn’t the typical reader. His audience prefers deep books. Every time I bite my tongue. Yes. I write science fiction. I don’t claim that it is literary, but I don’t appreciate it being brushed off completely. Besides, I purposefully try to write for an older audience. I am writing for people who don't want to read about child heroes who can't rely on any of the adult characters. If teenagers enjoy my books, I won't complain. But I am not writing with them in mind.

There is an underlying thought that if something isn’t based in real life, that it is considered more fluffy. I have mentioned in another post that the genre doesn’t matter. Books are a hot topic. Think TWILIGHT. I don’t know how many times I hear people bashing that book. But it doesn’t matter. Yes there might be better things for people to read, but if they are reading, if they are finding enjoyment out of it, then that is a success. There is nothing wrong with adults reading YA books. And for the record, I was reading 800 page books when I was in Jr. High. Saying 10 to 16 year old girls don’t read books over 200 pages is insulting. I may have to bring my sister to meet the fellow. She would put him in his place. (And there is nothing wrong with books under 200 pages either.) Judging someone on what they read is the same as judging someone on their socks. Noticeable at times, but in the long run, often hidden by trousers and only the person that wears them can truly decide if they are clean. We can always make comments, but truthfully it is none of our business if they are striped or ankle height.

I Can Still See You

Tuesday, the 18th, I attended a class on Excel. I used Excel a lot at work and my training has been limited to Google. While using the Google method I’ve been able to accomplish fancy projects, but I don’t know some of the basics. I am using calculus to solve x + 3 = 7. It works, but isn’t very efficient.

Rant begin . . . I have been to classes like this before. Do the exercises on the computer while the instructor talks. It was fun to see if I could guess how the instructor was going to do the exercises. In these classes there is always a variety of people. I was sad to see the lack of respect that some of the students had towards the instruction. I am tired of cellphones. Do people honestly think they are being sneaky when they look at their phones under the table? I don’t even think it is appropriate to leave the cellphone on the table.

The person next to me left her phone on the table. For the first half of the class it was face down. She didn’t even bother with that for the second half. She complained to me at the second break that she didn’t know what to do because she had read all of her email. She ended up leaving early and I was kind of glad. She was just annoying.

I can relate to feeling bored. I really didn’t need to be there for the portion on inserting images. But, there is a certain amount of respect we need to give the instructor and the other students. When the instructor is helping someone one-on-one I don’t see the problem with people checking their phones or brainstorming blog post ideas. We can all do better at showing more respect when in public. And if I see another cellphone during a movie I may smash it. . . Rant end.

I am glad I went to the class. I learned several tricks that I will probably use on a weekly basis if not more often.

Stationery is left Behind

This last week I received a letter from one of my cousins. I have always enjoyed writing letters and when we were in NYC last year I found some really cute stationery. This cousin was able to find some Alice in Wonderland stationery. It only fueled my desire to find more stationery since I am almost out. I never thought it would be difficult to find stationery but even when I look online I have a hard time finding nice stationery that isn't just computer paper.

I work in a technical field. All of my jobs since college have revolved around computers and I have become pretty good. At my new job I've become known as the Microsoft person. I have people from other departments calling me asking how to do different things. Most people don't believe me when I say that I don't like working with computers. I've heard that some schools are no longer teaching cursive because it has become out dated. You can probably all imagine how I feel on this, remember my spiel on e-readers. I don't care if people rather write emails, just don't take away my stationery because I will always prefer sending and receiving snail mail.

And if any of you know where to find cute stationery that isn't just computer paper let me know.

Appropriate Compliments

Happy Birthday, Fredrick. For those of you who do not know what I am talking about I recommend you watch THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was really difficult to come up with something to talk about today. I mean I keep thinking that since I've been doing this for two and a half years it would get easier. Not true. I still feel like my life is boring.

I play the piano and there have been several times when I've played for my church. While I have plenty of time to practice when it comes to the piano solos, there were times that the songs were sprung on me when I sat down to play prelude. I always did the best I could but when needed I only played the melody. Though I don't like struggling through the pieces I came to accept the fact that I was not a master at sight reading. What bothered me is after I screwed up the song people would approach me and say "You did a wonderful job." I often laughed and replied "Not really, but thank you."

Is is so wrong to ask people not to praise a job poorly done but rather the effort. I wouldn't mind it if they came up and said, "Thank you for playing." That is a true statement I can agree with but when people tell me that I play amazingly I get irked. I am not offended if they don't say I did a great job. I understand. I am an adult. I can handle a compliment that is just thanking me for putting forth the effort, especially since I am not disillusion in my ability. This last Sunday I made the comment that I am not a great piano player like someone else. But, I know she puts forth more time practicing. After the meeting she came up and showered me with compliments. Why couldn't she just accept my compliment? I know she is trying to be nice but it gets a little tiresome.

Obsessed Fans

I have felt strongly about this for some time, formulating what I will say regarding the topic of obsessed fans. Twilight has received a lot of flack about how obsessed the fans are. And I will say it is kind of scary how attached people are to the fictional characters. But the truth of the matter is obsessed fans come in every genre. (I even have a friend who I would call obsessed about hating obsessed fans. Every chance he gets he brings up how awful Twilight is and questioning why anyone would be willing to spend money on it and how they can't live without it. I find it ironic.)

Twilight isn't the only thing to have fans that are extreme. I am not a fan of watching sports so I really don't understand the riots that happen on occasion and I am not willing to shell out the money for season tickets. I enjoy the Star Wars movies, but I am not going to purchase a Stormtrooper uniform. I don't have any interest in nice car stereos. I am not one who scrapbooks. I don't see a lot of movies in theaters or buy movies. I am not into the latest fashions. I'm not even willing to pay for cable. I do enjoy anime and sewing, so once a year I try and make a costume. Some people would find that odd, but it is how I enjoy spending time with my husband. There are obsessed fans wherever you go and whatever you do. I am just glad that Twilight has spurred more people to start reading. I think anything that gets more people to read is a positive.

Women in the Movies

I am all for women's rights. I think it is important that women be able to vote and be treated as equals in the workplace. By golly, I like getting a paycheck determined by my ability to work and not my gender but I find some of the feminist movements a little bothersome and how Hollywood feels like they need to put a certain number of women in the movies. For example: I love the Lord of the Rings, I think they did a good job with the movies but I was bothered that they felt like they had to give the women more heroic tasks, not necessarily the ones they had in the books. I liked better how the women were portrayed in the book.

I am sure all of you have heard of a little show called Star Wars. Now what I want all of you to do is think of all of the female characters you can in the original trilogy. This isn't including the games and what not. Here are the female characters by name:
Leia
Aunt Beru
Mon Mothma (Rebel Political Leader)
Oola (Dancer in Jabba's palace)

And yet I have never heard anyone complain about Star Wars not having enough female characters. Leia can hold her own against the guys and still look good in a dress.

Professionalism

As I mentioned in a previous week I have been watching a lot of cooking shows, most of which are the competition shows. (These are the only reality shows that I have ever spent any time watching.) What I have noticed is the difference in professional attitudes depending on the type of show. There are some people who despite it being a huge competition are very civil to one another. They work well together with the others and are in it to win and don't go out of their way to stick it to the others just because they can. Then there are the others. They are the ones who will rid themselves of all human decency in the name of competition.

There is a difference between being competitive and being bloodthirsty and to me. That is what defines someone as either professional or childish. I wonder what some people are thinking when they act the way they do in front of a camera. I mean come on; these people have to know how obtuse they look. I wonder how some of these people have survived to adulthood without being murdered by someone. It is this type of behavior that makes me nervous about my dream job. I never expect to be on a reality show but I hope that when I am given the opportunity to be in a limelight I can retain a professional attitude.

Age and the Art (Tactfulness) of Estimating

This last weekend my husband and I went to a family reunion. This was for my paternal grandfather's family. There isn't an overabundance of us and I can recognize some of them on sight, though I still have a hard time with names. I just normally say "I'm so-and-so's daughter" and they reply in kind.

My husband often gets questions as to who he belongs to. I normally answer that he is my husband. One relative looked at him and said "You're married? I thought you were — (Half his age.)" This isn't the first time someone has guessed his age wrong. He was very polite about it and though he laughs, I know it does kind of bother him that he looks a lot younger than he is.

A lot of people tell him to be grateful he looks young, but they are probably thinking it isn't a bad thing for people to guess a couple of years younger. People are wrong about my husband's age by more than a decade. Image it this way, you are thirty and people still don't think you are old enough to vote. This is what it is like for my husband. This much of a difference isn't cool or flattering.

When the situation arises that people ask for me to guess their age I always politely decline. I have been doing this for years. The main reason that I don't want to guess their age is because I am horrible at it. That is the other reason why I don't guess their age. Age is a very touchy subject for a lot of people. When I guess wrong I am either, offending them because I thought they looked older than they actually are, or offending them because they look younger than they actually are. I don't think there is a way to tactfully guess someone's age. But I guess if they ask you to, they should expect a wrong answer.

Dark YA Literature

Recently the Wall Street Journal had an article about contemporary young adult literature. I read through the article and found myself torn on some of the aspects but what I really took from the article is the fact that this particular author didn't mention all of the other great pieces of young adult literature coming out. They just mentioned the ones that really push the boundaries. Just like every other aspect of media there is a light side and a dark side. While I wouldn't read or recommend some of the books mentioned in the article, I have a long list of recent young adult books (not to mention some classics) I would love to give anyone who wants something for their teen to read that doesn't have all of the darkness. As with everything else in this world, there is something for everyone. (Just don't always expect to find it on the shelf. Most book stores nowadays only carry what is trending and if you want something other than that you will have better luck looking online then in a brick and mortar store.)

Job Crossover

This week at my job, I had the opportunity of going over nearly a dozen different magazines. I have never worked for a magazine publisher but I have worked for a place that did textbook layout and design and I am prone to believe that the two fields are similar in some ways. As I was trying to judge which magazine was one of "the best" for the field, I was surprised by what I found. A well known, well respected magazine had blatant errors and it just didn't look professional to me. I started to give my review and then took a step back realizing that I may in fact need a second opinion.

At the textbook job, we had to layout the pages by spread, two pages side by side. Those two pages had to bottom align. The last line of text on both pages had to line up with each other. We had strict specifications on how much space was above and below headings, how many stacked words you could have at the beginning or end of lines, and even how many letters could appear before and after the hyphen of a wrapped word. We had sheets of information for each job we did and we referenced them on almost an hourly basis, or at least I did, some of my other coworkers had better memories. I gained an attention to detail when it comes to layout because of this job.

So, back to the magazine's blatant errors. I was really frustrated by the page numbers in the footer. I always thought it was common practice that the page number is consistently placed (either in the header or footer, I don't care, so long as it is consistent) on a page, especially if it is in a footer. I can accept the fact that ads don't get footers and I can also accept that occasionally a picture will bleed off the edge and there is no footer, but for the rest of the magazine there should be page numbers. Am I right? How else are you suppose to find the article on page 124? This magazine moved the footer, changed the style of page numbers, and would just leave it off when they seemed to feel like it. I couldn't believe it. The other magazines got it just fine. Why couldn't this one do it? I now know what raises my hackles when looking through periodicals, footers, who would have guessed I would have a "foot fetish."

Seasons

Spring is often colder and wetter than I remember it being the previous year. This year there are flood warnings, and while my house isn't in any danger of being flooded, I can see evidences all around of the concern. I have a very blasé opinion about the weather and the seasons in general. It happens. I actually love where we live because I like having four seasons. I don't do very well in hot temperatures, and I get tired of the cold. I like appreciating the seasons when they change. Even though I get tired of snow, I love the first snowfall of the year.

When I listen to people complain about the weather I get a little irked. Part of my issue is that if people would put forth the effort, they would be able to find a job in a location that has the weather they want. I know that isn't true for everyone's situation, but for some of them. I live in the North, snow is expected, yet every year someone complains about it after the first storm. I think complaining about the snow in the North is like complaining about the heat in the South. Come on, people, what did you expect?

Twitter

How fitting that nearly a year after I discussed how much I hate Twitter and Facebook, I am now a semi-regular user of Twitter. I will also add that the only reason I initially signed up for a Twitter account is because of work. I don't do as much with it for work as I should, but I really enjoy following my favorite authors as well as businesses. So, I have become a Twit and I don't hate it as much as I thought I would. We'll see how long this keeps up. If I keep hearing interesting facts about The Wheel of Time or about sales from my favorite website, I'll probably continue. Just don't expect me to say anything interesting. (As a side note, I'm still boycotting Facebook.)

Technology and Reading

I understand that many people are interested in purchasing eReaders. Here are my four reasons why I would not purchase one:

1. I prefer not to be restricted to an outlet. Though eReaders may have a long battery life, I can guarantee that my paperback book will last longer.

2. I don't want to worry about something happening to it and I never want to ever tell someone they can't borrow it because they might break it. If I drop it in the bathtub, a child scribbles on the cover, or someone accidentally knocks it off the counter, my paperback will be far less expensive to replace.

3. I don't want to worry about the books not being compatible with the next released model. I am tired of losing files due to corrupted files, I don't want to repurchase books because the next new thing isn't compatible with my current library. Unless I somehow forget to speak English, my paperback book survive the next technological advanced.

4. Last but certainly not least. How are eBooks suppose to be signed by the author. I have multiple books on my shelf that have been signed by the author. I will never forget waiting anxiously in line to get a chance to talk to one of my favorite authors and now having a personalized copy of their book.

With that all said, I'm not against owning an eReader. If someone were to give me one I'd certainly use it. They are handy for travel and when I need to travel light. However, in my mind, eReaders will never replace paperback books. It just doesn't seem practical.

Adaptations

Hallelujah. I am once again employed. The problem with starting new employment is learning the new policies and procedures, all the new names, and being introduced to everyone. Blah. How embarrassing.

I feel the need to rant. When making a movie from a preexisting story, you had better do it right. I fear going to the theater because of the selection of movies. I want something original. I don't want a retelling, I don't want improved. I want new. There are a few movies based on books or remakes that I consider as good or (occasionally) even better than the original.

The other great fear I have is “when I'm a rich and famous author” someone will want to make my book into a movie. And it will be horrible. Awful. Horrendous. I mean, how would it look if the author boycotted their own movie? I would argue it wouldn't be my movie. And don't think I wouldn't rip it apart on my own website. But the movie would remain, and I would fear it would automatically compared to my story. Ugh.

Great Old Movies

A couple of days ago, I visited my parents. They let me borrow a couple of movies. My mom had one in particular she wanted me to see.

“It's silent. Do you want it?”

I couldn't believe it. My mother asking if I was okay with a silent movie. I love silent movies. “Thief of Baghdad” with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Really makes me happy. I mean old movies are great. I grew up watching the Marx brothers, and Danny Kaye. There are days I really wish that more newer movies could compare to the older ones. Though don't get me on remakes, there are only a few that even compare with the originals, let alone surpassing them.

Bring on the invisible rabbits, painted on mustaches, metal eating birds, men climbing clock towers, magic wishing dust, flying cars, and magnetic jousting.

Tragic Love Stories (Make Me Sick)

I enjoy good romance stories. The guy and girl meet, fall in love, live happily ever after. What I don’t like are stories that forget the last step: When there’s no happily ever after. I cry at the drop of the hat, I used to tease my mother about it. Now there are times I tear up during commercials.

There is a time and a place for the emotional trauma of watching a show and not having the couple get together. Obviously there is a group out there that likes them otherwise they wouldn’t be written. I can’t figure out why some people think that the tragic love story is more powerful. Living with someone has its own challenges and trials. Seeing a couple go through something emotional together and become stronger at the end is a lot more satisfying than watching one of them DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH while the other one pines away in the memory. (I know I am being terribly stereotypical. Shot me. But then you would have another tragic love story.)

Spoiler Alert: In every Final Fantasy game/movie but one, the couple does not get together. Normally one of them dies a horrible death or gets sucked into another dimension or something irreversibly separating. There is one where the couple actually gets to stay together at the end. When it was over, my husband turned to me and asked, “Was that really Final Fantasy?”

Exponents and 3D

Every month my family gets together to eat and talk about the latest book we’re reading simultaneously. This last Saturday was our monthly gathering and it was a blast. My family is great. The more people together, the louder we get. I’m not talking about a math equation like A + A + A. I mean we get exponentially louder, A * A * A. And, I’m the worst, especially around my brothers.

So on Saturday I was really talkative. (I used to kid myself that I was shy. That’s a lie.) I talked about books, movies, more books, more movies, church, pet peeves, pet peeves with movies. A lot about movies. I am getting frustrated with all of the remakes. (That being said, I’m looking forward to Tron Legacy and I liked Avatar. What can I say, I break my own rules.) I wish there would be an original plot every once in a while. I am also tired of big explosions and special effects making up for plot. This new 3D hype has me really worried. It seems that it doesn’t matter what the plot is as long as it is in 3D people will go. (I will say I'm no expert and I don’t get out to see many movies because they are so expensive.) So if the movie does well in 3D and then tanks as DVD what does that say about the movie? I want a movie that even if it isn’t in 3D, I still like it.

That is enough of a soap box. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the person who totally forgot and was reminded on the bus ride to work. Too bad I’m not accidentally wearing any green.

Lego Dragons Aren't for Girls?

I love Legos. I played with them for hours when I was young. I was never good at building anything besides square houses but my imagination always filled in the gaps remarkably well. It always drove my mother crazy when the vacuum, or her foot, would find them lying around. We lost many a Lego warrior to the dark forest called Christmas tree. When I was in Jr. High I was given a really neat Lego set with dragons. (My family knew that if it was dragon related I liked it.) The little dragons are cool. I had a lot of fun with them.

A couple of weeks ago in my art class one of the little boys, he is seven I think, brought some Legos with him. He sat next to me and was explaining all about the set his Legos came from. I admitted that the only Legos that were mine was the dragon set. His eyes grew wide and he drilled me which set they came from and what they looked like. Apparently they are no longer made. I promised him I would get them from my parents’ house and show him when I could.

I was really excited to go to art last week. I had the two dragons with me (one is green with black wings and the other is black with transparent red wings.) When he came to class I pulled them out triumphantly.

“Oh, those aren’t the blah blah blah dragons.”

I was crushed. He went on to talk about how the dragon he was expecting me to bring was larger and could fit lots of Lego men on its back. He wandered off to start painting. Meanwhile my art teacher, who is a little older than I am, was holding the dragons.

“These are so cool. Look at this.”

He laughed and handed them back to me. We decided kids don’t appreciate cool things.

As I was cleaning up for the day the little boy came over and asked to see the dragons again. I showed him, less enthusiastically and he asked if he could have one. I lied.

“No, my nieces like to play with them.” (Both nieces are under four. They shouldn’t really be playing with them. Duplos are better.)

“Your nieces like to play with them? But they’re girls.”

I was grumpy after that. Obviously I didn’t count as a girl. *sigh*

I'm glad that my art teacher thought they were cool and when my nieces are a little older I will make sure they learn the enjoyment of Legos, especially the dragons.