Tag Archives: reading

Good News and Bad News

We’re gonna start with the bad news first, since I always like to end on a happy note.

Yesterday I found out that I am not a finalist.  I cried some, considered giving up writing, was depressed.  All the usual, expected reactions.  I knew there was very little chance that I would make it that far, but I found it was impossible to keep myself from getting my hopes up.  It is important to remember that I did make it to the semifinals, which exceeded my expectations, and I am still really proud of myself for that.  That was a big accomplishment.  And no, I’m not going to give up writing.  I’ve been sending out query letters as well as applications for internships and jobs.  I will not get any of these internships or jobs, because everybody and their mother needs a job right now.  But that’s not going to stop me from trying.

On to the good news.

 

Yes, I was able to install my Tablet software back onto my computer!  I can draw pictures again!  It took me a while to get used to things, and of course it wasn’t as easy as install, open photoshop, draw.  Oh no.  It went more like this:

So after installing it…I had to uninstall it.  And then I installed it again.  The above pictures are evidence that I was eventually able to make it work, and I’m even working on drawing all my phone booth pictures again.  So I’m really excited about that.

As for the award, I want to thank all of my readers, friends, and family for supporting me and encouraging me.  I don’t regret entering the contest at all, and I’m lucky to have had such avid supporters.

That’s all for now!  Look forward to more cartoons!

Word of the Day: Avid (adj) – Showing great enthusiasm for or interest in.

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When I Grow up, I Want to be John Green

So a while back I posted a link to a video that was recommended to me by my friend, Alan.  (Alan, I know you’re reading this because I tagged you in the post on Facebook, and I’m probably going to tell you about it later.  Well I haven’t tagged you yet since the post doesn’t exist yet, but I will.)

And no I’m not going to link you to the video again.  I’m going to link you to the blog post (click here) because hey, this is my blog, and I happen to think you should read it.  So lately, I was bored.  I was supposed to be writing a ten-page essay, but I’m graduating in less than a month, and it’s a beautiful Friday afternoon here in New York, and I just wasn’t having it.  So I decided to go to YouTube and find the beginning of John Green’s video blogging (I refuse to say “vlogging.”  It just sounds weird) and watch all the videos he exchanged with his brother.  See what John and his brother, Hank, did in 2007 was they started using (Fine!  I’ll say it!) a vlog as a way of communicating with each other.  Hank challenged John to go a full year without any text-based communication, so that was the start of the blog, and their videos are really funny.

So I was watching them and laughing and not doing my essay, and I came to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=Ck-dW8YGyes.  And that’s when I decided I wanted to be John Green when I grow up.  (Incidentally, I have also written a blog post that contains a short story that touches on this phrase – “When I grow up…”)  Because John Green is funny, and he’s a published author, and he’s won awards, and he’s written books in the Young Adult genre, and he seems like a genuinely nice guy.  And I want to be/do all those things!  (As long as you replace “guy” with “girl,” “woman,” or “lady.”  Your choice)  And I found, also, that I was really happy for him even though I don’t know him.  And also I’m currently reading one of his books, and it’s really good.  (I should probably add it to the Books I Recommend page. I’ll do that later.)  It’s important to aspire to be someone who’s good at what they do, I think.  And that is why I owe Alan a sandwich or something for introducing me to these brothers and their crazy vlog (ew).  I hope I get to realize my dream and be John Green one day.  Even if that does mean I’ll have to vlog.  At least once.  Just to say I did it.  Because I do like to talk, and I love how when you listen to a recording of yourself, your voice always sounds so foreign!  I know you never hear yourself right, but it’s still really awesome.  I guess I’ll think about it.

That’s all!

Word of the Day: Aspire (v) – to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous,especially for something great or of high value.

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You Look Pretty Today

I’ve decided I want to start a trend, and I can’t think of a better way to spread it than this.

You know how you get all dressed up one day because you have an event later, or you just felt like looking nice, or your mom made you?  Have you ever had someone say, “You look nice/pretty/handsome/splendid/attractive today?”  (If anyone said the last two to you, then they are probably creepers.  You should stay away from them)

I don’t know if it annoys you when that happens, but it does bother me.  Being an English major, I tend to analyze language almost religiously.  So here’s what “You look pretty today” means once it’s been analyzed: “Today you look good.  You never look good any other day.”  Now, 9 times out of 10 (I’d like to say 10 times out of 10, but you can never be sure), people aren’t trying to insult you when they say that.  What they’re trying to say is that they’ve noticed you’re looking extra special and they want to compliment you on your temporarily heightened good looks.

So here’s the trend I want to start: When someone looks especially pretty/handsome, tell them, “You look extra pretty/handsome today.”  That way your compliment will be 100% genuine, with no accidentally implied insult.  What you’re saying is, “Usually you look good, but today your good looks have been emphasized, and I’ve taken notice.”  Please start doing this.  I think it’d be awesome if I could change the world.

Note: If you totally meant to insult that person because they stole your girlfriend and then glued a picture of their butt onto your computer screen, but you can’t insult them outright because they’re the boss’ kid and they can get you fired, so you have to stick to backhanded insults that sound like compliments, then go ahead and disregard this post.  Or just use the “extra pretty” line with people you genuinely like.

Word of the Day: Implication (n) – something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood.

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Filed under Humor, Language