Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

               Maya Angelou said “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” I happen to love this quote, as it speaks volumes about how I feel about my own storytelling.  My love for storytelling began in the passenger seat of my mom’s ’86 Chevy Corsica while travelling the sixteen mile stretch down a back country road to elementary school. She would point out such things as two cars parked at an intersection or a lonely plastic bag hanging from the limb of a tree. From these inconsequential objects, we created stories of lovers meeting under the cloak of night and drug dealers smuggling their wares in the trees of Blaine County, Oklahoma.

                I know that I may never be acclaimed as an author, and I know that my work may not really ever be seen. However, this doesn't diminish the fact that I have stories inside of me constantly. .” I know this agony. It is often hard for me to fall asleep at night because once the quiet of the night sets in, a story comes forefront, playing like a movie reel inside my mind. If I don’t get up and write something down, I will not sleep. I will continue on and on with the story in my mind, and if I do happen to finally doze off in the wee hours of the night, the story comes alive again when my eyes open. Most of the time, I can’t get the idea of it out of my mind. It consumes notebooks, napkins, and post-its. It became bigger and bigger and bigger—and I love it. So yea, not getting it out there to share definitely puts agony into the process, but once it gets out there—it feels really good.

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

It makes me uncomfortable when. . .

  ...couples argue in public

...I cuss in front of my mother
even though I am an adult

    I am forced to remain in close proximity to
               someone who has intense body odor or
bad breath

...parents overly “punish”  their children in public,
 especially when they berate an already sobbing child.

 My children get into things in our room. For example, Julian brought  a “toy” into the living room and asked what it was. Of course, I quickly answered, “It is a shocker for my back. It hurts really bad, so don’t mess with it.”

 ...people stare at me

  

Bleachers

Yep, that about sums it up.

Memorizing

Day 2, Friday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you’d like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

              I have always been pretty good with memorizing.   From the time I was a child, I have been able to hear something and recall it at a moment’s notice, especially when it was something important to me.  For example:

                “No, Lydia. I never said that I would get you a Barbie sports car.”

                “Yes you did.”

                No, I didn't. I think I would remember if I promised you something so expensive.”

                “When we were at Aunt Shirley’s two Saturdays ago— and I know it was two Saturdays because the Thundercats special was on,  you were talking about Jennifer’s baby shower, and you told me “’if you help decorate and get the food ready, and if you will stay in the room and play during the party, I will get you that pink car you've been wanting.’”

                “Oh.”

                My ability to memorize did stop with remembering what people had said, but always in my school work and reading. To this day, I can pick up a romance book that I read during high school and remember what it was about, and my husband knows that he better watch what he promises. For example, he often tells me he will go to a friend’s party with me three weeks before the party.  But when the day comes, I hear, “You never told me about it.” To which I reply, hand on hip, “ I was sitting on that end of the couch, and you were right here. Hope had just gotten out of the shower and asked if she needed to babysit Julian for the party. You said ‘What party,’ and I told you “Jim and Rebecca are having a party to celebrate Jim’s graduation. It’s on the 25^th—and yes, you have to go.’ So don’t tell me I never said anything.” Ha!

                I really became aware of my ability to memorize while in college. There was a time, in my early years of college that I majored in theater. Part of being a theater major was performing, or at least auditioning, for the many plays that were performed both within the college or for community theater. Once the excitement of landing the big role passes, for most actors and actresses, panic sets in. “How am I going to remember these two hundred and fifty lines!”  I remember getting one of the main Kindertransport at SWOSU. In one week, I memorized 185 lines. (for those unaware of “lines”—this doesn't mean sentence. One line can be a monologue that last for two minutes in the middle of the scene.

  Whether memorizing terms for a test or lines for a production, it is always the best to follow steps.

Memorizing terms/ dates:

1. Prepare a full list of the words that will be on the test and include their written definition.

2. Break the list into sections of five terms, and concentrate only on these terms until they are easier and more familiar to recall.

3. Beginning with the first term, write the word and the definition five times while reading it aloud.

4. Close your eyes, breathe, and picture the term and definition in your head.

5.  Say the definition aloud, if you can remember most of the definition, (it doesn’t have to be perfect), move on to the second term and definition.

6. Repeat steps 3-4 on the second term.

7. Read the two terms and definitions aloud. Then, put the paper down, and do it again by memory. (It is okay to glance if you get stuck)

8. Repeat steps 3-7 for each of the five terms, adding one term at a time until the five are complete.

9. Take a break.

10. Come back and list them all by memory on paper. The definitions don’t have to be exact.

11. Repeat all steps for each section of five.

* I know this seems like it takes a long time, but it works. See, the more you repeat the term and definition, the less you will have to write down; longer definitions will slowly disappear and become key words. Not only does this show that you are learning the information but this also shows that you have narrowed the definition down into its most streamlined form, making it easier to remember. Therefore, by the time you are making your final (five) list of terms and definitions. You will find that the most important and easiest to recall information will be left.

Memorizing lines:  I used the same method for memorizing lines, but there is an addition to this process; the last few words of the previous lines (the other character’s lines) should be written as prompts for the repetition of lines out loud. This is important because the last few words of the other character’s lines are what helps with recall and setting pace in a production.  Read prompt line aloud—then, from memory, repeat your line aloud—back and forth for the whole section. Remember too that it is important to memorize word for word on lines. 

Day 1, Wednesday: "The Story of Your Life in 250 Words or Less" 

Me at four

     
  Being born a bastard isn't as bad as it may seem. In fact, regardless of John Snow’s situation (Yes. This is a Game of Thrones reference), having at least one parent around who gives half a rat’s ass about you can’t be all that bad. Of course I say that because I didn't have the affection of either—you know – “He who should not be named” or “She who donated her egg.”  I was only three – almost four—when my biological mom handed all of her kids over to the state. Over the next five years, I lived in foster care until I was adopted in 1984; I was eight.

Last picture with siblings the
 day before my adoption.

        I grew up on a farm; there were pigs and sheep and cows—all of it.  Life was good-even though the environment was overprotective and strongly regulated by religion. Eleven miles from any of the nearest towns, there wasn't much to do but chores. So, I started writing.

My best friend Angela at
 our Junior Prom

      The most exciting time offered in small town U.S.A was watching the high school football team play, getting boozed up and having sex—the latter, of course, completely violated my Southern Baptist upbringing. Always aiming to prove that my adoptive parents made the right decision in taking me in, I didn't partake of either; therefore, I was definitely never part of any "in crowd." But that was okay-- I had a couple of really awesome (yes, I said awesome) friends. 

 

The hot bartender who married me.

       It wasn't until I went to  Oklahoma Baptist University that my eyes were opened to the world. It was time to prove to my Senior classmates that their prophetic view of me becoming a nun was just not going to happen. I learned from my upperclassmen friends to smoke, and curse and drink.   I traveled, worked in two national parks, was engaged twice, and had my heart broken A LOT.  That was until I met a hot bartender who lavished praise on my eyes. 


       I was headed to the hospital in 1999 because I had a sickness I couldn't overcome—I wouldn't either – until many months later when bartender man and I welcomed our daughter into the world. (No worries.  I was properly married before giving birth. Yay!)  

 My daughter, Hope
 One of the loves of my life 

The other love of my life, Julian
 (AKA "Bug" or "Mr. Bug)"

After six years of trying to have another child, we gave up. Then Bang!   Thirty-eight weeks later my son was born.Four months later, I began working at Oklahoma City Community College in a job that I love, especially because of the people I work with. I finished my Bachelor’s degree and am now almost halfway through my Master’s in English and Creative Writing. Life is hard, right? But as Confucious said "All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get. " So, here's to  the difficult!

       

One Month Writing Challenge-- brought to me by Brandon Uncensored

Day 1, Friday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph… no one will be counting your words… probably)

Day 2, Friday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you’d like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don’t have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member

Day 6, Monday: If you couldn’t answer with your job, how would you answer the question, ‘what do you do’?

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you’re most afraid of

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 

Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…)

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.

Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.

Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives

Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)

Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you

Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits

Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)

Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.

Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers

Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures

Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post

Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go

Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory