eat pineapple

Every set of four or five months I've been making a new list of goals for that time. Its fun, and sometimes helps me focus on what I want done. I've done this two or three times, and I want to share some of this summer's goals with you. Not all of them, some are more interesting than others, but a good many of them. ::

*eat some sort of seafood
~stay awake for 24 hours
*go roller/ice skating
~read my summer reading list (to be posted another time)
*meet someone (relatively) famouse
~learn to play a song on the piano
*lean new ways to throw a frisbee
~have/go to a movie marathon sleepover
*finish The Three Charms (sequel to my first novel)
~visit a nursing home
*contact the house/senate 'bout something important
~improve my juggling skills
*raise money for some cause
~tie-dye something
*re-learn spanish
~learn signlanguage
*learn new words, use them, be asked to explain what it means
~draw an absolutely huge picture
*have a picnic in non-picnic weather
~have a tea party, invite people over
*eat pineapple

and of course, post about as many of these as I can when I do them :)

Interview with Gary Schmidt

**Note, At the time of this interview I was blogging under the name Marie.**

A while back Gary Schmidt came to my school and did a writing workshop that I was able to participate in. Later I bought a signed copy of Trouble, and got to chat with him for a little bit. And guess what? Mr. Schmidt was kind enough to agree to an e-mail interview! Here it is, enjoy!

Marie: What is your favorite genre to write, and why?

Gary Schmidt: I enjoy several genres, each of which has its own pleasures. Realism is enjoyable for the closeness of experience, historical fiction for the distance.

Marie: In an average week, how much time do you spend working on writing?

Gary Schmidt: Since I teach, this varies. During the school year, about eight hours a week. During the holidays and summers, about twenty.

Marie: Can you tell us anything about a current project you are working on?

Gary Schmidt: No. Never talk about a project you are working on.

Marie: How did you get into fiction writing?

Gary Schmidt: As a diversion from writing a dissertation—and, more especially—for the pleasure of telling a story.

Marie: Do you listen to music as you write? Why or why not?

Gary Schmidt: No. It’s got to be quiet and still. Maybe a dog in the room.

Marie: How do you decide if an idea you have for a story is worth keeping?

Gary Schmidt: That takes time. I write the story, and write, and write—and sometimes it will be compelling, and I’ll be eager to go on. Sometimes it will feel mundane, or dull, or uninteresting. Then I know that probably, that isn’t the project worth pursuing.

Marie: What do you do when you get a 'mind block'?

Gary Schmidt: I don’t believe in it.

Marie: Time and money aside, what would you rather be doing?

Gary Schmidt: Well, truly, I am doing exactly what I would rather be doing—teaching and writing.

Marie: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring with you, and why?

Gary Schmidt: I’ve never understood this question. It has always seemed so obvious to me: three bottles of water. You’re on a desert island. What else would you bring? A novel?

Marie: What question have I not asked that I should, and what is the answer?

Gary Schmidt: What is your favorite novel? The answer: The Little World of Don Camillo.

Traveling the World

Indirectly, though.
About a month ago I signed up on poscrossing.com and I've been sending and receiving postcards from around the world (and a few states, too). Here are the pictures I took of them:

Alabama

Arizona

Croatia

Finland

Germany

Netherlands

New Zealand

tangerine-eater.com, because of THIS

Russia

Spain

Taiwan

Watiting

Today I move back home.

Yesterday my roomie and I' broke down' our room, un-bunked the beds, rolled up the carpet, took everything off the walls... the room looks how it did when we first moved in. It feels like camp again.

Pictured is my bed, though it no longer looks like a bed. Everything I still have here that doesn't fit in the hall is piled on my bed. I won't have anywhere to put it until my mom gets here later- with the suitcases. And the car that will take me home.

My final is in a couple hours. I've spent a good amount of time this morning studying for it, but I just want to it be over and done with. I want to load all my things into the car. I want to start the drive home. Unpacking will be horrible, but I'll be home.

So right now I'm just waiting. Waiting for my mom to get here so we can load the car. Waiting for one o'clock so I can take my final (my very last final this semester). Waiting for lunch time. Waiting to go home. Waiting for suitcases. Waiting to move from Freshman to Sophomore in college. Waiting.

Bible Blurb

Psalm 66:1-4, 16

Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So Great is your power

that you enemies cringe before you.

All earth bows down to you,
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name." Selah

Come and listen, all you who fear God
let me tell you what he has done for me.

The Best Life

I wrote this today...

The Best Life

I don't want a wasted life,

Filled with nothing but strife.

Making money to get ahead,

Meaning nothing when I'm dead,

Useful, as dull knife.

I don't want to just enjoy.

A 'good life' to deploy.

Having fun, but yet worth nothing,

I want my life to be worth something,

And not to settle for a decoy.

I want to live God's will for me;

It will be anything but gloomy,

Living to my full potential.

I hope that this is mutual,

This is the best life, you see.