Fifteen Minutes of Scrawl

Now that it's after Thanksgiving, tis the season!  Go to Christkindlmarket  Send cards Buy wintry stamps Listen to Christmas carols Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas Take in some Hallmark-style Christmas movies Eat festive cookies Play my recordings of me reading A Christmas Carol Decorate my apartment Get at least some kind of tree (probably a tiny one as I'll be out of town for Christmas) Wear my alpaca Christmas sweater Put on my new A Christmas Carol shirt At least consider purchasing the Funko for the Ghost of Christmas Present Don my holly earrings Take photos of Hoban in his winter coat (Prompt by me) "Christkindlmarket" by Eric Allix Rogers . Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic .

I wrote this piece for grad school at the end of 2018. Stave One: The Program Head   John, the head of my graduate writing program, had asked me to come to his office, but I was not sure the cause of his request. “Good morrow, John. What do you want with me?” I asked as I walked in and shut the door. “Much!” replied the Program Head. Suddenly, as though we were in a genre fiction piece, a large chain with lots of contraptions appeared at his feet, but John didn’t seem frightened by it, so I pretended not to notice it. “You don’t believe in your own writing,” observed the program head. “I don’t,” I replied honestly, but I was shocked that I so readily admitted it. “What evidence would you have of your writing abilities and practices beyond that of your acceptance into this program?” “I don’t know,” I replied. I had often wondered this myself. “Why do you doubt yourself?” “Because,” I said, “many little things affect me, my confidence, and my writing. A slight comment from a friend about...

What are you thankful for? These are in no particular order. My family My friends My dog My book reviewing side gigs My apartment My plants My Duolingo practice My increased budgeting skills (still working on them though) My therapist My apartment My alligator collection My reading practice My Buy Nothing Facebook group My holiday traditions My blog readers (both for this one and my book reviewing blog ) (Prompt by me) "Happy Thanksgiving!" by DaPuglet . Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic .

Time for the second part of the tell all!  Does Ingi hear everyone weighing in? Wow sounds like Ingi super ghosted Corona Lol Ingi's friend Gummi is jumping on now Sean, you need to stop lying to your kid Corona is right, Sean and Joanne are allergic to planning An Irish castle wedding sounds great, Joanne Joanne, you're literally on TV and your dad doesn't know you're married? Corona, is butter really that gross? Men will do anything except go to therapy Sarper...I don't think you can go to a therapist you've slept with Um, Josh, you don't need to get anyone else's input on your own body Sean's facial reaction to Shekinah's tattoo idea is great Okay we could've cut this random food scene between Shekinah and Sarper Okay, I don't like James, but I wouldn't consider watching dancing women in bikinis is cheating Wow Vivian is explicit Josh and Lily should get divorced Josh is an asshole Wait the tell all is wrapping up? Sean, don't ...

Just brainstorming some (I also have a few left over from last year so I'll use those up too)! Masterpiece Holiday Nap Christmas Cards / 16 Boxed Tropical Holiday Card Set With Coordinating Gold Foil Lined Envelopes / 5 5/8" x 7 7/8" Folded Warm Wishes Winter Beach Greeting Cards With Gold Foil MATICAN Christmas Cards with Envelopes, 48-Count Christmas Cards Boxed, 6 Cute Animal Designs, 4 x 6 Inches, Blank Inside Christmas Cards Bulk, Holiday Xmas Greeting Cards… MATICAN Christmas Cards with Envelopes, 48-Count Christmas Cards Boxed, 6 Woodland Animal Designs, 4 x 6 Inches, Blank Inside Christmas Cards Bulk, Holiday Xmas Greeting Cards Illustrated Arctic Animals Holiday Card Pack / 24 Winter Greeting Cards With White Envelopes / 4 5/8" x 6 1/4" Adorable North Pole Animals Cards / 4 Christmas Note Card Designs 24 Set Happy Hanukkah Cards Chanukah Greeting Cards with Envelopes and Stickers Dog Potato Latke Jewish Menorah Hanukkah Puppy Party Gift Greeting Cards J...

Time for some relationship status discussions. JOE DOESN'T KNOW HER NAME Why do Americans never research? Shut up, Joe I'm worried for Niles and Matilda Božo is at least honest Wait did we know Brian was still legally married? I feel like no Great, Ingrid didn't know Brian has been married four times and engaged a total of seven times No, Faith, no LOREN WANTS TO MARRY FAITH'S MOM. SURE. Veah and Sunny are doomed Joe, Magda already said she wanted to wait until she went to the US I was rooting for Niles and Matilda Karaoke would be cute if Loren wasn't terrible Who let Loren teach people? Loren is pushy Yeah Božo you did say you loved her Ah so Brian did out and out lie Magda, pick better (although her expectations are kinda wild) Okay, Matilda explained she wanted a larger-than-normal knocking ceremony because she had told everyone they were getting married Oof Niles and Matilda might be done Next time Vanja maybe meets someone new? (or not) Next time Tigerlily has...

Some of these are very mundane. A nice 2-inch succulent planter (perhaps this rocking chair planter or this child and parent planter ) A set of 2-inch succulent planters so I can give succulents away More succulent soil Winter holiday cards Winter stamps 2025 planner C2E2 tickets Plant food Bigger socks Hoban's dental treats New winter coat for Hoban (if I can't find his current one) An in-between coat for me Christmas chocolates for my dad Butane (for a gift for someone) My secret giving present (still need to get my assignment though!) (Prompt by me) "Bicester Village Shopping" by Annie Mole . Attribution 2.0 Generic .

I recently purchased  The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Worldbuilding Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create and Customize Your Own Game World  by James D'Amato  and it, and going whale watching, inspired me to create a new D&D world. So here we go! I'm going to use prompts from the book to begin crafting this world, but not all posts will be from there. You can  read part 1 of my planning here ,  read part 2 of my planning here ,  read part 3 of my planning here ,  read part 4 of my planning here ,  read part 5 of my planning here ,  read part 6 of my planning here ,  read part 7 of my planning here ,  read part 8 of my planning here ,  read part 9 of my planning here ,  read part 10 of my planning here ,  read part 11 of my planning here , read part 12 of my planning here , and read part 13 of my planning here .  In this post, I will brainstorm the political structure. Perhaps a bicameral legislature for the ...

Some of these are very mundane. Bleach cleaner Bathtub cleaner Toilet bowl cleaner Paper towels New towels (that are big enough for me) New dishes New glasses More scented candles Tub for doing dishes Copco Cone 16oz Insulated Travel Mug with Handle, Double Wall, Slide-Closure Lid, BPA-Free, Microwave & Dishwasher Safe, Reusable Plastic Travel Coffee Tumbler - Portable Coffee Cup (Hunter Green) Marley Was Dead: To Begin With Funny Quote Tee Xmas T-Shirt Cactus Succulent Seed Starter Kit - Indoor Garden Grow Kits, Seeds for Planting Mini Cactus Succulent Plants, Plant Markers, Soil, Pots, Wood Box - Fathers Day Gardening Gifts JISULIFE Handheld Fan with 4500 mAh Powerbank Max 46 Hours Runtime,Pocket Fan Portable Battery Operated or USB Powered Folding Personal Fan,3 Speeds,Gifts for Women Men Kids Gift for Festival-Green Nutri Bites Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog & Cat Treats | Healthy Pet Training Treats or Food Topper | All Natural, Single Ingredient, High Protein | Premium Bulk ...

I wrote this piece for AP Lang and Comp in fall of 2009. The color, the style, the shine—or lack thereof—and the length can help anyone pick another out of the crowd.  It is the most easily manipulated part of our bodies thus the way it looks can reveal so much about our present and past selves.  Hair grows as we do.  Dead cell after dead cell piles up, and locks of hair sprout out of our heads.  To some, it might seem odd that there is such an emphasis on the appearance erstwhile cells but our hair is more than just passive, limp strands.  It is a vibrant display of the mind.   Hair flows from our head constantly, although slowly, no matter what is going on.  Keeping my hair long allows all of my thoughts and feelings to remain with me although they do become harder to reach and more damaged as they move away from my brain.  Having flowing locks of hair allows me to be reminded of past thoughts, hopes, and fears.  Those slightly pink ti...

Honestly, just using this to make a chore list.  Take out trash Wash dishes Do laundry Sweep Clean floors Dust Sort things to give away Take photos of things to give away Post things to give away on Buy Nothing Make a list of things to buy for the apartment Look through my books and see which are mis-shelved Get rid of cords I don't need Tidy my windowsills Find art to fill some gaps Select new photos for my photo walls (Prompt by me) "A messy room" by Amanda .  Attribution 2.0 Generic .

Time for the first part of the tell all!  So Meitalia is in the US Wait did I forget Joanne was a psychic? So Sean is in the US too Oop Corona is holding back Uhhh Sarper and Shekinah are just eating butter??? Wait Statler and Dempsey are not joining the tell all??? Sow will Shekinah and Sarper be on a season of the regular 90 Day ? Josh can't keep his story straight So glad Corona is back in school Gah Sarper is saying scary stuff JAMES! GROSS! So I do agree that privacy is important, but Sarper sucks Wait friends send each other porn? That's a thing? PEOPLE CAN HAVE FRIENDS Okay Shekinah is not perfect, but Sarper is also toxic Is Shekinah wearing color contacts again? Oof Josh sounds like a bad dude What are the ups, Josh? I don't like this blaming of Lily Angel is so honest Shekinah is rude Meitalia and James should break up Well someone was bound to make a COVID joke about Corona's name Ingi walking off is such a tell all classic (despite Shaun saying it's neve...

I know it's shopping season, but that also means I need to get rid of some things. Succulent propagations Other plant propagations Pair of chub rub shorts Books Tote bags Plates Glasses Maybe some stuffed animals Maybe a doll Pillows Towels More clothes Probably some unopened toiletries  Probably some jewelry Probably some wall art (Prompt by me)

Time for some fateful meetings. Great, I did not need to know these details, Sunny and Veah I guess we're gonna meet Rory So Joe just overslept? SIGH YOU DIDN'T EVEN START PACKING YET, JOE??? Yes, Joe, bring the kimono Shouldn't Ingrid's kids get in the back? So Ingrid's parents want Ingrid back with her ex I'm so glad that Ingrid asked for her own room Vanja...it might be time to cut your losses and just have a fun vacation sans Božo How are we not done with Rayne and Chidi yet? Rayne is wild Ugh, Loren Loren, how do you know what's Filipino-y? Loren, don't say "regular women" as a contrast to transwomen So Joe made it...not really surprised as this show loves to psych us out Wait Magda's dog bit her ex's penis? So Magda moves quick and has earned trust issues, huh? So while I appreciate Božo being honest, I think he could be more tactful I love that they arranged Božo's friends by height Ingrid...dump this man FAITH! LOREN IS NOT ...

This is in large part to help me brainstorm. Ask at your local hospital (they often need volunteers for various things) Ask at your local retirement home (they often need volunteers for various things) Ask at your work (some places have structured opportunities already) Ask your friends how they volunteer Ask your local scout troop if they need volunteers Craft a fundraiser around a cause you believe in (this could even be a food drive at work or it could be a virtual fundraiser) Explore options from schools you went to Find community organizations and see if they need anything Google local volunteer fairs Google organizations you believe in and explore what they need Google your local parks' organizations If you have a house of worship, ask there Think about what skills you have to contribute to an organization and look for opportunities that align with those Think about what you are most passionate about and find opportunities that align with your passions Think about your schedu...

I wrote this piece for AP Lang and Comp in fall of 2009.  The child stared out the foggy car window into the night watching, waiting, knowing what came next down the drizzly road.  Then it came into view.  The child looked at the iron gates and shuddered; the child did not like graveyards. As the car drew closer the child’s little sister was already taking in a deep breath of the car air.  The child’s older brother was driving the car, he leaned his head out the window and took a deep breath and then let it leave him slowly.  He looked into the back seat and saw the little girl taking in her deep breaths, shook his head, and muttered something that sounded like childish.  The child decided then that his example of approaching the graveyard was best. The car pulled to a stop at gleaming, glaring, red light; once it turned green they would be at the graveyard.  The child sat in the back seat looking into the light as if into the eyes of the wise.  T...

I'm sure you have some too, feel free to share! "If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."--Shirley Chisholm "Let this radicalize you rather than lead to despair."--Mariame Kaba "If you're going through hell, keep going."--Winston Churchill (allegedly) "Frodo: I can't do this, Sam. Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness, and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why...

Time for some endings? Sarper, you are making me think you're AI more and more Is Shekinah wearing color contacts? Oh no, Sarper is going to sing Sarper, it's "Will you marry me" not "I will marry you" Not Corona and Ingi being cute for a minute Sounds like you don't know if he's your person, Corona Oh THANK GOD Corona didn't fully turn down Penn Omg Josh and Lily should have planned this beforehand, I'm getting stressed out James and Meitalia are terrible planners At least Shekinah is asking at SOME point what's happening  I hope James and Meitalia learn from this that keeping huge things from your family is not great I find it hard to believe Ingi So why can't Ingi come to the US? I love how rich this ceremony is for Lily and Josh (even if I don't like Josh) Some of their guests though are not dressed fancily enough It also looks cold in the venue considering how many people are in coats Ugh, Josh, SHUSH I miss Ireland Sean and ...

Please think on what you can contribute to somewhere--this will help you narrow your immense volunteering opportunities. Book knowledge (this is useful for some organizations, I swear) Creative writing Data entry Data organization Editing English language tutoring (to a certain level) Event management Event planning Interview prep Math tutoring (to a certain level) Photography Resume building Retail experience Supplies organization Writing tutoring (to a certain level) (Prompt by me) Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash

Don't know what's on tap for this episode because the last one ended with a season preview instead of an episode preview. Oh my god, don't have children together, Adnan and Tigerlily The Grand Bazaar does look pretty cool What does Adnan mean by ugly place? (Apparently it means a place with men he doesn't trust) Oh gosh is Chidi's sister coming to see Rayne? Did Rayne call Chidi evil? Niles, this is still Matilda's home Joe's family's food is making me hungry Joe, what do you like about Magda besides her physicality? Of course Magda is more than 10 years younger than Joe I thought Muslim men could marry non-Muslim women, Sunny's friend (Ali?) Oop we're talking about Rory I am impressed with Matilda too Matilda and Niles are cute together Ah so Joe cheated Joe, Magda is going to find out Turkiye is really pretty Adnan, you can respect yourself and show your body I want Niles and Matilda to make it We can stop zooming in on Veah and Sunny embracing...

I know organizations aren't perfect, but I think they can make a difference. This list is also not exhaustive! Please feel free to add more in the comments. ACLU Carbon 180 Doctors Without Borders Greater Chicago Food Depository HIAS Lambda Legal The Law Center for Better Housing March For Our Lives NAACP National Immigrant Justice Center Planned Parenthood RAINN SPLC The Trevor Project UNICEF (Prompt by me) Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I wrote this piece for a creative writing class in college in fall of 2013.  The roars of drunken victory echo around our mead hall.  Men smash their overflowing goblets together, laughing in the cacophony of relief as their mead sloshes over their grimy hands.  Even our large fire crackles and shoots scorching sparks into the noisy air as though in triumph. He had done it, I will not deny it.  He managed to rip the limb of the fearsome creature with just his bare hands.  The rotten, but somehow still oozing, arm had been pierced with iron nails and now remains staked up on the wall; a symbol of the great feat man had achieved over our monster; for he was ours.  No other land had our monster, nor did he attack any other land.  Perhaps we was ours more than he was his mothers, perhaps that is why he continued to return to our home; a homeless child. Yet while all others seem content to dowse past griefs with a pitcher of mead, I feel a great unease....