L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 30
February 13, 2013
Blog is Back!
"Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction." ~ Antoine de Saint-Expuery, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939
I think there's really very little that needs to be said about this one. The cause of many divorces today come about because of 'irreconcilable differences.'
My question is this: If you'd started out looking the same direction, with the same goals in mind, are your differences more important? If your goals were important enough to get married for, then aren't they enough to stay together for? To work for?
If you didn't start out facing the same direction, then perhaps it's time to learn how to fix it. Work together instead of apart, and you'll grow together instead of apart.
It's simple, really.
Psst! I got my blog back! So I'm a happy camper. :) Not sure how it got fixed, but it's fixed, so I don't really care.
I think there's really very little that needs to be said about this one. The cause of many divorces today come about because of 'irreconcilable differences.'
My question is this: If you'd started out looking the same direction, with the same goals in mind, are your differences more important? If your goals were important enough to get married for, then aren't they enough to stay together for? To work for?
If you didn't start out facing the same direction, then perhaps it's time to learn how to fix it. Work together instead of apart, and you'll grow together instead of apart.
It's simple, really.
Psst! I got my blog back! So I'm a happy camper. :) Not sure how it got fixed, but it's fixed, so I don't really care.
February 12, 2013
February 12th, 2013
Okay, so here's the deal. I'm using a different computer, and everything is (obviously) working. So, good news is, it's not my web hosting. Bad news is, it's the computer I'm using. Somehow. There won't be any regular posts until I figure it all out, unless I find a way to keep up with the few blog tours I've signed up for.
Hopefully I can get everything figured out soon, and get posts coming on a regular basis. When I get it all sorted out, I'll let everyone know, and if anyone has any ideas, they would be most welcome.
Maybe I can work on implementing the new ideas I had for better value blog posts, yes? Longer and more informative. (That's why the schedule has been reduced to four days, by the way.) So I'm hoping to have new blog updates soon.
Talk to everyone later - very soon, I hope!
Hopefully I can get everything figured out soon, and get posts coming on a regular basis. When I get it all sorted out, I'll let everyone know, and if anyone has any ideas, they would be most welcome.
Maybe I can work on implementing the new ideas I had for better value blog posts, yes? Longer and more informative. (That's why the schedule has been reduced to four days, by the way.) So I'm hoping to have new blog updates soon.
Talk to everyone later - very soon, I hope!
February 6, 2013
Your Quote Of The Week! :D
"It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all." ~ Samuel Butler
For a long time I thought this was utter nonsense. Why is loving and losing better than never loving at all? Loss hurts.
It took me a while, but I finally figured it out. I think.
When you love someone, even if they are the most despicable human being on the planet, it changes you. Love, real love, puts you in the position of wanting to put some else's needs above your own. And that is a wonderful exercise for the inherently selfish human heart.
And when you lose that which you loved, not only do you truly appreciate what it is you had, but it makes you stronger and wiser, too. And, even though you've lost it, your heart will still remember that change it went through when you loved.
The gain is worth the loss.
For a long time I thought this was utter nonsense. Why is loving and losing better than never loving at all? Loss hurts.
It took me a while, but I finally figured it out. I think.
When you love someone, even if they are the most despicable human being on the planet, it changes you. Love, real love, puts you in the position of wanting to put some else's needs above your own. And that is a wonderful exercise for the inherently selfish human heart.
And when you lose that which you loved, not only do you truly appreciate what it is you had, but it makes you stronger and wiser, too. And, even though you've lost it, your heart will still remember that change it went through when you loved.
The gain is worth the loss.
February 5, 2013
Valentines In Five Easy Steps
It's February - and that means Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Sooo, for Tuesdays this month, we'll be looking at Valentine's Day crafts. Yes, even for the Tuesdays after the fourteenth. Why? Because you can save 'em for next year!
You've probably gotten those store-bought boxes of Valentines before, or had them bought for you. But what if you want to get creative this year? Maybe you want to...oh, I don't know...make your own?
How about a nice batch of homemade pop-up valentines?
Step one:
Fold your paper in half. It doesn't need to be perfect, and it doesn't matter if you do it lengthwise or otherwise.
Step two:
Cut two parallel slits on the folded side of the paper. Don't cut all the way through, though. If you folded your paper in half from top to bottom, a few inches should do it. And don't put them too far apart! You don't want most of the center to pop out, do you?
Step three:
Open paper, and 'pop' your rectangle out. The fold of your little rectangle should end up going the opposite direction of the main fold, so when your card is closed it looks like you cut out a rectangle from the folded side.
Step four:
Glue, tape, staple, or somehow fasted another piece of paper to the outside (so that the hole you just cut doesn't show.) This step isn't necessary, but it 'finishes' the card, and will make it look more normal on the outside.
Step five:
Decorate! (Hint, hint: You can do these cards for things besides Valentine's Day, too! A Birthday card, a Mother's or Father's Day card...the possibilities are endless!)
You've probably gotten those store-bought boxes of Valentines before, or had them bought for you. But what if you want to get creative this year? Maybe you want to...oh, I don't know...make your own?
How about a nice batch of homemade pop-up valentines?
Step one:
Fold your paper in half. It doesn't need to be perfect, and it doesn't matter if you do it lengthwise or otherwise.
Step two:
Cut two parallel slits on the folded side of the paper. Don't cut all the way through, though. If you folded your paper in half from top to bottom, a few inches should do it. And don't put them too far apart! You don't want most of the center to pop out, do you?
Step three:
Open paper, and 'pop' your rectangle out. The fold of your little rectangle should end up going the opposite direction of the main fold, so when your card is closed it looks like you cut out a rectangle from the folded side.
Step four:
Glue, tape, staple, or somehow fasted another piece of paper to the outside (so that the hole you just cut doesn't show.) This step isn't necessary, but it 'finishes' the card, and will make it look more normal on the outside.
Step five:
Decorate! (Hint, hint: You can do these cards for things besides Valentine's Day, too! A Birthday card, a Mother's or Father's Day card...the possibilities are endless!)
February 4, 2013
Ready, Set - GO!
Weekly Challenge:
Jog, run, or bike for fifteen minutes at least three days this week
Cardio is very important for your heart health. If you never try to strengthen your heart, it doesn't get any stronger, does it? In this time when heart disease is running rampant, I want you to strengthen it and be healthy. I don't want any heart attacks, you hear? Take it easy, of course, but get started. A little bit at a time.
(Hint, hint: Cardio involves making your heart pump faster. Walking at a leisurely pace is better than sitting and watching TV, but try to get up some steam!)
Comment how far you've gone! There's nothing like a little boasting when you've accomplished something worthwhile. ;)
Ready, set - go!
Jog, run, or bike for fifteen minutes at least three days this week
Cardio is very important for your heart health. If you never try to strengthen your heart, it doesn't get any stronger, does it? In this time when heart disease is running rampant, I want you to strengthen it and be healthy. I don't want any heart attacks, you hear? Take it easy, of course, but get started. A little bit at a time.
(Hint, hint: Cardio involves making your heart pump faster. Walking at a leisurely pace is better than sitting and watching TV, but try to get up some steam!)
Comment how far you've gone! There's nothing like a little boasting when you've accomplished something worthwhile. ;)
Ready, set - go!
February 2, 2013
February 3, 2013
February is the month in which we celebrate Valentine's day. In keeping with this, my Sunday posts this month will be about love.
Someone once told me that they wanted me to love them as they were. I guess, in their mind, they thought that because I knew they were capable of better and expected that much from them, they thought I didn't love them.
That is a terrible misconception!
Love is unconditional, yes. But love also wants the object of its affections to be the best that it can be. It wants the person to do and be the very best; not because they want a trophy relationship, but because they can accomplish it. Because you believe they can accomplish it. Or because you know that if a change doesn't occur, something bad may happen to them. You don't want them to change so you can love them. You want them to change BECAUSE you love them.
(Note: This does not give you license to nag. This act of love requires wisdom and extreme delicacy. Nagging is patently not delicate. Do this wrong and you may get the opposite of what you desire.)
Someone once told me that they wanted me to love them as they were. I guess, in their mind, they thought that because I knew they were capable of better and expected that much from them, they thought I didn't love them.
That is a terrible misconception!
Love is unconditional, yes. But love also wants the object of its affections to be the best that it can be. It wants the person to do and be the very best; not because they want a trophy relationship, but because they can accomplish it. Because you believe they can accomplish it. Or because you know that if a change doesn't occur, something bad may happen to them. You don't want them to change so you can love them. You want them to change BECAUSE you love them.
(Note: This does not give you license to nag. This act of love requires wisdom and extreme delicacy. Nagging is patently not delicate. Do this wrong and you may get the opposite of what you desire.)
Troy Falls Into The Creek
"That's not good," Beenie said, straining her wings to go even faster.
"Nope," Troy agreed.
They kept on, and on, and on, until Beenie was sure they were lost. It hadn't taken this long to get there, had it?
"Troy, do you know where we are?" Beenie called down.
"I think so," said Troy. He was panting heavily now, and she could hear him stumbling below. She was getting tired, too. She was slower dodging branches, and was starting to run into some of them now.
"How long before we get there?"
"Soon?" The question was clear in Troy's answer. Beenie groaned.
They went on for a few more minutes before Beenie heard Troy give a loud squeak.
"What?" Beenie asked at once. "What is it? Troy?"
"We're almost there," Troy said, and he was spluttering. "I just fell in the creek. We're on the right track."
"Oh, that's good," Beenie said, feeling relieved. For one brief moment, she'd thought something bad had happened.
They rushed on, and then, with startling suddenness, they burst into the square. Beenie rocketed into open space, and was so surprised she almost tumbled from the air as she stopped beating her wings.
Troy, who was still below, had promptly collapsed in a pile of gray fuzz on the forest floor. Beenie could see that he was breathing hard, and his tail was twitching all over the place.
"We have to wake them up," Beenie said, dropping to the ground next to him. She shook him with her tiny hands, trying to get him to move. "Troy, we don't know how much time we have. We have to wake someone up. Now!"
"I'm moving, I'm moving," said Troy, dragging himself upright.
Then, together, they walked to the nearest house. Beenie banged on the bark door with one fist, hammering as loud and hard as she could. She pounded until her hand had started to hurt, and she wondered if anyone was home.
Then the door flew open, and both of them fell inside as an angry voice squawked in irritated surprise.
"What do you think you're doing? Ach! He's wet! Get out! Get out!"
"Nope," Troy agreed.
They kept on, and on, and on, until Beenie was sure they were lost. It hadn't taken this long to get there, had it?
"Troy, do you know where we are?" Beenie called down.
"I think so," said Troy. He was panting heavily now, and she could hear him stumbling below. She was getting tired, too. She was slower dodging branches, and was starting to run into some of them now.
"How long before we get there?"
"Soon?" The question was clear in Troy's answer. Beenie groaned.
They went on for a few more minutes before Beenie heard Troy give a loud squeak.
"What?" Beenie asked at once. "What is it? Troy?"
"We're almost there," Troy said, and he was spluttering. "I just fell in the creek. We're on the right track."
"Oh, that's good," Beenie said, feeling relieved. For one brief moment, she'd thought something bad had happened.
They rushed on, and then, with startling suddenness, they burst into the square. Beenie rocketed into open space, and was so surprised she almost tumbled from the air as she stopped beating her wings.
Troy, who was still below, had promptly collapsed in a pile of gray fuzz on the forest floor. Beenie could see that he was breathing hard, and his tail was twitching all over the place.
"We have to wake them up," Beenie said, dropping to the ground next to him. She shook him with her tiny hands, trying to get him to move. "Troy, we don't know how much time we have. We have to wake someone up. Now!"
"I'm moving, I'm moving," said Troy, dragging himself upright.
Then, together, they walked to the nearest house. Beenie banged on the bark door with one fist, hammering as loud and hard as she could. She pounded until her hand had started to hurt, and she wondered if anyone was home.
Then the door flew open, and both of them fell inside as an angry voice squawked in irritated surprise.
"What do you think you're doing? Ach! He's wet! Get out! Get out!"
February 1, 2013
Harbinger, Tracts 3 and 4, By Angelica Whaley
TRACT III : Hope, Uncertainty Tower of crimson light mounted past the stratosphere;
beyond Earth and mortal dwelling.
An alarm.
DOE streaked wildly past the marsh
Before descending back into jungle gloom.
The sky lightened and faded in a two-day march.
Up a rocky transit, toward the facility.
Sirens blared there. Black windows watched.
Its three-layer structure gleamed bright in sunlight.
Home Facility, quite untouched.
Looking on high, DOE spotted an eager thing.
From atop Facility's spinning loft, a guiding light,
Pointing into the distance.
"Compass has never started itself;
Should there be movement in the world?
And will I find it if I follow?"
All questions of uncertainty.
But DOE rocketed down the crimson-lit road,
Bursting with newfound hope.
"Uncertainty be hellbrought!"
TRACT IV: Danger in Exploration Through day and night, with Compass lighting the heavens,
DOE ran without deliberation.
Into the unknown, under storm, perpetually East.
Overall a smooth venture 'til the ground distorted,
And mountain roots struck up bare.
Under frantic terror DOE dodged ravine and gully,
When while leaping an earthquake imposed.
Her legs shot out to catch the ground,
But dizzily lost hold and fell, kicking, down.
Down to the foot of a black gorge.
High above, sunlight beamed down,
Although its rays would never touch the cold basin.
DOE gave a sound of consternation and curled against the walls.
"I shall never find my way out," she lamented.
"These walls, a hundred feet high, have doomed my life again."
So she sang a forlorn song, the last she'd ever sing.
Her shining eye began to dim, with a sad and soulful ding.
Something stayed her in that moment.
A flash, a flicker, in the unreachable light above.
She glanced. Nothing there.
beyond Earth and mortal dwelling.
An alarm.
DOE streaked wildly past the marsh
Before descending back into jungle gloom.
The sky lightened and faded in a two-day march.
Up a rocky transit, toward the facility.
Sirens blared there. Black windows watched.
Its three-layer structure gleamed bright in sunlight.
Home Facility, quite untouched.
Looking on high, DOE spotted an eager thing.
From atop Facility's spinning loft, a guiding light,
Pointing into the distance.
"Compass has never started itself;
Should there be movement in the world?
And will I find it if I follow?"
All questions of uncertainty.
But DOE rocketed down the crimson-lit road,
Bursting with newfound hope.
"Uncertainty be hellbrought!"
TRACT IV: Danger in Exploration Through day and night, with Compass lighting the heavens,
DOE ran without deliberation.
Into the unknown, under storm, perpetually East.
Overall a smooth venture 'til the ground distorted,
And mountain roots struck up bare.
Under frantic terror DOE dodged ravine and gully,
When while leaping an earthquake imposed.
Her legs shot out to catch the ground,
But dizzily lost hold and fell, kicking, down.
Down to the foot of a black gorge.
High above, sunlight beamed down,
Although its rays would never touch the cold basin.
DOE gave a sound of consternation and curled against the walls.
"I shall never find my way out," she lamented.
"These walls, a hundred feet high, have doomed my life again."
So she sang a forlorn song, the last she'd ever sing.
Her shining eye began to dim, with a sad and soulful ding.
Something stayed her in that moment.
A flash, a flicker, in the unreachable light above.
She glanced. Nothing there.
January 31, 2013
January 31st, 2013
So, for my random topic of the day, I've chosen the upcoming publication of my newest short story, The Memory Jar. In the first chapter of The Memory Keeper series, Genna was put in an unusual position. During a family reunion, a portal opened in the garden and demons burst through.
Genna, naturally, thought that the matriarch of the family had spiked their food with something.
Anyway, at the end of the story, Genna and some of her family members lose something important. That loss plays a key part in The Memory Jar. I don't want to give away too much, but in a way, the 'memory jar' should not exist. And yet it does. This worries Genna, of course. She doesn't know why it's there, or how it works. In a moment of panic, she contacts an old friend. Anyone who's read The Willon Clan Curse will recognize them, as they were also at the reunion.
Another little tidbit: The mysterious Eddie Markling is a doctor.
Catch up and buy The Willon Clan Curse here!
The full blurb for The Memory Jar can be found here.
January 30, 2013
January 30th, 2013
"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting." ~ Buddha This is too true!
What's the point of a road if you never start? And, again, what's the point of a road if you never finish? The very purpose of a road is to lead somewhere. If you quit halfway through, or never even start, what reward will you get but places you have already seen? Or thoughts you have already had?
Some people are content with their own small world. But how will you grow if you never leave? Find a likely road and take it! At the very least, you'll learn something.
What's the point of a road if you never start? And, again, what's the point of a road if you never finish? The very purpose of a road is to lead somewhere. If you quit halfway through, or never even start, what reward will you get but places you have already seen? Or thoughts you have already had?
Some people are content with their own small world. But how will you grow if you never leave? Find a likely road and take it! At the very least, you'll learn something.
