L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 34
December 31, 2012
December 31st, 2012
Weekly Challenge:
Do ten pushups twice this week
Doing pushups on your knees is fine, as long as your form is correct. As you get stronger, move to your toes. You won't be able to go as far down at first, but don't worry about it. Go gradually, and you'll get stronger. Don't go all bodybuilder on it. It won't help you in the long run - especially if you can't lift your arms above your head the next day! (If you do overdo it, try some easy stretches like these.)
(P. S. I finally put up the info for this in the forums. You can find it here. )
Do ten pushups twice this week
Doing pushups on your knees is fine, as long as your form is correct. As you get stronger, move to your toes. You won't be able to go as far down at first, but don't worry about it. Go gradually, and you'll get stronger. Don't go all bodybuilder on it. It won't help you in the long run - especially if you can't lift your arms above your head the next day! (If you do overdo it, try some easy stretches like these.)
(P. S. I finally put up the info for this in the forums. You can find it here. )
December 30, 2012
December 30th, 2012
You know how you feel after a big holiday? Kind of let down?
Well, when you're dealing with the let down after Christmas, remember that being thankful and giving are year-round ideas. I think that Thanksgiving would be better put AFTER Christmas, since you've just been given things by friends and family and should be thankful for them. But it's not.
So just remember: that wonderful holiday feeling, the one you get from giving someone a gift they love, is something you can have all year. You don't have to spend lots of money to make someone else happy. Who expects a gift in a month where there's no Christmas or birthday? And you don't even have to give a gift. You can do something else; something different. Use your imagination!
Well, when you're dealing with the let down after Christmas, remember that being thankful and giving are year-round ideas. I think that Thanksgiving would be better put AFTER Christmas, since you've just been given things by friends and family and should be thankful for them. But it's not.
So just remember: that wonderful holiday feeling, the one you get from giving someone a gift they love, is something you can have all year. You don't have to spend lots of money to make someone else happy. Who expects a gift in a month where there's no Christmas or birthday? And you don't even have to give a gift. You can do something else; something different. Use your imagination!
December 29, 2012
December 29th, 2012
When Troy didn't react to her glare, Beenie opened her mouth to say something else - but before she could, she heard a sound. She turned to look at Troy, who had plastered himself to the branch they were on, and was shaking his head frantically at her.
She thought she understood, and nodded. He wanted her to be quiet and not say anything. She sat down, and then rolled onto her belly so she could peer down at the forest floor.
Down below, she saw a beaver shuffling through the dead leaves. Beenie looked up at Troy, who shook his head again, and pointed at the oak tree. Beenie followed his finger, and saw that the branches and trunk of the old oak were now glittering with windows that had lights behind them. The beaver was making for the largest square of light, which was at the ground level.
As Beenie and Troy watched, two skinny figures stepped into the light, their silhouettes hunched and bony. Those must be the gnomes, Beenie thought. But why was the beaver there?
She watched as the beaver became clearer and clearer in the light, and then Beenie saw it. The beaver was dragging a sledge across the ground, and on it was a shapeless lump wrapped in canvas. He dragged it to the door of the oak, and the gnomes helped push it through. Then one of the gnomes handed something small to the beaver, who nodded and then walked slowly away.
The large square of gold light was extinguished by the shutting of the door. As soon as the gnomes were gone, Beenie heard Troy crawling toward her. When he was close enough to touch, she looked at him.
"What's going on?" she whispered.
"I don't know," Troy whispered back. "And I don't really want to, either. I want to go home and eat acorn muffins."
Beenie sighed in exasperation. "You can have my share if you'll help me figure this out," she said. From his silence, she knew Troy was thinking about it. The fact that he hadn't immediately refused was reassuring.
"Well..." Troy murmured. "I guess I could do that," he said at last.
"Finally," Beenie said. "What do you think is going on?"
"The beavers make funny little mechanical things out of wood. You can buy something they've already made, or you can order something. I think the gnomes have ordered something, because the beavers only deliver if it's an order. The hedgehogs are mail carriers, but they don't usually carry packages, or hide them under trees."
"Why didn't you tell me all this before?" Beenie asked in surprise.
"Because all I ever wanted was to eat acorns. I don't care about the gnomes if they leave me alone."
"Well, we're going to figure it out now, or no acorns," Beenie said.
Troy sighed.
"I'm going to look in the window," Beenie decided. She fluttered her wings, and dove down to the ground. She landed lightly on her feet, and looked back up to see Troy staring at her with big black eyes. After a moment, he followed her, and when he hit the ground, she could hear him muttering 'for acorns. Remember, for acorns' under his breath.
They crept up to the windows of the lower level of the tree-tower, and carefully peered over the sills.
She thought she understood, and nodded. He wanted her to be quiet and not say anything. She sat down, and then rolled onto her belly so she could peer down at the forest floor.
Down below, she saw a beaver shuffling through the dead leaves. Beenie looked up at Troy, who shook his head again, and pointed at the oak tree. Beenie followed his finger, and saw that the branches and trunk of the old oak were now glittering with windows that had lights behind them. The beaver was making for the largest square of light, which was at the ground level.
As Beenie and Troy watched, two skinny figures stepped into the light, their silhouettes hunched and bony. Those must be the gnomes, Beenie thought. But why was the beaver there?
She watched as the beaver became clearer and clearer in the light, and then Beenie saw it. The beaver was dragging a sledge across the ground, and on it was a shapeless lump wrapped in canvas. He dragged it to the door of the oak, and the gnomes helped push it through. Then one of the gnomes handed something small to the beaver, who nodded and then walked slowly away.
The large square of gold light was extinguished by the shutting of the door. As soon as the gnomes were gone, Beenie heard Troy crawling toward her. When he was close enough to touch, she looked at him.
"What's going on?" she whispered.
"I don't know," Troy whispered back. "And I don't really want to, either. I want to go home and eat acorn muffins."
Beenie sighed in exasperation. "You can have my share if you'll help me figure this out," she said. From his silence, she knew Troy was thinking about it. The fact that he hadn't immediately refused was reassuring.
"Well..." Troy murmured. "I guess I could do that," he said at last.
"Finally," Beenie said. "What do you think is going on?"
"The beavers make funny little mechanical things out of wood. You can buy something they've already made, or you can order something. I think the gnomes have ordered something, because the beavers only deliver if it's an order. The hedgehogs are mail carriers, but they don't usually carry packages, or hide them under trees."
"Why didn't you tell me all this before?" Beenie asked in surprise.
"Because all I ever wanted was to eat acorns. I don't care about the gnomes if they leave me alone."
"Well, we're going to figure it out now, or no acorns," Beenie said.
Troy sighed.
"I'm going to look in the window," Beenie decided. She fluttered her wings, and dove down to the ground. She landed lightly on her feet, and looked back up to see Troy staring at her with big black eyes. After a moment, he followed her, and when he hit the ground, she could hear him muttering 'for acorns. Remember, for acorns' under his breath.
They crept up to the windows of the lower level of the tree-tower, and carefully peered over the sills.
December 28, 2012
December 28th, 2012
It looks like one of our flash fiction authors forgot. What does this mean? It means, of course, that I'll start sending out reminders to people, so they don't forget! *insert smiley face here*
Since I don't have the flash fiction to post today, I'll use this time to announce a new idea I'm developing for my Storytime segment on Saturdays. Beenie and Troy's adventures will be coming to an end, and I'll be starting a new story. If you want a hint about the new story, you can take a peek at the RPG forum. If you have any ideas or thoughts, feel free to share. I'm hoping this new story idea will last a very long time, and be more interesting to more people than Troy and Beenie. So ideas are welcome!
Since I don't have the flash fiction to post today, I'll use this time to announce a new idea I'm developing for my Storytime segment on Saturdays. Beenie and Troy's adventures will be coming to an end, and I'll be starting a new story. If you want a hint about the new story, you can take a peek at the RPG forum. If you have any ideas or thoughts, feel free to share. I'm hoping this new story idea will last a very long time, and be more interesting to more people than Troy and Beenie. So ideas are welcome!
December 27, 2012
December 27th, 2012
I like to draw. I've always liked to draw. Although what I draw with is now a lot more sophisticated than a pad of paper and a box of crayons.
So, when a website I belong to announced an art contest, I was excited. It's a fantasy website where you can breed fantasy animals, decorate their pictures, and collect items. It's called Khimeros.
I drew an unshaded sketch (like what you'd see in a coloring book) and scanned it into my computer. The picture was of a girl next to one of the site's fantasy creatures, called a khirin. I was going to color the picture, and enter it in the contest.
There was only one problem. I hated how the khirin turned out after coloring. I didn't know why, but I was sure it didn't look right. It must have been a number of small things that didn't fit in, but I couldn't decide what they were. So what did I do? Erased the whole thing, of course! Forget that I'd already spent an entire hour (or more) working on it. It didn't look right, so I deleted it. And started over. Fun, fun, fun.
Perhaps I should have altered what was already there, instead of starting completely over. Maybe that would have been the smart thing to do, yes?
Any other artists out there? Do you have any funny stories you'd like to share?
So, when a website I belong to announced an art contest, I was excited. It's a fantasy website where you can breed fantasy animals, decorate their pictures, and collect items. It's called Khimeros.
I drew an unshaded sketch (like what you'd see in a coloring book) and scanned it into my computer. The picture was of a girl next to one of the site's fantasy creatures, called a khirin. I was going to color the picture, and enter it in the contest.
There was only one problem. I hated how the khirin turned out after coloring. I didn't know why, but I was sure it didn't look right. It must have been a number of small things that didn't fit in, but I couldn't decide what they were. So what did I do? Erased the whole thing, of course! Forget that I'd already spent an entire hour (or more) working on it. It didn't look right, so I deleted it. And started over. Fun, fun, fun.
Perhaps I should have altered what was already there, instead of starting completely over. Maybe that would have been the smart thing to do, yes?
Any other artists out there? Do you have any funny stories you'd like to share?
December 26, 2012
December 26th, 2012
"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." ~ Author Unknown
Humans have a useful sort of adaptability, although it can also be...frustrating. In the winter we complain of cold and wet, in the summer we complain of dry and heat. Or perhaps it's simply a talent for complaining. What, I wonder, would we do if there was a climate where it was neither too warm, nor too cold, all the time? Would we be happy, without a complaint about the weather, or would we find something to gripe about? I'm pretty sure we'd find something; at least, most of us would. So perhaps we should all take a minute and think about what we enjoy right now, instead of wishing for something we don't have. We might all be a bit happier that way.
Humans have a useful sort of adaptability, although it can also be...frustrating. In the winter we complain of cold and wet, in the summer we complain of dry and heat. Or perhaps it's simply a talent for complaining. What, I wonder, would we do if there was a climate where it was neither too warm, nor too cold, all the time? Would we be happy, without a complaint about the weather, or would we find something to gripe about? I'm pretty sure we'd find something; at least, most of us would. So perhaps we should all take a minute and think about what we enjoy right now, instead of wishing for something we don't have. We might all be a bit happier that way.
December 25, 2012
December 25th, 2012
Merry Christmas everyone!
You should not be on the computer today, first of all. You should be having fun and making memories with your families. So scoot! I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see you - and if they're not, give them a big bear hug and tell them I told you to. Make the most of being able to blame someone else for that!
If you don't have a family, or couldn't be with them today, here are a few things you can do: Go adopt a family. Pick a family less fortunate than you, and bring them something for Christmas dinner, or gifts for the kids. The looks on their faces will be priceless. Then, you can snuggle up in a chair with some hot chocolate and your favorite movie or book. Bottom line? Find a way to make your holiday special. You deserve it!
Lots of love from me to all of you, and wishes for a wonderful holiday - Christmas or no!
You should not be on the computer today, first of all. You should be having fun and making memories with your families. So scoot! I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see you - and if they're not, give them a big bear hug and tell them I told you to. Make the most of being able to blame someone else for that!
If you don't have a family, or couldn't be with them today, here are a few things you can do: Go adopt a family. Pick a family less fortunate than you, and bring them something for Christmas dinner, or gifts for the kids. The looks on their faces will be priceless. Then, you can snuggle up in a chair with some hot chocolate and your favorite movie or book. Bottom line? Find a way to make your holiday special. You deserve it!
Lots of love from me to all of you, and wishes for a wonderful holiday - Christmas or no!
December 24, 2012
December 24th, 2012
Weekly Challenge:
Carefully stretch your arms and shoulders three times this week
Flexibility is an important part of maintaining your health. The more stretching you do, the better off you'll be - as long as you don't overdo it. Be careful and don't hurt yourself! Warming up is also important, and you can read a post on it here.
And, in a departure from our scheduled topic, Merry Christmas Eve! Have fun, be safe, and enjoy your holidays!
Carefully stretch your arms and shoulders three times this week
Flexibility is an important part of maintaining your health. The more stretching you do, the better off you'll be - as long as you don't overdo it. Be careful and don't hurt yourself! Warming up is also important, and you can read a post on it here.
And, in a departure from our scheduled topic, Merry Christmas Eve! Have fun, be safe, and enjoy your holidays!
December 23, 2012
December 23rd, 2012
I've been asked what I want for Christmas several times in the past month. I know what I want, and in great detail. It's quite a short list, really.
But it's not what we asked for that really sticks in our minds later, is it? It's the things that we DIDN'T ask for, but recieved anyway, that we remember the most. Why is that? Perhaps because someone took the time and effort to think of something that we'd like, but didn't ask for. Perhaps it's because those things are unexpected. And surprise is half the fun.
One of my most memorable gifts was one I got the year I turned eighteen. My father had bought an enormous Littlest Petshop pack for me. My mother said it was probably because he was in denial about me growing up (he'd gotten it by himself; picked it out and everything). I hadn't asked for it, and wasn't expecting it; but it was one of the first things I got into. I still have all the little pieces.
But it's not what we asked for that really sticks in our minds later, is it? It's the things that we DIDN'T ask for, but recieved anyway, that we remember the most. Why is that? Perhaps because someone took the time and effort to think of something that we'd like, but didn't ask for. Perhaps it's because those things are unexpected. And surprise is half the fun.
One of my most memorable gifts was one I got the year I turned eighteen. My father had bought an enormous Littlest Petshop pack for me. My mother said it was probably because he was in denial about me growing up (he'd gotten it by himself; picked it out and everything). I hadn't asked for it, and wasn't expecting it; but it was one of the first things I got into. I still have all the little pieces.
December 22, 2012
December 22nd, 2012
"Beenie? Is that you?"
Beenie froze, and listened closely. That sounded like Troy, she thought. She heard a scuffling noise, and a long moment later, she saw a pair of shiny black eyes peering at her through the leaves.
"Troy?" she said.
"Ssh!" Troy urged. "They'll hear you."
"Who'll hear me?" Beenie asked, lowering her voice to a whisper. "There's nothing here."
"Yes there is," Troy said. He sounded resigned. "The gnomes have a tree that they use like a tower, and it's over that way." He waved an arm in a rather vague direction.
"Oh," said Beenie. "So you decided to follow me?"
"Yes," Troy said, sighing. "My mother would be very angry if I came back without you. We should go now. She's probably really worried."
"But I want to find out what's going on," said Beenie. "Don't you want to know?"
"No," Troy said firmly. "I want to go home and pretend none of this ever happened. I want to eat dinner and go to bed, and never have to chase you through the woods again."
Beenie felt like she'd been slapped in the face. "You didn't have to follow me," she said. "Maybe you should just go back, if you're so scared." She glared at him, and hoped he could still see it in the darkness.
Beenie froze, and listened closely. That sounded like Troy, she thought. She heard a scuffling noise, and a long moment later, she saw a pair of shiny black eyes peering at her through the leaves.
"Troy?" she said.
"Ssh!" Troy urged. "They'll hear you."
"Who'll hear me?" Beenie asked, lowering her voice to a whisper. "There's nothing here."
"Yes there is," Troy said. He sounded resigned. "The gnomes have a tree that they use like a tower, and it's over that way." He waved an arm in a rather vague direction.
"Oh," said Beenie. "So you decided to follow me?"
"Yes," Troy said, sighing. "My mother would be very angry if I came back without you. We should go now. She's probably really worried."
"But I want to find out what's going on," said Beenie. "Don't you want to know?"
"No," Troy said firmly. "I want to go home and pretend none of this ever happened. I want to eat dinner and go to bed, and never have to chase you through the woods again."
Beenie felt like she'd been slapped in the face. "You didn't have to follow me," she said. "Maybe you should just go back, if you're so scared." She glared at him, and hoped he could still see it in the darkness.
