Writers Camp [ Day Seven ] Love/Family

Day Seven: Love/Family

I'm like, three days behind. I'm sorry guys. You all know you can post before me, right? Okay.


Today we're going to cover the importance of love. In all forms. Love at its simplest, love at its greatest.

We're going to cover books with the love that exists between families and friendships. Mention some things you'd like to see in these stories, and which stories you would personally like to see in books today.

I am going to update this post when I'm finished, but please feel free to start yours. I feel so bad. Things go insane, and now I'm very behind.  8-( Apologies all around! I'll need to play catch-up.

I am so sorry. This post is shorter than my other ones. My computer shut down and I lost a whole post, and I was sad. I tried my best though. 8-D Today we're going to cover books with the love that exists between families and friendships. Mention some things you'd like to see in these stories, and which stories you would find very rare.

The Ascendants Trilogy: Jennifer Neilson

The Runaway King

For me, The Ascendants Trilogy is one of those books that catch your interest almost instantly, and you're hooked until you finish. It has great character development. I really liked how a bunch of different friendships evolved throughout the series, constantly growing, changing, and getting better.

Franz and Japhet

Franz and Japhet are precious human beings and must be protected at all costs!!!!

Brothers-in-Arms 

Raven's Gate Series: Anthony Horwitz

This series does have a lot of good friendships, and there are some twins that are introduced in book three that I kind of really love. However, it can be incredibly dark, grim, and bleak. It has a very apocalyptic feel, something that has made me struggle with reading them. I have yet to finish the last book. It's just so sad. I have a couple sisters who have read it, and they all say the ending is good, but very sad. And I know why it's sad and I just can't. 

However, the writing is good and the story is good, even if it is serious and war-like. 

Inkworld: Cornelia Funke

Farid and Dustfinger. Black Prince. Mo. These books!!!! I love these books so much!!! 8-D

BBC Merlin

Merlin and Arthur encompass what it means to be best friends. I love that they make fun of each other all time, but they know if necessary. they would die to keep the other safe. It makes me feel warm and happy inside. This friendship is perfect. (I also ignore everything the writers say on this subject, as well as most of the cast. They're annoying.)

Gallager Girls: Ally Carter

Yas!! A Girl's school for the gifted... especially those gifted in the art of secrecy. These books are basically about a spy/special agent school for girls. They're excellent. And they have lots of female friendship. This makes me very happy, because those are very, very rare.

The Penderwicks: Jean Birdsall

I cannot say enough good about these books. They family is perfect. The relationship between the sisters is perfect. The fact that they adopt friends into their family is perfect. Their Daddy is perfect. Everything about this series is perfect. Just read them.

The Ascendants Trilogy: Jennifer Neilson

Oh, lala! Yaaaaaaas! The friendships in this book are golden! There is so much development and change that occurs. I love them. 

The Lord of the Rings: J.R.R. Tolkien

We all know Tolkien is King of friendship stories. "I CAN CARRY YOU." *dies of feels*

What do I think we need in books today? First, more sister stories. Good sister stories, sister stories about two girls who will protect each other, tease each other, die for each other. Second, more brother stories. More friendships. I want friendship where the boys meet when they're little, grow up together, and love each other with all they have. I want friendship where they meet later in life but still grow close and dependent on each other. I want friendship where one person will tear apart time for another. I want friendships where everything falls apart and the only thing left is each other. I want friendships where friends hold hands as everything freaking implodes on itself. I want friendships with love and laughter, friendships with hugs, friendships with shared morning coffee, emotional connections, dinners together, funny car rides, insane deals and sacrifices, long walks, friends having each other for a flat mate... I just want friendships that defy everything society says and prove that you can love someone without it being romantic. 

That's all. 

What are some friendships you all like?

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella

Writers Camp [ Day Four ] Plot&Bunnies Reveal!

[ PARTICIPANTS ]

Plot Bunny (1)

Your Protagonist has just lost his/her sight. He/she wakes up alone, isolated. He/she can hear voices a little way off. His/her hand's are bound and there are strange bandages surrounding his/her head. Where is he/she? Why is he/she there? Where is he/she supposed to be? What now?

I Present A Beginning Chapter! (This actually relates to a book I'm working on about sisters. I'm really excited because I haven't been able to do too much with it yet, but this gave me a sort of jumping board. I kind of know where to go with it now.)

      She woke up in a room that smelled like winter. She could feel her hands pinned together in front of her by some sort of heavy chain, cold and sharp against her tender skin. She tried to sit up and instantly felt a surging, rabid pain flood her head. Quickly, she lay back down. She now noticed that her ankles were shackled too and her feet seemed to be bare. They were simply so numb she hadn't noticed until now that there was nothing guarding them from the chill. Far below her feet she could hear a distant murmur of voices. So she wasn't wholly alone, then. But why was it so cold? Where was she? 

     As these questions entered her frightfully muddled head, she took in two things at once. First, that she could feel nothing upon her eyes, yet she had open them and seen nothing. The second, was that her mind was as dark as the world around her, offering no answers to her present predicament. It couldn't even bring her name to the surface. She struggled not to panic. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Her breath was thin and coarse, and whether for that, or for the fact that she was finally starting to sense feeling under the numb pricks encasing her skin, she became aware of a strange pain in her chest. It seemed to spread for her back, through her ribs and into her legs, rough and sore. It made breathing difficult. Carefully, carefully, she drug herself forward, feeling her way with her fingers. The ground beneath her was terribly cold, almost wet. It reminded her of something. Ah yes. Ice. She jerked to a stop, the length of her chains apparently coming to an end. So she turned and tried the other way. 

   At last she felt a wall against her fingertips, just as cool as the floor beneath her. She leaned up against it and waited, listening. 

    She had just drifted off again, when she heard something like a metal gate being lifted seemingly only a few feet away. She kept still, wondering what on earth was going to happen next. There was the soft pad of leather shoes against ice and then, hands on her face. This made her start so violently that the hands fell away. She kicked out with her feet. 

 "Stay back," She rasped. Her voice was strange, she noticed. The accent was deep. rough. How strange the experiencing that you were hearing yourself for the first time. 

   "Now, now, none of that," said the voice. It was a man's voice, high and silly. "I was just trying to make sure of a pulse, is all. Most people die in here after the first night. Especially the likes of you." She heard some more shuffling, then he was back. "I've brought you something to drink," he said. "It's hot, so don't burn your pretty little tongue. We'll be needing it later." She felt a flask get placed in her hands, but they were so numb and stiff she had difficult feeling the heat from the liquid inside.  She took one careful sip, then another. The liquid was warm and strong, the taste odd, but not bad. She quickly finished off the flask.  "There you are," said the man. "That's a good girl." She heard to sound of water splashing, his voice, "I'm going to see to your eyes now," and the touch of a towel against her face. The towel was warm and there seemed to be more than just water on it. Suddenly she was very, very aware that her eyes were injured. She flinched back, but a hand came behind her neck to stop her movements. The man was quick,and not cruel, but the ointment on the towel was burning, and with every touch he seemed to reveal more cuts and bruises. What had happened to her? She couldn't say. In a few minutes the procedure was done. There was some more shuffling. "I'm putting a bandage about your eyes," he said. "Don't hit me." She felt the material on her skin. It seemed to have some of the same ointment on it that the towel had. It burned, but not unbearably, and she kept quiet. She was too tired to make noise anyway. The man drew back. "See if you can get some rest there, dear. If you make it to this evening we'll see what her Ladyship has planned for you."

    She heard leather on ice, the sound of a gate, then silence again. She leaned against the wall, breathing shallowly. Her eyes hurt. Her head hurt, hurt with emptiness. Her lids closed on muddled, strange tears.

  "Renetta?" Another hushed voice filmed the room, this time from behind. It seemed to be coming from the wall itself. Inquisitive, she turned to face the wall and answered back, in the same tone, "Hello? Is someone there?"

   ""Oh, Renetta! Yes, Yes! I'm here. My cell is just opposite yours. What luck." The man's voice dropped with anxious relief. "It is you, isn't it? I'd recognize your voice anywhere. Its so good to hear you! I was sick when I heard they brought you here. I'm so sorry. You never should have been caught. I don't know what went wrong" 

    Renetta. Renetta. Renetta who? "Do... Do you know me?" She asked. 

There was a pause. "Aree, it's me. Purcello."  

   "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I, I can't remember. You know me? I'm... Renetta?" 

   "You don't remember?"

   "No. I'm sorry. Do we know each other?

   "You don't remember," Purcello repeated, soft and tight. "Yes, I know you. We're friends, you and I. You promised me to stay behind at camp. I thought you'd be safe there." He paused. "What do you remember?"

  "Nothing." Renetta. Her mind rolled the named around like the sea does a stone. Renetta. Unfortunately, the sea could not tell this stone anything about itself. 

    "Dear lord." Purcello whispered. "That man. He said your eyes - can you see?"

    "No. I think they've been wounded."

    "Oh no, Renetta. I am so sorry." 

"There was a long moment of silence. "How are you fairing?"

      "I'm alright." Renetta answered.  And she was. She was surprisingly calm and collected. Her main concern at the moment was to get as much information from this man as she could. "How do you know me?"

   "We fought together." He sounded very quiet. "You were looking for your sister." 

   "My sister?" Renetta's heart fluttered in bewilderment. "I have a sister....?" 

   "You certainly do; and we found her. Listen, Renetta - " Before Purcello could finish Renetta heard metal scrapping and rising, and a confused scuffle as her informant scrambled away from the wall. She heard the same high voice that had been in her cell only a few minutes early. Purcello raised his voice, perhaps for her benefit. "No! I'm not going anywhere with you!" 

  "That's what you say!" the voice shot back. She heard something that sounded like a sharp thwuck. A heavy dragging noise. The gate lowering again. A Silence, so much grimmer than the silence before. 

    Purcello had been taken. She was alone again. She was a prisoner; and her gut told her she was in terrible danger.

 

Writing Prompt (6) Did you think the blankets could hide you from me? Well, I suppose that's what all children think.

This prompt turned into a poem. *shrug* A sort of creepy poem.

Monster, Monster under the bed, creaking, creaking,

Smelling of dread

No one tells you the truth about Monsters

That they can hide anywhere, in closets, in cupboards
No one tells you how much they can do
That they're full of anger, that they're actually real.
All the grown ups smile and humor you,
Checking the closets, 'There's Nothing There'
The floor boards are empty. You're safe and sound
You've nothing to fear. 
It's funny that no one knows, 
Monsters can hid in the ceiling and walls. 
They can slip in the dark, become one with the shadows.
No one can see them, nobody knows
They actually exist; Your fears are true.
Well, perhaps I speak too harshly when I say Nobody Knows.
Children are clever. Children can see.
Children hear the crawling, children aren't deceived.
Lights go out, drapes are shut. 
Shivering child, all bundled up. 
Wrapped in your blankets, how funny you are!
Did you think the blankets could hide you from me?
Well, I suppose... that's what all children think.

There's my finished bunny/prompt! I can't wait to see all of yours. This is fun!

*swings around cape and leaps of stage*

Bella   

Platonic Love; what it is, and why I think it's so important.

Pla·ton·ic pləˈtänik/ adjective (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual.

"Clara is my friend."

So, I have noticed a lot of fandoms using "Platonic" as a way to describe relationships that do not involve romance/sex. I looked it up on google, and the definition above is what I found. I did a little bit of research, and it seems that in it's original form I think Plantonic Love meant that it was a type of love not only driven by sex. It didn't completely exclude sex, but it put the sexual side of the relationship on the back burner. It is true, however, that it was mostly used to describe friendships and relationships that didn't involve being in love. In our day and age, this is what platonic love is used to describe, and it is the most popular definition.

Platonic Love is important.

friends

Why am I posting about this? Because right now the world is turning it's back on purely friendly love.

I think this is super sad.

Let me explain.

In Greek, there are four different words for love.

1. Philio - companionable love.

2.) Agape - is called out of one's heart by the preciousness of the object loved. It is unconditional love. (This is often used when referring to love between God and His creatures.)

3.) Storge: A natural affection or obligation.

4.) Eros - The love of Passion. (Also known as sexual love.)

In this society Eros has become the only type of love two people are allowed to experience with each other. Eros is the only type of love that really matters. It is the only definition love has anymore. If you aren't in Eros your relationship doesn't hold weight or meaning.

Philio on the other hand.... Philio has been cast aside as something that isn't as important, as strong, or as wonderful as Eros.

Brothers

Let me explain to you a thing. PHILIO IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS EROS. IN FACT RIGHT NOW IT IS MORE IMPORTANT.

I don't know how the majority of people are today. I don't know if most people just don't have friends anymore, or don't understand what it is to have a friend, a best friend, someone who is always there for you, someone you can count on for anything. I don't have a giant number of friends, but I do have a handful of people that I consider to be my best friends and my family, and I feel so blessed that I have them.  Best Friends are amazing. They do crazy things with you. They are goofy and insane and awesome. They're always there when you really need them, and even if you are miles away, even if you don't see each other for months, you know you're always going to be there for each other.

I love my friends. I love Jim, my amazing writer buddy who has done so much for me, and is there to help even if she's had a rough day. I love Sammi, who will literally drive a whole hour to my new place just to stay the night with me. I love Gavin, who has become like a brother to me and my family, and is the sweetest, most gentle guy you could meet. I love all of my sisters, and my amazing, goofy big brother. I love my friends and family. I tell them this as often as I can, whenever I can, however I can. We are all super emotional and affectionate, and we aren't afraid to show that we love each other, and care for each other. We hug. We squeeze hands. We crowd together on the big family couch. We bicker and argue and poke fun. We can drive each other crazy, but we know that no matter what, we are here for each other, and that is an amazing, beautiful thing. There is very little I wouldn't do if it meant helping the people I love.

Why do I love friendship stories? Because they echo what I have. Because they show me that you can get through practically anything if you just have someone there for you. Because when someone touches your soul it is incredible, and if that person is special enough to decide you are going to be their friend, and they are going to face fire for you because they love you enough to do it, then that is something to be cherished. Friendships are important and beautiful and they need to be protected at all costs.

Why do I feel like I (and others like me) need to write about friendships and families?

Because those stories are dying. Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there is nothing but Eros. You can't have a simple friendship, or even a companionship anymore. If a person is willing to die for their friend, there is more going on. If a person is willing to sacrifice their career for their friend, there is subtext. If friends support each other through rough times, There is so much subtext and sexual tension!!!!! Heck, if two people look at each other longer than three seconds they are obvious IN LOVE and need to be a couple right now, immediately.

"Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both school yard and battle field."

Bucky and Steve are a classic example of Philia. They are best friends who would literally die to save each other. Best friends who have gone to hell and back together. Best friends that people insist must have a romantic pull because why else would Steve be able to break through all the brainwashing Bucky had gone through? Why else would Bucky "Follow [that little kid from Brooklyn] into the jaws of death"? Why else would Steve cry when he thought Bucky was dead? Why else would Bucky risk his life, and get his arm blown off to save Steve? Obviously they are IN LOVE. It's Eros.

No guys. It's Philia. Yeah. Bucky loves Steve, and Steve loves Bucky, but it isn't romantic. It's a friendship, it's a bond. This is what happens when you face the world together and somehow come through it. This is what happens when most of your best moments are formed with someone you care about. This is what happens when a person sees you at your best and your worst and doesn't give up on you. This is what happens when a person fights for you and cares for you. This is Philia. This is the simple, innocent and pure love that comes from being there for each other, sharing secrets, sharing suffering, holding on to each other with both hands. This is love in it's finest form. Love isn't always Eros! It doesn't have to be Eros! IT IS VERY OFTEN TIMES PHILIA! But for some reason, our world today is determined to slant everything toward sex and romance, and so they disregard the strength of friendship, and the loyalty that exists between friends, and write it off all sorts of love, caring, and devotion as romantic.

Sherlock and John are another friendship that gets knocked into the ground and made to be something more, because why else would Sherlock fake his own death and ruin his reputation for John? Why would John care so much that Sherlock was gone, and cry at his grave? Obviously they are in love.

No one will ever convince me that you told me a lie.

A large group of fans (and people) seem to think that the only way a relationship works if it is a Love Story. They will ship almost anything they can get their hands on, and they ship it very romantically; Merlin and Arthur, Sam and Dean, Steve Rogers and Bucky, Harry and Hermione, Rick and Daryl, Sam and Frodo, Nick and Monroe, Danno and Steve, Malia and Lydia, Tony and Rhodey,  Benny and Dean, Clara and The Doctor, Shawn and Gus, Juliette and Rosalee, Aragorn and Legolas, Legolas and Gimli, Natasha and Steve Rogers, John and Sherlock, Eleven and Amy, heck, even Dean and Cas! (I don't like their friendship, but that is still all it is. A friendship.) These are only a few of the friendships that fans have turned into a romance for no freaking reason. It's like, if someone is willing to go through crap with another person, if they care about them, if they are happy and at ease around them, and enjoys having fun with them, obviously they are in love.

That is so wrong! No guys. They aren't.

"I know, Shawn. You love me. You love me like two guys can
 love each other and still have wives and kids and connecting pools."

Let me explain to you a THING.

Friendship is just as important as romance. Friendship is just as strong as romance. The love that exists between two friends is something you honestly can't find anywhere else, and it is so, so precious. I don't know why there is this vast group in every fandom ( I call it the Tumblr Group) that insists there is more going on and some sexual crap being hinted at. Oh my gosh, did they encourage each other to keep fighting? Oh my gosh, did they hug? Oh My Gosh, did they brush shoulders?? Oh my gosh, did they actually sit next to each other?? #whatispersonalspace #otpforlife

These sorts of fans have sort of leaked into everything, including books. It's seriously annoying. Like... Guys. Farid and Dustfinger? Farid and Dustfinger???? Why?? They're friends, they're like father and son more than anything else. They sort of have an older brother/little brother relationship, and it's really cute! Why would you ship them? I don't think most fans do, but there is still that group! This society is so freaking obnoxious! I will say however, that I can kind of deal with it when it's just fans being weird. At least I can tell myself they are reading the story wrong and they are just too obsessed with romance to see anything else. I can't handle it when the writers betray me and actually make the obviously just friends canonically romantic. (I'm looking at you, Megan Stiefvader)

Caring about someone, loving someone, does not equal a romance!

Take Harry and Hermione for instance. I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan, but I enjoy the movies enough that it really bothers me when people ship Harry/Hermione. I only read five of the books, but even so I still never saw for a second that they might be romantic. They were brother and sister and it was sweet and adorable, and I loved it. (I also ignore everything JK Rowling says on the subject because she is just ridiculous at this point. She wrote her story in a certain way. It's annoying that she wants to change it through twitter.) I especially liked how Harry and Hermione's friendship and dynamic was brought to life in the movies. It was so clear that they were as close as siblings, that they were family, best friends, and I really appreciated that.

I loved this dance scene 8-)

Why is it that everything has to be so strongly romantic in society today? I believe it's because people have forgotten what love actually means. It's hard in English, because unlike Greek, English only has one word to describe love. You don't get Philia, Agape, Storge and Eros. You get love, love, love, and love.

Our society has forgotten that love means loyalty. Love means "I will be there for you, no matter what." Love means, 'I won't give up on you.' Love means, 'I'm with you 'till the end of the line.' Love means 'I will sacrifice my time and my own needs for you.' Love means, 'I will take care of you when no one else will.' Love means you value someone else's life enough to risk your own. Love means you are brave enough to value life... even a life that perhaps seems unworthy. 

"I love you." - "I love you, buddy."

Steve and Danny were like a breath of fresh wind. Like Gus and Shawn, they are not at all ashamed to show they love each other, but at the same time they like totally normal best friends. They bicker constantly. They poke fun at each other. They tease each other. They disagree on a lot of things. But a the end of the day, they are still best friend. They would face fire together and they aren't afraid to show it. They aren't afraid to affection, even at the risk of being mistaken for a couple. They're just like, "Yeah, we're best friends, and your dirty minds can think what they want, but that is all that's happening here." They call each other "Babe" they say, "I love you," they hug, they share beers, they tease each other non-stop, they call each other all sorts of names, jerk, control-freak, paranoid and idiot to name a few.  They are even roommates for a little bit, and if either of them ever need a place to crash, they know their friend's house is open to them.

Isn't that the sweetest thing ever?

Why don't people like friendships? Why don't people like brotherly bonding? Why don't people like brothers and sisters existing outside the blood ties? What is wrong with love that isn't Eros? Why is love without a sexual or romantic pull any less important or amazing than being IN LOVE?

I honestly don't understand. I think our world could use some good old fashion friendships stories. Even if people still see them wrong, even if they still ship them, at least there will be a few of us still holding on to the understanding that you can love someone without being being in love with them. You can follow someone through hell without being in a romance. You can love each other more than anything, and still be just friends. (This way readers like us will also have good stories too, which is a bonus.)

This is important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We must use all the exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, just so you know, I am not trying to hate on romantic love. I think romantic love is very important too. That is another thing society is trying to crush; the strength of being in love; The strength of a marriage. Society has this twisted idea that if you fight a few times, if you have big, bad fights, if you have one, maybe three or even five years of hard times, you should give up on your marriage even if it means walking away from the person who made you see stars where there weren't any. It's sad. Because if those couples would just persevere through the hard times, they would see their love grow stronger and better. (This might become another blog post, because this subject is highly important also.) True Love and Marriage needs to be saved, just as much as friendship does.

Clint and Laura

For example; Clint and Laura are the only recent couple I can think of (in cinema and popular stories in general) that really brought to the table what it is to have a good marriage - complete with children, a home, and a deep, emotionally romantic friendship. (Like... Laura being pregnant made my day.)

Clint's kids were the cutest 8-)

If you are a writer like me who values friendship, if you are like me and value platonic love, if you value morals and good old fashion decency, please put your pen to some paper and use write to death!!! Write friendship stories to shake society. Write brother stories to shock the fandom. Write brother/sister/sisters stories as a way of saying, "No, you can love without being in love!" Write father/daughter stories, Father/Son stories, Mother/Daughter, Mother/Son stories. Write Mommies and Daddies who don't get divorced,  but fight for their marriage. Write family stories, because right now that is what the world has forgotten about, that is what the world is trying to kill. We need to save it!!

WHAT LILO AND STITCH SAID!

This is my message to writers at large! If you be like me.... write! Write until your wrists cramp and your fingers are sore. Write, write, write, never stop writing.

I was actually thinking of doing a writers camp for people like me, conservatives who love platonic love and actually remember that there should be morality involved in life choices.

What are you thoughts?

*Swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella

My sister and I are Calvin and Hobbes In Real Life.

So, Tiny is my younger sister. She is also my best friend. I know how cheesy that sounds, but it's true. 

Tiny and I have been best friends since forever. I actually can't remember a time when we weren't playing together, laughing together, cleaning together. We barely ever fought, and when we did the fights didn't last long. Usually one of us would go stomping out, slamming the door, and then about ten minutes later we'd find each other again. One of Us would crawl onto the bed next to the Other and whisper, "Are we friends again?" Then The Other would poke the One and there would be a tickle war, and the silly fight was over. I think the longest we were every angry with each other was a day. And we didn't like that at all.

All of my best memories were made with Tiny. We are only a year and a half apart, so we did everything together; from climbing on roofs to hiding in the bushes looking for fairy land, to creating a world full of bubbles, to figuring out how to make cookies without butter, milk, baking soda or sugar... yeah that happened. Ice cream,  flour-water, and oil are good substitutes right? Right??? Wrong.

We've been each other's crutch through the bad times, as well as partners-in-crime through the good times. We helped each other grow up in this mad, ridiculous world, slowly realize that growing older meant leaving some things behind, but it also meant adding to your pile. We faced some hard times together, and that is a big reason we are so close. We helped each other muddle through every day and find something to laugh at, even if that something was beads, and blanket tents. 

We used to read Calvin and Hobbes together when we were growing up. A couple years ago, we decided that we are,  in fact, Calvin and Hobbes. Hint; I am Hobbes. She is Calvin. And she agrees. 

We decided this little fact when we checked out a Calvin and Hobbes book and read this particular comic strip. We got to the part about Hobbes wearing a smock, and I was like, "We are totally Calvin and Hobbes," and she was like, "Yeah, you're Hobbes."

Since Tiny was up to visit for the week, I decided to do a Calvin & Hobbes V.S. Tiny & Bella post. 

HERE WE GO!

This comic strip feels the most relatable. It's kind of ridiculous how relatable it is. 

THIS COMIC.

The best part is, Tiny did have clay once, and I was like "DO WE GET TO WEAR GLOVES? How about cool outfits?? Ooooh can I use a cool little knife?? Can we lay out sheets and stuff? Pleeeeeeeease? I won't work with clay unless I get gloves and sheets!"

And she was like, "BELLA. STAHP."

Almost everything about Calvin and Hobbes reminds me of me and my sister. But since I can't post all  the comics, I shall post my favourites. :-)


Seriously, this is us every time we tried to be any sort of creepy thing. Every time we tried to freak each other out. Any time we played together, trying to be serious.

Mhm. This too.

Every morning. Unless it's Christmas morning.

I'm Hobbes, remember.

We can sit and do nothing for hours and it's not boring.

Alwaaaaaaaaaays.

Whenever I'm reading, writing, blogging, vidding, or pinterest-ing... basically any time I'm not paying attention to Tiny.

Yes.

I have actually done this.

LOL!

Laughing over nothing.

*gasping laughter* "Why are we laughing??" - "I don't know!" *laughter continues*

This picture. Yas.

This is how we take pictures. For real.

Just an average snow day.....

If at first you don't succeed...

We dance together and we are all over the place. (At least, I am. Tiny is better.)

We kind of dance on sync.....

Tiny's hair is so fabulous.

Sometimes I give Tiny a giant tackle hug and she freaks out 'cause I just about plow her over. *This especially pertains to when she came home after six weeks. I was so esited to see her!

YAS

We played outside all the time, even if it was just balancing on felled tree branches or fences and walking across them over and over again. We had a lot of our best conversations on those walks.

Source

We run at each other and have tickle fights. This can happen any time of the day really, but usually it happens at 9:00 PM. We will not restrain ourselves from screaming, crawling over couches, or jumping across beds to get away. And we will not draw the line at using Jess as a human shield. (Yup. That happened. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN ON TUESDAY!)

NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER SURRENDER.

*The best part was that Jess actually complied and actively took part in being my human shield.

Reason #101 my Sister-in-Law-to-be is better than yours.


We are basically a small gang and it's pretty awesome.

Mhm.

When it would rain (which wasn't very often) we jump in pools without rain boots.

Yay, rain!

Food Books and adventure = awesome summer afternoon.

yas.

Oh, you were trying to be cool?

source

I relate to this picture.

I know...

Just an average winter evening...

SSSsssss!!

I don't know why this was so much fun, but it was. There is something about sitting up against the fire until your back is on fire, then running to the couch and flinging yourself on it, as the temperature suddenly changes. It hurts for a second, but then suddenly it is cool and prickly, and your back tingles all over, and it is so exhilarating you have to do it over and over again.

Snow also meant sledding, and sledding meant racing, and racing meant we were being chased by bad guys with giant swords, or staffs, or something equally dangerous... and everything was about to get real serious.

Yay snow!

If this next picture was chess, it would be totally applicable. I don't like playing chess with Tiny. She is too competitive.

But... my Queen....Tiny...

THIS IS TOTALLY US.

We're so much like them!

 Many of our snowball fights started this way....

Mhm

Basically our whole relationship.

Beeeeeeeest friiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeends.

Tiny and I are inseparable, on both school yard and battlefield. She is the greatest friend a person could ask for, and even though she can be cantankerous, deep down she is just a big marshmallow and I love her.

And there you have it.

TWO DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE FOR DISNEYLAND!

Peace out y'all!!!

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella

We Had Fat Tuesday on Sunday

Lent starts the day after tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent is called Mardis Gras, or "Fat Tuesday." It is a day where everyone feasts and makes merry as a last hurrah before the Lenten season of fast and abstinence comes in. It originally started because in the days of the early Church, Christians would give up quite a bit of sweet foods, spices, condiments, and beverages, and they didn't want everything going bad just because they couldn't eat it. So they would have a big feast the day before Lent began to make use of as much food as they could. Catholic's give up different things now than they did then, and obviously it isn't as easy for things to go bad anymore; but the tradition stuck, and Catholics today still celebrate in much the same way.

This year I was with my brother for Fat Tuesday. He worked on Tuesday, so I had the bright idea of celebrating on Sunday when he was actually off and could enjoy it. He agreed. We bought a ton of food, we brought Tiny up for a visit, (My awesome sister) and we invited his fiance. Then we started the feast!

YEEEEEEES FOOD IS AWESOME.

See dat coffee cake in the corner? I made that. And it was fabulous.

My brother's beautiful fiance. *I am terrible at selfies.

SEE DEM SAUSAGE ROLLS? THEM SAUSAGE ROLLS MAKE-A ME CRAZY! TOO GOOD! GOOD FOOD!

BRO.

Tiny tried to photo-bomb, but her hair got in the way.

Lalala, my selfies suuuuuuuuuck.

Such hair. Wow curls.

Again with the horrid selfies.... anyway, we played dominoes! With my bro!!! In fact, he was the one who suggested it. Cause he is awesome and plays games like that. (Reason #404 Why My Brother is Better than Yours.) I've never done that. It was lots of fun! If I stared at the blocks too long the colours made my eyes cry a little, but otherwise it was great! *Tiny won.

To sum up the evening, we watched Captain America - the Winter Soldier. *cue flailing and feelings and fears*

Both Toink and Chloe had seen this before, but I don't think either of them remembered it very well. It was like Toink was watching it for the first time. Everything was so cool! or, that's rude! Like, when Cap fought his way out of the elevator and jumped out without dying, she was like;

"He's so cool, I want him."

She had a running commentary through the whole show, but I'll just give you the highlights.


*Cap throws his shield at Bucky*  Toink: "Wow. He can throw it so hard! How does he do that? Is he... awesome?

*Bucky shoots Black Widow*  Toink: "Why would he do that?? It's rude! He's rude!"

*Bucky attacks Steve* Chloe: "They're supposed to be friends! I hate this!"

*Sam gets his wings* Toink: "I love the wings guy, he is so cool. He can fly. How can he fly?"

*Bucky gets smacked: Toink: "WHY THAT GUY SMACK HIM? IT'S MEAN! Poor Bucky!" ...."Why is he in a chair? Why is he so sad?"

Chloe: "Why are they so mean to him?"

*Bucky knocks Sam out of the sky* Toink: "He took his wings! Now he's gonna die! That's rude! Why he... do that?"

*Bucky starts punching Steve* Toink: "HE SPANKED HIM IN THE FACE."

Me; I KNOW!

Toink: IT'S RUDE! POOR STEVE."

Toink: "WHY DOES HE KEEP SPANKING HIM ON THE FACE? It's rude! Does he remember him? Stop hitting him in the face, it's really, really rude!"


*Gasp* He shot him! Why he shot him? SO mean!"

.... "When is he gonna remember him???"

Chloe: "WHY hasn't Bucky remembered him yet? This is dumb!!

Toink: Why can't he remember?

Me; They took his memories and they put drugs in him so he would do what they said."

Toink: "That's. So. Rude! Why would they do that?"

Me: "So he could kill Captain America."

Toink: "They're so mean bad guys!"

.....

*The plane gets blown up* Toink: "WHY DID THEY BLOW IT UP, I DON'T WANT HIM TO DIE, ITS STUPID!"

Chloe: "WHY hasn't Bucky remembered yet?? This is dumb."


They were both very into it... crying and stuff.

OOoooh, here's a bonus of their reaction when Bucky saves Cap.

Toink was kind of in shock... lol.






It was hilarious.

Anyway, that was my "Fat Tuesday." I hope this post wasn't too jumbled.

I AM GOING TO DISNEYLAND IN A WEEK YOU GUYS.

Peace out y'all!!!

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella