Would you believe that a quiet game could last for fifteen minutes in a car three adults and two teenage boys that are all overstimulated and over tired? Yeah, I was surprised too..

I started watching "Bones" and now I'm hooked

If you give your college age daughter a gift card to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast one day, you'll never see it again. Or maybe if that's just if you give it to me...

I just saw a "It's ten o'clock. Do you know where your children are?" ad. They still have those?

So in my previous post I talked about how I feel that, since the last two of my three scripts have sucked royally, I really need to make the next one count. Lucky for me, the next one will probably be a collaboration piece with a friend who came to me with a great idea. But a thread sprang up on Wordplayer that has to do with self doubt that I've found helpful. Some people are like, "Well, get it out, even if it sucks. It's all practice." Other people are like "I've never understood that. It's only practice if you're practicing the right things and it will be good." Bill M. had a great response here about how everyone makes mistakes as they learn. Anticipate the mess, but don't get sloppy. I should know this. I've been writing long enough to know that what I'm doing now will not be as good as what I'll write later. It's part of perfecting the craft. Everyone's going to doubt now and then. It's all in about how you handle it.

Films/Theatre I've seen recently:

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare in the Park - Good. I always enjoy Shakespeare in the Park, and I really liked the main story. I always have mixed feelings about the play within a play, because they did it really well and we laughed a lot, but at the same time you're like, why? I'm sure there's a grand interpretation, but that was the only time I got fidgety.

Trust the Man - Really, I want to love this movie. I like it. This is the second time I've seen it. It's just, can we deal with relationships and be funny without being crass? It's just the last scene - it saves the entire movie. I love that scene, it's perfect, especially what Billy Crudup's character says. This gives us an important lesson about the last scene and how crucial it is. It can swing your viewer/reader (as long as they've made it that far).

Mary Poppins, Broadway - Not my favourite Disney movie, but they offered us reasonable tickets. And I was absolutely delighted. Really a fun, amazing show, and even with all we know about the tricks of Broadway, I found myself wonder about how they did things. I definitely recommend it for anyone visiting New York. Great singing, great acting, great numbers. Not that I've ever had any experiences like that, a nanny in England...

Factory Girl - Sad movie. Fascinating and engaging (though here, too, are scenes that...) And Hayden Christensen looks great. ; ) Good movie, but definitely not a light one.

I have Russian Ark sitting by my bed. A movie shot all in one take, a choice that amazes me. I really want to watch it, but... I'm going to go back up my poor, beat up computer instead. I found out I'm eligible for a battery recall. That's great because my battery can only hold ten minutes. But it's not being recalled because it can't hold a charge. Oh no, it's being recalled because it tends to catch fire.

What can I say? It's a Mac. It's hott.

I forget who I stole this from...

It's a funny feeling when you realize that the dreams you once had aren't going to be the ones you live out (and it's okay).

The Atlantic was born today, and I'll tell you how:
The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole.
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
Making islands where no island should go.
Oh no.

Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing floodlands to your door
Have been silenced forever more.
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before
Oh no.

I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer...

So come on, come on

- "Transatlanticism" by Death Cab for Cutie

"Niiiiice."

I'm not sure what it is, but apparently two girls wolfing down pizza and cookies as they stumble down the streets of New York is attractive to some guys. The theme of the trip is "Oh, we *were* going the right way."

Heather and I stumbled upon Power Rangers (in Space) on TV tonight. Creep-ers.

Heather and I are great at making up stories about people. Put two writers together in one of the biggest cities in the world and hilarity ensues. We almost waited out to see if this man and a woman were going to conquer the silence barrier and talk to each other like they had obviously been thinking about but it was getting cold and dark so we had to leave and we never found out if the man gathered up enough nerve to finally talk to her.

Power Rangers is getting really intense and emotional. Quite surprising.

I'm getting a little stressed about school. I just don't know how everything works for fall semester, you know? And after I gave that little speech about how I can still appreciate the mess in life, I need to, well, remember it. Sometimes I wish we could all just.... grow up.

It's Shakespeare in the Park tomorrow. A Midsummer's Night Dream. My favourite. I'm excited. : )

"E-clep-tor!"

Blast the radio, roll down the windows, scream at the top of your lungs

I love life. Sure, that's lacking my usual subtlety, but that's just the way I feel right now. Content, and excited, and happy. I think those moments when you fall in love with life are all the more precious when it hasn't always been that way and that it won't always be that way, either. Part of loving life is loving the mess that comes with it. I feel a little bit sad for those people who take the problems of their lives and become bitter and angry over them. And it's not like I'm looking for more ways to mess up my life or that I'm reveling in those things that present concerns to me, but really. My problems are there, but so are my answers. I wish people understood how to make the most out of their lives. I'm trying to learn. Ever felt like life was humming? This beautiful peace and joy. My future husband, Mat Kearney, said it best, "Father's got the best plan." : P


"I can tap dance. You want to see me tap dance?"
"I would love to see you tap dance."
- Garden State

I don't actually like *coffee,* but that's ok

I got my football tickets! I was starting to worry that they weren't going to get here in time. They're so pretty. I just need to buy more things that match with blue and maize.

My brother today told me we were going to learn to drive at the same time. Heck no! Now I'm determined to get this taken care of.

I saw Heroes the other night. I didn't find it impressive as people say, but there was a cute moment when this guy got this book for this girl about mutation or something, all on his own, without her asking. And then, I was watching Gilmore Girls, and Lorelei's car dies, and she doesn't want a new one she wants her old one, so Luke goes online, finds a car that's hers exactly, goes to the guy who owns it, tests drives it, and figures out the way to switch engines. And this is all after her and Luke have broken up. Without her asking him to do this. Guys should take notes. Because that's when we know you really like us. : P

My parents got me Cinnamon Roll Poptarts. A-maz-ing.

I'm going through social withdrawal. The only time I managed to leave the house all day today was when we went out to dinner because it was raining all day long. : ( I am *yearning* to be back at school, where it's like camp, and you're surrounded by people 24/7 and your friends are always within walking distance. But Heather's coming to visit tomorrow, and we're going to see Shakespeare in the Park and go to the top of the Empire State Building and watch lots of movies. I'm excited.

I'm also excited about these football tickets, have I mentioned that?

I hope you know

Have you ever had your perception radically changed? Completely, irrevocably, dangerously changed? People like to live in the middle. There are some things I just can't do that on. What do you do when what your heart tells you to do conflicts with what everyone else tells you to do? What if those people are people you trust and love? Do you ever break your resolve and back down? What if no one wants you to be extreme anyway?

Some things just matter too much. But people don't understand why you wouldn't want to play safe...

The Transforming Power of Film

Well, I'm back from camp. No more sleepouts. No more almost stepping on frogs in the middle of the night. No more star gazing. No more showering with insects. No more Bible Exs or devotions or awesome campers. No more cookouts and ice cream and worship Tuesday night. No more songfests. No more counselor hunts. No more bird names. No more of a lot of things. Until next summer, that is. Cross my fingers.

I didn't get much writing done this summer. Waaay too busy. I've got a few ideas though, so we'll see how it goes in the next couple of weeks.

So I have a friend whose friend had a life changing experience with a movie. He saw Transformers, and it's inspired him. To do what, you might ask.

Join the Air Force.

I don't know whether to be encouraged or exasperated, really. It is, at the very least, revealing, I think. Obviously I'm going to have to see Transformers eventually. On a similar writing note, I got my gentle let down from the Nicholls. I finished Script Frenzy with a horrendous script. So I'm feeling a little pressure to make this next script, if not good, at least a story that I like.

Ready

Hey there Delilah
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But girl tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true

Hey there Delilah
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Listen to my voice it's my disguise
I'm by your side

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me

Hey there Delilah
I know times are getting hard
But just believe me girl
Someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar
We'll have it good
We'll have the life we knew we would
My word is good

Hey there Delilah
I've got so much left to say
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away
I'd write it all
Even more in love with me you'd fall
We'd have it all

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me

A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
Delilah I can promise you
That by the time we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame

Hey there Delilah
You be good and don't you miss me
Two more years and you'll be done with school
And I'll be making history like I do
You'll know it's all because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Delilah here's to you
This ones for you

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me.

- "Hey There Delilah" Plain White T's

I think we lost Hawk

Normally, it doesn't take 2 days to travel from Indiana to Albany. Apparently, I am just the special exception.

When I got back, all the Explorer counselors ran out of Pooh Corner saying "Capri! Capri!" and jumping up and down. It was precious. And the girls in my tent had punkd my bed with tulle and given me cute craft presents (as CILTS they have to give away all the crafts they make. Lucky CILT counselor! :) )

It's my last week of camp. It's sorta a strange week. We have a drama camp, and instead of counseling the few few girls we actually have attending, I'm on the "core staff" for drama week. It'll be interesting.

I'm starting to write a little more. Getting back into the habit. Trying to find my voice and style, which is what I think I've been struggling with the past couple of projects and why I've been so unsatisfied with them.

This is the last normal day off I'm going to have. It makes me a little sad, but I've also pretty much decided today that the default plan for next summer is to come back. It's that awesome.

Firsts

First canceled flight ever. Like staying overnight in the airport in England, not nearly as romantic as I had hoped it'd be. Still, with a few connections and quick phone calls, I'm staying in one of the nicest hotels in Washington DC. Thanks, Shonda! : )