Animation

Noun:
1) The state of being full of life or vigor; liveliness.
2) The state of being alive.

I've never looked up the definition until now and I never realized how many levels it can take! I really just wanted to post something so that I get in the habit of posting once a week and thought of these shorts that are moving and entertaining.

These three shorts (click the links below!) I have stumbled upon and just love! I hope you do to. And that they help you to find the animation in your life.

Serenade to Miette (Toniko Pantoja)

Crayon Dragon (Toniko Pantoja)

Thought of You (Ryan Woodward)

A long time coming...

Almost six months in fact. Yikes! And I am ashamed to admit that I haven't really done much in my writing pursuits though some of my artistic side has popped up more (but I'll get to that in a bit).

Just going to do a little run down on my life as a way to explain my lack of updating as well as, in all honesty, giving a bit of an excuse to those of you who have kept up with my imaginative ramblings. I have just finished my college education, I can even see the mail envelope that my diploma came in sitting upright in a bag of writing and artistic ideas against the couch in my living room. So I guess up until May I was too busy with school, nor was I taking a creative writing class, and just didn't have time to be worried about writing while I was worried if I would graduate or not.

The following month was spent for frivolous adventure...FINALLY! My days were filled with YA novels and Chick-Lit books and my brain took a break from studying and classic readings. I watched some shows and movies that I had been meaning to get around to and came to realize that I enjoyed most of what I had read or viewed. I welcomed two new additions as well into my family. A cousin married and I became an Aunt to a (hopefully ginger because she would be as cute as a button) little girl! I also planned on moving though that has been pushed back now...hopefully I'll be in a new home, with new ideas, by the end of the month.

But I haven't totally abandoned my artistic side while on this hiatus. I've made things, gifting them to people for Mother's/Father's day (Dad, you'll get it, Tiff and I promise!) or for birthdays. Being broke and without a job can force a creative streak when it comes to gifts for the people in your life who you want to give to. And through this process I've come to see that I have a knack for one of the ways I've been making images for people. Collaging. And even though it takes a little time, a lot of glue and scissor cutting, as well as the continuous pushing of my glasses back up onto my nose, it really is worth it when the image is done and my friends can enjoy it.

(Here's just one example. It's the best phone photo that I have right now to share with you. And for the people who don't know what this image is, it is a referenced interpretation of two of the main leads for the current cast of BBC's Doctor Who.)

And with that little reveal I guess I have some more information to tell. My blog will be changing a bit. I don't plan on using it just for writing anymore but for whatever art I make that I'm proud of and want to share. Or whatever happens to inspire me. This blog is here for me to grow and to even keep track of that growth and development. Hopefully I, and you all, will see improvement even if the posts are few or bulked together. I might also re-blog other artists that I have found that have inspired me to began my art again. Here are just a few...click their name to go to their blog/art shop if you want a look, each is unique and amazing. (Gingerhaze, Junyi Wu, Burdge, Kevin Wada, Jessica Durrant, Brittney Lee, and Alice X. Zhang.) They all have inspired me because of their amazing technique and individual styles that are so lovely or simplistic or complex (depends on who's work you're looking at) that I don't think I could even fully describe my love for their artistry! I might also re-blog some of my sister's work (Tiffany Dyer Photography) because she inspires me as well, her photography continues to grow better and her body of work stronger with each new idea and assignment.

But for now, I think I'm going to wrap it up here because it's late (two in the morning...kind of wanted to go to bed at midnight at the latest!) and I've also lost my train of thought. Haha. Maybe I'll come back later today or sometime this week and continue this...until then...

(man...kind of want a "slogan" to sign off with...I should start thinking of one...)

IT'S 2012!!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

I don't really have and resolutions but more things that are sort of goals. There is the typical: getting in shape. But then some that are more geared towards me, writing more (UPDATING more-lol) and reading for fun more. Maybe even work on getting my licenses! So many good things happened last year and I can't wait for all of the awesome things to come.

So again, Happy New Year and Happy Reading :)

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“Why aren't we watching Dick Clark's New Year's special again?” Bobby asked again, mostly around a mouthful of hotdog and ketchup.

“Because,” Sadie stated, her attention on the television as Phoebe sang to the customers of Central Perk, “our house, our show. And you invited yourself over anyways. Chandler and I were content to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S., eat pizza, and stay in our sweats all night until the end of the world began.” Sadie scooted over towards Chandler more, further away from Bobby.

Chandler just turned up the volume more, trying to get Sadie and Bobby to stop bickering, and focus more on the interruption taking place in the coffee shop on screen.

Instead Bobby continued to whine, “I'm soooo bored!”

Chandler could feel Sadie tense up beside her, getting ready to lay into Bobby again. But before Sadie could say anything Chandler switched off the television and sat up, knocking Sadie behind her against the couch cushions. “Bobby get out!” Chandler's voice was a little hard as she held in the frustration and annoyance that typically came when Bobby was around.

“What did I do?” Bobby asked, his pale eyebrows popping upward.

Standing up and heading towards the door as the bell rang and grabbing her wallet Chandler said to Bobby, “I don't mean to sound rude but you have intruded on our evening of girl-vegging. You can leave with the pizza guy.”

Bobby got up, stomping his way to the door as Chandler paid the delivery guy and got her and Sadie's extra large, extra cheese and pepper pizza. “Whatever,” he mumbled, snatching his coat from the rack and pushing past the pizza guy, knocking him in the shoulder.

“Don't you think that was a little harsh?” Sadie asked, sliding over to the open box and picking a pepper off to pop in her mouth.

Shrugging, Chandler sighed, “A little. I'll text him later and apologize or something. I just didn't want him intruding on our night is all.” Chandler picked up a slice, focusing on separating the last strands of cheese from the rest of the pizza. “It's tradition for us to do this, ever since mom, dad, Aunt Emma, and Uncle Greg threw us together when they went to that party eleven years ago.”

“Hmmmhmm.” Sadie agreed, her mouth full of pizza. Swallowing she said, “Okay, but don't wait too long to say you're sorry. Bobby's a pain but he's still apart of our lives anyways.”

“I won't,” Chandler said as she clicked on the TV again to the part where Joey kisses Chandler after the New Year's ball has dropped.

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A/N: Okay, that got a little mean. Sorry about that. Maybe that's what Chandler can work on, her people skills (though Bobby could work on being less of a nuisance-lol). But Chandler can't be perfect, she has to have faults so here you go.

Hopefully I'll be able to update more this year (I only have the final semester left of college o.O SCARY!)

Colored Ribbon, Sticky Kisses, and Warren

Happy day after Christmas!! I'm only one day behind for this holiday piece but I feel like that's alright, this holiday season has been a good one and I didn't want to ruin it by isolating myself for an hour writing this. Instead I spent time with my family and had a wonderful Christmas even though there were some rows and it got a bit too loud sometimes but that's what happens when we're all together. So I'm just going to wish all of you a Happy Christmas (though it's belated), a Merry New Year, and a Happy Reading.

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As Chandler woke up she could hear her parents in the kitchen, messing with Christmas morning's breakfast and her small nephew keeping them company. Stretching, Chandler's foot nudged something at the end of her bed causing it to moan out a small “mew.”

“Warren,” Chandler murmured as the large, ashy gray cat prowled up her legs to rest on her stomach, blue eyes half closed but staring in her direction. Warren was her brother Mike's cat, named after his favorite X-Men when he was younger. But the feline had taken more of a liking to Chandler, always sneaking out of Mike's room to sleep at the foot of her bed each night.

Reaching up to scratch behind his ears Chandler could hear the beginning tones of Warren purring. The vibrations running along her stomach too. “Merry Christmas.” Chandler said quietly to the cat while looking at the blue, digital numbers from her alarm clock. It was almost nine o’clock, almost time to get up and open presents. “Come on big boy,” she said as she picked up Warren and rolled out from under the covers. “Time for breakfast.”

Walking down the hallway Chandler could hear the voices in the kitchen grow louder and the smell of coffee becoming stronger. She also saw the Christmas tree in the living room. The lights were still on and the clear ornaments reflected back sun-lights of pink, green, and blue all over the brown wrapped presents under the tree. That had been a tradition in the family that Chandler's parents had started. To recycle old, brown paper bags for wrapping and tying off with a colored ribbon, each specific for one person. There were six different colored ribbons under the tree, Sadie's were always green, her favorite color. Some of Mike and Rose's gifts were wrapped with both colors, indicating that it was a gift for them as a couple.

Warren turned a little, his claws digging into the cloth shirt Chandler was wearing. “All right. All right.” Chandler said to the restless cat and walked into the kitchen, letting Warren jump from her arms onto the floor as she got his kitty bowl out and filled it with food.

“Auntie Candler!” Jay yelled, reaching for her instead of leaving his place from in front of his pancakes to hug her like he wanted to do. “Santa came! He ate the cookies and the carrots are gone!”

“Really?” Chandler asked him as she got a cup of coffee after putting away the kitty kibble. “Did you see him?”

Jay's face fell a little then, “No, I fell asleep.”

Chandler chuckled at her nephew, marveling at how he could pronounce his “r's” now and his still child-like love for Santa and Christmas.

“We're doing presents soon,” Emma, Chandler's mom said as she and the rest of the family started cleaning up their breakfast plates. “You better eat something Chandler.”

“Yes mom,” Chandler said, sitting next to Jay and half listening to him talk about what the big box under the tree could be as she grabbed a couple of pancakes and spread applesauce on them. He kept going back to a puppy.

“Jay-Bird,” Rose said to her son, extending her hand out to him so he would take it and follow her. “Let's get you cleaned up.”

Stopping mid sentence and standing up in his chair Jay leaned over and gave Chandler a sticky kiss on the cheek, “Merry Christmas Auntie.”

Smiling and ignoring the stickiness on her cheek, Chandler said “Merry Christmas Jay-Bird,” to the retreating form of Jay and returned to her pancakes, too lazy to wipe her face yet.

Warren hopped up into the now empty seat beside Chandler and mewed a little, his blue eyes half closed again.

Chandler smiled again, the syrup still on her face and her hair catching in it as she realized, in his own feline way, that Warren had just wished her a Merry Christmas too.

Rock, Paper, Turkey

Okay, here it is. I told you I would put one up...SUCCESS! I just want to throw some ground rules out for you (and myself because I keep forgetting-lol). I'm going to try and stick to Chandler and make it 3rd person point of view. I haven't really stuck to this, so hopefully by making the choice now it'll stick. Haha. So happy turkey day and happy reading!!

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“Umm...can you read that again?” Sadie squeaked, her disgust mingled in with surprise.

“We're suppose to clean it out and stick the veggies in there...” Chandler trailed off, her amber eyes lingering on the turkey carcass in the pan on the counter.

“I'll play you for it.” Sadie quipped, her own mossy-green eyes on the turkey.

“On three.” Chandler said, putting the cookbook on the counter and readying her right fist. “One...two...three...shoot.”

Sadie pulled paper, her gold nails playing off the light as they faced upward, and Chandler pulled scissors. “Two out of three?” Sadie asked, her voice gaining a hint of desperation as the thought of touching the cold bird became more apparent.

“No way,” Chandler backed up and went over to the potatoes on the stove, “I'm going to start on the potatoes then desserts. Don't forget to tie it off and baste it after you put in the veggies.”

******

It only took Sadie an hour to get the turkey together, her disgust for touching the turkey lessening after the cavern was filled and tied off at the legs. “I'm going to shower...with lots of hot water.” Sadie said as she left the kitchen, her hands as far away from her body as possible.

Chandler nodded and rubbed her forehead before going back to kneading the dough for the homemade rolls that night. Ten minutes passed before the doorbell rang announcing that Sadie's parents and Chandler's family had shown up. “Door's open!” Chandler called out, setting aside the rolls now so they could raise before being put into the oven.

******

The Macy Thanksgiving Parade music switched to that of a football game, the commentators remarking on different plays and passes as Chandler ran around the kitchen.

“Are you sure you don't need any help honey?” Emma, Chandler's mom asked as she hovered in the doorway of the kitchen watching her daughter move from one pot to another in a rush.

“I'm fine mom,” Chandler clipped out, her attention more focused on the meal then on her mother. “Sadie and I said we would take care of it this year--”

“Yeah,” Sadie said as she moved past her aunt to put a cooled pie into the fridge and away from people's picking fingers. “We've got this Auntie Em. Being grown up and what not. Go out an enjoy the parade.” Sadie finished, popping the fridge door closed with her hip and smiling up at her aunt.

“Alright,” Emma said before leaving the kitchen. The door swung back into place once she moved and left Chandler and Sadie to themselves.

“I can't believe we agreed to this,” Chandler frantically whispered to her cousin. Her blonde hair was loose in the hair tie causing her long fringe to hang around her face. There was a streak of flour across her forehead from when Chandler worked on the bread earlier that morning, she hadn't had time to wash it off yet.

Sadie walked over to Chandler, nudging her aside a little. Next to her cousin, Sadie looked well having been able to sneak in a quick shower before the main food needed more work. “Let me take over for a little bit. Go take a shower or something, it'll be fine Chan.”

“But--”Chandler started to protest as Sadie pushed her cousin through the door.

“Go, I've got it.”

******

Chandler stood in her bathroom, washed and dressed in something clean, and worrying about the meal that her and Sadie had been making. What if it turned out awful? What if they burned something? Did they forget anything that they had needed? Looking down, Chandler saw her thinning sheers sticking out of the open drawer. Grabbing them, she pulled a section of hair forward and snipped, this she had control over.

******

“Cute bangs,” Sadie said as she pulled the turkey out of the oven to check it's process.

“Thanks.” Chandler pulled the rest of her hair into a ponytail to keep it out of the way as she finished helping Sadie out.

Closing the oven door again Sadie walked over to Chandler and placed an arm around her shoulders. “You freaked out didn't you?” Her voice had a light tone to it.

“A little,” Chandler chuckled, “figured I could control my hair but these stupid things aren't cooperating either.”

“It'll be fine. And everything is done too.” Sadie said, tugging on Chandler’s hair and resting her head on her cousin's shoulder.

Blowing up to move the fringe from her eyes Chandler stirred the green beans once more. “Okay, let's eat.”

“Great, I can't wait to eat this! Especially that turkey, it doesn't look so gross anymore.”

Laughing, Chandler moved the green beans into a bowl. “Yeah, and we didn't blow it up like dad and Uncle Andrew did last year.”

Movember

Okay...so I totally forgot to do a Halloween piece, I'm truly sorry (blame the education system, it has been keeping me waaay too busy). So you'll get two “holiday” posts for November. No-Shave November and Thanksgiving. Here's the first one!

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“I'm thinking of doing that thing.” Sadie said when she walked into the kitchen, her feet catching on the him of her sweatpants.

“What thing?” Chandler asked, her voice amplifying around her as she reached into the dryer for the last, lone sock stuck in the back.

Sadie walked over to the snack bowl and grabbed a small bag of chocolate covered cashews. “That thing Josh is doing. Not shaving.”

Straightening up Chandler looked at her cousin, the sock with its mate snuggled next to it now, and raised a blond eyebrow. “You do know that not shaving is to raise awareness for testicular cancer right?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Sadie murmured around a mouthful of cashews. Swallowing, she said “Yeah, but it's for other charity events too. It's cold anyways so its not like I'll be wearing shorts and stuff.”

“I guess...” Chandler drew out, giving her cousin an odd look. “I guess it makes sense.”

“I know right?! PANTS!” Sadie emphasized. Her eyes brightening at the revelation. “And my shower time will be cut in half basically. It's a win-win.”

Untitled Rough

So I'm in a fiction class right now and thought I'd post something from class. This is the beginning to the second story I'm working on now. I'll post again on Halloween for sure with Sadie and Chandler. Until then happy reading!!

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They come every afternoon. Never twice in a row, with words and stories that they feel like I should know. And I can't remember. No matter how many times I hear about breaking my arm when I fell out of a tree. Or the silly made-up award I got during a choir banquet. I can't remember anything since the accident. My childhood, my adolescence, some of my adult life, gone.

I know the stories told and the people who come now. I just can't remember the events or who the people use to be to me.

***

It's Tuesday. Lunch today is turkey on wheat with applesauce and a snack-sized bag of potato chips that are mostly crumbs. Edna is here too. She always brings a thermos of hot cocoa. It's old with a red plaid design on the outside and a matching red cup on top. She says that it had been Jack's, my grandfather. Edna always tells me when she pulls out the thermos from her knitting bag. I just nod. I've heard it so many times that I know she's going to say it. Edna will tell me how Jack took it with him on every camping and fishing trip, how when I was younger I would always carry it out to him before he would drive off in that old, rusty pick-up of his.

I think it breaks her heart when I call her Edna. She always insists on me calling her “Gammy” but I can't. I feel no connection to this woman. Sometimes it breaks my heart too. But I don't understand the love that Edna is always trying to give me and she leaves, the thermos back in her knitting bag along with her stories of myself and Jack.

***

Friday, the day of my discharge. Jamie and Dean are here to pick me up and take me back to their place. The doctor says that familiar places might trigger my memories. So I'm going home. That's what Jamie and Dean are saying anyways, that they are taking me home. I imagine that they'll show me pictures that were once meant for photo albums with smiles on their faces that hold false hope. And I'll look with blank eyes and try to comprehend. But their stories make me tired and their house makes me feel out of place.

***

“I don't like raspberries.”

A glass drops. It must have slipped through Jamie's fingers. “Tessa, what is it sweetheart? What did you say?” She's next to me now, her light green eyes searching mine. It's uncomfortable.

I shrug and nudge the plate in front of me with the assortment of fruit. “I don't like raspberries.” I concentrate on my fingers, the index and middle finger are bound together, they must have broken in the accident.

Jamie's breathe catches and I can feel her hands tremble on the armrests of the wooden kitchen chair I'm sitting in. “And the others?”

I pick up a slice of a pear, the skin is a yellowish-green, and take a bite. “I'm allergic to peaches, I think.” I mumble around the meat of the fruit and pop the other half into my mouth, reaching out for a piece of an orange next.

Jamie places her arms around me, her whole upper body is trembling now, and hugs me. I turn my head away from her and see the broken glass. Jamie had poured milk into it before it hit the floor. A pool of watery white liquid runs across the tan-tilled floor.

***

It's been four months since I was discharged from the hospital. I'm remembering more now. How the mini-van had run the red-light, causing me to t-bone my motorcycle into it, helmet flying off after I first hit the ground, and me flipping over the trashed hunk of metal. That the EMT's had to cut me out of my favorite pair of light-washed jeans. That Nora, a young woman that had stopped visiting my second week in the hospital, had been my girlfriend of three months. My guess is that she couldn't handle me not remembering her.

I can recall breaking my arm now, how Dean had cursed up a storm in the ER. I know my vocabulary expanded that day and that Jamie wouldn't have cared for her eight year old little girl to know so many new four-lettered words.

I can even remember trivial things. That my favorite flowers are violet freesias. That I love cereal so much I know I could eat it for a month straight. That I prefer blue pens over black. My guilty pleasure before the accident had been Cake Boss. And I can remember that when I was younger I did want to be a legitimate princess with a stable full of ponies and a pretty golden crown.

I tell Jamie and Dean everything when I remember and write it down. Jamie always calls Edna to let her know what I'm learning about myself. Sometimes I overhear their conversation. How they both wish that I could remember more, remember them and that they're my family.

***

It's a Saturday, there's a cookout happening outside with no chance of rain. I keep to myself, wanting to stay away from the vaguely familiar people who shove their sweaty palms into mine. “Tessa, darling, please.” Dean says to me as he grabs the hotdogs and patted out hamburgers from the refrigerator for the barbeque. “Just try, for your mom's sake.”

I stir the macaroni salad, making sure to mix the onion, tomato, and cucumber cubes in with the noodles. “Dad, I can't...” I start, my spoon stopping mid-stir after the words are out of my mouth. I glance over at Dad and I can see a smile pulling at his bearded cheeks. “Alright, maybe it won't be so bad.”