D'awwwwwww

Thanks to Emily over at Emily in the Real World for awarding me the Liebster Blog Award!!! :D Here's the info behind the award:

The award is for bloggers who are nominated by others as their favorite blogs. (Me: *sheepish grin*) They must have less than 200 followers and nominees must follow these rules:

1) Post eleven facts about yourself.
2) Answer the questions posted by the nominator.
3) Pass the award on to eleven new recipients.
4) Pose 11 new questions to your bloggers.
5)Post a copy of the badge on your blog (type “Liebster Award” into Google images; you’ll find plenty to choose from). Notify nominees and include links to the originating blog, as well as the new recipients.

So...*shuffes feet* Facts about myself? Ok. Umm.

1) I taught myself to read when I was 4 years old.

2) I enjoy listening and watching other people rather than having the attention focused on me (which is why I have a blog, right? :P)

3) All of my favorite authors have been dead for at least the last several decades. With one exception for Regina Doman and the author of "Divergent" whose name escapes me at the moment...

4) I really love debating as long as everyone uses logic and it doesn't turn into a shouting match.

5) I love watching old movies and British TV sitcoms (Fawlty Towers, Yes, Minister, etc.)

6) I love swimming in the ocean (even when it's freezing and it makes my toes go numb)

7) I always sing in the shower as loudly as possible (I'm so considerate, eh?)

8) When I was little I wanted to be holy hermit in my backyard.

9) I have taken martial arts since I was 5 years old.

10) (Almost there!) I have written the first drafts to three novels, one of which will never be finished and the other two...hopefully sometime before I head off to college. :)

11) I don't have a Facebook page. Yet. ;)

And here are the questions! 

1) What is something that you loved to do as a kid but would be mortified to do now? I would act like I was a heroine in a fairy tale (literally) and I would talk to myself and act out all the parts and usually I would end up using my little brothers as the dragon/evil knight/noble steed. :D

2) If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

SCOTLAND. :D

3) What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day? Reading, writing, singing, or playing piano. I am melodramatic that way. ;)

4) What is an unusual skill you possess? I can wiggle each of my eyebrows independently. And I can curl my tongue. And wiggle my ears. And touch my nose with my tongue.

5) Would you rather have toasters for hands or have a donkey follow you around

everywhere? (This was an actual question from a recent job interview. I kid you not.) At least your job interviews are interesting. ;) I'm not sure what this is supposed to gauge, however...um. I would probably rather have a donkey following me around.

6) What is the scariest thing you ever did? Invite a guy to Mass last Monday (he came!! :D) (Side note: I am not usually in favor of the gal asking to guy to events, but it technically wasn't a date, so I figured it was okay)

7) What is your dream job? Being an author/journalist/stay-at-home-mom :)

8) What actress would you want to portray you in a movie adaptation of your life? (Again, another interview question.) Oh dear...Alice Englert?

9) What is your pet peeve? People pronouncing words incorrectly. As in, putting the accent on the wrong syllable? It's like NAILS ON A CHALK BOARD, PEOPLE. o.O

10) Hot or cold pizza? Both :D

11) Did you have a celebrity crush? Who is it? Did, or do? Haha. I actually don't really have one at the moment. Although this guy...

is quite striking.

And there you have it! And now for my nominations...

Emily at Emily in the Real World
Camryn at Interstellar Mac
Mae at Imaginations of a Princess
Victoria at Sunlight and Shadow
Rose M. at The Golden Road (I know you are taking a break from blogging for awhile, but this'll be waiting for you when you come back :))

And here are the questions for you lovely ladies...*rubs hands together*

1) If you had one chance to change the world, what/how would you do it? (muahaha. Nothing like opening up with a kicker)

2) What's your favorite TV show?

3) Favorite movie?

4) Favorite singer/band?

5) What's your least favorite chore to do?

6) What do you do when you're feeling down?

7) Who is your least favorite author?

8) What do you think of these questions so far? ;)

9) What is your dream job?

10) If you have read the Fairy Tale Novel series by Regina Doman, which book was your favorite? If not, what is your favorite book series?

11) What's your least favorite child's TV show? ;)

Yay! Thanks, Emily!!! :D

~Grace

On Changing Plans!

Happy Belated Easter!

Yay for a new liturgical season! And Spring is finally here, and we're almost halfway through April, and I'm graduating next month! *wide eyes*

Suddenly everything seems to be happening all at once. Also, I recently started working again for Little Buddy (the one with Downs) :D It's only three mornings a week for now, but once I'm done with school I'll start full-time. It's exciting and a little daunting at the same time. It's more daunting to think that I won't be in highschool anymore. I almost can't imagine it.

As far as this Fall goes, I sent an email to the admissions director asking about SAT scores, and apparently I'm good to go! All I need are my reference letters and an essay, and I'm in! I'm soooo excited. And now comes the fun part of saving up money. ;)

Annnd here comes the big news. I've kinda sorta changed my plans as to what I want to do after college. I've decided that although I love music, I don't think I can make it my life. And I've always loved to write. It's something I've known I would keep doing no matter what else I decided to do. So I came to the monumental conclusion that maybe that WAS what I could do. (*gasp*)

So my plan (for now...I'll believe it when I see it, so to speak ;)) is to get my degree from FisherMore in theology, and then go on to try to intern for some News organization (I'm hoping for somebody like Glenn Beck, but we all have our dreams ;)) and then eventually work my way up to being a journalist. And I'll probably keep writing novels and such. So you'll probably be seeing more news stories here. (*waits for collective groans to die down*) :D

And there you have it. My middle-of-the-stream switcheroo. And I will still keep studying music, but I don't think I can make a career out of it.

Also, please pray for the victims of the Boston bombing yesterday, and their families.

I have a few posts in the works. I'll try to post them later this week. Now I gotta "run" to class!

~Grace

Good Friday

Awards!! "One of the Greats"

Ok, so I just finished watching Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" for the first time...

At night.

By myself.

In a dark and quiet house.

O.O

Did any of you hear that noise??

*grips security blanket a little more tightly*

So...since I can't go to sleep NOW, I figured maybe I could mess around with Blogger or something...and then I realized that Rose M. (over at the Golden Road blog; go check it out!!) had awarded me TWICE, and I hadn't posted them yet! *facepalm* I am deeply sorry, Rose!! And thank you again for giving them to me! :D So "without further eloquence," I present the award "One of the Greats!" :D

And here are the questions that go with...

Q1. What are some of your tips for the background of blogs? Layout, colors, etc.?
A1: Oh dear...umm...pick something that goes with what you plan to blog about. Or pick something that you think fits your personality and writing style. :)

Q2: What are your favorite blog topics to write about? Books reviews, baking, everyday life, sewing, etc.?
A2: My favorite blog topic to write about would be my inconsistency in blogging! Just kidding. That's my second favorite. Haha. My favorite topic to blog about would have to be the quirkiness and fun of everyday life, with some philosophical musings and Chesterton quotes thrown in there for fun. :D

Q3: What are some of your favorite blog topics to read?
A3: Honestly, I love reading about all of y'all's daily lives!! Sounds stalkerish, no? :P I also love reading about how all of you (or most of you) can make all sorts of things, and sew and knit and do pretty much everything else. I don't know how to do any of those things, so I enjoy living vicariously through you. ;)

Q4: What is your biggest blogging tip for newbies?
A4: Consistency! Not kidding. That also means don't burn yourself out in the first week or so, because then you'll get tired of it and not post for another year. So keep it to a post a week, and that way you'll have time to formulate something you really want to say, too!

Q5: Why did you start blogging?
A5: Hard question. I guess because I write everything down...and I can't help but share my opinions with anyone and everyone (as my friends IRL can certainly testify). And because well I just like writing. I like talking about something neat I've found or something interesting I've read, or something awesomely amazing that's happened. :)

Rules!

1. Copy & paste the award to your blog.
2. Answer the questions given above (everyone answers the same questions every time).
3. Award 1-5 bloggers who are some of your favorites, give a quick description of why you chose them, and let them know you tagged them!

I award:

Emily at Emily in the Real World-- Because you're awesome, and I love reading your blog posts! I've been following your blog since it's start (my mom sent me the link from your dad's blog) and I've enjoyed reading about your adventure in "the Real World" and your hilarious take on them. :D

Cheyenne at Flowers and Chocolate: First of all for the amazing blog name :D Secondly because you comment! And you seem like such an awesome, enthusiastic, energetic person! :D Thanks for being here!

Camryn at Interstellar Mac: (I can't put the link, since it's a private blog) Because you're also awesome, and I love reading your blog because we don't get to hang out NEARLY enough, so this is another way to keep up with your doings and goings on :) Plus you always post such fun stuff!

Rose M. at The Golden Road: Right back atcha, girly! ;) I am awarding you because you are an amazing blogger, and your comments are so lovely and you seem like such a kind, awesome person :) I read your blog with great interest (and yes I did follow along with Sherlock Week! I am now a Sherlockian, and am ashamed I was not one sooner ;)) and I look forward to your next post!

So there you have it! Thanks so much, Rose!

~Grace

I promise...

This will be my last "complaining post" for awhile! I'm sure y'all are getting tired of reading them!

Actually this is more of a prayer request post, and a selfish one at that. :P

The other day a friend and I were talking about high school and the terrors thereof, and he asked me (joking) what I was going to do with myself after I graduate.

And I realized something. I haven't the faintest idea.

I mean, I know I'm going to have work and there are a million books I want to read and other classes I want to take, and I'm 99% sure of where I'm going to be taking college courses this coming academic year.

But what's next? After school? What am I going to do with my life? I love to write, I love music, I love theology, I love helping people, I love teaching, but I'm wondering if I'm good enough at any of those things to actually make a career out of one of them.

Then I tell myself to shut up and if I'm not happy with my skill level now I need to stop wasting time complaining and practice, gosh darn it. ;-)

So I guess I'm asking for prayers just to keep that mindset, instead of the pessimistic one that's been looming in a threatening manner for the past few days. :-)

For next week, I have a few political/philosophical posts coming up. Thank you bearing with me!

~Grace

Habemus Papam!!

We have a Pope!

Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio is now Francis I.

Please pray for the Holy Father, and the rest of the Church, and for the continuation of the Latin Mass.

I will refrain from commenting on any of Pope Francis I's stances until I've had time to take a deep breath and collect my thoughts. Possibly pray a few rosaries.

God bless and guide the Holy Catholic Church and her leaders, especially His Holiness, Francis I.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostris. Amen.

~Grace

I'm Not Very Good at This, it Seems...

Hi! *waves* Sorry 'bout that.

So...guess I'm kind of late to the dance with the whole Benedict XVI resigning, but hey! I mean, it's just the first time in 500 years a pope has resigned, right? No biggie.

Kidding! I am still a little in shock about the whole thing. And reading posts like this:

http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/02/did-blessed-virgin-ask-pope-benedict-to.html

And this:

http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/02/st-malachy-prophecy-why-pope-benedict.html

are not exactly helping. However, we know that whatever happens, God will always take care of His Church. We also know that it might be a good idea to start saying a daily Rosary and/or going to weekly Confession/Daily Mass, yes? :D

In all seriousness though, I'm not sure what to think of the whole "prophecy of St. Malachy". But parts of it seem to coincide with the Fatima secrets, which I do believe in. Long story short, I'm still doing my research and will post whatever results I come up with. Or I might just post another couple links to what other people (who are smarter and more knowledgeable than I) are saying about all this stuff on their blogs.

As far as the papal conclave, it's really exciting! I remember watching the news channel on TV, before Pope Benedict XVI was elected, while everyone was waiting with bated breath for that white smoke to start rising. :D This is also a primary prayer intention at my house at the moment, because, being huge traditionalists that we are, we would rather not have a Cardinal such as Shoeborn or Oullet be elected. Just sayin'. Not that we believe either of these men would consciously harm the Church, but...they're not big fans of our Sacred Tradition and prefer (as in Shoeborn's case) to hold "balloon Masses":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Lom28KSlg&feature=youtu.be

I rest my case.

(By the by, I know I'm going to be yelled at for the above comments, but I can't help it. Those are my opinions. I'd really rather not have them, but there you are.)

So! Exciting things are happening, peoples! Both in the great big world out there and at right here at home...I officially don't have to take the SAT again (I can't remember if I mentioned that in my previous post or not...and I'm too lazy to go back and check teehee), I have some very big scholarships I'm working on AND...I may or may not have met somebody in my classes this semester...:D

Ahem. So yes. I'm still alive and monitoring the happenings outside my little sphere of existence, however I am really busy. But I will try to post something once a week from now on. *nods solemnly* Now I need to go catch up on what everyone else is blogging about. ;)

OH! Also before I go, Happy Middle of Lent to you all! I know you're all enjoying it ever so much. ;) I also want to say that I'm reallyexcitedandjumpingupanddowninmychaireventhoughI'msittingbecausethisSaturdayis
myBirthday!!!!!!! :D

So yeah. That is all. ;)

~Grace

Soooooo...Happy New Year?

I AM STILL ALIVE!!

Ahem.

Now that we have that cleared up...;)

I am terribly sorry for not posting in...what? Over a month? Yeah. Unfortunately, nothing really exciting happened in that month for me to tell you a story about. Unless you want to hear my final SAT story...well, okay. You talked me into it.

(Actually this is going to be more of a rant on how low the standards of our public school system have slipped...consider yourself warned.)

So...I walk into the highschool -- which is about as big as 5 hotels smooshed together...just sayin' -- to find my fellow SAT-takers dressed to the nines in...pajamas. Seriously, guys? I know it's Saturday morning, but if I can drag myself out of bed and at least run a brush through my hair and put a pair of jeans on, so can you. And it's not even that early. Work with me, people!! :P

Now really, it went pretty smoothly, for the most part. Except none of the kids knew how to write in cursive. Or sign their name in cursive (what are they going to do when they have to sign important legal documents to, gee, I don't know...get a student loan for college? Buy a house? Get a car?), or bring their IDs with them when they left the room during the breaks. *headdesks* Plus, they were loud. And talking most of the time. Which is weird, because I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be. One of the guys was even making goat noises. I "kid" you not. (Hah! See what I did there? Ayyyyy?? :D)

But the one thing that made it really interesting was when one of the guys in my class got caught trying to use his cellphone. In the classroom. On the last section. Right before we were about to be let out. I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

Do public-school kids have any concept of the "real-world"??? Please tell me this is just a fluke, because....I mean, really?? :P I mean, I'm sure most of them did fairly well on the SAT, and I'm not saying they're all idiots. Not by a long shot. But they have no concept of responsibility, or being an adult! I mean, the whole reason they're taking the SAT is so that they can get into a good college, get a good education, and be successful adults, right? Btw, I don't actually think that college guarantees you a successful career, but it doesn't hurt. Neither does learning a little responsibility and good work ethic.

Anyways, end of rant. If y'all have any interesting SAT stories, please feel free to comment and share! :D

As far as New Year's resolutions...I have a million and one things I want to do this year. Whether or not I actually get them done is another story. ;) But I do have three main ones:

1. Be less of a smart-mouth. I don't know if you have noticed or not, but I tend to try to make "clever" remarks without thinking about whether or not I'm going to hurt anybody. Sooooo that's one of the faults I have that I'm hoping to at least minimize this year. :)

2. Figure out long-term plans. Let's face it; I'm a teenage girl. Stability is not really my middle-name at the moment. But I do need to try to set out and solidify some plans I have for the next few years, at least. I'll keep you updated. ;)

3. Learn how to really pray. This is one that I should have been working on for awhile now, but I'm finally going to stop procrastinating about it and do it. Starting with at least one rosary and one holy hour per week, plus reading St. Theresa's The Interior Castle. We'll see how it goes. Pray for me, haha. :)

So there you have it! Pretty much my life between Christmas and present! Except for my college classes this semester, but I'll save that for the next post...hopefully I'll have something more interesting to say next time! ;)

Happy New Year, y'all!

~Grace