Welcome to.....The Beast

We have a new member of our family.  He is a 2005 goldish-coloured Prado otherwise known as 'The Beast'.

Due to the rough roads down here (which are more like driveways or old tracks really) and Duncan's desire to go 4WDing, we decided it was time to trade in our station wagon.  I felt a bit sad.  The wagon had been a good car to us.

But we're looking forward to taking The Beast to Esperance with us tomorrow.  We will be camping for a week in our tent again.  I'm so, so excited to be on holidays and getting away from the farm!

It looks a bit evil at night. Hehe.

Hair Change

Last week I felt like getting a haircut.

So I did.

I like playing with Duncan's iphone.

I Know Him By Heart by Vonda Shepard

Today is Valentine's Day.  For some couples, it's a day to show how much they mean to each other.  For others, it's just like any other day.  Yet for some singles, it's a day that brings great sadness about a hope deferred.  When I was single, I was quite happy to let the day just pass on by.  I didn't want to have anti-Valentine's Day parties or listen to others moan and complain.  I just wanted to forget about it.  I tried to be content in my circumstances, but it wasn't easy.

This song from the Ally McBeal soundtrack summed up how I felt.  Despite wanting to just get on with things, I always held out hope that I would one day meet my life partner.  I knew he wouldn't be perfect, or my soul mate, or whatever some people call it.  But he would be worth waiting for.

'Cause I know he's out there somewhere,
Just beyond my reach.
Though I never really touched him,
Or ever heard him speak.
Though we've never been together,
We've never been apart.
No, we haven't met.
Haven't found him yet,
But I know him by heart.

Am I living an illusion?
Wanting something I can't see?
If I compromise, I'd be living lies,
Pretending love's not meant to be.
'Cause I know my heart's worth saving,
And I know that he'll be waiting,
So I'll hold on and I'll stay strong,
'Til then.

From Head to Hand: Imagine If You Will

Imagination is a wonderful thing.  Creating new worlds and people beyond my realms of experience and watching them unfold on paper or a computer screen is something I love doing.

I don't want it all to be about 'reality'.  I live in the real world every day.  To me, fiction is about escapism.

Having said that, I do draw a line.  I don't like plots to be TOO unrealistic.  Think of the scene in Mission: Impossible where Tom Cruise's character goes flying along in the tunnel and manages to grab hold of the train.  Or in Halloween H20 where the killer just won't die.

My own book could be best described as 'It hasn't happened yet...but it could'.  Just because we haven't seen or experienced something in our own lives doesn't mean it can't happen.  The Famous Five and the Tomorrow series are other examples....

I don't know any groups of clever children who have outwitted criminals.....but there could be.
Australia hasn't experienced a full-on invasion.....but we could.
Likewise, I don't know anyone like Hayley in my book....but there could be a real life Hayley out there somewhere.

As much as I love him, Duncan can be very annoying to watch movies with at times.  He sits there scoffing and says, "That's so unrealistic.  That couldn't happen."  I tell him, "Ssssshhh!"

If you're a writer, let your imagination run wild.  Have fun.  There will always be people wanting to tear down your plot or characters because that's not how THEY'D behave in that situation (so, in their opinion, any character who doesn't think or act like they would is unrealistic).  But it's YOUR story.

Imagine if you will.....

Quote of the Day

Imagination is intelligence having fun.
- Unknown

Get On Your Soapbox #20

I thought this was appropriate now that school is back.

I just want say a big, "BRAVO!" to all the teachers I know.

You are all amazing!  You deserve your holidays.  You deserve a pay rise.

The amount of crap you have to put up with from the Education Department, students and parents....I would have gone insane!  (Most of my friends who are teachers say it is the 'My Johnny is an angel' parents who cause the most stress).

Keep going!  Don't let the love for your subject be destroyed.  The teachers I loved the most when I was at school were the ones who were passionate about their subject, and that passion was infectious.  Don't let the jerks win.

So to all of my friends who are teachers or ex-teachers.....thank you!  I don't have kids at school, but I was a student once and I can see that what you do makes this world a better place.

There should be an international Hug a Teacher Day.

Christian Book Poll Verdict

I was hoping at least 10 people would participate in my book poll.

I got......two!

Thank you to those people.  You deserve a prize!  If only I knew who you are.

The most popular books were:

2 votes
Respectable Sins
If I Were God I'd End All the Pain
A Foot in Two Worlds
Beyond Greed
Simply Christianity
The Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness
When I Don't Desire God

1 vote
No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green
Blame it on the Brain?
666 And All That
The Heart of the Artist
Refuting Compromise

I have come to the conclusion that I just suck at surveys/polls/questionnaires.  I'm going back under my rock now.

Perhaps next time a bribe might be in order. ;)