I Am Back

Well, it has been over a year since I really did any blogging on any of my blogs. I have most likely decided to stay here on Blogger, since I already have all my work here and all of you, my poor abused followers. Much has changed in both my personal life and in my writing life. This post will be a get to know me and my stories post.

I am 22 years old and still single. I have been going to college for 2 years, first as a Nursing student, then as an EMT. I have finally decided that I want to study something that makes me happy instead of makes me money. So a few weeks ago I switched my degree to Culinary. Taking care of people and their problems is just not for me. 

Back in September I moved out of my parents home and am now living on my own for the first time ever. I now live in Bend Oregon in a small studio apartment right next to the college. It is a bit frightening being out on my own, but it is also incredibly exciting! 

I have been fighting severe depression for a little over a year now and some days I can be downright gloomy. I don't believe in taking medication and have been totally going this alone. In fact, you my dear blog, are the only person I have told other than my Journal, who is my best friend. 

I find things that are sad and broken to be the most beautiful things on earth. And characters that are sad and broken are my favorite to read about and to write about. 

Speaking of writing, it is time to introduce you to my newest arrivals. Rowan and Soryn's story has been set on the back burner until I get some new inspiration and perspective for that tale... it is seriously lacking any plot and I cannot figure out how to save it. 

My newest story is called The Indometus. It is a series really, and I have not figured out the individual book names yet. The Latin word “Indometus” means untamed or wild ones. In this tale it is used by the Catholic Church to refer to any “Fantasy” creatures, including Elves, Fairies, Gnomes, Warlocks, etc… They have been deemed “unsaveable” by the Church, and are therefore hunted like animals. There is a special order in the church that is trained specifically for the hunting and killing of these “wild” races. The church authorities simply want them dead, and they look the other way as the hunters brutally murder and pillage their way through towns and families of these “inhuman” races. They ignore the cries of the children and the screams of the women. The hunters are brutal; murdering, raping, and maiming all of the wildlings they happen across. It has in a way, become a war between the church, and the “unsaveable” ones… the Indometus. This is actually a series, consisting of 3 books so far and a sub series.

The main character is Gabriel Moreau, a half blood. He lives with his human mother, but his father was an Elfin warrior name Rilnor. Rilnor, before his death, was the personal guardian and friend of the Elfin prince gone insane, Dahvey Cygne. Dahvey is still around and has been looking after Gabriel since he was a child, guarding him from afar. 

The secondary character and in all relaity, the main character of the overall series is Dahvey. He was once a great Elfin warrior and the prince of the mountain elves. He has always had a bit of a troubled mind, a result of a curse that happened before he was born. But he went completely insane after the death of his wife. It has been 150 years since then, and he appears sane, but his mind is only hanging on by a thread.

Oh how I love writing his broken mind... It is beautiful! There are no words to describe how much I love this man. He is a part of me in ways NONE of my other characters have ever been.

This series has a sub series with is called The Indometus: Rise of the Hunter.  Many centuries have passed since the death of Dahvey Cygne and the annulment of the Indometus act. It is now the 21^st century. The elves have established a community called the ??? and they are located at the heart of modern day Paris France. They have their own leaders (Decedents of the Cygne family), their own laws, their own school and their own army. They have learned to blend with the human culture but to also stand apart from it. Gabriel is a respected Eldar and teacher. It is well known that he is one of the few that knew the hero, Dahvey personally. Born amidst this community, is the youngest Cygne heir. He is named Joffrem, or Joff. As he grows older, Gabriel begins to see that Joff is practically a reincarnation of Dahvey, in appearance (except for the hair of course) and attitude. In Joff’s 17^th year, rumors begin to rise that an ancient evil has begun to rise again, and with the unexpected arrival of a Drakki, no one knows what to think.

Joff is a lot like Dahvey and most worrying of all, especially for Gabriel, is the fact that he bears the mark of the curse. Something that hasn't shown up since Dahvey bore it. 

Secondary character is Sevi, Joff's best friend. He is quiet and gentle, the perfect companion for hot tempered Joff.

Well, there you go. That is what has been up in my life since we last talked. I also have a couple other stories that are hovering around in my brain, but they are not  really developed enough to put here. Just know that Rachel is my emo girl in a post apocalyptic story and Misha is my deaf Asian kid who is a music prodigy in my story called Unforgiven.

 

 Talk to ya all later my friends.

All Good Things Must Come to an End... A Summery

Well, in one week, I begin school again! And while I cannot say that summer break went the way I had planned, It was still altogether a good summer! I personally think that they made summer break the perfect amount of time! When it first began, I was worn out, exhausted both mentally and physically, and never wanted to hear the word "school" again. Then as summer progressed, I began to relax a little, and remember the good times of the school year. And then as the end of August and the beginning of September arrived, I began to look forward to, and anticipate the coming year!

Things I planned to do, but didn't get to do this summer --- 
Focus on writing, keep my room clean o_0, do some scrapbooking for Christmas presents, and most of all... visit my visit my very dear friend Becca Anne :'-(.

Things I planned to do and got to do ---

Watch the Avengers in theater!!! It was sooooooo awesome!!!

How could it not be when you have all of my favorite super hero's (except for Batman) packed into one film!!! Ironman, Thor, Loki... It was awesome!

Watch Brave in theaters!!! Another totally awesome movie!!!!!

It is about a Scottish Princess who accidentally curses her family (I wont say how). It has some parts in is that had my whole family doubled over in laughter!

Go Camping!!! We went on a family camping trip to Wickiup Lake and had a BLAST!!!!!

Dakota, Dad and Me

Dad teaching ShawNee to build a campfire

Sunset on Wickiup Lake

Putting together the Kitchenet turned out to be a whole family experiance

Badminton  on the beach (horrible sunburn afterwards)

Ukiyah having fun

And now I will close with some other movies that I got to see (not in theaters) that I would recommend to anyone:

Charlies Chocolate Factory (with Johnny Depp) 

Alice in Wonderland (with Johnny Depp)

 

Forbidden Kingdom (with Jackie Chan)

Enchanted (all the old fairy tales put into one princess! It is sooooooooo funny!)

Gnomeo And Juliet (hilarious and very clean!!!)

Well, that's all for tonight...

Updates On a Busy Summer

Well, if I thought I was going to spend the summer writing, I was wrong. It is what I planned to do with my precious time out of school, but my parents had different plans all together... Projects!!!! ._. So instead of spending quality time with the my dear characters (and keeping them out of trouble), I spent it cleaning out every cupboard in the house, and organizing every room... sigh....

Now, two weeks before I start school, guess who comes knocking on the door of my mind... Soryn of course, and true to his name of being the most mischievous character in my story, he let me know that while I was gone he had messed everything up, and become my secondary main character (among other things...). Why does it always happen right before school starts...

As for school, I am taking alot of the arts this term! Drawing, Piano, Voice, and my last writing class! I think it is going to be a fun term! I am looking into the possibility of transferring to a Christian college next fall, (a year from now) that is near Portland Oregon. I have never been very fond of the college here in Bend, for one because they don't offer very many good courses, and secondly, because It is very difficult to find someone I can relate to as a young Christian woman, looking to grow in the Lord. After I finish Nursing School (2-3 years from now) it is my dream to volunteer for 2 years on the Mercy Ships! A christian organization that sends medical help to all of the 3rd world countries and helps them for free!

As I have already mentioned, school starts in 2 weeks, and since I have a writing class, I might not have time to post on here very often, but I will try to as often as possible. Just thought I would let you know ahead of time so nobody starts thinking that I have died or anything, (which is possible if I don't start paying attention to Falcon, as he is my second most mischievous, and most dangerous character).

I will conclude this post with a picture of the cutest 3 year old in the world!!! My little bro Ukiyah!

    
Isn't he the cutest!!! XD

Well, talk to ya all later!
Sierra

The End of One Thnig and the Beginning of Another

Well, summer break is finally here! I have officially survived two full terms of college! After being so busy over the last six months, it is a strange feeling to have nothing to do. I must now decide what I want to do over the summer months. Other that the normal college student summer goals, such as get a part time job, work on my fitness, etc... My main plan for the summer is to write! My dear characters have been neglected for far too long, and I do think a few of them are getting crabby.

Today I sat down at my computer for the first time in nearly six months and opened the file named "My Story". The moment I opened up the file, I entered into that wonderful world, my world. I began to write, slowly at first, for I was a bit rusty, and then with more and more speed, until now, 1,500 words later I am ready to share a small snippet with you, my friends.

Why this rare treat, you my ask, well, I will tell you. Today I got the wonderful, thrilling pleasure of writing into being for the first time, my most favorite character that I have ever created... Soryn Llyr. He is no longer a figment of my mind, waiting for his part to come, no, he is now reality. I think this must be how it feels to have a baby, to be waiting so long for this person you have created and grown to love, and then to see him finally come to life... ah, it is a feeling like no other. 

And now, without further ado... I give you Soryn Llyr!

I have decided to simply give you the whole scene, with the exception of a small part, since I don't think it gives anything away, and it will give you a good feel for my whole story, not only Soryn.

"The Clapping Clam tavern was an old stone building with ivy growing up on either side of the wooden door. As soon as they walked in the door Rowan and Brogan were greeted by the smell of the clam chowder for which it was famous, a blazing fire, and the soft trill of a harp, from the corner where old Marc, the local bard sat. “Well, Lord Brogan! What can I get for ye today?” asked Balbo, the tavern keeper. He was a medium sized man in his early 40’s with broad shoulders and a middle to match. He had laughing blue eyes and his light brown hair and beard were slightly unkempt, giving him a flustered look. “Hello Balbo, I will get the usual, chowder and an ale.” Answered Brogan as he looked around the crowded room for a place to sit. “And you, young miss, will it be the usual chowder an’ cider for ye?” he asked cheerfully. “You guessed it,” replied Rowan as she followed her father to a table near the fire.

“So, what have ye been up to for the last month?” Brogan asked after they sat down. “Oh, the usual,” she answered, “Hiding from mum and Ella, lest I be made to sit around and do some of that wretched embroidery, sword practice with Sir James, poor Galien trying to get me to hit a target with a bow,” Brogan laughed, “What?” she asked incredulously, “I don’t know why he doesn’t just let me use my sling, I’m much better with that.” She took off her cloak and hung it over the chair in front of the fire. “So what about you, Did anything interesting happen while you were in Brockhoist?” She thought she saw a shadow of worry cross her father’s face at the mention of Brockhoist, but it disappeared just as quickly, and before she could ask him about it, Balbo arrived with their food. Two huge bowls of thick, creamy clam chowder, a thick slab of fresh bread, and two large mugs, one of ale, and one of steaming apple cider. “Thar ye go my Lord,” He said as he set it down on their table, “Fresh made,” he said proudly. “And it smells as good as ever, thank you Balbo.” Brogan replied, his smile returning. As he reached for his spoon, the tavern keeper bobbed his head several times and moved away from their table, smiling cheerfully.

As they ate, Marc the Bard, began playing a light jaunty tune on his harp that soon had everyone’s feet tapping and several men clapping their hands to the rhythm. Balbo was scurrying back and forth, refilling mugs of ale, bringing food to newcomers, and clearing the tables of those who had left. Rowan sighed contentedly as she leaned back in her chair with her mug of cider. There was no other place on earth she would rather be....

....Rowan turned her attention back to her food, but the contented feeling had lessened as she mused over Black Tom and his friends. Suddenly a cheerful greeting broke through her thoughts, “Well, Brogan me chap, ye made it back in time after all!” She turned to see the massive form of Odif, the horse trainer walking towards them. “Aye Odif, ye didn’t think I’d miss me ol’ friend’s wedding did ya?” said Brogan as he stood to shake hands with Odif and give him a massive clap on the back. Rowan noticed the slight shadowy form of Soryn, Odif’s nephew, standing slightly behind his uncle. “Hi Soryn,” she ventured, Soryn turned and glared at her, his dark brow furrowing in a scowl and his black eyes snapping in annoyance. Odif turned to his nephew and frowned. “Soryn, are you going to greet the young lady or not?” he asked, pinning Soryn with his piercing deep blue eyes. “Hi.” Soryn sneered before sitting by himself at a separate table.

“You’ll have to excuse him, he’s been having a hard time with my gettin’ married.” Odif said softly. “Why?” Rowan asked, stealing a sidelong glance at the brooding figure at the other table. “I think he’s afraid that it will turn out like when his father remarried.” “What happened?” She asked, unable to mask her curiosity. “Rowan,” Her father chided, somewhat sternly. “It’s alright Brogan,” Odif replied. “You see, Soryn’s father remarried because he needed someone to watch over his son while he was out at sea, but Soryn’s stepmom hated him, and every time Svengal, Soryn’s father, was gone she would have no mercy on him. When his father died when he was eight, her hatred of him got so bad that he ran away from home and had to learn to live out on the streets. Finally when he was seventeen he walked all the way from Brockhoist to here and found me. Since then he has been able to find a small amount of happiness liven with me an’ working with my horses, but now I’m gettin married, and I think he’s afraid he’ll get kicked out again.” Odif sighed sadly. “Why don’t you tell him that won’t happen?” Rowan asked, “I’ve tried,” Odif said sadly, “But he’s had a hard life for his young age, and has learned the hard way to trust no one.” “Oh.” Rowan replied. “But,” said Odif in a slightly more cheerful tone, “he just got accepted as Darryl Retawz’s new apprentice! I hope the woods will do him some good, and who knows he might even make friends with Darryl’s boy, Atokad.” “That’s great!” said Brogan as he mopped up the last of his soup with his bread.

Rowan turned to study the young man at the other table; his black hair was kind of long, and was cut around the base of his neck, his skin was bronze, and his black eyes now studied his hands which were folded on the table. He was the same height as her, and slightly built, but she had seen him working with horses, and knew he was strong. His shoulders were now hunched miserably, and his mouth turned down in a frown, but of course, he was always frowning. She had only seen him smile once, when he was working with a young horse, and it at last decided to trust him. As it nuzzled first his hand, and then his neck, he had smiled, and laughed a little too. He stirred suddenly, as if he could feel her watching him, and she turned away before he could catch her.  

Brogan and Odif talked for a long while over several mugs of ale, but finally Brogan rose to leave. “Well, I best be heading home before Aswyn starts worrying what happened to Rowan.” He said as he paid Balbo for the meal. “Aye, I’ve got a bit of work to finish up before tomorrow,” Odif replied, also rising. “And I’ve got to get this rascal something nice to wear. Can’t have him showin’ up to the wedding looking like he just got done mucking a stall.” He said as he wrapped one massive arm around Soryn’s shoulders. Soryn scowled and tried to wiggle free, but Odif held on. “Oh no you don’t.” He laughed, “you’re not escaping again. No, this time you’re comin’ with me.” He said as he practically dragged his nephew out the tavern door and towards the seamstresses place."

 Well, there you have it! It is sooooo good to finally have him in the story, and don't worry, he eventually becomes more likeable, and by the end of the story even loveable (though he would hate to hear it). I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to my favorite character, and don't worry, there will be plenty more to come!

It's Over!!!!

Other than finals, the winter term is finally over!!! I could dance for joy if it wasn't for the fact that everyone is in bed right now. No more homework until April!

Things I plan on doing for spring break...

Listen to music

Read as many books as I can

Watch Hunger Games in Theaters!!!!

And most of all, relax as much as possible!

Sierra

A Long Month with Socrates

Hey! How are ya all?

Okay, I'm sure you have all noticed my long absence, but honestly, I have been trying to find time to update. College is going well, and is also the reason I haven't been on here for so long. I just happened to get the grumpiest and strictest writing teacher in the whole school and he gives ENORMOUS loads of homework every day. Since that is about the only thing I have had time to work on, I thought I would share my most recent writing assignment with you! I hope Socrates doesn't bore you all to death as much as he does me, and if he does, feel free not to read it. ;-)

Socrates’ Methods: What Can We Really Learn From Him?

Many have heard it said that Socrates’ life and teachings stand at the foundation of Western philosophy.  From his use of critical thinking, to his unwavering commitment to the truth, Socrates set the standard for all future Western thinking. However, despite these seemingly great accomplishments, many readers today find him simply annoying, and have a hard time putting up with his methods of argumentation.

If you are anything like I was when I first heard of this great Greek philosopher, the first thing that probably crossed your mind was, “Who on earth is Socrates?” To help answer this question, I have provided the following brief summary of who this man was. Following that, I will discuss who his audience was, what methods he used, why he used them, and if he actually succeeded, or simply annoyed those he sought to teach.

Socrateswas born in 469 B.C. the son of a stonemason, an honorable and important trade at the time. He lived a simple life, renouncing wealth and holding himself aloof of political ambitions, in Athens, Greece and was executed in 399 B.C. after being accused of leading the youth of Athens astray, and of inventing new deities.

His teachings were directed primarily towards the youth of Athens, making a point to single out anyone who considered themselves wise and knowledgeable of the ways of the gods (i.e. Euthyphro, Meno, and Anytus).  What drove Socrates to seek out this particular group was his desire to understand the oracle of the god Delphi, who stated that no man was wiser than he. As he states in his own words in “Apology”, “So even now I continue this investigation as the god bade me – and I go around seeking out anyone, citizen or stranger, whom I think wise. Then if I do not think he is, I come to the assistance of the god and show him that he is not wise.”He sought to teach them because as he says to the Athenian counsel in “Apology”, “I was concerned with you, approaching each one of you like a father or elder brother to persuade you to care for your virtue.”

The thing that stands out the most about Socrates’ Methods of teaching is that he never took things at face value. He took things commonly accepted as truth and examined them to see if he could identify any loopholes or contradictions, and then he challenged them against themselves and with other similarbeliefs. He asked questions of logic (Webster’s 1828 Dictionarydefines Logic as“the science or history of the human mind, as it traces the progress of our knowledge from our first conceptions through their different combinations, and the numerous deductions that result from comparing them with one another”) as in Meno, where he asked questions about shape and color.

  It seems that the questions Socrates asked wereintended to help the people he was teaching to discover what they truly believed about a certain topic.He would often go to those he considered wiser than himself in the ways of the gods, and engage him or her in conversation. He would ask the people to bestow upon him, as if he were “their humble student,” the knowledge they possessedand their answers to his simple questions concerning true piety, virtue, and what isgod-loved. When those he questioned had finished telling him what they believed, he would then begin to interrogate them in order to compare their reasoning to commonly held beliefs of that day.

By asking these logical questions, Socrates caused the people he was speaking with to have to examine and defend their core beliefs, and eventually the person would realize that they could not even defend the simplest aspects of what they believed against Socrates’ logic.Often the questions he asked would cause them to have to contradict what they had originally said they believed, thus confusing them and making them question their beliefs. Once this happened, he then led them to follow him in finding out what is true piety and/or virtue, by beseeching them to join him in the search for truth as he does in Meno, where he states: “Nevertheless, I want to examine and seek together with you what it may be.”

Many people found Socrates’ endless questioning and at times circular reasoning extremely annoying.  As Euthyphro exclaims in “Plato’s Five Dialogues”, “But Socrates, I have no way of telling you what I have in mind, for whatever proposition we put forward goes around and refuses to stay put where we establish it".  Often afterwards, the people Socrates sought to teach left the debate confused, bewildered, and not knowing exactly what they believed anymore, or even what the truth really was. They would realize that perhaps they did not truly know as much as they thought they did.

I do not think the success of Socrates’ methods was at first evident. The dialogues never show Socrates and his students actually coming to a conclusion, but I think the questions Socrates would ask would probably stay with his students for a long time, and cause them to analyze what they believed on their own, without his guidance.  Also, the results were not immediate. During his lifetime he was very unpopular among the Athenians, so much so that they eventually put him to death in 399 B.C. As he said during his trial, “As a result of [my] investigation, men of Athens, I acquired much unpopularity, of a kind that is hard to deal with and is a heavy burden (Apology).” But now here we are in the 21st century, looking back on Socrates as a wise teacher and philosopher, and even using his methods in things such as psycho-therapy and law school. So I think in a way, he did succeed, although he never lived to see it.

If we were to sum up Socrates’ teaching method into one simple phrase, I suppose we could say that he taught by asking his students questions instead of giving them answers, and thus he would cause his students mind to have to stretch to answer him.  Likewise, we should aspire to train our minds to be inquiring, constantly probing into a subject with questions and not willing to blindly accept whatever everyone else accepts as truth.Moreover, when teaching our own children, we should use Socrates’ method of asking, not telling to strengthen their minds, and to cause them to search out the truth, no matter what, because “truth is the most important thing we have” (Mark Twain).

Sorry if that was too boring! I promise to try to get a real post on here hopefully this weekend. 

Fare thee well, for now

Sierra