Toujou To You, Too!

Maya is a beautiful person. I need to remember to remember that more often. Lately, there's been a lot of unnecessary negativity floating around in my head, and one blog post (one little sentence from that blog post) can remind me instantaneously that I've purposed NOT to be the person who lets a little bit of darkness stand in the way of sharing her light.

I've been talking to myself really. About a lot of things I'd like to share one day. Today, though, I'm going to share some things about myself. We're doing a tag, Gang. We are doing a tag. 

And by we, I mean all of us--- any of us who want to. Maya has already tagged my most visited bloggers (and since she's done it already... you get the drift) and the only other person I can think of officially tagging is Prerna who you all know by now is a blogger I admire for being so personable. But really, we are a team you guys and I. Together, we do great things. We make magic happen, even if only for a second in our own hearts. So if you wanna do the tag, do it! Let me know about it and I'll check it out. If you don't that's cool. It's JK Rowling/ Harry Potter's birthday, my sister's wedding anniversary, and an all around wonderful July 31st so I promise you, you won't hurt my feelings. My little heart will a-beat all the same. 

I'll post the rules for those of you who want to keep the ball rolling. And then I'll answer some questions. I guess that's how tags work or something. 

ZE RULES:

1. If tagged you must tag five others, giving each a quick sentence as to why you ALWAYS read their posts, and tell them that you've tagged them.

2. If tagged you must post your five favourite words. I know, I know, most people do facts, but facts are hard to think of so...

3. If and only if you want to/can be bothered to/have time to you can put up five questions for the people you've tagged. If and only if you want to/can be bothered to/have time to you can ANSWER the five questions your tagger set. If you want to answer questions but your tagger left none, answer your own questions :)

So...

1. I tag all of thee because I can. I always read the posts of people who comment on my blog because you guys take the time to read my posts. Plain and simple. Lately I've been terrible at responding, but know that I always read. Always. That's how I know Nicole is up to no good by harassing her neighbors with that shuttering camera of hers (for SHAME, Girl!). That's how I know Maya's got some serious explaining to do--- did you say yes, Chickadee? Am I going to be a grandmother any time soon? YOU'RE MY OLDEST BABY DON'T LEAVE ME!!! (We'll talk for rizzle SOON, Honey. I know where you hang on Wednesdays.) That's how I know Sonal is back and better than ever (I have starred today's blog post. 10 ways to increase happiness? "Know Sonal." That should've been on the list). I tag all of you because I need to make a better effort and not just READ your blogs, but become part of YOUR blogger families as well.

2. In memory of Albus Dumbledore: Lemon drop! Ice-cream! Persnickety bookish hooligans!

3. (Because Maya answered two sets of questions, I'm answering a mix of both. I'll leave a second set of questions for you to answer or mix and match with these in a magical #4. Feel free to answer as many as you want. I always break tag rules. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.)

Q: Favorite song lyrics?

A: It's a bit of a paragraph, want to hear it? Want to read it?

"When I was a boy of seventeen--- I know it's mean, but I

I told my friend to give up on her dream. She hated me, but I

I knew that dreams were for the best of us, not for the rest of us, and I

I didn't want to share with anyone...

I am a marathon runner. My legs are sore. And I'm anxious to see what I'm running for.

I am a hot air balloon on a sailboat. I would make this my home if I'd learned to float." 

Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Have you ever heard of TIGER'S CURSE by Colleen Houck? There are major flaws in the writing. Major things I dislike about the characterization. Major "want to rip your hair out" things that aren't in a good kinda way. AND YET... I'm waiting for the fourth one to come out this September. FOR SHAME!!! But I love Colleen so I don't feel COMPLETELY guilty about it. 

Q: Name your three utter essentials. 

A: Fully stocked place to live (food and toiletries required), books, and chocolate.

Q: Which celebrity would you want to kiss?

A: At the moment? This exact one? Ryan Lochte counts. ...Right? 

Q: What colors appear most frequently in your wardrobe?

A: I kid you not--- black, blue, gray, white. No. I am not a downer, I promise. 

MAGICAL #4:

1. Who's your Olympic crush? (Or eye candy. :P)

2. Without naming this person, if you could say anything to a person you care about without fear, what would you say? (Think Post Secret. But public.)

3. What does summer mean to you?

4. What's your dream job?

5. When life hands you lemons... 

Lots of love you guys! 

Until next time,

Deserae

P.S. Thank you, Nicole, for also tagging me! I love ya!

P.P.S. Rose, honorary shout out to you for being awesome. That is all. 

Commenting on Comments

Sonal- So glad to see you at it again! I think I'll make the leap to a full-frontal pic once I return to school!

Nicole- I agree whole-heartedly regarding TFiOS. And you're welcome! My "wisdom" usually results in me rambling so feel free to stop me if and when that nonsense occurs. 

Maya- Again, thank you! I appreciate you tagging me and like I said, it was just what I needed. My sister and I recently had a mini-HP marathon. I immediately thought about the basilisk!
Nicole again- Haha! An extra thanks! Just in case you missed the first one. You're getting so great at your photography. Keep at it!

In Which I Respond to Your Comments

After having returned from a long time blogging hiatus, I posted a simple note in which I divulged a few of my thoughts. You have shared yours in return. I owe you each a penny.

To the brave and beautiful Nicole who is a lot smarter than any of the eighth graders I knew in MY year...

... I think often of the future, too, and your worries are also mine. Even when I was your age, I used to think of success not as a dream but as a nightmare--- an obtainable something I couldn't quite get a hold on.

Enter the name of this blog!

It used to be a negative mantra. Almost, but not quite there. But then something changed in me, as things often do. I took out the but. Added parentheses. Then I wanted to blog. I wanted to show people that I was almost there. Just, not quite yet.

Perspective is a biggie. I've had to change mine SEVERAL times. God helps with that. People help with that. LIFE helps with that. But really, it's something WE'VE got to DO. I know. I'm putting emphasis on all the wrong words. That's how I talk and how I think and how I figure things out. You are brilliant, respectable, loving AND loveable... I have no doubt that, in time, you'll find your mantra. You'll make a goal. You'll get 'er done. In regards to TFiOS, read, read, read and tell me what you think! I thought it was brilliant and, too, crushed on Augustus. As I've mulled it over, though, I realize HE is the character I think of some nights when I can't sleep. Not Hazel. Is that a bad thing?

All my love!
You Know Who

To the brilliant little Mama named Ms. Prerna Pickett...

...You and your jumbled mind continue to bless and inspire me. I don't comment on your wonderful blog as often as I should, but I am reading it and every time I visit I get the chills on how well you know what I need to hear without knowing I need to hear it!

I too, am more elegant in my written words, so I often jot things I'm thinking into my little BrainBooks. They're great company and they keep me sane. If you don't have something like it, might I suggest it? Any tiny journal thing will do. :)

P.S. Your craziness makes you YOU. It's awesome like that.
Deserae

To Sonal, my sweet!

You musn't let school get you down! Or anything for that matter! Our minds ought to be our safe havens. Our Palaces of Peace. Our Thinking Cap-sules of sorts. Not that we should lock out darkness (because I heard once that if we didn't know darkness, we'd never know light), but we shouldn't let it consume us. We're bigger than our shadows. Remember that! And though I'm glad to have cheered you up, hearing from you has cheered me too, so thanks for commenting! Your new picture is cute. It's so nice to see all of your faces. Perhaps it's time I turn around in mine. Haha!

Later gator,
Mi-mi-mi-mi-ME!

To my favorite sister, Freda, as long as you don't tell the others...

I absolutely loved what you said and I promise! I didn't criticize it once! Lol! Yes, it's called hope and I have always hoped for more and more and more... The problem is sometimes I forget myself. I forget where I am sometimes. Is that strange? Do you know what I mean?

It's like I'm here. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I'm fitting in what I want to do, but one day, for some reason, everything feels wrong. And the second I stop I think, "What am I doing?" It's at times like these when I have ALL OF ZE DOUBTS. About my plans, about college... It's so easy to want to give up. I am good at that. 

But God knows where he wants me. He knows where he wants me to be. He has guided me, and is guiding me to a better tomorrow. I plan on thanking Him for that in whatever way I can.

Thank you for everything. You, Z, and Kia must know that I would've never gotten this far without you. We're sisters and THAT has always meant the world to me. Even if I'm never published, or if I never see Europe, or if I end up a hobo on the street (Dear God: NO.), I'll always be THAT.

So you'll take care of me when I'm broke and hungry, right?

Love always,
YOUR favorite sister with no contingencies.

To all of you...
...I'll post again soon. Thank you for your love and support!

Wishing you all well,
Deserae

Penny for your Thoughts

I've been thinking lately, and as you know that's a dangerous thing. I've been thinking about...

...what it means to be a friend--- a good one.
...how secrets, once known, can literally change everything.

I've been thinking about change and, thanks to Maya, about how it's not always a bad thing...

I've been thinking about my stories, my characters... about if my dreams have changed...

I think things like:
Maybe I'm just meant to help other people.
Or maybe I just need to start helping myself.
Or perhaps there's a middle ground? One I'm overlooking?
Perhaps I am too lazy for this profession.

And then I think, "NO! THIS IS WHAT I WAS BOOOOORRRRRNNNN TO DO!"
And then I think, "Ooo! Ice-cream! I wonder if The Mentalist is on. It is! SIMON BAKER!!!!"

I've been thinking about time again. About college. About my life and life in general.

I've been thinking and that's more than I've done in a long time. I'm kind of proud of myself. What have you been thinking about these days?

Lots of love,
Deserae