http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:59:00 -0500 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:59:00 -0500 As a last-minute decision, I have decided against redirecting readers to the new blog from this one.  (This is so you guys can still read all my old posts on this blog.)  Here is the link to the new blog: >> http://www.runaway-muse.net/wordpress << See you there! Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/668938/ Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/668938/ Hello, my dear readers.  That is to say, if I have any readers left.  My blog seems to be in a perpetual state of desertion these days.  Of course, this is through no fault but my own... For the past few days, I've been working on a project.  Some of you may recall that it was a wish of mine to someday host my blog on my own domain (runaway-muse.net).  Well, I finally got around to downloading WordPress (a blogging platform) to my server, and, to my utter shock and relief, it was not nearly as hard to install as it looked.  Figuring out the little things like coding templates took a little longer, but I think I'm finally getting the hang of things. The point is, I'm moving my blog to my domain. What does this mean?  For one thing, my blog won't be hosted on Homeschoolblogger anymore.  You'll have to type a new address to get there.  Also, it means I'll have a lot more control over my own blog.  To tell you the truth, I've been slightly annoyed with HSB lately, but we won't go into that. The new blog is almost set up, but not quite ready.  When it is, I'll redirect viewers there from this blog, so most of you probably won't even have to type in the new address.  Pretty sweet, huh?  (I credit Beth with the redirection idea.  She also switched to WordPress for her blog recently, so I'm not alone!) With that said, I'm afraid it has grown rather late, and dinner has yet to be made.  Keep checking back here for the new and (hopefully) improved blog! Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/668779/ Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:34:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/668779/ I have been tardy.  No excuses this time. Now that the obvious has been said, I'll start this much-delayed entry with a list of notable happenings in my crazy life: 1.  Mister Cool celebrated his 15th birthday on February 2nd.  Katie was there, and we all played an entertaining (and fiercely competitive, I might add) game of Risk, in which the Elven forces were sadly overcome by the armies of Rohan, Harad, and the Shire.  We were forced to flee to the White Shores before our race was wiped out entirely. *weeps* 2.  We danced the Virginia Reel in our homeschool PE group last week.  The thing that made it much more amusing than usual was the fact that Katie stepped on my floor-length skirt as we were attempting to twirl down the line of dancers, and the result would have been disastrous had I not been wearing opaque black leggings underneath.  Still, you should have heard me scream... 3.  I just found out that I have to take the ACT and the SAT come April, instead of one or the other.  (They are college-entry exams.)  Pray for me; I am panicking. 4.  Ever heard of Chaim Potok?  I hadn't, until about a month ago.  He was a Jewish rabbi and author of several books, including The Chosen and My Name is Asher Lev.  His writing can be described by me in one word: breathtaking.  The way he describes things, you can literally smell the paint on a canvas and feel heat waves as they dance on the streets of Paris.  His books are also a good way to gain insight into the religion of orthodox Jews.  Read something by him.  Now! 5.  I have been thinking about this blog, and also about my domain, Runaway-Muse.net.  And the thought ocurred to me: wouldn't it be a lot simpler if I just gave this blog a spot on Runaway-Muse.net?  That way, I could have everything in one spot to edit with ease.  (If I recall correctly, Jocelyn Dixon did a similar thing with her blog, a Pondering Heart.)  Let me know what you think!  Nothing is concrete yet. Oh, dear.  My mom is telling me that it's bedtime, and I haven't even launched into this entry yet.  Oh, well.  This is better than nothing. Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/654725/ Wed, 4 Feb 2009 21:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/654725/ Katie tagged me on Facebook, and as a result I had to compile a list of 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me.  Since any previous attempts at a proper blog entry have utterly failed, I thought I'd post the list here for your perusal: 1. I'm a very negative person, in spite of impressions that might convey otherwise. 2. I recently stopped taking sugar in my tea, and am quite proud of the fact. 3. There is a map of Middle-earth hanging in the bedroom my sister and I share. 4. My tastes in music are constantly changing. 5. I don't have favorite bands or genres, just songs. 6. I don't consider myself a good writer. Not that I don't like my actual work; I just haven't figured out the technique of writing yet. 7. I can claim to have taught someone to read: my now eight year-old sister, Bonnie. 8. The past year (2008) was the first year I had a real relationship with God. 9. I love military people and really miss being an active-duty military brat. 10. I've owned many different kinds of pets over the years, including: ferrets, fish, gerbils, ants, and rats. 11. When I first saw the LotR movies at the age of 13, I thought movie-Arwen was super cool. Now, I just think she's a Mary-Sue. 12. I'm a web geek who knows HTML, CSS, and a bit of PHP. 13. I went through a 'goth' phase a couple of years ago, which I love to forget. 14. Chivalry is alive. I know people who are living proof. 15. Math is the bane of my existence, and it will be a miracle if I can catch up by the time I take the SAT in April. 16. I still don't know what I want to do with my life, pre- or post-college. 17. I celebrated my 16th birthday at camp. It was awesome, except for the part when we went whitewater rafting and I fell out of the raft. 18. I personally blame the Disney channel for many of the problems with our younger generation. 19. Only two people have ever called me 'Chris'. 20. I have an abnormal fear of the telephone. However, it's a work-in-progress. 21. Some countries I would like to visit someday include: Norway, Iceland, Italy, and New Zealand. 22. I plan on applying to work at the library this winter or spring. 23. I don't expect to get my driver's license until I'm at least 17. 24. I love cold weather.  During the summer, I'm rarely inspired at all...at least, not to write. 25. When I was little, a kettle of boiling water was accidentally poured onto my head. That must explain my caution-bordering-on-paranoia when it comes to fire and all things hot. I don't choose to tag anyone, though anyone may steal if the mood strikes. Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/651203/ Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/651203/ As you can plainly see, I haven't been very productive on here since Blogoweek ended.  My friend, Purpleclad, the one who created Blogoweek in the first place, has noticed this.  Furthermore, she has blatantly expressed her disapproval and has presented me with yet another challenge. "Blogomonth!"  Was the one word that caught my attention.  Blog for a whole month?  Impossible!  So it was that we came to an agreement: I would blog as often as I could, and she would stop bugging me.  Not quite Blogomonth, but hopefully I'll establish some good patterns---patterns I apparently failed to establish during Blogoweek. Now on to Challenge Number Two.  Katie, who is dabbling in photography, came across an interesting idea: take one self-portrait every day every day of the year.  That's 365 photos!  At first, the idea seemed utterly foolish.  Who would want that many portraits of themselves?  In the end, however, I decided to take it on.  After all, it would provide the participant with ways to hone their photographic techniques, as well as experiment with new ideas.  Plus, it will be awesome looking back in a year and seeing how I've changed in appearance! I started the challenge today, and you can see an album with all the self-portraits HERE.  I suggest you bookmark that page if you wish to stay updated, because I probably won't be posting a link every day with my newest photo, as Katie seems to be doing. That's all the news for now!  Bed calls my name... Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/649188/ Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/649188/ Today I was browsing groups on Facebook and came across a group titled "In Memory of Shelby". (One of my friends had joined it, which was why it popped up among the first on the list.) It looked interesting, so I decided to check it out. On the group page, there was a picture of a beautiful young woman---a high school student, apparently---striking a goofy pose while trying on a fancy dress in a store. Next to the picture was some text saying that her name was Shelby and that she died in a car accident on January 7, just four days ago. It was sad enough just knowing that someone like her had met her end in such a tragic manner and at so young an age, but what I read next just broke my heart... Posted on the page were dozens and dozens of messages; some from friends and some from complete strangers. Each one read something like this: "I wish I could have gotten to know you better. You had the most bubbly personality and were loved by so many people. I miss you." After five minutes or so just browsing through messages like these, I had to stop. It was just too depressing, even for me. (Sometimes, for interest's sake, I'll pore over the obituaries in our newspaper. Call me morbid if you like; it's actually quite fascinating.)  However, it got me thinking.  This morning at church, my dad (who also doubles as my pastor) preached about the preciousness of time, and how we should relish it instead of letting it slip through our grasp. He challenged the members of the congregation in this way: instead of looking at the clock and thinking, "Darn, fifteen minutes to go," we could think, "Hmm, what can I do in fifteen minutes?" Time is precious, and irreplaceable, to boot. Why, then, do we constantly put it to waste, despite constant reminders and examples, to cherish it and use it to better our lives? Take Shelby, for instance. She had no idea that when she hopped into that car, it would be her last ride on earth. I wonder if she's now looking down and wishing she had used what time she had differently. (Assuming one can feel regret in Heaven. Still, it gives you something to think about.) I never thought I'd actually come away from Blogoweek with a lesson. However, writing about normal, everyday happenings has, in a way, made me aware of how eventful my life really is. On the other side of the scale, it's made me realize that there are so many other things I could be spending my time doing. Sorry if I'm being vague. It's kind of hard to explain. Blogoweek has been lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to doing it again. Perhaps I should make it a tradition during the first week of the month? We'll see. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to think about the way you spend your time, and realize just how precious it is. As my dad pointed out in a somewhat cheesy (but truthful) way: "Time is free, but it's also priceless." Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/644241/ Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/644241/ Yup, the title says it all.  I've done something completely impulsive, and am happy to say that I like the results.  I'm afraid a lot of people liked my hair longer, however... *cowers* Here's a snapshot taken with my ancient trusty webcam: My mom and I had to leave at 8:15 AM, and it still took 45 minutes to get to the place.  Normally, it wouldn't take nearly as long, but it's been snowing all day yesterday and all day today, making the roads quite dangerous.  One can imagine the snail's pace at which we drove! Katie's out of town, and I've been asked to feed her pets for her.  Looks like I should head over there before the snow gets too deep again... Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643757/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643757/ Something's happened, and I thought I'd blog about it. I was giving my pet rats a bath today when I began to experience a shortness of breath.  Now, I usually get some slight allergies around them, so I paid it no heed at first.  But as the minutes passed I began to wheeze, and before I knew it, even drawing a breath became a struggle.  My sister noticed when the wheezing turned to violent coughs, and she took over with the bathing while I ran to get my inhaler. For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with asthma as a baby, but since growing up it's only flared up every once and awhile, like when I get sick or when I overexert myself.  (Is overexert even a word?  Let's say it is.)  The last time I had a checkup, the doctor said I was in excellent condition, but to still keep track of all the times I need to use my inhaler...just in case.  Thankfully, I haven't had to use it much...until today. It was probably the worst asthma attack I've had since an incident at the airport last summer which involved me running to catch my plane while carrying two full bags of luggage...'nuff said.  Even now, eight hours after the attack, my lungs feel like the lungs of a swimmer who's been submerged for several minutes and has just come to the surface, gasping for air.  The entire ordeal has shaken me up quite a bit---physically and emotionally---and now I'm having to make a difficult decision. My mom has been prompting me to do something about my rats for some time now, on account of the various allergic reactions I get whenever I handle them.  (Hives where their claws make contact with my skin, shortness of breath, etc.)  Yeah, I know what you're probably thinking.  "Hives?  This girl is crazy!  Why didn't she get rid of those rats weeks ago?" Perhaps I am crazy.  I know keeping the rats is only going to encourage more asthma flare-ups, but I can't stand the thought of getting rid of them.  That's what my mom wants me to do.  She's got a point; even I can see that.  I'd just hate to see them go...and besides, who would want them? I'm praying about it, and am hoping God will reveal his answer to me in due time.  Still, I'd like to hear your thoughts... Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643391/ Fri, 9 Jan 2009 21:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643391/ Rules Post 6-10 things you do on a daily basis, link to the person who tagged you, and tag 5 other people.  You must tag at least one person that you don't know! This list will probably bore most of you to death, but here goes anyway:    1.  Take a hot shower (Seriously, whether or not I get one determines what my mood will be like the rest of the morning.  I love my morning showers!)    2.  Read the Bible    3.  Eat breakfast (usually cereal) over the funny pages (Aah, the simple pleasures in life!)    4.  Angst about the way I look (What can I say, I'm girly at heart... *envisions a collective gasp of astonishment*)    5.  Play the piano    6.  Make at least one meal for my family of 9    7.  Laugh    8.  Feed my rats    9.  Tell somebody I love them   10.  Hold my nightly conversation with God (I know He knows everything already, but it's therapy pouring out all my troubles to somebody.) I tag the following lucky bloggers: VintageAuthoress, Purpleclad, Daydreamer, and Scaryman (should be interesting).  As for the someone I don't know, I'll tag Moonchild.  She's on my friends list, but I think I've only left her one comment. Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643007/ Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:29:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/643007/ Well, it's day 2 of the entry-a-day-for-a-week challenge.  Hmm, I should probably abbreviate that to something catchy.  How does EADFAW sound?  A bit difficult to remember, perhaps.  Kudos to anyone who can come up with something better! I know I promised to write about my New Year's vacation today, but my mom has just informed me that I have twenty minutes until bedtime, which is not nearly sufficient enough time to write down all the details that a blog entry of that type deserves.  Therefore, I shall explain the title, which has surely captured your interest. If you read yesterday's entry, then you'll know how nervous I was that I had failed to prepare for the session with my math tutor.  After I wrote that entry, I basically sat around biting my fingernails and praying that everything would go well.  Believe it or not, I was actually calming down.  My math tutor would understand.  It wouldn't be the end of the world if I forgot how to do a few equations.  After all, I still have two months to my SATs! Oh, dear.  Two months?! So perhaps I was still a bit nervous.  But the fact was I had resigned myself to my doom and was actually looking forward to getting the session over with.  I tidied the school room and sat down and waited.  And waited.  And waited some more... He never came. How are we to read this mystery?  He was supposed to come and he didn't.  We tried calling him, but no answer.  And he still hasn't contacted us... On the bright side, this gives me more time to prepare!  I'm thinking this is like a slap in the face from God, telling me to stop procrastinating and get to work.  Since it's not so often I get second chances like this, I'm trying to take a hint. My cousin, Ben, is staying with us until tomorrow, when he leaves to join the Marine Corps.  All the kids love him.  Really, you've got to admire someone who's willing to submit to the whims of giggling pre-adolescents for an entire day. Funny story.  His birthday is coming up, and my mom told him we got him a present.  (It was a couple of Marines sweatshirts.)  As he was guessing what it could possibly be, my 6 year-old sister spoke up in that adorable, squeaking voice of hers: "We got you a WIFE!" Naturally, everyone burst into laughter.  "Is she pretty?"  My cousin asked.  Elizabeth merely giggled.  Ah, good times. Alas, the time has come for me to log off.  I'll try and post about my vacation tomorrow.  (Really!) Tinuviel http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/642199/ Tue, 6 Jan 2009 21:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tinuviel/642199/