time (12)

Does it ever feel like an hour, a day, or a week is just going by so slow? Then looking back, it actually seemed to have passed pretty quickly? That happens to me all the time. What I've noticed though, is that time only goes by slowly when we're not enjoying it - when we're not happy. In that case, we're just going through the motions, trying to get through the day. Then when we look back it all feels like a blur, as if time just flew by. Compared to when we are happy, and enjoying ourselves. It has more of the opposite effect. Flies by when when it's happening, then appears slow or long when we're looking back. I guess that's why people say "time flies when you're having fun."

tis the season (11)

Christmas is only 12 days away, and I'm hardly feeling the holiday spirit. Which is kind of sad, because it's really the only the I enjoy about winter. Also, I haven't even started my Christmas shopping... Thinking of gifts has been so hard, and I've been so busy. Hopefully this weekend I can wrap things up, rather than waiting till the very last minute.

Bucket List

1. Play ball with Obama
2. Skydive
3. Climb a very large mountain
4. Skinny dip in the ocean
5. Learn to play piano
6. Live in Africa for awhile
7. Get up and go
8. See Kanye West perform live
9. Meet Will Smith
10. Run a marathon
11. Travel to every continent
12. Ride an elephant
13. Adopt a child
14. Build a tree house, fully furnished
15. Learn another language
16. Watch the ball drop at Times Square
17. Go to Coachella
18. Backpack around Europe
19. Make a big donation to charity
20. Coach a basketball team (to a championship)
21. Learn sign language
22. Set a world record
23. Sponsor a child
24. Send my parents on a vacation
25. Go on a safari
26. Volunteer in an undeveloped country
27. Pretend like I live in IKEA
28. Publish a book
29. Pay off my parents’ mortgage
30. Get locked inside a store for a night
31.  Plant a tree
32.  Drink straight from a coconut
33. Roadtrip from coast to coast
34. Cut my hair for cancer
35. High five all of the Winnipeg Jets
36. See Pay it Forward
37. Graduate from university
38. Go Christmas caroling
39. Volunteer on Christmas Eve
40. Surf in Hawaii
41. Learn how to surf
42. Read Pay it Forward
43. Use a ouija board
44. See the NCAA Final Four
45. Go to Tavarua (heart shaped island in Fiji)
46. Become left-handed
47. See the pyramids in Egypt
48. Kiss a stranger
49. Pay for someone's groceries
50. Dine & dash
51. Meet Mickey Mouse
52. Take an art class
53. Be in India during Diwali 
54. Be reunited with the boy I love
55. Open up a bakery/cafe with my best friend
56. Get my own place - a cute, cozy place
57. Messy Twister
58. Get matching tattoos (maybe only temporary)
59. Stay overnight in a haunted house
60. Learn to crack eggs with one hand
61. Go to a church service, simply because I want to
62. Make a notable, long lasting change
63. Celebrate at the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 
64. La Tomatina in Spain
65. Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan
66. Panafest in Ghana

reading reflection #11

@jamiedupasquier: The Fault in Our Stars (97). So good! Incredible how, when in times of need, the perfect thing/person can come along. @Cre8tiveHavoc #RR11

reading & writing reflection #10

Writing:

                When we were first introduced to Twitter Fiction, I wasn't too fond of the idea. Short stories alone aren't exactly my thing. Which is why as we started writing, I thought it would be easier to write a series of Very Short Stories, each being their own individual tweet. However, thinking of 30 didn't come very easily either… So I changed my plan, and began writing an extended Twitter Fiction Story. Only when I was about halfway through, it still was not quite satisfactory to me. What next? Looking at my work, thinking about it, I really enjoyed the first Very Short Stories I had written. With that, I changed my mind one last time and wrote the remainder of my Twitter Fiction in that form. Getting started was rather frustrating for me, deciding what I’d like to write and where to go with it. That's something I've come to learn though, about myself as a writer. The first step is always hardest. Until I get going, then the ideas just flow. As for publishing myself and my work on Twitter, it didn't really matter to me. I simply found it as a fun thing to do, making our work worthwhile – since people could see it.

Reading:

                I never got around to reading an entire Twitter Fiction story. Although I did read bits and pieces of Harper Collin’s story, as well as Taylor’s. I found them both to be very intriguing. From what I did read, the plot lines were excellent! I probably could read their entire stories for those reasons. Tay’s story had so much description and emotion, making it almost impossible to not get into. However, I’m not a huge fan of the fact that it’s on Twitter. Reading sections at a time, having to scroll, almost reading everything backwards (from the bottom of the page up.) Perhaps I have a short attention span, or something to that effect, but I really just found it annoying more than anything – spending an entire class “reading” continuous Twitter. The only thing I did like about the whole “one or two sentences at a time thing” would be the suspense it creates. If the story really is interesting, readers will come back. It’s almost like a cliff-hanger after each tweet. Seeing as Tay’s Twitter Fiction is also posted on his blog, I’ll definitely have to check that out, to finish what I've read so far.

Twitter:

                I've always seen Twitter as more of a social network for people who feel the need to have their every move documented. However, this assignment changed my perspective of Twitter. That could be because we’re using it as a professional account for academic purposed, and aren't being naturally exposed to those parts of Twitter. Or, because I’m noticing that it can actually be somewhat resourceful. Depending on who you follow, we’re able to get updates from different things we’re interested in. For example, I follow the Boston Celtics, my favourite NBA team. That enables me to get the latest news on them. Also, hash tags can be pretty useful if you’re looking to know more about a certain subject. Or how several ideas can be related and associated with one another through a couple words. Again, like Twitter Fiction, it’s a cool way to get your ideas and your work out there. Anyone can see our tweets, worldwide. I’m not too sure how else we can use Twitter for classroom purposes, other than to promote our ideas or our work. Only I do think it’s a neat idea how we've done that already.

twitter fiction

Here is a list of my Very Short Stories that I've been posting on Twitter this week for the Twitter Fiction Festival!

• Emotions ran deep as the ocean. Only two possible things can happen: sink or swim.
• “The first snowfall is always the prettiest,” he told her. “Until it gets mixed with dirt and turns to slush.”
• “Bundle up, its cold outside.” She smiled, nodded, knowing that would never help her cold heart.
• She was shy. Afraid of something new. Different. “You’ll never be great without taking chances,” she told herself.
• “Hi there,” she greeted. “Hello,” the older couple smiled back. “Have a nice day.” They had no clue. That hurt her.
• I crawled. I walked. I ran. I jumped. I flew. I fell. You caught me.
• It was bright, blinding almost. Yellow, orange, pink and red. The sunrise appeared so gentle, yet deceivingly burned so hot. 
• His voice is gentle, soothing. My own personal lullaby. It’s the first and last sound I wish I could hear every day.
• A smooth sphere covered in subtle bumps made for grip, which I know oh so well. The feel of a basketball is one I could never forget.  
• The smell of fresh air. The smell of a basketball gym. The smell of home. The smell of him.  There isn’t a feeling I love more.
• We were in the middle of nowhere. The water began to taste like rust, reminding me of blood. I then realized, it’s hopeless.
• She gazed at the city through the window of her small one bedroom apartment, wondering, is this is?
• We all have a choice. To let our past make us better, or bitter. He chose neither.
• She got tired of the tears. Tired of the heartache. The day she’d had enough, he finally began to notice. To care.
• All she ever wanted was to do good by her own means. Karma, she believed, would take care of the rest.
• “Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Instead, focus on what you can.” She couldn’t tell the difference. That worried her.
• The sadness in his eyes showed somewhere he’s been that would never allow him to see the world the same.
• Her biggest problem was how cold her water tasted after chewing mint gum. He hasn’t had a single thing to eat all day.
• “What are dreams?” “Dreams are anything you want them to be. Places you’d like to go. People you wish to see.”
• As he aligned his feet, bent his knees and set his arms, thoughts of doubt flooded his mind. With a flick of the wrist – he missed.
• He was the last man on earth. He heard a knock on his door.
• She gave him her heart. He gave her his heart. He took it back. She was left empty and cold, with nothing to keep her going.
• I walked the long smooth road, to be sure no unexpected bumps or cracks could set me off course.  I regret it.
• He kissed her forehead, turned, walked away. Never look back, he told himself. There’s so much more for me. But he was not convinced.
• “Why do bad things keep happening to me?” “To prove that you’re worthy of all the good you cannot see,” a voice he didn't recognize.
• He gazed upon the same ocean, the same way they always had. It really was a completely different world without her by his side. 
• She awoke smiling, happier than ever. Her soldier was coming home. Lonely was another night, crying herself to sleep.
• The beautiful sunrise gave her a glimpse of hope. Until she remembered what day it was. No other pleasant thought crossed her mind.
• She sat innocently, alone in the corner of a local coffee shop, wondering if anyone knew what she had done.
• “Having money isn't everything. Not having it is,” the man said to himself, finally comprehending the importance associated with it.

writing reflection #9 / twitter fiction check-in

                It’s hard to say how close to “done” that my Twitter Fiction story is. I started off with a few one tweet stories, thinking that would be much easier. Only, I ran out of idea quicker than I was expecting, and found it much harder selecting words that could really get a message across in a short 140 characters. Which is why I began writing an extended story instead. However, with an extended story, I’m not too sure how to get my message across or how to complete the story within approximately 30 tweets. Honestly, Twitter Fiction is just not for me. I find both extremes are difficult.

                On another note, I feel as though I’ve included most of the criteria on our Twitter Fiction To Do List. Dialogue seemed to be the easiest, whereas imagery I’m finding a little more difficult. I also chose to write my story in first person narration, which makes it easier to get feelings across to the reader. I personally feel that we can be much more accurate in describing what we see, feel, hear, smell or taste, compared to someone else trying to interpret our take on those same things. Also, I’m realizing that I should probably start thinking about images I’d like to attach to my tweets to further the visuals in the story. Overall, my Twitter Fiction is beginning to come along nicely. However, there is still quite a bit of development and editing to finish.

                Once everything is complete and our tweets are organized in complete stories, I’m curious as to how we will be posting our work. On our blogs? On Twitter? If we actually are posting them as tweets, in what order? They would have to be backwards in order to make any sense – starting with the last tweet in our stories, making our way to the very beginning. They’ll also be interesting to read.