From the Storm (and after)

Powers out, and the internet with it(i'm writing this with the precious little battery i have left inmy iPod.)so I don't know when this'll go up... But, power will probably be back on when it does...

So, if you've read much of this blog, then you probably already know about my atypical feelings towards storms. After a powerful storm, like this one which tore down trees (mostly leaving them strewn across streets) and leaving us without power, I get to thinking about things (Dangerous, I know.), about why I feel the way I do...

Even when I'm out being a wild maniac, or when I'm helping neighbors clear away wreckage from the streets during a calm, I still feel warm. Safe. Protected. Perhaps this is because I've never suffered injury, or perhaps it's because no one I know personally has been hurt, or perhaps it's because i'm young and foolish; but I think it's more than all those, true though they may be.

Storms, in all their fury and power, remind me of God's power, remind me that He is looking out for me, even when I don't realize. It makes me think about how truly blessed I really am. And it gives me energy.

Sometimes though, I stop, I remember others who may or may not be suffering in the storm, who might be in danger, who are out of my reach. For a moment, I forget God, so lost to worry and helplessness am I.

And that is a terrible place to be. Every sound of thunder, every clash between ground and sky, becomes something to fear--not for myself (never for myself), but for others, even and especially for those I don't know as well as I should. Every siren crying in the distance becomes a lucid nightmare, and I feel guilty about the joy of moments before. When that happened, it is hard to trust. Control goes out the window.

Yet even then, God did not abandon me. Somehow I became able to think rationally again, to pray. And after a moment's prayer I gained the strength to once more leave my fears and worries in his hands. And that is a good place to be, one I never want to leave.

Wherever you are, and whoever you are, I pray that you stay safe against whatever chaos or uncertainty you might be facing; and I pray that you, too, might know the comfort and joy that I'm feeling now.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit,

M. S.

Update: Yes, it's roughly ten o'clock the night after the storm, and power is back. Yippee skippee! Alleluia! And everyone who still has no power, hold in there. I'm praying for you, and the women and men of the power company are surely working their hardest.

P.S. Please excuse all the tense shifting and clunky prose. It's not my best work, but I don't think I'm going to edit this post. Just cause. Also, I'm very thankful I live in a neighborhood where people go out and help each other the same night the storm came through. I talked to people I don't think I've ever talked to before, it was very cool. So I'm very thankful. I'm just thankful for everything right now.

Whooppee! skibberoo! Life is good! (Darkness really is only for light to shine in.)

And now I'm just drawling on. Sorry. Goodnight all. :)  ... ... ... (I just used an emoticon? Ah, must be the caffeine kicking in... Caffeine, another thing I'm thankful for...

Seriously, goodnight. I mean it this time. I think. Night night!

Mickel out.

Why am I a writer?

Why am I a writer? Why do I write? Ask me this, and chances are I'll flounder. So I should probably think of something now.

There many reasons, I'm sure, ranging  from the overused standard "because I can't not write" to complex and in depth piles of dirt which I don't feel like digging up right now.

So instead, let's look into past dreams, before this one came into being. When I was very young, I went through what I now think of as very normal stages of things I wanted to become: marine, CIA operative, cowboy, knight, hobbit, Robin Hood-wizard-time traveler... The list goes on. Obviously I couldn't be all of those things. Heck, just being more than one would be very difficult. And seeing as, at seven, my acting chops weren't very developed, the only thing for me was to start writing.

Really though, that's not it at all.  No, I write because I enjoy it. Do I need anymore reason than that? Do any of us need more reason? 

God has blessed me with the triple joys of movement, writing, and baking. Between the three of them, I'm pretty sure I don't have much sanity left, but I do have fun. I'm not saying it's all rainbows and ponies, but what is the darkness except something for light to shine in.

Search for your talents, and when you find them, hold fast.

Have a very blessed day, and don't forget to have fun,

M. S.

Taking Time

So obviously I'm not very good at this blogging thing, especially keeping to a schedule. (Which might be why I have so few readers, most of whom are probably family—if they even bother with it.) But that isn't discouraging. I know the best way to get at something is to practice.

Anyway, IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!  ALL THE FEELS!!! Yes, I know I just used all caps and multiple exclamation points, and I know it's annoying(at least to me), but there was no other way to express my excitement. I've been waiting for this snow forever, so: thanks, God!!!!

This day has actually been double delight awesome. Square-tailed cat awesome (shh, It's a thing.) The hustle bustle and wonderful joy of Advent and Christmas have been slightly subdued, but are still lingering. And new years is fast approaching. So, I needed to recharge my batteries. I didn't realize this consciously, of course, but I needed to nonetheless. I've been working, I haven't been writing, I haven't been exercising, I haven't been reading the Bible as often as I should… Life was spinning out of control, and I was in the backseat.

So, when fifth brother asked if I wanted to take a walk, I agreed. He went to his girlfriend's house, and I carried on to the park just down the street. I'd never been there before, and new parks awesome to explore.

There was a barely visible foot path leading into the woods, a fallen tree that led over a small gully. I spent an hour or so there, trudging around in the woods searching for clues, dodging patrols, reconning, and talking to Sí—the imagination games I used to play often, but don't have much time for anymore. I climbed trees. I acted like a complete madman, and loved it.

I discovered the magic I'd been missing for so long.

After I was too tired to carry on(and someone else showed up at the park), I started the long walk back. As I was going, I got to thinking about how blessed my life really is. How I've been taking everything for granted, especially the wonderful gift that Christ is to this world. I haven't let life get in the way of my joy—that's just an excuse. I've merely forgotten the reason I'm alive.

If you're like me, then the holiday season is almost as stressful as it is joyful. And throughout the merrymaking, you might forget the reason for merrymaking. It's not gifts, it's not family, it's not holiday vacation; although, all those are good reasons to be happy. No, it's God. God was born into this world as a man. He died on cross, rising from the dead so that our sins would be forgiven. He is why we are joyful this holiday season. He is the reason for gift-giving and getting together with friends and family. So I suggest you take a moment out of all the festivities, sit back, and give thanks privately. Count your blessings, and see what God has done for you. And have fun.

Merry Christmas, and a happy new year to you all.

Go mbeanaí Dia duit,
M. S.

Explanation of Absence

So I didn't get around to posting last week. I've been dreadfully busy with house work, work work, writing work, parkour/conditioning work, and self-education. And a friend is back in town until the 31st(day after tomorrow). And I've been trying to get out more to enjoy this wonderful fall weather. And NaNoWriMo is looming ever closer on the horizon—it's almost on top of me now.

Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day, and posting seems to have drawn the short straw. Along with sleep. My apologies.

I don't want to, but I might have put posting on hiatus until after NaNoWriMo. At the very least I'll have to stop until the current phase of housework is over.

Again, my apologies. I'll try to think down some ideas for posts.

In the mean time, heres a nifty webcomic you can waste your time on (don't worry, the art gets better.)

Go mbeannaí Dia duit,
M. S.

Busy — Setting a Schedule.

Apparently, I'm too busy to maintain a blog with any regularity. This really isn't being surprising to me, what with work, writing, NaNoWriMo coming up, music, familial obligations, sword practice, lack of sleep, etc. It doesn't help that I never actually had a schedule, choosing instead to post whenever I felt like it.

So, if I want to keep this blog alive—and some small part of me that does (though I don't know why)—then I need a plan; though, planning goes against all my instincts. (Wow, that last sentence was a mess. Sorry.)

Anyway, the friday music posts I used to do were the closest I ever came to schedule, so I'll revive them. Additionally, I'll try to do writing progress reports on alternating sundays because, if I put up my progress for all to see, hopefully I'll be motivated to write more. I don't think I'll be able to post much more than that, but I promise I'll try to come up with something creative and/or interesting to post at least once a week.

If anyone actually reads this blog, then I apologize for my sporadic output. I'll try to do better in the future. But feel free to berate me anyway. I like being reminded of my flaws—it reminds me I'm still human.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit,
M. S.

Music Spotlight — Favourite Bands pt 1

. So instead of putting a music post up late, I didn't get it up at all. Bad me. I could provide a never ending list of excuses, but excuses are just that—they never do any good. Besides, the truth is that I was too busy knocking a story idea into an outline (which I still haven't finished), and watching Game of Thrones Researching… What? I'm a writer, aren't I? Not all research is non-fiction…

Anyway, seeing as I still don't know who to do a music spotlight on, I'm going to list some of my current favourite musics. Because you don't know me, and don't have a clue as to what I listen to on a regular basis, this might tell you a little about me. Which is dangerous, I know, but I'm not quite as paranoid as some people I know.

Without further ado:

• Gaelic storm
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
• Better Than Ezra
• Switchfoot
• The Letter Black
• Orianthi
• Led Zeppelin
• Stray Cats

Is there anyone of these you do not recognize? Just in case, I will proceed with telling you a little about them.

Gaelic Storm (listed first) just so happens to be my favourite band. They are a fun party band, especially live, with music ranging from boisterous drinking songs and sea shanties to heartfelt songs about lost love and being far from home. Their general style is sort of folksy celtic band with heavy irish influence (Pat Murphy) but they aren't traditionalists, and their variety is much beyond what many similar bands are capable of. (They've been known to cover their songs in another artist's style during live performances.) Here's my favourite tune, Scalliwag: (sorry, not the simlish version)

Okay, this post is getting a little long, I think I'll cut it short. I'll tell you about the other bands later. In the meantime I have chores to get done (No rest for the injured)

Go mbeannaí Dia duit,

M. S.

PS the sky is very pretty right now, reminding me of the supreme artist. Thanks, God :)

PPS: I just realized I forgot to provide links. If you like Gaelic storm, you can find out more about them at their website, where you can purchase their cds. You can also find their music on itunes and amazon.  Have fun!