Category: my thoughts

Posted in blaze, Blogging, day 16, day 17, fire, July, my thoughts, unfold, word a day, Writing

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 16 – Blaze

So, I missed day 16 as I was in a bit of a mood, yesterday.  And then we went out for a work social night, which was actually exactly what I needed.  Anyway, the word for 16th of July was ‘blaze’.  The first thought that comes to mind when I see the word ‘blaze’ is fire.  
Fire is actually quite an amazing…element?  Well, I can’t really explain fire to be honest.  It is a chemical reaction I think? It’s caused by the combination of chemicals with oxygen in the air and gives off heat, and light.  Blue flame is hotter than orange.  
When humans gained the ability to harness fire…that was when civilisation began, really.  That and agriculture.  But, being able to use fire to cook with, and to clear land for use…that was a big thing.  
I love sitting in front of a fireplace in winter, and enjoying the warmth and also watching the flames leap up and fill a dark room with light.  It’s quite hypnotic…and relaxing.  
When I was at school and we went on camps, we used to do this thing where if the smoke moved toward us, we would say ‘white rabbit’ and it was meant to make it move away.  Half the time it didn’t, but it was fun to just yell out ‘white rabbit’ while sitting in the dark and watching the smoke.  I think the teachers indulged us in this activity, until we were tired and headed to our bivvies.  
Fun times.
I’ve seen another use of the word ‘blaze’ when people say ‘blaze it’.  And maybe I’m getting old, but I really don’t get it.  There’s some connection with 4.20?  And I really don’t know.  Sometimes I wish words just had one meaning and we stuck with that… 
Day 17 – Unfold

Today is the 17th of July, and the word of the day is ‘unfold’.  And, right now I’m attempting to write more of my story The Aviators.  I really want to know how the rest of the story is going to unfold as I began writing it in 2008? I think?  No.  2009.
Wow.  Just.  Wow.  That’s longer than the length of time I took to write Adeline’s Choice (You Don’t Mean Anything).  Granted, I’ve experienced massive breaks between writing.  Lots of writer’s block going on there.  But, I think I know how I’m going to end this.  And, maybe I’ll regret how I’ll end it.  But, I need to finish writing the story because…well, otherwise I never will.  
So, I guess we’ll see.  I’m throwing in the “M” word.  Cliche, perhaps….but, you know.  I’m the master of cliche.  

Posted in Blogging, celebs, charm, day 15, July, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 15 – Charm

Definition:
Noun the power or quality of delighting, attracting, or fascinating others.
“he was captivated by her youthful charm”
synonyms: attractiveness

We often use the word “charming” to describe behaviour that isn’t.  But, I want to talk about the people who I would have to admit could charm the birds from the sky.   I’m going to permit myself to put on my fan girl hat and tell you a bit about my favourite celebrities.  

Number one, of course, is Pierre Bouvier.  I know he isn’t really a celebrity in the Hollywood sense, but he is well enough known to count.  And I’ve actually met him. 
Pierre is such a humble man.  And yeah, I had a crush on him in a big way.  But, it’s now just because he’s such a beautiful person.  Inside and out.  He’s also a good singer and well, Simple Plan wouldn’t be the same without him.  
The next person I want to mention is M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold. 
His vocals are raw and hard hitting, but can also be tender and emotional.  And he is a larger than life personality when on stage.  I love that.
Then there are the Madden Brothers – Benji and Joel.  
I love these two.  Seeing them perform their album, Greetings From California, in 2014, was an amazing experience. And I’ve loved their Aussie TV appearances from the NRL Grand Finals to The Voice and even earlier their interviews on Rove Live.  I prefer Benji’s vocals over Joel’s and I’ve almost to the point where I can pick the difference between them.
Next I need to mention Travis Cloke.  My favourite footy player.  He gets bagged so much because of his form, but he’s been a loyal Collingwood player for over ten years.

Finally Alex O’Loughlin.  I have no words really for him.  He’s an Aussie, and I fell in love with his Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-0.  Then following from that I’ve watched many of his shows and movies.  He is my McTavish face claim…and well.  My favourite actor he is.  

So charming…

Posted in Blogging, day 12, July, my thoughts, word a day, yawn

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 12 – Yawn

So, why do we yawn?  I know when we’re tired we yawn, but that can’t be the only reason, as sometimes we yawn as we wake up and we also yawn when others around us yawn.  It seems to be something that social animals do as well.  Many mammals also ‘yawn’.  So, I wonder if there is some evolutionary value to the yawn.  
There are theories that suggest we yawn when we’re not getting enough oxygen, which would make some sense as it means we get more air in.  Maybe to invigorate us to be ready to fight or take flight?  I don’t know.  Sounds as good a theory as any.  
I found myself yawning quite a bit today.  I’m usually a lot tireder when it’s that time of the month.  Anyway, I think this will be a shorter post as I have no motivation, even with this word…think it’s time for some zzz’s…. *yawn*. 
Haha.  

Posted in Blogging, day 10, July, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 10 – Everything

Today was one of those full kind of days. 
1. We went to church this morning and the God encounters that I knew were happening were palpable.  Worship went off in a good way.  
2. Then we had lunch with family with lots of lively discussion.  
3. Earlier in the morning I was up and pottering around, listening to music and surfing the net.  
4. Tonight I will watch The Voice then catch up with the Play School 50 year documentary on iView.  
5.  I was looking at one of my fan fictions this morning and it was making me all teary….thanks very much hormones.  Pretty weird to be crying over my own writing.
6.  I’m so pleased for Clokey.  4 goals and 19 disposals in a Collingwood win over GWS yesterday.  GWS has never beaten Collingwood.  And still hasn’t, so woot!  
7.  Tomorrow is probably my last Monday off, which I’m actually happy about.  After the school holidays I’ll be going back to five days, but on a shorter shift.  8 hours (7.5 plus half hour lunch) instead of 10.  
8.  I’ve had EP on my mind.  
9.  Been reading a book on science, myth and philosophy which has been getting me thinking.  Ironic that.  A Chaos of Delight written by Geoffrey Dobson is a fascinating read, though some of what is in the book has been hurting my brain, haha.
10.  I’m going to have Cheerios in a minute.  No, not the cereal.  Cocktail frankfurts.  We used to call them Cheerios in Queensland.
11.  The 3rd State of Origin game is on this weekend.  Queensland have won the series, though…so really it’s so NSW can salvage some dignity….maybe? 
12.  Story Park is such a good program to use for documenting the learning of the children at our centre, and to be able to communicate with the families and other staff. 
13.  Mark bought me a black series Rey figurine! She’s awesome.
14.  This has been a list on “everything” that’s kind of been going on in my mind today.  But, really I can’t list everything because then this would be thousands of words long.  Haha.  
Posted in Blogging, day 9, fan fiction, fiction, July, my muses, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 9 – Imagine

Honesty time.  I use my imagination a lot.  I make up stories in my head, which some would call them fantasies.  The most prevalent ones feature the Rebels of Scotland (the five Douglas brothers – Gordon, Joshua, Daniel, Richard and Robert and their family and friends and enemies…); the Pierre clones (EP, Pips and the “real” Pierre Bouvier); and my other muses – namely Elliott and Phil Preston, Daniel McTavish and co.  Travis Cloke of Collingwood, Alex O’Loughlin and M Shadows have all featured as well.  I do write fan fiction after all.  
Clokey 
 
Clokey is my Fallen Angel.  In my fiction he is literally the human incarnation of the fallen angel Azael.  He was a disciple of the Devil until he was redeemed and evolved into human conscious so that he could make up for all the wrong that he did in the heavens.  Inspired by the angel wing tattoo that Trav has on his back.

Pierre Bouvier
The first “celebrity” I seriously crushed on and the main character of most of my fan fictions.  He features especially in Jars of Clay, To Assasinate an Angel, Pierre Wars: Attack of the Clones, Bed Hair is Not a Fashion Statement, Songs of the Deep Blue, Tattoos of Memories. He has featured in many others, but a lot of them in the guise of….

EP
EP (Evil Pierre) is my writing muse.  He is how Pierre has manifested in many of my stories.  A darker version of the Pierre we all know and love.  He’s been a bounty hunter, a vampire, a master, a serial killer to name a few.  

Pips
Isn’t really my creation but I borrowed him for some of my stories.  He’s the lighter side of Pierre, the sweet, cheeky personality that doesn’t have a care in the world and balances out the darkness that is EP.  

The three Pierres are linked inexplicably and they are in my fictional worlds (my imagination at least) capable of supernatural feats – mind reading, teleportation, healing and the like.  Though this was more in role play with friends on the old SimplePlanOnline message boards back when I was younger.

Alex O’Loughlin
Daniel McTavish face claim
Alex has been himself; a vampire; and sometimes McGarrett.  He is also the face of Daniel McTavish my completely original character who came to me relatively recently in comparison to my other muses. He is of two guises.  One is the killer cum youth pastor; the other is the Commander in a dystopian society that has banned music…inspired from a tale featuring…

M Shadows and Zacky V
Matthew Sanders is the original Commander of the Creed.  (Well, he’s actually the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold in real life, and Zacky is the rhythm guitarist).  But, it’s his story, Avenged Sevenfold fan fic Shadow’s Creed that inspired my original fiction The Uprising, which is McTavish’s story.  Matthew and ZV have also been vampires alongside EP’s vampire.  He’s also joined Alex, EP, Pierre and Clokey in fighting for my mind’s attention.  

The Rebels
My fertile imagination created before all of these, the Rebels of Scotland.  Gordon was inspired directly from my high school crush, at least his name and looks.  Everything else was my own creation.  Gordon and his four younger brothers (Joshua, Daniel, Richard, Robert).  His mother Celandine; his father Gregory.  And the rest.  The Fenton’s (Joseph, Josephine, Jacob, Jemima), the McDonalds (Stephen, Kayla, Jams), the McGregors (the Royal family of Scotland), the O’Donnells (Zachariah, Caleb, Jason), the Pasans (Matthew, Anthony), the O’Days (Michael, Terence)…and so on and so forth.  
They exist in a fictional Scotland that is ruled by His Majesty King Henry McGregor and his Crown Prince son, Jonathan.  I don’t really have any concrete tale, except that Gordon left Scotland to go to school in Australia, then returns to Scotland with the school and they don’t realise that he is a Rebel.  He doesn’t tell them and they don’t find out until either of two things happens….depending on where my mind goes.
Either Gordon is rude to prince Jonathan when the prince tells his school group that the Rebel Chieftain (who is Gordon’s younger brother) is dangerous and they need to stay away from him.  And then Gordon’s teachers want him to apologise to Prince Jonathan and after that want to meet his family.  And only after that they find out Gordon is a Rebel.
The other scenario is that the Rebel Chieftan (Joshua, Gordon’s brother) has been hosting one of Gordon’s friends and then that friend gets hurt, and Joshua was going to be arrested but Gordon manages to persuade them to give him a chance and let him host him instead.  Again it’s not until after he’s spent some time with Joshua being “hosted” that his friends and teachers find out that Gordon is actually a Rebel.  
I do want to write some proper fiction around them, but in the mean time I’ve borrowed, Gordon, Robert and their cousin Lachlan for my Uprising fiction.  
The Uprising
My imagination brought me to these four as the faces of The Uprising… And I found that amazing because that never used to happen to me. 
Alex is Daniel
Thomas Sangster is Robbie
Pierre is Pips Preston
Jim Sturgess is Elliott

Part of me sits back and thinks…imagine if none of these muses had ever shown up.  Mayhap my Rebels may have populated the pages of writing that have been consumed by EP and his ilk.

I am so glad that was not the case.  I feel blessed to be able to write everything I have.  I’ve learnt and grown a lot as a writer and that’s something.  




Posted in Blogging, July, my thoughts, slow, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 8 – Slow

Today was a slow day.  Only had three babies in our room today.  And we amused ourselves with dancing, singing and reading books and cuddles and eating and sleeping (the babies) not my colleague and I.  Though we both were tired.  
We had the dinosaurs set up in the room all week which was a lot of fun.  They were in the sensory play experience tray that we set up.  
(Poor chickens and T-Rex, the brachiosaurus wasn’t impressed.)
And we also had some Australian animals as well.
(Thorny devil, dingo and red kangaroo.)
(Mr Platypus…)
It was a long day too, and I was there from 7.30 in the morning until 6.30 at night….so eleven hours straight. Long long day.   I love my work, but it can be absolutely exhausting.  I wouldn’t trade it, though.  And I don’t mind the slow days so much.  So much more one-on-one interactions can happen on those days.  I love it.

Posted in Blogging, July, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word A Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 5 – Golden

Golden is the name of the filly that Thowra, in The Silver Brumby, directs his attention to when The Man returns to the mountains.  The Man trained her up in the mountains and I know that he did it up there deliberately to try and catch Thowra.  But that backfired and Golden ended up running with Thowra’s herd and having his foals.  

The Silver Brumby is one of my all time favourite films based on one of my favourite childhood books.  

And, yes.  That’s Russell Crowe before he became famous.  He played “The Man”.  

Posted in Blogging, day 4, July, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 4 – Brave

Have you ever stopped to think what was the bravest moment in your life?  Or what does it mean to be brave?  In the media and society we often give awards for bravery to those who undertake death defying feats, or save others from burning buildings or go and fight wars for our countries.  And yes, there is no denying that they are the actions of brave people, or that they are acts of bravery.  But, have you ever paused to ponder how bravery looks like in your own every day life?
Let’s look at a definition of the word ‘brave’.  
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘brave’ thusly:
Adjective 
1.  Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage
Verb
1.  Endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behaviour) without showing fear.  
I believe as soon as we see the word ‘danger’ linked with the word brave we automatically think of the most horrific situations people can be put in that they need to be courageous in.  However, I want you to take a step back and consider for a moment that perhaps, for some, that waking up in the morning is a huge step of courage.  There are those who live with a chronic illness or live in unstable domestic situations who face each day bravely and if they get through the day with not much trouble, consider it a win.  They may brush it off as how life is, but I personally think it’s a form of bravery.  
My husband is one of those people.  I honestly don’t think I could go through life the way he does with his health condition.  It’s often difficult just seeing it second hand.  He does say that having me in his life makes a difference, but…he was working and doing things even before we met.  So, brave he is.  
Bravery can show up in small everyday moments as well.  In my own world it shows up in the moment that I strike up the courage to call someone on the phone.  Or speak up about something at work.  Or even just voice my own views about a particular subject.  
Yes, viewing braveness in this way seems to be counterintuitive.  I by no means am trying to lessen the impact of the big, brave acts of the people we see as heroes.  I just think we need to understand that life in and of itself is a journey where we step out without fear and try to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others.  
Posted in Blogging, day 3, July blogging, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 3 – Vibrant

It’s a cloudy winter’s day in Perth and I’ve found that on days like these the colours of life seem to dissipate.  I often feel lethargic and flat.  However, I’ve realised too that this is a choice.  I can allow myself to feel the lethargy or I can actively counter that.  
This morning in church, Haydn was talking about encountering God.  That a God encounter is more amazing and wonderful than any other experience we can even imagine.  I like to think that this is what really counts.  That resting in the presence of God is enough.  Enough to chase away the grey in our world.  
I think of the vibrant flush of colour in a rainbow.  The rainbow that was a symbol of God’s covenant with Noah after the flood.  A promise that He would never destroy the world again because of the sin of His people.  He sent Jesus, the Light of the world, instead to save us.  
I think of sunlight piercing through the clouds and brightening the wet roads in the city.  Blinding, yet illuminating all at once.  The flashes of warmth from the rays of winter sun are well worth soaking up.  Taking advantage of the beautiful sunny days in winter  think is essential for lessening the affect of the gloomier days.  We make sure to spend as much time outside with the children at work on the ‘warmer’ days in light of this fact.  
I think of…well, so many things and I never have enough words to explain them.
I apologise for the rambling nature of this post.  I got distracted by social media and my game on my iPad.  Perhaps we should all just go and look for what is most vibrant in life today…or tonight?
Posted in Aus Pol, Australia Votes, Blogging, Election 2016, July, my thoughts, word a day

July Blogging Challenge – Word a Day

Posted on by marlytheadoptee
Day 2 – Shift (Election Day thoughts)

Today is Election Day.  Australia will go to the voting polls and make a decision on who should lead this country.  One thing that needs to be clarified is that we don’t elect our Prime Minister.  The parties do that, we only vote for the candidates in the electorate that we live in.  Now that I’ve said that…
This year it has become apparent that it won’t be good enough just to vote like we’ve always done.  But that will take a huge shift in common mindsets to realise.  I’ve read several articles pertaining to how we should vote as followers of Christ (as I am a committed Christian) and several points have been brought up very clearly.  
First, that we need to be prayerful in the decisions we make.
Second, we should vote in light of what others need
Third, there are no “Christian” parties.  Though there are parties with the word “Christian” in them.  However, when you look at the policies they are wanting to put forward…some of them are not how Jesus would respond to the needs of this world.  And that’s what being Christian is truly about.  Being like Jesus.  
Four, don’t let the media or others pressure you into voting for certain parties.  
And fifth, it doesn’t matter if you don’t agree with every policy that a particular party has laid on the table.  You need to consider the pros and cons of every party and see which outweighs in each case.
But, it’s the second point that I want to stick to for the moment.  It’s a huge paradigm shift to even start thinking that we should vote, not for ourselves, but for others.  But, I will strive to vote in this way. Because, the future generations is who we are really voting for.  And those who are less advantaged and don’t have a voice.  And those who cannot vote, yet.  
Which brings me to another thought.  Hubby and I were watching Q and A the other night and someone either tweeted or commented that perhaps the voting age should be lowered.  So, 16-17 year olds could vote voluntarily and then voting would become compulsory from 18 years of age.  I think the idea is definitely worth thinking on.  There are many 16 and 17 year olds who are knowledgable enough and aware enough to actually be able to make informed decisions about political issues. They deserve a voice, they are the future after all.  And when it comes to what their generation need are they not their own best advocates?  Yes, they may still be children, legally…but it doesn’t mean they are not aware of social justice issues, or economic issues.  All these things affect them in no small measure and they deserve to have a say in what their future will look like.  
I know personally that at 16, 17, I was able to have reasoned discussions about serious topics.  Having good education does help.  But, to touch on that would be worth another blog post.  
So, in light of all that I have written…consider your vote seriously and make it count.