Author: Elayjah Earles

I strive to write about what defines me and helps me understand others and myself better. With more time, I recognize how important it is to tell a story. It doesn't have to be a story about my life, but a story about someone who has taught me something in the form of a character. No matter who it's about, or what it contains, storytelling is what brings light to the dark areas of humanity and because of that I am always going to be an advocate for the writing community.

It’s March! Let’s Talk about My favorite Christmas Movies

I never really had a show or movie series that I was passionate about when I was growing up. Though, I was raised by adults who had a heartfelt love for movie culture. I have watched all the Tyler Perry movies, every edition of Friday, Coming to America, and every good and bad version of Barbershop. I didn’t have a lot of control over our family remote.

Although the movies mentioned above now hold a special place in my heart, back then they didn’t really resonate with me. The only time I got to watch movies I liked was around Christmas, whether it was a romantic comedy or a beautifully animated cartoon, I always took to seasonal movies more. Since nobody can ever really turn down a good Christmas movie, one of my first memories is watching The Nightmare Before Christmas with my grandma on Christmas Eve. In today’s blog, I want to talk about a few Christmas films that first resonated with me.

Polar Express:

Even though I’m still young and building what I will consider my “youth” one day, I consider the most prominent points of my childhood to have been around 2010-2018. Polar Express came out in 2004. This movie caught my eye because I never saw a film that was animated like it was. It has a realistic 3D animation type, and although that’s pretty common to see these days, it was not common to six-year-old me.

 I didn’t recognize the feeling back then, but when I first saw the film, I got a deep sense of uncanny valley. I was really drawn to the plot, which is basically a kid leaving his house in the middle of the night to catch a train and discover if Santa Claus is real or not. It sounded a lot more adventurous when I was a kid, but I can probably watch this movie at any point in my life and still love it with all my heart.

Edward Scissorhands:

My first time watching Edward Scissorhands was more recent than one might think. By recent, I mean last year. Some of my friends introduced it to me once they heard I’d never seen it before. I’m interested in anything that’s made by Tim burton. I love all his films and admire the way he uses his creative freedom. In this movie, and a few of his others, he uses color in an interesting way. I like to describe it as everything being a different color, but in the same shade or hue, and it creates this since of parallelism.

 I love movies that interact with color like this, because it signifies the universe of the movie is unique from our own. Or at least that’s how I think of it. I know some people like to argue that this is a Halloween movie, and I can totally see how that comes to mind, but this film has always felt like a Christmas movie to me. Even though the plot might seem like a good Halloween movie, there are a lot of aspects of the Holidays here, so I really disagree with that.

Gremlins:

Though Gremlins is considered a less-cuddly type of Christmas movie, it has always been one of my favorites. I watched it when was a little older, around my pre-teen years, so I was mature enough to not be terrified of the microwave scene (ifykyk). Gremlins came out in 1984, and it was popular before I even watched it. It’s about this Gadget Salesman that purchases a pet for his son at a sketchy shop, and the store owner give him very specific instructions to keep the pet from basically turning into a monster.

The guy buys it anyway, gives it to his son for Christmas, the son doesn’t adhere to his dad’s instructions, then the pet turns into a monster and procreates little versions of himself. So now, the entire town is full of furry, sharp-toothed Gremlins running around and terrorizing people on Christmas. It’s a lot funnier than it sounds. I also like this movie because the plot was really unique to me at the time, since I’d never seen a holiday movie mixed with horror before. I really encourage you to watch this one if not anything else.

February Journal blurb

In November I had the opportunity to work at the Renaissance festival, a popular festival that happens every year in the Louisiana area. People from states close by and far away travel to see this amazing event, and it’s truly as awesome as it’s hyped up to be. If you’ve never been to the ren fest before, it’s a big festival; based within decorated boarders that depict what life was like in the Renaissance Era. There are old-timey houses, huts, shops, and booths that surround the streets of the main festival. The streets/walkways are dirt and gravel roads, and they run miles across the base. I didn’t get to see every part of the festival, but I knew it stretched very far, and there were many more interesting things happening in certain areas (like jousting, kind of upset I never got to see it).

This specific job was very memorable to me because it was my first time working in the food service industry. My older siblings have all had jobs in the food service industry, so naturally I thought it’d be a good place to start whenever I needed to look for work. This past summer I ended up working at a nature center (which I loved and totally want to do again). So, I wasn’t working in the service industry yet, like I thought I would. During this time many close friends and family members were recommending that I give it a try because I needed the experience, socialization, and money. I do like working with people, so I wanted to give it a try.

I would’ve never thought one of my first jobs would be at a place as cool as the ren fest. I’d never been to the festival before, so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to work with my friend and her sister for the month. It was an amazing experience. I got to wear garb for the first time in my life, and it felt good to wear something completely different than I’m used to. I got to interact with people from different backgrounds and states. Some of them had been coming to the ren fest for years, and they were very open to talking about the details of their garb (I loved to ask them). Everyone was so happy and outgoing, and I loved being a part of it.

I worked in an ice cream/milkshake booth, and I can honestly say that I underestimated the skill and experience it takes to work in the food service industry. Of course, I had no prior experience in customer service, but I didn’t think it’d be as tough as it was. It took me a hot second to learn how to make the milkshakes, sundaes, and even the simple crepes we sold. We operated on a make-by-order basis, so while I was learning I was also serving the customers (Many people were forgiving when I messed up their order). There were moments when I had no idea what I was doing. It got nerve wracking at times, but I learned how to handle myself in those types of situations, so I like to think it worked out in my favor.

Working at this festival was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done, and I would love to do it again. The owner of the booth I worked in does a lot of different shows, so it’d be interesting to travel and work at other events. If you’re considering changing your work options or looking for different environments, you should totally take a chance and see what’s out there. I did, and I had an amazing time. Thanks for reading.

January Journal blurb

My dog gave birth to seven puppies in September. While I was away at school my mom sent me a photo of her and I was shocked to see a small pile of black and white puppies laying under her, feeding. Of course, I couldn’t see the puppies until a few weeks after they were born, but when I finally got a chance to see them, I was ecstatic.

The puppies were unbelievably cute! I played with them in the pin my parents built for them in the backyard. When I picked one up and held it in my arms, I was saddened to see it covered in fleas. I knew my family couldn’t afford flea treatments for seven dogs, but I didn’t want the puppies to suffer. To help with their fleas I gave each dog a bath. I put them in a plastic tub my family didn’t use anymore and rinsed them with soap and water. As I continued to clean them, I discovered more fleas. Clusters of them were living in their fur, around their necks, and in the crevices of their legs.

I couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it was for the puppies. I took an old hair comb we never used anymore and attempted to comb as many fleas out of their fur as I could. The process was long, and even with the flea comb, I couldn’t get nearly as many fleas out as I would have liked. When I finished washing and combing them, they piled into a corner of their pin. They cuddled and slept for a few hours, and thankfully it was hot enough outside that they could dry without getting super cold.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could help them without financially burdening my parents. So, I searched the internet for safe at home remedies to help lessen fleas for puppies. I found a lot of good remedies and some questionable ones, but I was hopeful that a specific remedy would work. I decided on this water and white vinegar mix that many dog owners said worked for their dogs. I was extra careful to avoid their faces when I sprayed them with the mixture. It was noon when I sprayed them, so I knew they wouldn’t be at risk for hypothermia. (it was cold outside and young puppies aren’t good at creating their own warmth)

 When I inspected them a few hours later, I saw a big decrease in their fleas! I could already tell the puppies were more comfortable and they were more playful too. Although the mixture did not work as well for some of them, I was happy that I could help in any way.  I’m still looking for better remedies. Hopefully ones that don’t make them smell like vinegar…

Also, a more current update, my parents found homes for four of the puppies! The other three are still with us and are healthy. I’m thankful. I’m also hopeful that we’ll give the other ones away to owners who care about them. Aside from my dogs, January has been a nice month. Since I’ve begun applying for colleges, I’ve worried a lot about what the next few years will look like. Spending time with my family and pets has been an amazing way to take my mind off things. It has also reminded me of how far I’ve come as a person. In the past two years or so my life has changed drastically, from losing two of my closest relatives to moving away from home. Despite all of this, I’m grateful for the change, and I believe it has helped me become a better version of myself.

Things I’ve learned in philosophy class

As an online dual enrollment student, I take plenty of classes that I don’t necessarily have an interest in. Honestly, taking these classes isn’t all bad because I also take classes that I do like and genuinely enjoy. But there’s always that one class that I can’t fathom, no matter how many placebos I’m juggling at the time. Although I expected intro to philosophy to be included in this bottomless pit of classes, it wasn’t. In fact, I learned the most in philosophy I’ve ever learned in another online course before. I took a genuine interest in the material and learned valuable things about life. This knowledge not only had an impact on how I viewed the world, but it put into perspective what I could do to change my own actions. In this blog, I’ll be talking about what I’ve learned in philosophy class and how it impacted my understanding of the world and myself.

The mind and body as two separate entities:

There’s a famous philosopher who specifically studied the correlation between the mind and the body. The body, in this philosopher’s brain, is an unthinking, machine operated being, and the brain is a non-extended thinking substance. Rather than seeing the mind and body as one whole that works together to carry out life tasks, he sees them as two separate entities that work closely together but have little in common. He backs his belief up with the fact that the body is divided into multiple parts, whereas the mind is only one whole and can think independently. Thinking about the mind and body in this way makes a lot of sense because I feel that my mind is vastly different from my body in every aspect. So, because we deal with two separate entities, it’s important that we care for them individually and through different methods.

                                                There’s a lot of power in reflection:

            For an assignment, we wrote about our feelings on Socrates quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I remember reading this and thinking that the quote was a bit too serious. But the more I read and wrote about it, I realized that the unexamined life really is as bad as Socrates believes. An unexamined life refers to a person who acts constantly but never reflects on the consequences of his or her own actions. This might seem easy for people to comprehend, but it’s not hard to get trapped in a cycle of doing and never reflecting. Reflection is how we achieve knowledge that can help our specific circumstance, and I feel that I especially stray away from it because it’s hard for me to accept criticism. It’s a harsh truth, but reflecting can do more inner work than we think.

                                                            Act now, reflect later:

            This might contradict the paragraph above, but it’s just as important. I’ve heard a version of this advice in every school I’ve been to and I’m just now understanding how relevant it is to everyday life. My dance teacher used to tell us to say yes to everything and no to nothing when we are actively creating art. When we create art or make decisions, we often do so with a conscious, logical mind. Removing the inner critic that’s always within us can help us create better art, it can ease our minds, and it can prevent or limit the chances of thinking ourselves out of opportunities. This can be especially helpful for people who struggle with procrastination, as it encourages them to act rather than go through the process of convincing themselves. This advice isn’t always easy to follow, but it works as a reminder that simply acting on something is all it takes to get started.

My Fav Children’s Fiction Novels

One of my all-time favorite genres to read is mystery/children’s fiction. In grade school I was one of those kids who went crazy over I-ready points. I-ready was basically a platform where grade school children and teachers tracked how many points a child earned through reading.

 So, the more books you read, the more points you got, and I really wanted those points. So, I ended up reading a lot. Me and a friend of mine would recommend each other good books and series, and some of these books I still read today.

 The books I’ll be talking about in this blog have stuck with me since grade school and have influenced my life in so many ways. I really loved reading these books back then and I still love them now. So, I’ll be talking about a few of them here.

Freak the Mighty:

Freak the Mighty is written by Rodman Philbrick and it’s a story about a 13-year-old boy named Maxwell who has low self-esteem due to unresolved trauma involving his parents and because he genuinely thinks he isn’t smart in any way.

He lives with his grandparents, Grim and Gram, and sometimes he overhears them talking about his father, Kenny Kane or Killer Kane, who is in prison for murdering his mother, Annie.

Next door lives a boy named Freak who suffers from Morquio syndrome, a life shortening condition that affects the development of his bones and organs. This syndrome impairs his ability to walk, and to get around he must wear a set of crutches.

When Freak loses one of his many gadgets in a tree Maxwell swoops in and helps him, and this marks the start of their unlikely friendship. Together they become Freak the Mighty because of their obvious size difference and their ability to compensate for one another’s shortcoming.

This novel is very colorful, a little sad, and a whole lot of interesting. I always love reading this because the writing is so humorous. It’s the kind of story where the narrator is a little unreliable and it’s clear through the manner he tells the story.

I also love the trope of an unlikely friendship. I remember reading this back then and thinking that Maxwell and Freak could never become friends, but then they do and it’s heartwarming to see.

Holes:

 Holes is written by Louis Sachar and it’s about a 14-year-old boy named Stanley Yelnats who is convicted of a crime and is sent to serve a sentence at Camp Green Lake, a boys detention center where the boys dig holes all day to ‘build character’.

Throughout the book Stanley claims he is innocent; however, no one truly believes him.

He blames his horrible luck on his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great grandfather. He also blames his grandfather for his father’s failed career as an inventor.

At Camp Green Lake he meets other boys with unique nicknames like Zigzag, Armpit, and Zero. When the guards tell Stanley to report if he finds anything while digging, he starts to wonder if they have an ulterior motive for making them dig the holes.

Could the guards be using the inmates to search for some mysterious underground secret? Stanley and the other inmates team up and embark on a journey to discover the mystery of Camp Green Lake. He also embarks on a journey to prove his own innocence.

Although this novel tackles a tough subject like injustice, it’s still very humorous and it’s a joy to read. This book has plenty of hidden secrets, and the story is told at the perfect pace for all these secrets to unfold. I truly love how unique the characters are, and how much fun they add to the story.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime:

This book is written by Mark Haddon, and it’s about a 15-year-old boy named Christopher Boone who discovers a dead dog, Wellington, in his neighbor’s front lawn. After he wrestles with his own conscience, Christopher vows to uncover the mystery behind the dead dog and to hopefully bring it justice.

He starts to investigate his neighbors. During one instance of his investigations, the police are called. Christopher’s father, who deeply opposes the entire investigation, warns him to leave the murder mystery alone.

Although Christopher receives a stern warning from the police he continues the investigation in his own way. He writes down his thoughts in a journal, which is the book we are reading, and he also uses it to keep track of his findings.

After another dispute with his father regarding the murder, Christopher is close to giving up the investigation until he finds something appalling under his father’s bed. In a box, there are letters from his mother who he assumed had died of a heart attack two years ago. And not only that, but there are clues that link his father to Wellingtons death.

 If you can’t tell, this book has plenty of twists and turns. The first time I read it, it reminded me of the Girl on the Train, which is another thriller/psychological fiction novel, because it unfolds in this really creepy yet surprising way that you would never expect, but it was kind of your face. This was one of the first novels that got me into reading murder mystery, and I really enjoyed it because it takes the identity of a murder mystery and spins it in this childlike way.

Anyways, I love all these stories. They give me so much joy and inspiration. Bye.

The evolution of whales

So, I’m sure everyone knows about evolution. The idea and theory that animals evolve overtime to fit their environment. Evolution is a debatable topic. Many people believe that relying on science is the best way to go about discovering once living creatures. Other people believe that evolution shouldn’t be a topic of conversation because it goes against religion. Whatever point of view you have about evolution is okay. There’s no rule or law that says you must believe that everything originated from one animal. I’m just saying that the idea of evolution is cool, and it’s backed up by some solid evidence. So, we’re going to talk about the evolution of whales. There are more than eight animals that scientists identify to be ancestors of whales, but today we’ll only be talking about the median three. 

Pakitcetus:

Pakicetus is an extinct animal from South Asia that lived during the early Eocene period, about fifty million years ago. It is classified as a cetacean, an aquatic mammal, because it lived around oceans, and had a specialized inner ear that most cetaceans developed. It lived both in and around water, walked on land, and was carnivorous, meaning that it ate fish and other animals to survive. Pakicetus looked more like a wolf than a whale. Scientists who studied the extinct fossil say that it had a snout, tail, and large molars that gave it the ability to break down tough material. The most shocking difference between Pakicetus and other modern-day cetaceans is that it walked on four legs and was covered in fur. Pakicteus is what scientists regard as a transitional ancestor, meaning that it serves as the groundwork for current cetacean creatures and it signifies cetacean’s transition from land to water. There is no specific cause for Pakicetus’s extinction. The animal likely went extinct due to environmental pressures that interfered with how well it could survive.

Kutchicetus:

            Kutchicetus existed during the Early to middle Eocene Era, and like the Pakitcetus, it lived in Pakistan. Many of the animals were also found in India. Kutchicetus is the smallest cetacean, and fossil evidence shows that it also had a snout, like the Pakitcetus. It had a tail, and four limbs that helped it to swim and walk on land. I think this animal was one of the last ancestors of whales to swim and walk. After the Eocene period, there is an event (not sure which) that likely changed all organism’s ability to adapt, so the Kutchicetus won’t have use for four legs, other than for swimming properly. It has a thick tail, hip bones, and elongated vertebrae/spine. The Kutchicetus has body proportions that are unlike other cetaceans, but similar to other land-living creatures, like otters.

Dorudon:

            Dorudon lived during the later Eocene period. It was one of the first creatures that evolved to look like the modern whales we know today, except it was a lot smaller. It measured about five meters long. Dorudon didn’t have any legs or body hair, and it lived in warm seas. Many fossils of this creature have been found in Egypt, New Zealand, and West Sahara. I also think this is the first whale to be so widely populated and so well adapted to its environment. Because of Durodon, whales have taken on traits that make them more adapted to swimming, which is what they do best. 

If you’re interested in all the different species of early whales, I recommend that you watch a more detailed version of this on YouTube. There is so much information out there that breaks down the habits and biological traits of extinct whale ancestors and other animals. I truly love learning about this, and hopefully in the future, I’ll write more about the other species as well. 

Why you should re-read the House on Mango Street

Let’s cut to the chase. Everyone knows about this book, and if don’t know about this book then that’s proof enough to tell me that you weren’t paying attention in middle school English class. It’s okay. I wasn’t either. But that’s just to say that The House on Mango Street is more than just a part of your draining middle school English course. And if you spare me a few minutes of reading I’m sure you’ll understand why this book is so good.

Firstly, I want to admit that I didn’t like this book when I read it in my English class. My old English teacher gave us a quiz for every chapter, and that alone was enough to take me out of the novel. Even the amazing writing flew over my head because I was so focused on memorizing names and places for our next quiz. Then I got to writing school, started writing poems and novels of my own and realized that I didn’t give that book a proper chance. So, a year ago, I dedicated myself to re-reading it. And I liked it so much that I re-read it again. And again. Now, I recognize it as my favorite book. This isn’t a blog to persuade you to love it, but just to persuade you to read it again, because I promise you, it deserves a second chance.

And if you haven’t heard of this book until now, hopefully this blog can convince you to check it out. Now let’s get into what I absolutely love about this book.

1.Every character is so unique.  How am I so sure? I’ve read a lot of books, and no character has left such an impression on me the way Esperanza, Nenny, Rachel, Lucy, Cathy, Meme, Louis and more have. These characters bring so much life to the story that the reader is in for an instant refresher. We have Esperanza who wishes her family was not poor, yet she becomes friends with Lucy and Rachel who are slightly less stable than she is. And despite her distaste for living on Mango Street she longs for friendship and community. And then we have Cathy who loves cats and claims that she will eventually go to France to claim her royal bloodline, but truthfully, she is just teenage girl who wishes she were anywhere else but Mango Street. There are so many tactics that Cisneros use to make her characters human. Their hair type, their speech, their insecurities, their lies, their movements, their environment and more. Every person in this book is tailored in ways that leave you speechless. It’s amazing.

2. The writing style is God sent. For those of you who were taught this book in English class, did you ever notice how the writing was unique in comparison to other children’s fiction novels? I’m not sure how to word it but this book is narratively poetic. There are so many moments in this novel that sound like poetry to me, and I feel like that’s what attracts a lot of readers. There’s a lot of repetition and simplicity in this book. Plus, the chapters are short and juicy and could very well be some type of longer poetry. What really stands out to me about this book is the writing style. It has a journal entry style, where the protagonist speaks with their own dialect, rather than the added literary elements. By the writing style alone, we can see where Esperanza comes from, that she is only twelve years old, and that she doesn’t have much experience. But she is very in tune with the world around her. This book is so interesting because the journal-entry style makes the story feel personal and real. It’s also a good reference to study if you want to learn about writing from the perspective of children.

3. It will open your eyes. I feel like the main thing that I should’ve mentioned earlier about this book is its roots in the Latino community. The writer is Latino, and this story is some testament to her experience growing up in a low-income and Latino neighborhood. There are mentions of the protagonist’s heritage and where her family came from, the type of food they make, and how they celebrate certain holidays. Honestly, I’ve learned so much more about Latino culture from reading this book. I think that’s one of the most important take-aways from this novel. So, if you’re looking for a good book to sink your claws into that is as interesting as it is informative, The House on Mango Street is a novel that you need to add to your reading list. And if you aren’t too fond of it at first, try reading one chapter every so often. It doesn’t have to be in order. What’s important is that you’re witnessing this amazing story unfold, happy reading!

Blog 18

First off, I just want to say that this year has been amazing. I never would have expected it to end so fast, but here we are. It feels surreal how fast the times have come and gone, but it also feels like a victory. When I first got here, I was super scared of what being a literary major would be like. I knew I liked to write and build my own characters, but I was terrified of sharing my work. It was fine when I was just reading stuff to my mom but reading my work to complete strangers was definitely a challenge for me.

Besides that, I was also scared that I would not be good enough. When I first got here, I lacked confidence when it came to writing, and I felt it was because of the change in environment. As many people know, coming to MSA is a very big change.

However, I’ve realized that it wasn’t a bad change. I’ve learned about my art, and I’ve learned a lot about other people’s art too.  I’ve learned about character building and descriptions and details and the ways it can make a story flourish. I’ve learned other very important and crucial writing tips to carry with me on my writing journey. I’ve also had the opportunity to see growth in my writing, my communication skills, my social skills, and confidence.

  I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to share and connect with different people. It’s such a blessing to be educated on something that I love (most of the time). I’m also excited about the summer and what it might look like. Saturday is going to be my first job interview, and I can’t wait to see what my summer workplace is going to be. It’s an agriculture center in my town, which works perfectly for me because I love everything about science and nature. I also thought it might be good to check out certain fields. Especially since my senior year is right around the corner.

Besides working, I do plan to rest too. I want to make sure I am getting proper rest, especially since I’ve been heavily neglecting my sleep schedule during these past few months. Of course, it has everything to do with me, so I am taking matters into my own hands this summer by going to bed at nine o’clock every night. I’m not letting anybody talk me out of it.

  Something else I’m looking forward to this summer is a weekly camping trip I do with my friends every year. It’s super fun and it gives us an opportunity to get out of our houses and meet new people. I’m so excited about it, and I’m also excited to meet with my friends again on a weekly basis. I feel like I haven’t talked to any of them since coming to MSA, so it would be nice to see them more often. I hope you guys have also had a positive experience at MSA and I hope to see you next year!

Writing Down the Bones- a book review (I think)

If you’ve only read a snippet of the book or maybe you haven’t read any of it at all, Writing Down the Bones is written by Natalie Goldberg and in it she talks about building your stamina as a writer, looking for progress and not perfection, and approaching the practice through Zen meditation. She emphasizes the importance of creative journaling and setting yourself free through your own writing. When I first saw this book, I was almost certain that it was going to say something about practicing writing every day. Every time you seek advice about writing from professionals or books or articles, they ultimately tell you the same thing- to write every day. Now, this book isn’t exactly different from those other books and articles, but I think the intention is a little different.

Although Natalie does advise you to write every day, she also wants you to eliminate your own personal critic, and this makes a lot of sense. Personally, I’m always in a battle with the backspace button. There have definitely been moments where the words to a short story or a poem or an article poured straight out of me, but there are other moments where I feel the need re-read what I write, and this causes some overthinking and frustration because I see comma splices and poorly chosen metaphors and not enough flowery language and blah blah blah.  Filtering out your personal critic can allow the words to flow freely, and it can give you a sense of freedom. This cuts down on stress, and it keeps you motivated to write more. This is helpful advice, especially as a new writer because you gain that space you need to grow your craft.

Another topic that Natalie frequently touched on in the book was separating your ego from your writing practice. Matter of fact, she also explains how ego can directly affect your writing. This happens when your thoughts are being filtered and ultimately interrupted because you are anxious to accept criticism as a writer. Simply put, ego limits creativity. Natalie provides writing exercises that can decrease issues related to ego. An example of an ego decreasing exercise would be writing a vivid moment that relates to a memory or an experience. The important catch to this exercise is keeping all the raw and deltaic moments in the story and recognizing when you filter because of ego.

Zen meditation is another topic that Natalie explores throughout this novel. Natalie Goldburg is a Zen Buddhist, and she has implemented the practice of Zen meditation in her writing practice for a long time. Natalie views writing and Zen meditation as very closely related practices, both focusing on the mind and its relation to the present moment. She emphasizes that writing is like meditating and it involves a regular, consistent effort to become self-aware. Zen meditation has many pros to it as well. It decreases anxiety, creates a sense of mindfulness, and it allows us to explore our mind. But not just that, it can also allow us to form a different connection to writing. Honestly, I didn’t understand how Zen meditation could be related to writing because they are two completely different practices, but as I continued the book and she dived deeper into this concept, I learned that Zen meditation and writing are alike in that they both allow you to explore the mind’s inner landscape and to connect to yourself.

I enjoyed this book so much and I’ve taken much more than just writing tips from it. In it, you can also get a glimpse of Natalie’s life as a writer and how she got where she was. She talks about the good and bad parts of the writing life, and the struggles new writers face as they begin. I hear that her other book “Wild Mind” is another good one and I hope to check that out too.

My fav snl cast members

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I love theater/acting. I’m always on the prowl for a good play/sitcom to watch. I love drama, comedy, and actors who pour their guts into a role. What better place to find all three of these than Saturday Night Live? I started watching SNL in 7th grade. I have a vivid memory of watching Zach Galifianakis in a red M&M suit defend himself in a candy store and several other bizarre, unhinged moments in the show. This show has some very funny cast members.  Now, I’m not too quick to pick favorites because I’m sure every cast member there is super talented. I’ve heard that it’s difficult to audition for SNL, let alone secure a spot. But I can’t imagine what this show would be like without the influence of five people I will be fangirling about today.

Kenan Thompson:

Kenan Thompson has been a cast member at SNL for a very long time. Like seriously, they should pay him tribute by photoshopping a picture of his face on the SNL logo. He is THE OG cast member, and I can totally understand why Lorne (the exec) has kept him on air for so long. He presents himself so naturally.  You can really tell that he just reads the script, practices one time and then catches on immediately. I haven’t seen any actor exude the energy that Kenan does. It’s unique and genuinely funny.  Also, Kenan has the funniest resting face I’ve ever seen. It looks like he’s about to burst out laughing at any moment. I’ve probably watched every skit that he was in.

Cecily Strong:

Cecily Strong is one of the OG goats of SNL. I think she came onto the show in 2012. What really stands out to me about her is that she can play any character. I know actors get this compliment a lot, but I really mean it when I say she can play ANY character. I’ve seen her play a cashier, a crazy neighbor, a gold digger, a kid, a mom, an old lady, etc. She has a very wide acting range, and it’s so enjoyable and thrilling to watch her on the stage/tv. I can really see why so many actors admire her. She’s easily one of the funniest members on the show. If you want a good laugh, you should go watch the QVC skit with her and Kristen Wiig!

Bill Hader:

Bill Hader came onto SNL a little bit before the cast members mentioned above him. He started the show in 2005 and left around 2013, so he didn’t get the chance to do a lot of sketches with the other actors mentioned above him. But that doesn’t matter because he stands out all on his own. Bill Hader is an amazing actor, and I commend him for all his moves/shows aside from SNL. But what draws me to him the most is his voice. He has such an eloquent and captivating tone. He plays the role of a sardonic game show host perfectly. He’s another one of those dramatically funny actors, and he matches SNL’s vibe so well.  

Kristen Wiig:

Kristen Wiig joined the cast of SNL in 2005. She easily established herself as one of the funniest people there. She is such a talented person. I feel like I’ve called everyone in this blog talented, but I feel there is no other way to describe how impressive her acting is. I’m convinced that Kristen Wiig has lived the life of every character she has played because the way she disappears into the role is unbelievable. Most of her characters are bizarre and outlandish, but she makes them memorable with the way she portrays them. I can’t imagine how dull the show would have been if she never came on air.

Aidy Bryant:

Aidy Bryant joined the show in 2012. She is another actor with a very wide acting range. I love to see her play confident/slightly arrogant characters because she steps into that role really well. She has a lot of control over her tone, and she stands out because of it. Aidy has so many funny skits on SNL, and I can really see her acting in her own sitcom or movie.