Obligatory Mommy Bragging

All of my regular readers have probably been introduced to my daughter through guest posts or links. But new friends.... I am going to introduce you today! AND I have some major Mommy bragging to do! So hold on to your hats.... and meet the Faerie Girl!

My daughter, Jenna, is 16 going on 30. Well, some days she is more like 16 going on 5, but that's just fun! LOL She is a Senior this year because she skipped most of the 7th grade. She is a goof and a dork. She is bright and beautiful. She is pretty damn awesome and really impressive if I do say so myself! She lives out loud and doesn't care what anyone says. She respects herself and expects others to respect her as well. She cares deeply about many different social issues and tries her damndest to change the world. She is a talented and ambitious writer who awes me daily. Even while she irritates the crap out of me with the teenage drama!

She has... ummm..... well, three blogs that are openly public, but one of those is linked to a forum. Her personal blog is The Delusional and her writing blog is As The Plot Thickens. She also owns and moderates a writing forum called Quill and Ink. She owns and runs a website for a project she is doing called The Juniper Project which is all about Guerrilla Art. She writes for the Yahoo! Contributors Network (used to be Associated Content) for free until she turns 18 and can earn money there! Her personal web site is HERE. You can click on any of the links to get to know her.OR, you can click on any of the following links to read some of my favorite posts from her blog:

Love is in the Air, I'm Wearing a Gas Mask
Babyface
I've Got a Sword, Fool
Politics, Religion and all that Other Good Stuff
Don't Eat the Red Snow
The Journey
Kicking Down The Door
The Snotpocalypse

Now for the REAL bragging! If you follow me on Facebook then you have probably heard all of this already, if you don't follow me on FB then why not?!? LOL (Click on the Stalk me here tab up top for a link to my FB page!)

Jenna was accepted to The University of Tampa and will be studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Writing. That was exciting enough! Then we found out that she was accepted as an Honors student and was awarded an $11,000 (renewable!) Presidential Scholarship from the school! That's my girl!

So, while that scholarship will not come close to paying for her education, it will be a major help. She should qualify for full financial aid (we are poor) and is applying for numerous other scholarships. We are fully confident in her ability to fund her college education through her academic achievements and her writing ability. Those scholarship essays should be a breeze! So, while she is stressing out to some degree, she is also pretty proud of herself. And so am I.

In addition to that, she also participated in NaNoWriMo again this year. For those who do nto know, that is National Novel Writing Month where you are challenged to write a novel of 50,000 words or more int he space of a month. This is her 3rd year. I think. She succeeded in writing her 50,000 words in the space of 4 days. Yes. FOUR DAYS. Granted, it is an extremely rough first draft. But, damn.Then she proceeded to get sick with walking pneumonia. Told her she was working too hard.....

I would love it if any of you should feel like leaving a comment for her! While she can be an irritating teenager, she is also pretty awesome.

Tomorrow I am writing about Christmas and my dreams of it being a debt free holiday this year so make sure you wander by and check in!

In Which there are Injured Legs, Crazy Family Members, Tired Castle Keepers, Intense House Cleaning, a Crazy Writerly Daughter, and Many Dead Bugs

Hello, good readers of the Faerie Castle. This is Jenna, of As the Plot Thickens and The Delusional (loving that shameless blog promoting, eh?), Tracy's kickass and oh-so-modest (heh) daughter, here today (erm, tonight) with none other than a GUEST POST! Because Mother has all but LOST HER MIND!

(Which isn't exactly a good thing, but it does provide me with endless hours of amusement, so there ya go.)

Mah Mommeh has been a bit occupied these past couple of days. I succeeded in busting my knee on Thursday night and pulling a muscle, which caused me not to be able to walk for a day (which meant I, unfortunately, had to miss school and TWO TESTS AND A PRESENTATION). So she had to wait on me and take me to the doctor. But I'm fine now, so no worries there.

My grandma, nana, and cousin all got into town from sunny Florida on Saturday afternoon, and Mother-of-Mine and I spent most of that day cleaning the house from top to bottom. I spent three hours up to my elbows in bleach water, scrubbing my bathroom from tub to toilet. Most definitely NOT my favorite task in the world.

Over the past few days, I have been frantically trying to finish this year's National Novel Writing Month novel, which I have titled The Endless. It's a murder mystery, and it's hard work. I've met the official goal of 50,000 words, but I'm shooting for 90,000 total. Meaning that I've been holed up in my room for the past two days doing not a whole lot with the family unless they make me. Which irritates Mother-of-Mine. But hey, last year I typed through Thanksgiving dinner. I don't think much can top that level of irritation. But don't worry, I won't do that this year.

Maybe.

Anyway, we fumigated today (again) and killed some bugs (again). They're still sort of...everywhere...but we did manage to put a dent in the scurrying, many-legged, icky population. For a few days. Maybe.

Icky, icky, grosstastic, ucky, yucky, absolutely disgusting little creatures are bugs. Ugh.

Before I leave you to go do your thing, I'll toss a funny lil' video at you:



(Be sure to check out my blogs, kthnxbai.)

Love and hugs and stuff,

Jenna.

:P

What Day IS It Anyway?

Wow. What a weekend. LOL

Jenna is trying to plan her Senior Project. Here, in her HS, the seniors must do a major research project with papers, presentations and a physical product. This must be something that is new to them that they learn about, they must have a mentor (NOT a relative) and must have their thesis planned and approved by the board before the end of their Junior year. It is a major part of their senior year. And, they cannot graduate without it being approved and passed by the board. Wild. So, some of the previous projects have included wood working where the student made things like a doghouse, a gun rack or a dollhouse. There have been community projects and concerts, people have learned to sew or crochet, to cook or to do any number of things.

Jenna wants to learn to sew and make a 14th century french outfit. This would include study of the materials used, the reasons behind color choices and fabric choices, trade information and maybe even other things. I have no idea yet!

She really just wants to get involved with the local SCA group and thinks this is a great way to do that and make sure that I follow through! LOL

For those who do not know, the SCA is a group of people who recreate medieval life. They make clothing, fight and do any number of things true to this time period. They are great people and it is truly interesting! I have always wanted to be involved but was waiting to have the time and energy. Since that may never happen, I contacted the local group this weekend! We should be attending our first newcomers meeting on the 22nd. I can't wait and neither can Jenna.

Braeden started school today. I was a nervous wreck. He was so excited! I don't even think he noticed me leaving. I will let y'all know tomorrow how he did.

I have friends coming into town tomorrow morning. They will be staying with us for a few days. I actually did not know they were coming that early, I thought they would be getting here tomorrow night! I have had to revamp my menu plans to try to accomodate5 more people.... with no money to buy any extra food!! AND, I so did not follow my menu plan last week. I was bad....

So, with no further ado....

Monday - I made a huge pot roast with lots of veggies and gravy! Yum...

Tuesday - Leftover pot roast and gravy with egg noodles. Veggies on side.

Wednesday - Taco Pie

Thursday - Coconut chicken, rice patties, I may make sweet potato wedges as well.

Friday - Leftovers.

Saturday - Pasta bake. I may make spinach and mushroom manicotti. Or it may end up being just baked ziti or something.

Sunday - Either homemade pizza or..... breakfast for dinner maybe.

Breakfasts - Cold cereal, oatmeal, grits, waffles or pancakes.

Lunches - PB & J, grilled cheese, leftovers, hotdogs or veggie burgers.

I am definitely a little undecided about this weeks' menu. I may end up changing it altogether!

The Lazy Tracy

So, like, Mama totally sucks. This is Tracy's daughter from over at The Delusional, who has some serious bragging and stuff to do.

In November I wrote a book. It's called The Surface of the Deep, and it weighed in at 87,050 words. My goal was 50K. Woot! I just rock like that. My book is about a revolution on an alien planet, and it parallels the French Revolution. The French Revolution rocks. You can read all about it at my writing blog, As the Plot Thickens, or on the "Surface of the Deep" page at my "official" (ha) website, High on Life. Go! Read! Give me more blog hits!!! Goooooo!!

Oh, yeah. Mom's putting a new playlist on the sidebar. It's our Christmas playlist. It's sort of...okay, well...it's pretty offensive. Bad language and crap like that. We think it's hilarious and totally kick-butt, but if you don't like rude Christmas carols, pause the playlist when you come to the site.

In other news, London/Paris fundraising is going great. Yay for that. I have $230-and-something-cents, and the first payment is only $215. So I'm set on that. Anything else I make between now and the due date goes to my best friend, who's also trying to go. After the first payment is made, I start putting stuff into my own account again, because the total is close to 3K. Yeah. That would be a lot. Heh.

B tried to kill the TV. He sprayed some sort of cleaning chemical (how he got it, I'm not quite sure) all over it. It fizzled out and died, but thankfully dried out and powered back up later. M also ate half an Asprin today, which was very fun -- not -- for Mama. She was freaking out majorly. I was pretty freaked, too. I swear, these boys are going to be the death of us all. No, I'm kidding -- I love 'em. But still, they're so...boyish.

Mom is sitting here telling me what to post. Everybody tell her that she's lazy.

She says that she's "tired". Uh-huh, sure. Heard that one before. Pfft.

Okay, that's all from me for now.

♥Jen

(PS -- Come visit my sites, please! I need some more hits. Be awesome. Yay!)

Proud Mama

My eldest child, Jen, is an extremely special young lady. If any of you have read her blog, The Delusional, then you might know a little about that! LOL But, today I want to share with you an essay that she wrote for her Advanced English class.


The River Sings
By Jen

Picture, if you will, the mighty Suwannee River. The swift current; the majestic cliffs; the mighty cypress trees lining the tranquil banks. There is a certain peace found there that I have yet to encounter anyplace else -- indeed, I have found nowhere even remotely close.


On this majestic beast of a river, I need no paintbrush. Everybody puts on at least a thin mask for the world to see; every being brushes on at least one thin layer of paint. When I decend the old, creaky wooden steps I am overcome with an overwhelming sense of place. The mask falls; the paint is washed away. The Suwannee knows all my deepest secrets -- it needs not to see the facade.


I leap from the bottom step onto the warm, sandy riverbank. My river waves to me as it rushes by.


"Hello," it says to me. "My child, how I have missed you. Welcome home."


I smile, recognizing the truth in its words. I am a daughter of the Suwannee; my soul runs free here.


Stepping lively, I race to my river and dive into its depths. A fish swims past, nibbling at my toes. I make my way down to the bottom and brush the submerged sand with the tips of my fingers.


I linger a moment before lack of breath -- and the buoyant red life jacket I wear -- force me to leave. My head breaks the surface and I wipe my duckweed-coated hair from my face.


Having greeted and in turn been welcomed by my Suwannee, I go to help my companions load the canoes. It is time to work, and I can swim again when we reach the campsite.


Later, after the boats are loaded and lunch is devoured, we shove off. A delightful thrill runs up and down my entire being, tickling my spine and awakening my senses.


The familiar scent of my Suwannee reaches my nose. I inhale deeply, relishing the sweet, earthy smell of my true home. A sigh of pleasure escapes me.


"My child, my child. Tell me, what do you think?" asks my Suwannee.


I set down my paddle for a moment -- leaving my boat partner still powering forward. I must pick it back up in a moment. I dip my hand into the water and pluck from it a small feather.


"Oh, my mother, my mother," I say. "Your scent; the sight of you; the taste, your touch, your sound -- they awake in me an eternal flame that nothing can extinguish. My soul flies free, through both the water and the trees."


"My child, my child," the river sighs. "Oh dear daughter, you return."


"I will always return to this, my home; and to you, my mother," I say. "How can I not? For you brink me to life; you sing to my soul. This...this is what it feels like to be truly alive."


I pick up the paddle and continue on the journey. The combined power of the paddle's strokes and my Suwannee's current carry us farther down its length. I smile.


The river sings.



And THAT is talent. One day soon I have a feeling that we will be reading this young lady in print. And Oh what a proud Mama I will be!

Tomorrow.... Tomorrow....

Tomorrow is the day that my darling daughter comes home to me! SHe, my mother and my MIL will be driving up here from Florida. I canNOT wait to see her. It has been a long summer without her.

I may not be posting again after tomorrow until the following week. It depends upon how busy we are and what we are doing.

Think of me wrapping my arms around The Girl and getting picked up in a big hug! I can't wait.....

While youa re here.... go read this post from Lotus. I think she just wrote the story of my life....

Camp Fun

Jenna at camp again. Isn't she cuuuuuutttteee???? LOL She goes home to my moms on Friday, is home for a week and then goes to High Adventure camp! I won't get to see her until the last week in July! Boohoo.....

My Girl

Here is another picture of The Girl at Camp! She sure is having fun. I am glad. But, damn, I miss that girl! LOL

My Girl has grown up so much over the past few years. It is amazing to see! One day you have a little kid... the next day she is a young woman. Kinda scary for me, as a mom, to remember back to the things I was up to at her age. But I think my girl has a better head on her shoulders in some respects than I did. She may not have a lot of common sense.... but she loves herself. And that makes a difference.

Can't wait until you get home, kiddo! (I need someone to put the dishes away.... LOL... JK.... Maybe)