Also...

I'm going to Disneyland next month.

In case you don't know, there's this freaking awesome Tumblog called DisneyBound. In case you didn't infer from the previous sentence, DisneyBound is freaking awesome. The person that runs it puts together outfits based on Disney characters and concepts. I decided I'm going as Peter Pan.

I've got all the parts except a hat and a shirt that fits right... I found the perfect shirt at a thrift store for .99 and bought it, but like an idiot, forgot to check the size. It was small. Sadface. I was in the large section, but I guess someone had mis-racked it or something...
As for the red feather, I'm going to make a few out of red leather (red leather feather... lolz... god I'm tired...) and use them on the hat and possibly on a hemp necklace and/or bracelet. I also want to see if I can't find a very small Tinkerbell charm necklace. I can dip in in glitter and swing it around my head. (Get it? Pixie Dust? Shut up, I said I was tired...)

Getting crafty... and some sleep,
Ash

Ranty Bloggy Day!!!

Wow... Thirty-Day-Challenge Fail...

Day Two asks what my favorite Zelda game is, and when I first played it.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Majora's Mask, hands down, was my all-time fave. Although most of the characters are reused (explained by the setting being a parallel world to Hyrule), the story was imaginative and engaging, and the playable characters (more than one! ... sort of...) all had unique stories and abilities. The rather lacking musical score was made up for by the instruments unique to each character, and hunting for and using each mask makes one yearn for completion.
I first played this game at a female friend's house. She was new to the Zelda franchise and we had a wonderful evening of her trying to figure out the game, and me getting frustrated at her and eventually taking the controller from her. I was young, don't judge me.

So the real reason I remembered my blog was because I needed a place to vent... I'm having the age-old feud with my sister over dominance of MY vehicle. There seems to be some question as to who really owns it. My position is that I'm paying for it (only $250 to go), therefore I (nearly) own it, and I just let her use it (90% of the time, I might add) out of the goodness of my heart. Her position is that because I'm still paying for it, Dad still owns it and makes me let her use it. While she might be right, I'd like to point out that she hasn't paid one red cent for gas (rather she makes our parents pay for gas), but squawks at me when I use it to go to work the ONE DAY A WEEK the train doesn't run.

Then I realize, fine, she can be a brat about it, but she better start changing her attitude, because in two-and-a-half months, when I'm through paying off the car and it's my name on the title, I'm going to drive it to work daily, and she can take the goddamned bus to school and kiss her nursing internship goodbye. (Holy freaking run-on sentence...)

Suggestions?
Ash

Zelda Challenge, Day 1

My first Legend of Zelda experience was very young. I believe my parents and I (the only child [those were lovely times]) lived in Novato, California at the time. We owned the first Nintendo console, the NES and had a few games, among them was the original Legend of Zelda. I was extremely young at the time, no older than four, and attempted to play this game with little success... Not very interesting, is it?

Skip ahead to age eight, living for the summer with my grandparents in Utah, when my uncle introduces me to the Nintendo 64 and Ocarina of Time. Again, my first experience was confusing as I, like an idiot, decided to start playing on a pre-existing game file. I was very lost, and because of that, I was disillusioned quickly.

I didn't start off absolutely loving all things Zelda, but I'm glad that I picked it up finally and played through almost all of them.

Zelda forever,
Ash

I found another 30 day challenge!

Y'all are probably so sick of this, but I just don't know what to blog about anymore!!! And you're going to hate me even more when you find out that this one is THEMED!!!

30 Day Challenge - The Legend of Zelda Series

You knew it was coming some day…
Day 1: When was your first time playing The Legend of Zelda, what game was it, and how was your experience?
Day 2: What game would you consider to be your favorite, why? When did you first play this game?
Day 3: Which game do you think has the best plot-line, why?
Day 4: Which Goddess are you most like Din (Power), Farore (Courage), Nayru (Wisdom), why?
Day 5: Which game do you personally think is the most challenging and most easiest, why?
Day 6: Favorite and least favorite item(s)? Which would you want to be real?
Day 7: If you were to be any character in the games who would you prefer to be, or who do you relate to the most, why?
Day 8: Between all the sidekicks, which is your favorite, or which do you think is the most helpful?
Day 9: What is your favorite song from the series, why?
Day 10: What is your favorite version of Link and Zelda, why?
Day 11: If you could own any of the masks from Majora’s Mask which one would you pick, why?
Day 12: Which sword is your favorite?
Day 13: Which character do you think Link should fall in love with (if any), why?
Day 14: Which ocarina song do you wish worked in the real world, why?
Day 15: Which of Link’s tunics and/or armor suits would be most useful to you if real, why?
Day 16: If you play the game from another players point of view, whose would it be and why? (Ex: if you pick Ganondorf, you’d be playing as the villain.)
Day 17: A story about your first cucco attack, what was it like?
Day 18: Which shield is your favorite?
Day 19: Your favorite race – of all the races, which would you most like to be, why?
Day 20: Which 2-D games would you like to see be revamped and for which console?
Day 21: One of your own theories you’ve conjured up?
Day 22: Any location in any of the games you’d want to be real, why?
Day 23: Favorite mini-games in shops to play?
Day 24: From your favorite game, list in order the temples from your favorite to least.
Day 25: What’s one of your biggest complaints or rants that you have about the series?
Day 26: From re-deads, to deadhands, wallmasters and skulltulas and so on, which always scared or still scares you the most?
Day 27: Favorite and least favorite cut-scene?
Day 28: Your version of the timeline of the games?
Day 29: Favorite side-quest, why?
Day 30: Your expectations/thoughts on Skyward Sword and/or Ocarina of Time re-make?

Are you so ready for this? I'm stoked.

Here we go!
Ash

Answering a recurring question

I told you I wouldn't be posting daily. It's been, what, four days since I posted. I feel the proverbial nakedness not having poured my soul into some website. God, what is our civilization these days?

And speaking of God, I've been asked this question a lot recently: Why the prayer beads?
I got a set of prayer beads a few weeks ago from a little local metaphysical shop (and when I say little, I mean only slightly larger than my bedroom, and they're not even using all their space). Of their selection, I chose one made mostly from "skull beads". The "eyes" of the skull were made in the wood by insects looking for food. They were found and cleaned by the artist, and the rest of the features of the skull carved in. I like the symbol of the skull, and so this particular string of prayer beads called out to me more than others. I try to wear the beads daily.
The first several times people had asked me why I was wearing them, I gave the really lame answer of, "I just liked them." But I knew that there was more of a reason than that. I asked my Self the question... "Why did I see these beads and know they were meant for me?" Much like a freshman frat boy, the answer came quickly: "Though I'm not religious, I still need prayer in my life." I still have a connection to [God/the Universe/the Self/the Higher Power/what-have-you], and I can still ask for guidance or blessings when I feel like I need them. I also need to be thankful for everything I do have in this life. I'm starting to notice all the small and daily miracles (as well as the big ones) that happen around me, and when I do, I say a little "Thank you". Though I don't necessarily pray with the beads, or have a specific prayer for them, the beads are my reminder that prayer is a necessity to the soul. If you believe in your soul, feed it with prayer.

I can't think of a clever sign-off this time,
Ash

Day 30: Picture of myself, 5 good things

Wow... Longest 30 days ever. I suppose time goes faster when you're not watching the clock, but I thought that was only relevent when I'm counting down the seconds to the end of my shift. Nope...

Here's your picture of me, taken only moments ago:

And here are my Five Good Things that have happened to me since starting the blog:
1. I've gained a deeper respect for myself and have entered into a better sense of self love.
2. I've started crafting again.
3. I've regained my love of reading and am cruising through books.
4. I've paid off my dental bill (which I thought was going to be about $1500, turns out I only had to pay $50).
5. Though I'm still single, I've begun to come to terms with it again, and am setting aside my want for relationship to pursue my other goals. I'll let the relationship come to me when it's ready.

I wish I had more to say. I'm a little scared to be venturing into the world of blogging about whatever again. I'm so used to having a daily topic, but I'm sure I can come up with something. I know it won't be daily, but if I have something worth saying, I'll say it here.

I just want to thank all of you--friends, family, strangers--who have been supportive of me during these last 30 days. I find no greater joy right now than to hear "I'm loving your blog," or the like. It makes me love posting daily life for all to see, complete with rants, raves, and my general nonsense.

I love you all,
Ash

Day 29: Three wishes

IT'S DAY 29 Y'ALL! We're almost done with Thirty Days of Bloggity Blog, and there's this sweet sadness that comes along with it. I'm so used to blogging every day and always having a topic to talk about that I just don't know what I'm going to do after tomorrow? How will I share my sarcastic wit and intelligent humor with the world?! How will I incorporate homosexuality into everything I write?! How will I stalk my ex?!!

... Um... Forget that last one...

Yeah, still not over it. It's bitchy. I'm such a past dweller, and I know it's stupid. My poor Cancerian mind is so used to telling me that everything is my problem, I can fix anything, and things that fall apart are all my fault. Even if, say, he's the one who has the crippling social anxiety, he's the one who's not over his last relationship and sleeping with drag queens, and he's the one who told me I was abusing him and treated him like a whore and broke up with me to be with some other guy... Not that I'm speaking out of experience or anything, because those that are closest to me would know who I was talking about, and that's just not how I roll ;)

Wish #1: I wish I didn't dwell so much on the past. I want to forgive myself and move on, and not let my past darken my future.
Wish #2: I wish my family could get out of debt. I feel like my family (namely: my dad) is so unhappy all the time because we're constantly worried about these bills or that mortgage or this-that-or-the-other fee. It's said that those who worry about money a lot tend to have chronic back pain, and my dad has had an effed up back since we were living in Florida (a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away). Coincidence? I think not.
Wish #3: I wish I could make anybody fall in love with me I wish that I could just forget about relationships and love and dating all together, and focus on school and work and silks and Cirque (and that rhymed!), and just let whatever happens, happen; and be so effing happy when it does that I can't stand it. Besides, the people I'd make fall in love with me aren't really the people I'd want in my life long-term. I only want to attract people that I know can help me grow and change for the good.

I wish for a lot,
Ash