Thanks to this post from Swedish Bed, I have been thinking about how well my avatar represents me in real life. I’ll let you all be the judges of that!

• To eat more deliberately. Not to eat less (though I’d like that too; it’d be cheaper) or to eat healthfully, but to stop eating just because I feel the need to always have something to chew on.
• To exercise more. Not going to set numbers, because those goals will just be broken. I’d like to exercise more days per week than I spend *not* exercising, and that’s as far as I’m willing to go down to specifics.
• To sleep more deliberately. Right now, I sleep as much as I want on weekends, and (usually) not enough weekdays. I’d like to balance out the workload so that I get 8-9 hours of sleep per night regardless of whether it’s a weeknight or a weekend. No more sleeping the clock around on Saturdays and Sundays.
• To schedule out my homework so that it actually gets done as soon as possible. Not half-assed either: completely and thoroughly done.
• To talk to the male half of the species more often.
• To finish editing my movie by February.
• To win Script Frenzy and NaNoWriMo this year, for real. Using TVtropes.com if I must. In fact, using them not as a last resort, but as a first one.
• To make contacts and start preparing for moving to SoCal.
• To save $4,000 and keep it saved until August, when it will be needed to pay for my apartment.

1) Life is short. Even the young can die tomorrow. Always hug your family and friend when saying goodbye as if it will be the last time you see them. Some day you will be right.

2) Smile even when you don’t feel like it. Sulking may be fun for you, but it makes you insufferable to be around.

3) Stop procrastinating now! Never put off til tomorrow what you could get done today.

4) People will try to crush your dreams. Don’t let them. No matter how crazy your ideas are, don’t let anyone take them away from you. Sure they’re crazy; what dream isn’t?

5) Do your homework. I know right now you don’t need to, but it will be absolutely necessary in college.

6) Run. A lot. As much as possible. Exercise daily: the endorphines will make you happy, and the skinniness will help you fit into your jeans.

7) Just do it. You’re gonna end up doing it eventually, and it’s so much easier to just get it over with.

8 ) Always raise your hand when someone asks “can I have a volunteer?”

9) Take every opportunity to travel, whether it be to the grocery store or the moon.

10) Write a little bit (or a lot) every day. Don’t worry about how good it is; you’ll get better as you go. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s stupid. Don’t ever stop.

In case you missed it in the heading:
SPOILERS BELOW!
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List of things to talk about later:

1. SG-1 Enemy Mine
2. genocide hurts, man
3. I feel it… literally
4. not breathing sucks (lol I’m very punny tonight)
5. worth it just for the sfx
6. white guilt? yeah I have that…6th grade, genocide
7. ummm, dragon rider? nobody else thought of that?
8. cheating on your betrothed is bad, mmkay?
9. reminded me of Fern Gully
10. mary said the music reminded her of Lion King>>>look into composer
11. credits were GREAT
12. CCH Pounder was in it?
13. colors were so vivid
14. Michelle Rodriquez ROCKS!
15. that guy from Bones also ROCKS although he played a very similar character…
16. story was predictable, but you already knew that
17. acting was all-around great
18. took a while to be able to differentiate between the Avatars, but by the end I knew them well
19. there is no number 19
20. not racist, as far as I could tell… just naïve
21. (added later) after the credits “no animals were harmed” seriously? So they used real animals for some?
22. #Bones: so now we know how Fischer got advanced screening tickets

This plague of self-doubt is not worth it
Debilitating, self-doubt that kills dreams
Why didn’t I actually write anything last night
And how does this keep happening to me?
Haha maybe I really do have a severe brain injury…
Is it sad that that actually wouldn’t surprise me?
Am I lazy, or am I ill, or am I just disorganized
Lazy: not, methinks, due to evidence
Which supports otherwise, give me something specific
And physical and I can do it if I apply myself
Which is clearly the problem with me, eh?
Intentions go away and dreams die
Oh look I’m repeating myself again.
Epic. Fail. Why is it always me who
Has to deal with all this crap God?
Oh wait… is this punishment for
Not using my brain all through
Public school? I blame the system.
Not thinking clearly is turning into my
Norm. Someone stop this progression,
Please? Argh I need a good kick (but
Not on my head, apparently that is
Screwed up enough, thanks!) Or maybe
I need to just help myself here? Yeah,
I’l try that. But for now this poem has
No happy ending.

1. Started your own blog 
2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii 
5. Watched a meteor shower 
6. Given more than you can afford to charity 
7. Been to Disneyland/world 
8. Climbed a mountain (does Mount Vesuvius count?)
9. Held a praying mantis 
10. Sang a solo 
11. Bungee jumped 
12. Visited Paris 
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (boondoggle and origami)
15. Adopted a child 
16. Had food poisoning (Every time I eat at Fribley!)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 
18. Grown your own vegetables 
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 
20. Slept on an overnight train 
21. Had a pillow fight 
22. Hitch hiked 
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 
24. Built a snow fort 
25. Held a lamb 
26. Gone skinny dipping 
27. Run a Marathon 
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 
29. Seen a total eclipse (It was kind of hazy that night, but I saw it still!)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 
31. Hit a home run 
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 
35. Seen an Amish community 
36. Taught yourself a new language 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (because, when you’re five, $10.00 is enough)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 
39. Gone rock climbing 
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 
41. Sung karaoke 
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant 
44. Visited Africa 
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 
46. Been transported in an ambulance 
47. Had your portrait painted 
48. Gone deep sea fishing 
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 
52. Kissed in the rain 
53. Played in the mud 
54. Gone to a drive-in theater 
55. Been in a movie (home videos count, yes?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China 
57. Started a business 
58. Taken a martial arts class 
59. Visited Russia 
60. Served at a soup kitchen 
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 
62. Gone whale watching 
63. Gotten flowers for no reason 
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 
65. Gone sky diving 
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 
67. Bounced a check 
68. Flown in a helicopter 
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 
71. Eaten Caviar 
72. Pieced a quilt 
73. Stood in Times Square 
74. Toured the Everglades 
75. Been fired from a job 
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 
77. Broken a bone 
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 
80. Published a book 
81. Visited the Vatican 
82. Bought a brand new car 
83. Walked in Jerusalem 
84. Had your picture in the newspaper 
85. Read the entire Bible 
86. Visited the White House 
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 
88. Had chickenpox 
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury 
91. Met someone famous 
92. Joined a book club 
93. Lost a loved one 
94. Had a baby 
95. Seen the Alamo in person 
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone 
99. Been stung by a bee

Scene 1-Int day

We see a young man in his early 20′s, JOE hunched over his computer screen, typing feverishly.  From the angle the viewer can also see that there is a young woman, also early 20′s, IZ, standing in the doorframe, watching him type.

Joe

(to himself, rambling)

Almost there… just gotta finish this scene.  It’s gonna be perfect.  Yup, gonna be just perfect…

(trailing off)

IZ watches him amusedly for a few seconds, a smirk slowly  forming on her face. Several times she opens her mouth to speak, but stops as his monologue continues.  She waits for him to

IZ

(kindly, like one would speak to a child)

Joe, what are you trying to prove?  We believe that you have the talent… just give yourself a couple years to grow into it.  You can’t expect results in a day.

joe

(with a sigh and an expression that says he’s heard this from her before)

No, Iz, I need to finish this now.  After so many rejections, this novel is gonna sell… and sell big.  I’m telling you, Iz, they’re gonna love it.  No publisher is going to be able to say no!

Fade into:

Scene 2-INT night

JOE is hunched over his computer screen, still typing.  The only way we can tell any time has passed is the pile of crumpled up papers in his garbage can next to his desk.

JOE

So close… so tired…

He sighs deeply and puts his head in his hands, then jerks himself awake to type some more…

joe

No sleeping… must keep writing…

cut to:

Scene 3-int day

JOE is once again hunched over his computer screen, but this time the garbage can is empty and IZ sits next to him.  She is helping him, pointing out things on the screen.

IZ

Now, if you just change this paragraph here, you might have room for more character development in the next chapter.

JOE

That is my character development!

IZ

Making your characters make peanut butter and jelly is your idea of character development?  Wow.

JOE

(grudgingly conceding)

I guess it could use a change.  It’s good to have a fresh set of eyes.  Thanks!

Fade into:

Scene 4-int Day

JOE sitting by his computer, which is off, but now he has a small beard.  He is holding a copy of his manuscript in one hand and a manila envelope in the other.  It is obvious that several months have passed.

JOE

It’s ready to submit, I know it is!  You’re just trying to keep me down, Iz.  I  can’t work with you over my shoulder anymore!

IZ

(hurt, but not surprised)

I have told you many times, Joe: you can’t let your whole life ride on just one novel.  And you can’t let that get in between us.

JOE

Us?  There never was an “us.” You are so controlling… it was always about you, you, you…

IZ

(walking out the door)

Good-bye Joe.  I hope you get what you want.

slowly fade into:

Scene 5-EXT day

A fully bearded JOE walks out to his mailbox to collect his mail and finds a small envelope.  Close-up on the return address says “Hertting Publishing Company.”  He rips open the envelope eagerly and reads the first sentence out loud:

JOE

“We regret to inform you…”

He can’t finish the rest.  His eyes begin to water and he chokes up.  He sits down on his front porch steps and hunches over, sobbing silently into his cupped hands.

PAN up:

THE END