When You're An Octopus In Love...

I found this joyful, happy, beautiful, Womb shatteringly ADORABLE video today. I have actually seen it before, ages back and I don't remember where. But I know it was with Steve and we laughed so hard we hurt ourselves.

It's a little under 2:30, so take a few minutes and brighten your day with this gem of a love story. You'll be happy you did.



Dionne, I imagine this is kinda where you took your honeymoon, right?

Lots of love my darlings! Have a grand weekend. We'll meet back here on Monday.
♥♥♥♥♥♥

Dear 16-Year-Old Maggi

I found a blog today through Meghan called Red Boots, and I loved it instantly. The very first post I read was a letter from the Blogger to her 16 year old self. It is beautiful, poetic, and slightly sad, and at the end of it she invites others to do the same.

Oddly, I've already written my teenage self a letter once before, but it was to my 18 year old self when I was 23. It was so hard to write then that I had to cut it short. But I think I shall try again...let's see if I can.

Dear Maggi, Age 16.
Hey, Kid, it's the future. I'll give you a second to recover your mind...are you there? Ok, good. Honey, you have no idea what is in store for you. It's me, I'm sitting here at 25, and you can't believe how quickly 9 years are going to pass. Don't worry too much, we turn out all right in the end. Mostly. I can't tell you what's going to happen, or names, dates, or too much else, but I am doing this to prepare you some. I really wish someone had done it for me...I'm not telling you to do something different. You HAVE to experience some of these things...they are vital to us.

The Will to Blog

I've been wanting to Blog for a week now. Wanting to write, wax poetic, let my mind flow...but every time I've sat down to, nothing comes. And it's not like I haven't been having the time of my life and have stories to tell! No, I just...start an entry and lose the Will to finish it about half way through.

I'm sorry for that, dear readers. I'm not sure why it's not there, but it just isn't at the moment. Maybe later today, maybe tomorrow or later this week or sometime next week. I'll come back to my silly little blog and life will happily go on.

Until then, I am having a blast reading all of yours, so, you know, keep up the good work!

In the mean time, I'm going to try and work on Emma and Billy's first date as a gift for Jess. I plan on it being very cute and very silly.

Until another post,
Tata!
♥♥ Mags

A Day at the Races

Good morning, friends!

So for all of my life, I have LOVED a movie called "Let It Ride". It's from the 80's, it's with Richard Deryfuss, and I am pretty convinced that the only people who have ever seen it is my family and the people we've made watch it. It's a favorite of my father's, and I can't count the times we would put that movie on after dinner and just laugh for a good 90 minutes. We can quote it until we're all sick, have named pets after the characters, and all of us just love that movie to no end.

The film is about a Loser who suddenly has a very good day at the horse races. And though it's funny enough with knowing nothing about horse races... When I watched it again last night, there were jokes that I suddenly got and found hilarious for the first time. Why? Cause Ladies, I've been to the Races.

About a month ago I spent a day at Santa Anita for their Oak Hill season with my beloved Bryan and his family. It was a grand day, I bet and lost $2, I got to see/pet the horses. It was great for people watching, I took a ton of pictures, and generally enjoyed myself.

Then, last Saturday my darling Jessie and I went to The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, and it was a marvelous day. The Breeders' Cup is one of the biggest races in the sport, and all sorts of people came out to watch the horses. We were there for the horses and the people watching.

Honestly, I had more fun watching the people than the races. There was a wonderful array of good outfits, bad outfits, "Omigod look at those shoes! Why would you wear 4 inch heals at a race track!?", fantastically tacky hats, cute guys, pretty women, uggos, children, drunks, gamblers, Let It Ride characters who stepped out of the film, and plenty of poor boot choices (Seriously, can no woman properly match boots to an outfit? Come on!). We spent most of the day giggling behind our hands.

OH! And we totally met Jeremy Clarkson's half brother! Not really, but I did strike up a chat with a tall British man who looked like he could have been Jezza's half brother. I asked him about the Poppy Pin he had on his lapel, because I never knew what they were for. He explained it to me, kindly, and then just beamed when he found out that Jess and I are massive Top Gear fans. He seemed totally shocked but totally excited to learn that these two young, silly Yank women are fans of TG and the BBC. It was great. I wish we had of gotten a picture with him, as he was adorable and kind.

But the most amazing part of the day was the 9th race, The Breeders' Cup Classic. It was the one everyone was waiting for, the one everyone bet on, and the one that everyone talked about the next day. It was going to be 13 horses - 12 colts, 1 mare - going for the Five Million dollar Purse. It was also Zenyatta's, the lone mare, last race. She was jockeyed by Mike Smith, whom Jessie LOVES (Slightly obsesses over is more to do), and she was the favorite.She's also undefeated, and would have been the first female to win that race.

We staked our spot for an hour before the 9th race, waiting, watching the odds, nervously chattering. We cheered loudly when Zenyatta and Mike came out onto the track. We watched in horror as the #12 horse freaked out while they loaded him into the Starting Gate, only to be Scratched right before the race. We waited with bated breath until the race started.... And our hearts fell when Zenyatta and Mike fell to last place.

But then, in the final turn, Mike cut up along the left of the pack, pushed Zenyatta through the middle at an angle, and emerged in the front. To accurately portray what we were feeling/saying in words, I shall quote Jessie. "Aaaaaand away they go.
Us:" WHOOOO go Mike, go Zenyatta!" .... "She broke alright, but..." ... "Oh, come on!" ... "Are you kidding me?? COME ON MIKE!!" ... *sigh* "Well, that was a bust. Do you see Summer Bird anywhere? What about Mine That Bird?" ... "This sucks." ... "I think I'm gonna cry. COME ON! It's her last race!" ... "Well, at least she's not dead last anymore." ... "Wait a minute..." ... "Wait..." ... "Is he? ... Is she?" ... "OMG... OMG... OMG look at that... Come on Mike! Yes! COME ON MIKE!! PUSH HER!! YES YES YES!! GO ZENYATTA!! HOLY SHIZZ, LOOK AT THAT!! GO GO GO!! AAHHH!AAHHH!YESYESYES!! KJNASDFPI 3LKANOWIENTOIADON198DNKJA!!! OMGICAN'TFRIGGINBELIEVEWHATIJUSTSAW!! I LOVE YOU MIKE!! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!" *jumpinghugginglaughingscreaming*"

Needless to say, in the most amazing thing I have ever seen with my own two eyes, Mike pushed Zenyatta into that final stretch and won by a length. The whole of Santa Anita went nuts. All 55,000+ people were screaming, cheering, clapping, stomping, hugging, some were crying, and all of it was together. It was brilliant. From dead last to winning it in about 1/4th of a mile.

Mike Smith, you are amazing.

Afterward we waited around for what seemed like ages for a chance to get Mike's autograph and a picture. I collected my $9.50 winnings for the race (WOO! I'm rich!) and in the end, Jess got her photo and autograph. I'm pretty sure that smile is still on her face. (Or his for that matter. He has the best smile and is so wee and adorable!)

Jess and I are total Horse Race fans now, we plan on going to opening night this Friday at Hollywood Park. I don't plan on doing too much betting, as I like my money, and hate to let go of it for no reason, but I do look forward to getting into the sport much, much more. (And I know some people are totally against Horse Racing and call it mean or whatever and that's fine if that's your take on the matter. But those horses are well taken care of, and there are worse sports.)

Below is video of the race. I've seen it a couple times now, and I still don't know how he did it.  Keep an eye on the Jockey in the Teal Silks and the Number 4 Horse with the white splotch on her nose. It is pretty incredible.

And do yourself a favor, get your hands on a copy of "Let It Ride" and enjoy it. It really is a brilliantly funny, well made, uplifting movie.
♥♥ Mags

Things I'm obsessed with: The Swell Season

I really love Irish Singer/Songwriter music. I find it beautiful, tragic, sad, hopeful, full of love and full of life. I fell in love with it when, late one night, I turned the station on the TV and saw Damien Rice singing "The Blower's Daughter" on Austin City Limits. I broke down listening to that song, crying for so many reasons, and knew the next day I had to get my hands on his music. He has become bulk of the soundtrack to my life and the chapters concerning DJ. (Check out his song "Grey Room", it's my all time favorite.)

Well, a few years back I would be watching VH1 and getting ready for work, when the music video for "Falling Slowly", a song from a little Irish movie called "Once" would come on. I thought it was a beautiful song, and was always glad to catch it. I almost bought the soundtrack to Once a few times before seeing the movie, but always put it back with a "I don't really need this right now". Then, finally, one night Steve was at work and I was bored and more than a little depressed. I randomly searched our Pay Per View options on the TV until I came across Once. It only cost a few bucks so I bought it, and settled into the film.

I watched it 5 times in 24 hours. I loved it so much, I watched it 3 times in a row. It would end, I'd start it over, and be taken right back into this film that I fell in love with instantly. The way it was shot, the music, the relationship between these two people. If you haven't seen it, it's a little film about an Irish Busker, Him, who meets up with a young woman, Her, and discover that they make beautiful music together. They would have a short but totally beautiful friendship, and the way the movie ends is both so incredible and so aggravating. (It's one of those that, when it ends, you're sitting there going, "But...wait! I want more! There HAS to be more!")

Steve ended up getting me the movie and soundtrack as a gift. I have listened the hell out of that CD over the last few years. I know every song by heart and by what it does to my heart. Some songs are so happy, some are so sad, and all are just utterly stunning.

Well, the two actors in the film, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are actual singer songwriters who were in a band together before the movie was made, and they composed and wrote all the music. They aren't actors in any sense, and when you watch the film you can see two people, unsure of themselves, who are falling in love with each other, you just melt. It comes across as being so heartbreakingly lovely and, in some cases, so terribly sad. Because they did fall in love after making this movie, it doesn't seem meant to be with them. Anyway, Glen and Mar went on from Once, won an Oscar™ for "Falling Slowly" (I was SO happy when they did!) and kept making music.

Then, just recently, I discovered that their band, The Swell Season, was releasing an album, Strict Joy.

Well, color me excited as all get out. I watched videos of them on youtube performing the songs. I discovered that on Pandora you could listen to the whole album just before it came out. I ate up every moment of their music, and love every word. The music is incredible, and a few songs quickly stood out as all time favorites, including "In These Arms", "Paper Cup", "I Have Loved You Wrong", and "Back Broke". I didn't get the CD when it came out, a week before my birthday, cause I knew I would get birthday money and Strict Joy would be my gift to myself.

Well, on Halloween I went to Best Buy to look for it, and was slightly crushed when I couldn't find it. So I waited for, and then flagged down one of the Best Buy employees (You know how they are impossible to find 95% of the time) and asked if they had it somewhere. The guy told me he thought so, said he would look for it, and disappeared for a good, oh, ten minutes. When he came back, he handed me a bulky CD case, and the conversation went like this.
Him: "Well, we have it but we only have the CD/DVD set. If that's OK."
Me (Super excited): "What's the DVD of?"
Him: "I think one of their concerts. Is that all right?"
Me (Practically jumping): "Yeah, it'll do."
He laughed and walked away, and I clutched that parcel to my breast like a giddy, crazed person.

Needless to say, I got it, I love it, and I highly recommend you all hunt down a little Swell Season, be it from Once or from Strict Joy, and fall in love yourself. The music is beautiful and mellow. In some cases it can be so sad, and in others so hopeful, but it is all wonderful on your ear. I've included links to songs where I can, info on the movie, and soundtrack so, you know, take a little while and check them out. Go to Pandora and make a Swell Season Radio, and welcome the music that comes in from them and from artists like them. I truly hope you love it.

That's all for me for now. This weekend I'm spending it with my Bestie Jess (EMMA!) and we are going to have a ton of fun, I'm sure. Posts to follow!
♥♫♥ Mags

Reflections Of 24

Hello, lovelies.

I turn 25 tomorrow. 25. The big 2-5. And I know that still makes me very young, and that 25 is just 25...but I've never been 25 before. This will be new and exciting for me! Strange and wonderful new adventures await me at 12:24PM tomorrow, because I will suddenly be one year older.

In years past, right before my birthday, I'd hit a patch of depression that would send me into some sort of crazy where I feel unloved and bitter. I cry a lot, think of myself as a failure, a fool, and someone unworthy of everything. This usually happened because, well, I'm crazy. And at times it's hard not to embrace the crazy and let it take over. I'd spend a night crying, having a pity party, and generally hating myself. The next morning, or the next day, or whenever, the fog would break and suddenly I'd laugh at my lame self and just go on with life.

This year is no different, I'm not so ashamed to say. I had a small fight with Steve, which was my fault cause I'm crazy, and I spiraled into tears and threw myself a grand ol' Pity Party. And I tweeted about it, as you do. And then I looked at my twitter account and saw all these responses of love and support. Beautiful friends texted me instantly. Then suddenly all those foolish, evil thoughts just went away, I dried my tears, turned on Monty Python and laughed, smiled at my friends who were being so sweet, and it was the shortest Birthday Pity Party ever. So, you know, thanks for that one, friends.

I usually spend the days before my birthday looking back on who I was and who I became. The things I've seen, the lessons learned, the people met and lost. I find that before my birthday I focus on the bad. Before New Years I focus on the good. Not sure why but it just happens. But not this year, no no, I'm focused on the good. Sure, I've lost people I loved, I discovered there's something wonky with my pipes, I've cried, I've suffered, I've been angry, guilty, mean, and sad. But...who hasn't?

I've also been happy. Very happy. I'm happy with Steve who, somehow makes me love him more and more every day. He's utterly imperfect a man...and that makes him perfect for me. Our lives are not the easiest, and we have to deal with issues that no one understands (Or in some cases, even knows about). It's far beyond the issues of a normal, married couple. But...so what? It's there, we deal, and we don't let it ruin us. We wake up in the mornings, excited to be together. We have mini adventures, we go to the movies, we cook each other Brinner, we watch TV while cuddled in bed, we laugh and smile and tickle and wrestle and fight and love and are happy.

I have amazing friends. Truly, amazing, wonderful, incredible people who love me for some reason I don't understand. ;-) Hee hee. My amazing friends are all over the world and yet so close to me through Facebook, Twitter, and email. Tisk, tisk on Twitter all you want, you anti-Tweeters, but it keeps me in touch with friends all over the world, and has made me amazing new ones that I love so much even though I never met. And this blog has introduced me to amazing people as well! So many great women out there who seem to like my writing. And I love you all as well.

Of course, it hasn't all been online friends who have made my year. All around me are fantastic people I love so much. I can't even list you all because there are so many of you. But you know who you are. You, you, and you. But not you, you've done nothing for me. Ha, just kidding friend, you know you're amazing and I love you. I'm surrounded by awesome people who love me, and it makes my life better for so many, many reasons. So thank you, Friends, for all the joy and fun you've brought into my life. It means the world to me.

Some of my favorite memories from this past year are, in no particular order: Driving to Bishop the day after Thanksgiving with Steve and Leighann for no other reason than we just wanted to. The foot of snow we got dumped on us in the Victor Valley last December. Seeing Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with Jessie at the House of Blues. Seeing Watchmen, Star Trek, Harry Potter and Up at the theaters. The So Cal Blogger's Lunch with Dionne and all those awesome Bloggers. Michelle's entire visit. Every time I went to Big Bear with Steve, Mom, Tony, Michelle, Dana and Tim. Discovering Baguette Express with Leighann. Phat Cat Swinger at Memories. Marco's 4th of July party and Will's House Warming. Cooking for Will, Phil, Paul, and Doug. Blackberry Cobbler. Luxy's 1st Birthday and any time I got to hang out with the McCool's. Seeing Tony and Josh & his family and getting some much needed time with my brothers I never see. The Grilled Cheese Invitational (But NOT the Sunburn). Falling back in love with Lost (And Ben!). Every random hangout at Christy's house with her & those wacky Drylie's I love so much. And most recently making a random trip to Baguette Express last Friday night just cause we wanted those delicious sandwiches. And going to Jessie's to watch Castle and spending the whole night laughing.

With a year like that, how could I not be a happy person?

I look forward to 25. I hope it's a good year too. I hope to move forward with my writing, grow up in myself, maybe get some schooling in there somehow, and hopefully have the promise of motherhood. I think it will be a good year. In fact, I know it will be.

I love you all very much! Thanks for making me such a lucky person. Now I can't wait to get my hands on some birthday cake and presents! Yay!
♥ Mags

My Iron Chef Dreams

Good morning, all.

I love food. I'm not going to lie. I love it, love it, love it. It's why dieting is hard. It's why I'm chubby. It's why I am a fast eater. I. Love. Food.

So needless to say, I love food television. I am an American, after all, and the two things we love the most are television and food. I watch a lot of cooking shows, of course. Who doesn't love Paula Dean or Giada De Laurentiis? Yes, even some people love Rachel Ray, and you can go ahead and keep her. I also watch the cake competition shows, Ace of Cakes, Unwrapped, and Good Eats of course. (Cause Alton Brown is THE MAN!)

I think my dream job, though, would be to have a show like Anthony Bourdain. I seriously have NO END of my love for that man. He's amazing. He cracks me up. The original snarky, bad boy of Food. Have any of you read Kitchen Confidential? It's a riot. Especially if you've worked in a restaurant in any position. And on his show, No Reservations, he gets to travel this big wide world, eat amazing (and sometimes not so amazing) food, drink, be snarky with a heart of gold, and enjoy himself. I. Want. That. Job. Of course, I'd take any travel/food job but I think it would end up being more like Anthony's program than, say, Samantha Brown's. (Although she is adorable.)

I also love me some Cooking Competition shows. Top Chef is on weekly in our house. We watch Chopped even if we've seen the episode. And, of course, Iron Chef.

I first started watching the Original Iron Chef, from Japan, when it would air with badly done voice dubs and weird translations for the Chairman. I loved it. With their wacky Iron Chefs, weird secret ingredients, utterly crazy commentators, how could someone NOT love it? If you ever have a chance to catch the old school, Japanese Iron Chef, do it. It is utterly fantastic.

And of course, there is Iron Chef America. And I eat that show UP. I've watched it for ages, always in awe of the chefs, and super,  unbelievably jealous of the judges. That food...all that amazing, incredible food! And they get to eat it! It is their job.

I want that job.

In this day and age, where pseudo celebrities are abundant and blogs have gotten people carers, I figure that I can make something work for me. If people have gotten book deals and movies based on blogs, then I can get my dream too, damnit. And my dream is to be a Judge on Iron Chef America. And here is the start to my dream.

I Want To Be A Judge On Iron Chef America. This is my new blog, and I'm going to make it work for me. It will be totally food based; devoted to my love of food, my utter hate of mushrooms, and my dream of one day sitting at that amazing Judges Table. With any luck, it'll pay off and I'll be able to go to New York, and have the most unique meal of my life. It will happen. Oh, yes, it will happen. So check out the blog, and leave me some love.

I will, of course, keep up with this blog. I promise.
Off I go now, my lovelies! I hope you all have a great day!
♥ Mags

Court des Anges

My favorite place in the whole wide world is in Disneyland.

It isn't Disneyland in whole, although that is one of my favorite places in the world. But #1, top billing goes to a small little court yard within Disneyland, in the part known at New Orleans Square.

The Court des Anges, as it is known, is a quaint, tiny courtyard that is tucked away in the back of New Orleans Square. It it passed by many on their way from Pirates of the Caribbean towards the Train or Haunted Mansion. There are four ways into the Court; either through the back door of Le Bat En Rouge (The Nightmare Before Christmas Store), a rarely opened Christmas Ornament shop, or through two entrances, an archway and a gated passing.

You step into the Court, and suddenly everything is quieter than on the other side of these brick walls. A blue staircase winds up towards the kitchens of Club 33 and a Cast Member Only walkway. A fountain trickles off to your right, while underfoot water drains from plants towards a drain, making the cobblestones almost always wet. When Fall comes they decorate it for the holidays, a lush display of garlands and wreaths. In the Spring there are always fresh, beautiful flowers. In a small alcove half way up the steps, a statue of a small boy with a flute remains ever smiling. While a stone Geisha appears in a different spot every time I'm there. Little fake balconies above you are decorated, waiting for someone to enjoy their lofty view under curtained windows that never open.
A stained glass sign with two angels, one smiling, one frowning, is connected to a wall with an iron post. A beautiful window I will wear on my body one day.
As I sit on the staircase, bathing in the beauty, drunk with utter joy for being in my favorite place, people come and go, looking up for a moment to admire before rushing off to a ride. Kids look around, bored that there are no characters or fun. Parents, at a breaking point due to money, screaming children, and little rest, are often too dazed to really appreciate what they are seeing. Of course, some people come in, stop in awe, and take pictures, commenting how amazing this little place is. But mostly, mostly, it is passed by entirely by families too rushed to do the next thing and get their money's worth.

And I sit, eyes darting around, memory trying to trap every detail in my soul. A not so small part of me hoping that when I'm in heaven, I'll live in a place that looks like this. (Although, you know, times a million.) Steve always indulges me, letting me take my time and bask. He likes my Courtyard too, but mostly it is a place for him to rest his feet, while I open my heart.

I haven't been there in over a year. The last time I was there was during a quick Disney trip one night. It was early October, the Court already decorated for the holidays. Little faerie lights shown behind gold orbs, casting a soft glow. The night was warm and fresh while the fountain trickled away. Sitting on my blue staircase, I was moved to tears. I cried, truly I cried! For the beauty, for my love of this place and the man next to me, and for knowing that it would be a very long time before I came back. I sat on those steps and wept from an all too bursting heart.

If God is in the details, this place truly is heavenly. And to think, this little courtyard is passed by the masses every day. A place seldom seen, and yet every detail is perfect. Every last little ounce of that place is tended to lovingly, so that even if one person stops to admire it, they will find it beautiful. I love the care that is put into that courtyard...So that I cant stop to find it beyond beautiful.

I could try to describe it better, but truly only pictures could show it's true beauty.
It truly is a happy, little slice of heaven to me. And I cannot wait to return, to sit on my steps, look around my Courtyard, and smile.

Where is your favorite place in the world? Your own little piece of heaven?
♥ Mags

Congratulations!

Hello, hello, sweet readers. Both new and old!

To the old readers, I thank you for sticking with me through the utter silliness and occasional pointlessness of this blog. You are lovely and amazing!

To the new readers, I hope you stick with me during the above mentioned silliness and pointlessness. What you have to look forward to are pictures, posts about food, my occasional rantings, the odd Debbie Downer posts (I'll try to keep those to a minimum), all things SUPER nerdy, and once it comes back, recaps on each episode of Lost. (I find them hilarious to write and read.)

Anyway, onto business!

The winner of my first ever giveaway is the lovely and beautiful Sabrina! Hurray! *throws confetti*

So, Sabrina, if you will kindly send me your address and info, I can gather up your package and get it out to you soon! You can email it to me at maggisaar@yahoo.com

And don't worry to those who didn't win. I have a strange feeling I want to do more giveaways. Not always this grand, but I really love writing, knitting, sewing, and painting. So keep an eye out in the future.

Also, I just like making things for people. So...you never know when I might me asking for your address for no reason! :-)

Lots of love, dear friends.
-Mags

Of Natalie & Emma ♥

One of my best friends, Jessie, and I, have two characters that are...the written versions of us. Of course they are not us entirely, but enough of us has gone into them that sometimes it seems like we're more them then us. Do I have you? Yes? No? All right, let's go on.

Natalie Jensen met Emma Summers while both were doing a year abroad in London during college. Emma changed rooms, and roommates, right out from underneath Natalie and everyone else involved, just so that she wouldn't have to share a room, for a year, with a "Mouth breather". She chose Natalie because the night before, while at a party, Natalie picked a Madeleine out of a choice of cookies offered to her, and because she knew how to iron.

They would become instant friends, always together, always in the corner giggling. After leaving London and returning to their separate homes, they would keep in touch. Emma coming out to spend a summer in Seattle with Natalie and her family, and the following year Natalie would fly to Australia to be with Emma for a Christmas holiday. They will fly back and fourth to each other, even when Emma moves to New Zealand. They will share, steal, sneak, and sell each others clothes, often without the others knowledge. They will be a comfort in break ups, a joy in new life adventures, bride's maids for the each other, and one day Godparents to their kids. They will write letters, emails, and make random, 3AM phone calls to the other end of the world just to say one word, "Schplintah!" very loudly into the phone, cackle, and hang up.

They will do all this, because they are best friends, and that's what best friends do.

Natalie is my character. Born out of a late night interview on Jay Leno with James Woods, where he hit on a younger woman and I went, "Ya know what? I'd hit that." and thus, I started a story about a relationship between a 54 year old man, James, and a 29 year old woman, Natalie. James and Natalie are still together, mind you. A very sweet couple with 4 year old twins, Norah and Andrew. They live in Seattle where she works at a local newspaper and he is a history professor. She has brown hair, hazel eyes, a bright smile, and, I'm not too ashamed to say, is very much me.

Emma is Jessie's character. A bright, happy, bold Australian woman with red, curly hair and a heart of gold. She loves horses, is slightly crazy, and can never fail in making Natalie laugh just by making a face. She also can eat a box a doughnuts or a whole cake in less than a minute. And...well...any thing else for that matter. She came out of a story that was less inspired by The Lord of the Rings, and more inspired by the Cast of The Lord of the Rings. Around the same time I started Natalie's story (One which has been rewritten several times. As I've gotten to be a better, less "soapy" writer.) Jessie started with Emma, and as naturally as Jess and I became friends, we realized that Nat and Em would be the best of friends too. Of course our stories were set in opposite ends of the world, but life doesn't always allow the ones you love to be right down the street.

The funny thing about Nat and Em is that pretty much as soon as we started writing them, is that they became real to us. I kid you not, in that Crazy Writer way, we will be in the mall and point out outfits and say to each other, "That's so Emma." or "Natalie would totally wear those boots." We find pictures of people who look like Em and Nat...mostly on Getty Images, which is the best website ever. We even, from time to time, have written each other letters and birthday cards as Em and Nat, and sent them, addressed to the characters, to each other. It's not sad. It's just...slightly crazy.

I mean...at least we stopped short of actually creating Facebook profiles for our characters and hunting the internet for pictures that fit their lives and getting on them and leaving comments and status updates as them.
(This may or may not be a lie.)

But writing Nat and Em is like second nature. They live the lives we dream about... We've given them wonderful, enchanted lives because we love them and we can give them a special, mostly untroubled existence. We have given them pain, frustration, and loss, because that's life, but we always counter balance that with joy, love, and extreme silliness. I don't know if we could ever write the life of Em and Nat, because I think they will live within us for as long as we are alive. And I'm fine with that. I want them to keep going in our heads, in our hearts, and through our fingers.

Lately it's been fun to write Emma and Natalie as mothers and wives. Nat, James, Norah and Andy live a very silly, happy life in Seattle. It was just James' 61st birthday, and they had a big party to celebrate with all their friends and family. Emma, her husband Billy, and their daughter Chloe were there of course. Emma pregnant is almost more fun to write than Emma not pregnant. Girl LOVES her food. And it's a good thing Nat had a second birthday cake hidden away...

It's fun to grow with the characters. It's fun to write the characters. And even though they may never get their full story in book form, they will get a full lives through us. And I'm really pleased with that. I really hope Jessie is too.

※ Natalie put down a platter of hummus and veg, straitening the little tomato rose decoration on the plate, before turning to Duke to ask him a question. She heard a clatter of china behind her, and looking back, she found Emma looming over the platter, all the carrots in one hand, the hummus half gone, and the tomato rose sticking out of her mouth.
"Emma!" She laughed, shaking her head, "I have 50 people coming to the party today. Can you PLEASE try to contain yourself?"
"But I'm eating for two!" Emma pleaded, pointing to her baby bump.
"You've been 'eating for two' since you were born, Em. Tell you what, I made pork chops for dinner last night, there are left overs in the fridge. Go wild."
Emma's eyes grew in excitement before she rushed off inside. Natalie just laughed and shook her head, turning back she looked at Duke, who was staring, amazed.
"I've never seen a pregnant woman move that fast," he said.
"And you never will again," she replied, shaking her head. It took her a moment to remember that the birthday cake was still in the fridge before Natalie too rushed off towards the kitchen. ※



For those who haven't....although I'm pretty sure you all have, be sure to sign up for the Tea Party Giveaway! Also, I am seriously considering filling in for Dionne and doing a Fall Swap. Thoughts?
Tata, my darlings! ☺
(Got the itch and changed up the colors of my blog! Ya like? It is finally fall, after all.)