[Aidara's Scrapbook] It's Real For Us

[Verilian]

So I just wanted you to know that you inspired me. I know you've been having trouble with the whole getting into shape thing and giving up "bad" food and all, and this might not help, but I just wanted you to know it. Since I read your scrap I've started working out again, every day since that scrap. Pushups and situps and stretches in the morning, and today I went jogging, which is going to start out twice a week and go up to 3 times in two weeks from now, then 5 times a week two weeks after that. I still take the weekends off and don't do any kind of working out, unless the weekend happens to include that somehow, but you inspired me to start working out in the mornings again. It's all very light and it will be a long time before I can get back to where I used to be, but it's a start. So.. I guess I'm just saying this to thank you for the inspiration, and to also show you that even if you start off with just one tiny thing, and add something on every week (or every other week), you will get there. A lot of people try to "start walking" but nobody actually does that. (You don't have time, it's raining, you've been walking all day at work, you're hungry, insert more random excuses) I gave some advice to kelsey last night to do ten to twenty jumpin jacks every day this week. It isn't much, and it wont make a difference by itself, but next week she can add in another exercise, and another the next week, and if she keeps it up she'll start to build a full workout. The point is, 20 jump in jacks (or in my case 20 pushups and 20 situps) doesn't even take 5 minutes. You can find five minutes in a day to do it, and then it becomes part of your daily schedule. Next week you just have to find another five minutes, and I promise you will find them. We think we don't have time, but its amazing how much time we discover if we do it slowly. And it's alot easier to commit to one five minute (really it will probably be less than that) exercise a day than it is to commit to a 15-30 min workout every day. And next week it will be a lot easier to commit to one more, and one more. Anyway.. you get my point, and once again thanks for the inspiration!

[Silvy]

Jules, you're a hands down total sweetie. *takes much needed squishing* Just keep being your terrific self. <3 I'll work through this funk, so don't worry so much about me ok? I'll just catch up on every single pm and thread, clean my house, I've finished my paperwork for the day, cleaned all the horses and dogs. I'll cope, you'll cope and we'll be alright. Time heals all wounds-seems trite, but it's true for me and hopefully you. *squishhugs* right back at ya.

[Aidara]

Julie's To-Do List For some reason I feel extremely tired. I am not sure why, but I don't think I slept very well last night. But either way, I have stuff that I need to get done. So, those of you who read this and who I owe stuff, if you're on the list you'll get it by the end of the day. This I promise. Aidara Start the thread for Sai, Sira and Addy's new place! Respond to Healers Hunt Respond to The Party Figure out what to do with Kovac's threads Do solo's for Thread Challenges Cailet PM Duality about Dhatzu thread Kaniel Avatar / species Character Sheet First thread! Phoenix Amanda's Duties Grade Rista's thread Choose a PC to pick on GRADE Anything else Jen can think of that she wants done. Julie Clean the room Finish Job applications Laundry, Laundry, Laundry Go walking

[Aidara]

I Can't Keep my Mouth Shut Any Longer. What I am finding hard to deal with is the fact that characters leave... all the time. PC's are abandoned because their players no longer have time or interest to play them. Our PC's cope. They have too. Reasons why so-and-so is no longer in your Pc's life is easy to formulate. Um, come on people you are writers. If you can't come up with a reason why Mikes PC's would all of a sudden not be as present, or can't work past this little road block then you have a lot of thinking to do. It's really not that hard. It's really not as big of an issue IC wise that people are making it. Every post and thread you do doesn't touch upon every single detail of your PC's life. You aren't going to have to detail why a pc isn't as present in every single post you do. It'll come up surprisingly infrequently if you actually think about it. Yes, it's harder to do if your PC was married to said disappeared person, or in a relationship with them. But not impossible. USE YOUR BRAINS. and think of something. Just because your Husband PC isn't a PC anymore doesn't mean they are gone. NPC THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you read the rules, you are allowed to NPC your family members. If you don't feel comfortable doing this to a PC whose player has taken a break... then ask someone. Ask in the HD. PM Jen or Mish or Tarot or Bina or anyone and ASK. Mike is beloved, this much was obvious even before he took leave. However, the way people are reacting to this is complete and utterly ridiculous. Yes, I said it. RIDICULOUS. I don't need to qualitative or quantify my relationship with Mike because I know it was special and I know how good of friends we were...are. ARE because we still ARE FRIENDS. It is my deepest belief that Mike is coming back. He needs time to work through some problems and he is looking at it as a forever thing at this point in time. We can give him that, at least. The future is scary and who knows what it brings? But I know he'll look back at Miz and realize that what he has here benefitted him more than it hurt. That being said, all I want to do is yell and scream at people to stop freaking out and just deal with it. Lemanting and whining and crying isn't going to do any good. Rashly dealing with the problems IC or lashing out at people isn't going to do any good either. I'm not lashing out at anyone in particular, for example, which is why I am writing this in my scrap rather than putting any of these kinds of thoughts in anyone else's posts. It's okay if you don't think the same way I do. Everyone does have their own way of grieving and dealing with different situations. Which is why I'm NOT yelling and screaming at people and trying to impress my way of dealing upon them. I'm kind of getting off track because I have so many thoughts in my head. But like I said, PC's disappear all the time. Some are just minor blips on our own PC's radar, and others are major aspects in their life. Hell, I disappeared and I had just bonded Aidara to Sira. What did Sira do? Did she kill Addy off? No. Did Ron cry and stomp his foot and say IM NOT PLAYING ANYMORE? No, he didn't. As flattering as it would have been for about two seconds to think that someone was going to quit because I quit, it would have made me feel REALLY BAD that things that were going on in my life dragged not only myself away from Miz but others as well. Do you think Mike would have honestly made this decision if he would have seen this wreckage of an aftermath? Maybe I just notice all the silliness because I was close to him as well and I have been paying attention. Some people are probably completely oblivious to all that I am talking about. It's fine. It's not the point. But seriously. If your priority here is to play with one and only one person, that is fine. If that person leaves, then you'll probably leave too. If that is not the case, then don't let Mikes break from Miz screw with you. Deal with it, move on. This is a writing website after all. The Players make it wonderful and unique, but it would just be a chat forum if it wasn't for the writing and creativity that flows from those players. It's just so infuriating to see something that is very sad and disheartening being blown WAY out of proportion. And like I said. I tried to keep my mouth shut and I've tried to be there for everyone that seems sad because I too am sad and I have lots of comforting words to give. I STILL have comforting words to give. I still feel bad and I'm not saying that everyone isn't allowed to feel bad about mike leaving. Feel bad for as long as you need too, be sad and grieve it for as long as you need too. Just don't let it incapacitate you. Mike didn't die. He's still here, for goodness sake.

[Bolden Denusk]

Yes, I'm sad that Mike left. I do indeed have many options to consider while playing Bolden. I never said nor implied I wouldn't play Bold, only that a time period of OOC adjustment is needed by me in order to continue RPing as bold. That's all. No popcorn, no peanuts, not complicated. I have emotions and tend to feel them and when I'm ready, after seeing to more staff duties and a couple new threads with my other PC's, then I'll deal with RPing bolden. Just letting you know dear, that what to do with bolden is the least of my problems, personally. Of course I read your scrap. friends do that.

[Aidara]

Lisa, I apprecaite your passion. I really do. You say a lot of things that I don't have the balls to say, even if I wince while reading some of them just because of how honest they are. I think you felt the need to reply because you thought I was still pointing fingers after even saying that I wasn't pointing fingers. I promise that I wasn't picking on you. I know you said that you were having a hard time dealing with this and that you didn't know how to play your PC now that mike was gone and you were adjusting and having a hard time with it. I understand that, I think I even replied to that scrap (Did I? I can't remember. If I didn't, I replied with hugs and stuff in my head at least). I understand. I know what you're going thought. I just happen to be able to think about it a bit more objectively, I guess. Maybe I'm just used to losing things in my PC's life so I am able to keep on writing while still dealing with my personal pain, y'know? Please don't feel like I was singling you out, because I wasn't. Everything that everyone has said or written or that has happened since Mike left is what created that ranty-rant. I'm not mad at anyone, especially not you, it was just something I had to get out. You know how sometimes you just let stuff build up until you just can't keep it in anymore? This was one of those things. Maybe I'm projecting irritation from my real life, letting this situation build up on irritation I already had and this was the last straw on the back or whatever. Does that make any sense at all? Because my brain is befuddled with all these words and feelings.

[Aidara]

I swear I am going to complete it this time. Revisited September (2011) 1. Start a brawl. Kovac gets beat up by a GIRL! 2. Train a skill. Addy tries to Sew! 3. Take a fall. 4. Craft something completely from scratch. Finally, the endal pair get the saddle they so desperately needed...plus a little extra thanks to Addy. October(2011) 1. Throw a party. Baby Shower! 2. Have a crazy dream. 3. Wax eloquently on a topic for bells. 4. Invent a new saying. November(2011) 1. Try your hand at home brewing. 2. Insult someone or be insulted. Addy tells Kovac whats up. 3. Give someone a gift or receive one. Sira and Addy both receive many gifts. 4. Acquire a serious injury. Ideas for the rest of the threads: Take a fall and get injured emotionally is going to be tied together in a super awesome thread involving Sira, her sex dream about Sai.. and more sexy-sex. Have a crazy dream is now open, though I might take advantage of beautiful Chemar and have a crazy dream in our thread. Try home brewing, and invent a new saying are also going to be tied together. Addy is going to be given some drugs and is going to start to experiment with them, at one point trying to convince Sira to try them as well. Wax eloquently for bells is up for grabs. Could be a solo or a partnered thread, so if you're interested let me know. I'm getting close!

[Aidara]

Radio Commercials I feel like they try really hard to make up for the fact that they don't have funny images to go along with the dialog, to compete against tv. But today I heard a jingle about how we all need to stand up to cancer. It was the single most idiotic commercial that I have ever heard. You don't stand up to cancer. People in this country are all about ribbons and support and shit. Though I don't completely agree with all that shit, I can understand that people need support and want to help and all that. My aunt had breast cancer. My family has been there. But really? Using cancer in a jingle to try and make it more catchy and appealing? Really? I am intentionally making my sentences really short and choppy. I can't let myself get into this rant because... It's just a controversial topic that I don't want to write about until I have done research and have time to eloquently express my point. It's nothing to bang out while waiting for your cookies to bake. It just irritated me.

[Verilian]

I agree. Standing up is stupid. I fight cancer sitting down. ..in a rocking chair. ..on the front porch. With a shotgun. Thats how you do it in Texas!

[Caelum]

Afternoon, darlin'. I was reading your thread “Healer’s Hunt” with Addy and Sira earlier and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was something that popped out at me, however, that I thought might be an interesting topic of plot interest for you. It seems that Addy is under the impression that Rak’keli marked healers are incapable of doing harm to living creatures. This might be simply a character aspect for her, but I was unable to tell by the thread alone. Rak’keli marked healers absolutely can willfully harm living creatures. The catch comes into play after the harm is done wherein their compulsion to heal rears its ugly head. You’re undoubtedly aware of this, but I always thought it was a particularly interesting factoid about Rak’keli’s favor. My priest of Rak’keli NPC, for example, is astonishingly good at killing “with a single blow”. Killshots. It is, obviously, the only way he can kill if need arises. He’s also excellent at physical avoidance techniques. Defensive measures. On the flip side, he refuses to pick up a weapon and, for that reason, is denied citizenship in Denval despite his healer services there. (Denval requires all citizens to be active members of the militia.) Will he pick up a sword in defense of another and do “killblows”? Well, that remains to be seen. He has the ability, but the will is different especially when one considers that certain dark conditions do literal damage to the soul of a Rak’keli marked. Anyway, I’m done rambling at your scrapbook now. - katie.