Egyptian Mythology

I went to the King Tut exhibit today at the Denver Art Museum and learned about Egyptian history, culture and mythology. This is convenient because I finished reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan and now know a few things about the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. what fascinates me the most is the fact that names were erased from other pharaohs before King Tutankhamun due to a particular religion they practiced that only worshiped one god, the god of the sun Aten. I also learned that Anubis, the previous god of the underworld was replaced by Osiris, the more well known god of the underworld. Because I have to write a piece for my creative writing class, I decided to write a story combining these two facts and create and action, adventure fantasy story. I've had fun writing it so far.

Bird by Bird

I'm currently reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and I highly recommend it for any writer. The fascinating thing about this book is the honesty. Lamott walks you through first the basic elements of story writing,(such as characters and plot)then she digs deeper into the emotions of an author. She walks you through the days of writer's block and the sting of jealousy for other writers. She talks you through your worst obstacle, yourself. She shows you how to ignore how you criticize what you write. All this she does through personal experience stories and serious advice to let the writing flow. I don't know about you, but it helps me to know that a successful author doesn't just type one amazing sentence after the other. Writing is a process involving insight into yourself and ideas you pull from the world. Bird by Bird helped me understand that even J.K. Rowling didn't just write a few perfect paragraphs in one sitting. This book makes you want to write and broadens your view on the writing world.

Live Like There's No Tomorrow

This song has inspired me to list things I want to do to Live Like There's No Tomorrow

1. Fall in Love
2. Get a tattoo
3. Learn Japanese
4. Take Dance Lessons
5. Travel the world
6. Work for Disneyland or Disney World
7. Take a drive with no planned destination
8. Make a music album
9. Write a novel
10. Ride in a hot air balloon
11. Go horseback riding
12. Visit the Empire State Building
13. Learn to play guitar, violin and piano
14. Go on a cruise
15. Make a water garden
16. Visit my favorite celebrities
17. ride a hang-glider
18. Go ice skating
19. hike five famous trails
20. Learn to surf

The Lotus Pond

Every night she visits the garden. She finds a small spot near the edge of the water and watches the dragonflies flit from lily pad to flower. As the fish touch the surface with their noses, the ripples swirl the water under each plant. The Moon light and the small lanterns give the pond an ethereal glow. She closes her eyes and takes it all in. The hum of the dragonflies' wings add a bass to the lapping of water against the rim. The scent of fresh rain settles among the fragrance of the flowers. Each plop of water a fish makes, and each breath creates a steady rhythm to quiet the thoughts in her mind. Without opening her eyes, she lets one hand float softly in the water and allows the liquid to cool her warm hands. After a few minutes, she allows the other hand to follow suit and her heartbeat slows while the noise becomes only a mumble in the distance. A frog splashes for a second. She can almost hear the movement of the fish as they weave around the roots of each lotus. When she opens her eyes, the color of the flowers come in shades of pink, blue and violet. The fireflies begin to show, and she welcomes their presence with a soft sigh. A breeze wafts her hair as she stares at the stars reflected on the almost smooth surface. This is her sanctuary. Here, she spins hopes and dreams while in quiet retreat. The Lotus Pond, her one place in the world.

On writing everyday

I'm currently reading Bird by Bird by Annie Lamott and she gives the advice to write small pieces at least once a day. It could be the tiniest thing, like a crisp August morning or the pond on the side of the neighborhood park. These small details are what makes a story interesting. In the same manner, these small exercises keep thing going in the creative mind. By limiting your daily writing piece, you actually feel less confined when you sit down and think, "What the hell should I write?" while the time ticks away and you bite your lip until it's raw. I thought I could give these prompts a try. This is an exercise to experiment with writing and simply get something down.

Inception or Deception?

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE AND MAKE A THEORY FOR YOURSELF!
For those of you who have seen the movie Inception, you already know the question I'm about to discuss. Was it a dream, or was it real? First off, I believe this is the entire purpose of the movie to leave you guessing and I am only voicing my theories to decide for myself if the movie was in a dream, or in reality.
First lets define Inception:
According to Merriam- Webster's Dictionary it is, "an act, process or instance of beginning."
This is our first clue when we enter the maze of dreams. We are presented with the beginning of something big. Something that we glimpse at the beginning of the movie, but possibly went backward in time, or forward in time. So the question is, was the end of the movie just the beginning? Knowing the movie world, there could be a sequel or this could be a stand alone leaving the audience left to wonder what was real and what was the dream. As for plot questions, there are common questions that the audience asks.
1. Is Mal real?
The movie gives us a few clues for this answer. Your first is the fact that Mal is in every dream and constantly tells Dom that he is in a dream. We are never given this confirmation, as the top is never shown falling down, even in reality. Another strange concept would be the fact that Inception has happened and Mal could even be an idea or hallucination in Dom's dreams. Not to mention she tells Dom the night he proposed he told her he had a dream.
2. Is Saito what he seems?
This question has multiple clues leading to the answer. Saito appears to know where Dom is, even in the real world. A little odd don't you think? Especially since the movie explains that projections in a dream will attack who they believe is the intruder of the dream and Dom appears to be fleeing through most of the beginning of the movie. Saito finding him no matter where he goes seems a little too convenient to be a coincidence. Not to mention he asks Dom if he is there to kill him at the very beginning of the film.
3. Does Dom actually have children?
Several hints to the possibility his children don't exist appear in the film. We see them in other people's dreams, just like Mal. We hear them on the phone toward the beginning of the movie and they sound older than Dom pictures them in his mind. Dom and Mal created a world, could they have created the children as well? The grandfather knows to take Dom home and never says a word about the grandmother. If grandma's not real, could the children be a motive Saito uses to make Dom do his bidding.
4. Is Dom still dreaming?
We get a hint that people will stay in a dream for years, depending on the dream. We are also told that Dom, himself, has dreamed for years and no longer knows what reality is. Given the fact that the movie follows Dom, we could easily assume he is being manipulated by a dream himself. A huge clue is when Dom tells us he stole Mal's totem, which is taboo. How do we know that the totem can determine reality? Another hint is when Saito sees Dom's talisman before he finishes spinning it. Dom also shows Saito his talisman at the beginning/end? of the movie.


Based on these questions, I think an important piece of information should also be expressed. Ariadne, whose name could possibly come from the Greek mythology, helps Dom through the entire movie. In the mythology, Ariadne was the one who helped Theseus escape the labyrinth. In the movie, Ariadne helps Dom navigate through the labyrinth of dreams.

Now, with all that out of the way, I will finally get to my theory:
I believe it is still a dream, one that Saito is in control of. Mal could possibly be real and Saito has her hidden away still dreaming, or she escaped and is still dreaming. Dom may have kids, but they are not as old as he thinks they are. Saito could be manipulating his entire life by controlling him through means of motivation to be with his family. Another thing, most of Dom's dreams are memories, so it is a good possibility that these are dreams implanted in his mind to convince him to do what Saito wants. We already know that there are levels to a dream and that the deeper you go, the easier you forget reality. My theory is Dom is still in a dream but doesn't believe he is. Saito found a way to manipulate his totem and mess with his mind. This entire beginning could be Dom's dream, considering the people with him during the movie help him no matter what dream they are in. I have concluded this due to the title and due to the hints that not everything you see in the movie is real.
So is the ending an Inception or Deception? We will have to wait for the sequel to find out.

The MoonFlow

I chose to make my blog background the MoonFlow from Final Fantasy X.
It's a place where memories gather over flowers called moonlilies and where Yuna, the high summoner, watches the place in quiet serenity while Tidus shifts from foot to foot impatiently, confident that once Yuna defeats Sin, she can watch the MoonFlow all she wants. He did not know that Yuna believed it was the last time she would see the MoonFlow. As she watches the Pyreflies (memories of the past) float in graceful streams of light, she gains the strength for the battle ahead. Two years later, she returns to this spot and reminisces on the person she was to the person she has become.

On Facing the Dragon

On the topic of facing your fears, the usual response is to make a plan or to jump in headfirst. I've always wondered if there was another way, an internal dialogue on what is holding you back. Is it a fear? Is it a habit? Is it regret? Maybe the thing about fear is to look at it as a challenge and draw your sword by barely lowering your shield. Maybe you need to be more knowledgeable about what you fear. As if by knowing the thing you fear will somehow help you reach the solution to the problem. Maybe another way to face a fear is to lessen the intensity of the fear. By saying it's no big deal, you reach a breaking point where you convince yourself that it actually is no big deal. But how do you reach that point? How do you go with instinct, when instinct batters against you and just the thought of doing something most people consider normal, terrifies you? Everyone has to face the dragon, there's no question of that. My question is, how do you prepare for battle? How do you strike the dragon down in victory?

The little things

When you're stressed out and feel the world is falling apart, the self help books tell you to appreciate the little things in life. I found this might be a great way to reflect in writing a few things that make a story more believable. Here's a list/poem to reflect on this idea:

The sunset on a cloudy day
The rain in summer afternoon
The breeze in the month of may
The glow of a bright full moon

Laughter in the evening
Music to study by
Stories for the campfire
Memories on which to rely

Life lessons from my elders
Flowers all in bloom
Dew drops dotting morning leaves
The comfort of my room

Small trinkets hidden
Here or there
Lyrics that follow me
Everywhere

The knowledge
Time will always pass
The sunshine through
a piece of glass

Ripples in the garden pond
Photographs
Of memories fond

Quotes and words
to get me by
The sea of stars
Up in the sky

Bells that ring
Skirts that swish
my favorite food
in a tasty dish

These are the things
That get me by
When I am lost
And wondering why

Hope and Light
Water and Air
Cat and Dog
Rose and Thorn
Snow and Crystal
Laughter and Love
These things I cherish
From up above.

A Place to Write

This beautiful park is Bernheim, Kentucky. If I could find a place to write, it would be here. The park is well cared for and features trails, picnic areas and a nice lake. The perfect place to reflect on nature.

Render a tree, capture the forest

It was dark at night, yet the entire Animal Kingdom park was filled with a sense of mystery. The giant Everest Mountain towered above everything. The buildings painted bright reds, striking blues and blinding yellows stood small in comparison. Across the path, the bridge glowed a rusty red, and below, in the water it was clay. The reflection of the stringed lanterns lit the water making the night sky, dotted with stars look identical to the large lake in my view. I loved moments like these. You could hear the gentle breeze flow through the giant trees that guarded us from all sides. Up ahead, past the bridge, the lady bug and dragonfly lamps guided us to our work base. Brilliant rainbows of color that were easy to spot from far away. Most relaxing of all, was the quiet. You could hear small laps of water, and chirps of crickets. I didn’t want to move the dolly and ruin the soft silence.

Summer Reading List

Just for fun, here's my reading list for the summer:

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson
The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville
Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Dune by Frank Herbert
Penelope by Leslie Caveny
Beastly by Alex Flinn
City of Ships by Mary Hoffman
The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

What quotes inspire you?

As a writer, I love to hear from other people on how they become inspired or what motivates them to follow their goals. Everyone has something to offer. Each person you know has stories and knows people who have stories and so on. Motivations are wonderful elements for a character in a story. What inspires you to dream and create a goal? Who are your favorite authors?

A Little bit about me

I decided I should introduce myself by giving a list of quotes and a list of things I've learned.
Here are some quotes I enjoy:

"I know sometimes it hurts more to hope, and it hurts more to care. But you have to promise me you won't stop caring," Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender

"It may seem boring... but I think the boring stuff is the stuff you remember the most." Russel from Up

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear," Mia's father from The Princess Diaries

"It's just one of those things. You know, that just happen. You don't think or plan. You just do it." Monica from The Truth About Forever

"Even the smallest person, can change the course of the future," Gandalf from The Lord Of The Rings

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light," Dumbledore from Harry Potter

"Too many locks, not enough keys," Ruby from Lock and Key

"Silence is so freaking loud," Owen from Just Listen

"I think that being brave and self-confident doesn't necessarily start inside... It starts with the rest of the world, and it leads back to you" Kiki from Keeping the Moon

"I guess everyone's like this. We cling to our secrets, our doubts, our memories. We're never able to put them aside. Even though they confuse us, there are some things we can only find in that confusion. I think it's okay to feel that way." Yuna from Final Fantasy X2

"Sanctuary, a word, which here means, a small safe place in a troubling world," Lemony Snickett from A Series Of Unfortunate Events

"This is my family. It's little and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good." Stitch from Lilo and Stitch

"You're all I've got too you know," Pepper from Iron Man

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom's as great. You have no power over me," Sarah from Labyrinth

"A bird may love a fish signore, but where would they live?" Danielle from Ever After

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I've wanted more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand, to have someone understand... I want so much more than they've got planned," Belle from Beauty and the Beast

"Do or do not. There is no try," Yoda from Star Wars

"A flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all," the emperor from Mulan

"Some things don't last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down the corners, and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there." Remy from This Lullaby

"You know, like in Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars. You're searching for something you lost or need. It's a quest." Eli from Along For The Ride

"It's not that... I've suddenly become stronger...or that something has changed. I'm still shaking. But...we don't have to let those fears stop us. What's most important... is that we try to rise above our weakness." Kisa from Fruits Basket

"I learned to practice smiling... when I'm feeling sad... you know. I know it's hard." Yuna FFX

"Just as, no matter how hard you try to keep it away... despair will attack you again and again. In the same manner...hope will return to you. And again... and again... it will surely bloom." Shishou from Fruits Basket

"You spend all your time doing things for other people, but what about doing things for yourself?" Kevin from 27 dresses

"With all the changes around us... I wanted to build something permanent." Annabeth from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

"Loving someone isn't always just loving what's in front of you. There's also the past... and the future," Kyo from Fruits Basket

"We had no choice." Always "we had no choice." Those are our magic words. We repeat them to ourselves again and again. But you know... the magic never worked! The only thing we're left with... is regret." Yuna FFX2

"nothing that happens is ever forgotten," Zeniba from Spirited Away

"Keep Moving Forward" Meet the Robinsons (taken from a quote by Walt Disney)
"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Yuna "Stay with me... until the end. Please"
Tidus "Not until the end. Always"
Yuna "Always then"

"If we should get separated, just whistle. I'll come running. I promise" Yuna FFX

"I like myself, just the way I am," Penelope

"Young or old, short or tall, we all have something we wish we could change about ourselves. Sometimes we let those insecurities define who we are and get in the way of all the great things we could accomplish," Reese Witherspoon

"Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear." Baron from The Cat Returns

"You can love... even if you don't know how the other person really feels. But to be loved... the other person has to see you for who you really are. You have to fully accept that... and that's what requires true courage." Kosuke from DNAngel

"If I can mince, you can dance." Naveen from The Princess and the Frog

"Never lose sight of what's really important." from The Princess and the Frog

"Don't run from the light- and don't fear the darkness." Kingdom Hearts

"If you have a dream, don't wait. Act." Axel from Kingdom Hearts

Here are some things I've learned:


1. The 4 o clock parade really starts at 4 o clock (If Stitch doesn't steal the show)
2. Churros at Disney are expensive because they are made with magic. End of story.
3. It is more polite to point at things with two fingers. If you have been a cast member, you know what I mean.
4. Sometimes you have to make a decision, where neither of the out comes can be weighed easily. In that case, follow your heart.
5. Always believe in yourself, do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear (Baron from The Cat Returns)
6. Fly, don't crawl.
7. Twilight is no longer just a book, it's a cult ( That consists of two sub groups, The Team Edward freaky fan girls and the Team Jacob freaky fan girls)
8. If you want to write a story, write about what you know, what you want to know, and what you imagine. Trying to write about what you don't know will only frustrate you.
9. This is the rule, if He's Just Not That Into You, he won't act like he's into you. Only sometimes there is an exception. But you must always believe you are the rule, not the exception. (courtesy of He's Just Not That Into You the movie, and the book)
10. It's Colors and WHITES, not Colors and Brights (Laundry tips from This Lullaby)
11. A song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in you or the world, that one song stays the same. Just like that moment. (Owen from Just Listen)
12. You know you're a World of Warcraft junkie, when you, your brother, and your dad get online and do quests together every other night ;)
13. Life is a climb (Hannah Montana The Movie)
14. Philosophy is the study of how humans study life. In a way, it is asking the big questions, and deciding whether or not a question always requires an answer. There are often many outcomes. The key is to have an open mind.
15. The never ending anime/manga Inu-Yasha actually ended!!!
16. No matter what you do, you can say. "I'm a college kid," and you have just been given your free pass to do stupid things. (Like say, running into a wall, or not noticing the no talking sign)
17. If you take a book with you on a journey, an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories (Mo from InkHeart)
18. Sometimes you can feel like you just found out that your favorite love song was written about a sandwich (courtesy of Jane from 27 dresses)
19. Autism is not a tragedy, it's a puzzle. The trick is, you must find all the pieces, and know where they belong before you can even begin to fit the pieces together.
20. The Star Wars movies are very romantic. When Lea tells Han Solo she loves him, he responds with, "I know," because the fact that he loved her, didn't need to be said. That is real love (Oliver to Schyler from the Blue Bloods series)
21. Bobs are still cool haircuts (courtesy of the teenage boys that saw me at the library) I'm so glad to know this information -_-
22. A live sand dollar is far more rare than a dead one that washes up on the shore. To hold one in your hand is a wonder.
23. When your heart breaks, it can grow back crooked. It grows back twisted, and gnarled and hard (The Tale of Despereaux)
24. People from High School actually remember you! The conversation normally starts with "do you remember when...." ^_^
25. Sometimes your friends aren't who you think they are. Other times friends come from unexpected people at the time you need them most.
26. When you have to pick up your brother from school, it's like walking through a time line. It's cool but weird at the same time. All the memories and good times...
27. Sometimes people will forgive you, even when you can't forgive yourself.
28. Holding people away from you, and denying yourself love doesn't make you strong. If anything, it makes you weak. Because you are doing it out of fear. (Remy's mother in This Lullaby)
29. Loving someone requires a leap of faith, and a soft landing is never guaranteed.
30. There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet, and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn to know the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying. (Annabel from Just Listen)
31. Sometimes it takes losing a special trinket to remind you that the memory you cherish will always be with you, even if the trinket is gone.
32. Change doesn't always have to be drastic. Sometimes change happens through small steps and leaps of faith.
33. When you are writing a story, the character must learn something that you never intended at the beginning. This gives the story a tie to you that you can't replace.
34. Sometimes all you need to make a difference is a little hope, and patience.
35. Just be yourself, because you can never be anyone else no matter how hard you try.
36. Finding something precious to you can be a small miracle.
37. "We had no choice." Always "we had no choice." Those are our magic words. We repeat them to ourselves again and again. But you know... the magic never worked! The only thing we're left with... is regret. (Yuna FFX2)
38. Sometimes strength doesn't always come from practice or endurance, instead it can come from faith in yourself and the people you care for.
39. In times where everything seems hopeless... you cope by remembering the blessings you have.
40. Good things are rare because they wouldn't be as special if they happened all the time. But when they do happen, it's best to enjoy them while you can.
41. Being brave and self confident doesn't always start from the inside. It starts from the world, and leads up to you. (Keeping the Moon)
42. What makes us different makes us beautiful. (Penelope)
43. Family is more than just the people you live with. Family includes everyone you care for, and who cares for you.
44. Hope is real to those that believe they can make a difference.
45. Finding who you are doesn't take a minute or a day. It takes a life time.
46. Stories are lies that tell the truth.
47. You learn more from failure than success. However once you achieve your goal, it's always worth the struggle.
48. When you remember something, it's always in great detail. The sights, smells and sounds come alive in your memory, creating a permanent picture.
49. Being liked doesn't mean being respected
50. There are some moments that you will carry the tears with you for all your life
51. Sometimes hurt grows with time, and you have to learn to stop it from growing.
52. The secret to life is learning to get by when things seem impossible. As long as you stay focused on your goal, you'll get through :)
53. Beauty is flawed, that's why it's beautiful.
54. When you are mad at the world, there are two things you need to know
1. You can't change other people's actions
2. You CAN change your own

Hello and welcome to my blog

I'm Crystallized Heart. I created this blog to record hopes, dreams and just reflect on life. I also will share my goal of becoming an author and singer. I'll start this blog with a great quote and some reflection.

"Being brave and self confident doesn't always start from the inside. It starts from the world, and leads up to you."
Sarah Dessen
Keeping the Moon

I agree with this quote. We create goals by watching people all over the world and making the person who lives the life we most want our role model. Through this process. self confidence is earned through the work we do to pursue our dreams and reach our goals.