22 and counting...

So I realize it's been awhile since I've blogged, and I suppose I should apologize to the few avid readers that I may or may not have...

But sometimes life cannot be put down in words, and it just happens.

So let's move on, shall we?

My kid sister and I are having a sort of writing contest on the first of this next month, leading up to her surgery on the 23rd, and so we decided to give each other twenty-two different prompts to help distract from it, and just for kicks and giggles.

(Because we both love writing, whether sense or non)

In an attempt to find my own kicks and giggles in this moment, I've decided to compile a list of twenty-two (give or take) things in my life that make me smile.

(Because I really haven't been smiling lately, though that is neither here nor there)

So, here we go...

1. Pokemon

For Christmas, my best friend bought me a 3DS for Nintendo, and of course, the last time I had something of that nature was back when Pokemon only had three colors (think Red, Blue, and Yellow). So it made absolutely perfect sense for the first game that I bought for myself to be one of its derivatives: Alpha Sapphire. Though the game is simple, it is engaging, and I've enjoyed learning the new names and faces (because I'm really only familiar with the first one hundred and fifty), and though I lose a good percentage of battles with my friend, sometimes, just sometimes, I win.

2. Peppermint

Once upon a time, I impressed (or terrified?) my brother-in-law with how many candy canes I ingested over the holiday. So he bought me a peppermint stick about as big around as my fist. It took me awhile to finish the delicious monstrosity, but even then, my taste for peppermint has not waned, and you will find candy canes and peppermint sticks and the like in my cupboard year-round.

3. The perfect shade of lip gloss

So some people say that make-up is unnecessary, others a necessary evil. I'm often in the middle on that topic. That being said, there's something about finding the right color that just makes everything better. Lately I've been favoring a bright fuchsia, but I also have this deep red that makes me look fierce and in control...and I love it.

4. A fresh notebook

There's just something about opening a clean notebook that frees the mind and the words come and I find I've written something out-of-this-world fantastic...or possibly deranged. But the thrill in incomparable, and if I perhaps have a few too many notebooks waiting to be filled, who could blame me?

5. Grand Theft Christmas

Three years ago, while practicing for the annual Lessons and Carols concert at the church we were to perform at, I stole an ornament from the tree. While I may have committed one of the highest forms of blasphemy (I'll let St Peter and his crew decide), the weird thrill was addicting. I have a box full of random ornaments, from friends, relatives, schools, doctors' offices...perhaps this case of kleptomania isn't something I should be proud of, but it's one of the few things that makes me feel like anything but the sweet, angelic, boring good girl I was raised to be.

(Mother, you may keep your opinions to yourself, thank you)

6. Rubber ducks

While I may not have a bathtub to play with them in, my collection of rubber ducks do quite well on the dry land that is my TV stand. I haven't given them names yet, but they have their own individual personalities and dramas amongst them --including a love triangle with a pair of twin brothers and girl who's sister is in love with another girl.

7. Lilo and Stitch

"Pudge controls the weather."

Need I say more?

8. Guitar Hero

So though I enjoy the real thing, I will probably never be a great guitarist. Turn on the video game, however, and I can rock the entire world (on the Medium difficulty, at least; we're still working on the higher ones). Who doesn't love a little instant fame now and then?

9. My penguin onesie

Don't ever let anyone tell you you're too old for one-piece pajamas. Especially ones with penguins wearing neon pink bow ties. And that have a hood. The only thing that would make it better is if it had pockets. And maybe feet. But mostly it's perfect.

(Perhaps more so than my Superman onesie)

10. Ballgowns

I only have two as of yet; the rest of my dresses range from sun to red carpet, but the full ballgowns are hands-down my favorite. Whether I choose the dark blue or the spring green, I don't even need a tiara to feel like a princess.

(Though I have a few of those, too, if I wanted to accessorize)

11. Polka dots

Nothing against stripes or zigzags, but polka dots are probably my favorite thing. Is it whimsy, a childhood nostalgia? Or perhaps just another little oddity about Emma. But if you're wearing a polka dot shirt or dress or even a headband, you're probably guaranteed to be my favorite person...for a moment, at least.

12. Mermaids

I'm afraid of water. Like deathly. If I can't see the bottom, I don't want to go in, and even if I can, you can almost guarantee a panic attack if my feet can't touch the bottom. I dream almost nightly about drowning, trying to breath underwater, but I always run out of air, and no one saves me.

Perhaps that's why I like mermaids so much...not only are they beautiful and mysterious (which yes, I am, too, but in different ways), but they're powerful too, fast in and above water, and a wave only pushes them on, not under --or at least not unless they want to go under. They are completely at ease in their most natural element, and a lack of air is never an issue. I suppose you could say I envy them.

13. Books

Books, books, and more books. If I had Belle's library, I would probably have a heart attack  --from joy, of course. I used to get dozens upon dozens of books from the local library, because I wanted to read anything and everything I could get my hands on. Sadly, I don't have the time to do the same these days, but if I can sit down for a moment with an old favorite, you had better believe I'm in heaven.

14. Mickey D's

Some might say my love of Happy Meals is only because of my love of childish things --I may be buying kids' meals at the moment because of a certain pony cartoon being featured in their toys-- but when they put chicken nuggets together with my favorite green apples, there's no way I could say no. And if I'm not into whatever toys might be on the list, a large fries and a McDouble go a long way toward not only keeping my belly full, but keeping my mood full (read:high) as well.

15. Drawing hearts over the i's.

Childish? Perhaps. Romantic? Certainly. Necessary to keep calm when the world is falling apart around me? Absolutely.

16. Violin

So I suck at violin. I'm basically a first-year student playing it, and even then, I'm probably worse than some four- or five-year-olds who are supposedly at the same level. But just the simple act of practicing is calming, and the sound is probably one of my favorites in music, and if I can't play something myself, I've got a pretty decent YouTube playlist that will help me feel the music anyway.

17. Pilates

I am not the most active person. I used to run in middle and high school --a good portion of it running from older brothers who despised my existence-- and I have a passing fascination with soccer, but I'm not really athletic. Pilates, though, while definitely an effective work-out, is not something I have to be athletic to participate in. I can still suck at kicking a goal or running a mile in under six minutes, and yet I still feel strong, I still have stamina, and I can take pride in my body, even when modern fashion sometimes make me feel inadequate.

18. The fire nation tattoo over my pelvic bone

I have nine tattoos. And I love them all. Some of them I perhaps would have done something different, changed the angle, the placement, the size, the style of script...but every time I think I hate them, I find something new to love about them. My favorite, however, is the one that is based on a symbol from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender.

If you believe in that sort of thing, I'm technically an earth sign. I like material things, I have a sense of practicality about me, and I'm cautious. However, my enthusiasm is much more fire-based than earth, and after looking up some fan-art on the series, I knew that I had to have fire on my body. And though it burned like fire when I got it --this was actually the most painful ink I've gotten thus far-- every time I see it I can't help but grin.

Because this girl is on fire.

19. My PlayStation(s)

I have a PlayStation 2...and 3...and 4. (I also have a Super Nintendo and an XBox One, but I digress.) And though I'm not the most adept at modern games --most of them still give me headaches and make me sick to my stomach with all those new-fangled graphic designs-- there is a release of sorts whenever I play. I don't play to win (and I get called out on that regularly), but I play anyway, and I have fun, and I can just escape from reality for awhile, and even if I die, I'm still having a good time.

20. The Walking Dead

I am a scaredy cat. Like the biggest wimp ever. I'm more than mildly afraid of the dark, and I have nightmares every night on even the most benign of subjects, and I only sing really loud when I'm walking at night because I'm hoping that my obnoxiousness will scare all the crazier (yes, I admit it) people away.

But this show? Is golden. And yes, if I'm by myself I might stop it two or three times an episode and it'll take me all week to watch it. But the drama, the characterization, the chemistry between characters, all of it. Is addictive. And lovely. And I'm looking very much forward to tonight's episode.

(After I finish watching last week's)

21. Mixing cherries into an Oreo Blizzard

I did it on a whim the first time, but this is probably my favorite food creation of all time...well, that, or the vodka ice cream float.

(Most of my favorite creations involve ice cream)

22. A good bass line

Anyone can write a funky guitar riff or a piano solo...but giving letting the bassist take the spot light? There's nothing more hardcore and amazing in the entire musical world.

And if you want me to join your band and expect me to play the keyboard, you have got another think coming, my friend.

I suppose it's rather telling that coming up with all of those was more difficult than I thought it would be. Except it got easier as it went on, so maybe it's all about mood?

And now that I have my list, here's to more smiles, more laughs, more light, and more good moods.

Cheers.