I know I haven't blogged in ages, but right now I'm on a real writing streak. I recently had a story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers. This has inspired me to keep churning out more stories. I've been sending in more stories to Chicken Soup like a madman, as well as adding my previous writings to Author Stand. Author Stand is having a short story-writing contest and the deadline is in October. I can enter as many short stories as I want, so my plan until October is to write, write, write.
Please help me out by visiting my page on Author Stand and reading my stories! You will have to register, but it's quick and free, and then you can download my eBooks in PDF format to your computer, iPod, eBook reader, whatever you like to read your eBooks on.
Please support a freelance author! I will be forever grateful! :)
http://shop.authorstand.com/Authors/2147-marady-owens.aspx
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
I'm a Veggie!
So for the past month or two I've been seriously cutting back on my meat intake. First I cut out beef, then pork, then chicken. Seafood was a no since I ate some calamari in Toronto last month that tasted more like rubber. I don't like seafood anyway. So Thursday night I ate my last portion of meat - a delicious turkey sub. I've been doing a lot of research lately (PETA, PETA2, meat.org, Action for Animals) and I'm pretty disgusted with the meat industry and appalled with the way animals are treated. For a long time I thought animals were slaughtered the way Farmer Hoggett did it on the movie Babe - quick and painless. But a few years ago I saw some stuff on Oprah and knew sooner or later I had to stop eating meat and animal products and by-products.
I didn't make a New Year's resolution for 2011, but I ended up resolving to go vegan. Gradually. However, I thought it would take a while to do so. I figured, idunno, a year? Nope. The more I read, the guiltier and sicker I started to feel whenever the possibility of eating meat was suggested. I'm actually glad it happened this way, because it makes it easier.
So today, Sunday as I'm writing this, is the third day I've been meat-free. It isn't much, and I'm not vegan yet, but I'm very excited! I thought I'd feel hindered by the lack of food, but I've realized there are so many possibilities out there. I'm actually excited about grocery shopping! Okay, I always get excited about grocery shopping. Food is awesome. But now I'm even more excited.
So Friday I ate a peanut butter and jam sandwich on white bread for lunch and for dinner I had macaroni and cheese (the cheese was some "Chedda Spreada" and melted cheese slices) and garlic cheese bread (with cheddar and mozarella. Yummm). I had a nice midnight snack of cheddar Sun Chips, Wheat Thins with Laughing Cow cheese, chocolate cream pie, strawberries, and some homemade strawberry-peach frozen yogurt. So yeah, maybe not super healthy, but it was delicious AND meat-free!
Saturday I had some Honey Nut Cheerios with milk for breakfast...or maybe that was lunch. And for dinner I had spicy chicken Mr. Noodles (I've never been so happy about artificial flavouring) and more homemade garlic cheese bread.
As for today on Sunday - even though it just turned into Monday - I had Honey Nut Cheerios with milk again, and for dinner I had a lovely cheese pizza with black olives, potato wedges, and GASP - more garlic cheese bread!
I'm about to kick into health mode though. My mama just bought a selection of vitamins today to supplement my diet, as well as quite a lot of meat-free foods. I've yet to explore tofu and veggie dogs, so for now I'll see what I can do with such common wonders as cucumbers, apples, crackers, cheese, pasta, bread, peanut butter....mmmm I'm getting hungry. :)
So, I may have some haters (no idea why people give a goddamn what I eat, but some people are a little outraged and need to get a life), but I'm very proud of myself!!
Now if you'll excuse me I have some food to eat.
I didn't make a New Year's resolution for 2011, but I ended up resolving to go vegan. Gradually. However, I thought it would take a while to do so. I figured, idunno, a year? Nope. The more I read, the guiltier and sicker I started to feel whenever the possibility of eating meat was suggested. I'm actually glad it happened this way, because it makes it easier.
So today, Sunday as I'm writing this, is the third day I've been meat-free. It isn't much, and I'm not vegan yet, but I'm very excited! I thought I'd feel hindered by the lack of food, but I've realized there are so many possibilities out there. I'm actually excited about grocery shopping! Okay, I always get excited about grocery shopping. Food is awesome. But now I'm even more excited.
So Friday I ate a peanut butter and jam sandwich on white bread for lunch and for dinner I had macaroni and cheese (the cheese was some "Chedda Spreada" and melted cheese slices) and garlic cheese bread (with cheddar and mozarella. Yummm). I had a nice midnight snack of cheddar Sun Chips, Wheat Thins with Laughing Cow cheese, chocolate cream pie, strawberries, and some homemade strawberry-peach frozen yogurt. So yeah, maybe not super healthy, but it was delicious AND meat-free!
Saturday I had some Honey Nut Cheerios with milk for breakfast...or maybe that was lunch. And for dinner I had spicy chicken Mr. Noodles (I've never been so happy about artificial flavouring) and more homemade garlic cheese bread.
As for today on Sunday - even though it just turned into Monday - I had Honey Nut Cheerios with milk again, and for dinner I had a lovely cheese pizza with black olives, potato wedges, and GASP - more garlic cheese bread!
I'm about to kick into health mode though. My mama just bought a selection of vitamins today to supplement my diet, as well as quite a lot of meat-free foods. I've yet to explore tofu and veggie dogs, so for now I'll see what I can do with such common wonders as cucumbers, apples, crackers, cheese, pasta, bread, peanut butter....mmmm I'm getting hungry. :)
So, I may have some haters (no idea why people give a goddamn what I eat, but some people are a little outraged and need to get a life), but I'm very proud of myself!!
Now if you'll excuse me I have some food to eat.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Jenny's Army
My camera still lacks batteries but that's okay because I have started an animal rights organization!
Please help me out by visiting the following links!
http://www.jennysarmy.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennys-Army/195470040476201
www.twitter.com/jennysarmy
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! I'll love you forever!!!
Please help me out by visiting the following links!
http://www.jennysarmy.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennys-Army/195470040476201
www.twitter.com/jennysarmy
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! I'll love you forever!!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Ranting While Medicated
I am completely miserable.
It's the end of February and I'm finally sick. I tend to get sick in the fall and then again in the winter, but somehow I sneaked stealthily through the fall without coming down with anything. Finally it hits me. My throat feels like the outer walls of a cactus - little tiny spines pricking me every time I swallow. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara and no matter how much I drink, nothing changes. Also, my stomach hurts so I don't want to drink too much anyway. Goddamn stomach ache. I feel the physical need to eat. My stomach growls and burns. FEED MEEEEE, it cries. But I think of food and shudder. Even the bowl of chicken noodle soup my mama made for me didn't do much to brighten my spirits.
The cough sucks quite a great deal as well. I feel like my lungs are filled with toxic swamp mud. Every time I cough I get a mouthful of it - not that you need to know that..
Being sleepy is the best part. I have acquired this magical power to sleep at almost any given time. I just need to snuggle down under the covers and BAM. Suddenly it's four hours later. Sleeping to pass the time when sick is truly a great thing.
The only problem is, I can't sleep all the time, no matter how tired I am. I go through the necessary motions - pee, wash hands, take cough medicine, drink, eat a few crackers or whatever my stomach can handle - and then I'm left wondering what to do to kill the time before my next nap. I'm much too cranky and sleepy to shower. Yes, I realize that's disgusting, but I'm not really maintaining a proper showering pattern because I completely lost track of the days due to all of this excessive sleeping. I shower when I've reached the point of being so greasy I can't stand myself. The effort exhausts me and I usually fall asleep right after, but just the thought of showering makes me want to fall asleep right now. Cleaning myself is so tiring.
My pets are very demanding. I think they went a day or two without any fresh veggies, which I feel very guilty about. I still gave them their feed and their hay, but making salad is beyond my capabilities right now. I somehow mustered the strength to make some last night, and that was impressive. I feel very negligent, but let's face it, I'm also neglecting myself at the moment. My immune system sucks. I get sick very easily and when it hits, it hits me hard.
I'm having trouble focusing when it comes to movies. I watched Igor last night and was bored stiff, and I started watching The Little Prince, which was decent enough without all the crappy singing, but then it just got boring and repetetive. I enjoyed the book, but the book was small and this movie doesn't seem very small. So I've resorted to reading, which is a good thing since I've gotten out of the habit of writing as regularly as a writer should write, so what better way to ease me back into it than reading a lot?
The problem is, I'm a horrible critic. I'm extremely cruel and harsh. My mother says not to waste my time reading a book I don't think is well written, but to be honest if I did that, I'd only read one book per year if I'm lucky. I don't claim to be an amazing writer myself, but I can spot another amazing writer. I can spot a good writer, a decent writer, and most often, I can spot a bad writer. Most stories out there are excellent. It's just the way they're executed that pisses me off. I don't know how so many horribly written books get published. Too much description or not enough, boring and unneeded filler, sentences written as though intended for a five-year-old - this is mostly what I come across when I pick up a book. I don't want to be a snob, but I guess I'm a literary snob. Even my favourite author, Stephen King, sometimes disappoints me to the extreme. Some of his writing is disastrous.
So what did I read since getting sick? The Incredible Journey. Now don't get me wrong, because I love the story and I love animals and I love the movie Homeward Bound, but this book was boring for the most part. The animals didn't even talk! And I had trouble understanding just how much these animals loved their owners, since the book started off after they'd gone to stay with someone else. It would've been a much more emotional story if there had been an opening chapter showcasing the bond between the animals and their human family.
On a random sidenote, my hamster Rocky keeps falling off his wheel.
Anyway enough rambling for now. I'm gonna go find another stupid book to read. I'd gladly welcome suggestions for great reads, but they'll go on my mental waiting list, since I have two bookcases full of books in my bedroom that I need to read.
To the bookcase!
It's the end of February and I'm finally sick. I tend to get sick in the fall and then again in the winter, but somehow I sneaked stealthily through the fall without coming down with anything. Finally it hits me. My throat feels like the outer walls of a cactus - little tiny spines pricking me every time I swallow. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara and no matter how much I drink, nothing changes. Also, my stomach hurts so I don't want to drink too much anyway. Goddamn stomach ache. I feel the physical need to eat. My stomach growls and burns. FEED MEEEEE, it cries. But I think of food and shudder. Even the bowl of chicken noodle soup my mama made for me didn't do much to brighten my spirits.
The cough sucks quite a great deal as well. I feel like my lungs are filled with toxic swamp mud. Every time I cough I get a mouthful of it - not that you need to know that..
Being sleepy is the best part. I have acquired this magical power to sleep at almost any given time. I just need to snuggle down under the covers and BAM. Suddenly it's four hours later. Sleeping to pass the time when sick is truly a great thing.
The only problem is, I can't sleep all the time, no matter how tired I am. I go through the necessary motions - pee, wash hands, take cough medicine, drink, eat a few crackers or whatever my stomach can handle - and then I'm left wondering what to do to kill the time before my next nap. I'm much too cranky and sleepy to shower. Yes, I realize that's disgusting, but I'm not really maintaining a proper showering pattern because I completely lost track of the days due to all of this excessive sleeping. I shower when I've reached the point of being so greasy I can't stand myself. The effort exhausts me and I usually fall asleep right after, but just the thought of showering makes me want to fall asleep right now. Cleaning myself is so tiring.
My pets are very demanding. I think they went a day or two without any fresh veggies, which I feel very guilty about. I still gave them their feed and their hay, but making salad is beyond my capabilities right now. I somehow mustered the strength to make some last night, and that was impressive. I feel very negligent, but let's face it, I'm also neglecting myself at the moment. My immune system sucks. I get sick very easily and when it hits, it hits me hard.
I'm having trouble focusing when it comes to movies. I watched Igor last night and was bored stiff, and I started watching The Little Prince, which was decent enough without all the crappy singing, but then it just got boring and repetetive. I enjoyed the book, but the book was small and this movie doesn't seem very small. So I've resorted to reading, which is a good thing since I've gotten out of the habit of writing as regularly as a writer should write, so what better way to ease me back into it than reading a lot?
The problem is, I'm a horrible critic. I'm extremely cruel and harsh. My mother says not to waste my time reading a book I don't think is well written, but to be honest if I did that, I'd only read one book per year if I'm lucky. I don't claim to be an amazing writer myself, but I can spot another amazing writer. I can spot a good writer, a decent writer, and most often, I can spot a bad writer. Most stories out there are excellent. It's just the way they're executed that pisses me off. I don't know how so many horribly written books get published. Too much description or not enough, boring and unneeded filler, sentences written as though intended for a five-year-old - this is mostly what I come across when I pick up a book. I don't want to be a snob, but I guess I'm a literary snob. Even my favourite author, Stephen King, sometimes disappoints me to the extreme. Some of his writing is disastrous.
So what did I read since getting sick? The Incredible Journey. Now don't get me wrong, because I love the story and I love animals and I love the movie Homeward Bound, but this book was boring for the most part. The animals didn't even talk! And I had trouble understanding just how much these animals loved their owners, since the book started off after they'd gone to stay with someone else. It would've been a much more emotional story if there had been an opening chapter showcasing the bond between the animals and their human family.
On a random sidenote, my hamster Rocky keeps falling off his wheel.
Anyway enough rambling for now. I'm gonna go find another stupid book to read. I'd gladly welcome suggestions for great reads, but they'll go on my mental waiting list, since I have two bookcases full of books in my bedroom that I need to read.
To the bookcase!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
FAIL
Appointments, personal drama, looking after pets, coming down with a cold...
I never thought I'd be TOO busy to take one picture every day. Oh and also the fact that my camera's batteries stopped working might also have something to do with it.
I'll catch up with the pictures as soon as I can. On a different note, I almost got beaten up the other night by a drunk 16-year-old who accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend. The world is silly.
(Oh and I also ate my very first pita! YEAH!)
I never thought I'd be TOO busy to take one picture every day. Oh and also the fact that my camera's batteries stopped working might also have something to do with it.
I'll catch up with the pictures as soon as I can. On a different note, I almost got beaten up the other night by a drunk 16-year-old who accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend. The world is silly.
(Oh and I also ate my very first pita! YEAH!)
Monday, February 7, 2011
100 Day Photo Challenge: Day 2
Day 2 - A photo that makes you happy
I took this photo on Canada Day (July 1st, for all you international folks) when Jordan and I were out roaming downtown after watching the fireworks. This empty store, for some strange reason, had stuffed animals displayed in its front display windows. This turtle made me very happy. And it still does. :)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
100 Day Photo Challenge: Day 1
I've decided to do the 100 Day Photo Challenge. There are many lists of "challenge prompts" out there, and this is the one I selected. As I'm writing this, I haven't even read the whole list, so let's see what sort of challenge this actually is. Starting today, on February 6th, 2011, I'm going to post one picture a day. This gives you a very good excuse to check out my blog every day, wink wink!
Day 1 - A picture of yourself taken on the first day of the challenge
(It didn't specify that I have to be alone, so here's me and my guinea pig, Pepe!)
FULL LIST
Day 1 - A picture of yourself taken on the first day of the challenge
Day 2 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 3- Favorite book that you own
Day 4 - A picture of yourself 10 years ago
Day 5 - A place that makes you happy.
Day 6 - Your favorite quote, in your handwriting
Day 7 - Something You love
Day 8- A picture of the best moment of your life
Day 9 - A talent of yours
Day 10 - Your bedroom (In it's current state)
Day 11 - Your favorite food
Day 12 - A prized possession
Day 13 - Favorite board game
Day 14 - Something you hate
Day 15 - Your childhood home
Day 16 - Something embarrsing in your room
Day 17 - Your pet(s)
Day 18 - Your favorite outfit
Day 19 - One of the best days of your life
Day 20 - Your Grades/Report card
Day 21 - A picture of your cell phone
Day 22 - Favorite cd that you own
Day 23 - A school picture
Day 24 - Favorite purchase ever made
Day 25 - A gift from a friend
Day 26 - A gift from your family
Day 27 - The shoes you wore today
Day 28 - The shirt you wore today
Day 29 - A pretty flower(yes go take a picture of a flower)
Day 30 - Your breakfast
Day 31 - A picture of yourself taken today
Day 32 - Something you collect
Day 33 - Something you made
Day 34 - Something that makes you smile
Day 35 - Favorite movie that you own
Day 36 - A place were you spend alot of time
Day 37 - The last restaurant you ate at
Day 38 - A useless tricket you own
Day 39 - Your favorite picture
Day 40 - An embarassing picture from your rchildhood
Day 41 - Someone in your family
Day 42 - Something you did today
Day 43 - The weather outside
Day 44 - A hobby of yours
Day 45 - Your favorite food
Day 46 - A picture of your favorite state
Day 47 - A room in your house
Day 48 - Your bestfriend
Day 49 - A day your remember really well
Day 50 - Something you drew
Day 51 - Something passed down from your parents/grandparents
Day 52 - A picture of yourself celebrating for getting this far
Day 53 - The last thing you bought
Day 54 - A picture of yourself from middle school
Day 55 - What your wearing today
Day 56 - A drawing of your favorite cartoon charcter
Day 57 - Everything inside your purse/backpack/wallet
Day 58 - Your favorite animal
Day 59 - Your most used electronic device
Day 60 - Last movie you watched
Day 61 - School class picture
Day 62 - Last place you traveled to
Day 63 - Sports awards
Day 64 - Favorite childhood book
Day 65 - A picture of you and your bestfriend
Day 66 - A picture in your room
Day 67 - Something Green
Day 68 - A magazine you like
Day 69 - Something Red
Day 70 - Something you borrowed from someone else
Day 71 - A picture of your favorite piece of jewelry
Day 72 - A stuffed animal
Day 73 - Your lunch
Day 74 - Something you found under your bed
Day 75 - You and a friend
Day 76 - Something that annoys you
Day 77 - The last thing that you bought
Day 78 - Your sunglasses
Day 79 - A ticket from somewhere you've been
Day 80 - Your favorite childhood movie
Day 81 - Something you baked
Day 82 - The most embarrssing thing in your closet
Day 83 - The moon tonite
Day 84 - Your favorite pair of shorts
Day 85 - Something Pink
Day 86 - Something your mom bought you
Day 87 - Something you hold dear to your heart
Day 88 - Your bathroom
Day 89 - What's in your fridge?
Day 90 - Your current school photo
Day 91 - Something that made you smile today
Day 92 - Something wierd in your house
Day 93 - The view from your bedroom window
Day 94 - What your doing right now
Day 95 - Something yellow
Day 96 - A place you went today
Day 97 - Something heart shaped
Day 98 - Your favorite nail polish color
Day 99 - Something that makes you feel accomplished
Day 100 - The final picture of yourself.
Day 1 - A picture of yourself taken on the first day of the challenge
(It didn't specify that I have to be alone, so here's me and my guinea pig, Pepe!)
FULL LIST
Day 1 - A picture of yourself taken on the first day of the challenge
Day 2 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 3- Favorite book that you own
Day 4 - A picture of yourself 10 years ago
Day 5 - A place that makes you happy.
Day 6 - Your favorite quote, in your handwriting
Day 7 - Something You love
Day 8- A picture of the best moment of your life
Day 9 - A talent of yours
Day 10 - Your bedroom (In it's current state)
Day 11 - Your favorite food
Day 12 - A prized possession
Day 13 - Favorite board game
Day 14 - Something you hate
Day 15 - Your childhood home
Day 16 - Something embarrsing in your room
Day 17 - Your pet(s)
Day 18 - Your favorite outfit
Day 19 - One of the best days of your life
Day 20 - Your Grades/Report card
Day 21 - A picture of your cell phone
Day 22 - Favorite cd that you own
Day 23 - A school picture
Day 24 - Favorite purchase ever made
Day 25 - A gift from a friend
Day 26 - A gift from your family
Day 27 - The shoes you wore today
Day 28 - The shirt you wore today
Day 29 - A pretty flower(yes go take a picture of a flower)
Day 30 - Your breakfast
Day 31 - A picture of yourself taken today
Day 32 - Something you collect
Day 33 - Something you made
Day 34 - Something that makes you smile
Day 35 - Favorite movie that you own
Day 36 - A place were you spend alot of time
Day 37 - The last restaurant you ate at
Day 38 - A useless tricket you own
Day 39 - Your favorite picture
Day 40 - An embarassing picture from your rchildhood
Day 41 - Someone in your family
Day 42 - Something you did today
Day 43 - The weather outside
Day 44 - A hobby of yours
Day 45 - Your favorite food
Day 46 - A picture of your favorite state
Day 47 - A room in your house
Day 48 - Your bestfriend
Day 49 - A day your remember really well
Day 50 - Something you drew
Day 51 - Something passed down from your parents/grandparents
Day 52 - A picture of yourself celebrating for getting this far
Day 53 - The last thing you bought
Day 54 - A picture of yourself from middle school
Day 55 - What your wearing today
Day 56 - A drawing of your favorite cartoon charcter
Day 57 - Everything inside your purse/backpack/wallet
Day 58 - Your favorite animal
Day 59 - Your most used electronic device
Day 60 - Last movie you watched
Day 61 - School class picture
Day 62 - Last place you traveled to
Day 63 - Sports awards
Day 64 - Favorite childhood book
Day 65 - A picture of you and your bestfriend
Day 66 - A picture in your room
Day 67 - Something Green
Day 68 - A magazine you like
Day 69 - Something Red
Day 70 - Something you borrowed from someone else
Day 71 - A picture of your favorite piece of jewelry
Day 72 - A stuffed animal
Day 73 - Your lunch
Day 74 - Something you found under your bed
Day 75 - You and a friend
Day 76 - Something that annoys you
Day 77 - The last thing that you bought
Day 78 - Your sunglasses
Day 79 - A ticket from somewhere you've been
Day 80 - Your favorite childhood movie
Day 81 - Something you baked
Day 82 - The most embarrssing thing in your closet
Day 83 - The moon tonite
Day 84 - Your favorite pair of shorts
Day 85 - Something Pink
Day 86 - Something your mom bought you
Day 87 - Something you hold dear to your heart
Day 88 - Your bathroom
Day 89 - What's in your fridge?
Day 90 - Your current school photo
Day 91 - Something that made you smile today
Day 92 - Something wierd in your house
Day 93 - The view from your bedroom window
Day 94 - What your doing right now
Day 95 - Something yellow
Day 96 - A place you went today
Day 97 - Something heart shaped
Day 98 - Your favorite nail polish color
Day 99 - Something that makes you feel accomplished
Day 100 - The final picture of yourself.
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