What I Learned Wednesday #31: Novels, Pope, and Nuns Editions

I

I need to manage my time better when busy because my prayer life falls to the side. As you've probably noticed, I've been M.I.A. because I'm working on my novel deadline. I gave myself a May 1st deadline because I wanted to get it done and out into the wild before I started classes on May 5th. I've had to look for the cover art and figure out how to do it myself (and it's not easy because I have mediocre PhotoShop skills). I've also had to proofread it... and I'm going to have to translate it into Spanish soon (though I actually a program for this). All of this before May 1st is pretty intense and I'm actually thinking about pushing back the release date because I'm not sure it'll all be done by then. Any self-published author will tell you that these things are extremely time consuming. Anyway, even though I've been busier than usual, I shouldn't have let my prayer life fall to the side. I've tried harder the past two days because I realized what I was doing... but it's a challenge. It wasn't until I realized that I wasn't as happy (novel stress aside) because I wasn't taking time to pray that I decided to reevaluate priorities. Although I want to start my classes without the added stress of a novel release, I'd rather not let my prayer life go down the hole. Let's see how it goes in the next week.

Lesson learned: it's good to reevaluate your priorities when you see that something's missing from your life... especially if that something is prayer.

II

Speaking of the novel, I had to find out what Bl. Pope John Paul II's official saint name would be because he's mentioned in the novel. I guess this counts as sort of a spoiler (though not a very big one because y'all don't know in way he's mentioned) but, yes, he's mentioned... and yes, I did find out the name. It will be (Pope) St. John Paul II. I guess the Pope in front of St. JPII is optional. I know I'm a big fan of learning about saints but I haven't really brushed up on the bios of former popes who were canonized so this was a new thing that I learned. I wonder what Ven. Fulton Sheen's saint name will be when the day comes... and it'll come! ;)

Lesson learned: Um, (soon-to-be) St. John Paul II's name? lol.

III

Mother Dolores Hart will be the Guest Programmer for TCM on May 27th! I like to check TCM listings at the end of each month (for the following month) and I sort of geeked out when I saw that she will be choosing the films for the evening. I did a double geek-out when I saw that she picked two of my favorite films, Laura (1944) and The Song of Bernadette (1943). I haven't watched the other films she's picked but I look forward to seeing why she picked each of the films. Oh, and if you click on the link, make sure the time is set to your timezone. The link I posted is set to PST because I'm on the West Coast.

Lesson learned: Mother Dolores Hart has good taste in movies... and TCM is awesome for having her as a guest programmer!

Anyway, that's it for now. I took today (and I'm also taking tomorrow) off to rest my mind (and eyes) from all the eye-straining hours I've spent in front of my laptop... and my blogging isn't helping. lol. I will try to blog more often now that I have a cover picture chosen (I just need to figure out how to add the nice font without making it look horrendous). :)

I hope y'all are well!

As always, thanks for reading and God bless! :D

Becoming Jane = Writer's Block Unblocked; Weird Dreams.

I just finished watching "Becoming Jane" on DVD. Netflix was kind enough to send it to me the day it was available (today) so I could indulge myself in a little "me time" for 2 hours. I hadn't seen it when it was out at the cinema so I was waiting for it to come out on DVD. Final verdict of the film? Loved it. I give it 2 thumbs up. I loved the acting, the scenery was beautiful, the story was well written and, for my fellow Jane Austin lovers, it did Jane justice. I love her works; grew up reading them. I remember when I was about 11 years old I read a lot of British literature... particularly the works of Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters. Yes, I was a mini-bibliophile even at that age. :D It's been years since I last read of the books (we didn't focus on them when I took English (British) Literature courses) but this movie has made me want to return to "my roots" and read them over again. Don't you just love that? That you are inspired to return to one of your first loves (literature was one of mine) because of a film? Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. I wouldn't be surprised if I was. lol.

One thing that the film also inspired me to do... get back to my writing! Procrastination and Writer's Block, I am giving you both your packing orders. Vamoose! lol. I finally know in what sequences I will try the books (something I was struggling with). I am so read to start writing like a mad woman but, sadly, I will have to start in the morning because I have a date with TCM. They are airing "Brief Encounter" around 1 - 2 a.m. and I fully intend on staying up to watch it. It's one of my favorite films (beautifully acted) so any chance I have to watch it, I will take. :D I do have about an hour or two before the film starts but, knowing myself, I will miss it because I will get so enthralled in my writing. Once I start writing (or reading) it takes a lot for me to stop. If anyone ever wondered why I ever considered majoring in British Literature or Creative Writing, and why I almost applied to Oxford to study it there... well, hopefully you now know why. :D

I am certainly not lacking imagination, that's for sure. The dreams I've had lately have been a testament to that. For the past 2 nights, I've had pretty apocalyptic dreams... and both have featured St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese in some way. I don't really remember yesterday's dream, all I remember is that I woke up pretty wigged out and when I brought my hand and arm from under my pillow, a holy card of St. Teresa of Avila in my hand. Wait... no... I take that back. I DO remember what the dream was about. It's all coming back to me. I remember I looked outside and saw these strange things in the sky... almost like the planets and stars have come down and where close enough to be seen without a telescope. There was something very eerie about it though. I also remember a ton of vultures all around the roof of my house... and that I knew the world would end. Then I saw that the entire building structure of my house was being engulfed in flames... yet it somehow didn't get to my room or the living room. I very felt the warmth from the fire and I remember running around, trying to get important documents (birth certificates, legal documents, etc) out of the house. I also remember everything being very white -- the walls, clothing, etc. I wouldn't allow my parents inside either... I told them to get in the car because we had to get out of there. I said something along the lines of "Our Lady was right... that apparition was true! The world is going to end..." then I woke up.

The dream I had last night was equally as dramatic but in a different way. I don't remember how it started but I do remember being in this room with a lot of people... most dressed in black. I remember there was someone who said she was St. Therese of Lisieux but I knew deep down it wasn't; that it was the devil trying to lure people away through the person. The person was harming people, and tried to harm me, but I started pouring Holy Water on the people's heads (they had been possessed). I remembered I even managed to her the Holy Water on the person's head (after some chasing) and turned that person back to good (I faintly remember her clothing turning from black to white). I believe I also put some Holy Water on myself, and prayed a Hail Mary out loud for protection. (Note: This is my second dream in a few days where I am exorcising people.) I do remember that after that something major happened that made me start thinking it was the end of the world but I honestly don't remember that part. I just remember myself waking up and saying "Ave Maria" and having the strongest urge to not be in the room by myself. Crazy dreams, eh?

I don't know what to make of those dreams except that I have an overactive imagination. I know one of you, who knows me very well, will have something to say about my logical explanation but I will just go with that. I can apply the last dream as a sort of sign that maybe I will be able to make a difference with people (through the novel I'm writing and the ones I have planned) and that I will help them not stray from the church. That's what I hope to do... and what I feel is what I am meant to do. Only time will tell though.

Alright, well, I think that's enough dramatics for tonight. I think I will go make myself a little fruit salad before "Brief Encounter" because as soon as the film is over, I'm hitting the hay. Hopefully no more apocalyptic dreams. Seriously, I don't like waking up completely freaked out. :D

Until next time... thanks for reading and God Bless.