"This is...." Novel Playlist

This is a spoiler alert for those of you who haven't read the novel. You can stop reading and just go listen to the playlist if you'd like right about... now.

I've been asked if the short playlist Lina makes Will ("This is What Awesome Sounds Like") actually exists. The answer is yes... and no. There are playlists for each of the big characters that I created (Will, Lina, and Candace) to help me get into the head space of each one. However, there was not one single playlist named "This is..."; that came late in the editing process. Still, I decided to create it

I used some of the songs that I already had for Will's playlist as an inspiration for the playlist that eventually became "This is What Awesome Sounds Like." Not all the songs from Will's playlists are on there because the actual playlists (for both the first novel and the sequel) go into the triple digits. I only picked the songs that I thought Lina would pick for Will in a hurry. No hidden messages behind the songs; they were just picked because I (er, Lina) liked them. ;)

And that is it for post. I think I'll continue sharing novel playlists for the next two Mondays since I've sort of made this month my novel month; yes, I'm still donating half (maybe all) of the proceeds to cancer research. (side note: thank you to those of you who have purchased the novel during the first two weeks of this month. :)) I'll most likely do shorten versions of the "Will", "Lina", and "Candace" playlists for next week. ;)

I think I've procrastinated enough. Back to studying for that dread anatomy exam. Yes, I dread every anatomy exam. lol.

I hope y'all had a great weekend.

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

Dear Dad...

Dear Dad,

I can't believe you've been gone exactly 5 years today. It seems like just yesterday that I was sneaking into the hospital to see you. I haven't forgotten what you looked like, even without the aid of pictures. I occasionally forget what your voice sounded like but it eventually comes back to me.

I've kept the promises I made to you minutes before you passed. I'm taking care of mom as best as I can. She hasn't been too happy about it at times (especially when I had to restrict and change her diet when her cholesterol levels came back dangerously high) but she knows I do it for her benefit. Between Pedro and I, she's well taken care of.

Speaking of Pedro, he's stepped up big for mom and I. Up until his move to Texas, he was always here for us whenever we needed him. He would even show up unannounced at times, which was always fun when we had a messy living room. He was there for every academic award I received, for every birthday (until his move), and he was at my graduation ceremony with the boys a couple of years ago. He's still in touch and he's even offered to take mom in if I decided to go out of state for grad school. I most likely won't take him up on it but it's nice of him to offer.

As I promised you, I finished college and am even back for a second degree in a different field. I didn't promise that I would continue beyond the Bachelor of Arts I received from my (awful) alma mater but I know you knew I'd continue to go as far as I could. Your daughter's still an academic nerd, daddy-o. I thank you and mom for instilling the importance of a good education in me.

I've grown up a lot in the last 5 years... and I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out. I know you were worried about how I would do without you here to help me but you'd be proud of what I've accomplished. Mom told me about how you were worried that my anxiety would either get worse or would keep me from reaching my potential, but it hasn't. I've been driving for a couple of years now (yeah, I know... no one thought I would ever get the courage to do that!) and I'm even occasionally sarcastic with some of the drivers who test my patience. I don't let people walk all over me like they used to. Mom says I'm almost exactly like Abuelita Angelita which I know you'd be happy with; I know how much you loved her.

As soon as I was officially diagnosed with PTSD, my therapist helped me sort through the things that brought them on. While it's impossible for me not to have a little anxiety now and then, it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. It hasn't kept me from moving forward... and I have been moving forward.

You taught me to have courage so I've been tapping into that with the help of my spiritual director. I've made big changes in the past year. I bit the bullet and changed careers. The COMD program is very hard but I love it and I'm really happy being a part of it. I'm not afraid of hard work and I know it'll be rewarding in the end. And, surprise, I'm going to end up working with kids... and it won't be teaching in a classroom. ;)

I've recently made a decision in regards to something I've been putting off for years. Yes, it's time. Yes, I know I've had dreams in which you've offered your fatherly advice on the subject but Fr. G told me not to pay too much attention to those dreams for obvious reasons. You helped raise a strong, independent young woman who is a little on the stubborn and feisty side at times so I should be fine whatever the outcome. lol.

As you can see, I'm doing well and I will continue to grow and thrive. I do occasionally cry when I think about the fact that you're not here. I cried on my graduation day and I'll probably cry again at the next one (hopefully) next year. I will more than likely cry every time I reach a major milestone in my life that you're not there for; that will never change. However, the fact that I know you're not suffering and that I'm (hopefully) making you proud keeps me going. I know you'll be there in spirit and that's comforting.

You'll never be forgotten and you'll always be loved. I'll continue trying to make you proud.

Your "little" girl,

7 Quick Takes, Vol.19: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati Edition

First, I want to wish all my fellow Americans a Happy Independence Day. Be safe and have fun during your celebrations.

Today is the feast day of my favorite soon-to-be saint, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. I was actually kind of sad that I ended the novena yesterday because I noticed the difference in my outlook on life during the novena. While the personal intention is private, I will say that it definitely helped me reevaluate certain things that had been on my mind (including a big decision I've had to make). So, in honor of the saint I've adopted as my "spiritual big brother", here's 7 ways Bl. PGF has helped me throughout 20s.

-- 1 --

I first became acquainted with Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati during the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney. I didn't personally go to Sydney but I did follow it via the XT3 (when it was still a brand new website; yes, I'm still on it though I don't actively participate as much these days). While it took me a couple of months to actually look up his story, I was immediately impressed with it; so much courage, faith, and love for Christ in such a short time on this earth. It was two years after my reversion and I didn't know how he would help shape the rest of my 20s.

-- 2 --

This was the first year (in years) that I didn't do the Bl. PGF novena on this blog because I knew I wouldn't have the time. I didn't forget to do the novena (I finished it last night) but I also knew that I didn't have the time to either post it every day or even schedule it ahead of time because of how crunched for time I've been with school lately. I'm barely getting time to study for exams (though I do have an hour today... hence this blog post) but I hope to resume the tradition next year. If you've never done the novena, I highly recommend it. I've personally seen the difference in the way I think and act (in a good way) while I do the novena and the effects stay with me for a good, long while. Do it! You'll love it.

-- 3 -- 

I believe that Bl. PGF helped me during my father's death. As I wrote last year, there was some similarities between Bl. PGF's death and my father's death. One thing that I just realized (while writing this post) is that Bl. PGF died at the age of 24, while I had my father on this earth for the first 24 years of my life. Anyway, I prayed for Bl. PGF's intercession when my father was in the hospital (I even placed a picture of Bl. PGF in front of my dad's bed). On his feast day, 5 years ago today, I asked him for a miracle. We didn't quite get the miracle we wanted but I do feel like Bl. PGF intercede in another way. I believe that through his intercession (as well as the prayers from everyone else), I was able to keep it together. I didn't fall apart, which is what most people probably expect. If you've read the blog post I wrote after my father's funeral, you can see what I mean. This hasn't been the only time Bl. PGF has intercede for me.

-- 4 --

Readers of this blog who've stuck around since either before or while I was at my dreadful alma mater (and I say dreadful because of their CINO ways) know that I was pretty miserable at the school because of the things that were "taught" there. Bl. PGF and St. Therese of Lisieux both helped me during my two years there. St. Therese helped remind me to counter some of the dirty looks I received with love. Bl. PGF helped remind me that I had to fight so that the Truth would be heard by my classmates. While I wasn't unable to speak up during the majority of the lectures (my professors quickly knew where I stood in my beliefs), I was still able to do little things to counter the unorthodox liberation theology we were exposed to.

-- 5 -- 

Who is responsible for my daily Mass addiction? Take one guess. lol. Over the years I've become a big fan of attending daily Mass. Reading about how much Bl. PGF loved to attend daily Mass and receiving the Eucharist has inspired me to do the same. When my anxiety was worse (years before it was officially diagnosed as PTSD) and I wanted to receive the Eucharist, I would try to imagine him standing next to me, holding me up (with Mama Mary or St. Therese at my other side) when I would feel as if my knees would buckle under me. While it's been a while since I've attended daily Mass (the fatigue I've felt over the last 2-3 months has been intense at times), I've been wanting to renew my daily trips. I hope to do so starting tomorrow. :)

-- 6 --

If you want to learn more about Bl. PGF, I'd recommend reading A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati by his sister Luciana, My Brother Pier Giorgio: His Final Days also by Luciana, and/or Pier Giorgio Frassati: Letters to His Friends and Family edited by Fr. Timothy E. Deeter and Christine M. Wohar. I've read (but not finished all; oops) all three and I highly recommend them. I still have to finish the book on his Letters but it's been so beautiful and encouraging thus far. Oh! Brandon Vogt is giving away the Man of the Beatitudes book AND a DVD on the EWTN special they did on Bl. PGF (which I also own). I thought I'd pass it along if y'all wanted a chance to win. Go. Do it!

-- 7 --

This is my Bl. PGF Tiny Saint that my mom bought me at the Cathedral a few months ago. He goes everywhere with me, along with the Mary Undoer of Knots key chain that Angelica sent me for Christmas. As I continue to discern joining the Dominican lay order (guess who inspired me to look into becoming a Dominican, even though I was originally headed down the Carmelite path), I shall continue to keep my "spiritual big brother" as a role model. It doesn't matter that I am now older than he was while he was on this earth, I know that he will continue to look after me as any big brother would over his little sister. :)

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

And that is all the fangirling I have a chance to do at this time. lol. I have lunch to take care of, a mother to pick up from work, and two exams/quizzes to study for. Did I mention that we COMD students don't get holidays off? Working straight until (at least) the end of this month. ;)

I hope y'all are doing well. If you have any prayer requests, send them my way. :D

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

Donating Half of Novel Earnings for July to Cancer Research

Wearing a "cancer sucks" band to bring awareness to colon cancer, while resting my hand/arm on my dad's fleece blanket.

On July 11th of this year it'll be 5 years since my father passed away from colon cancer (which spread and metastasized in his liver and lungs). I won't write about this topic just yet (I definitely have something planned for the near future) but I wanted to do something special in honor of my dad.

If you haven't read the novel, skip over to the next paragraph because there are some spoiler alerts. If you've read the novel, you know that the topic of cancer is brought up in the novel. I did this because it was something that isn't really talked about in novels (The Fault in Our Stars being one of the exceptions). I won't say more because of bigger spoilers but let's just say that what one of the protagonist went through with the person in their family who had cancer was inspired by what I went through with my own father during his 7-year cancer battle. You want to know what I went through (or at least part of it; the entire thing wasn't based on real life events), read the novel. lol.

Mom and I have wanted to donate to a charity for cancer research for a while now but, due to the financial crunch we've been experiencing since my dad passed, we've been unable to. I, thankfully, have some income coming in from the novel (not a lot but some) so I decided to donate half (50% for the 5 years since dad's passing) of what I earn from sales of Will and Lina: When Two Worlds Collide. I will be using part of what's left over to hire someone for a better novel cover for the print version (which I hope will be out in autumn or at least as early winter). And, if you're wondering, yes, the sequel will be out before next summer and, yes, I plan to do the same thing next summer with the sequel.

Because mom and I are 100% pro-life, it was decided that St. Baldrick's was going to be receive the donations. My father loved children (and it's so perfect that he ended up being buried near the section where babies are buried at the cemetery) so it seemed like the perfect fit. Before anyone asks, no, St. Baldrick's is not a Catholic organization. Yes, I did look into St. Jude's Children and a number of Catholic organizations but, unfortunately, there were a number of issues ranging from embryonic stem cell research support to contraceptives being offered across the Catholic charities. Unless someone can point me to other organizations (so we can split the donations evenly) that are 100% pro-life, St. Baldrick's is getting the entire thing.

So, there you go. I'm not doing it to boost sales. I don't need the money for material gain. In fact, I will most likely not keep any of it. The other half is being spent on print novel covers and ISBN numbers (Google it; those things are expensive).

If you already have a copy of the novel, consider giving a copy to a friend. Yes, Amazon allows that. ;) And, again, it's only out on eBook right now but I hope it'll be out in print in the next couple of months. No, you don't need a Kindle to buy it. I have a Kindle app on my iPod touch and on my laptop; no need for an actual Kindle. :)

Anyway, that's it for now. I have an exam coming on Thursday (as well as the USMNT vs Belgium match coming up in an hour) and it needs my attention.

I hope y'all are having a great start of week.

As always, thanks for reading and God bless!

7 Quick Takes Vol. 18: Blogging Break, Novenas, and More.

-- 1 --

Sorry for the blogging break. I've been really busy with school (of course) so I don't have a lot of free time. The free time I do have is spent on Twitter because it's easier to catch up with friends individually and I don't spend a whole lot of time on it (unless there's a futbol match). I may take the entire month of July off from blogging because it's my last full month of summer term classes and I have 5 finals to study for before the end of the month. I'm not sure yet... I'll keep y'all posted.

-- 2 --

I've been a novena machine lately. Yesterday was the last day of the Sacred Heart novena and today is the last day of the Undoer of Knots novena I'm doing with a friend. I'm also on Day Three of the Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati novena and today starts the St. Maria Goretti novena. Trust me, people have needed novenas lately and I'm happy to oblige when asked to pray for them.

-- 3 -- 

I had spiritual direction this morning, which was a fantastic start of my day! I'm so sad I woke up too late for Mass but I got up for SD and then I spent some time in front of the tabernacle. I've had a lot to be thankful for lately (even though the past week has been one bad thing after another) so I wanted to spend some time with Jesus.

-- 4 --

School's... there. lol. I didn't do too great on my last Anatomy exam because I literally blanked out on on everything that I had studied. I had transportation issues that morning (I left the house 40 minutes later than I should have... and it wasn't my fault; I was ready at 7:30 am, half an hour before the time scheduled). Traffic was a nightmare and I got to my proctored exam 20 minutes late. I think all of that sort of got to me and I blanked out during the exam, which stinks. Thankfully, I aced the last one and if I can ace the next/last two, I'll be okay in terms of final grade. I just really need to work hard... and possibly do another Holy Spirit novena. lol. Other classes are going great. :D

-- 5 -- 

It seems like almost everyone had a terrible week this past week. I'm not sure why but hugs to everyone. I had a pretty tough last 9 days... well, 8 because today's been pretty good so far. I could say it was novena related but I'm not going to use that excuse. The important thing to remember is that (and I quote Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables) "... tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet..." Everyone do me a favor and do one simple pleasure, per day, for the rest of the week (Friday through Sunday). If that means taking a nap, eating a bowl of ice cream, watching an episode of your favorite show... whatever it is, do one thing per day. We all deserve it after the week we've had.

-- 6 --

I have a bone to pick with everyone who voted for St. Raphael the Archangel as my patron for the year. lol. It seems I've been in proposal/wedding planning mode (not for me, lol), break-up mode (not for me), and dishing a lot of advice lately. It's kind of odd because I don't have a ton of experience in that area but I still get asked. It's very interesting. I was hoping for more travel this year but I guess this year will be spent trying to help others with their love lives. Thanks, y'all. lol. ;)

-- 7 --

I had the biggest crush on Gene Kelly years ago and this number always makes me smile. I had nothing else to add to these 7 quick takes so here's something that I hope makes some of y'all smile. By the way, did you know Gene Kelly had a fever of 101 while making this scene? Yes, seriously. I try to remind myself of that every time I have a fever. Also, I do not own the video and youtube said the person had a standard license so... do not sue me, people. 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

That's it for now. I need to go pick mom up from work and then clean my messy room (which is rare for me; I like things clean) before finishing my coursework for the week. Ah, the life of a student.

I hope y'all are doing well!

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