Mondays: Writing Prompts

I've seriously been lacking in the update category for this blog. I do think of it often, but that doesn't please the readers. I was having up to seventy views every now and then but as of late I have just been so busy with school, a bit of melancholia, hobbies (I have to be honest, I get stuck drawing, writing, reading, or playing video games and don't get around to important things), and now I am sick. My lovely friends went to Tokyo and brought back an ugly cold then gave it to me.

I have a terrible head cold, started with the usual sore throat and then made its way to a miserable, stuffy nose ... headache, slight fever, the whole shebang. I took the day off since this week I have a big presentation and wish to be 100% better before then. I forced through the sickness and did things this weekend, even though I really shouldn't have. I'm paying the price now. When sick with a cold, I have such a difficult time sleeping and usually get hit a bit harder than the initial illness. Perhaps I have a weak immune system, I don't know.

Although I have a headache and my eyes are a bit blurry, I can't stand to nap any longer. Sleeping is almost more effort than it is worth since I have to sleep on my back or I can't breathe through my nose. I absolutely cannot stand breathing through my mouth and when I sleep on my back I sometimes get sleep paralysis. In case you don't know what sleep paralysis is, it is really awful.

Anyway, I can't really think memory-wise to update on everything ... just know that the cherry blossoms are happening this week and I'll be going the countryside near Mt. Fuji this weekend.

From now on, I think I'd like to proclaim Mondays as "Writing Prompt Day" since I have been slacking on updates. Next Monday may get a break since I am not sure when I will be back from Mt. Fuji (I'm not going to climb it, that I am aware anyway).

Why a writing prompt? Well, I like to write and I figured writing prompts would be a good way to improve my writing. I've always been a bit hesitant about writing on the internet. Although I have self-published one book (that I am going to pull off the market, I keep saying it but I really am. I look back at it and think of how horrendous it is. I thank everyone for the support, but I wrote that when I was fourteen), I am nervous about people seeing my writings. I'm not worried about criticism; I can handle that.

Maybe it is because I have read one too many bad fanfictions* ... or young writers who litter their work with Mary-Sues* and Weeaboo* characters.

*Quick explanation in case you don't know these terms:
fanfiction basically fan written stories of already published work (example: fanfiction of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pokémon, et cetera).
Mary-Sue/Marty Stu an original, usually self-insert character that you created in your fanfiction (though I've heard the term used for original work too) that is super perfect and has no flaws; therefore, the character lacks character development and is uninteresting to readers.
Weeaboo people who are really obsessed with Japanese culture/entertainment. Usually to the point they think/pretend they are, or want to be, Japanese and actually know very little about the real culture outside of Japanese animation and comic books. The term is used for real life people, but when I say Weeaboo characters ... I mean characters that are basically Mary-Sue but written by a Weeaboo so have all the Japanese/anime/manga flair to them.

Basically, I have read a lot of fanfictions and original work by writers who fall into the category of, "I am such an awesome writer, my characters are really awesome and totally not Mary-Sue! Please read and I'm going to publish my fanfiction and ........" yeah. Why am I mentioning this? Because maybe I've read too many embarrassing writings on the internet and it makes me feel embarrassed of my own writings. I don't write fanfiction, but I am shy and overly critical of my writing.

Either way, I suppose I'll do what I intended to do with this blog post ... write.
I picked this writing prompt up on Facebook, it was a while back so I can't remember where exactly.

1.Use one, some or all of the following words in a story, scene or poem (I'll attempt all ... since this is just a writing exercise it'll be a bit sloppy. My worst is first person writing, so I will give it a try):

Coffee, star, pen, match, envy

Park, window, fear, strand, frame

Her picture was all that I had left. The frame was dusty and cracked, but the picture itself was well preserved. I gently brushed the dirt away, stumbling my way through the wreckage in order to find an exit. A shattered window made for an excellent escape from the abandoned home, as I no longer wished to stay. Unexpectedly, a wall of rubble blocked any knowable path. Instead of crawling up it with a clunky picture frame, I pried it open and slipped the photo out. The back of the picture was stained yellow from age, but the ink was readable as it appeared to be written in pen. I didn't bother reading it, that wasn't important. The frame was tossed to the ground, picture folded and deposited in a pocket, and then I began my climb. 

It didn't take long to reach the top. I sat down, no longer bothered by the tiredness that hung around me. There was a park in the distance; though, one couldn't tell now. My grandmother used to take me there, drinking her coffee and smoking her cigarettes. I never liked the smell the match would make before she lit one up, but at this point in time I wouldn't mind it. 

Finally, I brought the picture out in its unfolded glory in front of me. Besides the frame I had so callously tossed away, it was all I had in this world. There was a woman in the picture. I did not know her, but she was beautiful and shining. I didn't doubt that she had been a star in many people's lives. Her time was gone; she was lost in a strand of time that I could no longer reach. My envy for her grew. I envied her for after my many years of searching, her picture was all that I could find. Her existence outlasted everyone else's, and I did not know her. But most of all, I envied that she could no longer feel the fear of a dying world where the only thing that existed was her photo.

Ah, well, there is today's writing prompt. I wanted to make it short. It's not a part of anything, so the story is that. It's a bit sloppy, but I didn't get around to actually writing it until about 8:30 pm and I am sick.

Unsure of when I will update next, but until next time~

I love trains.

But seriously.

It's been forever since I've updated, I know. Nearly two months now. The last two months have been stressful and long. To be honest, I've been a bit moody as well. Occasionally I fall into this mood where I have absolutely no motivation, bad anxiety, and kind of just hang out in this odd haze of melancholia. Usually it comes and goes, not lasting more than a week or so, but it's been hanging out more as of these last two months than the norm allows for.

Anyway, not too much happened in February. Went to Osaka castle and looked at the plum blossoms. The castle was a major disappointment, mostly because the inside was modernized with an elevator and everything. Albeit that, the outside was nice. There was a Chicken Ramen Museum field trip, and I received a grant from my university. One of the things that had been contributing to my melancholia was how I would always eat in my room. My host mom would bring my food to me there. It happened for about two-ish months when finally, last week I casually mentioned how eating alone was lonely. I guess it did have something to do with my host father, as she asked if I was okay to eat with him around. Apparently he has weirded out other students. But either way, now I eat with them and it is a lot better.

Other than that, there isn't a lot to update on. My pain has been gradually getting worse, and my pain pills aren't working as well as they used to. I worry about family at home on a daily basis, to the point it intermingles with my already bad case of nightmares. I have them at least three to four times a week, and it is rarely just ever one in one night. Sometimes I have up to four or five during one night. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with my life. I am dried up and out of loan money and I can't take anymore out this year. Besides, I really don't want to because I am already almost $40,000 in debt. So if I don't get a job this summer I can't return to school next semester. I'm pretty desperate for a job, will pretty much do anything. This has been ongoing for a long while, and maybe everything is just catching up with me.

But besides my complaining, I am a bit torn on the melancholia. Sometimes I like it because, honestly, my creativity goes up a lot during this time. On the other hand my motivation drops and I just lie around in "the haze". I feel like I am literally in a haze. My thoughts just kind of waver around and the world around me feels unreal. I escape into fantasy worlds where life is easier and I get stuck there with little to no intentions of getting out.

Well, that's enough of that. Let's return to the title of this entry: I love trains (high-speed rails). There are many reasons why I love trains and why you should love them too:

1. They are convenient.
2. Let's be honest, they are really awesome looking.
3. I enjoy how smooth they are while travelling. Also, I like the sounds of going over the train tracks.
4. They are apparently Green! Yay! Less carbon emission! Save the planet! I'm a hippy!
5. So fast.
6. In case you didn't know why people usually take buses or trains ... in the end, it's because they are cheaper than buying a car and paying for gas. Except buses are really expensive in Japan ... not sure what that's about really ...
7. You can go lots of places! More opportunities!
8. Cozy. Sleep-inducing.
9. People watching!
10. Because they are awesome.

I read this article that talked about how they were looking into a train system that would go through the U.S., up through Canada and Alaska then speed through Russia. I really hope they do something like that, since I recall stops in Fairbanks and Anchorage. I imagine that it would make it easier for Alaskans to leave Alaska, and maybe influence more Alaskans to get passports.

So, for today, that's all I have. Some complaining about melancholia and some train talk. I hope it wasn't terribly boring! I'll leave you with some food photos (all taken by me).

 Just some soba (noodles) with a steamed bun.

 This goes into nabe (hot pot), they are see-through noodles that are kind of slimy but delicious.

 Some kind of cookie-thing. It was delicious.

 Takoyaki (little balls of flour, cabbage, and one other thing ... they also have octopus in it.) They are my second favorite Japanese food.

 Some kind of seaweed food. It has a very nice flavor.

 This was for New Year's. Miso soup with mochi (pounded rice cake) inside.

 This was also for New Year's. Every food in it has some kind of signification (vitality, luck, money, et cetera).

 This is eaten for a holiday where they throw rice outside to scare away bad spirits and demons. It is actually really big.

 Valentine's Day chocolate from my host mom.

 Natto, fermented beans. Really slimy and smells weird. It is one of those foods where people are really hesitant to try it, even some Japanese people don't like it. It wasn't bad.

 Chicken Ramen museum. Made our own ramen. This one was mine c: (haven't eaten it yet).

 Nabe (hotpot)

Just a selection of traditional Japanese food.












Until Next Time~