Black Again

Hey. Been awhile.

As the title indicates, this is Black. She may be learning Portuguese, but I don't know a word of it, and I'm not randomly obsessed with Irish, so no worries on that front. On the other hand, if your preference happens to not be English, she's added a translate button on the right for you.

Random post of the month. I'm Black, one phantom black who posted back in September. Remember that? No? Cool, then.

Black is not my given name. I do have one. Still not telling.

She's currently in Pennsylvania again. The kid is in the house. For almost a whole week, but they (two minions came) go back tomorrow. Tears and dramatic sadness, seems she. Alright, that's a bit exaggerated, but it goes something like that. Meanwhile, they read and play on devices and I sit unnoticed on my iPod. Mostly because I'm invisible. Though I get the idea that kid thinks my name is Bob. Nice to be known, even unknowingly...but, Bob? Despicable. Ish.

And that whole paragraph was not supposed to be a Despicable Me reference but seems to have turned out that way. At least it fits.

Spontaneous sleepover plans with Anne were thwarted Friday night, but the girls definitely enjoys seeing each other again. First time since September. An eternity. She forgot to return that random question, though. Nicholas spoilers are apparently unforgivable. Personally, I'm not sure what she sees in that guy, but then, I can't exactly judge what I don't know.

Next time, you two, I'd like to be invited, not lurking in the shadows like a stalker. Thanks.

The writeress is making a comeback. I'm here, aren't I? I've been silent for some time. Now if she'll just get that short story she's writing finished, she can move on and get some good WIP work done. Maybe continue with that couple she created the other day, which has basically created their own story in her head. They've shown up as truth and not something she's got to make up. Rwayn isn't so bad, either. Not sure about Gary, buried in those books and hardly ever says a word. Working on that.

All in all, her last week has been something like this:

Excellent.

Now she's going to go finish that story for her friend. Before midnight. (Probably not, but ambitious deadlines force incentive.)

Signing off,
Black

Beautiful People #6: Spontáineach

Irish today.

I'm working on a story, quite a stubborn story. The story itself isn't so stubborn, it's more the words. Not that the story won't stop shifting and changing, but I'm getting it pinned down. The words, however, are stubbornly refusing. They come when I'm busy, and I write those down, but they are few, and when I sit down to write, I have no idea how to continue. In other words, I've written 348 words when I should have had about 30,000 by now (just kidding). (My goal is a measly 1000.)

I've been anxiously anticipating Cait and Sky's Beautiful People post for February since I posted mine for January. Finally, on the 5th (which was a delay I'd forgotten), she posted a Valentine's Day edition. A Valentine's Day edition. VALENTINE'S DAY.

I have no couples.

I could edit the questions to fit another relationship. But... Actually, how about this: I'm going to make up a random couple, on the fly, as I answer the questions.

This shall be interesting.

1. How long have they been a couple? Rwayn Joeli and Gary Paul have been together for 1.4 years.

2. How did they first meet? Accidentally. It was pouring rain and extremely windy. Umbrellas and briefcases and groceries and hair blocked their vision and stole their concentration.

Gary was walking to his car from the office. He was a law student working as an intern. His suit would be ruined in the downpour despite the small umbrella, but at least his briefcase and the important documents inside would be protected. He had rich scarlet hair but dyed it dark blond and brunette.

Rwayn was wrapped in her flowing yellow raincoat, barely keeping control of her umbrella, with a single bag of groceries on her arm. Her long dark hair whipped about her face and across her eyes. She was walking the couple blocks from her job at the small food mart to her home, where she lived with her mom. She was the youngest of three sisters and the only one still living at home. The law offices were on the block between the strip mall and her mom's.

Gary looked down for a moment to check his briefcase. Rwayn was blinded completely by her hair. Just as he looked down and before she could whip her hair from her eyes, the two collided. Gary dropped his briefcase. The bottom of Rwayn's plastic grocery bag broke open, the jar of pickles shattered on the pavement and the bread was instantly crushed and soggy. Both parties rushed to aid each other, and both promptly lost their umbrellas to the wind.

You get the idea.

They collected themselves, apologized profusely with nervous laughter, and went on their ways.

Afterwards, they recognized each other when their paths crossed after work. They probably had seen each other a zillion times before, but the accident in the storm had highlighted them as individuals rather than just another person in the world.

3. What were their first thoughts of each other? (Love at first sight or "you're freakishly annoying"?) As Gary would say now, looking back on that night, he saw a sweet girl who, had they met in other circumstances — at a mutual friend's, perhaps — he'd have wanted to get to know. As it was, he was more concerned about the contents of his briefcase and her ruined groceries and the rest of the chaos.

Rwayn saw a young lawyer in a rush to get home. He should have been watching where he was going, but he was kind enough to help her run down her umbrella and even offered to pay for the ruined food. Not that she let him. It was only a few dollars' worth, anyway. He was probably just as distracted, in his own way, with the storm as she was. She almost felt bad, watching him chase that ridiculously huge umbrella she'd lost to the wind.

4. What do they do that most annoys each other? Little or large? Let's go both. Ish.

Gary gets so focused on his work and school, buried in those law books of his and working on the tasks he's been given at the office. He's never not working or studying. She's a reader herself, but it'd be nice if he'd loosen up and take a look at living every once in a while. Life doesn't entirely consist of law books and phone calls. He also constantly clicks his pen, which might very well drive her insane someday.

Rwayn does anything anyone asks of her. While that isn't always a bad thing, he wishes she'd learn to say no every once in a while — even if he's the one receiving. She doesn't complain or act super stressed over it when she's accepted too many tasks, he just hates seeing her strung out between so many things. Despite the way she systematically multitasks her way through her mental list with that sweetness he loves, she needs to just cool it and relax every now and again. She also chews gum. He can't stand gum-chewing.

5. Are their personalities opposite or similar? They're equally on both sides of that, I think. One example can be seen if you were paying attention to the previous answer.

6. How would their lives be different without each other? He would be a hermit. She would be a [willing and unintentional] Cinderella.

Note: Giving her a mother and two sisters was unintentional. I only now realized how that resembled the Cinderella fairytale. (I also only just now decided on the Cinderella thing. As I said, I'm making this up as I go. And by "Cinderella thing," I only mean that she's constantly doing things for everyone.) I'm not sure what happened to/with her father, but her mother is biologically so, and her sisters are neither evil nor from other parent[s]. I believe one is in college (dark-haired, trim. Middle sibling. Kwinna, or Kwin (or Kwinnie to Rwayn). One/two years older than Rwayn. People have many times mistaken them for twins) and the other is married with two children (sandy blond, messy, shoulder-length hair. Gweneth Matthews, or Gwen. Three/four years older than Kwin. She has a four-year-old daughter and a two/three-year-old son. Her husband works, she works from home). The sisters are currently 21, 23, and 27.

7. Are they ever embarrassed of each other? Occasionally.

8. Does anyone disapprove of their relationship? Someone in Gary's family, I'm sure. I think he has an older brother. His father is rich. When his parents divorced, he stayed with his father and his brother with their mother. That wasn't entirely the brothers' choice. They didn't always get along, but they would have liked to stay together. In the end, at least they got to argue about who would go to which parent. Probably his mother is the one to disapprove. His brother likes the relationship, I think. (Not that he's met her? Just glad for his brother, and she's a sweet girl.)

9. Do they see their relationship as long-term / leading to marriage? They certainly don't see it as short-term. They haven't talked about marriage, or thought about it much (so busy), but they both see going there. For now, they're both happy taking it slow, at least until they're past the college years.

10. If they could plan the "perfect outing" together, where would they go? The water. A boat, in the water, with no one else in sight.

Another note: I think Gary is 24? And his brother... 26. Jared. His parents are James Paul and Mary Ginner (second married name). His father never remarried. He has an aunt, Sally Kurn (father's younger sister). Sally is blond, like a movie star in a red T-shirt and casual jeans. She's cool and artsy.

James and Sally

Inspiring Irish

I've had another idea!

It's to do with a girl and car headlights and Irish countryside and otherwise Irishy things.

I'll say nothing more than to say that all this was brought about by the Irishness of St. Patrick's Day and by a girl who's been slowly making herself known to me, and especially today while reading A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. (I haven't finished this book and please don't take this as a recommendation -- I can't say whether I'd recommend it or not -- but it is the book through which this girl has shown herself to me.) She's even got a name, this girl of mine.

*she glares at me*

Oh, sorry, I don't mean that I own you. Simply that you are mine, affectionately (not romantically, thank you!).

*she smiles suspiciously but accepts the explanation*

this be the painting which hangs in her room
not that I know anything about her room
or any type of thing therein
or even if she has one

But I said I'd tell you nothing more. Gártha!

(I've become quite obsessed (not that I wasn't already) with the Irish language. I don't speak it (unfortunately) but Google translate does!)

In other news...

I've found this rather disturbing or saddening viewpoint of Peter Pan. I shall have to investigate.

Also, getting to getting the book read would be great.

And one last crack at Ireland.

I love this picture for some reason.

A Thought for St. Patrick's Day

Have you ever stopped to ponder
At the wonder of His ways
Prayers unanswered, will so often
Prove His love in later days.
Yet we humans out and worry,

Selfishly we ask our will ~
Thinking surely God's ignoring

Plans we want Him to fulfill.
As you come into His presence,
Though it seems your prayer's unheard;
Rest upon the Father's goodness,
In His love, and in His Word.
Claim His promises,
Know He's able,
Seek His heart in all you do,

Dream big dreams,
Asking His wisdom ~
You will find God's love is true!

--Connie

"The Lord is good
unto them that wait
for Him, to the soul
that seeketh Him."
(Lamentations 3:25 KJV)

by Connie Hinnen Cook
A Thought for St. Patrick's Day
cjcook@mynewroads.com

Éirinn Go Brách: In Irish

An fíor Naomh Pádraig Lá Fhéile Pádraig an lae inniu. Níl mé cinnte de go díreach a bhí Pádraig, seachas go raibh sé ina Chaitliceach a tháinig chun bheith ina misinéirí go hÉirinn. Ní féidir liom aontú le gach rud a bhaineann le Pádraig, ach tá airteagal seo gearr (cliceáil anseo) cinnte ceann maith ar an ábhar. Is iad na pointí sa dara leath ar fad fíor, cibé an aontaíonn tú (nó I) leis an fhoirceadal an Naomh Pádraig nó nach bhfuil. Cibé ar a gcreideamh, is é Lá Fhéile Pádraig cinnte níos mó ná ól beorach agus a chóiriú i glas. N'fheadar cad a bheadh ​​Pádraig smaoineamh ar an gcaoi a bhfuil a lá a cheiliúradh?

Éirinn go brách

Ciallaíonn an teideal "Gaeilge go deo" i nGaeilge.

Ní mór duit ach pictiúr de dearg beag gleoite i gceannas cailín Éireannach, ceart? Ciallaíonn mé, C'mon! Tá sé Lá Fhéile Pádraig (fiú amháin má níl níos mó leis ná bród na hÉireann... nach bhfuil mé an Ghaeilge...go bhfuil a fhios agam...)

ar bheannacht Éireannach

Ní Lig déan dearmad leabhair! Féach, is féidir fiú an leipreachán hÉireann buíoch as leabhar nó dhó nó fiche...

cliceáil anseo ar feadh seacht fíricí spéisiúla ó bhéaloideas na hÉireann

(beware! creepiness Caitliceach romhainn má chliceáil ar)

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona ar!

Éirinn Go Brách

The real Saint Patrick of today's Saint Patrick's Day. I'm not sure of exactly who Patrick was, other than he was a Catholic who became a missionary to Ireland. I may not agree with everything surrounding Patrick but this short article (click here) is definitely a good one on the subject. The points in the second half are all true, whether you (or I) agree with the doctrine of this Saint Patrick or not. Whatever his beliefs, Saint Patrick's Day is certainly more than drinking beer and dressing in green. I wonder what Patrick would think of how his day is celebrated?

Éirinn go brách

The title means "Ireland forever" in Irish.

You simply must include a picture of a cute little redheaded Irish girl, right? I mean, c'mon! It is Saint Patrick's Day (even if there's more to it than Irish pride...not that I'm Irish...that I know...)

an Irish blessing

Let's not forget books! See, even the Irish leprechaun can appreciate a book or two or twenty...

click here for seven interesting facts from Irish folklore

(beware! Catholic creepiness ahead if clicked upon)