rowling, writer's block, and juice

I have recently been introduced to J.K. Rowling's official website... and I love it! The time she takes to update posts and research fan sites is amazing. She really cares about her fans, and her writing. Just sitting there at my desk reading, watching the clock, and waiting for a call to come in, I realized that the cure for my writer's block is simply to read. I can't believe I never realized it before! When I first started my blog I was constantly reading something. When school started, I reserved reading for strictly business purposes. How could I have been so foolish?!

Something as simple as perusing Rowling's biography started to bring back long-forgotten childhood memories and images. Rowling's first dateable memory, the birth of her sister, is centred on a young J.K. playing with a piece of plastesine.

This brought me to the distinct and deeply buried memory of my sister's birth day which, oddly enough, revolves around a cup of juice. It is a bit strange that a cup of juice should mean so much to me, but this is not just any cup of juice. This is the juice that comes in a clear molded plastic cup that is sealed with a silver foil lid with a perfect little pull tab. The kind of juice that is best eaten frozen with a bendy white plastic spoon. The juice that you used to get at McDonald's, Braeside, the first aid room in grade one, and incidentally, the hospital cafeteria.

On this special day my daddy walked me around the dimly lit, quiet hallways of St Joe's, keeping me occupied during the big event. A nice lady, probably a nurse, gave me a frozen juice cup and it has stayed with me ever since.

brain fart

What do discuss on this fine day. It seems my creative and philisophical juices have frozen up; I have nothing more to say these days. This is very strange for me since I always seem to have something to say. I think my little office-grey padded cell is starting to affect my faculties.

Shall we start with a quick and thoughtless update:

• it is now officially winter (I feel it's always good to start with the weather)
• I am 22 now.
• I am involved in a new church called The Thomas Question
• I have now seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I can die a happy woman
• Ceej has written over 70 pages of a wonderful script, and...
• LOST and Survivor are finally exciting again.

I'd say that about sums up my life in the last month.

Spongebob Squarepants Collapse continues to fuel the competitive spirit amongst my colleagues. The top score is now over 4, 700, 000. I'm getting close but Justin is the champion... for now.

I have started editing esays at Mac for a little cash on the side, but I'm actually enjoying. It's the strangest thing. Anything that supports my quest to be a teacher is a good thing, I suppose.

Also, I have decided to become a volunteer at CityKids. It's an awesome ministry so please go to their website and give them money or something.

Well, if you've made it this far through today's posting you've noticed my little attempt at journalling for today has not unleashed the full creative power I know lies within. Oh well, at least I can still make dramatic over-statements at will.