Quill, Parchment, & Ink

Why do I blog?

I don’t think I do blog in the strictest sense of the word. My blog is a collection of stories, of thoughts, of wonder. It’s a place for creativity to blossom and be shared.

When I think of blogging, I think of discussing and newsletters, teaching things, or sharing information.

My blogging is more about stories and creativity. I guess that’s a type of blogging. And it’s the type of blogging I like to do.


And that’s it. I’m done. And OMG I did thirty-one days straight without missing a day!

Places You’ve Travelled

Let’s see. I don’t know if I can remember everywhere I’ve been. Not because I’ve been to a lot of wild and fascinating places, but because I went to a lot of them when I was younger and don’t have as many strong memories. So I’ll do the best I can.

Toronto, Canada and Niagara Falls are the only two outside of the US. The Falls quite a few times because I grew up only a couple of hours from there so that was like a day trip. And when I was a kid, you could crossover and back just by declaring you were a US citizen and where you were born.

We traveled all over NYS when I was a kid (which was where I lived)—Cooperstown and Rome and Mexico and tons of places camping—Watkins Glen. I can’t even remember them all. And of course at least a week in NYC every summer since my Gram lived there until I was 15, almost 16.

New Jersey of course. Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, Hawaii (a friend’s dad was stationed at Fort Shafter so Oahu and then the Big Island), Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania. And all those states I drove or was driven to. So technically I went to all the states you’d pass through to get to them. But I didn’t stay in them or only stayed overnight. Oregon and Texas—but I flew to those.

I think that’s it. Or at least I can’t think of any others.

My Five...Six Favorite Blogs

I can’t really say that I read blogs per se. I mean of course I read blogs, I read LJ or DW every day, but I consider those visits with my friends. I can’t really say I have favorite favorite blogs.

With that in mind, I figured I would put down a few that I read more often than not or the ones that I like to re-visit. These are friends or blogs that I read on a daily or weekly basis (depending on when they post) or are friends’ blogs that I use to keep in touch with people.

Ransom Noble’s Word Press An author I greatly enjoy and also a dear friend. And one of the people I consider my mentors in writing.

The Never Empty Nest This is the only one where I don’t know the person personally or virtually. I came across this from my Linkedin writing group and started reading. Its very down to Earth and interesting from a parents’ POV with Special Needs students.

illfindmyway One of my fandom friends who has become a very good RL friend.

angelskuuipo I honestly do not remember how we became friends now—although I suspect it has something to do with Leverage, but I am very glad it happened.

whogeek A second fandom friend who has become a very good RL friend.

wings128 I’ve just started reading hers regularly and I’m glad I have. Now I have to catch up on her fic. Oh and her books!

Of course there’s other blogs I read as some of you well know, but these are the ones I’m almost always sure to check. I have a daily reading page on LJ with a whole list, but if I listed all of them, I’d be here all week. And there are some I don’t check every day or week because they don’t update that often. So they won’t make this list anyway.

Now I have to go clean out more boxes. Later!

My Dream Job

I find this an interesting question considering my situation. I mean…essentially I am looking for my dream job. Right?

If I could have my absolute dream job…

The one thing I would absolutely want to do is write. All day or well probably not all day, but most of the day, and get paid for it? Yes absolutely. I would definitely love that. I’m not even sure I would need to be an author—although that would be lovely—but just writing and getting paid for it? Lovely.

If I couldn’t do that (and let’s face it, I probably will never make enough money to support myself with my writing), it would be wonderful to own a bookstore, but that’s another dream that isn’t going to actually happen unless I win the lottery. Small, independent bookstores are a dying breed and that was before the advent of eBooks.

So realistically I’d like a job that will pay bills, not completely stress me out, allow me to have some sort of social life, and that I will hopefully enjoy.

Any suggestions?

My 10 Favorite Foods was actually harder than I thought it would be. Because who thinks about these things? I like what I like and while I am picky, I’m not nearly as picky as my youngest sister nor have I gone vegan like the older one (not older than me, just older). Nor do I eat everything in sight practically like my brothers (honestly it seems like if it’s not nailed down—they eat it.)

So 10 foods and beverages that I enjoy (and a little bit about each of them).

( Fooood )

So there ya go. 10 foods and beverages I enjoy. Do you enjoy any of the same things?

Meaning behind Blog Name:

Well I’m going to give the meaning behind both names. Or well two names. Since I have my blog name (my LJ name) and then my WDC name, I figured I’d do both of them.

shanachie_quill (my LJ name):
According to my sis—Shanachie is Gaelic for storyteller. I have never actually looked this up. Partially because I don’t want to, partially because I like the spelling and the way it looks. Besides my sis gave it to me so I’d probably use it anyway. So the “shanachie” comes from that. I am a storyteller. Even if I never official publish (I know bite my tongue or my fingers), I will always be a storyteller. The quill comes from always being fascinated by quill pens. I cannot write with them, but I love the looks of them and the idea. And I love the calligraphy that comes from them. Unfortunately I cannot use them because of the feathers. So it became part of my username when I switched over to a new name on LJ.

medievalgirl—my WDC name:
Which has actually been shortened to Medie (pronounced Mee-dee). I am fascinated by all things medieval in origin and fantasy. I actually belong to a medieval re-enactment group. So when I had to choose a name for the site that was the first thing that came into my mind. The girl was added because well I am a girl. (And has come in handy a few times because apparently I sound like a boy when chatting in scroll—the IM program on site.)

So that’s the story, nothing fascinating or special, but they both mean something to me.

Top o’ the Bucket List

Visiting Ireland. That’s always the top of my list. I wanted to take my gram, but she passed away last year so unfortunately I won’t be able to fulfill that part of my list.

Publish. I don’t know which story or novel exactly. But publish. Really I’d like to publish Blood Oath or my Leave series. But there’s no guarantee I’ll get them ready or be able to.

I guess that’s it for the top. I mean there are other places I’d like to visit (England and Scotland and I’ve got a friend in France—it’d be fun to visit her if that’s where she is.), but Ireland is definitely at the top.

If I won the lottery…

Well of course I’d pay off the bills, both mine and my parents. I’d also like to get a house—one that fits all of us. I’d like to take care of my gramma too because she’s always taken care of us.

If I still have money, I’m going to help my sister and some of my friends—buy them something special they want or pay off some of their bills or something like that. In addition, if I really have enough left, I’d like to take a trip to Ireland. I always wanted to take my gram, but since she’s gone, I guess I’ll just have to do it without her.

Finally I’ll put money away for both my siblings to go to college or whatever they decide to do. (Since the oldest one isn’t going to college, I’ll wait and see what he’s going to do instead and maybe help him with a car or something.)

If after all that, there’s any money left, I’ll save it. Although I will probably buy myself a couple of new toys first.

Yeah, sorry I guess I’m kinda boring.

What’s in the fridge?

So I was looking at today’s entry and trying to figure out how I would do it since I don’t have my own fridge. I live with my momo (and mom) and my siblings so pretty much the fridge is common area unless food is specifically marked. So I decided to do my food that I keep stashed in my room. Please keep in mind that this is mostly snacks and quick meals. Not intended to be healthy at all.

( Foooood )

There’s a few other little things, but that’s the majority of it.

Best Feature

Ug this is tough. I mean who wants to talk about this and be seen as catty or bragging? I hate things like this. *groans*

Um I guess my eyes and my hair. I have blue, blue eyes and true brunette hair. Instead of being just brown, my hair is brown, gold, and red. I inherited both from my paternal great-grandfather according to my gram.

So there you go.

(And just randomly…I have a well-endowed rack that seems to catch the guys’ attention first. Hopefully sooner or later they notice my eyes or my hair or some other feature.)