I'm in a Podcast! :D

Look, I'm on Geek Girl Podcast :D I'm a little quiet, but I do talk :). I hope you enjoy :)

http://mixlr.com/channel-1138/showreel/geek-girl-radio-4/

My Camping Trip

                               
                                                  My group with our origami doves
 
                                  So, on Friday night I got back from camp and......it was, well, to be honest, a pretty bad experience.
              The drive up wasn't so bad- it was long, but not too long, and I had a good book to read and I enjoyed that. And I did use some of my Drivers Ed knowledge and asked the woman driving us if I could text for her(since texting and driving is a VERY bad idea).
      However, when we got there and signed in, gave any medications we had to the nurse, I had sort of a bad feeling(a small one, but I ignored it since that usually happens to me when I go somewhere I haven't been before(unless it's something really fun). Though I did find out that they would prepare me special gluten free food and give me a special plate with my name on it which was cool :).

       So, we went over to our councilors(we were in the second older group; the other was for those doing a leadership thing). My two councilors were pretty cool- the girl liked a lot of things I did and the guy was from France :); it was interesting to talk to him, learn some things about France, and even get to teach him some English words :) . However, I knew things were going to go really wrong when I tried to explain that I don't like to play games because my OCD makes me hate losing(I was very polite and said what my Mom had told me to say) and the woman councilor just looked away like she was mad or something. The first night was alright and I did like the food but most of the girls in my cabin(except the two girls from my church and my sister) were really weird and very exclusive. :P(I'll go more into that a little bit later).
Every night we would make a schedule for the next day where we got to pick some of the things we got to do, though of course some of it was pre-planned, like Bible Study everyday and our Rock Climbing trip and our canoeing trip. (I can't go day by day for this post since the days all kind of bled together and I have some broad topics, though I could do it if I wanted to).

We did some pretty fun stuff throughout the week, like All Camp, which was where all of the kids from the entire camp got together and we did fun activities. I especially liked the relays we did since no one got out and I don't mind playing those kinds of games(I just hate games where you get out; I just don't see how they are fun). I also liked the second(or third) day's activity(though sadly I can't remember what it was :P).
I also liked the archery(mainly because the guy there was pretty nice- the bows and arrows were really cheap and crappy; the guy there even said so). Biking was also really fun, though I almost crashed while going over a bridge too fast, though I did manage to not ram into the bridge post since I swerved out of the way(I did pretty well for not having rode a bike since I was around 12).
       Rock climbing was also fun(at first) and I did pretty well I guess for having never done it before(I could get pretty high and I got to the top of a couple of walls). It's a lot harder than it looks(though it was easier when I started using my leg muscles more). Also, after the initial first day of swimming, the other times we went were pretty nice and I really liked the life guard guy(he liked Star Wars!!! :D And he liked the entire saga which was pretty awesome! :D). In fact, all the guy councilors were really great and were nice to me, which I liked :).

        Now onto why I really did NOT like my week at camp. >:(.
 First of all, were the group of girls I shared living quarters in(I like the girls from my church, so they don't count when I'm talking about the girls, and nor does my sister). The boys next door who were a part of my group where annoying, except for one of them, but I wasn't around them as much, so I don't have much to say about them except they were exclusive just like the girls(we shared a building/cabin with the guys but there was a wall between us). However, since I was in the same room with the other girls I had to deal with their annoyingness a lot. :P And I did try to be the nice(the entire time in fact), but the girls, first of all, just really didn't like me and were mean, very crazy, and of course, extremely innapropriate. Not only are we at a CHURCH camp, but they were several years younger than me(I am seventeen, one of the girls from my church was sixteen), ranging from thirteen to fifteen. And even though I knew that kids nowadays were way more obsessed and talkative about S#x then I remember them being when I was that age, it just was really disgusting to hear. I mean, really, do I need to hear you girls giggling about certain things that are private affairs and not to be talked about in such a childish way; seriously, when I was those girls age, I was playing Robin Hood and Star Wars with my friends, reading, writing, doing plays, and that sort of thing. Luckily, I did know what they were talking about but my sister got quite an education and not the sort of thing you are supposed to learn from church camp; to be honest, I don't know whether I want to laugh or be disgusted at how immature they were acting(they sounded like what people say teenage boys act like).  Not only were they talking about s#x a whole lot, they also kept calling each other sluts and whores(perpetuating rape culture much?) and then they also said something about 'white girls' and how all white girls are racist and that there are two different kinds of white girls; the whole thing being so ludicrous even I didn't understand what the hell they were talking about. (though, I did know something they didn't, so YAY me! Though I don't think they listened).
        And on top of that, they were also very exclusive and treated my sister and I badly and would leave us out and treat me like a whiny little five year old and my sister like a wall flower. It was so annoying since THEY could act weird but if I did something that they found odd, then I would get weird looks. I mean, sure, I did whine a little, but that was only after I started getting frustrated with people not respecting me(which I'll get to really soon). And one of the girls didn't have normal decency and wouldn't answer questions at times :P.
       They also hurt my feelings several times. The worst, for me, was at the end when, on the last day, we went around writing nice messages on these notes for each other and one of the girls(the one who was the main one to treat me like an inferior and a child) wrote 'I don't know what to say :P'. I know I shouldn't have let it get to me but I just got this depressing, sinking feeling. I am so glad I don't have to see them ever again.
   I am so glad to be back online among my fellow introverts, geeks, and the like :D. (I guess camp is just not for introverts).


            Not only were the kids annoying, but so, sadly, were the grown ups. While I did like my female councilor, she did get on my nerves the entire week too. First off, she was VERY naggy, bossy, and pushy which I really, really don't like(I had enough of bossy people when I was younger) and she also, at first, seemed to blame me from having OCD(though she was young, inexperienced, and probably just a few years older than I, so I can understand that).  Also, I felt like I was being disrespected a whole lot, what with them forcing me to play games, hold hands, and do things I really didn't want to do at all. And of course, I ended up getting a hold of corn while I was there and that just made things worse :P. 
         And of course, I had to have two big upsets while I was there. I won't go into the first one all that much, but it did deal with  having to do a swim test and I had a panic attack(And I really don't know why, but I do have some theories) but I did do the test and the life guard guy was very nice to be and handled everything in a subtle way I noticed the other guys doing around me, which I really appreciated :).
The second problem was a very bad meltdown I had on the second day. It started out during this singing thing we were doing outside and they were doing a song that involved physical contact(this song called Shake Another Hand where you have to shake hands, bump hips, pinch people's cheeks, etc), so I just backed away from the group so I didn't have to be involved in it(besides, I felt alone in the crowd and I wanted to have some space). And the woman who was kind of in charge(there were a few) tried to get me back over there(in a rough-like way) and I know I shouldn't have snapped but I'd already been angry and tired and sick of being bossed around and treated like a weird little kid, that I did(though I just said "but I don't want to be touched" so I don't see why she got as angry as she did). Then she got all high and mighty and really mean and wouldn't let me talk or explain myself since I was a kid and since my brain wasn't working properly and I was raised to not be rude, I didn't say anything(though I did glare at her and I shook my fist at her later); I was so angry, I went over to my pastor and she ended up talking to the woman and she DID listen and told the other councilors(and it got better after that) and I will give her that, but she still should have listened to me and I'm still mad at her XP. 

On the last day, a pastor who is connected to the camp somehow, came by to give us a sermon before everyone pretty much left, and talked about how he hoped that we connected to God, made friends(eye roll), and learned something during our week at camp. 

So, what did I learn at camp? (I already knew some of this, but I'm going to say it). 

Teens, especially younger teens(and even tweens) are a whole lot more peervy than they were when I was that age. 

I've come to appreciate my friends even more than I already did. 

Kids lose their innocence earlier and earlier and it's really sad(and I'm no traditionalist, so that's saying something that it bothers me).

People rarely respect a child of a teen when they say they have a problem or even say they don't want to do something.

OCD isn't treated like the disorder it is; if you have autism or down syndrome, they will accommodate you, but not if you have OCD(unless an adult explains it to them). Not that OCD is worse or equal to those two disorders, but there are people out there who have it REALLY bad, so they need to realize it's a bad thing and hard to handle at times.

It's an extrovert biased world out there. 

If you act different from the norm in any way, then people will treat you like an inferior or, even worse, an insolent child. Even if you are the oldest. 

Even if two people are smart in different topics, people will always assume the person could at math is smarter than the other person(had that happen; they said one girl was the smartest and that I was the second smartest so I said, something like "how do you know that we're not both equally smart, just in different areas?"). 

It's okay to talk about s#x in the rest room when small children can hear you, but heaven forbid you say 'no' to playing games. 

No means no, unless it is something people conceive as inconvenient, like not wanting to play games or hold hands. 

Teens find goofy graces, chanting 'arts and crafts' over and over, singing annoying songs, dancing, and saying hip or weird things like 'devos'(instead of devotionals) or 'cuppies' instead of just cup are cool :P I mean, the cuppies word was cute at first, but then it got a little awkward hearing grown men and women say it so much. 

Everyone loves "Jesus Loves Me" except for me :P. (the reason I don't like it is because of the 'we are weak' line and I have a problem with the whole weak thing). 

There are people more obsessed with height than me. 

Introverts or people who are shy or different aren't welcome at things like camp

People will give you a weird look if you are bored and play with a flash light and say 'brains, brains!' because the light beam resembles a brain, but it's okay to climb onto a public bathroom sink and try to stick a wooden stick into your belly button(and then start talking about you know what again). 

I am a bit naive, but that's something I'm okay with.

Kids and teens love to giggle about the forbidden information they know, but they won't answer questions about what something is(well, some will, but usually they are the more mature ones). 

Now I know what twerking is(a dance move). 

And lastly, that I don't want to go to camp again- at least, not that camp anyway(the one I went to for Confirmation was really fun! :D).

So, what do you think? Would you want to come here to this 'wonderful camp'? ;).

And I have to say, thank you all so very much for being my friends :) :D.

Adios Amigos! :D And May the Force be with you! :D





                               

                   

Liebster Award and a quick Update

Hello all! :D I'm back from camp(which was bad, let me tell you) and since I want to put up a quick post and since I was tagged, I thought I'd do this while I work on my post about camp.


Thank you, Solace, for tagging me! :D


1) What advice would you give children today?

    Do what you love, love what you do, don't follow the crowd(unless something you love is mainstream, then go for it), learn new things but don't grow up to fast, enjoy life, and care for others like you would want them to care for you.

2) Whom do you consider to be the hero of our generation?
      In real life or fiction? Hmmm...for fiction I'd definitely go for Obi-Wan Kenobi. As for real life, there are many heroes I would say, like Elizabeth Warren, Greg Mortenson, etc, but my real life hero at the moment is definitely Patrick Stewart. His work to involve men in stopping violence against women is very inspiring and I love seeing men step up and join us women in achieving complete lives for ourselves. :D

3) Have you ever saved someone's life?

I can't think of anything at the moment, but I get the feeling that I might have.

4) What was the last song you heard?

I'm currently listening to "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World

5) Where do you go for advice?

My parents or my close friends(and sometimes my pastor)

6) Which countries have you been to?

Mexico and Canada

7) Would you rather live without your favorite fandom or the internet?

No, I can't answer that, I need them BOTH!!!!!!!

8) What talent would you like to have?

I want to learn how to do sword fighting and archery and that sort of thing. And I wish I could do math easier. :P (though I AM smart, just in a different way. I can read Faulkner and understand it!)

9) What is one thing you would like to change about the past?

Fix some of my stupid decisions.

10) Where does all your money go?

I don't spend money that often.

11) What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Going into deep water when I was younger and under five foot (and nearly drowning). 

Things I'd like to see more of in Fiction

Before I begin the post I'd thought I'd give you a quick update on what I've been up to

I finished the show Angel at the end of May and I really liked it. It wasn't quite as good as Whedon's other two big shows(Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly), but it was still amazing and while the ending was kind of odd, it fit what the series was about.

I also recently started Downton Abbey and Robin Hood and I've been enjoying them immensely (I'm done with the first series' of both) :D. So that's a cool thing :) Plus, I'll be starting Supernatural and continuing with Merlin soon, so that's great as well. I also finally got to read the recently published ending book for the Power of Five series which I've been waiting to read for several years(and it was gooood! :D).

Also, I will be going to Camp next week and the week after that, I'll be helping with VBS. So, expect to see some pictures from camp soon :D.





So, while there is an awesome amount of fiction out, I have, of course, noticed a few things that need fixing(but most things do, so that's okay). Therefore, I thought I'd make a list of some things I'd really like to see more/less of in fiction :D.

1: More Female Lead/Superhero characters
  

     Now, I of course love male fictional characters/superheros; I mean, who doesn't love such characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Thor, Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man,  etc? They're awesome, they're cool and we shouldn't stop making those films. However, we really need to make more films about girls in leading roles who actually play the biggest part of the action and save the day(and not through the 'shield of love' in that horrendous Breaking Dawn film :P I mean through their own physical strength, intellect, or skill). While there are definitely many awesome female characters in fiction(the female Jedi, Black Widow, Hermione, Pepper Potts, etc) who do stuff and all, typically, the lead character is a guy and they usually save the day(though that isn't always the case, of course; many of the good movies have someone else save the day or it's a collaboration). But, the only movies/TV series that I can think of that have leads who are female are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once Upon A Time, The Hunger Games, Xena, Continuum(something like that), and Dollhouse(there are more, but the amount is disproportionate to the amount of ones starring males). So, what I'm really saying is, I want to see more shows/movies that star female characters and are targeted for both genders. That way, it's more fair :D :) And, hey Marvel, I want a Black Widow movie pronto!! :D

2: Less sexist/racist/homophobic/stereotypical jokes

   These are usually play more laughs but they really do tend to get on my nerves...a LOT. And many of it goes both ways and not just in one direction. For example, someone making a comment on testosterone when two guys get confrontational or say that all men cheat/haven't changed since the beginning of time(yeah, I remember that comment being made; got me quite angry) is just as annoying as when someone says that all women are crazy/irrational or say that they are pathetic or are compared to animals(heard that one too and it also made me quite mad :P).
These jokes are not only rude, but they perpetuate stereotypes that we need to get rid of.

3: Non-violent(pacifist) male characters(especially straight ones).


   There isn't anything wrong with male violent characters in fiction(well, I hate the rapist/abuser ones, but they do exist, so they need to be shown in fiction), but I want to see a more wide variety of male characters; I recently, like I stated above, finished the TV series Angel and in that show I really enjoyed the character of Lorne(pictured). Not only was he a good character(and performer), he wasn't the violent type which was really, to be honest, nice to see. Yes, he was pretty good in a fight when it was called for but he wasn't a naturally violent person and it was interesting to see on the show, especially since most of the other guy characters on the show WERE the violent type(and they were well done characters as well). And while it's true that men can be aggressive(and women can be too; if you met me, you'd know that XD), there are men who aren't naturally that way and it's perfectly okay and it's something we need to show in fiction. Just like we want to see women and LGBT fighters/superheroes, we also want to see straight men who would rather not beat people up or beat someone up for revenge.

4: Violent/Aggressive female characters


     Just like I want a variety of male characters, the same goes for women characters. All too often, women characters don't like violence, often times are all 'stop stop!' when guys get into fights(a lot of the time, over them), or just do it because it's their job and they don't actually like fighting. And while this is also okay since there are women like that out there, it's also, like I stated above, to show a wider array of female characters. Because women can be just as violent as men, especially if they are provoked. For once, I want to see a female character slam a character up against a wall, actually enjoy fighting, or threaten someone(I've seen that a couple of times) much more often. Showing women in such a way(as caregivers, peacemakers, etc and men in a more protector role) is a pretty damaging stereotype which we need to remedy by showing that women aren't always just passive or caring. Also, I want to see more women characters who can take care of themselves, even if they aren't trained, by using things like common sense and thinking(like Belle in Once Upon A Time; she's no fighter, but she saves herself several times, which is awesome).

5: More Science Fiction and less paranormal romance/dystopian


   While, excitingly, there has been quite a bit of new movies and TV shows that are science fiction(sadly, not as many books), the genre seems to be lacking more so than other genres(like the annoying paranormal romance and the starting to get old dystopia, which has been warped into something it shouldn't have been turned into), which is very sad. So, I say, more science fiction!! :D



6: No more LOVE TRIANGLES!

(I don't have a cat and I definitely don't plan on being forever along, because that's crap for me,  but I thought the other parts were funny)


   This is something that's been cropping up a lot recently(thanks a lot, Twilight :P) and really, I don't see the point. I mean, I don't know if they somehow think it's romantic or something, but really, if you look at it, it's CHEATING! I mean, having a girl or a guy trying to decide who they 'love' more isn't something cool and exotic, it is cheating and hurtful to the two people involved(especially when the person is kissing both of them. YUCK :P); plus, if this is going on, then they are definitely NOT in love with either person. They should just call them Infatuation triangles instead XD. Oh, and another annoying this about these is, the person who likes two people usually is whining because they have to choose. (Oh you poor thing *rolls eyes*). I mean, they have two people after them and they're whining? Really? Selfish person :P Also, I think if they are going to do a love triangle, at least have them do it right, and show the person struggling with serious guilt.

7: More Homeschoolers and a wider variety of them


      I think I've literally seen ONE homeschooling family in fiction and that was in the movie RV(and they were kind of weird). And sadly, even when it's mentioned, people always blow them out of proportion and make them out to be these over-the-top weird people.
Also, they are usually Republican or Christian which I wish they wouldn't only do. While a lot of homeschoolers are Republican Christians, there are many that aren't. I'm a Liberal Christian Homeschooler and there are also people who are homeschooled that are atheist as well as other religions and political belief systems. I really want the media to show what homeschoolers really are- a group of normal families who are diverse just like public schoolers are. Many people already have some preconceived notions(and some of them are bad), so I think it's important to show them in fiction and show them correctly.



8: Liberal Christians and more diversity when it comes to belief


   All too often, Christians are shown in a over the top manner, acting in ways that most don't act(basically, they're showing the radicals). Every once in a while they are shown as normal(like with Joss Whedon's characters Shepherd Book and Riley), but typically TV and movies just show the radical ones. And if I think about I don't think I've actually ever come across a Liberal Christian like me(and we do exist, The Christian Left) in any type of fiction(except a book). So, just like homeschool students, I want to show diverse Christians(and other belief systems as well) in fiction since it's that way in real life.

9: Less 'Male Gaze'

I don't see it that often(but that's because I watch good shows), but in some shows, they do this thing called a male gaze which basically means they focus the image in on random parts of a girl and it's pretty objectifying. And since I don't like that sort of thing, I definitely don't want to see it anymore.

10: More Latino(this counts Native Americans/Indians)/Black/Asian characters and LGBT characters (especially those that don't conform to stereotypes)

While I have nothing against white straight characters(a lot of my favorite characters are like that), it is important that all people are represented in fiction, especially here in the United States since we are very ethnically diverse as well as orientation diverse.

11: Have a girl for once be able to protect herself, on her own, and easily, against a rapist(and handle the topic better).

     This is a big problem I see a lot of in books, movies, and television and it really bothers me. It seems like, to me, that the girl never beats the guy up who is trying to do the evil thing to her and even Buffy has it nearly happen to her twice(once because she was drugged and the second time because she was shocked and injured, though she did manage to kick the guy off her and he left). For once I'd like to see the girl beat the crap out of the guy and actually win and not have it happen to her(and with no assistance).
Also, all too often, the subject of rape is handled rather coarsely. The only work of fiction I've seen that handled it well was Speak; other times, it is forgotten and the character just get's over it, which I find very unrealistic.


There are many other things, but these are the things I want to see the most change.
What are other things you want to see more of?

"The Man Who Came to Dinner" is now available. :D

I have some pretty cool news! :D The play I did recently, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" is now officially on YouTube. Since I don't have the permission to post it, if you would like to see it, tell me and I'll message it to you :D (it's unlisted).

Book series Interview with Rebecca at Just Me

I was recently interviewed by Rebecca at "Just Me" about my book series :D.
Here's the post below
Thanks for the interview! :D



http://r-justme.blogspot.com/2013/06/interview-with-maegen.html

Top Favorite Movies

So, hi again! :D School's over so, after taking the ACT again this Saturday, I'll be having much more time to post :D(if I can just get my Drivers Ed done soon too, which I will). 

I made a list of favorite movies(since James at JandJ Productions had been doing it and I thought I'd do it too) several months ago while I was bored waiting for Finance Class to start and here it is(a little revised). This is sort of in order(and I don't have everything on here), but it is bound to change when I see some more of the awesome films coming out this year :D

                                                                 Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 

                                                                            

                                                                Lord of the Rings: Return of the King 

                                                                              

                                                                 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

                                                                          

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: A New Hope 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 

The Avengers 

Serenity 

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

Thor

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Iron Man 3

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Avatar

Les Miserables 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Studio Ghibli films (my favorites are - Spirited Away, Tales from Earthsea, Princess Mononoke, The Secret World of Arietty, Whisper of the Heart(except the sort of cheesy ending), and Kiki's Delivery Service).

Alice in Wonderland

I Am Legend

Inception

The Land Before Time

Jurassic Park trilogy

Mulan