Wisconsin Rantings Part One

One day, I'll get to the point where I'll post regularly. That's a lie.

One of the greatest trials one can overcome is their cultural upbringing. For example, coming from the Northeastern Wisconsin portion of the United States puts me into a certain bias/ niche/ whatever that changes my views and perceptions of things.

Family
The private university I attend draws students from all fifty states, as well as many foreign countries. Talking with many of my friends has certainly opened my eyes to the differences in family structure between regions. One girlfriend "R" came to me slightly frustrated with her boyfriend "B" (hee. R &B...I really need to stop), who happens to hail from Michigan. R lives in North Carolina. She could not, for the life of her, understand why B kept using very final-sounding phrases like "You are my family now" when in conversation about their upcoming marriage. She was also confused as to why his mother was taking it so hard. Guaranteed, B is the oldest of ten children and any mother has the potential to be the ugly mother-in-law, but still. What was going on?
Firstly, I had to explain the Northern way of the family (le sigh). Just to be clear: this is a generalization based on my observations and my own personal experiences, and if you happen to have a loving, wonderfully accepting northern family, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD; ADOPT ME! Ahem...then you may also disregard this post. Generally speaking, Northern families tend to be a bit more...cold...than other families. Once a child breaks away to marry someone, that child has thereby separated themselves from the original unit. The new family visits the original unit on Christmas and Easter only...any other holidays are special treats. It is not the Southern sort of hospitality where family is welcome at any time, in any weather. No, there must be a formal invitation for a visit to Grandma's, and things should be planned out. Auntie Fran always brings the broccoli salad, Uncle Greg always supplies the beer. So, when B told R "You are my family now" he sincerely meant it. He is planning on giving up everything he has in the way of family for her. She is his family. We take the ol' "leave and cleave" pretty serious up nort'. 

Poetry Barf.

Conversation knows too little,
Silence knows too much.
The harsh words falling from your lips
Cannot negate your touch.
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Gather her up, boy.
Tell her you'll be there always,
Before it's too late.

Listen to her, boy.
Hear what she says without words.
She tells you the truth.
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A wish, a wanting.
The fondest desire of a heart
may not be the correct plans
laid for a life.
So what then?
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Symphony
A silent cry
that carries a secret wish
begging to be loved



Photograph
One moment in time
sealed off forever
And you forgot to smile.
 

Imaginings

Imagination is a beautiful and scary thing, my friend. Anything is possible inside your imagination, which, I suppose could be wonderful...if your body had no limitations. So, to pacify ourselves, some of us (me, and I know I'm not the only one) make up stories beginning from the question "what if..."


"What if there was this village that was totally burned down by mercenaries- leaving only one survivor, a girl, and a young healer found her, thus igniting THE GREATEST, MOST WONDERFUL AND ENDURING LOVE EVER BORN!"


Far-fetched? Of course. Fun and time-consuming? Hells yes.
The best part about this sort of imagining is that you have to make it work. You have to make an unbelievable plot, full of holes, believable. You have the opportunity to create fantastical worlds and memorable characters while researching about these ideas, making them plausible enough to not sound entirely stupid. You say you want to torture your characters in a dungeon? Great! TO THE GOOGLECAVE!!!
Find out about your subject, research and explore what other authors/ historians have said about the nature of your subject. Then write it down. It always helps me to make notes about what I find...I also get a laugh when other people find my notes.
"Uhhh....Kureaa?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
"Why are you writing about sexual abuse...and whips...chains...and -WHAT?!?!?!"
"Oh! You mean the part about 16th century medicine and cauterizing?"

"....I- I have to leave."




One way to help these imaginings along is though the venue of role playing. You can find one or even a few friends to write a story with you, which would make it more interesting for everyone involved. Each of you create a character. You can stay in the real world or make up your own. Having someone else helps keep you honest with the rules of your universe and challenges you to fix plot holes. Plus, it gives you all something to do when you're bored.





Till next time,

Kureaa

A Beginning

This is not how my day usually ends. I didn't wake up this morning and decide to make myself a blog...but, here I am...

I would like to promise anyone who ever reads this that The Glass Box will be a blog with consistent posts, wit, fabulous insights on life and general awesomeness. However, this will probably be a blog about a young woman who has no direction in life and tends to kvetch about things far more than she works to change them. I do promise to practice hard at creating something worth reading, though. Any suggestions and/ or comments are appreciated, though, if the comment is in bad taste, it shall be removed.

That said; here I am...a blog writer. I think.