My 10 Best Fiction Friends

Among the many bloggers I try to read on a daily basis, I ran across this interesting idea.  Who would be your 10 best fiction friends?  I read a lot, so this should have been easy, right?  Well, it was a lot tougher than I thought it would be.  For example, I love Jane Austen's books, but of all the characters in them, who would I actually like to have a friend?  (Hint: see #1)  The same goes for all the other fiction I read.  Some of it is crazy contemporary romance or chick lit (as an escape).  Some of it is sci-fi where the story and setting is much more interesting than the characters.  After a lot of digging and recalling specifics, I think I've picked my ten.  And so I present my 10 Best Fiction Friends:

1. Anne Elliot from Persuasion -- very down-to-earth and practical; plus who wouldn't want to be friends with Captain Wentworth (WENTWORTH!)
2. Sarah Walker from Married with Zombies -- always good to have a zombie killer for a friend
3. Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby -- need a rich friend who can throw a good party; I'll even take the disillusioned youth thing
4. Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams created a great down-to-earth likable character thrown into a crazy situation
5. Ford Prefect from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- loving the crazy alien
6. Jo March from Little Women -- another down-to-earth character who I am sure has great conversations; extra plus, she's a teacher in the sequel
7. Edna from The Awakening -- every time I read the book, I want to help Edna find another way to deal with life; I want to be the friend she couldn't find in her world
8. Alice from Alice in Wonderland -- sometimes I feel as lost in Wonderland as Alice; I think we'd get along great and maybe we can help each other navigate the craziness of the world
9. Claire Randall from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series -- a fiery independent time traveling woman?  I am so there with her
10. Pooh from Winnie-The-Pooh -- who can't just love the cuddly bear stuffed with fluff?   I know I can't.  My personality may be more like Eeyore, but I love the caring nature of Pooh.
11. (I know I put an 11, but I just had to) Hermione from Harry Potter series -- we are a lot alike; I want to be her, incredibly smart and practical and caring; plus she ends up with Ron and he's a huge laugh (third favorite character in the series, second is Luna Lovegood)

Who are your 10?  I would love to hear about them.

Quote Wednesday -- Churchill

"If you are going through hell, keep going." -- Winston Churchill

This is at the heart of my last few weeks.  Thank you Mr. Churchill, I needed that.

I am not a very optimistic person.  I tend to be very cynical and pessimistic.  Although my dream would be to turn into the bubbly optimist that sees the good in everything.  I find that every time I try, I get dragged down to the bad.  I see the glass as half empty.  There are no silver linings.  People can be downright mean and nasty most of the time.  We are selfish beings.  I try, really I do, but I'm just not bubbly and perky.  Sure I can be funny and happy, but looking at situations, I see what could go wrong.

But today, I will try to look on the bright side.  I will try to ignore all the "crap" from the last few weeks.  I will focus on being positive and happy.  I will try to embrace and appreciate the good, the beautiful, the wonder.  I will try to encourage and praise others.  I will view all as potential friends.  I promise, I will try.

But if I can't, I'll just remember Mr. Churchill's words.  At some point, I must come out the other side.  Maybe that's what I'll focus on... the other side.  I can almost see it....

Back from the Abyss

I've taken a bit more time off than I really intended.  The past week and a half has been a challenge.  I have had to deal with many personal issues (of which I am not going to dwell on here).  I have had a busy week with the boys.  I have had to reconnect with some friends and acquaintances.  I have had to plan for the future and then change the plan at the last minute.  I haven't so much abandoned the blog as I have had to focus on other things.  But finally I think I am back to a routine where I can blog and take some time to write on a daily basis.  Today I have recommitted to my writing and reading.  I am determined to once again start publishing on my blog.  I have decided that those issues over the last week won't go away magically, but I have to be patient.  I am in waiting limbo and while I am there, I may as well occupy my brain with catching up on reading (books, articles, blogs, whatever) and writing (specifically this blog, but others also).  So I will welcome myself back to the blogosphere. Hello everyone!  My name's Tobe and I am a blogger.  Care to join me for my journey: wading through the ocean of life?

...

At the beginning of the week, I had so many ideas for blog posts.  Things were happening.  I had funny stories.  I asked myself interesting questions.  I started reading three books, and finished one in one day... And then...

Everything exploded and the week turned into the week from hell.  All those inspirations are gone.  I don't have the energy or desire to write this week.  So I'm going to take a few days, try to recharge.  And hopefully those inspirations will come back.  Hopefully...

My Second Home

I have a second home (some days it feels like my real home).  I have a place I love to go and sit and read and talk and work and listen.  I have a place that doesn't judge me (we take that shit to starbuck's).  I have a place where the coffee's always hot and the pastries are always ready to eat.  I have a place where good friends come to chat and new friends are met.  I have a home filled with colors and patterns, art on the walls.  I have a place... And that place is my local coffeehouse -- Firefly Coffee House.  It's been here since 1999 and I have been coming off and on since 1999.  I came in high school.  Even when I went away to college, I would come on breaks.  Once I moved back, I came when I could get away.  Now that I'm employed part time, I spend many days here.  I bring things to work on.  I blog, I type, I search, I talk, and sometimes I just watch a movie or a TV show from Netflix.  I do whatever the day offers until it's time to go get the boys from school.  It's a place that's comfortable.  It's filled with wonderful characters.  It's inhabited by interesting employees.  I love it here.

When I've been away (like over the Thanksgiving break), I feel myself yearning to get back.  Back to the front table with computer out and ready, coffee cup on one side, plate of food on the other side, and friends across from me.  The bf always tells me he gets more work done at home, but I get way more done here.  I get on a roll, blogging, organizing, writing, etc.  I start working and before I know it, it's past lunch time and just about time to get the boys.  But that's okay. I haven't wasted a day, I spent a very enjoyable day at my second home.  And that's a great day, any day.

Quote Wednesday -- Tolkien

"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.  You step onto the road and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." -- JRR Tolkien

I love the image of doors... infinite possibilities existing just on the other side.  I want a hallway of doors, each with their own destination.  I want a red door, a blue door, a purple door, a polka-dotted door, a peeling wooden door, a steel door, a rainbow door, a painted mural door, a heavy round door, all different doors.  I want to be able to try different doors, different paths, different worlds, and if I don't like them, exit back out the door and try another.  I love that scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice opens the tiny door and spies a whole other world.  I want to be like Alice and shrink down to size to fit through the tiny door and experience a whole new world.  I want to throw caution to the wind and venture out.  I want to be like Bilbo and Frodo and journey on an epic quest.  I want to experience the "new", the "old", the "never even imagined."  I want to take over the wheel and steer the course.  I want to be swept off.  I want to live.