Last Sunday, a kitty tried to break in to the shelter where I volunteer. She was weak, full of fleas and ticks, and starving. I guess the other cats on the catio told her it was a great place to be, because she scratched and scratched until a volunteer found her and let her in.
Marcella was worn out from her vet visit and car trip back, and looks like she's taking a little cat nap. ;) Her cozy bed is on the other side of the partial left-hand wall.
After a visit to the vet for an exam, fluids, antibiotics, and flea medication, Marcella is looking so much better already. Some of her beautiful orange fur had to be shaved, for all the mats in it, but she has such a sweet face that you'd melt in a minute if you saw her in person. I was asked to pick her up from her vet visit since it was my night to work. I know once she starts to feel better, she is going to find her new family pretty quickly. Can you tell I adore her?
More Creative Writing Class Notes
During writing class last week, our first exercise was to write a piece in which two characters pretend to get along, but secretly despise one another. I'm sure many people in class drew from some real-life experiences, and names were changed to protect themselves! This generated a discussion of interior, exterior, or omniscient viewpoints. In the interior view, you see what the person is thinking, usually the protagonist. With an exterior view, you can't see what people are thinking. You only see what the narrator sees people doing. An omniscient view is all-knowing -- you know everything multiple characters think and do.
We also did a fun, if complicated exercise. First, we were asked to make up three non-related diary entries on three different sheets of paper that were spread on the floor. Second, we had to choose a character, and write on a piece of paper their name, age, and gender. Then we passed the page to the person on the left. We wrote down the next character's marital status, and some detail about that, and passed the paper again. Three more times we added a detail and passed the paper: their biggest achievement, a big disappointment, and a remarkable physical feature.
With the final character paper in our hands, we picked up three diary entries and chose one that would fit with the character on our paper. We had to then write a short story around "what happened that day" in the character's life to generate that diary entry.
My character was a seven-year-old girl who was a pianist. Two of the diary entries were definitely adult in nature, one about traveling and one about a weekend party in Las Vegas, so I chose the one that described someone wearing a sequined dress. I wrote a story about the girl attending a piano recital and watching another young girl in a too-adult dress finish her piece. It was challenging to write from the perspective of a young child since I'm not familiar with dialogue for that age group.
A Personality Meme
My friend Dorothy tagged me for a blog award/meme in which I must reveal seven of my personality traits. Please click here to see her blog for more details -- I won't tag anyone, but consider yourself tagged if you would like to play along!
1. I am a perfectionist, much harder on myself than other people. Whether it's knitting, writing, cycling, having company, decorating my home or how I dress, I want everything to be perfect, and wear myself out worrying about details. We will not discuss hair or cooking, for both of which I need remedial classes.
2. Stubborn. Tell me I can't do something, and I'll usually want to do it all the more. This trait means I fight with knitting projects perhaps much longer than I should. But it's a good trait when I'm trying to learn something new or achieve a goal.
3. I am super sensitive, feel things intensely, and can pick up on other people's moods even if I'm not sure what is happening with them. I worry if they are happy or having a good time if I am with them. I cry easily at movies or while reading books. I'm also sensitive to weather. The forecast determines how my day will go -- sunshine and warmth make a huge difference!
4. I cannot stand injustice or unfairness. When people "get away with murder," it eats away at me for days. I'm not advocating eye-for-an-eye justice, but if you abuse a child or an animal, or steal from people, or treat your loved ones or co-workers like garbage, there is a price that should be paid.
5. Curious. I'm interested in learning most everything, except maybe mathematical and engineering concepts, or how cars/bikes work. I enjoy learning about other people's passions.
6. I'm a night person, more creative and productive after 5pm.
7. Contrarian tendencies. If everyone else is reading/knitting/watching or wearing it, then I can usually be counted on to avoid it. I don't know why...but I've been like that since I was a little kid. Harry Potter, Twilight, sock knitting, Facebook, empire waist tops...please don't be offended if you love any of those things. They are popular for a reason, but for whatever other reason, they just don't appeal to me.
What are seven of your personality traits?
P.S. Since this post is already too long, I'll save my review of A Rather Lovely Inheritance for next time.
Marcella looks so sweet taking her little cat nap!!
I am contrary as well. Usually I like something, but if everyone else does too, I go off it, slightly!!
Posted by: 2paw | July 21, 2009 at 01:10 AM
Oh Marcella! She is so beautiful; who would let her go? I wonder what her story is.
I enjoyed your personality list. #5 is funny- I don't much care either how things work as long as I can find someone to repair things when they break down.
Something I part ways with you on - Long Live Harry Potter!
Posted by: Kristen | July 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Awww, what a sweet kitty!! She is so adorable. I hope she is adopted soon.
I'll have to do a blog post on my traits, as I'll have to think about it a bit. It's not as easy to come up with as it might seem.
Just a guess - are you an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs?
Posted by: Robin | July 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Marcella looks so cute - I hope she finds a good home, poor sweet girl.
Hee hee - I'm a bit of a contrarian myself (particularly with music), but I'm glad I relaxed on Harry Potter. Staying strong on Twitter and Facebook!
Posted by: Chris | July 21, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Poor little girl! So glad she's being taken care of .
Posted by: Bubblesknits | July 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Marcella is so cute and so petite, just a little bit of fluff really! Hope you are enduring the rain today with lots of good indoor projects.
Posted by: sarah | July 21, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Oh if I lived closer Marcella would be here sleeping in her own kitty be by now. And her name would be changed to "Butter"!
Posted by: deb | July 21, 2009 at 01:14 PM
What a cute little puffball! Hope she finds a good home.
I am also super-sensitive, I find myself crying at commercials someimtes!
Posted by: Meredith | July 21, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Aww, Marcella is adorable. I'm so glad she found the shelter and "demanded" to be taken in. :)
Posted by: Karen | July 21, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Marcella is so cute! I hope she gets a home soon...
Oh, I love the writing exercise you did...awesome...
I've done that Meme before - and maybe it is time to do it again...I've changed...
Posted by: Sara | July 21, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Thank you for doing this meme! I hope you don't mind I tagged you -- I know personal memes can be a little difficult. But I really liked reading your answers. I can tell why we're friends! I have perfectionist tendencies too (although not necessarily in the same areas you do), as well as a certain amount of sensitivity, stubbornness, and contrariness. This meme is fun because it confirms impressions I've already had of people but teaches me new things too.
I guess you've already had your next (and last?) writing class already -- I hope it went well!
Posted by: Dorothy W. | July 22, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I'm sitting here on the couch with my own orange kitty and remembering how he was right out of the shelter and half shaved only a year ago. I wish good things for all kitties out there, but now have a particular fondness for those orange ones!
What a cutie she is!!!
Posted by: Sheepish Annie | July 22, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Marcella looks like a delicious bundle of marmalade candy. Thankfully I already have The Lounging Party and all their hair to deal with or I would be tempted...
I'm with you on the over-done trendy stuff (hence my Crocs post yesterday). I have no interest in Twilight, or more socks, and most empire waist things make me look pregnant anyway (I think). Although I must confess I did join Facebook earlier this year because it was the only way to access all my college reunion info.... and it has been fun catching up with HS and college friends on it.... and I may be a little addicted...
Posted by: Robin | July 22, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Such a sweet kitty! I hope to play along later today with your meme. You and I share many personality traits!! I'm definitely stubborn, super sensitive, and a closet perfectionist, LOL. I never really cared for the trendy stuff either, classic is the only way to go.
Posted by: Monica | July 23, 2009 at 09:49 AM
lovely post :) and not just because of Marcella, who is ADORABLE! What a sad but sweet story. So glad she came to the right place!
Sounds like a really fun (but yes, complicated!!) exercise to me. Always difficult to try out a character's perspective/dialogue, especially one that you feel your not familiar... but rewarding!!
Posted by: Sarah | July 24, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Marcella looks like such a sweetie. I hope she finds a nice home soon.
I have some contrarian tendencies and I'm stubborn to boot. Oh and I'm very much a night person.
Posted by: Sydney | July 24, 2009 at 11:35 AM