Winner!!!

I suppose that most of you know what this little icon on the side of this text means... For those of you who don't know, I just completed my 50,000 word novel that I wrote for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I haven't actually completed the novel, but I have completed the word count. I am very happy to be done, but even more happy to have done it. Maybe I'll try again (unofficially) to write 50,000 words in December... Who knows?
But more importantly than me winning, I know that there are those of you out there who are still pounding away at your novel. I would never have done it without you. And hey, I bet you guys will be done soon.... Keep it up! You now know that it really *is* possible to complete a 50,000 word novel in a month. Don't stop writing!

~Manwathiel

Are you a Voyager?

Have I ever told you just how much I like Star Trek? I've almost definitely told you that I like it. I may have even told you that I consider myself a Trekkie (or at least a Trekkie in the making). But I doubt that I have really told you just how much I love Star Trek.

Today we just finished the finale of Star Trek Voyager. For a while, if asked what Star Trek was my favorite, I would have answered "Next Generation". Now, without a doubt, I would have to say that Voyager is my favorite, with Next Gen as a close second. The characters are amazing, unique, and personable. The plotlines are great. Time warps and Borg cubes pop up all the time, and you never quite know what will happen next. The finale, which we just watched, a two-parter called "Endgame" was simply fantastic. It had me on the edge of my chair the whole way through. It had Borg, time-travel, and all sorts of things all wrapped up in one. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Well... I won't tell you what happened. But I have one thing to say to you: Go watch Voyager. Don't judge Star Trek just because you might have seen one episode of the originals. Dig up a Voyager, season 4-7 episode (preferably with Borg in it) and sit down and watch. I can give you an assurance that you will love it--unless you come across a lesser episode, which I doubt will happen.

Well, at any rate, I love Star Trek Voyager. And now that I've finished it, what am I going to watch now? Well...I'll have to figure that out.

Live long and prosper,

Manwathiel

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Due to Friday being a holiday in Cambodia, Thanksgiving, for us, was celebrated a day late. Despite that fact, today (our Thanksgiving) has been absolutely amazing. I spent the morning helping Mom bake food, clean the house, set places, and so on and so forth... At about 12:30 people began to arrive. Our little house was absolutely full with 26 people crammed inside. It was an awesomely international gathering. No one seems to care that Thanksgiving is an American holiday. We had Brits, Mexicans, a Columbian, and in past years we've had Australians and others as well. Several of my good friends came over and we had an absolute blast. The food was amazing, we had turkey, mashed potatoes, pickles, cranberry sauce, gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, chicken, waldorf salad, other kinds of salads, layered jello, and tons of other great food. And then there was the pie. Oh, I love pie. Have I ever mentioned just how much I love pie? Well we had eight pies. Yes, eight pies. Three apple pies, three pumpkin pies, a chocolate pie, and a pecan pie. And oh, they were good. I love pumpkin pie, and I confess, I ate a lot of it. The apple pie was probably the best apple pie my mother has ever made, and the chocolate and pecan pies were amazing. I love pie.

Overall, today was a great day. Full of family, friends, fellowship, and giving thanks to God. I wish that Thanksgiving came more than once a year. Well, the day's not over yet. Several people left already, but others are still here waiting for....dinner!!! I, however stuffed I may be, am looking forward to turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, and leftover pie for dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving--Giving Thanks.

Thanksgiving. A time of rejoicing, family gatherings, turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin and pecan pies, mashed potatoes, bloated stomachs, and lopsided smiles. Thanksgiving is not only an American tradition, but is celebrated all around the world, albeit at different times. The Canadians have their Thanksgiving, it was the English who started the American tradition, people in Cambodia and countries all over the world all have a day--whether called Thanksgiving or called something different--when they celebrate their thankfulness. But so much of Thanksgiving has been lost over the years since the pilgrims gave thanks to the Native Americans for the aid they had given them and, more importantly, gave thanks to God for the blessings that he had bestowed upon them. That Thanksgiving was all about giving Thanks to God. Hence the name, Thanksgiving. But now, is Thanksgiving so much about Giving Thanks as it is about eating good food until you are bloated? If anything we have even more reason to give Thanks to God on Thanksgiving than before. How many people in the world can afford to eat as much as we Westerners often do on days like Thanksgiving? Not many. It saddens me to see how much we indulge ourselves when millions of people around the world are starving. But it is not eating loads of food that saddens me--God did bless us with the food to make the feast--but the fact that many people eat without giving thanks to God. We would never have the bounty that we do if it were not for Him. I am blessed by God to have a family that loves and gives thanks to Him, but many people do not have such a blessing. Yes, having a huge feast on Thanksgiving is a wonderful thing, but it is pointless if we do not continue to do what Thanksgiving is all about: Give Thanks to God.

Yet Another Blog in the Life of an Elf

Yes, I have done it again. Another day, another blog. I promise, however, to keep up with this one. I'll post and post lots and lots. Happy now?

If you're reading this blog, I assume that I know you. But just in case I don't, my name is Manwathiel, I am from Mirkwood, although you may know me by other names and from other places. I am homeschooled, as are most Elves, and I--unlike most elves--spend a lot of time on the internet. At any rate, this is my blog. Expect me to post on it regularly. If I don't then you can send me spammy e-mails telling me to. Happy?

~Manwathiel