Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- X

I'm stretching it here with my pick for the letter X, I know. But it makes more sense than saying xylophones make me smile when they really don't. Ok, if they are incorporated into a beautiful symphony piece then yes, they do.

Anyway, what makes me smile starting with the letter X (or has the letter X found in the word) is...

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

During the three and a half years I've been writing and progressing forward on my literary journey, I have met countless people who have impressed me this much: from the universe and back and then back and forth a trillion times squared. Yup. I have learned so much about my craft through these individuals and have gained amazing friendships as well. I can't express with words how grateful I am for having met them via writing conferences, blogging, and tweeting. You are my heroes/heroines.

For the sake of not having this post go on for pages and pages, I will spare you reading a truck load of names of wonderful people who I count as my angels of writing inspiration and encouragement. You know who you are. I send you hugs and a barrel of monkey's worth of love; they will be trained to clean your homes in order to give you more time to write. Hot dog, am I a nice little gal or what!

And do you know what? Even more extraordinary people have been flooding cyberspace because of the A to Z Challenge. I have enjoyed getting to know you all through your blog posts. I thank all that have spent time reading about my smiles.

谢谢, Gracias, ありがとう, Merci, תודה, Danke, Grazie, спасибо, Salamat, 감사합니다, Mahalo, شكرا , and THANK YOU!

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- W

December of 2009 brought about something that changed my life forever: I had an idea for a book. Just thinking about this turn of events brings tears to my eyes, but a smile to my face as well. That's when I learned of the joys of...

WRITING

Being a writer has given me more meaning to my life than I could ever have dreamed of, and my first book sprouted from a dream. Who'd have thunk? That dream will forever be ingrained upon my thoughts because it marked the commencement of a beautiful adventure. Of course, when I started writing that book, I had no plans of trying to get her published and I had no idea what I was doing. Let's just say I was 38.4 degrees below a novice.

Over time and deleting and adding a ton of words, I have learned a thing or two about how to write, about how to juggle life and words, and about the industry. It has not been an easy path, but one in which I feel blessed to have traveled and am still pushing forward through the hills, climbs, plateaus, and occasional valleys.

At the end of the night, I LOVE writing. It is the strength I needed throughout these years. It is my calling in life (well, one of them). I will never quite until my stories are published.

I smile because I write. I smile because no matter how depressed or downtrodden I become, I still write. It's in my flesh, bones, blood, and spirit. And this summer is going to be filled with many new words created by my hand. The future is bright and my words will be like my sun, buoying me up by developing new worlds of wonder for others to enjoy! One day, indeed.

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- V

We are nearing the end of the Blogging From A to Z April Blogfest. Continuing forward, the things starting with the letter V that make me smile are...

VIDEOS

Last month, I shared for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest a bunch of videos I love. In order not to repeat that post, I'm going to tell you my favorite cartoons. I'm a kid at heart. The cartoons that make me smile are as follows:

Madagascar

Emperor's New Groove

Kung Fu Panda

Ice Age

Chicken Run

Up

Despicable Me

Bolt

Over the Hedge

The Incredibles

Toy Story

Oh, how I am smiling just thinking about all of these flippin' awesome movies.

What are some of your favorite cartoons videos? And let me know something starting with the letter V that makes you smile.

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- U

U is a special one for me. Without fail what (who) this letter stands for makes me smile. It stands for...

U2

Salt Lake City, Utah  May 24, 2011

Photo by Julia King 

Yup, my favorite band. Ever. Period. My U2 journey commenced when I was 15 and U2's Pop album was released. I attened the PopMart tour and since then I have seen them three more times. Lovely evenings for sure! Oh, how I smiled during those few precious hours listening to my Irish lads rockin' out on the stage. And yes, I spent time in Dublin, Ireland, and I saw all the U2 sites including Bono's house in Killney Bay. I even met his brother Norman Hewson. Coolness. Yes, I'm obsessed!

Yet, the story goes back farther than that... Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved music. It stems from my brother and sister listening to music during my formative years. Their musical favs were new-wave synth 80's all the way to alternative 90's tunes. As any good little sister, I followed in their footsteps. Listening to music has been a huge part of my life since then. In junior and high school, I pretty much was a radio junky. I won a bunch of radio contests and heard my voice on the air plenty of times; they should have paid me for all the air-time.

Because of my love of music, I totally love concerts! And I've been to more than I can count on my fingers and toes. Plus, my precious U2 concerts. Oh, sorry, I already mentioned that. Silly me. :D

Music is inspirational when I write. Gotta have me some music blaring in my ears to get me in the creative zone. :)

Are you a music fan? What are your favorite bands or types of music? Do you listen to music while writing? Starting with the letter U, what makes you smile?

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- T

Many things make me smile but the today's letter super-duper-with-sugar-and-the-kitchen-sink-on-top makes me smile. And big time. It is...

 

TRAVELING

 

I love being immersed in new cultures and seeing different places, especially if it requires taking a plane. Turbulence is a must at least a couple times while I'm in the air. Oh, just thinking about dropping in altitude makes me giggle. Yet, oddly enough, I don't like roller coasters so much. Go figure.

 

I've been all over the world and still have many a place to go! Before I kick the can (ugh, morbid, sorry), I plan on visiting every continent, even Antarctica. Yup, I'll play a game of tag with some penguins (I'll win, obviously) and most certainly wear bundles and bundles of warm clothing. Brrrr

 

Here's a list of places I've traveled to so far: Canada, U.S. (30 states), England (lived there), Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, China, and Taiwan (lived there).

 

My favorite place I have been to is the Cinque Terre in Italy. Sigh!

 

Do you like traveling? Where have you been to? Where's your favorite place to vacation? Starting with the letter T, what makes you smile?

 

Writing Jewels

PS: Sorry I didn't check out many blogs yesterday, especially those people that commented on my "Sleeping In" post. My laptops power charger kicked the can (this is twice in all of a month). I had to purchase a new one. The person that let me borrow hers couldn't get it to me until later on last night; therefore, blogging wasn't able to happen. Plus, I was feeling a bit sick yesterday. So, long story short, sorry dearest followers. I hope I can do better today. :)

 

PPS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

 

 

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- S

The letter S may be my favorite smile of them all for this challenge--Ok, just kidding, it's not but it is up there in the numbers.

SLEEPING IN

I have to get up relatively early (for me, that is) Monday - Friday (who doesn't though), so come Saturday and Sunday, I milk sleep for all it's worth. On Friday evening, I smile for the fact that I can turn off my alarm clock and sleep in until whenever, not just for one day but two. Hot Dog! I've been known to sleep in until 11AM sometimes. Yes, total waste of time, but ever so nice. Although, I do have obligations on Sunday mornings on occasion, but I still can still catch a few more winks than I do on weekdays.

I had a room mate that couldn't sleep past 6AM. I would die if my body said, "Ok, it's time to get up, Julia." And then sleep flooded away like a rushing river. Since I was a kid, I have just needed sleep. I was definitely not one of those crack of dawn type of kids. I let the 'rents sleep in. So nice of me, huh?

The funny thing is I am neither a morning person nor a night person. I just like sleep. :)

Well, my smiles are tipped off to sleep!

Do you like sleeping in? Are you a morning person, night person, or neither of them like me? What is the latest you've ever slept in? And starting with the letter S, what makes you smile?

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!