A Writer This Way Comes

And...We're Back!!

2009-11-25T14:55:00.010-05:00

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.
- Jonathan Swift

What a hiatus it has been!!

I have an explanation, although not a terribly good one. Last spring (when the last post took place), work got terribly busy - acting, writing, VM, and just about everything else. At the time, I had also begun work on redesigning my website to incorporate both my blog and my acting and writing portfolios.

And then the summer hit, with all those things that summer comes with, like day-long outings (every other day), family trips, the beach, tennis (another blog in need of an explanation...), late nights, adventure parks, 5K races, go-kart racing, shopping, car shows, swimming, trips to the city, trips in general, and on and on and on.

In the midst of all this, The Vigilant Monkey got underway in July. Exciting!! And, more recently, we celebrated our official launch party back on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at Greenhouse in NYC and raised over $600 for Child's Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in their network of over 60 hospitals worldwide =)

Not to mention, we also raised over $1,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and participated in its Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Long Island, NY, held at Old Westbury Gardens.

I also began an ambitious ghostwriting project with an amazing individual in the medical field, as well as continued work on a joint novel with an acclaimed physician out here on Long Island. Of course, I was also still freelancing for the NAVEL Expo team (who recently held their fall event in early November).

Then, as summer was winding down, I was chosen to be the copywriter for Totsy, the premier private shopping network for moms, on the launch of their website.

But wait - there's more!! In August, I made the bold step of purchasing my first Apple product, other than an iPod. I bought myself a 15" MacBook Pro...and fell in love. Naturally, I decided I had to work for Apple. So I applied, and a month later, I was training to be a Specialist at the yet-to-be-opened Manhasset store, the fourth on Long Island. On Saturday, October, 17, 2009, we celebrated our grand opening, and my life has gotten even busier even since.

Okay, okay, we get it, you say, you're a busy writer. Well, yes, but remember that other thing I do? Besides talking a lot...

Acting!! Back in August, I got a supporting role in a short film adaptation of the Metal Gear Solid video game series. And then in October, I was cast as the lead in a two-part film currently shooting in Boston, MA. Oh, and let's not forget the six-week audition technique class I just finished with Jonathan Strauss, casting director of Law and Order: SVU.

I think that's about all the updating you can take and I can give for the moment. But stay tuned, the new www.melissanavia.com is days away...

april reading brings...more reading

2009-04-22T00:24:00.004-05:00

Those who write clearly have readers. Those who write obscurely have commentators.
- Albert Camus

Only a couple of more weeks of April, and already I'm feeling the end-of-semester reading (and writing) crunch, not to mention some books I've just been wanting to read.

Check out four that are topping the list -

1) The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, by Rainer Maria Rilke

Sick in its search of self-awareness, acutely aware of the trauma of modernity, and refreshingly, in a depressing kind of way, poignant - I think I've found my new favorite writer/poet of yore. I've been getting the same feeling I had when I first read Richard Corey by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Published in 1910, it follows Malte, a young Danish nobleman and poet living in Paris, obsessed with death and the deceptiveness of appearances. But aren't we all? The work is semi-biographical, in that Rilke draws from his own childhood and adult years in writing it, which makes the overwhelming sense of anxiety that pervades the book that much more disturbing.

Just a sample of what you'll read...

I don't even know how it is possible for children to get up in the morning, in their bedrooms full of gray-smelling cold, and go to school; who strengthens them, these little hurried skeletons, so that they can run out into the grown-up city, into the gloomy dregs of the night, into the eternal school day, always small, always full of foreboding, always late. I have no conception of the amount of help that is constantly besing used up - p. 213 (trans. Stephen Mitchell)

I prayed to rediscover my childhood, and it has come back, and I feel that it is just as difficult as it used to be, and that growing older has served no purpose at all. - p. 64 (trans. Stephen Mitchell)

2) Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, by Brandon Mull

Book IV in the series and bound to make me even angrier than the last three, what with it's name alone being too damn clever and perfect for my liking. Click here to read more about it in an archived post of mine.

3) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen

A nice woman who was very excited about the dozens of pockets built into a lululemon backpack recommended this book to me. I am looking forward to learning more about this crazy "stress-free" concept...must be some newfangled trend.

4) Film Theory & Criticism, edited by Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen

All film theory. All the time. A must-have addition to the library for any film major.

a poem on easter day

2009-04-12T23:48:00.003-05:00

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
- Henry Ford

Happy Easter!! My day was just fantastic. It kicked off with one of the more eventful masses I've ever attended (people fainting, lemming-like confusion, hour-long search for boyfriend who was stuck on the other side of the church, the sign of peace being sent via text, stories of people getting locked in bathrooms, etc.). At home, we had a most awesome meal of empanadas, plantains, rice, beans, and soup. Then we divvied up Easter chocolates (peanut butter and chocolate could quite possibly be the most perfect edible match ever). And then we napped!! When we got up, there were movies to watch, Internet to surf, singing to be done, more things to eat, and time to chill.

Faith, family, food, and fun - Easter and alliteration, all wrapped up in one =)

Now to transition to some writing updates...I recently entered yet another writing competition, this time for poetry, sponsored by the Utmost Christian Writers Foundation.

The winning results were posted earlier today. I didn't win.

How fitting, right, that I should find out I didn't win any prizes in a Christian poetry contest on none other than Easter Day =P

While I can't quite see what was so amazing about the poems that did win, I will acknowledge an amount of bias on my part, and let you be the judge. Check out the winners here.

And now check out what I entered. Let me know what you think!!

And If Sleep Should Come

By: Melissa C. Navia

The sun tiptoed in, one morning long ago
Only to find me, young and curious, hunched over an antique, wooden desk
Writing and dreaming, thinking and plotting, stressing and striving
About things I wanted to do, places I had to go, and people I was certain I needed to meet
So on I trudged, with a mad pursuit, as the sun settled in
To watch me in my youthful craze, all excited in a cloud of work and haze
Content to madden me with its warm embrace and soft, yellow glow
Go away, I implored, all too aware of its oppressive gaze
But stay it did, and my eyes began to wander, my pen began to falter
As I looked out the beckoning window to see the people below
Talking and laughing, playing and dancing, strolling and smiling
How I would like to dance, I thought, feeling my resolve weaken
So I snapped up my pen and shut the shade
The sun’s touch quickly starting to fade
Yes, dance I would, until my feet were sore
If only it meant I could work some more!

One day, not long after, I left my work chambers
Armed with my papers, my books, years of work, and the best of intentions
I swung open the front door, stepped out onto the pavement, and began the arduous climb
Up roads and dark alleys, through canyons and the loneliest of earth’s valleys
The sun, too, was there, as I knew it would be, watching and waiting
Just watching and waiting
But pay attention I couldn’t, because people, the masses, the many soon appeared
Cheering and smiling with eyes wide and ears shut, hands clapping, gums flapping
It must be my books, my papers, I concluded, the work done in those years all secluded
And I cannot deny, that a wide grin appeared on my face
Validation, success! I thought, overcome with the sudden desire to rest
Tugging at my tired feet, nipping and scraping, my chest left heavy and oppressed
No! No, I fought back and shook the pestering feeling away
Roads still left to cross—things to do!—no time to waste, not on this or any other day

And with that, the work refused to cease, the frenzy only worsened
Days turned to nights; minutes rolled on, and the hours tumbled with them
Paths untouched, I would clear; earth untouched, I would claim
Buried ruins, I would discover; and for more than this, I would win fame
Endure, urged unseen voices, as I stumbled in the heat, with blistered, wounded feet
And the burdensome sun looked on, brutal and ominous where it hung
Keep going, came the whispers, keep working and cursing, reaching and pursuing
But my head began to nod amidst the prodding and the poking, signs I was subduing
And if sleep should come? asked a man, a traveler I had not seen before
But it never does! was my frenzied response, as my fists dug into the earthen floor
But if it did? he gently persisted, reaching down to pick up my overburdened sack
I would sleep, I whispered, as the land of endless promises—and things to do!—went black

And with that I fell
In a weightless, worry-free spell
Into a deep and endless embrace
Of light, of warmth, of rest, of some strange and awesome grace

What seemed a lifetime later, I sensed the silence of my room
In the stillness I waited, unsure and hesitant, but wonderfully relieved
Feeling that my books and work and wild notions no longer, somehow, burdened me
And then my eyelids fluttered and soon began to open
My conscience filled with light, rendering the shadow, in my head, irrelevant and broken
Was this a dream? I gasped, as I beheld my beckoning window overlooking my own desk
My achievements on the wall, my papers fluttering in the breeze, my silver pen glistening
As the sun filtered in, its warm caress illuminating all, even my newly humbled face
But a dream it could not be, because I had yet to sleep
I mused, as I stretched and skipped—yes skipped!—to fling open the window
And as expected, by some ancient premonition, I saw the traveler I had seen once before
Nodding his head with assurance that I had plenty of years left to do and create and explore
But now it was time to rest, to take better care of nothing and no one else but me
Now it was time to sleep, and with that I had nothing left to do but breathe, smile, and agree

vm: the blog

2009-04-08T01:38:00.002-05:00

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
- Jack London

It's April already, and I can see I have a lot of posting to make up for, especially considering the goal I set for myself in the new year.

A swift kick in the pants it is - two new posts every week, coming right up!!

Let's get back on track with something you should all be excited about -

VM: The Blog @ vigilantmonkey.wordpress.com

Yes, the launch date of our magazine might have been delayed, but we figured we'd get a jump start on making a stamp in the online realm. Right now, the blog will function as a spot to feature writers, articles, links, news, and updates, but once the magazine launches, it will continue on as the main site's trusty sidekick in watchful news and culture reporting.

Let us know what you think of the blog's layout!!

And by us, I mean Alex and me. Tomorrow we're off to the NY Auto Show for the start of two days of press conferences, sneak peeks, fast cars, and free food. Check the VM blog in the near future for recaps and pictures.

Speaking of Alex, he's been doing a far better job of posting on his blog, Autokinesis, and prepping for the loads of auto content VM will soon be featuring. Check out his latest test drives and automotive commentary -

Autokinesis @ alexanderkblog.wordpress.com

And if you're reading this...comment, dammit!!

more stuff to write

2009-03-15T02:28:00.001-05:00

Auteur, yes, but what of?
- Andre Bazin

It's hard not to quote film theorists when all you've been doing for the past three hours is reading film theory. I'm working on a paper discussing Guillermo del Toro's role as auteur in The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. Interesting terrain to cover about a director equally as interesting. It's technically supposed to be a short response paper, but at the rate I'm going, I think it's going to be lengthier.

These days when I'm not writing papers for class (a second one, for another class, is due this Tuesday about Marcel Proust's Swann's Way in relation to one of the psychoanalytic texts we've discussed) I have been occupied with writing health/medical articles, doing research and conducting interviews for the nutrition/medical autobiography I am co-writing, and making some headway with VM. I also submitted my poem for entry into the Utmost Christian Poetry Contest last weekend, and winners will be announced in April.

Stay tuned for news about the official VM blog, aptly titled Vigilant Monkey: The Blog.

Do I sound tired? Way too concise for my normal self?

Maybe because I am exhausted. 2:45 AM will be an early bedtime for me tonight =P

my dad, ancient aliens, and the history channel

2009-03-08T18:00:00.004-05:00

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
- T. S. Eliot

My dad, Luis E. Navia, is going to be on the History Channel!!

He is one of the scholars interviewed for Ancient Aliens, the station's newest special on the ancient astronaut theory. It airs for the first time tonight at 8 PM.

Check out the link below for other upcoming episodes -

Ancient Aliens - Synopsis and Schedule

Leave a comment - let me know what you think!!

hard work and no play

2009-02-28T20:00:00.004-05:00

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.
- Thomas Jefferson

The end of February, and this is only my second post. Tsk, tsk!!

But I have my reasons. One has been the immense amount of work that has been on my plate and the other has been that it feels like I was sick or recovering from being sick for most of the month. First I got sick for about a week, then I got better, and then I got sick for about two more weeks with something that resembled the flu and the plague all in one. It's been exhausting. And the funny thing, in a way, is that I probably got sick for an extended period of time due to a lack of sleep and overexertion. Ironic, indeed.

When I was trying not to be sick, I was writing, writing, and more writing. For starters, I completed two more articles for the Health Media Group, featuring two speakers that will be giving lectures at the NAVEL Expo in May. I have also been attending writing group meetings every week My featured submission and sample of my novel is due in two weeks. For me, when I've been unnecessarily putting something off - cough, like continuing my book, cough - I find it helps when there is a deadline imposed by someone other than yourself. People will be counting on me to have a submission in two weeks...so I better have it. There there is some more freelance writing happening, and I have been commissioned to write two Long Island family-related articles (due in one week). And lastly, work has begun on the medical, autobiographical book I am co-authoring. A chunk of a chapter is due by Tuesday.

In terms of competitions, I find out how I did in my latest short story competition in a few weeks. As for new challenges, I am going to submit a poem to the Utmost Christian Poetry Contest. I was fortunate enough to have had the deadline for it extended until next Saturday, as opposed to today. Right now all of the poem that I'd like to submit is all in my head, so I'll have to work on getting it on paper in the next few days.

What about non-writing activities? Yeah, been doing them, too. I finished off Chines New Year lion dance shows with Alex back at the start of February. Not sure what that is? Check out his blog post about our kung fu academy's school show. Of course, I've been playing tennis every week. I've also been going to more acting auditions in the city. No big break yet, but every audition has gone very well, with some great reactions from the directors in the room. I'm also taking two graduate classes a week at the City University Graduate Center.

Oh, and let's not forget The Vigilant Monkey =) The magazine still isn't up, but we're taking a little bit of time to make sure the programming is done right. In the meantime, look for a VM blog to be up within the next two weeks, featuring articles, writers, comics, and the like.

And that's the update of the work I've been up to, in the midst of, been occupied with, etc.

Stay tuned...posts to come galore in March

coming soon - a new melissanavia.com!!

2009-02-12T00:45:00.000-05:00

If you think that something small cannot make a difference, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room.
- Anonymous

A lot of you already know, but my website is being redesigned by the awesome guys at digitalsoul designs. In the meantime, they've put up a holding page. It might not seem like a huge deal, but it is to me =)

So check it out -

www.melissanavia.com

anxiety setting in...kind of

2009-01-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

Eighty percent of success is showing up.
- Woody Allen

So it's the end of January, and VM should have launched by last week, but clearly, it hasn't.

What's a frustrated me to do? Just keep plugging away. And plugging away.

Confusion with the content system and articles module being set up for the site has created a major lag, thus rendering editorial deadlines inconsequential and teaching me a valuable lesson about remembering to take into account delays on the more technical side of things...over which I have no major control.

Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe it.

But everyone I've spoken to is unanimous with their reassurance that this is exactly the kind of stuff that happens when you start a business. There are unexpected delays. There are problems. There are things to be reworked. There are people to have discussions over discussion with...even if it's the same discussion. There are things to organize. There are deep breaths to take over and over again.

VM will launch... as soon as it's ready. I want it to launch correctly, and if that means delaying it a month, then so be it, but we will launch - soon.

screenplay competitions '09

2009-01-27T11:45:00.008-05:00

I never had any doubts about my abilities. I knew I could write. I just had to figure out how to eat while doing this.
- Cormac McCarthy

In addition to all the short story and poetry contests being held, there are also quite a few screenplay competitions with some seriously hefty prizes. How does $10,000 sound for that movie you've always had playing in your head?

Check out just three of the many more that I'm sure are out there. Beyond this, a quick Google search should keep you occupied with plenty of deadlines for the next few months.

1) The 2009 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

For the 11th year, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition is now open for submission of feature length screenplays.

Grand Prize: $10,000
Four Finalists: $1500

All ages are eligible. All entries must be in English and between 80 and 145 pages in length. Submissions are accepted via electronic submission. There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.

Every writer who enters BlueCat receives written script analysis.

Regular Deadline: March 2, 2009; Entry fee $50
Late Deadline: April 1, 2009; Entry Fee $60

All early bird submissions will be eligible to resubmit the screenplay prior to the March 2 deadline for a $35 entry fee.

Quarter-finalists will be announced on June 15th.
Semi-Finalists will be announced on July 15th.
Five finalists will be named on July 23rd and awarded $1500.
The winner will be named on August 1st and awarded $10,000.

2) The Gimme Credit Screenplay Competition

The Gimme Credit Screenplay Competition is open for submissions in the following categories -

Super Shorts: 1 - 5 pages
Shorts: 6 - 30 pages
Features: 80-145 pages

The competition is open to all genres and all writers 18 years of age and older. Plays, television pilots and teleplays are also accepted. All scripts must be in English.

Early Bird Deadline: March 3, 2009
Regular Deadline: June 16, 2009
Late Deadline: September 22, 2009

For more information about entry fees and prizes, visit www.gimmecreditcompetition.com.

3) The WriteMovies.com International Writing Contest

WriteMovies.com is now accepting submissions for its 21st annual writing competition. Screenplays, plays, short stories, and books are eligible, but only 1,000 entries will be accepted in total.

Grand Prize: $3,000 in cash and guaranteed representation (for more, check out www.writemovies.com)

Early Deadline: February 3, 2009; Entry fee $29
Standard Deadline: March 1, 2009; Entry fee $39
Late Deadline: April 2, 2009; Entry fee $49
The flat fee for book submissions is $54.

one nation...under watch

2009-01-25T00:15:00.003-05:00

The pen is the tongue of the mind.
- Miguel de Cervantes

Talk about close: With five minutes until the midnight deadline, I just managed to submit my short story entry to the NYC Midnight 3rd Annual Short Story Challenge a short while ago.

As with the other NYC Midnight challenges, there are a few requirements to adhere to, including that the story has to be 2,500 words or less. The genre and subject categories are assigned in accordance with what heat you are placed in - 22 this time for me.

Title: One Nation...Under Watch
Synopsis: Just trying to do his job, Representative Jack Malarcky realizes a little too late the consequences of an innocent proposal as his normal life, under the vigilant eye of the nation’s surveillance system, spirals out of control.
Genre: Political Satire
Subject: Surveillance

By Melissa C. Navia

I remember when the idea first came to me, nothing more than a passing thought. I hadn't even considered it the night before as I reviewed the next day's proposed topics to discuss. The ride to work was preoccupied with pressing matters, like what was for lunch and how many hours until the weekend. And when we filed into chamber, the incessant buzzing of the cameras overhead as we passed through the doors didn't seem so out of place.

But then the arguing began. First there was Rep. Burns who spoke for thirty-three minutes about the spreading vandalism. Threatening graffiti, smashed cameras, and people going to work in mustached disguises to avoid being identified on closed-circuit television. Was the latter even illegal, he asked. If not, then it should be, was the murmured response. Stone-faced agents from the newly dubbed and unwieldy named NSWVA (National Surveillance, Watch, and Vigilance Agency) noted the exchange and tapped away at their paper-thin laptops. Then there was Rep. Laurel who spoke passionately for an hour about the growing paranoia. Apathy, she cried, was at an all-time high. The new crop of jobs in the surveillance industry had produced workers who were spending endless hours reviewing footage of city streets and suburban lawns, listening to millions of conversations about what happened yesterday and didn't happen today, thinking away at new methods of biometric scanning, and infiltrating each other's homes and businesses, only to leave them tired shells with worn-out eyes and ears the rest of the day. The American Optometric Association was reporting an explosion of people in need of prescriptions and the NYPD had counted 962 people staring vacantly at trees in Central Park this past Monday, between the hours of 5 and 9 PM, when many of them had to be carted off home. Something must be done, Rep. Laurel insisted, and the NSWVA took note.

The buzzing overhead began to penetrate my thoughts. But no sooner did I try to shake it away when Rep. Jetham hurried up to complain for fourteen minutes that we needed more money, more money, more money. His district was not an anomaly, he gestured dramatically. Every city, state, and program was in debt. Every week the Capitol votes for more funding to go to cameras, recorders, scanners, operatives, data profiling, electronic thing-ama-jigs, and bugs. Bugs! he repeated, as he shuffled off mumbling that his eight-year-old son's newest game console was outfitted with three new types of trendy surveillance bugs.

Again, the buzzing resurfaced, louder than before. I had yet to hear any solutions offered to the growing headache of problems, and I stole a glance at the agents seated above. And when I turned to look back, Rep. Adams had taken the floor. Quieter than the others and noticeably more upset, he had only one complaint: the unexplained disappearance of people. A hush fell over the chamber. The buzzing was now more unbearable than ever, I cringed, as the agents above shuffled uncomfortably in their velvet-lined seats. His brother-in-law had gone missing over two weeks ago with no explanation at all. The police were uncooperative. The courts had slammed their doors. And no one, he accused, in the Capitol has offered to look into the matter.

Have you asked them to look, offered Rep. Laurel, into his surveillance files? They claim they did, was his listless response, and said that there was no recorded kidnapping, so he must have left of his own accord. Silence fell over the room again.

And this buzzing! Rep. Adams continued, covering his ears. I can't sleep anymore with these maddening sounds wherever I go!

So that was when it happened. I stood up and hurried to the podium to pull Robert away. Back to his seat he went, his sweaty hands still cupped over his ears as he avoided the gaze of the agents above. And as I watched him go, the rest turned to me. What could I say? After what we had just heard, I couldn't imagine sitting through much more. So I proposed the only thing I could think of to make the arguing and the problems and the ceaseless buzzing go away:

"Why don't we stop all the recordings of…everything…and go back to the way things were before?"

And that was it. There, I said it, for everyone to hear. And yes, the recordings, too. However it could have been captured, it was, etched in electronically encoded time.

So I really shouldn't have been too unnerved when the agents from above, with the awkward acronyms embroidered on their jackets, stood up to speak. The random acts of vandalism would soon be stopped even before they start, thanks to the newest in CCTV and biometric technology, one said to Rep. Burns. Our superior surveillance systems have practically eradicated unemployment, another reminded Rep. Laurel, and the AOA could not be happier to know that the eye prescriptions they are handing out today will be the wave of eyeglass/contact lens surveillance technology tomorrow. As for money, chimed in a third, and Rep. Jetham looked away, everyone should know that money spent on surveillance means less money needed elsewhere. Surveillance is the first line of defense, and soon, it will be the only one. And as a reminder to all, said the sternest of the group, our improved surveillance operations are still and will always be the most efficient way of removing criminals from our streets. Robert did not look up.

Vigilance is protection.

And with that, they marched out. The meeting was adjourned, with me still standing at the podium, wondering what terrible thing I might have just done. I walked to my seat, picked up my papers, and left Robert grumbling about how upset his wife would be when he went home.

Hours later, I was driving home, along the same route I had always used. Yet this time was different. Everything seemed new. As I waited at a traffic light, I spotted one, two, nine, seventeen nests of CCTV cameras positioned in the intersection. The shiny, silver clusters panned and jerked up and down, right and left, capturing everything in sight. But I could’ve sworn, and maybe I was wrong, that at least two of them were locked on me. And when the light turned green, I gladly hit the gas, and they, too, obediently followed until I was out of sight.

Not to mention, because I guess I should, the graffiti I must’ve ignored every time I had passed them before. The Camera Lies. Vigilance is a Hoax. Watch Out. All of them were in drab, scrawled bubble letters, some of them incomplete as if they had been interrupted in mid-execution. Further up, I spotted officers violently striking down video cameras that had been hastily set up on sidewalks. A teenager lay sprawled on the floor in handcuffs, as his (I assumed) smashed cameras lay broken at his side.

I shook the image away and turned the radio on, as I sped up to make it home. The increase in CCTV traffic, announced the reporter, can be thanked for the heightened operating noises of public recording devices. And then the broadcast cut to the one sound I had been trying to avoid all day: that mind-numbing buzz. Turning the radio off, I swerved into the driveway. I gathered my things and ran indoors, foolishly ignoring the tall, well-bundled man staring at me from my neighbor’s front lawn. Once inside and breathing hard, I stole a glance through the blinds of the living room window, but the figure was gone. Maybe he had been my neighbor, I convinced myself. But let’s be honest, I knew he wasn’t.

I was exhausted, I’ll admit, and should’ve have been far more careful, but hindsight is so much clearer from the trees by which I now sit. At the time, I didn’t think not to make any phone calls to my cousin in Connecticut or my sister on Long Island. I didn’t think not to mention the day’s earlier incidents to my friend who called from Arizona. And of course I didn’t think it strange to walk into my room and find the television on, a faint buzzing emanating from its spot on the wall. I was too tired to make a conspiracy out of it, and so I went to sleep, under the watchful eyes and ears of the NSWVA.

The next day I tried to make small talk, but Reps. Burns, Laurel, and Jetham blatantly ignored my meager attempts. Where’s Robert? I inquired. He’s gone, scribbled my secretary on a notepad and then proceeded to rip it up and throw it away. I got the hint, said nothing more, and thought of lunch only hours away.

Over an egg salad sandwich—that’s when they came. Agents from the NSWVA. I was escorted to their offices at the other end of the Capitol, where they sat me down and told me plainly, in their stern, robotic way, that they were sorry to see me resign my position as elected official. Oh really? I gasped. Effective immediately, they replied. But why? I persisted. And the rest I don’t quite remember. But if you really must know, I’m sure you can refer to the surveillance files and see what the video says. Look them up: Jack Malarcky. Given the suffocating buzz in the room, I’m almost certain the whole scene was recorded ten different ways.

And that would’ve been it, the end of the story, but the fact that I’m telling you this should be an indication that it most certainly was not. I did as I was told, quietly as I was asked, and the next day I found myself sitting alone at home. No one called, no one knocked on my door. So I disconnected the television and ripped out the telephone wires and, after dropping it in the toilet, smashed my cell phone to bits. All of these things I took outside and left them by the street.

Then depression set in, and I slept all day. When I awoke each night, there was nothing for me to do but go out for late-night drives and stops at the convenient store. Then post-nasal drip developed into a sinus infection and a frustratingly temperamental fever. Next thing I knew, I was a bundled mess of coats and scarves and gloves and hats every time I stepped out of my door. It was mid-January, what else was a sick man like me to do? Yes, mid-January, I remember thinking, when it struck me that my annual membership to the wholesale grocery store was about to expire. With no paycheck in the near future, I did what any respectable person would do—I went and bought everything in bulk that I could. Bags of rice, cartons of milk, larger-than-necessary boxes of cereal, dozens of packaged frozen foods. It must’ve looked strange, I admit, but I couldn’t have imagined who would bother to be looking. And then, as if the rest was not enough, one night, as I prepared to go out for a drive, I turned the ignition only to hear the sounds of a struggling engine. So I opened the garage, rolled the car in, and went to sleep convinced it couldn’t get any worse.

But it did.

The next day, as I tried to make sense of the inner workings under the hood of my car, they came as quietly and as quickly as they had done for me only a few weeks before. The agents with the acronyms burnt into their cores arrested me without even a word. A nice to see you again would have sufficed, but even that would’ve been asking too much.

Less than an hour later, I stood before a judge who informed me what I was being charged with, a direct result of the suspicious activities they had caught on the cameras in my house, the ones across the street, and the latest in trendy bugs planted in the chassis of my car. Not to mention, he reminded, the conversations we recorded and the behavior our operatives (he motioned to a clump of well-bundled men in the corner) duly noted.

But wait, I interjected, frantically explaining the depression, the sinus infection, the now-expired membership card, and the sputtering engine. The judge looked on as an agent from the NSWVA stepped forward:

“That’s not what the cameras said.”

And with that I was sentenced to ten years in jail for the countless number of illegal recorded activities I had committed, and, in case it could ever be proven that they had indeed not been illegal, I was sentenced to another ten for wasting taxpayers’ money and the state’s time. Indeed, if I had known that a trip to the supermarket was going to call for the installation of nine HD surveillance cameras around the perimeter of my house and the round-the-clock watch of five internationally trained operatives, I would’ve never left the house.

But I did leave the house, and a jail in the countryside was where I ended. Once there, I was shocked to see the state of disrepair into which the state’s highest-security prison had fallen. What would be my home for the next ten (or twenty) years was an atrocious mess of rust and decay. Even the cameras were in disarray, and the entire compound was dangerously understaffed. What’s the reason for this, I asked a tired-looking warden. No money, he laughed, to watch the criminals anymore. I smiled at the irony and wished Rep. Jetham all the best.

So with everything falling apart, and the locks on the jail cells less than sturdy, it was only a matter of time before the worst of us devised a plan to escape. And when we did (unmonitored, of course), the wardens stepped aside. We were murderers and drug dealers, rapists and thieves, but we were also people who had disappeared for doing nothing at all. There was me, as you know, but there were also men like Robert and his brother-in-law who had spent weeks, months, and some even years for doing everyday things and trying to live decent lives…

I’m not trying to make excuses; it’s just the very truth. From the hills, we met with other groups of escapees, and together the self-proclaimed leaders planned the attack. Sitting in the trees, writing to you, I can see the houses and the buildings down below. And I guess I could quietly slip away, hail a cab or catch a bus, and once in the city I could alert authorities and give away the horror being plotted in the hills above. But on second thought, it would be a waste of money and my time. I’m sure the judge who sentenced me will understand.

And besides, if anything good is to come of this, I'll finally have done something interesting—and illegal—for the cameras to record.

no sleep for VM

2009-01-09T02:24:00.006-05:00

You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
- Les Brown

It's 2:24 in the morning. I'm tired. I've spent much of the night working on VM-related stuff...e-mailing writers, adding to the editorial list, checking off things from the To Do list, reading up on the news, updating our VM group Facebook page, sending more e-mails, thinking, thinking, thinking.

And every so often I can't help but wonder...Is this going to work? By all accounts, it should. It makes perfect sense...to me anyway. But the more I get into the thick of things, the more I realize I'm fully committed here, the nagging question persists.

So persist away. If I wasn't doing all this work and making visible progress, the question probably wouldn't even occur to me because there'd be no risk involved, no reason to worry. One year ago the thought didn't occur to me because VM was still sitting atop a lofty bar stool in a corner of my head.

Since then, things have changed. I'm getting it done. I'm putting in serious hours. I'm fully invested. I'm anxious. I'm hungry. I'm eager.

I'm just getting started.

But I'm really quite tired.

writing competitions in '09

2009-01-03T16:20:00.001-05:00

You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.
- Isaac Asimov

Let's kick off '09 on a competitive note...check out just 10 of the new year's writing competitions with fast-approaching deadlines:

* all information below has been retrieved from each competition's respective website, accessible via a link by clicking on the competition's name *

1. Highlights 2009 Fiction Contest

Category:
Contemporary world-cultures stories; up to 800 words (up to 500 words for beginning readers)

Prizes:
Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.

Entry dates:
All entries must be postmarked between January 1, 2009, and January 31, 2009.

2. NYC Midnight 3rd Annual Short Story Challenge 2009

The Short Story Challenge 2009 is an international creative writing competition, now in it's 3rd year, that challenges participants to create original short stories in as little as 24 hours.

Entry Deadline - January 14, 2009

▪ Anyone may compete from anywhere in the world

▪ There are 2 rounds

▪ 1st Round (January 16-24, 2009) : Writers are placed randomly in heats. Each heat is assigned a genre and a subject (ex. comedy : competing lemonade stands or horror : a family reunion).

▪ Writers have 1 week to write an original short story (2,500 words max).

▪ Winners are chosen from the 1st Round to advance to the 2nd round and compete for thousands in cash and prizes.

▪ 2nd Round (March 13-14, 2009) : All of the writers receive the same genre and subject at midnight (EST time) and have just 24 hours to write an original short story.

▪ A panel of judges review the final round stories and winners are chosen!

3. Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award
* as featured on Winning Writers

Deadline February 28 (don't enter before February 1), former submission period March 1-31.

Highly recommended free contest for US college and graduate students offers $1,000 and publication in Crab Orchard Review for a short story, maximum 20 double-spaced pages. The award competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students who are US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled full- or part-time in a US college or university.

4. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest

Postmark Deadline: March 31, 2009

Now in its 17th year. Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250 will be awarded, plus five High Distinction awards of $200 each and six Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each. Submit any type of short story, essay or other work of prose, up to 5,000 words. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. $15 entry fee. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. Winning Writers is assisting with entry handling for this contest. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad.

5. Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse

Postmark Deadline: June 30, 2009

Now in its sixth year, this contest seeks poetry in traditional verse forms such as sonnets and free verse. Both published and unpublished poems are welcome. Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250 will be awarded, plus five High Distinction awards of $200 each and six Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each. The entry fee is $7 for every 25 lines you submit. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad.

6. Winning Writers - Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Online Submission Deadline: April 1, 2009

Winning Writers invites you to enter the eighth annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, called "famous" by Writer's Digest. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $3,336.40 will be awarded, including a top prize of $1,359. There is no fee to enter. Judge: Jendi Reiter.

7. Winning Writers - War Poetry Contest

Postmark Deadline: May 31, 2009

We seek 1-3 original, unpublished poems on the theme of war for our eighth annual contest, up to 500 lines in total. We will award $5,000, including a top prize of $2,000. Submit online or by mail. The entry fee is $15. Judge: Jendi Reiter. See the complete guidelines and past winners.

8. Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition

Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009.

Compete and Win in 10 Categories!

* Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
* Memoirs/Personal Essay
* Magazine Feature Article
* Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
* Mainstream/Literary Short Story
* Rhyming Poetry
* Non-rhyming Poetry
* Stage Play
* Television/Movie Script
* Children's/Young Adult Fiction

Grand Prize: $3,000 cash and a trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents.Writer's Digest will fly you and a guest to The Big Apple, where you'll spend three days and two nights in the publishing capital of the world. While you're there, a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet and share your work with four editors or agents! Plus, you'll receive a free Diamond Publishing Package from Outskirts Press.

Entry Fee: Poems are $15 for the first entry; $10 for each additional poem submitted in the same online session. All other entries are $20 for the first manuscript; $15 for each additional manuscript submitted in the same online session.

9. The 2009 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

Regular deadline: March 2, 2009. Entry fee $50
Late Deadline: April 1, 2009. Entry Fee $60

The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is now open for submission of feature length screenplays for the 11th year!

Grand Prize: $10,000

Four Finalists: $1500

Every writer who enters BlueCat receives written script analysis.

10. The Ledge Magazine 2009 Fiction Awards Competition

Postmark Deadline: February 28, 2009.

Prizes: First prize: $1,000 and publication in The Ledge Magazine. Second prize: $250 and publication in The Ledge Magazine. Third prize: $100 and publication in The Ledge Magazine.

Entry Fee: $10 for the first story; $6 for each additional story. $20 subscription (two issues) to The Ledge gains free entry for the first story.

All stories must be previously unpublished and not exceed 7,500 words. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable but we must be notified if your story is accepted elsewhere for publication.

So there's 10, but there are plenty of more out there. Click here for some of my favorite websites for writers.

And if you're still hungry for more contests, check out these two sites I just came across -

http://www.freelancewriting.com/writingcontests.php

http://www.fanstory.com/contests

2009...day 1

2009-01-01T18:40:00.002-05:00

It is never too late to be what you might have been.
- George Elliot

It's 2009!!

So far I have been to work and the gym. I've done some relaxing, some cleaning, some writing, and in a few hours, I'll go to dinner with Alex and Soraya.

As for my plans for the new year - there are so many!!

For starters, my goal with this blog is to post at least twice a week. And considering that my other goal is to sit down and write every single day (that's right, every single day), I should have plenty to blog about as I get closer to finishing my novel.

So that makes one blog down for the week, one to go =)

thanks, 2008!!

2008-12-31T18:00:00.001-05:00

Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.
P. G. Wodehouse

Here we are...New Year's Eve. What can I say? It's been a pretty crazy, exciting, eventful year.

I know there are many different camps, if you may, when it comes to New Year's Eve. There are those who think it's an absurd reason to celebrate. There are those who see it as a time to make new resolutions and really attempt to stick to them, focusing on the fact that they haven't in the past. There are those who see it as opportunity to go out drinking. There are those who see it as a sort of catharsis through which they can rid themselves of the past year and begin anew.

Needless to say, I'm not from any of those camps. I think today is a great reason to celebrate, and I don't really drink. Yes, I resolve to accomplish certain things in the new year, but I don't necessarily see them as resolutions, but rather just a continuation of what I've been doing up until this point. Same with the idea of shedding off the past year, this whole notion of starting over - I'm not a fan of such expressions. It's kind of my qualm with the "live every day like it's your last" saying. Why be so negative? Why not live every day like it's your first?

It's all in how you perceive it.

I spend much of today with family, for starters. I also spend quite a bit of time cleaning and organizing my humble abode, yes, as a sort of cleansing and fresh, clutter-free start to the new year. And I also think a good deal about everything good that has happened in the past year and how I can build on everything that has happened thus far. Why think of a new year as starting from the beginning when you've already come so far? Of course, that goes for all of us.

So in that light, and with the hope you'll do the same for yourself, I've compiled some of the noteworthy moments this past year that have contributed to me being who I am right now. And because I'm a dork, I've categorized them...

Writing
- joined a writing group with friends, attended my first SCBWI conference, took 1st and 2nd place spots in two NYC Midnight writing competitions, interviewed Tim Gunn and covered the launch of CityView Racquet Club for Elements, among other articles, interviewed and wrote about several doctors and specialists for the NAVEL Expo magazine, started a tennis blog at racquetgirl.blogspot.com, continued work on my novel, signed on to co-write a medical nutrition book, was a featured speaker on a writing panel at NYIT

Reading
- helped organize my father's book signing at Barnes & Noble for Socrates: A Life Examined, read and became a follower of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series, became a fan of Neil Gaiman's work, read a lot more in general

Acting
- got my headshots taken, took an on-camera film course, started weekly acting classes, attended my first Actorfest, was cast in St. George Productions' classic radio rendition of A Christmas Carol

Sports
- started tennis lessons again and joined a league, competed in a Genesis Adventures adventure race in Allamuchy, NJ with Alex, completed my scuba diving certification, competed in my second Urbanathlon with Alex in Chicago

School
- continuing my graduate studies at the City University Graduate Center and looking to graduate in the Fall of '09

Travel
- went to Switzerland with parents and younger sister, visited family in Texas, went to Chicago with Alex

Film/Photography
- bought a Canon HDV videocamera, bought a new Canon Powershot digital camera, took more pictures and captured more footage than I even thought was possible in the span of a year, organized more photo albums

And that's just some of the bigger things that I was able to compile based on my blog posts from the past year. It was a great year, a very special one, and one definitely to remember.

I hope all my friends and family out there reading this will do the same as they look back on 2008. We all deserve a moment to breathe, smile, and enjoy what we've worked so hard to achieve.

Happy New Year, guys...see you in 2009!!

vm...coming soon

2008-12-28T23:45:00.000-05:00

Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none.
- Jules Renard

In a few days, January '09 will be upon us, and VM will be weeks away from being launched. The programming on the website will be completed, and then we'll have to start sending editorial content to the web designers. And while all of that is moving along pretty swiftly, there is still a lot to do, i.e. advertising and business specifics that often come off as so foreign and excessively boring. Fortunately, we have a number of friends and business contacts who are offering us some guidance and direction. Ultimately, it's up to us to put the pieces together and figure it out for ourselves, but as we all know, especially when it comes to the world of art/media/publishing, it's who you know and how you utilize those connections that can make all the difference.

We have about two weeks to make this all happen. Once the magazine launches, it will definitely be a moment to remember, but that, of course, is when the real work begins.

So let's do this...

merry christmas '08

2008-12-25T16:00:00.000-05:00

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.
- Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!! I hope you are having an amazing holiday season and that you got everything you wanted, needed, and/or thought you deserved in the gift department.

Christmas definitely ranks up there as one of my favorite times of year. Last night was spent with family, this morning was spent with family, tonight I will spend it with future family at Alex's house, and this weekend we'll still be celebrating again with even more family members. The company, the food, the excitement - it all makes the running around and planning you've been doing all season that much more worthwhile.

As per usual with my repertoire of gifts, I focused on the practical as well as the creative. So Cereal-on-the-Go containers, gift cards, sneakers, clothes (you know they want), art portfolios, curly hair-specific shampoo sets, baking pans, wine, and marshmallow shooters (yes, marshmallow shooters) were included in the mix. Then there were the more creative, you-get-this-because-I-really-love-you gifts, like extensive photo albums, pocket photo albums, mat frames, picture frames, restored pictures, pictures you forgot were taken of you, and pictures you've always wanted to print and frame. Pretty much, if it has to do with photos, I probably gave it to you.

The gifts I received, in turn, were equally as thoughtful, including the most comfortable pajamas, silver bracelets, pen sets, a business card holder, Sour Patch Kids, a photo album to fill, three cookie sheets, two cooking pans, one crepe mix, a cool storage bin, a collection of Neil Gaiman books (like The Graveyard Book!!), a makeup bag, an assortment of lotions and shampoos, and mony, to name just a few. But perhaps the most touching of all my gifts came from somebody who, knowing me so well, also gave me bandaids, Neutrogena hand cream, and little hand sanitizer dispensers. My little sister made a collage of the two of us and all the inside jokes and moments (or as many of them she could fit) we have been fortunate enough to share. It's really quite awesome, and frame it I will.

So yes, a very Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night =)

in medias res

2008-12-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.
- Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

The past two months have been quite the whirlwind.

As many of you already know, I resigned my position as writer and editor at Elements magazine back at the end of October. After three fantastic years working there, I felt it was time to move on, specifically to focus all my efforts on my own writing, launching VM, finishing graduate school, and pursuing my acting. I'm happy to report that since then, I have been doing just that.

We've diligently been working on getting everything ready for VM's launch, I'm resuming my graduate studies in the spring, I've been taking acting classes for the past two months and performing in a theatre production, and I've been continuing my freelance writing. I've also picked up another project - co-authoring a medical nutrition book with an autobiographical focus. I finished the chapter outline and synopsis this past weekend. Now a book such as this presents a few challenges. The first is that it's about medical nutrition, and while I have experience with all the NAVEL Expo articles I've written, I am delving into a pretty complex field not my own. Second, it's autobiographical in part, and the life story we're following is not my own, meaning that I have to figure out how to write in someone else's voice, telling his story, while also keeping my own voice and style as a writer. A fine line to walk, indeed.

And in the midst of all this craziness, my website and blog are being redesigned, by the talented guys at digitalsoul designs. When all is finalized, two shall become one, and I will be a blog and a website closer to becoming greater than Neil Gaiman.

Now if I could only be wittier...

a christmas carol

2008-12-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

I write plays because dialogue is the most respectable way of contradicting myself.
- Tom Stoppard

For the past several months I have been working with St. George Productions on a staged, classic radio rendition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, part of the company's Dickens Festival. Last month we did two performances in eastern Long Island at the Smithtown Historical Society, and just this past weekend we performed at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ...only this time we did 18 shows, give or take a couple.

It was an absolute blast. We arrived Friday night and got situated in our home for the weekend - George Jay Gould and family's country estate mansion (their second residence), built in 1896. Beautifully preserved by the Sisters of Mercy, who inherited the estate after George Gould's death, it was like stepping back in time for a few nights. And for someone who has covered some of Long Island's historic estates and coordinated fashion shoots in several others, it was a real pleasure for me to see a remnant of the Gilded Age preserved so wonderfully. Plus, we got to stay in it, and I don't think I'll be saying that anytime soon about the Phipps mansion at Old Westbury Gardens. Not that I wouldn't want to, just that it might be illegal.

Here are some pictures from the weekend -

impromptu book corner

2008-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Never let inexperience get in the way of ambition.
- Terry Josephson

I think it's safe to say that I watch more movies then read books, but it's not because I'm a slacker, it's just that I'm passionate about both, and when you spend so much time writing (or staring at a computer screen attempting to write), it's sometimes much easier to kick back and watch a movie then engross yourself in more words on a page.

But with everything that's going on, since the last Fablehaven book I read, I have managed to finish two others -

Good to Great, by Jim Collins

This book is a must, especially considering the economic times and what we're seeing happen to businesses, specifically the big ones, right now. The subtitle is telling: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't. It's essentially a book about business, but as with so many things that are timeless, it's really a piece of research literature that speaks about life and what separates mediocrity from excellence.

In answer to his bestseller before this one, Built to Last, Jim Collins and his research team embarked on a five-year mission to figure out what it takes for a so-so company to become amazing. For comparison purposes, they created a set of rigorous criteria, and after combing through an unbelievable amount of companies, they came up with only eleven that fit the Good to Great model. The resulting findings delineated in the book are just fantastic. From leadership to discipline to attitude, through studies, interviews, and anecdotes, Collins finds that what it takes to become excellent isn't all that difficult, but it's the rigor with which these components were applied that launched these eleven companies to greatness. And surprise, surprise, what companies continue to do -like lavishly waste money on bonuses and private jets, bringing in big celebrity CEOs to reinvigorate the company, making a lot of noise about new initiatives and launches, diversifying too much without becoming excellent at anything - is the exact opposite of what needs to be done. It's all about consistently pushing the flywheel, letting results speak for themselves, and maintaining a certain level of humility through it all.

The book is a must. Every time you hear about these businesses that are asking for money, falling behind, giving excuse after excuse for shortcomings and mismanagement, you will think of Good to Great. I even want to know what Collins thinks about everything going on right now, especially considering that in the book he makes the crucial point that at no time can a company stop applying all the components of the Good to Great method. Do that, and the fall from greatness will be quick and the demise swift...unless you can get billions of dollars to help cling from the edge a little while longer.

The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

Okay, so this one didn't exactly come out yesterday, but to whoever picks it up for the first time, it's a breath of fresh air. Considering that the book's subtitle is A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book, you might get the impression it's one of "those" books, the kind that you have to roll your eyes when you see someone reading, but it's completely not. Based on the knowledge and teachings of his Toltec ancestors, Don Miguel Ruiz presents the reader with four agreements to help live a better, more productive, fuller life. And it's nothing that we haven't heard before, necessarily, or that we shouldn't realize as true the moment we hear it verbalized. But in this book, so unbelievably simple in language and small in size (I read it in a few train rides to the city), it's all laid out so clearly. It leaves you thinking...of course it reads so easily because the lessons really are that simple. Try to apply the lessons, however, and that's when the complexities arise. The solution? Simplify, simplify, simplify your life. Don't hold on to grudges, to guilt, to regret, to anger. Give yourself more credit. Realize the potential you have to make everything okay. Live life today.

Ready for the agreements? Real simple:

1) Be impeccable with your word.
2) Don't take anything personally.
3) Don't make assumptions.
4) Always do your best.

So now that you know them, why read the book, right? Just trust me on this one. And when you're done reading it, you'll want to hold onto it, for when you need to be reminded again.

writer in need of a shove

2008-11-30T23:45:00.002-05:00

I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
- Erica Jong

This past weekend I finished a short story centered around a plot that came to me several months ago while watching a segment on the History Channel. Originally, I had envisioned it as the basis for a novel, but since it's been, well...several months and still nothing written on it, I thought I'd try out the idea in a short story. And since I haven't submitted something to the writing group in quite some time, and considering that I'm in the middle of a lull with my novel, this weekend seemed like the ideal time to sit down and write it. I even (knowing my own bad habits) alerted the group ahead of time of this soon-to-be submitted story, just to give me that extra push to get it done.

And so I got it done and submitted it early Sunday morning. The critique later that evening was to be expected of a first draft written with little time for editing. It was definitely constructive and pointed out some excellent instances of how an author can get caught up in a story to the point where he or she forgets to let the reader in on all the facts and details important to the plot. It opened up my eyes a little bit more, and while it wasn't a hit, I was relieved to be getting critique at all because it meant I was writing again. Let's keep it up.

Now back to that novel...

back in class

2008-11-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.
- Olin Miller

Last night I was invited to speak at a Writers Round-Up panel discussion for a graduate journalism class at my alma mater, New York Institute of Technology. I remember attending such panels when I was an undergraduate (already more than three years now), which were then, as they are now, organized by the faculty adviser of the campus newspaper, John Hanc. So when he asked me a few months ago if I would be one of the guest speakers, a representative of NYIT alumni who have gone on to somewhat lucrative writing careers, I was quite honored.

Speaking about my career thus far as a writer was kind of strange, even more than how it felt to write a bio about myself to give out to the students. There was a lot of, I did that? I do that? I'm planning to do that, too? I actually ran the bio past a few people to make sure that I hadn't made anything up in my sleep. Not that I'm exactly touting Pulitzer Prizes left and right or Oscar nominations on the horizon, but still, even the small things sometimes make you ask, really? Especially when you're sitting at your computer and writing about yourself at 2 AM in your pajamas, with a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, reminding yourself to re-tape the top right corner of the LOTR poster that's been in your room since forever...Yes, it can be hard to acknowledge your own accomplishments when you're with you every day.

But getting back to the main point, in speaking about what I did in college, what I've been up to since then, and what I'm working on right now, some life truths and words of advice that came up were ringing pretty hard in my own head. I spoke about taking chances, and doing what it is you love when it comes to writing, and working hard, writing often, acknowledging when you just don't have an answer, promising to always look for one, not being afraid of the blank page, expecting crap some of the time, attaining not-crap other times, and always striving for brilliance. Saying it out loud was a very loud reminder to follow my own advice.

Yes, I'm launching my own online magazine. Yes, it's kind of scary. Yes, there's a lot I'm still trying to figure out. Yes, money hasn't yet started to grow on that money tree out back. Yes, there's also the book and the graduate school and the acting and the tennis.

And yes, I'm passionate about all of it.

So now it's just a matter of getting over the fear of that blank page.

actorfest '08

2008-11-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Observe, don't imitate.
- John M. Ford

Today was Backstage's ActorFest NY at the Hammerstein Ballroom. It's a one-day event, a conference of sorts, where actors, singers, dancers, and performing artists, meet with acting teachers, headshot photographers, casting directors, agents, and a multitude of other industry professionals. In addition to meeting with exhibitors, there are a number of workshops and panel discussions you're given the option to attend.

Since I already have headshots and an acting studio (also one of the featured exhibitors), I was there more to learn about agents and casting directors. Probably the highlight of the day - I got to meet Jonathan Strauss, casting director for Law and Order: SVU. And I was not at all dorky about it, or even awkward, which is more than I can say for some others who were at the panel discussion and approached him afterward. Once again, the theory that no question is stupid was busted. Based on what I heard asked during the workshop, that statement couldn't be any further from the truth.

Second only to the casting director Q&A was the cool black Actorfest bag I got out of the whole deal. That's a reusable keeper.

I'm glad I went. It reaffirmed certain things I already knew about the industry and alerted me to some new ones. The casting directors we heard speak also emphasized the importance of - obviously - honing your craft, whether you're in a production at the moment or not. So classes, private teaching, individual work - they can tell when you get up there to audition whether you've done your homework or not. Right now I'm taking Master Classes at PTS, which builds on the work I was doing in the on-camera classes. A couple of months of this, more work on my monologues, and getting into the habit of submitting myself for auditions, and then I'll be ready to start submitting to agents and casting directors.

Yeah, luck plays a part in all of it, but it's just the start.

After all, luck favors the prepared, right?

me again...

2008-11-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.
- Benjamin Franklin

Check me out at this month's past NAVEL Expo, brought to you by Alex Lubarsky and the Health Media Group...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwuktPlIOaM

And me with no audio...

http://www.skheadshots.com

happy halloween '08

2008-10-31T23:00:00.000-05:00

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. - Henry David Thoreau

Hannibal, a viking, and a Smart Water bottle walk into a bar, and all is well.

And then Dorothy walks in, and this happens...

Ah, c'est la vie.

Happy Halloween =)

chicago-style urbanathlon

2008-10-21T16:00:00.002-05:00

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.
- George Bernard Shaw

I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. So when we went to sign up this past summer for the 2008 Men's Health Urbanathlon in NYC, to take place on Saturday, September 27, and we found out the race had already filled up, we weren't too distressed.

So we just went ahead and signed up for the one in Chicago, to take place three weeks later on Saturday, October 18, in colder weather and approximately three miles longer. I admit, even after we signed up and secured our spots, the idea of a longer race in a city we'd never been in, still lacking airplane tickets and hotel reservations, did seem daunting. Plus, we had yet to really start training.

Well...we did it. And it was truly an awesome experience =)

The race turned out to be approximately 11 miles, give or take, and it was a total blast. In addition to the running, we had to tackle obstacles (hence the name, Urbanathlon), including jersey barricades, culvert crawls, marine hurdles, cargo net crawls, monkey bars, taxi hurdles, a stadium climb, and a rope wall from where you launch yourself, in less than graceful form, to the finish line.
As you can see from the pictures in the following links, Alex and I have two very different running styles. His is more serious, whereas I take the more lighthearted, if-I-don't-stop-smiling-maybe-I'll-finish-quicker approach.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=36402&BIB=1173&S=230&PWD=

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=36402&BIB=810

In the race itself, we saw a good stretch of the city, including Navy Pier, Soldier Field (I'll never look at football stadiums the same way again), Grant Park, museums, aquariums, buildings, buildings, and more buildings. When not racing, we checked out the downtown area, went up Sears Tower, declared a restaurant our favorite in Chicago (the Exchequer Restaurant & Pub), ate Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, rode in an old-school elevator, and even slept in a park next to two giant Native Americans on horses.

And we did it all in three days. Pretty awesome =)

What about next year? Well, as much as we loved Chicago, we would like to get back to our roots and do the Urbanathlon again in NYC.

So that just leaves the question - who's up for joining us?

and then there were three

2008-10-01T23:18:00.005-05:00

Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing.
- Melinda Haynes

You know you're doing what you love when you can't stop smiling from the moment you start it to long after you've finished. I'm thrilled to say that in the past month or so I have been fully immersing myself in the three things that I really love.

1) Writing

I've been, well, writing, a lot. The writing competitions are definitely contributing to that, but I also have some more articles out in the latest edition of the NAVEL Expo magazine.

Check some of them out here -

Overcoming Weight-Loss Resistance

Cleansing and Detoxification of the Immune System's Power Plant

Reversing Common Symptomatology through Liver Detoxification

What Your Tooth Fairy Won't Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn't Know

And as for that book, stay tuned for updates...

2) Acting

I'm already into my fourth week of advanced on-camera acting technique classes at the Penny Templeton Studio in NYC, and I absolutely love it. My acting career thus far has been in theatre, but what I really want to start doing now is film. It's an entirely different beast to tackle. In theatre, there is an energy that is unique to the stage. In film, you need to be able to convey the world through your eyes, through the smallest of gestures, through simply saying nothing. Stage right and camera right are two entirely different things...and that's just the start of it.

Every week, we have scenes to perform, and at the end of class, we see everyone's performance on the big screen. I have to admit, the first week was a bit jarring. I have big eyes, and I feel I look like a kid. But putting such self-analysis aside, as you must, it's all been a real blast. Being around actors, rehearsing scenes, learning new techniques - I missed all this for so long. I also finished a three-hour Business of Acting seminar earlier this evening with The Organized Actor's Leslie Becker. It's off to the races now to look for an agent.

Oh, and * exciting * I start rehearsals next week for a production of The Christmas Carol here in LI and in NJ. Where I find the time, nobody knows.

3) Tennis

I'm playing at least three times a week and shooting to be a 4.5-rated tennis player before the end of the year.

And of course, there's my newest blog -

racquetgirl.blogspot.com

Show some love (no pun intended), even if you can't figure out the difference between a game, a match, and a foot fault. (Olga, this means you.)

Things are definitely busy, but I find myself smiling a lot more these days. I'm doing just what I want to be doing.

flash fiction...round 1, part 2

2008-09-09T02:00:00.001-05:00

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
- Albert Einstein

Shortly after the results of Round 1 were announced and points given out in the NYC Midnight Creative Writing/Flash Fiction Challenge, we were sent our assignments for Round 1: Part 2.

Same idea as before, i.e. under 1,000 words, certain guidelines, etc., and the top 10 point-getters in each heat move on to the official Round 2.

Before you read on, I have to admit that I was very annoyed when I first saw what the genre, location, and object were for my heat.

So I took those feelings of discomfort and annoyance and came up with something, I think, rather interesting. Read on!!

Title: Ashes to Ashes
Synopsis: A girl and an urn venture into a seedy establishment to dupe one greedy, scaly fool into trading his life for another, less scaly one.
Genre: Fantasy
Location: Strip club
Object: Urn

By Melissa C. Navia

The sun had barely broken the horizon, but Kate Patton’s heart was already pounding away. As she hurried down the deserted city sidewalk, she glanced at her watch. She was going to be late for school, she thought, pulling at the straps of her overburdened backpack. Purple on the outside, it protruded at sharp angles, hinting at the contents inside.

Kate stopped abruptly. Across the street stood a building with boarded-up windows and graffiti-streaked walls. “After Hours” it read, minus a few key letters. Yet another seedy establishment, Kate sighed. In her family’s line of work, she had been to many. Abandoned factories, vandalized castles, condemned estates—the more unscrupulous, the better. And a greasy strip club, long since shut down, was right up there. Looking both ways, Kate dashed across the street.

The Pattons were well-known in the underground community. They were Night Watchers, members of an ancient order charged with monitoring and destroying evil beings whose hideouts of choice were dark, creepy, people-less corners.

But ridding the world of them meant dealing with them first. And recent events were forcing Kate to do just that. Her grandfather, the patriarch of the family operation, had gone missing, and every demon, zombie, shape shifter, and fallen fairy knew it. Then her parents were kidnapped, leaving Kate vulnerable, and to fix things, she was resorting to desperate measures and a shady rendezvous.

Once across, Kate wasted no time opening a rusty metal door and disappearing indoors. It was dark, and she strained to see. Tacky leather-lined, termite-infested booths filled the space. Ripped velvet curtains dangled from the ceiling. Oversized light bulbs hung shattered. At the far end stood a stage populated with scratched metal poles that no longer glistened. Kate shuddered but advanced toward a table and the point of her excursion.

“You’re late,” said a man. Kate swung her backpack around and propped it on the table.

“This won’t take long, Vlar,” she replied, her voice shaky. “You tell me what I want, and I’ll give you what I promised.”

Vlar leaned forward and took off his wide-brimmed hat to reveal a swarthy grin. His features looked human enough, and his suit was Armani, but Kate knew better.

“You have the urn?” Kate nodded. “Which one?” he pried.

“First, where are my parents?”

“How do I know you really have it?”

“Because I wouldn’t come all the way here to be late for my chemistry midterm if I didn’t,” she snapped, her voice no longer shaky.

Vlar seemed puzzled but convinced. He put his hat down and licked his lips. His tongue was noticeably green and forked.

“They’re in the cellar of the Green Oaks Hospital, the abandoned mental institution upstate,” he said. “Draco and his sister are holding them there.”

Kate took a deep breath. We’ll worry about the dragon prince later.

Without another word, she unzipped her backpack and unveiled a brilliantly shiny silver urn. A faint line ran down the middle to reveal two chambers etched with elaborate markings. Vlar began to salivate and his features started to change. Any trace of humanity vanished. Behind her, Kate heard repulsive slithering and painful grating noises. In her periphery, she discerned three monstrous anomalies crouching and writhing around the stage. They, too, were entranced.

Seven mythic, magically-endowed urns resided in the world, and of those, Kate’s family owned one. Up until this point, it had proved to be dangerous; now she was hoping it would save her.

“Which is it?” Vlar slurred, his eyes transfixed on the prize.

“The Urn of Nemesis.”

“Who?”

“A goddess.”

“Goddess of what?”

“Look it up,” Kate said slowly, matching Vlar’s heavy breathing with her words.

“Why…are there…two chambers…for ashes?” Vlar asked with wide eyes, already drunk with greed. “For two…souls?”

Kate didn’t answer. She knew not to lie in the urn’s presence. So she quickly proceeded.

“Vlar, whoever possesses the urn must warn the next in line. If you’re unable to comply, I’m not at fault.” Vlar nodded. He was fully transformed; his true nature sat oozing before Kate.

“To rightfully take the urn, you must be clear in thought, pure in intention, and free of excessive pride. Are you?”

Another faint nod…

“Then you may take it.”

Instantly, Vlar lunged, but the urn repelled him. He let out a cry, as his hands froze suspended before him. The urn grew brighter. Vlar screamed in agony. Kate stepped back from the table. Vlar tried the same, but he began to convulse and scream even more. His expensive suit melted away, and the scales beneath it began to burn. Silently, the urn’s two chambers opened. From one, a steady trickle of ash poured into a neat pile on the table. Meanwhile, chairs were knocked over and windows smashed further as Vlar’s companions escaped screaming into the blinding daylight.

When Kate turned back, Vlar was a mass of suspended ash, and within seconds, the second chamber had sucked every last speck of him up, closing as quietly as it had opened.

“Well, I won’t do that again, that’s for sure,” chuckled an older voice. Kate looked up and frowned. There stood her grandfather, on the table, in a Zegna suit, with the same smile he was wearing when the urn had sucked him up one week before.

“You owe me one,” she said dryly, zipping up the urn. “Thanks to you, we have to rescue Mom and Dad from a haunted hospital.”

Grandpa Patton, agile for his age, jumped down from the table and put his arm around Kate. “Forgive my greed. If the gods can be merciful—”

“—and clever enough to have built a device with two chambers, fit for only one soul,” she interjected.

“Then so can you,” he smiled. “Now, off to find your parents.”

Stepping out into the open, the bright, cloudless sky a stark contradiction to the events that had just unfolded, Kate sighed and pulled on her backpack straps.

So much for that chemistry midterm.

flash fiction...first place

2008-09-05T00:16:00.002-05:00

If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.
- David Viscott

"Framed" gets 1st place!!

The 1st round results of the NYC Midnight Creative Writing/Flash Fiction Challenge were just announced, and in Heat 14, comprised of 15 writers, I placed 1st, garnering me 25 points going into the 2nd round this weekend.

Check out the standings -

http://www.nycmidnight.com/2008/CWC/1stRound/14.htm

Thanks to everyone who gave me such awesome feedback on the story =)

walk for a cause, walk and remember

2008-09-01T13:00:00.003-05:00

The virtue of books is to be readable.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Alex and I will be taking part in Walk and Remember, a 5K walk supporting ovarian cancer research and awareness by raising money for the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.

We (Team Vigilant Monkey, of course) have set up a page where you can make a donation to help us reach our $500 goal -

www.firstgiving.com/vigilantmonkey

Donate safe and securely through the site via credit card. The donations are sent directly to the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research, and Firstgiving will email you a printable record of the transaction.

It's that simple!! And if you check out the right-hand column of this blog, you'll find a widget featuring the real-time status of our donation goal.

A 3 mile walk isn't exactly a 20+ mile adventure race, but it's for a great cause, so I'll gladly do the walk this weekend =)

Plus, we get the 1st round results of the NYC Midnight Creative Writing/Flash Fiction Challenge this week and the 2nd round assignment this weekend. So while I'm walking, I'll be thinking about what to write. Stay tuned...

game. set. match. blog.

2008-08-28T16:00:00.001-05:00

A perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.
- Billie Jean King

It's that time of year again, right after my birthday, when the weather is still warm and I'm still arguing with people that summer isn't over - time for the US Open at the USTA in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, NY.

Accompanied by my tennis partners in crime, Alex and my mom, I took on the heat, the crowds, the merchandise, the free giveaways, the exorbitant food court prices, John McEnroe, and, of course, world-class tennis.

...okay, maybe not McEnroe per se, but he was in the vicinity.

And, as per usual, I got to thinking: Why am I not out there playing some world-class tennis, too? Well, let's see...A lack of a coach in more than five years maybe? The lack of a steady partner with whom to play? Not enough self-discipline to work on my serve six days a week? The fact that I'm too busy trying to write a book?

All these things, and perhaps more, are definitely good reasons, but not anything that can't be remedied.

So, as of today, I've gotten myself a coach, and I start lessons the first weekend in October. It might not sound like much, but it's a start. It's getting back out on the court. It's that competitive edge flaring up again. It's Varsity tennis all over again, sans the green pleated skirt.

Oh yeah, and it's also dawned on me that next to writing and films, the next thing I'm probably most knowledgeable and passionate about is this very sport, from the history of its snooty (and British) beginnings to the greatest athletes to play the game to those technical scoring intricacies that baffle the uninitiated tennis viewer. I think the lightbulb went on when I found myself for the fourth time this week, not to mention how often in all my 24 years (did I mention it was my birthday??), trying once again to explain to someone the very logical, quite brilliant scoring methodology behind the game. But to no avail. Maybe I'm just not explaining it well enough, I found myself thinking, but God knows, I've tried. So I pondered and I pondered and finally came to the conclusion that I might better express myself in writing than in frustrated, fast-paced, out-of-breath spoken words. Maybe I'll get Alex, my mom, and my sisters (my dad has yet to ask) to understand how to keep score soon enough -

racquetgirl.blogspot.com

Game. Set. Match. Blog...All tennis, all the time, by a tennis player who dreams of US Open glory.

Interesting, if nothing else. The start of something truly unique, most definitely.

happy birthday!!

2008-08-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted.
- Jules Renard

August 24, 1984...I showed up.

And here we are, 24 years later, still celebrating =)

flash fiction...round 1

2008-08-18T16:00:00.001-05:00

Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.
- Gloria Steinem

So the writing competition website, NYC Midnight, that brought me 2nd place glory several months ago with their 2008 Short Story Challenge is back with yet another competitive gem - the 2008 Creative Writing Championships.

In this competition, there are four rounds, and each writer is guaranteed to compete in at least the first two. You have two days (from Friday midnight to Sunday midnight) to complete a 1,000-word story, abiding by the genre, location, and object requirements for your specific heat. In a few weeks, we find out how we placed, and depending on what that is, we are assigned a number of points, which ultimately help decide the grand prize winner.

Below is my first submission, written in about three hours, even though, yes, I had a whole two days to do it. Alas, I'm a busy person =P And yes, you might ask, but Melissa, where are the other stories you've submitted to competitions and written about? Why haven't you posted them yet? Truth is, I've never really considered it until now. So...here we are:

Title: Framed
Synopsis: High atop the city, boredom turns to panic, actions are called into question, and a camera captures the tragedy of life in all its hi-def glory.
Genre: Open
Location: Rooftop of a skyscraper
Object: Video camera

By Melissa C. Navia

Matthew felt his eyelids getting heavy as he stared blankly out the towering windows of his father’s office. Fifty-seven floors up might have garnered him a bright, unobstructed view of the city on a hot Friday morning, but it still gave him nothing to do. His head began to nod off to the side. A black, compact video camera lay cradled in his hands.

It was summer. The temperature outside had been consistently scorching for the past week, and today was no different. If anything, it was worse. The air conditioning was at full volume. He had already heard some women in business skirts and blouses complaining about the chilly blast. But 15-year-old Matthew, in khaki shorts and a striped polo shirt, was content with the cold temperature lulling him to sleep. He went back to wondering why he had followed his father, who he hadn’t seen all morning, into work that day.

“Stop having so much fun!”

Matthew looked up. Staring down at him was one of the company’s younger employees. Pinstriped pants, wrinkled white shirt, messy brown hair, and a loosened striped tie. It had already been a long day.

“Scott Lawrence,” he said smiling. “You’re Peterson’s son, right?”

“Yeah, Matt,” Matthew responded dryly, “and yeah, it’s that much fun.”

“Sorry kid. We’re not crazy about being here either. Economy’s been real flighty. Stockbrokers get the worst of it,” Lawrence explained.

Trying to express his disinterest with the conversation, Matthew fidgeted with the video camera in his lap.

“Cool camera!” Lawrence tried again. “Canon? The new one? Expensive stuff.”

“Yeah, it comes with a bunch of different filming modes and upgrades,” Matthew acknowledged, turning the camera around.

“Oh my god!” Lawrence cried.

“Eh, it’s okay. No big deal,” Matthew countered. But when he looked up to explain, Lawrence was already running toward the windows—along with the rest of the office. Matthew spun around in his seat to see what caused the panic, but he heard everyone’s cries first, and he already knew.

Somebody was on the ledge.

Who was it? Anthony Radale from down the hall, someone shouted. What do we do? Somebody call the police! But what do we do? Don’t bang on the window! Open up a window? Get him inside.

Uncertainty mounted, and the orders being given out escalated in number. Several employees, Lawrence included, rushed to start the rescue operation while they waited for police.
But Matthew couldn’t wait. He clutched his camera and ran in the opposite direction. They were three floors from the roof of the building, and since he had been little, Matthew knew exactly where the exit doors stood.

Out of breath and panting, he burst through them into the day’s suffocating humidity, despite the windiness of the rooftop. He hurried over to the building’s edge and looked out over the protective barrier.

There he was, the man balancing on the ledge of the 57th floor. Matthew tore off the video camera’s lens cover, wound the camera strap around his wrist, held his arms out over the barrier, and clicked Record.

The noisy breeze around him dissipated, leaving just the sounds of the rotating lens. Matthew stared intently at the screen. He was filming at 30 frames per second. Perfect for YouTube. He smiled. Who would’ve thought? No news cameras, helicopters, reporters—he was the first one to the scene. Settling on a good bird’s eye view, Matthew lay down on his stomach and steadied his hand. The camera picked up the noise below.

Lawrence and other employees—Was that his father he heard?—were urging the man to come back in so they could talk. They said they were worried. They didn’t want him to get hurt. They understood. They just wanted him to step back inside. They said it wasn’t worth it. Matthew listened in silence.

The man on the ledge said nothing. He just stood there. Was he trembling? Matthew zoomed in tighter and scowled. He still only saw the back of the guy’s head. The monotony of the shot was beginning to irk him.

“C’mon,” he muttered under his breath, “say something…do something.”

For a moment, Matthew glanced away from the miniature screen and looked further below. A large crowd was already forming. Still no news vans.

He took a risk and panned away from the man to the people, simultaneously sliding the zoom toggle and pushing it to the max. Within seconds, they were in focus. Far away, but in focus. Matthew’s eyes narrowed as he strained to look closer. Were they celebrating? He swore they looked excited. He closed his eyes and opened them again. Were they yelling at Anthony to jump?

Shuddering, Matthew slid the zoom toggle again in the opposite direction. The image in the screen quickly ascended the height of the building. But just as it reached the top, a blur in the corner caused a guttural noise to escape from the back of Matthew’s throat.

It was Anthony. Out of focus. Trembling. And staring at him.

Matthew’s hands froze, and so the camera lens obediently adjusted, bringing Anthony into focus. He continued to stare up at the camera, at Matthew. His now visible face was red and tear stained, but his expression was vacant, his eyes were cold.

And then he fell—forward and fast, still looking up. Screams escaped from the windows. People cleared the sidewalk. Matthew’s hands jerked to life, and he pulled the camera in over the barrier. He scampered backwards, his hands burning on the black rooftop floor. They were going to come looking for him, he realized. They were going to want to know what Anthony saw before he died.

And so when the officers, the stockbrokers, and the father burst through the rusted metal doors, they thought they would find something worthy of a man’s last look. But what they found was only a pale young boy, his forehead sweating, his mouth trembling, his arms hanging limp, and a shattered camera at his feet.

out for adventure

2008-08-15T18:00:00.002-05:00

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller

So it's been a few weeks since I last posted, but with good reason. It's been a crazy busy summer packed with writing, going to the beach, working out, doing Bikram yoga, the Olympics, movie watching, test driving cars, visiting parks, taking pictures, planning parties, cleaning, online magazine launching, chilling, and, oh yes, one very memorable Adventure Race, courtesy of Genesis Adventures.

To get the full specifics on it, I'd like to direct you to Alex's website, where he offers a minute-by-minute rundown of the the sweat, the pain, the excitement - 6 hours and 57 minutes worth (including a picture of one of the race map that on several occasions proved useless).

alexanderkblog.wordpress.com

The race took place on Saturday, August 2, in Allamuchy (pronounced with the "ch" sound, not the "k" sound...because I can only be corrected so many times) Mountain State Park, NJ, and according to everyone there, from the coordinator of the event to the adventure race veterans, it turned out to be one of the hardest races on record. The race results, which we got a few days later, proved it, seeing as how about 10 teams were assigned a "DNF" - did not finish.

Alex and me, however, aka Team Vigilant Monkey, did finish in just under 7 hours, starting at 9:00 AM and finishing three minutes before the official race cut-off time of 4:00 PM.

To sum up, the race was awesome, and really nothing like we expected. We actually (if you faithful blog readers can remember) took a prep course/daylong camp about two months ago during the last adventure race to better understand what we we were getting ourselves into, in Wawayanda State Park, NJ.

But you know how you study and study for an exam like the SAT or GRE, take practice tests, go over review questions, do the repetitive, straightforward problems, and still end up convinced that the actual test is more difficult than what you were told to go over? That's kind of exactly how this ended up. Consisting of three sections, kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking, this was the breakdown between the two locations -

In Wawayanda, we were on a lake, a big, calm enclosed lake, where lily pads and flowers were in abundance, on a hot, summer's day.

In Allamuchy, we were on a river, a tight, muddy, shallow-and-then-deep-when-you-least-expect-it, fly-infested, rocky, muddy (did I mention that?) river. Oh yeah, and there were waterfalls. I was covered in crap less than five minutes into the kayak portion of the race. Our paddles picked up more mud, seaweed, mulch, rocks, and unidentifiable brown stuff than I ever even thought sat at the bottom of a river.

Oh, and it was anything but sunny. Kayaking back to the transition point, the heavens opened up and unleashed all the rain that it hadn't unleashed all summer. And thunder. And lightning. When we got out at one point, thinking we should run with the kayak back to camp, we came up in a really thick part of the forest, where walking, let alone running, was out of the question. So we retraced our steps, but once at the river, we realized one of the paddles went missing, so I ran back into the forest to find it. And it might sound silly, but the day had already gotten so Lord of the Rings on me, that I actually entertained the possibility that river trolls had stolen the paddle out of the kayak when Alex was pulling it back, just so that one of us could go back to retrieve it, only to get snatched up, leaving the other alone on the river. Yes, the writer in me was still hard at work...

The kayak portion alone claimed two teams, who ended up stuck out there and had to drop out of the race.

Less than 2 hours for us, however, and we were back at the transition area.

Back to Wawayanda, where hiking was, literally, like a walk in the park. There were open forest areas, nicely marked paths, sights to be seen, and, of course, sun.

Allamuchy - everything was soaked. We were soaked. Our clothes were soaked. The forest was soaked. Any sort of traction that existed ever went out the window. Trails - non-existent. Checkpoints - few and far in between. The hiking was really what either made or broke teams. To be more exact, it was the dreaded Checkpoint 5 somewhere on some mythic stone wall that left people lost, confused, wandering and annoyed. It's funny how much a foggy compass, a wet map, and being surrounded by endless trees can really put a relationship to the test. Plus, there were ruins (and the river we kayaked on went through a historic, closed-down town) that I didn't even give a second look at - just to show you how frustrated Checkpoint 5 made me.

But we persevered and made it out of the forest in relatively sane condition. Back at the transition area, we grabbed our bikes, took note of how many bikes were still in their stands (thus the number of racers still in the woods), and took off on the third and last portion of the race.

Wawayanda - dirt bike paths, sun, some sort of direction.

Allamuchy - rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Wet rocks. Large rocks. Hidden rocks. The term for such bike paths are "bony," and these were up there with the boniest. It was on these paths that we met up with many teams still fuming from Checkpoint 5.

At about 3:30 PM, Alex and I started heading back to the transition point to cross the finish line. We had veered off the map for about thirty minutes prior to that, leaving us lacking in the the last few checkpoints (along with a good deal of other teams), but reinvigorated as well. The time to ourselves, in the middle of some of the coolest woods I've ever seen, by the largest boulder I've ever seen, was much needed and appreciated. It was the perfect note to end our race.

Well, actually, the bell they clanged for us as we crossed the finish line made a pretty good ending note, too. Right after we finished, I asked if there were any teams still out there, to which the coordinator responded with a laugh and an, "Of course!!" And I smiled, because it meant we did pretty darn good.

So that's the story. That was our race. More than once throughout the day my father's voice echoed in my head as he asked, "And why are you doing this again?" And more than once, I wondered the same thing myself. I ended up with cuts on my feet (most from wading in the river, pulling the kayak through gunk) and my legs (most from the hiking, where I think I must have brushed by every thorn and sharp twig in the whole forest), with pain in parts of my body that I didn't even know were capable of aching, with squishy socks that never really dried, with a river gunk-smeared bandana that attracted pesky insects throughout the whole race, with the realization that giving me a map does as much good as leaving the map at home, and with knee pain (there were few without a limp in their step at the end of the day).

Will we do it again? Of course we will. September, to be exact. To which my dad would ask, why is that? Because we have to. Because it was awesome. It was exhilirating. It was a challenge. It was a hardship. It was something unlike I've ever done before. It was 7 hours of realizing that if you want to, you will.

And then there's Checkpoint 5. Somewhere, at some point, some day, there'll be another Checkpoint 5. And we'll find it.

We have to.

your very first day...

2008-07-25T16:00:00.002-05:00

The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.
- George Bernard Shaw

You know what it's like: You say you're going to do something, but you don't do it, and then when you remember there was something you were supposed to do, you tell yourself you'll have to look into doing it, but then you still don't do it, because you're doing other things that probably don't get you half as excited as that thing that you keep telling yourself you should do, you want to do, you will do, and yet that you never do.

Sound familiar? I thought so.

When you live a busy life, as I know we all do, procrastination and frustration reign supreme, unless you can get yourself out of that circle. I, for instance, get a lot done, but as an ever-busy person and, worse, a writer suffering from publishing anxiety, I know there's so much more that should be getting done that isn't. And being a perfectionist (yes, I'm a Virgo, for you zodiac sign believers out there) doesn't help.

But I've been working very hard on stifling this tendency for the past year or so, and I think I've been making some serious progress. Like my drawers, for instance, I kept saying I was going to reorganize them this past month, but I never did, and finally, the other night, I did - all of them. Sure, this might have been a convenient way to get out of revising the next chapter of my book, but hey, reorganizing clothes never hurts =P A minor example, but if I gave you others, more important, meaningful ones, we'd be here all day.

So why am I telling you? Because I still see everyone doing it and have come to the conclusion that much of people's unhappiness stems from people's unwillingness to just get it done and fear of not doing it right. Sure, I haven't discovered fire here, but still, really think about it for a moment. It might sound like common sense, and it really is, but when you reflect on it, realize how little and insignificant a habit it is that keeps us from achieving things, and you'll want to get up and go book that trip, start that company, make yourself that sandwich, get yourself to the beach, take that walk - whatever it is you're telling yourself right now you want to do.

And it's not easy. It shouldn't be easy. Sometimes I'll sit at my computer bemoaning the time and agony it takes to get the plot moving (FYI, took me three hours to revise my Chapter 2 last week...but I did it), and I find myself writing slower, with less attention, with more distractions, with motivation quickly draining. But if it was easy, then I would've published a book years ago. Everyone would've published books years ago. And I wouldn't be happy. I'd be restless, trying to find something more challenging, something that asks more of me.

Take, for instance, the fact that Alex and I have an Adventure Race coming up in Allamuchy, NJ. I find myself worrying every now and then that it won't be easy, and we might get lost, and I might get tired, and we might suffer from heat exhaustion, and our sandwiches might get soggy, and I might have to go to the bathroom as soon as we're in the forest - probably when we're lost and too nervous to think about the bathroom - and I might fall off my bike going up a mountain, and I might tip over in the kayak while I'm thinking about falling off my bike...see, now even you're worried.

But then I have to remind myself (and sometimes it's hard) that I haven't been training and running and biking and kayaking and lifting weights and working on my endurance and going to an all-day Adventure Race prep course because it's going to be easy. No, I've been going because I'm going to attempt something ridiculous and fun and possibly painful and definitely memorable. So it won't be easy. But I know that. So why worry? When I'm just fretting over the obvious.

I guess what prompted me to write this was two articles I recently read. One, I read today, about Randy Pausch, the professor from Carnegie Mellon University who delivered the now-internet famous "Last Lecture" (and title of the best-selling book), about achieving your childhood dreams, in September 2007, a month after being told he had only a few months to live because his pancreatic cancer had returned. He died today, almost one year later.

I saw him on Oprah (yes, sometimes I watch) once, and he was pretty extraordinary. Basically, he said that he knew he was going to die, from one of the most painful cancers out there, but knowing that wasn't going to stop him from loving life for himself, his friends, and his family. If anything, he was going to do it one thousand times more. I must admit, some of his methods were a little extreme, like pouring a can of soda on the backseat of his brand new convertible to prove to his nephew and niece that they didn't have to worry about dirtying it. Material things are not important when it comes to people. Lo and behold, I think the story goes, the nephew got carsick at some point later on, threw up on the backseat, and happily realized that his uncle wasn't going to throw him out on the highway.

But ultimately, the book, his mantra, the lectures, his ideas, they were all meant to be, most importantly to him, life lessons he could leave for his wife and children. So he left behind a legacy of just getting out there and doing it with a lot of fun and little to no worry.

The second article I read several days ago was about 112-year old Frank Calloway, an Alabama man who has spent more than 50 years in the mental health system. In the '80s he started drawing, and now he is a prolific painter who creates images out of another time and place, visions of his youth. Last year, the article says, he took a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast, and soon afterward, he decided he was going to draw pictures of boats, but rather than drawing the modern boats he'd seen, he produced riverboats with paddlewheels, the kind Mark Twain would have written about. Not much is officially known about his life prior to entering the mental health system, that is, except for what he tells people...and what he draws. When he isn't hard at work, he enjoys talking to people who ask questions.

As for all of his paintings, they're going to be worth a lot, and this fall they will be on exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Calloway plans to attend the opening - it will be his first time on a plane...at 112 years old. So think about that the next time you say you're too old to do something or it's too late to start something.

I know a lot of people say live every day like it's your last, but I'm not crazy about that. I would probably -regardless of all the positive thinking in the world - be a nervous wreck if I found out it was the very last day (not quite like Pausch, who had some of the most amazing months of his life left).

Instead, I say, live every day like it's your first, with all the awe and wonder and smiles you had when it really was your very first day. When everything was new and awesome, and your thoughts and dreams were all experience- and reality check-free. Experience is what you choose to take out of life. Reality is what you make of it.

Live like you're just starting and like you've suddenly realized, for the very first time, that there's something you'd love to do...right now.

a flicker, then a flame

2008-07-07T23:22:00.001-05:00

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.
- Robert Frost

It's taken some time, but dammit, I've done it. Chapter 1 has officially been revised, submitted to my writing group, and (breathe) given a markedly positive assessment.

From the revision, which actually didn't take much time at all once I actually forced myself to sit down and do it, more ideas, more characterization, more plot points, more specifics, and more notes to address have emerged, and it's all so very awesome. It's tangible.

My goal by the end of the week is to have revised Chapters 2 and 3 and have an extensive outline for Chapters 6 - 10. Ugh - which will of course mean I have to start rereading the 100+ pages I've already written, including the parts where I was half asleep and managed to tactfully maneuver my way around gaping plot holes. Yeah, that's gonna be fun to decipher.

So yes, thank you all for not inviting me to any movies, parties, or hanging out time in the last week since my my most recent post. Keep up the great let's-all-help-Melissa-stop-procrastinating work!!

That is what you're doing, right?

Right?

Guys??

two months, no excuses

2008-06-30T14:00:00.001-05:00

You can't say, I won't write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then… you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer.
- Dorothy C. Fontana

Prior to opening up the new lululemon store at Roosevelt Field, all the new educators have been doing goal setting workshops and examining what each of our goals are for the future - personal, professional, and health. I've always been a goal setter, to a dorky extent, so I'm always surprised to learn that a lot of people never think to set or reach goals, and that's exactly the point these workshops have been getting across. I don't think it was anything that was ever directly taught to me, just indirectly understood to be something you do and continue to do often. So the goal setting concept is nothing new to me, but it was an important refresher nonetheless. It's always good to have things emphasized and rearticulated, to get you back on track.

With that said, it's dawned on me that my writing pursuits have been dragging the past few months, smothered by a horrible case of writer's block/procrastination/fear/perfectionism. So it's time to get back on track. Here are my goals for the next two months -

1) Finish my book, from beginning to end. Begin and continue the revision process as the story moves along. Revision can continue beyond deadline, but I must keep reviewing while I work on a book deal. Keep up the momentum. Don't make excuses.
By when => 8-31-08

2) Launch VM. Organize. Delegate. Reach out. Publicize. Recruit. Write. Inspire.
By when => 8-31-08 (but earlier would be ideal) and beyond

So there you go. Now you know. If I ask to go to the movies, say no. If I want to hang out, say next time. If I want to relax, say get up. If I'm organizing my sock drawer, say you're onto me.

Then remind me to go write.

You know, that thing I do.

when in texas...

2008-06-27T23:45:00.002-05:00

All good ideas arrive by chance.
- Max Ernst

Texas, you say? Indeed. I arrived in Texas this past Saturday with my cousin and her husband (or as I like to say, my cousin-in-law), and we've been having a great time. Some relaxing, some exercising, some sightseeing, some more relaxing, and a lot of spending time with family. It's been a nice breather from my usual hectic schedule, but even here I find I've been preoccupied with ideas and things I have to write and do and say and train for and work on and write about yet again. But whatever, I'm a writer, I do a lot of thinking and a lot of writing, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So to summarize, since Switzerland, June has been really busy.

Alex and I participated in our first Genesis Adventures Racing Camp on Saturday, June 7 to prepare for the actual race in August. We went to Wawayanda State Park in NJ, and it was quite the experience. I ended up with a very strange tan - the kind you get when you're out on a lake and in a forest for an entire day. You know, the band where your socks stopped and around your shoulders to clearly demarcate your sleeveless shirt. We kayaked, mountain biked, hiked, and tried desperately to learn how to use a compass. I think Alex did a better job of it than I did, as I was left glaring at my compass and turning in circles while standing in place.

Then there was Soraya's graduation and the many festivities surrounding it. Of course, no surprise there, she left with more awards than I can count, including the coveted gold cords that honor the top graduating students. Was I proud? You bet. Am I left asking how it is that my little sister is suddenly on her way to high school, the very same one that I went to, when it feels like just yesterday she was a little kid waiting for me to come home from school so we could play? Oh yeah. Ah well, such is life. We'll both still always be kids at heart =)

Moving on to the massive amounts of pictures and video I have taken in the past month alone, plus Switzerland, I have a lot - and I mean a lot - to comb through and finally present to everyone. I have, though, managed to do a good deal of printing out of pictures and have showed a lot to the family already. For Father's Day, I gave my dad a small album of only a sampling of the thousands of pictures we took in Switzerland. That same day, we all gave Soraya a scrapbook commemorating her graduation and years in school.

Still, though, a lot more pictures are yet to be printed out, properly sorted, and displayed for all, not to mention the new ones from Texas.

Then there was the Don Quixote course I finished. My paper was entitled "Donkeys, Madmen, and Literature: The Art of Transformation in The Golden Ass and Don Quixote" - which got me a nice A in the class. Or as Yaya would say - I beasted on it.

I've been reading Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star. By my count, I should have been done with it weeks ago, but due to Spanish knights and sheer exhaustion, I'm still plodding along. My critique so far - still an amazing series. Truly awesome. Excellent isn't even the word. It's so good, it still makes me angry =P

So far in Texas, we've been swimming, gone hiking, been mountain biking, visited the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, participated in our first Bikram Yoga class at Bikram Yoga Grapevine (also where some Dallas Cowboys are known to go in the off season, as well as where I walked by a very large NY Jet player) went to the Fort Worth Stockyards where we spent an afternoon with Texas longhorn cattle (where I was so tempted to do my John Wayne impression), visited The Sixth Floor/JFK Museum in Dallas (where outside we saw many intelligent people dodging traffic to get a picture of the X that marks the spot of the shooting), went to Hurricane Harbor, cheered at two baseball games (the Fort Worth Cats and the Texas Rangers), and even bought a house...well, kind of. It was this huge house on sale for about a $1 million, but when we saw the dimensions and realized that on Long Island a house that size could be about $6 million, if not more, we knew it was nothing short of a steal. So in a way, we bought it, and as soon as we get close to one million, we'll move right in.

And that's it really. If you've been wondering where I've been, the answer is pretty much everywhere, always doing something. As for writing, that, too, like my reading has been plodding along, but I am officially dubbing July the month to get most of my book written and completed. It's a major goal, I know, especially considering that I'm also dubbing July the month in which to launch VM.

A lot to do, but we'll get it done.

We always do =)

dance, sing, floss and travel

2008-06-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

It only takes one person to change your life – you.
- Ruth Casey

So remember that busy schedule I always talk about? Well, it looks like I've managed to add yet another task to the very long list...and I couldn't be happier =)

I am now a part-time educator at lululemon athletica, at it's brand spankin' new store in Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY. We open Friday, June 27.

Lululemon is a luxury fitness apparel company that makes truly functional, performance-ready clothing for yoga, running, cycling, dancing, triathlons, gym training, and every other sport that makes you sweat.

It's purpose is simple - to create components for people to live longer, healthier, more fun lives. And it does so by making awesome clothing. I was skeptical at first, that their clothes could be so much better than anything else I've tried, but they are indeed. The clothes are intuitive and stylish, with more wicking potential, ventilating mesh, secret pockets for keys, money, iPods, etc., and choices than I've ever seen.

The reason the clothes are so custom-designed to fit every athlete's needs? Because they're designed by people who are athletes. In fact, everyone who works for lululemon are athletes in one way or another. And so we come to the "educator" part.

Everyone who works on the floor of lululemon's stores are also athletes who are passionate about staying fit and healthy and passing on their knowledge to others. Right now, I am working alongside personal trainers, nutritionists, yoga instructors, writers, therapists, to name just a few of the many occupations and talents involved. In fact, lululemon embraces the fact that its educators are all experts and movers and shakers in their own fields, and its that kind of knowledge that the company needs to grow even more. Not only do we have to know everything about the clothes on the floor - what they're made for, what features they have, what sports they're best for - but we're also expected to impart our personal experience with the clothes from being out on the track, in the studio, on the court, in the mountains, or wherever in them.

So yeah, you could say I'm just a little excited to be working for the company =P

They also have the coolest manifesto I've ever read. See below (click to enlarge). And they're very big on goal setting, too, and seeing their educators set goals within and beyond the company, which has always been a big deal for me, but I've never seen it so widely and positively practiced on a corporate level. The overall philosophy is quite brilliant, and the fact that their sales continue to skyrocket is only a testament to that fact. What's that? You've never seen any advertisements for lululemon? Yeah, well, that's the other thing. They don't advertise the traditional way. For the most part it's a completely organic, grassroots process that happens through word of mouth via educators and people who wear the clothes to fellow athletes and friends.

Quite a novel idea that's really taken off...good stuff to learn from for an aspiring entrepreneur.

Back from Switzerland

2008-05-21T09:00:00.003-05:00

Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's been almost a month since I've last posted, but I have a pretty decent excuse - I was in Switzerland!! And for those days that I wasn't yet there and still didn't post, well, I was too busy getting ready for the trip =)

The main focus of the trip was a conference, The World Mysteries Forum, at which my father was one of the main speakers. After landing in Zurich, we took a train out to Basel, the university city of Switzerland, originally founded by the Romans long ago, where the conference was to take place.

My father's presentation - an awesome one, might I add - was entitled "Inspirational Mining: The Progress of Science." Other presenters, including professors, archaeologists, and physicists, to name a few, gave a variety of presentations on such topics as the possibility of life in space, ancient civilizations, the intelligent universe, and quantum tunneling. For a list of the speakers and their biographies, visit the 2008 Archives of the conference website.

An unforgettable experience, we made a lot of friends, learned a lot of things, asked a lot of questions, and have vowed to return again one of these days. At the conference banquet, we were also treated to a performance by musicians and performers from Basel's world famous carnival, the Basler Fasnacht, the biggest carnival in Switzerland and one of the top fifty in all of Europe.

Also present at the conference, and for many the main speaker and guest of honor, was Erik von Daniken, a well-known Swiss author whose theories, ideas, and questions regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial influences on mankind's earliest civilizations have been at the center of discussion, controversy, and new ideas for decades now. We had the pleasure of spending a good deal of time with him and what he had to say was more than enlightening and definitely one of the highlights of the trip, most especially the work he has done and questions he has asked regarding the Nazca lines in Peru.

Basel lies very close to the borders of Germany and France, and while we could've done some country hopping, we chose to make our way through Swiss territory, so after exploring the Rhine and city streets and monuments of Basel, we made our way to the Alps. From Basel, we took a train to the town of Interlaken, nestled between, appropriately enough, two lakes, and from Interlaken, we went by taxi up, up, and up to Beatenberg, the longest village in Europe. According to von Daniken, "It's the most beautiful place in the world," and I might have to agree. The view from the hotel was absolutely breathtaking, and the amount of things to do from the mountains was endless, starting with paragliding.

Yes, I paraglided, took pictures and video while paragliding, would totally paraglide again, and have to say it's one of the most relaxing activities I've ever done - credit to my Swiss tandem paraglider for the day with 20 years of experience who helped make everything go as smooth and safe as possible. After paragliding, we went scootering down the mountain, which entailed high speeds, lots of bugs, great scenery, lots more bugs, good exercise, and still more bugs. For the bug reason, we kept our moths shut and our sunglasses on at all times.

The hotel, the people, the food, the town, shopping in Interlaken, the cows (a lot of cows), the mountains (not to mention Jungfrau, known as "the top of Europe") - I already have a trip back there down on my calendar. After about four days in Beatenberg, we went by bus to Thun, where we took a train to Zurich. There, we met my father's cousin and her family, who my parents had not seen in 30 years. After two hotels, as awesomely accommodating as they were, it was refreshing to come home to a house with family.

In Zurich, there was city life and the stamp of history. Like Basel, we visited the cathedrals, walked the streets, took in the sights, and enjoyed the Swiss air. My father got a chance to visit one of the dwelling places of Huldrych Zwingli, a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland in the 16th century, my mom went to mass in one of the main cathedrals, Soraya and I captained a paddle boat on Zurich waters, and we all ate a lot of food and bought a lot of things - all considerably priced. Yeah, by far the most expensive country in Europe I've ever been to, you should come well-armed with Swiss francs if you should ever journey to Switzerland. As a good example, an HD miniDV tape, one that I spent days searching for, cost me $30...which I promptly returned to get a bargain on a $25 one down the street. Back home, I would've paid $10. As for food and taxis everywhere we went, from Basel to Zurich, also rather, in some cases even uber, expensive. But, seeing as we were on vacation, we were happy to oblige.

Will we return? You bet. Maybe next year? God willing?

But am I happy to be home? Oh yeah =)

monkeys and luxury

2008-05-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

The measure of artistic merit is the length to which a writer is willing to go in following his own compulsions.
- John Updike

We're just a few months away from the launch of VM. Check out our "Coming Soon" page -

www.vigilantmonkey.com

Also, the Summer '08 issue of Elements is out now, featuring, among others, my interview with Tim Gunn and article on CityView Racquet Club.

Contact me for copies or updates on future events =)

websites for writers

2008-04-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

If writing seems hard, it’s because it is hard. It’s one of the hardest things people do.
- William Zinsser

It's always exciting to find a new site for writers, about writing, devoted to the art of writing and/or interested in helping writers find their way. As many of you know, I like writing competitions, partially because I like competing, but also because it helps get the creative juices flowing. With that said, here are some sites worth checking out:

1) Winning Writers - www.winningwriters.com

Devoted to finding and creating quality resurces for poets and writers, Winning Writers hosts an online poetry contest guide that ranks and profiles over 750 poetry contests, sponsors two annual poetry contests, and assists in several others, for both poetry and short stories. Sign up for a free newsletter to keep up-to-date on the latest contests and deadlines.

2) NaNoWriMo - www.nanowrimo.org

This site's big month is in November - National Novel Writing Month. Participants sign up, and on November 1, they begin writing. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. No editing. No breaks. No self-doubt. Just writing. With the ability to communicate with other NaNoWriMers in your area through forums and local write-ins, not to mention your own homepage with stats about yourself and a word counter you update yourself, you'll find it hard not to come down with novel-writing fever. Chances are what you end up with isn't quite what you're going to send to Random House to publish, but the point isn't to have a polished work of literature, rather it's to get you to sit down and do what it is us writers are so great at avoiding - actual writing. I took part in my first NaNoWriMo this past year, and the results are what I'm working on revising now.

3) Script Frenzy - www.scriptfrenzy.org

Same idea as NaNoWriMo, except that the month-long competition takes place in April, and instead of a novel, you work on writing a 100-page script or collection of scripts (all types accepted, whether for screen or stage).

4) NYC Midnight - www.nycmidnight.com

Writers, filmmakers, animators - this is the site for you. NYC Midnight sponsors dual-round short story and screenplay writing competitions. You sign up in advance, and on the day the competition begins, you're assigned a heat number with a subject and genre for your story or screenplay. For Round 1, you have one week to write and submit, and one month later, the winners from each heat are announced, and from those, a select group go on to compete in Round 2. Among their other contests are competitions for filmmakers and animators, with a similarly tight schedule with which to complete your masterpiece.

5) Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - www.scbwi.org

The names says it all. If you want to write or illustrate for children's literature, you'd better be a card-carrying member. From workshops and grants to conferences and valuable connections, this is a great site to check out to learn the ins and outs of the industry.

6) Writer's Digest - www.writersdigest.com

Since 1920, Writer's Digest has been publishing worthy content for writers everywhere. Now check out their website, and be sure to look up their list of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (where you'll find Winning Writers). Their brand includes the oh-so-useful Writer's Market and its many industry-specific guides, both online and in print.

So there you have it. Go search, write, and conquer.

writing and the wall

2008-04-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

The story is not in the plot but in the telling.
- Ursula K. LeGuin

It’s an interesting position you’re placed in when you’re told that your story is well written, but it’s not quite working the way it should be…even though the writing is very good.

My revised Chapter 2 has been making the rounds this past week to great reviews and mixed reviews, but regardless of what camp the critique is coming from, everyone seems to agree that I’m a good writer. Which is great and all, but I know that. If I wasn’t a good writer, I’d be quite screwed, considering that writing is very much in my job description—all of them, for that matter, even the ones I have yet to start.

So then what’s the issue? Well, if you haven’t read the opening chapters of my novel, then it’s hard to explain in detail, and since I have quite a way to go in revising and even writing, I don’t think it’s yet time to divulge too much of the plot. What you do need to know is that it’s a YA book intended for both young adult and adult audiences, and it, hopefully, is a clever blend of fantasy, realism, and ghost story. That’s the idea, anyway.

Basically, though, the problems I’m running into are as follows – I narrate too much; I give too much away to the reader; I don’t give enough information; it’s not creepy enough; nothing has really happened yet; children might not have the patience for it; the plot seems formulaic; it’s not formulaic enough; where are the other characters; the main character has to be more interesting; more has to happen; slow things down…

Did you follow? Good, neither do I.

Well, I guess I do, in a way. Looking back on my two revised chapters, I see what everyone is saying, and then I don’t see it, and as I look at what I’ve written, and how well written it may be and yet not quite what I want, I notice that I’m beginning that dark descent into the writing chasms of self-doubt and trepidation. Suddenly, it’s no longer a question of when will I write it, but more a question of can I write it? What’s in my head, what’s slowly been gaining strength and real publishable potential since that day when I first thought about it while on vacation in Florida, that idea and plot and character, all that vivid imagery, I’m suddenly worried if I can really bring that alive on the pages for people other than myself to understand.

So I should panic, right? Perhaps, or at the very least, be sad for a short amount of time, but strangely enough, I’m not panicking or even a little sad. I’m just slightly confused, contemplative, and even kind of hesitant to make my next step (even though it will inevitably be tackling Chapter 3). See, I’ve been thinking, and I realize, what would I rather be right now: Worried that I don’t yet have a story? Or worried that I have two well-written chapters that need more work? Clearly, the latter.

Considering all the years I’ve gone without seeing my stories typed out on my computer screen, I’d say I’m pretty happy that I even have something to send out. So revise and rework I will, but most importantly, I just have to keep writing and thinking and planning.

bright days ahead

2008-04-21T22:00:00.004-05:00

A story isn't about a moment in time; a story is about the moment in time.
- W. D. Wetherell

Last week I attended my second graduate conference, held at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and entitled “Framed: Delimiting the Film Image.” My paper, "Children & Memories of the Spanish Civil War: The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth & La Lengua de las Mariposas," was part of the Politics & History panel. With the help of a PowerPoint presentation, I gave those listening a glimpse of my Master’s thesis and three films which I recommend to everyone who hasn’t yet seen them to go and Netflix. Perhaps the coolest part of the day was that Alex was in the audience. Not only did he finally get to see my graduate school, that mysterious place in the city that I run off to every so often, but I think it might also have been the first time he heard me give a scholarly presentation of sorts. It was definitely cool. I am going to insist he now be at every future conference I attend =)

Then there was a string of birthdays. The day after the conference, we went to Medieval Times to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. I never thought eating chicken and drinking soup without utensils could be so gratifying. The knights were there, too, of course. I think our group was more excited than some of the 9-year-old birthday parties in attendance.

For my sister’s birthday the next day we went to Lenny the Pug's Annual Birthday Benefit for Animal Haven in SoHo. Rocco, our own pug, came along, and proceeds from the event went to help Animal Haven continue to be able to provide the type of adoption care and services that place dogs and cats in excellent homes. Do I sound like an advertisement? Well, if you had ben there, you’d be touting the glories of this place, too.

Then it was back to the work week on Monday, with a welcomed break on Wednesday when Alex and I had the privilege of attending Soraya’s “Special Person’s Day” at her school. We got a tour of the building (I think three times), got to hang out with her friends, ate lots of pasta, took lots of pictures, and attended mass, where we learned about the habits of sheep.

Later that week, it was off to the Martha Stewart Show with Soraya, my mom, and my aunt. We were at a taping for a show that will air in May, so we had to act as such. We won tickets to SeaWorld, and I thought Soraya and I were going to fall out of our chairs (yeah, we were that excited). We also won a lot of 3M sponges, which is cooler than it probably sounds.

That night, Alex and I attended the grand opening of CityView Racquet Club. Some semi-celeb sightings included tennis player Justin Gimelstob and Ramona from that Bravo show, The Real Housewives of NYC. Regis Philbin and his wife showed up after we left. I’m sure they were upset about that.

The weekend rolled around again. My mom and Soraya’s friends threw Soraya a surprise birthday party, and that was pretty awesome, ice cream cake included. The night ended with rousing encores of Rock Band. The party continued the next day with more gifts, more cake, more birthday, and I, by chance, found out that Fablehaven 3 was out and picked it up at Barnes & Noble.

All in all, it’s been a crazy week, but an exciting one. You know, one of those weeks where every day brings something new, but you’re glad it does. Not at all like the story of that poor lady in Britain who almost got eaten by a python. That’s a good example of something unexpected you’d rather the week never brings.

drink the milk, read the books

2008-04-04T10:00:00.001-05:00

Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

...or woman, there could one of those there, too.

If you remember, this past February, I won 2nd place in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge 2008, and as a result of that, a friend of mine from our writing group gave me a Barnes & Noble gift card as a literary congratulations. Armed with this, and the desire to go spend a couple of hours in a bookstore, Alex and I went to Barnes & Noble in search of something worthy of the card.

That was exactly 2 weeks ago, and I haven't stopped talking about Fablehaven since.

I first picked up the book because it was at the top of the escalators, spread out on a table, next to a poster announcing an upcoming book signing with the author, Brandon Mull. To be honest, I hadn't heard of it, and when I saw that it was a New York Times bestseller, I couldn't help but wonder if that's just a generic term they're giving books these days because every cover seems to be sporting it. I picked up the book, looked at the front, turned it around, read the back, was intrigued, turned it around again, still intrigued, went to a chair, sat down to read it, and right before they kicked us out, promptly purchased it with my gift card.

Now, this is the first children's fantasy-esque book I've read since my little sister got me Coraline for Christmas, during that period in my life when Neil Gaiman's name was following me around (search the blog, find my post about it). Which is interesting, as you and I both know, because of my field of writing, I should be reading more books altogether, but I've been a little tied up with required graduate school readings.

And after all, I have been trying to revise my own novel, so I have understandably not been able to peruse the bookstore too often these past few months.

But then comes along Fablehaven, a book I bought without hesitating to look for it first at the library or putting it back on the shelf in favor of getting it for less on Amazon. A series I had never heard of before, yet that very night, I resolved to be there to hear the author speak on Thursday, April 3 - last night.

Long story short, the first book was fantastic. The second book, I purchased last Friday. Basic plot, as follows: At first reluctantly, two children stay with their grandparents in Connecticut for a few weeks while their parents go on a family cruise. In time, they come to discover that there grandfather is the caretaker of a preserve of mystical creatures known as Fablehaven. And that's when everything starts to go awry.

The concept, the characters, the dialogue, the conflict, the decriptions, the stories, the humor, the suspense - ugh, all horribly wonderful. While reading the first book, I realized as a writer now fully invested in one novel (with all those others in bits and pieces, officially rooting, if they could, for my first one), that I'm having difficulty just enjoying great writing. But this has always been the case, to a degree. I find myself, in every well-placed word and clever twist in the plot, mumbling about how brilliant it all is, annoyingly brilliant, as I struggle to get the courage to sit down and revise my own Chapter 2.

Revise Chapter 2? I'm already on Book 2 in my head!! All my life, I've written the best stories in my head, the most involved and entertaining, where I can easily skip over those pesky plot holes that are glaringly apparent when you've stumbled over them on a computer screen at 2 AM.

Alex rightly pointed out that for the past two weeks, the reason Chapter 2 has evaded me might very well be " the denizens of Phibblehaffen" (I've said the name so often, he has now made for it his own spelling and pronunciation).

And I think he's right. Every time I've gone to write, I've ended up reading! Turning page after miserable page of wonderfully fantastic prose!

But no matter, if I finish Fablehaven II: Rise of the Evening Star in the next few days, giving me a whole month before Book III comes out - Grip of the Shadow Plague.

Oh, and as for that book signing last night? I was really looking forward to hearing Brandon Mull speak about his experiences writing the series and his life as a writer. We are, after all, in the same profession. As fate would have it, little sister Soraya had her medical PowerPoint presentation that evening at school (an excellent one on bulimia nervosa), and as much as I've grown to love Fablehaven, I wasn't about to miss her big night.

So, by some miracle, I convinced Olga and Kenny to go for me, although truth be told, I think we were all a little surprised about how adamant I was about getting someone to go see this author I had only first heard about two weeks ago. A flat tire almost derailed them, but again, things worked out, and armed with my two books (notice how we always go to Barnes & Noble "armed" with something), they went to hear Brandon Mull speak for me. I prayed they would have a good time and come back with good things to say about the author...

Well, they came back alright, with signed books, posters, a t-shirt, and the good news that the author was as much a nice guy and well-spoken writer as I thought he would be =)

Just great - a great writer, a really nice guy, and a third book on the way.

Ugh, Grip of the Shadow Plague, here I come, ever so reluctantly...in that eager kind of way.

things to do, but when to write?

2008-04-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

No one is asking, let alone demanding, that you write. The world is not waiting with bated breath for your article or book. Whether or not you get a single word on paper, the sun will rise, the earth will spin, the universe will expand. Writing is forever and always a choice - your choice.
- Beth Mende Conny

"The world is not waiting"...but it should be.

Craziness, since we last spoke, from tennis courts on rooftops, expensive car parties, and photo shoots in the Hamptons to birthdays, reading, and rotating TV audiences. Oh, and there was writing somewhere, just not the type I wanted to be doing.

CityView Racquet Club is officially open (check out the post about my interview with Roman Prokes, tennis stringer to the stars, when I was last there - "rooftop tennis..."). A few weeks ago, I visited again for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the place looks every bit as much a racquet player's dream as they said it would. The grand opening party is in two weeks, and word is Regis Philbin and Justin Gimelstob are going to be there. Personally, I'm looking forward to the food, the courts, and finally getting to show Alex the place I've been talking about for almost a year =)

The next night, Alex and I attended a Lamborghini party at the Champion Motor Group Bentley-Lamborghini Long Island dealership in Jericho to celebrate the new Lamborghini showroom. There were some uber-expensive auctions going on, one of which included signed guitars by Esteban. We figured, since we already have Esteban guitars, and we didn't (at the time) have thousands of dollars to splurge on more expensive ones, we did one better -

Then taxes came soon after - done and done. Quickly followed by Easter, officially a month before Greaster this year, successfully yielding two celebrations for Alex and me.

Fast forwarding to the next week, I took my mom, her friend, Kathy, and my aunt (also affiliated with my mom...) to see the Rachael Ray Show. Much like The View, I ordered tickets a millenia ago and received a confirmation e-mail about two weeks before the show we had been selected to attend. Unlike The View, I wasn't stuck going by myself because all the women in my life who like this stuff bailed on me. Rather, I got the use of my four requested tickets this time around. I ended up learning some interesting things while I was there.

When a book is good enough, you can read while standing on line for an hour. I practically finished Fablehaven, all the while hearing bits and pieces of conversations going on around me. My mom's friend and aunt asked me what the book was about, and I explained. They looked lost when I was done, so I told them to read the book, and they, too, would understand.

Never paint walls bright orange. It will temporarily yield you unable to think straight and inevitably always remind you of Rachael Ray. Apparently, no one believes in plain banana muffins. I keep running into banana nut muffins, and at the studio was no different. I don't know which is stranger - that I can't find plain banana muffins or that I keep running into banana nut muffins. What else...the studio audience floor rotated, which was pretty cool. I've worked in TV production before and been to several shows, but the moving floor there was a definite first. Falafel burgers are tricky things. Let's just say, Rachael had some issues with the recipe and had to do several takes before we were all instructed to applaud and repeat after her, "Drain and dry!!" If you ever make falafel burgers, drain and dry the chic peas first. I'll remember that...next time I don't cook. When we were leaving, I saw her getting donuts from the Dunkin Donuts table set up there, and I thought again about those damn banana nut muffins we were offered over donuts. I also came to the conclusion, if and when I one day get to be the "face" of something, I want it to be Entenmann's. Every morning would be awesome. Or Pops cereal. Perhaps that's more breakfast appropriate.

We proceeded to spend a day in the city, which involved Indian food, churches, the Macy's flower show, and The Morgan Library & Museum, where we saw some of the most amazing photo portraits taken by Irving Penn, including shots of Truman Capote, Ingmar Bergman, Salvador Dali, and T. S. Eliot. If you get a chance, see "Close Encounters" before the exhibition closes next week.

Then of course came Alex's birthday - 27 handsome years old =)

As for writing, I finally finished my two articles for our Summer '08 issue - the interview with Tim Gunn (see "making it work...") and the article about CityView. Much rejoicing, all around. We also completed the photo shoot for the issue at a $3.2 million home out in East Hampton. For that much money, you get open spaces, a view of the harbor, a lot of windows, and no shades.

Check out my finalized headshots:

Now I have to work extensively on a conference presentation I am set to give in exactly one week. It's based on my thesis about Spanish Civil War films depicting children as the main protagonists. "Working on it" involves cutting down a 40-page paper into one of only 10-15 pages, creating a PowerPoint, and rehearsing.

And all the while, I keep asking, Chapter 2, Chapter 2 - where are you?

My cousin, hard at work on a paper of her own, once told me (or IMed me, rather), "I work best under pressure," which she thought about and followed up with, "Then again, I've only ever really worked under pressure."

So true, Anj, so true.

to be an ass...a golden ass

2008-03-20T17:40:00.002-05:00

The only test of a work of literature is that it shall please other ages than its own.
- Gerald Brenan

Ah, reading, that thing that writers often forget to do (much like poets who seldom read poetry). It would be like asking a chef to learn how to cook without ever eating or telling someone to learn how to be a great pilot without ever stepping foot into a plane. It's weird and a little awkward. Like getting onstage to play guitar when you've never picked up a guitar. Or even - enough analogies?

Point is, you should read. When I was younger, like really little, I read all the time. I entered every reading competition there was and shook my fist at the person who capped the reading entry per day at 2 books for the library's summer reading competition (still a little bitter). It should've been survival of the fittest, those who could read 3, 4, even 6 books a day would triumph! Not only those stinkers who read 2 measly chapter books a day and religiously made it to the library every afternoon (even though I did, abiding by the rules, and won several times - so there).

But as the years progressed, and school became more tedious, my love of reading went as well, as it became more laborious and time-consuming. During a long reading break, the only thing I read, but gladly, was Lord of the Flies, still one of my favorite books.

Fortunately, I've since snapped out of the reading fog. College helped somewhat, and graduate school has continued what was started during my years as an English major.

For the past few months, as you know, I have been reading Don Quixote, seemingly the biggest book ever with the littlest words. And for the past three weeks, I have been immersed in Lucius Apuleius' novel, The Golden Ass. Written in the 2nd century AD and influential to a countless number of writers, genres, works, and studies, both as a piece of literature as well as a look at Greek and Roman history, it has proven to be as fantastic as my father has been telling me it is since forever.

Basically, the story goes like this: Lucius, the main character (which just so happens to be the author's name as well), travels to Thessaly in Greece, notoriously known as a haven of black magic. While he's there, he engages in an affair with a slave girl, Fotis, and desires to learn the ways of her lady's black art. One thing leads to another, and the next thing he knows he's smothering himself in a potion that he thinks will turn him into an owl, an animal associated with wisdom. As it turns out, when he starts trying to flap his "wings" only to find out he's grown hooves, Fotis realizes that instead of giving him the turning-into-owl potion, she gave him the turning-into-donkey potion.

www.jnanam.net/golden-ass/apuleius.html

And who hasn't had that happen to them before!

Thus begins the adventures of Lucius, the ass, as he embarks on a dangerous, painful, and unwilling journey from cruel masters to even crueler masters. Full of fantasy, enchantment, intrigue, irony, humour, wit, and interpolated stories, the novel delves into the world of the lower classes, with Lucius, a former young member of the aristocracy turned into a beast of burden, as the eyes and ears of the reader. In the end, he is redeemed by the goddess Isis, who helps him find the healing potion he has been waiting all season for - roses.

You have to read it. You'll love it, I know it. The only thing is, you might find it, as I did, slightly more than disturbing just how everything that happens in the novel and the people you meet are so similar to things that happen and people we all know today. Anger, jealousy, sadness, cruelty, nervousness, dishonesty, gossip, hubris, greed, class differences - not much has changed. Two thousand years ago or yesterday, it's all so very similar. And while no one should be too surprised, it just brings the point even closer home when you read it all in a novel written in Roman times.

Fortunately, for the reader anyway, Lucius Apuleius presents it all with humor, grace, and honesty. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even fall out of your seat - but most important, you'll never look at a donkey the same way again.

ill-equipped cartographers

2008-03-08T02:06:00.000-05:00

You can take for granted that people know more or less what a street, a shop, a beach, a sky, an oak tree look like. Tell them what makes this one different.
- Neil Gaiman

It's Friday night again. Weren't we just here?

It's been a relatively quiet week, mostly waiting for stuff to happen that's out of my control.

For instance, I'm waiting for another round of VM website mock-ups. I was hoping to get something before the weekend, considering the speed at which we've been moving from our end, but the quickness with which we move is clearly not the rate at which other people do. It's frustrating because everyone is asking, "When is the magazine launching?" and all I can say is, "Still waiting..."

Then there's my final headshot images... still waiting to get those.

I've been waiting for packages that I've sent to get delivered in the mail, been waiting to receive packages in the mail, been waiting for e-mails from people who must've forgotten how to use e-mail, been waiting for people to read certain things that I've written, been waiting for some inspiration before revising Chapter 2.

I strongly dislike waiting. I'd much rather be doing, but, avoid it as much as I may, there are certain things in life that require the assistance of others, and that being the case, sometimes you just have to wait, while nudging and reminding and urging.

This week I also got to thinking about my map of life, and I came to the conclusion that I might have charted things a little askew. What got me to thinking about it was a conversation I overhead (while paying close attention) someone having about his daughter's best friend who published a book, after which he remarked, "I mean, how many people can say they've published a book before they were 20?"

I involuntarily cringed upon hearing the question. That was supposed to be me. According to my map, that should be checked off, along with a number of other "firsts."

But, going back to the conversation, I was suspicious. So, sitting at my computer, as I was, I quickly took the two small bits of information I had about the author in question, based on the overheard conversation, did some of my Google trickery, and voila, just as I had suspected - the girl published her book with iUniverse.

Let me preface what I'll say next by saying that there's nothing wrong with going the route of self-publishing, but in the world of publish street cred, that doesn't count. Not really. Sure, these days it's much easier and more fulfilling in the end to self-publish and promote a book yourself, thanks to the internet and companies like iUniverse, than it might have been years ago, but the way I see it, it's not the same as pitching your book to an agent and/or an editor and never having to pay a penny to see your words printed, bound, and sold.

I don't want to publish a book so that I can have a book and say, "Look, here's my book. Tell me how much you love my book." I want to publish books so that one day other people, many other people, say like those affiliated with The New York Times and the Newbery Medal awards, will come up to me and say, "Look, here's your book. We love your book."

Now, believe me, I know there are two camps to this debate, and I know one side is made up mostly of those who have gone the self-publishing route, who will defend it like family, but I still say it's not the same.

So what actually came of me finding out what I did via Google? Really, just momentary, childish relief. I don't know who this girl is or have any plans on reading her book, and ultimately it's neither here nor there with anything that I'm doing. What it did do was give me the opportunity to vent to Alex (as I do) via IM about how if I wanted to I could go self-publish a book tomorrow, but how I won't.

And he listened. And he agreed with me. And he reassured me. And he reminded me of the following: "The maps of life are grossly inaccurate, due to them being charted by unqualified cartographers such as you and I."

How true, I thought, and it calmed me down at the time.

But while you won't be seeing on my website anytime soon - Melissa Celeste Navia: Writer, Actor, Cartographer - I don't think it's completely out of the question to admit that you've taken a few unexpected detours and excursions along the way, leaving you behind schedule and somewhat off the pre-determined course.

I mean, what does a 10-year-old watching Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, on adventures with Indiana Jones, obsessed with books, and dreaming of saving the world really know about life anyway? Clearly, not much about maps.

to write, to live, to work, to laugh

2008-02-29T22:59:00.005-05:00

As with all other aspects of the narrative art, you will improve with practice, but practice will never make you perfect. Why should it? What fun would that be?
- Stephen King

The Spring '08/5th Anniversary issue of Elements dropped this past Wednesday - how exciting!! - with several articles by Alex and me, as well as a featured contributing writer who you might know =)

If you want a copy, just let me know, and Alex will send you a box. Quite literally, he will actually send you a box of magazines.

This morning, Alex and I stopped by a Ferrari/Maserati dealership to pick up the Maserati GranTurismo for a test drive. Alex drove while I was content to play the role of attentive, picture-taking passenger. At $125,000, it was quite the ride. Even at top speeds, it was incredibly smooth and agile, turning heads on every street. The Lotus is still my future sports car of choice, but if a Maserati ever ended up in my driveway, I don't think I'd turn it away.

I just got the results for the the Short Story Challenge 2008 that I entered a few months ago, and while I didn't get 1st place in my heat, I got 2nd place instead =) So I don't move on to Round 2, but considering that there were more than 550 writers, of which 45 have moved on to Round 2, and I got 1 of the 30 2nd place spots out of all the heats (mine had 19 writers), I actually did pretty good!! (Did you catch all those numbers??) Check out the results page:

http://www.nycmidnight.com/2008/SSC/1stRound/15.htm

Then there was this interesting bit of news from the photographer (ImageWorksNYC) who recently took my headshots - one of my pictures is now up on one of his websites:

http://www.imageworksnyc.com/headshots

As for VM, we got a new round of drawings and layouts this week, and with them, progress looks promising in the next few weeks.

So that's about it for updates this most busy of months. Still writing, still editing, still plugging away. It gets tough, and perfection is elusive, always two steps ahead of me, making me slap my forehead every other day. But hey, perfection is overrated. Sometimes a flaw here or there, a question mark or two, makes you smile more than if you hadn't noticed anything at all.

And with that, here's the cutest tree ever:

making it work with tim gunn

2008-02-28T23:08:00.008-05:00

It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.
- William Faulkner

Several things happened today. I lost my voice. I had an audition. I interviewed Tim Gunn. I paid off my graduate school tuition. I revised Chapter 1 of my novel.

Oh, did I mention I interviewed Tim Gunn? You know, everyone's favorite fashion mentor on Project Runway, host of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, author of the book with the same name, educator extraordinaire at Parsons The New School for Design, and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne.

Yeah, that Tim Gunn.

I first met Mr. Gunn very briefly last May at a Book Revue book signing in Huntington, and from the talk he gave there, I could already tell that he was as eloquent, knowledgeable, and passionate as he appears on television. Now, after a lengthy interview in his office in the city, I can say that all of those things are more than true, and he just so happens to also be one of the most personable and down-to-earth people I have ever had the pleasure to interview. In every way, he is the Tim Gunn everyone who is a fan of his could hope for him to be - and then some.

We spoke about his position at Liz Claiborne, where he has been reinvigorating the company and its many brands, breathing life and energy back into it, about Project Runway and Guide to Style, about his time at Parsons, and about his overall role in the fashion world today. More than anything, Mr. Gunn has become for many people a figure who bridges that cloudy realm between the runways in NYC and the mess of a closet we all have at home. When everyone has something to say about how everyone should dress, Mr. Gunn teaches a philosophy of personal style, owning your look, and - say it with me now - making it work!!

Well before many of us met Mr. Gunn, he was an educator and administrative force at Parsons, a mover and a shaker, helping to reshape a department and mold a new generation of fashion designers. But when we did finally meet him several years ago, we found a fashion mentor, of all things, and of the nicest, most intelligent kind. And before long, and rightfully so, he was not only giving advice to aspiring designers, but in addition he was giving much-needed style advice to people who can't nor care to sew - to the people who aren't so much concerned about what's "in" as to those who want to feel good in their clothes all the time.

So now we have Tim Gunn - educator, host, celebrity, author, company executive, and mentor.

People wait on line for hours to meet Mr. Gunn, shake his hand, ask him questions, and find out what he thinks about how they're dressed. What some people would never dare to ask because of what the answer might actually be, they ask him, because they know that he is qualified, interested in giving feedback, and above all, genuinely honest, in the nicest of ways.

You'll surely hear more about my interview with Mr. Gunn as the article nears completion (just enough to entice you to read it when it's published), but for now, know this:

Today, at the interview, he pointed out just how cute my dress was and what a perfect fit it was, and as I actually jotted down that important point in my notebook, I was trying to hold back perhaps the biggest smile someone with a such a scratchy voice and stuffy nose as I had today could ever hope to have =)

Thanks, Tim Gunn, for helping us all, make it work.

with little sleeping and much reading

2008-02-26T23:00:00.000-05:00

The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.
- Samuel Johnson

These next few months are going to entail a lot of reading. For starters, I have that class on Cervantes and Don Quixote. Just about 100 pages into the book, I can see what all the fuss is about.

For those who don't know the story - and I'm sure you are few - Don Quixote is the story of a man, Alonso Quixano, who becomes "mad" and loses his grasp on reality from reading so many books on chivalry and romance. He decides that he must become a knight-errant and travel the land doing good, saving people from injustices, and offering it all up for the love and honor of his Dulcinea of El Toboso.

One of the world's greatests works of fiction, if not the greatest, Don Quixote was something completely new - it marked the crossover from the chivalric romance and the modern novel as we know it today. In it, Cervantes undermined the conventions and traditions of the chivalric and pastoral prose that had been popular up until his time. While the literary custom at the time was often to imitate the writers and figures who had come before, he instead took something that he believed had become very stale and out of it created characters richer and more alive than the literary world had ever seen. Cervantes was greatly influenced by many other writers, but for what he did with Don Quixote, there was no comparison.

To say he was a well-read man would be an understatement - Cervantes read everything and lived a life that reads, appropriately enough, very much like a book of adventure and woe and intrigue and love.

And so here I am, reading Don Quixote, reminding myself that, like Cervantes, I really have to start reading more of, well, everything. They say the problem with most poets is that they don't read much poetry, and the problem with a lot of writers is that they don't read much of other people's work.

Cervantes would have thought this preposterous.

Read, read, read. And then, when you're done, read again.

At some point, when you're not reading, you'll find you've written something, better and more informed than you ever could have imagined.

a busy month, indeed

2008-02-21T22:34:00.004-05:00

We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.
- Somerset Maugham

To say it's been a busy month is an understatement... which explains why I haven't had any new blog posts in nearly as much time =P

With the magazine, school, book writing, anniversary celebrations (4 years!!), a short story competition, that other magazine (hint hint), a weekend conference, website redesigning in the works, Chinese New Year shows, and just overall to-do-list madness, it's been a little more than hectic.

And of course, during it all, I've had a thousand ideas and plots and characters race through my head, out of which I've managed to get, maybe, a handful down on paper.

Fortunately, though, I have been writing, and much of it is thanks to the writing group I recently joined. A lot of times, you get bogged down with work, and the writing, because nobody's watching the clock waiting for it to be finished (except for you, that is), gets pushed to the side, leaving you even more frustrated and stressed out. It's an irritating circle, but it makes it all the more worthwhile when you break out of it - even if the moments are few and far between, and the busier it gets, the harder it gets.

Another thing I had working for me this month was the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference. I heard some amazing authors/illustrators/
editors/agents talk about the business, their writing, their drawings, the creative process, their inspiration, their readers, and the overall market. It was really a great experience. Topping the list was meeting two amazing editors in small group sessions. Hopefully, I'll be submitting something to them in the near future...

I had originally intended to blog about the conference the day I got home on Sunday, but I just never got the chance to - not even the following weekend!! So here we are, almost two weeks later, and the plan is to blog a little bit more about the experience in the next few days.

Maybe - just maybe - I'll even post the first poem I've written in a long time, which I just so happened to write during the conference.

I know you're excited...

Stay tuned...

doer of many things

2008-01-27T23:34:00.000-05:00

The faster I write the better my output. If I'm going slow, I'm in trouble. It means I'm pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.
- Raymond Chandler

So much writing, so much work!!

But first, time for a random picture of The Greek, Tiny, and Me:

As many of you know, The Vigilant Monkey is well on its way to launching. Yay =) We're looking at at about a month or so from today. I am waiting to see the first mock-up of the site, hopefully by the beginning of this week.

Meanwhile, diligent writers, friends, and family members have been sending me articles, ideas, and thoughts. Keep them coming!!

I have to write up a Craigslist ad for more writers, of course. Now, with everything on my plate, it's just a matter of remembering to do that... as I jot it down in my planner.

Then there's advertisers. We need them. Like very soon. I recently asked an advertising director, of a certain print magazine I have become rather familiar with over the past few years, about online advertising, and the response was that she knows nothing about it nor can she direct me to someone who does.

Wonderful. An already confusing subject and area of anxiety just became more vague and mysterious.

As for my writing (not to mention all the VM copy I have to sit down and compile, like mission statements, media kits, contracts, letters from the editor), I've been doing a lot of that, too.

Last week I sent in my short story for NYC Midnight's 2nd Annual Short Story Challenge. The idea is that they give you a genre and a subject, and you have one week to write a short story about it. In March you hear if you were chosen to move on to Round 2.

Judging from what everybody who read it has said, it was pretty good, and considering that my genre was Drama with a subject of Selling a Home, I was happy that I even finished a story =P
But in all honesty, I was pretty happy with the results, even though I had to trim down a lot of the meat of the description to neatly fit into the competition's required 2,500-word limit.

I also just joined a writing group, which is unlike me, the writer who enjoys not speaking to people on a regular basis, but after a friend invited me, I thought I'd give it a try, and after one meeting, I'm happy I did =) We all come from different backgrounds and our writing styles/strengths/subjects/passions are all uniquely our own, so I can only imagine that our discussions will not only be interesting, but highly informative and helpful as well. Remember that novel I wrote a bulk of back in November? My writing group will be getting a crack at a revised Chapter 1 next week.

Then there's the magazine, and I have two articles that I've been holding up and polishing for as long as possible. By Monday-Tuesday, they should be done and ready for layout, leaving me to breathe a sigh of relief.

I also promised myself I would submit a short story for the Highlights 2008 Fiction Contest. The postmark deadline is Wednesday, January 31. I have an idea that has potential. After a few more car rides, morning walks, and daydreams, I should have a completed plot by Tuesday night - just in time to get it written =D

Oh, yes, and I tried out for Broadway today. It was interesting, by far, and I'm happy to report that I didn't have the urge to go pee at all, not even once, while standing in line with dozens of other singers who were guzzling more bottled water than should be legally allowed.

Random, perhaps, but if you know me, not really, and besides, I have to start giving validity back to that part of my website header that says performer.

If not, Alex's insistence on using such job descriptions as astronaut and buccaneer might finally come to fruition.

Melissa Celeste Navia

Writer | Creator | Spelunker

Perfect.

it's not behind the rhino

2008-01-22T15:24:00.000-05:00

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
- Herman Melville

... and so our good friends at Black Books, a British sitcom starring Irish comedian Dylan Moran, choose an elephant and his missing balloon.

Children's book writing at its finest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QjbSfCQWrM

and now for some headshots

2008-01-19T23:59:00.000-05:00

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."
- Ansel Adams

Out of more than 400 pictures, here are just a few to give you an idea of how my photo shoot went today =)

rooftop tennis and high-end stringing with roman prokes

2008-01-12T22:54:00.000-05:00

First, find out what your hero wants. Then just follow him.
- Ray Bradbury

Getting ready to go to Vermont in a few hours to snowboard it up at Killington Mountain, but first, I thought I might tell you about an awesome interview I had earlier today...

For some time now, I have been working on an article featuring CityView Racquet Club, an exclusive indoor tennis and squash club that covers 80,000 square-feet of a building rooftop in Long Island City.

I first visited it several months ago when it was still under heavy construction, but even then, the place looked like it was going to be amazing. Today, I went back for the first time since that visit, and I was right - it was stunning. Growing up playing, loving, and breathing tennis, getting a chance to see such a beautiful indoor facility was really jaw-dropping (especially considering the fact that it was all built on a roof).

From the impeccable tennis (and squash) courts and top-of-the-line fitness equipment (yet to be installed, but if the setting that has been laid out for them is any indication, they will be as equally high-end) to the chic furnishings and relaxed lounge and cocktail areas, it has all the makings of an urban country club overlooking the city. Oh, and the views from the spas, saunas, 2nd-floor windows, and lounge will have you mesmerized while you sip on your pomegranate margarita, click through your e-mails via your laptop (thanks to full Wi-Fi service), catch some flat-screen TV goodness, and wait for your tennis opponent to be done with her massage.

Point is, the place is awesome, and to top it all off, it's going to have a Nike Concept Pro Shop - one of the few in the country. CityView has also joined up with RPNY Tennis, a company that offers the best in stringing and customization services and founded by Roman Prokes, stringer to the tennis stars and, as I learned earlier today, a great individual to interview.

It was one of those right-place-at-the-right-time moments, and before I had time to scarf down two mini sandwiches and several bites of Muenster cheese, Roman showed up at my table to talk, and I found myself engaged in a conversation about rackets, stringing, service, and professional tennis players who Roman has worked with (like Andre Agassi) and currently works with (like Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova). The service he provides to the pros, he said, is the same type of quality care that his clients will receive at CityView. I even admitted to him that despite how long I've played tennis, I still draw a major blank when somebody at a pro shop asks me how tight I want them to string my racket or with what type of strings. He not only said he understood, but he said that most players are like that, and realizing that, his company's purpose is to take care of a player's racket to the point where he/she doesn't even think about it when match time comes around. A player's job is to play - leave the stringing up to the professionals.

I didn't say anything at the time, but when I make it to the US Open, I think it will be Roman and his crew who will be in charge of my racket upkeep =)

my dad and socrates

2008-01-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

The reason one writes isn't the fact he wants to say something. He writes because he has something to say.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Thursday night, as many of you know, was my father's book signing at Barnes & Noble in Manhasset, and - of course =) - it was a grand success!!

As always, hearing my dad talk about his book and his work and seeing how people listen so intently to everything he has to say, I can only hope that one day my book signings will be as dynamic and my writing as influential.

Thank you to all those who made the evening so awesome, and for those who didn't get a chance to make it out, you can always still pick up a copy of the book, Socrates: A Life Examined. It will be just like a book signing/discussion... without the signing part... and a little less discussion.

Congratulations, Dad =)

city folk through sleepy eyes

2008-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end.
- Ursula K. LeGuin

Yesterday was a very long, very interesting day, to say the least.

It all began with only 4 measly hours of sleep...

Several weeks ago, I received four tickets for The View and considering that I had requested them eons ago, I had completely forgotten that I was ever going to receive any. The show basically sends you tickets a few weeks in advance of the date that already has been alloted for you, so you don't have a say in picking what day you want to go - you either go or you don't go.

As we got closer to the date, I realized that no one was going to be able to use the tickets except for me, so Tuesday morning, I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30 to get ready and jump on an early train. That's the other catch - even if you have tickets, it doesn't guarantee that you'll make it in, and I wasn't planning on going all the way to the studio, standing on a line for several hours, and not making it to a seat.

Somehow I managed to make it to the train, get into the city, onto the subway, and over to the studio in relatively good time. I was, fortunately, not very far back in the line, and I had the wonderful privilege of hearing people converse all around me - there were too many character traits, plots, and devices that ran through my head to even begin to describe.

To make a long story short, I made it in, sat in a seat, clapped and smiled, laughed and listened to a one-hour live taping of the show. While many people there, especially those out of town, were in awe of the actual workings of television production, I've seen it all too many times, and even been a part of it enough, to have found much of it very interesting.

The one point that did actually catch me by surprise was just how small the set was compared to what you see on television. Now, I know this is often the case, but for some reason, I thought The View was going to be an exception. In actuality, I felt like I was in Whoopi Goldberg's living room, eavesdropping on a brunch party's semi-humorous conversation.

Best part of the show - every member of the audience got a free Breville iKon Espresso Machine, valued at $300. Not bad for an hour's worth of not-work =)

So then it was off to some consultations with acting headshot photographers. After waiting long enough, and with my short haircut nearing perfection, I figure it's now or never to get an awesome headshot. I made several phone calls, one of which resulted in a rather long phone call that could've been five minutes shorter had I been allowed to tell the photographer that her fee was ridiculous.

One photographer, and the only one, who actually answered his phone was Sam Kahn, at SK Headshots. So I made an appointment for later that afternoon to meet with him in his studio.

Then I headed toward The Graduate Center to answer some e-mails from work via the library computers. I also made some stops at the Bursar and Financial Aid offices - perhaps the happiest, most upbeat offices in all the world!!

Okay, so at this point I'm really hungry, on the verge of falling asleep, and in pain from lugging around my expensive leather briefcase, but nonetheless, there is still work left to be done.

So at around 2:20 PM, I make my way over to the SK Headshots studio. To sum up, the consultation went great, and I was very impressed with the photographer's work.

Afterward, walking back toward Penn Station, I really started to feel the effect of so little sleep the night before. I had one more very important stop to make that day, but I was fading fast, and I was starting to tire very rapidly of city folk. So I decided to call it a day, and I made my way toward Penn to get a pizza. While I was there, eating my $3 pizza, I got a call from my sister who was in the Borders next to Penn, so I went over to meet up with her.

While I was there, it dawned on me that if, indeed, I did stay in the city to finish my final assignment of the day, I would have some place to chill for the next two hours before the event. I decided - I would tough it out and catch a later train. My sister took off, and I made my way to the cafe to get a seat.

There were none. So after searching, I ended up in the Foreign Language section, sitting on the carpet, trying to get comfortable.

By 5:15, I was back on the subway, heading downtown to attend an SCBWI meeting. Doors opened at 6:45, and it was going to feature Rachel Griffiths, an editor at Scholastic. So you can see, why, despite my need for sleep, I wanted to attend.

I arrive at the location... at 5:25... leaving me with the dilemma of what to do until then... or rather, how to sneak in some sleep before then. With no familiar Borders in sight, I found myself in the Jensen-Lewis Furniture Store salivating at the sight of beds, couches, and expensively comfy leather armchairs. When I could no longer hold up the I-really-might-want-purchase-this-two-thousand-dollar-ottoman facade, I left, only to find myself at the Westside Supermarket, nodding off at the window-side counter where saner people were eating sample cheeses and their freshly purchased dinner trays.

At 6:20, I dragged myself back to the meeting area, and, of course, there's a line of 20 people already. Fantastic. Not only had I waited for this all day, been the first one to get there more than an hour early, but now I had the pleasure of standing on another line. Well, 20 people turned into more than 80, and at about 7 PM, the doors (or more accurately, the door) opened. It was so crowded that there were those who never even made it in, but I did, and I could not have been more thrilled to have an actual seat - finally!!

The lecture and information given were well worth the long wait, and I was thrilled I went. Some of it I knew already, some of it I could have figured out, and then there was some of it that was just plain new to me.

At about 8:30 PM, I began the journey back to Penn, ended up staring off into space at the Starbucks there, and at 9:42, I was on my way back home.

A long day. An even longer blog.

I know... I'll probably hear about this one =P

Socrates: A Life Examined - Luis E. Navia's Book Signing at Barnes & Noble

2008-01-06T14:26:00.000-05:00

Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.
- Jane Yolen

For everyone who may not yet know, my father will be having another book signing this week at Barnes & Noble in Manhasset for Socrates: A Life Examined. Due to the great success of his last signing at Book Revue in Huntington (thanks to all of you who attended!!), many people have been asking for another one in the new year, and we are proud to bring it to you -

Book Signing/Discussion with Dr. Luis E. Navia

Thursday, January 10

7 PM

Barnes & Noble - Manhasset
1542 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset, NY

Phone: 516.365.6723 (Barnes & Noble)

Here are some links with more information about the book and my father -

1) http://www.worldmysteriesforum.ch/index.php?id=115&L=1

2) http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2007/06/15/

See you at Barnes & Noble =)

here we go. . .

2008-01-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.
- Neil Gaiman

So here we are, at the start of a new year.

I was fortunate to spend this past New Year's Eve with my family and my Alex, talking, laughing, reminiscing, eating pizza, watching the festivities on television, playing Mad Libs, watching one of the golden DVDs from the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys box set (treasured memories, indeed) that Alex got me for Christmas, and, of course, Rock Banding it up into 2008.

As I do every year, I asked everyone to think back on what they had accomplished in the past year, what they were most proud of, what had most influenced them, etc. and what they hope to tackle this upcoming year. I always finds this goes better, and proves to be more enlightening, than reciting the familiar, "What's your New Year's resolution?"

For my part, many of this year's accomplishments were carefully documented in this blog, which just so happened to be started one year ago. The blog itself, along with my website, were tasks which I made it a point last January to begin and see through to their success. While I'm still not getting hundreds of hits a day, I'd say the fact that I'm still here writing is a big step in and of itself.

A lot of things took off for me this year, and my writing is at the top of the list. A ton more articles for the magazine, a thousand more ideas in the works, a screenplay contest completed with a short story one on the way, an online magazine on the verge of its launch, and, of course, that book that just so happens to be sitting in front of me right now on my desk, all neatly bound in a black leather thesis binder.

Just this past week I registered for the SCBWI's (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) annual NYC conference taking place in February (the second national/annual conference is held in LA in the summer). How exciting!!

With one book almost complete and two more bursting to be written, I figure it's time to network and mingle with some of my peers =P

Check it out: http://www.scbwi.org/events.htm

merry christmas!! (four days later)

2007-12-29T12:44:00.000-05:00

If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.
- Emile Zola

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (soon enough).

I hope everyone had as memorable a December as I had this year. It was exciting, busy, relaxing, productive, calm, family-filled, friend-filled, and eventful - a whirlwind to say the least.

Since Christmas Day, we've spent much of our time occupied with Rock Band, the PlayStation game I got my sister that has brought me the closest to feeling the thrill of actually being in a band. Considering that we have an actual drum set, electric guitar, acoustic guitars, piano, and singing voices to match, we're hoping that the same enthusiasm we feel for video game controllers in the shape of instruments will translate to the real instruments one of these days. I'll let you know in a couple of weeks what progress we make in that direction...

I also just started reading Coraline, the Neil Gaiman bestseller that has captured everyone's attention, including my little sister, who gave it to me. It has received numerous awards and endless praise. Gaiman is an author that, among a host of other things, writes children's books that appeal to both children and adults, are creepy and enchanted, can delight while still causing you to recoil - perfect combinations. For the past few months, the name "Neil Gaiman" keeps popping up, when I least expect it, and I'm starting to think it's not just coincidence. First, my sister told me about this amazing book she had read (Coraline) and its author. Then, an e-mail from Neil Gaiman appeared in my inbox, thanks to his participation in NaNoWriMo's published author-e-mail mentor campaign. Yes, thousands of others also received the exact same e-mail from him, but the point is, his name and his e-mail were in my inbox. Then we went to go see Beowulf, and afterward, Alex commented to me, "I didn't know Neil Gaiman had co-wrote the script," to which I shook my fist and shouted, "Neil Gaiman!!" (it was probably more dramatic). Then a few weeks later, I found myself reading his blog, and before I knew it, I kept hearing the man's name everywhere, a name which had never really struck me before, but still, I did not buy Coraline.

Well, now I have it, and I have begun reading it. I got the hint, Neil Gaiman.

As for my own writing, I'm still plugging away. January might be a little calmer, which will give me more time to think and to plan and to write.

Stay tuned for upcoming news about VM.

Now the only thing missing in my life is the three-headed dragon finger puppet from Folkmanis Puppets I had been so looking forward to receiving... in case anyone is considering any belated presents for me =)

let the editing begin!!

2007-12-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

It is perfectly okay to write garbage - as long as you edit brilliantly.
- C. J. Cherryh

Filling a blank page with words is hard, but changing words that are already there is even more difficult, not to mention having to delete words because of space constraints (i.e. writing an article about a fascinating subject with a word count that can't possibly accommodate all I have to say about aforementioned fascinating subject... without every single word that was there to begin with it, it might actually be reduced to something less than fascinating).
Then there are novels and stories and plot lines with muddy twists and gaping holes, and suddenly you find yourself being poked incessantly by that inner editor that you, the writer, for once in your life had been holding back for just enough time so that you could get something - anything - on paper.

So you did, and now here you sit, staring at a large quantity of words that at some odd hour of the night once seemed to all make sense. Half drunk on sleep, half invigorated with a burst of creative adrenaline, you did something all writers must learn to do at some point if they ever hope to be productive - you locked away the perfectionist, the cautious artist, the know-it-all procrastinator, the pouty second-guesser, the biting critic, the voice that won't shut up, the random-thought stifler, the self-proclaimed all-important, all-knowing editor.

Yes, you managed to do the near impossible, and you smile and pat yourself on the back, knowing that you let your creativity flow and your imagination run wherever it wanted to go, as long as there was a string, as flimsy as it may have been, tying it all together.

And then you begin to read, now alert and ready to finalize what is sure to be no less than genius... but of course, it is far from it.

You realize that names of rather important characters changed mid-story, and you are now at a loss to make a decision, as both sets of names have their merits.

Somewhere between Chapters 1 and 2, your protagonist was cured of his asthma and abandoned his inhaler, leaving him to spend much of his time sprinting long distances to get to each remaining chapter. Perhaps readers won't notice...

As you're reading, you have to remind yourself that there is only one of you, not eight, as the various styles of writing that come and go throughout the novel would lead other, more unsuspecting readers than yourself to believe.

You start to wonder if you subconsciously favor only ten out of the gazillion words in the English dictionary because, as you notice with a frown, they seem to be every other word in your story.

Yes, all these things and more become very apparent all too quickly after a first read-through.

So what's a writer to do? Well, bring back that pesky inner editor, of course, who will no doubt be mumbling, "I told you so," through the whole editing/revising/rewriting (and very long) ordeal.

But as a writer, who now has 100+ pages of text to call your own, you know it was worth it. Your novel may not be perfect, and a good portion of it might sound downright ridiculous, but it's only Round 1, with many, many nights to go before you sleep.

remember, remember the month of november

2007-12-01T02:18:00.000-05:00

But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
- Lord Byron

So I finally did it - 50,000+ words written in November (National Novel Writing Month, for those of you that might not be aware), making me an official NaNoWriMo 2007 winner!!

Is my novel complete? Not even close. Is it further along than it was one month ago? Most definitely.

Now, alas, there is more writing to be done - research papers, essays, articles, online magazines, and, of course, blogging, to name just a few.

After this next week, I will be able to put the pen down and the typewriter away to make way instead for presents and trees and lights.

Who knows, maybe I'll have a few interesting things to write about Christmas when the time comes around =)

words, words, and more words

2007-11-20T02:24:00.000-05:00

The secret of becoming a writer is to write, write and keep on writing.
- Ken MacLeod

The challenge - 50,000 words in November

The status - 30,435 words to go

The goal - 175 pages worth of novel

With only 10 days left in the month, it's clear that I better start writing with some serious intensity if I intend to conquer that lofty word count.

Fortunately, a getaway to Newport, Rhode Island this past weekend gave me food for thought and all the historic inspiration I need at the moment, complete with the craziest mansions, the most beautiful harbor views, Wimbedon-quality grass courts, an abundance of museums, great food (no hotel is complete without free continental breakfasts and Belgian waffle makers), cool music, and a scenic town that we're already excited to go back and explore.

Pictures are sure to follow =)

With some imagination and a lot of determination, writing 50,000 words is the easy part. It's the editing where things always get interesting.

Did I mention I have several articles and a research paper to write, too?

Yeah, it's definitely going to be an interesting next few weeks =P

if I think it. . .

2007-11-08T02:00:00.000-05:00

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance.
- Bruce Barton

Positive thinking works.

There's no need to buy a book about it or do extensive studying on the subject because it's pretty straightforward - positive thinking leads to positive actions which leads to positive outcomes.

If you see yourself succeeding, you will succeed. If you see yourself fulfilling your dreams, then you will fulfill your dreams.

Now, I know this might sound naive and overly optimistic, but that's okay.

Considering this is my first time at the age of 23, and next year will be my first time trying out the age of 24, and so on, I think I can go ahead and make the assumption that positive thinking really counts for something. I'm only 23 once, and I'll only be 24 once, and so why not keep telling myself that whatever I want to be, I will be?

Positive thinking. Optimism. Dreams.

Sounds good to me.

Happy Halloween =)

2007-10-31T20:00:00.000-05:00

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"
- Dexter Kozen

An Indian princess, a Roman centurion, and a Tetris block walk into a bar. . .

What a month it has been!! Thank you to everyone who made it such a success =)

Here are some pictures of all the festivities:

just breathe

2007-10-18T22:36:00.001-05:00

I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die.
- Isaac Asimov

Writing, writing, writing. So time consuming, and yet what else is there to do?

Right now I have two magazine articles, several essays, and a research paper to attend to, but all I want to do is write Chapter 3 of the book I started last week.

Not to mention that November 1 begins National Novel Writer's Month and the challenge to write 175 pages, 50,000 words of a completely new novel that I have 30 days to complete.

A lot of writing, and all the time in the world, but inspiration starts to run dry when not enough hours are spent sleeping and so many more are spent worrying.

There should be days set aside just for writing and dreaming and letting go of. . . everything.

the voice in my head

2007-10-13T01:45:00.002-05:00

Storytelling is healing. As we reveal ourselves in story, we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multichaptered ' I ' who is the storyteller. We can trace out the paradoxical and even contradictory versions of ourselves that we create for different occasions, different audiences... Most important, as we become aware of ourselves as storytellers, we realize that what we understand and imagine about ourselves is a story. And when we know all this, we can use our stories to heal and make ourselves whole.
- Susan Wittig Albert

The past week has been kind of a blur, a haze of thoughts and crying and confusion and doubt. Without warning, my mind plunged me into this biased, self-deprecating look at things that have been and never were, things that I did and that I didn't do, things that I once thought and that I might have thought, things that hurt me and caused hurt.

It was sudden, and it hasn't let up. Even when I wake up, it feels like, for the few hours that I have been sleeping, my head has been itching to throw something new at me, something unexpected to jostle me out of bed and into a fit of exasperation.

And for what? Clearly just to hurt me. Suddenly I have found myself at the judgment table, and I am both the judge and defendant, and yet I cannot remember how I got here. The worst part is that despite my annoyingly amazing memory, I have the sneaking suspicion that I'm starting to make things up just to make myself look bad. . . in front of me.

Blessed with obsessive compulsions, it's not all that difficult for me to fall into this obviously useless spiral, but I can also very intelligently step back and look at the situation with a discerning, somewhat objective perspective - my mind is my worst, most feared enemy. It plays games and dances loud tangos so that I sit up when I thought I could finally lie down. It pinches and prods when I was about to relax. It makes me remember only because it knows I can distort what is actually there. It nudges me when all I want to be is left alone.

But the catch-22, the irritating dilemma, is that it is also my most trusted, closest friend. It inspires me when I'd rather not think. It reminds me to look when my eyes are closed. It pushes me into the spotlight when I'd rather sit in the corner. It shoves me when I get stuck in one place.

As a writer, I love it and hate it all at once, so much so that I kind of explode inside every now and again because the feelings, I'm sure, are mutual.

So for the past week, I have been trying to figure out what crazy stunt my head is trying to pull, and why it is trying to waltz its way into a nervous breakdown. Perhaps to wake me up to something I am not seeing or maybe to assure me that everything is OK despite how much I worry. Maybe it just got bored and is trying to prove to both of us that I am not quite right, and therefore should take everything I tell myself with a grain of salt. Even possibly, it's having fun and asking me to join along.

It's just that I don't think this is fun, being unable to walk through the mall without having a panic attack about that thing I said to that relative that day or that promise I didn't carry out or that look I exchanged or that time I didn't play in the snow.

What about the good things? They're there. I know they are because I remember everything, but I don't seem to dwell on them as much, even though I wish I could. I have found, as a writer and as Melissa, that I get my best ideas from all those things that aren't quite right during the day.

So maybe I'm asking to not have ideas anymore - to just be content with being something today and the same thing tomorrow and the next and so on. What worries me is that this week-long feeling of dreaded exasperation might come back, and I guess as a writer whose wheels are always frantically spinning, I shouldn't be surprised when just that happens.

On the plus side, I wrote the first chapter to an entirely new novel last night. I am about to start on the second one which, as per usual, is already... all in my head...

Damnit.

faster - plain and simple

2007-10-08T18:00:00.000-05:00

B.A. Baracus [Mr. T]: I don't start no trouble. I mind my own business.
Amy [Melinda Culea]: B.A., going up to a traffic cop who's writing out a ticket for your van, and eating the citation right in front of his face, absolutely falls under "starting trouble."
- The A Team (A Nice Place to Visit - 1983)

We spent this past Sunday at the Americana Manhasset Concours d'Elegance, and while we were there, I found my car.

The Lotus Exige. The fastest, cutest, bestest - yes, bestest - car out there.

Two years, and watch, I will own a Lotus.

Only differences - it will be black, and I will be in it.

Am I dreaming? Oh yeah. Does that mean I won't get it? No, that's just exactly why I have to get it =)

going the distance

2007-09-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Thank God, it's over.
- Neil Cusack, 1974 marathon winner

Yesterday, Alex and I competed in the 2007 Men's Health Urbanathalon.

What is an Urbanathlon, you ask? It's a race in the city that includes urban obstacles - jersey barricades, culvert crawls, marine hurdles, scaffolding mazes, rope walls, and taxi hurdles - and a 52-flight stair climb up and back down 7 World Trade Center.

For two people who aren't crazy about running and whose knees had been pleading for months not to do this, we took the plunge anyway because we were not about to miss the opportunity to run an obstacle course through the city. It was probably the most entertaining marathon we could have picked to be our first, and you can be sure we're going to be there again next year.

We stuck together - for the most part - got quite a few pictures taken of us (not only were we the cutest couple there, but there were also some tourists who wanted to send pictures back home of New York's finest *ahem* marathon runners), and we had a blast. Considering I couldn't even run three miles the day before without coughing up a lung, I was perhaps the giddiest person at the finish line.

A lesson learned? Of course!! When you have a goal, a finish line, and free drinks waiting for you miles and miles away, in both vertical and horizontal directions, you'll find a way to get there.

Now if only we could find a giant obstacle course with a lot less running =P

confined to a life more than extraordinary

2007-09-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then write. If all feels hopeless, if that famous 'inspiration' will not come, write. If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and the odds are against it - go to your desk no matter what your mood, face the icy challenge of the paper - write.
- J. B. Priestly

What is it with people who need to categorize everything? What is it with the need to jam everything into a corner, box it up, label it, and file it away where it won't try to roll away when no one is looking?

I've said it before, but I feel it needs to be said again - everyone wants a definition and a name, one purpose and one goal, and if your job description wavers, well then there is a serious problem.

Lately, I have been finding it increasingly difficult to simply answer the questions, "What do you do? What is it that you want to do? Why are you going to graduate school? Why are you studying film?" Now, it's not that it's difficult for me. I am a writer, editor, actor, performer, and future director. It just seems to be straining on the person asking the questions.

"Oh, so then you don't know what you want to do?"

No. I know exactly what I want to do. I just told you.

"Yeah, but there's no job that you can do that all in. . . right?"

Oh my god. There isn't? Really? I had no idea. I was really hoping I could be a one-woman travelling act. Guess not. Thanks. No, really, thanks for that.

Unless of course, I just named too many things. Was that it? Did I confuse you? Do I sound like a hopeless dreamer with too many interests and who can't possibly pursue them all? Is that it?

Well, if that's it, then how about this: I am a filmmaker.

Does that work? That's one word you can wrap your head around.

I like to say I am a writer, though, if that's okay with you. Don't forget that I am also a performer. I live for the stage. Is that too much?

Not yet?

Okay, then, I'll tell you what - none of these things matter.

I want to be something more and every day is another step in reaching that something more. It is not that I am uneasy, it is only that I am eager and hungry and ready and thrilled to be here.

I will be amazing.

No, wait, I am amazing.

How's that for a one-word answer?

the urge to write

2007-09-24T20:00:00.002-05:00

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
- E.L. Doctorow

I didn't choose to become a writer. Belive me - the writing chased after me.

When I was younger, not sure how old * I began narrating my life. I don't know how old I was or what grade I was in, but I remember I was in Hofstra University's indoor swimming pool with my mom, and I was walking through the hallway to the locker room. Right then and therem I decided my life would be like a book, and I would have to narrate it.

Strange, huh?

But in essence, that's what happened, to the point where I even started narrating stories that had nothing to do with me, but could have something to do with me. It was a child's imagination dictated with an author's intent.

Everywhere I turned I wanted to write about something, create something, and especially in my head, where the possibilities were great and many.

Unless you are a writer, it's hard to understand what it's like to be flooded with ideas, plot lines, characters, phrases, titles, themes, symbols, names, places, and the like on a constant basis AND want to put it all on paper. The struggle between creative inspiration and physical output is never ending because just as soon you've written down one opening sentence, two more have emerged and for completely different, unrelated stoies.

How do you put just one book on paper when you have 10 semi-completed ones in your head?

The answer is carefully. . . very, very carefully

* Contrary to all those people who claim they can tell you the exact moment, place, date, year, and weather forecast when they "did something" or realized something, it's not always realistically possible. How many nine-year-olds remember what they did when they were six? Yet every adult with a boring story to tell remembers that they were exactly six years old when they first knew they wanted to work on, say, Wall Street. Not happening, people, just not happening.

a character emerges

2007-09-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

I'm always curious to know what people think about when they're on a train. Especially when it's rush hour - eyes glazed over, cell phones clutched, on the verge of collapse from a long day's work. What do they think about when they steal a glance at their neighbor's laptop or catch themselves following a coffee spill as it makes its way through the cracks and crevices of the train car floor? What goes through their heads when they see the man with a cowboy hat, the woman with the crazy hair, or the train conductor who looks like he's punched way to many tickets? Or when they see the buildings, houses, faded store displays, junkyards, and platforms as the train rolls through?

For me, stories come to life. It's never just one, but a handful of dark and twisted, sweet and comical, strange and ironic tales that only have taglines, but no exposition. . . not yet anyway.

Characters take shape. Not the characters sitting there on the train, but completely new ones edged into existence by the images in front of me. Shy personalities with secret motives and young faces with old souls, unseen destinies and forgotten pasts.

A girl, her family, and the countryside. Two dwarves and a grandfather clock. Murder and a caretaker, kidnapping and a secret passageway.

It all begins to make sense. . . starting with page one.

an even cooler blog

2007-09-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.
- Marion C. Garretty

Drum roll please. . .

The littlest Navia now has a blog of her own -

http://theyayster.blogspot.com

Enjoy =)

take that, martha stewart

2007-09-14T14:00:00.000-05:00

Behold, the monkey cake. . . absolutely nothing to do with writing whatsoever.

Just pretty damn cool.

And tasty.

game, set, match, life

2007-08-31T10:45:00.000-05:00

I let my racket do the talking. That's what I am all about, really. I just go out and win tennis matches.
- Pete Sampras

At 23 years old, I still plan on making it to the US Open one day. Not just like in section Y, seat 18, but in center court, Arthur Ashe.

In a game I've been playing since I was seven, and where the pros are all 18, I think I have a definite chance of raising a ruckus. But until then, I will have to be content with section Y, seat 18, and various other seats around the USTA grounds.

Two days this year - whoooo!! - and we got to see Henin, Williams, Haas, Safin, Roddick, and a host of something-or-other-ova's that make me think the Russians are staging an invasion via tennis courts (they're all 18, too, did I mention?).

As much fun as I have every year at the Open, there is still always this pestering sensation that I should have tried a long time ago to make it out there. Maybe strange that I should think that, considering that my profession and intended career paths are all in the arts.

Not so strange, I say, considering that of all the sports I've ever attempted, tennis has been the only one to really have an impact. For one, it's a solo event. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose. I don't have to answer to anybody but myself. Secondly, well, it's a fun rush that I'm actually good at, somewhat, and that I've played my whole life.

So is it crazy to stand at the top of Arthur Ashe stadium, at 23 years old, never having played in a pro tournament, and envision myself playing in the court below?

Probably... but not impossible.

a birthday luau

2007-08-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
- Albert Camus

One luau. Two birthdays. Six tiki torches. Lots of friends and family.

Happy Birthday to my sister and me!! Well, not officially, but almost =)

* Picasa Web Album - Birthday Luau 2007 *

short hair, anyone??

2007-08-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

We must become the change we want to see.
- Mahatma Ghandi

So finally, after months and months of waiting, I've gotten my haircut.

Short, indeed. Not nearly as short as I had originally intended, but short, nontheless.

I know there are some women who would gasp at the thought of cutting their locks of curls, but I was elated. I felt like a kid again, sitting in the salon, waiting to get a haircut that most people thought was a silly idea because *gasp* why would any female want short hair?

Funny enough, despite the fact that I sported short hair for much of my childhood up until the age of 12 or so, I've had "long" hair just about the rest of time since then - "long" because recently I came to the realization that what I consider to be long hair, most women still think is short.

So yes, even though I've yearned to spike my curliness or jump out of bed and run outside without any mirror fretting or swim in a pool without eating my unruly hair that was always sure to come undone from a hairband, I've still struggled through long hair.

A struggle because my hair is curly. Like ridiculously curly. Like unnecessarily, annoyingly curly. About two years ago I found the perfect salon that specializes in curls of all sorts (they have such a place!!) which has helped a great deal, but still, for someone who is content meandering to work in jeans, flip flops, and a t-shirt, one hour of hair styling can become a trying ordeal.

Yet for all these years, I have dealt with it. Partly because long hair can, I admit, be fun sometimes, but moreso because there is a part of me that is still afraid of being pointed out as the tomboy, a fear which is what originally forced me to grow out my hair in the first place (you should've seen the look on my face when I first realized I had curls). At 23 years of age, it's silly to think that short hair will transport me back to a corner in the playground, but still, somewhere, that thought still lurks there.

But whatever. When I left high school early to start college, people cried that I would miss prom (a milestone I missed, oh woe is me). When I said I was going to cut my hair, people cried that short hair would lack the same aesthetic charm of long hair.

Well, I did it.

And I'm sooo0 damn happy =P

Now if only if I could stop listening to people and get back to all that writing...

the police in town

2007-08-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every little thing she does is magic...
- The Police

For the past several months, I've been thinking about The Police, and this past week, I finally got to meet them. Well, in a, "I see you over there" kind of way.

With monumental ticket prices that were scaring my wallet into hiding every time it heard my ticket guy utter them, I waited almost until the last day to buy them. It was Monday, and I secured tickets for Wednesday, opening night at Madison Square Garden. How much were tickets? Let's just say they were priceless and worth every penny.

I went with Alex, of course. What better than a belated birthday gift that puts you in the same arena with Sting & Co.? Dinner at Stout's - the bar 10 feet away from MSG where everyone was gearing up for the show with The Police on flat screen TVs - and we were ready.

Sitting in front of the stage, lower 300 section, it was amazing how many people were practically stuck to the ceiling, behind the stage. I'm pretty sure some people might have gotten tickets as far back as the bathrooms. So of course I was especially thrilled with our seats =) The crowd, for the most part, was older than us. In fact, so much younger must I have looked that when I offered to get another beer, I was carded and then denied a drink because I could not show ID. Not to mention I turn 23 in three weeks, so I was amused and slightly annoyed. The answer - I went and got Alex, and together we stared down the man and bought a beer... and a Sprite for me =P Note to self - always bring ID, even if you don't drink.

The show was amazing, and how it could not be, when they opened up with Message in a Bottle? Everyone was singing along, and I mean eeeeveryone. Just seeing everyone there was quite a sight, and considering how long we had waited for this show, it was almost surreal - like we weren't really there, and The Police really weren't playing... but they were, and after two hours of great music and two encores that rounded up all the other hits, it was over.

It was well worth the wait, and officially the first concert Alex and I have gone to that was for a band he actually really wanted to see.

Exciting. Memorable. Awesome.

Best show ever =)

the moment an idea materializes

2007-07-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.
- Ray Bradbury

Starting a project is a strange thing.

A thought forms in your head, and day after day, it emerges anew, taking more and more shape, cleverly slipping itself on to your unending To Do list.

No longer just a fleeting thought, it has become an idea of some weight. And as you sit there, with your idea, you feel mischievous and secretive, pestered by this idea that no one else knows about. It's silly, you think, and they don't want to know about it. They won't understand, you insist, and they don't have the time.

But then you see them sitting there with nothing better to do, twiddling their fingers through another day, and you wonder, should I tell them? Will they care? What will I say? Is it worth it?

Then suddenly, before you've reached a decision, the idea spills out. I've been thinking... Quietly, maybe, but without a doubt, it has been spoken. Right before your very eyes, it has begun to materialize. Just as quickly as it left, you want to take it back. It's not safe out there. Who knows what they'll think? Who knows what they'll do? No, your idea does not belong out there where it can turn on you and become something you never -

Tell me more... What's that? That sounds interesting... Excuse me? I could probably help... Well... I don't see why not.

Wheels have been set in motion, yet only words have been exchanged. Perhaps it will turn out to be nothing. Perhaps you'll forget about it before tomorrow. Perhaps it just isn't time.

Regardless, in that moment, you are smiling. It wasn't all that bad, you think. The idea will be safe, better off, you realize. Out there, where they can see it, hear it, touch it. That's where your idea wants to be, where there is no safety, no certainty, no promises. You can only be sure that no matter where it goes and how great it becomes, it is your idea, and in that moment of daring, you breathed life into it and made it a reality.

my dad's book signing

2007-07-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks you to all who attended my dad's book signing last week!!

It was a major success in every way, and we were thrilled to see so many friends, family members, colleagues, avid readers, and fellow philosophers there.

Even though I have yet to officially write my first book, I can imagine what it must feel like to be able to share your words and thoughts as an author to all those who have read your book or are going to read it. I know that this was truly a special event for my father.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the next book signing, and if you are interested in purchasing the book, Socrates: A Life Examined, it is available at Amazon.com and major bookstores.

Oh, how I yearn to be able to say that about my book one day. . . =)

Socrates: A Life Examined - Luis E. Navia's Book Signing at Book Revue!!

2007-07-06T16:00:00.000-05:00

Check out Dr. Luis E. Navia's book signing at Huntington's Book Revue for his latest book - Socrates: A Life Examined.

Less than one week away!!!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

8 PM

Book Revue
313 New York Avenue
Huntington, NY 11743
phone: 631.271.1442

Please visit Book Revue's website for more information -

http://www.bookrevue.com/events.html

Invite your friends, family, and colleagues!!

Check out the front-page news story about Dr. Navia that appeared in the June 15, 2007 edition of The Westbury Times -

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2007/06/15/

Also, check out the book's review in LI Pulse:

http://www.lipulse.com/Articles.asp?id=965

Thank you to all who have expressed so much interest already in attending, and we look forward to seeing everyone there!!

Let me know if you plan on making it =)

The Vigilant Monkey

2007-07-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

THE VIGILANT MONKEY

CALLING ALL WRITERS, ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS!!

We think outside the box. We ask the questions. We break the rules. We cross that line.

It's a crazy world, from the mundane to the monumental, from the small towns to the urban cities. Bombarded every day with news, images, stories, ideas, music, politics, noise, religion, love, violence, hate, peace, and war, our culture is caught up in a whirlwind of change. Every day more barriers, more red tape, more political correctness, more fear, and more silence make it harder for anyone to speak without being shouted down.

There is no standard, never a given. We've fallen off the spectrum. Left to our own devices, we are ever watchful of what goes on around us, realizing that everything is connected, everything is meaningful, and everything has room for improvement.

The Vigilant Monkey is a forum for people to voice their opinions and their stories, their thoughts and their discontent. We report on the strange, rant about the everyday, question what we see, talk about our passions and interests, and strive to make a positive change.

When everyone seems to be talking, we seek to speak, listen, and respond.

The Vigilant Monkey . . .

Watch closely. You might learn something.

So what are we looking for?

You!! We're looking for people interested in being part of a start-up online magazine with a lot of creativity and potential, but a lot of work ahead of us.

Nothing is set in stone, so now is the time to tell us, based on what you've read, where you see the magazine going, what content you'd like to see, and how you'd like to contribute.

Most of all, we want interaction!! We want people who come to the site to find out something new every time. We’d love to post local events, news, comments, suggestions, and ideas. The more focused we start out, the faster we can branch out.

Right now, we are especially interested in columnists, bloggers, contributing writers, photographers, and artists.

Some of the departments we are looking to cover are as follows:

- Entertainment (Film/Radio/TV/Theatre)
- Politics (National/International)
- Art
- Mind, Body, Soul
- Fashion
- Technology (Gadgets/Cars/Internet/Latest Inventions)
- Adventure (Travel, Extreme, Local)
- Health, Environment, Culture, Human Rights
- Absurd News Stories/Legislation/Celebrities/Etc.

And the list goes on . . .

Also, website development, graphic design, researching content, advertising, marketing and promotions, and photography. hehe - so really, we're interested in everyone.

While The Vigilant Monkey is still in the process of taking shape, our current goal is to have monthly features, blogs, columns, and an active ongoing message board.

More than anything, we want to be a place where the interesting, the informative, the funny, the absurd, the scary, the unbelievable, and the everyday converge.

Do you get paid?

As soon as we get paid, we'll pay you =P We love you all - which is why you are receiving this - but right now there is no monetary compensation. There is, however, the always important exposure and recognition. This is a great way to get clips and get your name out there. We will also feature contributor, columnist, and blogger bios.

Last, but not least. . . . get on our mailing list!! Reply to this posting to let us know that you have read it and thoroughly care to find out more. Please send all submissions, ideas, and queries to vigilantmonkeymag@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!!

my partner in crime

2007-06-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

He's cute, smart, funny, witty, and Greek. . . and now he even has his own blog, aptly titled, "Blog is a silly word."

Check out Alex's brand spankin' new blog -

http://alexanderkblog.blogspot.com

Read! Comment!

Enjoy =)

e-mails and my health

2007-06-21T14:58:00.001-05:00

The act of writing is an act of optimism. You would not take the trouble to do it if you felt it didn't matter.
- Edward Albee

Contrary to what some people might think, I don’t write e-mails for my own enjoyment, I don’t write them because I am bored, and I most certainly do not write them because they make me feel better.

Rather, I write e-mails because there is something that I am trying to convey to another person, and in that respect, I expect to get e-mails in response.

Does it happen? Sometimes – but considering the simplicity of sending e-mails, that’s not often enough.

The worst is when you send someone an e-mail for work-related matters, for instance, and you don’t get a response. So maybe you’ll give it a few days, factor in that they’re probably busy with other pressing matters, but by the third day, you need to call to find out what happened.

Sure enough, not only did the person read the e-mail, but they also knew the answer to your question, answered it, and took the e-mail off their to-do list… only problem is they never told you!!

Or let’s see you e-mail a friend, and two – three weeks go by without a response. Maybe something happened, maybe they don’t want to talk, maybe your e-mail insulted their mother.

All these things go through your head, and then one day, you see them, and you mention The E-mail.

What does said person say? “Oh yeah, I read it… that’s sounds like a good idea.”

Oh my god!!

E-mails aren’t phone calls, people. I admit, my phone etiquette is not winning any awards, but I've never, ever enjoyed talking on the phone. When I was in middle school, I remember my best friend calling me one day after school "to talk" - a concept that baffled me considering I had seen him only a few hours earlier and would see him the next day. Unless friends were calling me with specific questions, plans, agendas, answers, I didn't see the point.

Many years later, I've learn to adapt somewhat socially, and now I can talk on the phone with relatively feigned ease. I've been known to return phone calls now and then. Imagine that.

Just about the only people I call back on a consistent basis are Alex, my sisters, and my parents.

Those also happen to be the same people that I don’t usually send pressing e-mails, too. So therefore, I have to speak with them on the phone. They're also the only people who would probably erupt in a panic if they didn't hear from me for more than a day. So necessity dictates, for everyone's well-being, that I have to call them back. Plus, I like them, so that helps.

Conclusion – if you don’t e-mail me back within an acceptable timeframe (one week is generous, but I’ll give you two weeks at most), you’re going on my list.

pirates of the caribbean – at world’s end. . . if only we could forget

2007-06-02T23:57:00.000-05:00

* spoiler alert - kind of *

Of all the people that would have tried the hardest to really like Pirates III, I would have been top on the list.

When people tried to step on Pirates II, I stood up for it, explaining that much of what we didn’t get would be explained in Pirates III.

I, of all people, who scoff at critics and shun film-going pessimists, was fully expecting to have a ridiculously, inexplicably, undeniably good time at Pirates III.

That, my friends, even such a simple expectation, was a stretch.

Besides the fact that my allergies decided to wage full-scale war on my sinuses from the moment I sat down in the theater, I thought I would be okay. If my health had to suffer through a great movie, so be it – the pain would be worth it.

Or so I thought.

Thirty minutes into the movie, I was confused. One hour into the movie, I was bewildered. And when the only steady female in the movie was named a captain because of no logical reason whatsoever, I threw my hands up in desperation.

Not to mention that she was named captain by the pirate captain played by Chow Yun-Fat. You know, the guy on the movie poster. The newcomer. The added star power. Yeah – he didn’t even survive to see any major battles. His death scene wasn’t even memorable. In a movie where everybody escapes near-death moments about twenty times before getting even nicked, it was downright ridiculous.

So yeah, then there were the plot lines that everyone laughed at in Pirates II. Remember all those unexplained explanations and semi-completed trains-of-thought that we were so sure would be neatly wrapped up in Pirates III?

They kind of explained 1/3 of them, further complicated the rest of them, and added on about 50 more!! Just to prove to you how much of a letdown it was – remember the whole Davy Jones love affair that was hinted at with the voodoo jungle lady? That never, ever reached any sort of closure, except for the fact that now we know that the voodoo jungle lady – who, despite the fact that I couldn’t catch half of her lines, I thought was a nice touch – was actually the goddess Calypso. That’s it!!

Then there was Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack Sparrow. The man whose image I have immortalized on one wall of my room. The guy who reawakened the love for pirates that I had when I was a child and used to watch Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance over and over and over again. I used to listen to the soundtrack a lot, too. (Yes, I was a dork, but at least I was a dork well-versed in operettas.)

No doubt about it, Captain Jack Sparrow was in the movie. And so was Jack Sparrow. And Jack Sparrow. And Jack Sparrow again. And again.

At several points in the movie there were 15 Jack Sparrows onscreen at once. And when it first happened, I went along with it – but when Jack Sparrow popped out of Jack Sparrow’s dreadlocks, that’s when my amusement started to wane.

It was kind of like the following (quoting Alex): You just saw a really great boxing match. You go back for another one, promised that it will be just as great. What do you find? A boxing match – with more boxers, fighting with bigger boxing gloves.

It doesn’t work.

One also couldn’t help but notice that a lot of characters were a lot of things. If you were a British soldier in the first one, you were a soldier-turned-pirate now. If you were a pirate then, you could be one of the barnacle pirates from Davey Jones’ ship now. If you were a bad guy then, you were a good guy now. If you were a damsel in distress then, you were suddenly this amazingly skilled pirate warrior – with no real explanation as to how that happened.

Did I mention Keira Knightley was made a pirate captain?

The worst part about it all was that it could have been great. It could have been excellent. The opening scene, for example, was awesome. I’ll watch that again. There were many scenes that were just brilliant – everything we loved about the first film and then some. Exciting. Creepy. Funny. Dark. Strange. Visually stunning. Everything you look for in a good pirate movie.

The rest of the movie did not live up to the opening scene. It wasn’t, silly as it sounds, believable. Even if I didn’t understand it, they could have at least made me care about it. Were there funny scenes? Yes. Were some scenes very enjoyable? Yes. Did the special effects work? Yes. Will Jack Sparrow remain on my wall? Yes.

Regardless, you can’t build a movie on good scenes. It really felt like 25 writers wrote the movie, then threw all their scripts into a big, fat Hollywood, creativity-sucking blender, and out poured Pirates III.

Will I pretend that Pirates III was worth it? No.

So for that reason I am petitioning that we forget II and III ever happened. As far as I’m concerned, Captain Barbossa is dead, Elizabeth and Will Turner are off getting married and retaining all the respect I had for them as pirates-in-training, and Captain Jack is sailing off into movie history.

Remember when it was all so simple – the search for cursed gold, undead pirate crews, epic battle scenes, and one adventurous, entertaining, and memorable Jack Sparrow?

Yeah, I remember. . .

a writer's irony

2007-05-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

Every writer I know has trouble writing.
- Joseph Heller (author of Catch-22)

In the past several months, I have done a lot of writing.

Articles, letters, research papers, press releases, e-mails (yes, when done well, those count), proposals, and so on - the list continues.

I work best when I have deadlines, pressure, and the assurance that when the assignment has been completed, it will have been worth the effort.

That book? That screenplay? I haven't seriously looked at either in a while, even though every, 100 ideas come to mind, and when possible, I'll jot them down on slips of paper, but nothing more.

Why is it that so often we find ourselves unable to find time to do what we would most like to be doing?

The hardest part of writing is getting to the moment when you can firmly decide to just sit down and write. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will be able to produce anything of value - each attempt has you starting from scratch.

If only I had been given some other passion, like a strong desire to calculate numbers at an accounting firm, or some other talent, like being a studious and diligent violinist. Then I could just do it, without question or hesitation, not a chance that people might have come to watch a great performance in vain.

I would at least have liked a profession that held the possibility of being celebrated and turned into a reality tv show, hehe, ala Project Runway, Top Chef, Top Design, and other such Bravo gems.

Top Writer.

Boringest show ever.

P.S. I just wrote this twice. Why? Well, because autosave purposefully chose not to save my work. To extend the metaphor - violinists don't have to worry about autosave. Their violins aren't going to just disappear.

Five Boro Bike Tour

2007-05-12T23:00:00.000-05:00

Two years in a row and counting, I participated in the Five Boro Bike Tour this past Sunday, and I think we all came to the conclusion that 32,000 cyclists is about 10,000 cyclists too many.

hehe - crowded, you ask? Just a bit.

I am very happy to say that we all made it over the entire length of the Verrazano Bridge without any stops, collapses, or breakdowns. Not surprisingly, that was one place where you had ample room to bike without any other cyclists in the way. It was like some crazy somber march where everyone was just trudging along very quietly and very intently. Nothing says fun like biking 4,000+ miles over a suspension bridge to none other than Staten Island - I don't care what anyonr says =P

Intense physical events to come - scuba diving in the Keys, surfing at Robert Moses, and the Urbanathlon in the fall.

Spelunking, anyone?

Congratulations to Monica and Sal!!

2007-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

So yes, it’s been some time since I last wrote, but with good reason.

I haven’t had a moment’s rest!!

Back in March, I attended my first graduate-level conference (“Humor & Laughter in Literature & Film” at SUNY Binghamton) and presented a paper on the comedy of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

The Spring ’07 issue of Elements also came out in March – still time to pick it up on newsstands =)

Then April came around, and that’s when things got crazy. Articles were coming out, birthdays were being celebrated left and right, end-of-the-season snowboarding was done (12” of unexpected snow on Stratton – awesome), dance recitals were scheduled (that is, my little sister’s recitals), SAT classes needed to be taught, and scuba diving classes started.

Oh yeah, and there was Monica and Sal’s wedding =) We celebrated, we ate, we danced, we laughed, we danced some more, we posed for pictures, and we kept on dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

Pictures to come shortly. . .

The point is, things have been busy, so it might take a little time, but I’m going to ease back into blogging on a more regular basis.

I know, you’ve missed me =P

so true, 300, so true

2007-03-26T00:11:00.000-05:00

- Penny Arcade!! Exile from Guyville

The results are in - either you loved 300 or kind of liked it. As far as I've heard, no one has hated it, except for smelly Rotten Tomatoes critics, and for that, we will also disregard the majority of their TMNT reviews.

For my part - it was awesome. . . and so was Mr. Butler =)

the littlest navia

2007-03-12T11:55:00.000-05:00

Green jacket, iPod, cutest face in the whole video, my little sister:

this is sparta!!

2007-03-02T00:21:00.000-05:00

One week, people!!

the monkey bread saga

2007-02-28T13:23:00.000-05:00

I felt this post deserved a picture.

There sits the monkey bread. Last week. 12:45 AM. Tired and hungry, we started eating it before it was even cool enough to touch.

To start at the beginning, as promised in my last post, the idea to bake monkey bread struck me back in November while I was happily perusing through a Williams-Sonoma catalog. First, I found it amusing that it was called monkey bread. People have a strange fascination with all things surrounding monkeys, and I am no different. It seemed simple enough to make, provided you had a Williams-Sonoma monkey bread bundt pan and the Williams-Sonoma monkey bread mix.

So, in my infinite wisdom, I thought perhaps I could make the monkey bread for Thanksgiving. I ordered both items online two weeks in advance and proceeded to patiently wait. . . until it dawned on me that the items might not arrive in time for Thanksgiving. Panicked, I called customer service, and they assured me I would receive the shipments - at some point surrounding Thanksgiving day. Ugh.

I actually can't remember if both pan and mix made it to me before Thanksgiving, but either way, I decided that I didn't have enough time on Thanksgiving to get the extra ingredients and make it before heading out to see our aunts, uncles, and cousins. I'd make it at Christmas.

So Chrismas rolled around, and it got busier and busier, especially with food preparations. Since I like arranging cheese far more than I enjoy cooking meals, I was in charge of the hors d'oeuvres. In addition, I thought, I'm sure I would have enough time for the monkey bread. As Christmas Eve got closer and closer, I kept looking at the recipe instructions and thinking, this requires a lot of time - I won't have enough time on Christmas Eve, and I won't have enough time Christmas day because I'll be far too busy with Guitar Hero II (and I was).

Finally, it was decided, by me, that the monkey bread would wait. My little sister was none too pleased, but nonetheless, I had cheese, hummus, and crackers to concentrate on - far easier, and at the time, more important.

Then New Year's Eve was around the corner, and I thought about monkey bread, and then I thought some more, and then New Year's Eve skipped on by, and I had placed the monkey bread pan in my closet so as not to clutter my room (the kitchen was out of the question because I knew if I did that, then when I did finally go to make monkey bread, I would find that the pan had been taken to the garage to sit with any other excess baking items).

My Dad's birthday came at the end of January, and I thought about making the monkey bread for him, but when my mom mentioned he wanted crumb cake, I thought that was a safer, already-proven yummy bet. I'll admit, I was quick to dismiss the monkey bread idea.

This all brings us to the month of February, when my little sister's winter break arrived. We have to make the monkey bread, she said. I have to write a lot of poems for class, and I want to write one about monkey bread. Fair enough, little one, I replied.

The date was set for Wednesday, which would now be last Wednesday. We enlisted the help of everyone's favorite, soon-to-be-married cousin, who would be at our house at 8, and it was settled. At 6:00 PM, we went to buy ingredients, came home, laid everything out, and began.

We had already searched for our electric mixer - in the garage, of course - but it was not to be found, so after placing all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing it a little, we got ready to knead the dough.

Never knead ridiculously sticky dough without first greasing your hands. . . is one bit of information I would've added to the instructions. When our cousin arrived at 8, we were all in a fine mess of sticky dough. Half of it was stuck to our hands, some of it was on a shifty piece of wax paper, and a small portion of it was actually back in the bowl we had designated as the where-we-put-the-dough-back-into bowl. With dough stuck to his hands, I could tell my dad wasn't crazy about the bread so far, and my mom was already asking me if I could use the monkey bread bundt pan for anything else. . . you know, er - in case this doesn't work.

At 8:30 began the first of like a million "now put it in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours" steps in the recipe. It didn't look promising. When I checked up on it 1 hour later, it didn't look like it had moved an inch.

The story continues, but the jist of it is that the bread had to do a lot of rising sessions, and each time we doubted it would happen. Fortunately, we did grease our hands (there were a lot of "regrease!!" commands shouted) before we made each individual dough ball - amounting to a grand total of 48 - and dunked each one into butter and then sugar and then the bundt pan.

By the time we put the bread in the oven, we had already come to the realization that there was no way I could have pulled it off on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, or my dad's birthday. We also understood why people always rave about how much their kids love making monkey bread - because they get to play with dough for a whole day. . . literally.

When we finally pulled it out of the oven, we were impressed at just how much it looked like the picture on the box. We also knew that a photo session to capture the moment in time was needed.

Like I said, we started eating it when it was still very, very hot.

My sister's astute conclusion: We made a giant Cinnabon in a $36 bundt pan.

A monkey Cinnabon, of course.

So there's the story, for all of you who asked =P

lions, vikings, and extraterrestrials. . . oh dear

2007-02-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.

- Henry David Thoreau

The last two weeks have been busy, to say the least.

Last weekend kicked off with a very fine, very funny production of Robin Hood, with my little sister playing the part of Lady Mariam. Yes, she takes after me on the stage =P

Then there was some lion dancing going on Saturday night, only to be followed by more lion dancing during all of last week. For those of you who haven't read the latest issue of LI Pulse (yes, shameless plug), every Chinese New Year, which kicked off this past Sunday, February 18th, my kung fu academy does a month-long schedule of lion dance performances at restaurants, schools, parties, etc.

It's a blast to watch, and it is to perform as well, but after four years at it, my crazed attempt to be at every show, every night, in rain or snow, day or night, starts to push me just a tad over the edge. So last week, with the magazine I work at in the middle of long days and nights of production (when 11 PM hits, my type-A personality, perfectionist proofreading skills start to lag in the efficiency department), my loyalties and amazing ability to multi-task without sleep were definitely put to the test.

Then there was the History Channel. Even if you’re not a history fanatic like me, there’s always something worth watching. Last weekend it was aliens, USOs (unidentified submerged objects, as opposed to the “unidentified swimming objects” that I once attributed to it), conspiracies, biblical UFO sightings, and encounters in ancient times. Last night on History International, it was the Vikings, Mongols, Goths, Huns. In between, you have your modern marvels, empires, lost worlds, man and machine, dragons, conquerors, discoveries, and your, ugh, pesky dogfights. Next weekend – The Dark Ages. Oh yeah.

Am I dork? Yes. . . to a point.

Of course, there were also four-hour classes consisting of John Ford and Luis Buñuel movies, the ever-disturbing look at Triumph of the Will, silent documentaries about the Spanish Civil War, drama-ridden railroads, and unnecessarily long conversations about falling goats and Buñuel's creative take on falling goats.

Then there was my own teaching to look at which began with teacher observations last week, a follow-up meeting on Friday, and more teaching on Sunday.

Did my week get busier? Of course!! Think along the lines of pole dancing and monkey bread. . . a 1950's American classic with appeal that I'm starting to think Williams-Sonoma might have tad exaggerated in their sales pitch. Seven hours is not a recipe - it's a job at a bakery.

Stay tuned. . .