Sunshine Blogger Award

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and add a link to their blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 bloggers and add their links. (y'all, I'm not including questions to answer. If you want to, you can answer questions from the ones that I answer below).

4. Notify the bloggers you included.

5. Keep the rules in your post.

Nominated By: SandyBeachGirl, author of Listening to My Heart

♥ Thank you so much for the nomination. I honestly didn't think that I would get one because while this award was going around, I had fallen off the face of the planet. Thanks for thinking of me. And yes, I loved that thing you did with the hearts at the end of your post, so I'm replicating the idea. LOL ♥

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

Well, it is of course an award for bloggers from other bloggers. It is a beautiful way to share all the amazing things other bloggers do and write about. To recognize their efforts in inspiring others to do what they love.

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***2 - Hmm... Sandy didn't actually ask any questions, LOL, so I guess I'll just answer the ones she answered, per her suggestion.***

Originally asked by violincat on Sandy's blog:

1. Do you have any favorite characters in your own stories? Who?

I do. Picking one right now is pretty difficult. I only just returned to my blog a few months ago, so I've been a bit detached from my characters for a while. I would consider Maximus my favorite probably, because he had flaws that made him seem very real as a person, and he was able to learn from mistakes and become a better man, rather than the rowdy teenager he used to be. 

2. What are your favorite genres to read or watch?
I'm going to go with 'watch,' because when I try to read books I fall asleep. LOL. I like watching historical dramas, action movies with a plot, psychological thrillers, and guy humor (think The Hangover series).

3. Which fictional character do you wish you could be real life friends with?
Batman. I want to be real life friends with Batman.

4. Would you rather land the perfect job or true love?

I would rather have the perfect job because if I'm going to be doing it for the rest of my life, then it better be damn perfect, or I will hate my life, and then I won't even feel like I'm capable of finding true love if I'm unhappy in other parts of my life. I've been there before, with a shitty, not perfect job, and oh man, was I a bitch to be around. LOL.

5. Do you cook or bake? If not, would you want to learn how to?

I do both. I like to follow recipes for the most part, to see how close I can get it to looking and tasting like the recipe says. I like trying new things too, but nothing too exotic, I don't like the idea of eating organs or whatever. *throws up* LOL, no offense if any of you reading this enjoy that sort of thing, it's just not for me. I would like to try making kolachis this Christmas. Hehe, we will see though.

6. What is your dream career?

My dream career is to be an actress.

7. What is the one thing you absolutely can't live without?

Sii--imssss. Okay, that's probably not true, considering I fell off the earth regarding my Sims for almost a year. LOL. I could not live without movies. Countless times a movie has spoken to me, inspired me, and even once, saved my life, so literally... that statement is true, I could not live without movies.

8. Which country do you most want to visit?

That's a tough one. Can I pick a continent instead? LOL. Hmm.. I will go with France, since I am trying to learn how to speak French.

9. Are you a day or night person?

Night person. I am a night owl, for one, so I think a lot clearer at night, my average bed time is about 2:30 am, and I find there are more agreeable television shows at night than there are in the day.

10. Would you want to become famous?

My dream career kind of goes along with this, but it's not so much that I want to be famous, it's like a side effect of the dream career coming true. Mostly I want to do so well at the job because I love acting a lot, and if I do well, then the fame sort of just comes with it. But to be famous, just to be famous? No. Not at all.

11. What do you like most about gaming?

If we're talking Sims, then I love the creativity that the game allows. I used to think I had lost my ability to be creative due to some personal factors, but Sims helped me realize that wasn't true in the slightest. If we're talking gaming console games, then I love the stress relief I can achieve by punching someone in the face or shooting them in between the eyes.

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Originally asked by livinasimminlife on Sandy's blog:

1. What made you want to write SimLit?

I thought, there sure are a lot of people writing stories, I wonder if I can do it too. So I tried it out, and had a few failures at first, but then eventually got success, and found my groove.

2. What's your favorite breakfast food?

Everything. Breakfast food is my absolute favorite kind of food. Bacon and eggs probably tie for first place as far as favorites go.

3. Who is your favorite SimLit character (of your own creation, modified EA-generated, or base game)?

Maximus, my founder for my legacy, is my favorite because he was the first character I wrote to be as realistic of a person as I could make him, with flaws, and things that he could learn from to become a better person. I really figured out how to write personalities by making one up for Maximus.

4. What's your favorite activity to do in the sun?

Clean my car, or just take care of it. I don't have a garage, so my car is always exposed to the elements. I have a huge pet peeve where I don't like it when my windows are dirty, so I often go outside when it's sunny and use glass cleaner on my windows. I also one time used this amazing wheel cleaner and my rims sparkled like diamonds, it was great. And yes, I am a nerd. Feel free to laugh.

5. If you were facing the apocalypse, which one of your Sims characters would you want with you and why?

Hmm... this is a wonderful question... that I don't have an answer to. LOL. Just kidding. I would pick Frances Belcourt, from my story Blink of an Eye, because he lives in a post-apocalyptic world at the moment, and he was a former police officer. So he has skills.

6. Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because it was a Russian chicken, and the vodka was on the other side of the road.

7. What's the silliest or weirdest thing your Sims have ever done in game?

Sometimes my Sims wish to either "move in" or "marry" their significant others, and it's silly and wierd because they already live with them, or are already married to them. So then I find myself asking if they suffer from memory loss.

8. Have you ever written a fictional version of a significant event in your life in any of your SimLit stories?

Yes, I have, except it has never been exactly the same as real life, it's always been partly from real life.

9. Name a character you love-to-hate (and this can be from any source - i.e. games, books, movies, etc.).

Dr. Gregory House from House M.D. I love how blunt he is when he cuts through the bullshit and gets down to the truth, without caring what other people think of him. I see a lot of myself in his character and I can relate to him.

10. Name three things (or people) that make you smile.

Christian Bale, acting, and cars.

11. If you could visit any fictional world, what would it be and why?

Gotham City, mainly because I love Batman. LOL.

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Originally asked by DandyLion240 on Sandy's blog:

1. What's your favorite color?

Black, with neon colors paired, or really bright colors by themselves.

2. Do you like to travel?

I think traveling is fun, but I don't do it often.

3. If you could go anywhere, where would it be?

Scotland. I want to see the castles.

4. How long have you been playing the sims?

I have been playing the Sims since winter of 2013.

5. What motivated you to start writing?

I saw some other Sims stories and thought, I wonder if I can write. Since I'd only written for school, I had never written about stuff I actually wanted to write about. I wanted to see what it was like to write about things I cared about, and it turns out it is awesome.

6. If you could meet anyone from the past, who would it be?

The Founding Fathers. I'd take them all with me to storm Washington DC, and bitch slap the shit out of all the politicians who are currently there.

7. What's your favorite song?

So Small by Carrie Underwood, it makes me realize things aren't that bad when I falsely believe that they are.

8. Day or Night?

Night. I'm a night owl, I think clearer at night, and most of the shows I like watching are on at night versus the day.

9. Do you plan out every detail of the stories you write or do you just let the story take you to unexpected places?

I do not plan out every detail of my stories. I tried doing that once, when I was trying to figure out my writing style, and I ended up getting stuck in a huge rut, and then having to stop the story with which I planned all the details for. I write chapter by chapter, with one general goal in mind, and that seems to work better for me.

10. Do you like to write in first or third person?

I like to write in first person. I can write in third as well, but I prefer first because I feel like it makes the story have more of an impact on my readers. I like to write to make people feel things, and I feel like when I write in first it does that to a deeper level than when I write in third.

11. If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

I would have a lot more movie experience under my belt and I would be a successful actor.

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Armand Eleven: Making Excuses

Some time had passed, and both Remy and I had graduated from college. I'd decided to stay in Louisiana and make my home there because I had grown to love the state, despite the really high humidity levels. Towards the end of my junior year, Desiree and I had gotten together many times for quick bites to eat around campus in between classes, and she had explained to me why she had run off so mysteriously that night at the comic book store. I felt really bad for her and also related to her quite a bit, knowing how much it sucks to get treated like shit from the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally.

Remy and I still lived together in the split level that my dad had so generously bought for us. He was getting a job as a general contractor with the biggest construction company in town, which he was really excited about, and he offered to build a house for me should I ever need to move. I was still looking for a job, since I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I'd graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and basically got to paint all throughout my school years. I had put a few of my paintings up for sale in some of the local coffee shops, but so far no one had bitten the bullet and bought one, so I needed somewhat of a day job.

I had been looking online for anything in the area that might catch my fancy, and I was looking all across the board. It didn't matter so much to me if I "used my degree" or not, because I knew I was always going to be a painter at heart. Thoughts crossed my mind of working with Remy at his company, but I wasn't sure about it, I didn't want to seem like I was trying to be needy and desperate, by asking my roommate to get me a job. I was feeling a little bored today, having found nothing much on the job boards, so I called Desiree to see if she wanted to hang out.

It had been getting harder to get her to come out now that we weren't in school anymore. No doubt her overbearing father was tightening her reigns now that she didn't need to go to class, it probably felt like he was losing control of her if he let her do anything without his approval. Her father had never met me, and I was very glad for that because I don't know what my temper would be like around him considering that all the things I'd heard from Desiree about him sort of sounded like what my mom would do, minus the beating me up part. I figured I'd probably have some recurring memory or something that would irritate me.

"Hello?"

Desiree answered with a shaky voice, like she was nervous to be getting a phone call, and I knew it was probably true.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk, I need to clear my head."

"Um... it's only 2:48pm, so I'll make it back by curfew, sure. I'll meet you at the park by your house?"

"Yeah that's good."

Desiree hung up as soon as I agreed on our meeting place, and I felt sad that she had to act like she couldn't talk to me while she was in that house. I wondered if I could get her to move out, but she was very jittery around the subject of what to do now that college was over. I knew her dad had been reluctant to let her even go to college in the first place. I wasn't sure what he thought was going to happen, or even why he felt like he could keep her at home like this. She was a grown ass woman, she should be able to be independent, and be a grown up.

When I got to the park, Desiree was already there, sitting on a bench staring off into the distance. She caught my eye when I walked up to her, and smiled. I was glad to see her face light up because of me. I wanted to help her so much but I didn't know how, so it felt nice that my just being there could cause her even a little bit of joy.

"Hi, Armand, I'm so glad that you called, I was getting bored at home."

"I was bored too."

"Still looking for jobs?"

"Yup. You know the drill. Search, interview, get declined, go home."

"Aww, don't get discouraged, you'll find something, you're a great person."

"Thanks. What about you, what are you doing these days?"

"I'm trying to figure out how to tell my dad that I want to move out and get an apartment. You know how he is, the second I want to do anything for myself, he treats me like I'm going to die. It's so ridiculous that he can't let go of me. I'm 22 now, and I've been out in the world before, he acts like everything around me is going to kill me. It's so aggravating."

"What about telling him that? Telling him that you've been out, and you haven't died yet, so it must not be that bad?"

"I think that would be acceptable if he wasn't such a control freak, but he wants me to live his way, and his way only, which means, I can't get my own place unless I move into my husband's house. Well, get a husband, and then move in with him. I hate his religious practices, so much, Armand. He's choking the life out of me emotionally by doing this to me."

"Haven't you rebelled before? I mean, what is he going to do? He can't really get the authorities involved because you wouldn't be breaking any laws if you just moved out."

"I know, and yeah I have rebelled before, when I got my tattoo, but he beat me so hard that night, Armand. My leg still hurt from getting the tattoo, but then he hurt my back so much I had to sleep on my stomach, and even then, I couldn't really sleep. There have been other beatings, but they've subsided, they aren't as severe, just him slapping me every now and again."

I was a mix of shocked and disgusted at Desiree's situation when I heard that she basically gave up trying on her own life. I had the fleeting thought of asking her to marry me, but that seemed ridiculous considering we weren't a couple. We certainly hadn't ever done anything physical either, just hung out together to have a meal or go on a walk as friends, and I didn't really think I felt that way about her at the moment. Desiree was my other best friend however, so I cared about her, and it frustrated me to no end that she seemed to be trapped like a child in an adult body. I found her very unique from the other girls I had in my life, and somehow Desiree's innocence was appealing, but I didn't know why that was.

"Desiree, I wish I could help in some way with your living situation. You can't grow up if you live with your parents forever."

"Hmm. That's a good point, but a lot of males do that right? Live with their parents till they get married?"

"Yeah, but they're looked at as social pariahs, guys who can't get a girl, usually because most of the time girls who they do date, get turned off when they find out who they're living with."

"True. Ugh, I don't know why I keep justifying my dad's behavior and making excuses for his rules. I'm just so scared, Armand. I'm scared of getting beaten."

"How did you get him to let you go to college?"

"I told him it would give me more appeal for a potential husband. He didn't agree at first, since he believes that all men want a barefoot wife who's good for nothing but pregnancy and housework, but then I told him about the modern man, and how some men want a smart wife too, so he finally agreed. He even did that very reluctantly, though. I think I pushed him to his limit by asking him to let me go to college."

"I don't know, Desiree. I still think you should try. This is your life, and you're 22 now, it's like, life is short, do you really want to waste your youth living under a tyrant?"

"Thanks for pushing me, Armand, but I am really scared. I know you're right though, I just have a really large fear gland, I suppose."

"Well, when did you rebel? When did you get the tattoo? Is it possible you got it when you were still too young in his eyes, so that's why he beat you? If you'd gotten it later in life, would he have cared as much?"

"I got it when I was a senior in high school, and I don't know if it was my age that caused him to get so mad, I think it was just the fact that I didn't listen to him. He thinks tattoos are for heathens, and so he was mad that his daughter was acting like a heathen."

"It's been four years now, I don't know, I'm just trying to give you hope I guess."

"Thank you, Armand. No one has really ever done that for me. Give me hope."

Desiree pulled out her phone to check the time, then made a motion to get up off the bench, and I knew she was doing that because of her stupid curfew. She didn't want an embarrassing repeat of the night we hung out at the comic book store, and her father had torn her away from us hanging out, so ever since then, she always watched the time like a hawk so that she could get back in time.

"Curfew coming soon?"

"Yes, in about an hour. I should go. Thank you for the time together though, I really look forward to seeing you."

---

I looked into Armand's gorgeous light blue eyes, wondering if he would, or could, ever develop feelings for me. I'd known him for two years now and he was my best friend. I know he had Remy to fill that spot for him, but I only had him. Over the years, my small crush on Armand had turned into me thinking about him a lot. My heart jumped every time I saw his name flash across my screen when he would call or send me a text message. Everything in my body didn't want to leave his presence, but my head was screaming for me to go so I could make curfew. I smiled and headed towards my car, pondering everything that Armand had said to me regarding moving out, and standing up to my father.

I hated that I was a 22 year old woman who was terrified of her father. I shook my head at myself, and wondered if I would even ever have the gall to do what I needed to do. I knew I didn't want to live in my parent's house forever. My thoughts went back to Armand, and how I loved him, but felt like I couldn't tell him. I relished the idea of one day being married to him because I loved his good heart and how he was always taking care of me. He was the one person in my life who I wasn't afraid around, who made me feel happy. Suddenly I felt stronger in spirit, as if Armand's words had suddenly clicked. The fear was still there, but I felt that if I had someone like Armand in my life, I had to at least try for myself. He was right, the last time I was severely beaten was in high school, many years had passed, and my dad had let me go to college, so maybe he was loosening his control a little...

I gathered my bearings as I got out of my car and walked into my house, sitting down on the couch, confident about my decision to stand up for myself, when my father came out of his office.

"Hello Daddy."

"Desiree. Good to see you obeying your curfew. How was your outing?"

"Good, it was nice to talk to my friend."

My father shook his head because he disapproved of me talking about 'my friend,' since he knew it was the same boy I had talked to at the comic book store.

"Your friend? Have you and your friend done anything sinful on your outings?"

"What? No, of course not. He's just my friend."

"You should be looking for a husband, not just hanging out with your friend."

I was starting to get aggravated after he brought up the husband subject, which he did constantly. If I were to get married, I wanted it to be on my own time, not some ridiculous accelerated time frame to please my father, or as a reason to move out on my own. Moving out had to happen before me getting married, I had to be independent, I wanted to be independent. I pushed aside my natural defensiveness to argue with my father about the husband thing because that was how my father always derailed me from bringing up my wants. He would change the subject and make me upset about being single, and I would get so mad I'd usually leave and not finish talking to him about the original topic. Not this time though, this time I remembered the courage I had recently found to tell my father about what I had been thinking about before I went to see Armand. I stood up off the couch to try to command some presence, and give myself some confidence.

"I want to move out."

"What have I said about that? Do you have a husband?"

"No."

"Then, no you cannot move out."

I started to get scared because my dad always used his stature to command me back into submission. No. Not this time. I have to do something for myself. I'm a grown up, I should act like a grown up.

"I am a legal adult, Daddy, and I have been one since I turned 18. Technically I could have moved out then, but I was too scared to ask you if I could. I realize now that I have been scared my whole life, but I don't want to be scared anymore. I want to do this for myself. I went to college every day and the world didn't hurt me! The world is not scary like you think it is!"

"Excuse me? I do not think the world is scary. I think the world is out to get young girls like you who should be under the protection of their fathers or husbands! Why can you not get that through your thick skull?"

"Don't insult me, Daddy. I need to stand up for myself. My whole life I've been doing things for you, and I'm sick of it!"

"You disrespectful little slut! Running around with a heathen you met at a comic book store, and now you tell me you are sick of obeying ME?! It is your DUTY to obey me!"

Before I knew what was happening, my father pulled my hair and roughly threw me on the ground. The impact of the hardwood on my knees hurt so much and I cried out in pain.

"Daddy, no! Please don't!"

The first belt lashing hit me in the middle of my stomach because I made the mistake of turning around and trying to plead with my dad not to hit me. I screamed as the metal tore my shirt and gave me a bruise on the soft skin of my stomach. He flipped me over and started hitting me repeatedly on my back, and I felt sick when my back started to burn and itch from the lashings. I threw up from the pain and my dad hit me more until I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time, the warm trickle of blood. I wondered where my mom was at this moment, and then thought, well of course, even if she were here it wouldn't do any good because he'd go chasing her threatening to beat her up too. Finally he stopped, dropping the belt, its buckle hitting the floor close to my ear, making an incredibly loud sound which made me wince. I heard his footsteps, then some running water, and then he came back to tend my cuts.

"Why do you make me do this to you Desiree?"

"I didn't, remember? I said no, please don't."

"You know what I mean, young lady."

"Why do you do this, Daddy, why do you tend to me after you are the one who inflicted pain on me?"

"Because I love you, and the pain is for your own good."

I closed my eyes, annoyed and confused about my father's logic, or lack thereof. The voice in my head that was always preventing me from standing up for myself, the fear part of me, spoke up just then, saying 'See Desiree, this is why you don't ask for things from Daddy, this is what happens. You bring this on yourself.' I wanted to scream, but held it in as my father continued to clean the blood off my back, wondering if I'd ever have a normal life.

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Update September 1, 2016

Hello again everyone,

If you're still out there... LOL. I know it's been a long while, and maybe some of you have quit following my story or just given up that I'd ever come back. If you have, I do not blame you one bit. I had some rough times, writer's block, depression, you know, the usual crap that hits a lot of writers and makes their stuff come to a standstill.

But. If you're still out there, and you are still looking forward to an update, and if you haven't given up on me, I'd like to say that I have something for you. Today I feel like I finally broke through that writer's block. I wrote a chapter, the next chapter, and I will be getting pictures tonight, and through tomorrow. I am going to quit making excuses for myself of why I don't feel like getting pictures, because I do that sometimes, and I need to stop, so I will stop. The only one who can change my bad habits is me. So...

I'm on the horizon with a new update in the next few days, and if you don't believe me because I've said that before, again, I don't blame you. That's completely fine.

I hope I haven't let all of you down with my absence, but I am coming back, slowly but surely.

Love you all,
Late Knight

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Familiar Animal Award

I recently was nominated by Simcomix/MrsOogieBoogie and Lovesstorms for the Familiar Animal Award, so I'd like to thank her for that.

Rules for Accepting this Award:

• Thank the Blogger who nominated you and link back to their page.
• Post the Award picture on your blog. I didn't get one, since for reasons due to respect, MrsOogieBoogie changed the picture.
• Write a short paragraph about yourself and what your blog means to you.
• If you could be any animal, what would it be?
• Pick and notify ten nominees.

About Me:

I often don't like sharing personal stuff, so I'm going to be a bit vague while telling you guys what I'm comfortable with. LOL. I'm a Midwesterner, born and raised, and although I live in a different state now than where I grew up, I'm still in the Midwest. I will say I feel like part of my heart belongs in California though because I love sunshine, beaches, and relaxation. I am a city girl and I get freaked out by silence. I've always been a creative person, whether it be writing, coloring, taking pictures, acting in movies, or any other sort of artistic endeavor. I love Christian Bale Batman, and I love cars. I am a free spirit and I don't like being restricted by tons of rules and order. I am nice until you give me a reason not to be.

What My Blog Means to Me:

Despite the lack of attention I've been giving to my blog lately, it does still mean a lot to me. Echoes of Eternity was the first story I wrote where I was happy with what I wrote because I was writing what I truly felt, I was writing from my heart, rather than writing what I thought might be successful. In reality, what was from my heart was what was the most successful. I love the creativeness I can put into my blog, whether it be through the writing itself, the poses I make, or the pictures I take using the Sims3. I love the freedom I have working on my blog because there are no rules to follow except for what I decide.

What Animal Would I Be:

I took a test to determine which animal was closest to me, and I got Eagle as a result. I wholeheartedly agree with the description as well, which states this:

The Eagle: You are a hunter among men. You never give up when it comes to getting the prize. When you have a goal, you are the one that extends yourself to reach it. You are a worker, a task doer, and your weakness is being prideful.

Sometimes you try to get the best. You try to get the biggest kill or you think you are lofty above everyone else. It's okay to have confidence, but just relax a little. You don't have to be the best, to be the best.

I do get very driven when I am focused on something, and I always try to do the best that I can. I feel like the hardest things to do are the ones that are the most worth it, so I don't let 'it's too hard' ever stop me from doing something.

Pick and Notify Ten Nominees:
MsMidnightBlonde - Out of the Coppice
LilyShadowWriter - Different Winters
Jill - With Love
Jazen - As Love Goes
PiazzaGirl - A Race Against Time
MischieftheKitten - Stories of Mischief

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