http://melissalytton.artician.com/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/ http://uc.artician.com/members/1/5/15838/avatar.jpg en-us Sat, 18 May 2013 07:23:44 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2008/08/announcements/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2008/08/announcements/ link*

My official, shiny, professional website is finally up and running (!), here: *link*

And in other news, I'm feeling pretty freakin' sweet.

~Missy

]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:38:32 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/11/publish-party-woooo/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/11/publish-party-woooo/
I JUST GOT PUBLISHED!

It’s not a full book or anything. It’s an essay. But it’s in a real live book by a real live publishing company (Elder & Leemaur). I got the letter in the mail just before I was about to make dinner, and almost tossed it thinking it was junk mail. But then I recalled that the name seemed familiar and opened it. When I read it I was so excited that my yelling caused Ian to barrel down the stairs, thinking I must have hurt myself. I did cry, but I’m definitely not hurt.

It’s so difficult to contain myself to proper grammar at the moment. Of course, due to my near-dead keyboard (poor laptop had a run in with some Fresca last weekend) I have to, else periods and commas will run together, proper nouns won’t be capitalized, and generally alphabetic havoc will ensue. So, you can’t tell it right now, but I’m positively bubbling up to pop out of my seams. Whenever I open my mouth I have what must sound to be an annoyingly cheery tone to it. I’m ecstatic and full of energy when just moments ago I was working off the last reserves of burnt-out-college-kid fuel.

At this point, I don’t even care if I’m not selected for the scholarship that comes with the top ten essays. I made the top 3% of over 4,200 entries. Sure, the money would be wonderful and I hope I get it, but being actually published means more to me than a thousand dollars or so. I can put this on my resume. I can say I’m a published writer. I can… I feel like I can do anything now! I’m just so explosively happy that I feel nothing can stand in my way anymore. I just took the first step, the hardest step to becoming a professional writer. I got my first piece professionally published. And with that credential under my belt, I can keep moving forward… and forward… and forward!

I hope this entry finds you all doing well… as well! If things aren’t going so great for any of you, just remember that even if you get shot down along the way, you can still reach your goals if you work hard enough.

Well, enough cheesy motivational quotes and gurgling young-writer-happy-mush. I’ve got homework to do, and the tedium of the thought doesn’t even bother me now. Whoopie!

Signing off from Cloud 9,
~M.J.

]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:46:52 -0500 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/08/summer-recap-07/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/08/summer-recap-07/ California, North Carolina

The last week of June, Ian, Aaron, Biggin, and I piled into a big SUV and hit the road for Longbeach, California. Now, normally I’d try to drive something more eco-friendly, not to mention gas-efficient, but someone Biggin’s size (6’9”, 350lb.) doesn’t exactly fit into such vehicles so well. Fortunately, with all of us chipping in we were able to cover the extra gas costs. We shared the driving time too, so the two 13-hour days didn’t seem all that bad.

For lunch on the first day, we pulled over at a little truck-stop town called Braman, Oklahoma. They had the best homemade burgers and sandwiches, plus it was super cheap. From that point on, we decided to avoid chain restaurants at all costs (aside from a select few that aren’t available here in Kansas.) And so our road trip turned into a culinary adventure as well. New Mexico gave us the most amazing Mexican food I’ve ever tasted; I had a chimichanga to die for and got absolutely addicted to green chile sauce. In Tempe, Arizona we ate at a hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean place called Haji Baba’s. We all ordered our main dishes and then spotted something odd on the menu: lamb’s tongue. That was added to the order as well. As gross as it sounds, it was exquisite, like a pot roast that literally melts in your mouth. California brought Indian food: amazing curried chicken and pancake-ball dessert. The Thai we tried was good, but not nearly as much. We also went to a Greek café where we had the most flaming bisexual waitress, and talkative to boot. Dinner and entertainment. Some of our tasty travels were more expensive than others; we hit a fancy Japanese place and sampled a ton of sushi, sashimi, and unagi (eel). The chains we hit were Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. and Fat Burger. If you ever get the chance to try Bubba Gump’s “That Chocolate Thing” (half a box of half-baked brownie mix in a mason jar, topped with ice cream, cool whip, and raspberry sauce), do. Just keep in mind that it’s bigger than it looks, though that didn’t stop Biggin from downing an entire one. At Fat Burger he took on the Triple King Challenge and downed a giant triple patty burger, all the fixins, plus fries, in 15 minutes. Originally, we had planned to hit the Heart Attack Grill for some burger challenge action, but they were in the middle of moving. At least Biggin still got his picture on a restaurant wall. Oh, Biggin and Aaron had their first frappaccinos as well, courtesy of a California Starbucks.

Anime Expo itself was fun of course, but sub-par to previous years. The Longbeach Convention Center was set up in such a way that people had to do a lot of walking between two buildings, in the heat, in order to get to different events. The lines for ticketed events were also outside, in the heat. Standing outside for six hours on a California summer day is not my idea of a good time seeing as how I grew up in Alaska and have asthma. The tech crew at the Masquerade sucked incredibly; they showed the wrong camera views so that actors hidden backstage were revealed, they never dimmed the lights at the right time after an act, and soundtracks were often started at the wrong time. Still, the humor panels, cool people, and neat costumes made it all worth it. Thankfully, the Expo won’t be in Longbeach next year. Unfortunately, instead of moving back to Anaheim, it’s scheduled to be held in the heart of LA. Petitions formed immediately. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that skimpily costumed girls wandering around the streets of LA after dark just isn’t a good idea. We’ll see what happens.

While there, Ian got to see his father whom is in the middle of his second divorce. Just another reminder of the depressing rise of divorces in our country; somewhere around 50% of marriages I believe. We also got to go to Metropolis Comic Shop, owned by a friend of his father’s, Gail. She was fun as usual, and Biggin, Aaron, and I raided her bargain bins.

We drove home on the 4th of July and got to watch the fireworks as we went. It was 4am when we made it in, two speeding tickets tucked away but feeling pretty good about the super-cheap suite Biggin managed to get us the night before (the hotel lost our previous reservations.) By the end of it, the four of us had spent an entire week together, 24 hours a day. As soon as we rolled out of bed the next day, we got back together and went to see Transformers. The fact that we weren’t sick of each other (and considering Biggin and Aaron had to share a bed the whole time, they logically should have been) made me stop and think.

The people I’m friends with now are good people. We tease each other sure, but by the end of the day we’ve done more to boost each other than to knock each other down. In the past, my friends haven’t always been that way. It was hell at times to weed through the assholes and leeches, but I firmly believe it was worth it. I’d gladly take the heart ache and betrayal again to be friends with the fine people I associate with now. Shout out to my current compadres: you guys rock.

Exploring the open road is fun and all, but I was all too glad that the next trip was by airplane. So, after a week of rest, Ian and I flew out to North Carolina to visit my mother for her birthday, as well as her side of the family. Chris had flown there two weeks prior and was eagerly awaiting us at the airport with my mother and Aunt Sissy. It was great to see them again… It was great to see everyone out there. All of my mother’s relatives live very, very close together, and so I was surrounded by family and friends I hadn’t seen in years a majority of the time.

Considering the situation there were of course a few difficult moments, but overall the trip was really great. Mom’s got herself a nicely decorated little place and a cute puppy named Holstein (he has cow spot fur). One day we rode a ferry across the river and went to an aquarium. Another day we walked along Carolina Beach and combed the sand for trinkets, found a sting ray egg sack. All the water made me feel at home, despite the heat. The food also made me feel at home; we had a huge pig pickin (sort of like a BBQ, only bigger and usually with an entire pig) and I got to have all my favorites. And to top off the excitement we spent a day in Myrtle Beach, where there’s just so much to do. We only had time for the Alligator Adventure (Ian loooved the lemurs) and MagiQuest (an interactive video game where we ran around with wands like dorks, loving every minute), especially after stopping for fresh seafood in Callibash.

Being down there really made me think about family. To be honest, the concept has always been kind of vague in my head. And now I have divorce and the merging of families down the line to factor into the equation. But I think I finally have the hang of that whole ‘blood is thicker than water’ thing now. The base of it is instinctual. As our species evolved, our clans stuck together to ensure mutual survival. That’s why we have more tolerance for the negative actions of our family members. Sure, we get down right pissed at them sometimes, but we take them back even after they’ve done something we might disown a friend for. And so the basis of family is that I have your back and you have mine, no matter what happens. Family members truly want what they think is best for each other, even if they suck at expressing it.

Realizing this has helped me see my mother in another light. It’s helped me see a lot of my family’s past actions in a different light. And all of this was compounded by something my grandfather told me while I was visiting. He took me in his chemo-skinny arms, hugged me with his ex-marine strength, and told me to live every day to its fullest. It didn’t matter that we’d barely spoken in years. It didn’t matter that he didn’t say in words that he loved me. It didn’t matter that he has largely ignored his entire family since his second marriage. In that moment, I knew he did. I knew that despite everything, he wanted the best for me. He wanted me to be happy.

And when he told me to have a wonderful life, in that same calm acceptance my other grandfather used as he neared the end, it was comforting. I had to choke back tears, but he was smiling, and I think I may have been too. It brought me closure, but also a glimpse into something else. I think that when one is ready, they know somehow that things will be alright. They know they’ve fully lived this life and are ready for the next one. They seem… unafraid. And that sagely wisdom, that inexplicable knowing, is comforting. My life isn’t fully lived yet however, and so I can’t fully grasp it. But it’s oddly comforting nonetheless and makes me feel connected to my ancestors. To my ‘clan’.

This summer has brought me wonderful memories and wonderful realizations. I have grown stronger and happier. I know more of what is truly important in life. Life is all about connections; connections to our amazing world, but more importantly, connections to other beings. I don’t recall who said it, but no man is an island. And no man can stand alone forever.

If you haven’t done so in a while, take a moment to think about the people you’re connected to. I hope it brings a smile to your face. And if you find you feel alone, try reaching out and making a new connection. I even volunteer.

Embrace life and live every day to its fullest.

~ M. J. Lytton

R.I.P. for all my loved ones who have left this life.

]]> Thu, 02 Aug 2007 03:33:41 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/05/summertime-and-feelin-good/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/05/summertime-and-feelin-good/
Despite taking 18 hours, I came out with all As and only a week of let-down sickness. I burned out a couple times during the semester, but it was all worth it. Thanks to Physical Anthropology I now know the names of far too many hominid species and understand exactly how bipedalism and large brains go together. Oceanography left me with a newfound understanding of how complex the ocean really is. It's like a world of it's own - no wonder Lovecraft had so much fun with it. Intro to Psychology was really just a recap of high school basics, but Logic & Critical Thinking actually expanded on my HS philosophy background, and left me able to debunk any faulty argument with a collegiate finesse. World Religions was also an amazing experience - learning about so many different belief systems, and actually participating in them. However, my favorite class by far was Literature of Science Fiction. Yes, it sounds geeky. Yes, it had it's fair share of weirdos and ill-adjusted outcasts. But it also had some cool people and amazing professor. If anyone ever gets a chance to take a class with Prof. David Davis at JuCo, jump on that opportunity. Not only is he a great teacher who helped me get so much literary experience out of the class, but he's hilarious and easy to connect to. Besides, how many times do I get the chance to be taught by a fellow vamp-goth? Being deemed the official class attack dog by my college professor and talking with him about "goth pens" for joining the "goth club" will be missed for sure. Of course, I plan on sneaking back to JuCo Fall '08 just to take his Vampire Literature class.

So, now that school's out, what's ahead for me? I'm already signed up for next semester's classes. Astronomy with lab, World Music, Archaeology, Western Civilizations I, and Elementary Japanese I. It'll be my last semester at JuCo too - next spring (and the entire next year) I'll be at KU. I'll be jamming in those 18-20 credit hour semesters the whole time too. Of course, I plan on learning from my mistakes this past semester to prevent future burnout. Because that really, really sucked.

Over the summer I've got two trips planned. Some friends and I will be road-tripping to Anime Expo of course. We're dressing up as some characters from Guilty Gear this year. Seems that I'll be cross-playing as Testament, though I plan on bringing my traditional Tifa costume to wear at least one day. Two days after we return from that, Ian and I fly out to see my mother and her family for her birthday. All in all, we'll be gone half the month of July.

I also have a ton of cleaning, organizing, sewing, writting, you name it, to accomplish over the summer. So keep an eye out for more uploaded works, and news on my children's book (I hope to have it ready for publishing by August).

As for my family... Ian is planning on putting additional 3D training under his belt. He had a blast at the Game Developer's Conference out in San Francisco, but found that animators were in much higher demand than designers at the moment. So, with a wider array of talents on his resume, he's looking to push foreward, possibly making a lateral move later if he can't find a design position right away. My brother is graduating middle school tomorrow, which is somewhat mind-blowing. Makes my adulthood really sink in, but I'm proud of him. Things with the parents are doing alright. I'm working on a long distance relationship with my mother the best I can. It's going slowly, but I see worth in it, despite what's gone on between us.

I've decided life is too short, so I'm snipping connections with those destructive individuals who aren't showing they'll ever truely change, and being more forgiving with those who are really making progress. I'm also going through all my belongings and donating a large portion to various wonderful organizations. I've got this grand scheme to be perfectly healthy, organized, and on track by my 21st birthday. I want to enjoy my life, so I'm trying to relax, simplify, and streamline it all. So far, the shift in philosophy seems to be working pretty well.

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer, full of family and friends. Enjoy and learn from all those big - and little - moments you experience, whether they be joyous or saddening. School is out and we have an opportunity to step back for a bit and examine our lives, putting more focus on exploring certain areas we usually neglect, be it the soft drip of chocolate ice-cream cones or trapseing about exotic locales. So here's to a summer of growth and love of whatever it is you hold dear.

~Melissa Lytton

]]> Tue, 29 May 2007 21:39:42 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/05/im-alive-i-think/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2007/05/im-alive-i-think/
The past year has been a whirlwind of major events (hence my scarcity) - some amazingly wonderful, but most devastating. I'll start with the wonderful, since that's where I last left off. The night of Ian's senior prom we went out with a group of friends to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner before the dance. While I was wrapped up in a conversation with Biggin, Ian excused himself to go to the bathroom. Shortly after he returned, our dessert arrived. However, instead of a slice of peanut-butter-cookie-dough-chocolate-chip-cheesecake on my plate there was a ring. Written around the plate in chocolate were the words “Will you marry me?” It absolutely took my breath away and I of course said yes. Biggin was in on it and was purposely distracting me so that Ian could go make preparations without my noticing. I was floating the rest of the night.

Most people knew by this point that Ian and I were planning on moving to Santa Monica, CA for his job. Shortly before our trip out to look at apartments, Ian received a horrible email. The company wasn't doing so well financially and so the PR department was expanded instead of the development department. Our plans were dashed and we were both devastated. But he's decided to continue seeking a job in the field, so we'll most likely end up in California eventually.

Despite the fact, we took a trip to California anyways, as we had also planned on using the opportunity to go to the Anime Expo and visit Disney Land with my family. We met up with Tricia there, and all in all, it was a fun trip. Biggin was already there (interning at Stanford) and he joined in the nerdy fun of his first Anime Expo. On a side note, he's decided to do his first cosplay at the local NakaCon in March (Snorlax was a very fitting choice.)

Unfortunately, I had already enrolled in Santa Monica College and had to withdraw last minute. This also meant I had missed enrollment at Juco and had no clue when we might be heading out to California. As such, I only took two classes that semester - online so I could continue anywhere, and the only classes I still needed that would be universally transferable (Statistics & Composition II.)

I hadn't realized how bored out of my mind I would become with such a tiny work load and no real reason to leave the house. Life made sure I wasn't bored for long though. Days before Ian & I's 4th anniversary, my parents announced their divorce. My mother is now half way across the country and I do all I can to help my father run the house and take care of my little brother. It was hell to hear, hell to go through, and hell to adjust to afterwards - Christmas was no party either.

To top things off, our family happened to acquire a very big (albeit not too bright) stalker. Hefty, chauvinistic, and vicious with access to weaponry via his job. Leaving the house was terrifying, and I was definitely too nervous to blog in fear of him reading and gaining life's details. Needless to say, we called the cops, got a major security upgrade, and changed our phone number. I'm happy to report that he seems to have moved on.

In summation, a lot has been lost over here. Dreams have been shot down and family members have left. More friends disappeared as their lies surfaced (as they tend to do) and my senses of assurance and stability have been flimsy at best. At least I also managed to lose 20 pounds along the way. But while I lost so much, the relationships with those I truly care for have strengthened through the hardships - I suppose to survive you have to look for those silver linings.

But now I'm back in school and busy as ever. I'm taking a full 18 credits in an attempt to catch up from my light schedule last semester as well as the semester that got scratched due to mono. In my spare time I help take care of the house - cooking, cleaning, picking Chris up from school - but I don't so much mind. After all, this is life now, and fighting it will just make things harder. I still play D&D every Friday night with my friends and play Myst with my father on Saturdays. Routine has set in for now, while we continue to wait with our fingers crossed that something in the future will work out for us. Hopefully this summer will find us in California. A year late is better than never I suppose.

I've picked up my feet now that school and deadlines are back in my life, and you'll find that new things will start popping up in my art gallery and fiction section. I've also started submitting my works to every writing contest I can get my hands on and just applied for a writing grant today. Keep your fingers crossed for me - this grant could allow me to publish several books.

Hopefully a year won't pass again before I make another entry. My problem is never lack of something to say, but always lack of time and energy by the end of the day. In fact, even now I'd love to go into more detail on the interesting classes I'm currently taking, the current issues I've been following, the state of the world as it is in this moment - but a perfect storm is brewing in my head, a devilish combination of sleep deprivation and sinus pressure. But if someone bugs me (you know who you are) perhaps I'll be able to sneak away some time this weekend to do some more catching up.

Life's ups and downs are like a rollercoaster - all you can do is attempt to enjoy the ride and try really hard not to throw up.
~Melissa Lytton

]]> Mon, 28 May 2007 16:06:32 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/12/its-super-cheney-amp-nuclear-boy/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/12/its-super-cheney-amp-nuclear-boy/
"The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing ­ that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack ­ but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections."

There really isn't much to be said after reading that excerpt. It comes from a reliable source, and it's fairly straight foreward. All I can say is that conspiracy theorists seem to finally be getting a break; they had to be right at least once, and the current administration has given them that opportunity. But it shouldn't be happening. I don't see how a man can be impeached for lying about having an affair, yet this particular handful of politicians can get away with just about anything. Let's just hope they don't start WWIII before the end of the term.

Keep on hoping,
~Melissa Lytton

]]> Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:53:03 -0500 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/04/biggotry-in-bumper-stick-form/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/04/biggotry-in-bumper-stick-form/
Why?

]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2006 17:09:12 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/04/gay-is-the-new-black/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/04/gay-is-the-new-black/
Dream big,
~Melissa Lytton

]]> Wed, 12 Apr 2006 23:51:34 -0400 http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/03/new-us-concentration-camps/ http://melissalytton.artician.com/blog/2006/03/new-us-concentration-camps/ Today my Social Problems Professor mentioned an article in The London Times (owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International, the same owners of FOX) about new U.S. concentration camps. He had looked into the matter in Wikipedia and found more supporting evidence, though seeing as how The London Times is owned by a conservative company and was still reporting such news, he didn't doubt it much. Not one to take things this big on word, even from my professor, I looked things up myself.

All it took was one google of "new u.s. relocation camp martial law" to bring up a list of articles well-researched enough to give the rumor some credit. There is solid documentation on Army building and renovation of internment camps. This coupled with Bush's 'mysterious new programs' has been enough to get those who stay up to date with the news very frightened. Talks of using them in the case of martial law, and the need to 'challenge news that undercuts Bush's actions' should be enough to get everyone upset. But so far it hasn't been as widely covered as Hurricane Katrina or the anniversary of the so far 3 year war in Iraq.

It is very quickly becoming a possibility that we may no longer be allowed to speak out against the government without some sort of consequence. I refuse to let that stop me however. The government is flawed. It is run by those who are not looking at the best interests of all of America's citizens. The rich are getting richer while there are still a large amount of working poor, and unemployed poor for that matter. The educational system is fundamentally flawed; this is undeniable when our educational quickness & outcome is compared to that of the Europeans'. Biggotry still runs rampant in our country and it is enforced by the government. People can't even marry those that they love. I could continue for pages on any one of these subjects, but that is for another time.

The bottom line is this: I refuse to let ANYONE take away my freedoms, my freedom of speech, my freedom of love, my freedom to be who I am. I know I am only one person and don't have much power on my own, but I will do whatever is within my power to make sure that some day we can live upto our title of "The Land of the Free." And I hope others do the same.

Never give up,
~Melissa Lytton

]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2006 01:34:40 -0500