Socially Awkard!

When you read this title, some of you may be thinking "Oh, this post must be about someone Eastin knows.", but others may be thinking "So, she knows how socially awkward she acts around people." My close friends know me as the fun, crazy, dramatic Eastin Kandt. But when I first know people I'm the quiet, try to say something once in a while, introverted Eastin Kandt.

I've been feeling this so much lately with my move to San Antonio. Going to different churches, youth groups and theaters has really been difficult. It's a miracle that I got to bond so well with my schoolmates. Thank goodness, too! If it weren't for my schoolmates, I wouldn't have any good friends.

It's not like I haven't been able to warm up to people though. There was a group of people recently that I was a part of that I warmed up to them and started to be my crazy self. But this was a temporary event. After about a month, I didn't see them for about another two or three weeks. When I saw them again though, I went back to being socially awkward!

I think to be myself around people I have to see them nearly every day, or at least three days a week (that's how it is with my school pals). After a while, we grow on each other.

But this whole situation has shown me something else. I have a friend that deals with this everyday. I won't say their name to keep it private.

I'm not sure of the particulars, but they have some sort of social disorder where they can't socialize with people well. Everyone wants friends, but it is particularly hard for them. Like me, around people they know really well it's easier for them I think, but otherwise they have it pretty difficult.

If they are reading this, I want to let them know that I know how they feel. I'm dealing with the same thing. It's hard, but you're not alone. Every person feels that way at some point or another.

Mystical Creatures - part 11

Illnesses allowed in the game:
      Blindness
      Deafness
      Muteness
      Paralyzed
      Diabetes
      Asthma
      ADHD
      Migraines
      Seizures
      Dyslexia
      Autism
      Cancer

You can have up to eight illnesses if you really want to, and you can have none, which most people prefer.

The point of the illnesses is to add another level or complication to the game.

We will now begin with the Normal Possibilities, which is basically what a Mystical Creature can fall back on if they happen to lose their powers.

Fighting Styles

Anything that involves fighting, you are talented at! That is, if you have fighting styles!

Inventions

You are a genius! You can build anything, including things you make up. Most Mystical Creatures with Invention have their own secret passageway or secret room, but this is optional.

Gymnastics

You are good at gymnastics, plus you can dodge any punch, kick or anything someone uses to physically hurt you.

Mystical Creatures - part 10

Animal People

This was made up by Conor, Pierce, Grace and I, I believe.

You have to choose between one of these different animals: 

       Dog People can take the form of a dog. They are protective and hyper. They have a super bark (destroy everything in path of bark), super-hearing and they can dig through anything. If you harm a dog person behind their ear, they die (or get seriously injured if preferred)

       Cat people can take the form of a cat. They are lazy. They have a super jump (high jump) and good eyesight. They can make their eyes glow in the dark and they have claws they can make appear on their hands. Cat People also have the normal possibility of gymnastics, which will be explained more thoroughly in the Normal Possibilities section to come.

      Frog people can take the form of a frog. They can super jump, super croak and they have a really long tongue they can use to grab things if wanted. Frog people are really good swimmers.

      Panther people can take the form of a panther. They are good at climbing, spying and hiding. Their abilities include very good eyesight and claws they can make appear.

      Bird people can take the form of any bird of choice. They can fly (obviously!) and can make their beak and talons appear at any time to harm someone. They are good at hunting, diving and are stealthy.

      Bear people can take the form of a bear. They have super strength and a super roar. They can also make their claws appear. They are good at fishing and climbing.

Pop-fizz

This one was created by Conor but was greatly inspired by Skylanders Giants.

They can't help but hate everyone.

When they get too angry, they turn into a beast that destroys everything their path for an entire minute.

Their natural form is a small creature with claws.

Pop-fizzes specialize in potions. Choose one that they can use:

      Explosion: They can make explosions happen in a designated area. As a beast, this means they can breath fire and the potion lasts for three minutes.

      Acid: This makes their claws stronger for attacking. As a beast, it gives them super-speed. It lasts for three minutes.

      Minion: This allows Pop-fizz to mind control people. As a beast, it lets them become a pro at backflips. It lasts for three minutes.

Mystical Creatures - part 9

Wood Nymph

This one was inspired by the Percy Jackson series.

The Wood Nymph's life is tied to a tree. That means that if the tree dies or gets cut down the wood nymph dies.

They can turn into their tree.

Wood Nymphs can control plants.

They can talk to animals.

Their natural form is green but they can look like normal people.

Mummy

This one was partly inspired by Wizards of Waverly Place and partly inspired by The Red Pyramid.

Mummies have mind control.

They can look normal if they wish, but their true form is, well, you know what a mummy looks like.

You must choose one or more of these abilities: Ha-di: If you say this word, you can fix something that is broken. Hi-nem: If you say this word, you can break something. Seeing Invisible: You can see invisible people or objects or anything else which might be invisible. Hyroglyphics: You can read hyroglyphics with ease. Divination: You can see the future.

Sorcerer

This one was made up by Conor, Pierce, Grace and I.

Sorcerer can predict the future.

Sorcerers can see people no matter where they are if they want to.

Phantom Horse

This one was made up by Conor, Pierce, Grace and I. For some reason, I feel like it was mostly Pierce, but I can't remember.

They can disappear in shadows, so if they are in a shadow they can basically turn invisible.

They can turn into a human.

They cause nightmares.

They must obey any son or daughter of Hades playing in the game.

Movie Ratings

I've taken a break from my "Mystical Creatures" series to talk about something that has been really bugging me. Movie Ratings.

Million Dollar Arm is the new Disney movie about two Indians coming to America to make a name in baseball. You may have heard of it. On Saturday, I watched the movie. It is rated PG yet there was mention of sex and beer. Mostly beer.

My first thought is why the heck is this rated PG? I'm sure many parents who took their kids to watch the movie thought the same thing. But then, I thought about it a little more.

On the "Why the Heck?" side, ALL the movies these days that are rated PG are movies such as Frozen. Completely age appropriate for those that are in Kindergarten. Drugs and sex do NOT fit into the age appropriate Frozen-like movies! Not at all. Many parents would agree with me.

On the other hand, PG means "Parental Guidance". My first question is for what ages? Do I need to bring my parents to this movie when I'm thirty? Would they need to bring their parents? But I'm not going into that right now. But technically, the abbreviation would make me think that anyone 17 or under would fit under the category of Parental Guidance, but then wouldn't PG be the equivalent of R?

Whatever happened to the rating of G? Many PG movies these days belong in the rating of G. The only G-rated movies that we have anymore are nature films. Or the coca-cola polar bear movie which hasn't came out yet. Or maybe isn't an actual movie.... But my point is most movies which we rate PG should be G-rated movies.

Ratings have no meaning anymore. All these directors and movie rating people need to get together and decide exactly what movies fall into what rating. I don't know what the process they have for rating movies is now, but I can tell you that it needs adjusting.

Mystical Creatures - part 8

Skeleton

This might have been slightly inspired by the Percy Jackson series but I don't know for sure.

Skeletons get to pick one paranormal activity. Choose from the ones listed in Ghost in an above part.

Skeletons can sense people in danger.

They can make someone ill or hurt.

They can make themselves have flesh, so they appear to be a normal human.

They have the ability to wave their hand over another person and see their skeleton - sort of like an x-ray machine.

Zombie

This one was partly inspired by Wizards of Waverly Place but most of it was just typical Zombie-known stuff.

Zombies have mind control.

They can do three things to people: Make them talk gibberish, make them be very slow, make them look 

ugly.

They can remove their body parts.

They come with two normal possibilities (to be discussed later): Dancing and Spying.

Troll

This one was inspired by American Dragon: Jake Long

Trolls have super strength.

They can change the color of their skin.

They can't go in sunshine, otherwise they turn into stone.

They are known to love chaos.

They can make mountains.

Satyr

This one was definitely inspired by Percy Jackson.

Satyrs can sense others emotions.

They can cause weather phenomenons.

They have forest powers (plant, trees, etc.)

They are talented at playing instruments: Music.

Mystical Creatures - part 7

Genie

This might have been inspired by Wizards of Waverly Place

They can turn tiny, or grant any wishes seen or heard but it is their choice whether they want to grant it and they CAN'T  grant wishes said or written by themselves.

And if someone has their lamps they must do whatever they say, so if you are a Genie lock your lamp up tight.

Gnome

I think part of this was inspired by Gnomeo and Juliet but not a lot.

Can teleport, turn into plastic, make things turn into plastic, make people hear things, and make people not able to move.

Again, a gnome's general appearance is short but can appear tall.

It think this was helped by Liz and Elisha, but most memorably Elisha.

Phoenix

I think this was inspired a little by Harry Potter and maybe Percy Jackson  or something written by Rick Riordan.

Phoenixes can heal, turn into any bird and control fire.

A few thing about phoenixes is they are reborn from ashes, have good eyesight and sharp hearing.

Elisha helped with this one.

Dwarf

Dwarves come with one super power which you can pick from Superhero above.

Dwarves like everyone and loves to work.

Their natural appearance is short, but they can appear tall.

Giant

Giants come with on super power which you can pick from Superhero above.

Giants can either be huge or a normal size.

Giants have super strength.

I think Elisha might have helped with this one.