A Little Bit of Cheerfulness Goes a Long Way

Rough times are a fact of life. Whether we see the burden of poverty, the destruction of natural disasters, or the horrors of war on the television, we are constantly bombarded by negativity and all-around bad. 

Sometimes, it can strike closer to home. Though personal problems may seem to pale in comparison to global issues, it doesn't mean they are any less important. You may have lost a loved one, gone through a difficult break-up, or are suffering from ennui or depression.

Life isn't about what we go through, but how we decide to go through it. The bad stuff will come, but it will only rule us if we allow it to rule us. I'm not saying to ignore the bad stuff that happens -- I'm saying accept that bad stuff will happen, but move on. Don't let it control you and the way your life will go.

Help Us Bring the World Premiere of 'Your Highness' to Ohio University

The world premiere of Your Highness is coming to a college in the United States. The cast of this movie includes heavy-hitters James Franco, Natalie Portman, and Zooey Deschanel. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! If you're a consistent reader of this blog, you know how much I love Zooey Deschanel.

Here's the deal, though. The first place viewing is only coming to one college. The first place viewing includes appearances by the cast and an after party. However, Ohio University (my college) is slightly disadvantaged by our relatively small size.

This is why, dear reader, I am asking you to help us even the odds. Click on the link below and it will take you to the voting site. On the dropdown menu, select "Ohio" and then "Ohio University." If you do this, all of us here at OU will be so grateful that -- well, I don't even know what we would do. Perhaps rain rose petals on you and drape you with the clothing of royalty, then carry you around Athens in a comfy chair!

Miss, Can I Marry You, Please?

I have to confess something. I've recently become enthralled by the very talented and beautiful Yvonne Strahovski. In fact, I'm 100% sure that this is a full-blown celebrity crush. She is amazing. If you don't know who Strahovski is, her most prominent role is the slick and sexy spy for the CIA, Sarah Walker, in the TV show, Chuck. She also provided the voice and face for the genetically perfect Miranda Lawson for Mass Effect 2.

D&D 4th Edition Coming to Consoles

I love the 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. I know there are some old-school D&Ders who absolutely abhor it, but I think it's a fantastic evolution of the franchise. It brought me and my friends into the fold when D&D 3.5 seemed overly complex and unapproachable. So why am I excited for Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale?

Discussing the Guardian and 'Guild Wars 2'

If you haven't been paying attention to latest Guild Wars 2 news, another profession has been revealed. This is the Guardian, a heavily-armored soldier specializing in both frontline combat and party support. There's been a lot of speculation across the Web that the second soldier profession would be a reincarnation of the Paragon from Guild Wars Nightfall, or some sort of holy warrior, like the Dervish, or a re-imagining of the Monk. 

However, it seems that ArenaNet has done something a little better: they took all of those ideas and synthesized them into something new. Though the Guardian has some very distinct similarities to World of Warcraft's Paladin, there's also a lot that sets it apart.

Notebook: Beneath Emerald Eaves

Another oldie of mine, originally written in 2009. I submitted it to the weekly reading at The Greater Canton Writers' Guild, of which I was a part of, and won some money for it. "Beneath Emerald Eaves" is a flash fiction piece about the beginning and the end of a relationship. I thought that people could enjoy it again and so, re-posted it here at my blog. Enjoy!

Beneath Emerald Eaves

By Blake Gabriel

I remember the day well, every detail frozen, crystal-clear in my memory. I was kneeling, not caring if the grass would stain my jeans; eyes focused on the bluejay perched in the highest branches of the tree. My camera clicked three times in rapid succession.

I rose to my feet and thoughts of the bird were banished by the sight of the woman before me. I never believed in "love at first sight," but if irony could have clubbed me over the head, it would have.

She was tall, maybe to my nose, and slender as a sapling, unbowed by age or the weight of care. She glided with a dancer’s grace, stepping from pedestrian to pedestrian. People that passed her did not walk away without a flyer pressed into their hands.

Notebook: Scarlet Was Her Hair

I wrote this short story two years ago and submitted it to my high school's literary magazine. I believe it got published there too. It's also been on my Scribophile page for the longest time, and since I'm taking it down from that site, I thought it could find a home here. Please, if you haven't read it yet, enjoy! If you have read it already, read it and enjoy it all over again!

Scarlet Was Her Hair

By Blake Gabriel

A soft, delicate hand traced across the small of my back and a gentle voice whispered in my ear.

“Bobby, shh… shh… it’s okay, baby,” Amy cooed. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Muffling my sobs, I rolled over to face her, drinking in the beauty of her pale skin. She was radiant in the moonlight shining through the crack in the curtain. I smiled weakly, brushing a strand of dark brown hair from her almond eyes. Her gaze seemed to beckon to me, urging me to lose myself in its depths.

Amy wiped the tears from my cheek with the intimacy only lovers could share. We’d been together for eleven months now; there was little we didn’t share.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she asked again in a whisper, her cool breath tickling my ear.

“I was just remembering someone,” I said through long, shaking breaths. “Someone close.”