Ni No Kuni: A fantastic RPG experience

Ni No Kuni. Not an easy name to remember. But once you play the game, it is a name you will likely never forget. Stunning anime-like graphics really help to bring the characters to life. Ni No Kuni has a familiar catching system that is semi-reminiscent of a classic RPG fan favorite, Pokemon. The monster catching is where the similarities cease, because Ni No Kuni is a classic in its own right. RPG fans will forever be thankful for the in depth battle system, memorable storyline, and loveable characters and familiars. Ni No Kuni is a must play for any RPG lover.

Ni No Kuni is a great game for a child's first RPG experience, but also has a storyline capable of captivating adults. Overall, it is one of the best RPG's that I have had the pleasure of playing, and I look forward to playing more RPG's that are similar to Ni No Kuni. Have you played any good games lately? Let me know what you think about Ni No Kuni, and any other games you think we should all be playing. Feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions.

A Letter for Emily

Baby blue eyes, like the bluest skies.

I love to see them fill up with surprise.

Thank you for the ways that you have made me wise.

'Cause I love you in ways that only I can describe.

You're the only one who can calm my cries.

Every time I hear your voice it makes me smile inside.

I'm sorry when I yell and it makes you cry.

It's too easy to blame it on my stressful life.

It hurts me too, but it will be alright.

I'm always your Daddy at the end of the night.

I love you in ways only a father can write.

Whenever I am wrong, I will make it right.

I've waited all of my life to see a star this bright.

I've never been the same since you came into my life.

I will help you to succeed with all of my might.

It may seem a bit extreme, but you're the reason for my life.

In this life, a darkened tunnel, you are my only hope of light.

When we are together, it just feels so right.

You are my lone beautiful rose in this land of blight.

I love you in ways only a father can give light.

The Weight of the World

The world is changing. It is not quite what it used to be.

For my grandchildren I am concerned, and for their ancestors I weep.

The pollution is reaped from the seed that we sow.

Sulfur rain ignites death by glucose.

Typhoons, hurricanes, and even volcanoes will be more deadly than ever. 

Yet we do nothing about it, and we all know we'd better.

The death created by humans is as plain as the day.

But the Earth still cries out in vain with its pain.

How many creatures that lived once no longer remain?

By the Earth's greatest creation destruction will unfold.

Humans wreak havoc and bring death wherever we go.

Nobody owns the lawn that they mow. We lease from ancestors, and leave it for them broke.
The Human race is the Earth's greatest joke. 

 

Naughty Puppies Get Hurt

            

 

            Sam was a beautiful girl. Playing was pretty much all she ever did. Sam’s best friend was her puppy, Rocko. They had so much fun when they played together. Sam’s favorite game to play with Rocko was hide-and-seek. Rocko always seemed to sniff Sam out.

            Sam was definitely a daddy’s girl. She loved her daddy a whole bunch. They had so much fun laughing, singing, and wrestling together. Daddy always took Sam to the movies. They even went fishing together a lot.

            Sam and her mommy had a whole bunch of fun, too. Sam’s mommy always did girly things with her. They did their hair and nails together all of the time. Mommy took Sam shopping to pick out her own clothes. That was Sam’s favorite. Sam wanted to be just like her mommy.

            Sam and Rocko played together the most, though. Sam would follow Rocko around all day. She loved her puppy just as much as she loved her parents. Sam loved having a puppy for her best friend. They did everything together.

When Sam would get lonely, she would pretend to be a puppy. She had so much fun being a puppy. She could bark, crawl around on all fours, and play fetch. She was a regular pooch. Sam even tried eating some of Rocko’s puppy snacks a few times. They didn’t taste very good.

Sometimes, Sam’s parents didn’t like her acting like a puppy. Daddy was always saying, “You don’t listen very good when you act like a puppy, Sam.” Daddy was probably right, but Sam’s favorite games to play were puppy games.

What was the big deal? Sure, Daddy wanted Sam to bark a little quieter. It was hard for Sam to play like a puppy and be quiet. Especially when she was busy howling at the moon. It was also hard to be a quiet puppy when Sam was barking at Rocko. Sam was probably a little too loud, sometimes.

Daddy didn’t like it when Sam would chew on his slippers, either. He would always yell, “That’s yucky, Sam!” At least Sam’s dad didn’t chase her around with his slipper when he caught her slobbering on it, like he did Rocko. Sam puppy was always getting in trouble.

Mommy was always telling Sam not to jump around when she was a puppy. Well, jumping was just something puppies had to do. Rocko got treats for jumping up and down. Mommy said, “Sam, you need to sit on your butt on the couch, or you might fall.” Puppies don’t sit on their butt, though.

Sam was being a puppy one day, and she accidentally fell off of her bed. “Ouchie!” cried Sam. “Mommy I think I hurt my arm.” It hurt Sam so badly. Mommy came running to help Sam, but she wasn’t very happy. Mommy looked quite mad.

“I told you not to jump around like a puppy, Sam. We don’t like it when you act like a puppy,” scolded Mommy. “I just knew you were going to get hurt one of these days.” Mommy was very upset. When Sam’s mom was upset, Sam was upset. They were both crying.

Sam and her mommy got in the car and drove to the hospital. Sam was very scared, and her arm was hurting a lot. Sam overheard her mom call her dad, and she told him that Sam may have broken her arm. Sam started sobbing in the back seat. She felt awful for not listening to her mom and dad.

Mommy looked back and said, “What’s the matter sweetheart?” It wasn’t her hurt arm that had Sam so upset. It was that she had let her parents down. Sam knew that acting like a puppy wasn’t a good game, after all.

“Mommy, will I ever be able to use my arm again?” Sam asked. She was scared that her arm would be broken forever. Sam couldn’t be a puppy anymore if she only had one arm left. Sam had never been so upset, and she could not stop crying.

“Honey, your arm will be just fine. It may not even be broke. We just have to go to the doctor’s office to see if it is,” Sam’s mommy said softly. She always made Sam feel better. Just hearing her mom tell her everything was going to be fine brought a smile to Sam’s face.

“Will I still be able to pretend like I’m a puppy?” Sam asked. “It would be terrible if I couldn’t play with Rocko.” The genuine worry in Sam’s eyes made her mother chuckle.

“Of course, you can still play like a puppy. But, you need to listen to Mommy and Daddy when we tell you to be careful. Puppies that don’t listen get hurt,” said Sam’s mom. That was such a relief for Sam to hear that she could still play with her best friend, Rocko.

Sam and her mom went to the doctor’s office. They put a bright pink cast on Sam’s arm. It was pretty, but Sam still wish she had never broke her arm. It hurt so much. Being a puppy was fun, but only as long as she listened to her mom and dad. Getting hurt isn’t worth being a naughty puppy.

           

No Biting!

Children's book written by Travis Newville. Part of the "Puppy Kids" series.

             Logan was an amazing little boy. He loved to play like puppies do. All of his favorite shows had puppies in them. Logan wanted to be a puppy very, very badly. Puppies were his favorite animal. Logan loved everything about puppies.

             Logan liked cats okay. Nothing that cats did interested Logan very much, though. Sometimes cats were grumpy, and they didn’t really cuddle that much. Cats made Logan sneeze a whole bunch, too. Logan’s grandma had a cat that slept all of the time. They just weren’t as cool to Logan as puppies were.

            Logan thought puppies were so awesome. He also thought puppies were the cutest animal ever. They could do tricks; play fetch, high five, and roll over. Puppies could run very, very fast. Logan loved the way puppies gave him kisses. Everything that puppies did made Logan smile.

            Logan thought it would be fun to act just like puppies do. He barked at his parents. Logan howled at the moon. He crawled around on all fours; just like puppies do. It was so much fun being a puppy. Logan thought he might be a puppy every day.

            Logan got a little out of control one day when he was pretending to be a puppy. He bit his little brother’s finger. Logan thought that was what a puppy would do. Boy, was Logan wrong! Logan’s little brother started to scream, and he was crying very loudly.

            Logan didn’t mean to hurt his little brother. He just wanted to play like a puppy. Something was terribly wrong with Logan’s little brother. Little brother just could not stop crying. Logan’s heart sunk down to his stomach.

            “I’m sorry, little brother!” cried Logan. He felt very bad for hurting his little brother. He loved his little brother a whole bunch. They were best friends. Still, little brother just kept crying and screaming.

            Mommy came in, and hugged little brother tight. She scolded Logan. Mommy said, “How dare you bite your little brother, Logan!” It made Logan feel even worse that his mom was so upset.

 Mommy grounded Logan to his bedroom for the rest of the night. Logan tried to apologize, but little brother just kept on crying. Mommy didn’t really want to hear his apologies, either. Logan felt terrible.

Daddy came in Logan’s room that night, but only to tell Logan he was very upset with him for biting his little brother. Even Daddy was upset with him. Logan felt very alone when he was grounded to his bedroom.

That night was so awful for Logan. He could hear everyone else laughing and playing. If only Logan would have thought more about what would happen, before his little brother had gotten hurt. Logan was so sad that he just sat in his room crying.

Being a puppy sure was tough. Logan just couldn’t understand what had happened. Why can he bark, but not bite? He didn’t understand. Logan did understand that it was lonely being grounded. Logan vowed never to be a puppy again.

The next day, Logan woke up to his little brother playing with his toys. He just smiled at Logan. He wasn’t mad at his big brother, at all. “Little brother, I’m so sorry!” Logan apologized. Logan hugged his little brother.

Mommy came in when she heard them playing. She asked, “Did you learn your lesson, Logan?” He nodded his head yes. Logan sure did learn his lesson. It was not fun to hurt his little brother.

“Oh yes, Mommy. I’m never going to be a puppy ever again!” he cried. Logan meant it, too. It was terrible for him to see his little brother so upset. Logan never wanted to see his little brother cry like that ever again.

“Logan, you didn’t get grounded for acting like a puppy. You got in trouble, because you bit your little brother and hurt him very badly!” Mommy explained. “Look. You gave your little brother quite a bad bruise.”

Mommy was right. It was a terrible bruise, on little brother’s arm. It looked just like a circle of Logan’s teeth. He didn’t know that biting his little brother would hurt him. Now, Logan understood what had happened.

Logan gave his little brother the bruise by biting him. It wasn’t because he was being a puppy. “I’m so sorry,” Logan told his little brother while he gave him a big hug. “I won’t ever bite you ever again. I promise,” Logan said.

The two boys, or puppies, were together ever since. The two had the most fun whenever they pretended to be puppies. Logan taught his little brother how to be the best puppy he could be. Logan and his little brother played many more little puppy games.

Father

Look at the sky. What do you see? I see a whole world on top of me. 

Freedom is expressed in the little girls’ laughter. These chains hold me tight; I’m imprisoned forever.

My ignorance was lost in the blink of an eye. Is that what you see when you look at the sky?

The glee my girls see is my world ripped asunder. Magnificently crafted; they’re my two greatest blunders. 

Honor and integrity I pass unto my seed. With these few words, a father’s soul bleeds.

This bandage was so finely crafted. Quickly replicated, but never subtracted. These kids stole the show, and it’s being perfectly acted.

The saline falls down, though not brought by depression. It’s brought at the sight of a father’s obsession. 

The beauty I see when I look at our conception it the beauty in me that's been put to the question.

A Bunny Named Emily

My second book. For my daughter, Emily

Emily was a bunny, who was very, very funny. She loved to laugh and play. Emily went to see her grandma one day, but she ran into some rain on the way. “Oh no!” she said as she ran and hid. “Look at this mess I am in.” She found a bush that was quite thick, and sat and waited a bit.

“Hey over here,” said a voice that was weird. Where did that strange voice come from? Emily looked at the ground, and saw a turtle sitting down surrounded by daisies and mums.

 

“Want to play a game?!” the turtle exclaimed, and Emily just shook her head yes. “It’s not really a game, but it’s all just the same. It’s really more like a test. That fox, over there, was not playing fair, and got me into this mess.” 

 

The mess, it seems, was really quite messy. Emily never would have thought in her dreams. The turtle and the fox were brothers, no doubt, and Emily was stuck right in between! Their dad was lost in the woods and the turtle was blaming the fox. Emily will help the turtle out, and at the same time she’ll help the fox!

 

“I’ll help you find your daddy!,” Emily shouted. That made the fox’s ears perk up. It even made the turtle stop pouting. What a crazy day to go to Grandma’s and play. It was quite an excitable outing, even the sun was finally shining. “Follow me to the pond, that’s where all my friends play.  Your parents probably just stopped for a drink on the way.” Emily was practically shouting.

 

On the way, they laughed and played, and they all became close friends. They played tag, hide and seek, and ran all the way around a bend. Now they could see the pond. There were ducks, and geese, some turtles, some frogs, but the kids' dad was no where to be found. “Our home,” said the fox “Is underneath the ground.” 

 

Emily was thinking very hard, what kind of animal could he be? His kids are a turtle and a fox, but there was no resemblance to be seen. She took a step, and tripped on a log; out popped a chubby little groundhog! “I’ve been looking everywhere for my kids, come give Daddy a hug!”

 

How silly is that, a groundhog for a dad. Emily was chuckling and laughing.  “Thank you so much for finding my kids, but I guess that’s what I get for napping. I was so worried about my kids. You see, their both just so darn crafty. If I would have kept a better eye on them, this would never be happening!”

The fox and the turtle told Emily goodbye, and then they finished walking home. “Buh-bye, our friend, and what fun it has been!” the fox said with a nod and they were gone. Emily kept singing and playing all the way to Grandma’s. Emily had such a good day, she couldn’t wait to tell Grandma about her new friends.

 

Emily skipped and hopped past the pond. Then she ran all the way around the bend. Emily jumped over sticks and hopped over logs. Then there it was, a house in the fog. Emily made it to her Grandma’s house. She loved the walk here, and that she made a couple new friends to hold dear.

“Grandma! Grandma! I had such an amazing day. I met a turtle, who’s brother is a fox, along the way.” Grandma laughed and smiled, and gave Emily a hug. Nothing felt as good as Grandma’s hugs and loves. Grandma said, “That’s nice sweetheart. I’m glad you made new friends today. Hooray!”

 

Emily, the funny bunny, stayed with her grandma that night. They watched movies, played games, and they even had a pillow fight. Good things happen to those who help, and treat others nice. It feels so good to be a friend, because friendships are always right.

 

 

A Chloe Christmas

My first children's book. For my daughter, Chloe.

Chloe is very special girl, who lives in a magical world where every day is Christmas!

She gets toys, games, and movies to watch. Chloe sings Christmas carols and dances with her family a lot. 

 

Her stocking gets stuffed with candy, books, and presents. The best part of all is there’s no school lessons!

Chloe makes Christmas cookies with her grandma. After dinner, she wears her favorite Christmas pajamas. What wonderful times Chloe has, when every day is Christmas. Chloe just loves Grandma’s sweet kisses. 

 

What more can she get? She has everything she wishes. From little baby dolls, to some pretend food and dishes. The balls on the tree shimmer and glisten and Chloe’s sister, Emily, is a beautiful Christmas princess. 

 

Chloe really wants a cat, but her dad said she couldn’t have that. She can’t quite care for it on her own. Chloe might have to wait until she has her own home, and then she can let her cat roam. 

“Hmm,” Chloe thought, “Santa might have to just bring me a house.” She made her wish and went to bed, until she got a rude rouse. 

 

The clamor was loud; the floor shook with the construction. It sounded quite like a volcano eruption. “Santa! What are you doing, it’s very late!” Chloe exclaimed. “If you keep up the noise my father will be irate!” 

 

Good grief, she thought. Chloe didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t just tell Santa, “Shoooo!”. There’s no way she could put up with this every day! All she wanted for was the noise to go away. 

 

She took a look back on her past and she thought. How did this trouble come to be brought. Then she remembered laying awake one night, saying aloud, “I wish I may, I wish I might….” 

 

The stars that night shone brighter than bright, and Chloe remembered how she brought on this fright. It was a silly wish she made. Every day can’t be Christmas, because then it’d just get it the way! 

 

She looked to the sky and searched for her star; the one that could take her back home. She love this world, but it was too much for Chloe. She just wanted it all to be gone. 

 

“Chloe wake up! Chloe wake up!” Emily was shouting with glee. “Come on little girl, Santa left us gifts by the tree.” Could it be that this world that Chloe was in is nothing more than a dream? 

 

She opened her presents and laughed with her sister. Santa brought everything she’d wished for! Dolls, balls, games, and books. The girls shouted with glee, and with laughter they shook. Merry Christmas, my love, hope you like your book.