Creative, but not story-like

I was more productively and somewhat less interactively creative tonight! But I did not write. Instead, I spent a crapload of time playing with my Crikut and making a birthday card for my little sister (hi, Karen!).

However, I did spend a lot of time thinking about my NaNo plot for this year. I've got my main character, and a secondary character who is really more of a second MC than a truly secondary character. The secondary one has part of a name - Aebli. I can't decide though, if she's going to be Sara Aebli or Aebli Morgan. I need to work on her a bit more before I can tell. In either case, the MC will call her Aebli. It's going to be a pseudo-mystery, with much comedy thrown in. We'll see how it goes - totally outside of my usual genre!

But I'm getting all pumped about it, so yay!

SingStar!

I played SingStar until WAAAAAY past my bedtime tonight, and the blogging must suffer for it... but it was an awesome alternative outlet for my creativity in an interactive setting! (I played with someone else) And we totally rocked! We played from, like, five different discs, and we only had three or four songs that were rated less than 'Hit Artist.' Yeah, that's right. We rocked.

Perhaps tomorrow the creativity shall be indulged in a less interactive environment. And you might see a short story that sucks less than the last one!

A list?

I've been asked several times now if I have a list of things to do before I'm thirty. The answer is simple, if confusing. No.

I'm a list person. I've got lists of things to do, things I've done, things I have, lists, lists, lists. If there's a project that I'm working on, I break it down into a list of parts. There's something very satisfying about crossing off an item from a list.

So it's odd that I don't have a list of things to do before I turn thirty. I've considered it. There are still things I want to do in my life. The thing is, I don't want to rush it. I don't want to hop on a plane and spend a weekend in Paris just because it's on the list of things to do. I want to wait until the time is right, and then spend a month in Paris. Or a week in Paris, and a week in Rome, and a week wandering through Greece. I want a book published, but I want to take my time and make it as good as I can. NaNo is great for getting me started, but it's a process, and you can't rush creativity - at least, I can't. When the story is ready, when I've had enough time to subconsciously work out all the plot twists and everything that needs to happen, it flows, and it's good. When I force it... well, let's just say that none of my NaNovels have been published yet, and probably won't ever get published. I'd like to catch a fish, but I think that will wait until I have both the time and the patience to go fishing (it may be a few years!).

There are a lot of things on most people's lists that I have no interest in. I don't want to learn to SCUBA dive. I have no desire to jump out of a plane. Climbing Mt. Everest just doesn't do it for me. I've technically swum with sharks, and I don't really want to do it again. (It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't all that interesting, either.) I'm happy with the food I'm familiar with and I don't feel the need to eat all sorts of crazy stuff. Let's face it: I'm not all that adventurous. And I'm okay with that!

Also, my thirtieth birthday is in, like, three weeks, so I don't have a lot of time to get things done. ;)

The list

Melinda stared at the piece of paper in her hand. The paper stared back at her, almost taunting her.

"Things to do." Such a simple title for the list she held. One would think that a title like that wouldn't be so overwhelming. After all, everyone has things to do.

Unfortunately, this was more than just a regular 'to do' list. It wasn't full of things like, 'wash socks,' 'take out garbage,' or 'buy more detergent.' This was the list of things that Melinda planned to do before she turned thirty.

Of the ten items, two had been crossed off.

"Get a tattoo." She looked down at her ankle and smiled. She had done that almost ten years ago, just after she started college. It had been a spur of the moment decision. Melinda and Jackie, her roommate and best friend at the time, had gotten matching butterflies. True, it wasn't particularly original, but it was a tattoo. At the time, it had seemed like the best idea in the world. Today, it was still pretty, so Melinda didn't regret it. In fact, she was rather pleased with the decision - their other choice had been a cartoon character, and Melinda was quite sure that she would regret that one today.

"Write a book." Melinda grinned at that one. She had written a novel about three years ago, with the help of a group she had found online. National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, had a group in her area, and she had signed on. For thirty panic- and caffeine-filled days and nights, Melinda had written like a madman. At the end of it all, she had a first draft of a manuscript. She hadn't gone any further with it, but really, she didn't need to. All that Melinda wanted to do was to prove to herself that she could indeed write a book.

The rest of the list, however...

"Go skinny dipping." Melinda wasn't quite sure why this one had never happened. She'd certainly been at her share of pool parties with alcohol present, but the opportunity had never arisen. She had lost her bikini top in the ocean once, but that didn't really count. Definitely one to work on.

"Go horseback riding." A true city girl, Melinda had always wanted to ride a horse. But horses weren't in great supply in the middle of such an urban landscape, and Melinda rarely left the city. Even when she did leave, it was generally to go to another city, so again, she never really had the chance. Melinda looked at it again, then set down the list and reached for the phone book.

With just a few minutes of searching, Melinda had found a ranch just outside of the city limits. She reached for her phone and dialed the number. Moments later, Melinda grinned happily as she penciled in a horseback riding session on her calendar. "One more down," she said to herself.

The next item, though, would be more difficult to tackle. "Get married."

With just six months until her thirtieth birthday, Melinda was quite sure that this goal would not be met. She had no fiance, no boyfriend, and no prospects. She sighed. Her mother would be shaking her head if she were there. After all, Melinda's younger sisters had all been married for at least two years, and none of them were even close to thirty.

Frustrated, Melinda crumpled up the list and tossed it across the room. "Stupid list," she muttered, crawling into bed.

Operatic goodness

Tonight, I saw my very first opera. And actually, I saw my very first performance at MLT! Yes, despite having been involved in a whole crapload of shows there, this was the first time I'd actually seen something from the audience. It was an odd feeling.

But the opera was fun! The Peach State Opera performed two short operas (operettas, I suppose) - 'La Serva Padronna' and 'The Old Maid and the Thief'. Both were done in English, as this was MLT's first foray into opera and they didn't want to scare anyone off. I preferred the first - it was more what I expected from an opera - but I enjoyed both! And I think that, next year, when they come back, I'll go again.

Yay, opera!

Sick computer

I am tired of computers getting sick. Well, I'm tired of things being sick in general. At least computers don't vomit in my bed...

But my poor desktop has been unhappy for quite some time. Recently, it confessed - it had a 'dirty volume!' Horror of horrors! Does that mean that my computer has been secretly downloading things and hiding them? No, it just means I need to get her fixed. *sigh*

And my poor laptop... I killed her battery, apparently. I left her plugged in so she could charge, but she won't hold it. Wouldn't even turn on! Poor gal... But that should be an easy fix, I think. Of course, every time David goes to open a video, she shuts down, so that's problematic, too...

I'm waiting for my iPod and my phone to gang up on me. If I'm not careful, I'll be stuck trying to blog on the Wii... until that explodes.

Please, technology, don't give up on me! I promise, I'll treat you right!

Internet is down
Feel lost without my access
Guess I'll write haiku

Let there be sleep!

That medication was totally worth the $60! I slept all night long! I've coughed a little, but nothing like the tears-streaming-down-my-face-can't-catch-my-breath coughing fits that I've been having.

The only problem? It makes me a bit drowsy about two hours after I take it, and I've fallen asleep mid

Warning: Do not read the warnings!

Have you ever taken the time to sit down and read all of that paperwork that comes with a new medication? It's a good thing (for the drug companies!) that most people don't - no one would EVER take ANYTHING! They pretty much tell you that, regardless of what the medication is, there's a chance that it might kill you, but it hasn't killed many people, so you'll probably be okay. Well, you'll be okay as long as you don't have asthma or heart disease or lung disease or diabetes or blindness or a pinky finger as long as your ring finger or an uncle who's balding or a cat or bunions. Oh, and don't even think about driving, because driving while taking medication will result in you falling asleep at the wheel and dying.

Did I mention I've been sick? I've barely slept in three days because I've been coughing so much, so I finally broke down and got a prescription for a cough medicine (the OTC stuff was not doing anything for me). And please note - I did NOT ask for antibiotics. Antibiotics work if you have a bacterial infection. There is a 99% chance that what I have is a virus. Antibiotics will not work. In most cases, antibiotics do NOTHING for a cold except breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. DON'T DEMAND ANTIBIOTICS! *ahem* Sorry.

In any case, I asked for an antitussitive (anti-cough medication, for all of you non-medical types) because I just want to sleep. Just one night. So I picked up the prescription, and like a good little medical assistant, I read the product information. And now I'm really wary of taking this stuff for the first time while home alone... Because, apparently, I'm gonna die! Okay, it's not that bad, but it makes it sound like someone with asthma should not be using it unsupervised. *sigh* I wonder if I can teach my dog to dial 911 before I go to bed tonight...

Tonight's blog is brought to you via text, thanks to crazy, computer-turning-off thunderstorms! Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate tomorrow so I can post.

Still sick!

Why can't I get better?? Being this sick is frustrating, because I actually have some free time, and I REALLY want to sit down and finish some projects, but every time I sit down, I go to sleep. I know, my body needs the rest, but still! It's frustrating!

I'm going to bed. Again.

Fever dreams

I dreamt that I went to a wedding. No, not a wedding - a wedding reception. I went with C2, D and E. We were invited because one of C2's friends was playing at the reception. It was a last minute thing, and I was irritated that no one had warned me, because I didn't even have a card made for them.

We showed up just as the friend was leaving, but sat down at a table anyways. Only problem was that the table with our five names on it was a teeny-tiny wicker end table, so we had to move all of our plates and cutlery to a real table with chairs. The appetizer was brought out, but it wasn't so much an appetizer as it was a sampler of all the dishes that were going to be brought out. There was something green, there was salmon mousse (and it was a dessert), and three other things that I don't recall. After we each took a bite of each sample, servers hurried in and took them away. A parfait glass stacked with caviar, sugar cookies, and whipped cream was brought out. I picked up the top layer of all three and took a bite, then turned to the others and said, "If I'd have known caviar was this good, I would have tried it years ago!" I distinctly remember the taste, too. It was like tapioca in whipped cream, on a sugar cookie. Nothing at all what caviar ACTUALLY tastes like.

And then I woke up.

Ass still getting kicked

You know how sometimes you get sick, and then you get better? And then other times, you get sick, and you think you're better, and then it turns out that you're not?

That second one? Yeah, that's me. I got cocky. I thought I was getting better. My 102 F fever went away. I took some Tylenol and my headache went away. I got my ass out of bed and went to work! I thought I was doing fine!

Then the medications all wore off. It turns out that I am still sick. Sicky McSickerson. Sick. Blargh. And I was going to write all about my crazy, fever-induced dreams, but it turns out that, once I'm not feverish anymore, I can't remember much about them. That's probably a good thing, though, because I do recall waking up yelling a couple of times...

Tonight, I shall sleep again, and if any more crazy dreams show up, I'll try to write them down right away. And if that doesn't work, well, I can always borrow someone else's dreams to write about!

Still not well... but fever's down, so that's a good sign! Working on feeling better, and ready to write down some of these crazy dreams...

Sick

Fever up to 101.6. Going to bed. Sorry.

You mean all we have to do...

... is create this intricate, 6-foot-tall sculpture of a sand dragon? Nothing else? And we can take all day? Sweet! What a relaxing day this will be! (and that WASN'T sarcastic, which is the scary part...)

Brilliant plan!

I had a brilliant plan - since I'll be inhabiting my current residence for at least another six months, I decided to unpack all of my crap (which had been packed in case the government didn't renew my visa). I started unpacking books yesterday. I did not finish, because I have a lot of books. I discovered that I will need at LEAST one more bookshelf, and because of the mild OCD, I need to save up money for a trip to IKEA to get one that matches the others. In the meantime, though, I also decided to organize my books by genre and author. This has resulted in books EVERYWHERE!

On the bright side, I feel very inspired to write. I can't write when my office is clean. Expect good things in the next week!

Free time?

What is this thing, free time?

Somehow, I thought I might have some. Silly girl! Just because the two shows are over, that doesn't mean I have free time! I've still got boxes to unpack, crap to sort through, books to put away, blankets to knit, sweaters to crochet... Oh, and I've started writing another play.

*goes off to do stuff*

Now with 80% less creepy!

The creepy red glowy cross isn't creepy and red anymore! It's now blue.

Less creepy, still glowy, still a cross.

Just thought you might want to know!

Drowning Part A, B, and C

I'll preface this post by pointing out the obvious - I am not dead. However, that is not due to any lack of trying on the part of the ocean.

As you may recall, I spent last weekend out in St. Augustine. We spent Saturday on the beach. There were five of us - Colby, me, and our three gigantically tall friends. Please note, they are gigantically tall, at least relative to the 5'1" and 5'2" lives that Colby and I lead. The five of us decided to go play in the water, which is a reasonable thing to do whilst on a beach.

Unfortunately, the three gigantically tall friends have long legs, and were able to get further out into the ocean. Colby and I tried, but we were somewhat limited by the fact that we're short. As we were attempting to get out to where the other three were, the ocean decided that it no longer wanted to play nicely. Instead, as we were talking to each other, the ocean snuck up from behind and smacked both Colby and me upside the heads. In the mayhem, both of us lost our sunglasses. This part of the incident was Drowning, Part A.

As we regained our footing and tried to figure out why we were suddenly blinded (oh yeah! The ocean ate our sunglasses!), the ocean took another potshot and knocked us over again. I got a rather large mouthful of water, and I think Colby did, too. This was Drowning, Part B.

Before I could even get fully upright, the ocean struck once more! It came from behind, well above our heads. I must not have been close to dying, because my life did not flash before my eyes. In fact, all that was going through my head was, "Where the FUCK is the air??" As it turns out, my lungs don't function well when I inhale water rather than air. Somehow, beneath the waves, Colby and I managed to crash into each other, and we clung together as we finally found the ground again. Have you figured it out? This was Drowning, Part C.

As we coughed and sputtered and swore, we caught sight of our three gigantically tall friends smiling and laughing at us. As one of them would later say, it was like a bad Lifetime movie - "Oh, look. They're screaming, they must be having fun." Needless to say, we bade the ocean goodbye and headed back to the sand.

That night, we bought new sunglasses and named them Jack (mine) and Rose (hers) - "I'll never let go, Jack!"

Tired

Have you ever noticed that when you're emotionally drained, you can be more creative than ever? I spent the evening writing, so the blog is, well, neglected. Sorry folks. But maybe tomorrow I'll be perkier and I'll blog instead of writing other stuff!

Crazy weather

It seems appropriate that it stormed like crazy today. My mood is still... cloudy.

Coming home, the sky opened up. The rain started lightly, but with large drops. The thunder and lightning, though, were quite impressive. The whole sky lit up so brightly that it was hard to see in the dark once it faded. My car shook every time the thunder followed.

Suddenly, it was as if someone had turned on a shower. The large but light drops suddenly came down all at once, heavy and hard. The road in front of me was a river, and the heat trapped beneath the asphalt created a swirling fog across the surface. The rain got harder still, and suddenly I couldn't see the road, much less the centre line. If I hadn't driven that stretch of road hundreds of times, I would have driven off the side of it. As it was, it was as much instinct as anything else that got me home.

Once there, I couldn't manage to do anything but sit inside my car and stare at the rain for a few minutes, thanking God for getting me home.

Grandma Blanche

My grandma passed away this afternoon, peacefully, without pain, in her sleep.

Sometimes, when I get asked what I'll remember most about someone, it takes a while to figure out. Not with Grandma Blanche. She taught me to knit. She gave me this skill... but it's more than a skill. It was something that we shared. We could just sit there in rocking chairs, or on the couch, and knit and chit-chat. It didn't matter that I lived far away and rarely got to see her. We could always talk knitting. When I got to visit her this summer, I even got to teach her a new technique - toe-up socks. Even when there was nothing else to say, the clicking of needles was a conversation in and of itself. She gave me a way to find peace in the midst of this crazy life that I have. I will always think of her when I pick up a set of knitting needles. I'll remember the smile she had when I gave her a white scarf with teal snowflakes embroidered on the ends - my very first knitting project. Sure, it wasn't the most beautiful thing ever, but she loved it. I think, even then, she knew that I would stick with this, and love it.

I love you, Grandma, and I'm going to miss you. A lot. But I promise, I won't forget.

Long weekend

I went out of town this weekend. I went to St. Augustine and spent four days in a condo with four of my best friends. Guess what? We didn't kill each other! We didn't scream at each other, and we came out of it just as close as when we went in, if not closer! How cool is that?

There are many stories to tell - the near-drowning and acquisition of Jack and Rose, the ridonculously-shaped sunburns, the kick-ass sand dragon (which ties in with the ridonculously-shaped burns), the matching shirts, the roller coaster - but they will wait. Why?

Because it's quarter to twelve and I just got home and I have to work tomorrow morning! But I promise, you will hear these stories and see photos (because the kick-ass sand dragon kicks ass!).

Just not tonight.

To cure the sunburn Tylenol

To cure the sunburn
Tylenol and Solarcaine
Oh sweet pain relief

Sunburn is not good Ow

Sunburn is not good
Ow it hurts so fucking bad
Please, I do not want.

(haiku by Colby)

*Happy sigh*

I am relaxed. I have done very little today, and I'm planning to do less tomorrow. A long weekend is nice like that.

I'll catch up on things.

I'll write a bit.

I'll read a lot.

I'll sit on my ass.

This will be a good weekend.

Random!

So I was lying upstairs today, and heard a noise. I went downstairs, and there were two guys bringing tools and shit into my apartment. They looked confused when they saw me. Apparently, they were supposed to be renovating next door. WTF??? I can't remember if I locked the door, or if they had a key... and if they had a key, but they're renovating next door, again WTF????

Anyways.

I can haz tomatoz?

Yes, I can!

Fall? How did that happen?

I took Mia outside today, and I realized that there are leaves on the ground. And falling from the trees. Really?

Somehow, it became September, and I didn't actually notice. I feel as if I missed out on the summer this year. I feel as if I've missed out on the last several summers, actually. It's been a long time since I've thrown on a bathing suit and lounged in the yard or on a beach, and I miss that.

I think, next year, I'm going to have a summer. No show for me! Unless it's a really good one...