Monday, November 30, 2009

A time for less literary pursuits

As I'm sure you gathered from yesterday's post, as we move into December (and yes, I realize it's still technically November... after someone pointed it out to me), I'm moving from a 'literary' phase into a more physically productive phase. This means that, rather than the random crap that spews from my brain in the midst of NaNo, you'll be seeing lots and lots (and lots) of project updates.

Why? There are three main reasons for this.

1. That's what's on my mind. I'm making stuff. I make stuff on my lunch breaks. I make stuff when I get home. I make stuff when I'm a passenger in the car. I make stuff in bed. When I'm not making stuff, I'm thinking about the stuff I have to make.

2. Peer pressure. Even if it's only imaginary, I've got peer pressure now. You (whoever you may be) now know that I've got these things going. And if I don't tell you when I get done, you're going to think that I'm a lazy slacker who's not doing anything.

3. Fear of public failure. It's kind of like NaNo - everyone knew I was supposed to write 50k, and if I failed publicly... well... that would suck.

So without further ado, here's what I did today!
- 14 of approximately 74 rows are done on the second part of Karen's present
- one pair of maternity pants for AH are complete
- I blogged


Sunday, November 29, 2009

I made stuff!

So in the last two days, I've finished 29 Christmas cards and two Christmas presents. Go me!

However, here's my list of things to finish:

- baby blanket for AH
- scrub pants for AH
- present part 2 for Karen
- necklace/earring set for gift exchange at work
- gift for Mom
- necklace for Grandma Baumler
- watch band for Colinda

And those are just the planned items... as Christmas approaches, and I realize just how broke I am, that list will probably grow! Handmade, last-minute gifts for everyone! Yay!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Christmas is coming!

Every year, the month of November just disappears for me. *poof* I know it's because of NaNo, and I go into November knowing that it will run away without a second glance. I'm okay with this. Still, somehow, every year, I'm surprised to notice that Christmas is just around the corner.

Luckily, I'm vaguely prepared this year! I made Christmas cards yesterday, and tomorrow I shall write them and address them, and then Monday I shall send them. Woot! And while I am at the post office sending my Christmas cards, I shall also send out some LATE birthday gifts. Of course, since the July and October gifts are just now going out, I give you fair warning that if I am mailing a Christmas present to you, it may not be sent until sometime between February and June. But it will be sent eventually!

I'm hoping to hear soon about whether or not I can borrow a tree, or if I need to go and actually purchase one. I haven't had a big tree since I moved out on my own, and in the last three years, I've actually only had a 2' little tree. This year, though, I have nice ornaments, and I want to hang them. I'm ordering some gift boxes for handmade gifts, and I'll also be using some of them to make a Martha-Stewart-inspired wreath for the door. Because, apparently, I'm all about wreaths. I'll have to get my Halloween wreath photographed before I take it down - it's all jingly and sparkly!

I'm debating what other decorations to put up. The bathroom will be decorated, of course. Even if the rest of the apartment is not decorated for any given holiday, the downstairs bathroom gets decorated. It's just a thing I do. Again, photos will be taken before Halloween stuff comes down, I promise!

Hmm... Looks like I've got a lot of pictures to take. Thank goodness for Picasa!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Everything but blogging!

I sat down at the computer about an hour ago to blog. And then I got distracted.

I checked my facebook page. I looked up the Nook. I became a fan of a friend. I checked out my Twitter feed. I checked my email and sent a message I've been meaning to send. I played that stupid Flood-It game that's got me addicted.

Then I stood up to go to bed and realized that I hadn't actually blogged.

Some days, I think my brain is much older than 30.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Pictures working!

Now if I could just figure out an easy way to upload them to my blog...

But here's a start! While in Las Vegas, Mom, Karen, Donna, May and I went to see "Love," the Cirque du Soleil show based on Beatles music.

Holy crap.

It was awesome.

We had considered getting drinks before the show, as the concession stand had a bunch of Beatles' lyric-themed beverages, but we ran out of time. It turns out, this was a GOOD THING. Think about it for a moment, if you will. Beatles music can get kinda trippy. Cirque du Soleil can get very trippy. Mix them together. Can you see why it was a very good thing to be completely sober during the show? As it was, there were definite moments of existential crisis as I watched the four little boys and the four men leading various parades of people around the stage.

And let's not forget the parachute! Do you remember playing with the parachute in gym class when you were a kid? You would all hold onto the edges, and reach up as high as you could, then pull it down and sit on the edges and everyone would be in this huge white tent until it finally deflated. "Love" had a parachute. A parachute on a MASSIVE scale. It came from the centre of the stage and covered the entire audience. Everyone had the same expression - that look of awe and excitement that you used to have when you played with the parachutes in gym class. The yellow submarine was projected onto the parachute, too. Yet another reason I was glad to be sober.

Our seats were incredible - Mom, Karen, and I were at one of the corners of the stage, literally five feet from the stage with no one in front of us. Donna and May were a bit to the side and back about four rows, but still had an awesome view.

I thought that I knew what to expect from Cirque du Soleil. I had seen them on TV and DVDs several times. I was wrong. There was so much going on, all of the time... I could have seen the show a dozen more times and caught something new each and every time.

Some day, when I'm rich, I'm going to go to Las Vegas for a Cirque tour. I'll go to every Cirque du Soleil show that's playing - there are enough to fill at least a week, I would think! "Love," "O," "Ka," "Zumanity," and "Mystere" are currently there, and once the newest casino complex opens, there is a new one, based on Elvis's music, scheduled to start. I'm already starting to save. :)
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The best laid plans

Well, I had planned to upload some photos tonight, and put up a bunch of stuff from Vegas and other things that have been neglected. Unfortunately, Kodak Easy Share sucks, so I downloaded Picasa, which is rocking so far. Only problem is, it wants to go through all of my photos and compile them. And find and identify faces. So that means that I've spent the last... three hours? playing with the new program. And not actually getting anything uploaded yet, because I need to restart the computer to get my camera to talk to it nicely, but I can't restart because Picasa is still searching faces. *sigh* Perhaps tomorrow...

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Ah, to be a writer...

Tonight, I was sitting with a group of friends, three of whom are writers, trying to explain to the fourth one what we meant when we talked about our characters doing things we didn't expect. And it makes sense that she looked at us oddly, because when you say it that way, it does sound strange. Her response, "But they're your characters. Why can't you make them do what you want?" was typical. I've heard it before from other people.

The thing is, even though they're my characters, and even though I had a plan for the story when I started, the characters develop as you're writing (if you're doing it properly). There will be things that occur to you in the middle of nowhere that would be perfect to include in a character's past, or opportunities to do things that you hadn't anticipated when you did your outline and planning. Once you start adding all of the other things, it doesn't always work for your character to do what you had wanted him/her to do. In fact, in some cases, it makes no sense at all.

I don't believe that my characters are real, they're realistic. I don't 'hear voices in my head.' I do, however, occasionally hear myself writing in my head. I imagine dialogue, I see scenes unfolding. I'm not crazy... I think. I'm just a writer.

Friday, November 20, 2009

WalMart is bad

Went to Wal Mart tonight and saw the immediate aftermath of a car wreck - there were still no cops on the scene. By the time we left, however, we had to turn around and go back towards the store because the intersection we'd normally turn at was totally covered in cops and firetrucks and ambulances. And somehow, we ended up on the way to Atlanta. It turns out that 475 north just goes into 75 north. No way to get back to going south.

Next time there's an accident on the way to WalMart, we'll just turn around and go straight home.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Much writing!

I've spent the last four hours sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop and a group of people, working on my novel.

I feel like such a writer!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Poor time management skills

So.... I went out tonight. I went to Blake's for dinner, because it's Wednesday night, and that's what we do on Wednesday night. Then we headed to WalMart, to buy supplies, because tomorrow's the Thanksgiving lunch at work, and I'm bringing pumpkin cheesecake. Which is currently baking. However, it's 11:30, there's still and hour and a half of bake time left, and I haven't written a word for NaNo.

Eeep!

I'm off to write while cheesecake bakes, I guess, since I can't really go to bed while it's in the oven!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Plot twisting!

So last night I was lamenting how much I didn't want to write my NaNovel. And today, I've taken Ray's advice and thrown in a bomb. Well, not a real bomb. A tablet of Rohypnol. Boy, that's made things fun! And the one being drugged? An unattractive sixty-something man. Betcha wanna read my story now, dontcha??

In other news, I've been playing with Pandora, and I'm really enjoying it. I've got an 'Old School Boy Band' channel, full of NKOTB and their ilk. Love!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Other stories on my mind

There are days that November just pisses me off.

I have other story ideas in my head right now, but I can't really justify stopping my NaNo story to start on these. *sigh* I want to write about princesses. I want to finish "Happily Ever After." But I also want to finish "Thurman G. Woodfin and the Case of the Missing Toothbrush."

So I'll keep slogging with Thurman. My goal this year is not to reach 50,000. Well, that's not entirely accurate. My goal is not JUST to reach 50,000 words, but also to FINISH the story. That's my downfall. I don't finish things. So I'm going to finish Thurman. And when he's done, I'll finish Happily Ever After.

And then I'll live Happily Ever After. At least until I start editing. *sigh*

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Huh? The weekend just started, I swear

NaNo steals my days. Seriously. I'll try to get some excerpts up tomorrow... for now, go visit everyone who's being this crazy at NaNoWriMo.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Party Time!

Had the NaNo MidMonth Gathering tonight, and it went quite well, if I do say so myself! Plus, got some news that will help with pre-planning for next year, so that's good.

However, it's FREAKING LATE, and I'm going to bed. This is the first day that I've written NOTHING for NaNo, and it feels weird... but I'm exhausted, and I am sufficiently far ahead that I'll be okay.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Adorable!

My friend Heather brought this present for Mia today - I have a gingerbread dog! She wore it amazingly well, too. Very little squirming or chewing.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

So I'm not a Mystery writer.

It turns out, you need to do a lot more planning than I currently do if you want to write a decent mystery novel. If you just fly by the seat of your pants (as I am attempting to do for NaNo), you end up with thought processes like the following:

OOoo! Thurman totally needs to find a clue now! This would be a really great time for him to get a new bit of information on the dude with amnesia! Except, well, I don't know who the dude with amnesia actually is... So I guess I can put some sort of clue there? And maybe make dude end up doing/being something that fits with the clue? Or something...?


Yeah. So. The mystery novel remains a mystery, even to me!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

An unexpected twist

“You said he woke up on the steps of the church this morning?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Thurman replied.

“Did he say when?”

“Between eight-thirty and nine o’clock,” the investigator replied. “He came to my office almost immediately following that.”

“Odd...” she said.

“What’s odd?” Thurman pressed.

“Well,” she said, “I always come in to work at eight o’clock, and there was no one on the front steps of the church at that time. Unless he fell asleep on the steps very briefly around eight-thirty, that doesn't make any sense.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Thurman agreed, frowning. “None at all. Hmmm... Well, thank you, ma’am, for your assistance. You’ve been helpful. If you can think of anything else, please, don’t hesitate to call me.” He passed her a business card.

“I will, Mr. Woodfin,” she replied, tucking the card into her desk drawer as the investigator left.


**I wrote it, but I totally didn't see it coming!**

Monday, November 9, 2009

There is something
about yarn...
it's so natural, so available,
yet so uniquely able to become
anything and everything you
can dream of...
I've seen
food made of
yarn...
a car cover...
a tea cozy...
a house cozy...
a toddler's sweater...
ladies' negligee...

It can be soft and
delicate, like baby alpaca...
it can be rough and
tough, like pure wool...
it can be
fake and acrylic...
or all-natural and
eco-friendly...
it can inspire
creativity...
or lust...
just look at your
stash - you can see both...

and you can see more...

you can see

possibility...

what will I make next?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

A story to be told

*This is from the IME*

Once upon a time, there was a story that wanted to be told. It was a picky story, though, and it didn't want to be told by just anyone. It wanted a good story-teller. It wanted someone who would make it sound fun and exciting! It wanted someone who would be able to share it with the whole world! So the story floated around, watching for that special someone, the someone to bring it to life. It found adventure writers who might make it sound fun and exciting. It found popular writers who might be able to share it with the whole world. Still, the story wasn't happy with any of these choices...

So the story kept on looking, until one day, if cound a special someone. She wasn't a famous novelist. She wasn't a journalist. She had never taken an English course after high school. None of that mattered, though, because the story knew she would be the perfect one to tell it. So the story stopped floating around, and climbed into the special someone's head. Her eyes lit up. Picking up her needles and a new ball of yarn, the special someone began knitting the story. It was now a very happy story.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Oh, the political incorrectness of it...

“I woke up this morning outside of St. Joseph’s Church. I didn’t remember much of anything... I still don’t think I remember yesterday at all,” he said, frowning.

“Mmm-hmm,” Thurman said, writing something down. “Veryy interesting. Tell me, do you remember anything from the day before yesterday?”

“No. I don't remember anything before waking up this morning,” Mr. Smith told him.

“Did you remember St. Joseph’s Church, or did you have to read it on the sign?” Thurman asked.

“Why does that matter?” Mr. Smith asked.

“Please, just answer the question," Thurman said.

The man sighed and thought about it for a minute. “I remembered it. I don’t think I even looked at the sign. I just recognized the church.”

“Good!” Thurman replied, sounding excited as he made a note on his pad.

“Why is that good?” the man asked.

“It means that you're familiar with the area,” Thurman explained. “You’re either from around Macon, or you spend a lot of time here... Or you’re Catholic. Do you feel Catholic?”

“I don’t know,” Mr. Smith said. “What does a Catholic feel like?”

“Umm... Probably pretty guilty,” Thurman said, “But not as guilty as a Jew listening to his mother.”

Friday, November 6, 2009

That's news to me

Still, there must have been something in young Sara Aebli that caught Madame Treabhar’s attention, because she offered the girl a job. Nothing glamorous - just a janitorial job. But it gave Aebli something to do, someplace to be, and a source of income, small though it might be. Aebli had been suspicious - no one did things for nothing, at least not in her experience - but she needed the money, so she accepted. After all, who else would give a job to a girl who hadn’t finished high school and lived on the streets?


**Huh. Didn't expect that background for the character!**

Thursday, November 5, 2009

NaNo Update

Because I'm too mentally exhausted to do anything else...

I've been struggling with a headache for four days, and it's not quite sure about whether or not it's a real migraine. I've had moments of visual disturbances, nausea, dizziness, but they don't stay long. That's good, I guess, but the pain is staying around, although it does ease up from time to time.

But despite that, I've still managed at least 2k/day, which is my minimum goal for myself. And I'm even going a little past that most days. I'd hoped to be able to go to bed with a higher word count than Miri and Nancy every night, but that's not always working. *sigh* But I'm sitting comfortably ahead of my goal, which is important, because I've got this feeling that the end of the month is going to just explode, and I'll have no time for anything. As long as I've got momentum, I'll keep going.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A little preview...

Once the client was gone, Thurman picked up the photo again and walked over to his assistant’s desk. “So, Aebli, what do you think?”

Sara Aebli studied the photo for a moment. “She’s cheating on him.”

“You sound certain about that,” Thurman said, sounding a bit surprised.

“I am,” she replied.

“Are you psychic?” he asked.

“No,” Aebli said, rolling her eyes.

“Well, what makes you say that?” he asked, leaning over to look at the photo again. “Something about what she’s wearing? Or the look in her eyes?”

“No,” she replied.

Thurman stifled a sigh. “So why do you say that?”

“Because I’ve seen it.”

“You’ve seen it?”

“Yes. Every Friday night for the last month, she’s been over to my neighbour’s apartment.”

“Well, just because she’s going to someone’s apartment, it doesn’t mean she’s cheating, Aebli,” Thurman told her, shaking his head.

“No, but my neighbour is a twenty-something young guy, and about ten minutes after they show up, I can hear them.”

“Hear them?” Thurman repeated.

“I have thin walls.”

“And?”

“There are very few situations where people scream ‘Oh, God’ so much outside of church,” Aebli said, a smirk on her face.

“Oh.” Thurman sat on the edge of Aebli’s desk. “Well, that was the easiest hundred bucks I’ve ever made,” he said. “Huh.”

“Yup.”

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Brain. Tired.

So many words... it's only day 3 of NaNo, and I'm over 10k into the story. I'm not sure I actually LIKE the story at this point, and I don't think it'll ever be suitable for anything BUT NaNo, but that's okay. I'm having fun with it, and that's the important thing. Also, I'm getting inspired to write more in general, and specifically to finish "Happily Ever After."

I have another goal this NaNo - after I reach 50k, I'm going to finish the story. I'm really bad about just stopping. This year, I'll give it an ending.


Monday, November 2, 2009

So many words!

There's just something about November. I don't know if it's just a good time of year for my creativity, or if it's just because I've done NaNo since 2004, but I always seem to get a LOT of writing done. For example, I've written nearly 9000 words in the last two days. Not all of them are good words, and not all of them work together to form pretty sentences, but still... it's a lot.

And I feel good. The writing makes me happy. And the group insanity also feels pretty nifty. The lead-up to November makes me nervous - trying to think of an idea, trying to organize all of the events and supply goodies without spending any money, etc - but once it hits, all is good.

:)

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Spent all day on the computer writing, then forgot to update my blog. *facepalm* So tonight's a mobile update, 'cause I'm already in bed. NaNo count: 6460.