Growling with frustration

Quote of the Day: Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it. -- Senator Dianne Feinstein

I'm going to end up hurting that child, as Jazzie called her. Hurt her badly. She seems to be under the impression that we are equals. Hardly. We may see the Ogress tromping again if Red even bothers reading that thing she calls a story with no plot structure, character development, or empathy and sees what she did to Stoker. Right, like that has validity from the series which her last post (the one that has me ticked off because I can't go to Finland and ram her teeth down her throat) claims ALL her stories have. Bull-fucking-shit.

She is right about one thing, you can't please every reader. And I'm not trying to. I'm just sick and tired of it being said that blank is morally wrong and I must be some sick twisted fuck to even think that way.

*Sigh* That's probably reading too much into it. But when you work with people who are always calling you crazy, your family thinks your a little off, you know alcoholism and child molestation run in your family--hey true insanity can't be that far away. Some days you feel like you're right on the abyss, other days are great. You go to fandom to seek acceptance over at least something you share in common. Not expecting total agreement, that's boring. But acceptance means EVERYONE's views are valid. Even the person who sees Throttle and Vinnie as the hottest slash couple around.

But no, something is wrong with me because I like to explore a particular fertile what-if. And it must be fertile, given how may stories have branched off the idea.

Okay, so I'm taking it too personally. I'm working on some ideas, purposily exploring tangents and what-ifs I have left alone, and letting the subject drop. AND SHE'S GOING TO PUNCH ME!

In reflection, it's probably a good thing there's an ocean between us. I've managed to keep my hot head from landing me in jail this long, I'd hate to break the record. I don't care what the rest of the bitch's bullshitting post says. After I apologized mid-rant, after she's claimed I've got a psychological agenda for everything I write (see the Stoker story for that lovely bit of hypocrisy), after I answered her rather nicely giving how I was feeling at the time on Unofficial's Board (the moronic bitch doesn't even read a goddamned Author's Note when I post a page long one spelling out by episode where I got my what-ifs), I decided that Plan A is the only solution. AND SHE'S HITS ME!

This was supposed to be a nice posting day. Work was calm. I prettied the blog page and made a profile. I was going to chat a little bit, answer a question, and work on money and Zy's novel. Now it's time to hit the road. I'm fine, everything's fine. I've vented and I'm fine. And not the Aerosmith F.I.N.E. either. :p The other mods can handle her or chose not to. I've got Plan A. Though I'm positive she'll find something objectionable in it as well.

Time to go home, work on money, and see if a new Trojan has found my computer. If it has, screw what Chad says about dial-up, the firewall is going back up. No time for the question today.

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The BookWorm

Feeling Chatty

I think my script concersn got overshadowed by personal life issues. Now that life has settled down (though work may have something new crop up :p), I still have the script concerns.

I want to keep the basic premise: Biker Mice crash on Earth, meet Charley, and find out the Plutarkians are on Earth too.

What I want to change:
1). Make the promise and loss of going home more poignant. -- This should be a big thing and it was just glossed over except for a few episodes.

2). Make the bad guys bad instead of just comedic. -- Don't get me wrong, I like the comedy. But having them be a lot more efficient and still lose will up the ante for
#3.

3). The invasion of Earth in inevitable. -- The Plutarkians are going to get tired of the slow progress and invade in mass.

4). Need more Earth Freedom Fighters. -- Charley needs the idea to start her own. And their needs to be more Earthling who have realized something's not kosher.

5). Relationship shakeups and new characters. -- I'm considering adding Hannah to the roster with a changed creation story. For relationship shakeup, Modo and Charley--mostly because of Hannah. Vinnie raising kids scares me. Not something I want to explore yet.

6). Dialogue. -- My initial concern has been solved. Making the changes to the plot to inact the above points means brand new dialogue. I'll keep the catch phrases, mainly because I like them.

Let me know what you think.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 8

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

8). Which relationships in your life have involved conflict (in your family, in your romantic life, in your friendships, in your work life)?

All of the above to different degrees of conflict. Chad and I haven't had a real spat yet, just me wailing about money and him agreeing with me.

Family: Mom and I butt heads, not as much as during the teenage years, but she never listens and I'm too high-strung about stuff. No, I don't think I'm being unreasonable to expect to have my porch back by the time Krista hits 30. (She's 20 now.) Kai has the middle-kid syndrome, always neglected yet has had more money poured into her various things than me and Krista combined. I tell people that when I was 4 I asked for a horse and a baby sister. My parents got me the sister. The horse would've been cheaper. She's not as bad as she used to be toward me, but her and Krista, whew!

Friendships: see last weekend.

Work: They all think I'm crazy. I think they're all crazy, so it's a pretty fair deal. Chad says I'm not crazy other than working for the state, which breeds a certain kind of insanity but nothing dangerous. We've managed not to kill anyone in our office and mostly get along. Considering that we see each other more than we see our familes, that's probably a good thing.

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Second Tries

Quote of the Day: Our struggle today is not to have a female Einstein get appointed as an assistant professor. It is for a woman schlemiel to get as quickly promoted as a male schlemiel. -- Bella Abzug

Well I packed the Mother's Day project to mail and forgot the money stuff I packed to figure out my budget for this check. Sometimes you just get can't win. I didn't want to deal with money today anyway, so maybe I have won.

The living room still has the office mess. I'm going to have to work on that tonight. It's ridiculous that in order to clean one room, you must clutter up at least two more. It's looking like time to reorganize the books, since I'm running out of shelf room again. I'm probably going to switch over the the Dewey Decimal system for nonfiction, as my current groups are inadequate. That's going to make reorganizing the database fun. At least I made progress in separating crucial money mail from the non-crucial and probably junk mail.

And after I through with the office, it'll be time to go through the FILES *cue scary organ music*. The files in question are the ones I've been carting since before college. A lot of them I want/need to keep, but in a digital format.

I like the changes they've made to Blogger; it's working pretty good.

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Jotted Notes

I feel like I'm marking time. I want the approach to Cobaine's fortress to be cautious and professional but it's boring the writer.

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Cleaning Fit (Flashback May 9, 2004)

It was a free day. Of course, instead of sitting and trying to write, I go on a cleaning spree.

Not right at first though. I saw my company off first, and then gave Mom her Mother's Day gift. She loved the bistro plates I found.

Then I puttered around the office. Tried to get the HP LaserJet printer I liberated from Dad working. It hasn't so far. I'm hoping a new toner cartridge will do the trick.

Next came shoving everything around in the office. Cleaned off the desk and moved most of that into the living room so I can go through it. I want to put another chair into my office, but I don't know if I have room for it. Do know I don't have room with all the crates and piles of boxes that I usually keep stacked in there.

Break time almost over.

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The BookWorm

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 7

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

7). How would you describe your temperment?

Damn, if that ain't timely. Volitile. Nitroglycerin sweated off a stick of dynamite shaped like a cactus. I'm overly sensitive and going into a field where rejection is the normal procedure. Skin is so thin it can be transparant.. Hurt me or mine and I lash out with what I hope is razor-sharp wit. Violent. Apologetic to the friends who never really deserve the outrage.

I want to learn how to shrug it all off. But the harder I try, the more everything gets to me.

In need of professional help, that's the best way to describe my temperment.

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The BookWorm

Tired Friday

Quote of the Day: The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes. -- Bella Abzug

In the doctor's office and have no desire to write fiction. Hugh Jackman was on TV, talking up Van Helsing. He has got the greatest smile.

Not wanting to think is because I didn't crawl into bed until midnight. Chad had to do laundry; I had to finish the cover art. Skipped my writing hour and traffic slowed me down. I hate that soul sucking commute.

I took the finished Mother's Day prject to Kinko's before work. WHEEE! Only around $4 per book. I guess they expect people to buy more than one. I finally decided on what I want as binding and getting that done after work.

Saturday is cast call and I'll be having a gang at my house again. SO that means cleaning enough room for them tonight. Ugh, it's always a problem with the furniture. And I can't put anything on the porches as a temporary measure, 'cause the porches are filled with garage sale stuff from my family. I can't win that fight; I've been battling it over a year now.

I really just need a month off to go through everything and sort it, toss it, or put it on the computer and then toss it. Course I need that month for yard work, writing, building a joust field, etc. Maybe I'll take stress leave next.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 6

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

6). If you had to describe your physical appearance, what would you mention first?

My eyes. Eyes are the windows of the soul, another writer said before. Color is a blue grey that loves to shift depending on what I'm wearing. Sometimes I think they're too small for my face, and I hate the black smudges under them from constant lack of sleep. My eyelashes are long and black. I never need any of those lengthing mascaras. I don't think they've changed much since I was a child. I hope they never do. Too lose the sense of wonder, you lose what makes you a writer.

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I Should Know Better

Roughly twelve hours without allergy meds equals one miserable day. I took something this morning, but everything neck up still hurts.

Figured out what happened to my board sigs, and the same thing happened to all the pics I put up. :p I'll fix that on a slower basis. Plus that gives me a chance to put all Morning's pics in one directory.

Finally finished the copyediting work last night. Have to finish the cover art tonight. Looking like a Saturday mailing date on this project. I'll have to redraw the katana, it got smudged. And then have to figure out shading with PaintShop.

It's Walky! has had its first casualty, or a precog casualty. Either way, I wasn't too convinced with the hype of killing off the characters before now.

I think the blog will work better if I divide up the rambles from the exercises. I'm going back and edit the others, and start that today.

I have a go ahead on the script idea. Now revisioning won't be hard; I've done that before. I don't know about dialogue. There are some bits and lines I just love, but should I leave them out because they're from a different writer? TMNT had it easier, I think.

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Getting Back to the Exercises

Quote of the Day:
when people ask me why I am running as a woman, I always answer, "What choice do I have?" -- Patricia Schroeder

So I need to work on quashing the must-explain syndrome. Chad says it's from the teacher in me. :p Jazz recommends an out-of-sight journal. I just hope it doesn't count as another abusive email.

We had Chinese buffet for lunch, a break we all needed. The only problem is the best place in Baton Rouge is also the busiest. And they're building a new (and unneccessary) Wal-Mart in that area too. Great Wall got a great new building out of the deal, but parking is choatic.

Cover art was the goal last night. All I need is the Biker Mice gun by itself. Problem: all the pictures available have somone holding the gun. Got a tracing done of the gun from the line art, which is a design never used on the show. I'm going to try to get the show gun with a hand (since drawing in the missing handle doesn't work) tonight. If it doesn't work I go with what I have now. Like all this perfectionism really matters.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 5

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

5). What are your special abilities and areas of expertise or particular knowledge?

I'm good at Jeopardy and Jazzie says I have a sarcastic wit. Being a 17th century pirate ehm, privateer. Getting principles in the way of being diplomatic.

Okay, so I definately need to work on this question more.

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Hangover

Nothing worse than being hungover and done nothing the night before to warrant it. But then a crying binge, not going to bed till 11pm, and then having my cat wake me up at 2am add up to me wanting to crawl back into bed after shooting out the sun.

At least there's no puking.

On the other hand, that would've kept me home for sure. But that would have left work with only one batcher today. Too conscientious and it happened just two weeks ago.

Off May 31st, woot!

I think the Excedrin and caffine have kicked in finally. What a night.

How to answer Jazzie's question. Differences of perception made worse by a temper tantrum from me. We're working it out.

Course I never got to do what I needed to do, which is work on the Mother's Day project. I forgot that I had ran out of tracing paper and I need an outline of the pics for cover art. I'm not fighting with PaintShop just to get an outline. While I'm thinking about it, I should probably greyscale my insignia. Of course, I was in no condition to copyedit last night either. I'll probably start on that during lunch after I type this blog and my writing hour. I need to get it in the mail on Thursday.

Ugh, out of time for the exercises again. I think I might need to make those separate posts.

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48 Hours

I'll be fair. Give time for a response. I reacted out of anger, and I should apologize. But if by 4:30 Wednesday there has been no response to my apology letter, I'll withdraw from Red Planet and Pen to Paper because I am no longer welcome there.

I will miss both boards. And I will miss the friends I made there more.

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Mondays Suck

Quote of the Day: I have a brain and a uterus, and I use both. -- Patricia Schroeder

Nobody is ever ready to start work again.

Apparantly I'm in the doghouse with everyone now. No answers to any of my emails. Don't know why either. I commented on Red's art. Apparantly Red didn't like what I said, delted the thread, and slammed Red Planet as being the cause of it all. I stood up for the board and my comment, and emailed her. I guess it's true, nobody like being told they're acting like an idiot; no answer to my email and Red's next post was to tell everyone else they had no worries. So yes, the problem is with me. No answer to my second email. Maybe my tone was too harsh. Why should I be harsh? Deleting a whole thread because you have a problem with one entry is stupid. And if the person who wrote it is your friend, what is wrong with contacting them with the problem? And I'm supposed to take anything dished out to my stories with a smile on my face, and everyone else gets to stomp their feet? Okay, so I'm mad and hurt.

Don't know why I'm bothering to blog all this. Not like they're reading it. I've been dumped, which on the Internet sounds just like a modem hanging up. If I'm wrong just TELL ME I'M WRONG! Don't abandon me. Don't leave me out in the cold.

I never should have wrote how much that hurts me. Gave everyone a weapon now. "Just ignore her and she'll slink away."

Sorry for bothering any reader out there with this, but Mondays suck worse when you've been abandoned by who you thought were your friends and you could be honest to without that happening.

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So apparantly it's me

Annoyed Red?

How do I feel? Hurt. I thought we had a stronger friendship than that. Which is why I emailed her the first email. Friends don't let friends act stupid.

Then again, maybe I'm the only one who really feels that way.

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Taking a break

Been working on the Mother's Day project pretty much all day, once I got through speaking my mind on the same subject on Red's blog, Red Planet, and an email to her. Probably should add something about not being able to shut up once my buttons get pushed to keep track of personality quirks to give characters. Then again it probably falls under the no like it when something else if being slammed. Red Planet is a good board.

:p Okay that can go on for a while if I let myself get started.

Do need to remember to email Jazzie about when she's off.

Also need to remember to lose more weight before summer really kicks in. *Pulling down shorts that have ridden up.

Back to work.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 4

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

4). What have been your hobbies and leisure activities, past and present?

WRITING! Bike riding, cartoons, swimming, reading, board games, designing and maintaining web pages, roleplaying, interactive theater in the realms of RenFaires, coloring, cooking.

I know I'm supposed to be much more descriptive with these things, but there's never enough time. Something expand upon later I guess.

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Script idea and Weekend plans

I despise being broke. Loathing it doesn't even come close. The only time I haven't had to battle between paychecks is when I had two jobs. Quite frightening was the realization yesterday that I probably make around $900 a month, but have the expenses of $1800. Chad did point out that the working two jobs was a bad thing, which I agree with. But if the pay raise doesn't cut it and I don't start selling soon, I don't know what I can do. I'm afraid to pawn my possessions; I may never get enough money to get them back.

I'll get what bills I can wrote out tonight. I did bring them to work to do, but never got a chance since this was a deadline day. Icky weather too, but at least that kept the walk-ins away. Thunderstorms all weekend. And if Chad's roof leaks on me, I'm going home. :p

Still no stress this weekend. I have the Mother's Day project to do (though I'm not sure how I can pay for it), and trying to figure out what time is good weekend-wise for writing. Suppose to schedule for your most creative time of the day. I've been working in snatch mode for so long, I'm not sure when that time is.

Possibly working on Gemz idea. Well, I already had the idea but at least her wanting to do animation gives me carte blanche, possibly. Haven't heard back from her. But ever since Rick Ungar said he wanted to start the series over, I've been thinking of how to redo "Rock & Ride" and keep the magic it had. I enjoyed the playwriting class I had in college, I already visualize the stories in my head as a movie, and I want to write the new series scripts and get paid for it. Okay, I do realize the last part may have to wait till second season if it goes through at all. Still, I need to prove to myself I can turn out a professional product.

My ideas so far:
1). Keep basic premise: Bros crash on Earth, meet Charley, discover Limburger, have to stay on Earth.
2). Make promise and loss of home more poignant. Yeah, they're macho mice but if my timeline is anything to go by (and I don't have anything else) they have been away from years trying to make their way home.
3). Make the invasion of Earth inevitable. Which means the bad guys get a lot nastier, maybe not too much. Way I see it, you should have an over-arc story. Second or third season should end with the invasion of Earth starting.
4). Charley getting the idea to create her own Freedom Fighters and start working toward that goal. Albiet, something not understood until Season Two.

And no, I really haven't done a lot of brainstorming on this at all. I still like my idea of a captured Carbine, but that would probably mean Mars lost more than it gained. Hmm, unless it was a recent capture.

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Forgetting the Fun

Quote of the Day: I'm no lady; I'm a member of Congress, and I'll proceed on that basis. -- Mary Norton

I've been so focused on disclipning my work and work schedule, I had forgotten the fun. While I still need to stick to a regiment on the weekends; if I don't miss work Monday through Friday, I get a lot done. Course, I always get stressed out with a deadline. Now the pirates stuff is done, except turning the info into web pages.

And even though I didn't get any writing done yesterday, I did get a grasp--a visualization--on the opening of the next section. Very important section when she learns the killer is a repeat offender and gains a sidekick.

Something for the story idea folder: Forgotten Diver Saved by Boy Scout
Ex-nurse pleads guilty to patient deaths

So tired today and it's all Chad's fault. No not that way :p, you gutter minds. He didn't get back from giving his proposal until 10pm, so I didn't get in bed till 11.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 3

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

3). What have been your occupations, past and present?

Writer, student, peer counselor/R.A., receptionist, Sonic carhop, customer service represenative for Spirint, data entry with the title Insurance Compliance Tech. 2, RenFaire neighborhood leader.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 2

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

2). What places have you lived long enough to know them well?

Pumpkin Center, Louisiana. It's not an actually incorporated town, because years ago when it came up the farmers listened to the rumors that taxes was going to rise and voted against it. Though my mother tells me that the sense of community was destroyed when the Interstate was built.

Natchitoches, Louisiana. Five years for a diploma. Can point out all the buildings that are part of the Steel Magnolias tour. Learned to leave the car parked Christmas Festival weekend.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Not really living here, but commuting in five days a week. A town trying to flee the river through urban sprawl and trying to revitalize itself. But it is Football Town, LSU and Southern both won national titles last year. Just imagine what would happen if the New Orleans Saints would win a Superbowl. Hell, if they just made it to a Superbowl.

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Progress on Zy's Novel

Quote of the Day: If American politics are too dirty for women to take part in, there's something wrong with American politics. -- Edna Ferber

Finally got the first section of chapter three finished. It has been giving me fits just trying to find time to work on it. I'm such a creature of schedule.

I'm not finished with the first question, but the book recommends leaving space and going back. And if I keep spending a blog a day on each question of the exercise, I'll have blogs planned for the next two years.

I'm just a bit worried about references. Zy has spent her life devouring mysteries, and uses them to influence the detective she is trying to be. Maybe a special section in the back explaining the references. Nothing as absolute as footnotes, nobody likes footnotes in fiction. Though I wish Sayers had some with the French translated.

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Getting Started

Quote of the Day: Behind every successful man is a surprised woman. -- Maryon Pearson

I figured I'd wait on the exercises until I finished the whole book, but all I'd have to write about is stuff I'd rather not dwell on. And judging how long it takes me to get through the questions; I need a head start.

I did break it to Chad over the phone, which may have been a mistake. He wants me to delegate more, but the problem is I don't have anyone to delegate to! Maybe there will be more help after cast call. Reminder--make flyers. Also, let him get past the job proposal before trying to pin down how he feels about the situation.

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Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1 Question 1

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 1

Instructions: Write out the following information about yourself in detail. The more candid and complete you are in your responses, the more resource material you will have to draw from for writing ideas. Be liberal rather than conservative in your estimation of what should be included, and leave room for further additions later. For the purpose of this exercise, there is no such thing as an insignificant experience, and reticence is inappropriate. Include specific scenes or dramatized recollections wherever possible.

1). What is your ethnic background, especially your culture experience of that ethnicity, its language, customs, foods, rituals, etc.?

My ethnic background is Southern American Caucasian. Try finding that selection on a standardized form. Caucasian is the politically-correct, scientific terminology for white. United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and land of my birth. The South is a region of America unlike anywhere else on Earth.

I grew up when it was still safe to play outside, before parents became hawks eyeing their dinners. A country girl, my great-grandmother had 21 acres next door to my parents' one to romp on.

Romance lingers in the South. I don't mean men wooing women, but the older tradition of the word. Magic and mystery decay and fill the air with heady brooding. The Gothic tradition is still alive. Is it any wonder that the South produced Edgar Allen Poe and William Faulkner, and has attracted so many others?

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No More Rejections

Quote of the Day: Well, I've got you the presidency, what are you going to do with it? -- Florence Harding, with of the 29th president

I got No More Rejections by Alice Orr by accident. I was supposed to say no for that selection but I forgot to do it. I started reading this weekend and now I'm glad I've got it. This blog will probably be changing direction again, so I can take advantage of the exercises she makes available.

In the meantime, on the time issue, I haven't reached a decision yet. As Chad and I discussed it (or rather he just listened to me rant), there is pay work, websites, tutorials, and RenFaire. Pay work isn't going anywhere unless I win the Powerball this week. Websites aren't a daily chore. I probably have a smattering of work the week before updates and then I'm through. Tutorials is writing and publishing, and I'm actually ahead in terms of writing them.

That leaves Faire, or more importantly, management in Faire, which I'm taking less and less pleasure in doing. It's not the people, because they are family, but all the responsibility. On the other hand, there's nobody who will take my neighborhood and I can't blame them. If I had known 5 years ago what I know now, I would have picked a different area to begin with.

I still need to consider it more, but I'm leaning toward this being my last year as a neighborhood leader. I'll stay involved, and I'll be guild leader of the pirates (provided I get an actual crew this year), but I'm tired and I need to focus concentration elsewhere.

Wonder how well this is going to go over with Chad.

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About 15 minutes...

... to give myself some therapy before lunch is over.

I have issues. I can normally ignore them, or give them the brush off they deserve except when my defenses are low. Course they always wait till then to pounce.

I have an irrational fear of driving everyone who likes me away. I never had any real friends until 6th grade, and those have drifted apart. College was another good opportunity to make friends, and I'm proud to say I'm still in contact with a few. Another group shut me out in the coldest way imaginable. Made worse by the fact that the guy I had a crush on made himself the spokesperson of the group. I came home with a sarcastic hide that was damn near bulletproof. My best friend Billy was the one to finally reach me how much I was hurting others.

So now when the shrew comes out I have a backlash that I've hurt someone. Hence my over abundance of apologizing.

Maybe Foxy and Jazzie's right; I need a vacation. But it's not the writing part that gets to me; it's the finding time for it amid everything else that must be done. Cripes, I haven't edited the stupid lecture yet or put out the next tutorial.

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Am I normal?

Tomara says my behavior sounds normal. Maybe that's why Chad always laughs when I call myself crazy; he's worked in a psychiatric hospital.

But what else can I be? I lash out at friends. I purposefully self-sabatogue my true vocation. I channel this crazy shrew bitch when ever things don't go my way, but only with the things I dictate myself to do.

My mother calls it dramatics, which just her way of say act like a normal angry person. So I am crazy, fucked up in the head and nothing to cure it.

At least I don't go around eating people.

Apologizing doesn't work. I suppose I can't blame people. Who wants to stay around a screaming crazy cussing shrew?

Still I had to go to Chad. Since I couldn't email the stupid file for the CD-ROM handout for the Teachers' Workshop and by the time I see him again on Friday, he wouldn't have anytime to work on it. And I found the missing notes. And I figured out that scanning the stupid black and white pics in full color probably attributed to the huge file size.

Last night was not a night for winning. And I probably ruined a friendship with it.

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Sick days

Didn't intend to have three days off this week, but I had dizzy spells, and on and off nuasa most of the day Sunday. Chad feared that it was something wrong with my sugar, and since my back waand neck were frozen and refused to move without pain, I went to the doctor on Monday. They took blood and gave me Monday and Tuesday off, which I took. The blood work came back fine. Which means I'm now just getting overheated by sitting outside in the shade. Worrisome, but not as bad as coming down with diabetes.

So I'm spending the time resting and catching up. Mostly resting Monday; today is catching up. I already finished my running around errands. Now kitchen cleaning, office cleaning, and writing. And I am determined to do that last one.

3pm and I have finished the kitchen, as much as I am able to do.

6pm and I am almost finished with the hand out on pirates I need for Saturday. Going to fix some supper and then start writing.

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Update ahead of schedule

Yes, currently uploading as we speak. CHeck out the Awards page of Alt. Biker Mice Site.

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Friday at last

Quote of the Day: A writer is someone who cannot not write. ... Consider the opposite: a nonwriter is someone who can write or not, who does not have the drive and need to put words to paper. A writer is someone who looks forward to the day's work, even if it lasts only an hour or two before the writer has to dash to a job that supports him and his family until such happy time that the writing itself may be economically rewarding. On those days when external circumstances prevent his writing, a writer feels a hollowness, an absence, a longing. -- Sol Stein How to Grow a Novel (xiv - xv)

It's come a few times. Other things preventing my writing or having to skip the writing time altogether. Chad really not understanding it. Red saying she's in love with the idea of writing.

I first recognized I was different back in 1993 or 1994. I can remember the time frame, but not the exact dates. I had finished writing my first Legend of Zelda fanfic and encouraged my friend Mervin to write a fanfic on Mega Man. He finished it, and another friend left it in his locker at the end of the school year. Hope the janitor enjoyed; I never got a chance to read it.

My first response was "Too bad, when will you start writing it over?" And I got THAT LOOK--the one that says why in the world did you just say that. Mervin said he wasn't.

I realized I would rewrite it. I may always feel the first was better and the second was an inferior copy, but I would rewrite.

It's not bragging. I have lost a story due to someone stealing my folder, and I rewrote and hate that story. I still have issues trying to remember everyone is not like that. Same issues I have with people not reading. How can you go a whole day without reading?

Oh well guess this post doesn't have a point.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Thursday blahs that were cured fairly early

Quote of the Day: Writer = one who cannot not write. -- Paraphrased definition

I got all the new submissions ready to upload yesterday. Now I'm bogged down with adding comments script to items that don't have it and updating the database. The From Mars Archive still won't be ready; there's just so much to edit. And I need to remember to check the stats of visitors to the site. I'm pretty sure I've got that ability even though I don't have a web counter. SOmething to do with checking bandwidth usage I think.

Writing: I typed on the pirate lecture and "Let Us Give Thanks" yesterday. Didn't get any writing done on Zy's novel, but I was cramming to get the update done so I won't be all weekend on it. Doesn't look like I'll get much writing on Zy's novel today either, typing up a letter, this blog, and pirate lecture.

Taxes: I had to pay both Federal and State. Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck. And all cause my W2 was filled out incorrectly at my primary job. And don't anyone tell me the amount ain't bad. On my take home pay, it hurts.

Odd email: London found a reference to that email addy in use in 2002. It's starting to look more legit. She's checking on the animation rumor mill. If it is legit, I guess we should start crafting together a response letter.
Update: WHEEE! It's not a fake! Working on response letter.

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The BookWorm

I hate having my sense of belief messed with

Some may know and some may not, but we recently had issue with a coward who wanted to slam FoxFire by going through the Alt. BM Site instead of saying what he felt on the Unoffical's Message Board (where he was sure to get blasted). He called me a henchwoman, heh. They get paid. Anyways Foxy put it up on the Board where it belonged.

Today, Alt. BM Site's submission email gets a message from Rick Ungar about the site and future BMFM plans.

I want to believe. Oh how I want to believe, especially after looking at this thing for so many hour today working on the update.

But I can't if the asshole has decided to use this method to hurt people, especially us.

Smeg-head.


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The BookWorm

Chit-Chat

Quote of the Day: Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to forment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation. -- Abigail Adams

There was another trailer that impressed me Captain Sky and the World of Tomorrow: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Casey Affleck, and Bai Ling. Black and white, and the robots are styled after the old 1950s science fiction art. Looks like it will be a fun homage film.

Finally got Access to cooperate last night. I was building a query and it kept adding another query into it. The records jumped from 135 to nearly 18,000. I discoverd that after I started printing. Luckily, I caught it before all 545 pages printed. The print out makes it easier to add in the new submissions, less jumping between window screens trying to remember filenames and numbers. Setting up the comments fields should be easier too, now that I remembered the database already has a unique name for each submission.

Took tomorrow off for a funeral; a RenFaire friend's mother just died. I'm going to put the rest of the day to good use on something. What something I don't know yet. I need to finish typing the pirate lecture, work on the Alt BM Site, clean house, sew doublet, tutorials to work on. Better get up at my usual time.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

About the trip

We left later than I wanted to, about 7am Central rather than 6am. Why? Because of not going to bed till midnight. Why were we stupid like that?

We promised my mother to fix the Direct TV wiring the weekend before. Well, we didn't get to it then and Chad said we had plenty of time to get it done Thursday night. No problem.

I should listen to my gut.

We drilled the holes into my sister's bedroom and fed the cables into there. We didn't find that out until after my father was up in the attic and we needed to feed the cable down behind my parents' bedroom wall. Why did we drill in the wrong spot? Because when my parents had siding put on their house, they ran the cable cable down from the attic underneath the siding before coming out with it. And we drilled where the cable came out.

We finally got my parents' bedroom hooked up and stopped before heading to the living room seeing that it was 10:30ish. Then I had to go online, get my friends' address, send out passwords, take a bath, and pack. So that's why I didn't want to get up at 5am.

The road trip Friday went smoothly. We encountered very little traffic and got to Clearwater about 8pm Eastern time, within the 12 hours I predicted. I am the navigator.

Yes, there was expressed doubt about my route. Me and Chad carvaned with Rick Hight, one of the owners of LARF. My friends Billy and Misty took us out to eat at Bennaigan's. Steaks and salads and ribs, and they like Chad and Chad likes them. Major goodies all round.

Saturday was Faire day. And I discovered that my black vinyl bodice needs a winter Faire. I pooped out quickly. And taking it off was suggested many times that day, but as I keep pointing out size D boobies without support is equally uncomfortable. We also ran into Alvon Brummfield and his family in tow, the other owner of LARF. Chad had been talking about our trip.

But we made an excellent contact for school day, a group of pirates connected with Capt. Jack. Not Johnny Depp, but the guy has the impersonation down perfect. He dribbled on my peasant blouse and they loved my ship necklace. They do black powder demos and put on the trial of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, little later than us but them gals were fun. I want to do the Pirate case on the school days now. *BOUNCE*

We left early because of my health. I was downing water like crazy and peeing so I was hydrated, but still too hot to go on. But it was a good thing, cause it gave Billy enough time to get things situated with his anime club and for us to woof down pizza and go see Hellboy.

I was going to go even if it sucked. Ron Perlman, I'll watch anything he is in since Beauty and the Beast went off the air. He's in The Name of the Rose along with Sean Connery and Christian Slater. Back to Hellboy, it didn't suck. It's a well crafted movie with complex good guys and interesting albeit freaky bad guys. Fun ride that stuck to its theme and characterization. It won't make as much money as Spidey 2, but there was our contribution to helping it break even.

We also got trailers for Arthur, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Looks like they're going for Arthur is a Roman--like modern research believes--probably heavily influenced by Mary Stewart's works. And it looks like the made Guienevre a Celt, which I think is pretty interesting. Van Helsing just looks damn cool. They kept the burning windmill from Frankenstein. I think it's going to end up being a new story that pays homage to the classic Universal monster films. Which is fine by me.

Sunday was the drive home. Completely uneventful. We made it back by 7:30pm Central time and had left Clearwater later than anticipated. Ate supper at our favorite Chinese buffet and discovered I'm broke again. *Groan* So now it's get through this week because Friday is payday.

Writing during the trip: I wrote about 4 paragrpahs. However the first two were telling not showing and I had to rewrite them. Total of usable paragraphs: 2.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

No writing today

Quote of the Day: Johnny Depp: "I can't believe you're giving me exposition." (over changes made in the dialogue of a scene)
Screenwriters of Pirates of the Caribbean: "But we give you 'miscreants.'"
Johnny: "All right then, that's an even trade." (Paraphrased but the source material is in the screenwriters commentary on the Pirates of the Caribbean DVD)

I have to get Chad so we can do the wiring tonight. So leaving early today. :p This is getting to be a habit I don't like. But hopefully I can make up for it while Chad drives tomorrow.

Yeah, leaving tomorrow morning to go see my friends down in Florida and go to the Tampa Bay RenFaire. Should be back Sunday night.

Now since I've plowed through the lawsuits and don't have any form 119s waiting for me, I'm getting to work on the lesson plan and the pirate lecture. Now I remember why I never wanted to teach. Too much have to justify why you're doing this instead of just doing it. Granted with the state of education, it is necessary. But I prefer the tutorials method, put it there and let who wants it take it.

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The BookWorm

Pirate Lecture

I finally finished it. Once typed and I got the lesson plan thingy and the handouts designed, I can concentrate on fiction again.

Short so I can type the silly thing.

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The BookWorm

Distractions, distractions, distractions

Well after getting the Christmas letters written and printed (which the mailing will have to be delayed until after we get back from Tampa Bay so I can see if I have any money left--stupid groceries), I got a paragraph written before it was go home time. Which finished up Zy's journal exerpt for Chapter Three.

Then I went home and managed to find the space in front of my monitor on my desk. Course I needed to work on webpage updates, but I didn't manage to get to that. Maybe tonight. Better be tonight, I still have beaucoup work to do on the archive project and looks like a couple of new submitters.

And work has gone rather interesting in the lunch hour. We're hoping our supervisor sticks to her word.

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The BookWorm

I'm back

Crazy four day weekend.

My grandmother's surgery went fine, but it'll be sometime next week before we know if that's all the surgery she has to have.

Talked to martgage people and it looks like I can buy the place, if my grandmother is willing to sell. She's still thinking about that.

I thought I'd at least get the pirate lecture finished this weekend. Nope. Dishes and cooking and Chad got started on wiring and plumbing at his place. We were supposed to get wiring done for my mother and now we have to do that Thursday night.

I just feel so frustrated when I can't write. Work is picking up so I doubt I'll have the time then to write. I still have the extra hour that's just for writing before I leave work, but I'll have to be more strict with myself and not use any of that time for research.

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The BookWorm

Only one more day to go

Quote of the Day: You don't have to signal a social conscience by looking like a frump. Lace knickers won't hasten the holocaust, you can ban the bomb in a feather boa just as well without, and a mild interest in hemlines doesn't necessarily disqualify you from reading Das Kapital and agreeing with every word. -- Jill Tweedie

At work that is. Thursday my grandmother is having a lump-octomy at 8:30 a.m. Both my parents are out of state, Kai probably won't go, so it's left up to me. At least Chad has agreed to go with me.

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The BookWorm

Keep your mind out of the gutter

Quote of the Day: What is beautiful is good,
And who is good will soon be beautiful. -- Sappho

This weekend exhausted me. Sleeping in a strange bed, hiking to the bathroom, cleaning up the joust field, meetings, etc. I had company Sunday afternoon, and after she left I crawled into bed and turnd off lights by 9:30pm. I was so far asleep, I don't remember when Mustard crawled up onto my chest. I did wake when I moved, he started falling off and grabbed my nose with his claws to stop himself. He was sweet about it and licked the boo-boo, but didn't understand why I got up and put a band-aid across my nose. Luckily, it was just a puncture and not a gash.

I don't believe in declawing cats. I think it's morally and ethically wrong. But Mustard is cruising to lose them all.

Then I managed to cut myself with the electric razor this morning shaving my armpits. But I preserved and came to work anyway.

I hope that wasn't a mistake.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Finally Friday

Quote of the Day: Scheherazade is easy; a little black dress is very difficult. -- Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

I went to bed at 10pm, didn't get up till 6:30am because of my 9am doctor's appointment. I feel a lot better until I looked at finances. I have $20 to buy caffine, Claritan, and gasoline on. It's not enough. I don't want to hit Mom up for her gas card, but it's either that or a payday loan.

And Chad's bright idea to save me gas is for me to crash at his place. No matter how much stuff I need to do at my house before the stupid meeting and cleaning up at Faire site. It's my guilt gene but damn, it's being relentless today.

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The BookWorm

Working for the weekend

Quote of the Day: Pay my taxi for me. I don't know how it happened but I brought out the bag I keep my going-abroad money in and the man simply won't take francs or liras or marks! -- Mrs. Ariadne Oliver Cards on the Table

I love Mrs. Oliver, while not that ditzy, I can sympathize with her plights. I also know never to create a character of a nationality that is completely foreign to you.

Turning on lights not so simple. I can usually get another 30 minutes after I've fed the cat and he's not be annoying. And I need that 30 minutes to function during the day.

Last night was supposed to go to bed early. Chad came over to do laundry. I got the tutorial sent out, finished the comic book sorting, cooked meatloaf, and we called a night at 10-ish. I crawled into bed at 11pm. I told him next week, I'm going to bed and he can wake me up after a nap or spend the night. He says he doesn't want to spend all day with Mustard, so maybe we should do laundry on Friday nights.

But I slept hard. I dreamed that my mother left my father and moved in with me. Nothing I did was good enough or the done the right way and I was going banannas. Never have I been so glad to hear the alarm clock. Give me dreams of badly CGI-ed Biker Mice movies any night.

Story news: I finished Chapter Two yesterday. So today will probably be getting it typed while I try to figure out how to get my no longer wanted comics on Ebay. It looks like close to a hundred in the box. I'd like to make a profit, but I'm just revealing in the fact that I have an empty file box now. Which I'm probably going to fill with items that I have to go through but are stealing space on the couch right now, but it's empty right now. This is a rare thing in my house.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Wednesday already

Quote of the Day: I'm just a person trapped in a woman's body. -- Elayne Boosler

Well I spent most of last night trying to get the way late tutorial put together, having spent most of the writing time at work getting the rest of it typed so I could cut and paste into what I had already started. I had finished most of it by bedtime, but was too tired to fight with Bravenet.

Too tired is SOP these days. I didn't exactly get to catch up on sleep during the trip and I've been going to bed way too late to make a difference. Tuesday morning, I got up, fed Mustard, and was stumbling back to bed in the dark. I turned a little early and rammed my lip into the corner of the doorway. The doorway into my bedroom is cut through the cypress wall with some framing, not much rounded molding in my house. Luckily my lip didn't swell up though it still hurts if move my lips or press down on them hard.

The other funny thing about the trip. We went in garb: a couple of peasants, Chad was middle class, and me the pirate captain. We left the Faire and ate a late lunch in town. All the kids that saw us gushed "we just left the Renaissance Festival. We had so much fun!" Assuming of course we had something to do with that one.

Mail's here and I have more typing to do. Bye for now.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Back into the routine

Quote of the Day: When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking. -- Elayne Boosler

I think part of my out of sorts feeling was caused by the interruption to the routine. It was also caused by lack of sleep and pain, but upsetting the routine has its share of the blame. It's one thing to say "take it easy, rest, you need to." Quite another to convince yourself to do it when the living room looks like a file room threw up in it, you have so many stories in progress, a doublet that needs sewing, unpacking to do.

Enough of that. I'm updating the To Do List and sticking to it. I felt saner going by it even if I didn't get to everything. Less memory in use I guess.

Four Winds trip also made us--or at least me--appreciate our joust troop more. They putting on a really entertaining show, even if it has too much wrestling reference. But I haven't gotten tired of watching it after four years, that should've told me something. The Four Winds Joust Troop isn't too bad, they just need to work on the presentation more. But their squires. My squires would eat them for breakfast. Backing up a second, the squires are part of LRF's volunteer cast and under my neighborhood. Pirate Captain is in charge of the joust field, somewhere it does make sense. Our joust field is probably just a little shorter than a football field (one day I'm going to have to get the correct measurements) and we have done the show with just 3 squires when 5 to 6 is the norm. And that requires handing knights weapons, adding armor to the knights, taking care of the horses, and getting lances pieces out of the list field so the horses don't get injured. The first squire visible for Four Winds popped open a parasol and strolled out to replace rings. And then she didn't even replace the rings quickly. Peasants and squires and anyone else that is portraying working classes do not get parasols. I resisted the urge to get take it from her.

I did managed to clean out a good chunk of my comic book and magazine collection, only keeping the stories I really enjoyed. I think I'm going ahead and selling them on Ebay. I can't sell the magazines in a comic book store, and I'd rather them go to people who need them for their own collections. And I'm sure comic book stores buy from Ebay too.

Anyways off to the post office and then probably writing when I get back. It's a super slow day today.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Ouchies

Well I managed to lock up a joint in my neck on Sunday morning. Went to chiropractor and got adjusted, but had to spend most of today icing it down so I took the day off.

The trip was wonderful. We stayed at a lovely Bed & Breakfast. The Faire hadn't changed much at all, and I think it made us realize just how good our Faire is. Chad got a line on a broom maker and another troop of reenactors--live blade soliders :D--so it was a success.

Today I've gotten a few little things done, but not much. I can't seem to get it together to finish anything I've set out to do. Oh well printing is on the list and that will have to be done at Chad's.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

FIXED!

CPU fan is now back on. And I have to go catch up.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

What is the deal with packing?

I never leave packing to the last minute. I've managed to do it this time. Clothes are done, except for the ones I have to bring to my sister. Bathroom stuff is mostly done, except it doesn't fit into my bag. I was hoping to leave my black bag of work at home, but it looks like I have to take it. He needs a salary, so I could at least get treated to dinner now and then for my hard work. :p Or he could just buy my loose-leaf. I haven't even dug out what pouches I want to take. Thigh-high boots don't fit anything and I haven't had time to clean my sword. Only Ren-nuts have packing lists like this.

Since I had to pick up Chad and I had to eat and then we had to go shopping, I didn't get to play with the CPU fan any last night. :p I have to get that put together before we leave. Mustard is getting curious about the shut office door and I can't lock it.

Story update: Looks like mail and other stuff has slowed down for today so I might get a little bit of extra work in. But since I have to leave work early, no extra writing hour today. :( There wasn't any yesterday either, since I didn't want to be going to bed at 10 or 11pm after shopping.

Here's to a long car ride and hopefully much shoulder rubbing because I'm stressing and they HURT! It's going to be a blast of a trip. And for the last time, Four Winds Renaissance Faire is where we're going.

April 2 - 4 Coast Con
April 9 - 11 Bay Area Renaissance Festival
April 23 Renaissance Festival put on by West Feliciana High School
April 24 Teachers' Workshop for LRF School Days

I should just leave the clothes packed :p

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Money :p and computer woes

Quote of the Day: When women go wrong, men go right after them. -- Mae West

Story news: got through that confrontation. Next up the introduction of the romantic lead.

Now I have to spend the rest of the day figuring out my bills, so I have money for the weekend trip and to shop tonight. Cat needs food again.

I did get the bills finished rather quickly. And the CPU fan finally came in yesterday, but Chad and I couldn't get it attached. Maybe I'll get a chance to work on it tonight.

I'm probably going to have to skip my writing hour today and tomorrow. Tomorrow is leaving for the trip so have to get out of here quickly. And I still have packing left to do tonight.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

I can't sew :p

Quote of the Day: Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. -- Mae West

I screwed up the iron-on interfacing as I was trying to apply it to the red doublet material. Luckily I think the only peice I'll have to replace is one of the front panels. This is why I always buy more than I need with material. But I do need to go buy new interfacing.

Story news: I got a good chunk of the first section of chapter 2 typed yesterday. Unfortunately due to unforseen disaster with the Robin Hood play, I only had enough time to finish a new paragraph.

Chad's coming over tonight, but we're going to have to work on house before we can actually watch a movie. I've managed to lose the couch.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Confusion

http://pub97.ezboard.com/fbmfm53205frm3.showMessage?topicID=235.topic

No, I don't think she's being malicious; I just can't get a grasp on what she's saying. We're talking in circles on the actual critique. Maybe that's why I feel dizzy. I say change the abbreviation and she says everyone knows what it stands for. I'm going to start calling her fics "Burger King realm," I just know I am. I say she needs more description in this story. She says they've all been described in the other stories. *Sigh* Each story must be able to stand on its own, and this one seems to have major crutches.

But the last paragraph just feels like she's putting the problems with the story all on me. I need to lighten up, I need to read the rest of her stories, there's a chance for a cure? WTF is up with that? You know, I seem to remember somewhere that the reader is entitled to either enjoy or not enjoy the story. And if they don't enjoy it, it is a deficiency of the writer not the reader.

*Snort* I have to wonder what the reaction would be if I had told her I didn't like the story and wanted to wop Harley in the head for being a whiny head case. Not that she doesn't have the right to be a head case, but at least be an entertaining head case. And the teenagers who can't feed themselves? And Maze the perfect man? *Gag noises* I have my doubts that it's better in the original Finnish.

Somebody else needs to comment on this and I don't blame them for avoiding it like the plague.

Course my confusion could also be from trying to type an Elizabethan Robin Hood play and Zy's novel at the same time while trying to comprehend this post. Then again, muddled writing always gives me headaches.

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The BookWorm

Tuesday morning

Quote of the Day: A diet counselor once told me that all overweight people are angry with their mothers and channel their frustrations into overeating. So I guess that means all thin people are happy, calm, and have resolved their Oedipal entanglements. -- Wendy Wasserstein

Back on track. I finished up the first section of Chapter Two and got started with the next section. I think I finally figured out how Zy's big mouth is going to save her in the coming confrontation. I never did like the absurd fight I came up with. I'd much rather save the fist throwing for when after Mylte joins the action.

Network is down this morning, so we can't do anything. I'm transferring my commuting notes to the regular-sized paper, then will probably start typing. Depends on how long this will last. Chad needs some notes on school day that I took, but I don't think I can email him. Microsoft Word at the office has the ability to save as PDF files, so I should be able to do some uploading while my computer is awaiting revival.

And when I was buying things I need for the doublet, I found a new Simplicity pattern on sale. 1880 Victorian day and evening dress. I could play Charlotte Pitt. LOL

Read Free!
The BookWorm

Pirate Case for Peasant Court

To explain: Peasant Court is a group of staged skits of the peasants of the RenFaire village bringing suits against each other or getting arrested for drunkness, etc. Last year, our Faire got a new ride a ferry across the lake. Two of my pirates came up with a skit of the pirates taking over the ferry. We never got to do it right. This year I want to schedule it in as part of the show. Big noisy take over of the ferry, big noisy arrest by the sheriff, followed by our trial at Peasant Court.

Pirate Case for Peasant Court

Cast of Characters

Clerk
Bailiff
Judge
Pirate Captain
Assorted Pirates
Audience

Props

Irons or ropes restraining the pirates’ wrists

CLERK
This is a case of thievery and mayhem, an act of PIRACY! The people versus the pirates!

(Bailiff leads in the manacled PIRATE CAPTAIN and PIRATES.)

PIRATE 1
We be privateers! We got a letter of something. From the king!

PIRATE CAPTAIN
Letter of marque. I had it here somewhere.
(Pats down pouches looking for it.)

JUDGE
Act of piracy, that be a hanging offense!

PIRATES
Hanging!

PIRATE CAPTAIN
Ye cannot hang us. Ye have no yard arm.

BAILIFF
(Sadistically)
We can build one.

PIRATES
(Whimpering)
Captain.

PIRATE CAPTAIN
Steady mateys. They cannot hang us for something which we did not do. Case dismissed.

JUDGE
That be my line! And we do not know what you have done. Clerk, what have they done?

CLERK
In sight of the whole village, these pirate….

PIRATE CAPTAIN
Privateers.

CLERK
(Ignores the interruption.)
Did take the ferry by force thereby committing an act of piracy!

PIRATE CAPTAIN
What? That! Case dismissed.

JUDGE
Stop that! We have witnesses?

AUDIENCE
Aye. I saw it. They put a gun to the ferryman’s head. They all had swords out.

PIRATE CAPTAIN
I object. That was not an act of piracy.

JUDGE
Explain yourself, sea wench.

PIRATE CAPTAIN
(Threatens)
Ye address me as the Captain or ye will walk the plank.
(Gets out of the cuffs.)
Now everybody knows what pirates do.

PIRATE 1
(Gets out of his cuffs.)
Pillage!

PIRATE 2
(Gets out of his cuffs.)
Murder!

PIRATE 3
(Gets out of his cuffs.)
Burn!

PIRATE 4
(Gets out of his cuffs.)
Rape!

PIRATE CAPTAIN
(Turns to the last pirate, furious.)
Avast! The articles you signed before coming on board forbade….

PIRATE 1
(Other PIRATES slap hands over PIRATE 4’s mouth.)
It’s allright, Captain. We paid the last wench he was with double her rates. He has not even met a prudent woman.

PIRATE CAPTAIN
As I was explaining, if we had pillaged the ferry, we would have loot.
(PIRATES pat each other down for loot and come up empty.)
And we nay murdered the ferryman because he is at this very moment making his voyage cross the lake. And ye can go down to the lake and see we nay burned the ferry, which we are wont to do after pillaging and murdering.

JUDGE
Aye, aye, there were no pillaging, no murdering, no burning. Then what be you doing?

PIRATE CAPTAIN
We were practicing, your Honor.
(Salutes with hat.)
Case dismissed!
(Pirates jump from stage and run through the audience.)

JUDGE
That be my line! I be the judge and I say when case dismissed!

CLERK
(After waiting.)
Well?

JUDGE
Case dismissed!


Read Free!
The BookWorm

Pirates and Trials and Tribulations?

Quote of the Day: I don't have the time every day to put on makeup. I need that time to clean my rifle. -- Henriette Mantel

Tribulations: Not having a working computer at home is a tribulation. Not having finished the de-junking process is another tribulation. I ended up throwing the stuff that needs to be de-junked back into the living room while trying to find all my material and various sewing projects. Sunday's goal: finish my new doublet as much as I can since I can't afford the trim yet. What I got done: washed the material, cut out the doublet pattern, and sewed the favor sash for my belt. My pirate captain coat looks so bare now, I'm going to have to find some more pretties for it. Perferably, ones that don't fall apart when the hot glue melts in the sun.

Pirates and Trials sorta go together. Saturday, in between PMS irritation attacks and the evil country music at the pizza joint, I did get my pirates on trial case finished. I hope to be able to have typed today. I'm really going to need the time at work for writing projects since I have to have something to wear at Four Winds Saturday.

I love my family, but why is it the FICTION writer is the only one who can keep a story straight? I told my mother at least 3 times in the same conversation that Chad and I would stop for supper in Natchitoches, yes we'd see Krista, yes we'd drop stuff off to her. So why is it when my sister calls me on Sunday, it's "how come ya'll spending the night with me?" *Bangs head on wall*

Speaking of wearing stuff, Chad wants to go mundane to Four Winds. I think I'm going to make him put on his gnome outfit. It's no fair I have to dress up, if he doesn't. I can understand his reasoning "it feels like work" but it is work. :p He wants to do a cavalier faire someday and they're the only ones who put one on.

Well, since mail is late, let me type. I'll post Pirate Trial if I can get it in here.

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The BookWorm

Friday

Came home sick yesterday. Think it was my body doing the "you haven't stopped so I'm going to make you stop" thing again. Didn't want to chance driving in this morning, so I stayed home. Course by noon, I felt fine.

My computer however does not feel fine. My CPU fan just died and it'll be sometime next week before I get replacement for it.

Hence no writing today.

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The BookWorm

Oversweetened Tea

Quote of the Day: My goal is to be accused of being strident. -- Susan Faludi

Yeah, I definetely put too much sugar in the tea; I wanted to take a nap all morning after drinking it. I was fine after lunch, but the silly meeting from the HR department went into overtime. Earned 30 minutes of K-time, but only had 30 minutes left to write. Poo.

Here's to hoping nothing stupid happens today.

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The BookWorm

Behind the scenes work done

Quote of the Day: People call me feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute. -- Rebecca West

I got the background organizing work done yesterday. Now I'm ready to write, or technically rewrite. Staying late is working out so well; I'm going to hate the renewal season that will screw it up.

I decided to drink more tea for my health. Only problem is I think I over-sweetened this batch. I'm going to have to go buy some Splenda or something. It would be a shame to ruin what progress I think I've made with a 16 - 20 ounce drink every morning. But iced peppermint tea is soooo yummy.

As for progress, yeah I've cracked down on the sugar and carbs I'm eating. And while I haven't noticed a change in clothes (I think I hid the scale and I don't feel like looking for it), I have noticed less extremes in emotional reactions and lethargy. I've also cut back on caffine--two cans a day--and spread out my water drinking more--instead of saving it for when I get home. Still no time for exercising. Maybe I should park my car at the front office and hike back to see Chad? Then again, I'd have to hike back in the dark.

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The BookWorm

Experiment's Progress

Quote of the Day:The great English writer and courtier Sir Philip Sidney wrote A Defense of Poetry to counter Puritan objections to what we would call fiction, the making up of stories. In his essay he addresses the morality of making up stories by asking what it is that history teaches us. He gives the example of two Roman emperors named Severus. One was cruel and evil; the other good. The evil Severus prospered and died of old age at sixty-five. The good Severus at age twenty-seven was murdered by his own soldiers. As Sidney's example shows, it is hard to make any sort of lesson out of history. Stuff happens. To make stories out of stuff, we must reshape it so that there are cause-and-effect relationships. -- J. Madison Davis Novelist's Essential Guide to Creating Plot 33

I've decided to work on Zy's novel again. Every two years seems to be the norm with that one, but I plan on finishing it this time. It's a little less ambitious than the Chosen, and it has a smaller cast of mani players than the crossover, so hopefully I should be finished with it before three years. I'm not starting from scratch, still having all the rough drafts from the beginning, when I tried working on in it in 1998, and when I tried working on it again in 2002. To make sense of all that I'm using a lot of the suggestions found in the Novelist's Essential Guide to Creating Plot by J. Madison Davis.

Sunday, I finished the plot outline from the murderer's POV. Very important because the murder victims are discovered out of chronological order. I started working on the plot outline from Zy's POV yesterday and got about halfway through with it. Next I'll do one from Xeryl's POV. Then it'll be play with them until I know which scenes must be written and what order I should put them in.

Traffic wasn't that bad going home, but I forgot I had to go shopping last night. Tonight I should be able to go straight home.

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The BookWorm

Trying something new

In effort to combat the evil I-don't-want-to-do-anything feeling I have immediately upon entering my house each night, I'm working overtime. Technically not, I'm just going to stay at work an extra hour and write. Puts me getting home later which is an ick, but I'm not doing anything there anyway.

Course I could also be heading full tilt into burnout, which I also seem to develop when I think the goal hasn't been reached in the unrealistic timetable I have set for it. Okay 4 years of university wasn't unrealistic, but still. So it looks like it's Chad's responsibility to yank me out into the real world.

Excuse me, time to write.

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The BookWorm

Not Enough Hours in the Day

Quote of the Day: A gossip is someone who talks to you about others, a bore is one who talks to you about himself, and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself. -- Lisa Kirk

So please excuse my borish behavior but this is my spot to vent. I'll try to keep it entertaining. Not that it really matters for the few who read this thing.

I'm having that overwhelming feeling again. There's barely enough time for what I have to do, much less what I want to do. So what is exactly holding me back? Fear of failure, fear of rejection? So all that hits me is this "I have too much to do so why bother starting when it never gets finished?" Probably some of all the above.

Don't get me wrong. I love Chad, and he's been a good influence. I just wish I had been warned that I would share his creative tasks as well. I think I've figured out a way to make it an equal share with my writing, but it's a matter of finding the time for the both of us.

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The BookWorm

FRIDAY!!!!!

Congrats, Jazzie! You deserve it.

Now this is really short because I actually have free time and I'm using it now. Edit here I come. I can hopefully get a couple of chapters done before the mail comes.


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The BookWorm

I'm not giving into the guilt reflex.

Quote of the Day: I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain. -- Jame Wagner

There is a LRF social this Saturday in Mississippi. Neither Chad and I want to go, and I gave him a top ten list of why I can't go, but we still feel guilty.

But being sick and tired of the playing creative finances everybloody paycheck and depressed about the lack of money has pretty much gotten the guilt reflex out of the way.

*sigh* I need to make a sale, but that goes back with the no time to research, or clean or anything. ARGH!

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The BookWorm

How does a day get worse?

When the other batcher has to go home at 1pm to deal with a sick child and leaves you all alone.

Well not entirely alone, and I had offers of help. Luckily, the work load wasn't the same as yesterday and I didn't need them.

Still I'm tired.

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The BookWorm

*Whimper*

Today isn't as bad as yesterday, but it still awful. We just lost two co-workers (one is only on half days, the other got sick).

The mail comes in buckets from the post office. In turn, the mailroom of the Department of Insurance sorts and brings us the mail with checks in them. Then we have to open and process the money and send the paperwork--if the company was bright enough to send backup documentation--to the proper division. Often because of volume, our mail is brought to us in buckets. We only had 2 and half today.

What I don't understand is scheduling deadlines for different division on the same day when we get all the money first. Alas it's not my place to question such things.

Okay I have 30 minutes free to write something. :p Bet it'll be answer emails.

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The BookWorm

Buckets, buckets, buckets

First bucket came at 9:30 and there was a steady stream. We finished 11:45 with all of those and since lunch started 3 more have come in.

Yeah, we'll be looking at this mail tomorrow too. :p

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The BookWorm

Missed a day, oops

Quote of the Day: Delusions of grandeur make me feel a lot better about myself. -- Jane Wagner

I had a good birthday. Thank you everyone for the warm wishes. My coworker Linda bought a cake to work, and my supervisor gave me a porcelain pretty of roses and a water can. Unfortunately due to what happened to my Christmas dragon at work, it went home to be displayed there. But since without the entertainment wall unit that's on layaway I don't have a place to put it, it's still in the box.

Everyone else was working so I ended up finally getting my car's air filter and rearranging my living room furniture for the party and the wall unit that I should be able to pick up March 5th. Mom already got me the hall tree for my birthday, so I don't know if she has anything else planned.

And now the mail is here so away I go.

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The BookWorm

Always so Hard to come back after a holiday

Yesterday was a good break. I finally got the tools out of the living room, did my laundry, and Chad took me out to dinner early for my birthday. My birthday is actually tomorrow.

I had a good idea for a Faire skit. We pirates want to take over the ferry, but the problem was with scheduling last year. So this year, schedule the take-over of the ferry and then we get put on trial during Peasant Court. I have to write the trial script, but I think it'll be good.

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The BookWorm

Late tutorial

Quote of the Day: Reality is the leading cause of stress for those in touch with it. -- Jane Wagner

The only time I was really home this weekend, me and Chad were cleaning house for my party this weekend. So no, I didn't get a chance to type. I should be able to do it tonight, or maybe today if we're not swamped.

Tomorrow is off for Mardi Gras. Damn, do I need sleep. But there is just too much piled up at home to do. :p

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The BookWorm

Getting the inertia ball rolling

That's how Chad described it. With my family it's very true.

The talk with my aunt went well. Her position is that it's my grandmother's place to make a decision and she should get fair market value. That was my intention anyways, so no conflicts there. And it's going to take me a year to save for a downpayment, get the paperwork in order. So the next step is getting the property appraised.

Meanwhile, I think I found a house plan that I can incorporate into my plan. It makes a U-shape with bedrooms going down one side and a two-car garage on the other and patio and yard inbetween them. I think I can merge that onto the four rooms the easiest. So my next step is to get the measuring tape and graph paper out and start modifying. I want to disturb the landscaping I have as little as possible. Some of the trees are older than I am. And I like trees.

So now see what work is left and write the writing tutorial.

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The BookWorm

Flashback with no date

Random Quotes I came up on a commute

The human spirit can survive more than you expect it too. Survival is everything. But the soul needs more.

Create, shape, mold, form

Something from nothing

The Need to be better, be something more

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The BookWorm

Ooooo, King Cake

Yes, work has been good. I'm going to have to go and pick one up this weekend because my birthday is falling after Mardi Gras this year by two days. *Pout* Oh well, the pirate pizza party is a good substitute.

Been looking at housing plans. HUD has guarantees on morgtages and another type of loan or grant (I still have to research that more) that allows you to get the money for the mortgage and money for renovations and pay that off with the mortgage. Typically you'd have to settle the mortgage first, then turn around and put the house or property up to get money for repairs--home equity loan. I don't know which way is better--in terms of how much I have to pay--but it's nice to see the options.

Where the housing plans come in. Mom suggested along the lines of what Uncle De had planned was tear out the bathroom, tear out the silly walls making halls, and tear off the kitchen and bedroom. That leaves you with the original 4 room cypress shotgun cottage. Then go down to a concrete slab and build kitchen, bathrooms, and four bedrooms. So I've been looking at various plans trying to see how to tackle that. Nice thing is I have the architech angle sewn up. I just need to figure out my layout.

I'm also trying to decide if I want to go to the trouble of installing central heat and air to the original part of the house. The idea being that the new part would be built to be energy efficient, we'd be adding a new hardwood floor to the original part, and new siding and potentially new roof. That would take care of a lot of the energy waste of the original part. Vents could go through the floor or the ceiling. LOL Better get the place first.

I'll probably go see my aunt and uncle on the ride home Wednesday. Tonight I have to go home and update Alt. BM and hopefully talk to Jazzie.

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The BookWorm

Long range plans

Quote of the Day: We are all born charming, fresh and spontaneous, and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society. -- Judith Martin otherwise know as Miss Manners

I took the plunge and asked my grandmother how much she'd sell the house and an acre of land to me for. She admitted it (and I can tell by her expression) that she had never considered the idea.

Some family history, if it doesn't bore you. The tax records say the original part of the house was built in 1919. It was built as the retirement home of my great-great-grandparents Starkey on my father's side. My great-grandmother inherited it along with a bundle of land, and her brothers cheated her out of the bigger holdings in Pumpkin Center. At some point during my father's lifetime, the detached kitchen was torn down and pine lean-to added that now houses a kitchen and the back bedroom. My parents bought an acre and built their house next door when I was six or seven. Gram insisted that it was bought so it would be community property in case something happened to my father. She was a savvy lady. No one else wanted to live there at the time, and Gram's health was failing. It was a perfect solution. When she died the land and house was divided between my grandmother and my great-uncle's four kids (he had died while they were teenagers; I don't even remember him). My grandmother got the house and maybe a little over an acre with it. And then the fun started.

She moved my father's brother's family in. That only lasted a few months but they had garage sales on all Gram's belongings. We were not given the chance to go and get anything we wanted. They also moved the living room furniture out with them. That we recently got back after my uncle divorced his first wife and Mom threatened her with the law. Then our cousin my great-uncle's oldest son moved in. That lasted for 11 years, and they systematically started destroying the place. Dad finally kicked them out, and they moved a trailer onto his land right next door.

I had just graduated from college and asked if I could rent the place. My grandmother agreed and we started renovating. But instead of doing a real renovation, my uncle (who anticipated my aunt inheriting the house and it should be a rental income for her after he dies) went to work pour money into the kitchen floor, and all brand new cabinets installed over rotting sheet rock. I've already complained about the bathroom. He had to switch doors around so both bedrooms would have doors with doorknobs. He had to put a fancy deadbolt on the front door that is so thin I can kick it in. We had to get a new gas heater because the one that still worked wasn't covered under insurance. Had to put plastic lattice work around the bottom because insurance said so. We couldn't tear out an ugly added-in wall because that would get rid of the third bedroom (the one I'm using as an office). Meanwhile, the whole house needs to be releveled, the sheet rock torn out, the plumbing brought up to at least 1990s standards, and the electricity needs to be updated (the wire from the pole is original for when the first ran electricity to Pumpkin Center).

I want the house. I love the house. The only way I can get the work done on the house without having the entire family squawking over what I'm doing and how it should be done is if I own the house. The only way to insure that it stays in the family and who knows what moves in next as renters is if I own the house. The only way to get the money to do what I want is I have equity. I'm a single, white female with a steady job and decent credit. I qualify for help. Paying for the house seems to be the best way from keeping it from being a big snit-fit. Have Aunt Sissy inherit the hand or give her the money for it.

My grandmother is making a family discussion out of it. So I guess the next step is to see my aunt and father. I know I've told him I want the house, but I don't think he was there when I was talking it over with mother and what were the plans my great-uncle had for changing the house. My aunt and uncle I need to bring onto my side because they're the ones my grandmother listens to.

Time to research FHA.

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The BookWorm

The Day Romance was Invented

Okay, okay, I know I shouldn't be paying any attention to marketing, especially marketing for a diamond jewelry store. I am focused on not being depressed about today. I'm going to clean all the office stuff in the living room; fix the broken chair; dust the bedroom, bathroom, and living room; eat chocolate until I'm sick of it; check on Chad's cat; and watch goofy movies with no romantic subplots. Though I think that choice just leaves me with Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies.

I finished typing the changes to "the Rose" last night before the dinner party, and posted the new version to Pen to Paper.

The dinner party was small, but fun. Though I think I have to agree with Marcie's boyfriend, communication. I'm trying not to be controlling evil girlfriend (Chad and I have a mutual friend with one of those), but I never out and out said "I never had a relationship and Valentine's Day happening at the same time and I'm disappointed with the whole situation."

Time for more chocolate.

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The BookWorm

The weather is nasty

Weather shouldn't be nasty on Friday. Then again, why not? It's a rather sucky Friday all round. I hope the dinner party is fun tonight, even though I don't feel like staying very long.

Since I'm stuck at work until the dinner party, I'm going to work on "The Rose." Maybe I'll surprise myself and be finished with it.

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The BookWorm

Keeping readers happy

Alright, since I have people so curious about the mysterious message. I'll do a back up and explain.

She actually started trashing loving BMFM and recommending that all on the discussion board go get a real life before Christmas (Christmas Eve if I'm remembering correctly). Mize blew up on that one, poor kid is under WAY too much stress.

She came back Feb. 5th saying we were imprisoned by a stupid cartoon that has done nothing for us and they aren't real so go get a job, get a life, get off the board, etc. (Catching the trend here yet). To that one I told her that logging into something she admits to not liking and constantly berating those who find pleasure in it so PROVES she has a fulfilling life. Though that was sarcasm, she probably didn't get it. She did understand my comment that people might take her more serious if she actually learned how to spell, but that helpful advice would just be followed with a whine about how English is not your native tongue. I pointed out that reference books are available. FoxFire started a better thread to point out exactly what the Bros have done for you, which my answer in that thread after Iria's message I linked to led to the "Why write fiction?" thoughts.

The message: Re: GET A LIFE PEOPLE :p for U on good!!!! :P

Posted by iria on Saturday, 7 February 2004, at 11:35 a.m., in response to GET A LIFE PEOPLE :p for U on good!!!! :P, posted by iria on Thursday, 5 February 2004, at 1:46 p.m.

yes my english is bad :) i don´t care much if my message is received anyway! i didn´t want to ofend none but to call for the true! this a stupid cartoon like every cartoon... mice like that don´t exist! life is much more important than to love some idiot mices that don´t exist at all... u all look like the Greeks adoring Zeus Venus etc from the mythology etc... it is out there more people that love u and what ur love!people who deserve your atention because they have done so much things for all of you!! real people with real lifes and real feelings... it is not wrong to come to here to talk with who u want but it is horrible to adore, and even LOVE like much of u do, something invented from some cartonists who want to make money and live their lifes on... do what u want ... but I just informed u! like it is said in my country : who informs you, your friend is...

have a good life, Iria

I didn't bother to point out that I know people who still worship Zues and Aphrodite, or point out the fact that the Bible is mythology too. What peeves me is the assumption that because I enjoy cartoons as a story format and art form and that I discuss it on the Internet, I must be some Internet scum living in my parents' basement doing that while waiting for my child pornography to download. I do more discussion of RenFaire stuff over the Net than I do person to person. I have the tutorials, which are an exploration of writing in general even though the focus is on fanfictions. I read print books without pictures. I go to concerts and movies. I have nookie with my boyfriend. I help remodel my parents' house. I rent my home, I go to my job, and I get paid every two weeks. I have electric bill, phone bill, water bill, Internet access bill, car note, two credit cards, insurance; what more do I need before I have a "real" live?

This is why that board needs a moderator, the first slam should have gotten her access revoked. Why keep letting her in if she doesn't like the cartoon anymore? Save us a lot of grief.

To be more constructive, I answered FoxFire's question: Re: What has the Bros done for you?

Posted by klcthebookworm on Monday, 9 February 2004, at 9:19 a.m., in response to What has the Bros done for you?, posted by Foxfire on Sunday, 8 February 2004, at 12:30 p.m.

They got me the bathroom to myself every school day my senior year. Seriously, since I had to wake my sisters up for school and I wanted to see the show, I was dressed before I woke them up. And I had the TV all to myself while they fought over the bathroom. That was original run of the show.

This site proved that I wasn't the only one who enjoyed this show. It gave me courage to take an awful fanfic and turn it into something worthy of publishing. The project was a wonderful distraction from the summer of Spanish hell, when that was the one class standing between me and my Bachelor's. And in the process I have found some talented people that I'm happy to call friends.

Biker Mice isn't my life, it's a part of my life. And as far as the "it's made up and not worthy of anything" argument goes, fiction is the way to getting to the truth of human existance. It allows you to escape (and there is nothing wrong with that) and empathize with others. It teaches you to become better than you are.

In my professional opinion, some need to stop typing and read more.

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The BookWorm

Hence the germ of an idea I'm exploring more fully in the blog. I'll probably add my old credo once I find it.

In current events: Chad had to work on tax stuff last night, so I actually got through the lynching in "The Rose." Since I now have some dead time at work, I'll probably be getting it finished today.

Valentine's Day officially sucks. Our first one and he's going to Florida. It's job related, so I'm trying to be supportive but it was a bitter disappointment.

And now the mail is here so back to work.

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The BookWorm

How does it relate to fanfiction?

You know there maybe a tutorial lurking in these scattered thoughts.

Now having covered the benefits of fiction, I had to ask myself why bother writing fanfiction. You can't sell it, some owners get down right snarly about it, and it seems on the surface such a waste of time.

Something created is never a waste of time.

And the readers who enjoy it are getting the same benefits that were listed for original fiction.

If nothing else, fanfictions make good practice. Many have gone from fanfiction writing to book publishing (and I can't wait till my name is on that list). Hell, Peter David has made a lucrative career out of book publishing fanfictions. (Paramount does not consider any Star Trek books canon, FYI.) Looking at my writings, I started by rewriting books I had enjoyed reading. Fanfictions are hardly any different. For many people it's their first foray into writing; they could make things more difficult without using the established characters, settings, situations; but don't they have enough just learning to put together a coherent story?

At this point, fanfiction writing for me is practice and a source of pride. I love the stuff I chose to write about (I have to get the stories out of my head regardless) and I have readers I make happy.

And really that is what it boils down to, making your readers happy. Even if you totally upset them with what happens in the story, they'll respect you for doing it. And that somehow transfer to readers' happiness. *Shrug* I don't understand it either. But I do know I absolutely hated what happened in Mostly Harmless, but I'm going to get and read the sixth Hitchhiker someday.

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The BookWorm

Why Write Fiction?

Quote of the Day: My job is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. -- anonymous bumper sticker

Invariably (I think it's on a time schedule of every two years), someone sneers and says you shouldn't waste your time with something made up. (For the latest example: Iria's message). It forces you into an examination of why you do what you do. One of my creative writing teachers said these thoughts should be put down in a credo and updated frequently. Since I really don't know where my credo has ended up (though something tells me I will find it as I clean), here's the thoughts I've had so far since the topic has surfaced.

The above quote sums up what a book and by extension what a writer does. It is getting a story out of your head, and reaching out to touch someone else. You've been touched by books, TV, movies before; made to laugh, made to cry. (And if you haven't don't tell me, I'd rather not know a sociopath is reading my blog.) The first book to make me cry: well, it was a movie Edward Scissorshands.

The theme of a story is its lesson, the moral of the story. The earliest stories have always strived to explain how the universe works in relation to us. Myths, Aesop's fables, Jesus's parables are all true. Modern stories are no different, the lesson is more subliminal. Not that all writers have such a lofty motivation, but when you chose to write an adventure story in which good triumphs over evil because that is what the genre requires, you are choosing to support that morality.

The market for fictionalized true life stories holds true too. Schindler's List, Seabiscuit, Titanic (okay that may be a cheesy example), have a moral at the heart and must be shifted to become entertaining. The truth (i.e. something that happened in real life) has been the basis of many a story. There really was a Sam Shepard, and his wife was murdered before the invention of a one-armed man for the Fugitive. Other writers have used that case as well.

How does all this relate to fanfiction? A topic for tomorrow.

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The BookWorm

My office threw up all over my living room

Saturday: I had to go to a birthday party for my grandfather 80-years-old now and the Bedlam Bards concert at Jaime's. For all that fun, I had to do housework on Sunday.

Well I finished the laundry. I then shifted everything loose or in boxes or what I need to go through out of the office and into the living room. Going through all of it and put it away (or hopefully actually getting to throw some of it away), is going to be a week long project. At least the stacks in the office can't kill me now.

Story notes: I finished "In Sickness." Ahead of schedule by a week really. Not that I care about winning or losing the Mammajammer's Madness, but I was already working on it and I'd feel bad if nobody submitted anything. Still waiting on Jazz to answer her email on "Rat." Probably going to spend the rest of lunch tweaking the crossover so it can go up on the next update.

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The BookWorm

Finally Got the Car Back

Quote of the Day: Be critical. Women have the right to say: This is surface, this falsifies reality, this degrades. -- Tillie Olsen

That's right I finally got my car back, nice and shinny. But missing the antenna. *Shrug* Why can't I win?

Anyways, it is payday and I have to go shopping. I am out of too much stuff.

Need to finish "The Rose" and start on the rewrite Morning suggested for "In Sickness." I also need to write a couple tutorials on cliffhangers, that will take care of the writing tutorial buffer. Still need to work on Grammar Guides and Editing Lessons.

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The BookWorm

I Feel Drained

Quote of the Day: So long as women are slaves, men will be knaves. -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I don't think I slept well due to being angry over my car. No I still don't have it back yet, because my father is a slothful ignoramous. And I'd be calling about it right now, except for the fact that I'd be waking Mom up. Mustard woke me up at 3:30am. I've probably gone overboard on sugar intake and that doesn't help at all.

So I'm going to make today a typing day and not try to stress my brain.

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The BookWorm

A week of no distractions

Quote of the Day: I wasn't allowed to speak while my husband was alive, and since he's gone no one has been able to shut me up. -- Hedda Hopper

Chad is out of town for the week, and I do miss him. But I'm hoping to get some projects finished, namely "The Rose" and "In Sickness."

It's aggravating to know exactly what has to happen in a story, and have no desire to do it. Is this that thing they talk about, being too kind to your characters? Or maybe I just don't like being in Beauty's head.

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The BookWorm

Sick day

The solid food seems to be staying down. I probably need more water. Going to try to get some tryping done.

Or give up and go back to bed. Both sound really good right now.

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The BookWorm