Month: November 2007

  • 50,203

    Need I say more?  

    Well, I will anyhow. Without trying to sound like I just won an Academy Award, I offer thanks.  Thank you TheGoodDoctorJ (for not rolling his eyes too often when I said, “I’m going to write now.”)

    , englishwestern

    (without whom there would be no Lord Farley), arohk,(who explains weapons better than anyone else),  Mamaglop (who actually read some of it and said kind things), Hobbits8 (for all that Facebook encouragement), and most especially AimeeAnne

    ( who asked me to do this in the first place and sent me all sorts of lovely things in the mail and is coming in person in a week!).

    Feel free to congratulate some other NaNo winners–rachelstarr,  kirby1960, and momtoH_VandJ. LaDamedeShallot

     and Ilassie (who didn’t win yet, but I know they will!) are worth congratulating as well.

    Now, someone is sure to ask, “When can I read this great American novel?”   Here’s what
    Vladimir Nabokov had to say about reading rough drafts. “    Only
    ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts.
    It’s like passing around samples of sputum.”  

    Since I certainly fall into the hearty mediocrity camp, I’ll have to say, “Sure, you can read my spit!” But, beware. The plot fluctuates more than a shadow in firelight.  The characters aren’t sure who they are supposed to be and change their personalities as often a five year old changes her clothes. I randomly wrote things and left big, giant gaps when I grew bored with a scene. This novel is by no means finished, and who knows if it ever will be?  

    Anyhoo, thanks for all your encouragement along the way.  We’re having Domino’s and a movie to celebrate. Whoop! Whoop!


  • Deer, Deer Wednesday

    It’s Wednesday again?  I’m having a hard time getting into the swing of school since we had a week off. But, the schedule has been forgiving enough.  Or, maybe I’ve just not been concerned enough!

    It’s hunting season here in PA, and on Monday, our intrepid hunter, Hunter, went out.  He sat in his tree stand for 20 minutes and bagged a doe. About seven minutes after the doe, he got a nice seven point buck. Quite a feat to have both deer tags filled by 7:30 a.m. We have a bulging freezer. (No, I do not process deer at home. The nice folks at Gummo’s Butcher Shop take care of all of that for me.)

    How’s the NaNo-ing coming, you ask? With three days left, I’m at 46,470 words. Barring stomach flu, broken fingers, or the Rapture, I should have the required 50,000 words by midnight, November 30th.  (In the case of the Rapture, I’d pass on making the NaNo goal.) 

    In general, the story stinks.  It meanders aimlessly through various     clichés

    with occasional episodes of coruscating wit. But those bright spots of brilliance are as rare as…um, rare things.  On the good side, though, I’ve learned so much.  “It is an excellent idea to start with a plot and a sense of how to end the book” is one gem of wisdom. 

    A funny thing which I’ve heard writers mention and thought them daft actually happened to me. I’ve heard them say, “I didn’t expect my character to do such and such” or “I never know what my characters will do.”  Excuse me? Whose fingers are on the keyboard after all?  But, the reality is that the same thing has happened to me.  “Aw, man! Why did he have to say that? How am I going to get him out of this situation now?”  Yup. I’ve said it myself.

    I’ve been reading through Isaiah of late–beautiful, powerful words.  A poem I read keeps popping up in my thoughts in the midst of my reading. So, here it is. (Forgive me another poem!)

    The Minor Prophets
    By Michael Lind

         None of the minor
    prophets
    knew that he was minor, of course. Habakkuk, I
    imagine,
         thought that his visions earned him
    standing as Ezekiel’s
    peer, if not indeed Elijah’s.
         Then there was Obadiah,
    who could be
    forgiven if he thought he might be a Moses.
         How they would be
    remembered
    Providence concealed from them all, though they could see the
    future.

         Maybe it doesn’t matter.
    If you’re on a mission from God,
    sent to rebuke a city
         or to redeem a nation,
    where by cannon-makers
    you’re ranked may be inconsequential.
         Nor is the voice within you
    any
    less authentic for not having a distant echo.
         Seers of the world, be
    heartened.
    Even minor prophets can have genuine revelations.

  • Hairy Monday

    Wow. I had a secret hope that I would get as many comments on my last post as I was years old. But, I got my mother’s age in comments! That huge number was a present in itself!

    What’s been going on…hmm…

    Saturday, TGD and I went to see Enchanted. I went prepared to laugh and to like it, and I did.  I joked with TGD that he’d be the oldest guy there without a child along. However, there seemed to be a number of grown up people there on dates.   The movie was clean and entertaining. There was no swearing, very little sex stuff (kissing, princess off-the-shoulder dresses, and the six year old warning the princess while they had their hair done, “Men are only after one thing.”  “What?” said the wide-eyed princess.  “I don’t know!” answered the little girl.), and a fun blend of kid things (the chipmunk and cartoon) and grown up stuff (Um…I suppose it was grown up stuff. I laughed.) I also found it interesting that the princess was in her thirties.

    Speaking of grown up stuff, I found the latest issue of People magazine at my mom’s house over Thanksgiving. It was the sexiest man issue.  (Matt Damon was this year’s winner, in case you care.)  I was surprised at the number of men who had facial hair, or at least facial scruff, in the issue. I got a real kick out of the comment of one of the featured fellows, Ryan Reynolds (Scarlett Johansson’s boyfriend), “…it is important to note that being scruffy has absolutely nothing to do with women  It has everything to do with independence…and with what women might like.” HA!  So, facial hair is in.  See, I always knew my Good Doctor was stylish!

    Do you read People magazine? What’s your guilty “doctor’s office” read?

    PS–Since I was asked, my real presents were

    • a print of The Garden of Eden by Briton Riviere
    • a coupon to get my van totally cleaned inside
    • a lap desk so I can work with my laptop on my lap and not get hot legs
    • a silver bookmark
    • a blue brooch
    • a pair of black, stretchy gloves
    • a Cinderella washcloth
    • three old candy canes (aged to perfection? Um…)
    • two cable-knit sweaters
    • two three-quarter-length-sleeve sweaters
    • a miniature iron for quilting
    • a silky top
    • tea
    • a notepad
    • a music box
    • money
    • much love and joy from all my friends

    It was claimed that introducing me to Ninja Warrior on Friday counted as a present (even though I’ll probably never see the show again). I beg to differ, cheap children.

  • It’s My Birthday!

    And what am I doing? I am sitting at my mom’s watching Ninja Warrior on TV and laughing my head off.  Later today, we will go to a big to-do Thanksgiving dinner at the Glen Richey Fire Hall for all the Bressler clan. (I used to be one in name as well.)  I’ve not opened any presents yet. Being a grown-up person, I can now wait until later in the day.  Uh-huh. Just look at how grown up I can be.

    One early present I got merits mention. Melchisedec gave me something I’ve wanted since high school–a music box which plays the theme to Romeo and Juliet, A Time for Us.  She rocks.

    I appreciated all my virtual presents, too. I’ve got a pile of books, chocolate, bubble bath, a spa day, and wonderful theater tickets. (I think I’ll go to Spamalot.)  Make believe is still fun, is it not?

    Do you still engage in bouts of imagination?

    PS–I’m at 35,101 words in my novel.  Will I be able to make it to 50,000 by November 30th? 

  • Happy Birthday!

    Today is Melchisedec’s 16th. Happy birthday to her!

    Thursday is the happy day for TheDramaQueen2, RuthGreen, and PSUFanInTX. (And two of them will be the same age as me.)  Happy birthdays to all of them.

    Friday will be MY birthday! Yes, it’s that cheerful, jolly time of year again, when my aging is official!  I’m the same age as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Cate Blanchett,  and Gwen Stefani. 

    Now, like most people, I like birthday presents. Unlike most people, the thought of the birthday present is just as good as the present in many instances. (Which would have saved TGD a great deal of money, I’m sure!) 

    What would you like to give me for my birthday?  Yes, I’m a shameless beggar, but it won’t cost you a thing.

    And Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!


  • Little Women

    Both performances were great fun, and the cast and crew did a fabulous job!  I’ll spare you the thousand words (I’m saving those for my novel) and will give you pictures instead.

    The intrepid director and adapter of the novel, the amazing Miss AE B and Amy



    EatYourWeightInCheesePuffs, who was responsible for all the more-than amazing costumes you’ll see (actually sewed ‘um with her mum)


    Dashing and Debonair, Professor Frederick Bhaer (NatetheHunter)

    GhostFroggy, the aged housekeeper with a killer accent, Hannah

    The Men of Little Women
    John Brooke, Mr. March, Servant, Mr. Laurence, Professor Bhaer, and Theodore Laurence



    Melchi–er, Aunt March

    John Brooke, Professor Bhaer (Hunter), and Teddy Laurence

    The Little Women with their Marmee
    Amy, Meg, Marmee, Jo, and Beth

    Amy and Laurie–Wouldn’t you just about commit highway robbery for that dress and hat?

    Beth with her funeral flowers…er, her congratulatory flowers

    The Little Women– Meg, Beth (BlueSmurfGirl), Amy, and Jo (KleineKatze)

    Best fireplace in the whole world and its “masons,” M and E

    So, we’re done, right?

              

    And, there was the amazing stage crew, who wasn’t interested in being photographed, but who did a bang-up job nonetheless!

    Kudos to all!

     

  • Theater

    Last night, Hunter, LibbyK, and I went to see State High’s production of The Miracle Worker. It was very well done, a touching and powerful drama.  But, it was a drama. Ho-hum. I didn’t realize how much I love a comedy on stage.

    Tomorrow, I get to see both productions of Little Women at our church. Hunter is Professor B.  Kleinekatze is Jo.  The costumes look amazing. I haven’t seen much of the play itself, so I can’t report on that. I’ll have to tell you more later.

    “How’s the novel going?” you asked? Thanks for asking! I’ve written 23,664 words so far this month which puts me behind by 3012 words. I don’t know how much writing time I’ll get today (especially if I keep writing Xanga entries). I’ll spend the majority of my evening at Youth Group. Tomorrow, I should be able to get three or four hours in before the first performance of Little Women. I can’t afford to fall any more behind!

    Here’s a poem that I especially liked.

    Beside the Point
    by Stephen Cushman

    The sky has never won a prize.

    The clouds have no careers.
    The rainbow doesn’t say my
    work    ,
    thank goodness.

    The rock in the creek’s not so
    productive.
    The mud on the bank’s not too pragmatic.
    There’s nothing
    useful in the noise
    the wind makes in the leaves.

    Buck up now, my
    fellow superfluity,
    and let’s both be of that worthless
    ilk,
    self-indulgent as shooting stars,
    self-absorbed as
    sunsets.

    Who cares if we’re inconsequential?
    At least we can revel,
    two good-for-nothings,
    in our irrelevance; at least come and make
    no
    difference with me.

    It doesn’t emulate a good ethic, I suppose, but some days, I want to throw all that out the window.

    And, for those who like to look at pictures….

    Gockle420 and his clarinet.  (And a wig, too, in case you wondered)




    The cast of James Bond at Make a Movie Night




    My mantle, or a bit of it at least
     

  • Surprise and Delight

    Today was a tedious day–very little of it at home, hours of it in the car.  I’m not even done with the taxi service yet as I have to pick up Hunter and Wit from Little Women practice. This means no bubble bath and book until around 10:00.  Boo.

    Speaking of books, my novel is coming along well enough. Today is the first day that I’m not forcing myself to make the word limit (which is about 1,700 words a day). I wrote 143 and am saying, “NaNo NaNo Boo-Boo” to it.  So there.

    AimeeAnne is the one who “made” me take on this challenge (for which I am profoundly grateful and have named a village after her).  What did this dear lady do which made me squeal for joy today?  I got my mail and found this!

    It’s my very own NaNoWriMo canvas tote! 


    I was thrilled. I am a huge fan of canvas bags. I am an addict, admirer, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fiend, freak, lover, votary, and zealot when it comes to tote bags. I am a happy lady. Plus, it’s really wide–wide enough for my laptop to fit in it. 

    What nice thing has happened to you lately?

  • First Things First

    I’m home from our last cheerleading competition of the year. The girls did well, but we were announced as the second place team. “Oh, well,” we thought–until we got our scoring sheets. It seems the judges deducted 20 points from our score for doing tumbling (cartwheels, etc.) because we were in the non-tumbling division.  We were quite surprised at this since we told the organizers that we did a basic level of tumbling and expected to be placed in the correct division.  Our head coach (and another coach whose team who had the same issue) went to the organizer.  We didn’t expect any change to our placing, but we wanted to  make sure that this didn’t happen next year. The woman apologized profusely and said that she had forgotten to instruct the judges that we were not to be deducted for tumbling.  They awarded us our 20 points, and we were in first place!

    We didn’t tell the girls until we all  met for supper at  nearby restaurant.  It wouldn’t have been kind to rob the joy from the girls who were announced as first place. So, there were two “firsts.”  But ours was the real one.

    For being a coach this year, I was given a pretty bouquet of roses and such and a $75 gift certificate to the mall!  Woo!

    Random Pictures

    Your’s Truly, the winner of the “First to Blow a Bubble from the Bazooka Gum Given out with Every Check at Baby’s” contest (local competition, our table only)

    Fall–Circleville Road 

    (I took the second picture from the driver’s seat.  That’s my inspection sticker on the dashboard in the corner of the picture.
    Shhh…don’t tell anyone.)

    Another super thing
    about today is that I woke up and felt a bit better from this cold! 
    Granted, it might only have been 10% better, but it was the first time
    in a week that I could see any improvement.  YEAH!

    The NaNoWriMo novel is going well enough. I’ve written over 15,000 words, but I’m feeling very unmotivated tonight. 

    What
    should my princess in exile with her handsome prince and her maid who
    are all being chased by a bad guy and his cohorts do?  Give me some fun
    plot twists, scenes, or new characters!  I’ll name a character or place
    after you. Really, I will.  Just ask Lord Farley.

  • What I’ve Been Doing


    Admiring the orange, sparkly wall in my living room.

    Working on my NaNoWriMo Novel (12, 482 words so far this month).

    Being sick

    Driving, driving, driving–about 375 miles a week or so, just to run the kids to this and that.

    Doing school when I’m not being sick or driving

      

    What have you been  up to?