Tuesday, November 29, 2011

NaNoWriMo: two days

Two days to go, 43,500 words written and I reached the end of what I had plotted out. the novel which as expected didn't stick with the original outline Has reached the end of the story, the sun rises on a new morning of a new day the bad guy is beat, my characters have reconciled, some people are dead some people are alive but really it is the start of something new. now if this wasn't nano I would say that it is time o go through and get rid of the squiggly lines, fix any obvious grammatical errors that i can find (which I'll admit aren't many) and they read for continuity and to see what still needs filling out. But that falls under what I call editing, and in nano there is no editing. So last night i spent some time thinking about what things I could add. See I have a tendency that when I think of something technically, like I need to find a different name to call the towns in general in a curtain part of the world, I make a note of it at the end of the document so I have it when I go to edit. but last night I made a list of things that i could do that were probably needed that I could probably add some stuff to. Of course the big think that might help is that because this is a fantasy and well lets face it how much of the technical stuff do you want to read in the story so I might just add some appendices, that should take care of my word count.

any way that is all I have to say on that topic to day now to get ready for work and find out how many hour's i'll get today. (really my last check was so pathetic 6 hours, not even $50 grrr)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook 21



For Today: July 19, 2011 For more day books
Outside my window... Sun's not out yet, and it apears to be raining. 

I am thinking... how Heresy and Cult or two different things but people seem to get them confused and make them out to be the same thing.   

I am thankful...Cuddling

In the kitchen... Chocolate cake.

I am wearing... Conglomeration of sleep wear.

I am creating... Knitting: The cowl is cast on and going great! I'm not quite happy with my desine, i want a bigger holed lace patern but it does look good, so maybe i will just  make it a hat.  Drawing: none, writing: Nanowrimo word count is at 38594,still pretty far behind but there is still a chance i will make it, if i write 4,000 words a day.

I am going...Well I hope i get to go to work.

I am wondering...Why silly ideas persist even after they are proven to be wrong.

I am reading...The Fools Errand By Robin Hobbs, The Silmarillian By Tolkien, The Allpro By Scott Sigler, Shape Shifters by, S. Lawrence Parrish. I jsut got Inheritance yesterday so I will be starting to read that soon. 

I am hoping... to get thank-yous out. really there isn't that much more to do on them. 

I am looking forward to...the ballet recital this weekend. 

I am hearing... very little it is a quiet morning

One of my favorite things... quiet slow mornings

A few plans for the rest of the week: Ballet, and all the fun stuff for the recital, I am helping with the smaller children.

Picture I feel like sharing...
this picture has been making the rounds on social networks and I think this is pretty neat. 

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Plots

Now that I have finished my series on plots here they all are for your viewing pleasure. the nine basic plots and the Hollywood Plot method.
I Character vs Character, II Character vs Society, III Character vs Fate, IV Character vs Unknown, V Character vs God, VI Character vs Self, VII Character vs Nature, VIII Character vs Machine, IX Character vs Circumstance, X Hollywood method


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Hollywood Formula (plot X)

As a last part to my series on plot I give you a method of understand character and motivation and what can make or break a story. this probably works best or at least more clearly in a story that is character vs Character, however I think that it can be applied to any of the plots because what ever the vs. is it should be represented by something that the Main character can fight or over come.

briefly to give credit where credit is due a lot of the information for this post comes from an Episode of Writing Excuses (6.18) during an interview with Lou Anders of Pry Books, who got it from Dan Decker. I found if very interesting and helpful and I hope any of my readers who are also writers may find it interesting and helpful as they are trying to push out words for Nanowrimo. or just as they are trying to work on whatever novels they are working on.

okay so this formula focuses on three characters: the Protagonist, the Antagonist, and the Friend. The Protagonist in the story is the person that the story is about, there is something that he or she wants. The antagonist stands in the way for the protagonist to get when he or she wants. and the friend pushes the The protagonist to realize what they want and go for it.

The story ends when when three things happen, 1. the Protagonist overcomes the the Antagonist, 2. The protagonist achieves his goal, 3. the Protagonist and the Friend are reconciled. the closer these things can happen together the more emotionally invested the reader will be. kind of cool huh?

not every story follows this formula but it is a good one. and it seems so simple, but this does not understand that antagonist is the same as bad guy, the antagonist is simply the one who stands in the way of what the Protagonist wants. there for the critical thing is to know what the character wants. also it must be somethng tangible  even if there is some sociological stuff going on in the story the goal must be something that can be attained.

So, examples, well I was thinking about using Harry Potter but I think it may have been too long sense I read the series.

However I think we all know that Harry is the protagonist. the next question is what does harry want? there are several things we can say he wants but what would be the one that is over arching to the entire series. we could say that he wants revenge, but i think there is something deeper he wants which is exposed in the first chapter of the first book and then continues to pop up. I think he wants a family, a place where he is loved and where he belongs. I think we can see this by what he sees his parents in book one, in book three what happy thoughts he uses to try and call forth a Patronis, How he views the Weasleys family-whether it is how he reacts to the Christmas present in book one, how he loves living with them in book two, his adventure with them at the start of book four, in every book Harry spends time with the weasleys and though they see him as another son and brother (mostly) and this will become official when he marries Ginny he is always on the outside wanted what Ron has. his desire for family is what makes his relationship with Sirous black so important and an important view into this desire.

So who stands in the way of Harry getting what he wants?

Well It's Voldemort. Voldemort kills Harry's parents, nearly kills Ginny, Separated him from Sirius Black, then there is the strange thing with the wands when they meet in book four, he orders the death of iSrius Black, the death of Dumbledore, the death eaters crashing of the quiditch cup, the crashing of the wedding at the Burrow, the way the piece of his soul poisoned Ron and harry against each other. Harry has to face Voldemort if he is going to get what he wants, a real home.

Now here is the real question, who is Harry's friend? who pushes Herry to get what he wants, who is reconsiled to harry in the end, who is it that guides harry? there are lots of candidates. It could be Ron, Herminone, Dumbledore, Sirus black, Lupin.  But some of them die early int he series, and others... others don't have any massive need for reconciliation. Some of them encourage and stand with harry, some of them guide him, but not one of them really cause him to move outside himself and do what it is he needs to do to aceive his goals, none of them really modivate him towards what his goal is. sure Dumbledore guides and pushes Harry towards a goal, but is it for the modavation that harry has? or is it because it is the right thing to do and Harry is the only one who can do it?

That is right I thin kthe friend in this situation is Snape. Why? well first off there is massive need for reconciliation. Snape is almost always conected to why harry does the things he does, he feeds the modivation of harry and there is a breach between them. Harry doesn't understand Snape, or why Snape does the things he does. the don't make sense until the reconciliation happens. when Snape is killed Harry gets to see a series of memories of Snape's which fill in all the gaps. they explain Snape's motivation and his guilt, and thus his actions. With out Snape Harry would never have done what he did for the reason. unlike Dumbledore Snape is more connected with harry's parents then anyone else. yes he was mocked and tortured by James, but he loved, really loved Lilly. he and harry are reconciled and thus Snape is reconciled with Lilly. And armed with this reconciliation Harry is off to face the antagonist for the final showdown.

So Harry Potter Fans what do you think? Do you agree with me or think I am a nut?
also taking this formula how would the dark knight break down? you may be surprised by the answer.

Thankful Thursday 11-24 Thanksgiving Edition

This week, there are many things this week of all weeks and of all days to be thankful for. After all it is thanksgiving. So for a little bit more then my usual post for a Thankful Thursday.

1. My family, Texts from my mom, Messages from my cousins and aunts and uncles through the wonderful world of the Internet. whither facebook and the blog world. Messages that encourage and challenge and strengthen me. and just plain sometimes remind me that I am connected to a great big wonderful group of people.

2. My church family, they are a great group of people who are commuted to each other to help each other grow  together to become more like Christ. We are a family and it was great to be together on this day. it is a family built around love, trust, encouragement, honesty, and a desire to walk together as we become more like Christ.

3. My husband, I have said it many times and I will say it again I am thankful for my husband, he is a great man of God and Cares for me more then I deserve.

4. My friend Lisa and her husband Josh, they have been and will always be great friends. Lisa had been with me sense the beginning of my time at Asbury. we have lived together and been there for each other in some dark times and some great times. I have know idea where I would be without her.

5. My friends Daniel and Jeanette these two are my friends who become more and more like family every day. they are people who I thank God are in my life. they are sweet friends and people I know I can depend on.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Simple Women's Daybook 20





For Today: July 19, 2011 For more day books
Outside my window... overcast skies, looks like another rainy day. . 

I am thinking..How much I want the Twilight series to disappear   

I am thankful...For electric blinkets

In the kitchen...oh those Science projects in my fridge have got to go.

I am wearing... A nice silky flora nighty

I am creating... Knitting:The cowl is cast on and going great! And I've started designing! I am very excited to see how this works.  Drawing: none, writing: Nanowrimo word count is at 28517, way behind but It is thanks giving weekend and even though I have several things to do depending on how work goes i may be able to catch up no problem. 

I am going...To Work, amazing, I get to go to work to day. I wonder if it will be the only day I work this week. 

I am wondering...Why more people don't read classics? I mean really why don't people read Chaucer, Beowulf  Austin, and Shakespeare. it is very sad to me.

I am reading...The Fools Errand By Robin Hobbs, The Silmarillian By Tolkien, The Allpro By Scott Sigler, Shape Shifters by, S. Lawrence Parrish. 

I am hoping... to get thank-yous out. really there isn't that much more to do on them. 

I am looking forward to...a big thanksgiving dinner and Rock band Christmas party!

I am hearing... The Daily Audio bible, Hebrew's 8

One of my favorite things... Books 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Ballet, Thanksgiving with the McLouds, Rock Band Christmas party at the Jone's

Link I feel like sharing:  One of my favority online comics-goblins

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Jane Eyre: Magic and Fey

I am going to take a break from the Canterbury tales to talk about Jane Eyre. It is the most recent of my reads and despite my back log there are something that I really want to talk about and I have been thinking about in this book for a few weeks now so here we go.

If you don't know the plot of Jane Eyre it is basically a Cinderella story. Jane is an orphan and is fostered by her Aunt. Her aunt hates her and young Jane is sent to a school were she excels in her learning and become a governess to the family of Rochester. the family of course is made up of a Mr. Rochester his fostering and his servants  she falls in love with him but on their wedding day a secret is reviled that is so heavy that she must leave. from near death she is rescued by a reverend and his sisters. she becomes a teacher at a country school. after some strange coincidences She finds out that she has a fortune and what she has always wanted, freedom.  She goes back to find out how Mr. Rochester is and discovers that the thing which kept her from marring her is gone and so they marry and live happily ever after.

Now I am going to say that I am not a big Bronte fan. this is the only book from the sisters that I have read and will probably read. I read this book back when I was living in Bismark and I remember liking it. But I got into a conversation with a friend about it and he said that the whole book was basically about Jane complaining that she was ugly. and there definitively is part of the novel it is not the over arching theme.

Anyway how is that for an introduction? Now on to what I would like to talk about today, the use of fairy language in the book. it may be surprising to learn that a book that is completely grounded in the real world would use as it's imagery Magical language and symbols. the first time the realm of fairies is mentioned is when Jane tells us in the narrative that that as a child she had looked for fairies and never found any so she believed that if there ever where fairies they had long ago left this world.

the first time that she meets Mr. Rochester it is in the fog and he calls her some kind of witch or fairy queen. He  refers to her often as his fairy and at the end of the book she says that if she is a fairy then he is most deffinetly a Browne. emphasizing that he is not the handsome prince charming of stories. there is the strange happen stance of them being able to hear the other's voice over the distance of miles. And interestingly even thought it is not call so, Bertha's madness is also feyish in nature. see at one time the word fey was used to indicate madness. Someone who had been fey touched was mad. this may have been that it was believed if a mortal were to enter the realm of fey it would be so wholly different in nature that their sanity would break.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Plot IX Character vs Circumstance

So this plot took me some time to find movies and books that have this plot. Not because it is not a very good or popular plot, it is just a little different. I suppose that is the way to do it. actually when you really start to think about it. Sometimes it is a back ground to the story that is being told, or the story that is being told would not be told if the circumstances had been any different. The story is about a person who for what ever reason they can not do what they want. the society says you can't do that. now if the character says well I guess that is the way it is and goes home, then there is not story, but if the character says no I'm going to do this, I worked to do this and I am going to do this. See this story is based around the idea that something isn't fair.

Really there are many movies about this, they generally take place in a time that we know was a time when it was hard to be a person. Now sometimes that is a black person during the civil rights movement or before the civil rights movement. movies like Remember The Titans, or Ernest Green Story.

The school is dealing I with having to be both black and white students. Their world is all turned up side down, especially if they have to play for a black coach.

Danzel Washington's character is a black coach coaching a team that has been all white for years, he has to get his team to work together despite the fact that they are predisposed to hate each other.

Now if when the rock got thrown into his window he had decided to say you know this is they way it is and moved his family away where they would be safe then there isn't a story. If the former coach had decided to not stand up against the ref who was calling the game so the Titans would lose then there wouldn't have been a story. but Coach Yoast says not that's not fair, "you call this game fair!"

The Ernest Green Story is about a black young man and 8 others who want to go to school. they are the only 11 black students in the school in 1957. it is the story of the Little Rock Nine. these nine students go to school and they are picked on and treated horribly and eight of them say no this is not fair we want an education they want to go to school.

one of them Minnijean Brown didn't make it. now she was treated horribly and was given a chance at a different school. but the other 8 stood firm were and they made it. here she says it is not worth it, this is the south in 1957 it's just the way it is. and she transfers to a school in New York. (this movie was one of my favorite moves growing up I have the greatest respect for all 9 of these students. I am talking about this story from a plot point of view.)

But the other 8 said, no this isn't fair, and we are going to do this.

Now lets move to a different era. In the 1930s it was hard for everyone, Seabiscuit is a great because that horse embodied the struggles of the working class of the 1930s. and the movie does a great job of taking us through the thirties by use of pictures from the era. here is a horse that is wrong, a jockey who is too big, and men who are all at the end of their rope. so what do they do when people tell them that they can't possibly be considered part of the horse racing world.

they spit in the eye of convention and do it. "it's not fair you can't keep us out just because we don't meet you Qualifications."


Of course that is the whole point of this plot. first the character has the ability to do something, and the desire to do it. but something in the way the world works says no for some arbitrary reason desired by Polite Society.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thankful Thursday 11-17

Today I am thankful for many things.
1. I am thankful for the way Nanowrimo helps me to prioritize, and on one particular piece of writing. I am currently at 25433 words. a little behind but I will catch up again. and I have come up with some really stuff. I really thing that when this is done if I only get to 50,000 (which is really just a detailed out line) I will have very little that will need to be scrapped.

2. Today I am actually thankful for my job. I know that is strange sense I hate my job but for some reason it hasn't seemed so bad lately. I don't know if it is because i am looking for a knew job so i may be leaving it soon, or if looking at what a new job is going t require of me is making me appreciate curtain aspects. like the way my hours are set up, like how my breaks are set up, like how i can listen to my I-pod all day and not worry about anything, like how I can be in my own world. those things are all nice.

3. I am thankful that the holiday season is here. I love the holidays, from Holloween to thanksgiving to Kinderstad  or more commonly known as St. Nicholas day, to my daddy's birthday (yes it is part of the holiday season,) Christmas eve, Christmas day, New years, and of course the Superbowl. there is very little i don't like about this time of year.

4. I am thankful for my husband, yes I am always thankful for my husband. he is a great man of god who loves me, encourages me and truly wants me to be happy.

5. I am thankful for my friends in Kentucky, you are my surrogate family and I love you.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High. 
Ps. 7:17

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Out of the Notebook 4 (Nanowrimo)

Well it is November, so I have been writing a lot. not as much as I should write probably but more then normal. besides I don't get to go to work today so I will probably do a couple hour write-a-thon, maybe this afternoon. watch facebook for updates.

So as normal for November I push aside all of my different projects to focus on one. This year I have chosen a western style fantasy, oh I just thought of something I need to see if I can add to the story, Mexican Stand Off, I don't have one of those yet. hmmm.... could be fun.

any way it is going pretty well, better then last year or the year before. I am at 20915, but I need to be at 25000 by the end of today. I have added a new character and maybe if things get bad i'll watch some of my favorite westerns to get some ideas.

this is what my work board looks like. it always has what ever project I am currently working on. the yellow cards are character cards, the purple cards are act one, the red are act two and the green are act three. each piece of paper is the original scene list that I Mapped out in the planning period back in October. these will be updated when I give each scene a card in my editing phase. up in the corner is a sketch i did of one of my main characters. and of course my two inspirational things that are always on my work board: the holy ghost, and the novelty key card made for the special conference we hosted at the Best western Ramkota inn, in Bismark, they had Casablanca as their theme. on the card is Humphrey Bogart saying, "Here's looking at you kid."

so that is my writing up date this month, however be on the look out for more nano updates.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Simple Women's Daybook 19






For Today: July 19, 2011 For more day books
Outside my window... School bus just went by. the trees are black against a light blue over cast sky. 

I am thinking..it chilly. 

I am thankful...For friends New and Old.

In the kitchen... a mess that has to be cleaned. Seriously I  have science projects growing in my fridge.

I am wearing... My purple Eeyore pj's that says moody sense .1966.

I am creating... Knitting: i am almost done with a pair of mittens for Hannah's first birthday present- Greg's idea. I re cast on my cowl, but i think the differences between a size 6 needle and a size 7 needle is bigger then i originally thought. it looks really big. Drawing: none, writing: Nanowrimo word count is at 20915 So I am 700 words behind. I'm not really that worried but hey it's all good. I should be able to catch up by the end of the week. 

I am going...To Work, Then I have several errands to run. 

I am wondering... about knitting for some reason I have been inspired to start designing knit wear, to sell, and to try and make it part of a living. it is a thought i have had for a while now, but I am not sure what to do with it , if it is just a passing fancy or something that could actually work.

I am reading...The Fools Errand By Robin Hobbs, The Silmarillian By Tolkien, The Allpro By Scott Sigler, Shape Shifters by, S. Lawrence Parrish. 

I am hoping... Still trying to get thank yous in the mail, that is just a continuing problem. I have gotten most of them written i just need to take the time to put my address on them and put them in the mail. and thatwork thing with work it's self out.

I am looking forward to...Hanging out with friends. 

I am hearing... The Daily Audio bible, Hebrew's 8

One of my favorite things... watching children grow. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Ballet, bible study, hanging out at the Jones' and having people over on Friday.

Link I feel like sharing:  I haven't shared a picture in a while but here is a link i found that I'd like to share. Standard action is an independent series about a group of adventurers. the acting is good the set is amazing and really considering this is independent production and pretty much a bunch of friends getting together it is really good. 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Write a thon

I know I know another post about Nano, but you know what it is November what do you expect? any way Because my job is a little lame and there is not enough work to go around i don't get to go to work today. So sense i fell behind the last couple of days I'm going to do a write-a-thon today. my goal is to get to 20004.

Crazy? Yes but hey that is the way It is going to be. I'll up date here and on facebook and on Google plus as the day goes on. Now excuse me my first hour has turned into 45 minuets while i have been writing this blog post.

edit: did not make the goal of 20004, but I did make it to 17540, I'm gunna call to day a win!

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Random thoughts on the publishing world

Today is normally the day I would talk about what is on my art desk. guess what I have not drawn a single sketch all month. it sucks but that is my problem. I have had other things on my mind. like getting my Cinderella socks done, and well writing. it is November after all. so much of my time the last month has gone into that. and that has been going very good. yesterday was the first day when  i didn't write hardly anything, but I had a bad day yesterday, the kind of day where you think I just want to hid under a blanket till this is all over, type of day.

any way today is a new day, and I have decided that it will be a good day, even if i don't get to go to work today. there is plenty of reasons this day will be far better then yesterday. -anyway enough discussion on my life, on to the subject of the blog.

I've been thinking a lot about the publishing world. I want to be a writer someday and Sometimes the publishing world looks full of possibilities, and other times it looks like a dark and scary place. Let's face it anyone can publish these days, with amazon leading the way in e-books the prices of such things are setting the bar very low. the audience wants their entertainment for free or very little. not going to lie I've listened to several free audio books through pod casts. books that I wouldn't have read other wise. and I've read a couple of books on blogs that I wouldn't have read other wise. then there is also the problem where everyone who participates in NaNoWriMo thinks they have something worth publishing and when a publisher wont take it they publish it on the web. yes that is a generalization but there are those who do it, what would be an editor's Slush Pile is now cluttering up space in the world of electronic publishing. The thing about the publishing companies is that they had quality control.

This makes wanting to break out as a writer daunting. but I have had some thoughts on something else, Serialized Novels.  Many Classic books were written this way. it is how comics were written and still are. in fact  the internet has made it easier for comic artists and writers to break out because they have the ability to get their product out to their reader group. and that is awesome, why can't writers (novelists in particular) do the same? I know some people do this through their blogs, but why can't the media of the internet and e-publishing betaken advantage of to make the writing more accessible and make a little cash on the side?
By the way Current nano  word count: 12175

Monday, November 07, 2011

Simple woman's day book 18





For Today: July 19, 2011 For more day books
Outside my window... A dim sun rise, thanks to daylight savings I get to have sunshine in the morning again for a little bit. 

I am thinking..about what it means to be a writer in this world, what ever happened to serialized novels and could they be brought back? 

I am thankful...a husband who prays for me.

In the kitchen... Pumpkin cookies, and chocolate cake

I am wearing... My Pink panther Pajamas, and my brown house coat.

I am creating... Knitting: Cinderella socks are done, blanket is still on the needles, a bag, I also cast on my cowl, or tried to, sometimes I get confused when reading charts. Drawing; Icon, and some fantasy sketches are still on the art desk but I haven't worked on any of the in over a week. writing: Nanowrimo is of with a blast, I am at 12000 words and going strong. 

I am going...To Work, I hope, then i have a job interview at 5:00, I don't know what I want that to result in. 

I am wondering... If a writer to make money again by switching to the old style of Serialized novels. it was the way that many classics were written.  I wonder if that model could work again.

I am reading...The Fools Errand By Robin Hobbs, The Silmarillian By Tolkien, The Allpro By Scott Sigler, Shape Shifters by, S. Lawrence Parrish

I am hoping... Still trying to get thank yous in the mail. and that I get feeling better. and that I figure out what I should do about this job. 

I am looking forward to...Hannah's first birthday party. 

I am hearing... The Daily Audio bible, Cars driving by.

One of my favorite things... The electric blanket.  

A few plans for the rest of the week: Interview, Ballet, bible study, Girls night, and Hannah's first birthday party. 

Friday, November 04, 2011

Plot VIII: Character VS Machine

Oo oo, I love this one!. this one is scary, this one is real. okay any of the plots can be real but this one, it is at the heart of movies like I Robot, Terminator, Space Odessy, and the Matrix. Machines are stronger then we are. we may have created them but what happens if some day someone creates the super computer which some how either becomes sentient or because of its cold logic realizes that the human race is self destructive and can not act in its best interest. Or R.U.R could happen, which was a lot like what happened in the matrix although in R.U.R the Robots took over because humans had become lazy using the robot slaves to do everything.

But then even if the Machines don't some how make the super computer that needs to make the human race logical or domesticated. there is always the fact that machines are built to do tasks better then humans. more efficient. A single machine can make jobs obsolete, then people are out of work. That is the whole idea behind the story of Paul Bunyan. here Paul is having a good old time working with the loggers who then meet their match in a machine who can chop more wood. its the story behind John Henry, only difference is that john Henry wins his match against the steam powered machine that is drilling holes through mountainsides for the train to go through. interesting how the white man loses against the machine but the Black man wins? Just a random thought

but you know what is really scary about this plot, we use machines ever day. they make our lives easier, they do all kinds of tasks for us, what if they suddenly turned on us? that is what happened in Space Odessy. the computer that did everything for them, that they took for granted that would always do what it was supposed to turned on them and killed everyone in the space ship. again this is scary stuff.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for My dearest friend Ryan Andrews. Tuesday was her birthday and I wish that i lived close enough to have spent some time with her. See Ryan has been my friend for as long as I can remember. there was no time in my life when she was not my friend. we grew up together. I refused to miss her wedding, and she was my Matron of Honor. My life would be missing something if she was not in it. we have been through a lot, her dragging me around the supermarket because she learned to walk first, sharing pacifiers, playing hide and seek amount the clothing racks at stores, pretending that my mom's water bed was a tramp (nearly ended very badly for me cause the window was open and I fell thank God for Ryan, she saved me that day), Having funerals for moths, camp, vbs, navigating high school, men and college. and now here we are hundreds of miles apart and still friends. 

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

And it starts...


Today is day two of NaNoWriMo. and I think I am off to a good start. Nothing amazing, but I wrote over 2,000 and I hope that this will continue. See I am Kinda worried because this first week of November is actually pretty busy for me. Monday was spooky time on main which my church was doing stuff with, yesterday was the feast of all saints, today I have bible study, tomorrow I will be going over to my good friends' house to play games all night, and Friday I will be having friends over to once again play games all night. I hope to keep up the word count. then on Sunday I have a pot luck to go to at another friend's house. a little girl's first birthday party.


but luckily I will not be traveling this year for thanksgiving, though there will be thanksgiving dinner somewhere, either with the McLouds or the Jones, and of course the first annual Christmas party.

Oh and to top it off my job has entered a state of insecurity. Part f me doesn't care because well it will come back, but another part of me remembers that this is one of the problems with my job, it is completely unstable and unreliable. So depending on what that does I may be job searching. fun times right?

Okay enough of this whining. I really need to get some cheese good luck on day two to all the nanos, or wrimos which ever title you prefer.
current word count: 2072 


Tuesday, November 01, 2011

On The Needles 4

Well, when I first sat down to talk about this month's knitting i didn't think there was going to be a lot to share. but I made a trip to the knitting store, so there are somethings to share.

Lisa and I went out to explore the knitting stores of Lexington and this is what we came back with. ReBella was nice and small but the help was not very helpful. I don't know if She figured we knew what we were looking for or if she just didn't want to be bothered. Stitch Nitch on the other hand was big and felt a lot like a used book store with stuff everywhere. the ladies were amazingly helpful. 

So a Break down of the yarn i bought. the first two on the left are super wash Merino and I am hoping to make some socks from them for my sisters. the next one is recycled cotton which I am using to make a BYOB bag to use for transporting recyclables and or groceries. Next is a tweed Sport weight which i hope to make a gift out of for Nikki. and Last but not least my un-dyed Alpaca. oh I love love love this yarn it is so soft and amazing. I found it at the store and couldn't stop petting it. I can't wait to cast on the cowl I plan to make with it. 

Finished progects: I got a dish cloth made for Lucia's wedding present. 

On the needles: well my Cinderella socks are almost done I had hoped to be able to share them today All I have left are the cuff. I re cast on my blanket with yarn that my mom gave me years ago. and my BYOB bag is cast on. 

Future projects: Nikki's Christmas gift. a doll for Dottie, a bear for Rocken, an Elephante for Hannah, Maybe Christmas gifts for my parents, two baby hats, 4 dish cloths, and Greg wants me to make him a pair of socks.