This is a report, a rather amusing report if I do say so myself, that I wrote for my Spanish class probably about a year ago. At that time, my brother known here as Draik was still living at home.
“Hey mom.” “What?” “I need to watch TV in Spanish again.” “Oh.”
With that, my mother, usually fastened to the couch or rocking chair from 4-10, departed for her bedroom. I shrugged and turned on the TV just in time to catch the beginning of our ‘favorite’ Spanish game show, A Que No Puedes!
“What does that mean, anyway?” Ty asked.
“Something like, ‘you can’t do this,’” I replied.
My dad had wandered into the room. “So they do all these stunts, and then the contestants have to try to do them?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
My sister Random turned from the TV to me with an odd look on her face. “bob, did he just…”
“Yes, he did just stare blatantly at that woman’s chest. They do that a lot on this channel. I’m sorry, I would watch a soap if any were on.”
Dad grinned. “You mean that ‘Diablo con los Guapos’ or something?”
“Or the Spanish ‘Desperate Housewives’?” Draik added.
“Yes. Like that. Now be quiet so I can watch this. I need to write a paper on it for my Spanish class.”
All was quiet for a while, as a typical game show got on much how a typical game show does, in Spanish or English. Only the ways to win money change; in this case, contestants get it by doing stunts.
“bob, why are there scantily clad dancers?” Poor, innocent, 12-year-old Ty was purposefully looking away from the screen.
I shrugged. “’Cause they can. Honestly, all the shows I’ve watched, aside from the soaps, have scantily clad dancers for apparently no reason. Apparently the Spanish channels don’t have as much of a sense of propriety as Americans do. Or, perhaps, Americans swear and are more violent on TV, and Spanish channels are more sensual. Oh, nobody watch this commercial.” I turned off the TV for a couple of minutes.
As A Que no Puedes! ended, Random looked at me again. “Who won?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the Spanish shows care more about the spectacle than the winning of money. Oh, look, the clown show is on!”
Draik turned away from the computer, where he was facebooking as if his life depended on it. “What? Why clowns? What happens?”
“I don’t know. Stuff.”
“bob, why are there scantily clad cat dancers?” Ty couldn’t get past the dancers, apparently.
“I don’t know. Aw, man, they didn’t do the armpit dance.”
Dad had wandered into the room again. “Armpit dance?”
“Yeah. The cat dancers go along in front of the front row of the audience and show them their armpits, while everyone pretends they are really stinky.”
“Why?” It doesn’t matter who said this, since everyone was thinking it.
“I have no idea.”
“Hey, bob, what are they saying?” This was Danny, looking up from the DS long enough to notice that there was something going on in the living room.
“Oh, the clown dude is instructing that other dude to profess his love to the cat dancer, as if they were actors in a movie or something.”
“Why?”
At this point, I turned my eyes heavenward. “I really don’t know. In fact, I don’t know why most of the things that happened on Spanish shows happen. They seem to have no purpose whatsoever. Makes you wonder how all these apparent traditions got started.”
“So a key factor in being a Spanish show is that you don’t make any sense?”
“Yeah, something along those lines.”
Danny went back to his DS-ing. “Spanish people are weird.”
I shrugged, which is something I seem to do a lot while watching Spanish TV. “Oh, look, they’re going to have people sing now.”
“Why?”
“If someone says that word again, I will send you all to bed. I don’t know why. It’s kinda like American Idol auditions, though, except it’s all a joke.”
“Is that one old woman really a man?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re putting honey on that guy’s head!”
“Yeah, they do that while people sing.”
“Put honey on their heads?”
“Well, do odd stuff in general. Like put wigs or sunglasses on them, or tie them up, or dump stuff on them. Oh, look, now the clown guy is going to sing. He has a good voice.”
“What’s he singing about?”
“Um… his heart, and how it belongs to a girl, and something about going to a restaurant.”
Draik gave me a skeptical look from the computer. “Don’t you know Spanish?”
“Not that well! I’m working on it, mmkay? And anyway, he’s singing kinda fast and stuff. Oh! Hey! I recognized that phrase – I learned it in Dance of the Cucumber. What a great song. I wonder if I could get extra credit for singing it in Spanish class. I could certainly use the points.”
“bob, are you almost done yet?”
I raised my eyebrows at Random. “You could go to bed.”
“I don’t want to go to bed.”
“It’s past your bedtime. Oh, nobody watch this commercial.” I turned off the TV again. This time, I forgot to turn it on for a good ten minutes. “Blast, now I’ll have to watch more.”
“Why are you watching TV in Spanish, anyway?”
I gave Random an exasperated look. “I think I already went over this. I have to for my class, for a cultural activity. I have to observe something and write about how it differs from our culture, as well as noting any new words or phrases I learn.”
Random looked dismayed. “So you’ll have to do this again?”
“No. I can only do it once. Now hush, I need to pay attention. I don’t know if I’ve yet learned and observed enough to fill a page.”
Out of all that I learned from watching Spanish TV the other day, I think the thing I will remember the most is that I should never watch it with all my siblings in the room. Not only is some of it a little to adult for some of them, they can’t keep their mouths shut!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Things
Watching Goober eat seafood she's never had before is hilarious.
High School Musical 3 is hilarious.
I'm entirely unhappy that I left my camera in the car.
I'm still full.
My play refuses to be good.
And it's due tomorrow.
High School Musical 3 is hilarious.
I'm entirely unhappy that I left my camera in the car.
I'm still full.
My play refuses to be good.
And it's due tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Someday She'll Be A Star
Last night, mother, Siri and I were watching the American Idol auditions at my insistence. (I don't watch the actual show, just the auditions.) This put Siri and me into very singing moods, I as I did dishes during the commercials and she, well, all the time.
At one point she made this odd "Ahhh-ooo" or something sound, and then sang "Bow chicka bow bow" and did actions. I was quite amused and told her that she should do it again while I filmed her.
This is what she came up with.
If anyone knows how to get this video not-sideways, I'd be most grateful if you'd share that information with me.
At one point she made this odd "Ahhh-ooo" or something sound, and then sang "Bow chicka bow bow" and did actions. I was quite amused and told her that she should do it again while I filmed her.
This is what she came up with.
If anyone knows how to get this video not-sideways, I'd be most grateful if you'd share that information with me.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Poor Caitlin
Caiti doesn't like some of the toys she recently inherited from her older sister Siri. Topping her list of dislikes is this toy:
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The Room Adventures, Part Three and a Half: It's Easy Painting Green
Sometimes I wonder why I capitalize everything in any title I write. I don't yet have an answer.
Now to go on about that artisticness...
This was me. As I said before, I was inspired by the green paint.
Random's hand print. Doesn't show up nearly as well as white on blue. Also, Random didn't have much paint on her hand when she pressed it against the wall.
Goober's only contribution this time.
This was where I imprisoned Goober so that she would do the fiddly bits for me. *evil cackle*
Getting paint on the door was an accident. After that, well, I'm always one who wants to take the easy road, so we painted the door instead of cleaning off the paint. I'm glad we did. It looks nice now.
The Room Adventures, while far from over, seem to be over for the time being. I have one more post, one more set of pictures, and then I'll be done for a while. It's been fun!
Now to go on about that artisticness...
This was me. As I said before, I was inspired by the green paint.
Random's hand print. Doesn't show up nearly as well as white on blue. Also, Random didn't have much paint on her hand when she pressed it against the wall.
Goober's only contribution this time.
This was where I imprisoned Goober so that she would do the fiddly bits for me. *evil cackle*
Getting paint on the door was an accident. After that, well, I'm always one who wants to take the easy road, so we painted the door instead of cleaning off the paint. I'm glad we did. It looks nice now.
The Room Adventures, while far from over, seem to be over for the time being. I have one more post, one more set of pictures, and then I'll be done for a while. It's been fun!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Options
1. Stick it out in Spanish this semester, hopefully getting a doctor's note and working with the university to make it easier.
2. Drop Spanish this semester and work at getting better at not getting myself sick so I can take Spanish later.
3. Taking math is not an option.
4. Try to get into ASL. Learning hand motions for English words has got to be better for my poor befuddled mind than learning new words and verbs and tenses and sentence structures and stuff.
5. Dying is not an option.
6. School is important.
2. Drop Spanish this semester and work at getting better at not getting myself sick so I can take Spanish later.
3. Taking math is not an option.
4. Try to get into ASL. Learning hand motions for English words has got to be better for my poor befuddled mind than learning new words and verbs and tenses and sentence structures and stuff.
5. Dying is not an option.
6. School is important.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Bulletin
The Room Adventures coverage has been slightly postponed due to massive headaches. It is tentatively scheduled to return to regular broadcasting tomorrow, depending on how bad the headaches are and how well bob manages her time.
Thank you for your attention and concern.
-The Boss
Thank you for your attention and concern.
-The Boss
Saturday, January 03, 2009
The Room Adventures, Part Three: Distracted by Shelving
Yesterday there was more than painting to do. School starts next week, and I had books to buy. First was a trip to the bank to get a new card and to make sure that the grant had been deposited (yay grant!), then to BYU to buy my one textbook and other supplies. Money spent on school: less than $200.
Then off to do some room-related errands!
The wallpaper store where we finally bought the paint. We'd realized that we needed to do more than one coat, and so needed more than one can, and since we were insisting on mistint paint we got a whitish color and a light green, assured that the green would mix in and be even lighter.
We couldn't find the exact primer we'd used at the wallpaper store, and we needed some more of that, so we headed off for Lowe's again. And here was where we were distracted.
Distracted by shelving.
I need shelves in my room, you see; I have much stuff, and I'll be down to one carroll by the end of this. So we got some shelves.
Apparently we were gone a bit too long. (Random and Siri had come along for the ride, but we'd left them in the car.)
And, well, despite how long we'd been out already, I was now remembering that I needed new rugs too. So it was off to WalMart!
Goober vetoed this rug. We eventually got some cream colored ones, and finally finally headed home. With chocolate. Blasted Valentine's Day sale...
We finished up the primer - there hadn't been much to do - and got out the green and white paint.
All marbleized and pretty before we mixed it together properly.
Now to paint!
We're something of a creative lot, so of course we can't just paint. Oh no. We had started playing back with the first coat of primer.
Goober's handprints.
I started this flower, but Goober finished it. I particularly like the little leaf.
This started out as a regular smiley face - just two lines for eyes, a line for a mouth, and a tongue. Then Goober kept going, adding hair, the rest of the head, a neck (I thought it was a goatee at first) and a shirt. I snapped the picture as soon as I had stopped laughing.
But Goober was not satisfied with it, and she continued even after I'd gotten the picture. She added so much that I really thought we'd be missing out if I didn't take another picture.
The white on the dark blue was really fun - it stood out a lot. But green on white was fun too. I was the first to draw something.
A something that blogger refuses to load. Rrrg. Well, stay tuned for part three and a half, I suppose.
Then off to do some room-related errands!
The wallpaper store where we finally bought the paint. We'd realized that we needed to do more than one coat, and so needed more than one can, and since we were insisting on mistint paint we got a whitish color and a light green, assured that the green would mix in and be even lighter.
We couldn't find the exact primer we'd used at the wallpaper store, and we needed some more of that, so we headed off for Lowe's again. And here was where we were distracted.
Distracted by shelving.
I need shelves in my room, you see; I have much stuff, and I'll be down to one carroll by the end of this. So we got some shelves.
Apparently we were gone a bit too long. (Random and Siri had come along for the ride, but we'd left them in the car.)
And, well, despite how long we'd been out already, I was now remembering that I needed new rugs too. So it was off to WalMart!
Goober vetoed this rug. We eventually got some cream colored ones, and finally finally headed home. With chocolate. Blasted Valentine's Day sale...
We finished up the primer - there hadn't been much to do - and got out the green and white paint.
All marbleized and pretty before we mixed it together properly.
Now to paint!
We're something of a creative lot, so of course we can't just paint. Oh no. We had started playing back with the first coat of primer.
Goober's handprints.
I started this flower, but Goober finished it. I particularly like the little leaf.
This started out as a regular smiley face - just two lines for eyes, a line for a mouth, and a tongue. Then Goober kept going, adding hair, the rest of the head, a neck (I thought it was a goatee at first) and a shirt. I snapped the picture as soon as I had stopped laughing.
But Goober was not satisfied with it, and she continued even after I'd gotten the picture. She added so much that I really thought we'd be missing out if I didn't take another picture.
The white on the dark blue was really fun - it stood out a lot. But green on white was fun too. I was the first to draw something.
A something that blogger refuses to load. Rrrg. Well, stay tuned for part three and a half, I suppose.
Friday, January 02, 2009
The Room Adventures, Part Two and a Half: The Shoe of Life
Well here's the picture of Siri that blogger refused to put up earlier. I wonder why they don't like her.
Taking down things in the wall... which prompted even more jokes of a risqué nature.
Time for priming! Exciting!
And this time we'll make Random do the fiddly bits.
The Room Adventures, Part Two: Fiddly Bits
The stripping continues!
While Goober continued working on the huge patches, I got the stepladder and started working on all the bits left up near the ceiling. And here is where I found a phrase I love to say and describes the bane of my existence: fiddly bits.
These are fiddly bits. They sit there, taunting me, purposely only coming off in tiny pieces while Goober stands there pulling off entire sheets at one go.
There had been fiddly bits earlier too.
All these little bits that had to be picked up and put away... it's so much more fun to carry around boxes and bags of stuff, not pick up little bits of trash and little things to put away.
There is not yet a picture of me in these Adventures so here's me pulling down some fiddly bits:
Finally all the wallpaper was down, aside from little bits that would come off with scrubbing. So we took off on a trip, intending to buy paint and sponges for scrubbing.
After trips to a fabric store, a craft store, a closed paint store, and WalMart, we had purchased a ceiling (more on that later), some food, and sponges. No paint. Not yet. And sadly, there are no pictures of this epic trip.
Now to scrub the walls! With all the lingering white bits gone, Goober noticed that the patches that had been repaired years ago looked like clouds.
Now it was time to put primer on the walls, and it was at this point that Camryn became a real nuisance.
Cute, but in the way.
And here is where I get so frustrated with the way blogger keeps refusing to upload my photos that I give up and leave the story of the primer for another time.
While Goober continued working on the huge patches, I got the stepladder and started working on all the bits left up near the ceiling. And here is where I found a phrase I love to say and describes the bane of my existence: fiddly bits.
These are fiddly bits. They sit there, taunting me, purposely only coming off in tiny pieces while Goober stands there pulling off entire sheets at one go.There had been fiddly bits earlier too.
All these little bits that had to be picked up and put away... it's so much more fun to carry around boxes and bags of stuff, not pick up little bits of trash and little things to put away.There is not yet a picture of me in these Adventures so here's me pulling down some fiddly bits:
Finally all the wallpaper was down, aside from little bits that would come off with scrubbing. So we took off on a trip, intending to buy paint and sponges for scrubbing.
After trips to a fabric store, a craft store, a closed paint store, and WalMart, we had purchased a ceiling (more on that later), some food, and sponges. No paint. Not yet. And sadly, there are no pictures of this epic trip.
Now to scrub the walls! With all the lingering white bits gone, Goober noticed that the patches that had been repaired years ago looked like clouds.
Now it was time to put primer on the walls, and it was at this point that Camryn became a real nuisance.
Cute, but in the way.
And here is where I get so frustrated with the way blogger keeps refusing to upload my photos that I give up and leave the story of the primer for another time.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Room Adventures, Part One: Stripping in the Basement
Goober hates it when my room is messy. Hates it. When she first said we would be cleaning my room together, I wasn't surprised. What did surprise me was that she meant it - I had taken it as a subtle hint that I should really clean my room.
Several months later, she was once again sure that we should clean my room - thoroughly.
Oh, I know the fridge there and the edge of the carroll look messy, but that wall is missing posters, papers, necklaces and the like hung from pins, my mirror, and a bookshelf that should be off to the right there.
That wall, obviously, still has its posters and junk. And there's another carroll. And Siri's chest of drawers. And bookshelves. And stuff hanging from the ceiling.
Have I told you about my ceiling yet?
This ceiling? Or lack thereof?
I am much in the habit of hanging things from it. It can be quite useful at times.
And there's my closet. And the scoring on the wallpaper that I did when I was ten or something.
I had to clean out my fridge before moving it.
Maybe I should clean out my fridge a little more often. (If you guessed that that's a chunk of cheese there, you win the prize!)
And things over here are vanishing too! And DUST!
Are you wondering where we're putting all this stuff?
In the boy's bathroom, meaning that we couldn't shut the door and were therefore forced to put up this makeshift door.
In the hallway in front of the door to the boy's room. (And no, I couldn't be bothered to turn these pictures properly. You try doing what I did today and then see how much you want to fiddle with images.)
In the family room, piled on top of junk that was already there.
In boxes in the family room.
Tomorrow I'll put up a picture of what the family room looks like right now. For the moment I'll leave you with one word: inaccessible.
Wow... it's all empty-like.
Ducks! Also, the age-old question: my room is the darkest in the house. I never get direct sunlight. So what idiot decided to paint and wallpaper in dark colors??
I think it's time for that dark wallpaper to go down.
All that stripping left me and Goober with appetites, and so we quit and feasted on festive New Year's Eve snacks.
What was I doing New Year's? Stripping in the basement.
Several months later, she was once again sure that we should clean my room - thoroughly.
Oh, I know the fridge there and the edge of the carroll look messy, but that wall is missing posters, papers, necklaces and the like hung from pins, my mirror, and a bookshelf that should be off to the right there.
That wall, obviously, still has its posters and junk. And there's another carroll. And Siri's chest of drawers. And bookshelves. And stuff hanging from the ceiling.Have I told you about my ceiling yet?
This ceiling? Or lack thereof? 
I am much in the habit of hanging things from it. It can be quite useful at times.
And there's my closet. And the scoring on the wallpaper that I did when I was ten or something.I had to clean out my fridge before moving it.
Maybe I should clean out my fridge a little more often. (If you guessed that that's a chunk of cheese there, you win the prize!)
And things over here are vanishing too! And DUST!Are you wondering where we're putting all this stuff?
In the boy's bathroom, meaning that we couldn't shut the door and were therefore forced to put up this makeshift door.
In the hallway in front of the door to the boy's room. (And no, I couldn't be bothered to turn these pictures properly. You try doing what I did today and then see how much you want to fiddle with images.)
In the family room, piled on top of junk that was already there. 
In boxes in the family room.Tomorrow I'll put up a picture of what the family room looks like right now. For the moment I'll leave you with one word: inaccessible.
Wow... it's all empty-like.
Ducks! Also, the age-old question: my room is the darkest in the house. I never get direct sunlight. So what idiot decided to paint and wallpaper in dark colors??I think it's time for that dark wallpaper to go down.
All that stripping left me and Goober with appetites, and so we quit and feasted on festive New Year's Eve snacks. What was I doing New Year's? Stripping in the basement.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Huzzah?
It seems we have officially pinpointed what is making me sick this time. Yay! Except that we can only be so sure because I'm sick right now. My mother will be keeping an eye on me for the next couple of days to make sure I'm at least getting water in me, and after that I should be recovering again.
Yay?
In other news, the hamster that my sister was promised for Christmas was purchased. She's a pretty little thing, and I would post a picture of her if, you know, I had one. Taking pictures of a hamster is a little hard when one is confined to the couch. Boo named her Rocky and is a little obsessed by it. I feel rather guilty about the fact that I purposely pay more attention to her when she's looking in the cage, ready to pounce on any hamster lore she made up or order her away when I think she's been there too long. I'm a jerk, but sometimes that poor thing just wants to be left alone.
Ow.
Unfortunately, things have been so *something* that I had to abandon my Twelve Days of Christmas stuff, unless I feel like trying to catch up today which is unlikely.
And right now I would like to fall asleep.
Yay?
In other news, the hamster that my sister was promised for Christmas was purchased. She's a pretty little thing, and I would post a picture of her if, you know, I had one. Taking pictures of a hamster is a little hard when one is confined to the couch. Boo named her Rocky and is a little obsessed by it. I feel rather guilty about the fact that I purposely pay more attention to her when she's looking in the cage, ready to pounce on any hamster lore she made up or order her away when I think she's been there too long. I'm a jerk, but sometimes that poor thing just wants to be left alone.
Ow.
Unfortunately, things have been so *something* that I had to abandon my Twelve Days of Christmas stuff, unless I feel like trying to catch up today which is unlikely.
And right now I would like to fall asleep.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Rock Band
Patsy, the non-singer of the family (can sing but doesn't, so doesn't have as much training as the rest of us): best at the mic.
Draik, bob, Random (aka the singers): good at everything but mic.
Best way to watch while not playing: lie on the floor under the TV and watch it upside down.
Only way to get Siri out of our hair: let her play drums every once and a while (and then redo the song) or turn of the mic or guitar and give it to her.
Cait: in the way.
Wrists: hurting.
Hilarity: ensues.
Draik, bob, Random (aka the singers): good at everything but mic.
Best way to watch while not playing: lie on the floor under the TV and watch it upside down.
Only way to get Siri out of our hair: let her play drums every once and a while (and then redo the song) or turn of the mic or guitar and give it to her.
Cait: in the way.
Wrists: hurting.
Hilarity: ensues.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
My Genius Brother - Again
You remember this guy? Well, he's just told me that he has a blog. It's called The Legend of Dextrose, and it may be rather amusing at times. Especially if he starts putting his comics up regularly.
So... y'all should go check it out? 'Cause he's my brother and all, you know.
So... y'all should go check it out? 'Cause he's my brother and all, you know.
So Much Scrooge
So, apparently, when I've been up since seven and watching Scrooge movies since nine AM and it's now past nine PM, I go a little batty.
For one thing, after that many movies, the Scrooges start seeming very stupid. "What are you doing? Haven't you learned yet? Are you going to let Belle/Emily/Alice go again? Why are you still surprised by these ghosts? How could you not know about Tiny Tim? You've saved his life five times already! How are you not realizing that you're the dead guy they're talking about? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, MAN.
And then there's the actor-in-training in me that notices all the things wrong with the movie and the actors. I do that all the time, but when it starts getting late I start saying things out loud. Usually people would tell me to shut up, but last night we were all a little batty and I actually got laughs instead.
Yes.
But there were many happy things yesterday that either saved me from going insane or made going insane more fun (not quite sure yet). Things such as dead people, covered in chains and coming through the floors and walls and ceiling while singing; Scrooge singing a song about how he hates people; memorizing the "boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart" line without trying; discovering that, out of eleven movies, only three Ghosts of Christmas Past were male, all Ghosts of Christmas Present were male, and only one Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was female; guessing what parts/names are actually in the story (I've never read it); and have I mentioned the "I hate people" song? And that pole-dancing barely-dressed Ghost of Christmas Past in particular was pretty interesting.
We've all learned a lot this year. Next year, the Sesame Street one will be on at eight in the morning, we'll ditch about three of the movies entirely, the offerings will be more than scones and hot chocolate (sugar overload ahoy!) and we'll have a lunch break. We'll also probably have five-minute breaks between movies to get some cleaning done so we don't have it all to do the next day, so if you're planning to come next year, save potty breaks for after the movie. : D
I would say that was enough of Scrooge movies to last me the rest of the year, but we're already planning to watch two of them again today, so I suppose I'd be lying.
For one thing, after that many movies, the Scrooges start seeming very stupid. "What are you doing? Haven't you learned yet? Are you going to let Belle/Emily/Alice go again? Why are you still surprised by these ghosts? How could you not know about Tiny Tim? You've saved his life five times already! How are you not realizing that you're the dead guy they're talking about? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, MAN.
And then there's the actor-in-training in me that notices all the things wrong with the movie and the actors. I do that all the time, but when it starts getting late I start saying things out loud. Usually people would tell me to shut up, but last night we were all a little batty and I actually got laughs instead.
Yes.
But there were many happy things yesterday that either saved me from going insane or made going insane more fun (not quite sure yet). Things such as dead people, covered in chains and coming through the floors and walls and ceiling while singing; Scrooge singing a song about how he hates people; memorizing the "boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart" line without trying; discovering that, out of eleven movies, only three Ghosts of Christmas Past were male, all Ghosts of Christmas Present were male, and only one Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was female; guessing what parts/names are actually in the story (I've never read it); and have I mentioned the "I hate people" song? And that pole-dancing barely-dressed Ghost of Christmas Past in particular was pretty interesting.
We've all learned a lot this year. Next year, the Sesame Street one will be on at eight in the morning, we'll ditch about three of the movies entirely, the offerings will be more than scones and hot chocolate (sugar overload ahoy!) and we'll have a lunch break. We'll also probably have five-minute breaks between movies to get some cleaning done so we don't have it all to do the next day, so if you're planning to come next year, save potty breaks for after the movie. : D
I would say that was enough of Scrooge movies to last me the rest of the year, but we're already planning to watch two of them again today, so I suppose I'd be lying.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I'm rather sad that I didn't take pictures at that party last night, but then I still don't know where my camera cord is and my new one won't be coming until next week, so I wouldn't be able to put them up yesterday.
But there was a party yesterday, even if I have no pictures of it. (No, wait, I have maybe two pictures. And then there was that time I let Siri use my camera...)
This was probably our least boisterous party to date. Goober/Sexy Paper Snowflake and I arrived in remarkably high spirits, but sleep-deprived Fred did a good job of getting us all down and the party was past over by 10:00.
Don't worry, Fred, love you anyway. ; )
I also wasn't my favorite party because Siri was being a complete brat half of the time (at one point she was an extremely embarrassing brat...) and I rammed my pinkie toe into a chair at one point and, as such, have been hobbling around all day.
Final final tomorrow; hopefully my toe will feel better. And hopefully I'll get some studying done.
Bedtime!
But there was a party yesterday, even if I have no pictures of it. (No, wait, I have maybe two pictures. And then there was that time I let Siri use my camera...)
This was probably our least boisterous party to date. Goober/Sexy Paper Snowflake and I arrived in remarkably high spirits, but sleep-deprived Fred did a good job of getting us all down and the party was past over by 10:00.
Don't worry, Fred, love you anyway. ; )
I also wasn't my favorite party because Siri was being a complete brat half of the time (at one point she was an extremely embarrassing brat...) and I rammed my pinkie toe into a chair at one point and, as such, have been hobbling around all day.
Final final tomorrow; hopefully my toe will feel better. And hopefully I'll get some studying done.
Bedtime!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
AHHHHHHHH!
So, today was the day I had set aside to get my Music 201 test done. It's a test that takes several hours for me, since I don't do the reading, often don't go to class, and often don't take notes when I do go to class; but it's an online test and open book, so I don't flunk.
So, I pretty much spent the whole day on it, with breaks for interneting, taking care of siblings, and eating. At 7 PM I finally hit "submit."
And then an error happened.
I freaked out and hurried back to look at the test. My grades showed that I was still taking it. I opened the test again.
Questions 1-15 were the only ones done.
I freaked out again. I groaned and carried my sister in to the living room (somehow it was my job to hold her most of the day, despite the fact that I was taking a final) and grumped at my mother, who was properly sorry. I sat back down and unhappily told my siblings, also sitting at the dinner table, that I had to do most of the test over again.
And then Random burst into song.
"When the news is all bad
When you're sour and blue
When you start to get mad
You should do what I do:
Tell yourself how lucky you are!
When your life's going wrong
When the fates are unkind
When you're limping along
And get kicked from behind
Tell yourself how lucky you are!
Why decry a cloudy sky
An empty purse
A crazy universe
My philosophy is simply:
Things could be worse!
So be happy you're here
Think of life as a thrill!
And when worst comes to worst
As we all know it will
Thank your lucky stars you've gotten this far
And tell yourself how lucky you are."
It's from Suessical, a song called "How Lucky You Are." The Cat in the Hat sings it to the Whos as they're falling through the air toward almost certain doom.
In another half hour, I had finished the test for a second time, and submitted my score. 84%. Not bad.
Hi, Random. This one's for you.
So, I pretty much spent the whole day on it, with breaks for interneting, taking care of siblings, and eating. At 7 PM I finally hit "submit."
And then an error happened.
I freaked out and hurried back to look at the test. My grades showed that I was still taking it. I opened the test again.
Questions 1-15 were the only ones done.
I freaked out again. I groaned and carried my sister in to the living room (somehow it was my job to hold her most of the day, despite the fact that I was taking a final) and grumped at my mother, who was properly sorry. I sat back down and unhappily told my siblings, also sitting at the dinner table, that I had to do most of the test over again.
And then Random burst into song.
"When the news is all bad
When you're sour and blue
When you start to get mad
You should do what I do:
Tell yourself how lucky you are!
When your life's going wrong
When the fates are unkind
When you're limping along
And get kicked from behind
Tell yourself how lucky you are!
Why decry a cloudy sky
An empty purse
A crazy universe
My philosophy is simply:
Things could be worse!
So be happy you're here
Think of life as a thrill!
And when worst comes to worst
As we all know it will
Thank your lucky stars you've gotten this far
And tell yourself how lucky you are."
It's from Suessical, a song called "How Lucky You Are." The Cat in the Hat sings it to the Whos as they're falling through the air toward almost certain doom.
In another half hour, I had finished the test for a second time, and submitted my score. 84%. Not bad.
Hi, Random. This one's for you.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Good To Know
I think I'll be a good mother.
Today was a hard day. I was trying to get homework done, homework that was actually due on Thursday and that will fail me if I don't turn it in. And my mother was gone, so I was the primary caretaker (dad needs direct orders most of the time in order to be of much help ; D). And Boo was so rrrg. And Siri was desperate for more attention, desperate to get in the way, and possessing more energy than she knew what to do with.
And yet, aside from one outburst, I was able to deal with everything calmly, even getting Boo to clean the living room, the rest of the children to do their chores, dinner made, Boo and Siri bathed in record time and off to bed, and Caiti fed, dressed, and in bed. I may not have gotten all my homework done, but I do feel somewhat accomplished all the same.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
Lying
My mother has been having a problem with my sister. She (my sister, not my mother) is going through a lying phase. You know, the kind where the parent starts referencing "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Yesterday mother really got upset; my sister insisted she hadn't been the one to take the new hat loom ("I'm serious!"), but after a quick search of the living room I looked on my sister's bed and there it was. She got a long talking to and was rather subdued for a while.
This got me thinking about the lying phase I went through. I don't remember when mine started, but I do know I hit the top when I broke a downstairs window by twirling around in the front yard with a can on a rope and then releasing the rope. My parents weren't home at the time, and when they did come home I tried to blame it on a boy who lived across the street.
They, of course, didn't believe me; I don't think they even mentioned it to the boy's parents. A few days later I sneaked some microwave popcorn while they were out and denied it when they came home, despite the fact that they could smell the popcorn. I eventually admitted yes, I did sneak the popcorn, and they said, basically, that they had known that and it was things like this that really made them wonder if I was telling the truth about the window. And, I don't know, sometime after that I confessed to the window too.
The point is that parents know things. All the time. Kids think they're being sneaky, that their parents have no idea, when in fact their parents are two steps in front of them shaking their heads. I, as the oldest, have been endowed with some of these powers too, and I can tell you I don't know why my parents let me think I was ahead of them for so long. I can tell, from the way a sibling hesitates or changes the tone of voice or something, that they are lying, and yet they think they're being all sneaky. NOT SO, MY GOOD SIBLINGS. We can tell when you haven't really cleaned your room. We can tell when you hurriedly put away the Wii as we pulled into the driveway. We can tell when you've been on the computer half the night. We know who woke up Caiti, who played with my laptop without permission, and who stole the last of mother's poptarts.
And yet they keep trying, and we keep letting them.
This got me thinking about the lying phase I went through. I don't remember when mine started, but I do know I hit the top when I broke a downstairs window by twirling around in the front yard with a can on a rope and then releasing the rope. My parents weren't home at the time, and when they did come home I tried to blame it on a boy who lived across the street.
They, of course, didn't believe me; I don't think they even mentioned it to the boy's parents. A few days later I sneaked some microwave popcorn while they were out and denied it when they came home, despite the fact that they could smell the popcorn. I eventually admitted yes, I did sneak the popcorn, and they said, basically, that they had known that and it was things like this that really made them wonder if I was telling the truth about the window. And, I don't know, sometime after that I confessed to the window too.
The point is that parents know things. All the time. Kids think they're being sneaky, that their parents have no idea, when in fact their parents are two steps in front of them shaking their heads. I, as the oldest, have been endowed with some of these powers too, and I can tell you I don't know why my parents let me think I was ahead of them for so long. I can tell, from the way a sibling hesitates or changes the tone of voice or something, that they are lying, and yet they think they're being all sneaky. NOT SO, MY GOOD SIBLINGS. We can tell when you haven't really cleaned your room. We can tell when you hurriedly put away the Wii as we pulled into the driveway. We can tell when you've been on the computer half the night. We know who woke up Caiti, who played with my laptop without permission, and who stole the last of mother's poptarts.
And yet they keep trying, and we keep letting them.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Winner!!!
I've heard that the second year of NaNo is the hardest. That this is the year when everything combines against you and you find your wordcount lagging and you motivation lagging too.That certainly didn't apply to me.
As most of my readers know, I hit the 50,000 mark on the 19th - not too shabby for what was supposed to be my hardest year. And this was despite many struggles I had - frequent burnout for no reason, needing to help take care of my siblings, school, being deathly ill, and temporary blindness come to mind. But I did it! And I close this day with 90,286 words.
It's been fun. It's been great! Last year I did it more or less alone, and this year I had several friends and some family, which is probably why I did so well and so quickly. Convincing Fred to join, and getting in a word war with him, was probably the best thing for my word count.
I probably would have done better if the weekly meetings I had with Fredji, m&m, Unit of Energy, and occasionally Goober and Sam had been more about serious writing than making fun of each other and goofing off together, but it was more fun this way. I hope everyone wants to do it again next year!
I also had great fun with my characters. Kristy and Ezekiel are like two friends of mine now, and the rest of the cast is hanging about, smiling and gently prodding me to make the story better so they actually have meaningful parts in it. I've had great fun creating their world and will enjoy improving it.
I'm also a little sad. NaNo has such a magic about it, the wonder of having a deadline, and of having the widgets and wars and the website to update on. And now it's over, over for another year. A year! That's a long, long time.
A long, long time that I should spend improving this year's (and last year's!) writing.
But it's time, for now, to say goodbye. And to start writing 'goodbye' as one word again, and put hyphens where they belong, and use contractions, and not add a 'very' and a 'really' wherever possible. Time to start worrying about quality as well as quantity. And time to not put writing first, time to rediscover a decent bedtime, exercise, cleaning my room, and timely homework. And studying. That would be good.
Everything Hates Me
There are twelve hours left of November.
I'm at just over 84,000 words.
Fredjikrang is ahead of me.
I can't keep my eyes open.
Yeah. We'll see how this goes.
I'm at just over 84,000 words.
Fredjikrang is ahead of me.
I can't keep my eyes open.
Yeah. We'll see how this goes.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Arrrg.
I am ashamed.
So very, very ashamed.
So ashamed that I hardly know how to keep my head up.
And so I am most definitely going to share the reason for my deep, deep shame, so you can all laugh at me.
You see, I went to see the Twilight movie to day, which, as I said earlier, I would be going to see, in deep shame and disguised. I ended up not going in disguse, but I was ashamed.
And when the movie had ended...
Oh heavens above, I liked it.
I LIKED IT.
I am so disgusted with myself that I can hardly stand it.
It was still rather bad, of course. There were some problems with the book itself that got transferred to the movie. The whole thing was rather rushed. That Kristen girl's voice was monotone most of the time - sometimes that worked, and other times not really. Also, there were many things that were too easy to make fun of, and I got yelled at for snarking too loudly. And there were lots of other things wrong with it.
But I liked it.
*sigh*
So very, very ashamed.
So ashamed that I hardly know how to keep my head up.
And so I am most definitely going to share the reason for my deep, deep shame, so you can all laugh at me.
You see, I went to see the Twilight movie to day, which, as I said earlier, I would be going to see, in deep shame and disguised. I ended up not going in disguse, but I was ashamed.
And when the movie had ended...
Oh heavens above, I liked it.
I LIKED IT.
I am so disgusted with myself that I can hardly stand it.
It was still rather bad, of course. There were some problems with the book itself that got transferred to the movie. The whole thing was rather rushed. That Kristen girl's voice was monotone most of the time - sometimes that worked, and other times not really. Also, there were many things that were too easy to make fun of, and I got yelled at for snarking too loudly. And there were lots of other things wrong with it.
But I liked it.
*sigh*
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Erp.
Ahhhhhhglglrup.
Blarrrrrg.
Ew.
I feel sick, and for once it's not due to the flu or eating something wrong or something.
I at a good thanksgiving dinner, during which my aunt mentioned this site. So I had to check it out. I even got some pie while reading the tribute site over here.
I only barely finished that pie, and only then because I wasn't thinking about it.
ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew
And now I will sit here, wait for my stomach to settle, and work on my novel. Have I mentioned I'm going for 100,000 words? I am. Right now I'm at 76,000 some-odd. That's like being at 26,000 words with only tonight and three more days to go.
I can totally do it.
As long as I don't start throwing up, or starve because I can't stand to think of food.
(I had determined today that I would start putting pictures on my posts, 'cause those are just so nice. But after writing this post, I decided that posting a relevant picture would be rather mean.)
Blarrrrrg.
Ew.
I feel sick, and for once it's not due to the flu or eating something wrong or something.
I at a good thanksgiving dinner, during which my aunt mentioned this site. So I had to check it out. I even got some pie while reading the tribute site over here.
I only barely finished that pie, and only then because I wasn't thinking about it.
ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew
And now I will sit here, wait for my stomach to settle, and work on my novel. Have I mentioned I'm going for 100,000 words? I am. Right now I'm at 76,000 some-odd. That's like being at 26,000 words with only tonight and three more days to go.
I can totally do it.
As long as I don't start throwing up, or starve because I can't stand to think of food.
(I had determined today that I would start putting pictures on my posts, 'cause those are just so nice. But after writing this post, I decided that posting a relevant picture would be rather mean.)
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Curse of the Cold
Something I kinda knew already but now know even more:
I have trouble sleeping when I have a cold.
This is dramatic, mates. I'm the kind of person who starts getting sleepy around 9:30 at the latest, and doesn't like being in bed with the lights off past that time on a school night. I'm usually pretty early to bed, so I'm able to get up at six in the morning.
And yet here I am, on a school night, updating my blog before I go work on my NaNo (yes, Fred, I see that you're ahead; rejoice while you can) at 11:00 at night.
Yesterday was even worse. I went to bed and I tried EVERYTHING I could think of - iPod music, relaxation exercises, making up stories, praying, begging... nothing worked. Staying in bed, lying down, became torture. I eventually wandered upstairs (at a quarter to three), put on a movie, and crashed on the couch, which happens to be more comfortable than my futon. And even then I didn't get to sleep until after four in the morning, after the movie was over and my brother had turned off the computer and the lights and made his bed on a couple of couch cushions on the floor.
I HATE THIS. Even though it did lead to some quality time with my brother last night (this morning?) and upping of my word count tonight. I just want to sleep at normal times, please. And not having a stuffed up and/or runny nose, plus the headache and the sore throat, would be nice too.
Bleh.
I have trouble sleeping when I have a cold.
This is dramatic, mates. I'm the kind of person who starts getting sleepy around 9:30 at the latest, and doesn't like being in bed with the lights off past that time on a school night. I'm usually pretty early to bed, so I'm able to get up at six in the morning.
And yet here I am, on a school night, updating my blog before I go work on my NaNo (yes, Fred, I see that you're ahead; rejoice while you can) at 11:00 at night.
Yesterday was even worse. I went to bed and I tried EVERYTHING I could think of - iPod music, relaxation exercises, making up stories, praying, begging... nothing worked. Staying in bed, lying down, became torture. I eventually wandered upstairs (at a quarter to three), put on a movie, and crashed on the couch, which happens to be more comfortable than my futon. And even then I didn't get to sleep until after four in the morning, after the movie was over and my brother had turned off the computer and the lights and made his bed on a couple of couch cushions on the floor.
I HATE THIS. Even though it did lead to some quality time with my brother last night (this morning?) and upping of my word count tonight. I just want to sleep at normal times, please. And not having a stuffed up and/or runny nose, plus the headache and the sore throat, would be nice too.
Bleh.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What a Special Day
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
This is my 100th post, and today is the day that I got to 50,000 words (behind dear Fred, but still).
In the last 100 posts I have talked about:
Valentine's Day, what I see, suspicious persons, excuses, Script Frenzy, sisters, my room, singing (also here and here), Divine Comedy, the Essay of Doom, stupid pedestrians, sprinklers, my birthday (and party), UFOs, sisters again, stupid drivers, hiking, camping, frustration, my genius brother, sisters yet again, NaNoWriMo, magic, a secret mission, dying (also here), Goodsearch, anticipation, money, names, my new baby sister, getting up early, siblings, pi, working on the event staff, Eric Snyder, and failure.
Also, did I mention that I got to 50,000 words today?
This is my 100th post, and today is the day that I got to 50,000 words (behind dear Fred, but still).
In the last 100 posts I have talked about:
Valentine's Day, what I see, suspicious persons, excuses, Script Frenzy, sisters, my room, singing (also here and here), Divine Comedy, the Essay of Doom, stupid pedestrians, sprinklers, my birthday (and party), UFOs, sisters again, stupid drivers, hiking, camping, frustration, my genius brother, sisters yet again, NaNoWriMo, magic, a secret mission, dying (also here), Goodsearch, anticipation, money, names, my new baby sister, getting up early, siblings, pi, working on the event staff, Eric Snyder, and failure.
Also, did I mention that I got to 50,000 words today?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I'm Vixen
Today wasn't the best day for writing. Yeah, I got about 4000 words and caught up with Fredji again (he hasn't passed me again, has he?), but I did most of that after midnight this morning, before I went to bed. Today when I sat down to write (I skipped church due to weird eye problems - calling the doctor tomorrow), I got sidetracked.
Boy did I ever get sidetracked.
It started out easily enough. I simply checked Pottersues, and somehow from there ended up on a very long biography on one of the most famous/infamous Big Name Fans in the Harry Potter fandom.
...yeah.
And then all the writing I did do was stuff that almost certainly will not end up in even the second draft, much less the actual finished project (assuming I get there). Somehow I don't think a detailed description of the characters playing card games and tag hide-and-go-seek will have much impact on the plot. Of course, you never know... me deciding to detail their laser tag games earlier this week gave me a few good moments. (Poor Willow. That's all I have to say.)
Still, could have done better; I'm only about 50 above Fred, and SLC is starting to beat we Elsewhere people in our word war. Blast it all!
Oh, yeah. The title of the post, for those of you who are wondering, has to do with this year's Christmas pajamas for my family. We eight children are being reindeer (brown long-sleeved shirts and dark pants and antlers) and my parents are Santa and Mrs. Claus. We were each assigned names which will eventually be on our shirts. I'm Vixen.
Also: check out the new banner at the photo counter in the Bookstore (they'll get it up eventually...) it should have pictures of my family on it, in our Christmas pajamas. Some we took tonight, and some from quite a few years ago. Quite a few. Really. Several. As in, my youngest two sisters are missing. A long time ago. And while you're there looking at the vaguely embarrassing photos, if you see guy who has brown hair, glasses, and a name tag reading "Jeff," say hi, and tell him you know his daughter bob. He may or may not know who you're referring to. : D
Boy did I ever get sidetracked.
It started out easily enough. I simply checked Pottersues, and somehow from there ended up on a very long biography on one of the most famous/infamous Big Name Fans in the Harry Potter fandom.
...yeah.
And then all the writing I did do was stuff that almost certainly will not end up in even the second draft, much less the actual finished project (assuming I get there). Somehow I don't think a detailed description of the characters playing card games and tag hide-and-go-seek will have much impact on the plot. Of course, you never know... me deciding to detail their laser tag games earlier this week gave me a few good moments. (Poor Willow. That's all I have to say.)
Still, could have done better; I'm only about 50 above Fred, and SLC is starting to beat we Elsewhere people in our word war. Blast it all!
Oh, yeah. The title of the post, for those of you who are wondering, has to do with this year's Christmas pajamas for my family. We eight children are being reindeer (brown long-sleeved shirts and dark pants and antlers) and my parents are Santa and Mrs. Claus. We were each assigned names which will eventually be on our shirts. I'm Vixen.
Also: check out the new banner at the photo counter in the Bookstore (they'll get it up eventually...) it should have pictures of my family on it, in our Christmas pajamas. Some we took tonight, and some from quite a few years ago. Quite a few. Really. Several. As in, my youngest two sisters are missing. A long time ago. And while you're there looking at the vaguely embarrassing photos, if you see guy who has brown hair, glasses, and a name tag reading "Jeff," say hi, and tell him you know his daughter bob. He may or may not know who you're referring to. : D
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I'm Dead, I'm Dead, I'm Dying
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
So... being dead gives my creativity a boost and allows my fingers to type with blinding speed? Something like that. Or something. 'Cause, ah, I've jumped up by... 7000 words. I would say I'm sorry, Fredji, but I'm not really.
I suppose that almost makes up for the fact that I didn't write at all for three days straight.
Honestly, I don't really know what happened. It was well documented that I was dying - I said so several times, and several people saw me, including my father who was rather concerned - and yet now I'm sitting here, perfectly fine, and only stopping the mad typing because I really need to get up early tomorrow. I do kinda want to pass Spanish.
Which reminds me that I haven't done that interview that's due tomorrow. Which reminds me that I need to get that letter to that one person. Urg.
Let me tell you, pretending I'd never written all that romance and giving the theater department a certain fondness for laser tag has done wonders to my word count.
Days left of NaNo: 17
Word count: 38294
Donations: $15
So... being dead gives my creativity a boost and allows my fingers to type with blinding speed? Something like that. Or something. 'Cause, ah, I've jumped up by... 7000 words. I would say I'm sorry, Fredji, but I'm not really.
I suppose that almost makes up for the fact that I didn't write at all for three days straight.
Honestly, I don't really know what happened. It was well documented that I was dying - I said so several times, and several people saw me, including my father who was rather concerned - and yet now I'm sitting here, perfectly fine, and only stopping the mad typing because I really need to get up early tomorrow. I do kinda want to pass Spanish.
Which reminds me that I haven't done that interview that's due tomorrow. Which reminds me that I need to get that letter to that one person. Urg.
Let me tell you, pretending I'd never written all that romance and giving the theater department a certain fondness for laser tag has done wonders to my word count.
Days left of NaNo: 17
Word count: 38294
Donations: $15
The Truth
"Hi! How are you?"
"Great."
A pause. "You don't look great."
"Sometimes I have to modify what I mean by 'great' in order to be telling the truth."
"Oh. Um. Well, you look kinda like you're dying, actually."
"I am. But it's a great kind of dying."
"Uh... right."
"Great."
A pause. "You don't look great."
"Sometimes I have to modify what I mean by 'great' in order to be telling the truth."
"Oh. Um. Well, you look kinda like you're dying, actually."
"I am. But it's a great kind of dying."
"Uh... right."
Monday, November 10, 2008
What Some People Will Do For $20
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Perhaps if I post now, I won't keep working on my novel. And I'll be able to get some Spanish homework done. *sigh* I'm so going to fail that class if I don't get my rear in gear...
Saturday was the last home football game. As usual, I worked, along with my good friend Goober. There are only two other people at our gate; a girl I'll call Sam and a guy I'll call Rhett.
It was the worst game in memory as far as me being sick; I ended up in the back room asleep for an hour or so. When I got back out they were just taking our ticket line poles away, leaving holes in the ground. Rhett, who is an interesting young man and is always up for a joke or argument, said that he'd give $20 to anyone who licked one of the holes.
Sam said she was up for it. She spent several minutes laughing nervously, examining the holes to find the cleanest one, laughing nervously, and insisting she really was going to do it. Then she spent several minutes on her knees laughing nervously, sweeping her hair up with one hand, laughing nervously, and insisting she really was going to do it.
And then all of a sudden she was standing up, and there was dirt on her tongue. She showed it to Rhett, then washed her tongue, then spit several times. She continued spitting until she had something to eat - a hot dog she bought with the $20, leaving $17 some-odd left. She proclaimed several times that it was the best thing she had ever done.
I think she's insane.
But! There is something I can learn for her: what would I be willing to do for $20? What could I do that people would be willing to give me $20 for?
Now, those of you who read my blog know that I've been asking, near begging, for donations to The Office of Letters and :Light, the non-profit that runs NaNoWriMo. And now I'm going to do something more. What could I do that would make you lot willing to donate? I'm asking for suggestions - though don't suggest if you don't mean it, 'cause once you suggest it I will hold you to it. Of course, I won't necessarily do everything you suggest...
But I mean it. DONATE. Even if you aren't willing to do so until I do some stunt or something.
Days left of NaNo: 20
Word count: 31316
Donations: $15
Perhaps if I post now, I won't keep working on my novel. And I'll be able to get some Spanish homework done. *sigh* I'm so going to fail that class if I don't get my rear in gear...
Saturday was the last home football game. As usual, I worked, along with my good friend Goober. There are only two other people at our gate; a girl I'll call Sam and a guy I'll call Rhett.
It was the worst game in memory as far as me being sick; I ended up in the back room asleep for an hour or so. When I got back out they were just taking our ticket line poles away, leaving holes in the ground. Rhett, who is an interesting young man and is always up for a joke or argument, said that he'd give $20 to anyone who licked one of the holes.
Sam said she was up for it. She spent several minutes laughing nervously, examining the holes to find the cleanest one, laughing nervously, and insisting she really was going to do it. Then she spent several minutes on her knees laughing nervously, sweeping her hair up with one hand, laughing nervously, and insisting she really was going to do it.
And then all of a sudden she was standing up, and there was dirt on her tongue. She showed it to Rhett, then washed her tongue, then spit several times. She continued spitting until she had something to eat - a hot dog she bought with the $20, leaving $17 some-odd left. She proclaimed several times that it was the best thing she had ever done.
I think she's insane.
But! There is something I can learn for her: what would I be willing to do for $20? What could I do that people would be willing to give me $20 for?
Now, those of you who read my blog know that I've been asking, near begging, for donations to The Office of Letters and :Light, the non-profit that runs NaNoWriMo. And now I'm going to do something more. What could I do that would make you lot willing to donate? I'm asking for suggestions - though don't suggest if you don't mean it, 'cause once you suggest it I will hold you to it. Of course, I won't necessarily do everything you suggest...
But I mean it. DONATE. Even if you aren't willing to do so until I do some stunt or something.
Days left of NaNo: 20
Word count: 31316
Donations: $15
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Up Far Too Late
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Want to know something I find funny? I have gotten at least one comment on ever single NaNo post, but before then I received very few comments, and the one post I've written since the start of NaNo that wasn't about NaNo didn't get any comments. NaNo is, indeed, a magical thing. : D
Today was an exceptionally annoying day all around. I couldn't stop writing. I had to lead choir practice and was almost 20 minutes late for the half-hour practice. I wrote in a notebook all through church. I stayed home from another choir I'm in to finish the homework I'd neglected this weekend, but wrote instead. And the characters laughed at my distress.
I'm not going to do best line and worst line, because that would mean I'd have to go back and find them, and if I did that I'm afraid I'd write some more. And I don't want that. I really need to get to bed, especially if I don't want to fail Spanish.
BLAST IT ALL.
Days left of NaNo: 21
Word count: 27,699 (weird... not that big of a jump for writing all day...)
Donations: $15
Want to know something I find funny? I have gotten at least one comment on ever single NaNo post, but before then I received very few comments, and the one post I've written since the start of NaNo that wasn't about NaNo didn't get any comments. NaNo is, indeed, a magical thing. : D
Today was an exceptionally annoying day all around. I couldn't stop writing. I had to lead choir practice and was almost 20 minutes late for the half-hour practice. I wrote in a notebook all through church. I stayed home from another choir I'm in to finish the homework I'd neglected this weekend, but wrote instead. And the characters laughed at my distress.
I'm not going to do best line and worst line, because that would mean I'd have to go back and find them, and if I did that I'm afraid I'd write some more. And I don't want that. I really need to get to bed, especially if I don't want to fail Spanish.
BLAST IT ALL.
Days left of NaNo: 21
Word count: 27,699 (weird... not that big of a jump for writing all day...)
Donations: $15
Annoyed
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Today we learn that bob is actually writing a romance. A FREAKIN' ROMANCE. How did this happen? How?? Oh, the shame and embarrassment! Oh the shame!
Okay, I mean, it's still a fantasy and all, but unlike last year's novel where I had this exciting plot and then, oh yeah, romance too, this one seems to be twining the romance with the plot. They are almost becoming one and the same.
This scares me.
All right! Now that I have confessed my soul and am throughly embarrassed, let's move on, shall we?
Best line today: "What on earth have I done?" My thoughts exactly, Ez. My thoughts exactly.
Worst line today: "'You’ve done very well, as I’ve said, keeping it under control.'" Ezekiel is nothing if not verbose. Also, when he's unsure, he loves to repeat himself.
Days left of NaNo: 22
Word count: 23,319
Donations: $15
Today we learn that bob is actually writing a romance. A FREAKIN' ROMANCE. How did this happen? How?? Oh, the shame and embarrassment! Oh the shame!
Okay, I mean, it's still a fantasy and all, but unlike last year's novel where I had this exciting plot and then, oh yeah, romance too, this one seems to be twining the romance with the plot. They are almost becoming one and the same.
This scares me.
All right! Now that I have confessed my soul and am throughly embarrassed, let's move on, shall we?
Best line today: "What on earth have I done?" My thoughts exactly, Ez. My thoughts exactly.
Worst line today: "'You’ve done very well, as I’ve said, keeping it under control.'" Ezekiel is nothing if not verbose. Also, when he's unsure, he loves to repeat himself.
Days left of NaNo: 22
Word count: 23,319
Donations: $15
Saturday, November 08, 2008
I'm Not a Cheater, I Swear
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
I have decided to deal, once and for all, with the accusations of cheating that have been leveled against me.
"Even during anything-goes Week One, you'll write a few things that you recognize right away just don't fit in the book... when you write these things, whether they constitute a sentence, a paragraph, or an entire chapter, do not cut them. All words you write on your novel, no matter how misshapen or ill-advised, still represent crucial steps toward the 50,000 word finish line. Rather than deleting these passages, put them in italics." -Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem! pg. 114-115. (italics mine)
Also, see these two Q&A features from the NaNo website, about two extremely high achievers in the NaNo world.
And I'm not even doing any of these:
"The stutter: Afflict one of your characters with a stutter, and it doubles the girth of their dialogue. Temporary deafness: Everything from loud rock concerts to small deposits of earwax can temporarily render your character deaf, necessitating that everything said to him or her be repeated. The dream sequence: Our dreams might as well come with a sign that says, 'Free words: Help yourself.' The dream sequence... go[es] on for as long as you like and don't have to make any sense whatsoever. It's the motherlode! The citation: If your character can read, you can cite. Give your protagonist a copy of Beowulf and an annoying habit of reading poetry out loud on their long commute to work, and you've suddenly added thousands of words to your count." -Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem! pg. 127
SO THERE.
I have decided to deal, once and for all, with the accusations of cheating that have been leveled against me.
"Even during anything-goes Week One, you'll write a few things that you recognize right away just don't fit in the book... when you write these things, whether they constitute a sentence, a paragraph, or an entire chapter, do not cut them. All words you write on your novel, no matter how misshapen or ill-advised, still represent crucial steps toward the 50,000 word finish line. Rather than deleting these passages, put them in italics." -Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem! pg. 114-115. (italics mine)
Also, see these two Q&A features from the NaNo website, about two extremely high achievers in the NaNo world.
And I'm not even doing any of these:
"The stutter: Afflict one of your characters with a stutter, and it doubles the girth of their dialogue. Temporary deafness: Everything from loud rock concerts to small deposits of earwax can temporarily render your character deaf, necessitating that everything said to him or her be repeated. The dream sequence: Our dreams might as well come with a sign that says, 'Free words: Help yourself.' The dream sequence... go[es] on for as long as you like and don't have to make any sense whatsoever. It's the motherlode! The citation: If your character can read, you can cite. Give your protagonist a copy of Beowulf and an annoying habit of reading poetry out loud on their long commute to work, and you've suddenly added thousands of words to your count." -Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem! pg. 127
SO THERE.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Blast it All
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Today was the day of the first Board Readers NaNo Write-In! (Or, you know, something. I just dubbed it that this minute.) I was incredibly excited for it all week. Then, today, I of course decided that I didn't need to work on the paper due at 5 pm, and then when I got to meeting place I had no desire to work on it at all. So I didn't turn the first or second papers for this class.
The write in was just way too much fun. I got little to no work done until the last half-hour before I had to leave. Up until that time, I was having too much fun bantering with Fredjikrang and m&m and Unit of Energy, trading stories, throwing things... it was great fun. (Though I'm pretty sure I got rather obnoxious at times.) And then Unit of Energy left to go prepare for her party (I hope it was a great party, UoE! Sorry I couldn't come!). I took over her chair and started to get a bit more work done sometimes. Then m&m (who had been working on homework most of the time, poor thing) had to leave, which left me and Fredji. And then I finally got work done. With no one else there, we both shut up and got typing. Until, of course, I had to leave, so I packed up and left Fred all alone.
Then there was this party at my house, a birthday party for a friend of the family. I'd spent the day trying to get people to come, but ended up friendless. And that was either a good thing or a bad thing. Good because I spent half an hour with my fingers in my ears (Just couldn't handle the noise!) and being no fun until I escaped downstairs, and bad because I'm now really lonely but there's no one here to talk to. So now, yes, I am sitting down her moping. : )
Best line today: "'Listen, angel, I may be your mortal – or immortal – enemy and all, but I can promise you that I will not be trying to do anything so… indecent. I have all-seeing parents too, you know.'"
Worst line today: "'It’s heavenly rage,' she insisted in an undertone."
Also, I would like to take this moment to insist, for the millionth time, that I am not cheating.
Days left of NaNo: 23
Word count: 16450
Donations: $5 Huzzah!
Today was the day of the first Board Readers NaNo Write-In! (Or, you know, something. I just dubbed it that this minute.) I was incredibly excited for it all week. Then, today, I of course decided that I didn't need to work on the paper due at 5 pm, and then when I got to meeting place I had no desire to work on it at all. So I didn't turn the first or second papers for this class.
The write in was just way too much fun. I got little to no work done until the last half-hour before I had to leave. Up until that time, I was having too much fun bantering with Fredjikrang and m&m and Unit of Energy, trading stories, throwing things... it was great fun. (Though I'm pretty sure I got rather obnoxious at times.) And then Unit of Energy left to go prepare for her party (I hope it was a great party, UoE! Sorry I couldn't come!). I took over her chair and started to get a bit more work done sometimes. Then m&m (who had been working on homework most of the time, poor thing) had to leave, which left me and Fredji. And then I finally got work done. With no one else there, we both shut up and got typing. Until, of course, I had to leave, so I packed up and left Fred all alone.
Then there was this party at my house, a birthday party for a friend of the family. I'd spent the day trying to get people to come, but ended up friendless. And that was either a good thing or a bad thing. Good because I spent half an hour with my fingers in my ears (Just couldn't handle the noise!) and being no fun until I escaped downstairs, and bad because I'm now really lonely but there's no one here to talk to. So now, yes, I am sitting down her moping. : )
Best line today: "'Listen, angel, I may be your mortal – or immortal – enemy and all, but I can promise you that I will not be trying to do anything so… indecent. I have all-seeing parents too, you know.'"
Worst line today: "'It’s heavenly rage,' she insisted in an undertone."
Also, I would like to take this moment to insist, for the millionth time, that I am not cheating.
Days left of NaNo: 23
Word count: 16450
Donations: $5 Huzzah!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Sigh
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Worst day to date for this year's NaNo-ing. Of course, considering how far ahead I am, that's not too bad. I can quite easily catch up, or rather, stay ahead, tomorrow at the lovely write-in. If no one bails, that is; I have this terrible fear that everyone will bail and I will be all alone.
I hung out online instead of doing my homework, and that paper's due tomorrow. I may just have to do that instead of work on my novel for a while tomorrow...
And instead of writing, I have been hanging out online (as I've said already, but I like to repeat myself), working on a scene with two girls from my acting class (yes, again; we had to perform today, and everyone loves my character), and arguing with my dad (well, actually, it was more of a reminder of last night's argument than an argument in its own right). And there was the far-too-long shower, after which Cami fell asleep in the tub. (Don't worry, there was very little water and I kept a close eye on her.)
However, what with all that, it really has been a bad day for writing.
Best line today: "'Do you get the feeling that we just doomed ourselves?'"
Worst line today: "Ash came on the scene carrying a box, followed by Dirk, who Ezekiel knew from the crew from the summer play and who was also carrying a box."
Days left of NaNo: 24
Word count: 14306 (I told you I didn't write much.)
Donations: still $0. What a surprise.
Worst day to date for this year's NaNo-ing. Of course, considering how far ahead I am, that's not too bad. I can quite easily catch up, or rather, stay ahead, tomorrow at the lovely write-in. If no one bails, that is; I have this terrible fear that everyone will bail and I will be all alone.
I hung out online instead of doing my homework, and that paper's due tomorrow. I may just have to do that instead of work on my novel for a while tomorrow...
And instead of writing, I have been hanging out online (as I've said already, but I like to repeat myself), working on a scene with two girls from my acting class (yes, again; we had to perform today, and everyone loves my character), and arguing with my dad (well, actually, it was more of a reminder of last night's argument than an argument in its own right). And there was the far-too-long shower, after which Cami fell asleep in the tub. (Don't worry, there was very little water and I kept a close eye on her.)
However, what with all that, it really has been a bad day for writing.
Best line today: "'Do you get the feeling that we just doomed ourselves?'"
Worst line today: "Ash came on the scene carrying a box, followed by Dirk, who Ezekiel knew from the crew from the summer play and who was also carrying a box."
Days left of NaNo: 24
Word count: 14306 (I told you I didn't write much.)
Donations: still $0. What a surprise.
And Now For Something Completely Different
As we all know, I never do these things. However, I'm suffering from NaNo burnout (a week early!) so I'm trying something completely different.
1. Where is your cell phone? In my backpack. Wait, is it? *checks* Oh. Yep, there 'tis.
2. Where is your significant other? Playing hangman 'till the morning light, doing doughnuts in the neighbor's lawn, cutting arms off of voodoo dolls... I know someday I'll meet him, but I don't know where or when.
3. Your hair color? Dark blond. Should I dye it? I've always wanted to try being a redhead... or maybe a brunette.
4. Your mother? Sitting in her rocking chair feeding the baby.
5. Your father? Sitting next to me driving the car.
6. Your favorite thing? right now? Writing, specifically my NaNo novel. Hey, I can be burned out but still like it.
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember anything, but the night before last I dreamed I went into labor at my wedding and no one would take me to the hospital.
8. Your dream/goal? Be a mother, professional singer, published author, and be earning extra money through freelancing. Having time to do some acting would be nice too.
9. The room you're in? I'm in my dad's car right now, though I'll probably be in the hallway of the JSB when I post this.
10. Your hobby? Singing, reading, blogging, acting, writing
11. Your fear? Spiders. Those things are terrible. *shudder*
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Published, singing, perhaps married, perhaps teaching.
13. Where were you last night? Home, watching ANTM and trying to convince myself to either work on my novel or do homework.
14. What you're not? 19.
15. One of your wish-list items? I refuse to answer this question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
16. Where you grew up? Provorem, Utah.
17. The last thing you did? Chewed.
18. What are you wearing? One of my NaNo t-shirts, which almost balances out the annoyance I feel for having to wear my glasses. And two pairs of pants.
19. Your TV? What about it? Honestly, some of these questions are very vague.
20. Your pet? Grey tabby named Licorice. We supposedly share her with the neighbors, but she really lives in my room.
21. Your computer? Pretty white MacBook named Lappie. (Don't tell him, but I'm really thinking it's time for a new one.)
22. Your mood? Content.
23. Missing someone? Not as much as usual.
24. Your car? I don't have one. I do have a vehicle, however: a blue scooter that's older than I am.
25. Something you're not wearing? My contacts. : P.
26. Favorite store? I am quite partial to the Macey's, but I must go for the BYU Bookstore. Books, candy, fudge, and a 30% discount? Heaven.
27. Your summer? Not too bad. I hosted two parties. : D
28. Love someone? Of course! Many many someones.
29. Your favorite color? Green. Usually a dark green.
30. When is the last time you laughed? A couple of hours ago, while practicing a scene. "Oh, that was me! I threw up in the flowers! Oh no, how embarrassing!"
31. Last time you cried? A while ago.
1. Where is your cell phone? In my backpack. Wait, is it? *checks* Oh. Yep, there 'tis.
2. Where is your significant other? Playing hangman 'till the morning light, doing doughnuts in the neighbor's lawn, cutting arms off of voodoo dolls... I know someday I'll meet him, but I don't know where or when.
3. Your hair color? Dark blond. Should I dye it? I've always wanted to try being a redhead... or maybe a brunette.
4. Your mother? Sitting in her rocking chair feeding the baby.
5. Your father? Sitting next to me driving the car.
6. Your favorite thing? right now? Writing, specifically my NaNo novel. Hey, I can be burned out but still like it.
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember anything, but the night before last I dreamed I went into labor at my wedding and no one would take me to the hospital.
8. Your dream/goal? Be a mother, professional singer, published author, and be earning extra money through freelancing. Having time to do some acting would be nice too.
9. The room you're in? I'm in my dad's car right now, though I'll probably be in the hallway of the JSB when I post this.
10. Your hobby? Singing, reading, blogging, acting, writing
11. Your fear? Spiders. Those things are terrible. *shudder*
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Published, singing, perhaps married, perhaps teaching.
13. Where were you last night? Home, watching ANTM and trying to convince myself to either work on my novel or do homework.
14. What you're not? 19.
15. One of your wish-list items? I refuse to answer this question on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
16. Where you grew up? Provorem, Utah.
17. The last thing you did? Chewed.
18. What are you wearing? One of my NaNo t-shirts, which almost balances out the annoyance I feel for having to wear my glasses. And two pairs of pants.
19. Your TV? What about it? Honestly, some of these questions are very vague.
20. Your pet? Grey tabby named Licorice. We supposedly share her with the neighbors, but she really lives in my room.
21. Your computer? Pretty white MacBook named Lappie. (Don't tell him, but I'm really thinking it's time for a new one.)
22. Your mood? Content.
23. Missing someone? Not as much as usual.
24. Your car? I don't have one. I do have a vehicle, however: a blue scooter that's older than I am.
25. Something you're not wearing? My contacts. : P.
26. Favorite store? I am quite partial to the Macey's, but I must go for the BYU Bookstore. Books, candy, fudge, and a 30% discount? Heaven.
27. Your summer? Not too bad. I hosted two parties. : D
28. Love someone? Of course! Many many someones.
29. Your favorite color? Green. Usually a dark green.
30. When is the last time you laughed? A couple of hours ago, while practicing a scene. "Oh, that was me! I threw up in the flowers! Oh no, how embarrassing!"
31. Last time you cried? A while ago.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Not the Best
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Fredji hasn't updated his word count. Mostly 'cause he hasn't written anything yet. And that's 'cause his day hasn't been the best.
Neither has mine, to tell the truth. Well, this last bit tonight hasn't been. Most of today was fine. I haven't been sick, work was good, I went to class, working on our scene for acting class went well... and then I get in one little argument over something very trivial and I forget about all the good stuff!
*sigh*
Well, I suppose I had best get on with stuff...
Best line: There isn't one, really. Sorry.
Worst line: "'And then she broke – she had tried to not do what she saw as wrong, that is, using her powers of manipulation – and she started manipulating home team players so that they couldn’t benefit from me manipulating the visiting team players.'"
Days left of NaNo: 25
Word count: 14008
Donations: $0
Fredji hasn't updated his word count. Mostly 'cause he hasn't written anything yet. And that's 'cause his day hasn't been the best.
Neither has mine, to tell the truth. Well, this last bit tonight hasn't been. Most of today was fine. I haven't been sick, work was good, I went to class, working on our scene for acting class went well... and then I get in one little argument over something very trivial and I forget about all the good stuff!
*sigh*
Well, I suppose I had best get on with stuff...
Best line: There isn't one, really. Sorry.
Worst line: "'And then she broke – she had tried to not do what she saw as wrong, that is, using her powers of manipulation – and she started manipulating home team players so that they couldn’t benefit from me manipulating the visiting team players.'"
Days left of NaNo: 25
Word count: 14008
Donations: $0
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Lessons
Today we learn something very very interesting: bob can type fast. Very, very fast.
Well, okay, if you really go and look at it, I'm getting about 33 words per minute (usually less, actually). But when you realize that those 33 words per minute are all words that I am pulling out of thin air and typing out as I think them, it becomes quite a bit more impressive.
I had determined that today was the day I was going to catch up with, nay, surpass my dear friend Fredjikrang. Yes, the guy that has been beating me handily ever since the first of November. So, when I left work at 10:50 for the devotional, I sat in the hallway, plugged in my computer, and typed like the wind.
No one was more surprised than I was when I packed up my computer less than an hour later, having written 1400 words.
My next moment to type was during my D&C class, a class I'm careful to pay attention in and take good notes. I still came away with a few hundred more words than I had had before.
I didn't get any typing done in Spanish class, but after walking to the RB I had 45 minutes to type until my voice lessons. And type I did! Another 1000 or so words. I had another bit of time between my voice lessons and my acting class, and this was enough to put me above 10000, and above Fred's 9000-something.
I was elated, and very ready to quit typing. That's quite a bit to do in one day - almost 5000 words. Whew. And that's with Tuesdays being the busiest day of my week.
So I relaxed after acting class until mother got me, and after voting while we ate dinner at Fazoli's, and after we got home until I went onto the NaNo page that showed my word count with the word count of my buddies.
Fred was up to 12176.
I admit that I gasped in dismay when I saw that. No! I had said I was going to be ahead by tonight! I had promised myself I was going to beat him today! I couldn't let him do this! It took only a little thinking to convince myself that pride was more important than sleep, and that I would get right to typing after I took a shower.
And then what did I do? Type 2000 words in an hour. I'm still kinda astonished that I did it that fast. I was willing to give up half my night for this, and then here it is? So weird, let me tell you. So very, very odd. I'd thought I could do about 1500 tops in an hour, but apparently I can do 2000.
Well, enough singing my praises.
Best line today: “'Well, I certainly won the bet,' Ezekiel said casually. 'That is, I would have if there had been one.'”
Worst line today: "Ezekiel laughed at how obviously uncomfortable with the idea of being kissed by him Kristy was." This is probably the worst line to date that was unintentional. But let me tell you, when you're typing like a mad creature, if you start a sentence the wrong way you don't go back to fix it. So you end up with gems like this.
Days left of NaNo: 26
Word count: 12368 (Wait a min. Did I double my word count today? *is still more astonished*)
*is purposely forgetting the 'donations' part*
Well, okay, if you really go and look at it, I'm getting about 33 words per minute (usually less, actually). But when you realize that those 33 words per minute are all words that I am pulling out of thin air and typing out as I think them, it becomes quite a bit more impressive.
I had determined that today was the day I was going to catch up with, nay, surpass my dear friend Fredjikrang. Yes, the guy that has been beating me handily ever since the first of November. So, when I left work at 10:50 for the devotional, I sat in the hallway, plugged in my computer, and typed like the wind.
No one was more surprised than I was when I packed up my computer less than an hour later, having written 1400 words.
My next moment to type was during my D&C class, a class I'm careful to pay attention in and take good notes. I still came away with a few hundred more words than I had had before.
I didn't get any typing done in Spanish class, but after walking to the RB I had 45 minutes to type until my voice lessons. And type I did! Another 1000 or so words. I had another bit of time between my voice lessons and my acting class, and this was enough to put me above 10000, and above Fred's 9000-something.
I was elated, and very ready to quit typing. That's quite a bit to do in one day - almost 5000 words. Whew. And that's with Tuesdays being the busiest day of my week.
So I relaxed after acting class until mother got me, and after voting while we ate dinner at Fazoli's, and after we got home until I went onto the NaNo page that showed my word count with the word count of my buddies.
Fred was up to 12176.
I admit that I gasped in dismay when I saw that. No! I had said I was going to be ahead by tonight! I had promised myself I was going to beat him today! I couldn't let him do this! It took only a little thinking to convince myself that pride was more important than sleep, and that I would get right to typing after I took a shower.
And then what did I do? Type 2000 words in an hour. I'm still kinda astonished that I did it that fast. I was willing to give up half my night for this, and then here it is? So weird, let me tell you. So very, very odd. I'd thought I could do about 1500 tops in an hour, but apparently I can do 2000.
Well, enough singing my praises.
Best line today: “'Well, I certainly won the bet,' Ezekiel said casually. 'That is, I would have if there had been one.'”
Worst line today: "Ezekiel laughed at how obviously uncomfortable with the idea of being kissed by him Kristy was." This is probably the worst line to date that was unintentional. But let me tell you, when you're typing like a mad creature, if you start a sentence the wrong way you don't go back to fix it. So you end up with gems like this.
Days left of NaNo: 26
Word count: 12368 (Wait a min. Did I double my word count today? *is still more astonished*)
*is purposely forgetting the 'donations' part*
Monday, November 03, 2008
Type Until Your Fingers Bleed
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Though I didn't really type that much. I spent several hours working on my novel today and only did about 3000 words. Could have been better. Still behind Fred. Could have been much better. At least I did get some homework done today.
Best line: “There. Hopefully that blend of truth, half-truth, and outright lying would be sufficient to tide over Willow and keep Ezekiel and Kristy out of trouble and out of gossip."
Worst line: "'I think you really look like the kind of guy who is some kind of genius on the inside but doesn’t necessarily even know it himself. I bet you’ll go far in acting.'"
My word count was saved today by me remembering one of old techniques - that of writing backstory, working to get my thoughts straight, and all sorts of fun stuff in the body of my novel. Yay word count.
Days left of NaNo: 27
Word count: 6198
Donations $0
Though I didn't really type that much. I spent several hours working on my novel today and only did about 3000 words. Could have been better. Still behind Fred. Could have been much better. At least I did get some homework done today.
Best line: “There. Hopefully that blend of truth, half-truth, and outright lying would be sufficient to tide over Willow and keep Ezekiel and Kristy out of trouble and out of gossip."
Worst line: "'I think you really look like the kind of guy who is some kind of genius on the inside but doesn’t necessarily even know it himself. I bet you’ll go far in acting.'"
My word count was saved today by me remembering one of old techniques - that of writing backstory, working to get my thoughts straight, and all sorts of fun stuff in the body of my novel. Yay word count.
Days left of NaNo: 27
Word count: 6198
Donations $0
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Lazy Sunday
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
Well, what a day this has been! I was in bed for pretty much all of it, so I got a lot done.
Um, in theory anyway...
Okay, I admit it. Mostly I was hanging out at impishidea, not doing homework or writing as I had intended to do. I did get some writing done, though. (No homework. : P) (Oh, and I watched this video and laughed heartily.)
Best line in today's work: "'You are coming out of your shell, Ez. I love it.'"
Worst line in today's work: "Ezekiel put away the phone – a normal cell phone in looks, but with special components that allowed him to call home, a slightly different dimension – and looked around." Awkward, clunky, exposition in a terrible place... yeah. Let's remember this is a first draft.
Best lines when taken out of context in today's work: "He hadn’t bothered trying to manipulate anyone for ages." "He hadn’t thought that being a failure could feel so good." That 'best' is sarcastic here, by they way. Really... these lines are almost this bad even in context. They make me giggle with embarrassment. : P
And Fredji is still ahead of me. Curse you!
Days left of NaNo: 28
Word count: 2785
Donations: $0
Well, what a day this has been! I was in bed for pretty much all of it, so I got a lot done.
Um, in theory anyway...
Okay, I admit it. Mostly I was hanging out at impishidea, not doing homework or writing as I had intended to do. I did get some writing done, though. (No homework. : P) (Oh, and I watched this video and laughed heartily.)
Best line in today's work: "'You are coming out of your shell, Ez. I love it.'"
Worst line in today's work: "Ezekiel put away the phone – a normal cell phone in looks, but with special components that allowed him to call home, a slightly different dimension – and looked around." Awkward, clunky, exposition in a terrible place... yeah. Let's remember this is a first draft.
Best lines when taken out of context in today's work: "He hadn’t bothered trying to manipulate anyone for ages." "He hadn’t thought that being a failure could feel so good." That 'best' is sarcastic here, by they way. Really... these lines are almost this bad even in context. They make me giggle with embarrassment. : P
And Fredji is still ahead of me. Curse you!
Days left of NaNo: 28
Word count: 2785
Donations: $0
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Off to a Great Start
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
The first glorious sentence of my NaNo novel goes thusly: "Ezekiel had always known he was a disappointment to his parents."
Marvel at its majesty. Marvel! I demand it!
Unfortunately, there isn't much more than that right now. But I will be very sick tomorrow, and will have many hours to do homework and NaNo. At least I'm ahead of my mother, who so far has thought about it. My sister has around 800 words, I think, and Patsy has over 1000.
And the NaNo site is slow, and Fredji is kicking my butt in wordcount, and blah blah blah. Whatever.
Days left of NaNo: 29
Word count: 74
Donations $0
The first glorious sentence of my NaNo novel goes thusly: "Ezekiel had always known he was a disappointment to his parents."
Marvel at its majesty. Marvel! I demand it!
Unfortunately, there isn't much more than that right now. But I will be very sick tomorrow, and will have many hours to do homework and NaNo. At least I'm ahead of my mother, who so far has thought about it. My sister has around 800 words, I think, and Patsy has over 1000.
And the NaNo site is slow, and Fredji is kicking my butt in wordcount, and blah blah blah. Whatever.
Days left of NaNo: 29
Word count: 74
Donations $0
Midnight!
Warning: NaNoWriMo novelist is in session. Trespassers will be reborn as the inspiration for an ugly and evil race of horrifically disfigured beings and/or the villain.
It's just past midnight, officially November first!
So, wait, what am I doing writing a blog post? I should be starting on my novel!
It's just past midnight, officially November first!
So, wait, what am I doing writing a blog post? I should be starting on my novel!
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