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 |  Sometimes it is Dark before the Dawn |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** No one should Laugh at Life! That's Life's Job - Laughing at us. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** According to Chinese Horoscopes it is the YEAR OF THE TIGER! G-R-R-R Here's a writer that will make you laugh! I swear she is Erma Brombeck reincarnated! Take a look!
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Due to a problem with the new Google, I am having difficulties writing blog entries. Googles java script keeps putting code inside my text box. Until I can find a 'fix' for the problem, I cannot do blogs right now, nor even comment in others. Stoopid programmers. GAK. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Ever had your brain and mouth work in two directions? Open mouth, sounds emit, no sense can be made? Hm. Cell phone plays a somber tune. "Yeah?" I try to be forthright while answering a phone and also working on graphics. I do so love that 'speaker' capability my phone has. Hit >Answer<, hit >Speaker< and continue with working. "Hey Anyea, whatcha doing?" Now, while you may hear the correct words, my mind's currently engaged elsewhere. "Ya, the dogs are standing by the patio." I tried again, hoping I got the question right this time. "It's 5:30." I know I heard something about time pieces. "You're working on the computer aren't you?" "DAMNIT." "You are. So, hungry?" "Dogs - feed dogs, okay." "NO! Are.You.Hungry?" Let me interject at this point that even while my brain and eyes, working with hands, are attempting to push pixels about, my "Sarcasm Radar Detector" is always on alert. Beep...beep...WARNING...SARCASM INCOMING! "I. Am. A. Human.You?" "Ha.Ha. You are so funny. Wanna go out and get something to eat?" sarcasm acknowledged, back to work "Mm." "We're going to Mazio's. You know. Pizza?" Beep...beep...Incoming.. "Not personally." "You wanna go or not!?!" "Mm." "Damn! Nevermind. Bye." *click* "Yup." Of course my phone acknowledges the hang-up, shuts itself off and I don't have to bother. I just go about my art work merrily. A bit of advice here. Whatever you do, do NOT interrupt me when I am engrossed in a book. Do NOT make me drag my eyes off the page and actually look at you, let alone hold a civil conversation with you. It's a friendly warning.   Somewhere in each of us lives a monster. Some can be trained. Some can be used to hunt small mammals!  |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Yes, it almost the end of October. Autumn leaves rustle, the air crispens (is that a word?), and jackets are pulled on. What gives the atmosphere an aura of spookiness during Autumn that isn't evident during Summer or Winter though? Is that twilight lingers longer? Shadows deepen slower? What about this season is so spooky? Writers of horror use Autumn while writing those set up scenes. The images they portray are of this time of year. Who decreed that Autumn is scary? So, what scary autumn images do you hoard? Fear is an emotion best used appropriately and hopefully not often. |
| I would have to believe I am the only one who names "inanimate" objects. I lay in bed this morning and looking out my window saw yet another bank of clouds carrying yet more rain. I named that cloud, keeping me burrowed in the warmth of my bed. Please meet JoJo. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I had more fun just drawing this little guy. It was like coloring with crayolas and Whewww what fun! I nodded cordially to JoJo and asked him whether he thought he and his brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grannies and sires were about done dumping on us. JoJo shrugged, causing a light sprinkling to fall. I scolded the cloud and told him firmly that Mr. Sun liked to come out and play as well. I considered his behavior of hogging the sky to be quite rude. JoJo giggled, causing the sprinkle to become a tad heavier and Ms. Windy got into the act. I was not getting up. I would not face another day of grey skies, wet windows, damp puppies and dripping umbrella. I would not. I told JoJo this and figured it would ruin his fun. Hm. Didn't work. I think JoJo's big papa came about then and brought a snack of lightening and flavored that with thunder. *sigh* I got up. Even though I had shut my computer down before retiring, my bedroom window was open and a respectable puddle was forming on the nightstand. "I wish I had houseplants. At this rate I wouldn't have to do any watering." To make a gloomy day even worse, this was Thursday. Everyone knows Thursday is the Official Day To Clean and Do Laundry. *sigh* I should have stayed in bed. If the draught here is not over, then I would like to know why the ground has become a soggy marshland of 'step on it and wet hem on pants' land. I seriously hope the state, or this area at least, is almost done with its wet forecasts. I could use some Phoenix sun about now. *sigh* |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Well it is that time of year again isn't it? NaNoites running hither and yon, stocking up on all sugar products guaranteed to induce a sugar coma, sharpening pens, cleaning screens and finding any 'lucky' charms they may have ever had. NaNo. Brings the absolute BEST out in a writer! Paranoia, claustrophobia, anxiety, manic depression - ah yes, I remember it well. Hope this doesn't scare off anyone. I mean, just because I am not participating this year, doesn't mean I don't wish the rest of the NaNoites the best of luck! I do. I've put myself through the torture of NaNo for three years now, have three "pseudo" novels to show for it and want to pass on my meager advice. 1. Set a goal of words each day - then MEET THAT GOAL! Many of the initial participants quit because they have not prepared themselves in any way whatsoever. The simple ploy of setting word goals does help - if you stick to it. 2. Don't be ashamed of your babblings during writing the 50,000 words. Babble away! For one thing, it pads the word count but far more important, you may actually babble some real gems! During one year of writing I swear I described every kitchen appliance, how they worked, and how they would be used. After NaNo I realized I had a sub-plot I didn't mean to put in, but it worked! 3. Forget what Suzy or Doug Bragmeister are doing! People just have to let the world know how VERY good they are with going over the days goals or getting close to the 50K. IGNORE THEM. I hate to say this, as I'll probably get censored for it, but that word counter here in WdC almost did me in. I saw all those others who were so far ahead of me and I do not have an "A" type personality. I almost quit. What kept me going was the First Place Worder who had the exact same word count from day 2 of NaNo to almost the last day. It hit me then, that person had "cheated" and used a pre-existing piece. NaNo isn't about that. It IS about showing YOU that a novel can be written in just 30 days. 4. Learn to talk out loud to yourself, if you don't already! Seriously. I would start off whispering quietly to my character but towards the goal mark people in the next complex could hear me screaming; "DAMN IT! DO SOMETHING!" It may seem silly, talking aloud, but when you put into words what you need to write, want to write, you actually will listen to - YOU! Just watch for that paddy wagon okay? Be sure to have a bribe or two handy! 5. ENJOY YOURSELF. For those of you who have never ventured into this insanity, it's writing at it's best and it's worst. But it is WRITING! That's what you do. That's part of who you are. ENJOY THAT JOURNEY! Good luck to each and every one of you. Who knows, one of you may have a literary giant just waiting to step into our world! Writer's are like scorpions. Sure we are afraid of water, heat and roadrunners, but watch out if you make us mad! We may just write about you! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** You read articles, watch reactions from others and are forced to think. Okay, let me amend that. Some people are forced to think about what is going on in their world. I am well aware many stick their heads up their, um, in the sand (whew! nice save). Sociologists, philosophers, doctors, historians and regular folks have evaluated human evasion of involvement for centuries. Seriously, they have. This not wanting to know, or get involved attitude is not something new. Humans rarely go outside what the herd does. We are, after all, a herd animal. We are! Think about it. Don't have to pull Darwin into this discussion at all. What is the point then, of re-evaluating this attitude? I really wonder if those agonizing over this, think anything will change? Humans are what they are. Right? Nahhhh. At one time or other, there was a newspaper or a radio station (remember them?) that only told "Good News". The stories reported were of positive actions, happy endings and glad tidings to all. That's all well and good I suppose, if you like your life sugar coated, but isn't Balance more important? Don't we need to know the horrific as well as the sanguine? How can we get involved to make changes for the better if we only hear or read the good? The big thing I find about this non-involvement attitude, is those against it are only spouting their opinions. Isn't it "Actions Speak Louder Than Words?" Volunteering in the community would go a long way towards solving indifference. The old fashioned custom of taking a home made goodie to a neighbor, of checking up on those who are weak or ill, playing with the children or even just meeting strangers eyes, these are sorely needed today. Whatcha think? Am I wrong? Put your best face on your Life. Others are watching! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The above graphic indicate a "Free-Write" will commence in a few moments. Please feel free to avoid these entries as I'm sure they will be painful to myself and all others! There will be a topic to each "Free-Write" and today's will be COLD FEET.    What had happened to her feet? She couldn't feel them at all. Her wet tennis shoes made sure that all the water wrapped her feet in squishie awfulness. Cold permeated her feet, ankles and was slowly creeping up her legs as her jeans soaked the water from weeds like a hungry candle wick. Was nothing going to change then? What she had asked her family for, was it so much? "No!" Joe, her husband of fifteen years exclaimed. "Mom you can't!" Her children wailed. They all sat at the now clean table staring at her in astonishment. She was the one who had cleaned up the post-supper mess. She was the one who had cooked the meal, shopped for the food and generally just did for her family. It was her rresponsiblity and she knew that, yet now she wanted this one small thing for herself. Was that wrong? Why was cold so much worse when alone? She looked around at the grey threatening skies, the wet landscape and wondered if this then was to be what she had to look forward to for the rest of her life. One small thing she asked and was being denied it. It had come to her in the middle of a sleepless night, the idea warming her. She felt more alive thinking it through than she had in years. An idea born of a late night insomniac lonely. She never asked her family why not, she just grabbed her lightweight jacket and walked out. Now she felt committed to just keep walking. Cold, wet and alone, she just kept walking. Such a small thing to ask them to let her do - for herself. She would never let them down. She would still be the house slave to all three of them and what could she get in return? Tears poured down her cheeks, vying with the rain. Suddenly she saw lights that seemed to be coming from behind her. Turning she saw a car approaching and moved further off the roadside. A horn honked, once then again. She stopped and saw that the car was the one belonging to her family. Had her husband decided to chase her down? Would he have another lecture for her? The car stopped. A car door opened and her children tumbled out. Her husband threw open his door and exited the vehicle as well. 'Mom! Don't leave! We love you. Mom!" The voices of her kids brought unexpected heat to her face. Joe approached her slower. She held her two children and looked at him. He smiled then. "Hey if going back to school means this much to you, then hell girl. Go for it. Get that degree." The day suddenly seemed brighter, warmer and she threw an arm around Joe's neck. "Thank you love. Let's go home and I'll make us all some hot chocolate huh?" She smiled. "Mom we'll make YOU the hot chocolate and dad will make a fire and ... " She had come home. TIME! Well this would have gone better if I hadn't erased the entire entry mid-way through the first writing. What a piece of work it is, to have an idea, stick with it and then *POOF*. Slowed me down but I did it anyway. |
| The sign beckons you inside. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The smiling maître d' greets you warmly. "Welcome! Welcome Game Pawns. My name is Clotho. The other Servers this evening will be Lachesis, and Atropos. Since you have no other choices, allow me to seat you. You WILL enjoy your view from this far wall. Our specials this evening are ... nevermind, I'll just pick something out for you, shall I? After all this is Fate Place!" You hear the background music and can make out the lyrics to the song playing. It was one of those days when she couldn’t find a single ray of sunshine There wasn’t even a cloud up in the sky After thirteen years at the factory they sorry mam but we’re downsizin That’s the way life is, good luck with the rest of it She looked me in the eye and said this ain’t the first time I’ve taken the fall, but let me tell you girl what’s gotten me through is keepin faith through it all Cause there’ll be Dead ends and road blocks, Tough times and hard knocks Seems like you’re always wonderin why you’re at the right place at the wrong time Wheels movin but you feel stuck, like your life’s spinnin in a big mud When you’re out there runnin around on a wild goose chase, There’s a reason to keep believin, God don’t make mistakes So it goes. We stop - look - evaluate our lives and what do we see? "...Dead ends and road blocks, Tough times and hard knocks Seems like you’re always wonderin why you’re at the right place at the wrong time Wheels movin but you feel stuck, like your life’s spinnin in a big mud When you’re out there runnin around on a wild goose chase..." Strange isn't it? |
It's ALL about the circle... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** What is the circular theory?  circle = relationship = gravity = opposition = observation = movement = dimension = reproduction = absolute = infinite = intelligence = relativity a still circle produces a moving circle there is a circle between noun and verb (subject and object, singular and plural) Confused yet? I read the article and was completely bumfuzzled. (Is that a word? Why isn't the spell checker working correctly? Where are all these embedded Java codes coming from?) Yup the circle wins again! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The rain woke me up. Wind slammed into my bedroom window with the slide of rain down the glass. Thunder was yet distant but CC didn't care. She sat on my chest, all 70 pounds of her. Try breathing normally with that on you. So I got up. Picked up a book I had and started with the introduction. Immediate remorse, pain, loss - hit me hard. The author explained that her art, the craft of writing, had been a long painful road for her. She had been poor, homeless, yet the writing in her had to come out. She had tried to get published, not once, not twice, but dozens of times and each attempt ended in failure. Finally she got her foot in the door with a book and the rest, as they say, is history. Now she is a renowned author whose name, if I put it down, you would immediately recognize. Her introduction made me ponder all the words, the novels I've written, yet not committed to yet. It takes a heartfelt commitment to finish, really finish a novel. I read that many here do the first edit, second edit and even work on a third one, yet I have not finished editing any of mine completely. So, do I have a commitment issue? Hm. I don't even like reading the words after I put them away, as I have been told you should do after the novel is written. I haven't re-read one of the NaNo's at all, let alone thought about the editing. Writers are frail creatures in some aspects, yet, like the author I read, tougher than a piece of french bread left on a counter for a couple of days. Who are we then? What are we and how do we establish a center to connect to and from? It is what it is. Or - is it? |
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