Lowering my IQ one status update at a time.

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on facebook a lot more than I've been blogging here. It's way easier and takes a lot less thought to write a quick status update and then read my friends brief status updates rather than writing a whole blog post and reading a whole blog post. I also know that it's sad that thoughts can be dumbed down to a few sentences. I'm losing a lot in translation.
And I'm starting to realize that the more I'm on facebook, that it's quite possible my IQ is dropping. People use a lot of slang. They also use a lot of what I call 'text message writing', where they are writing so fast that 'u' has become the knew 'you.' Yes, some people do take the time to write full sentences but for most of those people I really wish there was a spell check or grammar check or 'you missed a word' check.
I'm not saying I haven't made these mistakes. It kills me that I can't go back and edit my comments. My favorite part about writing is the ability to edit over and over again. And even then it's never perfect but I have the chance to fix stupid mistakes.
I also don't want to be the grammar police to my friends so I'm just trying to take the good with the bad. So I deal with the bad grammar, spelling, and language knowing that it's the sacrifice I must make in order to keep in touch with some of my friends. And it's refreshing to know that I can come to my blog or other blogs and get a dose of more developed thought and writing skills.
However, I'm starting to be pushed to the edge of my tolerance of facebook and what is sad is that it's just one person who persistently makes the same stupid error over and over again and it has me so upset that I'm about ready to type my thoughts on it in giant letters.
Who knows, maybe it's just me, maybe I'm neurotic and her use of a term is correct but it doesn't matter in my head it doesn't make sense and it is driving me nuts.
Yet, we all know that I'm too nice to state any negative opinion unless asked. I hate hurting people's feelings so I'm just going to use my blog to articulate my thoughts about this same term and leave it at that. If I can just vent once I think I'll be okay.

So here it goes:

Hey you, girl that I knew in high school only because I worked with your boyfriend. I don't really know you but I friended you because I feel bad about turning anyone down unless they are a creepy weirdo. And I'm sorry that you don't have any friends and that you are on facebook all the time talking about how board you are because you have no friends. I would offer to be your friend but there is one thing that you do that annoys me, above all others and that is TUBBING!
I know you do it every weekend, by yourself, and you love to update your status about it, post pictures with captions about it and invite everyone to go with you but unless you are floating down a river in a BATH TUB, the word you mean to use is TUBING! ONE B! TUBING! NOT TUBBING!
I'm sorry but it's just friggin' annoying and maybe your pleas to have someone, anyone go with you, would be answered if people weren't scared of floating down a river in a metal and/or porcelain tub. Or maybe they are like me and just bothered by your bad language skills.

That is all.

P.S. I go back and forth between writing in my livejournal and my blogger. My lj is mostly for personal stuff and my blog is mostly for writing but any day that I have a recent post on one or the other I'm going to post a link at the bottom of my post so readers of either will know that I have something new on the other. For instance: Yesterday's LiveJournal

Work in progress

I've actually got a few things accomplished this week and it feels good. I got a scene written for writing group. Then I made a lot of comments about my friends story and sent them off. I've also been working a non-fiction project too. And I'm posting on my blog. Yay!

I also sent my friend a story for him to read through and give me some insight and then I might send that story off for submissions. Of course, a lot of places are on hiatus in the summer, because they are often ran by colleges that are not in session until the fall. But, there are a few places that take summer subs. I guess we'll see how long it takes for me to get back and work out the kinks.

Trying to help

I know I'm suppose to be writing something new right now but I got sidetracked by another project. A friend of mine recently started writing and posted a story about a week or so ago. He asked for feedback and mentioned that everyone seemed to just give him "good job" comments. He was hoping for something a little more helpful. So I read through the story in the few minutes I had to spare over the last few weeks and I found that I actually had a lot of comments that might be helpful. So I circled and scribbled over the pages and figured I'd get it back to him in a timely fashion. I haven't yet though.
My concern is that I'm not very successful in the writing business, so why would anyone take advice from me? Well, I'm an avid reader for one but still. The advice I'm giving I've learned from classes, books, editor comments and fellow writers but I'm trying to find text to prove I'm not just making this stuff up or that it's not just my own personal preference. So now this project is taking a lot longer than I anticipated. My friend will probably have given up on his story or gotten it published by the time I get all my information gathered and thoughts in order.

Starting a project

Right now I'm in a debate about what to work on next. I could start a story that I've had outlined for a few years or I could work with something I already have.

The first story, I got the idea from a song and shortly after wrote up some story outlines and summaries. I had thought it would be a comic book or movie script, but now I'm thinking I could make it into a novel. It's a horror story, I think. It kind of walks a fine line but I really have no other idea what category I would put it in.

My other option is turning my comic script for Incognito, into a prose story. I'm not sure if I could make a whole book out of it. I wrote it as a comic book script many years ago but was never able to find any success with it being published comic book style. It's a satiric look at female superheroes and it's funny.

Either way, both stories are not literary, which is good, because I'm giving up on that. And no matter what I decide I better do it fast because I need to have something done before writing group next week! Eek!

Stuff to do

Sorry I missed this week. I had to work 12 hour shifts, which really threw me off schedule. I haven't gotten much done, but I need to do something because writing group is in a little over a week and I have no back up material this time. I need to write something.

NaBloPoMo is doing a write everyday in June event. The theme is to write about a new hero in your life everyday. I'm contemplating doing this but I might do an every other day, bi-weekly or weekly one instead. I'm not sure.

I better get to work!

Adapted

Last night I went to see Angels and Demons. I was a little worried because they really changed the end of the Da Vinci Code and I didn't like it. I was happier with Angels and Demons. They did cut out a few things but I felt that two of the scenes they cut out were the things in the book that I thought were just a little too outrageous. Overall, it was a good movie and better than the movie adaption of the Da Vinci Code.

Speaking of books adapted to movies, two of my latest reads are books that were turned into movies, both of which I had seen the movie first.

The first was Memoirs of a Geisha. I really like the movie but I loved the book! The detail to culture was really interesting, but it was woven in with a great plot that kept too many facts from being boring. I was so intrigued and could barely put the book down despite already knowing what was going to happen.
The characters were also really well defined. I think that each ones personality was really well developed, no one was flat. There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about it.
It also defined what a true geisha is. Most people have misconceptions and don't realize the amount of work that went into the art of entertaining. It's an amazing book.


The other book that I read was the Notebook. I did like the movie. I thought it was a good love story. I have to say that this is the first time that I actually liked the movie better than the book. I liked how the movie told the whole story of their relationship not just a few days. I also liked how the movie made Noah's character so desperately in love with her, that he would do anything to have her back and never gave up hope. That may have made the movie a little more cheesy but I think if a girl is going to leave her fiance that she loves, than what she's leaving him for needs to be worth it.

Year Four!

It was D.B.Echo's latest post that got me thinking about it. I knew our dates were relatively close so I thought I'd check. I'm a little late but still, can anyone believe that it was May 10, 2005 that I started this blog?
It doesn't seem like that long. I don't know if I'd count the last year, since I've been pretty absent, but I still feel accomplished knowing that I haven't given up on it.

A new game plan

I wrote a little last night. It's not really a story more just some thoughts about my current employment situation. It's me venting about the bad things in life. It borderlines on that literary fiction that I said I was done with. I need to be done with all of those stories I wrote while my life was at an all time low. I'm there anymore.

What to do next? Should I edit and send out one of my short fantasy stories that I had intended on submitting until I realized I had lost my latest versions?
I think that's what I'll do, then I need to start a new story. I'm thinking of a novel. It's a story I originally wanted to be a comic book. It's kind of a horror story. Once I get some thoughts down I'll share them.

Right now, I really need an FM transmitter for my iPod. The headphones give me a headache after awhile. Of course, I would also need a computer that's not next to a t.v. that's always in use. I miss my office. Four months and, hopefully, I'll get that back, maybe.

I've started update my livejournal again. If it felt like I've neglected this blog. I've hardly posted there at all, but I miss it.

Making more work...

Lately, I have been thinking about submissions. I thought I'd send out a few of my finished works while I continue works in progress.
I started venturing through my stories. After several computer crashes I've had stories saved in various places, one main place in particular. I checked there and all my stuff was still as I had left it. Unfortunately, there were a few stories that I had made edits to, after receiving feedback from my writing group. It looks like I didn't resave the files on my back-up after my edits. So more work is lost.
I either need to set up a schedule to save my items on back-up or remember to start saving them once I'm done with them.
The good news is that, when it comes to my writing, I'm a pack rat. I never throw away notes or drafts. So I still have all the notes and input from writing group. It's just a bummer to have to do the work over again.
Sometimes I feel like I'm spinning in circles.

Currently reading: Memoirs of a Geisha
Currently watching: Biggest Loser
Just watched: Star Trek

Let someone else decide.

I bought the latest issue of Epoch. I actually think it's a bit old but it's the most current. Their new one is probably on the way.
Epoch is a literary magazine for short stories and poetry. One of the few I can actually find at the book store.
The last few weeks I've been thinking a lot about literary fiction, what it is, and if I can write it well.
In the past, I thought I wrote literary fiction like a champ but rejection after rejection got me thinking. So I picked up this magazine and I realized I have no clue what literary fiction is. All the work I had qualified as literary was emotional and usually depressing, with a message in it.
Not that the stories I read in the magazine lacked those elements but they were different. They were vague. They left more for the reader to decide. In the end I had given all of my stories an unhappily ever after ending because that's what I thought literary was, the cold hard truth. Now I'm rethinking this. Maybe literary stories are just suppose to make the reader think and not tell the reader what to think about, but to let them decide for themselves.
Or maybe I'm completely off base.
Either way, I tried to apply this new strategy to what I was working on. I was struggling to find the end of Worth Something. It has two strong characters who have different values. It's almost a new take on the dilemma of whether or not it is right to steal bread for your starving children. One character says 'yes', the other says 'no'. And in the end I couldn't decide which way I wanted the story to lean. I wanted to show both sides of the story evenly. So I just left it hanging and then took it to my writing group. I asked what they thought. And after much discussion I think I'm going to let it end with no conclusion. I'll let the reader decide for themselves.

Planning ahead

It hit me a few days ago that the month was almost over. How time flies. That means that the first Sunday in May is almost here, which means writing group. So I spent today working on the last part of Worth Something. I have it to a point where it could be the end or I could add a little more and I'm not really sure what to do. Maybe I'll add a little more then ask the writing group where they think it should end.

For the first time in a while I got out the Writer's Market. I know I mentioned a few months back that I think humor might be my thing. It's the only thing that I've had much luck with and I hadn't really gotten anywhere with literary stories, which was mostly what I had been submitting. So I've been trying to find places to send a few of my humorous stories, including the one that started my funny revelation, Secret Identity Crisis.
What I've come to find is that, when it comes to short stories, there are a lot less places for humor than there are for literary stories. Of course, in the past, I found the same problem with action, adventure, fantasy and sci-fi.

I finished the Lord of the Flies, but I read it kind of half-heartedly before bed every night. And I feel like a bad reader/writer because I didn't catch the big flaw that D.B. Echo mentioned.
Now I'm on to Bone Crossed, the fourth book in the Mercy Thomas series, by Patricia Briggs. I'm actually almost done. I'll probably finish it tonight.

Just watched: Marley and Me (again)
Currently watching: Reno! 911

Bands and books

I started my short story that I mentioned in the last post. I think I'm going to call it Helping Hand, so that's how I'll I refer to it for now. I have really gotten much done but the day is young.

Last Thursday I went to see a band called Brena and they were awesome. They have a very cool mainstream rock style going on. I liked them so much that I just uploaded their new album on my iPod.
Yes, that's right. I now have an iPod. After years of saying that I want one, but not buying one for various reasons, an iPod nano has managed to fall into my hands. So now I can create all kinds of awesome playlists for all my writing endeavors.

I started reading Lord of the Flies and I just bought the 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes. Both are pretty short books. I like to envision me having them both done by the end of the week, but I hate to get ahead of myself.

Birthdays, holidays, musicals, books and jury duty and it's only Wednesday!

Well this week has been pretty hectic. It started with Easter, which was also my birthday. Yes, I am another year older. And I will spare everyone my melodramatic look back at my accomplishments or the lack there of. I will also not venture to far out to say "this will be my year," because I think I've just been jinxing myself.

After that, I had jury duty. I did get picked for a trial but then I was dismissed after the lawyers questioned me. It was an interesting experience. Some of the things that the lawyers think to ask potential jurors just amazes me. That's probably why they make the big bucks. The experience definitely gave me some insight in case I'm ever writing about a trial.

Yesterday, I went to see the Lion King. The tickets were a birthday present and I was very excited. It was a fantastic performance. The kids that played Simba and Nala were very cute and talented. The dialogue and music pretty much followed the movie. There were also some new songs. A few of the new songs like "The Morning Report" and "Chow Down", were a little cheesy and seemed like they were in the show just because they needed more musical numbers. Other songs like "Endless Night," were a beautiful addition. There was also a lot of added African dancing and music, which really added to the show making it less like a Disney cartoon and more like a work of art. The costumes and the set design were amazing. There was literally far too much to take in. Every thing was so colorful and lively, I didn't know where to look. I would love to see it again.

And the only other thing is that I finished reading the Historian. I was real bummed out with the ending. When you're going to battle Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, that battle better be grueling and it better take more than one gun shot to take him down. Sorry if I ruined it for anyone but if this is a book someone was going to invest time into reading, they may want to be prepared for the fact that the book is all about history and not suspense and action-filled battles.

Now, what to read next? Also, I have the day off tomorrow. I'd like to start a new short story about dealing with a bad work environment. I have an idea, obviously. I'll try to elaborate more once I have something actually written.

The latest reading list

A few weeks ago I finally finished reading the eleven books that have, so far, made up the Harry Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Although, I believe a new book has or will come out in April. The books weren't necessarily intellectual reading but they were fun and they read pretty quickly. They're about a modern day wizard, living in modern day Chicago, who is the only wizard listed in the phone book. During the series he runs into all kinds of supernatural beings such as vampires, werewolves, fairies, ghost, fallen angels, demons, and he has lots of really interesting friends to help him. I enjoyed the series for some light and entertaining reading.

After that, I received the new David Sedaris book, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, for Valentine's Day. It was funny and I did enjoy it but I feel like he has less interesting things to say now that he's a wealthy, famous writer rather than a poor, struggling writer. Maybe it also had something to do with the fact that this book mentioned his family significantly less than his others. His unique family was definitely something that really made his early books funny. I still laughed with this one but not as much as I have with his previous works.

Right now I'm reading the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I really didn't plan on reading this book but it came to me in a weird way. I had given somebody one of my book club chain letters that Jenni dragged me into, and that person was suppose to send a book to Jenni. However, he didn't really feel that he would be able to handle the task of mailing it. (The post office can be complicated.) So he asked me to give it to her...four months ago. Well, I have seen her twice since then but I have forgotten the book. Then I started reading it.
Anyway, it's a long book, well over 600 pages. The idea is cool. A group of historians search for proof that Vlad the Impaler is the real Dracula and that he is still living an undead existence as a vampire. Of course, the book can move slowly. They cover a lot of history and geography. There is a ton of detail. At times it reads more like non-fiction, full of facts, and the story tying it all together seems to just fall in every now and again. I'm just now in the 400s after two weeks of reading. It's not one of those books that I just can't put down. I usually fall asleep after a chapter or so if I'm reading before bed. So far I don't feel emotionally connected to any of the characters. I could really care less what happens to them I just want to get to the end and find out what the plot twist is because there must be one. Also, I'm not a person who can quit a book. I have to finish. The book is intriguing sometimes but most of the time I feel like I'm studying. Maybe the last 200 pages will pick up a bit.

Finally, something to write about

Okay, I'm back to work. I've spent this week writing an article about resale shops. Of course, I've been through a few computers lately, and I'm typing on a new one (well new to me) right now. And because I forgot to e-mail it to myself, that article is now saved on a computer that is not hooked up. So I would have to unhook this monitor, mouse and keyboard, hook them back up to the other computer and then undo all of that just to get the article. How's that for complicated?
I finished typing in part three of my short story Worth Something. I have writing group tomorrow right after work so I need to get my other group members' work read and make some comments. Eventually, I'll have to finish the end of the story and type it up for next month. After that I'll need to have started a new piece of fiction or else I'll have nothing to take.
It feels good to be writing again. I didn't realize how much I missed the release and the feeling of accomplishment. I don't know how I ever stopped.

Since last year...

Sometimes, especially when I haven't written in a long time, I like to reflect back on my other posts. Some feel like just filler, others really mean something to me. Here's a post from last year, reflecting on what I had or hadn't accomplished in life. Since then not much has changed as far as accomplishments go. I've had some losses in the last year but I've also gained. Right now I feel like I'm breaking even.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned once or twice that my senior year of high school I took advance composition. As a writer, aspiring to be published, one would assume that I loved this class above all others and put every bit of effort into it. That would be not so accurate.I did love the class, but it was a lot of work and at the time I thought I had better things to do with my last hour of the school day. I failed the class, but I didn't need it to graduate so oh well. Not really. I failed a few classes in high school, for instance algebra, physics, geometry, all mostly for a lack of attendance. I thought living was more import than learning and when it comes to those classes, for the most part, I have no regrets. Failing advance comp was the only time I really felt bad about failing. The teacher was an odd guy, not your usual teacher, but a great teacher. He wanted to make sure we could write a solid essay before we took off for college, he wanted to make sure we read good literature that wasn't the main stream stuff we we're use to and he pushed us to be creative. I think I've mentioned a play that I wrote for his class.Anyway, he actually wanted us to learn something. Even though I failed, I still learned a lot. I even keep the journal that we had to write in every week filled with the positive comments that he wrote about my work, about my writing. And I kick myself for not finishing that class.What brought all of this to mind was when he walked into the shoe store today and even though I should have taken it as the chance to apologize for giving up, and told him that I regretted not finishing and that he was still a really good teacher that taught me something regardless of my grade. That's not what I did though, I hid. I hid because I didn't want him to see me selling shoes. It's been nearly seven years since I graduated and I had nothing to say but I sell shoes. And I couldn't face it.I felt like a huge let down to everyone, including myself. And I know I'm the one to blame for what my life is. I need to work harder so if there's ever a next time I will have something worth saying.

Starting again

Thank you to everyone for all their kindness these last months. I know I haven't been a very good blog friend lately but it's nice to know that a few of you are still with me.

I thought I'd give a little update on things in my life that I haven't posted about the last few months.
First off, I had another computer melt down. My computer stopped working. I'm working on getting it repaired and working on a borrowed computer right now. We'll see how that works out.
Last week I met with writing group. We usually meet the first Sunday of the month but I had to postpone due to everything going and my group members were awesome enough to reschedule. I have been taking parts of my short story, Worth Something, which is my story about the value of money and what it means to different people.
Jenni and I went to see RENT again. She got me tickets for Christmas and it was a nice chance to get away from the chaos. I got to see Jenni and my favorite musical. It's a great message of measuring your life in love and living like every moment is your last. It was what I needed.
Work has been madness. I'm really unhappy there. Combine that with a recent viewing of RENT and I can say that all I've wanted to do is quit my job and write. I haven't yet but I am looking into options. I'm not sure how much longer my employment will last, whether it's by my choice or someone else's.
That's about it. I've listed some books, watched some movies, read some books, even wrote some stuff (most of it journal entries). So I have a lot to post about. And I will. If I ever want to get out of this mess and doing what makes me happy, I have to start working hard.

It's been over a month since I posted. And the last thing I posted was that my dog, Darlington, passed away. Two days later my grandmother went into the hospital for the third time in two months. After three weeks there was nothing more they could do for her. Last week I said goodbye to the woman that raised me, and my best friend.

It's hard not seeing her or talking to her everyday. There have been a lof of good things and bad things in my life lately. I'd give anything to talk to her about it. She always seemed to know the right thing to do.

So I'm a little lost right now. I can't really promise that I'll try to right more now that I'm not spending all my spare time in the hospital. But I am here and thank you to all of you who have been sticking with me.

Darlington

Darlington

April 17, 1996 - January 28,2009

Unfortunately, not yet

I was ten minutes away from sitting down and telling you all the good news. My grandma was out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. Not to mention that the huge project that I needed to get done before the 31st was finished today. So there would be nothing stopping me from blogging all the time.
Sadly, right before I sat in my computer chair and booted up, the phone rang. Back to the hospital I went. And as if our family didn't have enough to deal with, Darlington, my childhood dog, is not doing so well. I think we're getting into the final hours. Between it all I am drained but still here. And I will be back on a regular basis soon.

We interrupt this blog...

Okay, I know I'm suppose to be posting more and I know I've had a lot of excuses but I swear I have good reason.
I've had a family member in the hospital. There was a simple surgery that wasn't necessarily simple, but everything turned out okay. Hopefully, they'll be out of the hospital soon and start working on their long and difficult recovery. Until then, I've been at, and will be at, the hospital.

Another thing going on is that I'm making a pretty big change in my personal life. It's an exciting change, that among many positive results, should allow me to spend more time at home, thus giving me more time to write blog posts and fiction.
This isn't something I can fall behind on either. It has to be done by the 31st. No excuses. And I had this whole schedule on how to get it all done by then. That plan went out the window the minute I headed out to the emergency room. So I'm trying to balance both things right now.
It's not leaving me any free time but by the end of January, I should have things together.
If that's possible.

What I should have sent to writer's group.

Yesterday, I realized that I had writing group this weekend and I had nothing to send. I took a section of my super long story because it was basically all I had. Of course, it was a chunk right from the middle so it didn't really make a lot of sense. And I hadn't written anything new so I hurried to type up another section that I had originally written long hand due to the lack of computer.
Everyone seemed to like my extremely passive and indecisive character. There weren't really a lot of notes about the story it's self since I've only sent two sections of a very long story and they were out of order.
Hopefully, I'll have something better for the next meeting. I'm not really sure that I was ready to have that story read by others. It's still incomplete. Although, it is nice to know that it's not off to a bad start.
I just now realized that I could have sent Worth Something, since it's practically done. The rear view mirror is always cleaner than the windshield, I guess.

50 in '08!

I did it! I finally did it. I read 50 books in a year! Here are the books I read in 2008.



1. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

2. The Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind

3. The Blood of the Fold by Terry Goodkind

4. Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind

5. Soul of Fire by Terry Goodkind

6. Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind

7. Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind

8. Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind

9. Chainfire by Terry Goodkind

10. Phantom by Terry Goodkind

11. Confessor by Terry Goodkind

12. The 36 Hour Day by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins

13. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

14. Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

15. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

16. The Golden Notebook by Doris Letting

17. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult

18. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

19. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

20. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien

21. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien

22. Wicked by Geoffrey Maguire

23. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

24. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behren

25. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

26. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

27. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

28. Blood Is the New Black by Valerie Stivers

29. Atonement by Ian McEwan

30. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

31. Forever Odd by Dean Koontz

32. Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

33. The Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

34. Twilight by Stephenie Meyerr

35. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

36. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

37. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

38. Cravings by Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks and Rebecca York

39. Four Past Midnight by Stephen King

40. Everything's Eventual by Stephen King

41. Gates of Eden by Ethan Cohen

42. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

43. 20th Century Ghost Story by Joe Hill

44. Storm Front by Jim Butcher

45. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

46. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

47. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

48. Death Masks by Jim Butcher

49. Holidays on Ice by Dave Sedaris

50. The Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

It's gonna be a Happy New Year!

Yes, it's really been over a month since I've posted. I'm sorry about that. I don't have the lack of computer as an excuse anymore. There were the hectic holidays keeping me busy. The shopping, planning, cooking, cleaning, etc..., but really that still no excuse.
Honestly, my absence has been for a lot of reasons. I became unaddicted when I had to live without my computer, so I didn't have that need to post. Another thing is that a lot of my regular readers, who are also blog writers, haven't been posting on their own blogs as much or reading this blog as much. And sometimes it's just discouraging to write when it feels like no one is reading.
Honestly, though, the biggest reason I haven't written so much is because for the last year or so I've been working on something. Not a writing something but a personal something. And I don't regret the sacrifices I've made because I feel they've been worth it, but I think I've been putting it before myself and I've been down that road before. It's not a good one. So my New Year's resolution is to not give up so much. It's very vague but there's no way to define it in terms.
Last night, I think I made some head way in getting something I want that will help with my goals. I'm hoping that works out.
My goals for this blog are simple. Blog more, read more blogs and try to get some new readers.
Happy New Year!

Get back to work

Yes, I have a new computer. So why haven't I posted more? Well I have a job that takes up too much time. And I'm not at home much (it just recently occurred to me that a laptop is mobile). Plus, the holidays are hectic for me. In my family, I always host the holidays. I do the planning, the shopping, the cleaning, the cooking, the cleaning and it's time consuming.
Enough excuses, I need to get back to it. Writing group will be meeting a week from today, which means I need something to send by Fridayish.
What to send? My last story was such a success that I'm worried nothing will live up to Secret Identity Crisis. I have no new funny stuff. So I might have to go back to drama.
I have a short story, Worth Something, that examines the value of money and what it means to different people. It's basically done. I wrote it in long hand and planned to put the finishing touches on it as I typed it up, which I'm about half way done with.
I could take a section of my short story turned novella that I still have no title for. No one dies in either story but they are both a bit depressing.
There's also the option of scrounging up something super old or writing something completely new.

Aside from writing group I need to get reading. I need to finish four more books by the end of the year to finally accomplish my goal of reading 50 books a year.

The Bestest Friend Ever!

Jenni is the bestest friend ever because she gave me this new awesome computer that I'm now using. It's much faster and has many more great attributes than the last one I had. The best part is that Jenni gave it to me out of love, not because she wanted free Internet.

And since I'm using terms like "bestest friend ever", let me tell you what I did last night. I went to see Twilight. I know, why, when I didn't really care for the book? I had some weird hope that the screenplay would add more action and cut out a lot of inner-dialogue, which is usually what movies do to ruin stories that I loved in book format. This movie left in all that whiny, selfish inner-dialogue and had about five minutes of decent action. No good. I wanted to leave in the first fifteen minutes. Slow moving and completely unsuspenseful. Of course, the giggling and applauding teen girls in the crowd apparently thought differently.
I dragged Slipstream with me and he says it doesn't matter if he "looks" 17, he's still over a hundred and dating a 16 year old. And that's just not right.

Reading update

Since I've been away from blogger world, I haven't had a chance to update on what I've been reading. I haven't even been able to add to goodreads.com.
While my new job doesn't allow much extra time for writing. I also haven't had a lot of time for reading. I miss those eight hour shifts with nothing to do but read.
I'm still on track to read fifty novels this year. I'm up to forty-three. So that means a novel a week for the rest of the year.
Right now, I'm finishing "Odd Hours," the most recent book in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series. I go back and forth with these books. I really liked the first one. Odd is funny, even though he's not trying to be, so his interaction with others is what I like most. Unfortunately, in book two he was solo most of the time, which I didn't really enjoy. Book three brought back some of that great interaction, which I enjoyed. Book four he's mostly solo again. And it's too bad because a lot of characters, that help Odd, are real fantastic. Not to mention, the book has a very vague ending, which does set up a sequel, but left me feeling really lost.

Back in time.

When I first started I didn't have a lot of readers. Of course, I don't have that many now either. I feel like my first posts have never been read by anyone but myself, so I thought I'd repost a few. What was on my mind three years ago ? Here's a post from November 13, 2008.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Sharing your imagination
Another comic book show today and I couldn't stand to be there. No, I'm not getting tired of comic book shows or comic books. I'm getting tired of not being there to promote my own comic book. All I do is sell and by other stuff and it makes me feel gloomy. It's not that I want to make money, I have no expectation of making the big bucks or the small bucks for that matter, I just want to see my work done. I want to see my accomplishment. I want to see other people enjoying my work.I've been thinking about my writing a lot this week. With the new Harry Potter movie drawing near it makes me think. This happens often when something I really enjoy comes into the spotlight. I get envious. Not because J.K. Rowling is rolling in piles of cash or bombarded with fan mail. I'm sure those things are great but I think about how much I love her books. When I come home from work or have stressful moments I jump into these things and I feel better. I leave the world and life I am tired of and enter these amazing places and become these amazing people. I have always had the imagination to create these places for myself but it's wonderful seeing others. Sometimes you get bored or in a mental block and you can't carry yourself away. That is when you engross yourself in someone else's imagination and you experience things and learn things. It's when you get the chance to experience happy times that you don't have in your own life right now, you get to see horrible things that make you realize your life isn't that bad, or you get to see that their are other people who face the same things you do. That is how I feel about the things I read and watch. I don't know if it is the same for everyone, maybe I over think things or don't think enough. Perhaps I am even bordering on insanity. All I know is that if there is one person or everyone in the world that feels the same way I do, I want to share my imagination with them for the times when they need help breaking away.It's not that I write only for other people, I write for myself. If you told me no one would ever read my work, I'd still write everyday. I have so many thoughts in my head and I'm so afraid one day I'll forget them. I have to put them down. I don't need to be rich or famous, I've never had either and I have had a great life this far. Yet when I did have tough times I always had somewhere to go. Whether it was in my own head or in a book, when my parents yelled, the kids teased, or my heart was broken I didn't sit around and focus on how much I hated things. I ran away to a place that let me be free from troubles. Then things were good. It's those good things that give you the strength to face the bad things, because you know the good things will come again eventually. I want to give the good things.That is why I write. I'm just getting anxious because I really want to share it with as many people as possible, if they want to read it. I think about how much I enjoy diving into worlds created by others when I need a break from my imagination as well as my life. If no one else wants to see it that's okay because I have it for myself. That is how it started and I still love it.

Pass it on

Normally, I'm not down with chain mail. If you send me an e-mail saying I'll have good fortune if I forward it, I won't do it. If someone sends me a myspace message that says I'll die if I don't repost it, I'll take my chances. However, today I got a cool chain letter that I actually think could be fun. I'm asked to send a book, just one, that I've enjoyed to another person, that is named on my letter. Then I send out six of my own letters that will have the person that sent the letter to me listed on it. The people I send the letters to should in turn send a book to my sender and then send out letters with my name. So if each person sends one book and six letters they will receive 36 books.
I know it seems like most chain letters are a scam, and some are, particularly those that involve money, but I have to get behind this one. First off, it's one book. It can be used and I'm sure everyone has one book sitting around somewhere that they don't plan on reading again. Second, books are cheap to send. Ask for media mail at the post office. It's less than $3.00 for books. Third, it's basically just a book exchange, which I do with lots of people already. The number one thing I give to and lend to people is books. I like to encourage reading. It's becoming a lost art, in a world of t.v. and video games.
So I'm going for it. I'm going to do it. I already know what book I'm going to send and I plan on listing any books I may receive. I hope it works out and that the people I select keep it going because it seems like a super cool idea.

Moving On

With the new job, new apartment and a few other things in life, I've really been putting a lot of things behind me for good. And for once I can honestly say I'm happy. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't miserable before now. I've been content for a while, but right now I'm happy. Life's not perfect but it's pretty good.
Of course, during the bad times, I wrote a lot of stories. And I'm starting to think that my writing was a little too personal. Now I look back on those stories and I don't even want to touch them. That part of my life is over. No need to go back.
When I was with my writing group, talking about the last piece of the Christmas Bells, I realized I just didn't like the story anymore. And a lot of me wondered if it was because I wrote this story for a person that I had to leave behind. A person who isn't in my life anymore because it was them or me and I chose me. Who wants to look back and dwell on that?
So I'm left with the question of how much of my own life should I put into a story? And if I chose any at all, how do I push forward with my work, when that part of my life is over?
If I choose to keep my personal experiences out of it, then where do I find the ideas and the emotions to write?