in case you didn't know NaNoWriMo is for the month of November. And if you don't know what it is, here is a link.
thought to do it last year, but with school, i was a some thousand words short, even though i had a pretty good writing idea.
this year, i've the time, but no novel-length idea...yet.
however, i thought a collection of shorts might work, if i can get at least 7 averaging a little over 7,000 words each, or 5 at 10,000. right now, it as at least 7 in my mind because a short i think i finished today was a little less than 7000 (6800-ish).
so i finished one ( i think ) today. I got the story to an end, and the lines i had somewhat envisioned... and i sent it to sean. it is tricky to have a clear end in mind, especially if the story seems to have a mind of its own, or it isn't cooperating... part of my dilemma arose when i wrote in a character i soon thought i better kill off, but then couldn't...but i couldn't go back and un-write the character cause i'd given it a name!! really, the easiest name of whole short story to come to me, too...
if it works out, and i polish it a little, i may post it on a locked blog-site and you can email me (or comment it when i announce a posting) and i will send an invite. and why the locked site?--because it might actually be an alright piece of work.
mostly, i am riding on a high (however momentary) of finishing something (even first drafted).
time for a stretch, a drink, and maybe some halloween candy.
4.11.09
3.11.09
lines
i will pull together some of the halloween pics and post them, eventually. great pumpkin carving this year (of course) and nate looked as wondermous as ever. she was a warrior princess, of her own creation--which was tricky, but it turned out.
the weather was downright warm during the afternoon, and the evening was cloudless, and wind-less. it was ideal. the neighborhood was full of lit porches and candy...nate got two houses last pieces of candy (less than an hour in--it was that busy).
***
have tickets to go home for christmas....when was the last time?? we are looking forward to it!
***
been trying to write, but mostly been reading books and on-line... a lot of poetry.
***
well, that is the thrilling news update...fill in at will.
the weather was downright warm during the afternoon, and the evening was cloudless, and wind-less. it was ideal. the neighborhood was full of lit porches and candy...nate got two houses last pieces of candy (less than an hour in--it was that busy).
***
have tickets to go home for christmas....when was the last time?? we are looking forward to it!
***
been trying to write, but mostly been reading books and on-line... a lot of poetry.
***
well, that is the thrilling news update...fill in at will.
20.10.09
cheers
so i read yesterday's post today. hmmm, did sound a bit distressing.
alas, it was not yet a cry for help...as those (in my case) tend to be shorter (a few lines) and involving at least one or two expletives (between gasps of raging despair).
***
Natalya is starting her unit of Poetry for her TAG-Reading class. Yeah, the packet she brought home yesterday (that we went through like a college bulletin/catalog) read like a syllabus. so, if she decides she wants an "A" (for a grade) and puts that on her contract (not kidding) then that means lots of homework--because the packet was for personal, on-your-own-time work, because they will be doing work in class too. Wouldn't want her to not feel special.
I mean, I am glad we got her tested (re-tested because apparently Oregon's acceptance of her TAG qualifications were not good enough), but man-alive! Good thing bibliographies are busy work for English Majors. course, i had to have her ask her teacher whether they want MLA or Chicago-style. I hope she remembers to ask; either before or after she signs up for conference time to go over her contract (and its required tasks).
Really, when i met the TAG coordinator/teacher the other night at conferences I was expecting an apology for doubting Nate's brilliance, instead, the woman was blown-away by Nate's communication skills, as in: "I'm not sure if you realize this, but I don't know what you guys are doing, or why, because all around it appears chaotic, and i can't work this way!"
Natalya can be timid, and fairly non-confrontational. The situation must have been pretty intense for Natalya to remember mine and sean's advice: talk to the teacher about it.
Natalya and i went over the options under the different headings for the various kinds of assignments outlined. some sounded really interesting, some "maybe another time," and others were "um, I don't understand that one." i could divide it out more, there were lots of options, except on the "Challeng Activities" which Nate would have to do 2 (for an A), and we only really liked 2.
Then we went to the not-our-usual library to see if there were any biographies she might like better (from a much bigger selection) for another school assignment. then we hit up the poetry section--both kids and adults, couldn't find the teen section.
Natalya was reading from Penguin's Book of Limmericks over breakfast, she likes limmericks. and it was great: literary limmericks, not bar/pub limmericks. lots of famous authors, too. i found one by Dylan Thomas, was excited.. and glad i read it to myself first... it was sorta naughty. Nate was reading from the first page. the second page had one with sh*! in the fourth line. i almost dropped a plate i was holding. I suggested she might scan for certain words before reading them aloud--especially since she was taking the massive tome for some light on-the-bus or at-the-playground reading.
possibly more than limmericks, N likes the haiku; possibly because she knows i don't care for them. so she is chosing to do a haiku about how a rock that she finds and picks up and puts in her hand feels.
She is also, besides a biography-timeline-project assignment, Poetry Unit, and regular homework, she is reading a lengthy biography on Tesla (because they are study electricity and i told her Tesla was fascinating, and relevant), and she is writing bi-lingually a story--because "I am inspired by Pam Munoz Ryan, and mi maestra Senora Claflin."
i need to write up a contract for her to sign, because i am leary of the verbal agreement that she will be a good (and organized) manager of her time, and that mom will only nag with regards to daily assignments, and spelling homework.--cause we both hate when i have to nag.
alas, it was not yet a cry for help...as those (in my case) tend to be shorter (a few lines) and involving at least one or two expletives (between gasps of raging despair).
***
Natalya is starting her unit of Poetry for her TAG-Reading class. Yeah, the packet she brought home yesterday (that we went through like a college bulletin/catalog) read like a syllabus. so, if she decides she wants an "A" (for a grade) and puts that on her contract (not kidding) then that means lots of homework--because the packet was for personal, on-your-own-time work, because they will be doing work in class too. Wouldn't want her to not feel special.
I mean, I am glad we got her tested (re-tested because apparently Oregon's acceptance of her TAG qualifications were not good enough), but man-alive! Good thing bibliographies are busy work for English Majors. course, i had to have her ask her teacher whether they want MLA or Chicago-style. I hope she remembers to ask; either before or after she signs up for conference time to go over her contract (and its required tasks).
Really, when i met the TAG coordinator/teacher the other night at conferences I was expecting an apology for doubting Nate's brilliance, instead, the woman was blown-away by Nate's communication skills, as in: "I'm not sure if you realize this, but I don't know what you guys are doing, or why, because all around it appears chaotic, and i can't work this way!"
Natalya can be timid, and fairly non-confrontational. The situation must have been pretty intense for Natalya to remember mine and sean's advice: talk to the teacher about it.
Natalya and i went over the options under the different headings for the various kinds of assignments outlined. some sounded really interesting, some "maybe another time," and others were "um, I don't understand that one." i could divide it out more, there were lots of options, except on the "Challeng Activities" which Nate would have to do 2 (for an A), and we only really liked 2.
Then we went to the not-our-usual library to see if there were any biographies she might like better (from a much bigger selection) for another school assignment. then we hit up the poetry section--both kids and adults, couldn't find the teen section.
Natalya was reading from Penguin's Book of Limmericks over breakfast, she likes limmericks. and it was great: literary limmericks, not bar/pub limmericks. lots of famous authors, too. i found one by Dylan Thomas, was excited.. and glad i read it to myself first... it was sorta naughty. Nate was reading from the first page. the second page had one with sh*! in the fourth line. i almost dropped a plate i was holding. I suggested she might scan for certain words before reading them aloud--especially since she was taking the massive tome for some light on-the-bus or at-the-playground reading.
possibly more than limmericks, N likes the haiku; possibly because she knows i don't care for them. so she is chosing to do a haiku about how a rock that she finds and picks up and puts in her hand feels.
She is also, besides a biography-timeline-project assignment, Poetry Unit, and regular homework, she is reading a lengthy biography on Tesla (because they are study electricity and i told her Tesla was fascinating, and relevant), and she is writing bi-lingually a story--because "I am inspired by Pam Munoz Ryan, and mi maestra Senora Claflin."
i need to write up a contract for her to sign, because i am leary of the verbal agreement that she will be a good (and organized) manager of her time, and that mom will only nag with regards to daily assignments, and spelling homework.--cause we both hate when i have to nag.
19.10.09
a bit of a downer
gearing up for a long week. i have plans, of course, never a shortage of those... but the question as ever present is: "Will I do any of those things?"
i am starting to feel like i am the person balancing out all those other busy and "productive" lives. which wouldn't be bad if i could be paid to do it, or it involved a reward of a sort.
anywho... we were in abq this weekend and got to hang-out with friends, saw a movie, ate green chile breakfast burritos at the Frontier. it was fun and exhausting, and yes, i still do not care much for abq. but it was good to get out of the house.
ready for halloween to be here already, but with everything magically in place. Nate is being especially difficult on the costuming this year (among other things).
i am not going to drink anything caffineinated unless it is tea. when my father-in-law asked if he could pick up any soda at the store, i said no. and i am really resisting the snacking. and i am really trying to think of foods i am actually interested in eating, instead of feeding myself the same old foods that seem to keep reappearing on my plate.
i am really really looking forward to christmas. another plan that have no list behind it.
i could be it is monday and i haven't had caffeine and the nap i took to recover from yesterday did not yield the best results. may be i am sucking it all in before nate gets off the bus. could be that i wiped more than the sleepies from my eyes this morning...
may be i need a moment (or two) to be a bit grumbly--not that i am ever suzy-sunshine.
i am starting to feel like i am the person balancing out all those other busy and "productive" lives. which wouldn't be bad if i could be paid to do it, or it involved a reward of a sort.
anywho... we were in abq this weekend and got to hang-out with friends, saw a movie, ate green chile breakfast burritos at the Frontier. it was fun and exhausting, and yes, i still do not care much for abq. but it was good to get out of the house.
ready for halloween to be here already, but with everything magically in place. Nate is being especially difficult on the costuming this year (among other things).
i am not going to drink anything caffineinated unless it is tea. when my father-in-law asked if he could pick up any soda at the store, i said no. and i am really resisting the snacking. and i am really trying to think of foods i am actually interested in eating, instead of feeding myself the same old foods that seem to keep reappearing on my plate.
i am really really looking forward to christmas. another plan that have no list behind it.
i could be it is monday and i haven't had caffeine and the nap i took to recover from yesterday did not yield the best results. may be i am sucking it all in before nate gets off the bus. could be that i wiped more than the sleepies from my eyes this morning...
may be i need a moment (or two) to be a bit grumbly--not that i am ever suzy-sunshine.
2.10.09
bans and other such nonsense
wrote about the perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky here, at omphaloskepsis. it was the first banned book for my late start into banned books week. finished it on wednesday. yesterday i read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: it was...i'm not entirely sure yet. Oh, but before Bradbury, i read Allen Ginsberg's Howl, again, a great work--and its contraversy (content-wise) obvious. not sure what i will read to day, around the things that need getting done.. maybe The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner. I think all his works have been challenged or banned at one point. Actually, there are a lot of Southern authors whose books have been protested, many many more than other regions.
**********
Sean comes home tonight.. yay!
and in other news: Natalya and i agreed that if she doesn't want to brush her hair in the mornings: she gets to see the consequences. She is one more morning away from us making the same agreement on finished homework. I realize i am not the most patient person, and that i cannot disagree with the daughter as to the questionable logic of some of the assignments (or their lack of clarity) but then, i am not the one who will miss recess time. i tell her this is training, accumulate another life skill, they are just preparing you for the corporation--a good little citizen. of course, this couched lately among her social studies discussions on law-making etc.. and us (family members) telling her that some time rebellion is necessary and should be available to a country's citizenry--questioning is good, etc...
natalya had her presentation on her book project yesterday.. it went well, she felt. and she is very aware of how she feels on everything on every level of feeling. her latest most shared concern though is the physical: there are 29 students in her class and 15 have been out "sick." With the newer policies, even if it isn't with the pig, any fever is treated seriously and means days out. i think other than the hormones and the rapid aging?--she appears okay to me.
last night we had mcdonald's because there was a fundraiser for MIL's school where she teachers (you know how these things work). they offered to buy, and i like the occasional (though rarely occuring) big mac. Natalya almost lost it. she does not do mcdonalds, ever since she has been educated, and her teacher read and relayed information from Super Size Me last year...though she rebelled the year before because that teacher believed in healthy-living and ate lunch with his students every day and had them do yoga as a calming and centering exercise daily--i miss mr. henderson, and you too, ms. murphy.
alright.. off to do--something others would deem productive.
**********
Sean comes home tonight.. yay!
and in other news: Natalya and i agreed that if she doesn't want to brush her hair in the mornings: she gets to see the consequences. She is one more morning away from us making the same agreement on finished homework. I realize i am not the most patient person, and that i cannot disagree with the daughter as to the questionable logic of some of the assignments (or their lack of clarity) but then, i am not the one who will miss recess time. i tell her this is training, accumulate another life skill, they are just preparing you for the corporation--a good little citizen. of course, this couched lately among her social studies discussions on law-making etc.. and us (family members) telling her that some time rebellion is necessary and should be available to a country's citizenry--questioning is good, etc...
natalya had her presentation on her book project yesterday.. it went well, she felt. and she is very aware of how she feels on everything on every level of feeling. her latest most shared concern though is the physical: there are 29 students in her class and 15 have been out "sick." With the newer policies, even if it isn't with the pig, any fever is treated seriously and means days out. i think other than the hormones and the rapid aging?--she appears okay to me.
last night we had mcdonald's because there was a fundraiser for MIL's school where she teachers (you know how these things work). they offered to buy, and i like the occasional (though rarely occuring) big mac. Natalya almost lost it. she does not do mcdonalds, ever since she has been educated, and her teacher read and relayed information from Super Size Me last year...though she rebelled the year before because that teacher believed in healthy-living and ate lunch with his students every day and had them do yoga as a calming and centering exercise daily--i miss mr. henderson, and you too, ms. murphy.
alright.. off to do--something others would deem productive.
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