NaNo Hell

There are many kinds of hell. Did you know that? There is the kind with flames, that burn forever and can't be quenched. There is the kind where you have endless drugs pumped into you but the high is torment and you can't come down and would give anything to feel normal again. There is the hell where they pour alcohol into you with a funnel and you beg for a taste of water as the alcohol drys you out and you puke it up only to have it pumped back in you and you feel constantly hung over.

There are others but there is one special hell you may not know about. It is NaNo Hell. Here you are given tools to write a story and told to write 50,000 words in 30 days. You begin with a wonderful story and great optimism. But somewhere about the second week you notice the story is stagnant, not moving. You move the players around but they don't do anything and they start talking stupid dialogue and refuse to interact with othes with any flair. They look at you and spit at you and sit down when they are supposed to run and laugh at your frustrations.

You drag out scenes and lines and places but they just wander around, uttering meaningless drivel that not even a lost soul would want to read. And you start to pull you hair out and you roll your eyes and scream at the monitor before you. "GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! YOU MORON, CAN'T YOU EVEN PRETEND YOU HAVE SOMETHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY?"

You do your word count and you find you are getting behind and you type faster, writing more meaningless words and you pound your head on the key board. And the characters jump at you and scream profanities at you and tell you what a terrible writer you are and that you are going to be enslaved forever with them and never know what it means to reach NaNo Heaven!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Friends and Family and Other Folks - The Few, The Called, The Chosen

I love the written word, stinging them together to create a visual image that stirs imagination and emotions. I don't just hear words. I feel words. They are the lover's whisper, the tyrant's command, the child's laughter. They are the strong arms that wrap themselves around me and pull me ever forward, half resistant, half willing, along a path paved with multicolored jewels, through a land filled with magic and wonders that only my mind can create. Words are swirling dancers, pirouetting effortlessly, through marble halls of castles built on mountaintops wreathed in clouds set afire by flaming suns.

Words are soothing, healing, encouraging and music to the ear. Words are powerful and destructive. And as such, words are an attraction to others. All kinds of others. Blogs are words.

My contact list is a patchwork of characters, personalities, and faces. Some came with me from Y360. Some have been with me since birth. Some are recent additions based on contacts I've made here and there along a path on the web. Friends, Family, and other folks. Interests wax and wane with the moon and the subject. Some of my contacts I love. Some of my contacts I like. Some I don't know well but their blogs made me think I might like to get to know them better.

I look at the words on your blogs. Yes, I look at the photos, and neat little gadgets you may have. I may marvel at your designs. I may even think your pets or babies are absolutely adorable. But for me, in the end, the words make or break my interest in you.

So I don't accept every invitation I get nor do I reject every invitation. And I don't typically drop people, but I have. Words are always there reason.

I do tend to be very selective as to who I accept. I have specific methods whereby I make my choices. I do not deviate from this.

1. I ALWAYS pray about the person asking to be added.
2. I wait about two weeks before I make a final decision.
3. I ALWAYS check your site several times while I "wait".

During my sojourne with Y360 I added several people for whom I neglected rule #2 & #3 even though I followed #1. It turned out every one was a bad choice. Some were worse than others. Ultimately, since starting this new blog, I have become more picky in my selections and more strick in my dealings with old and new contacts.

• I no longer add because you are a contact of a contact. You get added on your own merits, not someone else's say so.
• I don't add anyone who is obviously diametrically opposed to Christianity. What's the point? You'll get mad and I'll get annoyed and we will both say things best left unsaid.
• I don't add anyone who is into pornographic material. It isn't personal, but my Mama said :If it isn't for sale don't advertise it." I'm not in the market, thank you. And you don't have that much money.
  
• I don't add a lot of men because they don't usually ask women interested in intellectual pursuits. Sorry, I'm into brains. If you're into other stuff, well, you might try those advertising.
• I add more people who are into creative pursuits rather than receipts because I hate cooking.
  
• I don't add only people who share my faith. Rememeber, its all about the words.
  
• I don't bear any malice in any choice I make. It's all about me.
  

Also, please note: I never, ever, ever give my name, location or phone number to anyone that I do not know personally or to whom I am not related. Nor do I want your personal information. If this bugs you, perhaps you we're not a good match. The day we live in is fraught with risk. The internet is a predators dream come true. I'm protecting myself.

Protect yourself. I've seen on some of your blogs that your profile is visible. It shows your name, address, phone numbers, where you work, where you go to school, etc. This is a risky thing if your preferences are set to anything beyond contacts you know personally. You can block your profile and I strongly suggest you do. If you do not block it, please put in a bogus name and in the zip are put a 9 five times. It will show you are in the USA but not a city.

Ultimately, I add contacts the way I buy my mustard. There are all kinds of mustard but I won't buy or eat anything but French's. So, if you made it to my contacts list, you passed mustard.

Now, lets see if you can cut the mustard. It's all about words

Monday Disguised as Wednesday

I was off yesterday and it was really nice. Sarah spent the night with me and we had a great time Tuesday. I did some writing last night to try and catch up on my word count. But today, I got to work only to learn that it's really Monday.

I know it is because the paperwork is unbelievable and I feel as if I am spinning my wheels! I can't seem to get ahead at all. I'd be happy with treading water but it isn't working. I'm drowning.

I have a hearing this afternoon with a client I withdrew because she forgot to tell us she was renting out her deceased father's home. Well, it is a long story and I won't go there. Let's just say I hate hearings.

Now back to the grind. I've had my lunch and I am fueled. I hope you all have a great afternoon and I'll be back to update the word count later tonight!

NaNoWriMo - Day 6

I am a bit behind. I kept Sarah overnight Monday night and took her home at 7 tonight. So, I'm getting a late start. I just hit 7178 words and am going to try and hit 10,000 tonight. That is where I should be anyway.

Story seems to be dragging a bit but I expected it. Just not so soon.

Keep those fingers crossed and say a few prayers for my inspiration.

Update

Sarah went to the doctor yesterday and every single test came back normal. Her iron level is normal, all blood test=normal. There is nothing wrong with her. Her mother said she fought the doctor like a little tiger. (She has seen this doctor before and was an angel.) She bit him, kicked him, slapped him, twisted and flopped around. When he tried to check her ears she wouldn't hold her head still. When he tried to check her throat she bit down on the depressor and wouldn't let go. Becca said it took all he could do to hold on to her. She weighs 17 lbs for heaven's sake but when she is being difficult she flows like butter and you can't hardly hold her. The doctor said he didn't know why she behaved that way. He said she was going to be small and to let her have all teh fat and sugar she wants.

So I want to know where that gene came from and why I can't have one?

I kept her last night and she went to bed at 10 and slept until 8:30 this morning. Her appetite seems fine although she seems to eat small portions to me. But when she doesn't want it, she just pushes it out with her tongue and looks at you with a frown.

I told my pastor last night that I don't know what was wrong but as far as I am concerned, the Lord took care of it.

Thanks to all of you who offered prayers.