Music Mundays 7

It may be on the hokey side but it reflects my mood today. I'm needing some mellow. Don't we all at times? And this sort of smooth jazz lets me sit back, close my eyes, and picture myself on a beach or the banks of a river, as it where. It's like taking a mini-vacation.

So, if you're in need of a momentary break from life, come along and join me. It's free.



And can't you picture yourself here?



I know I feel better already.

Have a great week, everyone.

Sunday NaNo News, part 3

I love my new computer. Really. It's pretty. It's sleek. It's fast.

It has software I'm not familiar with.

*sigh*

I lost several pages of my NaNo project because I wasn't paying attention to the new word processing program. It asked me if I really wanted to replace a file and I said yes without taking the time to find out what file I was replacing.

It was not the one I wanted to replace.

As a result, I lost several pages and something like 2,500 words. I thought I'd lost almost 5,000 but I'd figured wrong.

Bottom line?

I like what I had to redo better. I think. There's now a scene that I really like that wasn't there before.

That is the nature of NaNo.

It'll drive you crazy if you let it.

I'm currently at 28,516 words, which puts me ahead by two days. Things are still going well, in spite of operator error. My main character, Honor, is sorting things out slowly. Xavier, the good guy is still doing his own sorting. And Orly, the bad guy? Not quite sure what he's up to yet but I'm confident I'll figure it out.

Announcing the 2009 Virtual Advent Tour

Kailana from The Written World and Marg from Reading Adventures are very pleased and excited to announce that we will once again be running the Virtual Advent tour this year. This is the fourth year that we have hosted and we hope that the event has become an integral part of the book blogging community's holiday traditions.

The Virtual Advent tour first started when we pondered why should the kids get all the fun of opening a box on the advent calendar and finding a treat in there, and how could we have some blogging fun with a similar concept? So the Virtual Advent tour was born.

Each day anyone who wants to participate takes turns sharing a treat with our friends here in blogland. For example it could be something about your family traditions, recipes, your country's holiday traditions, or a favourite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever it is that you do during this time.

I've just signed up and I'm looking forward to the adventure. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I have so many rich memories from my childhood... it may be difficult to pick something to talk about. And what a wonderful opportunity that will be, won't it? Reflecting on all of those holidays past.

Thanks, Kailana and Marg. It'll be great to celebrate with you!

It finally happened

I've been using a very old laptop for well over a year now. The newer one I had died so I had to resort to a second-hand one I bought from a student to help him out. It was perfectly fine for me - I'm not into a lot of razzle dazzle computer stuff. Give me the basics and access to the net and I'm happy.

Well, last night it died. Something to do with the backlight for the display screen, which is a fairly expensive fix. Given the age of the computer, it wasn't worth it. So, off I went in search of a new one.

It's a Dell, another, newer Inspiron. I know there's a model number somewhere but I don't worry about things like that. It's got everything I want on it and so far, seems to be working perfectly.

Now, I need to get back to NaNo. My comfortable pad has been diminished to one day...

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Sunday NaNo News, part 2

Yes, I know it's Monday... but I just realized that a little bit ago. Time has been warping or something for me lately and I've lost all track of what day or date it is. So, here's my Sunday update...

I hit 20,452 words last night. As usually, I'm uncertain as to whether or not it's a good effort or so much fodder but I do believe it can be fixed if it isn't good. The bones are there and if I have to rebuild on them later, I can do it.

I think I mentioned this is a sequel to a story I wrote earlier this year. I'm still learning about the characters and they seem to be having a good time revealing themselves to me. The one thing they're never shy about is letting me know when something isn't right. I had to dump 945 words the other day because it was wrong. Lame. Not right and the characters let me know it in their usual way - they stopped cooperating until I went back and fixed it. It's much better now and I've learned to trust that feeling. It's priceless.

I haven't written today, however. I spent the day trying to get the brakes on my van figured out and out at the barn with my niece. It was a stellar day here today - blue skies and a breeze a little on the cool side but I loved it. I got to see my niece take a big step today, too. She referred to herself as a trainer, which is what she wants to do. She's got one student and things are going well but I've never heard her call herself a trainer before. It was a cool moment. That's another reason why I love being at the barn. We seem to have our best conversations out there. She's in her element - so centered and at peace she's not afraid to let some of what she holds so tight loose.

Anyway, there's my update. My good guy is having trouble, my main character, who is supposed to be bad yet keeps finding herself doing good things is struggling, and the bad guy isn't as bad as he thinks he is. All of it is right on schedule, too.

In Memory

Of the men and women at Fort Hood.

God Bless You.

Sunday NaNo News...

The first day of The National Novel Writing Month is done for me. I'm happy with my output - 5,542 words, which puts me something like 1,200 words away from the day three total. I love getting off to a good start. Not that it means the story is good but the words do seem to be flowing which has always been a good sign for me. We'll see.

So... my NaNo history? I did my first challenge in 2004 and did horribly, with a final word count of something like 13,000 words. Since then, I'm proud to say I've finished each year. I don't even remember what that first story was supposed to be about. The others, however, I do:

2005 - was a story about a vampire who happens to be a police detective assigned to work the 'special cases' that crop up. A run in with a faith healer, however, has left her and her world changed forever, in ways she can't begin to imagine.

2006 - was about a young woman with a tragic past that included being sold into prostitution by her father as a child. Her life changed one day when a client realized that she was gifted as an adapt - a segment of the population able to tap into the energy of the universe and bend it to their will. Oh, there was also her faithful companion, the telepathic dog.

2007 - was the story of a former marine taken captive during a battle with an alien foe. Fifteen years later she returns home with a son, leading to complications of prejudice, honor, and life in general.

2008 - was the story of a young woman committed to a mental institution at the age of 15 because she pushed the much beloved parish priest off the roof of a building to his death. No one believed her when she explained it was because he was a demon. Released and on her own, she finds herself fighting demons with the most unlikely partner - one of the condemned souls from Hell itself.

2009 - is a sequel to a story that I'm trying to get up the courage to submit. It's about a young woman, created to be a plaything for the devil. In the first story, she was sent into the human realm where she learned just how difficult it is to be human. The sequel is the continuing saga of Honor and Xavier and that's about all I know. Hopefully it will work itself out.

I'll try to do a Sunday update for the next three weeks but if I disappear, you'll know why.