| Official NaNo Count |
[Dec. 1st, 2009|07:32 pm] |
The official NaNoWriMo count for me is 8569 according to their website. I did meet my goal of beating last year's total and I think I've found a way that writing works for me. The writing process for me will involve a lot of paper and ink sacrifice before seeing anything in digital. If it works then I need to go for it!
Next on my plate writing-wise is starting the short story for the PARSEC contest. I'm going to try two different stories, one with a horror theme and one that is purely comical fantasy, at least I hope it's comical. Need to get both ideas down on paper and then start writing them before I forget anything I've come up with. Your head can only hold so much and right now mine is on overload with work stuff. |
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| Biting the Bullet Parts 1, 2 & 3 |
[Nov. 27th, 2009|05:44 pm] |
This is a combined post because when I tried to email them from work the server wasn't found.
Part I:
I finally made a doctor's appointment to get my knees checked out. It is because my right one decided to hurt again when walking down stairs both last night and this afternoon. I could handle one knee, not both. It was the straw that finally broke the camel's back.
Part II:
Both my knees are stable according to the nurse practitioner. She examined both of them and said that I have the possible start of arthritis in my left knee and nothing conclusive was found with my right knee. My right knee did hurt after the manipulations done to it. My left patella doesn't float as well as the right one either.
Ended up getting x-rays done on both knees. I'll get the results either later today or Monday. The x-rays might show what is wrong, if they don't then I have to get an MRI done. I don't think I've had one of those done before.
Part III:
Got the results from the nurse at the office and she said there was signs of mild degeneration in both knees. I don't know if one is worse than the other or what, because I didn't ask and have decided to make a doctor's appointment for when my car pool partner is on his work trip a week from Monday.
Currently: My knees are not happy right now because of the weather. At this point I can't do my usual and look on the bright side. Anyone want to come over tomorrow and commiserate with me?
On a different medical note my period still hasn't come. I now have a new cyclic record: 124 days. Dr. Bob (our chiropractor) pushed my uterine reflex point today on my foot. I've felt rumblings and hope it comes soon.
Writing note: More done for the NaNoWriMo novel. Not sure what I'm up to in word count but I know it is more than 6300. The real encouragement I got from this exercise is to realize that I would pick up this book to buy by reading the first few pages. That's a good feeling. I think I've finally found a way that works for me. Yeah! Oh, had someone at ballroom read my fish story and he liked it. He was amazed at how I conveyed the whole story with so few words (400). Yay me! Going to work on the short story for the next PARSEC contest after NaNo. |
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| Emailed posts not posting. |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|01:51 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Popular from Wicked | ] |
I sent two posts yesterday that haven't posted yet. Does anyone else email their posts? Are you having issues? Any help is appreciated.
NaNoWriMo day two wasn't bad. Day three is yet to be seen. I'm still behind in word count if you go by the 2010 word per day. Oh well! As long as I get over my last attempt I'll be happy (6200 total). |
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| NaNoWriMo Day 1 |
[Nov. 2nd, 2009|01:33 pm] |
Day 1 of NaNoWriMo for me was almost a complete bust. I say almost because I did get a paragraph down before I went to bed, but that was all. Why? Because I had a lot of other things to do when I got back from Cedar Point. This week should be productive since Jay will be working late. I have the usual ballroom dance and regular dance classes to attend this week. When I have downtime between classes I'm going to write. How you might ask - because I'll be using pen and paper most of the time. Easiest to pull out wherever I am, just need to remember to bring it.
Wish me luck! |
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| Orange Tabby Tom cat looking for a good home |
[Oct. 19th, 2009|01:53 pm] |
There is an orange tabby tom cat wandering around my SIL's neighborhood.
He looks like he's a little over a year old and he's very skinny. He wants
to belong to a family really bad based on his meows when my SIL and I came
out of her house last week. His family moved and abandoned him. My SIL
and her neighbor are feeding him since he's so skinny and will go in 1/2
way for him to get neutered and have his shots if someone takes him.
Neither of them can take the orange tabby in because of other cats who are
sensitive or little dogs who would attack it.
Does anyone reading this have a place for a very friendly kitty who just
wants a family to belong to? Preferably around the Pittsburgh area. |
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| Signs that you are tired |
[Oct. 12th, 2009|03:38 pm] |
While unpacking the Vue last night I rammed my right thrum into the
doorjamb. I should have left everything in the garage until today. Now I
have a nice red bruise on my thumb knuckle. So far it only hurts when I
try to write. I wonder what color it will turn tomorrow. *sigh*
On a brighter note we sold things over the weekend! Even me - although I
don't have the cash in hand yet. She did take my email and was very
insistent that she wanted a pair. Guess I need to create business cards
for my poi making. Heh. |
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| Wild Rose Ren Faire |
[Oct. 5th, 2009|01:52 pm] |
The Faire was sparsely populated the first weekend. It rained a bit on
Saturday and a heavy wind blew the Easy-up over my and ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) celticmoons' heads. One bolt broke on the Easy-up which will,
hopefully, get fixed this week. It was recommended to us that we stake the
corners down so that it wouldn't happen again. The wind upended the
Easy-up during the last Hangman show of the day and all the participants
that were watching came over to help with the recovery. On Sunday we put
up three walls for a wind break and had all of the corners staked down, it
didn't blow over so we did good.
Cold and muddy was the name of the game this weekend. I'll be helping next
weekend so I'll make sure to bring my thermal underwear this time, both top
and bottoms if I can find white ones. The Catskill moccasins held up for
the most part. There were a few parts on the boots that I missed
waterproofing so I'm going to clean and re-waterproof them this week.
I didn't get home until 10:20 P. M. and what do you think I should find in
my driveway? Four deer. This was the first time during the whole weekend
that I saw any deer, despite being by a State Forest. Thankfully they all
turned and ran when I slowly went down the driveway. As I passed my flower
bed at the end of the front walkway I noticed all the green was gone. I
guess the deer decided to finish off the pears and eat the greens as a
desert. *sigh*
We were told that the Faire is always slow the first weekend and picks up a
lot the last two. We shall see. I did get two pois created over the
weekend. I've decided to cut all the yarn and fabric I'll need during this
week so I can work on it while I'm there. I'm thinking I should weave a
couple of belts this week so I can display them this weekend. We'll see
what happens since I have a busy week planned. |
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| Past events |
[Sep. 18th, 2009|02:05 pm] |
Vacation - Aug. 19 - 27
Pittsburgh Ren Faire - Sept. 7
Enjoyed vacation immensely! Faire was about the same this year as last year
I plan to do a detailed vacation post soon. (Famous last words) |
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| American Clean Energy and Security Act |
[Sep. 17th, 2009|09:27 am] |
Please tell your state Senators to vote NO on the American Clean Energy and
Security Act. The title makes it sound nice, but it is just a huge tax
increase on all the energy (gasoline, natural gas, electricity) that we
consume. The electric companies will be taxed and pass it on to us like
they do every other tax on them. This bill will also impact any of our
food that has to be shipped since shipping uses the energy that will be
taxed. If you think cost of living is high now, just wait until this bill
gets passed; I predict a lot more people will be out on the street or
struggling to make ends meat. |
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| Quick update |
[Aug. 5th, 2009|11:46 pm] |
This is going to be a very quick update. I've been wanting to post a lot lately, but other things seem to distract me. I have decided that since I have so many subjects to write about that I will make it one post a subject. The subjects are: painting, ballroom dancing, reflexology and pressure points, writing, Confluence and our upcoming vacation. More to come. Now it's time for bed. |
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| Painting |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|11:20 pm] |
It took me way too long to paint the ceiling in the office. Now I have to do it again because I missed spots and want it to look uniform. Arrgh! I definitely don't like painting textured ceilings. Back to the drawing board on that one. Need to borrow a tool from my SIL before attempting it again.
I finished painting the prop box for the play being performed Saturday night at Confluence. It looks pretty good. It's still tacky right now so I have to wait until tomorrow to put everything back in the box. Going to be leaving the house around 11 to get there around noon to help set up the art show. Lots of things going on this weekend, just hope that I remember everything that I want to bring.
Time for bed now. Goodnight LJ. |
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| Tiring day. |
[Jul. 5th, 2009|11:12 pm] |
Spent most of the day trimming bushes with my hubby. We decided to do them all despite the heat. Wow, what a job! I'm glad that it's done. Jay kept saying how much he loathes the job. I don't mind the trimming much, just the picking up afterward.
The pool was used on July 4th by friends and family. Jay pushed his sister in the pool while she was fully clothed. She wasn't, and probably still isn't, happy about that. Enjoyable gaming after swimming and eating.
Tomorrow is play practice. I get to pick up the prop box from adelheid_p's house on the way to rehearsal. Jay said it should fit in the Vue, so I'm hoping he's correct.
Okay folks, time for me to head for bed. Goodnight! |
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| Lots of things.... |
[Jun. 28th, 2009|02:20 pm] |
Basement: All of the baseboard is off the walls and laying on the floor. Today I get to fill all of the nail holes with wood putty so it will dry in time for Tuesday when I'm having valancy17 over to help me sand them. The paint has been bought for the walls and the three gallons of the same color have been combined so that we have a consistent color throughout. Painting comes after the spackling and sanding. Lots of prep work before painting.
Pool: The pool is swimmable! Jay took a water sample to Aquadoc and they said that the pool is balanced. Yay! What are people planning for the 4th of July? Jay and I were thinking of inviting everyone over for a pool party.
( Female stuff behind the cut. )
BRD: We went to ballroom dancing yesterday and had two really good group lessons in cha-cha. Learned a new pattern in the second class and I got to practice my hip swivels in the first. |
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| Colors |
[Jun. 21st, 2009|05:34 pm] |
Went to a housewarming party yesterday and got some terrific ideas for the new basement colors. I loved the metallic one best. It's either going to be our family room color or the office. Still need to figure out the accent colors. Oh, and I'll also need help painting if anyone is so inclined. Probably either this week or next.
I'd like for the ceiling to either stay the say or be a lighter color of the wall. Decisions, decisions. |
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| Rain and echoes. |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|05:04 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Many thanks goes out to keleyat, Scott, Cyndl, Jeff and Pete for helping us clean up the mess. The carpet and padding is totally gone from our basement and has, by now, arrived at the local landfill. That was all thanks to keleyat and Jay hurrying to get it cut, scraped off, rolled up and transported to the curb before the garbage men showed up. We gave them two cans of coke and two glasses of ice for their trouble. I didn't even have to give up a sticker! (They require stickers around here for larger items.)
The under the stair storage is now back in order and the washing machine and dryer are currently in use. I still have to move everything out of the downstairs bathroom in order to clean the floor. I'll probably work on that tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to still go to Kira's housewarming party tomorrow, despite everything that needs done here and Jay going to Beaver in the morning. We'll see how that goes.
Nothing else to report on, except that without carpet the whole basement now echoes. I'm definitely going to be repainting the downstairs. Jay wants some kind of warm tangerine for the office and I think I'll be going with Cyndl's suggestion of a sage green for the family room. Unless Courtney (Cyndl's old roomie) has an alternate suggestion that is. |
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| Recital |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|04:18 pm] |
We had two shows on Saturday. The first started about seven minutes late and ran until 4:45. The second show started only one minute late and it ran more smoothly. I made two mistakes in the first show and no mistakes in the second show. Guess which one was taped? Yep, the first. Arrgh!
Jim said I better stage presence this year. I felt really good about the dance, so I guess that came through in my performance. I went out with Larry and the teachers after the show, didn't get home until around 1 AM.
Sunday Jay, Scott and Cyndl replaced the struts on Jamie's car while Jamie and Paul helped me tie up the spire evergreens we have by our door and in the back. We found out the hard way that Paul is allergic to said spires. Not good. They look a lot better tied up.
Tonight I'll be at play practice at adelheid_p's house. I'm hoping not too much was done last week without me. Now I'm off to make food for Jay. We won't be eating it until tomorrow. |
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| Cat taxi and pool cleaner. |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|06:54 pm] |
This morning I received a worried call from my SIL about her cat Lacey. Why worried? Because Lacey threw up this morning and it was pasty and she didn't want to let my SIL give her the usual affection in the usual way. Also, her belly seemed hard and her bowel movements were shorter and harder.
In short: I took Lacey to the vet at 10:30. Because they were backed up I had to leave her there to get x-rays and bloodwork done. At 3:30 they called and I picked her up from the vet and brought her home (paid with SIL's credit card). As soon as I unzipped a cat size hole in the carrier out she flew. Lacey laid down and let me pet her a bit and she purred for me, glad to be home. When she had enough she went to eat and I followed, concerned.
I called my SIL to tell her that Lacey was home safe and sound and she told me that it wasn't that big of a concern, more constipation than anything else. We'll be getting the blood work results on Thursday. I also suggested that we go out to dinner, so we did. I had a nice spaghetti dinner with the conversation centering around Lacey. My SIL treated me since I took care of Lacey today. That was nice, she was very grateful.
I went to check the skimmers when I got home and found the filter off. I checked the breaker and it wasn't tripped. The timer was on manual and it was off, don't know why. I turned it back on and the pump started running and is currently running fine. Very odd. The skimmers just had the usual dirt and insects in it. We had another casualty, another toad and a bird. That makes five total so far. This is the first time for a bird. Another oddity. I hope Jay will have an explanation when he gets home for the pumps behavior. |
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confused