Cold

So it is still snowing on and off here in Oregon. I guess this is good - it will prepare me for the coldness to come when I get home. Mom said it is freezing there too. Moreso than here. Oh well. I guess this means that I will appreciate summer that much more, eh?

As for things other than that, I am a happy girl. I worked a half a day of work yesterday (Thurs) and now I am off until the new year. Thank goodness. I love time off. I haven't had it in so long that I had forgotten how nice it is. And I get to see my family - I am way pumped about that. Mostly my nephew. Forget the rest of my family, I really just want to see him. He is almost a year old now! He changes more than anyone else in my family right now so that is why I want to see him most (no offense Mom)

My flight leaves at 4 in the afternoon tomorrow and then doesn't land until almost midnight in Calgary. It is kinda weird. I have to go to San Fran first too which sucks since that means that I will have a teaser of semi-nice weather before going to the arctic tundra up north (haha)

Well, that is about all I have to say right now. I am in the middle of trying to get all my laundry and stuff done so that I can have stuff to pack. So I am off. To pack. (actually I will probably not pack until the very last minute - that's just how I roll). Au revior! My next post will be from Canada (I hope!)

So Klutzy

Oh man. All I have to say is I deserve to have scars all over me. I am so klutzy. Today at work I was trimming these hard plastic things with a razorblade - which I have done thousands of times, and I slipped and cut myself. I did a pretty good job too. I got a pic or two but the camera was too dead to upload the pics - they will come though. Anyway, I didn't go to the urgent care or anything like that (but my roommate thinks I should have) because I hate it. I hate going in and having to explain what I did and how I could be sure that it never happens again and blah blah blah. I am just a klutz, okay you people over at workers comp? Isn't that enough for you? Apparently not. So that is why I don't go to get stitches. And it will be fine. A bit of a jagged scar, but not bad. I don't think. I am surprised I don't have more scars all over though. This explains some of the unknown scars on my body though. I m must have blocked the memory of getting them because they are from such stupid things! Gah!

Everything is Cancelled!

So, I guess I need to start off this post by mentioning that I live in Oregon. Here our weather consists of a lot of rain, some sunshine and occasionally snow that will melt as soon as it hits the ground (so not really snow at all). So, this morning our Ward choir was supposed to sing in two Ward's: our own and then a neighboring one (their Bishop used to be our councilor) but since it snowed all of two inches everything was canceled. It was nice since we were going to have to go to the other Ward super early, but it is sad since now we won't be able to sing. And I won't be here next week, and neither will a lot of people I am guessing, so I think that we probably won't be able to sing at all. I know I won't. Sad. Stupid Oregon!

Anyway, so now we are sitting around our house just doing nothing. We are going to have dinner later with a bunch of people (if they can make it here that is!) but yeah - I haven't really done much today other than sleep in and watch movies.

Well, I am off to do more nothing. I might actually take the time to shower. Woo. Go me. Over and out.

Huge 8 Ball

Okay, so I knitted this toque last night (yeah, that's right, I said toque - deal with it) and it is huge. Like, massive. Too big for anyone to ever wear. Well, that is not exactly true - but you know how when you put on a toque it is supposed to be snug and you kinda have to stretch it to put it on? Well, this one is nothing like that. This is loose. I think if I was wearing it and I bent over it would fall off. And I did an 8 ball pattern on it (I will post pics eventually maybe) and I didn't leave enough slack on the yarn and so the 8 is all bunchy and messed up. Anyway, I am going to try again and make it smaller (maybe I will actually figure out gauge this time!) and see if it works out. It would have been cute if it wasn't for those mess ups though. Wish me luck.

Anyway, I am off to the dentist to get some fillings replaced and a cleaning. I know it makes me sound sick, but I am super excited. Seriously. I haven't been able to chew on the left side of my mouth for months now and it will be nice to fix that. Yay for the dentist!

So ...

Well, today was a long day at work. What's new, right? It seems like lately everyday is a long day at work only to look forward to another long day at work. Things keep piling up and I don't feel like I am getting anything accomplished (even though I actually am) and it is just frustrating. Oh well, I guess that is how a lot of people's jobs are.

Mostly, the only reason I am even updating this right now is that I just got home from work and there is a knitting project I want to work on (something of my own creation, I will let you know later how it turns out) and so I decided to check knitty.com to see if there are any patterns to use as a base pattern that I can change to my liking (that is the way I knit a lot of things actually). The problem is that knitty is taking forever to load, which is really annoying, and I should go shower but I want to see these patterns first so now I am stuck sitting at my computer watching the little loading circle thing spin. So annoying.

I am really tired. I stayed up way too late last night. And I didn't even do any of the things on my list that I need to do. And there are many things on that list, believe me! I just am so good at procrastinating that I end up doing a whole lot of nothing. I am hoping that after I shower I will feel more awake for a little while at least so I can finish my experiment and then go to bed nice and early (like I keep saying I am going to do and then I don't).

Well, my thing finally finished loading, so I am off to shower and knit and sleep (in that order hopefully). Wish me luck!

Procrastination Station

Well, here I am, t minus 2 hours and counting until my final in my A&P class and I am procrastinating studying. Don't freak out too much mom, I have studied a bit, I am just procrastination studying anymore. So I thought I would check me email and my facebook and my blog again (see previous post) and there was nothing good, so what do I do next? I write a blog entry.

Things are going okay here in Mandi-land. My friend Mark bought Rock Band and so we have been having fun playing the drums and singing the last couple of days (we still have fun playing the guitars, but we did that anyway). I wish I was doing that instead of taking a test tonight - but oh well. I can later since this is the last class. Now I am trying to sell the darn books from the class and all I can say is - go half.com! Sell my blasted book for me!

I am feeling pretty broke right now anyway, which is sucky when you are trying to figure out Christmas presents but there are no dolla dolla bills anywhere. Blech. Oh well I guess, I will just have to make do. I have been trying to find a good stuffed monkey for my nephew since he was born and today I was in Kohl's and I saw the perfect one for only $5. It is a stuffed Curious George monkey - but it is the right size and cuddly, so I think I will go back and get it when I get paid. Yes, I am that broke that I can't even afford a $5 monkey. Shut up.

Friday night is going to be a Christmas party at the house of one of the guys in the ward and it should be way fun. There is going to be a live band, and then karaoke to follow, and there will be all sorts of games and food and activities. It should be awe-some! (yes I sang that as I typed). I am looking forward to it. And I am getting my stupid tooth fixed the day before that so I will be able to actually eat with both sides of my mouth at the party. That is even better.

Anyway, I guess I better get back to studying (happy now Mom?) but I will update again later. :D

Australia

So, last night my friends and I went to see Australia. We went based a little bit on a whim - we wanted to do something but I was feeling kinda lazy and so I didn't want to go bowling like they did. Anyway, we watched the preview and my one friend was a bit annoyed because Hugh Jackman was so scruffy in it - but then there was one shining moment where he had a shaved face, so she said it was okay and we went. It was way good. Hugh has some very nice glamour shots in it! Oh yeah! But dang it was long. There were about three times when I thought it was ending and then - surprise - there is another scene! I liked it though.

In other news - last night was the Ward Christmas party. It was fun. I always love free food! Woot! Can't complain about that. And it was really good food too - salad, veggies, baked potatoes, ham, rolls and dessert. And Martinelli's. :D Tonight I am volunteering to serve dinner at another Ward's Christmas dinner. I think they are going to feed us too, which will be nice.

Today the only thing I did - other than sleep - is get my cv ready. I am so ready for another job because my boss is a bit hard to deal with sometimes. Also, I just feel like for all the work I do I get paid beans. And I know that we didn't get this one grant funded so there is not much of a chance I am going to get a raise. And let's face it, times are tough. Financially I mean. So I wouldn't complain about more money.

Well, I am off to serve, I will update again later. I plan to do so more often (although I sucked at keeping those plans before - lol)

Posting Woes

Okay, so lately I have become obsessed with checking everything - email, blogs,facebook, ebay, etc - about every five minutes or so. It is like I think that I am going to get some awesome email that will change my life and if I don't read it as soon as it is posted or sent then I will never be able to read it and the life changing thing will not happen. How silly is that? I think it is because I am looking for a change but I am not sure where I am hoping it will come from. Maybe I am hoping that I will find out what to do with my life through an email.

Anyway, I was so annoyed that no one (except Lex) had updated their blogs lately and then I realized I hadn't either, and I didn't want to be a hypocrite so I thought I better blog. And I am going to try to do it more consistently so that when other people don't update often I don't feel to hypocritical. LOL.

So here I am.

I just finished my A&P final and I have decided that I am not going to take it next semester. I am really going to focus on getting a different job before next summer and I don't want to have to work that new job when I get it around a class. Also, it was hard. :(

I think I am going to work on finishing my novel now. I know, you thought it was already finished - but it was only finished in terms of the contest. Which means I wrote 50,000 words. It doesn't mean that the story is concluded. I will work on that since I know that Barlow is reading it and if I don't give him a conclusion before it is done he might be a bit confused. Haha. Also, then I am going to work on editing and stuff during the Christmas break. I have been meaning to enter this contest for a million years now and I haven't so I might try to get something ready for that too - we will see. The limit for that is 17,000 so I either have to cut my NaNo novel waaaaay down or write something else. But I do have something else in the works, so we will see.

Well, I am off to work on finishing that now. I will post tomorrow - probably late though cause work is going to su-uck!

I've Been Making Changes...

So, as you have probably noticed by now (unless this is your first time reading my blog) I have changed my layout. I even changed the blog title! Even though I have to say that the description is a lie - there isn't a whole new me, it just sounded good. I am ready for change though, that is for sure. Not that I am unhappy - I don't want anyone to walk away from reading this thinking that I am unhappy - but I still want some change to occur. I want a new job. I want to go to new places. I want to read new books. I want to write new books. I want to do all the things I always wanted to do but never got around to. I want to stop being as lazy about getting on top of things as I have been. I want to know what to do with my future and follow that course - not just sit around humming and ha-ing like I usually do.

Now that you know what I want, you also have a pretty clear list of the things that aren't going to change. I am going to try for a new job, but I probably won't get one anytime soon (stupid economy). I can't afford to go to new places. I might actually be able to read new books. I can't write a new book, I need to finish writing and editing my old books. I won't stop being lazy about getting to stuff because a lot of time it isn't laziness so much as lack of energy, lack of time and an abundance of fear. And I am so indecisive I have no idea what to do with my future.

But I am going to try to figure all these things out. And I figured the best way to start was to change my layout on my blog that maybe ten people read (ps, Hi Mom!)

I did it!

I did it, I did it, I did it, yay! (yes I was singing that to the tune from Dora the Explorer as I typed it ... you got a problem with that?)

Gah!

I actually like my MC more now after writing about her for so long. And I have been trying to do one final push to finish by tomorrow and I just had a realization about what has to happen that in all likeliness is going to kill her off. I am so sad I almost want to stop writing! I don't want to kill her but I don't know how I can save her and not have the story end up really stupid. Grr. The only thing keeping me writing are these two things 1) I might find a way to not do it; and 2) my roommate promised to take me to lunch at this really great restaurant if I finished my goal. It is so sad that I am so motivated by food, but there it is. Deal with it.

Ack!

This is just a quick note to say Ack! I am so far behind on my word count (I haven't even hit 40,000 yet and there are only 2 days left!) and I am beginning to feel a bit of the pressure. So, you can guess what I am going to do today. The only thing I am going to do all day. That's right - eat, poop and write. Wish me luck!

Twilight and Excerpt

So, I went to a midnight showing of Twilight last night and it was good. I wouldn't say it was the best movie ever, and it was kinda cheesy at parts (but so is the book if you read it lol that is why I love it!) but I thought overall it was good.

Also, here is an excerpt from my NaNo novel:
“You coming this way?” Kodagan asked.
“Yeah. Do you know where we - I can cross?” she almost forgot she was alone and briefly worried about her companions.
“Keep walking this way, in a few minutes you will come across some rocks you can use to cross.”
Sure enough, he was right. Soon there were some large, flat, dry rocks placed perfect distance apart from each other all the way across the river. Addison adjusted her bag and made to jump for the first one.
“Wait!” Kodagan yelled from the opposing shore.
She stopped herself so hard that she fell over backwards. She stood, glad that he was on the opposite shore from her so he couldn’t see how red her face was. “What?” she asked after regaining her composure.
“The rocks, they start sinking as soon as you are on them, so you have to go fast or else the river will wash you away. And don’t miss either,” he counseled.
“Great,” she said sarcastically. “As if this wasn’t hard enough anyway.”
“You can do it!” he encouraged.
She raised her eyes skeptically and then prepared herself to jump again.
The first one was easy, it was more of a step than a jump. The second was about the same. She was so quick at these ones that she didn’t even notice them start to sink when she was on them. The third one was a bit further away, but just a little. The fourth was again a bit further away – so far that she had to stop for a minute on rock three and really prepare herself for the jump and this time she did notice the rock she was on begin to sink before her feet both left it. It was the same for rocks four, five and six. Seven and eight were pretty close again, probably to give her a reprieve before nine, which was further than any of the rest had been. She started at the very back of rock eight which she was on and did a little running intro before jumping onto rock nine. Once there she saw how far away Kodagan still was on the shore.
The distance looked so far that she even said “Oh no!” out loud.
“You can do it!” Kodagan assured her. “Come on!”
Addison took a few quick breaths, stood as far back as she could and took a running leap towards the far shore. As soon as her feet left the rock (which was very low) she imagined herself making the leap with distance to spare. Her magic combined with her physical strength worked together and she made it easily across the last bit of river.
“Looks like someone has improved a lot,” Kodagan said, smiling at her crookedly.
Addison was so ecstatic at making the seemingly impossible leap that she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. She inhaled his smell and felt his chest under her cheek and almost lost herself in his arms. Then she realized what she was doing and pulled away quickly, embarrassed again.
“How are you okay?” she asked, trying to distract them both from her embarrassment.
“That is an odd question,” he laughed at her.
“I know, I just … thought you had been … caught. And you didn’t meet me,” she said, trying to not look to hurt.
“I know, I feel really bad about that. I was caught,” he said simply.
Addison waited for him to continue and when he didn’t she prodded him with “but then…?”
His face darkened for a brief moment. “I escaped, but it took a little longer than I thought. And by then you were gone.” He explained.
If she hadn’t seen the flash of something else first she might have believed him. “Oh,” she said. He could tell she didn’t believe him. “I am glad you are here now though.”
His face darkened again, ”I’m sorry.”
“Wh-“ she started but before she could even ask she felt a blow in her abdomen. She looked down, shocked, and saw a dagger sticking out of her.
“For that,” he whispered and swallowed hard. The look on his face was that of pure pain and self-hatred before he pulled the dagger out of her gut and pushed her backwards into the river.

Finishing What You Started

So, first I want to mention that this is my 100th post! Yay! That is quite a milestone. For me at least.

Also, I want to talk more about my story. It is going pretty good. I am a little behind. I am only at 20,000 words (give or take a few) right now and it is the 16th (gulp) but I am going to work on it again after I post and then potty. (not that you wanted to know that but ... whatev). My roommate said that she thinks I am not going to finish. I get why she said that - I do have a track record of not finishing things I start. I have about 10 unfinished knitting projects sitting at various places in my house, not to mention every other story that I have written has only been a half of a story. Also, I keep saying things like "I am going to take the GRE" and "I am going to apply to grad school" and I don't even do that. So, based on that, I really don't finish stuff, and I can see why she said I wouldn't finish this. But, that comment just makes me want to do it even more. To prove her wrong and to prove to myself that when I really want to I CAN finish something.

Also, I posted an excerpt on Facebook. If you want to read it go there. If you don't have a facebook profile, you should get one! Or I will just post an excerpt on here later. Hopefully today sometime. We will see.

Behind...

Okay, so I am totally behind in the novel writing, but I am going to catchup. Don't worry. I just have to take a quiz tomorrow so I can't write then at all (gulp, that makes me even more behind) but then I can write on Thurs and I will have Fri off so I can write even more that day. I will catch up by the end of the weekend! I will do it if it kills me! Okay, not if it kills me, but you get it. I will get there. Wish me luck. And tell me some monsters my main character can meet in the woods darn it!

Word Count Widget

Look what I did ----->

Now you can keep up with my word count - that is as long as I keep it updated.

Sigh of Relief ....

... moment over. Mostly. Relax.

Ignore This Post

Okay, so do what the title says ... I just ....
I just had a huge, overwhelming moment of self-loathing and self-pity and self-hatred (see how self-centric this is? that's why you should ignore it).
I hate myself sometimes. Not always. But sometimes. Esp right now. Don't worry though, it'll pass in about 10 minutes.

NaNoWriMo Characters

So, I have been working on getting ready for NaNoWriMo (which is national novel writing month if you don't know - you can find more stuff about it here)and one thing I have done is a bunch of character sketches for my novel. I also did a basic outline (which I may or may not follow - lol). Here are the character sketches.

Addison – FMC. Knows little to nothing about her life. Her abilities increase as she gains experience at things such as fighting and magic. Starts off with middle levels of strength, stamina, intelligence, and magic ability. As she goes throughout certain tasks these levels increase. Has 3 lives. Has a magical map that she can open and then magically transport herself to anyplace she has been. Bottom corner of map has stats and she can see her abilities increase.
Akuma – Baddie. Goal is to rule the world like a video game. All people are drones except a select few who adore him and 13 previously selected potential heroes. Addison is one potential hero.
Colbie – girl who also has a map and some coherency but not as much as Addison
Beck – boy who is head over heels for Addison. Can only say a few pre-approved phrases, but follows and helps as much as possible.
Kodagan – Akuma’s right hand man. Is put under a magical spell to follow Akuma. Has a problem with being a murderer (not a good trait for an evil henchman).
Manannan – old magic teacher whose loyalties are often called into question. Addison is never sure if he is on her side or not. Gives good advice most of the time … we think.
Plus various other townspeople and cityfolk.

Now I know you are all thinking this sounds kinda videogame-ish, but I will post excerpts and it will all make sense. It should be good. I am way excited. C'mon November!

NaNoWriMo

So, I am going to participate in NaNoWriMo this year again, and I am way excited. I am better prepared (in that I know I am going to do it ahead of time and can actually think of a plot). I made a banner with my tentative title. Don't worry, I won't really call it this, but I thought I would post it anyway, since I haven't posted in forever. I will post my word count and I will also post excerpts. No worries. I am going to need a break from straight writing sometime right?


Oh and, I know that isn't really my name, but I thought it would be a good pen-name. :)