I'm a Purple Bar Winner

My Purple Bar shouts to the world that I am capable of writing 50,000 words in one month and producing a complete story. So what if it needs major work and editing since it is probably crap? I did it! I decided to be an over-achiever and write a little more, just incase. I went over by 51 words. Some could argue that the chapter titles don't count, but I would rebutt with "So what if it isn't story line. It's still content." Still others would contend that my practice of uncontractionizing my contractions doesn't count either. But I checked the rules and the forums. Survey says that it is Okay. I'm okay with what the survey says. I plan to do some editing, because as I have indictated before, I drew heavily from some of the people and places that I have known. I should be able to start on this during Christmas shut down. For those of you eagerly awaiting the conclusion of Cady's story, I'm picking up the pen again for that opus. If I can write a complete novel in one month and have 50,000 words for my readers, by goodness I can finish this story. Of course, first drafts are often less than perfect. The first goal will be completion. The second, perfection. Thanks for everyone's words of encouragement, good thoughts and good karma. I am feeling really proud of myself at the moment. Normal blogging activities should resume tomorrow.

Spying on Chat Rooms

I never know what to think about articles like this. On one hand, I don't want things like September 11th to happen. If terrorists are using means like chat rooms to communicate, then we should be able to find them. On the other hand, it feels like some sort of violation, much like finding out your little brother has been reading your diary. If I think of the internet and chat rooms as a restaurant or shopping mall, I do better. When talking in places like that, you expect people to be listening. In those situations, you can't help but hear kind of things. If I can think of it that way, I might be okay with it. Having to think of it in a different sense than how I instinctively think of it makes me think that my logic is flawed. (Poor sentence construction, I know.) The only violation then is the censoring that I do to myself cos I'm not willing to speak of certain things in public places. No rights are violated, but, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I just don't like it. It makes me think of books like Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. To what extremes will people go to protect the nation and violate privacy? This blogger found out. (via J-Walk)

Restored faith in the good of humanity

An article about exploding cell phones usually wouldn't make my heart tingle with anything but fear. The second to the last paragraph, however had just that effect. Michael Sathre, who is expected to fully recover from his wounds, was picking his fully charged Verizon LG cell phone off the floor when it exploded by his side. The family chose not to sue and has instead allowed the companies involved and a consumer group to come to their house to study the damage, in the hopes it won’t happen to someone else. Can you imagine? Not suing??? I would have in a heart beat. Instead they just want the situation studied so the companies and consumer groups can prevent it happening. Nothing is mentioned about a settlement either. My callous heart wonders if they will be receiving free phone service for life or some other such nonsence, but my logic says that if they were it would be mentioned. The public image of generousity, the good of the company, etc., etc. But maybe, just maybe, the family is doing it out of the good of their hearts with no reward. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, I'm going to go with that for an answer.

So, I was checking my referrer logs when...

...I noticed that someone found my blog through an MSN search for hyperventalation. I had to check it out. Do you see me? Number 60, right there on the bottom of the page. I have to ask, Who scrolls through sixty-links for hyperventalation and clicks on my blog based on the blurb posted? I don't mean to be rude or insulting. I'm genuinely curious. So, if you came back, please comment and let me know. Thanks.

NaNo Update

I am approaching the end! I have 39,408 words under my belt. I am 79% complete. Another 11,000 words and I am good. As I have said before, I have an outline I am working from (it's legal by the NaNo rules) but my storyline has deviated from it. It is still working for me, but I never had an ending. Last night, on my way to Sluggers for the WPKR / Packers Radio show, I had a break through and know how it is going to end. I will honor requests to read the completed story, but I have to warn you that I drew very heavily from the people I know and have known. The events are purely my imagination, but I have borrowed bits and piece of people that I have admired, hated and didn't know what to do with. I will need some time to do some editting, cos in the current version, I might be using their names. Don't worry, I was only really mean to people who I know are not, and will never be, requesting to see it when completed. Right now my main focus is making sure that the story ends. The goal is to hit 50,000, but also to have an ending. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get it to both of those things.

You can sell anything on Ebay

MSNBC - Virgin Mary grilled cheese sells for $28,000 I just don't get it.

Need Statistics?

Worldometers.info will provide enough statistics to make each and every one of those fast-approaching holiday parties different from last year. Just try to avoid the drunk guy, okay?

Murder by Design by Rob Suarez

Murder by Design is the writing of a fellow WriMo that I found in the forums. God, I wish I was as brave as him, but I don't trust having my novel out there like he is. I read part of the first chapter, but I cannot get hung up on reading this, no matter how much I want to see more. I need to get my own word count up.

NaNo Update

I hit the half way point on Saturday with 25,033 words. I felt that was pretty good considering I spent a portion of Wednesday and all of Thursday thinking I was going to die from the head cold I had. The headache accompanied me through all of Friday and a portion of Saturday. On Saturday I had a double shot latte which seemed to chase it away. Tonight is the Packers' radio show on WPKR (99.5). I am heading there to collect another autograph for my beloved hubby, who I would like to report was 100% loving and nuturing during my recent illness. It was more like 80% love and nuture, 5% ignore and 15% make fun of. If he didn't pick on me though, I would wonder what was wrong with him though. Anyway, during the radio show, I half listen and type for the rest of the time. I figure I should be at 30K by the end of the day today.

NaNo Update

I am at 19,086 words, or 38% complete. I have been posting excerpts on my profile page on the NaNo website. Part of the point for NaNo is to learn about yourself as a writer. I have learned that if I just sit my butt down and do it, I will get it done. If I keep up my current pace, I will finish on November 26th.

Problems with your Gmail Account?

This might be why. Security Hole found in Gmail. I know I am not thrilled. I have stuff stored there for back-ups and I don't recall what is all there. And I cannot be sure that my copy on my home PC is the most current. (I used about three different computers for stuff. My gmail account always contained the most current copy.) I cannot log in right now. I sincerely hope that means it is being fixed.

Update on NaNo Progress

My word count is doing well. I'm about 23% of the way through my novel. It has taken some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, but hey, that's the fun in writing. I have an excerpt posted here along with an excerpt of the story line. The posting is of a scene I had no intention of writing and wasn't in the original. I still haven't figured out how the Main Character (MC) got a love interest. She is supposed to be recovering, not falling in love.

A Collection of Bookworm Reports

I decided to collect all of my Bookworm Reports into one post for future reference. When you're looking for a new title, it will be easy to find.

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

Bookworm Report, October 2004

I found a little extra time today to bring you the bookworm report. I didn't accomplish as much this month as normal, but I was getting ready for NaNo. Also, I'm one of "those" readers who likes to read several books at once. My stack of currently reading had dwindled and I didn't have as many titles lying about, waiting their turn. For the month of October, I read 2,862 pages or eight books. In 2001, I read 5,880 pages/15 books; 2002, 3,073 pages/9 books; 2003, 2,129 pages/5 books. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont Trunk Music by Michael Connelly Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen Northern Lights by Nora Roberts Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise Wild Orchids by Jude Devearux As Night Falls by S.K. McClafferty Once and Always by Johanna Lindsey For the year, I’ve read 72 books, or 26,516 pages, which averages to 7 books a month, or 2,210 pages per month, and an average book length of 368 pages. Thanks for tuning in. See you next time.

Vote!

Regardless if your party affliations are the same as mine or for the other side, vote. Polls in most places are open until 8 o'clock. Do not rely on the media to make your choices; if they say that Kerry/Bush is a head, don't vote for him simply because he looks to be the winner, vote for him because you believe he is the right man for the job. Just vote. Just do it. Not voting dishonors the men, women and children who have died because of wars fought, on our own soil and foreign soil. If you are not registered, take a utility bill or pay check stub with you to show your address, along with your driver's license. The results of this election are going to be so close that hundreds of votes will make a difference. Vote.

Please excuse my prolonged absence

NaNo starts today. I have an idea; I have an outline; I have a plan to reach my goals; I have a report card to track it. Other than spotty updates, don't expect alot from me until December. My one-sentence description: A young widow returns to her midwestern hometown to pick-up the fragments of her life. Depending on how things go, I'll be posting some excerpts, either here or on the NaNo site. Happy November everybody.