NaNoWriMo '09

November 1st marks the start of the National Novel Writing Month, known to us word junkies as NaNoWriMo. From the 1st until November 30th, the goal is to write 50,000 words, a 175 page novel. Because of the intensity of the time limit, that means NO editing, NO tweaking, ALL risk. And all this from scratch. I know that some do a detailed outline in the month of October, as I usually do, but this month I've forgone the pre-planning, and am seeing where the story takes me.

Make plans to visit me in the psych ward on December 1st after my mental breakdown. Please and thank you.

So let the writing begin!

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What a Run!

Due to Mini Me having a cold (ack! and two days before she starts Kindergarten, no less), I sent Rich and his son Ryan to represent us at the Cure for the Run so I could stay home and pamper her.

Both guys had a great time, and needless to say it was a success! SomaCow pulled in over THREE thousand dollars for the homeless. There was even a performance by Wes Heath !

You can watch a video Orlando Event TV made of the event here. Congratulations to SomaCow for putting together this awesome event, and I hope next year I will be able to attend!

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Cure for the Run

SomaCow Media Presents: Cure for the Run!

This awesome event is a 0.05km 'challenge' benefitting the Rock for Hunger campaign out of Orlando, Florida. Rock for Hunger is a community brought together to battle homelessness and poverty in Orlando through music and peace. The Cure for the Run is happening August 22nd, 2009 at the Wall Street Plaza in Downtown Orlando at 5pm. Even if you can't make it out, I urge you to please promote or donate to the cause. Click on the banner below for more information.



If Orlando, Florida is a little too far for you to travel, but you would like to sponsor a runner to help out, please donate. Even something as low as $1 could make a difference.

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Day Six: The Vacation Finale

Boooo, Saturday came entirely too soon.

We were up at 9am to shower and pack before check-out time. Had to make sure the kids don't forget anything in drawers, closets or under bed. I really will miss the hotel room (including that wonderful jacuzzi tub!!) and the time spent away from Lakeland. In a few days we'll have to go back to our jobs and the daily grind, and every part of me is screaming, "I don't wanna!"

I'm glad Rich and I were able to sleep in a little. Getting up at 6:30am, I'm convinced, would of killed me. It wasn't due to my drinking the night before (I went easy), but I'm not used to all this physical labor. I sit on my ass behind a desk everyday at work, and well...what spare time I have I reserve for reading. As it was, I could function with some dirty water. We hastily gathered our belongings and the billion other items that we picked up during our vacation, then headed to Cracker Barrel for one last breakfast with the family. This morning it was down to the four of us and my parental-in-laws. I'm not sure what it was about this Cracker Barrel, but we had three servers all vying to fill our coffee cups before we could empty them, and for that reason alone I can't complain. Keep it coming!

My father and mother-in-law started the journey back to Lakeland after breakfast, and since Rich has promised RN we would ride go-karts while we were in the area, we headed to Old Town.

The Fun Spot in Old Town is expensive, and it's pretty easy to spend $40 right off the bat, but we had a good time. The boys were able to drive go-karts despite the drizzle, and both kids got their fill of rides and games while we were there. It was super hot amidst all the concrete under the Evil Day Star. I've had enough sun to last me until next summer now, thankyouverymuch. We refreshed with the small glass bottles of Pepsi you can get from the General Store on the strip after hitting up the arcade, and then it was time to head back to our humble Lakeland.

I'm glad we are home now, despite the great week. We were relieved to find our house still in one piece, and I am grateful that I had cleaned the Saturday before our trip so there wasn't too much to do other than unpack and do laundry. We grabbed a pizza for dinner (diet? what diet?) and after the kids were sent to bed, we caught Prime Time Geek live and just chilled, as we are prone to do on a Saturday night.

All in all, it was a fantastic family vacation. I sincerely hope we can do it again in the future. I don't know about you, but I'm going to enjoy my Sunday before I have to put on my 'responsible adult' hat again. I hope you guys enjoyed the blog posts and I will make sure there are pictures up on my Facebook account for those who are interested.

Thanks for reading my ramblings!

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Day Five: Part Deux

Welcome back! I hope you guys have enjoyed hearing of our Disney vacation. This week has gone by fast, way too fast, but has been a fantastic time! I don't look forward to heading back to the 'real world' at all and am flat out dreading work on Monday.

When I left off before, the full Silva Clan, Florida branch was heading to Smokey Bones to enjoy an end of vacation meal together. I know I've said this before, and no I'm not saying this only because they are reading, I truly mean it - I love it when all of us are together. My husband's family is a joy to be around and are all over great people. I have the best in-laws, ever.

Anyways, so we head over to the Smokey Bones near the restaurant to dine on barbecued animal carcasses. It didn't take us too long to get a table, considering how big our party was. And it seemed we were in for a treat - live entertainment! For a few minutes I feared they were setting up for karaoke, but it turned out there was a guy from New York serenading us with his guitar a couple of feet from our table. At one point my nephew volunteered to assist the guy on the maracas, and it was pretty neat.

We were about two-thirds into our meal when I glanced down the table to check on little T, and found her with her head on the table, fast asleep. This kid can go 100 miles an hour it seems, but even she has a limit. I'll admit, I was a little jealous I couldn't get away with doing the same.

Want to know the real reason we go to Smokey Bones? Cinnamon donuts. My father-in-law LOVES them, and you can't go to Smokey Bones without ordering a bag of sweet cinnamon-y goodness. I was trying to go easy on the fattening foods during the week, but even I couldn't resist having a couple. And with their chocolate dipping sauce - yum!

Afterwards we headed back to the hotel after a long day, but for Rich and I, there was to be no rest for the wicked. We quickly showered, changed and headed out for the evening to visit the SomaCow Media Network studio!

There are four shows that SomaCow Media produces: SomaCow, the flagship show on Friday nights, Prime Time Geek on Saturdays, Just Push Play on Mondays, and ComaSow, a show where Jen and Geoff review Indy music that is sent to them, on Wednesdays. They are all great shows and I recommend you check them out if you haven't yet. They are available on Itunes, or you can click their links for more information on each show and what they have to offer.

I'm kind of disappointed we were not able to make it to the studio earlier so Rich could sit in during SomaCow, but the fact that we were able to hang out with them after the show was awesome. I finally got to meet the prestigious Mr. J of NewsBomb fame, and we were able to enjoy some adult time during our vacation. Hanging out with Geoff, Jen, Mickey, J, Ross and little Rowan was a blast, and J makes some damn good martinis and fruity cocktails. It made me wish we lived closer to Orlando so we could visit with them more, but I'm content with chatting with Jen while listening to the live shows for now.

Speaking of SomaCow Media Networks - they are hosting a charity event called Cure for the Run on August 22 in Downtown Orlando to support the Rock for Hunger campaign. I will be putting up the information for the event in a couple of days, so please don't forget to check back for details. They are giving back to their community, something we should all think about doing.

It was late when we made it back to the hotel after our visit and I think we finally got to sleep around 4am. Tomorrow is our last day in Orlando, and there are still a few more things we'd like to get to before home sweet home.

Until then, ciao peoples.

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Day Five: In the Mighty Jungle - Animal Kingdom

It's another bright and early morning here on vacation. The dirty water is flowing freely and today is the last of our theme park adventures. We have the four-park passes, but since we have six months to use them up, we are holding off on Hollywood Studios until later in the year when the heat is more bearable. Today was Animal Kingdom and we were joined by my older sister in law and her husband, parents to my niece and nephew who were with us yesterday. The kids stayed overnight with us, much to the enjoyment of our kids.

After a dash to CVS to pick up more sunblock and chap stick, we headed out to conquer the jungle. Since I had been in a hurry to hit up CVS before we could leave, I managed to forget all about changing into my sneakers and arrived wearing a pair of sandals that may or may not have chewed up my feet after a full day of walking in them. But Rich came to my rescue and went back to the hotel to grab them for me. My husband is awesome, have I told you that before? Granted, he wanted to save himself from hearing me bitch about my feet all day, but the gesture was very much appreciated by both me and my feet.

We walked around the Oasis and looked at the various animals they have there. For someone reason our daughter thinks she can speak duck, and every time she see one, she quacks at it relentlessly until we have to pull her away. No matter how much she quacks, the ducks are not going to talk back to her, but that doesn't seem stop her. It's not by far the weirdest thing she does, either.

Our first stop once inside the rest of the park was Festival of the Lion King in Camp Minnie-Mickey. I have to say, it is one of the best damn live shows that I've seen in all of Disney. So much time and energy was put into it, and it shows. And the performers were enjoying themselves as much as we were. If you ever go to Animal Kingdom, I highly recommend you catch it. The kids loved it, and T was picked to join them at one point, dancing and shaking the maraca they gave her with high enthusiasm.

Once the show was over, we headed into Africa to catch the Jungle Safari. It was neat, seeing the animals in their pseudo-natural habitat. There were giraffes, rhinos, sleeping lions, etc. What you'd expect to see on a safari. From there we took the train over to the petting zoo (sheep, goats, a couple of loud-ass donkeys) and an exhibit with bugs and reptiles. The kids got a picture with Rafiki and we took the train back to Africa for lunch.

One thing about Animal Kingdom, it's humid as hell in that place. It was hot to begin with, but with the tree cover blocking the wind, it doesn't take long to feel sticky. Blegh. Seriously, do not forget to hydrate while in the jungle.

Filled up on burgers (bun-less for me), we hit up Kali River Rapids. It's a more intense version of Congo River Rapids in Busch Gardens. My brother in law and RN were completely soaked afterwards, and it was nice to cool off. After that we decided to dry off on Mount Everest, which was an awesome roller coaster as far as Disney was concerned. I had my 13 year old niece sitting next to me, clutching my shoulder and screaming in my ear, but I still enjoyed it.

A couple of us rode the Primeval Whirl after that - a cross between Mad Tea Party and a kiddie coaster. It was alright, and I could hear my older sister in law screaming in the car behind us (she'll kill me for telling you that), but after Everest it was meh.

Last, but not least, we caught Finding Nemo: The Musical. It was a good show, and well done, but the wood benches were hell on my ass. I think everyone was exhausted by that point, I know I was. I would of been happy to catch some zzzs during the 45 minute it took for Marlin to find his son (spoiler alert!), but they make those benches so damn uncomfortable. When we finally emerged, it was threatening to rain so we missed out on it's Tough to be a Bug in the 14-story Tree of Life, but I made no complaints.

That is all you get for right now. If you'd like to hear about our dinner at Smokey Bones, and our trip to to visit the SomaCow Media Network studio, keep reading. I hope you all are having a good one.

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Day Four: Making waves at Typhoon Lagoon

Ah! So nice to sleep in a bit. I wasn't roused out of bed until 9am, which was a blessing after the last few days. After a leisurely breakfast, I made sure the kids were bathed and then was able to spend some time on the computer. This week, unless you count the random tweeting from my cell phone, or the time I've spent updating the blog, I've been mostly 'disconnected' from the outside world, both news-wise and socially. I apparently missed a tornado hitting Orlando near the Florida Mall last night, the space shuttle launch, and something about a bus accident at Disney. I was able to catch up on some correspondence and return some tweets, but that was it.

And Walter Cronkite died! Ouch. RIP Mr. Cronkite, you will be missed.

My niece and nephew joined us this afternoon from St. Augustine and after lunchtime we headed over to Typhoon Lagoon, this time sans mother and sister in law. For Florida residents, if you purchase a ticket after 2pm, you get a year-round pass, so we took advantage of it. I'm not entirely sure how long that promotion lasts, but if you are a water-park lovin' Florida resident, do it!

Let me say this: the 'large' lockers at Typhoon Lagoon are probably okay for a single family and a backpack or two, but three backpacks do not fit very well at all! We did manage to get the locker shut, with only a small bulge at the corners, and then we were off to explore.

We made use of the lazy river as our in-park transportation, and hit all three raft rides. The little one enjoyed the hell out of those, but damn those stairs are killer after three days of non-stop walking. And in flip-flops, no less.

We peeped out the wave pool, which is pretty cool as long as you stay in the deeper water. We got our first vacation-related injury in the water furthest from where the big wave comes out. Our little one, T, was standing in the shallows when the big wave broke, and the aftershock wave knocked her down, scraping her elbow, back and knee. I guess they keep the floor of the wave pool textured so you can gain traction, but it only served to grate the skin of my daughter. So be careful!

She's fine by the way. Seems to freak out when she notices that she is bleeding, but once you slap a bandaid on it, all is kittens and rainbows again. She did depart with my father in law and niece shortly after, these long fun-filled days are taking a toll on Papa, and he deserves some rest. After they headed out, it was down to me, my hubby Rich, RN and my nephew. My husband and I watched as the boys did the Kowabunga, an enclosed slide that drops you straight down 214 feet. Rich has ridden it before, but I just didn't see the use in having my bathing suit crammed up my ass that far. I did check out Storm Sliders next door and thought it was a lot of fun.

The ride you really want to catch at Typhoon Lagoon is the Crush N' Gusher - a roller coaster-type water slide that was very neat. To me it was one of the best thrills at Typhoon Lagoon.

Now that we have our year-round passes, we'll probably hit this place up a couple more times. For now though, I have to get to bed. I physically can't think or type anymore tonight!

Tomorrow: Day Five and final: Animal Kingdom, and then a trip to the SomaCow Media Network studio! Yay!

Night, Internets.

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Day Three: Discover the Wonder at Epcot

Another beautiful early morning. Ugh, more dirty water, please.

We actually ended up getting a slightly later start out of the hotel this morning; my parents in law ended up having to head to Tampa at 4am to retrieve my sister in law due to the van's battery dying and OnStar being unable to revive it. Fail. Sadly, the few people that could pick her up with the other van and/or fix her van were all in Orlando, so they had no choice. They ended up staying at the hotel to catch up on some rest for a few hours while the Silva Jr. clan headed out.

We waited with the throngs of Disney-going crowds and foreign tour groups and finally made our way inside. We managed to catch both Daisy Duck and Stitch after entering and got the mandatory photos/autographs, then headed to the icon of Epcot: Space Ship Earth. I'm always amazed at how far us humans have come as far as technology. From cave drawings to high tech computers in the space of our existence. I can't imagine what our world would be like had those brave and open-minded few not taken the first steps forward. We've learned and passed down the generations so much information, and yet there are still so many things left to conquer.

From there we checked out manatees, sea horses and dolphins in the Seas with Nemo & Friends, and advances in greenhouse techniques with Living with the Land. Again, I'm amazed by how far we have gotten in making our planet thrive despite the damage we've done so far, though I wish more people would accept the fact that more must be done to preserve our mother Earth. Will our children's children have anything left to enjoy of our world if we keep this up?

We grabbed some Fastpasses to Soarin and hit Journey Into Imagination with Figment. After that we met up with the in laws at Honey I Shrunk the Audience (cute little rides/shows both of them), and decided to pick up some Fastpasses to Test Track on our way to view the World.

My husband and I dined in Mexico while the others headed to China for rice and various chicken things. They didn't have General Tso's chicken...boo. We hit up the singing Gran Fiesta Tour with Donald Duck and a few of us toured the World Showcase, stopping this place and that before meeting up with the rest of our party again in Canada.

Fastpasses are a great thing to have when the wait to a ride is 60-120 minutes long. We were inside Soarin within a half hour of getting into line. That ride, for me, was alright. I have a severe fear of heights and flying, but I managed not to scream, cry or wet myself as we soared over California and various water ways. It didn't cure me of my aviophobia, nor do I want to fly on a plane anytime soon, but it was a really neat ride and judging by the tightening of my fingers on the arm rest, quite realistic. Our 5 year old had a blast and thought it was fantastic, and it only took a few seconds for our 10 year old to get over the initial shock. I definitely recommend it.

We decided instead of wandering around the park trying to catch the rest of the characters for pictures and autographs, we would take advantage of Epcot's Character Spot. For a half hour plus wait in line, we managed to get Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy are taken care of, much to the excitement of the kids. There, we got the important ones and have no reason to track them down in Animal Kingdom on Friday. Score!

After hitting up a gift shop for RN, we headed back to the hotel for a hurried dinner so me, hubby and RN could go back to see the fireworks and Test Track. Our little one stayed behind to eat pie and hit the pillow with the in laws. As she said "I want to see the fireworks, but I just don't want to walk anymore". I promised her that we would catch fireworks sometime before we head back to Lakeland. I guess Fourth of July wasn't enough to quell her firework fix.

Sadly we missed ComaSow because of this, but since I always download the podcasts of the shows from SomaCow Media Networks (as should you) whether we catch the live show or not, no worries.

Unfortunately for us though, Orlando was hit by heavy storms and high winds with lightning, so the Test Track was 'suspended' for the night. From what I gathered there was many a tornado in the area, and I hope all my Orlando acquaintances were safe. We did have a chance to ride Mission Space, but only the 'less intense' version because of time and such. Our next time in Epcot will see us hit the Orange version, definitely. I want to experience some G-forces, yo.

We never did make it back to Test Track before the fireworks, and I'm a little disappointed. It's one of the first things we are going to hit the next opportunity, whenever that will be.

The sun caught up to me from the last few days, and I could somewhat pass for a lobster. We still have two more full days of theme parks, and the skin on my shoulders and my feet are protesting the thought. At this point, I'm dead on my feet and bid you all sweet dreams.

Tomorrow: Day Four and Typhoon Lagoon!

Until then.

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Day Two: Pass the dirty water, please

Granted, it's around the same time I get up for work, but mornings are always the bane of my existence. I'm just not a morning person, and refuse to apologize for bristling at any type of contact or movement before I've had a few cups of joe in me. It is safer for all to keep a distance, even while on vacation.

As it was, we were up bright and early again for round two. I really like the hotel room, with its high ceilings and space. The entire suite, the St. Lucia, itself is a few hundred square feet larger our house in Lakeland, and comfortable enough to house the seven of us comfortably. It's a nice little home away from home. Though the kitchen is lacking in counter space, the glass dining table is big enough and there is a dishwasher! Oh how I've missed being able to load a dishwasher.

My parental in laws have taken the master bedroom next to the living room, and we have the second master on the far side, with the kids' bedroom next to ours. The masters are setup with with a king-sized bed, and a large jacuzzi tub off to the side on tile. We lucked out and have twin sinks - a his and hers setup, and a huge walk-in shower. The toilet is in it a closet all its own with a door - I refer to it has the 'office'.

The water pressure on the shower sucks as most hotel showers do, but we have done our best to meet the limit on the hot water usage. I'm spoiled now as we were able to run the jacuzzi tub, the dishwasher, washing machine, and two showers simultaneously without a dip in temperature whatsoever. Our older water heater at home can barely make it through shaving my legs.

I know, I know. You guys want pictures - I'm working on it! I'll do my best Thursday night to flood my photobucket account with the pictures that we've taken. I want to share them as much as you want to see them.

Tuesday morning we had reservations at the Grand Floridian for a character breakfast. The Grand Floridian is super swanky; their concierges, bell men and house keepers all in elaborate Victorian get ups, and the lobby itself is five stories tall. We arrived early enough to wander around and take it all in before heading to a (surprisingly) buffet breakfast with Alice, Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Tigger and Pooh. I figured that Disney would be cheap and serve us a bowl of cereal while we waited for grumpy people in costumes to grudgingly sign autograph books, but it was a really pleasant experience. Alice and Mad Hatter seemed really into it, with Alice berating us for drinking 'dirty water' (coffee) instead of tea, and it was a smorgasbord of food: bacon, eggs, grits, Mickey Mouse waffles, omelets, pastries and even eggs benedict covered in lobster sauce. Swanky indeed. And they didn't even water down the syrup as most buffet places do. We gorged ourselves on food and coffee while the kids collected autographs and did the same, sans coffee. Character breakfasts are pricey, but I think the experience was worth it.

After that we took advantage of the outlets being right behind our hotel and went shopping. It was made more pleasant an experience by the 55lbs that I've lost since December, and could shop without self pity. It's amazing what the weight loss has done for my self image. I'd like to lose another 20lbs, but I am happy with what I see in the mirror now.

Later that day we lounged around the Pirate Pool with the kids and some other tourists and though the clouds threatened rain, we enjoyed ourselves. A couple of my sister in law's friends came by for dinner and pool time before they headed out to Tampa's IMAX threater for the midnight showing of the newest Harry Potter. After we finally got our kids settled into bed, my husband and I went down to the hot tub by the 'quiet' pool and were in bed by midnight.

It was another good day, and I am already dreading having to head back to the real world. Tomorrow: The Wonders of Epcot!

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Day One: The Magic Kingdom - The True Melting Pot

I had forgotten how much I missed living with my in laws; not because of financial reasons, or for extra hands where chores are concerned, but for the company. I get along extremely well with my father, mother and younger sister-in-law, and there is always an easy companionship when we are together. The conversation never seems forced, and when there is silence, it is always a comfortable one. They are great people, and I feel as though I lucked out getting them as in laws.

After getting up at the insane hour of 6:30am, on vacation no less (I didn't expect anything less and was surprised that I was permitted to sleep that late), we broke our fast, consumed as much coffee as we could fit into our cups, and readied ourselves for a busy day. Upon our arrival into Orlando Sunday afternoon we had turned our vouchers into actual tickets, so we were prepared to skip most of the morning wait. We arrived via ferry with the masses at the Magic Kingdom, our first stop in our week-long Disney adventure.

And oh dear Goddess were there masses. I counted at least three different tour groups from Brazil alone, and one or two from Italy. They say that America is the melting pot of the world, and after seeing people from China, England, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and Canada, I have no doubt in my mind that the heart of it is in Orlando. It's the one place that I've been fortunate enough to visit that can unite people from all over the planet, that really bring us together as human beings despite race, sex or religion, and I'm not just talking about the ride It's A Small World. I've never heard so many different languages spoke at one time, or English spoke with so many accents.

After hitting up Snow White for a picture and autograph, we hit most of the attractions that are mandatory for visiting the Magic Kingdom - Jungle Cruise, Pirates of The Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain (Space Mountain is currently closed for renovations), It's A Small World, Dumbo, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, the 3pm Daily Parade, Swiss Family Treehouse, Mad Tea Party, Stitch's Great Escape (which used to be Alien Encounter), Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. We missed a handful of rides that we will have to hit first the next time we visit, like the Haunted Mansion, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Tomorrowland Transit Authority (which was down for either repairs or upgrades), and much more due to time restraints, but we covered as much as we could. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and there was little complaint from the kids when we departed. By the time 7pm rolled around, everyone was tired and the little one, T, was thankful to get off her feet.

Yes, we made the 5 year old walk almost the entire way on her own. I saw at least three 8-12 year olds being pushed in strollers by weary parents, and think its silly. I gave her a piggy back ride to the handicapped parking area after the monorail trip back from the Kingdom, but only to keep the complaining to a minimum and hurrying along the progress back to the car. She has two perfectly good legs, why not use them.

After returning to the hotel, we ordered pizza instead of cooking up dinner for the seven of us. Slaving over the stove, or even just shoving something quick into the oven was too much of a hassle at that point, though my mother in law threw together a salad. My feet ache a little despite the sneakers I bought early last week and we are all a little pink in the face/shoulders. As I write this blog, I can feel my eye lids growing heavy. I'm content with how things turned out today, and look forward to what the week may bring.

Tomorrow, Day Two: more getting up at the ass crack of dawn, followed by character breakfast at the Grand Floridian, shopping, and maybe a trip to Old Town to drive go-karts. Pictures will be posted in a day or two once I get them from our family photographer, our 10 year old, RN.

Sleep, perchance to dream.

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Time away from it all

A few more days, and the Lakeland branch of the Silva clan will be invading Orlando!

For a full week, July 12 though July 18th, seven of us will be slipping away from the daily grind of work, school, and responsibilities to play in Florida's tourist trap - Disney. It will be our kids' first real trip there (the oldest, my 10 year old step-son RN, has been before, but doesn't quite remember the trip as he was young at the time), and I'm very excited to share the experience with them. They are old enough now to fully enjoy the wonders and magic of Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM/Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and my inner-child is already jumping up and down at the thought of seeing the castle.

The 'adult' part of me, though, is basking in the thought of being away from ringing phones, infinite paperwork and non-stop bitching of customers complaining that their fueling systems are not working properly. I don't even want to see a gas pump, though I understand that is unavoidable. I've worked here for nine years now, and this is the first time I've been able to take a full week of vacation not reserved for medical reasons. Granted, I've taken a few days off at a time, but never a full week like this. No arguing with my immediate boss about whose fault it was that I was two weeks behind in invoicing (it was totally his), or being told that my political beliefs are completely lacking by the CONservative Big Boss (sorry big guy, I'm not reading Glen Beck's book Common Sense that you forced on me, just not going to happen), and no stressing about deadlines for once. We are going to sit back and enjoy some quality family time away from the 'real world'.

Not to mention we will be visiting the SomaCow studio Friday night after the live show and I will finally get to meet the prestigious J of NewsBomb fame. I can't think of a better way to top off the week.

I will be sharing the experience with you, dear readers, and will throw in some reviews of the places we eat and stay at just for fun. I always need an excuse to write and post pictures, so why not? And later on I can print it all out and make a scrap book out of the blog postings for the kids to have to remember the journey.

Until we leave on Sunday, though, there is lots of cleaning and packing to accomplish and I should get on it.

Ciao,
M

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Welcome to My World

Thanks to my wonderful husband and Mickey from SomaCow - you can find them both on twitter: RSilva5 and SomaCow respectively - I am happy to announce that www.MontineSilva.com is now up and running!

Okay, linked to my blog, but it's still live. I have a presence on the web. It's daunting, but inspiring. I suppose. We'll find out!

Things to come here:

More of my ramblings. Duh.

Synnove. I'm writing again, and (hopefully) will have the Synnove prologue up for my selected test readers. After they've a chance to critique and/or crucify me, I will release it to the general public.

Remote blog from Disney, Florida. In three weeks, we will be embarking on the Silva Family Adventure: The Silvas invade Disney! For one full week, all seven members of the Silva Clan/Lakeland branch will be staying in Orlando, and I am fully prepared to blog the journey. It's going to be a great time, and a writing exercise for me. I'm excited, and so ready to take a break from work. This will be the first time that I've taken a full week vacation from work that was not related to our daughter's health.

Expect that to be followed up with at least one blog post about how behind I am at work and wishing I were back on vacation.

That is all you get for right now. If I don't get any actual work completed, then I'll stress the entire time we are gone, and I don't want that. I want to enjoy our time.

Ciao!

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Death of an Icon

Wow.

King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Dead at age 50

It was quite a shock to hear, after the death of the beautiful Farrah Fawcett (an icon in her own right), that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead yesterday. Despite all of his issues in his personal life - the numerous plastic surgeries, dangling his child from a balcony, child-molestation charges (in which he was acquitted) - he gave so much to the music industry, pioneering the way for boy bands and pop stars...though I try not to hold that against him...and uniting races with his music. How many musicians in your lifetime can you say that about?

Many that I know, including my own mother, grew up listening to his music. As a child, I remember many a night hearing 'Thriller' on my mother's record player (she still has the vinyl, by the way) and dancing around the living room. It was music at the time that brought our generations together. To this day, I still consider it decent music, though my tastes have changed. You have to admit the man had talent, and was a great entertainer. Even on his bad days, and sadly in a negative way, he still managed to capture the world's attention. It's a shame that his actions in his later years have overshadowed his greatness, and I'm sure the world was waiting for his train to derail once again with his comeback tour. His son, the first Prince Michael, was to make his musical debut with his father. I wonder if he will follow his father's foot steps (at least professionally), and if he has his father's talent.

I know there are probably a million blogs covering his death, and many of them bashing him, but I'm choosing to remember the positive things about him and his music. Why can't other people? Even if you didn't enjoy his music, give the man credit for what he managed to accomplished before he became 'Wacko Jacko'.

RIP, Mr. Jackson

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Anatomy of a Writer

Oh poor blog, how I've neglected you. I'm ashamed of myself, and will understand if you are more than a little grumpy with me.

I have a lot of writer friends, both in the 'real world' and online socially. I surround myself with them to focus, inspire and motivate myself to keep scratching that itch. And as I interact with them more, I realize there is something that the majority share in common. Something that has to happen before the words will flow.

I call it the Writer's Crutch.

It could be a certain ritual, a setting of music, a bottle of wine, a visit from Mary Jane, complete silence, chores completed, or even a voodoo doll (yes, I said voodoo doll). I knew a guy in high school who said he always wrote his best stuff during post-orgasmic bliss, and often couldn't hold on to a relationship due to the fact he usually sent his male lovers away after sex so he could take advantage of a 'clear head'. Whatever their vice, a comfort zone has to be achieved before the writing can begin.

I can relate, I have my own crutches that mentally prepare me for the journey. I have an addictive personality and will admit that not all of my addictions are healthy. That in itself is a work in progress. There are habits that have to be given up during the span of life in order to keep oneself in good health. The addict inside cries a little less as the days go by, and it becomes easier to gain back what is lost in regards to focus and ambition.

Doesn't mean that I don't miss those vices. Of course I do! And because they had been such a habit with my writing, it's difficult to maintain the same level of creativity without them. Instead of the words practically writing themselves, now it's become an uphill struggle. I know I can make the words flow again, I only need to keep pushing against that mental blockage. Giving in to failure is not an option.

No one said life is easy, but there are some things that lessen the burden. What is your crutch, or vice?

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Up, up, up....and then down.

We had a wonderful time this past weekend: It was our wedding anniversary (six years), and the in-laws were kind enough to take the kids for a few hours so we could celebrate on Sunday. We headed to the Hard Rock Casion near Tampa and then went out to for an awesome, carb-filled Italian dinner and drinks. Just the two of us, and I really enjoyed myself. It was all-in-all a perfect weekend, despite the fact we didn't win big at the casino.

So I'm having a hard time comprehending why, come Monday evening after riding high on the 'perfect weekend' vibes all day at work, I found myself in such a funk. A funk that has overpowered everything that I've done the last few days, including my writing and being around other people. Was it a bad case of the Monday Blues, i.e. having to go back to the grind of regularly scheduled work and activities, that brought me down? It felt as though someone was letting the air slowly out of my balloon, and all too soon I was back down to the Earth, but instead of landing on solid ground and gaining my feet, I am being sucked down into quick sand. There's an inner turmoil that has no business being there, and the cause is one I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly.

I think I've posted on MyFaceTwit maybe once or twice of the last few days, and it wasn't until last night that I wrote something, but that was only after I had to force myself to do it. It was the closest I've gotten so far to ditching the entire project - an action that I know would only make matters worse and turn this 'funk' into a deep depression.

One thing I considered was the fact that it has been raining nonstop here in Florida for the last three days with more to come, but a break from the sweltering heat and humidity usually pleases me as I love the rain. I have hope that in a day or so when nasty Yellow Face makes a reappearance, that my spirits will be lifted as well. Until then, I'll just have to cope, I suppose.

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Write Right

It is damn hot outside. Temperature today in the upper 90's and dry as hell. Where is a coven of water witches doing their naked rain dances when we need them?

That is not what this about, though. Maybe later.

No, this is about failure, and the fear of it.

I hate this feeling, this feeling of uncertainty in regards to my writing. There is a persistent nagging feeling of not being worthy enough to finish the story. I think that part of the reason is that I'm having a hard time finding the groove when real life keeps interrupting. And I understand that it is supposed to - I work full time Monday through Friday, with a wonderful family and supportive husband that need me. I'm unable to sit down when the mood strikes and fully commit to the story. I've planned for such, which is why Synnove will not be fully released in final draft until late this year and only after I've let a select few rip into it with gigantic red pens and slice away at my heart...

I almost tossed Synnove into the City of Lost Scenes - a binder that I keep of all my writing, no matter if I've used it in a story or not. For some characters and plots it is their graveyard, for others, limbo. Synnove was going to go into the former. I'm frustrated with how sloppy my dialogue has played the last few scenes, how I find myself skipping over things because to me its all beginning to feel like a build up to the scenes I really want to write. Then I started to let the fear win, and even though that is completely my usual MO, I am indeed going to keep moving forward. Because really, what else is there?

It wasn't until this morning after I had risen from my common morning sulking that I realized I was doing it wrong. Why not write the scenes I want..now? Stop waiting to make them dance when I already have the complete character bios; I know who they are, what they want, what they need, but take advantage of the scenes being so fresh in my head. Then go back and re-write the scenes that I was stalling.

I have also come to the conclusion that I'm just an all over happier person once I've been fed and have 4-5 hours to fully wake up. I've never been a morning person and if things start off rough, it can ruin a good part of my day. It would probably help if I went to bed a little earlier, say 10pm instead of midnight or later. One of these days I'll figure out that my body can't do those things anymore.

So here's to taking care of those basic needs, like food and sleep!

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Why can't we just love one another?

There's a reason I don't watch the news on a regular basis, other than to catch the weather report during the winter months (or days as this is Florida) so I know whether or not to put a jacket on Mini-Me. I can only take so many stories about beatings, shootings, hate-crimes, etc. But recently I've found myself tuning in more due to what's been going on out of Orlando, and am yet again reminded that Man is Man's biggest enemy, not only to himself, but to his family.

We have this case out of Lakeland.

Then there is this case out of Tampa.

Or how about this one out of Orlando.

Not sick to your stomach yet? We can't forget this pretty little gem, also out of Orlando.

I mean, holy shit, what the hell is wrong with people???? Were these people just not loved at all by their parents? Or were they all products of the fucked-up society that we live in? I could add another 100 stories to this list, just for the Central Florida area. It makes me want to bang my head on a brick wall, or completely cut myself off from any media whatsoever. I cry for humanity.

There is one positive thing to come out of hearing some of these stories, though. I am yet again reminded that I married a wonderful, caring man who has never hit me, threatened me, or has made me fear for my life. Of course, our marriage isn't perfect (there is no such thing), but we love and respect each other, and try not to take each other for granted. I am very much grateful that I snagged one of the 'good guys', and my heart goes out to those women who were not so lucky.

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Not in Kansas anymore

No, I haven't dropped off the planet as of late, only out of the social scenes for the time being. I've been busy with work, my writing and family. It's hard to balance the three, but I make the most out it. Even if I can only write a little here and there, I'm still writing and that is all that matters.

Last night, I dreamt of tornados - multiple ones falling from a darkened sky, while we were in a house unfamiliar to me. My husband was trying to secure something outside during the storm, and the tornados kept coming closer. I was curious and looked up the meaning in a dream dictionary:

To see a tornado in your dream, suggests that you are experiencing some extreme emotional outbursts and temper tantrums. Is there a situation or relationship in your life that may be potentially destructive?

To dream that you are in a tornado, signifies that you are feeling overwhelmed and out of control. You will be met with a series of disappointments for the next week or so. Your plans will be filled with complications.

To see several tornadoes in your dream, represent people around you who are prone to violent outbursts and shifting mood swings. It may also symbolize a volatile situation or relationship.

I thought this was interesting. I wasn't actually inside of any of the tornados, and don't feel particulary overwhelmed by anything... unless it's in regards to my writing...

I don't feel as though I'm in any type of volatile relationship or situation. I'm chalking it up to just a dream at this point, but sometimes my mind has a way of messing with me, leaving me with questions.

Are the tornados significant? Who knows. Maybe I'm missing something, a sign that maybe a storm is just what I need...

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Do I have what it takes to climb the tower?

I'm used to having bizarre dreams - I have an overactive imagination, and it gets worse when I haven't written in a while (the Beast doesn't like being ignored), though this is hardly the case as of late.

But last night, my insecurities were the star of the show. The setting was one I'm familiar with somewhat: a busy town square, nearing dusk, shoppers and pedestrians milling about. I don't know what it is about this scene that it keep reappearing in my dreams. The more that I tried to concentrate on the people around me, the more of them that turned into people on my Twitter.

NOTE: A very strong indication that I've spent too much time there recently, especially if it is now invading my dreams. Another vice, crutch, addiction - whatever you call it - will have to go.

Anyways, I digress. The Twitter people weren't what caught me off guard. Real people always show up in my dreams, whether they make sense or not.

In this dream, there were towers on the edges of the squares. Your typical dark, foreboding medieval towers, complete with turrets and moss growing up the sides. In one of these towers (it was one on the right, not sure if that can be interpreted as something), a writer was confined in order to complete The Great Novel. This writer I'm familiar with and have spoken to on Twitter, but why this particular writer, I'm not sure. Maybe all the exposure I've had to his work lately?

Time is always off when it comes to dream scape, naturally. They are just movies made from memories playing in our heads after all. But I could swear said writer was only up there for 5 minutes before being released. When I inquired how the progress was coming, he just flipped his gorgeous hair away from his face. "All done. I'm working on another project now." As if it was the easiest thing to do in the world, while I was left standing there gaping, my resolve to keep writing kind of teetering.

Now I'm not as naive as some would have you believe. I understand that there is no such thing as The Great Novel. I also understand that writing a novel, any novel requires effort and skill. I'm not trying to write The Great Novel. At this time in my life, I am and will be perfectly happy just to finish the rough draft I'm working on now. If I can get the final copy completed before New Years, that will be one hell of a success for me. Who gives a crap if it gets published? The fact that I'm writing again after so many years and my former muse Tyrone running off with that damn homeless man.....

I can only hope that since I recognize this as my subconscious being a bastard and trying to deter me from what I want to do - answer the call, give in to the drive, feed my desire to write - I can ward off the self destruction. I refuse to let one irrational dream stop that. It may not be good, but its something.

So I wrote this silly little post just to write, and have added about 50 more blogs/articles on writing to my reading cue. Here's to finishing the rough draft!

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The Book Stockpile of 2009

Because we all know the apocalypse is coming, in one fashion or another, and I want to be prepared with something to spend my days until I either a.) waste away from radiation; b.) get eaten by a zombie/abducted by aliens, etc or c.) die of old age. And so the book stockpile came to be.

Between audiobooks, e-books and dead-tree books, the stockpile should at least take me into 2010 without be going mad, and I'm always adding to it.

So what is in the stockpile so far, you ask?

Audiobooks:
Ancestor by Scott Sigler
Antithesis by J. Daniel Sawyer
Eden by Phil Rossi
Erotica a la carte by Philippa Ballantine
Fried Green Zombies by John Allen
Gearheart by Alex White
Jack Wakes Up by Seth Harwood
Weather Child by Philippa Ballantine

Kindle E-Books:
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Blood Engines by T.A. Pratt
The Bounty by Beth Williamson
Bridge of the Serpent God by John Peter Drummond
Catastrophe's Spell by Mayer Alan Brenner
Codex Alera: Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Codex Alera: Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher
Codex Alera: Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher
Concrete Jungle by Charles Stross
Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
Dark Becoming by Marcus Mebes
Fire-Tongue by Sax Rohmer
Geek Mafia by Rick Dakan
Geek Mafia: Mile Zero by Rick Dakan
Halo by Tom Maddox
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
(Finished the entire Temeraire series a week ago and LOVED it!)
The Infinite Sea by Jeffrey Carver
Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf
Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey Carver
Trail of Space Pirates by Carey Rockwell
Spell of Intrigue by Mayer Alan Brenner
Star Dragon by Mike Brotherton
Strange Attractors by Jeffrey Carver
Sunborn by Jeffrey Carver

Dead-Tree Books:
The Road by Cormac
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress
Common Sense by Glenn Beck

To Be Added:
Tim Dorsey

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Review: Crescent by Phil Rossi

Crescent by Phil Rossi
Genre: SciFi Horror
Available at Podiobooks.com
Features the band Chrysalis


Note, the blah blah disclaimer: It is recommended for mature audiences and not appropriate for minors, so keep the little ones away.

This morning I finished listening to Crescent by Phil Rossi. Crescent is a blend of science fiction and horror, and Rossi does it well. It has the feel of Stephen King and little Lovecraft, with sex, violence and terrifying things waiting for you in the dark. His twists keep you on your feet and have you gripping the edge of your seat, begging for more.

Its a great plot, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tale he's spun here. Its dark without being cheesy or overdone. You really get the feel of the characters, finding yourself immersed in the conflicts surrounding them. Their struggles, desires, and acomplishments become real, which makes their fear all the more palpable.

And there is plenty to fear on Crescent. I hope you're not afraid of the dark.

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The quiet after the storm

Things are quiet this morning. Other than telephones and various radios playing, its almost peaceful. Our co-worker is back, and so far the truce called first thing this morning is still in effect. My love and I had a late night with a friend that was visiting, and I'm just too tired to duke it out today, not to mention I don't want to stress out another co-worker who had to come back from medical leave early and is not doing too well. There's no reason to make matters worse with re-hashing points that have been proven time and time again.

I had debated on taking tomorrow off, just for a much needed break from the place, but instead I've convinced the latter co-worker to go back on leave while she can, and am stepping up to the plate to take one for the team. Besides, I'm leaving for an entire week in July and they'll have to make it on their own without me. I'll cut them some slack.

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Shit Storms and Burning Bridges

Well.

This day could be going a lot better. Like I could of just left my ass in bed, where it was warm, safe and no stress. A co-worker, one pretty high on the ladder despite her refusal to believe so, up and quit. Just like that. Didn't handle her responsiblities for the day, things that effect everyone at the company (like our paychecks); didn't leave proper procedures on how things needed to be handled, no two week notice, nothing. Just grabbed her things, told the Big Honcho she'll get her stuff later, and was out the door, leaving the rest of us shocked, confused and with a elephant-sized load of shit to shovel.

Wonderful, I say! Just beautiful. Why the hell can't I do that?

We are a small company. Our office staff was already at the bare minimum, but now we going to have to scrap by. I am one of those office staff. Because of this co-worker leaving, I am now handling twice my usual workload, with none of the benefits, or relief of it in sight. How is this fair? I'm the only one here able to shoulder some of those the responsiblities; all the IT and technical crap I sadly have no clue about, its all Greek to me. The rest of my week will be spent on a scavenger hunt for files and paperwork, since all my calls and emails to the co-worker have proved to be unproductive, unless you count my sky rocketing blood pressure. What is bothering me the most, is the fact that I'm being treated like the enemy. Is she upset that I didn't stand by her and walk out as well? I did my part, I defended her decision, but there is only so much I'm willing to do when she insists on burning the bridges leading to me. Not to mention, I have a family to support and a mortgage.

I could really use some comfort food, or anything covered in chocolate. I'm serious, I don't care what you cover, as long as its covered with rich, creamy milk or dark chocolate. I'll rant about the Atkins Diet some other time, though.

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Round 'Em Up!

Tonight we took our five year old to her Kindergarten Roundup at the same Elementary school her brother attends. I'm still amazed that she's old enough to be attending kindergarten already - somedays it seems like just yesterday she was still nursing and learning to walk. It makes me sad to see her grow up so fast, but she's beautiful and intelligent, and always brings joy into my life even on the darkest days. I'm nervous, as a first time mother always is, but its a really good school, and I have faith in their abilities to educate my child.

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Blah-og

I'd like to get around to changing the blog layout, but I'm unhappy with most of the templates here, not to mention I have no time. All my free time lately has been wrapped up in Synnove.

Edit: I like the colors now, but the layout leaves much to be desired. Meh.

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Conficker, Rain and Writing

If anyone is interested in it: A test to check for the Conficker Virus. My mother is in IT and kindly keeps me up to date in the latest threats to PCs, so I can ignore them.

And outside its beautiful today. No, the sun is not shining, but the rain is one of the best features of Florida. It washes away all the Ben-gay and sun tan lotion so we can start anew tomorrow. Inhale the freshness!

Today, my writing books have finally shipped. My trip to Barnes & Nobel Saturday night was a bust - spent close to an hour scanning their shelves and not finding a single book I needed (or even one that I wanted), when I could have been listening to Prime Time Geek , washing dishes or more importantly, writing as I had planned. The night left me frustrated and unfulfilled, but now the clouds of despair are lifting and there are pretty flowers and oh look at the cute wittle bunnies....

Ahem. So yes, tonight I'll write, finish the chapter. Its a rough - very rough - draft. I'm not surprised that I'm so rusty after not writing anything of particular interest in quite a while. I can only hope it's like riding a bike (I expect to fall down many times.)

EDIT: Books are in route, according to UPS and will be here on Thursday.

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Growing older, more or less

Morning, freaks.

Again, the morning has come too soon. I've found it harder to recover from late nights, especially multiple, unproductive, late nights in a row. A sign of getting older, I'm sure, but I'm only 27 and its too early in my life for my body to start betray me.

Right? Ugh.

Getting up in the morning, I'm achy from the lack of sleep. The body is sluggish, the eyes open just enough to let the bare minimun of light in, the bad knee groaning in protest. To state that I'm not a morning person, is to say Stonehenge is 'just a bunch of rocks.' If my dreams had been plagued with nightmares (as they are more often than not), then it doesn't take long for me to morph into Mental Breakdown Barbie - without the size zero waist.

Two hours and countless cups of coffee later, I'm back to my usual saturnine self. Give me the nights, keep your days. Time is going by too quickly for my taste - there is so much left to do!

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Dungeons & Dragons co-creator dies at 61

Oh.

I'm so very sad now. And so soon after the death of Gary Gygax.

Rest in Peace, Dave Arneson.

May your legacy live on throughout the ages.

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One down, so many to go

I had a good night - didn't go to bed until sometime before 2am, but the fatigue is offset by the fact that I completed the first chapter last night. Hurray! I'm content with how it came out, not saying that I won't completely restructure it during editing, but it was enough to work with. It was a hard chapter to write, not only because it was the first, but because of the story line itself. It is an emotional beginning.

But now, oh yes now I can delve into the heart of it. Tell the story I came to tell in the first place.

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The 'All Clear'

Why do you look so frightened?

Shhh, its alright. I hit her with enough tranquilizers to take down a herd of elephants.

What? Oh no no, she'll be fine.

Yes, I realize she's going to be pissed off when she wakes up. We're safe for a while, though.

No, I don't think chaining her to a box inside of another box is a bit excessive.

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Heed the warnings

It's not safe around me today. I've done what I can to warn those near me, but my pleas fall on deaf ears. Fools, you don't know what you are up against.

The Beast is raging, thrashing against the bonds that I've erected, but they won't hold for long. Hell, to be honest, I'm tempted by my love for chaos just to let her free and feed. But blood, guts and the smell of terror is just so hard to get out of the furniture, and I'm tired enough as it is.

I'm also sad to report that due to the Beast last night, I didn't get a single word written, which only infuriated the Beast even more. Today is going to be a struggle if I can't find a way to appease her or keep her under control.

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WIP

My current work in progress finally has a name - Synnove.

Synnove will have its own blog, connected to this one, when I'm ready to go live with it. It shouldn't be much longer until I'm done with the first couple of chapters.

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It could of turned out badly...

After a week now of having a shattered glasstop, we have a new range!

The new one is beautiful and shiny! We can cook things in a skillet again instead of on the grill outside! But getting it delivered could of turned out horribly wrong.

My wonderful father in law brought it to our house for us yesterday while we were both at work. It was very unexpected, and I am grateful for the effort it took. Having to stare at the remains of what was once the centerpiece of the kitchen was depressing. When he arrived at our humble residence thou, he realized the key he assumed was to our front door, was not in fact the key to our front door. I'm not sure what transpired between this thought and the next, but apparently he checked all the windows. Finding our daughter's window unlocked (something I will make sure never happens again), he preceeded to open it and climb inside.

This was mid day, perhaps afternoon. We don't have a lot of neighbors (foreclosures popping up to the left and right of us), but the ones we do have we talk to, our children play together, friendly greetings all around. Were they all gone at that time? Perhaps.

No one found it suspicious that a man was climbing through the window in front of the house, in open view to everyone in our neighborhood, and from there opening to door to the garage. With a moving truck in the drive way. Granted, he was putting things inside the garage instead of wiping us out, but a part of me is alarmed at how easy it could of been for a complete stranger to violate the sanctity of our home. Since our dog passed away a few weeks ago, the feelings of security haven't been the same.

I don't believe there would of been trouble if someone had reported the suspicious activity as my father in law had every right to be there. At the same time, I would of felt better knowing that our home is safe when we are away.

A few more months, and we'll be able to get a new puppy, and with it, peace of mind.

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Parenting your spouse?? WTF....

To understand what my ranting is about, please click on the title to read the article on CNN.com by Fernanda Moore.

Now that you've read it....take a deep breath. I know you are upset. I felt the same way. I have to start this with saying that the woman who wrote this article does not in any, way, shape or form represent women in general, or hell - any woman I've ever met. Not every woman, stay-at-home mother or not, treats her husband with this much disrespect and contempt.

I honestly cannot believe the audacity of this woman. I understand that this article came out quite a few days ago, but I just recently heard about it. It was painful to read through (or listen to as I was Episode 398 of http://www.nobodylikesonions.com/) How can she expect her husband to respect her when she insists on treating him like a child? Does she not believe in the equality of her spouse? Instead of barking at him like she was a dog (and I imagine something small and that yaps like a squeeky toy) "Baby Gate" "Install", she should try saying "Hon, do you mind putting up the baby gate when you get home from work?" Or, for once, thank her husband for putting in long hours in an economy where he's lucky to have a job at all! I work full time, am a full time mother (because that is a job you cannot just 'clock out' of, unless you are Casey Anthony), and if I even tried using the same tone with my husband, I would no longer have a home. Her 'profession', and I use this lightly, is to use write words for people to read. She can't spare some for her family in a positive tone? I can only imagine how bad it stung for the husband to have to read her words on the Internet.

Please, Mrs. Moore, open the cookie jar and give your husband his balls back.

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Why I write

I've frequently pondered as to why I always feel this itch, this urge, this need, to write. Writing words on a page, or typing them here is a comfort to me. It is as if I am pulling a warm blanket over my body in the middle of a cold December night. The words are my hot cocoa and steal away from me some of my nervous energy or frustrations, leaving me feeling serene once they have flowed away from me.

As to what I'm writing, or the stories I'm willing to draw out from my hyper-active imagination, that remains to be seen, now does it?

I grew up reading mostly horror, fantasy, science fiction and even when the mood struck, romance*. Most of my writing has fallen into the horror/fantasty genres, thou there have been times when I'm suffering a block and switched to more adult writing. Technically, those writings also fall under those same genres. I'm too much of a cynic to successfully write a happy-ending cheesy romance, but still enough of a dreamer to understand the attraction.

Now I'm off to update the WIP on the Kindle and take care of some research.

*I can't help it - I'm a big fan of J.D. Robb, one pseudonym of Nora Roberts.

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Let The Music Move Ya

I usually wake up in a certain mood, looking for certain inspiration or a certain song. Nine times out of ten I can find it on Pandora, but adding the song to my playlist doesn't guarantee that I'll hear it within the next 5 minutes, half hour, or hell - that day.

After 'following' the talented Mr. Warren Ellis, he 'tweeted' something regarding the below site and after being bored enough to clicky-click, came across this beautiful gem. Its still in beta and there aren't a lot of songs available, but its a little more of what I'm looking for.

You can find my Blip Station here:

http://blip.fm/AlienFreak

No, there is no organization to it. And yes, the genre varies. Just be assured there will be no country-fing of that station.

Happy Listening!

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Do Your Part For HomeLand Security!

Tired of illegals clogging the roads, taking your jobs, and sucking all the tax money through welfare?

Do your part for Homeland Security!

If you click the link in the title, it takes you to a CNN report regarding a $2 million dollar program, in Texas, funded by Texas, designed to keep a sharp eye on our southern borders.

From the Internet. Because America obviously has nothing to do with their free time and we all want to make a difference, yes?

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A new WIP

After the last year of this story bouncing around in my head, I'm finally getting it down in a paper plot (dear pen, how I've missed ye).

So yes, I have a new work in progress!

Details to come.

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Goals for 2009

Throughout my life, I've managed to set and accomplish many goals in the twenty-some odd years that I've wandered this Earth. That is, until it comes to my writing. I've been writing for 10 years on and off; poetry, short stories, flash fiction, diaries. I tend to get distracted easily, or frustrated by a proverbial roadblock. Sometimes the characters, the story, or the plot fall to pieces before it takes off. Other times there is something missing in my own life that prevents me from giving in to the story. Most of all, I lack the discipline it takes to sit and fully execute a story longer than 3 or 4 chapters.

Alright, fine. I'm lazy. Happy?

So, in order to fix this little issue, I've set a goal of 1000 words a day, blog style (and Twitter does NOT count). This should insure that I'm writing at least something, even if its a bunch of ramblings from a seemingly mad person.

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Whoa boy....

I'm convinced the planets are aligned against me today. Not that the day is going bad per se, but I'm having one of those dreaded 'off' days. After a few days out of work due to Mini Me catching a strain of Captain Micks, its hard to get back into the groove. I've caught myself not paying attention at least twice today so far, little things that should of had a stronger grip in my mind.

Need more cowbell...er coffee.

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New Tides

Wow.

Its been an amazingly long time since I've written anything, minus my 140 character ramblings on Twitter and posting in various game/media related forums. But I've started to feel that tug, that itch, that feeling there is Something To Be Written. As for what, the muses have yet to make that known. So here I am, taking the first step - finding the page to put the words. And now the words will come.

Or they won't.

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