I didn't get much writing done today, only 2200 words or so. I wanted to finish but had to take the dog to the vet, got her some antibiotics, and then when I got back Cassie, Brian and Rachael were back down for dinner.

Rachael, Kitty and I hung out after eating and cleaning up. We played Candy Land, Uno and then colored in Christmas themed coloring books. It was nice and relaxing. Then I dicked around catching up on facebook. Tried to sit down and write some more tonight but I'm just too tired to push it. I hope I can finish up tomorrow, though it's my Dad's birthday so I don't know if I'll be going near the computer at all.

My goal for December is to try and write at least 1,000 words a day. I really want to finish this story before February, and then to start on my next which is already in planning. I'm reviving an original character I originally created (yeah) for a Dark Shadows fanfiction I was writing.... well, many years ago, by the name of Arthur Wickett. He'll be getting his own story now, taking center stage in another story I started many years before that. We'll see how it goes. If we're still here in February I'm signing up for the advanced creative writing class and making 28 Days my major project.

I've been rewatching Dark Shadows 1840 on DVD lately. It's been a while since I was actively watching the show and not just playing it in the background while I sewed or was drawing or something else like that. I still need to finish the pre-Barnabas DVDs.

Anyway it's chilly in here and I'm going to turn in. Goodnight all!

I just had one of those moments, you know? I was writing, getting to the point where Emily was about to discover the name of the asylum Peter was in, when it struck me... Boston area.. asylum... so I put him in Danvers.

It makes sense but it cruel of me because Danvers scares the crap out of me. I would never go near the place. Not only because it was an asylum, but it was built on the land owned by Judge John Hathorne, and most of the Salem witchcraft incidents took place on the property. That and it was locked up an abandoned. Records, artifacts, everything was left behind. That's truly ghostly.

Leon used to work there, I should go talk to him about the layout of the place and such. It's been turned into apartments now, though how anyone could live there is beyond me - even if the building is really beautiful.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, ours was kind of subdued and kind of weird. Katelyn was in a mood having stayed up to the crack of dawn the night before at a friend's house and kept casting withering looks across the table at her Mother which made even me want to reach across and smack her upside the head. We think Cassie & Brian had been arguing earlier in the day, and Dad was just tired and cranky. It was really kind of disappointing. Oh well - everyone's coming over for leftovers tonight so here's hoping it's better.

Kitty and I kept with my Thanksgiving tradition and watched White Christmas after doing the dishes and cleaning up, then we watched High Society, which was wicked funny and I've been singing Well Did You Evah all morning. I need to steal the DVD from her because many icons need to be made.

I woke up before anyone else this morning and immediately hopped out of bed and called the vet for Geri who has been pulling the fur off her hind leg since Wednesday, it looks awful - then went out and took care of the animals. Other than that it's rainy and damp and cold and gloomy and I'm going to try and finish Nano today sometime.

Until later.

I took yesterday off to sew, spent most of today finishing sewing (Kui-chan has a new dress but no one will see it until it snows here and I can get some proper pictures of it because it's themed you know....) but tonight after dinner I decided to sit down and crank out as much as I could before the words dried up.

I could keep going now, but I'm beat. I managed to pound out 6,456 words tonight, finally wrapped up the few scenes I had skipped over and added a whole huge major revelation scene. I've only got 6,583 words left to go and I'm excited! I might actually pull this off! XDDDDD

Here's an excerpt of what I wrote tonight, from Chapter Five. This is a scene between Westley, Peter's older brother, and Emily, the heroine of the story and the girl in the icon. It takes place in 1926, just so you get a picture of the era. (The flashback takes place in 1909.) Please do not mind the typos, these will be fixed.

( The story of Peter's illness )

It seems Kago was hired to be the spokesperson for a Japanese cell-phone company based out of NYC. So she's there, right now, filming the commercial, a DVD and some other things.... and she's doing fan meet ups.

Why the hell couldn't this have happened a year ago when I was there?

T_T

Had a few bad days writing, but am really catching up tonight. Burnt out on words at the moment, but managed to put down 4,700 in around 3 hours and bridge a few pieces that I had skipped ahead on. I'm at 30,540 words, which puts me at 2,793 words to write to catch up by midnight of the 20th.

I think I can do it!

Looking back over it I know there's some places I am going to change things, to rewrite them or make the flow better. Sometimes I worry that the story is moving along too quickly, but it's the only pace I can tell it at.

I've still got a few missing gaps to fill in, but I've come to the end of BIG BAD THING number 1, so I feel accomplished have reached that at least.

Foolishly I decided to try and drink some low acid orange juice with breakfast this morning and then spent the rest of the day feeling like I had drank a cup of acid instead. I don't know what it is with me and orange juice but it freaking HURTS me when I drink it, like it was eating a hole in my stomach - which sucks because I really like it.

Mom and Dad had plans to go to a fiddling concert tonight, but Dad ended up working late and Mom didn't feel good so I went up to Cassie's house to make home made pizzas and have buffalo wings and watch Phantom of the Opera. Now I am singing Music of the Night and Masquerade. I need to buy the damn movie soundtrack! (I have the Broadway cast, but I want the movie cast as well).

It POURED here tonight. Torrential rains. I hope it does tomorrow too so I can get some writing done. I have a hard time writing during the day, too easily distracted, and too tired tonight to continue. I'm way behind. I'll have to write 3800 words tomorrow to catch up.

At this point I am also seriously getting bored with Memnoch. It was interesting in the beginning with the Devil stalking Lestat, both his awareness and fear of it, and this ghost of one of his victims speaking to him at the bar - but now it's just turned into non-stop religious debating and theorizing and its a slogging read. There was a bit more of Anne Rice's feminist ideals popping up in Dora, but the character's out of the picture for a moment so I didn't have to sit through that again. (I had enough with Akasha, thank you very much). Does anything happen in this book? I'm hoping that The Vampire Armand is more engaging. I want the vampires to, you know, DO SOMETHING. Yeah, that would be good.

I'm going to go get a snack and then hit the hay. Hopefully tomorrow is more productive.

The internet is a wonderful place. Working on my story and I needed to know what kind of flashlights were in use in 1926. How easily I found my answer.

I finally hit 20,000 words. I don't think I've ever written this much continuously in my life. It feels pretty good. Also I realized I don't have to write this whole story from one point of view. I was struggling a lot with that, then tonight it just flowed out naturally from this other character's perspective. After I've gotten around BIG EVENT NUMBER ONE, which I reached tonight, I'll go back and see what I can add to the narrative. In truth there's a big part of chapter 3 missing as I was getting impatient and wanted to get to chapter four, which is the first of the BIG EVENTS and takes place at a Halloween party.

I'd put up an excerpt as I really like it, but it's 5 pages long so far so I'll spare you.

It's been TOUGH as this is my first serious, committed undertaking, but also a wicked learning experience. I really think I can do it.

Oh and I feel I should note, that though I have been trying to write this story for a couple years now, I've never gotten more then the first couple pages and a few excepts written over and over and over - so I totally scrapped everything I'd written before save the characters, the time period and the plot - and started anew. It's better for it, believe me.

Since September 6th or so I've read:

The Witching Hour
Lasher
Interview with the Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
Queen of the Damned
Tale of the Body Thief

Right now I'm reading Memnoch the Devil and Taltos. I also bought The Vampire Armand last night just so I wouldn't have to wait to read the next book. Body Thief was the first new book of hers I'd read, I mean out of the others which I'd read before. I rather liked it, was annoyed by Louis when he wouldn't help Lestat and then loved the scene where Lestat burned Louis house down in anger. I'm glad David's a vampire now, he is too awesome a character to have lost.

Through this I have learned that Anne Rice loves the words certain words and phrases, as I'm sure all authors do.

For example cleave; as in the table cleaved to the wall, or her dress cleaved to her body or Louis cleaved to Lestat (Haha! I wish). Also abide, there was tons of stuff that neither Claudia nor Lasher could abide. Or so and so's mouth formed a perfect O which has happened more than once though I can't remember the details.

Anyway I have to get back to writing myself. I keep getting distracted.

15,657 words as of this writing. Spent almost all day in Bangor today running errands and hanging out with the kids, only to suddenly come down with a major headache, congestion, and random bursts of pain in my ears and at the base of my neck. Going to call it quits and just hunker down and try to catch up some other day.

For now I'm going to put on my new pjs and crawl into bed with Memnoch.

Night.

Went out to dinner last night to an Irish pub, was pretty good, had steak and mushroom pie with HUGE chunks of garlic in it. Won't say who we went with as apparently it's a secret.

Came home and took a shower, tried to do some writing but it only came in fitful spurts. Going to try and catch up today.

Started reading Taltos, going up to Bangor today to run errands, will pick up Memnoch while I'm there. Taking the kids as they have 2 days off from school thanks to Veteran's Day and an in-service.

Another day of 60 degree weather. I'll take it.

I can still taste garlic.

Did some target practice today with Dad, it was fun. Did about 5 or 6 rounds before my hand started to hurt. It was gorgeous this afternoon but once the sun went down the temperature dropped.

Am at 13,655 words by Nanowrimo's count, around 26 pages in Times font, 35 in courier. Not sure what the standard is as I've seen both are acceptable. Just finished writing a particularly lovely little nightmare. At first I was kind of... well this is not that freaky - then I let go and it got nice and subtly disturbing. Ah, fun.

I have totally expanded the character of one of the - well she's not a traditional villain, she's not the main hurdle to overcome, but she is an antagonist. She's deliciously cruel and kind of fun to write.

Now I think I will draw for a bit.

It feels way later than it is.

More than anything else in sewing clothes for dolls, I hate doing the sleeves.

Hate.

Yesterday was Mom's birthday so we took her out to see Men who stare at goats which was a very funny movie, infectiously optimistic. The army base shooting scene was a little jarring, considering events of the past few days, but the Jedi references were made all the more amusing by Ewan McGregor's casting. I'd like to get the book it was based upon.

Afterward we went to dinner at Dyshart's where Mom and Dad finally used the gift certificate we had given Dad for Father's day. I had turkey soup and toll house pie, the soup was DELICIOUS, the pie not so much. Then I came home and laid on a heating pad all night because I did something to my back and it's been a knot of burning muscles for the past 2 or 3 days. Oh, but we did run out and get Mom a box of cherry cordials and a card though Mom said she didn't want anything, Stumpy sent her flowers which was our original idea, so we went with candy. We're having a nice Sunday dinner/birthday party with Cassie and the kids tomorrow night.

Whoa - I just realized that's Frank Langella in The Box and not Christopher Lee - though they both played Dracula.

I'm about half way through Tale of the Body Thief which I am really enjoying, Lestat (in the body of Raglan James) has just gotten over pneumonia and is currently staying with the nun who took him from the hospital when he begged her not to let him die in that body. I really enjoyed his hallucinations? of Claudia's ghost taunting him throughout the first part of the book, was it his own guilt or his own subconscious or really her ghost? I'm curious as to what will happen when he goes to seek out Louis, but I've got Nanowrimo to do so no more reading until tonight.

I'm just shy of 10,000 words, which was yesterday's goal, but I'm a bit weary and the words are coming slowly. I listen to a lot of Tchaikovsky when writing, The Nutcracker Suite and Swan Lake. Music with words is too distracting. I need to buy some more classical music albums. I should probably bust out my Escaflowne OSTs.

Ah, heating pad, you are my friend.

Ararara!

I was looking at Mint on Card tonight and saw the new brand of BJD's they have are CHEAP! Like $200 WITH FACE UP! I really want to get Aeso to go with Kui, but am broke at the moment (lent $$ to the folks). This is the one I'm looking at Zazean..

Pros are he's only $200, which is LESS than half what I would pay for my original choice, Xiao Han.

Cons are he's only 60cm, which is the same size as Kui and I was looking to get a slightly bigger doll.

I kind of like the face sculpt of Xiao better, but I like Zazean's ears more. Also he is $229 cheaper.

Oh I am soooooooo tempted!

EDIT Despite the price I'm gonna hold out for Xiao because he's bigger and I prefer his face sculpt. Now I just need some $$.

Hope everyone had an awesome night! Finished reading Queen of the Damned which was torture to get through Akasha's feminazi wrants - made my proton pack, went trick-or-treating, had Pizza Hut for dinner, came home & watched Sleepy Hollow with Mom & Dad, took a shower, picked up my room from all the proton pack parts, watched a little Dark Shadows, now it is time for bed!

The following is an actual exchange I had tonight with a gentleman while out trick-or-treating with Rachael & Katelyn.

Us: Trick-or-Treat!
Guy: You guys sure are some tall trick-or-treaters.
Me: Yep.
Guy: You're probably going to stop soon though, right?
Me: (adamantly) No.
Guy: When you hit your 20s right? (nodding at me)
Me: Nope.
Guy hands us candy.
Me: Happy Halloween!

I wasn't aware there was an age limit on fun. 20s?! It occurred to me as I was walking away that in a months time I will be 30 years old. Dad said I should have told him so, but we were laughing about that a good portion of the night. Also we ran into a guy that was well into his 40s trick-or-treating and crossed paths with several other 20-somethings out doing the same. He was the only guy who said anything to us, everyone else was all Happy Halloween! Or Cool costumes! etc. Have a good time and don't be a prick.

Got tons of compliments on my costume, saw 2 other little boys running around as Ghostbusters as well. Should have asked for a picture. It was 65 degrees out tonight which was FANTASTIC! Nice and warm, though really windy. We walked probably about 4 blocks or so, both sides which took about an hour, hour and a half, but it was awesome fun. Next year again for sure.

I'm working on something - started it tonight just playing around but I think it came out pretty well. Who shall I work on next and for what purpose?

Time will tell.

EDIT Now with Action Strut Julia! LOL! She was a little harder to do, had to manipulate 2 different sprites, one for the head, the other for the body and then had to redraw her outfit myself.

Kui-chan got some very lovely new skirts tonight courtesy of vampireangel13 and the red_shoelacers Halloween faerie swap! I love them so much! I really love the fabric choices in the Halloween one, and the chain and pin touches on the punk one. Kui-chan loves them too :D I had to sit down immediately tonight and make a new shirt for her to match them. So here she is, modeling off the 2 new skirts, new shirt wig and eyes! Woohoo!

( Here are pics! )

Other than that I have a bunch of stuff to do but I'm kind of worn out. I practiced piano like I should, am almost done with my writing assignment for this week, but I still need to work on my proton pack for my costume. It's kind of essential too so I should get my ass in gear - seeing as Halloween is this weekend.

I want to draw!

Oh, I crawled into my eves this evening and raided my keepsake box looking for an old Christmas carol book I've had since I was... well it was published in 1981 so I'm gonna go with very young. I was looking for piano arrangements to play. Luckily I also came across some AWESOME pictures from High School and Junior High which will be scanned and posted to facebook soon. I finally found my first Sailormoon sketchbook too, I'm going to scan my first drawing of Princess Serena Serenity and do a comparison shot of a similar picture in my drawing style now. We'll see how it comes out.

I finished The Vampire Lestat this morning while waiting for my Dad to finish his piano lessons and plowed right in to Queen of the Damned. I enjoyed TVL much more this time around as I didn't have a certain friend reading over my shoulder asking me "Did you get to *insert spoileriffic scene* yet?" and ruining over half the novel for me. Also Armand is like, 500 times more evil than I remembered him being. What a little shit he is!

That being the case this makes me laugh every time I see it, just for Armand in the Hot Topic shirt. Also I am a bit amused by the Nicki x Lestat fanart seen on DA as in Nicki's own words he HATED Lestat and pretty much thought they were going to go down in flames and die freezing and penniless together in Paris. I had forgotten about Armand cutting off his hands, that made me cringe. Also, I want to learn to play the violin now.

I've been listening to Bauhaus a lot lately and it's actually what I picture Lestat's band sounding like. Anyone know who AR was thinking of when she wrote that bit?

I need to get Taltos so I can finish The Mayfair Witches series, though if memory serves there's a crossover between the vampires and the witches in Merrick?

I can't remember who my favorite character was in the series the first time I read them, but now it is definitely Lestat, followed closely by Louis as emo as he is.

I'm still alive, just terribly busy. Making a lot of gifts for Christmas so I was gathering ideas and gathering materials. Working on several Halloween costumes (My ghostbusters costume plus it's accessories, 1 party costume for Katelyn, Fright at the Fort costumes for both Rachael and Katelyn) as well as the Halloween doll swap. Dropped the knitting class but my writing class has been going extremely well which has boosted my confidence immensely.

I've been rereading a lot of Anne Rice's books again. Finished The Witching Hour and Lasher, which reminded me again how and why I loved Oncle Julien so much. :D Just recently finished Interview with the Vampire (Jesus Christ Louis is so god-damned emo) and now reading The Vampire Lestat. I had forgotten that Claudia was only FIVE when they made her a vampire, it made for a totally different view of her character than I remember. There was a lot of flinching on my part. My niece Paige is five.

Anyway I just wanted to pop in and say Hi, I might be gone for much of the month of October, it's just been that busy.

Also, it's only 28 degrees outside tonight.

BRRRR!