11/29/2004

I did it! I did it! I did it!

Whoo-hoo! :cloud9: (Pam does her victory dance) If you will turn your eyes for a moment to the side bar to the right of your screen, you will notice that the NaNoWriMo meter is sitting on 100% AND that down under the heading “Awards…” there is now a “sticker” that says NaNoWriMo Winner! I want to thank my hubby, children, and friends for being so supportive! You all rock!

50,011 words! Is it Tolkien? No, but it does seem to merit a “Pretty interesting” from the one person who’s read it … at least so far … and I value his opinion.

So, now I am going to walk away from it for awhile. Maybe in January, I will revisit it, made some edits, additions, changes. When those are finished, I might even get brave enough to send it to a publisher.

Well, now I need a nap! It’s been a loooong month.

site admin at 4:53 pm

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1800 words to go!

OMG! I only have - as of this minute - 1800 words to go!

sparta at 12:21 am

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11/28/2004

How I’m doing

It was pointed out to me by someone (and you know who you are :-) that I hadn’t really posted anything lately about how I’m doing. So here is a brief update (mostly because a long one would be silly).

Thanksgiving: Allison was here; we had a nice meal and spent time just being a family. My friend, Cara, came by with her husband (and again on Saturday with her four kids) to visit as they were in the area visiting her sister-in-law. It was relaxing and quite enjoyable. Also on Saturday, we put up our Christmas tree. We played Christmas music and the kids hung the ornaments, and this year we had Allison helping - which we’ve never had before. I got a bit teary-eyed, I have to admit. This was also the first Thanksgiving that Allison woke up in our house and spent the whole day with us. I made Salsa Chicken and Spanish Rice while she was here - her favorite - and took her shopping for her birthday (belatedly, but still….) - all-in-all a good weekend. Her brothers LOVE her so much - and it was obvious how much she loves them too.

The Boys: The boys are doing fine. John is so excited about Christmas he can hardly stand it. It’s going to be a long few weeks until it finally gets here. He can’t wait for Santa to come and bring him a watch and eat all the cookies. LOL! Phil and John were their sister’s shadows this long weekend, and her leaving has them a bit blue, but we’ll see her again in December, so….. John has been in bossy mode lately. Hope he gets out of that soon. Phil has been a bit moody. Must be a 9-year old thing. Hope he gets out of that soon.

The Knee Report: Saw the doctor last Tuesday. He said my bone looks “Fantastic!”, so he released me to physical therapy. That means, the bone is healed, and I no longer need to see him. I have already moved myself to one crutch most of the time and have started doing a two-footed hobble up and down the stairs. Much nicer than going up on my rear end all the time. :-) So, my PT has said we’ll really work on getting this knee in shape by exercises and the bike and some weights. It looks like my goal of walking on my own by Christmas might be achieved after all. :cloud9:

NaNoWriMo: My word count off to the side there shows you I’m about 7,400 words shy of my goal. That’s about 25 pages, but I still think I can do it. Keep watching the meter - and hopefully - look for the participant logo to change to a winner logo!

Okay, so maybe that was a bit longer than I thought it would be. So maybe I’m silly (but you still read it).

sparta at 1:25 pm

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11/23/2004

This is WAY cool

Ever wanted to create your own alphabet? Well, now you can. Whether you want one for a book you’re working on - or art - or for passing secret messages - or just for fun - now you can do it! And the best part is: it will be packaged for you to download as a font for you to use!

sparta at 9:54 pm

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Proof that dolphins are just as sentient?

This news story is just another example of how intelligent dolphins are. Dolphins are seriously way cool! Do you think they thanked them for all the fish?

sparta at 2:32 pm

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11/22/2004

This is disgusting

Guess I won’t be flying for a while. Not when THIS is allowed. I’m so appalled I can barely write about it. And I don’t –care– if it’s supposed to be a screener of the same sex…these are not medical exams by professionals. And I don’t –care– if it’s only for those who need 2nd screenings. You never know when you’ll be selected for that. And touching those areas (unless you’re a doctor) is risky business if you ask me. How do you know as a TSA agent that the way you’re touching that person is being perceived as you intend it? With that kind of thing, there’s intentional carassing and clinical examining - and that HUGE grey area. What you may have intended as a touch might SEEM to be a caress to the passenger…so the passenger accuses you of fondling them when you didn’t…and yes, there will be those TSA’ers who do caress you - and mean it to be fondling - but you’ll be afraid to say anything for fear that you did misunderstand it. Nope, I’m sorry - having TSA’ers actually touching the passengers private areas is a BAD idea. I know some people might cringe at this — and I’m not saying *I’m* agreeing to this. But some would prefer a NO TOUCHY situation where they stripped and the TSA’er could see they aren’t carrying anything in their bra and underwear. Maybe they should give passengers a choice. Would you rather strip and NOT be touched, or submit to a physical inspection. Guess I’m not going to be flying for a while.

sparta at 1:44 pm

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11/21/2004

Check it out

Instead of posting a new NaNoWriMo meter in this area every time - I have an auto-magically updating one over there to the right! Check my progress as the days tick by….9 and 1/2 days left!

For those participating (uh-hem), keep up the good work!

UPDATE: OMG! I am over the 50% mark! Wahoo!

sparta at 12:18 pm

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Islam Extreme

After things like what happened to this poor boy, how can anyone believe that we Westerners can live with these extremists? What about the woman stoned at the stadium? What about this article? And this? And this? And this? Next, read these stories.

And finally, read this. And these were all found within just a few seconds search. Imagine what all you could find if you devoted an afternoon. It’s so awful for those Muslims who are peaceful to have to co-exist in their religion with these monsters.

sparta at 12:15 pm

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New NaNoWriMo Update

NaNoWriMo Progress Meter

I dunno - I might just make it! :-)

sparta at 12:05 am

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11/19/2004

NaNoWriMo Update

NaNoWriMo Progress Meter

sparta at 12:49 am

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11/18/2004

Sharing the Bleat

If you don’t read James Lileks, you should. Some days he’s funny, some days he’s absolutely hilarious. Tool around the archives and all the other places…I think you’ll like it.

sparta at 8:49 am

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Hey, guess what?

I sat on the edge of my bed today and lifted my injured-but-now-recovering leg straight out! This is fantastic news because it means I’m another step closer to being moved from PWB to FWB (PWB=patial weight bearing; FWB=full).

Yay me!

sparta at 8:18 am

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For those who don’t read this section…

This section of Fox News never fails to make me laugh or shake my head. Just thought I’d share.

sparta at 8:12 am

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11/17/2004

I love these things

Look at this one first - then explore. I love this site - some of them are great - some are crap. I just wish I had more time to watch more of them. Or make one myself - *sigh*

sparta at 8:03 pm

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Attention Shoppers

…there a Blue Light Special on Craftsmen hammers in aisle 15. If David Lee Roth turning EMT is scary, this is scarier. They want to compete with Walmart, apparently, but I’m not sure how that’s going to work — or if that’s a good thing. There’s not much news as to HOW they want to do all this. The last thing we need is more super-shopping complexes sprawling everywhere. Walmart vs. Meijer vs. Target is bad enough! Keep your eyes open, folks.

sparta at 11:55 am

Comments (3)

Somebody Get Me A Doctor

David Lee Roth is training to be a paramedic. This is both cool - and scary. I guess it goes to show that there is life after the spotlight - if you’re smart.

sparta at 11:53 am

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11/16/2004

Everyone knows it’s Condi!

Condi Rice has been given the big nod - and if the Senate is smart - they’ll confirm her soon. I think the continued influence of Ms. Rice could only be good for this country.

Who’s been a prof of political science,
Who’s been in charge of Stanford’s budget,
Who is a real Femme de la Renaissance
Everyone knows it’s Condi

Who’s tripping down the streets of D.C.
Smiling at everybody she sees
Who’s reaching out to capture her moment
Everyone knows it’s Condi

And Condi’s been advisor
To the President
And Condi has guts to try
To make a change, to make a change

Who’s tripping down the streets of D.C.
Smiling at everybody she sees
Who’s reaching out to capture her moment
Everyone knows it’s Condi

Congrats!

sparta at 2:22 pm

Comments (3)

11/15/2004

NaNoWriMo Update

16497!

sparta at 10:38 pm

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You’ve probably already seen this…

But I couldn’t help it. The Darth Vader gargoyle is just too cool!

sparta at 9:50 pm

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You’ll love this….

So, I read this one blog every once in a while, and this time was pretty good. Go here and read the one titled ‘By Request: Celebrity True Story’.

sparta at 9:10 pm

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