The was giving A and An a hard time
No one can be the greatest without me
Nobody says a greatest
or an awesomest
No, that's true, said A
while An rolled her eyes
You may be the superlative
but we're positive and comparative
We're helpful in ways
you could never be
Besides, how often does anyone
reach the peak and actually need you
The was slightly crestfallen
but that did not slow him down
It's not just that, he said
pointing at the book and the apple
True, said An, but there are many
books and apples, reaching out
for A's hand - We work together
while you're always alone
Yes, said A, you're so definite,
boxing yourself in, so limited
For everything you can do
we can do too more openly
An said, pointing at a book
and an apple sitting on a table
But, said The, you're always nearly
You're never quite exactly
A started to argue back
but An put her finger on his lips
There's no point, she said
It's just his nature
And they strolled off together
an arm around a waist
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to two prompts. The first is Unlimited at Writer's Island and the second is Nearly (#260) at Sunday Scribblings.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Musty Minutes
I was seven when my father
first began to teach me
how to make wine
Adjusting the must of the wine
was critical for a nice dry red
which is what he liked to make
The acidity had to be just right
and he showed me how to test
it and balance it if it was off
Then we'd monitor the sugar level
with a hydrometer and ensure
the degrees Brix were twenty-two
I had seen my mother make
a simple syrup in our kitchen
but father said this was not cooking
Wine was not just an extraction
from the must, but life itself,
just as the yeast was alive
And we warmed the must
to pitching temperature
so the yeast would thrive
We watched the must for a few
minutes, the bubbles rising,
the yeast working their magic
In those minutes, I began to learn
about what we had to do
and what we chose to do
* * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt #47 Musty Minutes at We Write Poems.
first began to teach me
how to make wine
Adjusting the must of the wine
was critical for a nice dry red
which is what he liked to make
The acidity had to be just right
and he showed me how to test
it and balance it if it was off
Then we'd monitor the sugar level
with a hydrometer and ensure
the degrees Brix were twenty-two
I had seen my mother make
a simple syrup in our kitchen
but father said this was not cooking
Wine was not just an extraction
from the must, but life itself,
just as the yeast was alive
And we warmed the must
to pitching temperature
so the yeast would thrive
We watched the must for a few
minutes, the bubbles rising,
the yeast working their magic
In those minutes, I began to learn
about what we had to do
and what we chose to do
* * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt #47 Musty Minutes at We Write Poems.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Spring Break
Don't get me wrong,
I'm not some college kid
wearing primary colors,
a tropical bird flashing his crest
to attract a mate,
full of beer and no worries.
Sure, I'm free of work
and preparation for a week,
an elementary school teacher
with no students to teach,
free now to read books
not intended for middle grades.
I'm free to watch documentaries
on NetFlix not about American history,
unless that's what I choose,
because I'm free to decide, not hindered
by contracts or standards or dull textbooks,
I can challenge myself to be better.
I'm free to sleep in, my alarm turned off,
free to drink my coffee slowly,
savoring it, not slamming it down
as I rush out the door, hitching
up my courage to face another commute,
free to stay out of the car all day.
But am I free from responsibility?
No, there are clothes to wash,
meals to cook, dishes to clean,
dry, and put back in the cupboards,
and my son's home with me too,
so I'm free to be a full-time dad.
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt 128 to write a spring poem at Poetic Asides. I also incorporated the idea of "free" from Sunday Scribblings.
I'm not some college kid
wearing primary colors,
a tropical bird flashing his crest
to attract a mate,
full of beer and no worries.
Sure, I'm free of work
and preparation for a week,
an elementary school teacher
with no students to teach,
free now to read books
not intended for middle grades.
I'm free to watch documentaries
on NetFlix not about American history,
unless that's what I choose,
because I'm free to decide, not hindered
by contracts or standards or dull textbooks,
I can challenge myself to be better.
I'm free to sleep in, my alarm turned off,
free to drink my coffee slowly,
savoring it, not slamming it down
as I rush out the door, hitching
up my courage to face another commute,
free to stay out of the car all day.
But am I free from responsibility?
No, there are clothes to wash,
meals to cook, dishes to clean,
dry, and put back in the cupboards,
and my son's home with me too,
so I'm free to be a full-time dad.
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt 128 to write a spring poem at Poetic Asides. I also incorporated the idea of "free" from Sunday Scribblings.
Spring Song
yesterday's rainstorm was not
an example of spring showers
what we abundantly got
was rain for hours and hours
the earthworms were out and happy
from their burrows damp and wet
even the trees were less sappy
the sparrows in nests were all set
the snails made a break for the side
of the walk oh so slowly
though I stayed dry and warm inside
my mood was all so lowly
the windows were sheeted with rain
so things outside were a blur
I wouldn't want to be a drain
with that I think you'll concur
so I'll try to lift up my mood
and sing a small silly song
I'll cook up some warm comfort food
setting things... at least not wrong
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt 128 over at Poetic Asides to write a spring poem.
an example of spring showers
what we abundantly got
was rain for hours and hours
the earthworms were out and happy
from their burrows damp and wet
even the trees were less sappy
the sparrows in nests were all set
the snails made a break for the side
of the walk oh so slowly
though I stayed dry and warm inside
my mood was all so lowly
the windows were sheeted with rain
so things outside were a blur
I wouldn't want to be a drain
with that I think you'll concur
so I'll try to lift up my mood
and sing a small silly song
I'll cook up some warm comfort food
setting things... at least not wrong
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt 128 over at Poetic Asides to write a spring poem.
Friday, March 25, 2011
car in shop
there is nothing occurring
just so-so - for there is time
the good today was short
and enough - more or less
tomorrow's service - will that
be enough - just a short time away
I can tell you are a mechanic
quick with wires and mesh
what instrument is your means
to fix the sensor - your department
while I censor the fix - and the waiting
words are my means - my morning
contrast something today
patiently - precise
I have waited for enough
the happier son sent
to the time department
while I write difficulty
later coming my posts
care and updates sold
a quick thanksgiving
that hours will be enough
coming for going
entirely waiting
finding the cause
for the waited day
somewhere an hour back circuit
not finding it in words either
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to a prompt to mix things up a bit using Poetry Toys at Big Tent Poetry. I ended up using the cut-up feature at Language is a Virus. I took one of my own blog entries, ran it through the Cut Up Machine, and then wrote the poem above. I'm not sure how successful the poem is, but it was fun to write using a technique I've never used before.
just so-so - for there is time
the good today was short
and enough - more or less
tomorrow's service - will that
be enough - just a short time away
I can tell you are a mechanic
quick with wires and mesh
what instrument is your means
to fix the sensor - your department
while I censor the fix - and the waiting
words are my means - my morning
contrast something today
patiently - precise
I have waited for enough
the happier son sent
to the time department
while I write difficulty
later coming my posts
care and updates sold
a quick thanksgiving
that hours will be enough
coming for going
entirely waiting
finding the cause
for the waited day
somewhere an hour back circuit
not finding it in words either
* * * * *
This poem was written in response to a prompt to mix things up a bit using Poetry Toys at Big Tent Poetry. I ended up using the cut-up feature at Language is a Virus. I took one of my own blog entries, ran it through the Cut Up Machine, and then wrote the poem above. I'm not sure how successful the poem is, but it was fun to write using a technique I've never used before.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"it's hard to pull my gaze away"
it's hard to pull my gaze away
from her face
those tears
she was a young woman
when Revolver came out
she's gone now
and yet still here
not a ghost
but a reminder
of pain caused
by another
absent now too
maybe that's why she's forlorn
because he left her
the sudden filling of her heart
with young love and then
the emptiness
I remember her face now
every time I see the moon
rising in the morning sky
* * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt #46 for a Street Art Poem, inspired by the artwork of Rone.
from her face
those tears
she was a young woman
when Revolver came out
she's gone now
and yet still here
not a ghost
but a reminder
of pain caused
by another
absent now too
maybe that's why she's forlorn
because he left her
the sudden filling of her heart
with young love and then
the emptiness
I remember her face now
every time I see the moon
rising in the morning sky
* * *
This poem was written in response to Prompt #46 for a Street Art Poem, inspired by the artwork of Rone.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Brotherhood
I fell in love with a girl
from the other village
I was out with my brothers
sowing their fallow fields with salt
She was out with her sisters
sinking arrows into our sheep
We hate them and they hate us
I was supposed to rise into love
with one of my own, to belong
But I loved the way the light
gleamed off the sweat on her skin
her skin that was the wrong color
I wanted to sneak off at night
to hold her in my embrace
and look at the stars and listen
to the stories of her elders
the false myths of their sky heroes
and the pagan gods they believe in
My righteous passions would fill me
and I would conquer her, invading,
my sex touching her sex
the two others meeting as they should
But I told my brother of my love
and now I scrawl these traitorous words
on my cell wall in my own blood
which my brothers will spill tomorrow at dawn.
* * *
This poem was written in response to the prompt at Poetic Asides to write a poem in response to another poem. I wrote this poem in response to "The People of the Other Village" by Thomas Lux.
from the other village
I was out with my brothers
sowing their fallow fields with salt
She was out with her sisters
sinking arrows into our sheep
We hate them and they hate us
I was supposed to rise into love
with one of my own, to belong
But I loved the way the light
gleamed off the sweat on her skin
her skin that was the wrong color
I wanted to sneak off at night
to hold her in my embrace
and look at the stars and listen
to the stories of her elders
the false myths of their sky heroes
and the pagan gods they believe in
My righteous passions would fill me
and I would conquer her, invading,
my sex touching her sex
the two others meeting as they should
But I told my brother of my love
and now I scrawl these traitorous words
on my cell wall in my own blood
which my brothers will spill tomorrow at dawn.
* * *
This poem was written in response to the prompt at Poetic Asides to write a poem in response to another poem. I wrote this poem in response to "The People of the Other Village" by Thomas Lux.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
not
why do we have to speak
of what is not? to talk
of a nation indivisible
when it has been divided
and many would argue
we are still separated
from each other, that we feel
incomplete, as if we weren't whole
but we are inseparable
because to divide by one
is to get what you started with
we are the solution
and the problem, but only
because we make it so
* * * * *
This poem is in response to the prompt "Inseparable" from Writer's Island.
of what is not? to talk
of a nation indivisible
when it has been divided
and many would argue
we are still separated
from each other, that we feel
incomplete, as if we weren't whole
but we are inseparable
because to divide by one
is to get what you started with
we are the solution
and the problem, but only
because we make it so
* * * * *
This poem is in response to the prompt "Inseparable" from Writer's Island.
National Poetry Month is approaching
So, here it is March 19, 2011, and I'm already anticipating writing a poem a day in April. I'm not the only one. I just did a Google search and located an article entitled "Thinking Ahead to National Poetry Month." And another one entitled "10 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month."
And I already found a post from Robert Brewer on his poetry blog about the upcoming Poem-A-Day Challenge.
I'll be looking around for other sites that will be posting prompts as well. I'll take any inspiration I can find. There are several prompts from last year at Read Write Poem that I didn't use. I didn't know about their site until April was nearly over.
I'll have spring break off from work this year during April, so that should make some of the writing easier. (You know how lazy we teachers are, only working nine months out of the year and getting every holiday off, not to mention a week for spring break and the two weeks we get off in December. I hope all my friends at Fox News won't be confused by my sarcasm.) I'll also be working on cleaning up my novel from last year's NaNoWriMo so that I can send off for my free proof copy.
We've already finished our sessions with California Poets in the Schools, but I'll probably teach some more poetry writing lessons during April. My students have been working hard to get ready for the standardized testing again this year, so I think writing poems will be a good way to de-stress. And I want to get back to reading a poem a day during the month, to get back to my Poetry 180 project for elementary school students.
Which led me to a blog I've not seen before, but which I'm glad I discovered: 100 Scope Notes.
And I already found a post from Robert Brewer on his poetry blog about the upcoming Poem-A-Day Challenge.
I'll be looking around for other sites that will be posting prompts as well. I'll take any inspiration I can find. There are several prompts from last year at Read Write Poem that I didn't use. I didn't know about their site until April was nearly over.
I'll have spring break off from work this year during April, so that should make some of the writing easier. (You know how lazy we teachers are, only working nine months out of the year and getting every holiday off, not to mention a week for spring break and the two weeks we get off in December. I hope all my friends at Fox News won't be confused by my sarcasm.) I'll also be working on cleaning up my novel from last year's NaNoWriMo so that I can send off for my free proof copy.
We've already finished our sessions with California Poets in the Schools, but I'll probably teach some more poetry writing lessons during April. My students have been working hard to get ready for the standardized testing again this year, so I think writing poems will be a good way to de-stress. And I want to get back to reading a poem a day during the month, to get back to my Poetry 180 project for elementary school students.
Which led me to a blog I've not seen before, but which I'm glad I discovered: 100 Scope Notes.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Thirty
Today is the last day of NaNoWriMo 2010. It's been a blast! I won again this year, which makes two years in a row.
I didn't write at all yesterday. I was just riding on a natural high after validating my word count and being over 50K. But today, I did write. I'm so close to the end of my novel, I didn't want to lose all my momentum.
I didn't write this morning, just after work. I wrote 1,968 words today. I validated my word count again at the NaNoWriMo website, and I'm ending this year officially at 53,117 words.
Now I just have to finish my novel. After that, I'll take a couple of days off just to read, then I'll start some basic proofreading to get it in shape to send off for my free proof copy from CreateSpace. I'm very excited about that. There's nothing like getting your novel in book form like that, except maybe actually finishing 50,000 words in 30 days. I'm very happy now, but I was downright giddy last summer when my proof copy of my first novel arrived in the mail. I'm ready for that feeling again, but right now, I'm just so happy to have won again.
Tomorrow, I'll probably be depressed that it's over for another year.
Word Count Widget:
My Month:
I didn't write at all yesterday. I was just riding on a natural high after validating my word count and being over 50K. But today, I did write. I'm so close to the end of my novel, I didn't want to lose all my momentum.
I didn't write this morning, just after work. I wrote 1,968 words today. I validated my word count again at the NaNoWriMo website, and I'm ending this year officially at 53,117 words.
Now I just have to finish my novel. After that, I'll take a couple of days off just to read, then I'll start some basic proofreading to get it in shape to send off for my free proof copy from CreateSpace. I'm very excited about that. There's nothing like getting your novel in book form like that, except maybe actually finishing 50,000 words in 30 days. I'm very happy now, but I was downright giddy last summer when my proof copy of my first novel arrived in the mail. I'm ready for that feeling again, but right now, I'm just so happy to have won again.
Tomorrow, I'll probably be depressed that it's over for another year.
Word Count Widget:
My Month:
Sunday, November 28, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty-Eight
I won! I crossed 50K today. I even validated my novel at the NaNoWriMo website and got an official word count of 51,149. And I'm not done. I'm definitely in the last chapter. I'm almost done. One crucial scene to write and then some epilogue-type stuff and then I'm done with this first draft.
I wrote more today than I've ever written in one day. I wrote 4,240 words today.
And I cut out some 600 words I wrote the other day that I had added to my word count. I was in such a foul mood last Tuesday that I couldn't write after work. I started writing about what a bad mood I was in and why. I kept that as part of my novel and my word count, even though I had no intention of keeping it in the novel. I cut those words out today, and I feel much better.
I hope to finish tomorrow, and then I'll take a break for a few days. Then, I'll start doing some clean-up, just fixing typos and obvious spelling and grammar errors. I might do some sorting into chapters and the like, maybe moving some scenes around. Then I want to send my novel off to CreateSpace for my free proof copy. I procrastinated last year and didn't make the deadline for my free proof copy, but I'm going to get one this year.
I wrote more today than I've ever written in one day. I wrote 4,240 words today.
And I cut out some 600 words I wrote the other day that I had added to my word count. I was in such a foul mood last Tuesday that I couldn't write after work. I started writing about what a bad mood I was in and why. I kept that as part of my novel and my word count, even though I had no intention of keeping it in the novel. I cut those words out today, and I feel much better.
I hope to finish tomorrow, and then I'll take a break for a few days. Then, I'll start doing some clean-up, just fixing typos and obvious spelling and grammar errors. I might do some sorting into chapters and the like, maybe moving some scenes around. Then I want to send my novel off to CreateSpace for my free proof copy. I procrastinated last year and didn't make the deadline for my free proof copy, but I'm going to get one this year.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
NaNoWriMo Update
Day Twenty-Five
That would have been Thanksgiving. I only wrote 512 words on Thursday.
We finished packing up food for Thanksgiving and clothes for our stay in Santa Rosa in the morning, then drove to Santa Rosa. It was a pleasant drive. It was a beautiful, clear day, hardly a cloud in the sky. And no fog anywhere near the Golden Gate Bridge. Traffic was also light, being a holiday and all, so the drive was more pleasant than normal. Getting through San Francisco and past Petaluma can be tiring.
Anyway, had a lovely Thanksgiving meal. And then I retired to my grandmother's bedroom to write. I only managed the aforementioned 512 words. Then I took a short nap. We ended up watching the Galapagos documentary that my uncle brought over. The visuals in that are spectacular. I fell asleep during the third episode.
Day Twenty-Six
Black Friday. For some reason, we decided we would actually venture out on the most dangerous shopping day of the year. We went to REI, because my wife wants a new jacket for Christmas. And, of course, we went to Toys R Us, which is right next door. We didn't have much luck. REI didn't have my wife's sizes in the two jackets she was interested in, and we didn't find any good deals at Toys R Us for the toys our boys want for Christmas.
We also drove over to Home Depot, trying to find 99 cent poinsettias. They were sold out by the time we got there.
But I did write. I wrote in the morning, which I've done most days this month quite successfully. Then another session in the afternoon, and a final one in the evening. I wrote a total of 1,861 words, for a total of 44,831.
Day Twenty-Seven
Our last day in Santa Rosa. We decided we'd drive home today after having lunch. One, we just didn't want to stay all day. Two, I don't like driving home when it gets dark, and double so when it's raining or has been raining.
Lucky for us, the rain let up as the morning got closer to noon. Traffic wasn't bad, either. It was good to get home. It's always good to get away to Santa Rosa to visit with my grandmother, but it's always good to get back home again.
I wrote in three sessions again today, one early in the morning right after breakfast, one a little later in the morning, and then one this afternoon after we got home. I wrote 2,075 words today, for a total of 46,906.
I just have 3,094 words to go. I might finish tomorrow. If not, I'll finish on Monday for sure. Tuesday's writing, then, will just be icing on the cake.
If you look at my calendar wordcount widget, it looks like I didn't write at all on Thursday and Friday. I did write both days, though I certainly didn't make the 1,667 word count goal for Thursday. They show up as red because I did not log on to the NaNoWriMo website to update my word count. My grandmother does not have internet access, and I was not going to go out somewhere with WiFi to update my word count with my laptop. How do I know how many words I wrote? I used a different file on my Neo for each day, so I could track each day's word count, and then my total in Word once I transferred my writing over to my laptop from my Neo. Wait! There's a word for that. Yes, I'm a little anal-retentive.
That would have been Thanksgiving. I only wrote 512 words on Thursday.
We finished packing up food for Thanksgiving and clothes for our stay in Santa Rosa in the morning, then drove to Santa Rosa. It was a pleasant drive. It was a beautiful, clear day, hardly a cloud in the sky. And no fog anywhere near the Golden Gate Bridge. Traffic was also light, being a holiday and all, so the drive was more pleasant than normal. Getting through San Francisco and past Petaluma can be tiring.
Anyway, had a lovely Thanksgiving meal. And then I retired to my grandmother's bedroom to write. I only managed the aforementioned 512 words. Then I took a short nap. We ended up watching the Galapagos documentary that my uncle brought over. The visuals in that are spectacular. I fell asleep during the third episode.
Day Twenty-Six
Black Friday. For some reason, we decided we would actually venture out on the most dangerous shopping day of the year. We went to REI, because my wife wants a new jacket for Christmas. And, of course, we went to Toys R Us, which is right next door. We didn't have much luck. REI didn't have my wife's sizes in the two jackets she was interested in, and we didn't find any good deals at Toys R Us for the toys our boys want for Christmas.
We also drove over to Home Depot, trying to find 99 cent poinsettias. They were sold out by the time we got there.
But I did write. I wrote in the morning, which I've done most days this month quite successfully. Then another session in the afternoon, and a final one in the evening. I wrote a total of 1,861 words, for a total of 44,831.
Day Twenty-Seven
Our last day in Santa Rosa. We decided we'd drive home today after having lunch. One, we just didn't want to stay all day. Two, I don't like driving home when it gets dark, and double so when it's raining or has been raining.
Lucky for us, the rain let up as the morning got closer to noon. Traffic wasn't bad, either. It was good to get home. It's always good to get away to Santa Rosa to visit with my grandmother, but it's always good to get back home again.
I wrote in three sessions again today, one early in the morning right after breakfast, one a little later in the morning, and then one this afternoon after we got home. I wrote 2,075 words today, for a total of 46,906.
I just have 3,094 words to go. I might finish tomorrow. If not, I'll finish on Monday for sure. Tuesday's writing, then, will just be icing on the cake.
If you look at my calendar wordcount widget, it looks like I didn't write at all on Thursday and Friday. I did write both days, though I certainly didn't make the 1,667 word count goal for Thursday. They show up as red because I did not log on to the NaNoWriMo website to update my word count. My grandmother does not have internet access, and I was not going to go out somewhere with WiFi to update my word count with my laptop. How do I know how many words I wrote? I used a different file on my Neo for each day, so I could track each day's word count, and then my total in Word once I transferred my writing over to my laptop from my Neo. Wait! There's a word for that. Yes, I'm a little anal-retentive.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty-Four
Today was not such a good day, either.
We took our car in to the shop last Saturday. Two hours later, they told us there was nothing wrong with it. The lights coming on in our instrument panel were caused by a short in a sensor. They would order the sensor for us in a couple of days. Sure enough, they called on Tuesday, and I called back and made an appointment for this morning to get it taken care of.
I thought it would be quick, so my eldest son and I just waited in their waiting room. An hour and a half later, the service rep tells us the car is ready. Then he seemed to have some difficulty finding it. Then I see him track down a mechanic, and they've got the hood open. I suspected then that things were not going to go well.
Sure enough, the new sensor worked fine, but sent back the same error message. The short was occurring somewhere else, in some mesh of wires that they want to replace. That, too, has to be ordered. Which means I have to come back again. And this time, they need the car for six hours.
Right now, I hate Honda. I hate our CR-V. I hate the dealership that sold us the car. And I hate everyone in their service department. What I have been given lately, is not service. Or, to be more precise, it has been service, but it's been lousy service.
Apparently, my time is not valuable. It took them two hours to tell me it was a short in a sensor. Nothing mechanical, nothing complicated. A simple short in a circuit somewhere. Then, it took them an hour and a half, while my son was not waiting so patiently, to install that sensor only to tell me that it was not the sensor, but something else entirely. And you get to come back here again and essentially give us your car for a whole day.
I did write today. I wrote 1,971 words. I'm much happier with what I wrote today, in contrast to yesterday. My total word count now is 42,458. I only have to write 7,542 more words to reach 50K.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I'm driving up to Santa Rosa tomorrow to my grandmother's. Then I'm cooking. I probably won't write tomorrow, but I'll try to sneak in about 500 words or so if I can manage it.
I will also be away from the internet, so no updates of my word count to the NaNoWriMo website and no posts here for a couple of days.
We took our car in to the shop last Saturday. Two hours later, they told us there was nothing wrong with it. The lights coming on in our instrument panel were caused by a short in a sensor. They would order the sensor for us in a couple of days. Sure enough, they called on Tuesday, and I called back and made an appointment for this morning to get it taken care of.
I thought it would be quick, so my eldest son and I just waited in their waiting room. An hour and a half later, the service rep tells us the car is ready. Then he seemed to have some difficulty finding it. Then I see him track down a mechanic, and they've got the hood open. I suspected then that things were not going to go well.
Sure enough, the new sensor worked fine, but sent back the same error message. The short was occurring somewhere else, in some mesh of wires that they want to replace. That, too, has to be ordered. Which means I have to come back again. And this time, they need the car for six hours.
Right now, I hate Honda. I hate our CR-V. I hate the dealership that sold us the car. And I hate everyone in their service department. What I have been given lately, is not service. Or, to be more precise, it has been service, but it's been lousy service.
Apparently, my time is not valuable. It took them two hours to tell me it was a short in a sensor. Nothing mechanical, nothing complicated. A simple short in a circuit somewhere. Then, it took them an hour and a half, while my son was not waiting so patiently, to install that sensor only to tell me that it was not the sensor, but something else entirely. And you get to come back here again and essentially give us your car for a whole day.
I did write today. I wrote 1,971 words. I'm much happier with what I wrote today, in contrast to yesterday. My total word count now is 42,458. I only have to write 7,542 more words to reach 50K.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I'm driving up to Santa Rosa tomorrow to my grandmother's. Then I'm cooking. I probably won't write tomorrow, but I'll try to sneak in about 500 words or so if I can manage it.
I will also be away from the internet, so no updates of my word count to the NaNoWriMo website and no posts here for a couple of days.
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty-Three
Apparently, I wrote yesterday. It was a bad day.
I think I wrote in the morning, but I can't remember right now, nor do I want to put the effort into trying to remember. I must have. I usually do.
I had a bad day at work. I was able to put off what was bothering me for quite a while, but it snuck up on me when I was ready to write and I was just not in the mood. I'm sure everything I wrote yesterday after work is crap. If it is, which it almost certainly must be, it would be appropriate for the crappy mood I was in.
People can be so mean.
Anyway, I did manage to keep track of how many words I wrote. I cranked out 1,711 words yesterday, putting me at 40,487 words.
I treated myself to the movies last night. After my wife got home, I went to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One. I was in such a foul mood, that I thought I might not enjoy the movie, but I was wrong. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I certainly deserved a break.
I think I wrote in the morning, but I can't remember right now, nor do I want to put the effort into trying to remember. I must have. I usually do.
I had a bad day at work. I was able to put off what was bothering me for quite a while, but it snuck up on me when I was ready to write and I was just not in the mood. I'm sure everything I wrote yesterday after work is crap. If it is, which it almost certainly must be, it would be appropriate for the crappy mood I was in.
People can be so mean.
Anyway, I did manage to keep track of how many words I wrote. I cranked out 1,711 words yesterday, putting me at 40,487 words.
I treated myself to the movies last night. After my wife got home, I went to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One. I was in such a foul mood, that I thought I might not enjoy the movie, but I was wrong. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I certainly deserved a break.
Monday, November 22, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty-Two
I didn't write this morning. I had to get some work done, checking in some papers, so I could get them back to students today and review them with my class. I put off doing any work all weekend, so I had to get it done this morning.
I planned on leaving work as soon as I could, so I could get home and write. My back was killing me. My wife thinks it's from all the writing. A couple of ibuprofen and something to eat - I skipped lunch - and I felt much better.
I got my writing playlist going on iTunes on my laptop, and grabbed my Neo and started writing. I wrote like a madman. I consistently find that I write more when I use my Neo. I think it's the small display. I'm not distracted by text that I've already written. I don't keep going back and looking at what I've written. Nor am I distracted by the red and green lines of the spell- and grammar-check. I've made lots more typos this year than I did last year, but who cares? That's what December is for.
Anyway, I wrote exactly 1,234 words in about 45 minutes. I picked up my younger son and then my wife. We had dinner, and then I wrote some more, for a total of 1,901 words for today. I'm now at 38,776. I checked the Excel spreadsheet that I'm using to track my word count and saw that I've passed the 75% mark.
I feel like I'm on schedule. My novel has gone in directions I didn't initially plan, but I'm entering the territory of act three, so I'm getting near the end.
I planned on leaving work as soon as I could, so I could get home and write. My back was killing me. My wife thinks it's from all the writing. A couple of ibuprofen and something to eat - I skipped lunch - and I felt much better.
I got my writing playlist going on iTunes on my laptop, and grabbed my Neo and started writing. I wrote like a madman. I consistently find that I write more when I use my Neo. I think it's the small display. I'm not distracted by text that I've already written. I don't keep going back and looking at what I've written. Nor am I distracted by the red and green lines of the spell- and grammar-check. I've made lots more typos this year than I did last year, but who cares? That's what December is for.
Anyway, I wrote exactly 1,234 words in about 45 minutes. I picked up my younger son and then my wife. We had dinner, and then I wrote some more, for a total of 1,901 words for today. I'm now at 38,776. I checked the Excel spreadsheet that I'm using to track my word count and saw that I've passed the 75% mark.
I feel like I'm on schedule. My novel has gone in directions I didn't initially plan, but I'm entering the territory of act three, so I'm getting near the end.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty-One
A much more relaxing day today. I wrote some this morning after breakfast. Then I took a shower later in the morning, and wrote some more then. So far today, I've written 1,337 words. Only 330 to go!
Now, it's time to take a break and have some lunch. I'm hoping to write more this afternoon and evening. I want to get further ahead on my word count with Thanksgiving coming up.
My wife had to go in to work today. She had to go to CostCo with her boss and buy stuff for their upcoming Thanksgiving shindig. When she got home, our youngest hounded us until we agreed to take him to the park so he could ride his bicycle. There was a lull in the rain showers, so we agreed.
I took my Neo with me and wrote a little bit. I didn't quite finish my 330 words, but I was close. I did write some more after dinner, with a total of 1,835 words for the day, putting me at 36,875.
Now, it's time to take a break and have some lunch. I'm hoping to write more this afternoon and evening. I want to get further ahead on my word count with Thanksgiving coming up.
My wife had to go in to work today. She had to go to CostCo with her boss and buy stuff for their upcoming Thanksgiving shindig. When she got home, our youngest hounded us until we agreed to take him to the park so he could ride his bicycle. There was a lull in the rain showers, so we agreed.
I took my Neo with me and wrote a little bit. I didn't quite finish my 330 words, but I was close. I did write some more after dinner, with a total of 1,835 words for the day, putting me at 36,875.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Twenty
Had to take the car to the shop in this morning. I've had warning lights coming on in my instrument panel. After two hours, we found out it was just a short in the sensor. There's nothing physically wrong with the car, but they don't have the sensor in stock. They have to order it and I have to bring the car back in to have it replaced. With any luck, it will go very quickly.
Stopped on the way home, and got lots of shopping for Thanksgiving done. When we got home, it was nearing 11 a.m. I really wanted to go to my local write-in, but I was just so tired. I was really overstimulated after the shopping. And the restaurant where we had breakfast, while the car was being looked at, was too loud for me. So, I took a nap.
After my nap, I wrote for about an hour or so before we had to take the boys to their swim class. Then we went out to dinner as we usually do. When we got home, I watched a little SpongeBob with the boys, and then we sent them to bed. My better half and I watched a couple episodes of Dexter. We recently started watching the first season on NetFlix. As I'm heavily into writer mode now, I find I think about things differently. One, I've noticed how well-written Dexter is, and two, I just find myself thinking about things from a writer's perspective, noticing the various sub-plots, character interactions, the use of irony, etc.
Then I retired to the sunroom for my second writing session of the day. I wrote 2,028 words today, for a total of 35,040, which puts me at 70% of 50K.
Stopped on the way home, and got lots of shopping for Thanksgiving done. When we got home, it was nearing 11 a.m. I really wanted to go to my local write-in, but I was just so tired. I was really overstimulated after the shopping. And the restaurant where we had breakfast, while the car was being looked at, was too loud for me. So, I took a nap.
After my nap, I wrote for about an hour or so before we had to take the boys to their swim class. Then we went out to dinner as we usually do. When we got home, I watched a little SpongeBob with the boys, and then we sent them to bed. My better half and I watched a couple episodes of Dexter. We recently started watching the first season on NetFlix. As I'm heavily into writer mode now, I find I think about things differently. One, I've noticed how well-written Dexter is, and two, I just find myself thinking about things from a writer's perspective, noticing the various sub-plots, character interactions, the use of irony, etc.
Then I retired to the sunroom for my second writing session of the day. I wrote 2,028 words today, for a total of 35,040, which puts me at 70% of 50K.
Friday, November 19, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Nineteen
I wrote again this morning. I feel better already, getting back on track with a regular morning writing session. My morale about my writing hasn't been the best the last couple of days, but I feel much better this morning. I wrote 621 words on my Neo. Again, I'm finding that I write more and more quickly when I write on my Neo as opposed to my laptop.
Have to leave work early today for a parent-teacher conference with my youngest son's teacher today. Then, I plan on getting some more writing done, about another thousand words to meet today's wordcount goal. I'd like to have some time this evening to watch a movie and relax. I think I need to reward myself a little bit for the good job I've done so far this month, and for reaching that three-fifths benchmark. I wouldn't say the end's in sight, but I feel like I'm on a downward slope now.
I ended up writing 1,715 words today, putting me at a total of 33,012. It felt good to be back on track again. I stumbled there for a day or two, but now I'm back in my groove again.
Have to leave work early today for a parent-teacher conference with my youngest son's teacher today. Then, I plan on getting some more writing done, about another thousand words to meet today's wordcount goal. I'd like to have some time this evening to watch a movie and relax. I think I need to reward myself a little bit for the good job I've done so far this month, and for reaching that three-fifths benchmark. I wouldn't say the end's in sight, but I feel like I'm on a downward slope now.
I ended up writing 1,715 words today, putting me at a total of 33,012. It felt good to be back on track again. I stumbled there for a day or two, but now I'm back in my groove again.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
NaNoWriMo Day Eighteen
I did write some more this morning, and then again this evening. Today was one of my later writing sessions. I took my sons to Family Math Night at my school. An exhausting, but fun event where I get to wear two hats: teacher and father. Not so easily done, but I pulled it off tonight.
Arrived back home around 8:40 p.m., got the boys into bed, and myself writing. I ended up writing a total of 1,115 words today. I crossed the 31K mark today, and despite yesterday's and today's poor writing performance, I'm still nearly a whole day ahead of schedule. I ended the day at 31,297 words.
Arrived back home around 8:40 p.m., got the boys into bed, and myself writing. I ended up writing a total of 1,115 words today. I crossed the 31K mark today, and despite yesterday's and today's poor writing performance, I'm still nearly a whole day ahead of schedule. I ended the day at 31,297 words.
NaNoWriMo Day Seventeen
Not my best day. Actually my worst so far this month.
One, if you look over at my monthly widget, it looks like I didn't write anything. That red square is taunting me. That's just because I didn't post any wordcount updates on the NaNoWriMo website. Silly of me, really.
Two, I did write yesterday, but it was a measly 586 words. I only wrote in the morning. I was so tired last night that I didn't have my usual post-work, evening writing session. I thought that I might just rest my eyes, because I was so tired, and then write. Well, resting my eyes turned into going to sleep for the night.
Official word count so far: 30,182. I should be happy crossing that 30K mark, but I'm not. It's soiled by my total lack of writing yesterday.
One, if you look over at my monthly widget, it looks like I didn't write anything. That red square is taunting me. That's just because I didn't post any wordcount updates on the NaNoWriMo website. Silly of me, really.
Two, I did write yesterday, but it was a measly 586 words. I only wrote in the morning. I was so tired last night that I didn't have my usual post-work, evening writing session. I thought that I might just rest my eyes, because I was so tired, and then write. Well, resting my eyes turned into going to sleep for the night.
Official word count so far: 30,182. I should be happy crossing that 30K mark, but I'm not. It's soiled by my total lack of writing yesterday.
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