Friday, August 31, 2007

Labor Day Weekend... and School!

I'm going away! I tell you what, I've never experienced this before, but it was actually fun to pack. I feel like a packing guru. I completely stuffed (not over-stuffed, mind) my duffel in, like, 5 minutes.

We're going to Aunt Cindy and Uncle Randy's house (my dad's brother) for a long weekend with the family. There's going to be 12 of us. All in one house. And a baby. Oh my gosh, am I insane?! Well, it'll be fun anyway. As long as I can find a corner to curl up in somewhere.

Mom and I went to the library today. I got out a couple of books for my nano novel. Woo! I am way too excited about this. I think it's bad for my health. Eh, I'll get over it.

Gotta get off and call my driving instructor. Oh, and I won't be posting my sentence, but I have notebooks with me!

Shine~Ley

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SaD

From 'Jacey and Cottar'

They came away bloody.

Mwahaha!

Oh ...

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Thursday, August 30, 2007

Research!

I found out that I have the master schedules for Alive '04 and '05. That means I have all the schedules from '04-'07. Yay! I also know that they started in 1988 (meaning this year was their 20th, congrats!) which is important.

I wrote an entire page today (and it's only 1400) and even finished a scene. I can start typing!

It seems the further I go in a story, the more research pops up. Even if I've been really good and done all my research up to that point. It just never stops. *sighs* I guess I'm getting some practice in even before my NaNo novel. (Thank God, I'm not doing Marked. It almost gives me a panic attack just thinking about the research on that one!)

I'll have to think up a title for this novel too... Hmm... Spartans, exposed babies, deformed children, disappearing goats, rampaging Persians (not to mention Greeks), escaped slaves....

Hey, this is sounding more interesting than it really is. So, that's how marketing works. Right.....

Oh well, I still need a title. Any ideas?

Dying of impatience for October and (yeah, buddy!) November,
Ley

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SaD

From 'Samara'

"I'll be here all week."

(Hey I'm trying to pick sentences that don't give anything away. Or that make you wonder all the more...)

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

SaD

From 'Samara' (I did it!)

A girl in the front row with a Polaris shirt caught her eye.

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SaD (8-28-07)

I didn't write anything. Not a darn word. Oops.

No seriously, I do feel bad about it. I had a few things I wanted to do before bed and that was right there with the rest of it. I did it all, too. Except the writing. Completely forgot. *grimaces*

I will write something tonight though. No guarantee it will be posted tonight. But it will be written. (God help me remember this time...)

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Well...

See, I was going to post something here today. I know I was. I just can't remember what. *sighs* The mind... Such a mysterious thing. Never works when you want it to.

I'm doing some quick research for the new story I've started. I've had it in mind for quite awhile, even had a notebook specifically set aside for it. Today just seemed to be the day to start it. Now if only I know that one guy's name....

Anyway, it's some really easy research about Alive Festival (see, now I have to go *grins*). When it started for one thing. It would be really nice if I could find some old master schedules too.... (Hey, if you have some, drop me a line!)

NaNo starts in 2 months! I'm ecstatic! (If you see me you'll know me. I'm the one grinning my fool head off.) Someone started a NaNoWriMo 2007 thread over at Dekker forums and got me all wound up again. My goal is to get at least 25k and to never let my word count be the same two days in a row. Everybody has permission to nag me.

I'm extremely proud of myself for figuring out word count widgit. Without major issues or screaming fits. *smiles* Now you can see my word count during November and I won't be obliged to post a sentence here. Hehe. As you may tell, my word count for 2006 was pathetic. But this year, I am all out!

Challenge me! You'll probably win, but I would love to try. I'm dreamer freak over at Nano, user id 123884.

Shine (and write!)
~Ley

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SaD

From 'Samara' (Yes, I've started a new story. I'm out of my mind!!)

"...So it's my pleasure to introduce Samara _____."

First sentence even, aren't you special. :)

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Sunday, August 26, 2007

SaD

From 'Jacey and Cottar'

"I can't write."

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Saturday, August 25, 2007

SaD

From 'Jacey and Cottar'

Jacey stopped breathing.

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SaD (8-24-07)

I did write yesterday! Yay, me! And Crystal *sticks out tongue at Crystal* demanded that I had to write at least three sentences yesterday as penance for my failure the day before. So, as my proof.

From 'Jacey and Cottar'

She stared unblinking a moment before answering. "Jacey Elliot." She hesitated.

:p

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Friday, August 24, 2007

Sentence a Day (8-23-07)

I'm sorry! I didn't write a sentence yesterday (let alone post one...). I was going to write last night before bed and post it this morning since my computer upstairs is down (and in answer to Nathan's question, it's quite simply spread across the room *shrugs*), but... I started working on something else.

Character bios. Only basic ones, not in detail about stories. Just names, nicknames, what they look like, where they were born, died, who they married, children, etc......

It still needs a lot of work. So, I'm working on it today too. Hey, if I don't get any sentences written I can always post a bio.

Last night (and I am so proud of myself) I also decided what story I'm doing for NaNoWriMo! Yeah! Have I ever told you about Lysander?... Yeah, I didn't think so. Lysander is a Greek, a Spartan actually, who was exposed at birth, but survived. This one is going to take a lot of research, partially the reason I chose it (or God chose it for me). I've been really needing to research a lot of my stories (hitting those points when I realize I don't know what in the world I'm talking about), so hopefully this will jump-start me. I have an advantage with this story, because I did a very thorough Greek history course during the '05-'06 school year. Loved it and birthed a story. This will give me a lot of practice. So come my next visit to the library, I'm in!

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Sentence a Day

She started to edge closer to Cottar and froze.

*sighs* I really miss my computer upstairs....

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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Sentence a Day

At the opposite end of the street, they stopped momentarily in front of a tiny building that leaned dangerously to the left.

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Monday, August 20, 2007

Tornado Warning

Since Nathan is insisting (impatient, are we?), I'm finally posting again on my blog.

Today was my fourth day of drivers' ed. Each session is a interminable four hours and typically boring. Graphically violent videos with viewer discretion warning add some entertainment occasionly. *grins vampirically* We focused mostly on drunk driving today. Did you know that once your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) hit .6, you die? I mean, dead. No exceptions. No matter what kind of tolerance you've built to alcohol. .6, it's over. Dang, that's something interesting, anyway.

A couple hours into our class and part-way through yet another graphic video about drunk driving, a group of teens pushes open the door, sees us and quickly closes it again. Mr. Wagner gives the door a comical look, but when they're still there a minute later, goes to check it out. One of the girls explained that there was a tornado warning and they had been told to come down here. Did I mention that class is held in the tornado shelter?

So they all sit in a corner and we continue watching the movie (officially, we never stopped). Meanwhile, I'm wondering if the little girl in their group, already looking a little traumatized, should be seeing charred corpses.

Soon, two other groups join us, along with some adults who are talking to Mr. Wagner. It's kind of difficult to focus on the movie. It seriously wasn't that interesting to begin with anyway.

Fortunately, the movie was a long one and we didn't have to try to discuss insurance with all of those poor people in there.

Between charred corpses, .6 BAC and tornado warnings, my day didn't turn out so bad after all. We even went over all the test questions. I do believe I'll make it. The test is abominably easy. And tomorrow. I might want to work on those Smith System principles....

Until tomorrow and another fun day of drivers' ed,
Shine~Ley

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Sentence a Day

On my missions trip this summer, I finally made a commitment that I should have made a long time ago. Off and on I had considered trying to write at least one sentence every day, but never took myself seriously enough to actually do it. :) In Poland I finally said it and meant it... for realz. I haven't been doing so well as of yet, I'll admit it. But I'm hoping and praying that this will keep me commited. So if I don't post my sentence for the day, feel free to rag on me.

Here's for today's, from a story currently untitled and therefore referred to by the character names: Jacey Elliot and Lachlann Cottar.

He gave Jacey a quick study and turned to Cottar.

Please realize that these are first drafts and so rather 'rough'. Occasionly, if I only edit on a given day (unlikely), I may post a sentence I rewrote (but more likely one I added, hey, editing isn't entirely about taking things out).

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Saturday, August 04, 2007

Almost home...

I can't believe it! In only two more days I leave! I love it here, but I am so excited to be going home.
 
Today was the last day of ministry and my first time telling my testimony. I was so nervous, but I actually did a good job of it. It was really weird getting up there and telling people about my life, but it was amazing too. I wasn't much in the mood to talk afterwards though. Poor Megan. I'm glad it's over though. I am so worn out. Everything aches!
 
Tonight will be relaxing anyway. Well sorta. JR is giving a full-length concert. Woohoo! I've seen a few of their songs and it's amazing. They are so good. Although they should be with all the training they get. I may sit through the concert though. :)
 
People from the JR team start leaving tomorrow morning. I'm so sad. I'm going to miss these people so much. Especially Solveig and Zsuzsanna. Monday is going to be a very long day. Literally for one. But also just with all the goodbyes. I've been with these people for 4 weeks. I'm going to miss them so much. But I can't wait to go home. And read. *grins* And write!!
 
Sunday is debriefing and packing for the GE people. I'm not sure what all that involves, but as long as it's not physical, I am beyond happy. There's also been the rumor that wake-up time monday is 0400. I praying it's not.
 
I don't really know what to say. I know you back home probably have a ton of questions, but you'll have to wait just a little longer. I love you all so much.
 
Hey, dad. Mee-meep!
 
Love, Ashley
(Shine~Ley)
 
P.S. I'm sending this to my blog too, Tasha. That's why the Ley. I've gone by that on a couple of different forums. Long story how it got to that. *smiles*

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