Monday, December 24, 2007

Fall Into Reading Wrap-up Post

Yeah, it's a couple days late. But it's here. Be happy.

I got almost all my books read. I was so close. But not quite. *sighs* Five of the books on my list didn't get read. Anna Karenina, Around the World in Eighty Day, Anne of Green Gables, Arrowsmith, and Bringer of Storms.

I admit, the first four I didn't really want to read. I will be reading them at some point nonetheless. They had to be returned to the library and I forgot to check them out again. Genuinely, I did forget. And if you know my memory, you might actually believe that.

The last book I didn't read, Bringer of Storms, I still intend on getting to before the new year. *snorts quietly* Guess we'll see, ya?

Getting all those books read was a relief. Of course, I now have a new stack, but it's slightly smaller and more manageable. I can get it done. If I managed this fall, I can certainly do it this winter. Boo-yah. *smiles*

Well, I have to go. Grandparents and the mysterious Matthias are here, and soon... the Relatives! *gasps*

Happy Christmas all!

(You better be happy with this Nathan!)

Shine~Ley

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Monday, December 03, 2007

OBD

I am currently obsessed and bored out of my mind. I'm anxious to see which will win the next round. Undoubtedly, it will be a tie.

I have been playing spider solitaire for the last hour (and a half?) and if that's not a sign of absolute boredom, then, dang!, I don't know what is. I am also compulsively checking various forums and sites and turning imaginings to absolute mush from overuse. Obsession 101.

I've officially gone insane. (Again.)

Ah, yes. Also, I've been listening to This Is Halloween (the Marilyn Manson version), you know off of The Nightmare Before Christmas?, almost constantly. Something about that song just makes me want to giggle erratically. Hey, it's a distraction.

I should go write. It's a portion of my obsession, so I should be happy, but it interests me little. Really, I should go read, but that has nothing to do with it whatsoever and so interests me none at all. I'm never going to catch up on history. *sighs*

The joys and horrors of my 'little obsessions'. Why do I do this to myself? Oh wait, I remember. I don't. It just happens. Where are my books when I need them?....

....Life's no fun without a good scare....

Well, now that I've bored you all out of your minds, I'm off to moan and dream...
Shine~Ley

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Saturday, December 01, 2007

Good-bye November, Helloooo December!

It's that time of year again. Bitterly cold weather, yet no snow. Cold feet, cold hands, and we're still not sure about the hearts thing. The panicking over the Christmas shopping yet to be done is starting to mount. And the final NaNo wordcounts have been posted, the documents closed and saved (or deleted) for posterity.

Ah, yes, it December, the most miserable *coughs*, I mean, wonderful time of the year.

Why am I up at the wee hours of the morning, when all sane people are in bed, you ask? Maybe you missed the portion when I mentioned NaNo, or maybe you just don't understand the term, but on this night, all across the globe, there are thousands of people just like me, some already finished and others frantically trying to.

Yes, it is the First of December and the grand and awe-inspiring National Novel Writing Month is finally over.

I, like the rest of the insane members of this crazy world of noveling, stayed up late typing as fast as my chilled and sore fingers could. Luckily I had a Buddy to keep me company into the wee hours of this chilly first day of December, to cheer and amuse, to encourage and rejoice with, our own dear Nathaniel, who hit an official wordcount of 4,505, quadrupaling his word count in only a few hours.

Though neither of us accomplished the distinguished (although, admittedly, demented) goal of 50,000 words of pure reading pleasure (read: absolute, but entertaining, crap), we accomplished our own personal goals with great zeal and verve. My own goal was to pass up my last year's NaNo count, which I achieved in excess of almost 4,000 words, bringing my total to 12,097, as an official, validated, and locked count.

Another fall almost crumbled and blown away, another winter creeping up in its silent ice-slippers. Seasons change, word counts peak and bed times come.

We have succeeded in changing our own little worlds this quiet night. November died, but novels, writers, were born. And a young December presses on, determined to give birth to a bitter, joyous winter.

And so, this hyped and slightly disturbed writer signs off for the night, wishing only to leave her readers enlightened and hopeful for the new month, coming season, and future NaNo.

Here's to future WriMo's and NaNo winners!
Congratulations to all the 2007 winners!
Special congratulations go to the especially deserving Circle Wrimo, history (fondly called hist) aka, haironastick, who outwrote everybody with an insane drive worthy of a true WriMo. You have inspired us all.

And to close, I finish with a quote I deem fitting, from our own dear Chris Baty. "Your optimism and plucky refusal to adhere to reality inspires us all."

Good night, cruel world! Save some cake for me!

Shine~Ley

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