King Lear, cool hair and PT.
2004-10-24 7:20 p.m.
On Friday I took my buddy Francesca to see King Lear at Portland Center Stage. It was a modern version which aren't usually my favorites but this one kind of grew on me. In fact, it had a lot of time to grow on me, I forgot how long a play King Lear is, three and a half hours! It didn't feel that long, the acting was good and the scenery and props were rather interesting. Plus Cordelia had really cool blonde, red and brown hair.
I did lots of PT this weekend. My back is killing me. I'm taking some medication and icing my back. I'm looking forward to an early night. Zzzzz.
50,000 words in one month. Advice for the already insane.
2004-10-22 10:57 a.m.
Frencesca wrote up some fabulous advice on doing NaNoWriMo - writing a novel in a month. It took me three years before I finally completed a novel in a month. I was trying to think of what I did last year that was different, so here's my advice.
Make sure that you have a basic outline and an idea of where the story is going. Realize that this is a flexible and can/will change at any time.
Let your characters lead you. Last year my main character, Marae Venger, was suppose to have a particular love interest but every time I put them in a room together they fought. She ended up falling for someone else who suddenly became a bigger character in the book. I also had a character that kept showing up, Inferno Man. He drove me nuts until I finally killed him off only to find him coming back in the last chapter as a vampire. Your characters will misbehave. Don't fight them. They know what's best.
Francesca says don't edit, but I found it helpful to reread what I wrote the day before and put in description. When I write fast, it's all action and dialog, Taking time to go back and add color, scent and touch, will make your writing stronger. It will also help you get back in the groove and pad the all important word count.
When all else fails add a new character, throw in a flashback, kill someone off, put in a bar fight scene or add in another story line.
Most importantly write write write write, every spare second you have. Enjoy it. Tell yourself that you're a novelist. Tell everyone that you're a novelist.
3 People have tried to sell me ViagraWant it all back.
2004-10-21 11:00 a.m.
Here's a summary of my physical therapy visit this morning:
* I have absolutely no muscle mass left.
* I sleep all wrong.
* I have craptastic posture
* All the ligaments in my body are wacky.
* I have to attend a Body Mechanics Class
* GOOD NEWS - I was encouraged to wear high heels.
The PT was a little worried about how hyperextensive my knees, elbows, fingers and wrists are. Most people throughout my life have been freaked out by this such as: my parents, ballet teachers, gymnastic instructors, friends, etc. The only people that seem to really really enjoy my circus freak uber-flexibility are yoga instructors and well, boyfriends. But that's a whole other story.
The good news is that I can strap on my heels and strut around town knowing that I'm actually doing something good for my knees and back. Not my CFMPs, mind you, but I can easily throw on another 2-3 inches and call it therapeutic. Memo to self: go shoe shopping.
The endurance testing was completely disheartening. I am no longer the feisty girl that can do a day long training. I can barely hold a horse stance for 30 seconds. I want my old body back.
1 People have tried to sell me ViagraWhere the heck is everyone?
2004-10-20 9:51 a.m.
Oh man, I got stuck on the bridge again this morning. I think if I�m running just a few minutes late I end up hitting the morning barge run and have to sit on the bridge for what feels like freaking forever. The nice part was, I got to work late and no one else is here. Everyone is either sick, running late or absent. In an effort to wake myself up I�m drinking my usual Grande Shot in the Dark and listening to obnoxious club music. I think this will only last awhile before I quickly start back with the slow depressing fall music.
KungfuRamone has requested that I continue my comic strip as it makes him laugh until he pees (in a fun way) and I do have another one underway of me in my never ending battle against the homeless. See, I just got another anime drawing book for combat so I can�t wait to draw a fight scene, of course this is harder said then done. I can�t draw real purdy.
~yawn~ Is it time to go home yet? I wonder if I take a nap under my desk if anyone would notice?
Heck Yeah!
2004-10-19 6:04 p.m.
I took my car to DEQ and prayed to the Patron Saint of Blondes in Sportscars, St. Fifi, and my car passed. Last time the TCH was 1.31. Check it out. Now I just have to remember to show up to traffic court and beg for forgiveness. The cats and I are drinking wine and kickin' back. Ahhhh, victory is sweet.
Stocking up for winter.
2004-10-19 10:03 a.m.
I was late to work due to the silly Hawthorne bridge going up during rush hour to let a barge through. It took four songs on my CD before it went back down. I tried to be impatient, I tried not to wave my fist at the barge. I mean it�s not like I�m really missing anything at work. I was so late there was no line for coffee and I had my own elevator to meditate in.
I spent most of last night stocking up on food. My house was completely depleted, I don�t know when the last time was that I went to the store and bought a car load of food and not just one or two items. The cats and I are ready for winter. In fact, I had to have a little talk with Trinity this morning about how she is only allowed to lay on half the heating vent and not the entire thing � or the bathroom doesn�t get warm! Brrrr!
I�m excited about NaNoWriMo, I�ve got new characters plaguing me now. I hope my vampire friends can amuse themselves for a month while I go into a new world.
It�s scheduled to rain rain rain. It�s dark dark dark. Perfect time for angst, melancholy and snuggling up under warm blankets.
Music list Monday.
2004-10-18 10:06 a.m.
Let's have a list for Monday morning. Here's music that's currently on high rotation on the iPod and why.
*Trip like I do - Filter & Crystal Method (Because Richard Patrick's sing/shrieking sends me into spontaneous orgasm)
*Vertigo - U2 (I love the line "But you give me something I can feel")
*Sunshine - Duran Duran (Because 20 years later I still have a crush on Simon LeBon)
*Leaving New York � REM (simply because it�s new REM)
*Mr. Brightside - The Killers
*Nowhere Again - The Secret Machines (two songs about girl�s getting out of dresses)
*Spitting Games - Snow Patrol (still hooked on this song)
*First of the Gang to Die � Morrissey (Because it�s the Mos)
*Slow Hands � Interpol (I love these lyrics)
*Us � Sixpence (Just a sweet love song)
*Angeles � Eliot Smith (because it�s getting dark outside earlier)
What are you listening to these days?
6 People have tried to sell me Viagra