Writing on Message Boards and in Chat Rooms

This is stuff I said in email and on message boards in the last week:

"I've been thinking about writing about my life too. My oldest daughter asked me to write my life story - as a family history document. I'm in the middle of another writing project, but have been thinking of how I could go about doing a life story manuscript in a creative and artistic way.
"I already have a small collection of short memoirs, and a pile of journals dating back twenty years. I'm considering writing my life story as a collection of short stories, or maybe three or more novel-like segments.. part fiction, part reality."

"I was kind of planning to hide my face for a few more weeks due to the fact I haven't updated Happy Camp News in over a month."

"...that water heater has worked just fine for 2+1/2 years since we've been here and suddenly this guy we don't even know declares it a hazard. Did [company name] change owners or something?"

"Anyhow, she got her eyes checked today and we ordered another pair of glasses - but she keeps saying she won't wear them. I still feel it is my responsibility to make sure she has a pair available. The last pair, she broke on purpose because she doesn't like how she looks in glasses. She wants contac lenses but her insurance from her father's job doesn't cover vision."

"Thanks for your evaluation of my website - I just deleted the whole thing."

"I've had problems connecting to the internet during the storm - have you noticed that too?"

"The story on my novel left the plot behind about five days ago - and took off in directions I never imagined. It is terrible not knowing what this protagonist will do next."

"I gave a few years of my life to researching that information and now am on to fiction projects. Of course, it all is grist for the mill."

"My new novel is 41% done. Last night I worked on it until 5 am. It is really slow going at times. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it or if people will think my novels are as weird and offbeat as I do. I mean, who really cares about some girl running around in a forest and dealing with unfriendly villagers in order to find her father? I have no idea where I'm going with this. I offered to show my brother my first novel when he was here a few weeks ago and he just asked what kind it was. I said it was an adventure novel for kids and he didn't even want to look at it. Geez... I was thinking it was so cool I at least had a manuscript. oh well. I keep wishing I was writing about sophisticated city people in modern times... wouldn't that be easier?"

"You can always reel me in with the promise of a good cup of coffee. :)"

"We must learn to show more love and tolerance and compassion than others. To expect or demand it of people who have not received the benefit of His guidance is wrong. Sorry if I seem like I'm on a tangent just because I am.. I see this kind of impatience in the chatrooms and it just makes me want to cringe... so I encourage love, tolerance and understanding. I hope some out there are listening."

"And yes, sometimes it is needful to experience rough exchanges - because it can serve to wake up heedless people. However there's always the danger it could also hurt and distance them. Who among us has the wisdom to wield that kind of power? Not very many."

"In some ways I agree with you ... , but unlike you, I'm not willing (or able) to get totally sarcastic about it. My solution is that if I don't like it - I don't have to participate any more than what feels comfortable for me.
"I think I'm one of those people you speak of who was pushed overboard - but don't believe I've ever been better qualified to lead. Maybe I'm just not the control-heavy type. I don't much respect overly-controlling types of people - just thinking of the way they hurt others saddens me.
"I've had to come to the conclusion that not only am I not able to fit in with the pack, I don't even want to fit in with the pack! I need to be true to my own nature... loving myself as I really am, not trying to be what someone else imagines I should be."

***That's about the best snapshot of my life I've ever posted in this blog!***

An Injured Child, Writing, Waterless and Halloween in Retrospect

Today Aaron's friend was swinging one of our hammers in the backyard and got it caught in the clothes line... then pulled on it and hit his own head - hard. He didn't pass out but got a huge bump on his forehead. I felt so sorry for him. Fortunately his mom came to get him soon enough.

Novel writing is going pretty good. I've done 6000+ words so am ahead of schedule so far.. but it has been only two days.

There's no water service in Happy Camp today! They are replacing pipes and other system parts. Why can't they do this kind of thing at night when people are less likely to use their water anyway? We can't do dishes, can't do laundry, can't take showers... etc.. it is one of those things... you don't give much thought to it until it is gone.

The kids had fun on Halloween. My daughter went out with her friend. Her friend was a cheerleader and my daughter was gothic. Aaron went with Shane and his family, dressed as a criminal. I didn't appreciate his garb but at least he was warm and stayed out of trouble. I hope.

Aerobics, AOL and Writing

I rediscovered eBay and quickly ran out of money to spend there. I managed to get another copy of an old aerobics video tape I lost after moving, and since it came in the mail I'm been doing that every day. I still haven't gotten all the way through it but every day is a little better. Today I did the wamup, two routines, and then fast forwarded through the third to get to the cool down routine. I feel so much better, getting a little exercise these days. It takes only 1/2 hour to do as much as I did today.

Now all you anti-AOL people can just vomit or whatever it is you do - but I recently downloaded AOL 8.0 and just love it. Always before I've had connection problems with AOL and well, the service wasn't all that exciting. I don't know what it is about this version, but I love the colors, the interface, the new features, the way it works, everything. And - I got my old screen name back after 2+1/2 years and I'm so happy about that.

NaNoWriMo starts again on November 1 so I will be busy writing my fourth novel. If you want to be updated on my progress, zip over to my writing blog where you can read all about it.

By the way, my webdesign site is done, for now.

Right Now

Right Now

Webdesign and Homeschooling

I finally came up with a design I really like for my new webdesign website. It is complex to build but when done will be simple to view. I'll let you know when its ready! (This is my third attempt to get something on the web for Klamath Design.)

Homeschooling is going great this year. It is just Aaron and me (my daughter is at the local school) so we have lots of time to work one-on-one with just Aaron's interests in mind. It is lots of fun.

Peaceful Day

This hasn't been a very eventful day. I made a to-do list and got only about half the things done. I've been indoors almost all day - except for the time I spent writing in my journal, out in the meadow. Ah well, at least I got some housework done. My daughter wanted her ears pierced and I did that, and then she surprised me by cutting her hair. It looks nice.

Free State Project

Listen to Free State Project founder, Jason Sorens . . .

Free State Project - I signed up

Recently I found the Free State Project and signed up. I am so excited... at the thought of moving to a state where there will be an opportunity to live free - really free... no abusive government regulations, no fear of the gestapo showing up at the door (for those of us who are normal law-abiding citizens)... just freedom and peace of mind. I love this idea!

I like the idea of helping with a new alternative society. Yes, it is an experiment, but one that I expect will benefit a lot of people. If we can be successful in one state, the freedom may spread.

Anyhow, the goal is to get 20,000 people willing to move to a solitary state to promote freedom initiatives and end government abuse of citizens. Our society will be based on a desire for a civil government whose only role is to protect the life, liberty and property of the citizens.