Random Acts

Well, just when I think I've seen some of the worst people the society of southern California has to offer, I see something cool.

As I was driving home from taking the kids to their Academic Decathlon meeting this morning, I drove through this really pretty side street and saw this man in his late-fifties, perhaps, taking a walk. He was holding a sack, so I thought he was walking home from the grocery or something.

But, as I watched, he was picking up litter on this street. I couldn't believe it! He had a bag full. I thought that was so cool and so easy to do for people who walk on a regular basis.

I'd honestly never thought about it, but now that I've seen it, I'm going to try to do it too.

Inspiration for the day.

Another Neat Link on a LJ

Cool. Saw this on someone else's LJ, and decided to check it out.



create your own visited states map

I can see a distinctive line there...looks like I need to get north more often.

And, definitely, I'd LOVE to visit Alaska and Hawaii.

However, my next MAJOR trip is going to be Japan, hopefully, in the Spring, and I'm going to do research for a novel I'm going to write while I'm there.

Dreaming of it. Can't wait to go.

The Night Before

Twas the night before Halloween
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a louse.

Oh...WAIT...someone's already done a rip off for Halloween, haven't they? Oh, well...

I'm just in the spirit of the Halloween season today, I guess.

Got stuff to make my daughter a Halloween costume today. Admired MANY costume patterns. Would love to make and sell costumes some day. Or just make and wear them would be good too. Love costumes. Love to dress up.

Trying to talk my youngest son into being the Headless Horseman. That would be sooooo EASY. He's got the dress pants, a white shirt, a great cape. And, I want to carve a little pumpkin for him to carry. For some reason, I think the small one would be funny. What can I say? Strange sense of humor!

Got a BIG pumpkin tonight. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to carve it, though. Make a big deal out of it and stick it out on my balcony rail with a candle. Otherwise, nobody would really see it.

Trying to finish a scary short story for a Halloween contest. The deadline is midnight tomorrow night, and I don't know if I'll finish in time to revise or not. It's a 10,000 word limit, so around 40 pages. I'm at 12 pages right now. Should have more done later.

However, I started going through old files early this afternoon to see what else I had in the way of scary/horror short stories that I'd started ages ago. I have lots of all kinds of short stories. But, I'm just not good at the short part. :)

I always write long. Sad to be so long-winded.

Adding on a few more things, too, instead of just finishing my contest entry AND my novel that I promised myself I'd finish this weekend. Sheesh! How can I be so easily side-tracked?

At least I'm writing. :)

Writing Progress

I found myself working on several things today, which surprised me.

I decided to actually try to get the short story finished up for the Halloween story contest on a writing list I belong to, though I'm not sure if it'll be very good since I have to rush. Deadline is midnight tomorrow.

While I was at it, I checked out some other short stories I'd started a couple of years ago and abandoned. Decided to work on one today that I'd only written half a paragraph on when I started it. It has a really stupid working title, but I can change that later.

The Day After Rapture 1006 words today

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory 2051 words today

Beginning of the End 1081 words today

152,432 total words to date.

Time to sleep. Looking forward to that extra hour. Hope to write lots more tomorrow.