Found Some Pictures From a While Ago

Me with Eleven Inches of Hair!!!

Remembering the Hair

So if anyone remembers, about a year ago I shaved off all of my hair for St. Baldrick's Day and gave the incredibly long hairs I had obtained in approximately a years time to Locks of Love. Well, I've actually come across a lot of pictures from the event and I decided I might as well as share them. And TRUST ME, I know I look terrible in this picture, but that's what happens when you are a guy that grows your hair out to eleven inches and then donates all of it to a charity organization. So no judging me on that part, I took the burden of carrying my hair everywhere and looking like a fool for months and I don't need to be reminded of how terrible it looks.

Now these photos also show off why I will never EVER have hair that long again. I mean, besides being totally degrading to have hair that long and everyone saying I look like a girl (which to everyone out there that said that, I already knew and life was hard enough; I didn't need to hear that).

Right Before They Stole my Hair [Picture 1]

The First Few Cuts [Picture 2]

Anyway, In picture 1 you can see I've already lost a LOT of hair (and at the time I was feeling lightheaded and my neck felt wonderful). Well, that's because to get the donation of hair for Locks of Love, I had to cut it off and ziplock bag it up before I got up to the donation area and had my head shaved completely off.  Now, I was lucking during this whole thing that my friends had come along with me,  because my Wife then was able to be the one to make the special First cuts of my long locks of hair. Then, as shown in picture 2, I gave it away to the St Baldrick's people and they took shavers and started sawing away at what was left. As you can see, she started in the back with my head and worked her way forward.

Almost Gone [Picture 3]

In picture 3 is a middle step that was taken, which I wanted to show because this lady unfortunately has the untimely job of having to shave hair over and over again until the event was over. So, to make it more fun for herself she started doing designs with the hair that was left. Since I had an oddly proportioned amount of hair on my head (because my lover did not cut the hair to all the same length while trying to get as much of it off), my personal balding stylist decided I should have a mohawk before it was gone. This picture was taken right before she let the last bit go (not that I was sad). I remember at this point feeling like my head was hot because of the clippers running over the bare scalp. Don't worry, that would all change soon afterwards.

A Zen Feeling as the Last Goes [Picture 4]

And then finally that last bit was taken off and I was left with nothing but the bald head I had been craving. That last small strand was off in no time, and then the lady shaving my head spent a good deal of time making sure she had gotten all of the small fuzz that was just a bit too long to be called bald. As you can also see form this picture, I'm not actually perfectly bald but rather a very close approximation. Thank God! Regrowing hair from the skin level is itchy as all get-out and I would have been scratching my head like crazy if they went any closer!

And finally, I'm going to throw in one last picture that shows off my two favorite friends in the whole world, the ones that let me bum with them (couch hop?) while I was visiting in San Francisco! I can't stop thanking them enough and I'm always happy we have these moments together, which leads to the final and most important point to this article, ALWAYS do stuff with your friends because they are the ones that mean the most when you look back. I can't wait to see these two again, though next time it'll be at their wedding!

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

(From Left to Right) My Husband, My Wife, and Me Afterwards

San Francisco - The After Thoughts!

So if you didn't know, maybe because we aren't facebook friends or because you live in a ditch, I went to San Francisco, California for a total of 3 days and 4 nights! Ah yes, San Francisco, the city by the bay! Anyway, here's really quick run-down of what exactly happened (with amazing photos of course!). And also please note that while this post will detail everything I can remember, it doesn't detail everything that actually happened. Finally, I'll finish up with some after thoughts on the whole thing.

Arrival Day - The Flight in and Arrival

I think it's important for me to note that before I even was on my way to San Francisco, my dad was finding the best ways to annoy me in the car. First he quizzed me on how to use an airport (I know, get through security, cause problems, then they'll never notice the amount of liquids you bring on the plane). Obviously I passed that. Next he of course had to play the song "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie. I'd like to note that I never wore flowers in my hair!

A view out of the Plane, it was all Clouds that Day!

So I flew Frontier down to the bay and after a beautiful hour delay, I was in the air and then I was there. It actually kind of worked out, the way that my plane got delayed and what not, because my friends were late and so it gave them the perfect amount of time to get down to the San Francisco International Airport (abbreviated SFO for god knows what reason). They picked me up with much crying and hugging and then some more crying (it was the reunion of the century), but I am disappointed at the lack of french bread when I arrived. I was promised some french bread and so I have to state that clearly.

Anyway, next thing I knew we were off and it was time for dinner at the most sketch Mexican restaurant this side of the Pacific. It actually was some of the best, random Mexican food I've ever had. I also ended up meeting some of Vicki's family there as well, and they are great people of course! Then they drove me to their apartment in Walnut Creek where I was crashing for the time! Well, that's it for my epic arrival day.

Day 1 - The Official First Day

Now I got up at the crack of dawn after that flight and I was promised rain, but because I am like the best travel buddy that anyone could ever have I ended up missing out on the rain and just getting some clouds. So Wyatt ditched us for his job, and I still hate him for ditching me; his lover, his husband, his best friend; to go to work, but that's okay I guess. SO I spent the day with my wife, Vicki!

First we hit up the Bart and took it straight into the city. From there I took about a million pictures, I guess I turned a little bit Asian for the day but that's alright considering it was a great trip. Anway, we started off the day just right by taking a quick tour of the financial district. I loved it! I can't tell people how hard it is to see sky scrapers here in Colorado, but there it is the norm and for a structural engineer who loves architecture it was magnificent! So we walked around the buildings, Vicki giving me all the facts and tour details as we went (including how the homeless bathe in this one really awesome sculpture/fountain... which is disappointing considering how awesome that sculpture/fountain was) until we hit the ocean. I love the ocean and with how little I get to see it, it was beautiful even on a cloudy day! From just this one dock (or whatever) I took a bunch of photos and strung them all together to get this picture of the Oakland Bridge going to Treasure Island (any and all facts might be wrong in this).

A view of the Oakland Bridge on a Sunny Morning

Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe

From there we were off, following the coast line until we reached Fisherman's Wharf. I got my In-N-Out burger from there and that was good (though I'm not positive what the rave is about, but I'm happy I know what it is now) and then we decided to head uphill a little ways to get some an Irish Coffee from the first place in America to serve it! Now, I have to give a bit of a back-story here when I tell that Vicki would have no Alcohol while I was there (a disappointment, but I lived happily with a glass in my hand) so she got a version that just isn't quite the same but close enough. It was AMAZING! I honestly do believe that was both the best coffee I've had before noon and the best Irish coffee I've ever had. The secret is they pre-warm the glass with hot water, add the coffee and then the whiskey, and then to really make it sweet they add exactly one sugar cube. And if you didn't pick up on it, Irish coffee has whiskey in it that really gives it a kick. Glad we added that to the list at the last minute.

Chocolate, Yum!

The Infamous Pterodactyl Face!

Next we hit up Ghirardelli Square for some quick ice cream at the Ghirardelli factory (along with some chocolate). I've been here before, but I just had to go again while I was out in San Fran! If there's one thing I love in this world, its got to be chocolate! I also decided to throw in the picture of Vicki totally Pterodactyl facing (that's what she calls it, not me) a small chocolate replica of the Golden Gate Bridge. Its all good laughs and it was an excellent stop, but who can complain when chocolate is all that's on the menu? So we did that for a little bit, taking a break for the long walk around town before leaving again and hiking it up one of the many San Francisco hills!

Lombard Street in the Background

 So next was the infamous Lombard Street (which although I've already seen, I felt it was necessary to go to as well). We hiked all the way up this road and arrived perfectly right next to Lombard, watching as a slew of cars went down the curvy road. I took some pictures from the top, pictures of the trolly going by, and then we walked down the stairs! The whole way, Vicki and I planned how we would one day own a house on that street to say we lived on Lombard Street. We also talked about how the kids could never go outside because they'd get hit by a car (at least I remember this conversation). After that I took the best picture I think I got of the both of us together. Once we reached the bottom, we decided to make it a photo-moment and so I pulled out the old iPhone and got a snapshot off. I took the picture at a crooked angle on purpose too, because I really wanted to get the street in the background and it came out exactly how I wanted it. I might even get a couple copies printed, I love this picture that much. So that's the great Lombard Street!

Wine and Friends

The next few moments all kind of flew by in a rush. So first we went to a bookstore that was famous (and kind of reminds me of the Boulder Bookstore, like a bunch of floors with stairs going every which direction) and then afterwards I took that picture of the ground! It's one of Vicki's favorites and I agree that it was pretty awesome. Next, we hit up another square (not sure which one), the Gold Dust lounge, and then went to the top of the Marriot hotel to sit and act like billionaires in the View lounge. If I could sum up what I saw in one word, spectacular! I could see the skyscrapers from above all the way over to the ocean. And since the day was clear enough, I could even see the old Golden Gate in the far distance! So we sat up there, taking in the sites and loving the feeling of being young and acting rich. Some day, it would be nice to be rich enough to stop playing rich though!

The City View from the View Lounge

After such a tiring day, and also very little sleep the night before, I was ready to just pass out. That's when Wyatt commandeered my iPhone and started taking pictures of me to edit. Although I'm not particularly happy with what came out of that, I thought I might as well as throw it up here. You can't really see it in that photo, but Wyatt had his super goofy face on the whole time. Also, that's Vicki and Wyatt's apartment in the background! Vicki, the place looks great!

Day 2 - A Day on the Job

The second day I was in San Francisco I have almost no picture of, go figure. That's probably because for the first quarter of my day I was home with Vicki, talking and just enjoying her company (something I've missed for a while). At about 11 am though, I was dressed and out the door to go to Wyatt's work. So I got all button-shirt and sexy black pants and a diamond watch on, you know, the way that movie stars do when they want to make a good impression, and was out the door. 

I rode the Bart back into San Fran where Wyatt met me and we walked to his job. When we got there he got all excited to show me around and I met all his fun work buddies before he took me over to the structure department. They were so impressed with my attire alone that I was offered a job right on the spot, but I of course put up my hand, said thank you, and then denied the offer. God knows I can only do so much engineering with part of a master's degree, so I just couldn't accept it yet. Anyway, the structures department seemed a bit detached from me being there after I denied their offer and only spent about an hour or so telling me about their current jobs and a few of their past jobs. That's of course not to say that they weren't nice, the people were great and I'd love to work there. Then they got back to work, I got to go get some Chinese food for first lunch, and then I left Wyatt for the day.

So I left my husband with his work and went off into the big city by myself... sort of. About ten minute later I met up with my good buddy Nate and he took me on the Bart to a different part of the city I had never seen before. It was great, we had second lunch (or at least second lunch for me) and he told me about why he took me there and what certain places meant to him and his family. Like I remember him telling me that his mom went to one of the high school's we passed, which is really cool to learn information like that about someone. And I'd also like to make a small note that we sat on a stump and ate lunch in a park. It was great. 

Then he took me to this ice cream shop (I know, I ate a lot while I was there.... Vicki called it the food tour de San Fran) that was one of his favorites. That was actually really cool too, which is why I warranted the ice cream shop it's own paragraph. Basically the reason this place stood out was that the owners had some of the most unique flavors I've ever seen. I of course got some, I can't resist ice cream, and it was so different. I got two flavors; one was salted caramel and the other was cinnamon almond I think (can't be too sure on the second flavor, but the first was definitely the caramel). Then it was a walk back to the Bart where I went back to Walnut Creek!

Day 3 - Perfect Panda Picture Parade!

Vicki's birthday! Happy 25th Vicki and glad I was there for it! So I call this day perfect panda picture parade because we went to the San Francisco zoo, which is a very cool, small zoo, and that's how we celebrated her birthday! I can't really say much on the zoo, but it was fun and I'm more happy that I got to spend my friend's birthday with her!

And so after the zoo we finished up with one final place on my tour of San Francisco, which was a view from the beach of the Ocean. The reason this all worked out the way it did was because the San Francisco Zoo is literally right next to the ocean. I took a few photos and Wyatt used my phone to take a few photos too. The clouds were amazing for it and the ocean was roaring!

Oh yea, and insert something about Berkeley and the Berkeley Bowl in here. Basically, Berkeley is a hippie town (or so I'm told, we didn't get to see the school) and the Berkeley Bowl is like Sprouts or Trader Joes on super crack. Literally 9 types of mushrooms, 20 types of apples, 8 types of bananas, 10 types of oranges, etc...

Departure - A Broken Plane

So this chapter is short, but the next day I had a flight that was at the crack of dawn. Turns out I didn't have to really get up early though, because the plane was broken and they didn't get it fixed for 4 hours. Thanks Frontier! :(

Final Notes

So finally, I'd like to give a summary of things I wish I had done. I think its important to make these lists, because it means next time I'll remember exactly what I didn't do or wish I would have done this time around. Here's a list of things I wish I would have done:

• Met Vicki at the airport, but with some French Bread in her hands.
• Alcatraz. I'm sad I was so close and yet never got a tour. 
• Spent more time with Nate. We only had a few hours to catch up on a years time.
• San Francisco at night. I got a glimpse of the city lights one night, but I didn't get to go into any clubs or places to see what the nightlife was all about.
• Wine country. I feel like not getting to drive up north for some wine tastings was a miss this trip, though that's fine.

Anyway, loved the trip. Special thanks again to Vicki and Wyatt for letting my crash at their place and giving me a great few days and special thanks to Nate for getting time to come see me as well!

Happy New Years!

It's January 1st an you all know what that means, a brand new year! Hope everyone's been having a good holiday week, I know I've been enjoying the stress free living!

As far as my break has been going, its been really good. I spent most my time away from home, just playing on my Xbox with friends (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 anyone?) and really just kicking back. On the actual holiday days (Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day), I've been celebrating the way my family always celebrates. We gathered around the table and had a large meal, which was always good. Outside of that, we went to the zoo and looked at the Denver Zoo Lights which are up this time of year and saw my last living grandparent.

Outside of that, I visited my best friend in Colorado Springs for a while and had a great time! It was good to see them again and I can't wait for March when I fly out to San Fran to go and meet up with them. On a random note, hope they got my letter I mailed just before Christmas. Anyway, saw them and did a lot of great stuff together like watching The Hangover: Part 2 and walking around Garden of the Gods down there. All and all, it was a good time and I'm happy I got down there this holiday for it.

On a story related note, don't expect updates for a while on the current *cough cough* masterpiece. I've got a lot of stuff to finish up before the end of February and so I won't have much free-time to really spend on writing my book. What will take up so much time, you may have asked me if I haven't told you already. Well I have my masters report coming to a close and I still have a lot to write. Personally I blame that on my professor, he's made it very stressful for no reason and now I'm trying to pick up the pieces of my broken paper and figure out what to do with all the stuff I've already done. I'm hoping to get it pretty much done in the next 2 weeks, but that's going to require a lot of work. Currently it's halfway with edits on the written side and all the technical stuff on the other side, in other words a headache and a stomach turner.

Anyway, best of wishes on the New Year to everyone, Happy 2012!

To Answer my Friends Question

My friend asked me a simple question when I secretly sent her the last chapter, which was of course, "Are you being sexy and writing more again?" (Words may have been added or removed to dramatize that last sentence) My simple answer to those that read this blog is yes. Yes I have continued writing my story again and yes I am finding it very much enjoyable. Maybe its just something about the month of July that gets me all writing happy, maybe I'm just kind of in the mood for something kind of horror-struck (Actual horror content of this novel to be decided/determined/decimated). I think its a combination.

I've moved onto chapter ten, which has the most original title ever, though I'm not ready to post it yet so tough luck to all those kids caring (That's like what, three and a half of a stump. Man I have an awesome fan base). Unlike previous chapters, chapter ten is a little bit of everything. Things move forward, plot moves forwards, things are introduced, plot moves forward, things get closer to chapter eleven, plot gets faster, things get faster, people get faster, faster gets faster, and so forth. I know that's not telling much, but I literally just got off of a chapter that was like full-pace run (wait, that sounds wrong) and had to actually slow it down to capture the moment. I know, that goes against everything I said I was going to do, but now we pick it up again since the next chapters are more about the ending. That's right, the past chapters were really all a nice set-up and now comes the action-packed, thrilling ending where suddenly thoughts I had come to closure and thoughts I want to leave open... well obviously stay fairly wide open.

And that's where Book 2 comes in... which will of course be titled (that's the actual title... screw the public I want something weird and eye catching). In continuing this blog to continue with my writing, I will now change scope to be different. First of all, the count at the bottom of the blog will be of what I've written since the last blog followed by the current total. Why am I changing this? Because I don't really want to go through the math of figuring out how awesome I've been doing each month and I'm still very much busy and unable to spend time on such things. Instead I'd rather rant (that's what blogs are for). So I'll try to post updates on a regular basis (which for me is what... once every three months maybe except for when I first started) and I'll try to keep the word-counts up to at least 1,000 words, which is about a page and a half of microsoft word single space writing. To my friend, this is good considered its about 10,000 words to a chapter (roughly) and 40,000 words until the end of the book (un-roughly).

So lets get that pace-maker back on and roll through some pages!

Tonight's Count: 1,536
Total Words: 100,511

Change of Plans

Change of plans (Gasp, didn’t see that one coming), but I may not be doing the NaNoWriMo anymore. Besides the fact that I’ve been stressed to hell and thus have not been writing, I also got torn away from Colorado to go visit my Grandmother’s grave in Connecticut. I did enjoy going to Connecticut and seeing her grave, but I did so without my computer and thus greatly lost time in the NaNoWriMo as well as lost ideas/interest in the story I had.

However, I did randomly decided to start writing something else. To what effects it might be, we’ll have to see, but I’m going to send a small portion of it to one of my friends and see what she thinks. It should be weird.

One Day Off then Back to Action

I started yesterday off perfectly as far as writing for me goes, got up and was ready to write a thousand words easily. I had my coffee in hand and my computer on the table and was typing away, until I realized I had put myself into a strange hole.

I don't think I meant to bury my own thoughts in the catastrophe that had happened, but I did. I ended up writing myself into either 1 more chapter that explained too much about something I really do mean to start talking about in the second book (it's going to be a trilogy or something, remember?). So I was left with an option, continue writing and send out the eighth chapter as it was OR go back and try rethinking the whole scenario so that I didn't have to do another chapter in there. I chose to take the second option and spend all of yesterday coming up with the revision. I like what I thought of but it wasn't the easiest thing to write, so we'll just have to see what my friends think of it.

Anyway, back on the novel today and continuing as planned towards the final finish. I am only a few thousand words or so away from the end of chapter eight, I can tell from just what is happening, and then I'll send it out to be interpreted by my friends. This chapters has been fun to write and I think it really shows where I want to go with this series, too bad it is far from the end of this book. No, I think I have at least 3 or 4 chapters left before I can end this book (two of which will be devoted to a single place... or at least I think so). That means I have 30k-40k more words to write after this... which is not a good thing for a new author.

The average book length is 60k to 100k words, the reason why being that at 100k words the average paperback book hits 400 pages. If I got over 400 pages, the chances of getting the story published go WAY down. So I'm left with a few options, write a shorter novel and hope to gain popularity off of it (current plan for the month of November... along with the NaNoWriMo). So we'll see what happens.

Last, just wanted to say that I started watching a British television show called Psychoville. Oh my God, that show is amazing. It is weird enough to keep me enthusiastically watching it and crazy enough to meet my standards of interest. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. And just so I say this, it is a dark comedy that you can't find in America.... sad day...

Words for the Month: 14,995 / 40,000
Total Words: 95,054

I'm gonna go write another 5 words to make it a perfect 15k

Day Two of the No Video Games Program

And so I failed to make 5,000 words in my wake of what was yesterday (I don't honestly count it to be the next day until I sleep, the only exception of which being that I need the number of words completed before everyone else considers it to be the next day at midnight) and I haven't played video games yet. This of course makes me sad, because I love video games.

SO I started the program again today, 5,000 words to start playing video games. I figured that it helped me get 4,700 or something words yesterday so it wasn't a complete failure and already today I've made headway towards the final goal. Also, I might have to work a little faster if my friend calls me and wants to play and five... Anyway, it seems to be working really well so I think I'll keep this program in action. Next month I might keep it but I will lower the amount required each day so that I don't finish in the first eight days and then wait to play all month long. I'm not saying 5,000 words isn't a bit too much, just that I've gone into crisis mode and need to fix the problem that video games has caused this month

On a different note, the evolution of chapter 8 goes well. I've had a lot of interesting things to write about and kept the pace fairly forward for someone who is basically alone in the world I am describing. That's about as much as I can say, really. Actually I'm really looking forward to what happens after this chapter, there are some funny thing I want to say and some interesting points to make before the next stop on the list.

Well, gonna take a small break and then hop back on it.

Words for the Month: 9,206 / 40,000
Total Words: 89,265

Quick Update (sorta)

Just a quick update, but I wrote a little bit more before I decided to turn in for the night. Also, I noticed I haven't done many posts this month. That made me feel bad, like I was disappointing a crowd that does not exist. So now I'm trying to make at least one a day to make up for the lack of posting I've done for the previous parts of the month.

On another strange note, this month sucks compared to the last two. Yes, I've gotten lazier and lazier as I try to force myself to continue writing. And yes, I am trying to complete this month so desperately because I know that if I do I win a huge prize and get to laugh a whole lot as my ex-girlfriend wonders how I mysteriously was able to get not 1 or 2, but 3 months of meeting a strange goal I've never tried to before. That's right, I'm trying to complete this month for the fun of amazing her and seeing her reaction. Sometimes life gives you lemons, and then you laugh cause you just saw a car explode. Sure, it might have been your fault the exhaust was clogged with lemons but who would know that.

Anyway, quick update, things got done, stuff happened, more commas where used, a person talked to me, interesting things, reviews, fans, worlds of worlds, and end quick update.

Words for the Month: 7,152 / 40,000
Total Words: 87,211

Also, note that for today I never made over 5,000 words and I never got to play my games... stupid me not working harder to get video games... Also again also, I've strangely already used lemon in my labels... how did that happen?

Chapter 7 is complete!

So I'm getting back on the fun bus and writing again (after a week long break from writing). I hope to hit this month running, but that seems to be not happening yet. Oh well, at least I'm getting back into and today is far from over yet as well!

I'm surprised that I didn't need as much as I thought I would for this chapter, but the next one is even more confusing and strange and, if I left the chapter off just right I should have yet again succeeded in pissing off my friend who hates drop endings. More things are just ahead of the main character and I've been ever so kind as to hint at what is about to happen, though we'll see if the clues are easy to pick up on.

I think the name of chapter eight can be revealed as well, since it offers no more help to my poor friends reading this. It's called The Home She Grew Up In and although I'm telling the name right now, like I said it really doesn't offer a whole lot more to them. I can easily say this will be an interesting and confusing chapter to write and the ending will, of course, leave my friend hating me (I've got this one pretty much planned out as well). Actually, I've been thinking about this story for a while now and I know exactly where I am going with it (though there are still some details I need to work on when I get there). The way the first book will end is pretty much set in stone, it answers a few of the mysteries I've opened and leaves my friend hating me for ending it that way, which is perfect.

I'm going to write more later, but at least I got started on this chapter! Also, my friend Wyatt should stop distracting me...

Words for the Month: 1,005 / 40,000
Total Words: 81,064

A Good Day

Today was a good day to write. I actually did really well too, I mean considering that recently I've either written a lot of stuff in a single run or absolutely nothing all day. Best part yet is that I'm just barely under the halfway point for the month. Okay, I know saying that with 7 days left (including this one) is not exactly the best of things. I'm just trying to stay positive is all.

If you want to know the math but don't want to do the math, I technically have to write approximately 3,000 words a day to finish this month. In actuality I think it is a little bit below that, but who keeps track of that. Anyway, writing that much in a single day is not that bad and especially considering that about 24 hour ago I was down 5,000 words from where I am now. I don't know... maybe if I can make another 5,000 tomorrow I'll shoot for this month too. It is definitely exciting to see this coming together.

As far as the story goes, things are starting to go further into where I really wanted to take my readers when I first came up with this idea. By this I really mean that although I have a plot to tell (one that is currently very loose and nondescript in my head), I had a major theme that I wanted to hit. This chapter really starts to open it up into that place and show off what I was heading for. Hopefully I can keep this idea going, I'm really happy with how this story is coming out.

Also, I thought I'd just say to one of my friends that I am going to finish this story and not because I have to but because I want to prove to her that she is wrong. Sure, I've started at least ten ideas since I first started sending her stories and, sure, she won't pick up this one and read it unless she knows that there is going to be an ending. Well, almost double the length of my previous longest story and still going fairly strong. Lets see who wins in my own personal writing contest. Me or shut the hell up, me. And for the record, I know that didn't make any sense.

To my other friends that are reading this, any comments?

 Words for the Month: 19,526 / 40,000
Total Words: 59,569

Chapter 5 is Done!

I finished chapter 5 as promised for my friend and I have already sent it out. So have fun reading that and enjoying all of the things that happen in the chapter. Honestly, that was probably one of the more interesting ones, but more so my friend is going to hate me because it ends on a cliff hanger yet again. Oops, didn't mean for that (yes you did, don't lie), but it happened. Also, happy birthday to one of my friends!

As far as me being behind... dang, I am so damn far behind. I fear I might not make this month, but I also blame that on my family for making this month so damn stressful. Hopefully in these last ten days I can really kick out some amazing stuff. I'd really hate to fail my own goals for the month, but it is a possibility since my family drives me crazy.

Good luck and good night... no wait that's not mine.

Words for the Month: 14,459 / 40,000
Total Words: 54,502

A Special Update just for my Friend

Well I said no more updates until Friday, but I feel like I owe my friend a special one since she is apparently really enjoying the book. Also, I'm going to admit it that the last update was kinda just a "there you go" thing for my friend and that was really mean. And I don't mean like the type of mean that is just plain satirically funny, which is not usually me anyway, but more like the type of mean someone like me shouldn't do.

First off, went and visited two of my friends in Broomfield. It was like a spa vacation that I desperately needed. Hard to believe, but my Dad sucks the energy out of people and then makes them want to vegetate all day long. So, until I went and saw my good friends in Broomfield that is what I had been doing. Which also explains the lack of updates that was going on in this blog and with the story (and also why I am so damn far behind). (random side note, ever notice how many transition words I use? I try to dodge them while writing because I do use so many) Anyway, my two friends were able to re-center me in one visit and then in the next day I was able to break out of that relaxing vacation-spa feeling. The end result was I now feel really recharged and ready to write.

And remember, if there is one thing I have been truthful with when writing this blog (besides that it is about a story I am writing), it has been the number of words I have written. I've been following my rules very strictly on how the numbering goes and even with my mom wanting to watch 30 Rock (which strangely is a show that makes me want to write... I haven't found any other that cause the same effect yet though Arrested Development might work) I have managed to get more words added from what I was previously at today. I'm not done yet, I want to finish Chapter 5 and start Chapter 6. This might be because I promised my friend Chapter 5 and I don't want to be a jerk on her birthday by not delivering the next piece I know she wants.

Also, the name of the book has changed. The series is still going to be called Broken Falls, but the first book in the series is now known as Shattered. I'm thinking I might do something with all of the books being similar except the final one where all of the twists and plots come together in an epic ending that will make my friends go Oh My God!. Still just an idea, but the new name is better than what I had.

Speaking of my Dad (wait, no I wasn't), he's back at work during the day. Hurray! I only see him after 6 PM again like things should be. Best part yet is he has to work for the next month! This means no taunts during the day I will not be trying to recover from him being negatively around me all the time and I will write more during the day. And also, I seem to have cycled on my sleep schedule because I now go to bed at 9 PM and wake up sometime between 3 AM and 5:30 AM. Whatever. And also also, my little brother is going to college soon. This means no more of him interrupting my thoughts mid thought/sentence and that I might get more done.

And now, like every time I write in this blog, I'm gonna do something besides write for a while before hopping back on to write some more. It is kinda ironic, but whatever. I hope this update was better than the last.

OH YEA, and Chapter 6 is pretty much planned out now after some crazy thinking that happened right before I fell asleep last night and when I woke up this morning and tried to get back to sleep. Crazy stuff. Crazy. And just one more for the road, Crazy McCraztastic.

Words for the Month: 11,939 / 40,000
Total Words: 51,982

To My Friend

Two days until your birthday and then I'll give you chapter 5 (to which I know you will love). Why am I so mean and making you wait, because that is what I do to make you love me so much. I know, weird.

Also, there will not be another update on here until the twentieth. This will give me more time to cool off and not tell everyone what is happening in my otherwise fairly boring life. Listen, my Dad is amazing at making me feel stressed and sucking the life out of me. This in turn makes me not want to write. This does not mean bug me until I write something, that only adds more stress, which in turn makes me want to write less. I write when I have no stress or am able to pressure myself, under no other circumstances do I actually write.

So enjoy your last update for the next few days, it leaves mystery to what is happening. Also, I'm really behind! Yay!

Words for the Month: 10,462 / 40,000
Total Words: 50,505

Chapter Five is AMAZING!

I don't like to gloat except when I think certain friends are annoying me (hint hint hint friend who wants this chapter so badly), but oh my GOD this is probably one of the best chapters I've written yet. I mean, chapter one and two were really about setting up characters and dragging my readers into the story (as I am so damn good at doing). Chapter three and four are all about moving forward with the plot, getting the main character to actually go places and do stuff that hasn't been done before and really setting things forwards. Chapter five is really the first chapter where I start to really dive in and play with the world I've now created. I mean, for the most part the reader has been given sort of a weird place and a lot of separate mysteries. Chapter five kind of stays away from making more mysteries and dives into really adding to previous ones we've already seen.

I guess what I'm saying is I really get to do some awesome stuff (artistically and literally) with the wording and really show that I have fun when I come up with things. Now I'm not saying everyone is going to love chapter five, I'm just saying that I think in comparison to what I have written already it starts to really build on everything I'm working on setting up.

I guess I'll know if I succeeded when one of my readers gives me feedback. Which this might be a hint to my readers...

Regarding other things, I will now have a monthly poll on my blog for everyone to go and click buttons on. I think this will help me with maybe directing my book a little bit more since I am creating a person and not a robot. I hate it when books make robot people who do amazing things. Also, I'm getting back into my groove of writing and so we might actually get to see 2/2 successful months for me to be proud of all I've accomplished with writing. Then September comes and we'll see what happens.

I'm not done writing yet for the night (I mean, when you are having as much fun as I am writing this out... you don't quit), but my computer is bugging me to update it. So I'm going to take a small break, get some more delicious fake coffee, maybe unload the dishwasher, and then get back to work. But even so, look how much I've written already!

Words for the Month: 9,212 / 40,000
Total Words: 49,255

Damn, almost 10,000 words in the seconds month! Cheer my friends, cheer hard.

That's What I Needed....

I haven't been writing and I've been feeling stuck in a sort of bad place. I want to write because I want to make my monthly goal, but on the other hand I'm so sick of writing that I just can't get myself to do it. So instead I sit around waiting for the words to come to me, which they don't, and go off to play video games.

Okay, okay, I know that this is nothing new. Can't write means go play games. Well the games are finally getting a little old and I'm starting to get bored again, which means a reverse in the flow of my work. I woke up a few hours ago and thought instead of playing the games I would go write. Hurray, I actually wrote some stuff and I plan to keep going after a short break.

Hopefully nothing new comes out to ruin this again, I want to get a few chapters done in time for my friends birthday. She could use an awesome present like the continuation of the story I'm forcing her to read. Let that be noted, this is her present and I probably won't be giving away the next chapter until then. I know, cruel and unusual torture because I left the last one so suspenseful.

Now, as far as the story goes, should I give it to a few other friends to read and get opinions on? I have one that wants to read it and another one that would probably read it if I asked him nicely and used his girlfriend as a warden (because he didn't even read her thesis... tut tut tut). Except the problem is that if I give it to the friend that would want to read the story, I fear she'll be mad if the ending isn't happy. I'm not saying the ending is going to be sad, because I'm going to choose the best one possible, but that doesn't exactly mean it will be happy either. See the problem. As for the other friend, it probably won't get read so why send it. Anyway, I'll open a poll and maybe do one a month for all the wonderful people that follow me on here... who ironically are all my friends anyway.

Words for the Month: 6,855 / 40,000
Total Words: 46,898
(Oh my God, so far behind...)

EDIT: After looking back at July... I am strangely almost exactly where I was on July 11th... still, I was behind all that month. Strange how that happens to me.

First Month Completed!

And so I somehow was able to make approximately the last 10,000 words appear on the final two days of writing. I'm really proud with myself that I actually completed this goal and doing this once honestly gives me a lot of faith that I can make it again next month. Just to remind everyone, I also made my goal this month with about one week taken out but with a little bit of a head start on the story (I didn't start this month at 0 words because I started writing the book at the beginning, so I thought they counted. That and I wanted to be fair to myself in giving myself a month, head start for the words.). And if anyone is really curious, the words that put me at 40,000 was "on." I know, I thought it was going to be more exciting too but sometimes these things happen.

As far as the next chapter goes, the last time I checked it was already 7,000 words. Honestly I'm really surprised because I didn't think I had written that much already. I have approximately 3 more things I want to write into the chapter (and on average a "thing" ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 more words) so for my faithful friends who are hopefully enjoying the story, this chapter is going to take a little longer. Also, just for their information, I kind of want a little bit of a break for now so that I can recoup my thoughts. Writing 10,000 words in two nights is wonderful for making headway into the story, but it doesn't give me a whole lot of time to think about all the things I want to say. Sure I get some as I go along, but the stuff people will remember this story for always seems to come when I've had time to think a little bit ahead.

Also, I'm going to get a poll for my blog to figure out what else I'd like to add. When that will happen, to be announced at a later time. Trying to come up with a wonderful first question first.

Words for the Month: 40,043 / 40,000
Total Words: 40,043
Months Successful: 1 / 1

The Great Disappearance

Oh my god, I just completely let this blog slip for a few days. If anyone wants to know why, I would start by blaming Laurel. Anyway, whenever I last left this blog I had this big plan to just write a whole bunch and get all caught up and make everyone happy. That never happened. Instead, I went off and apartment shopped with my friend (of which we found absolutely no apartments that were under $5 per month so I could afford it. Screw you world...) and then while I was up in Boulder I decided to go see a few of my friends (like Laurel). We saw a movie and ate dinner and hung out and it definitely was [underline]NOT[/underline] a date. Seriously, we had another friend with us the whole time who just made the whole situation weirder. And yes, I know that the underline did not work there, but I felt it was important to make that note very much apparent.

Then I went and stayed at a different town in a different house all by my awesome self. It was wonderfully quiet and I probably could have written thousands of words there. Except there were a few problems. For one, I had a very large television in front of me and it was very distracting with all the 1080p high definition glory. Oh yes, I very much played video games on it and was very happy because of all the things I could see. Also, there was internet, so I played my very new video game which is for my computer.

All and all, I was distracted for the last two days or so and was completely unable to write anything. I was so distracted that for a while there my pleasure gland inside my brain said "no, don't do work, that's lame! Instead, play video games and watch awesome television and make cupcakes" (no cupcakes were ever made). It was wonderful and relaxing. It also put me VERY VERY far behind schedule. So new plan, get the F%@$caught up to date and complete this on time before I have to make weird rules and exceptions that no one will like except me. And for once I don't want to do that! SO I'm not done writing tonight (especially since its like four AM almost and tomorrow is free bagel friday. Oh I love you bagels) and I am going to try and kick out AT LEAST another 2,000 words. And by the way, that's after you see the massive amount of words I magically was able to perform tonight. Something happened, I don't know what, and it triggered a lot of writing. For instance, this ridiculously long update where I tell you absolutely nothing of interest. Hmm... maybe I'll do that now.

More plot developments, more hints and hints of hints, more stuff happens, and *gasp* someone does die... sorta... Also, I magically finished chapter 3 (unedited) and am now moving onto chapter 4 (holy cr@p my hands are failing me as I try to type all of this). Wish me good luck, though I already have some awesome and amazing stuff planned. Seriously, was going to bed last night (which was two nights ago now) when I suddenly came up with a BRILLIANT idea for what to do. Wrote it down that's how good the idea was, fans will be amazed for generations.

Also, look at how awesome the number of words I stopped at is...

Words for the Month: 34,443 / 40,000
Total Words: 34,443
Total Pages: 47

Ah Yes, the Fun of the English Language

Just to be clear on my retarded sleep schedule, I woke up at three in the afternoon today. I have slept every night on time, yet for some reason my special internal clock said that last night I should not go to sleep until after five thirty in the morning. So I didn't. Then I do get some rest and BAM, out forever.

I woke up tired (because sleeping for long periods of time, like lets say ten hours, tends to do that) and wanted to just take a nap. Instead I forced myself to get up and wonder where the hell everyone in my house was. I managed to eat something, then went back to my room and worked on email or something. About four or four thirty I found my brother and called my parents. Made dinner. Fun. Then time passed with me playing my new arcade game. (I recommend it, it's called Limbo and only available on the Xbox. Though it was short, which disappointed me.)

Well, got into the spirit of writing a little bit later (after everyone was asleep and I could focus better) and decided to write because my friend had just gotten online. She was reading the second chapter, unedited and barely finished, and I was started the next chapter. She gave me some advice, to which I gladly too most of it and made some quick changes, and then we talked about the book for a bit. That's what friends are for.

So where am I going with this ridiculous story. Well look at the time now, four in the morning and I am not tired at all. Curse you insomnia for giving me the ability to live in a 28 hour day instead of our 24.

Okay, back to what this completely strange, I-don't-know where it's going sort of blog is going. I'm going along, writing my book, when I suddenly realized that the English Language sucks. Who the hell made words that sound like other words but are spelled differently. Seriously, that stuff pisses me off and we as people should have made them different long ago. Nothing is equal, not even people, so why are words so damn hard to spell. And now I lost sight of what this blog is about.

Lets just talk about the story since I'm going off onto to many random tangents. The plot thickens, people do stuff, things happen, characters are awesome, more characters are weird, even more are evil, and then less actually turn out to be evil. There you go, update for today completed. Now I'm gonna just go back to writing because that world makes sense to me right now, even if my writing doesn't.

Words for the Month: 23,176 / 40,000
Total Words: 23,176

Well that didn't go as planned

So I was trying to get my second chapter all finished up for my friend on time, except that things kept getting in the way. For instance, I told her I would have the second chapter (unedited) ready for her by the time she was done with school today. Well, it turns out that kinda got washed out when I decided to go to bed last night. Then I was woken up this morning to do some work gardening, which included building the garden and the garden's wall, for my parents. This took forever. Long story short, I was more tired then ever and my friend did not get the chapter.

So now, feeling a little guilty, I'm up into the early morning hours just to finish up the unedited version of the second chapter. For the record, that's done. Except then I looked at my word count. 20,000 words approximately and 10 days. Perfect. At two thousand words averaged in the last few days, I just have to continue like this and I'll make my goal. hurray, I made a goal.

All I can say is I hope my friend is happy, cause I'm still tired after all that manual labor. I hate gardens.

Words for the Month: 21,391 / 40,000
Total Words: 21,391

Playing Catch-up

So Today I'm probably going to be playing a little bit of catch-up. Although yesterday's work on my story was for a very long period of time and we were able to add some words to the count, it didn't really meet the daily required goal to getting this done before the end of the month.

What we did manage to make yesterday was a much more smooth story with a nicely flow. What a lot of people seem to overlook is how flow in story matters. On the one hand you have the too few details sort of person, which makes for a fast pace book. This is wonderful if you write kid's books, because the pace is at the speed for them to keep interest. The other way is to have too many details, which makes the book drag on in tedious steps. This is wonderful for catching a nerd audience. However, since I'm not either a nerd or a child I need to hit the third option, which of course is to his a pace that is right in between.

And don't get me wrong, this is a very important matter. It was basically what we were working on yesterday, making sure there weren't too many details bunched together or too few details spread far apart. In this manner we were able to add words, but it also means in some instances we got rid of words. And more importantly, I had to run it by my friend while doing so to make sure that I wasn't going over something or if I was a little unsure of how to solve things she would figure it out. Also, we fixed the double word problem (the same word appearing twice in three or less sentences). The thesaurus just doesn't compare to a human.

Anyway, today will be a major writing day, hopefully to get me to 10,000 words at least.

Words for the Month: 7,608 / 40,000
Total Words: 7,608