Quick look at Herbie and Bewitched

I saw "Herbie: Fully Loaded" and "Bewitched" this week. Both are movies that I think appeal to those of my generation at least in concept: both are a part of our past.

Neither film is Oscar material, but worth a matinee if you want a couple of hours to sit back and enjoy yourself. Don't go if you're looking for something deep and meaningful - go for a few laughs and some reminiscing.

A Bittersweet Moment

Yesterday I got "The International Book of Days," a book I ordered. As I held it in my hands and leafed through it a bit, I experienced both joy and sorrow.

Joy, because I played a part in causing this book to happen. My name is on the title page, as a contributor. My name is mentioned in the preface. As a writer, it is a thrill to see my name in a book, to know my work is being read.

Sorrow, because the editor of the book, a good friend, Steve Christianson, passed away in January. I am sad because I had expected to share this joy with him, and to have the opportunity to thank him again for the giving me the chance to work with him on the book. He was willing to take a chance on a writer whose only credentials he had seen to that point was some posts on the Internet. That writer is grateful.

I hope he knew that.

In general...

• Took time off yesterday with James and took him to see Batman Begins. He enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching him watch it.
• James went through our old Nintendo 64 games, a few old DVD's, and one or two other games and managed to garner about $32 in store credit at Electronics Boutique. So a game he wanted cost only $18. Not bad.
• Found that the box that held John's new monitor also had some components in it. Waiting for John to get back from camp before we put it all together.
• I am bound and determined to finish this one story and get it in the mail. It's a good story, and I want to finish it, but this is one of those times where writing is more work than fun.
• Speaking of the story, it looks like it will be longer than I expected, which means it might not go to the market I had in mind for it. Oh well...

"Blob" days

My friend Tina and I have talked about "blob" days recently...days where you don't feel like doing much of anything but sitting around and vegetating.

I had a day kind of like that today. I woke up - late - with a headache, not a good way to start out the day. Plus I tried to play Superwoman and tough it out without meds. This made me cranky.

I just could not get to work on my story today. I mean I have a lot of it plotted out, except for the end. But I simply could not get any words on the laptop today.

Well, maybe tomorrow I'll have more energy...

Adventures in computer building

In a moment of insanity, John and I decided to build the computer he will take to college. Getting advice from our preacher, who is also has a ton of computer knowledge, directed me to a website for parts.
If you are familiar with computer building, you know you have to buy EVERYTHING - drives, video/sound cards, motherboard, and a case to put it all in. We also ordered a monitor and fed it all into the website.
I quickly got email confirmation that two packages were being sent to the house. So, OK. A few days later, I get email confirmation that ANOTHER package is on its way. Huh? What's in the third package.
Thrusday I got 2 packages. One has the monitor. One has the (empty) case.
So I have a computer without a brain. :-)
At least I know what's in the third package.

Heinlein's Rules for Writers

1) You must write
2) You must finish what you write
3) You must not rewrite
4) You must mail what you write to a market
5) You must keep what you write in the mail until it sells.

Bad habits

Sometimes bad habits make a return visit. I admit to falling back into the old habit of staying up VERY late. Past three nights I've been up way past my "bedtime," at least twice way past midnight. Now I'm tired and yesterday I was extremely cranky. It also messes with my work ethic. I haven't finished my short story for the week yet, and if I don't get it done and out by the end of the week I'm going to be VERY disappointed in myself.

Time to fire up the cappucino machine...

Some random thoughts...

1) Do NOT read Stephen King's book, "Roadwork" (written under his penname, Richard Bachman) if you have anything to do. That particular one sucked me in and I HAD to finish it. Not even a horror story in the sense that anything supernatural happened. Just a book about a man's long, slow fall into insanity. King makes it work. It's very scary. And very compelling.

2) Ever feel like you're talking and no one is listening? That happens to me sometimes. I think it's a part of me that's self-centered because of course you want to think people are paying attention to you all the time when in reality they aren't. Doesn't mean you aren't valued, loved, etc. etc., but maybe they have things more important than you on their minds.
Come to think of it, who really DOES want people to pay attention to them all the time? Sometimes you want to be left alone! :-)

3) This weekend I actually unburied part of my office! It looks good, and coupled with a MASSIVE cleanout of my inbox it appears much more organized and ready for work. Now if I could get my brain jumpstarted...

Just some things to think about before bedtime...

Thought For the Day

"It's vital and perfectly appropriate to let God have the final word about everything but it is never right or safe to allow anyone -however popular- or anything -however pervasive- to move us from faithful allegiance to the whole counsel of God. Bigger congregations, friendlier relations, a better reputation and (an uneasy) "unity"--some things are bought at too great a price."

(Jim McGuiggan)