Read this quote in a thread on the SDMB. It's freaking hilarious!

"They told me if I voted for Gore, then gas prices would skyrocket, the government would get bigger, and the world would turn on America... and they were right!"

Thanks Mr2001 ;)

I can't believe it, I'm almost afraid to admit it...I agree with Howard Stern. *shudder* He had a lot to say this morning about the Michael Moore movie that's written about shrubya's dirty dealings and how it's being blocked from release by Disney for politically motivated reasons. Stern warned about the dick-tator and the future of our country if we don't disallow his abuse of our country. I can't believe it, I actually agree'd with everything he said. And I strongly support Kerry, obviously. He's the only hope for the future of America. And something scary, the guy who came up with and designed the electronic voting machines to be used in the next presidential election has come out and said publically that he supports shrubya and will do whatever he can to help him continue to be president. (0)_(0) Electronic voting. Get it? No paper trail, no recount. No way to recount. I feel this large wooden stick being inserted in the proverbial American anus, and shrubya's holding the other end with both hands and turning the nob with a giant shit-eating grin on his face. :(

I'll post cites to my sources shortly.

I should post this here because I had it backwards on the previous entry. The blog is for my personal life and interesting articles. My live journal is for my writing updates. From now on. ;)

Today I finished and posted my last assignments due for the 2YN course. Holy pretzels in a twist! It feels GOOD to be caught up. I didn't like having that looming over my head. And next week we move into the plotting portion of the course. I like plotting. And I'm sure the bulk of my worldbuilding will come in that section. I can't fight how I operate. What would be the point? *Pats self on the back* Yay me!

I'm behind in my novel writing course. We're just finishing up the worldbuilding section and I have 4 assignments to do before we move on. My problem? I can't figure worldbuilding out. Previously, my world came out when I wrote. Now we have to sit and map everything out before getting to the story. For me that's backwards. I consider the story and then the world. So the world fits the story and I'm not creating a whole bunch of erroneous stuff. My time is precious. So maybe that's why I'm not keen to worldbuild yet. But I promised myself I'd the course the way it's outlined. At least I learned I prefer to do it the other way around. What to do, what to do.

This past weekend afforded itself some time for my writing. Thank God, I was starting to go a little crazy. Alright, so I'm already crazy, but you know what I mean. I managed to finish a few assignments for my 2YN novel, which is tentatively titled The Prophecy. I've got 3 more assignments to do before I'm caught up, but they're generic worldbuilding assignments. I'll do them at my own pace. Today I'm going to try to write a scene about the "War of the Gods" which is backstory for The Prophecy. I'm pretty excited by it.

As far as Savage Eden is concerned, I'm writing an interview with Eden from the perspective of a reporter. It won't be in the book, but I need some help getting back into the character. I'm sick of not working on it. I don't know why I'm procrastinating . But I'll admit life's been a bit tedious lately.

I hate to admit it, but my vampire trilogy is drilling it's way back into my brain. This is the project I was working on last year. I shelved it to work on The Prophecy for the 2YN course. The project doesn't want to be shelved. It wants to be written. It's getting increasingly difficult for me to to put it off.

All other writing projects are shelved temporarily until I get caught up on my worldbuilding for The Prophecy. That means my articles have to wait.

Oh, and someone please remind me to critique my writing groups pieces before wednesday. Thanks! :)

It seems redundant for me to have two blogs. Well, a blog and a live journal. For some reason, I'm back and forth between the two, although I use my live journal more. It's just hard for me to say goodbye to my blog, designed by a friend. It's so beautiful. :(

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAAPA0U6SD.html

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH *shreiks at the impotent mindless stupid fucking dog-headed worthless good-for-nothing shrubya reckless dickless mindless, especially mindless, stupid stupid man!!!* I rue the next 8 months until we can kick this freak of everything good and holy right the fuck out of office. I shudder to think of how much more irreperable damage he can do in the next 8 months. *shudder*

If anyone who is not American ever happens to read this, please hear what I am about to say. We aren't all idiots. I repeat. Not all Americans are stupid. We don't support the tyrant who stears our country to ruin. We just can't kick him out until November. Please don't bare too big of a grudge against us.

A friend said to me the other night that he could appreciate what some of the germans went through during world war 2. This is in no way a pro-nazi sentiment. He was just saying, and I agree with him, that it feels helpless when your country is being ruined by a dictator-wannabe leader and his idiot minions. One can't help but feel helpless, and ashamed at the affiliation with that person, even if it is just in name. I can sympathize with the Dixi Chicks in saying they're ashamed he's from their state. I may not agree that they should have said it while overseas, but I agree with them. I'm ashamed that we could elect a bush like him. It's a sad sad day in American history.

An Ode to My Dear Old Blog. How do I miss thee, there isn't a number great enough. I choose you me dear friend. My blog! Seriously, I missed my blog. With the last few moments of conscious thought before I'm forced to slumber from fatigue, I thought I'd post my decision between live journal and blog. I choose both. Blog to store and post my inner dialogue and diatribe. My live journal to post private things like written chapters and verse and such. Plus, with live journal, I can view some of my friends journals who would otherwise be unavailable to me. So they both have their perks. I really missed my blog. Here it doesn't feel like everything I say is going to be viewed and broadcast to teeming masses of strange people I don't even know. I know, it's ironic. I can't explain it, my inner battery is about to die. Maybe some other time. But for those loyal legions of folks who were waiting with baited breath to see if I'd return, alas you can relax. I'm back and it's final. And man did I miss you guys!

I started a live journal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/anne1bn. I'll be posting there mostly for the time being, until I can decide which format, blog or live journal I prefer best. Then I'll use just the one format. If you're wondering where I am, I'll be there.

*Moo Tators!* Sorry, inside joke. For all and any who are wondering about my current affairs, I don't have any. Sorry, bad humor seems to be running rampant tonight. I need to do a timed writing and get some of the brown water out. Brown water is what I call the muddled jumbled brain waste, the cluttered coalesced incoherent cload or puddle (hence brown water) that sits on top of ones brain making it difficult or impossible to make intelligent sense. I get rid of this waste by doing timed writings where I can say/do/write about anything that I want to, un-edited for the allotted time. It really helps, I highly recommend it.

Today was a big push to re-work my website. I spent hours redoing it, and learned a ton about html script. By the stopping point I was checking entire pages of script for errors. It was a fantastic feeling. Tomorrow I'll try to finish it up, varifying content and such. I really want to start another chapter of Savage Eden tomorrow. My procrastinate bug is pissing me off, I'll squish it with words on the page asap.

I've re-connected with my crit group. I was on extended hiatus during the christmas season during my christmas crush. Now I'm back in action, critting when asked, and as cheeky as ever. Poor crit members. ;-)

I've got a job interview on monday. I'm excited about the prospects. It's working for a wonderful non-profit organization that is doing some really great and necessary work. While it's an administrative position, I still feel like I could help in some tangible way. *Fingers crossed* Although I'm really trying not to worry about it. My philosophy? If I was meant to work there, and we were really a good fit...then I'll get the job. If not, then it's for the best. Either way, I'll keep on ticking.

My mom got back from London tonight. Thank God, I missed her tons. It was fine without her here (other than the missing her part) until today when my step-dad, the ogre, yelled at my friend (who's staying with me for a little while) for not folding my step-dads underwear before putting them in the laundry basket from the dryer. I know, it makes no sense. I would never touch let alone fold my friend's dad's underwear. Yuck. He hardly knows the guy. But if you knew my step-dad, you'd understand. He's one of those people who were born as, lived as, and will always be an asshole. Sorry if you read this mom, but you know I'm not lying. He's mean to people. For no reason other than to be mean. But that's enough of my life wasted thinking about that sore pudder. Let the Oger live in his world, and I'll live in mine. But if he's ever mean to my friend again and I'm around, let's just say I won't be quiet.

Onto better and brighter things. I'm extremely excited about the 2 year novel writing course. I've put together a couple of databases to help me stay organized and explore my characters more deeply. I've started using the databases on Savage Eden, and it's so much clearer for me now. I'd pass it along to everyone I know except it's done in Microsoft Works. That's the only database software on my computer. It serves it's purpose. I'm not complaining. I just wish I could post copies on my website for folks to download, that's how helpful they've been. Maybe that'll be my next project. To find a way...hmm.

Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'm going to run along kiddies. Off I go to the monkey show.

European Union Imposes Sanction on U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/01/eu.sanctions/index.html

"(CNN) -- The European Commission has launched retaliatory trade measures against the United States that will cost American companies hundreds of millions.

The sanctions are intended to compensate European businesses for a U.S. tax break scheme for American exporters that was ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization (WTO) last year."

Looks like Shrubya's tax cuts were not only illegal, but are now going to be costing the working class american's who grow the food and raise the cattle being banned for export their livelihoods.

9 months and counting to the presidential election and new hope for our future as a nation.

Peace and Love.

Man, do I feel good about my writing or what. At 1:30am last night/this morning I finished the last chapter for my Jan/Feb 2004 Writing Dare at FM. The chapter came out to 1,711 words. Oh thank heaven for 7-11. ;-) For some reason, I've really been able to turn on the juice this past week. One day I wrote 2,337 words. Last night I wrote 1,711. My norm is around 500 words a day. So I've really been smoking. I think having a deadline helps me get motivated. My problem is that I always wait until the last minute to get shaking. I've been like this my whole life. It's annoying. How can I change it? I know, I know...just do it. I'm going to try to get back to the "Eat the Frog" mantra I discussed earlier in my blog. On that note, I've got work to to. Tiddles ya'll. ;-)

I realize there's been a lot of political sniping and banter going on lately. My guess is it's because of the high stakes in this years upcoming presidential election. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. I realize this. But I wouldn't feel good about myself if I didn't comment about this article.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/index.html

Who does he think he is?! The almighty Shrubya wants to make a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. He says we have to stop the idea of marriage from changing. I say we have to stop him from being president for another term, and ensuring America's place as the perverbial shit on the heel of the world. In the name of everything holy and pure, please let this be the last nail in this idiot's coffin. After everything he's done to our environment, our position in the international political arena, and our economy and gross domestic product...why does anyone need ANOTHER reason to get rid of him?

What a month it's been. I've laughed, I've cried. ;-) This month I've gone through job interviews, and signed up with a temp company. I had my 25th birthday on the 18th. And let me tell you, it was the best birthday I've had in YEARS. I got to spend it with my best friend and my family. We had a great time! I've done some shopping this month, and that felt really good. I have some great new digs. I've been writing away on Savage Eden for the Jan/Feb 2004 Writing Dare at FM. I'm participating at the novice level, so I've managed to squeeze it in amongst my comings and goings. Yesterday I managed two write two chapters for a total of 2,337 words. For me, that's fantastic. I've also been working steadily on my 'Only a Novel' course novel. I've put together a notebook, and I'm getting ready to do some serious work on my characters.
The biggest thing that's happened to me this month is -- my best friend has moved to Virginia from Tennessee, and is staying with me at my parents house until he can find a job and a place of his own. He's been here a couple of weeks, and we're doing pretty well. Normally I get bored easily, and was worried I'd get sick of him. But he's been pleasant to have around, and I've enjoyed the time we've had together. My parents enjoy him as well.

"Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are stupider than that."
-George Carlin

Now read this: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=236970

If I could be anywhere in the world right at this very exact moment, i would like to be in Bali. I don't know if it's day or night there right now, but I do know that whichever it is, I'd love to be laying in the warm soft sand. Languishing in the warm gentle breezes. Sipping on coconut milk. Smiling from ear to ear.

Today marked the beginning of my earnest job hunt. I updated my resume, applied online at a local temp firm, and updated my resume and job search agents at monster.com. Tomorrow morning I would like to get myself to apply to 5 jobs, first thing. I heard this great metaphor, eating the frog. Job hunting is me eating the frog. Apparently (according to a post on FM) someone somewhere says that if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you're gaurantee'd that it's the worst thing you'll do all day. After that, it's cake. So...yeah. That's that.

We are in the middle of a bonafide winter storm here in northern virginia. It started sunday night with 6-8 " of snow. Then the next day we had flurries all day. And today we had ice storms. A fine mist of rain fell all day, and froze immediately upon contact. The trees look like ice sculptures. The snow is burried under a layer of ice. Hell, everything's burried. It's quite beautiful actually. I busted out the video camera and caught it on film.

As far as my writing goes, I'm trudging along on Savage Eden. I'm participating in this months writing dare. I need to complete 4 chapters of 1K each by the end of february. Not hard really, I'm just very scatter brained lately. We're in week 4 of Zette's novel writing course, and I'm as stoked as ever. I love the story idea, and it's still in it's infantile stages. But I've had some really fantastic ideas pop into my head. Speaking of head, I'm getting these terrible headaches on a regular basis. Every day. They're borderline migraines. They're killing me. Too bad I can't take aspirin. The stuff makes me sick. Pretty ironic, actually. :( I hope they go away. *Fingers Crossed*

Other than that, I've started reading the 'Outlander' series by Diana Gabaldon. Talk about good books! Diana, as a writer and a reader, I take my hat off to you and bow low. Once I pick one up I can't put it back down. Which is rough considering they're over 700+ pages each. Maybe that's why I have headaches! ;-) Kidding. The characters, the world, the premise...kudos to the author. I can only strive to be that good.

I'm also reading the 3rd book in Neal Donald Walshes (sp?) 'Conversations With God' series. I love these books. They're so inspiring to me. I know there's a lot of people who would read something like that and think it's a farse, or they might not be able to swallow a lot of the ideas. What can I say to that? Don't knock the books...you might want to look at your own self for fault. Stretch your minds, consider the possibilities, and lighten up. People are so quick to go fanatic for their beleifs. Who are they to tell anyone else what is and isn't "correct." If you're not God, I don't want to hear it. Capeesh? ;-)

On that merry note, I'm going to try to go back to bed. I've been tossing and turning for hours. It's not working. Maybe I'll read some more. Broaden my horizons. Give myself some more hope. Good health and high spirits to all!

It's been nearly a month since I last posted here. I've well over due. Christmas went off without a hitch, and everyone had a tremendous time. My long journey north via Tennessee was unbearably long. I'm lucky to have made it with my sanity intact. The reward of reaching each of my intended destinations was worth the effort, however. Now it's the New Years and I've started Zette's 2 Year Novel Course. With great excitement. I was trying to come up with an idea to use, and seemed to get stuck raking through all of the ideas I'd already had in the works. I wanted to avoid using an idea I'd already touched on, in order to reap the biggest benefit from taking the course. So I sat down with pen in hand and wrote down everything I want to read in a story, everything that really gets me excited. And man, I'm blown away by the idea I came up with. There's sex, violence, ancient culture, magic, adventures, deserts, jungles, relics...you name it and I've got it. I can't wait to see how the story develops and unfolds during the course of the course. Pardon the pun. I've come up with some great ideas for the story, the hardest part is trying to keep myself from getting too far ahead.