Why is replacing lamp lights so noisy? I’ve been listening to the workers outside try and replace the lamps on our floor (finally, it was the reason the office gave me that they wouldn’t replace any bulbs, either: “but, we’ll be installing new lamps anyway.” That was about 4 months ago. Since then, John and I have dubbed our lamp as the Zombie Light due to its constant flickering and horror-movie-affect), but why is there a need for electric saws or the girlish giggling, and the groaning and grunting I keep hearing?
Anyway, so I was flipping channels yesterday and I stumbled upon that Criss Angel show, just in time to see him gather some people in a park and preform a magic trick. The volunteer (a woman walking in the park) laid down on the park bench with two women (runners) holding her arms and legs. Criss Angel then did some magic stuff, you know, waved his hands over the womans torso and took deep breaths…and then the woman split in two. The top half began crawling away and the bottom half stood up. Interestingly, seeing the top half of a woman crawling away made my stomach flip-flop. Of course, he didn’t explain how he did it. I was trying to figure it out, but to no avail. Usually, the saw-someone-in-half trick has boxes, so that you can create an illusion, but this was just on a park bench and the weird thing was that the halves of the woman moved independently of each other. Was it all set up? A trick meant for television?
11:24 am | Category: Journal | 
| 2 Comments 
May 22, 2007:
“Small” bit of writer’s block?
Remember how I said I was suffering from a “small” bit of writer’s block? Let’s upgrade that to a red-alert, because it seems I’m staring at my computer screen. This is what happens when I begin to doubt myself or my characters. In fear, because I can’t restart it (I just can’t because I like where I’ve been going so far), I started writing a short story with Morgan in it in hopes of rediscovering her character. This didn’t help much either, because truth be told, I suck at short stories. I think short stories are much harder to write than novels. It’s very difficult for me to take one thought and make a 10,000 word-or-so complete story from it, especially in genre fiction where I tend to bubble up with ideas (even if I have difficulty getting from start to finish with those ideas).
Anyway, in the end, I decided to put Morgan aside for just a little while. I’m always scared to put things aside too long, because then I tend to move onto shinier, new things and when I finally do come back to an old project — sometimes months or years later than I originally thought — it’s all ancient and horrible, and I’ve totally lost the mojo for the story. So, I’ve been trying to be good and staple my hands to the keyboard (figuratively) and stay faithful to one story, but maybe it’s like having a favorite meal and then eating it every day for a year. You get tired of it and it isn’t your favorite anymore. Then you need to move on to another meal for a little while so you can like your favorite again.
Well, I tentatively opened a new word document for a new story, something I haven’t done in about 5 months, and decided to try and write a short story. Yipes, talk about going from the fire into the frying pan! Already I wonder how I’m supposed to fit all of this in only a [few?] dozen pages. But, it was the only idea I had that could fit as a short story. It’s also meant to be less serious and it goes back to the fantasy genre instead of sci-fi. The magic system is what I particularly like in it, because instead of the caster shouting out spells, the spell does it for them! Anyway, here’s a little tidbit:
I concentrated and in only a few seconds, the familiar warmth grew in my fingertips and infused my whole body. It was deliciously relaxing, but I didn’t let myself get distracted. I’d done this a few times. I imagined a symbol in my mind and then yelled, in a voice that steeped power and authority, “Talisman, in the name of Odar, reveal thyself!”
A deep, inhuman voice yelled back at me, coming from the piece of paper in my hand, “I AM CALIERGO, THE TALISMAN OF FIRE.”
A curvy, fancy rune appeared on the parchment and the voice continued, “TREMBLE BEFORE MY MIGHTY FLAMES!”
This was the only warning the stunned, fearful bandits had. Flames erupted from the talisman like water, flowing over the bandits, engulfing them and then immediately pulling back. The flames went back into the talisman as if someone was tugging on a rope, until not even a spark remained, and then the talisman turned into ashes and fell away. I brushed the soot from my hands and looked up. Where the bandits on horses had been, there was now nothing, not even a single hair or saddlebag. I felt a little guilty at not being able to get the loot back, but it was momentary.
A few bandits who had been ransacking nearby houses had stopped and watched the whole thing. They trembled with fear and I heard someone shout, “It’s a talisman witch! Grab what you can and run!”
I’m not quite sure I like how cheesy the talisman sounds. But then again, I’m not exactly sure I dislike it. Though, I may need to work on the Flame Talisman’s catch phrase. Oh boy. 
1:49 pm | Category: Writing | | No Comments
Blogroll added, and tinkering
I’m fiddling with the layout a little, so please excuse any oopsies you may see for the next 72 hours. Here’s a few things I’m trying to add (or have added):
- Blogroll of websites I read almost every day.*
- Fix reply to comments*
- Divide entries on blog more neatly*
- You no longer need to have a pre-approved comment in order to post however, I may change this back in the future depending on how much spam I get.
*
- Email sent to commenter when there’s a reply on their comment.*
- Installing RSS feed.*
- Changing my LJ.
- Subscription option to view private posts.
* Have finished and implemented this feature. 
8:44 am | Category: News | | No Comments
This is an odd post about my recent thoughts on the name “Jack” and how it’s a nicely versatile name. It goes with almost anything., and it rhymes with a helluva lot. Jack Black. Jack Kerouac. Jack Snack. Jack Hack. Jack Lack. Jack Mac. Jack Back. Jack Tack.
Ahem, anyway, it’s growing on me. I have yet to find a last name that doesn’t go with Jack. Even “Jack Bumblebee” could work, although the character may have difficulty being taken seriously. 
I know, it’s an odd post. I have hit a small (very small) bit of writer’s block, and thanks to a recent comment, I’m worried about my characters again. I need to get in touch with Morgan once more. I had her, and unfortunately my confidence waivered. As a result, I’m taking a small break from my novel to write a short story with Morgan in it (that’s the plan, anyway) and hopefully I’ll get a better grasp on her from that exercise.
11:32 pm | Category: Writing | | No Comments
May 8, 2007:
I’ll be graduating soon
Yup, I’m graduating and I’ll receive a bachelor of the arts in Creative Writing, with minors in English and Psychology. Four years of hard work have finally come to this point in my life. But, instead of jumping directly into the full time job market, I decided that I would take my degree one step further, and am applying for teaching certification. In a year or so, I hope to be in a high school classroom teaching English. While it’s a good choice, and a job that will allow me to write or travel during summers, and also move easier (teachers are required everywhere and English is becoming an international language), I wonder if my choice is simply to delay the inevitable for another year: that I’ll have to finally make decisions with my life. My plan has always been “finish college, finish college,” and here I stand at that point!
Mom wants me to go directly for my masters. Dad wants me to “prove myself an adult” and work full-time. John wants to move closer to his parents.
I don’t know what I want to do.
11:54 pm | Category: Journal | | 2 Comments
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