Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 25
November 1, 2015
Ethel guided her horse down the corridor, then coaxed it to climb the grand staircase to her bedroom
It's that time of month.
Year I should say.
You know all about it I'm sure.
The time of year Jack becomes more of a Hobbit than she typically is.
NaNo.
As I normally do I switched NaNo books at the last minute. Because I'm like that.
The one I am doing I got the idea for while reading about some of the POWs during WWII. While it wasn't their mission to sabotage the Germans they certainly took advantage of it when they had the chance, and I felt that it wouldn't be that much of a stretch for a special mission for sabotage to be set up.
From that idea grew my book, titled Second POW Camp to the Right. (The POWs selected for the mission are referred to as the Lost Boys and each given a code name of one of Peter Pan's band.)
While there will be a serious side to the story I want it to have more of a lighthearted feel. Because while the POWs in Germany were certainly in danger, especially when they escaped and terrorized soldiers, they did seem to enjoy their antics. (Example? Research Mad Jack Churchill.)
In other words, I want to tell a story about the POWs and how they refused to stop fighting the war even when locked up and under constant guard.
This book has a large cast but will be told mainly from just three view points. I thought I'd give you a quick glimpse at each of the three characters.
1st Petty Officer Thomas Haines: Tommy was a sailor fighting in the Pacific before he was recruited to spend the remainder of the war in a POW camp. Known as a fearless officer by his men, he's also a prankster and picked pockets between battles. Tommy is never afraid to speak his mind and can be hard to get along with at times, but is well liked by almost everyone he meets.
Zack Parker: A Canadian who flew as a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force before he was recruited. Zack likes people and people like Zack. If someone isn't instantly his friend Zack will start to believe he's done something horribly offensive and will go out of his way to make right whatever he didn't do wrong in the first place. In the Air Force Zack was a skilled pilot known for pulling unnecessary maneuvers just to boast his men's confidence.
Oberleutant Rudy Fritz: Formerly of the Luftwaffe, Rudy was promoted to work at the POW camp. This happened because he was an excellent soldier, but the German Air Force was being frowned upon in 1944 - when my book takes place. His uncle wanted to get him into another branch where the family name wouldn't be sneered at, but no other branch wanted a pilot and he could only get him transferred as a guard. Rudy is a traitor to the Third Reich but only the POWs and the man behind the whole operation knows about it. Done with the war, Rudy has a low tolerance for his fellow guards - and for just about everyone he meets. Likable in his own way, he likes to keep to himself. Usually when he's around anyone else he becomes snarky. I'm becoming attached to Rudy. He reminds me of a nice Puddleglum or a not depressed Eeyore.
And for today that is all I have. If anyone would like, my NaNo page can be found HERE!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote is again from Vango, because I really love that book.
Year I should say.
You know all about it I'm sure.
The time of year Jack becomes more of a Hobbit than she typically is.
NaNo.
As I normally do I switched NaNo books at the last minute. Because I'm like that.
The one I am doing I got the idea for while reading about some of the POWs during WWII. While it wasn't their mission to sabotage the Germans they certainly took advantage of it when they had the chance, and I felt that it wouldn't be that much of a stretch for a special mission for sabotage to be set up.
From that idea grew my book, titled Second POW Camp to the Right. (The POWs selected for the mission are referred to as the Lost Boys and each given a code name of one of Peter Pan's band.)
While there will be a serious side to the story I want it to have more of a lighthearted feel. Because while the POWs in Germany were certainly in danger, especially when they escaped and terrorized soldiers, they did seem to enjoy their antics. (Example? Research Mad Jack Churchill.)
In other words, I want to tell a story about the POWs and how they refused to stop fighting the war even when locked up and under constant guard.
This book has a large cast but will be told mainly from just three view points. I thought I'd give you a quick glimpse at each of the three characters.
1st Petty Officer Thomas Haines: Tommy was a sailor fighting in the Pacific before he was recruited to spend the remainder of the war in a POW camp. Known as a fearless officer by his men, he's also a prankster and picked pockets between battles. Tommy is never afraid to speak his mind and can be hard to get along with at times, but is well liked by almost everyone he meets.
Zack Parker: A Canadian who flew as a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force before he was recruited. Zack likes people and people like Zack. If someone isn't instantly his friend Zack will start to believe he's done something horribly offensive and will go out of his way to make right whatever he didn't do wrong in the first place. In the Air Force Zack was a skilled pilot known for pulling unnecessary maneuvers just to boast his men's confidence.
Oberleutant Rudy Fritz: Formerly of the Luftwaffe, Rudy was promoted to work at the POW camp. This happened because he was an excellent soldier, but the German Air Force was being frowned upon in 1944 - when my book takes place. His uncle wanted to get him into another branch where the family name wouldn't be sneered at, but no other branch wanted a pilot and he could only get him transferred as a guard. Rudy is a traitor to the Third Reich but only the POWs and the man behind the whole operation knows about it. Done with the war, Rudy has a low tolerance for his fellow guards - and for just about everyone he meets. Likable in his own way, he likes to keep to himself. Usually when he's around anyone else he becomes snarky. I'm becoming attached to Rudy. He reminds me of a nice Puddleglum or a not depressed Eeyore.
And for today that is all I have. If anyone would like, my NaNo page can be found HERE!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote is again from Vango, because I really love that book.
October 28, 2015
"Should I untie the horse from the piano on the second floor?"
Part Two of my Adventure:
Wherein Jack did the tourist thing, took a ton of pictures, and is now showing them to all of you.
I'm bad at picture taking, but I promised everyone I'd do it - those who knew I was going to San Francisco - and then that I would share them. So here they are....
This is where I parked the first time. The houses in this are were pretty, but it was a shifty neighborhood. The one where I thought I'd come back to find Ben's car no longer had wheels
See? Fantastic houses. Sure there are no yards and your neighbors are close enough to say "Bless you" when you sneeze, but LOOK at how pretty the house is!
There was always someone around to laugh at me when I'd stop, set my book down at my feet, and snap pictures at the houses I liked best. (This was one of my favourites.) I could see the "Judging tourist" look in their eyes. So I'd just grin and take a few steps down the street and stop for another picture.
I want some of these. Not sure what they are, but I'd love to have them hanging from my porch
See?! So pretty
The houses reminded me of what you'd find back east.
This one was amazing. It was near the upper part of town. I was afraid some millionaire would come out and have me arrested for taking pictures of his house. Probably think I was stalking the place for a midnight robbery
But seriously, look at this guy's house! And his tree. (He had a small yard. Millionaire, I'm telling you.)
I took pictures while driving. (Not WHILE driving. While stopped at lights. Again, I got the tourist sneer from fellow drivers.)
These were on a lot of the corners I passed while heading to the bridge. I think they were apartments, but I loved the rounded rooms. Some of the buildings were prettier than others, this was a boring one, but they were all shaped like this
Stop light
A round room would be fun
I liked the colorful houses best. The ones squished between all the boring white ones
Again while stopped at a light
This room would be fun as well.
SAIL BOAT!
And...THE BRIDGE!
This was a cool fortress I stumbled on when I parked the car.
Smog, my friends. SMOG! (For a girl from the backwoods of that state no one thinks exists smog is pretty cool.)
San Francisco from the fortress. I felt like Louie looking at the city while he was stuck at the POW camp.
This was a mount on the fortress were huge cannons used to stand. I was sad they'd been removed
Possibly a powder room? (Gun powder, not a bathroom.)
At the top looking at the bottom.
What can I say? The fortress was cool so I took tons of pictures
There was a family on top of this one. They'd just passed and took a moment to snicker at me as I ran around like a little girl in a candy shop. I might have been grinning like a nut
The doors were all locked 8-(
I climbed up that ladder. That one he is coming down. There were two Chinese men on the one next to it and they watched me to see if I'd be able to get up in one piece while wearing a skirt. I might have smirked a little when I arrived at the top
Another mount
This was the beach I wanted to get to. I ALMOST went down the cliff side but I was wearing one of my nice, favourite skirts which is really old and might not have survived the decent
The NOT nude beach
It was stepper than it looks in my picture. It was a drop off, so much fun to stand on the edge of
Bridge from the fortress
I zoomed in because I didn't think I'd be able to get any closer
ADORABLE SAIL BOATS!
I got closer than expected
A fort I couldn't get to because I didn't have a boat
This tunnel led down to another, NOT nude, popular beach. I didn't go that way, I just went through the tunnel. I didn't want to walk that far, but ended up there after I passed through the nude beach
I got this through the fence. This is kind of what it looked like when I was under it, only MUCH higher over my head.
The other side. Only bikes can go on this side, didn't know that and almost got run over.
Cruse ship and barge. (Spelled wrong? Wrong kind of boat. Likely. I'm not a sailor. Don't tell Haddock.)
I got even closer
LOOK! An underwater current!! How cool is that?! You could see it from the bridge
ON the bridge
The fort I didn't want to climb down to
Decided to get pictures from the bridge to make up for the fact I didn't want to spend the time getting to it. (HAHA)
Over the railing. My stomach dropped at this point. It's still down there.
The first arch.
Ever seen George of the Jungle? This is where he swung from. I had horrible images of myself doing that and screaming in terror the whole time
UNDER the first arch. Oh yeah, I was there.
UNDER again
There was a ton of traffic but I managed a shot between cars. Be impressed.
Down to the beach. See that railing on the side of the steps? That was where I stepped when I slipped in front of the three young men - only not at that spot. It was further down and the side had more of a drop off
Still on the path down
Final staircase
BEACH!
This boat was being shifty. It stayed in that area for an hour or two. It couldn't get to shore because of the rocks, so he just hovered. I was suspicious
Cool rocky beach
The nude beach was down that way
Tide coming in and the birds. Two were crippled and hobbled around together
The cliff I wanted to go up
I did see a man going up it, right before the nude beach. I get why he did now
Such a tempting climb
This was past the nude beach, in the safety of the rocks. This is where I started to dodge the tide. I relieved the moment in The Black Island Tintin book when he was trapped in the cave with the tide about to drown him. I avoided all caves
THE FORT!
CANNONS!
WINDING STAIRCASE!
SERIOUSLY! LOOK HOW COOL THIS PLACE WAS!
Almost worth a nude beach. (Not really, but almost.)
Some parts looked like a huge oven
The rooms
One still had the bed
I would so live in a fort if I could have a room like this
Front of the room
Spooky hallway
POWDER ROOM!
Beach side houses on the way back to the car
At this point I was DYING of thirst. Hadn't expected my adventure to take so long so I hadn't taken water
An amazing church on the way back to the concert
This adorable, old fashioned barber shop in the middle of huge, new buildings.
The cables for the let down trollys
That bus is the trolly
See? No rails. No way to run and jump on board. Just a bus with a cable. Such a disappointment. I'd made plans to jump on a trolly
I was so sad I took several pictures to document the letdown of trollys. This was while waiting outside the concert building. The others in line didn't know what to make of me taking pictures of buses.
The line for the concert
I couldn't get a front picture of the building without losing my place in line so I did side snaps
CARVINGS!
This is how I imagined trollys
I didn't get pictures of the actual concert. I had things on top of my camera and if I'd pulled it out they would have fallen. And there wasn't room to pick them up without getting stepped on. So I didn't get any. But it was AMAZING!
My hotel room...with a KING bed. All to myself. First time it's ever happened. I totally threw myself on the bed.
On the way home I stopped in this cute town and visited a farmer's market to try and find a pumpkin. I didn't, but I got nice pictures.
And that is the end of my pictures! Hope you enjoyed!
I realized I accidentally used a quote twice in a row. But here's a new one, also from Vango. (This quote should make you want to read the book, because there are things like this in both books. Just unexpected stuff and you go along with it because it is Vango's life.)
Wherein Jack did the tourist thing, took a ton of pictures, and is now showing them to all of you.
I'm bad at picture taking, but I promised everyone I'd do it - those who knew I was going to San Francisco - and then that I would share them. So here they are....
This is where I parked the first time. The houses in this are were pretty, but it was a shifty neighborhood. The one where I thought I'd come back to find Ben's car no longer had wheels
See? Fantastic houses. Sure there are no yards and your neighbors are close enough to say "Bless you" when you sneeze, but LOOK at how pretty the house is!
There was always someone around to laugh at me when I'd stop, set my book down at my feet, and snap pictures at the houses I liked best. (This was one of my favourites.) I could see the "Judging tourist" look in their eyes. So I'd just grin and take a few steps down the street and stop for another picture.
I want some of these. Not sure what they are, but I'd love to have them hanging from my porch
See?! So pretty
The houses reminded me of what you'd find back east.
This one was amazing. It was near the upper part of town. I was afraid some millionaire would come out and have me arrested for taking pictures of his house. Probably think I was stalking the place for a midnight robbery
But seriously, look at this guy's house! And his tree. (He had a small yard. Millionaire, I'm telling you.)
I took pictures while driving. (Not WHILE driving. While stopped at lights. Again, I got the tourist sneer from fellow drivers.)
These were on a lot of the corners I passed while heading to the bridge. I think they were apartments, but I loved the rounded rooms. Some of the buildings were prettier than others, this was a boring one, but they were all shaped like this
Stop light
A round room would be fun
I liked the colorful houses best. The ones squished between all the boring white ones
Again while stopped at a light
This room would be fun as well.
SAIL BOAT!
And...THE BRIDGE!
This was a cool fortress I stumbled on when I parked the car.
Smog, my friends. SMOG! (For a girl from the backwoods of that state no one thinks exists smog is pretty cool.)
San Francisco from the fortress. I felt like Louie looking at the city while he was stuck at the POW camp.
This was a mount on the fortress were huge cannons used to stand. I was sad they'd been removed
Possibly a powder room? (Gun powder, not a bathroom.)
At the top looking at the bottom.
What can I say? The fortress was cool so I took tons of pictures
There was a family on top of this one. They'd just passed and took a moment to snicker at me as I ran around like a little girl in a candy shop. I might have been grinning like a nut
The doors were all locked 8-(
I climbed up that ladder. That one he is coming down. There were two Chinese men on the one next to it and they watched me to see if I'd be able to get up in one piece while wearing a skirt. I might have smirked a little when I arrived at the top
Another mount
This was the beach I wanted to get to. I ALMOST went down the cliff side but I was wearing one of my nice, favourite skirts which is really old and might not have survived the decent
The NOT nude beach
It was stepper than it looks in my picture. It was a drop off, so much fun to stand on the edge of
Bridge from the fortress
I zoomed in because I didn't think I'd be able to get any closer
ADORABLE SAIL BOATS!
I got closer than expected
A fort I couldn't get to because I didn't have a boat
This tunnel led down to another, NOT nude, popular beach. I didn't go that way, I just went through the tunnel. I didn't want to walk that far, but ended up there after I passed through the nude beach
I got this through the fence. This is kind of what it looked like when I was under it, only MUCH higher over my head.
The other side. Only bikes can go on this side, didn't know that and almost got run over.
Cruse ship and barge. (Spelled wrong? Wrong kind of boat. Likely. I'm not a sailor. Don't tell Haddock.)
I got even closer
LOOK! An underwater current!! How cool is that?! You could see it from the bridge
ON the bridge
The fort I didn't want to climb down to
Decided to get pictures from the bridge to make up for the fact I didn't want to spend the time getting to it. (HAHA)
Over the railing. My stomach dropped at this point. It's still down there.
The first arch.
Ever seen George of the Jungle? This is where he swung from. I had horrible images of myself doing that and screaming in terror the whole time
UNDER the first arch. Oh yeah, I was there.
UNDER again
There was a ton of traffic but I managed a shot between cars. Be impressed.
Down to the beach. See that railing on the side of the steps? That was where I stepped when I slipped in front of the three young men - only not at that spot. It was further down and the side had more of a drop off
Still on the path down
Final staircase
BEACH!
This boat was being shifty. It stayed in that area for an hour or two. It couldn't get to shore because of the rocks, so he just hovered. I was suspicious
Cool rocky beach
The nude beach was down that way
Tide coming in and the birds. Two were crippled and hobbled around together
The cliff I wanted to go up
I did see a man going up it, right before the nude beach. I get why he did now
Such a tempting climb
This was past the nude beach, in the safety of the rocks. This is where I started to dodge the tide. I relieved the moment in The Black Island Tintin book when he was trapped in the cave with the tide about to drown him. I avoided all caves
THE FORT!
CANNONS!
WINDING STAIRCASE!
SERIOUSLY! LOOK HOW COOL THIS PLACE WAS!
Almost worth a nude beach. (Not really, but almost.)
Some parts looked like a huge oven
The rooms
One still had the bed
I would so live in a fort if I could have a room like this
Front of the room
Spooky hallway
POWDER ROOM!
Beach side houses on the way back to the car
At this point I was DYING of thirst. Hadn't expected my adventure to take so long so I hadn't taken water
An amazing church on the way back to the concert
This adorable, old fashioned barber shop in the middle of huge, new buildings.
The cables for the let down trollys
That bus is the trolly
See? No rails. No way to run and jump on board. Just a bus with a cable. Such a disappointment. I'd made plans to jump on a trolly
I was so sad I took several pictures to document the letdown of trollys. This was while waiting outside the concert building. The others in line didn't know what to make of me taking pictures of buses.
The line for the concert
I couldn't get a front picture of the building without losing my place in line so I did side snaps
CARVINGS!
This is how I imagined trollysI didn't get pictures of the actual concert. I had things on top of my camera and if I'd pulled it out they would have fallen. And there wasn't room to pick them up without getting stepped on. So I didn't get any. But it was AMAZING!
My hotel room...with a KING bed. All to myself. First time it's ever happened. I totally threw myself on the bed.
On the way home I stopped in this cute town and visited a farmer's market to try and find a pumpkin. I didn't, but I got nice pictures.
And that is the end of my pictures! Hope you enjoyed!
I realized I accidentally used a quote twice in a row. But here's a new one, also from Vango. (This quote should make you want to read the book, because there are things like this in both books. Just unexpected stuff and you go along with it because it is Vango's life.)
October 25, 2015
Boulard nearly hanged himself with the telephone cable.
Wherein Jack went on an adventure and could have gotten into a ton of trouble if a park ranger didn't have such a good sense of humor.
I might have to make this into two parts. Unless you all think I'm clever and witty enough to pull off a book length post without losing your interest and making you wish you could stop reading and get dinner. And let's face it, only a few story tellers could pull that off.
I will start with the beginning. Because as a general rule Authors try to do that.
Before I moved my friend, her sisters, and I would go on adventures. Sometimes we would drive up to a lake and climb around the rocks and look for pirates and Dragons. It was great, we loved it, but on the drive there and back we could never agree what music to listen to. We'd spend the whole trip flipping through songs and stations.
During one of our last treasure hunts I had in one of the newest Owl City CDs I had bought. On the way back we rolled down the windows and bounced over the rutted road with his songs playing.That was when my friend told me I'd finally found good music.
That's one of the best memories I have with her. Us tired from scrambling over rocks, the rare Wyoming warmth, and her bobbing her head to Owl City. (When Can I See You Again? It was one of our favorites after that.)
When she died I didn't want to listen to his music for a while. I listened to Josh Groban's CDs and cried over them. But my friend was kind of the complete opposite of me. While I would like to sit snuggled up with a good book she would run around and DO things. Anything and everything. Just so long as it was fun and exciting. And I had a feeling she'd be displeased if I spent so much time crying instead of going out and going on adventures.
Since I still couldn't listen to the Owl City CDs we listened to together without sobbing I bought a new one. The Midsummer Station. Of course, some of the songs in that CD make me cry sometimes, especially Gold which reminds me a lot of her.
To make this part of my story a little shorter, over the past few weeks and month or so I've started to listen to the older CDs again. Sometimes I will listen to When Can I See You Again?
One evening, it was during my last week at my second job, I for some reason looked on the Owl City website. I don't even remember why now. I think I was just trying to keep myself awake. While skimming over the site I realized Adam Young would be on tour, in San Francisco. And the tickets didn't cost an arm and a leg like I have found other concert tickets to.
I almost got the ticket, but since I'd just lost my job I decided not to. Rent and all that boring stuff. Also I didn't have enough for gas for the drive down. I was disappointed but since I couldn't go I didn't give it much thought. I figured if he came out here this tour it must mean he'd do so again someday and I'd go that day.
That was before my friends surprised me with enough for gas and a ticket. I may have shed some tears....it was probably one of the nicest gifts anyone has ever given me.
The concert was in the evening, so I decided I would go down extra early and explore San Francisco since I'd never been there. (Or been there years ago, I can't remember if I went there or somewhere else once.) I didn't even really have plans. Just go down and have an adventure. The sort of thing my friend would have found funny. The kind of mishap I would have written home to her about.
If only I knew.
I woke up at five thirty and set off in the pitch black in my friend Ben's borrowed car. My car got health issues at the last second so Ben loaned me her car. I was a little wary taking it. I don't mind driving in big cities - I've driven in every big city back east - but they're not my favorite and I had a feeling I'd end up squishing her new car and she'd banish me to Siberia. (I did make it there and back with no mishaps to the car, though I might have played race car going around some of the sharp corners....)
Nothing exciting really happened on the way down. I did have to stop at a Troll Bridge and give up some money. I guess San Francisco is one of those cities where it is so fabulous you have to pay to get it. Or maybe they just love their bridge and believe they can charge a little extra to allow you to be in the same city as it. Maybe they pave the streets with five dollar bills. Who knows? I'm not a troll so I don't know how any of that works.
Once inside the city I managed to get myself turned around - my GPS thinks I'm an idiot and only mildly tolerates me. I thought I was were the concert would be, so I parked with the idea I'd explore the rolling streets, jump on a tramcar, see what San Francisco was all about, and make it back two hours before the concert. I'd then find a seat right up front to the stage, claim a nice seat, and read my book while I waited. (Just wait, you can see how well that plan worked out.)
The first idea I had that I was at the wrong place was how shifty everyone watched me when I got out of the car. When I locked it up and set out to explore I had a horrible image of coming back hours later to find the tires gone. Again, I thought of banishment to Siberia.
Unsure of where to go, I started walking. I couldn't find any tramcars, but I did find a market area. And suddenly I felt as if I'd dropped into Mexico. Everywhere I looked, Hispanics, and there I was, the only white girl for who knew how far. I might have clung to my lunch a little tighter and gotten the glint in my eyes I think I get when I feel outnumbered. The look of, "I can break your knee if you try anything. Don't push me."
After I circled the streets, left the shifty area and snapped pictures of some of the pretty houses, panicked because I couldn't remember where I parked the car, I decided I should go down and see the Golden Gate Bridge. After all, how often would I be in the city?
It was on the way back I passed by the address where the concert was and realized I'd gotten the wrong street all together. Which made sense, because I couldn't imagine Adam Young selecting a shady part of San Francisco to hold the concert.
The best part of my adventures happened at the bridge.
I found a nice place to park and set off on foot. That's when I became a tourist. The moment I saw the bridge I started sapping pictures. I walked up and down paths, found a tunnel which went under the busy road, and when I came up the other side realized you could walk onto the bridge without the trolls getting you. (They only cared about the cars.) So off I went, pausing sometimes so I could peer over the railing at the massive drop. My stomach might have dropped the whole distance.
I walked out to the first archway. I almost went across the whole of the bridge but wanted to find a beach so I could look for shells. (Just wait, the beach is where the mishaps really start.)
Below the bridge was a fort I wanted to explore, but the road there was a ways off and by then I wanted to find the car and the beach and then head back to the city. I returned to the car, and when I reached it I realized I had parked close to a path which went down to the beach.
Down I went. Down a steep stairway. Down the side of a cliff. A steep cliff. (You get the idea. Just keep that pictured in your head. Steep stairway and cliff.)
Sometimes on the way down I'd pass people coming up. We'd smile at each other, I'd nod, and we'd keep going. Most of the time it was just one or two people. But then these three young men came up. They were nice and moved over as far as they could so we could pass. But as the first one passed me I decided I would be nice. I decided I would walk down the little railing thing which lined the stairs.
I didn't count on it being slippery. The moment I placed one foot on it that foot slid out from under me. Arms flailing, I tried to catch my balance as three young men called out their concern - I was on the side with the cliff drop off - and three pairs of hands reached out to keep me from falling. Somehow I didn't fall on my face, I just stammered my thanks to the three young men and apologized. (Because when I do something awkward I tend to say sorry a couple times as I awkwardly scramble off.)
No wait, it gets even better. (Okay, more awkward I guess.)
I reached the beach at last. It was a cove with rocks all over the place. With the tide coming in I walked close to the waves, down the beach, drenching my boots. I loved it. And down the beach I went, watching the sailboats, enjoying the crash of waves, running up the sand when the salt water came after me.
I was lost in my own little world. But of course, I also liked to look up the cliff and the path at the top of it. That's when I saw them. People, in the sun...with no clothes on. Somehow, while chasing waves, I'd come across a nude beach with no warning.
To be honest I've always thought nude beaches were made up and didn't exist. I was proven wrong and the ocean suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world. With my eyes fixed on it, I all but ran past the sun bathers. (I was covered almost head to foot in clothing. I had dressed for cold weather, so I had put on tights, socks, boots, skirt, and a sweater. I think the sunbathers were silently judging me, but since it was a two sided judging I didn't give it a lot of thought.)
Don't ask me why I didn't turn around and go back the way I'd come. Once I saw them I just ducked and all but ran. I didn't waste time thinking.
I went on until I came to the end of the beach. In front of me was a barrage of rocks, behind me nude men. I took the rocks.
With the tide coming in, the rocks went and covered with clams, my boots slippery, I started over them. I went slowly. The last thing I wanted was to slip and have naked men come to see if I was all right. I had to dodge the rising tide, and once I'd gotten past the bigger rocks I ran into some annoyed crabs who felt I shouldn't have been on their beach.
At the other side of the rocks was a much smaller beach. I realized I'd arrived at the beach which had been closed off. But still, naked men, so I went on. I came to a rock wall, up on top were No Trespassing signs. I hoped if I stayed at the low end of the wall I'd not be in the place they didn't want me to trespass into.
The tide was coming in faster by then. The spray came up to get me and I ran past the wall - and found myself UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge. In that moment I saw policemen coming out of the locked door. I saw myself in handcuffs and then in a jailhouse, having to explain to someone why I'd disobeyed the law of NEVER EVER going under the bridge.
By the way, it is creepy under the bridge. It rose high up over my head and I ALMOST stopped to get a picture so I'd forever have proof. I decided against it though. It might have looked worse if a guard had shown up and I was there snapping pictures in a place I shouldn't have been.
After I gave it some thought - I REALLY didn't want to go back through the nude beach - I ventured on. I decided if a guard did show up I'd explain everything that had happened.
At the other side of the bridge I saw a gate blocking off my escape. There was a path but at the top of it a No Trespassing sign clearly barred the way. In the end I figured it would be better just to go and turn myself in. If I got yelled at I'd take the punishment. And if the guard ordered me to go back the way I'd come I'd explain about the naked men and beg to be let through the gate.
At the other side of the gate was the fort I'd spied from the bridge. (The one I hadn't wanted to spend the time walking down to.) A park ranger stood at the entrance of the fort and I shyly waved to him. "I got a little lost," I said as he walked over to the gate.
(I had my hair in two braids which I think helped me look like an innocent little girl who'd somehow ended up in a place which should have been impossible to reach.)
With a mild smirk, he pulled out his keys. "We'll both just pretend you didn't see the signs," he said as he unlocked the gate.
I thanked him and left the forbidden beach as fast as I could. I then figured I'd go into the fort since I was there. (It was very cool by the way.) On the way out the guard - who reminded me a lot of my Mercenary Friend - again smirked and said goodbye. (I'm so happy some people still have senses of humor.)
After that adventure I went back to the car and drove to the right address. I then sat out on the street with all the other concert goers, read about Vango, and shivered in the cold, damp air until we were allowed to go in.
The concert was fun. Adam Young is quiet in person and he didn't say much, except to thank us all over and over again. But he sang a ton and it was just tons of fun to go and listen and SEE him in person. He even sang my favorite song by him, which made the whole thing even better.
The whole day was just really nice and fun and enjoyable. I even got to spend the night in a hotel - a king bed all to myself - before coming back home this morning.
I have a ton of pictures but I will save them for the next post, since this one is already long.
Right now I am going to go to bed. I was awake for eighteen hours yesterday - and most of it spent on my feet - so I'm still tired even though I got to sleep in this morning.
Quote is from Vango, the police inspector who was having a horrible day.
I might have to make this into two parts. Unless you all think I'm clever and witty enough to pull off a book length post without losing your interest and making you wish you could stop reading and get dinner. And let's face it, only a few story tellers could pull that off.
I will start with the beginning. Because as a general rule Authors try to do that.
Before I moved my friend, her sisters, and I would go on adventures. Sometimes we would drive up to a lake and climb around the rocks and look for pirates and Dragons. It was great, we loved it, but on the drive there and back we could never agree what music to listen to. We'd spend the whole trip flipping through songs and stations.
During one of our last treasure hunts I had in one of the newest Owl City CDs I had bought. On the way back we rolled down the windows and bounced over the rutted road with his songs playing.That was when my friend told me I'd finally found good music.
That's one of the best memories I have with her. Us tired from scrambling over rocks, the rare Wyoming warmth, and her bobbing her head to Owl City. (When Can I See You Again? It was one of our favorites after that.)
When she died I didn't want to listen to his music for a while. I listened to Josh Groban's CDs and cried over them. But my friend was kind of the complete opposite of me. While I would like to sit snuggled up with a good book she would run around and DO things. Anything and everything. Just so long as it was fun and exciting. And I had a feeling she'd be displeased if I spent so much time crying instead of going out and going on adventures.
Since I still couldn't listen to the Owl City CDs we listened to together without sobbing I bought a new one. The Midsummer Station. Of course, some of the songs in that CD make me cry sometimes, especially Gold which reminds me a lot of her.
To make this part of my story a little shorter, over the past few weeks and month or so I've started to listen to the older CDs again. Sometimes I will listen to When Can I See You Again?
One evening, it was during my last week at my second job, I for some reason looked on the Owl City website. I don't even remember why now. I think I was just trying to keep myself awake. While skimming over the site I realized Adam Young would be on tour, in San Francisco. And the tickets didn't cost an arm and a leg like I have found other concert tickets to.
I almost got the ticket, but since I'd just lost my job I decided not to. Rent and all that boring stuff. Also I didn't have enough for gas for the drive down. I was disappointed but since I couldn't go I didn't give it much thought. I figured if he came out here this tour it must mean he'd do so again someday and I'd go that day.
That was before my friends surprised me with enough for gas and a ticket. I may have shed some tears....it was probably one of the nicest gifts anyone has ever given me.
The concert was in the evening, so I decided I would go down extra early and explore San Francisco since I'd never been there. (Or been there years ago, I can't remember if I went there or somewhere else once.) I didn't even really have plans. Just go down and have an adventure. The sort of thing my friend would have found funny. The kind of mishap I would have written home to her about.
If only I knew.
I woke up at five thirty and set off in the pitch black in my friend Ben's borrowed car. My car got health issues at the last second so Ben loaned me her car. I was a little wary taking it. I don't mind driving in big cities - I've driven in every big city back east - but they're not my favorite and I had a feeling I'd end up squishing her new car and she'd banish me to Siberia. (I did make it there and back with no mishaps to the car, though I might have played race car going around some of the sharp corners....)
Nothing exciting really happened on the way down. I did have to stop at a Troll Bridge and give up some money. I guess San Francisco is one of those cities where it is so fabulous you have to pay to get it. Or maybe they just love their bridge and believe they can charge a little extra to allow you to be in the same city as it. Maybe they pave the streets with five dollar bills. Who knows? I'm not a troll so I don't know how any of that works.
Once inside the city I managed to get myself turned around - my GPS thinks I'm an idiot and only mildly tolerates me. I thought I was were the concert would be, so I parked with the idea I'd explore the rolling streets, jump on a tramcar, see what San Francisco was all about, and make it back two hours before the concert. I'd then find a seat right up front to the stage, claim a nice seat, and read my book while I waited. (Just wait, you can see how well that plan worked out.)
The first idea I had that I was at the wrong place was how shifty everyone watched me when I got out of the car. When I locked it up and set out to explore I had a horrible image of coming back hours later to find the tires gone. Again, I thought of banishment to Siberia.
Unsure of where to go, I started walking. I couldn't find any tramcars, but I did find a market area. And suddenly I felt as if I'd dropped into Mexico. Everywhere I looked, Hispanics, and there I was, the only white girl for who knew how far. I might have clung to my lunch a little tighter and gotten the glint in my eyes I think I get when I feel outnumbered. The look of, "I can break your knee if you try anything. Don't push me."
After I circled the streets, left the shifty area and snapped pictures of some of the pretty houses, panicked because I couldn't remember where I parked the car, I decided I should go down and see the Golden Gate Bridge. After all, how often would I be in the city?
It was on the way back I passed by the address where the concert was and realized I'd gotten the wrong street all together. Which made sense, because I couldn't imagine Adam Young selecting a shady part of San Francisco to hold the concert.
The best part of my adventures happened at the bridge.
I found a nice place to park and set off on foot. That's when I became a tourist. The moment I saw the bridge I started sapping pictures. I walked up and down paths, found a tunnel which went under the busy road, and when I came up the other side realized you could walk onto the bridge without the trolls getting you. (They only cared about the cars.) So off I went, pausing sometimes so I could peer over the railing at the massive drop. My stomach might have dropped the whole distance.
I walked out to the first archway. I almost went across the whole of the bridge but wanted to find a beach so I could look for shells. (Just wait, the beach is where the mishaps really start.)
Below the bridge was a fort I wanted to explore, but the road there was a ways off and by then I wanted to find the car and the beach and then head back to the city. I returned to the car, and when I reached it I realized I had parked close to a path which went down to the beach.
Down I went. Down a steep stairway. Down the side of a cliff. A steep cliff. (You get the idea. Just keep that pictured in your head. Steep stairway and cliff.)
Sometimes on the way down I'd pass people coming up. We'd smile at each other, I'd nod, and we'd keep going. Most of the time it was just one or two people. But then these three young men came up. They were nice and moved over as far as they could so we could pass. But as the first one passed me I decided I would be nice. I decided I would walk down the little railing thing which lined the stairs.
I didn't count on it being slippery. The moment I placed one foot on it that foot slid out from under me. Arms flailing, I tried to catch my balance as three young men called out their concern - I was on the side with the cliff drop off - and three pairs of hands reached out to keep me from falling. Somehow I didn't fall on my face, I just stammered my thanks to the three young men and apologized. (Because when I do something awkward I tend to say sorry a couple times as I awkwardly scramble off.)
No wait, it gets even better. (Okay, more awkward I guess.)
I reached the beach at last. It was a cove with rocks all over the place. With the tide coming in I walked close to the waves, down the beach, drenching my boots. I loved it. And down the beach I went, watching the sailboats, enjoying the crash of waves, running up the sand when the salt water came after me.
I was lost in my own little world. But of course, I also liked to look up the cliff and the path at the top of it. That's when I saw them. People, in the sun...with no clothes on. Somehow, while chasing waves, I'd come across a nude beach with no warning.
To be honest I've always thought nude beaches were made up and didn't exist. I was proven wrong and the ocean suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world. With my eyes fixed on it, I all but ran past the sun bathers. (I was covered almost head to foot in clothing. I had dressed for cold weather, so I had put on tights, socks, boots, skirt, and a sweater. I think the sunbathers were silently judging me, but since it was a two sided judging I didn't give it a lot of thought.)
Don't ask me why I didn't turn around and go back the way I'd come. Once I saw them I just ducked and all but ran. I didn't waste time thinking.
I went on until I came to the end of the beach. In front of me was a barrage of rocks, behind me nude men. I took the rocks.
With the tide coming in, the rocks went and covered with clams, my boots slippery, I started over them. I went slowly. The last thing I wanted was to slip and have naked men come to see if I was all right. I had to dodge the rising tide, and once I'd gotten past the bigger rocks I ran into some annoyed crabs who felt I shouldn't have been on their beach.
At the other side of the rocks was a much smaller beach. I realized I'd arrived at the beach which had been closed off. But still, naked men, so I went on. I came to a rock wall, up on top were No Trespassing signs. I hoped if I stayed at the low end of the wall I'd not be in the place they didn't want me to trespass into.
The tide was coming in faster by then. The spray came up to get me and I ran past the wall - and found myself UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge. In that moment I saw policemen coming out of the locked door. I saw myself in handcuffs and then in a jailhouse, having to explain to someone why I'd disobeyed the law of NEVER EVER going under the bridge.
By the way, it is creepy under the bridge. It rose high up over my head and I ALMOST stopped to get a picture so I'd forever have proof. I decided against it though. It might have looked worse if a guard had shown up and I was there snapping pictures in a place I shouldn't have been.
After I gave it some thought - I REALLY didn't want to go back through the nude beach - I ventured on. I decided if a guard did show up I'd explain everything that had happened.
At the other side of the bridge I saw a gate blocking off my escape. There was a path but at the top of it a No Trespassing sign clearly barred the way. In the end I figured it would be better just to go and turn myself in. If I got yelled at I'd take the punishment. And if the guard ordered me to go back the way I'd come I'd explain about the naked men and beg to be let through the gate.
At the other side of the gate was the fort I'd spied from the bridge. (The one I hadn't wanted to spend the time walking down to.) A park ranger stood at the entrance of the fort and I shyly waved to him. "I got a little lost," I said as he walked over to the gate.
(I had my hair in two braids which I think helped me look like an innocent little girl who'd somehow ended up in a place which should have been impossible to reach.)
With a mild smirk, he pulled out his keys. "We'll both just pretend you didn't see the signs," he said as he unlocked the gate.
I thanked him and left the forbidden beach as fast as I could. I then figured I'd go into the fort since I was there. (It was very cool by the way.) On the way out the guard - who reminded me a lot of my Mercenary Friend - again smirked and said goodbye. (I'm so happy some people still have senses of humor.)
After that adventure I went back to the car and drove to the right address. I then sat out on the street with all the other concert goers, read about Vango, and shivered in the cold, damp air until we were allowed to go in.
The concert was fun. Adam Young is quiet in person and he didn't say much, except to thank us all over and over again. But he sang a ton and it was just tons of fun to go and listen and SEE him in person. He even sang my favorite song by him, which made the whole thing even better.
The whole day was just really nice and fun and enjoyable. I even got to spend the night in a hotel - a king bed all to myself - before coming back home this morning.
I have a ton of pictures but I will save them for the next post, since this one is already long.
Right now I am going to go to bed. I was awake for eighteen hours yesterday - and most of it spent on my feet - so I'm still tired even though I got to sleep in this morning.
Quote is from Vango, the police inspector who was having a horrible day.
October 22, 2015
"Boulard nearly hanged himself with the telephone cable."
I'm going on an adventure over the weekend. Before then I wanted to get all of my book reviews caught up, try and work toward getting another job, get every bit of prep work for Brothers-in-Arms done that I could, finish editing the first three chapters of The Broken Blade and send them to the agent, and bake cookies.
I have accomplished all of the above...except for the cookies. I am doing those tomorrow after I get off work.
But because I am very excited about my adventure - I'd have talked about it tonight but I just finished my last book review (Which was on Vango which everyone should read because that book was AMAZING), finished editing The Broken Blade chapters and sent them in, and finished collecting addresses - I am too tired to talk about my adventure.
I do want to write a post about something, but I'm still waiting for Brothers-in-Arms to come back from my editor. And every time I try and think of something which would make a good post Vango - now in his book two form - looks at me with his charming eyes, begging me to spend some time with him. He's hard to say no to, really.
Though I've really just had a hard time posting about anything lately. Not that I find you all horrible company and wish to avoid you. You're all fantastic, my wonderful readers. My biggest problem is I haven't slept well the last few weeks and by the time evening comes I am half awake and it is hard to blog while half awake. One reason I am so excited about this weekend. It will be nice to relax and have fun and not think too much about everything which has been on my mind lately.
That sounds a bit cryptic. I have still been working through grief. There are days harder than others, which I suppose might be normal. Usually I take Dog out for long walks when I have particularly bad days. Or I cuddle some of the little kids at work - one nice thing about having befriended all the shy kids. They seem to think my lap is a seat, which I don't mind one bit.
When I come back though I will have pictures from my adventure, and all about my adventure to share with you.
For right now I think I am going to hide under my warm blankets and read my book.
The quote I took from book one. Boulard is one of the characters who's life is made miserable because he can't find Vango - who was framed for murder - even though everyone in the world seems to know him but not know anything about him. To add to his troubles he is trying to convict a gangster type villain, and nothing in his life goes right.
I have accomplished all of the above...except for the cookies. I am doing those tomorrow after I get off work.
But because I am very excited about my adventure - I'd have talked about it tonight but I just finished my last book review (Which was on Vango which everyone should read because that book was AMAZING), finished editing The Broken Blade chapters and sent them in, and finished collecting addresses - I am too tired to talk about my adventure.
I do want to write a post about something, but I'm still waiting for Brothers-in-Arms to come back from my editor. And every time I try and think of something which would make a good post Vango - now in his book two form - looks at me with his charming eyes, begging me to spend some time with him. He's hard to say no to, really.
Though I've really just had a hard time posting about anything lately. Not that I find you all horrible company and wish to avoid you. You're all fantastic, my wonderful readers. My biggest problem is I haven't slept well the last few weeks and by the time evening comes I am half awake and it is hard to blog while half awake. One reason I am so excited about this weekend. It will be nice to relax and have fun and not think too much about everything which has been on my mind lately.
That sounds a bit cryptic. I have still been working through grief. There are days harder than others, which I suppose might be normal. Usually I take Dog out for long walks when I have particularly bad days. Or I cuddle some of the little kids at work - one nice thing about having befriended all the shy kids. They seem to think my lap is a seat, which I don't mind one bit.
When I come back though I will have pictures from my adventure, and all about my adventure to share with you.
For right now I think I am going to hide under my warm blankets and read my book.
The quote I took from book one. Boulard is one of the characters who's life is made miserable because he can't find Vango - who was framed for murder - even though everyone in the world seems to know him but not know anything about him. To add to his troubles he is trying to convict a gangster type villain, and nothing in his life goes right.
October 20, 2015
"I'm claustrophobic." "Pleased to meet you! I'm paranoid."
Wherein Jack did things today.
I was very productive. Not only did I look for jobs, I went on a hike, went to work, wrote letters, cleaned. read almost the rest of Vango, and I might even bake some bread before bed tonight. But that isn't the real productive things.
Today I emailed one of my favourite Authors to ask if he'd be willing to read and write a small something about Brothers-in-Arms. That was scary. I felt like a little kid writing one of their heroes. "Hi. I like your books. A lot. Please read mine?" Now I refresh my email every five minutes to see if he will reply.
I also emailed Bucky and Donna's (Barnes and Noble) to see if they would be willing to stock my book once it is out. (I emailed the one closest to me, as they sometimes carry books by local Authors.)
I wish I had more news to share about my book. But everything is still at a stand still from my end. I do have some news on The Broken Blade though. I had a chance to pitch it to an agent and they want the first three chapters. I am kind of excited about this news, while at the same time I know it could turn into nothing. Just because one agent is interested in seeing a few pages doesn't mean they've accepted it. But it did make me feel better about the series, since I had the fear I was just re-using a much over used plot.
I have started editing the first three chapters and have plans to send it in by Friday. I will keep everyone posted as far as that goes.
But for the time being, news on everything is a little short. Maybe it is waiting for it to happen all at once like last time, and then you will get a book length post instead of these snippets.
Speaking of snippets, I can share one, to help you pass the time. (See?! Nice of me, right?!)
Theobald's brother always told him, “You can pick your best friends but you can't pick your family.” In Theobald's case neither of those seemed true, no matter how often Quentin told him.When Theobald turned eleven, right on his birthday, a mad sheep ran into him from behind. It tossed him like a leaf in the wind, left him on the ground winded, and ran on with a grunt as if the whole encounter had been Theobald's fault.
It's a small snippet, but snippets are little snips of things. I had to keep it snippy.
Quote is from Vango. I am having so much fun with that book!
I was very productive. Not only did I look for jobs, I went on a hike, went to work, wrote letters, cleaned. read almost the rest of Vango, and I might even bake some bread before bed tonight. But that isn't the real productive things.
Today I emailed one of my favourite Authors to ask if he'd be willing to read and write a small something about Brothers-in-Arms. That was scary. I felt like a little kid writing one of their heroes. "Hi. I like your books. A lot. Please read mine?" Now I refresh my email every five minutes to see if he will reply.
I also emailed Bucky and Donna's (Barnes and Noble) to see if they would be willing to stock my book once it is out. (I emailed the one closest to me, as they sometimes carry books by local Authors.)
I wish I had more news to share about my book. But everything is still at a stand still from my end. I do have some news on The Broken Blade though. I had a chance to pitch it to an agent and they want the first three chapters. I am kind of excited about this news, while at the same time I know it could turn into nothing. Just because one agent is interested in seeing a few pages doesn't mean they've accepted it. But it did make me feel better about the series, since I had the fear I was just re-using a much over used plot.
I have started editing the first three chapters and have plans to send it in by Friday. I will keep everyone posted as far as that goes.
But for the time being, news on everything is a little short. Maybe it is waiting for it to happen all at once like last time, and then you will get a book length post instead of these snippets.
Speaking of snippets, I can share one, to help you pass the time. (See?! Nice of me, right?!)
Theobald's brother always told him, “You can pick your best friends but you can't pick your family.” In Theobald's case neither of those seemed true, no matter how often Quentin told him.When Theobald turned eleven, right on his birthday, a mad sheep ran into him from behind. It tossed him like a leaf in the wind, left him on the ground winded, and ran on with a grunt as if the whole encounter had been Theobald's fault.
It's a small snippet, but snippets are little snips of things. I had to keep it snippy.
Quote is from Vango. I am having so much fun with that book!
October 18, 2015
"Do you have anything to declare?" "I hate you."
Wherein Jack made hot chocolate
I made it with milk. In a pot. With caramel and vanilla. And I am drinking it right now. And it is pretty good. So you should all be in awe of my hot chocolate making skills.
I spent my weekend being productive. In other ways I stayed in my pajamas as long as possible, jumped in puddles after I tried to walk in the rain and it stopped pouring before I had a chance, made pancakes for breakfast, went to the library and FINALLY found a book I've not been able to put down, read and watched Tintin, and got a friend to suffer the pain that is Band of Brothers.
See, productive.
Also I got a nice answer to a prayer request which has had me feeling really....sad, I suppose is the right word for it. It wasn't my prayer for a job, but one for a friend which I wanted a nice answer to more than I wanted another job.
And I decided to make hot chocolate before bed and read some more of the amazing book I found. (For those wondering, it is called Vango: Between Earth and Sky. I've only made it a hundred pages in but so far it is so good. Reminds me of a cross between Tintin, Sky Captain, and those books by Ron Hubbard. Maybe throw The Rocketeer in there, but I'm not far enough in to know.)
Oh, I forgot. I also managed to hang my canopy again this weekend. I balanced back on the arms of my chair while wielding a hammer and a nail. (Even on the arms of my chair I was too short to nail it up properly. I had to kind of stand on tipy toes at the same time. My friends, you are looking at one talented Author.) Now it is back up and should stay that way. Though I'm prepared in the chance it falls down again and I have to fight out from under it while half asleep.
I don't really have a song today. Naughty me. And I am still waiting for news from my publisher, so I have nothing to share in that area.
Just my sprouts of randomness. Like how I dreamed I married Tintin and we went on adventures together and made our living by writing though we did very little writing considering.
As you can see, even my randomness is kind of lacking tonight. I blame it on not sleeping much last night. It's a good excuse, admit it.
That's about it. Vango is getting lonely.
Quote is from Wreck-it Ralph which I also watched this weekend.
I made it with milk. In a pot. With caramel and vanilla. And I am drinking it right now. And it is pretty good. So you should all be in awe of my hot chocolate making skills.
I spent my weekend being productive. In other ways I stayed in my pajamas as long as possible, jumped in puddles after I tried to walk in the rain and it stopped pouring before I had a chance, made pancakes for breakfast, went to the library and FINALLY found a book I've not been able to put down, read and watched Tintin, and got a friend to suffer the pain that is Band of Brothers.
See, productive.
Also I got a nice answer to a prayer request which has had me feeling really....sad, I suppose is the right word for it. It wasn't my prayer for a job, but one for a friend which I wanted a nice answer to more than I wanted another job.
And I decided to make hot chocolate before bed and read some more of the amazing book I found. (For those wondering, it is called Vango: Between Earth and Sky. I've only made it a hundred pages in but so far it is so good. Reminds me of a cross between Tintin, Sky Captain, and those books by Ron Hubbard. Maybe throw The Rocketeer in there, but I'm not far enough in to know.)
Oh, I forgot. I also managed to hang my canopy again this weekend. I balanced back on the arms of my chair while wielding a hammer and a nail. (Even on the arms of my chair I was too short to nail it up properly. I had to kind of stand on tipy toes at the same time. My friends, you are looking at one talented Author.) Now it is back up and should stay that way. Though I'm prepared in the chance it falls down again and I have to fight out from under it while half asleep.
I don't really have a song today. Naughty me. And I am still waiting for news from my publisher, so I have nothing to share in that area.
Just my sprouts of randomness. Like how I dreamed I married Tintin and we went on adventures together and made our living by writing though we did very little writing considering.
As you can see, even my randomness is kind of lacking tonight. I blame it on not sleeping much last night. It's a good excuse, admit it.
That's about it. Vango is getting lonely.
Quote is from Wreck-it Ralph which I also watched this weekend.
October 16, 2015
"I'm gonna wreck it!"
Wherein Jack is hungry and tired.
I'm waiting for my dinner to warm up and thought I would try to write a post while I waited. It is hard to think though, because all I want is my dinner.
I had a post idea early but then I kind of forgot it. Now I can honestly think of nothing to say unless you want to hear about my canopy fell down in the middle of the night and attacked Dog and me. I had to fight us out from under it, only to have it fall again two nights later. I think it is time for nails. Guess my ceiling doesn't like that sticky, adhesive stuff.
I just sat at my desk for fifteen minutes looking at Pintrest. And I still have no ideas. At all. Whatsoever.
What can I say? When I'm too tried to pretend I'm clever I'm an incredibly boring person.
In which case I should end this sad attempt at blogging, see if my dinner is done, and watch Wreck-it Ralph or something fun like that.
I like that idea. Because food. And I had an unexpectedly long day at work. It wasn't horrible, just more hours than I prepared myself for. Also I didn't see my two adorable little buddies all week, and I miss those little guys. (They are the sweetest little fellas ever! Brothers, and they decided I am pretty fun to play with. Probably because I play dinosaurs and carry them upside down. What can I say? Growing up with brothers I learned the quickest way to a little boy's heart.)
So that is all. I'm going to enjoy tea, the rain, and a movie tonight.
And figure out a way to hang up my canopy. Among other things.
I had to use that line. Just because.
I'm waiting for my dinner to warm up and thought I would try to write a post while I waited. It is hard to think though, because all I want is my dinner.
I had a post idea early but then I kind of forgot it. Now I can honestly think of nothing to say unless you want to hear about my canopy fell down in the middle of the night and attacked Dog and me. I had to fight us out from under it, only to have it fall again two nights later. I think it is time for nails. Guess my ceiling doesn't like that sticky, adhesive stuff.
I just sat at my desk for fifteen minutes looking at Pintrest. And I still have no ideas. At all. Whatsoever.
What can I say? When I'm too tried to pretend I'm clever I'm an incredibly boring person.
In which case I should end this sad attempt at blogging, see if my dinner is done, and watch Wreck-it Ralph or something fun like that.
I like that idea. Because food. And I had an unexpectedly long day at work. It wasn't horrible, just more hours than I prepared myself for. Also I didn't see my two adorable little buddies all week, and I miss those little guys. (They are the sweetest little fellas ever! Brothers, and they decided I am pretty fun to play with. Probably because I play dinosaurs and carry them upside down. What can I say? Growing up with brothers I learned the quickest way to a little boy's heart.)
So that is all. I'm going to enjoy tea, the rain, and a movie tonight.
And figure out a way to hang up my canopy. Among other things.
I had to use that line. Just because.
October 13, 2015
"Hitler, shut up."
Wherein Jack made discoveries.
When I began the re-write of Haphazardly Implausible I realized there were things which needed to be addressed. Highest on the list were Isidore Thaddeus Reichmann and Jack O'Malley. With the help of my friend I was able to fix them up considerably. I'm pleased with the results and thought I'd share.
With Isidore I had Hogan hire him rather than Morcoft. I also changed his grumpiness into grieving - for those who have read the books you might understand this part, for those who haven't you'll have to read it when I publish them again. (Evil me.)
I'm not going to talk about Isidore in this post though, but Jack O'Malley.
For those who don't know or need a reminder, Jack is a British girl who joins Isidore when he's searching for Peter Jones. She tags along with him and it is revealed later she was running away from home.
When I went back over the first book I realized I didn't really like Jack. She was manipulative, whiny, and just generally annoying. I decided she needed a completely new character and back story. I even decided she needed a new name, since I couldn't even remember why I named her Jack in the first place. (I think it started back when I was plotting the book, around the time I got my own nickname of Jack.)
Jack O'Malley is now Nellie O'Malley.
Nellie still meets Isidore before any of the other characters, Hogan not counting. She lives in London with her father who works for the queen of England. While she doesn't exactly work with her father she does help him from time to time on his different cases or missions. (Her father is something like a secret agent, a cross between a detective and a spy.)
One day while working a case, Nellie's dad disappears. Alone, Nellie does everything she can to find him and that is how she crosses paths with Isidore. Disguised as a street urchin, she helps him out of a near robbery and learns he is a detective. She convinces him to help her find her father.
I have to admit, I am getting tired of 1800's feminists in books. I want to read about a girl who loves being a girl, who loves dresses and tea and going to balls. Since I couldn't find one I decided I'd try and compensate with Nellie.
Nellie and her father would be considered rich. They have a nice house, Nellie attends something like a boarding school, and she likes to wear nice dresses. She is very lady like and really loves her tea time. That said, she isn't the sort who will shrink from danger and if a loved one is in need of her services she will do anything for them.
I'm really excited now for Nellie to come into the story and to work on fixing her and Isidore's roles in the books. I'm hoping to give them more depth and make them far better characters, now that I understand more about characters.
And that is all I have today. I'm going to try and write now, if I can stay awake long enough.
Quote is from Doctor Who. From the fabulous Rory Williams.
When I began the re-write of Haphazardly Implausible I realized there were things which needed to be addressed. Highest on the list were Isidore Thaddeus Reichmann and Jack O'Malley. With the help of my friend I was able to fix them up considerably. I'm pleased with the results and thought I'd share.
With Isidore I had Hogan hire him rather than Morcoft. I also changed his grumpiness into grieving - for those who have read the books you might understand this part, for those who haven't you'll have to read it when I publish them again. (Evil me.)
I'm not going to talk about Isidore in this post though, but Jack O'Malley.
For those who don't know or need a reminder, Jack is a British girl who joins Isidore when he's searching for Peter Jones. She tags along with him and it is revealed later she was running away from home.
When I went back over the first book I realized I didn't really like Jack. She was manipulative, whiny, and just generally annoying. I decided she needed a completely new character and back story. I even decided she needed a new name, since I couldn't even remember why I named her Jack in the first place. (I think it started back when I was plotting the book, around the time I got my own nickname of Jack.)
Jack O'Malley is now Nellie O'Malley.
Nellie still meets Isidore before any of the other characters, Hogan not counting. She lives in London with her father who works for the queen of England. While she doesn't exactly work with her father she does help him from time to time on his different cases or missions. (Her father is something like a secret agent, a cross between a detective and a spy.)
One day while working a case, Nellie's dad disappears. Alone, Nellie does everything she can to find him and that is how she crosses paths with Isidore. Disguised as a street urchin, she helps him out of a near robbery and learns he is a detective. She convinces him to help her find her father.
I have to admit, I am getting tired of 1800's feminists in books. I want to read about a girl who loves being a girl, who loves dresses and tea and going to balls. Since I couldn't find one I decided I'd try and compensate with Nellie.
Nellie and her father would be considered rich. They have a nice house, Nellie attends something like a boarding school, and she likes to wear nice dresses. She is very lady like and really loves her tea time. That said, she isn't the sort who will shrink from danger and if a loved one is in need of her services she will do anything for them.
I'm really excited now for Nellie to come into the story and to work on fixing her and Isidore's roles in the books. I'm hoping to give them more depth and make them far better characters, now that I understand more about characters.
And that is all I have today. I'm going to try and write now, if I can stay awake long enough.
Quote is from Doctor Who. From the fabulous Rory Williams.
October 11, 2015
"Bye!"
There are three artists I listen to more than any others. I usually alternate between these three, depending on the book I'm writing, my mood, and the weather. Adam Young I listen to mostly in the summer and when I'm writing more adventurous books. Josh Groban I listen to a lot in the winter and when I'm working on historical fiction or the Haphazard books. Enya though I've always listened to in the spring and fall. I love listening to her music during NaNo and when I am writing fantasy.
This year has been a great year for new CDs. When I found out Josh Groban had a new one I was extremely happy. Then when I found out Adam Young had a new one out a month or so after Josh Groban's I figured it as probably the best year ever for music. I did wish Enya would get a new one but didn't give it much though. She spends a lot of time on her music and doesn't put out new CDs all that often.
Then on Thursday or Friday my friend told me she was listening to Enya's new single and I found out she had a new CD coming out the middle of November. I've been listening to the single a lot over the last few days.
It seemed like the perfect song to share today.
The quote is real. It is from Doctor Who, the Robin Hood one. And if you don't know the quote go and watch that one, because it is funny.
This year has been a great year for new CDs. When I found out Josh Groban had a new one I was extremely happy. Then when I found out Adam Young had a new one out a month or so after Josh Groban's I figured it as probably the best year ever for music. I did wish Enya would get a new one but didn't give it much though. She spends a lot of time on her music and doesn't put out new CDs all that often.
Then on Thursday or Friday my friend told me she was listening to Enya's new single and I found out she had a new CD coming out the middle of November. I've been listening to the single a lot over the last few days.
It seemed like the perfect song to share today.
The quote is real. It is from Doctor Who, the Robin Hood one. And if you don't know the quote go and watch that one, because it is funny.
October 9, 2015
"Your brain must be a miserable place."
Wherein Jack doesn't have anything to say but should post in spite of that
This week was kind of hard, and today I got some possible bad news. I spent the evening with oero cookies while watching the new Hawaii Five-O with my teddy bear. (Yes, teddy bear. He was given to me by a friend before she moved, he looks like Pooh, and I cuddle him when I've had really bad days. I realized cuddling teddy bears is one of the best cures for when you're sad. Everyone should try it.)
Anyways.......if you think that is a deep, dark confession I could also tell you I spent all week watching Phineas and Ferb. I'm a little embarrassed about that, but even though the animation is a little weird and the show itself is silly, it is one of the better new cartoons. And it was just what I needed this week.
I didn't really feel up to doing a post today, which is why I've put it off this long. But I want to get better with blogging, so here I am.
I remembered I hadn't done Music Monday so I am doing it today. The song isn't really one I listen to while writing...it isn't one of the ones I use for inspiration. But it reminds me so much of my friend so I've been listening to it a lot lately. And I thought I would share it because I've really been missing her the past two weeks.
Quote is from Hawaii Five-O. (I didn't think I'd like the new series because I love the old one so much. But my mom loves the old one as much as I do and really liked the new one so I thought I'd try it. I watched episode one and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. The classic is still my favourite, but this new one is good and McGarett and Danny amuse me. Especially with the whole Dan-O thing.)
And that is all.
This week was kind of hard, and today I got some possible bad news. I spent the evening with oero cookies while watching the new Hawaii Five-O with my teddy bear. (Yes, teddy bear. He was given to me by a friend before she moved, he looks like Pooh, and I cuddle him when I've had really bad days. I realized cuddling teddy bears is one of the best cures for when you're sad. Everyone should try it.)
Anyways.......if you think that is a deep, dark confession I could also tell you I spent all week watching Phineas and Ferb. I'm a little embarrassed about that, but even though the animation is a little weird and the show itself is silly, it is one of the better new cartoons. And it was just what I needed this week.
I didn't really feel up to doing a post today, which is why I've put it off this long. But I want to get better with blogging, so here I am.
I remembered I hadn't done Music Monday so I am doing it today. The song isn't really one I listen to while writing...it isn't one of the ones I use for inspiration. But it reminds me so much of my friend so I've been listening to it a lot lately. And I thought I would share it because I've really been missing her the past two weeks.
Quote is from Hawaii Five-O. (I didn't think I'd like the new series because I love the old one so much. But my mom loves the old one as much as I do and really liked the new one so I thought I'd try it. I watched episode one and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. The classic is still my favourite, but this new one is good and McGarett and Danny amuse me. Especially with the whole Dan-O thing.)
And that is all.
