Funky Cat Studio

First off: I changed my <strong>Ubuntu</strong> set up/colors/theme/icons/loginscreen/wallpaper, but I’m too lazy for screen shots at the moment.  Trust me, its luverly.

Okay, <strong>NaNo</strong>!

I don’t remember when, but I remember where I was when I hit 45,000 words.  Good gods.  I.  Am.  So.  Tired.  Not because I was up all night, but I think because I was pacing myself all month, instead of rushing it and setting insane, personal goals.  But I prolly felt like this last year, too.

But what’s really got me excited for the moment is, I believe that this is my best NaNo novel yet.  Which isn’t saying a lot, I think, since ‘05 sucks my grumble monkey.  But maybe it doesn’t suck as much as I remember it.  I’ll be sure to give it a read.  *twitch*  Then I must finish writing it.  *double twitch*  But at least I know of some stuff that happens in it, thanks to this year and book 3.

As for <strong>Ayreon</strong>.. I don’t know… <strong>Fred</strong>? You might <strike>like</strike> love them.

I got the chance to hear “Into the Electric Castle”.  ZOMG.  Yeah.  That sums it up.

But really, folks.  Electric Castle was exactly like this: Pink Floyd’s The Wall meets Jesus Christ Super Star, who just got back from a convention on Egyptology and they make a sweet sweet baby with the help of Ramstien’s german grunting while Metallica/insert-metal-band-here watches from the sidelines, smoking pot and illegally downloading bits and peices of New Age music.

Yeah.  Like I said:

ZOMG!

I took a test at OK Cupid.  <a href=”http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14457200288064322170″>Here’s the test</a>

and here’s my results!

<font size=”5″><strong>English Genius</strong></font>
You scored 78% Beginner, 85% Intermediate, 93% Advanced,  and 86% Expert!                             You did so extremely well, even <em>I</em> can’t find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don’t. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you’re not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Like… a cross between delaying the inevitable and procrastination! Yee!

<strong>Firefox 2!</strong>

zomg!11!

So I was going to wait til after NaNo to try out Firefox 2, but  I’ve been doing so decently well that I decided to reward myself with a fresh browser.  That and I was getting SICK AND TIRED of videos not working for various reasons unknown to me.  Oh oh! Look! I don’t have to run my entries through a word processor to spell check before posting!

NaNo is not a typo or incorrectly spelled word.  Shame on you, Firefox built-in spell checker.  Shame.  *adds to dictionary*

Anyway, NaNo is coming along quite swimmingly.  I’m quite bad at writing action, but you know… Here’s a snippit, but first, what’s going on : They’re in a train car that has storage, hands cuffed behind their backs, Pie is Adrian’s pet rat, Zyra is from a Wealand government organization that is similar to our… who are they? tobacco drugs and firearms?

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<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>Ed cleared his throat, holding the pouch that Blacktail had often kept strapped to his side but and taken off to sleep more comfortably.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    Blacktail shifted nervously.  The pipe was important to him, but the Paruka leaf seemed a necessity to Adrian’s recovery right now, and possibly even her survival.  He looked over at Adrian and saw a twinge of nervousness as Zyra opened the bag.  A wicked grin crossed her face, and she dismissed Ed, who wandered back out of the car.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Ahh, not only were you in possession of an illegal geostone, but illegal drugs as well!” Zyra said triumphantly.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Those are healing herbs, and we need them!” Blacktail shouted angrily.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Zyra snorted a laugh.  “Yeah, that’s what all you druggies say.” </font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    The crew exchanged puzzled looks with each other, Rayna asking “What is this ‘druggies’ she is talking about?”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Don’t play stupid with me.  I’ll be taking these from your possession now, whether you think you need it or not.”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Who do you work for anyway?” Geo shouted angrily at her.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “That, my dear man, is certainly none of your business either, though I’ll say that you are all in very big trouble.”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “How did you find us, then? Can you tell us that or is that confidential as well?” Geo asked.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    Blacktail sniggered before Zyra could answer.  “I’ll bet she’s from the Black Baggy Druggy Liberations.”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Or… the United Train Robbers Front.” Adrian added.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    The gang laughed this over, much to Zyra’s annoyance.  “Shut up, all of you, or I shall have you all gagged!”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Oh oh! Let me!” Rayna bounced the best she could.  “You are from the Scary Mean People’s Movement!”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    The crew stared at her for a moment, and Rayna’s ears drooped as she realized nobody was laughing.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Where I’m from, is none of your business either!” Zyra angrily kicked Rayna over to her side.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “That’ll be enough of your bullying!” Zander shouted, arched his back upwards, and kicked the gun out of her hand.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    The woman quickly flushed red with anger.  “That’s it-!” she  reached down to grab Zander, but he caught her hands between his legs, then pushed her body sideways, her head hitting the floor, and she blacked out.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    Everyone sat staring silently for a few moments, but then Zander said “Oops.”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “That was… WOW.” Adrian said, eyes wide at the short struggle that just happened before her in a flash.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “I didn’t mean to!” Zander insisted, and leaned toward Rayna.  “Are you okay?”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Yes, Zander, she only pushed me over.  How did you do that it the lady?” she wriggled herself into an upright position, and tried to mimic what Zander did which only resulted in her hurting herself.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Pie! Where are you already?” Adrian began fiddling with the cuffs that bound her, but then started scooting to Zyra’s unconscious body, trying her best to ransack her pockets.  A couple things came spilling out, and Blacktail caught the glimpse of something that looked like a badge that fell out. </font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Look there, luv.  Is that her identification?” Blacktail asked.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    Adrian, who had to have her back towards the pocket she was digging through with hands behind her back rolled her eyes at him.  “I don’t know Ringtail, IS IT?” she groped through the pile, found something that felt like a key, and what felt like a card.  “Is this it?”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Yup, that’d be it, luv.”</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    She stood on her knees, turned slightly, and tossed the card to him.  “Did I get you?” she looked back at him, grinning.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “No’ try again.” he said sarcastically, looking at the card that landed on his lap, upside down but legible.  He began trying to read it as Adrian began picking at the lock of her cuffs with the key.  It only took her a moment, and when she was done, she heard Blacktail snickering.  “What is it now?” she stood up, stretched, and reached for the gun.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “I don’t think so, lady!” Zyra said, coming out of being knocked out, she reached for the gun with one hand and Adrian’s leg with the other.  Adrian fell forward, almost grabbing the gun, but it got knocked away several feet by her own hand landing on it the wrong way.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “You!” both women yelled at each other and they both began scrambling over each other to get to the gun.  Zyra manage to flip Adrian on her back, and was about to take a swing an her when Adrian lunged a knee between the other woman’s legs.  Not too far away, three men groaned out loud, scrunching their knees together.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    Zyra clenched her hands around Adrian’s neck, but her grip was weak from pain.  Adrian drew both knees up to Zyra’s chest, and lifted her up, and pushed her forward, into the wall next to Rayna.  She collided with a bang, and it came running Ed, just as Adrian picked the gun up, aiming it at Zyra’s head.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “Stop right there, lady!” Ed yelled, drawing a gun on Adrian.</font></p>
<p style=”margin-bottom: 0in”><font face=”FreeMono”>    “What is it with you government FREAKS calling me LADY!”</font></p>

… and I don’t mean Queens.   Hey, Queen was pretty cool… anyway!

At the typing of this, I am a full day, plus a touch, ahead of schedual. (13519)

And I’ve got to just Chapter 4, so I have nice ‘n beefy chapters :)

This is where it gets a bit tough, however.  This is where my last minute, half assed written outline ends, as well as some of my confidence.  I’m just glad I’m a bit ahead of the game.

But recently, I’ve been thinking about pace, of a novel.  How do we set the pace? How can we tell, when we’re writing it, that its okay? I don’t want to be a Stephen King, but I don’t want to be a Lemony Snicket.

Well I guess that’s my answer there: Pace is all over the board.

What do you think?