Have a New Year!

Um... Have a *happy* new year!

Feast of Pétíso!

Today's the Feast of Pétíso, God of Death.

Eat, drink, and be merry, for the world will soon be reborn!

Hang a Shining Star. . .

We're almost done wrapping up all our gifts...

No Water

Having no water service is much worse than no electricity...

Thanks to a burst water main or somesuch, our neighborhood is currently without water.

I'm getting thirsty.

If it's not back on when we get back from dinner, maybe I'll have to take a trip to the lake to pump some water...

Federal Lands Unconstitutional?

Have a look at this pre-filed bill in the Washington State Legislature for next year's session. Basically, it says that the federal government is constitutionally prohibited from owning land in the state of Washington without the state's consent, so the state is taking it back.

Oddly enough, I had this very idea a few months ago, as a way to curb the federal government's power. All states should do this.

But I doubt this bill will ever see the light of day. It will probably be "x-filed" or lost in a subcomittee for all time.

This Month's Photo of Chunlin

My, that water's cold, eh?

I flip over my calendar at work to December, and this is the photo I'm greeted with. I can't stop smiling!

50,000 Words!

My novel is "complete"! I've reached the 50,000-word goal for Nanowrimo! Hurrah!

In the wide and dusty valley, a herder minded his cattle. His dog ran to and fro, keeping the herd together. The herder walked slowly behind the herd, twirling a stick in his hand.

“You should honor Tíngnopok,” had said his wife, “for He watches over your cattle. He watches over you.”

The herder had not listened to his wife, however, and never bothered to go to Tíngnopok’s temple or even say a prayer of thanks to the Black God.

After thirteen months of such behavior, Tíngnopok became agitated.

And thus 50k words have been written. My work here is done...

40,000 Words, Finally!

I don't have much time to get to 50,000 words before the end of Nanowrimo, but I still plan to finish. I just need to remember to stop editing as I go!

Here are the words that got me to the 40k mark:

Íngna puffed out his cheeks to say something disrespectful, but then he noticed little clouds of dust around the knight’s body. The dust had kicked up when Íngna set him down and was only now just settling back to the earth. Had it really been so soon? Had he truly dug a grave in but a few seconds? Apparently, so.

“I am sorry, my father,” said Íngna with humility. “I see now what has happened. Somehow when the dying knight touched my forehead, the lightning gave me amazing power. With his last command of his body, the knight gave his strength to me.”

Light Traffic...

Last night at 5 p.m., I had my quickest commute home in ages. Clear sailing. Not many cars on the roads. Plenty of green lights going my way.

When I saw the horror traffic jams on the late news, I was quite shocked. This morning, people who had been stuck in traffic all night?!

My drive in to work today was easy peasy, as well. More snow on the roads than last night, but it's dry, granular snow that makes good traction, even in the driveway. Hopefully SDOT doesn't spray too much of the de-icer on the streets to turn the good snow into nasty brown soup like two years ago...

30k, Behind Schedule

I've been lax the past few days on my writing. I fell behind schedule for the first time all month. Now, late on Sunday, I've reached 30,000 words, which I meant to reach on Friday. Here are the paragraphs about the witchy Mongana which took me over the 30k mark:

“Oh my,” said the blonde maiden. “Your hair is very black!”

“And yours is quite golden,” replied Mongana.

The pale goddess stepped into the water beside the maiden and stood close. The blonde girl did not flinch, but stood firm and gazed into Mongana’s dark eyes.

Apathy

Whatever...

20,000 Words!

I'm now over 2/5 through my goal of 50,000 words in my novel for November. Only slightly behind schedule, too. Here is the section which put me over the 20k milestone:

“It’s a wonderful day,” said Íkmí. “Is it not?”

Her two sisters were too busy combing their hair to reply.

Íkmí did not mind, for she was enjoying the warmth of Hahumí upon her skin from head to toe. The river water glistened upon her body, sparkling like a thousand jewels. Íkmí smiled tranquilly as the sun embraced her.

“Eeek!” shouted her sisters. “A snake!”

Happy Mirror New Year!

11-10-10 --> 01-01-11 !!!