To begin with, I'm not sure how many people will actually read this. I think I get more hits on my blog out on writing.com than I ever have here. However, I just feel like venting and this seemed like the more appropriate place.
As everyone in the universe knows, we have a new president. Just thought I'd warn people now. The sun doesn't rise and set according to him. I already have a God, thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I don't even think he's all that great. Before I look on him with anything but fear and suspicion, he's going to have to do something to prove it. So far, he's doing a horrid job. Pretty interesting considering he's only been in office for a few days.
Let's take the first order of business he's done. He's shutting down Guantanamo Bay. Okay, that might not be the best thing the US has ever done, but really. Shutting it down and putting all of those foreign criminals through our justice system? That's insane. They're not even US citizens. They don't deserve the protection of our constitution. If he wants to shut it down, then fine. Send them back home. It will keep our military with jobs for a long time to come. A lot of them in there are suspected terrorists. Yes. By all means. Let them all out and bring them INTO the US for trial. Brilliant. Now, why don't you go round up all their little terrorist friends and bring them in too so they can "testify on their behalf." Heck. Give them all guns, too. Let's make it more fun. Not like they'd have any problems getting any when they were in the States anyway. Now. To keep ME amused, put the ACLU in front of them and let's see what happens. Actually, they'd probably become best friends and have a meeting to determine the best way to undermine the American Government. Then, the media can cover it all because they're on their side anyway, and they can report it as the best thing to happen to the US ever. *gag*
The recession we're in. I know, I know. Everyone wants to blame President Bush. But please, if you're going to blame people, put it back where it belongs. Carry it back to President CLINTON where it belongs. He's the one who decided everyone should own a home. Never mind the fact that most people aren't financially sound enough to do it. Then banks put in the practice of loose lending. Those same people who aren't very good with financial decisions took advantage of it and then proceeded to drag down the entire economic market. Oh, and by the way. Presidents have never been in "charge" of the economy anyway. It's the typical person who is. What we decide to do ripples throughout the entire market and influences others. One person walks away from their home and allows it to go into foreclosure, then it ripples throughout the entire neighborhood. If that same neighborhood hears that the other person went and bought another house before the foreclosure hit, then they decide it's better to walk away from their current home than it is to try and sell it. That right there started the home market down slide. After awhile, it started to hit the businesses. People got into homes more expensive than they could afford. So then the homes started being foreclosed on for real. Businesses started taking a hit when people were pouring all their money into trying to keep their homes. Without people buying their products, they couldn't stay in business. Then it got worse.
I'm just curious. Do you see that? Do you see how it all started? It all started with loose lending practices encouraged by President Clinton. Unfortunately, it took 8 years for it to all slide out from underneath us and create this recession we're in. Don't blame Bush. He tried to help keep it from sliding. But there was no stopping this. It was too big. All we can do is tighten our belts and learn to live as we used to in the previous generations. Used isn't all that bad. I learned that from my husband. Some of the best things we own are second hand. *smile* They're better made too. Besides, think of it. We're helping to save the environment by keeping it all out of the landfill. *grin*
I think that's all I have to whine about for today. I'm sure I'll come back when Obama does something else incredibly stupid. Why can't he do something useful? Like get rid of the "No Child Left Behind Act"? It's not helping anything and it's actually making our education system worse. Instead, take the money that is being poured into that, and use it to completely revamp our education system. Pay the teachers a higher salary so that you can keep the good math and science teachers out of the industry.
Aww, to heck with it. Our country needs our prayers. That's the ultimate answer. So I'll just take a deep breath, wait out our current president and hope he doesn't screw things up too bad, and pray for our country.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Dry Spell
Well, I have obviously been very quiet here. I've been spending a lot of time with my writing muse and, therefore, have been out on Writing.Com a lot. So that just about sums up this entry. Just wanted to put it in here in case anyone checks my blog and notices that I haven't been posting in awhile.
Later!
Later!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Unhappy with Christmas
I'm sure that I'm not the only person in the world to get depressed at Christmas. And hopefully, I'm not the only one who gets depressed over the overwhelming consumerism during this time. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. The time to sit down over good food and spend quality time with family. In my heart, I believe that's what Christmas should be. My favorite part of Christmas is when we drive over to my in-law's house for a wonderful dinner and just spend time with them.
You see, I'm blessed with a wonderful mother- and father-in-law. They're wonderful, loving and caring people. It's always a joy to spend time with them.
Tonight, I think I figured out why I get so depressed at Christmas. It's all the gifts that people buy. You see, no matter what we buy, we can never compete with the greatest gift of all. On Christmas Day, God sent to earth his beloved son to live among us. He set into motion the plan for our eternal salvation. There is absolutely nothing that we can buy that can compete with that. Oddly enough, gifts from the heart come closer to encompassing that ideal than anything else. For God's gift was definitely one from the heart. As it says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son..."
All the pretty wrapping paper, all the bows, all the pretty decorated trees, all the credit card debt and stress in the upcoming year when that first credit card bill arrives, that means absolutely nothing. If we'd just embrace the fact that we can't compete with the gift we've already been given and stop with the unending consumerism at Christmas, we'd be much happier people.
That reminds me of one Christmas we had awhile back. Money was really tight and we knew that we couldn't get the kids very much. So I had everyone in the house pick one special dessert each. I then proceeded to make them, one after the other, as a special gift. That holds the special memories. Not the presents under the tree that year.
This year, we're blessed financially to provide a good Christmas. As a matter of fact, the gifts are already purchased and many of them are high-end electronics. For some reason, every time I think of them, I get depressed. I miss that Christmas where the 'gift' was homemade goodies. I'm trying to decide if I'm "brave" enough to declare a "no gift" Christmas. We have 4 boys. Would they understand celebrating what God gave us over buying gifts for the tree? Would they understand if I was more willing to give them nicer gifts on their birthday instead? I doubt it. But the idea holds so much appeal to me. We actually took and cut way back on Christmas gifts a few years ago. The kids didn't mind it then. They each get maybe one or 2 special gifts and that's all. For awhile, that kept me happy. Now, I want to cut back even more. Maybe that's asking too much out of the kids.
Maybe I'll chalk it up to my normal Christmas depression. Add in the fact that Dad can't be here this year and it's just miserable. A very important part of my family is missing and it's just hard. Though, I still would like to make Christmas more about Christ, just like it should be. I'll think about it next year, when, hopefully, my family will be whole again. Though we did all agree, if we could trade in every single Christmas present for Dad, we all would in a heartbeat. I wish it was that easy.
You see, I'm blessed with a wonderful mother- and father-in-law. They're wonderful, loving and caring people. It's always a joy to spend time with them.
Tonight, I think I figured out why I get so depressed at Christmas. It's all the gifts that people buy. You see, no matter what we buy, we can never compete with the greatest gift of all. On Christmas Day, God sent to earth his beloved son to live among us. He set into motion the plan for our eternal salvation. There is absolutely nothing that we can buy that can compete with that. Oddly enough, gifts from the heart come closer to encompassing that ideal than anything else. For God's gift was definitely one from the heart. As it says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son..."
All the pretty wrapping paper, all the bows, all the pretty decorated trees, all the credit card debt and stress in the upcoming year when that first credit card bill arrives, that means absolutely nothing. If we'd just embrace the fact that we can't compete with the gift we've already been given and stop with the unending consumerism at Christmas, we'd be much happier people.
That reminds me of one Christmas we had awhile back. Money was really tight and we knew that we couldn't get the kids very much. So I had everyone in the house pick one special dessert each. I then proceeded to make them, one after the other, as a special gift. That holds the special memories. Not the presents under the tree that year.
This year, we're blessed financially to provide a good Christmas. As a matter of fact, the gifts are already purchased and many of them are high-end electronics. For some reason, every time I think of them, I get depressed. I miss that Christmas where the 'gift' was homemade goodies. I'm trying to decide if I'm "brave" enough to declare a "no gift" Christmas. We have 4 boys. Would they understand celebrating what God gave us over buying gifts for the tree? Would they understand if I was more willing to give them nicer gifts on their birthday instead? I doubt it. But the idea holds so much appeal to me. We actually took and cut way back on Christmas gifts a few years ago. The kids didn't mind it then. They each get maybe one or 2 special gifts and that's all. For awhile, that kept me happy. Now, I want to cut back even more. Maybe that's asking too much out of the kids.
Maybe I'll chalk it up to my normal Christmas depression. Add in the fact that Dad can't be here this year and it's just miserable. A very important part of my family is missing and it's just hard. Though, I still would like to make Christmas more about Christ, just like it should be. I'll think about it next year, when, hopefully, my family will be whole again. Though we did all agree, if we could trade in every single Christmas present for Dad, we all would in a heartbeat. I wish it was that easy.
Friday, December 5, 2008
NaNoWriMo Update #1
Well, I wrapped up my first session this evening. Considering I walked into it tired and dreading it, but still pulled it off, I think I'll make it through the month. *smile*
With the plan of 4 pages, front and back, I kept writing until I had reached that goal. Actually, I ended up going over it as I just couldn't leave it dangling at the end of the 4th page. So, with that, the official count of this evening came in at 2,288 words! Hurray!!! My goal was 2,000, so I passed it. I'm actually pretty happy at that.
An amazing thing happened tonight too. I finished my very first chapter. Since I'm a short story writer by nature, this is absolutely thrilling. Having 5,333 words isn't too shabby either.
I know I only finished my "first" day, but I actually think I might see this thing to the end. Going in tired and really not wanting to do it, showed me that I can still force myself to do it anyway. Now, to keep that in mind when the going gets tougher. *smile*
I have a small cheerleading team lined up and they're really good at cheering me on in everything. As a matter of fact, they're the two people who got me back into writing. So yes, they'll cheer me on to the end. My husband really will as he gave me the original prompt that set this book in motion. He's really been wanting to see the end of it for a LONG time. Now, hopefully in about a month and a half, he'll get to see it in its rough form. I said "a half" because I'll need time away from it before I enter it into the computer.
I'm thrilled that I managed to pocket my Inner Editor. This evening, while counting the number of words I had, I came across the use of a word that a tough guy like Henrich (my main character) would never use. However, I noted it, shook my head at it, and kept on counting. I'm actually proud of myself for not trying to edit it at that very moment. I think it shows great promise for the rest of the month.
I have to grab onto every gem I can right now to keep me going later on. *smile* With that, I'm heading to bed. I have another 2,000 words to tackle tomorrow. *grin*
With the plan of 4 pages, front and back, I kept writing until I had reached that goal. Actually, I ended up going over it as I just couldn't leave it dangling at the end of the 4th page. So, with that, the official count of this evening came in at 2,288 words! Hurray!!! My goal was 2,000, so I passed it. I'm actually pretty happy at that.
An amazing thing happened tonight too. I finished my very first chapter. Since I'm a short story writer by nature, this is absolutely thrilling. Having 5,333 words isn't too shabby either.
I know I only finished my "first" day, but I actually think I might see this thing to the end. Going in tired and really not wanting to do it, showed me that I can still force myself to do it anyway. Now, to keep that in mind when the going gets tougher. *smile*
I have a small cheerleading team lined up and they're really good at cheering me on in everything. As a matter of fact, they're the two people who got me back into writing. So yes, they'll cheer me on to the end. My husband really will as he gave me the original prompt that set this book in motion. He's really been wanting to see the end of it for a LONG time. Now, hopefully in about a month and a half, he'll get to see it in its rough form. I said "a half" because I'll need time away from it before I enter it into the computer.
I'm thrilled that I managed to pocket my Inner Editor. This evening, while counting the number of words I had, I came across the use of a word that a tough guy like Henrich (my main character) would never use. However, I noted it, shook my head at it, and kept on counting. I'm actually proud of myself for not trying to edit it at that very moment. I think it shows great promise for the rest of the month.
I have to grab onto every gem I can right now to keep me going later on. *smile* With that, I'm heading to bed. I have another 2,000 words to tackle tomorrow. *grin*
Thursday, December 4, 2008
NaNoWriMo
Well, NaNoWriMo, the official one, is over for this year. It runs during the month of November. However, I went and got Chris Baty's book, "No Plot? No Problem!" the other day and read it. It's basically a guide on how to do your own NNWM any month you want. Well, this is my time! I'm bringing to the table a partially finished book. Technically, that's a no-no, but since I write in the style that's suggested anyway (by the seat of your pants), I figured it didn't really matter. Besides, the 'book' is only 3,045 words long in its current form. Barely short story length.
My goal is to write every evening from 10:30 - 12:30. However, my goal is going to be 3-4 pages every night. I don't know if that will dig me out of my deficit or not. Since I'm starting it on the 4th day of the month, I'm technically supposed to have a total of 6,664 words by the end of the night. Well... that's an awful lot for one night. So maybe if I jump it up to 4 pages (handwritten, I do about 500 words/page) every night, then I might be able to catch up. Hmm... According to the math, I can. I'd actually clear the goal (50,000 words in 1 month) by several days. So, there you have it. Four pages per day will get me to my goal.
As me again in a month how I did. LOL Naw, if I "win," I'll be completely over the moon I'll be so happy. You'll definitely know. *grin*
Feel free to cheer me on. I might need it before too long. LOL
My goal is to write every evening from 10:30 - 12:30. However, my goal is going to be 3-4 pages every night. I don't know if that will dig me out of my deficit or not. Since I'm starting it on the 4th day of the month, I'm technically supposed to have a total of 6,664 words by the end of the night. Well... that's an awful lot for one night. So maybe if I jump it up to 4 pages (handwritten, I do about 500 words/page) every night, then I might be able to catch up. Hmm... According to the math, I can. I'd actually clear the goal (50,000 words in 1 month) by several days. So, there you have it. Four pages per day will get me to my goal.
As me again in a month how I did. LOL Naw, if I "win," I'll be completely over the moon I'll be so happy. You'll definitely know. *grin*
Feel free to cheer me on. I might need it before too long. LOL
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