2000 words a day for 30 days

National Novel Writing Month begins tomorrow, November 1. I am prepared to write 2,000 words a day for 30 days. I have the novel planned. I have four 12-packs of soda. I have chocolate candy. I have two 24-bottle cases of water. I have half-a-dozen activities I can do to procrastinate. I am prepared for National Novel Writing Month.

I have set my virus scan to run at 5:00 AM every day. It takes the software about four hours to check my computer. I have four hours I can use as procrastination time and after that I have to sit down and write on my novel. On Tuesday and Friday, we have doctors appointments at 10 AM. I can take my journal and write on the novel in the doctors waiting rooms. Wednesday we have to pick up food and order food about 8:00 AM.

I have to pick up my new glasses sometime next week, not on Monday because I have to be here all day. We're expecting technicians to come in and do some work. I am sure there will be other interruptions, but I will handle those as they arrive.

Windy Wednesday in Las Vegas

‘Idál (Justice), 13 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 166 BE – Wednesday, October 28, 2009 about 2:18 PM Pacific Time

It's a windy Wednesday in Las Vegas. The sun is shining and the wind chill factor reminds me of winter in Oklahoma. Pedestrians are bundled in ski jackets walking into the wind with their head down. Or walking with the wind behind them pushing them faster down the street.

The heat came on for the first time last night. The house is cold, house is cold, not as cold as a snowy day in Oklahoma, but cool enough to layer sweaters and blouses. The problem with turning the heat up to a comfortable level is the power bill.

Las Vegas autumn
the wind chill shivers tourist
locals dress warmer.

The door to the coat closet and the new thermostat

The door to the hall or coat closet opens by itself at random intervals. Before I had the new digital thermostat install, it was a complete mystery. However, the new thermostat has helped solve the enigma.

The closet door opens when the temperature changes. I know this because the new thermostat is sensitive enough to record one-degree changes in temperature. Every time I see the door open, I check the thermostat before I close the door. I also check the thermostat when I to the bathroom or one of the bedrooms. This way, I am aware of the temperature inside the house at all times.

I suspect the door only opens when the temperature goes down, but I am going to wait a couple of months before I make a definite decision on that. That closet is below the entrance to the attic, which no longer has an entrance cover. I think that may be the reason the door opens by itself. I am going to have to get a cover for the entrance to the attic.

In the mean time, I am going to use the door opening by itself in a short story. I think I will use it in a ghost story, I have not written in this genre; therefore, I am going to let the door inspire a ghost story.

Three-day sale book between October 27 and October 30

Take advantage of Accor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale Asia Pacif
ic and book online between October 27 and October 30, 2009. Asia Pacific has one million hotel rooms at amazing rates, so take advantage of this three-day sale and book online. Rates start as low as $30.00 U.S. Dollars per night, with over one million room nights on sale. The stay period is between December 9 and April 10.

Another Cool Autumn Day

Another cool day
in Las Vegas wondering
if the clouds bring rain.

The temperature in the house hasn't been over 76 degrees. I don't know what the outdoor temperature. It really doesn't matter because the six items I hung on the line dried. It took them all day to dry, but the did dry. They felt cold when I brought them into the house.

Drying cloths in fall
the air sucks out the moisture
slowly over time.

I remember my grandmother hanging cloths out in Blackwell. She hung cloths on the line in the spring, summer, winter and fall. I think my grandmother had more patience then I do, because she never seemed to worry about how long it took the cloths to dry in autumn and winter.

I hung out six small pieces of clothing today. It took all day for them to dry. I'm not looking forward to hanging out cloths this winder. The short days make it harder to dry cloths on the line. Maybe I'll just start going to the laundromat this winter.

Interesting articles in the Saturday Edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal

have a specific method of reading the daily newspaper. I read the comics first, with a hot cup of coffee sitting on the table in front of me. My father read the comics to me this way when I was a child. I read the comics this way Sunday through Saturday.

After I finish the comics, then I read Variety section. After that, I go the front page, except on Saturday. On Saturday, the Religious section is next. Today (Saturday, October 24, 2009) the Religious section had a story about an artist, R. Crumb, who drew a comic-book version of Genesis.

The other interesting article was a commentary by Jane Ann Morrison about "Personhood Nevada". The commentary concerned a petition to get this subject on the ballet in 2010. Since I have not personally investigated this item, I have no opinion on it. After I investigate the issue fully, I will have an opinion.

Afternoon writing

I don't know if there is a difference between afternoon writing and morning writing, but I'm going to find out. Getting online in the morning is becoming more and more difficult all the time. Therefore, I'm going to get online after 12:00 noon and in the evening. This means rearranging my writing schedule; however, it makes doing my virus scan easier.

My virus detection program is set to run three or four days a week. I can now set it to run about 5:30 AM and don't have to worry about working while the scan is running. I can spend my morning, between interruptions, doing housework. I don't mind interruptions while I'm doing household chores. It's the interruptions during writing and working online that are the problem.

I'm sure interruptions will still occur while I'm working online and writing. Afternoon problems don't seem to be as urgent as morning problems. Of course, this could change and if it does I'll handle it.

I come from

Daily writing practice prompt for Thursday, October 22, 2009: “I come from…”

I come from Oklahoma,
I come from Blackwell,
I come from America's home town,
I come from snowy Winters,
I come from multicolored Autumns,
I come from sweet smelling Springs,
I come from hot, wet Summers,
I come from middle America,
I come from joy and sadness,
I come from happiness and tears,
I come from Sunday morning hymns,
I come from Monday afternoon weariness,
I come from Tuesday evening laughter,
I come from Wednesday morning reflections,
I come from Thursday evening gratitude's,
I come from Friday wishes,
I come from Saturday playfulness,
And I come from the planet Earth.

NaNoWriMo Approaches

Only a few more days until National Novel Writing Month, November 1, 2009 the novels begin, so if you haven't already signed up now is the time to do join the novel writing community.

I'm already signed up. My next step is to log into my NaNoWriMo account and put in the name of my novel. There isn't any use waiting until the last minute to pick a name for my novel. I always begin with a working title, then it turns out that title doesn't fit; I can change the name in December when the rewrite begins.

I have a premium membership on writing.com

I have had a premium membership on writing.com for several months. On October 15, I used some of the Gift Points in my account extended the membership another month, so my present membership is due November 15, 2009. Therefore, between now and November 15, I am going to enter as many writing contest as possible. I will also do a lot of reviewing.

I am looking forward to the reviewing because of the reading it involves. I read a more stories and poems online then I do off line. In fact, the only thing I read off line is scripture. I cannot remember the last time I read a poem or story off line.

Write about a hideout.

Daily Writing Practice for Sunday, October 18, 2009: Write about a hideout.

Tears begin to fall
the day becomes difficult
where is a hideout.

Go out of the house
with a prayer book in hand
hideout in your car.

Set in the front seat
open the prayer book and
read healing prayers.

Don't tell anyone
where you are going or why
just intone God's word.

Refocusing on my writing goals

Istiqlál (Independence), 1 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 166 BE – Friday, October 16, 2009 about 9:13 AM Pacific Time

It's Friday, October 16, I begin a new 19-day period of goal achievement. I've reevaluated my writing goals and reset some of them. I also reset some non-writing goals. I'm in an optimistic mood this morning despite the fact that I have to do laundry at the laundromat.

Going to the laundromat interrupts work at home, all though, I do meet some interesting people when I do take my dirty cloths to the laundromat. When I do go, I'll take my pen and paper journal with me to make observations. A writer never knows what type of ideas will come to mind while sitting in a laundromat.

Climate and humanity

Hot, cold, wet, or dry
mankind affect the climate
Earth is one country

Today is Blog Action Day

Today is blog action day and I forgot to sign up for it. I signed up for it last year, I don't know why I forgot this year. I don't think I have any more on my plate then in 2007 or 2009, actually I suspect I may have less on my plate.

Signed up or not, I'm going to blog about the climate today. I haven't decided what I'm going to say yet, but I'm going to blog about the climate. In fact, I think I'll blog about the climate in all of my blogs. Since blog action day is October 15, I think I'll put a reminder in my calendar for 2010 to sign up for it in September of 2010.

I still have to read Sunday’s newspaper

Sunday we were gone almost all day. When we arrived back home, I put the food we brought back with us in the fridge. I then sit down on the couch to say prayers and dozed off. When I woke up, I had the virus scan to run and an edition of a fantasy newsletter to complete.

I don't know why I didn't read the newspaper while the virus scan was running. I didn't make any coffee yesterday evening. Perhaps that is why I didn't read the paper, I don't like to read the paper without a cup of coffee. I know that sounds odd, but that's the only reason I can find for not reading yesterday's paper.

I think I'll make a pot of coffee, find me something to eat, and read Sunday's paper. I know there are coupons in it I can use. I also want to see if there are any interesting news articles. I have a lot of writing and housework to do today. I also have to pick up a prescription this afternoon.

Liver and Onions

I like to eat liver and onions. I want liver and onions, so I have to go to a restaurant sometime in October. I have to go to a restaurant because I don't like cooking liver and onions at home. I guess if you need an excuse to go out to eat this is as good an excuse as any.

Liver and onions
delicious combination
bring back memories.

My grandmother fixed liver and onions when I was a child. I always thought she made the best liver and onions in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I can never get the dish to taste the way my grandmother's liver and onions tasted, perhaps that is why I go restaurants to eat them.

Coffee and Haiku

A coffee morning
seventeen syllables sipped
from a small white cup.

Coffee makes a good subject for haiku. I am drinking French roast coffee now because that was the type I bought the last time I went to the store. I buy coffee according to the blend or the roast rather then the brand.

One day a week

It is Thankful Thursday again. Time to count my blessings. Time to list ten gratitude's.

One day a week stop
and say thank you to someone
to the creator.

There are four Thankful Thursdays in a month. That gives me forty items each month for which to give thanks.

One day a week stop
and list ten gratitude's on
a sheet of paper.

A person does not have to have a specific journal to list his or her gratitude's list. Write the ten items on a piece of paper and placed on the fridge. If the gratitude list is place on the refrigerator door, then each time one opens the door the gratitude's are there to read.

Monday is Columbus Day

Monday, October 12, is Columbus Day. I didn't realize Monday was Columbus Day until I looked at the calendar. I'm having the thermostat replaced on Monday. The air is off right now, not because the thermostat needs replacing, but because it's too cold for the cool air and too warm for the hot air. Therefore, there is no use having the central air unit turned on.

I'm not going to celebrate Columbus Day this year. I haven't celebrated Columbus Day since I left high school a few decades ago. Perhaps I'll write a poem about Columbus Day or about a childhood memory.

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Wednesday morning Haiku

I hear the trash trucks
driving through my neighborhood
roadwork is one word

It's Wednesday, hump day, trash collection day in my neighborhood. I just realized that I spelled roadwork wrong yesterday. I made it two words instead of one word.

Afternoon drive

Driving across town
the gas tank nearing empty
road work closes street

I need to eat more protein

I've been tired lately. I finally figured out part of the problem. I need to eat more protein. I realized this today.

My brother and his family came to Las Vegas for the weekend. On Saturday, we went to Search Light to see my sister. My sister works at the Search Light Nugget. While we were there, we ate lunch. I had the country-fried steak. I haven't been as tired today as I've normally been and the only thing different I did yesterday was eat the country fried steak.

Today’s challenge writing an outline

Today's NaNoWriMo Preparation Challenge is to write a first draft outline, an overview of the main events. I think I will title the subjects with Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc. I do not have chapter names yet, so I will do it this way. I am not going to worry about chapter name or title for the time being. I have to work on the challenge and post that i have completed today's challenge.

Heroes of Newerth an upcoming game

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Click on the link to learn about the Heroes of Newerth. Once you on the website then register and log in. The post give information about the game, which looks interesting and fun to play. The graphics on the ruggednerds.com Heroes of Newerth discussion forum are attractive. The graphics alone make me want to play the game.

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October and Autumn

The first day of autumn is in September; however, October is the month you notice the seasonal change. September mornings are warm with the thermostat reading about 80 degrees. October mornings the thermostat reads 75 degrees all though it feels colder.

The central air unit did not come on during the night. If the temperature remains this way for the rest of October, I will turn the cool air off. I will turn the unit off all together because 70 or 75 degrees is too warm for me to turn the heat on. I will put a blanket on my bed tonight, when I am up and working the heat is unnecessary. However, at night a blanket is nice to keep the evening chill out.

October morning
the season's chill has arrived
I need a blanket.