Looking up policies from other organizations and then writing policies for mine based on the research has got to be the most boring work ever! I spent most of my day working on these policies, and I hope I'll be finished soon.
Tomorrow should be pretty good, though. I'm going to a preview party for Mobile's music festival (Bayfest) because they are raising money for my organization. So I get to spend a few hours talking to people and collecting the money they want to donate to us. I love events like this. It's so much fun to be out there, doing the PR stuff you see on TV.
Also tomorrow I need to start looking at the 2007 farm bill. I've been told I might be working on some policy stuff related to this bill, so I need to understand it! If I'm going to be lobbying next year, I need to know what I'm talking about, lol.
Still flipping back and forth on the NaNoWriMo novel. I think I might just forget the projects I'm trying to decide between and start completely from scratch. Or maybe not...
I was told recently that I should look at The Snowflake Method, so I found this very detailed site about it. I didn't have time to read it tonight, but I plan to get through it within the next couple of days and see if it might be helpful. I really have no set method when I write. Last year for NaNo, which is the first time I've actually finished a novel, I actually did a detailed outline with a summary of each chapter and a very nice timeline of events before, during and after the story. That worked nicely and really kept me in line when I started to stray too far. Of course, I allowed myself to stray a little. Allowing the story to come alive and take over is a large part of my creative process. So anyway, I'm going to see if this method would be good for me or if it would only stifle my creativity.
My friend Marcus might do NaNoWriMo this year. I really hope he decides to do it. I keep telling him it's a great experience. So Marcus, if you're reading this, DO NANOWRIMO!!!!! You won't regret it!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
More NaNoWriMo and some travel news
First, I'll do the travel news, since part of it is happy and part of it is sad. Due to work and money-related issues, I will not be going to Paris in December. It makes me sad, but I know I will keep trying until I can go.
But here's the bright side. I've been looking for something really special to do for my parents next June. They will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. I know that's not a traditionally big anniversary, but they're both pushing 60, so at their 50th, they may not be physically able to have big adventures. I hope they are, but you never know. So we talked about it, and they want me to take them on a road trip. They've never been further North than South Carolina, so we're going up to Niagara Falls, then to New York, then to Philadelphia, then to Washington, DC. (my boss has already said they would count it as a work day if I pop in and see a couple of our representatives about the 2007 farm bill while I'm up there!) After all that, we're going to drive along the East Coast all the way home. My mom wants to see some lighthouses and my dad wants to take pictures of boats. Now, I've already been to all these places, but it will be so great to show them to my parents, who are terrified to travel by themselves, and will only do something like this if I go with them. So if anyone has any ideas about some neat things we can do in any of these areas (besides the touristy stuff, which we will be doing already, let me know!)
We had thought about going West, but by the time we actually made it to something interesting out there, we would have to turn around and go back! (they are also terrified of flying, so we will be doing all this by car)
So anyway, I'm having fun planning this crazy trip. We're probably taking Noah, who will be 11 by then and who loves taking pictures and seeing new places. So it should be a lot of fun, and a chance to really put some miles on Gonzo (who saw quite a few miles last weekend, actually!) So anyway, I think it will be fun.
And then, of course, in 2008 we will be taking all the kids and my sister and her husband to Disney World for our traditional trip. We always go when one of the kids graduates from Kindergarten, and Hannah will be graduating in 2008, so the plan is to go then. I'm so looking forward to dressing her up in a Cinderella costume for that first day at the Magic Kingdom! I will, of course, have a change of clothes in my backpack, but she has to meet Cinderella dressed like her. Think of how cute the pictures will be! :)
So there's a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years...
Now on to the NaNoWriMo stuff. I only have a few days before I have to decide which story to write this year. There is a self-imposed deadline of October 1. If I haven't decided by then, I will force myself to decide!
Another new development is that I bought a GPS unit online today so that I can start geocaching. I'm going to take Noah with me on caching trips, and my mom wants to do some too. It'll be a great way to enjoy the fall weather that we are having right now. I also have a few friends who want to cache with me, so I should never have to do it alone. But even if I have to do it alone, I think it'll be fun. I'm looking forward to discovering new places in my own region, and even when I travel I can find caches in different places. Perhaps I can hunt a few on our road trip, and when I go to Chicago and Pasadena for conferences next year. Wow, talking about all these trips makes me sound like quite the traveler. I love to travel and only wish I could do it more often! But back to what I hope will become my new hobby, I'm looking forward to getting my GPS in and testing it out on my first cache! Maybe I can do it on Saturday morning. That afternoon/evening, I'm taking the kids to a county fair (complete with the cheesy carnival rides, candy apples, and rodeo) Noah loves the rides and likes to try winning stuffed animals for his younger brother and sister at the various games. He's pretty good at ring tosses and throwing darts at balloons. It's fun to watch him play the games. So I guess what I'm saying is, it'll be another busy, but fun-filled weekend. I'm looking forward to it.
But here's the bright side. I've been looking for something really special to do for my parents next June. They will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. I know that's not a traditionally big anniversary, but they're both pushing 60, so at their 50th, they may not be physically able to have big adventures. I hope they are, but you never know. So we talked about it, and they want me to take them on a road trip. They've never been further North than South Carolina, so we're going up to Niagara Falls, then to New York, then to Philadelphia, then to Washington, DC. (my boss has already said they would count it as a work day if I pop in and see a couple of our representatives about the 2007 farm bill while I'm up there!) After all that, we're going to drive along the East Coast all the way home. My mom wants to see some lighthouses and my dad wants to take pictures of boats. Now, I've already been to all these places, but it will be so great to show them to my parents, who are terrified to travel by themselves, and will only do something like this if I go with them. So if anyone has any ideas about some neat things we can do in any of these areas (besides the touristy stuff, which we will be doing already, let me know!)
We had thought about going West, but by the time we actually made it to something interesting out there, we would have to turn around and go back! (they are also terrified of flying, so we will be doing all this by car)
So anyway, I'm having fun planning this crazy trip. We're probably taking Noah, who will be 11 by then and who loves taking pictures and seeing new places. So it should be a lot of fun, and a chance to really put some miles on Gonzo (who saw quite a few miles last weekend, actually!) So anyway, I think it will be fun.
And then, of course, in 2008 we will be taking all the kids and my sister and her husband to Disney World for our traditional trip. We always go when one of the kids graduates from Kindergarten, and Hannah will be graduating in 2008, so the plan is to go then. I'm so looking forward to dressing her up in a Cinderella costume for that first day at the Magic Kingdom! I will, of course, have a change of clothes in my backpack, but she has to meet Cinderella dressed like her. Think of how cute the pictures will be! :)
So there's a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years...
Now on to the NaNoWriMo stuff. I only have a few days before I have to decide which story to write this year. There is a self-imposed deadline of October 1. If I haven't decided by then, I will force myself to decide!
Another new development is that I bought a GPS unit online today so that I can start geocaching. I'm going to take Noah with me on caching trips, and my mom wants to do some too. It'll be a great way to enjoy the fall weather that we are having right now. I also have a few friends who want to cache with me, so I should never have to do it alone. But even if I have to do it alone, I think it'll be fun. I'm looking forward to discovering new places in my own region, and even when I travel I can find caches in different places. Perhaps I can hunt a few on our road trip, and when I go to Chicago and Pasadena for conferences next year. Wow, talking about all these trips makes me sound like quite the traveler. I love to travel and only wish I could do it more often! But back to what I hope will become my new hobby, I'm looking forward to getting my GPS in and testing it out on my first cache! Maybe I can do it on Saturday morning. That afternoon/evening, I'm taking the kids to a county fair (complete with the cheesy carnival rides, candy apples, and rodeo) Noah loves the rides and likes to try winning stuffed animals for his younger brother and sister at the various games. He's pretty good at ring tosses and throwing darts at balloons. It's fun to watch him play the games. So I guess what I'm saying is, it'll be another busy, but fun-filled weekend. I'm looking forward to it.
Monday, September 25, 2006
See You Around...Maybe
I think I'm taking a break from Blogging for a while. I’ll decide in a month or two if it will permanent. I have not been myself lately so I think I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. I don't know if it will be permanent like Liberal Banana or The Daily Dump, but I don't want to be one of those people who quits then comes back and claims that he missed you people. I won't miss you...
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Film festivals are so cool
Just got back from my weekend trip and I have to say, I wish I could just go to these things all the time! It was so great. We saw some wonderful short films and features, and my favorite film of the day was a documentary called 10 mph. When they release this for sale, I'm buying it! Go to the site and see what it's all about.
We also saw We Go Way Back, which was a very beautiful film that I am still thinking about, an entire day later. I love movies that make me think. I love books that do the same thing, actually.
We saw some other films, several shorts by Alabama filmmakers, and a couple of other features and shorts. I can honestly say I didn't like only a couple of the films we saw this weekend. Most of them were great.
So anyway, we had a great time, and are already planning to go for the whole weekend next year. It'll be so great!
We also saw We Go Way Back, which was a very beautiful film that I am still thinking about, an entire day later. I love movies that make me think. I love books that do the same thing, actually.
We saw some other films, several shorts by Alabama filmmakers, and a couple of other features and shorts. I can honestly say I didn't like only a couple of the films we saw this weekend. Most of them were great.
So anyway, we had a great time, and are already planning to go for the whole weekend next year. It'll be so great!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Day 2 of the Fall Cleaning project
Yesterday I bought some plastic bins to help organize things, and got started on the cleaning project. It went well, I think. Tonight I'm working on the closet, and after that I will reorganize the books. I actually think the books will be the most difficult task, considering that I have hundreds of them, and not nearly enough room!
On another subject, I decided a couple of weeks ago that I would not wait around for another day to do things I want to do. If I want to do something, and I have the means to do it, I'm not coming up with excuses for not doing it. I'm going to live my life while I can.
So this weekend I'm driving to Montgomery to see Chris, and we're going to the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham. We went to this film festival a few years ago and had a great time, so I'm sure this weekend will be just as much fun as it was before. And... today I decided that I want to go with him to Paris in December. I've never been anywhere except the US and Canada, and I've always wanted to go to Paris. In fact, it's on my list of things to do before I die. So.... if there is room on his flight and a room in the hotel he booked, I'm off to Paris! Well, if I can get the time off too. I don't see that being a problem, though. I was going to take the last week of November off to help with NaNoWriMo, and that wasn't a problem, so I'm sure the week in December will be fine. Of course, I can't take both, but that's okay. Paris is so much better than some extra time to finish NaNoWriMo. After all, I did it without a week off last year.
Still trying to decide which novel to do for this year's NaNo. I have a couple of weeks to decide, then I have to start the outline.
Well, I'd better get back to the fall cleaning project!
On another subject, I decided a couple of weeks ago that I would not wait around for another day to do things I want to do. If I want to do something, and I have the means to do it, I'm not coming up with excuses for not doing it. I'm going to live my life while I can.
So this weekend I'm driving to Montgomery to see Chris, and we're going to the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham. We went to this film festival a few years ago and had a great time, so I'm sure this weekend will be just as much fun as it was before. And... today I decided that I want to go with him to Paris in December. I've never been anywhere except the US and Canada, and I've always wanted to go to Paris. In fact, it's on my list of things to do before I die. So.... if there is room on his flight and a room in the hotel he booked, I'm off to Paris! Well, if I can get the time off too. I don't see that being a problem, though. I was going to take the last week of November off to help with NaNoWriMo, and that wasn't a problem, so I'm sure the week in December will be fine. Of course, I can't take both, but that's okay. Paris is so much better than some extra time to finish NaNoWriMo. After all, I did it without a week off last year.
Still trying to decide which novel to do for this year's NaNo. I have a couple of weeks to decide, then I have to start the outline.
Well, I'd better get back to the fall cleaning project!
The One where I get Visitors from The Midwest
Well, I shoulda’ posted this weeks ago, but I had camera issues. Here’s the story: My old law school roommate’s family came for a visit to DC, so I met them out for dinner. I’m posting the pics on here (and the story) so that they can download the pics if they want them.When I was in law school, I lived with my friend, who we’ll call Tony Twist (because he’s from St. Louis, has a goatee and
Well, I shoulda’ posted this weeks ago, but I had camera issues. Here’s the story: My old law school roommate’s family came for a visit to DC, so I met them out for dinner. I’m posting the pics on here (and the story) so that they can download the pics if they want them.When I was in law school, I lived with my friend, who we’ll call Tony Twist (because he’s from St. Louis, has a goatee and
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