In my last post I mentioned my weird electromagnetic field that causes odd happenings whenever I get close to a computer.  Well, I just posted replies to four comments and my replies just landed in my email box.

What’s up with that?  Did you guys get my replies in your inboxes?

DISCLAIMER:  I’m a total computer illiterate.  I can word process just fine (although it took some time to break the habit of hitting the Enter/Return key as if I were using a typewriter) and I’ve mastered Photobucket, but that’s about it.  Well, that plus I don’t share Senator Ted Stevens’ misconception that the internet is a series of tubes.  I do, however, have a weird electromagnetic field that causes my computer to freeze up and do all sorts of insane things never before witnessed by man.  Or so says my mate.

Anyway, here’s my situation:  I’m toying with the idea of putting a counter on this journal because it seems like a cool idea to know how many people stop by to read and where they’re reading from.  But I’m overwhelmed with the choices PLUS I’m a little freaked out by the info that can be gathered.  I was just reading the BlogPatrol site and it offers (among other features): Detailed Analysis. Information on your 10 most recent visitors, including date/time, IP, Browser, Operating System, and Screen resolution of visitors.

Does anyone else feel like this stuff is a bit Big Brother-ish?  Is everyone already doing this?  Am I the only naive person who hasn’t jumped on the info collection bandwagon?  I wouldn’t know what to do with this info but I guess others are making use of it somehow.  I mean, I like the idea of knowing where someone is reading from but how specific does it get?  (We’re not talking Bat Cave computer capabilities, are we?)

So here are just a few questions:

Do you use a counter? 
If so, which one? 
Why would you recommend it?

Do you feel weird using an invisible tracker/counter thingy that collects info without your readers’ consent?

Am I just stressing about something that I don’t need to worry about because (1) that ship has already sailed (2) I’ve already got a laundry list of worries keeping me up at night and (3) my time would be better spent finishing my revisions?

I’m close to finishing the second draft of my middle-grade but am writing a new chapter that’s needed (I think, anyway).  The first scene went well, writing-wise, but I’m writing another scene that just doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up.

Numerous times today I pushed away from the keyboard and stomped around the house, scaring the furry creatures, I’m sure, as I hoped for enlightenment.  When that didn’t come, I’d force myself back in the chair and write a few lines that conjured up nothing but feelings of loathing for the story and myself.  More stomping.  More eating.  More self-loathing.  Eventually I went downstairs and ran on the treadmill for twenty-five minutes.  Did I find enlightenment there?  No.  (But I did get in a good, solid training run).

Not sure what I’m asking for here but if any of you know what I need, could you please send it along?

I know many don’t like politics.  It’s messy.  It riles emotions.  Causes rifts.

Maybe.

But politics IS personal, and so I ask you to continue reading. 

As the mother of two boys, I’m afraid for their future.  The U.S. is currently occupying Iraq based on lies and manipulation of fear, and even though we all know this to be true, the Bush administration is using those same tactics in preparation of bombing Iran.  The way to Iran is through Iraq: that is the Bush/Cheney strategy.  So the only way to end the Iraq madness and prevent an Iran tragedy is to CUT FUNDING.

This persuasive argument from a soldier is posted on DailyKos.com.  I’m pasting it here in hopes you’ll read it.  And even more, I hope you’ll call your representatives to let them know how you feel.  The Capitol Switchboard is 1-800-614-2803.

Thank you.

Cut the Funding: I’m a Soldier and I Approve this Message

by The Angry Rakkasan

Wed Feb 14, 2007 at 03:58:24 PM PST

Thus far, I’ve been riding the fence on the “cut the funding” debate.  But no more.  Not after listening to that moron, our President, on TV this morning.  After listening to him bumble his way through another public appearance, I’m convinced that, whatever the cost politically, the Democrats must now move to cut funding for the war in Iraq.

As a soldier who’s served in both theaters of this war, I’m often asked whether I think a freeze on war funding would hurt the soldiers.  I usually respond rationally by saying something like, “No, but it could hurt them in the long term if such a move were to cost the Democrats the elections in 2008.”  Well, I don’t think this is the time for long-term planning anymore.  I’ve played the pros and cons of cutting funding over and over in my head for months, and I am now convinced that a cessation of funding is the only way to stop this lunatic.  Cutting funding will not endanger the troops.
       
Here’s why:

These are some of the arguments used against the idea of cutting funding:

It hurts Democrats politically

It might.  But I’m not really concerned with that at this point.  Call me short-sighted, but all I have to do is take one look at George W. Bush muddling his way through a question and answer session and I am convinced that the American people will be with me on this.  Note to policymakers reading this: Please take a gander at the latest poll numbers.

It endangers the troops
       
This is propaganda nonsense.  The House of Representatives could easily fashion a bill that halts any funding for the war on March 1, 2008.  Such a bill would fully fund the troops in harm’s way for the rest of the year—but it would force the President to begin the redeployment immediately.  How we, as Americans, have gotten it into our collective consciousnesses that cutting the funding could somehow “hurt the troops” is something I’ll never be able to figure out.  The Pentagon has some evil people that work within its halls, but the organization itself is not inherently evil.  If the funding were cut, the Defense Department would very quickly move to begin a safe and orderly withdrawal.  I think back to when I was in Iraq and I wanted to come home.  Never once did it enter my mind that if the funding were cut, I would somehow be in more danger.  I mean, I was already there with soft-skinned humvees and only a single plate for my vest.    

It hurts the troops’ morale

Go talk to a 22-year old father who’s been there for 13 months and who’s never seen his baby.  Ask him how ending the war would affect his morale.  Better yet, go ask him right after he’s survived his third IED and follow-on ambush.  Ask him an hour after it happens, while he can barely hold his cigarette because he’s still got the shakes from the fear and adrenaline.  “Hey, bub, how’s your morale?”  
 
It emboldens terrorists

Embassy bombings.  U.S.S. Cole.  9/11.  World Trade Center tumbling down on TV.  

Who the fuck came up with this talking point?  In case you missed it, the “terrorists” were pretty riled up before the invasion of Iraq.  And another thing I hate about this meme is that it is stated from a position of fear—the implication being that we will be in more danger if we leave.  Sigh.  So you’re telling me that if we pull out of Iraq, rebuild our military to its former strength, and re-focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, we would be emboldening the terrorists?  I gotta tell you, if I were a terrorist, the thing I’d be most afraid of would be a fresh, rested, rebuilt, and focused American military.  If I’m a terrorist, I’m currently loving the fact that a beaten down and confused American Army is sitting at a standstill, stuck in the February mud of Iraq.  It makes my life easier.  

It will cause Iraq to fall into a bloody civil war in which regional players will involve themselves

Have I been sleeping?  Were we not at that point already?  How do these assholes on the right get away with continuing to say that on one hand, if we leave, it could cause other countries to step in, and on the other hand, to say that these other countries are already meddling in Iraq’s business?  Didn’t we just get a Powerpoint on that?

Bottom line: Cut the funding.  Pull the plug.  Take away the keys.  However you want to phrase it, it needs to be done soon.

Seeing as Congress is currently “debating” sending more U.S. troops to the Iraq occupation,

and seeing as the House Democrats think it’s enough to float a non-binding resolution that “disapproves” of sending more troops,

and seeing as there are still fear-mongering Republicans ignoring the vast majority of people (U.S. and Iraqi) who want us out of Iraq,

and seeing as the corporate media in their infinite wisdom are contributing to this discussion by showing us nothing but Anna Nicole Smith,

it seems time to revisit 1970 and Gil Scott Heron’s THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED.

I tried linking Wikipedia’s list of cultural and political references for this piece but couldn’t get it to work the fancy way.  It’s worth going here and scrolling down:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_revolution_will_not_be_televised

I’m working on the second draft of a middle-grade novel I finished last summer then stuck in a drawer for five months. Back in July when I was nearing the end of that draft, I started freaking out about the plot being full of holes, thinking the words I was putting down would never come together in any kind of coherence, worrying no one would ever care about my characters, looking over my shoulder for the literary police who I expected to bang down my door and make an arrest. Et cetera, et cetera, et nauseum cetera.

Fast forward to November when I was finishing the first draft of another novel. I started having those same panicked feelings, convinced I was in the middle of another mess of unconnected verbiage. And so I posted those worries here.

Enter idaho_laurie in the comments section. She said something to the effect that I just needed to get the words down, that they’d serve as placeholders for the words to come. Her advice comforted me then but I can’t say I fully understood what she meant. Until now, that is.

As I work through the draft I let cool for all those months, I’m amazed by how much is right with it. Sure, there’s loads of crappy writing that makes me cringe (and check over my shoulder for those police), but many of those paragraphs and scenes that aren’t quite right did indeed hold the places for me to rewrite what is needed. Without giving myself credit, I was actually paying attention to the rhythm of the story and putting down markers I could use to find my way in later drafts. Wow.

I’m still experiencing some panic as I work through this draft (after all, I AM a writer), but the process feels almost profound at times in the way bits and pieces are coming together to create a resonance.

This draft is still way rough but thanks to my placeholders, I trust I’ll find my way.

Moral of this post: Heed the wise idaho_laurie.

This was the first weekend since before Christmas that we didn’t have a snow storm (by my calculations, that’s about eight dumps of snow). In the last two weeks, we’ve had some bitter cold temperatures but also balmy days in the 50s and 60s. I can now run on pavement mostly clear of snow and ice, and these days worry about slipping on the sand put down by the plow trucks.

After my run this afternoon I went into the backyard for the first dog poop retrieval since a day before that first December storm. We have two dogs. This is what I collected:
For the first time ever, my huge foot (that’s a men’s size 10) looks almost petite.

Some of you may remember these guys after the early snow:

This is where they landed:

Hope they’re ready for more since there’s snow in the forecast.

I’ve been tagged by pixiechick and idaho_laurie for my first ever meme.

Here are the rules: Each participant shares five little-known facts about themselves. Those tagged are asked to do the same as well as reiterate this guideline. Each select five folks to be tagged and list their names. (Leave a comment letting them know that you’ve tagged them and that they may see your blog as an example.)

I think everyone and their mother has been tagged but I’ll tag linbinwriter, mountainmist, rhwojahn, crissachappell, viabloomington. Apologies if you’ve already been tagged and more apologies if you wanted to be tagged but were missed. Please share if the mood grabs you.

1) I played Little League the first year girls were allowed (1974, I think). The coach wasn’t too thrilled having girls on the team but we won begruding acceptance with our hard work and dedication.
2) I use to dress up my cat in doll clothes, push her around in a baby buggy, and introduce her to everyone as my baby, Elvis (not her name).
3) My first job (aside from babysitting) was on the night shift at a canning factory. I was a Visual Inspector which meant, among other things, I watched peas slide past on a conveyor belt and used a giant suction hose to suck crap (weeds, rocks, mutilated frogs, etc.) from the peas. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DON’T EAT CANNED VEGETABLES!
4) Despite my mother’s prediction that I would follow her lead and become more conservative as I aged, I’m becoming more progressive. (Unfortunately, I do seem an awful lot like my mother when I tell my sons to sit up and get the hair out of their eyes).
5) When I lived in Alaska, I had the profound experience of winning a lottery permit to spend four days at McNeil River viewing the brown bears. I was there at peak salmon time and so got to watch 40-plus bears fishing and eating salmon at one time.

My thermometer (in the sun) says it’s 65 degrees outside right now. Just finished running my loop where I cut another 45 seconds off my time! Made it all the way to the top of the very last hill without stopping before having to walk a few seconds before finishing up. That thrilled me! I’m definitely regaining my strength and my lung capacity is getting better, too.

When I was walking circles to cool down, I was so grateful that I started crying a little. Running makes me so very happy and I’ve had health problems that made it difficult/impossible to run for the past two-plus years. That old saying about cherishing your health is spot-on.

I’m smiling now.

Just got done running the two-mile loop through my hilly neighborhood and am thrilled I cut 1:35 from my recent best time. Yahoo! This is the most pavement I’ve seen in weeks so I was motivated to fly whenever I could. I feel so good right now! These endorphins (or as the brilliant Sarah Jessica Parker character said in L.A. STORY, “endolphins”) are the best drug going. Bottle and sell this stuff, and I’d be on a permanent high.

Near the end of the run I saw some woman walking and while running past I called out, “Isn’t it beautiful?!” She seemed a bit taken aback by my exuberance so good thing I kept racing for the finish line instead of doing a manic happy dance around her. Not that I even considered it.

I’ve been blue and wallowing in the doldrums for the past month or so. Didn’t want to post anything here or on Verla’s, didn’t want to comment on any of the LJs I skimmed. Basically, I didn’t want to interact with humanity; I didn’t have the energy for any of it.

Then today I learned that Ms. Cynthia Lord won a Newbery Honor award for RULES………

And guess what? My blood started pumping again. I found myself smiling and then grinning with happiness for her success. Not only that but I wanted to add my voice to the many, many people who’ve publicly congratulated her on this wonderful news.

I wanted to participate again!

So CONGRATULATIONS, Cindy, on your well-deserved recognition. And THANK YOU for inspiring me to rejoin the world.

Gorgeous sunshine-filled day today. Here’s the naked ash tree that shades portions of the garden and patio in the summer

Elder went inside but left this arrangement of creatures atop the snow

Younger busily tunneling. At one point there was a cave-in and I pulled him out by the ankles

Winter days don’t get much better than this. And now that we’re gaining daylight, I’m especially happy. Belated HAPPY SOLSTICE!

It’s still snowing here and the boys are out tunneling in the yard. Their winter break has officially begun, with two extra days tacked onto the front!

Here’s my patio:

and here’s my garden off the patio:

This spring the butterflies will flit among the blooming iris, yarrow, lilies, vinca, coreopsis, valerian, and all the other flowers that will grow strong with the help of the 26″ of snow we’ve received so far.

I guess I can wait. There’s really no choice, is there?

I haven’t been around much lately, mostly because this is a hard time of year for me and I don’t want to be the resident Weinie Whiner. Today I woke to blowing snow, predictions of 1-2 feet of the white stuff in the next 24 hours, and school closure announcements. I remember lots of snow days from my Wisconsin childhood but this is only the second for my kids. This is a big deal!

So my boys are downstairs now, playing some game that apparently calls for frequent bellowing, and I’m thinking that although I would not have guessed it, this snow day is going to be the best cure for my blues.

Today is World AIDS Day and I wanted to highlight Bead For Life, an organization dedicated to helping Ugandan women survive the AIDS epidemic. These women make beads from colorful recycled paper they tear into triangular strips, roll, glue, and then varnish. The beads are then strung into gorgeous necklaces and bracelets. I have two pieces of the jewelry, and it’s stunning in its appearance but also because of the poignant stories behind their creation.

Please check out the site, read some of the beaders’ bios and inspirational stories there, and then order a necklace for yourself or someone you love.

Here’s a chance to spread some hope and beauty.

40,254 / 40,254 (100.0%)

I am so very happy! I started this LJ so I could participate in the camaraderie and support system of the JoNoWriMo+1.5 community, and it was the best thing I could have done. There’s no way I would have finished this draft so quickly without the reminders, gentle prodding, and encouragement of everyone here.

A huge thank-you and hug to joknowles for putting so much time and effort into this endeavor. You are a kind and generous soul, and I owe you big-time! Thanks and hugs, also, to my other new LJ friends who stopped by to cheer me on in my efforts to turn 100% blue.

I can’t stop smiling!

39,055 / 38,000 (102.8%)

HA! I’ve exceeded my word count goal but the story isn’t over. Will try to glide back down to earth tomorrow but if need be, I’ll crash-land this sucker! Must … finish … first … draft…

36,985 / 38,000 (97.3%)

I made good progress today. Still not quite sure where this sucker’s gonna end, though. At a couple points today it felt like just so much blah-blah-blah but I tried hard not to get overly-critical. And I’m going to cling to that resolve for the next two days as I try to finish up.

It feels weird not posting my word meter but I didn’t add many words today. Instead, I wrote notes about characters and plot lines because when I sat down to write, I realized I had hinted at lots of things to come without any clear plan for how the story played out. Now I have a much better sense of what’s what and will continue writing tomorrow. I even figured out that the big scene comes earlier than I’d thought so this project might truly be finished, on its own terms, by November 30.

34,585 / 38,000 (91.0%)

Seriously considering bringing this WIP down hard in the next couple days. As in crash-landing it. Plotwise, I’m still flying above the clouds where I need more room/time to let the story come to a conclusion. But because I really want to finish a draft by the end of JoNoWriMo+1.5, I’m tempted to forget the fleshy details and write in a more skeletal fashion than I have up to this point; aim the nose for the ground and roar back to earth. If I do that, though, I’ll have more debris to deal with next draft.

Anyone else ever finish a first draft this way?