My favorite movie? My answer to that question vacillates between Brokeback Mountain and Amadeus. Today, it is Amadeus. Of course, YouTube has everything, including clips from this movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, may I strongly suggest that you do so? Such a phenomenal movie. F. Murray Abraham delivers an excellent performance as Antonio Salieri, and Tom Hulce as Mozart is also really good.
I Suck!
I haven’t worked on my NaNo novel in ages, and I just suck. Suck, suck, suck! What was I smoking when I thought I’d have time for this during the school year?
Wil Wheaton on Star Trek: TNG
Star Trek: The Next Generation is, was, and probably will always be my favorite incarnation of the Star Trek franchise. I loved the characters. I loved the stories. The late 1980’s and early 1990’s offered much better special effects than those the original series had to work with. I never truly caught on to DS9, Voyager, or Enterprise. I have really been enjoying Wil Wheaton’s commentary on TNG episodes over at TV Squad. Wil’s sense of humor is unerring, and his deconstruction of the episodes is an entertaining read. He also supplies interesting memories associated with filming the episodes. You can read all of Wil’s recaps here. To me, the mark of good writing is the extent to which I am compelled to read it to Steve. I have read all of Wil’s TNG recaps to Steve.
I Was Just Minding My Own Business
I drove up to the school today to get my phone — I thought I had left it there. Nope. I don’t know where it is, and I left it on buzz last time, so even if I called it, I doubt I’d find it. Anyway, while I was there, I updated my classroom blog. It was very quiet, and I imagine that I could probably get a lot done there on the weekends. I left and stopped by the store for a few groceries. Right as I was getting ready to cross over the Chattahoochee into Roswell, some blonde (no offense Lara) plowed into me. Just minding my own business. I feel OK, and the car has minimal damage, but I would be surprised if her car was not totaled. This one wasn’t my fault!
In other news NaNoWriMo is going badly. Being sick took me out of the loop, and I need to work hard to catch up and get back in the game. And I’m just not feeling it today. In fact, I’m probably going to play Nintendo after I post this.
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It’s Just a Cold
But it feels worse. I went to the doctor this morning to see if I had bronchitis or walking pneumonia because that’s how bad I felt, but the diagnosis is a cold. I have some fancy expensive new medicine, so we’ll see if that helps.
The nurse was telling me about how she had breakfast at Waffle House — sausage and waffles. I have to admit it pleased me to hear a nurse talking about eating at one of my favorite greasy spoons. Anyway, I decided to get some breakfast there myself while waiting for my prescription to be filled. I was creeped out by the guy sitting next to me at the counter. Then this other guy came in and talked to himself the whole time he was there. I was looking all over for a Bluetooth something-or-other, but no, he was talking to himself. The guy at the counter said he was just Elton, and he preached to himself and came in every day (which meant counter-man did, too, I guess), and that he was harmless. OK.
There are these trees with absolutely the most beautiful, perfect shade of orange all over town right now.
I voted. Now I am supposed to be relaxing. I am going to try to think of something to write for my book today; now I’m falling really behind.
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NaNo Update
I don’t know if I like my book idea anymore. I think this is a stage reached by most authors at some point. As I am writing, I keep asking if I have enough for a book here or if it wouldn’t be a better short story. I don’t know. I am going to plug away, though. I wrote a little today, despite not feeling like it. I’m done for now. I get so frustrated. I really want to write like some of these good books I’ve read lately, especially The Thirteenth Tale and The Ghost Writer, but I’m not happy with what I’m producing at the moment. On the positive side, I have exceeded 10% of my word count goal. I am hoping I will feel better next weekend and be able to write more. I think part of my problem right now is I just don’t feel well enough to write. Maybe what I need to do is lay lie down and read.
Flu
I think I have the flu. I have done nothing today except lay in bed and sleep, an event which was broken by intermittent bouts of coughing and blowing my nose. I didn’t do any writing today. I’m going to give it a try.
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Day One
Day one of NaNoWriMo, and I feel pretty good. I have 2,390 words. I wrote the beginning and two other scenes that will come later on, but that I wanted to get down. I’m fairly pleased so far, and trying my best not to freak out and worry about whether it’s any good, although I did read it all to Steve, and he said it was good. Honestly, though, what’s he going to say?
The NaNo website is absolutely crawling today, though I suppose that’s to be expected. I uploaded a small excerpt of my book into my profile, but good luck trying to access it today. Maybe I’ll put some of it here. I’m on the fence about sharing a work in progress.
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Down to the Wire
One more day until NaNoWriMo begins. I feel pretty good about my idea, and I have some scenes sketched out in my head. You know, there might be something to waiting until November 1, even if there are ideas brewing. I don’t think it would be good if, say, the ideas started brewing around about December 1, but I started thinking about this book mid-October.
Am I wrong to be annoyed by NaNoWriMo forum posters who drop their publication credits or mention in some fake blasé way that an editor is already interested? It reminds me of namedroppers somehow. Yes, we’re excited for you. Go pretend you’re not gloating somewhere else.
I am *almost* caught up with grading. Everything that was handed in by Friday has now been graded, but I collected one-paragraph essays from 9th graders today and will collect more tomorrow. On Wednesday, I collect two sets of vocabulary cards. My 10th grade Writing class will have to turn in another essay this week. I never stay caught up for long.
Well, I retire to what feels like a well-earned session with a book.