Paige's Plotting Corner

Insanity

2011-08-14T04:45:00.002-08:00

So I know that I don't get a lot of traffic on this blog and that's fine. I don't need it. Tonight I'm venting a little. I'll probably set up a different blog for the sake of venting and keep this one for writing but I'm just tired. I've got to apply for more jobs. I only have a year left for school and nothing planned for after. It's insane. I'm insane. I hate being poor.

It's been a while

2011-05-02T01:42:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I posted here. It's hard to know where to begin. First off. Yesterday we all learned that Osama Bin Laden has been killed. 5/1/11. Proper for May Day I think. Go Army! That's what I say. Hopefully good comes out of this. I know we've still got a fight ahead of us but his was an evil that had to be stopped.

Well my boyfriend and I have had our ups and downs but we're still together. It takes some communication. Some types of which I didn't even know I had. He's amazing though. He's in ROTC and I couldn't be happier. Well, I could. It could be summer. I could have a summer/fall job. I could be done with finals and know I have a place to live for the summer. It could be a lot of things but I'm satisfied with what is so far.

I have one year. One year until I am supposed to graduate with my history degree. And I have decided that I also have one year to get the following. Push Ups: Between 17 and 46 in two minutes. Sit Ups: Between 50 and 80 in two minutes. And last but not least. 2 Mile Run: Between 19:36 and 15:36. That would be minutes and seconds.

NaNoWriMo

2010-11-07T04:24:00.000-09:00

NaNoWriMo is here! I love it. Things are going pretty well thus far. I'll post an excerpt eventually and it'll be nice. It's a little harder to find time to write as on November 1st I officially started a relationship that had been simmering for a little while.

This NaNo is called Warning Shot Across the Prow. It's a steampunk fantasy novel. Something I've not actually done before. I like it so far. It's a lot of fun. The main character is Noelle Snipes who has to help her brother Noell Snipes regain his lost merchant vessel.

Writing Prompt number one

2010-08-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

This was the prompt. The mayor of some smallish town has a secret that could destroy the peace of his town if it were ever known.

Bonus points: Somehow fit in the Phrase "I am Batman!"

This is where the tale begins.

Alexandros was mayor of Charlotte's Cousin's Half Sister on Her Mother's Side for three hours when he heard a tentative knock on the oak door separating his small round office from the even smaller triangle where his secretary sat. Looking up from the pine desk covered in a mess of papers he tried to make out the door from the shadows in the windowless room.
I've really got to get some lamps in here. Dismissing the thought he called for the knocker to enter.
A small ancient woman stepped inside, squinting in the bad light to see the mayor better. "'Allo sir. Do you need a lamp or summat before I go on my lunch break? It really can't be good for your eyes to try to see through all these shadows."
The vampire blinked once, a quick blink. "A mage light would work better I think." he told her, his stomach tightening at the mention of lunch.
"Why?" she asked, confusion echoing in her voice.
Alexandros understood. No one here really knew that he was a vampire. They just thought he was allergic to the sun. "The papers you understand. I wouldn't want to start a fire in here."
"Oh very good sir. I'll send Gregory to you."
Alexandros tried not to groan. Of all the people in the world why is Gregory the only one who can do this?

A slender man, Gregory waltzed into the office with a grin on his face. Alex glared at him. "Why do we only have one white mage in this whole city?" he asked.

Gregory blinked. "What city? There are eighty three people in this town. That's not a city."

The vampire sighed and covered his eyes against the glare of the mage light. "Thank you kindly Gregory." His stomach rumbled. "Please leave now." Watching the man walk away he started pulling out maps from the top drawer of the desk.

His hand slipped on something glossy and he frowned, pulling out a brightly colored square of some paper. He lifted it in the rapidly dimming light and frowned at it. Batman. "I've never heard of this."

Reading through the magazine he found himself wanting more. Glancing around he realized that night had fallen so stuffed the magazine back into the drawer and stepped from around the desk. Opening the door he stepped into the triangular room and stepped around the secretary desk before grabbing his cloak and wrapping it tightly around his pale frame.

Feeling more than ready to hunt the mayor forced himself to avoid the tavern where the local drunks would be sprawled. The last thing his town needed was a vampire attack. No one would ever forgive him. There'd be massive panic.

Stumbling almost by accident across a small campsite outside of town he spread his cape wide as the travelers became aware of him and laughed. "I am Batman!"

On Jobs and Writing

2010-08-24T12:14:00.001-08:00

School's almost back in session. Hooray for Intro to Creative Writing Fiction. There's a mouthful for you eh? Two jobs have killed a lot of my time. However if I'm smart having worked two jobs may mean that I can make it to where my family is going to be for Christmas.
I haven't been writing as much as I should have. I partially blame my jobs but I had also decided, stupidly, that I wouldn't work on Secret Reader until the proof copy (yes I got one) was back in my hands. I lent it to my roommate while she was gone. It is just I think that I've been lazy. I tried to write something this morning and it was like pulling teeth. Very difficult. Much more difficult than it should have been.
Happily this is my last day of work at the lab. I am looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow. I have until the 10th before my other job is over and I'll have, if everything works as it should, started my fall job. I'm trying to remember what a day off feels like.
-Paige out

Jobs and Writing

2010-06-16T01:05:00.000-08:00

So. I worked a second job for a full seven days. And quit. Why did I quit? Because it wasn't working out. The deli wasn't sanitary. I didn't know how to fix it. I didn't have the ability to fix it. Food wasn't being checked like it was supposed to and it was never switched out. My manager asked me to call my primary summer job and tell them I couldn't come in on a certain day when I wasn't even on the paper schedule yet. It made me want to cry. She kept asking me what she was supposed to do about the schedule. I was horribly frustrated. So I quit. Not to mention I've got a fairly large personal bubble and she kept invading my space. So. Hopefully I get enough from the one week to supplement what I'm getting from my other job (that I'm not getting my full hours out of >.<) to pay rent this friday instead of waiting until the day before rent is due to be able to put it in. *sigh*

I'm trying to get Secret Reader ready for proof copy. I don't think it's going to be a great copy but it might be a great motivator. I hope so anyway. We'll see what happens.

Paige out.

Birthday

2010-06-02T00:52:00.000-08:00

So. I got to go to the DMV on my birthday. And take the tests. And give them an address that I'll need to call in and change so I didn't have to go back. Oh, and according to them I may as well be blind in my left eye. So I have to have two side mirrors on my car. Oh wow. So horrible. . Actually I'm kind of annoyed about that. I did get to talk to my little sister. Oh! I found a Magic card on the side of the road on my way to the DMV.

Yes, I took my date of birth off my facebook page until almost midnight. I got to work today too. Oh yeah, great fun. And I wasn't able to run into the person I was trying to run into.

All in all. If it weren't for the DMV incident it would have been just like every other birthday in recent memory. Can't even remember what I did last year. I think tomorrow, if my legs are up to it after biking to and from work, I am going to go get a piece of German Chocolate Cake and some ice cream.

Words Unleashed

2010-05-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

Great. I say words unleashed and think about the video game "The Force Unleashed." Oh well. There's not I can do about it now can I? Except write. So without further ado....
............................................................................................

The tiny old woman with the ginger streaked white hair was walking home from the bakers when she discovered her calling. Called Granny by everyone in the village she had spent her whole life believing that she had something more to offer the world. Something big. But when she past middle age she began to believe that she was mistaken. Happy that she had not decided to put off having a child while awaiting her destiny she had raised a small squalling baby into a well-adjusted, to her mind anyway, young woman.

So now the fifty three year old woman walked down the street of the village, happily clutching the letter the baker, also the village postmaster, had received from her daughter.

That was when she saw it. It was small. A glowing piece of rock. At least is glowed to her eyes. Looking around she saw three people pass by without a single glance. And she knew. Her calling resided with that rock. Hobbling over to it she carefully crouched down and picked it up. It felt warm in her hands, the green glow changing to a warm purple. Smiling she put it into her basket, nestling it next to the still warm loaves of good wheat bread and finished on her way home.

She never saw the man watching from the alleyway. She never saw his narrow green eyes sparkle with malicious intent. "It is done. It won't be long now." Looking up at the darkening sky he smiled, drawing his black cloak further around his shoulders. "I did try to warn her. Long ago. Now her mother has found her calling. It won't be pretty. But things worth doing seldom are until the end." Taking a locket out from under his cloak, it's thin golden chain cold against his pale skin he touched it to his lips and tucked it away again.

Moods

2010-04-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

I slip into and out of moods like most people put on coats. However, when my mood does a sudden downward spiral it is much more difficult for me to change it. I'll have brief flashes of sunshine but often it is like dark, depressing, smog filled clouds. In times like that I rely on my friends to give me space or a hug and just let me know they're there for me while I pull myself back up. On rare occasions I spiral really far. And when I feel that I have hurt those I care for most I contemplate how I might keep from ever doing that again. Then someone I know, a friend, will do some random act of kindness and it gives me hope, a silver lining. And this time, if I can handle the next few days, I think it will be enough to pull me out of the latest pit.

2010-04-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

It makes no sense!!!! My last post made no sense!!! Not really. I suppose that with some context it would be fine.

Context. What a beautiful thing. There are so many times recently that I say things that make no sense whatsoever. It makes me laugh sometimes. Sometimes the things that people say make perfect sense until you look at them critically and realize that if there was no context it would sound really wrong.

I love those. Yes. Sometimes I don't even have to look at it critically. I love those times.

Brains vrs. Hearts

2010-03-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: It makes sense to me.

"You have no brains do you?" the Selkie muttered, watching the old fairy pushing his rowboat into the water. He should have known the sirens would be waiting for him. The young seal woman stroked her long black hair and watched in pity as the fairy fell pray to the sirens song, so entranced that when his boat splintered he did not even attempt to fly free of the clutches of the ocean. Feeling faintly ill she dove under the waves to escape the laughter of the creatures on the rocks.

"Nobody ever learns." Three days later the Selkie was back at the same rocky shoreline, watching as yet another man fell pray to the Sirens, this one a faun barely out of his adolescent years. Again the Selkie shook her head and ducked it under water to avoid the laughter, slipping back into her sealskin to swim away.

Three months she repeated this pattern, always watching, always wondering what was wrong with the brains of those who fell pray to the Sirens call. The humans, the elves, all that came by. Then the day came that an old mage rowed out toward the Sirens. The Selkie watched, pity frozen on her features, when to her shock the man did not wreck his boat but sat in it, speaking to the Sirens. Curious in spite of herself the Selkie slid into her sealskin and swam over to them.

"That is her." One of the Sirens exclaimed as she poked her head out of the water. "So much potential but she only watches."

Confused the Selkie began to shed her skin, pulling herself onto a lower rock. "What are you talking about?" She wondered, fascinated by the sight of the Sirens. They seemed more like fairies now that she was closer.

The mage shook his head. "You have no heart do you?" the mage asked, pity in his voice as he lifted his voice in a counterpoint to the Sirens song.

The Selkie made no response. She couldn't. The Mage carefully leaned back into his boat and watched as fully half of the Sirens dropped their glamours to reveal the men that had gone missing over the last three and a half months.

None spoke as boats were summoned from the depths of the sea, and all carefully avoided looking directly at the form of the Selkie girl, encased forever in granite, half slipped from her seal skin as a single tear slid down her cheek.

Changes, Midterms and Health Care

2010-03-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well, the changes I mention in the title of this post are merely, mostly, about changes to the blog itself. I'm in the middle of midterms so it seems like the perfect time to revamp the layout and change the music because truthfully I'm almost completely over the ABBA fix I was on when I created the play list. Someone commented to me that the automatic starting of the music was a touch annoying so that has stopped. Vanished. It is ended. (Unless I forget to change that when I change the music). I won't, however, change the music until I get a new pair of headphones. Yes, sadly, my oh so brilliant gray and green headphones are on their deathbed. And next time I shall avoid the behind the head headphones so I can listen to music as I read or nap without giving myself a lovely crick. Another change. I broke my keyboard a little bit. The down key now cants upward. The irony of that amuses me.

So midterms are here. I worry about my business midterm as I started it ten minutes before class started and finished it just shy of seventeen minutes after class began. Seventy questions long and that makes me worry that I missed something simple. Tomorrow is the due date of a paper. Yippee. I can do it! I just hope that doesn't mean sacrificing aikido or sleep. Or both. We'll find out.

Health Care Bill passed. Why? Because people are stupid. Gotta love how they wrapped up the education reformation stuff in there as well. Now, okay, I don't truly mind having access to my father's insurance for another five years. Especially since as I write this I have a pending doctors appointment, that depending on the diagnoses, could result in a neurological assessment. Yippee. But I do not like having the penalties for people and businesses who do not want health care, or do not want to offer it (or cannot afford to). They should not be punished. I want to know who did the math out there too. I want to know how they came to the conclusion that spending more of the money we do not have will save us money. Can anyone explain this to me? Oh, and who passes a bill that is admitted to be broken by virtue of the fact that addendums need to be passed at the same time? I want to know how that makes sense. If any of you have any ideas please let me know.

Right. So this turned into more of a caffeine high induced rant than I expected. I should now probably stop avoiding pretending to like my historical party assignment. French Labor Party here I come! *Sigh*

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

2010-03-17T04:42:00.001-08:00

It's a good week for March.

We started the week off with Pi(e) Day this past Sunday, followed by the Ides of March on Monday (for those of you who don't understand this read more Shakespeare)! Tuesday was a day in the week. Today is St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!!

"Everyone's Irish on St. Patty's Day."

So I've heard anyway. Course I've always had a touch of Irish blood so...

Final Fantasy XIII

2010-03-11T22:34:00.000-09:00

Okay. Final Fantasy XIII is awesome. Just throwing that out there. I have been watching a friend play it and I love the story line. I find that it has a different style than a lot of other Final Fantasy games but I think they have done a good job, at least thus far. I do not like how the battle system has turned to you having a game over if your party leader dies but other than that the system is great.

I love Chocobo Chick!!!!

Chocobos are awesome in general but Chocobo Chick is the best in my opinion.

I have been playing Final Fantasy X again and I do have to agree that Tidus' voice is kind of annoying but it does have a great storyline. Just try not to play it around people who get in moods to make fun of everything. The connotations they draw can get annoying. I just wish I was past the tutorial part of X. I've played through it several times before and don't feel like doing it again. Ah well. At least it's new for my friend, ironically the friend who owns it.

Not to mention the fact that X has some of my favorite music. Ah music. I am a little sad that they used a new composer for XIII but I think the composer has been doing a good job. It took me a while to get used to the new victory sequence, I was so used to the iconic one from earlier games that I wasn't sure I liked it at first. I like it now though and I think the composer has been doing a good job letting the music help to tell the story.

All in all I am looking forward to finally being able to play Final Fantasy XIII for myself instead of just watching it be played.

Writing

2010-01-31T05:14:00.001-09:00

In reading a friend's short story I realized something. My writing style has changed dramatically. Once upon a time all I wanted to do was tell the story. Now, though I want to do that, I want to do it in a way that will leave my readers certain of what my world looks like.

I don't think that's a bad thing. It's just an observation. I look at my friend's work and I see how simple it is. Not a bad thing. Just something I realize I've moved away from. Maybe now I write in a too complex manner. There is something refreshing about reading a simple, clean story. I realize that simple is not the completely correct word here.

I say simple meaning that it flows easily. It is not bogged down by too many threads as stories often become. It reads well.

So it makes me wonder. How much would simplification help my work. What would happen if I went back to the basics of creative writing?

Classes

2010-01-11T03:20:00.000-09:00

You know. Online classes are kind of cool. They have this laid back, take it at your own pace kind of feel to them.

Except. I was registered for an online class. It required four books and two dvds. With shipping that would have cost over one hundred dollars. If I ordered them through Amazon.

Well, I decided that this was asking a bit too much. So I dropped the class and reviewed my charges. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I was saving over five hundred dollars! (If I did the math right). For an online class! Now, I can understand these charges if I was actually going to be in a classroom! Not for an online class. No way. No how.

So. Lesson learned. And now maybe I can take Intermediate Aikido and learn some more fun stuff that'll maybe help me keep control of my temper.

Fingers crossed people. (Plus without this online class I can afford to buy fencing gear. Finally)!

3rd Person

2010-01-10T19:05:00.001-09:00

So I've been writing most of my books in 1st person. But while I was working on my Nanonovel I've come to realize that in some cases that isn't the best idea. Sometimes you need to write in third person to get the best representation of all the characters. I think this is what I needed to get Journey of Four written the way I want it to be as well.

I'll still write in first person. I like the natural exposition that this style forces on you but I think 3rd person is something I will have to try.

Reading

2010-01-05T06:36:00.000-09:00

Okay. Reading is good for you. It keeps you from going insane. Especially if you're as addicted to it as I am.

Now let me tell you something.

YA publishers seem to be (as in I read a post of a post of a post to that effect)of the mindset that boys don't read as much as girls. Hmph! That insults my brother. And a lot of my friends. I used to raid my brother's books to find ones that I liked. I guess that's why I myself don't read as many "girlie" books.

Once upon a time it was girls who didn't read. Now it's boys? What's up with that? I think people just want to make us go in circles. They (I have no idea who they is, don't ask) need to stop that.

My sisters aren't huge readers actually. Drives me nuts sometimes but they seem to be happy with it. So I won't push it as much, probably since I'm 2000 miles away from them now. But that reminds me again. My brother. As in a male person. As in someone who was once a boy. Reads.

So anyway. Go read a book! I command you to! Or two! Or three!

And I will work on these books that I was lent and try to get Battle Cry of Freedom finished before break ends.

Oh and I guess I'll putter around with Secret Reader, yes yes female main characters. Deal with it.

Listening to: Jedi Rocks from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Winter Break and New Years

2010-01-01T22:47:00.002-09:00

Happy New Years to everyone!

2009 was a weird year. It made my brain hurt. Here's to hoping that 2010 makes a little bit more sense. In other news I'm contemplating joining the website that makes a goal to write over 500,000 words in the year. Or maybe I won't. It's a battle that I must work out in my head.

Speaking of working out battles in ones head. I've been wondering how you could deal with knowing something logically but it doesn't add up in other ways. What do you do when logic makes no sense? I haven't figured it out yet. I don't know if there is a way to figure it out. Logically, logic is supposed to make sense. Now though it's making my head hurt. So maybe it's just that I am supposed to be illogical.

Yes, winter break. Bah. It's been looking up a little bit. I slept too long today though. What a way to ring in the new year eh? Though we did ring it in with a Blue Moon.

*sigh* I have way too many things to work out that don't make sense to me. I thought winter break would help but it's not. C'est la vie.

Still I'm hoping to polish Secret Reader enough to make it at least mostly publishable by June first. It'll be a birthday present to me! Now that I know Dawn has a backbone it may be a wee bit easier.

Righto. Enjoy this New Year. Speak out loud of only those resolutions you don't truly want to keep, unless you need help with them, eat lots of sushi and drink lots of your favorite beverage to stay happy. :)

Christmas Break

2009-12-22T12:59:00.002-09:00

Christmas break is here again. That means a whole month, approximately, of nothing but sleep, ramen, French movies and writing. With a bit of reading thrown in to balance things out.

So in order to get the ball rolling I've decided that I need to set no alarms and go to the post office the instant I wake up.

"Remember, there is nothing that you can do for the sleeping, except let them sleep." Jenna told me.

I glanced over at her. "Why not? I mean some of them have been sleeping for a couple of days. Wouldn't it be better if they woke up?" I asked, nudging the nearest dragon with the toe of my boot.

With a wounded roar the dragon woke and flung a fireball at my head. Luckily it was too groggy to aim and merely managed to coat me in soot and ash from the ceiling.

"That's why." Jenna said.

NaNoWriMo

2009-11-08T17:24:00.002-09:00

So NaNoWriMo is in full swing now. Oh it's amazing so far. At this moment Secret Reader is flying by. I have had a few troubles here and there but they've been cleared up by either staring at the screen for a few minutes more than is probably healthy. (Sorry eyes I'll make it up to you)! But also by asking some unsuspecting friends for help.

So yes confusion reigns supreme among my friends as to why I would do this. I converted another one to the zen that is NaNoWriMo though. We'll see what he can do!

That's all for me right now. Off to work on the NaNo more.

-Paige out

P.S. Job interview today. Fingers crossed everyone.

What if...

2009-10-10T05:48:00.002-08:00

What if you woke up one morning and found out that you'd been granted a special ability. Something that no one around you had? And what if someone suddenly showed up and told you that if you didn't use those powers for either good or evil, and you had to choose within two weeks you would die? Not the most friendly of ideas is it? And it all links back to the word Secret.

Righto. So I think this is going to be my NaNo novel. Now I just have to make sure I don't write anything else on it until November.

Setting Sail, an excerpt from Lynnette SeaFairer's diary

2009-09-18T01:52:00.003-08:00

I would argue that anyone who tells you that dying isn't that bad is not dead. Have you ever noticed that? So I won't insult you and tell you that dying is not that bad. But I will tell you that which many people have said about death being preferable to some things. That I do agree with.

My name is Lynnette SeaFairer. I will not bore you with the details of my lineage and the fullness of my name simply because I do not care to write it down. There are few people who do not know me. Who do not know my parents. Those few who do not I would prefer to keep in ignorance. That is the only thing that has kept me safe for the past two years.

For some strange reason when I signed on to be cabin girl for Star's ninety fifth voyage from Pandoran to the Coral Islands I thought it would be fun. I'm from a fairly nautical family myself, hence the last name, with Sea Elf blood flowing in my veins from my father's side of the family and the blood of an island dragon on the other.

Seasickness kept me below decks for three days before I was finally able to brave the salt tinged air. After that nothing could keep me below. Star laughed about this but his son just grumbled. Sun doesn't ever have much good to say about anyone. He looks like his father, tanned fit sea elf with light blue eyes and blond hair but his eyes are cold while his father's are warm and full of laughter. I don't dislike Sun though. Everyone knows why he's so sad. Sun lost his wife and two of his sons to a rare illness while at sea. His wife was the ship healer. Losing her was a double blow. His third son had stayed in the Coral Islands on that trip and hadn't been heard from since. It was well known that Sun would scan the docks for a young man about three years older than my sixteen years since that day three years before.

The morning of the pirate attack I had been lounging against the side of the ship, listening to the silvery blond haired Star regale me with the story about the time he'd been given the task to bring not just goods but three draconic nobles back from the Coral Islands when the lookout gave a hoarse shout and dropped out of the eagles nest.

"What is it Finn?" I'd asked because Star was too busy pulling his aged cutlass from under his bench.

"Pirates." Sun had said, walking toward us his eyes grave. "Have you a blade Lynnette?"

I'd closed my mouth and nodded, running below decks to wrap my belt of throwing knives around my stomach, pulling my shirt over them and sliding my sharpest long knife into its sheath over my left hip. Taking a leather strip I ran back above decks, catching my first glimpse of the other ship as I pulled my white-blond hair back from my face and tying it down tightly.

"Get her below." one of the sailors, a tall black skinned man from the coral islands called Flash by the crew, growled.

"Sparrow has a much a right to this fight as we do." Finn argued.

Sparrow was my nickname among the sailors, a rise from what it had been a month earlier, baby bird.

"Sparrow's never seen battle." Flash had told him, drawing his cutlass and watching the pirate ship come ever closer, their flag was twofold, dark blue on the bottom, gray on top. At the time I had no idea why that upset the crew so much more.

"I'll take the crow's nest." I offered, not wanting to be left entirely out of the action.

"Aye that'll do." Shard said, laying a message wrapped arrow to her bow and letting it fly. Her bright blue clothing contrasted sharply with the the browns and whites of the everyday sailing clothing. "Keep there." She had turned a rare gaze on me, quirking her eyes at the one knife on my hip. "You have not the equipment to fight."

I remember fighting to bite my tongue, keeping from reminding her of my own gifts and the belt of throwing knives around my waist. Receiving a nod from Star I swarmed up the mast just as the first boarding ropes were being thrown from the other vessel.

Ramblings...

2009-08-28T09:22:00.008-08:00

Warning. This is a very rough first draft of some thoughts that have been spinning in my head. It is not refined into exactly what I mean. I have not found the right phrasing for much of it. This is a rough draft.

So much happens in this world of ours. And it is our world whether we want to own up to that fact or not.

We can't all hide away somewhere and curse the world from our hiding spots, or say "It's not our problem." Those things will not fly for much longer.

There was a 17 year old who got hit by a car on the main street of New Haven Connecticut and the drivers just drove around him. He tried to drag himself out of the street because he couldn't walk. A couple finally stopped and helped him, called his parents and the police. He wanted to play football. His left leg is too badly broken for that. He is alive. But people just drove around him. They left him there to struggle on his own. Is that what this world is coming to?

The Pro Life people talk about how much abortion is bad yet they have only recently started to make the same news that the Gay Rights Activists do. Why is that? And why is it that too many of these same Pro Life people are also against the Gay Rights movements? I don't understand that. And in the same vein why is it that news stations and papers so often don't talk of the Pro Life people unless someone who claims to be pro life takes someone's life.

I count myself as Pro Life. I also believe that people should be able to love and be loved by whomever they chose. Perhaps not call their unions marriages, maybe it would quiet some of the religious folks, but perhaps call them civil unions.

Especially when I hear of the failed abortions. The babies that are born and the only reason why they die is because their lungs are too thin to handle the oxygen outside of the womb. They die because the law says that nurses and doctors cannot try to save their lives like they would with any other baby who was born prematurely. Many states require birth and death certificates for these babies. Birth certificates. They were alive. And we condemn them to death because it is the woman's right to get an abortion? Women have the right to take steps to not get pregnant.

I wonder. If all the people who wanted to get an abortion instead opted for adoption would it help or would the foster system be overflowing still? But perhaps part of the reason our foster and adoption systems are so full is because there is still such a controversy over same sex couples adopting children. I'm not saying our whole society should became a same sex society. I'm saying leave those who are alone. They would provide homes for these unwanted children.

Then you have our military. These men and women do their best to uphold American truths. They have no say over what wars are started or joined. They are doing their best to fight for what they believe in. These men and women are to be admired for standing up for matters that are close to their hearts. I will never say that they are perfect. No one is perfect. But they are to be admired. They fight so we can stay safe in our beds at night.

Remember, we should stand behind our troops, supporting them fully. Whether we agree with the wars we have gotten involved in or not. They deserve our respect.

So. In conclusion. And this is a bad first rough draft. But still. In conclusion. Leaving people in the middle of a busy intersection is bad. Abortions, especially late trimester abortions are bad. Gay Rights not bad. Sanding behind our troops very good.

Things

2009-08-21T10:07:00.002-08:00

So the rodeo last night was awesome. The act by John Payne a.k.a. the One Arm Bandit was the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. I wish I could go to the Tough Enough To Wear Pink rodeo tonight but I have already overstretched myself financially. Again. Dag Nabit. C'est la vie.

So anyway. I got my palm read. It was interesting. Kind of amusing. I don't know that it will happen again.

Well, that's that for now. Just over a week left.

Excerpt from the journal of Miss Lydia "Ember" SilverRange

2009-08-08T00:56:00.002-08:00

I am going to kill him. He almost got himself killed again and he shrugs it off. It's not like he's immortal. In case you don't remember from last weeks entry I'm talking about Evan... Again. I don't know how many times I've told him to stop charging into the midst of trouble. I've spent two hours trying to convince him that he should not be going to the daily battles when he has a mission that night. He really is invaluable to the Shadow. It galls me to admit it but he has an uncanny knowledge of the spots to hit. Honestly if we hadn't already named the group commanders when he showed up last month I'd have him leading one of the groups. Probably in place of Dulce. That woman freezes up. I may have to replace her anyway but I can't give Evan a job like that when he almost gets himself killed on a daily basis. And what was his reaction to my lecture? He smiled. He smiled at me and told me he was confident in his abilities to keep himself alive. I wanted to throttle him right then and there. Remind me to do that when this siege is over.

Tararam called a conference again today. I swear if that man didn't have Ford pulling his strings, he has to be, I doubt he'd even be the King of Normark. I wonder if anyone else is beginning to suspect that. The council spends most of their time trying to keep everyone fed and alive while we wait for Com and Prince Kenneth to get here. I half wonder if they're going to get here this winter at all. It isn't exactly good traveling conditions. I daren't suggest that though. They're scared enough as it is.

Tess is doing well in her new post as Ben's XO. I was hoping it would work out. I have to wince when they're together though. They both have wicked tongues and like to wig people out by playing chicken. Ben will transform into his dragon form and Tess will throw lances at him. She's our fastest centaur now that Bailey's gone and has wicked aim but she has yet to hit her commander.

Montgomery has been asking me if I think Cazmick will want to join the Shadow. I keep having to tell him I don't know. It's not like I know him that well. Several of the Ore brothers want to join the Shadow now and I've been hard pressed trying to find places for them. At least Montgomery has the hard job of finalizing everyone's positions and choosing what nights are assigned to which groups. I just get to tell everyone.

It's been two months and six days since King Tararam Raskima, Queen Crystal Raskima, Lord Tracey Ford and Commander Trent "Rimrod" SilverRange started this siege. My letters to my brothers and sister are as yet unanswered. If I live to see the end of this war I'm going to take Moth out for a very long ride.

SilverRange out.

An Excerpt from the journal of Cazmick Terrin Hawklore

2009-08-01T14:11:00.003-08:00

I had the dream before I even knew who, or what, the Shadow was. Now I often wonder if I should have left well enough alone. I had no business choosing someone else's life over mine. If I had known what was going to result from my volunteering for a different group than the one I Saw myself in maybe I wouldn't have changed my fate.

I had been plagued with horrible visions since we'd left Silver City, visions that had me entering The World of Seers. A world that is the thread between dreams, true dreams, fate and personal destiny. You never know what you'll see in that world but you can only enter if you have the Sight. My mother had taught me to walk in it, to detect other Seers already there and to speak with them. The World is neutral territory. It is against Seer law to attack another there so I went inside looking for my mother. Two weeks later, halfway to Heartland, I found her.

"Cazmick! What are you doing here?" Mother had asked, straightening from one of the many scrying pools that riddle The World.

"I've been looking for you. It's never taken me this long to find you though." I'd told her.

"How long have you been looking?"

"Two weeks."

She'd sighed, her eyes tired. "I've been busy. We've been pushed back to Canyon Skies. If it weren't for the Shadow Tararam would have breached the walls weeks ago."

"What is the Shadow?" I'd asked, fearing I knew the answer.

"Our hit and run brigades. Montgomery and Miss SilverRange lead it."

"I see."

"What is it?"

"I've been having visions that I've joined it and ended up at Tolia." I'd grimaced. "Minus my right arm."

Mother had closed her eyes, taking a few calming breaths she sat down and brushed her long black braid over her shoulder. "And what if you don't join?"

I'd sighed and sat down next to her. "I don't know."

Only now I know too well. The price another paid... for my vanity.

Oh yeah...

2009-07-31T08:02:00.002-08:00

Hey I missed a magic.

Seeing- Seers are people who can see the future and what is happening at that moment if they scry. Strong Seers can see the future for more people than weaker Seers. Their powers are mostly tied to their own loved ones and what will affect them. The strong Seers can see the future for their friends and companions as well. If they don't train their magic they will periodically collapse with visions. They can use water or mirrors to scry and can see anything that is happening now or in the past. A telepath can send an untrained Seer into a coma that has them living out the worst possible futures for their families until they wake up. This has been known to shatter many Seers. Those who survive it become vigilant in ensuring that such futures will not come to pass.

Magic

2009-07-29T18:07:00.002-08:00

Here's a brief rundown on all the magics I can remember from Withren. I also need to know if anyone thinks that a mage should have two magics, one that's weaker and one that's stronger.

1. Black Magic- This type of magic covers a few things. On the legal end are curses, shields, poisons and pain causing magics. On the illegal end you have Necromancy, the reanimating of the dead and the draining of magic to extend life.

2. Water/Ice Magic- This type of magic is in two strengths. About half the mages are strong with water in it's liquid and gaseous (vapor) forms while the other half are far better with it in it's solid form (ice). They can do everything from pulling all the moisture from the air to draining an ocean (though that takes a lot of power). Ice mages have a lower body temperature than other people.

3. Fire Magic- Controls fire and heat. Can draw heat from the air. Fire mages have a higher body temperature than other people.

4. Illusionists- Illusionists can create many different kinds of illusions, some so powerful that touch cannot even erase the effect. They can even create illusions with weight, attach illusions to other things or beings and make people believe in an illusion.

5. Healing- Healers vary in strength, from being able to only identify an illness and heal small injuries to bringing someone back from the brink of death with a touch.

6. Empathy- Not quite mages Empaths are people who can feel others emotions. The strongest empaths can make other people feel a certain type of emotion. All empaths have trouble with angry crowds but can help sooth people. Untrained empaths bleed whatever emotion they're feeling, creating the same emotion in others.

7. Battle Magic- Battle mages are born with an innate sense of how fighting, strategy and tactics work. Some Battle mages will never be able to use a weapon, their strengths lying in planning, some are the opposite, naturals with any weapon they touch and horrible at planning. All Battle Mages have the ability to call any type of weapon to their hand with a single thought thus making them one of the most dangerous types of mages.

8. Telekinesis- Mind magic that allows the person to move things with their mind. They can set up barriers as well.

9. Telepathy- Telepaths can speak in others minds, mind to mind with other telepaths. They can erase or block other people's memories depending on their strength and send Seers into Comas. Weaker telepaths may only be able to speak mind to mind, while the strongest have such a strong mind presence that they can break through magical boundaries and take over someone's thought process, effectively brainwashing them.

10. Forest Magic- Forest mages are in tune with the earth and all that grows on it. The strongest can speak to trees and plants as well as see Tree Dwellers without trouble as well as helping anything grow. The weakest can help plants grow anywhere but may not be able to talk to any forest creatures.

11. Stone Magic- Another branch of magic in touch with the earth stone mages are more concerned with the stones and ores that riddle the earth's crust. The weakest can connect with the earth to find the location of anything while the strongest can move mountains.

12. Metal Magic- A closely related branch to Stone mages, indeed many stone and metal mages can dabble in each magic, metal mages can do anything with metal. The weakest can manipulate the core temperature of tempered metals while the strongest can manipulate the pure ore. They make incredible smiths, horseshoers, and arms makers.

13. Animal Magic- Animal mages can speak with and heal animals. The weakest can only speak with animals and heal small injuries while the strongest can heal any creature and control animals with their willpower if they choose.

14. Energy Magic- Energy mages can manipulate pure energy, from lightening to the power from volcanoes. Their strengths vary the amount of energy they can manipulate.

I think that's all of them.

A Bit more from Berserker's Blood

2009-07-21T20:25:00.002-08:00

Richard slowed his horse to a walk next to Skip and leaned down toward me. "Dani there are three rules for pages. Number one. Listen to your teachers and treat them with respect. Number two. Squires are your betters, do what they say. Number three. Don't fight."

"But what if I do fight?" I asked. Telling a berserker not to fight is a tall order.

"Think of an excuse. Just don't fight any squires. Any. Got that?"

I thought it over. "Yes sir."

He sighed and straightened as we reached the middle of a large stone square. To my immediate left were two long rows of stables. To the right were kennels and right in front rose the castle. Built of gray stone it had stood for over a hundred years now. Staring up at it I didn't hear Richard talking to anyone until someone on foot entered my line of vision.

"Country boy eh?"

I clapped my mouth shut and looked at a boy standing at Skip's head. He was tall and thin with a dusting of freckles across his nose and short cut blond hair. His blue eyes danced merrily as he looked at me and reached out a black gloved hand to shake mine. "Paige Summerwind at your service." He chuckled, a warm throaty laugh. "Until you're officially sworn in that is."

I smiled and jumped of Skip as Calyn took her reins and handed me my saddlebags. "I'm Dani. Dani Triet."

Richard sighed and shook his head. "Danielle Triet."

The boy jumped back in shock and stared at me. "You don't look like a girl."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Why is that?"

He reached out and grabbed an inch long piece of hair. "I wonder. Most girls come in with long hair and then by the time they get my age they don't need long hair anymore."

I blushed and ducked my head. "I got tired of my brothers pulling my hair." I muttered.

"Alright. So I suppose you'll be joining the Lady Knights then?" He asked as he started toward the palace.

With a nod from Richard I followed him. "There's nothing else for me."

"Where'd you hear that? Girls can join the ranks of the regular knights like I'm going to be. They just don't usually. Most people think there are only four factions among the knights at the castle. The Knights, Lady Knights and "Dark" of each. But there's a gray shade where there's people who haven't sworn to either."

"Either?"

"In each group I mean. Here this is yours." He pushed open a wooden door and led me inside.

I paused to look around as he prattled on about morning and class bells. The room was plain. A bed, a washstand, a shuttered window and a three drawer wooden bureau. I dropped my bags on my bed and sat down, watching Summerwind prattle on.

"Anyway. We have two girls who want to join the Knights."

"Why?" I always figured that I'd just come and be a Lady Knight.

"Well, when a Lady Knight gets her shield she joins with a band of Lady Knights. It's part of their oath. That's why it's sort of losing that title because some men like to do that too, band together. So the "regular" knights are gaining the name the Solitaries while the others are starting to get called the Collaborators. So which would you rather be?"

"Which are you going to be?"

"Oh I'm going to be a Solitary. I'm not good for much else. I'm the third son. My oldest brother gets the land. My second brother is a black Mage so he's at University and unless I become a Knight my best chance at a life is becoming a merchant and I'd go bankrupt."

"But why a Solitary?"

"It's simple. Solitary knights can work together if they want to but it's not in their oath. I like to work alone most of the time."

"So a Solitary works alone or with partners?"

"Yes."

"And Collaborators work only with partners?"

"Essentially."

"Ah. And there are "Dark" in both groups."

"Yes. You're not going to go dark are you?"

"I don't know anything about them."

His face darkened. "You will. Oh. You can call me by my first name until next year. It's Carr. And I can call you Dani? Or do you prefer Danielle?"

"Call me Dani please." I surveyed his black uniform for the first time noting the three bronze stars on his collar denoting that he had past three of his four Page tests. "Oh. Have you heard of a guy called Bookworm?"

He laughed and sat down next to me. "Who hasn't? Bookworm's famous for his ability to both understate the obvious and for washing out during his first page test."

I blushed, embarrassed for my brother. "I see. Where is he now?"

"He's at the University, training his water magic. Why? You know him?"

I felt my blush deepen. "He's my brother." I whispered.

Carr patted me on the back. "Ah, don't worry about it. Most the people here won't judge you by that."

Berserker's Blood Cont....

2009-07-17T22:56:00.002-08:00

I frowned at the guardsmen surrounding my pony as I stepped out of the inn we had stayed at my pack slung over my shoulder. The four men had not been happy when I had given them the slip the day before and they hadn't taken long to acquaint me with their unhappiness. Angela warned me that they wouldn't be that happy if I disappeared on them but they're going to scare my poor girl. With a sigh I walked forward and pulled myself onto my mare's back, patting her neck when she shifted.

"Do you have to crowd us?" I asked, trying to sound forlorn.

Richard, the leader of the group turned his stone gray eyes on me, his lips tugged into a frown under his helmet. "Yes. After the stunt you pulled yesterday. And you still won't tell us where you were?"

"I was exploring!" I said, trying to sound like the thirteen year old that I was supposed to be rather than a whining six year old.

"Your explorations will not be tolerated by your teachers. You must promise me that you won't pull any more stunts like that during your time here, as a page at least."

I frowned. "Richaaaard."

"Danielle Triet. No. You will listen to me on this or we will go no further." To emphasize his point he pulled his bay gelding to a halt and signaled for the others to do the same.

I glared at him for a minute, no real anger in my gaze. He's doing what he thinks is right for me. Of course he does know what he's talking about. Guess I'd best promise but I'd best word it right. "I promise that I will curtail my wandering habits." For a little while...

"How much?"

"Enough so I won't get in trouble."

He sighed, looking unconvinced but nodded. "That's all I can hope for I suppose." Nudging his gelding he led us onward to Gladius.

We entered Gladius and I had to force myself not to gape. While Junction was a bustling city, Gladius was a fortress. Nine out of ten of the people, male or female were dressed in armor of some type, leather dominated. One woman caught my eye, she wore a long white robe belted with chain links and carried a metal spiked wooden shield over her right arm, her left hand on the hilt of a short sword. Her skin looked like polished ebony in the sunlight, glistening with sweat. I looked behind her and saw four more fighters leaving a pair of wooden doors and guessed that she'd been practicing.

"No staring Dani." Richard said, his eyes busy as he scanned the area. I noticed that he paid particular attention to the people who weren't in armor so I looked at them too.

They weren't really anything special that I could see. Angela had taught me how to spot a bad thief from a mile away and I spotted three before we'd gone a block. My contempt for them lasted until I saw them distract a pair of warriors from a whip slender woman with short red hair who slipped past the armored men and kept going her purse suddenly heavier. Angela would have approved of their style.

I took a deep breath and looked up as we entered the castle grounds, trying not to let my nerves show. This was it.

A Berserker's Blood

2009-07-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

I supposed that I should be happy that Angela trusted my control enough to allow me to deliver this message to her old friend but all I felt was apprehension as I walked to the weathered door of the inn. Clenching the paper so hard I felt the edges crumpling I reached out my right hand and pushed the door open slowly.

Taking a deep breath and wiping my sweaty palm on my tan pant leg, half wishing that I'd chosen to wear a dress instead. The common room was bustling with men and women, half the women being serving maids, stopping by a white haired man behind what looked like an oak counter before bringing trays of drinks around to the patrons. I coughed as I inhaled more smoke with my next breath than air and ignored the amused looks I garnered as I covered my mouth and nose.

What was it Angela said? She said he always sat in a corner right? But which corner. And I don't see anyone wearing a pair of witch glasses... Well, I didn't. Taking a deep breath I coughed again and tried not to gag. Pulling my tunic up over my mouth I walked over to him my eyes stinging. He was sitting with two men and now that I got a good look at him I wondered how he and Angela ever could have been friends. He was lanky sitting down and I wondered how tall he could actually be. His nose had been broken more than once and sat crookedly on an angular face that bore two long knife wounds on the left side. His eyes were bright blue behind his glasses and his brown hair was already creeping away from his forehead, that didn't stop him from wearing it in a ponytail. I noted his dark blue clothes with interest until he looked up and met my eyes.

His eyes clouded and he rose, his eyes stormy. "Lad you are new here. Messengers are to give their letters to Tad."

I didn't blink, he didn't frighten me. He should have but he didn't. "Angela wanted me to give this to you."

"Angela?"

I gave a vexed sigh at his stupidity. Angela warned that you might have to use her street name. But it sounds so stupid! "Lady Iron Tongue wanted me to give this to you." I bit off each word, spitting them out like someone who'd just been force fed a lemon.

His expression didn't change but his eyes widened and he held out a hand. I didn't blink, just handed it to him and walked back to the door.

"Boy! Get back here!" He shouted after me.

Do I look like a boy? Feeling murderous I turned around and met his gaze, watching him study my face but instead of taking a step back like everyone else who'd ever me my eyes for that long he laughed. Rage poured into me and I shook with the effort to hold it back. What are you getting angry for? Everyone mistakes you for a boy. Mad that he could meet your gaze? Or are you smarting that he treats you like you're an idiot? Shaking most of the rage off I stalked across the floor, garnering chuckles from most of the people there, which was when I realized that none of them could see my eyes clearly through all the smoke. No one here, with all their great spying abilities, knew that I was as stable as a cornered bear.

"What is your name?" He said, amusement glowing in his eyes.

"Dani."

(Okay so this is a rough draft of a new story in my head).

old blog

2009-07-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

So my great friend LaTerry was awesome enough to give me the link to the blog I could not find. Here is the link to my great rambling.

http://paigemuse.blogspot.com/

Music

2009-07-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

I need to update the music on my music player but this mix isn't too bad. My Holter test is tomorrow. I'm seeing the new Harry Potter movie tonight and I'm so stressed out about loans, one in particular that I could eat iron.

Oh, not to mention the fact that my Mom broke several traffic laws and almost wrecked the van and the Event at Rebecca Farms is next week! Gosh darn it all!

So anyway. The Event at Rebecca Farms is an equine event that is a highly qualified one. (Think Olympic qualifying event). So I'm going to go watch it and I'll help out on another day as well. It should be fun!

I also found out I'm going to have a roommate back in college, someone I don't know. I'm hoping that we can deal with each other. I'm not such a great roommate myself and I've gotten burned (by 1 out of 3 though so not too awful). Not to mention the fact that I'll be rooming in the same hall as a friend of mine who is much harder to avoid when I need to be alone than my other friends. And I'm hoping to sneak onto the campus and just show up at dinner a couple of days later. That would be fun!!!

Anyway. I need to write. What to write... what to write... And to think this started with a notion that I need to shake up my music playlist.

So I seem to have lost my last blog

2009-07-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

So I seem to have lost my last blog in the transformation to google. Darn it all. I had some odd insights in there. Pffft.

Paige's Plotting Corner

Insanity

It's been a while

NaNoWriMo

Writing Prompt number one

On Jobs and Writing

Jobs and Writing

Birthday

Words Unleashed

Moods

Previous Post

Brains vrs. Hearts

Changes, Midterms and Health Care

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Final Fantasy XIII

Writing

Classes

3rd Person

Reading

Winter Break and New Years

Christmas Break

NaNoWriMo

What if...

Setting Sail, an excerpt from Lynnette SeaFairer's diary

Ramblings...

Things

Excerpt from the journal of Miss Lydia "Ember" SilverRange

An Excerpt from the journal of Cazmick Terrin Hawklore

Oh yeah...

Magic

A Bit more from Berserker's Blood

Berserker's Blood Cont....

A Berserker's Blood

old blog

Music

So I seem to have lost my last blog