Well that was smart of me

I hate this. I want to write something - something with substance - but I don't feel like working on any of the several stories I have stored on my computer. It annoys me. I want to write, damn it...

I'm kind of hoping that blogging will spark an idea, though I don't think that will happen. Who knows, though, considering that earlier I somehow went from having nothing to blog about to talking about how much I love composition notebooks. Which, when I think about it, is kinda a weird thing to write about. I mean, who the hell writes about how much they love a blank book? I guess some people do. I did.

Of course, I'm pretty sure I'm also not quite sane. And I've probably had far too much caffeine today, which is not a good thing to be mixing with a lack of sleep because then I get kind of hyperactive. Funny that doesn't happen when I'm not tired and drink caffeine.

I still need story ideas. Maybe just short stories. Short stories would be good. Because those are a little bit easier to finish. Seeing as how I can't seem to stay on one project for very long. Maybe I should write about bananas. But I don't know what the bananas could do, because aside from Tetsuya-san, bananas are only fruits, so they just lay there and either rot or get eaten. That wouldn't make for a very good story.


Re-reading what I just wrote...I'm quite certain I am crazy. Not a bad kind, mind you. But crazy nonetheless.

I think it's getting windy. I may well end up in front of the fireplace if this keeps up. Because I don't like being cold and it went from being nice out to being freezing.

I think I'm going to go try to write something. Instead of doing homework.

EDIT: I forgot a title. I think my brain ran away with my word processor. Which would make no sense unless you had been in my Creative Writing class in high school. In fact, I doubt that would make sense even then. Perhaps even if you had been one of the other two involved in that very, very stupid joke that for some odd reason is still funny.

EDIT 2: Because I apparently can't type today. My fingers are rebelling. Or maybe my brain. Maybe both. Something is rebelling!

On pretty much nothing. Again.

I'm feeling kind of bloggy today. Like, I really want to blog about things, even though there really isn't anything to blog about besides the weather. Which is cold. And will get snowy later.

And my coffee got kinda cold because I forgot about it. Damn it.

I got another story idea last night...or the night before...or something. But I haven't even finished the one I was working on. I hate that. I'm pretty good at switching gears between stories, but it's still annoying, because this one requires some world-building, which I don't particularly enjoy. But at the same time, I do.

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night if anyone is wondering.

And I still have some stories that need to be finished that I started a few years ago. Actually one of the ones I've been working on is from...5 years ago? Or so. Then I have the couple I had started back when I was in high school taking Creative Writing. I miss Creative Writing...I still need to finish my English Comp essay. I meant to do that and then didn't. I'll do that sometime today or this evening...

But I have probably half a dozen composition notebooks lying around that have half finished stories in them. I need to get more composition notebooks...not that I'm in any great need for them at the moment, but I really, really like them. And I want more. Composition notebooks are my favorite kind. I used to like the spiral notebooks - the thick 3 subject ones that you would get for school - but then I had grabbed a composition notebook one day because I wanted something that wasn't so big and wouldn't get caught on everything. And lose pages so easily. Now I have a few mostly empty spirals I'm going to use for class. Otherwise, they won't get used, because I don't like them anymore. Composition notebooks are much better.

They're just so wonderful, and they fit perfectly in my purse. Well, one or two at a time will, so long as my billfold and DS are the only other things in there. But it makes it so easy to carry one wherever I go. I love it. I just wish it was easier to find the ones that are college ruled. I hate wide ruled paper. You can't fit as much on a page, and I write small - even when I'm writing fast and my handwriting gets messy - so the pages doesn't look as full as they should. And then you end up going through more paper, because you need more pages to say what you're trying to say, than if you used college ruled.

I want to go to a stationery store now and get more notebooks. But I can't because I have to be here if work comes over and we're supposed to get some nasty weather. I might go this weekend. If I can find a store nearby that carries them. I'd just order them online, but I have to make sure I like the paper. I need to find some good pens, too...

And it's Saturday

I didn't spend my day at the library studying after all. I did go in this morning, though. It felt so nice to drive again. I love driving. So long as everyone else on the road isn't being stupid. I'm always worried I'm going to get rear-ended because everyone around here tailgates. But Saturday mornings aren't so bad in the middle of January.

My car sounded like she didn't want to start, but I think that's because I recently accidentally killed the battery (had to use my air compressor, which plugs into the cigarette lighter and my car hadn't been started since November, so the battery wasn't very happy) and haven't driven since I jumped it a week ago. She sounded fine when I left the library.

And I've gotten most of my CJ stuff done. But it was hard to concentrate.

It's a gorgeous day out so I actually have a window open. And I could hear one of my neighbors screaming (they were swearing their heads off about something; I caught the word "fu*k" several times.) Then I could hear some kids up the block screaming their heads off. I know they're kids and kids are loud - and it's a good thing they're not lazing around in front of the TV - but I'm pretty sure they didn't need to be screaming the rules of whatever game they were playing loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear. I listened to the neighbor for a good 10 or 15 minutes, and the kids for probably about an hour after that. It was ridiculous.

When I was growing up, we kids were expected to be considerate to our neighbors - especially when the weather was nice enough to open windows - and not be outside shrieking and carrying on at the top of our lungs. We could be loud, but within reason. Screaming loud enough for someone several houses down to hear us, and carrying on like that for an extended period of time, was not within reason.

And I know they must have been several houses down, because I see kids congregating on a cross street at the end of the block all the time, because of the lack of traffic over there.

Stupid kids...

But I'm enjoying getting the fresh air in here...there are cats outside fighting. I just heard them trying to kill each other. Great...

But the sun feels really nice. And so does the fresh air. I'd be happy if we had weather like this all the time. It's supposed to get cold again, though. Cold enough for snow.

I was disappointed by a book I checked out last week. I finally got around to reading Howl's Moving Castle (I love Ghibli and loved the movie, so I had to read the book, which I liked even more than the movie) and the library also had the sequel, The House of Many Ways. I was ecstatic.

But Sophie and Howl apparently had a child in the time between the end of the first book and the end of the sequel. And I was immediately annoyed by the presence of said child. It sounded like your typical toddler, and I assume Miss Jones meant for him to sound cute, but he annoyed the hell out of me from the moment he appeared. I couldn't even finish the book. I was upset, because I really like Sophie and Howl, but them having a child kinda ruins them for me.

That always seems to happen, though, when there's a sequel and the main characters end up having a kid. It happened in one of Dean Koontz's books, too. The fourth book in the Frankenstein series, the two main characters had a baby. He managed to keep them decent, but throwing the kid in threw a wrench in the characters, I think. Suddenly, they were all worried about their kid and talking diapers and kid stuff, instead of the way they had talked in the first three books. Suddenly, they weren't the sarcastic, New Orleans detectives, the reluctant heroes - they were still the heroes, and there was still sarcasm and humor but now they were parents. It changed the characters, and not in a good way. I finished the book, but I don't think I'm going to read any more of the series if he writes another book after that.

*sigh*

*long sigh*

I'm rather tired right now. I had to get up nearly 2 hours early yesterday and then wasn't able to get to sleep last night. That seems to happen more often when I get up early. It sucks.

And I have errands to run today. Which also sucks, because it means I have get dressed. Then I have more errands to run tomorrow (just going to the library to drop off some stuff that's due, but still...) Tomorrow might actually be fun. I plan to spend time up there just browsing leisurely, even though  I have homework to do. In fact, I think I might go up there to study!

That might actually be kinda fun...

Also, I finished watching the sad J-drama I mentioned. I need to get another box of tissues when I'm out today. I went through what was left in the box I had (which was still about three-quarters full). The last 3 episodes had me teary eyed and/or crying through most of them. Especially the last episode. That was when I went through the most tissues. I don't know that I'm ever going to do that again. Watch that particular J-drama in its entirety, I mean.

There were some really good parts in the last 3 episodes, but I don't want to be going through tons of tissue because they make cry. Stupid sad J-dramas...

I've also finished all of my English Comp assignments for the week. I just need to turn them in now. I have a ton of reading to do, and some actual work for my Psych and CJ classes...and the CJ is going to have to be priority, because that stuff is due by Saturday night. Er, tomorrow night. Crap. Yeah, I will be spending my day at the library studying tomorrow, I think.

But last night I unintentionally found an article I think I can use for one of my Psych assignments. Which is super awesome. Finding the article, I mean. The assignment isn't super awesome. It's not even cool.

Now, I need to go take care of those errands while I'm still semi-awake.

Wow...

Today I met probably the most intolerant woman I've ever come across. We were discussing a lot of topics in my Interpersonal Communications class this morning (I just got back from classes about half an hour ago) - among them were cultural and religious differences, and the different views people had and what influenced them. We got onto the topic of homosexuality and she practically flew off the handle about how wrong it was and how there are "strict, absolute laws" about it.

She was, of course, talking about the bible. She repeated several times that there are "strict, absolute laws" - I don't think she had any other argument against it - and I finally got sick of her and spoke up. I was respectful about it, since I have a hard time talking mean to people I don't know.

I told her not everyone believes the bible and she spouted off the "absolute laws" thing again. And I told her, "I was raised in Christian home. I know what those are. But not everyone believes in the bible. I don't. I turned my back on it."

I proceeded to give an example about someone I had known for several years - someone who is as sweet as they come, never says a cross word to anyone, just wonderful - telling me one day that she liked another girl. I had heard over and over from religious people that homosexuals are evil monsters. But this girl...she was telling me she was homosexual. That didn't add up to me, because this girl was the most wonderful person I had ever met. If she wasn't a monster - and she couldn't possibly be, sweet as she was - then maybe it was time to question what I had grown up with.

I didn't tell Miss Intolerant that she was wrong, or couldn't believe what she wanted. It was just my opinion. But oh, she got pissed. Part way through my example, I heard her say, "I'm leaving. I'm not going to listen to this."

And she stormed out of the room.

I'm amused. I pissed off someone on my first day of class just because I stated my opinion in an open discussion. And I'm proud of myself, because for the first time I didn't back down from a verbal, face to face confrontation. I stood my ground. I stood up for my beliefs. And I did it without getting upset, even though I didn't like what she was saying.

Hell, I didn't just stand up for my beliefs, but I did so in front of a bunch of other people! This wasn't a private discussion between me and the woman. I was speaking, more or less, in front of other people. Oh, I was nervous as hell and practically shaking by the time I was done, but I did it.

And you know what? Some of my classmates thought what I was said was cool. They respected the way I stated my opinions.

I feel beyond awesome right now.

I just got this week's assignments for my Comp and CJ classes. And oh my freaking penguins I'm going to be busy. I have another chapter to read for CJ, plus discussion posts (2 of them) and an essay; there are several things I have to read for Comp and respond to, as well. And write the final draft for my essay.

I think I'll get on that reading as soon as I finish my lunch. Providing no more work has come over, of course.

I got some more work done on my NaNo novel last night, too. Not as much as I had intended, but trying to rewrite the entire thing is time consuming. I know what I want to happen - it's just a matter of changing what needs to be changed without losing a lot of my word count. Which I have, but I think I can salvage some of it. There was a huge chunk at the beginning I ended up having to take out because of one minor change in setting, and there's more I probably won't be able to use, but I'm hoping if I tweak a few things I can save some scenes.

And I just came up with an awesome idea. I was tempted to take out something else at the beginning (which would have screwed everything up - again) but I just figured out how I could keep it and make it work, without seeming ridiculous as hell or screwing up the rest of the story to fit the new idea in. And it opens up the end for a sequel that I wasn't even planning on.

I definitely want to finish my reading up today (uh, some of it, anyway) so I have time to write some more tonight. I guess...finish up reading for psych and start on CJ, since those are going to be the most boring. I'll get those out of the way first, because as much work as I have to do for Comp, it's going to be easier, because it's writing. And reflecting. But I like Comp. It isn't so boring.

If I didn't dislike kids (and teenagers) so much, I'd become a high school teacher and teach Creative Writing or something. But I don't like kids and with the way schools were when I was in high school, I'd be afraid to be a teacher anyway. Teachers could hardly do anything as far as discipline three or four years ago and I can only imagine it's getting worse (with all the parents who think their child can do no wrong and it must be the teacher's fault and the teacher is just picking on little Mydysnleaigh for being so special and wonderful). So, no. No teaching for me. Unless I go to another country and teach English as a second language. That would be awesome.

In fact, I'm pretty tempted to get my bachelor's degree so I can do just that. And go over to Japan, because students there can't really get away with disrespectful to teachers and parents aren't as likely to go after the teachers if their kid gets in trouble for something.

Right...reading...

Yay!

I was able to get most of my reading done earlier (just 10 pages to go!) Yay! ヽ(‘ ∇‘ )ノ

It was a little easier to focus once I got to the part about bananas. I think because the bananas amused me so much. I don't know why. (Yes, they really talked about bananas in my psych book).

I'll probably work on my essay a bit more...but my main project tonight is going to be my NaNo novel. Assuming I can concentrate on it.

I want fruit now.