Melani Blazer

First, the eyeball woes are those of my daughter. Reoccuring pink eye is BAAAAAAAAAAAD and the doctor is getting seriously worried. She’s on high dose antibiotics, but is going apeshit crazy b/c she can’t look at computer or tv for any length of time, can’t read and has zero tolerance to light. Today was day three. The part that scares me is that a kid in her band class was diagnosed with MRSA, and while he/she’s been out of the class, I hate to think she had contact with this person before diagnosis OR that others there are contagious without being diagnosed yet. A few good cast thoughts would be appreciated. She’s learned how sucky it would be to be blind. (She’s been walking around with sunglasses, we’ve kept lights out/low for her, but she’s in misery). Doc follow up is Thursday. Hopefully these antibiotics do the trick this time.

As for my dream, it was one of those real-time, real-life full color dreams that left me startled and feeling out of place when I woke up. Like as in “I was there, I know I was, so how’d I end up here.”

My memory of the dream starts when I’d landed at the airport somewhere in England. I don’t recall the purpose of my trip, but it was only a three day/two night stay. I was staying with Angie (yes Angie, I know you don’t live in England or talk with a natty accent, but in my dream you did. bwahahaha), so she met me at the airport.

First thing was that I had to buy a bond in order to be there. Or in order to board the plane to get back, I guess. I wanted to buy it while I was still in the airport so I knew it was out of the way and could enjoy my stay. (The more preparation, the better I feel). The bond was 95 pounds, which I thought was fair, and I secured it. Angie was a little impatient, but only because we didn’t have much time and she wanted to do as much as possible before I left.

We went to this neat little pub and had a bite to eat. It was like an Applebee’s or TGIFridays, but with a British twist (or at least my imaginations version of one). I can still remember the smell of it–fried chicken, steak and a fruity pie-like dessert were the scents I remember, but again, to me it was wholly English and not Americanized at all. I wish I could describe it better, but a lot of the details have faded since this morning. I remember the ramp like twist that led into the dining area, the hum of people around us (I loved to listen to their accent) and the pale yellow tinge of the lights. I don’t remember what we ate, or talked about, but I can recall soaking it all in–the pictures and paintings and paraphenalia on the walls were such novelties to me.

After eating, we walked down town, passed office fronts and store fronts, some were open, some were closed. It was dark, and must have rained, because I remember how odd I found it to see the headlights glimmering off the road on the WRONG side of the street.

We went to her house, where Brianna and Angie’s husband were waiting. Brianna had gotten to stay up late to “meet” me, but went to be almost immediately after. I don’t recall talking much to her husband, but it was late and I was exhausted from the airports and plane ride and the whole excitement of being in another country.

I slept on the couch–and was happy to. I think it was a pull-out couch and Angie wanted to make it up, but I was tired (as were they) so I just curled up and fell asleep.

I woke up at 11 the next morning. 11 GMT, which was about 5am MY time. ugh. I was still groggy. I asked if I could shower and Angie’s husband told me I could and showed me to the larger bathroom with the stand up shower.

Their house was the most unusual thing and what really stuck out most in my mind. First off, I think the house was round. It was one story and sprawling, but the living room/kitchen area, while not quite round, were the center of the home with hallways shooting off in at least four different directions and various rooms at the end of those hallways. There were two bathrooms, on opposite ends of the living room. At those “corners” two hallways jutted off and created a “V” shape….
sorta of like >o< where the < and> are hallways and the “o” is the living room/ktichen. The bathroom was integrated into that “V” shape with a door off one of the two hallways–AND a door right at the tip of the “V” (it’s a dream, things are FUNKY). Anyway, I realized I hadn’t brought in my suitcases, so I retrieved them from Angie’s car and then promptly got all turned around in the house and couldn’t figure out which bathroom was which. Yeah, that’s me. Lost in her house. DUH!
In her defense, her bathroom was awesome. It was all jungle-like with hanging ferns and potted plants. The walls were dark green and white tile, the bathtub and sink were all a slate gray marble. Incredible.

I think I finally got my shower and it was off again. Sadly, that’s when the alarm went off, so I can’t say how things went after that. I had to share. Figured Angie would get a kick out of now being a Brit with an unusual house. I’ve had the visual of the dream lingering in my head all day. Gotta love those rich dreams like that, even if they have little meaning.

This is more for me than for you readers, but I needed to reinforce that I’ve been working.

WIP current word count as of today….19,299.

I read a book today. I probably shouldn’t have, but it forced me to see things more big picture style and I started back at the beginning and have added about 1000 words to the first 10 pages.

I’m pretty satisfied it gives new depth to the heroine/protagonist so I’m heading back to the END of the word count to continue marching forward.

Sven? You can stop sweating on me now…I’m working, already. I’m working!

I had an adventure today. In conjunction with the EDJ (Evil Day Job), I had to attend a meeting in a town about 40 minutes, and one time zone away.

First, I needed slapped for volunteering to go to this meeting before knowing the details. I was thinking, “oooh, time off work, free food, yada yada.” I missed the fine print about getting up before the bars closed, don dressier clothes than normal and drive a road rarely traveled (by moi) in the dark. And rain, did I mention the icy cold rain?

I kinda sorta knew where I was going. Clearly darkness and rain clouded my common sense because in a flash of over confidence, I went a direction OTHER than Mapquest’s suggestions. But I got there, even found the road okay. Avoided running red lights, getting pulled over or even carjacked. (My alternate route included a tour of ghetto-land. Scary in the dark, really…)

So I see hotel/conference center and I’m feeling pretty damn proud of myself. Until I realize I have to park in a parking garage. I pull up, have no clue I have to get a parking ticket. I was the person everyone yells at. The one who left their brains at home in bed and it’s surprising she knows what foot her shoes go on. The attendant comes over and stabs the button that clearly states “push here for ticket” Oh. Doh.

“Never been here before,” I offer.

Grunt.

TSTL, oh yeah, it’s all over my forehead.

So I drive forward, wondering WTF just happened. I’m usually the one who’s got her shit together. I “do” these kind of things. I’m not afraid.
Yeah, tell that to the panic attack building in my chest as I realize I have to… da da dum…enter a parking garage. A below ground parking garage.

First, I had a tense moment as my Jeep barely, I mean barely, skittered under the sign advising the maximum height. Dude, it’s a Liberty. These things aren’t THAT tall. I swear I heard the plastic thingy scrape the plastic rails on the roof. (cringe)

But luckily the powers that be knew I was at breaking point and hadn’t even made it in the building yet, so a parking place was immediately available and I was able to park quickly. I sat there for a moment.

If you know me at all, you realize this is so not like me. I was even pinching myself and wondering who’d brain-napped me today.

This was the thought on my mind as I wound my way–on foot now—through this windy, under-contruction parking garage until I found the entrance to the lobby. Once there, I looked back in a moment of extreme disbelief. I’d been so caught up in my own thoughts I hadn’t bothered to map my way back. In my own defense, let me say it’s only about 7am. I’m usually arguing with a snooze button, not proving myself one really uncool dumbass in an out-of-town parking garage.

But, I win.
After the meeting I retrace my steps to the lobby, find the door I came in and with only a few missteps, found the Jeep. I had no idea how to EXIT said parking garage–no, there were no signs, thanks to crazy construction. I decided to wait and follow someone smarter than me. Within two minutes, a black sedan passed heading out the way I came in. Wah-lah, it IS a two way road. Thankfully, someone had come before me and completely wiped OUT the plastic sign warning of the low ceiling, so I exited without threat of property damage. (Tho’ while walking through garage, I see all kinds of vans and SUVs–how the hell had they gotten down there without caving in their roofs? Was there a tall-car entrance I’d not been told about?)

I was almost free, but I had to do something with the ticket thing I was forced to take upon entering. Unwilling to try anything–and making it worse than it alread was, I simply handed the same attendant (bless hims heart) my free pass and ticket. I smiled through my humiliation as he exited his booth, walked around the Jeep and swiped the pass and the ticket in the boxy thingy I’d driven past. Er, oops.
It’s a good thing I don’t frequent the area. I clearly don’t have the mentality to handle parking garages. At all.

But today, I survived and if I didn’t tell this story, I could claim surpeme victory. Instead, you get the truth. It was touch and go, nearly went into overtime, but at the end, I got the “W” in the column. Take that.

Bad storms in the area last night. I handwrote, but got very little on the page. Keyed in a few paragraphs this morning, but wanted to make myself accountable and post where I’m at.

17,686

How’s the first week going for everyone else? Anyone who didn’t sign up playing along anyway? Good for you!

I’m off to day job, but will be handwriting/keying in every moment I can!

Cheers!

Edited 10-20-07, 3:30pm
Editing to update current word count, which tecnhically is all that was handwritten earlier in the week.
18,077

Not much to report. Went to work, came home, picked up daughter because she has the next two days off school for “fall break”–I totally don’t remember those when I was in school. Then I wrote.

Work count as of tonight (I’m logging off and gonna do some handwriting, which will count toward tomorrow or whenever I have a chance to key it in….) is 17,462.

I’m braindead.
G’night!

I wasn’t going to post again tonight, but I just made a typo that caused me to laugh out loud, so I’ll share, as well as post progress. Hopefully I’ll look back and find it motivating.

I’m grasping at everything I can…

Anyway, the typo was:

The door at the top was a simple interior door, unlicked, but swelled in its frame by age and the elements.

Poor door, but it *IS* usually the windows that get licked, no?

(This is what Svention (Sven + tension) will do to you…. be warned!)

Anyway, I’m heading off to handwrite. I didn’t finish keying in all I’d handwritten, but I’m at 16,431. Yay!

Best of luck, Svenners!

Heading to bed now, but wanted to document word count after tonight’s writing was 15,899. Starting word count is immortalized on the side counter
<————there.

Already I’m asking myself, what was *I* thinking?

However, I’m better known for my positive outlook than being negative and quitting before I start (at least my gradeschool teachers said so…… as an adult I have a less outlook at times…go figure).

It’s 4 hours early, but I’m gonna start writing tonight. I have a feeling I’ll need those extra words, if not to boost my own moral, than to keep from being utterly embarrassed at the end. See? Positive thinking, there!

I find it hilariously ironic that my husband is already planning stuff for each night after work this week AND next weekend. Pray for me! At least for my word count. I’ll be scribbling words at every free moment, I promise!

So, without further ado, I’m going to open doc, do a refresh on word count and start typing.

Best of luck to ALL Sven participates, whether you’re doing it on or off the record. And for those doing the book in a month deal (can never remember other than it starts with an N?) I wish you all a good experience.

Okay, I did it. More on a whim than anything, but if I thought too hard about it, I’d probably chicken out with some valid enough excuse about working the day job, the upcoming holidays and track record of sticking with one story this last year. I’m convinced my muse has ADHD and there’s no medication out there that will help.

I’m quite sure the truth is I’m having a hard time sitting down long enough to get “into” a story, so my writing is lacking. I’m hoping this challenge and fear of the public humiliation will either make or break me…

Is there a muse store nearby? Maybe a second-hand shop? One for rent???

But seriously, underneath all this joking panic, I’m actually excited I have a ….direction, a purpose, a frightening man with evil look in his eye threatening me, a bunch of friends and fellow writers to share this common goal with…

So I’m going to work on “vamp” (see sidebar)…The word count will probably shudder and crack a bit, as I’m going to spend the next week (yes, might actually dip into the days after 10/15) to get the story going in the direction I want it, then I can move forward without fail (yes, positive thinking is a good thing) and hopefully nail the lid on this one…. before the sun comes up again.

You know what sucks? I’ve got a B&N trip planned for Nalini’s newest (shhhh, NO I don’t have it yet… me bad). Sigh. I might sneak it in. It’d only take a day to read.

So, for official’s sake, here’s the button….

It wasn’t really a blow… just a few sparks, a few scary-ass sparks. They’re terrifying when they’re coming from the cord attached to the computer, let me attest to that.

My laptop cord is dead.
Of course, it’s a Dell and this laptop has a notorious reputation for eating cords. I made it 18 months without needing a replacement. (I was tempted to order 2, just b/c I wanna make sure it’s available when I need another….)

I’m on the desktop model, which is weird. Bad thing is that all my writing is on the laptop and it has about 10 minutes of battery life left, tops. When daughter comes home Friday night, I’ll use her cord (same puter) and back everything up to disk (up to date… my last back up is about a month old) and then I can proceed. Sigh.

So, I’m off to work by hand, since that’s all I can right now. Hopefully I’ll think of something more … feasible to blog about. Right now I’m traumatized by sparks. Forgive me.

Ciao!

~Mel