National Novel Writing Month

Alright, I want to do it... I'm not sure if I can, but, I've accepted the challenge:

To write a 50,000 word novella in 30 days. Starting November 1st.

Tomorrow there is a regional kickoff at a local Panera store. So, hey, at least it is an excuse to have a coffee and something yummy from their bakery. I have been reading some of the posts in their forums, especially from the St. Louis area, and there seem to be some really cool and interesting people in there.

It's cool reading comments from people with such a love of words and language! Lots of different backgrounds... students, accountants, engineers, biochemists, teachers, lawyers, ministers, historians, a mortician (wow), national guard, graphic designers and librarians... AND THAT'S JUST FROM ST. LOUIS! Wow what a dynamic group!

So, writing a genre novel will be a little different from my typical tech articles, but, I really hope I will have time after the AUGI CAD/Design Salary Survey to participate!

Hmm, I wonder if I can work Building Information Modeling and Facilities Management (BIM/FM) into a story-line somehow? ~pondering~

Crime and Punishment/Crime and Literature?

Check out this story in the NY times about this awesome juvenile detention center program. The program is called 'Literature 'n Living'. The teenaged prisoners were encouraged to read books written by people who had grown up like them. They wrote book reports, and their instructor sent them to author's and got some to come and speak with the kids. In return for finishing books and writing reports, they're given special meals, contact visits with their families and special attention from these famouse authors.

Great program.

Poem Review: An Anthology

Title: A Child's Eyes
From: Melanie Perry
Cost: free - so far ;)

Alright, the books I've read today are my own poetry journals from back in high school. Some of what I've written is utter carp, some is treacly, some is excrutiating to read. :( But, even I must admit that some of it is good. I stumbled across one which I actually had published at age 17. It was a proud moment, the first, and thankfully not the last, time I saw my name in print. I will save that one for another day, though, if I so decide to subject you to it. I should find a link to the publisher.

I chose one to share with you, and I think, simply because I enjoyed the thought and the theme. I am a parent of a small child now, and my sense of wonder and boundless possibilities has been renewed by that. I wrote the below when I was working 70 hours a week as a Supervisor at Hardee's and was about to begin my first semester of college. Share your reaction and opinions with me, if you please. Just please, do not repost this or pass it on without my permission.
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy.

I mourn for the loss
the endless day, the fearless night
those innocent games
the dreams of all the things I might

Remember when things moved in Black and White
when everything was either good or bad
When every new person was a potential friend
& I never realized all I had?

Back when really important decisions
were all up to someone else
back then my life wasn't ruled by a clock
and I could be better than what fate had dealt

Never hampered by reality's weight
my dreams were as real as day
as long as I thought it would happen
I knew I'd find a way

I sometimes long for the delusions
that hid the world's imperfections
I wish for an ignorant bliss
of all of this world's deceptions

When all the love I had was unconditional
and I could forget as well as forgive
back when my mom still knew everything
and it was not a miracle just to live

08-07-1998
~m.stone

Overall Rating: Not Terrible

Yeah. That's about all I can say.