Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

A happy new year to all. Perhaps 2006 will bring enough changes that our troops will return home safely, the lies will end, and more men and women of honor will serve this nation in the highest positions of leadership. It can happen if we demand accountability. In fact, it's started, look at the polls.

May your holidays be full of joy and peace.

Holiday Musing

Well, a 100 or so words on the new novel is more than 0. What a year this has been. I'm wondering -- who reads anymore? What do they read? If there are actually any readers of this blog, can you take a moment and share whether or not you read books any more? If so, what?

And We're Off!

I don't have many words written, but it got me going on the new novel. Hurray for that. There's still time for people to sign up.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Go for it -- and good luck. I'll post more here when I get a good chunk of the new piece finished.

Weeks later: Nov 25: Only 100 words written. Well, papers to grade, tests to grade, etc., and hospital appointments probably made this challenge all but impossible.

National Novel Writing Month

Can you write 50,000 words in one month -- and remain sane? Should we out-stress ourselves into some zone full of caffeine, weird giggles and twitches? Hey why not; life hasn't been 'normal' for quite awhile now. Let's go for it. Set your clocks and calendars for the madness to begin -- midnight November 1 to Nov 30th.

If I succomb to the temptation to join in this lunacy, I'll post daily what's left of my thoughts as we go.

You have a great day, ya hear?

Reality Central

It's amazing how a diagnosis of breast cancer in the immediate family can bring you up short and make you question what's important. Disasters and cancer -- all life threatening conditions. Neither of which seem imminent in one own's life. Oh sure, the probabilities are there -- for others. But when either becomes real, up close and personal, well, life is not fair, is it?

More later on this topic when I have words.

Hurricane Rita

Looks like the Gulf is in for it again. Good luck to folks on the coast. Let's hope that Hurricane Rita doesn't do much damage and that we don't run out of the alphabet this year before hurricane season ends!

This Blog Was Never Meant to Be Political ...

it evolved that way due to circumstances that could not be ignored. The effects of Hurricane Katrina are still being felt on many levels. It was the tipping over of public outrage at the lack of adequate response to Katrina that resulted in Mr. Bush's admitting to some responsibility for the debacle. Accountability -- we can have it if we, as citizens, will only hold our leaders to it. It is not an issue of red states or blue states. It is not an issue of liberalism or conservatism. It is ultimately an issue of survival of the united states.

Looks like less than 10,000 deaths

The good news is that it looks like the death rate in New Orleans will be less than predicted. But still, too many lives were lost and so many people lost everything due to gross negligence and incompetence. Goodbye to Michael Brown. "Brownie, you did do a heck of a job" -- not. Hopefully, we will be seeing more officials being held accountable for their actions and/or inactions very soon. One can hope.

Mayor Nagin: 10,000 Deaths Possible

Here is a quote from an open letter published in The Times-Picayune (Louisiana's largest newspaper) to President Bush:

"We're angry, Mr. President, and we'll be angry long after our beloved city and surrounding parishes have been pumped dry," the editorial said. "Our people deserved rescuing. Many who could have been were not. That's to the government's shame."

"Every official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be fired, Director Michael Brown especially," the letter said. "No expense should have been spared. No excuses should have been voiced."

Add my vote to that. Add also my disgust at President Bush and other officials for their inadequate and slow response to this disaster. Leadership at the highest levels? Mumbo-jumbo contradicted by tv footage. Spin and photo ops presented as leadership. If this is what we can expect (and I don't see any indication that anyone in the administration learned anything from what happened), then God help us when the next disaster happens. FEMA, Homeland Security, and the President can't/won't admit any mistakes - just spin, spin, spin. Look for them to shift the blame to the state level -- onto the very people who actually were there exhibiting leadership.

How many people have to die at home and abroad before the sheer imcompetence of the current administration sinks in. Hold our leaders accountable!

Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned

Bush finally left his ranch, turned his gaze from his base to the state of Louisiana; Condi attended a Broadway show and shopped for shoes; and Cheney is not to be seen. Meanwhile, grandmothers were left stranded in wheelchairs (and some died) in and outside the New Orleans Superdome and Convention Center. People 'live' on overpasses still waiting to be evacuated. The heads of FEMA and Home Land Security knew less about what was happening than the tv audiences watching CNN. This is the United States of America and we have no leadership. CYA and spin are the order of the day from the top man down. Photo ops imitating leadership have replaced timely responses to catastrophe. Demand better of our so-called leaders. It's time to clean house and kick these clowns out. This is beyond 'red state', blue state'; this is a wake up call for the United States.

Of Trees Horizontal and Vertical

Since I seem to be at a plateau with my stories, images and shapes have become a major interest. If personal history repeats, all of this will come together in ways that will surprise me. It always does.

Images in Oak and Moss

Imagine -- and what story emerges with the faces?

Ghost Horse Chronicles

There's a rational explanation for the ghost horse pic. However, does the rational explanation accurately capture what occurred? The two horses in this photo shoot were brown. The grey horse? Probably light reflecting from the horse's hide. Or... think about it; the 'or' is a lot more fun to ponder and write about. Besides, I just came back from a week spent camping at a lake. I shot some pics of moss hanging from the limbs of oak trees. Eyes and/or faces are peering out. What is it that my camera 'sees' that I don't until later?

8-16-05, 11:20 pm.

I haven't downloaded the moss and oak pics yet to post here. What I've seen so far is a bit spooky; but what I see may truly be only for the eye of the photographer. Catch the indie movie, "What the Bleep do we know" and check out how some scientists explain such concepts as string theory, 11 possible dimensions, and neural communication patterns within the brain in terms of subjective and objective reality. So cool, what does this have to do with creatures peeking out among the moss and oak?
Not sure, could have to do with the old philosophical question of what is reality? For a writer, you've got to ask: are they peeking out asking for their story to be told? And, what about the ghost horse? What is his story?

New Links

The well-known aren't always talented and the talented aren't always well-known. I've posted links to the websites of two talented people who folks should really check out - Warren and Trabal. Enjoy and support their work!

Insomnia Express Cyber Cafe

Midnight at the Insomnia Express Cyber Cafe. To all of the night owls, welcome. The brain wakes up as the body starts looking to get horizontal. Obsessions running amok? Naw, just elusive characters floating around who won't settle down in the novel they cried out for. Contrary folk. Just when I think I have a handle on them, off they flit to the fartherest reachs of my mind jabbering the same type of nonsense heard at cocktail parties. Usually I give up and go to bed. Back they creep wanting their oh so important say. Recent history says I will get up and said characters will fade away as I stare once again at a blank page. Not tonight.

Welcome to midnight at the Insomnia Express Cafe. Pour yourself a cup. I'll catch you later.

A Week or So Later: Another night at the cafe. Characters are still milling around and talking amongst themselves -- leaving me behind as usual. Guess someone will stop long enough to tell me what's going down so that I can write about it. Who said writer's were sane? Actually, it *is* all in my head; so no problem. Sooner or later the mix will happen and the words will poor forth. Just don't be boring, guys, ok?