Thoughts v 1.2

The winter is supposedly coming to an end...

I mean, it's already a declared spring but...

Why is there still snow on the ground?  Sure, today it's finally starting to melt but we just passed another winter storm.  The sun is bright and it feels like the light emanating off of the glassy snow is slowly burning my indoor accustomed eyes out.  No! Not my gamer eyes!!

Dear Sun,

Please don't scorch my eyes out! I am an avid gamer and though I do appreciate all of the good that you do, such as keep the Earth warm and provide us with nourishment, I would like to keep my eyes just a little bit longer!

Sincerely yours truly,

Gummy Bear [insert smiley face and hearts here]

I guess it's not the sun's fault.  I mean it's just doing its job!

Dear Sun,

I apologize for my original outburst. It was uncalled for. You are truly awesome, so please don't go away!! Melt the snow, give us plenty of daffodils and keep rocking on! 

You da best!

Sincerely yours truly,

Gummy Bear [insert awesome smiley face here]

Well, looking on the positive side of things, the snow on the ground is just at the right consistency to make an awesome snow fort! Ah, the good old days when I was young and less decrepit. For all of you young people out there, enjoy those days while they last! They don't last forever! [Sincerely yours truly, Gummy Bear] :P

Gummified Chipmunk Rage

Video Game of the Day!!!

Today is the day to kill some mutants...

To defeat the Authority...

And to just drive around the wastelands of Rage! I absolutely love this game. I enjoy how it looks and it runs smoothly on my computer. I like the story and the new DLC "The Scorchers", however, the boss was killer! They gave you a really pretty rocket launcher which helped, but, with me being pretty noob about it, wasted the rockets by hitting the wrong targets...mmhmm...

Part of the DLC "The Scorchers".  Scope shot of the suns rays peeking through a narrow passage of ruins.

I have had this game since it was released on October 4, 2011 by Bethesda and id Software and I have yet to finish it! When it was first released, I played it religiously after work and got to point in the game where my computer decided that I have had enough. After losing my saved games I decided to just take a break from it. Now it is the time to start a fresh and to finish the game!

Looking back, I remember that there were some issues with the game but now playing through again, the issues are mostly resolved.  They better be after having years to fix them! Still, there are some buggy bits like enemies falling through the floor, or in multiplayer, holes that should be covered or blocked are still open.

This guy died and then proceeded to dance around in the ground! It was like watching "The Exorcist"

Multiplayer: "The Black Hole"

Despite the faults of the game, I am still eager to finish it. Though, we'll see how long it takes me because of recent events I discovered a way to make loads of money and have infinite ammo...it's time consuming but worth it! Don't worry! It's not a hack or bug, it's just a mini game that satisfies my need to gamble! Lol

Video Games - "Still a Boys Only Club"

Girls in an all boys world...

Obstacles in words...

I feel like I have been playing video games since the dawn of Atari and over the years as online gaming became popular, females who have had an itch to play a game were often scrutinized, belittled, stereotyped, or just plain sexually harassed. I can speak from experience that this is still an ongoing battle.

"Girls don't play video games!", "Shut up you prepubescent kid!", "Get off the game and get back in the kitchen!", or an even more common comment, "Suck my cock, bitch!"

I am not a feminist, I am not ugly, and I am definitely not trying to get attention. I am only playing the game for my personal enjoyment, a stress release from the daily grind, to beat my own personal scores, or to finally nab that achievement. Isn't that what gaming is all about?

Sure, I do come across some females that are looking for attention, or a boyfriend, but for the most part we already have a significant other or just enjoy being single. Our lives don't revolve around sex, simply put, and it's even more of a turn off when a guy in the game treats you like a piece of meat. However, not all of the blame can be put on guys. Girls can easily take part in harassment with "territorial disputes". These girls need to be the queen bee of the colony and quite frankly, these girls are shaming our gender. They encourage sexual harassment as they seek attention, and once they've won the love from the lobby they get defensive when another girl joins. On many occasions, once I opened my mouth to speak, a girl would suddenly turn feral on me. Nothing but a hissing and cursing jealousy would spout out for all to hear. She would continue to yell at me until I either left or established myself at the top of the female hierarchy. Sometimes the only way to get her to stop hissing at me would be to make her rage quit. Oh well, another girl lost to the queen bee syndrome.

Girls may never be accepted 100% but maybe, we will be allowed to play a game without facing the verbal abuse from anyone, male or female. After all, a game is just a game. It's not a dating site it's just a means to entertain. 

Thoughts v 1.1

Melancholy and sorrowful...

Depressed and gloomy...

What brings us here and how can we recover? Sometimes there is no choice but to trudge through the darkness and the clawing thoughts of hurt. You face them, you hate them. You either accept them or forgive them. 

I have not lived a perfect life.  I am still fighting to find my soul, suppressed from many years of childhood torment. I sometimes feel the judging eyes of people, eating at me and tearing me apart. But every now and then, the light shines through the darkening clouds and it's just enough to give you hope to keep fighting. There is a light, whether it be from the burning embers of our hearts or a flickering candle in someone's window or the warmth of the sun beating down on your face. There is a light.

Sometimes this light can be easily missed in the darkness. It can be hiding behind something, a memory or thought, and facing whatever obstacle is the only way to find it. There were times when the light was so well hidden that the only way to deal with the sorrow was to either write it out, or to sing. Singing might not be my best attribute but it gave me such a relief as the sorrow poured out of me. The light filled me and hope was renewed. "I am beautiful, I am smart, I don't have to listen to what anyone says about me, I am my own savior."

As long as I keep chanting my soul can finally come back, little by little, piece by piece. The torment I suffered will no longer hold me in its clutches, I will be free. Hope, is not something that can be easily attained, and sometimes you have to work for it. Like anything in life, if you want it bad enough, you have to keep pushing forward. I usually like to think of every successful person that has inspired me. How they overcame the obstacles in their lives and eventually the light they sought after, they were finally able to touch it. Someday, that will be me. Bathing in the warmth of the light.

Anything worth fighting for takes work, even hope and happiness.

Thoughts v 1.0

Trying to get motivated...

Can be tough unless you think it through... maybe...

It is serene and silent watching the snow falling gracefully from the gray clouds above Longueuil. There is not much of a wind, and people have refrained from leaving the warmth of there homes as much as possible. Today, I imagine, is a perfect day for sledding and sipping hot chocolate with mini marshmallows or snuggling up with a fuzzy blanket, a couple of cats, and a good book. But a penny (wait, the penny is phased out...a nickel?) is not earned by sitting around, we must strive to put food on the table, a roof over our heads. Fun fun!

A Gaming Wishlist

The gaming world is always changing...  

The graphics aren't the only thing that is getting better but the hardware is as well.  To have the best experience it helps to have the best equipment, however, that doesn't usually mean you will not enjoy a game as it is.

I don't have the best equipment.  My computer is getting older, I still own a regular PS3, and I don't have the funds to improve them yet.  Still, I dream about all of the games I wish to play.

Let's start with the "old"...

• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist
• Developers: Ubisoft Toronto
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Released August 20, 2013

I have never been disappointed with Splinter Cell.  When the series of Splinter Cell's first came out I wasn't even aware of them until Chaos Theory, back when I started to take video games more seriously. I remember playing co-op with my brother and failing miserably at deactivating bombs...we were blown up...a lot! 

As I played through the story, I really liked the stealthiness of the game.  How one wrong move could mess everything up, and one sound could lead you to take on the enemies head on were things I enjoyed exploiting in the game, but only on occasion.  With the new Splinter Cell, Blacklist, I am really looking forward to experimenting with the online multiplayer, Spies vs Mercs. This is truly a feat for my brother and I, of which we have both improved our gaming techniques dramatically! Let's see who wins! 

• Remember Me
• Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
• Publisher: Capcom 
• Released June 3, 2013

I became intrigued with this game because of the story. It takes place in the future (2028, Neo-Paris) when a woman named Nilin whose memory is wiped escapes from imprisonment, and as she encounters a man called Edge he tells her that she is an Errorist. She has the ability to steal and change(remix) memories. The game involves making a series of choices that can change someone's personality/behavior entirely to make them believe something that happened when it never actually did. By changing something in a memory, it can ultimately change the way a person thinks or acts.  

For example, in the trailer, Nilin has to enter someone's memory and make the person kill someone by removing or changing a glass bottle. This makes the person grab a gun instead of the bottle and they end up killing someone they loved. In reality, they become depressed and guilt ridden and they kill themselves in the end.

I think, the main reason why I like the premise of this game is because it is thought provoking and the choices you have to make can be the difference between life and death.

• Payday 2
• Developers: Overkill Software & Starbreeze 
• Publisher: 505 Games
• Released August 13, 2013

Having played the first Payday and absolutely loving it, I am quite excited to play this one. It's basically a 4 person co-op fps game where you complete heists (which is in the layout of a stage/campaign map).  The game involves a lot of team work which can be fun when you are playing with the right people...otherwise, if you have someone who is Rambo, then you can count on being 'jailed' half of the time.

I can think of a few good players to play this game with over a few drinks and slurred speech! 

Well, there are definitely more games on my list, but I'll leave it at that for now.  Hopefully, someday, I will have the opportunity to play them. In the meantime I'll have to keep my eye out for Steam sales! So... yeah! That's it, that's all, and let's get gummy with it! 

Don't Panic!

Okay! So here is my "first" gaming video ever, unless you include my Sims videos...then it's my third gaming video!  Basically, my friend Baku decides he wants an achievement which you have to finish this particular map on Nightmare in Dungeon Defenders.  I'm already skeptical if we could do it but I agreed to go along with it!  We were doomed from the start, but at least we had fun!

Gummy: On Falling in Love - Part 2

Lost in a digital world...

The gentle hum of the swirling fans in Gummy's laptop roared to life after hours of midnight gaming...

Gummy looked over at her alarm clock sitting on top of her television wall unit. It read, 3 o'clock in the morning.  Not wanting to leave her team of zombie slayers mid game she continued to push forward.

The Ruggedly Handsome Nick (IMO)

Work is going to be hell tomorrow.

Overall, she didn't mind.  Work was just a way to earn a dollar. Gaming, that was a whole other lifestyle.  It was like being a superhero, putting on a mask and saving the world. Besides, playing with the handsome Nick wasn't so bad either. What made it better? His French accent. 

At first, it was just a friendship but soon a courtship began. It was just one of those things that just happened.

Finally they finished the campaign barely surviving the finale. Sometimes it was easy and other times the zombies and special infected were so well timed in attacks that the whole team would be incapacitated. Not to mention, the entire team were starting to groan like zombies themselves, the evidence of lack of sleep taking effect.

It was time to shuffle over to the bed and she did so grudgingly but not before seeing her Nick buddy jump into another game.

"You're playing another game?? Don't you have to work early tomorrow too?" She messaged him.

"Yeah, but I'm just testing this one," he responded.

She laughed and shook her head and soon she was lost in the dream world running away from zombies and alligators. Why is everything so much more terrifying in a dream?

Over the next few months and a few days after Valentine's day both Gummy and her Nick played the familiar campaigns in Left 4 Dead.  

They goofed around swatting zombies with med kits and jumped from beginning to end until the finale.  When they reached the finale, it was a bridge torn with random vehicles tossed all over, and lots of hiding places where zombies could jump out at you.  It was tough, they dared to play on advanced, and well...there is no happy ending for these love birds as Gummy is charged off the bridge and Nick is the lone survivor to make it to the waiting helicopter.

"NO!" he screamed, "Gummy..."

Everyone laughed over an open mic as they waited for Nick to board the helicopter and then, just when you thought he was going to make it he stops.

"I can't do it! Not without Gummy!" He ran to the edge of the helipad and jumped into the open water killing him instantly.

Everyone yelled out, in surprise and dismay, as they watched his body hit the water sprawling out as if he hit pavement instead...that's game physics for you, sometimes things just don't make sense. Laughter broke out and even though they could have made it, they weren't going to unless Gummy made it. Thankfully, after another try, everyone lived happily ever after.

The game had ended and the credits rolled and Gummy looked at her messages in the Steam overlay.  Three simple words appeared in a swift stroke of the key that read: "I love you."

Sometimes, when you least expect it, that's when love finds you. In this case, Gummy found it in a digital land filled with zombies and special infected. She wasn't looking for it, but because of a bored Nick, they ended meeting on one server that changed there lives...at least for the time being. 

Gummy: On Falling in Love

Love in the Land of Zombies...

In the land of zombies, four survivors trek across the southern landscape in hopes of finding refuge from the raging infected...

It was her birthday and she never felt more alone when she turned on her computer and waited patiently for Steam to start.  Left 4 Dead became a way to disconnect from the depressing reality and the lack of companionship.  Gummy sat at her computer and thought back on her day.  Not impressive but decent enough.  She loved her family, since they were there for her in difficult times but there was one thing she wanted, to be held by the loving embrace of her soul mate.  It was then she made a silent wish to herself and to any wandering spirits that might overhear her.

"I wish, this birthday, something I don't normally wish for, but I wish to find a pure love." She sighed and bowed her head in silence.  After sitting for a few moments she got up to fill a glass of wine and returned to start a game.  As the familiar logo of Valve appeared she sipped her wine and thought, What a way to spend a birthday.

What other way did she know though? She was never one to go to clubs and party.  She was introverted and some would say she was shy.  However the world viewed her, she did know that she hated it.

The game started and she found herself immersed on the rooftops reaching for her first weapon of defense.  It was hard to decide on the best weapon...she was still new to the game only having put minimal hours into it.  Some other players joined her and one in particular was amusing as he became the ruggedly handsome Nick.  Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

They rushed down the stairway into the hallway of a hotel.  There were a few doors open and a spew of zombies came tumbling out towards them.  Nick jumped up and down randomly with a med kit in hand and started batting at the zombies with it.  Suddenly, Gummy gasped as one special infected launched itself at her.  She failed to get out of the way in time and was then being pounded into the wall.  Nick came running to her rescue with a baseball bat and swung hard giggling. Giggling? Who is this guy?

The survivors continued on there journey throughout the Left 4 Dead 2 world.  The light was a contrast to the original Left 4 Dead, but it was always still surprising when the special infected would grab you from the middle of nowhere.  Nick was constantly picking up incapacitated survivors and he refused to leave anyone behind even if it meant sacrificing his own life.  He was good humored about it too.

After the night finished, it was early the next morning.  Gummy contemplated on adding this Nick character to her friends list.  She thought about how good of a player he was.  It was refreshing not be yelled at by people who took the game too seriously.  Suddenly, inside her mind she said, screw it! And clicked the add friend button and went to bed.

When she awoke, her curiosity led her back to her computer and to her surprise, he accepted!

To be continued...

The Story of a Gummy Bear

The Origins... 

A long time ago...okay, not really a long time ago...perhaps it was only awhile ago...pfft, whatever, it was in the past and that's all I know.  Let's try this again.

Sometime in the past, that of which I do not fully remember when, but I became lovingly known as Gummy Bear.  A name which rose in terror as I fought my way through waves of zombies with nothing more than a frying pan, med kit, adrenaline, and a trusty military sniper rifle (with laser sights attached, of course).  Okay, so the name didn't bring terror but at least it was a name that I could grow into.  It didn't matter how often I bounced from name to name, I would always bounce my way back to Gummy.

Before becoming Gummy, my tyranny only raged upon unwitting Sims.  Not that I minded too much, but I still had yet to discover the world of gaming.  After I upgraded my dinosaur of a computer to a gaming laptop (to better improve my Simmming) I discovered the game Left 4 Dead, first on the Xbox and then on PC.  My name at the time was a name that was created by chance of a typo.  Not as interesting as to how I was adopted by Gummy Bear.  After months of playing Left 4 Dead with a mediocre name and being single it was on my birthday that I made a wish that surprisingly came true.  Next thing I knew it I was introduced to an interesting French accented "Nick" and we survived campaign after campaign in Left 4 Dead until the wee hours of the morning.  A birthday well spent since this "Nick" fellow was super funny.

The night sadly finished and I was forced to resort back to reality but my mind kept flipping back to my new friend.  An interesting fellow whose words of randomness and kindness made me want to keep playing video games.  Still playing under my original name, I began experimenting with other names to find one that best suited me, however, none of them stuck and I kept the name I had.  Another month or so past and I met a few of my friend's friends which created a new world of hilarity and trolls. 

More time past, it might have only been weeks but time moves differently in the gaming world, and after having a wonderfully funny relationship with my accented Nick we finally began to develop a closer relationship.  At this time, I was so in love with Death Note and the character L that I named myself after him.  I remember slaying the zombies and Nick yelling out, with my buddies as witnesses, "I 'ove' you!"

I replied surprised and amused and still questioning if I heard him correctly, "You 'ove' me?" I made the connection because my game tag was 'L'.  I laughed when he simply answered, "Yeah!"  It was from then on that I began to think of my funny friend as something more.  Our zombieland relationship took off and continued to blossom.

Still, I was trying to discover my own gamer tag and eventually it found me.  As I was learning the likes and dislikes of my new beau, Gummy Bear found me.  A name that I would now forever be known as.  I get amusement out of it when I slay zombies, or take down other players in CoD.  To be outplayed by a Gummy Bear-the most friendliest of names.  It was a name that suited me and my personality to perfection.  The truth behind the Gummy name, well, I found out that my sweetheart loves gummies in general, so I couldn't resist the name.

That's it, that's all, at least for the origins of Gummy Bear!

Novemeber

After sitting in front of my computer screen for the month of November I have come to the conclusion that I am even more determined to write a quality story.  I have taken Rare Orchid, written out a plot line and have done some research.  Overall, I have worked hard to avoid temptations all around me, though sometimes failing.  It is safe to assume that I am still a newbie writer!

Grand Theft Auto 5 Online play "driving against a wall with a customized Coquette"

When you get lost in writing sometimes you literally get lost in a world where the only people you know are the characters you are writing about.  I have learned some techniques here and there but I have a long way to go.  The challenges of writing I encountered so far have been tough to overcome.  With one of my passions being in video games and the new releases of some pretty wicked games, my attentions have often been diverted to the television to "getting gummy with it" in the virtual world!  I would often try to justify my faltering to temptation with more writing but in the end, writing became harder and harder to focus on.

"Rare Orchid" - NaNoWriMo - Novel

Years ago when NaNoWriMo first established itself I thought I would like to join and write a book.  My major fear that held me back was my ability to never finish things on time.  Now that I am older, but not much wiser, I decided, "To hell with it! If I don't try, then I will never know!"

So far, I am not disappointed.  I have fully committed myself to writing and as a result I am slowly learning how to master my craft.  With my story, "Rare Orchid", I have learned new ways to phrase words.  Grant you, my sentences are still far from perfect but at this point I am just glad to be writing.  I never would have thought that I would be given this wonderful opportunity to write a full-fledged book within a month.  I always thought of myself as too busy.  Sometimes after coming home from a long shift at work, I would be too tired to do anything.  I usually saved all my writing for the bus ride to and from work.

This year, I decided to take my journal of ideas and turn one of the stories into an actual novel.  And so, "Rare Orchid" was born.  I can only hope that with this story a new path will open for me.  So, for those of you who wish to read the ideas unfolding day by day follow this link, https://leanpub.com/rareorchid, and do not be afraid to send me a few words of encouragement or some critical comments.  In my opinion, all feedback is good feedback if it will help me improve.

It Begins!

It is early Friday morning....well...early enough, actually it is about 9AM.  Okay, so it is a normal Friday morning where I wake up feeling like a zombie going for my coffee, and mistake it to be ridiculously early.  Today is also the first day of NaNoWriMo and thank you to all of my supporters!

I have a good start and I am feeling quite pumped, either that or it is the coffee starting to take effect.  My word goal today is going to be 1,700 - 2,000.  If I shoot past my goals then I will be set for the rest of the challenge!  I am going to be writing my story with Leanpub so it should be available for viewing as I write it.  Tell me your thoughts and ideas, if you like it or would prefer to see something else happen and I will do my best to incorporate it my writing.  My main goal is to write a story that people can relate too.

Wish me luck! Let the writing commence!

The Last Day of Freedom

Going through the last stages of editing my outline and figuring out characters.  I am scrambling through this process because beginning at midnight, NaNoWriMo starts.  The intensity of butterflies in my stomach matches that of six F-16's breaking the sound barrier.  I am nervous and thoughts of doubt keep pulling me back but I am determined to beat them down and show them who is boss!

Writing has never been too difficult for me.  But writing with a deadline, now there is the problem.  It may be challenging and sometimes even tiring but I feel like this is a story that I want everyone to read.

My story follows a teenage girl who grows into woman-hood with a tragic past and new memories to gain.  She loses her parents and her memory to a deadly plane crash.  After stumbling away from the site, dazed and confused, she wanders the quiet highways during the night.  Eventually she is found and taken to the hospital but no one can place who she is. And so, her new life begins.

This is just the start of my story, and little by little, it is taking form. Sooner or later, these first steps are going to be looked back on as fond memories.

So, even though there is still so much to do, I am taking this last day of freedom, and enjoying time to myself before I finally commit to a blank screen and a world full of words!

Colder and Colder the Days Have Been

You can tell winter is coming by the feel of your newly acquired alligator skin.  It is rough and unpleasant and seems that no amount of lotion will help sooth it because throughout the following months you are constantly washing your hands.  Keeping your hands free from germs is in the back of your mind because with winter usually comes colds, and flues, and other uncomfortable pleasantries! At least, that is how it usually happens for me.

I cannot really complain about winter except that it can be so cold.  Other than that, I love it.  I love the way the snow falls especially when you hold your hand out and individual flakes start to speckle your gloves. Each flake is unique and beautiful and so intricately formed.  Seeing the snow reminds me of living in northern Ontario.  My childhood memories come flooding back and all of my adventures start to fill my mind.  Exploring the woods, sledding down steep hills and even over rock edges!  Snowmobiling, and ice fishing! Ice skating and hot chocolate! Snow forts and fun-filled imagination!

Last year, when I arrived in Montreal after a long bus ride from Ontario, I arrived on one of the coldest days.  Of course, my arrival was poorly planned out because I ended up waiting for my sweetheart for almost two hours due to traffic.  It was my first taste of true Montreal!  When finally in the warmth of my sweethearts car my bones were given the opportunity to melt. I felt like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz. How sweet the warmth is when it is taken away from you.

This year, now after moving, I am getting nervous about the coming winter.  We have not seen any snow yet but already the temperature is dropping.  I am not prepared.  I still need to get a few new sweaters to wear all at once for when I walk to the store to get my slushy!

NaNoWriMo Preparation!

The whole purpose of NaNoWriMo is to have fun while writing.  In these mini envelopes is a hint to overcome any writers block I will probably encounter throughout this challenge!

Rue D'Amours

There is a street in Longueuil that my sweetheart calls the street of love  and at first I was skeptical.  Thinking that maybe this is a popular secluded area for young lovers.  It was not until we pulled up to the street sign that I realized that the street was actually named after love!

My sweetheart proceeded to tell me that only a hand full of people in Longueuil really know of its existence.  It is hidden by a miniature forest of trees and shrubs and almost looks like someone's driveway at first glance.  The only way someone would stumble upon it is by just driving around or exploring.  I was quite amused by this and wondered what other hidden streets are waiting to be discovered?

I found that after living here for even this small amount of time that the street names are numerous.  They range from animals, to plants, to bugs, and to people.

When exploring the streets named after birds, my sweetheart told me that there was no street named after pigeons.  He explained that they were not of the right class.  I thought for second about structural systems and could not help but be amused.  Then I asked about eagles and wondered if there was a street named after them.  He answered that they were too high of a class.  So, I concluded that depending on the location in Longueuil, the name will reflect it depending on its own class! Who knew that animals, and birds and such would have these social classes as well!

Still, I never would have imagined a street that was named specifically after love!

National Novel Writing Month

For the next month I am going to busy writing a young adult novel based on a teenage girl who encounters many problems in life.  Her battle with depression is just one of the major issues that will prevent her from recovering who she is. My aim is to write about the different faces of people and the masks they sometimes wear to go through life.

NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization that challenges people from a variety of backgrounds to write a novel within a thirty day time frame.  The novel  must contain a minimum of 50,000 words which averages 1,700 words a day....it reminds me of my high school days when we had to write essays with 500 - 1,000 words, the only difference is, I will have to write about two essays a day!

Even though this is going to be a huge challenge, I am looking forward to finally being able to have the chance to write a novel.  Two essays a day? No problem!! Okay, maybe a little problem since my major issue is procrastination.  If you have ever attended school with me then you would know that I was always struggling to get things done on time. You would often find me finishing homework the day it was due. With NaNoWriMo, my due date is going to be everyday for thirty days and that is going to be my own personal challenge.

In preparation for this event, I am going to purchase all sorts of snacks, because working without snacks just sucks since another one of my traits is eating and eating a lot. Surely, this is going to be the best thirty days since it will be filled with snacks and wine! It might also be the worst because my usual hobbies are probably going to suffer as a result to the stress of reaching my 50,000 word minimum.

So, despite the challenges, we are allowed to have an outline and I believe that this is going to be the crucial tool to reaching the winners circle! A book in thirty days! We got this fellow participants!

Test subject 001

It has been a very long time since I have even bothered to attempt to draw.  I do not really know what has inspired me this time... perhaps it was the fact that I was looking at dreamcatchers and I have been in a dilemma on whether or not I should start making those again too!  My drawing is nothing special but I do enjoy gliding my pencil across a blank page. Then later finding out that my hand is smudged with pencil!   Now that I think about it, I had a dream about drawing.  Of course,  in my dream I was horrible at it and all the people around me were at least ten times better.  These people were of people I grew up with and have often admired their talent.