Tuesday, February 27, 2007

    Last Words... (at least for February)

    In an effort to get as close to the fifty thousand words as possible by the end of this month in celebration of FebNoWriMo, I am simply typing whatever comes to mind, after which I will at the very least organize the thoughts into some vaguely logical order and then publish at the last minute.

    I also realized (actually I realized this very early on) that I could avoid contractions and gain words. (You know, can't, won't don't become can not, do not and will not). Actually, I think that can not is used as cannot - for whatever reason. It is the only one that they do that with as far as I know).

    One tool I have utilized in my (weak) efforts during FebNoWriMo has been this copy and paste word counter. This simiple Java script kit allows you to paste text into a form field and calculate the number of words used in it. I am providing a link not only to share it with you, but also to use up a few more words. I am indeed a cheating bastard. [LINK]

    And now on to things that are not filed under the topic of FebNoWriMo:



    Website related but I also realize that I have not done much work on the redesign of the site (specifically the Stories and Rants; most of which are still in the old page style from 2004. While I am ashamed of this on some level, I am not affected by it enough to sit down and finish all of it yet.

    I have been working extra hours lately; picking up shifts wherever I find that they are open for grabs. People always want time off from work, and usually I am willing to take that time off their hands. This also puts me at an advantage later when I want time off and all of those bastards owe me time.

    My eating habits, while they are (extremely) far from what they should be, have improved a great deal in the last week. To put it the best, (with as little detail as possible considering all of that is stuff that in general people just do not tell complete strangers) -- I have not felt quite 'right' lately. So, I am pulling all the old-school tricks that our Grannies knew about that are directly food related.

    In the mornings I have oatmeal for breakfast. Generally I arrive at work around fifteen minutes early every day. This gives me time to get some maple instant oatmeal made (hot water out of the Culligiain man's handy dandy water "cooler". (I find it amusing that some of the people call it the "cooler", when it has cold and hot taps (in fashionable red and blue indicator colors).

    When I made my oatmeal Friday, people outside the office I was currently occupying (someone else's desk) were all remarking, "I smell maple syrup!" After the third person, instead of simply saying, "it's my oatmeal", I replied, "Yeah i'm eating pancakes in here." and she actually came in and said REALLY?

    I've eaten yogurt lately - daily in fact. It took me a while to find some that wasn't color-enhanced. If you have not read about the yogurt with pink color thing yet - you may not want to if you love very pink yogurt (and other foods that have a specific red food coloring.)

    I have found that (if you have one nearby) Trader Joe's makes really good yogurt. (Thanks to L.T. .for the tip on that by the way). If you are unable to find that, Danon has a line called Danon Naturals that is really good and has no artificial looking color. (Keep in mind that I have not done any research and it may have this particular coloring in it anyway... but it does not appear to have it.

    I try - but do not always succeed at eating an apple every day. I manage to do this five or six days out of the week. I still have a lot of room for improvement as far as all of this goes.

    Anything Else, Please?



    I have an extremely bad headache today. Its location is directly in the middle of my forehead. It has been with me ALL. DAY. LONG.

    Hopefully it will go away soon... and, with that, since there is no way that I can possibly continue to type to reach my goal of 50,000 words for FebNoWriMo,


    - 742 words in this post...
    with... 48,190 to go... I give up!

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    pero      @ 8:20 PM | œ | 0 comments

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    Thursday, February 22, 2007

    Rain, and the Art of Pulling a Perfect Shot of Espresso

    rain and more rain and more rain.If I had thought of it earlier, I would have "given up" RAIN for LENT this year.

    After giving it (exactly three seconds) more thought, I realize that forty days (and forty nights) WITHOUT rain could cause a paradox in some alternate version of my world...

    That, and, well-- I think the drastic change in scenery would throw my incredibly redundant life into a whirlwind. Instead I gave up
  • pessimism (I am presently failing miserably with it - BUT I am having a great time trying!)

  • insomnia - (while I am off to a good start, I do not yet know how this will turn out... but you never know).

  • fast food - Although I am not considering a SALAD as fast food - (it's convenient healthy food that is already made).
    • I am keeping my caffiene, thank you very much for asking.

    About a year ago (I forget when exactly), I purchased an Espresso machine, with delusions of grandure in regards to how much money I would save by making my own Espressso, Cappucino, and Latte beverages.

    The machine was purchasd for around $300 -$400. According to my calculations at the time, two large gourmet drinks cost somewhere around $8 US. Multiplied by an average of three times a week... that is about $24 a week... (times 52 weeks in a year... I don't think I have to keep doing the math to know I spend too much money on fancy coffee.

    Taking the longer route to get the point: I don't eat at restaurants very often. The reason is, it is expensive, and generally I find that the food quality and service sub-standard. I enjoy cooking. Most of my friends can attest to the fact that I am even pretty good at it. (cheating to add more words - by PLUGGING MY RECIPE link on the right- check them out.)

    More math: Good food (less money) divided by time I don't mind spending in the kitchen = GOOD DEAL.

    Back to the point I was making... Many times, I have tried to make my own Espressso, Cappucino, and Latte beverages, with aspirations of achieving BARISTA quality results. Many times, I have fallen short of my own expectations.
    Less Money x crappy drink + ten minutes wasted failing at making said drink = BAD DEAL.

    I know that with time and practice, my Cappu-Latte-presso skills would become fine tuned. I know that witih my high standards and attention to detail, my coffee beverages would reign supreme among my peers.

    I simply lack the patience to keep trying.

    I have used the machine about six times. Making the twelve drinks I have attempted with it (but didn't necessarily enjoy AS MUCH as the REAL THING)... cost somewhere around (I am not so great at math in my head)... $30 ?

    I often fall short of reaching goals, at least, the goals that don't affect anyone adversely. Nobody's life is at stake, so my goal of 50,000 words in the month of February -- might never be met.

    Failing.... But I'm happy to be here, and having a great time!
    - 479 words in this post...
    48,932 to go...

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    pero      @ 7:52 PM | œ | 0 comments

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    Monday, February 12, 2007

    February Writing Challenge, Week II

    When Cody proposed this FebNoWriMo, I had assumed he was naming it that intentionally -- (if you don't know what I am referring to see the comments on the previous post). I've been reading 90% true for some time now and I've always considered Cody to be an exceptional writer. So it never occured to me that dubbing the challenge FebNoWriMo was anything but creativity on his part.

    I have been pondering various writing topics and while I have had many ideas, I have not dedicated any time to actually posting any of them. Some of the topics include this guy I work with - whom annoys me in many ways.

    Most recently, he came into work half an hour late. There was an accident on the freeway, which snarled traffic for at least two hours. He waltzed into work and announced that he had driven the entire way on the shoulder of the freeway.

    I looked at him and let him know that people like him are the reasons there are accidents and delays in the first place. Because people have to let assholes like him in once he gets to the front of the line. I also told him that I intentionally move over so people like him are blocked and cannot get past.

    Later in the week, I saw a McDonald's cup sitting on the ground next to his car. I asked him if it was his and he said yes.

    "GO PICK IT UP" I said. and he would not. So I walked out to get it, brought it in and set it on his desk, right in the middle of his paper work.

    Moron.

    - 277 words in this post...
    49,704 to go...

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    pero      @ 9:44 PM | œ | 0 comments

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    Saturday, February 03, 2007

    FebNoWriMo

    FebNoWriMo

    In the words of Cody... it is a challenge to blog 50,000 words in the month of February. This concept developed from Cody's comment in my previous post.

    In an effort to get back into the habit of writing daily, I thought I might start with a Mission Statement (so to speak). At this point, I have not made many plans as far as writing topics are concerned. While I could fuel my procrastination habit by claiming it is still early and only the third day of the month... there are only 28 days in the month. This means that I should get busy writing.

    In not so many words:

    I accept this challenge.

    - This is just the beginning.
    49,981 to go...

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    pero      @ 4:29 PM | œ | 0 comments

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