tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91606490294609372012024-03-14T02:53:51.895-04:00Articulate on PaperRandom writings from an overactive mindWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-36896348325232602642011-08-01T08:20:00.003-04:002011-08-01T08:22:24.245-04:00Moved on outta here!Hi everyone! Just a quick post to let you know I have departed Blogger for greener pastures. You can now find my blog at <a href="http://wendylyoung.wordpress.com/">Wordpress: Wendy L. Young, Writer</a>.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-61899887079069966882011-07-25T06:38:00.005-04:002011-07-25T06:49:28.646-04:00Been Busy Being a Busy BeeI've neglected my blog horribly over the last six weeks as I focused my attention on editing the book, which I plan to have available on Kindle this Friday. The cover art is done. The rewrites are done. All I am doing over the next few days is playing <span style="font-style: italic;">Typo: Search and Destroy</span> with the hope it will be as error-free as possible.<br /><br />The response so far has been very positive. It feels like a child is leaving home - you can't shield it anymore and you probably screwed some things up, but you have to let it go and get on with things! (For example, the 2nd novel that is being outlined already ;) )<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDNeFmXcMv0/Ti1Iep7ChFI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/Uz1sVbbvG0M/s1600/WendyNovel2B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDNeFmXcMv0/Ti1Iep7ChFI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/Uz1sVbbvG0M/s400/WendyNovel2B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633238400397116498" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-36815459355612423012011-06-05T12:58:00.003-04:002011-06-05T13:11:21.479-04:00Belated Update: 1st Draft DoneNovel 1st draft - done!<br /><br />I finished it last Sunday evening and have subsequently spent this entire week typing...and typing....and typing. And I'm still not done!<br /><br />I've typed over 110 pages this week, in between work, family, and fun, and have about 30-40 more to go. Then it's on to editing and more editing.<br /><br />Excited to see it coming together!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-14928990361011893432011-05-22T14:46:00.003-04:002011-05-22T14:56:14.655-04:00One Week Left: First Draft of NovelI'm close enough now that I'm going to go out on a limb and say the first draft will be complete 1 week from today.<br /><br />But immediately I have to put a caveat to that and say that it won't actually be <span style="font-style: italic;">readable</span> that day because more than 1/2 of it will only be in a spiral-bound notebook that is rarely out of my sight.<br /><br />It makes me more than a little nervous that I have 100 hand-written pages (closer to 125 when typed) that exist on paper only. I'm a product of this time - while I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> the feel of pen and paper I only feel something is <span style="font-style: italic;">permanent</span> when it's in an easily reproducible computer file.<br /><br />So, one week until the draft is complete, at least another to type it up, a couple of weeks more to implement changes I already have in mind...might be ready for real editing at the end of June.<br /><br />The pace is slower than I like but I know it would be a grave mistake to rush it out and not try to make it the best it can be. I've <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-i-learned-by-e-publishing-short.html">learned a lot from the short story</a> and I want to make sure those lessons are put to good use.<br /><br />1 week.<br /><br />I wonder how long it will take to give it a real name? Calling it <span style="font-style: italic;">no-name-novel</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">novel-of-40-names</span>, is getting a bit awkward.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-61244187705032540592011-05-20T19:32:00.003-04:002011-05-20T19:45:00.842-04:00Another pass at the short story cover - One Final NightHere are a few options from this afternoon, each one getting a little further from what I had with fonts. I intentionally didn't capitalize the L. Does that look weird? I really don't want a glaring L there. If I could realistically minimize it further I would. I just want to be Wendy Young, in reality, but I feel cornered by the fact someone else with my name got there first. Argh.<br /><br />It may seem strange to obsess over this one cover but I want to set a standard layout/font that will be easily recognizable and stick with it, at least for the short stories.<br /><br />Even if one of these is 'the one' they need the final finishing steps of ensuring page elements are appropriately aligned, centered, etc.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxQBFziEfT4/Tdb7ucJuRUI/AAAAAAAAEco/B9ZxhxZJVpk/s1600/OneFinalNigh2ndgenB.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxQBFziEfT4/Tdb7ucJuRUI/AAAAAAAAEco/B9ZxhxZJVpk/s400/OneFinalNigh2ndgenB.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608947161186059586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PyZCZvESMBQ/Tdb7tp6_h7I/AAAAAAAAEcg/9Bwxk349dcU/s1600/OneFinalNigh2ndgenC.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PyZCZvESMBQ/Tdb7tp6_h7I/AAAAAAAAEcg/9Bwxk349dcU/s400/OneFinalNigh2ndgenC.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608947147702503346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9llv6_7Tc/Tdb7tE1ynWI/AAAAAAAAEcY/ek15JEyGako/s1600/OneFinalNigh2ndgenD.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9llv6_7Tc/Tdb7tE1ynWI/AAAAAAAAEcY/ek15JEyGako/s400/OneFinalNigh2ndgenD.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608947137748573538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2j4L8WFUXQ/Tdb7sbjhO_I/AAAAAAAAEcQ/5ddeo7LNEoE/s1600/OneFinalNigh2ndgenE.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2j4L8WFUXQ/Tdb7sbjhO_I/AAAAAAAAEcQ/5ddeo7LNEoE/s400/OneFinalNigh2ndgenE.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608947126666083314" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-45152641723674811182011-05-17T13:04:00.003-04:002011-05-17T13:11:19.203-04:00Revamping the Cover: One Final NightTwo issues have cropped up since I posted my short story several weeks ago.<br /><br />1) There's another Wendy Young. She has a book out. It's not similar but to avoid any confusion I am considering opting for a middle initial on my work.<br /><br />2) I would feel downright AWFUL if someone bought a short story thinking it was a novel so I've been considering ways to work in 'A Short Story' or 'A Novel' on all covers.<br /><br />Hence, the dueling versions below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Original<br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PRN1LVPISjM/TdKrX67Wb6I/AAAAAAAAEcI/yK5qI0PJ3TM/s1600/OneFinalNightFinal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PRN1LVPISjM/TdKrX67Wb6I/AAAAAAAAEcI/yK5qI0PJ3TM/s400/OneFinalNightFinal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607732913473220514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Proposed New<br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WzZlo8zQCCo/TdKrXUCE-vI/AAAAAAAAEcA/SU2klFRvXI8/s1600/OneFinalNight2ndgen.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WzZlo8zQCCo/TdKrXUCE-vI/AAAAAAAAEcA/SU2klFRvXI8/s400/OneFinalNight2ndgen.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607732903032453874" border="0" /></a><br />Thoughts?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-71670085121605300882011-05-15T13:57:00.006-04:002011-05-15T14:37:04.283-04:00What I learned by e-publishing a short storyEach day I draw a little bit closer to an exciting and scary milestone: self-publishing a novel. I've been writing every day for about 2 months now and the first draft is 80% complete. It's a huge, rewarding undertaking but for someone so goal-oriented it's a very hard one as well.<br /><br />I love lists and check marks (or rather 'strike out' lines in my case). I love completing even minor tasks in order to feel the flush of progress.<br /><br />So, I wrote a short story in two days. Edited it in 3-4 (with the help of lovely family and friends), designed a cover in a day (with the help of my super-lovely husband), and then published it - 1 week from first word to pub - on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Final-Night-ebook/dp/B004XJ66YS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1303436213&sr=1-2">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55099">Smashwords</a>.<br /><br />Goal!<br /><br />I won't lie and say I didn't have some hope it would take off but I knew the publication was more for me than anything. I needed to know <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> was out there. I needed that experience.<br /><br />It didn't take off. The highest it's been on Amazon is around 40,000th place. (Yes, I did mean to include that many zeros). But I did learn from it. A lot.<br /><br />First, I learned the technical aspects of publishing it. That's invaluable. I learned how to create a cover, how to format for Amazon and then do the opposite for Smashwords. I learned how to set up author pages, payee details, and set up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Young/180823228636635">Facebook page</a> which is largely incomplete still - I can't even get a url until I get enough likes. I learned so much more that I've already forgotten.<br /><br />More importantly, I learned about 'sampling.' I had naively focused on telling a story (hah) and not on researching how people discover stories (still get low marks on that one) or how they make the leap into actually paying to read it. Smashwords requires you to allow sampling and with a story that only truly makes sense at the end, it has hurt me a lot. It is important to remember, however, and I already know how I will rework the beginning of the novel with this in mind.<br /><br />Lastly, I learned that I know nothing about marketing. But that will come as I don't think pushing a short story will get me far anyway. That will be a tough lesson when the novel, something easier to market, is ready to read.<br /><br />Many learning experiences will come (such as how to get people to actually <span style="font-style: italic;">review</span> what they read) and I look forward to the journey.<br /><br />"Novel-of-40-names" is coming soon....<span style="font-style: italic;">ish<br /><br /></span>Never soon enough for me!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-66903317251323659962011-05-07T10:13:00.000-04:002011-05-07T10:13:00.260-04:00Onwards or Sideways?I tend to be very hard on myself, constantly evaluating whether something is moving me forwards, moving me backwards, or simply moving me sideways. In reality that is probably hard on those around me as well, as my evaluations (remember, hard on myself) are not always accurate.<br /><br />Blogging, reading, house cleaning..... so many things that truly *are* important are put in either the sideways category, at best.<br /><br />But those 'sideways' or 'backwards' tasks frequently have vital roles that aren't immediately measurable. If I spend an hour getting my <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html">Daily Mail</a> fix I'm in a much better frame of mind to do the things that must be done, or those that I want to do.<br /><br />Similarly, when I can check off a task like "fix the flipping blog!" then that frees up another little corner of my mind. It seems unimportant, but turns out to feel like a giant leap forward.<br /><br />Outdated links have been removed, new widgets added, and I've rediscovered a few things about Blogger I hadn't used in <a href="http://www.obsessedwithbones.com/2010/09/happy-season-6-bonesday-first-and-last.html">more than 6 months</a>.<br /><br />This, plus a fun <a href="http://www.knoxville-zoo.org/">trip to the zoo today</a> to celebrate my wonderful little boy's 2nd birthday, do not directly advance my writing but I will be the better, and ready to do the 'work' I love, when I'm done.<br /><br />I have another 40-50 pages to write on the novel, 60+ to type, and another 25 page short to type as well. Loving this progress!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-16900000589793457392011-04-21T21:38:00.003-04:002011-04-21T21:42:49.319-04:00One Final Night - First Short Story Live<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnHxNv1FImY/TbDdEeXIbqI/AAAAAAAAEb4/SPcL_XJhWSw/s1600/OneFinalNightFinal.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnHxNv1FImY/TbDdEeXIbqI/AAAAAAAAEb4/SPcL_XJhWSw/s200/OneFinalNightFinal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598217405760827042" border="0" /></a><br />It's almost anti-climactic to finally have a piece available, knowing that that major battle (to get a single person to read it) is still to come. But it is there and that is something I can appreciate and still be excited about. There are so many stories still kicking around: it's just the first that made it out. The novel is exactly 100 pages now and another short story will likely be typed up this weekend.<br /><br />All in all: Loving it!<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Final-Night-ebook/dp/B004XJ66YS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1303436213&sr=1-2"><br />One Final Night</a> on Amazon KindleWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-82376871246476639372011-04-20T17:28:00.002-04:002011-04-20T17:58:21.388-04:00Hi Again, It's Me MargaretJust a quick update to say the family stuff isn't gone, but it's been moved. We will be sharing the address of our family blog soon, but not to the world at large.<br /><br />For now a blurb to say this blog is returning to it's roots - writing - and there is more to come soon!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-87823229229821664672008-12-03T09:38:00.003-05:002008-12-03T09:47:08.999-05:00Non-baby update (mostly)I've fallen into a bad habit, here, of just posting weekly belly pictures and monthly appointment updates. I swear, there are more things going on in my life than just my stomach! (pretty much)<br /><br />I used to write here, often, about my latest writing endeavors. There is more than one reason why I have posted nothing of the sort lately. Mainly - I do paid freelance work now, and spending hours researching and writing various articles sort of sucks the juices right out of you when it comes to your own stuff. I've been doing other things with my free time, in the last 2 months, that unfortunately don't trend that way.<br /><br />One big thing is that, since becoming pregnant, I'm really needy for my husband. When at home, I would much prefer to spend all my time with him than do anything else. I've always been one that valued my alone time, even in marriage, but that has completely flipped during pregnancy. Now he's the one saying "When can I do (whatever solo thing he wants to do)?"<br /><br />But the writing is not dead. I have multiple ideas, and a lot of notes jotted, but no tangible words that anyone can read. Last weekend, my friend and I made a deal that we would both write something. And....we both flaked.<br /><br />Hopefully, that won't be the case for much longer, for various reasons. One, I really <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to write again. Desire is a big chunk of motivation. Two, I'm starting a new freelance job that is permanent and hopefully effectively full-time once the baby comes. This job does not involve mass article production. It involves lots of little goals and projects (a great thing for my list-checking, goal-oriented personality) that should free me up mentally to use my creativity on my own stuff. The big prayer is that it is financially successful enough to free me up in time as well, so that I have the ability to really devote myself to the creative pursuits. I miss writing my own stuff. I <span style="font-style: italic;">loved</span> the script writing of the summer a lot and I want to get back to the story-telling!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-9669476524452611472008-11-05T11:47:00.002-05:002008-11-05T11:48:12.291-05:00Fun Posters - Learning from Star Trek<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SRHONF3_IOI/AAAAAAAABxY/8v_0uo3tM80/s1600-h/insp_diplomacy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SRHONF3_IOI/AAAAAAAABxY/8v_0uo3tM80/s320/insp_diplomacy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265216163683442914" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-31253770125394048232008-11-04T10:16:00.003-05:002008-11-04T10:24:57.113-05:00Bloggin' 'wardsMy mother has a wide-ranging fan-base for <a href="http://photographybyleedra.blogspot.com/">her photography blog</a>. She's had many awards passed on to her, and sometimes she passes them on to me. <a href="http://photographybyleedra.blogspot.com/2008/11/9th-blogging-award.html">This is one of those times</a>, with an extra caveat that I <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> to pass it on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SRBoKzTFDwI/AAAAAAAABxQ/eN_qbWVcjTI/s1600-h/superior_scribbler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SRBoKzTFDwI/AAAAAAAABxQ/eN_qbWVcjTI/s320/superior_scribbler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264822499174321922" border="0" /></a>There's one blogger, and great friend, this fits perfectly. Her name is Jamie. She's been my partner in crime for <a href="http://www.obsessedwithbones.com/2008/08/zacksplanation-time.html">one big writing project thus far</a>, and I'm sure we'll do something so crazy again. She has a <a href="http://flummoxology.blogspot.com">personal blog</a> as well as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-frevele">a political/entertainment blog at HuffingtonPost</a>. Jamie and I may disagree on many, many things, but in writing we share a passion and continually encourage each other through our quirks, fears, and craziness.<br /><br />Thanks, Mom, I'm glad you enjoy it and of course I love you too.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-77377485298359921552008-10-27T16:10:00.004-04:002008-10-27T16:12:24.485-04:00Haven't posted one of these in awhile...But I couldn't resist posting this one that my husband shared with me. It definitely made me laugh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/funny-pictures-sibling-cat-squishes-his-brother.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/funny-pictures-sibling-cat-squishes-his-brother.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-54058781547724834792008-10-20T14:40:00.003-04:002008-10-20T14:52:46.851-04:00Writing UpdateIt's been awhile since I did one of these, for good (well, okay, bad) reason:<br /><br />There's not been much to say.<br /><br />I really have not had time (or energy) to do any sort of creative writing in months. I get paid to do freelance writing on various topics, with various degrees of personal input, usually very little, but when it comes to creative personal writing everything seems to be on hold.<br /><blockquote>There's the fanfiction I started in April. I recently received a message asking me to please finish the story so they could know how it ends. Mmm, okay, will try!<br /><br />There's <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2008/08/time-for-binding.html">the novel</a> that I haven't touched in...<span style="font-style: italic;">far </span>too long.<br /><br />There's the <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-zack-script.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bones </span>script I finished</a>. And the <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2008/06/spec-script-update.html">one I didn't</a>.<br /><br />There's the pregnancy journal. Now that, I am current on. Well, sorta. Early on I managed daily writing, now I'm on weekly updates. </blockquote>I hope I have some great things to post soon about writing. We recently purchased a laptop, which has allowed me to quickly start catching up on my paid, non-creative, freelance writing. I'm praying I can get a bit ahead of that (when I don't feel baby-sick) and then be able to dig back in to the rewarding creative work. I miss it, especially the script writing. But, alas, that may be shelved indefinitely. I think my path lays far more realistically with the novel side of things, with two babies on the way.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-25151792641175126572008-10-10T14:20:00.010-04:002008-10-10T15:57:28.383-04:00I heart Christmas MusicI don't care if it's more than 2 months away...Christmas music is always a good idea!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UrtXAvtSAps&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UrtXAvtSAps&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OkN-VvvhcE0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OkN-VvvhcE0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uJw5W5A6Wso&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uJw5W5A6Wso&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />But I do have a very wide range of stuff that I like...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UsvZHHLQ8-c&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UsvZHHLQ8-c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vPaGQEskSKM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vPaGQEskSKM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And now I really want to watch this movie:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p-9YjIHhSs0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p-9YjIHhSs0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Links to all the videos, because for me, at least one of them won't show up on a reload.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrtXAvtSAps">Born on Christmas Day - Brad Paisley</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkN-VvvhcE0">We Three Kings - Blackmore's Night</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJw5W5A6Wso">The First Noel - Ella Fitzgerald</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsvZHHLQ8-c">Christmas at Ground Zero - Weird Al</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPaGQEskSKM">Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - Dr. Elmo</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-9YjIHhSs0">Christmas Vacation Song</a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-27103529152378424432008-10-08T10:25:00.001-04:002008-10-08T10:26:23.819-04:00Background ImageI've got a question in to the lady who designed this blog template, concerning my background image for the main portion of the blog. Hopefully it will be resolved soon. I miss the pretty brown.<br /><br />And I don't look forward to going through the headache of finding a new look again.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-55834656318367925672008-09-19T08:35:00.005-04:002008-09-19T08:48:43.836-04:00Bean watch: UpdateWell, last week we knew something we didn't want to share quite yet - there might be more than one bean hiding in there!<br /><br />Yesterday I returned to get another ultrasound and lo and behold...there sure is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SNOc3cwlZ2I/AAAAAAAABhI/2pPsBmDShtA/s1600-h/twins91808.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SNOc3cwlZ2I/AAAAAAAABhI/2pPsBmDShtA/s320/twins91808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247710467243468642" border="0" /></a>We got to see both hearts beating and everything! It was beautiful.<br /><br />You can see more images at <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70827&l=cc9b8&id=741270235">this gallery</a>, including the heartbeats, measurements, and what little we saw of baby B last week.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-2730417600813308802008-09-14T11:17:00.002-04:002008-09-14T11:17:00.877-04:00I think I'm missing something...But I'm not sure...oh. That's it. Brain. I knew I left it around her somewhere.<br /><br />Life's different. I know it will be <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>different come next May, or even April, but it's already different. I haven't been awake at 11pm in weeks. I haven't slept in my bed at least a full week (and my not see it again for the duration), and I'm really not liking my red meat.<br /><br />And then there's the brain thing.<br /><br />Pregnancy brain is real, I'm telling you. I'm not sure where <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-can-post-again.html">this little bean</a> put it, but it stole a good portion of my mental capacity. I feel so...unproductive.<br /><br />Everyone is telling me to rest, rest, rest. I feel like I'm over-resting and under-contributing. I'm not slacking on anything paid, but I am feeling my personal pursuits slide considerably. This blog, and even my Bones blog, are not getting nearly the attention they once did. It's not for lack of love, just lack of concentration.<br /><br />I run out of steam <span style="font-style: italic;">so fast</span>. The line of demarcation is most clearly marked by one simple thing: naps. Pre-pregnancy, I loathed them. And when I gave in and took one, I invariably felt worse. I slept 6-7 hours each night and everything was just peachy.<br /><br />Now, I sleep anywhere from 8-10 hours at night, and I love my naps. Of course, I don't sleep that amount straight. Nooooo. I might make it 4 before I have to visit the ladies' room, stumbling around in the dark. But there's a painful price to pay for waiting even that long. It's much better if I only sleep 2 or 3 at a time with plenty of visits. I am getting pretty good at going and returning to my couch with barely a thought.<br /><br />Alright, quick U-turn back to the beginning. See what happened there? I started a topic on lack of concentration, and ended up on bathroom visits. Such is my current state.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-19330451245529130372008-09-13T20:14:00.003-04:002008-09-13T20:17:20.390-04:00Blog AwardMy mom received a new blogging award for her photography blog, <a href="http://photographybyleedra.blogspot.com/">Photography by Leedra</a>, and passed the round on to me. It gave her a great excuse to highlight <a href="http://articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-can-post-again.html">my recent announcement</a>, which is totally understandable!<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SMxX-d-emgI/AAAAAAAABdk/32IqJUY2u18/s1600-h/i_love_your_blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uFqdZQlRdcQ/SMxX-d-emgI/AAAAAAAABdk/32IqJUY2u18/s400/i_love_your_blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245664396689971714" border="0" /></a><br />PS I love the image.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-53582854771486611482008-09-08T08:29:00.004-04:002008-09-08T08:50:49.984-04:00Modern Marvels isn't my only Geek PleasureGrowing up I remember one TV show more than any other - Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sure, we watched Friends, and Frasier, and more, but ST:TNG started earlier in my childhood and I had to fight for viewing rights.<br /><br />Yes, I fought with my brother to watch it.<br /><br />He didn't like it, I did. I remember at least one incident where my Dad had to intervene. Seriously, it's ST:TNG time, give it up already!<br /><br />It's been off the air more than 14 years now, and I've barely seen any episodes since then. This was one of the first shows I remember seeing in movie stores, as available for purchase.<br /><br />On VHS.<br /><br />And the entire purchase price was something astronomically ridiculous. Granted, there are nearly 200 episodes, but it was at least a 4 digit total to snag all those tapes. Never happening.<br /><br />But now we have DVR.<br /><br />And unlike the A-Team, it's actually syndicated. I set the DVR to catch all episodes, after realizing Sci-Fi shows a couple each Monday night. Well, on a normal Monday. On Labor Day they had 15 hours of ST:TNG and we caught them all.<br /><br />But we're really not that into constant TV, so we still have only made it through half of them, and tonight it will catch more. But, it's something we both enjoy and, thanks to the DVR, we can watch them at our leisure. It's a lot of fun to rediscover an old favorite, and watch episodes you haven't seen in a decade, or even two.<br /><br />That does make me feel old though...Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-12584693850880732062008-09-02T09:38:00.001-04:002008-09-02T09:40:28.917-04:00Mr. Movie, Don LaFontaine has diedThe name isn't always known, but the voice of Don LaFontaine most certainly is. Here is one of my favorite videos, which shows him with four other well known "voices" (5 if you count the call-in).<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JQRtuxdfQHw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JQRtuxdfQHw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-74846534273593574792008-09-01T14:57:00.003-04:002008-09-01T15:00:15.057-04:00Work that DVROver this holiday weekend I am really enjoying the newest addition to our home: the DVR.<br /><br />But there really just isn't enough <span style="font-weight: bold;">Modern Marvels</span> right now! Marathon anyone?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~*~ ~*~ ~*~<br /></div><br />On the polar opposite of that, Lukas and I plan to walk more together. A walk every day after work sounds wonderful.<br /><br />I'm still neglecting this blog a bit much but I feel a change coming on, swinging back toward updates. We'll see!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-40056433062714868272008-08-26T19:39:00.009-04:002011-04-20T18:03:22.042-04:00My Zack ScriptAfter driving everyone, including you, nuts for months about these, <a href="http://flummoxology.blogspot.com/">Jamie</a> and I are finally publicly releasing our Zack scripts. Hope they were worth the wait! =)<br /><br />(You can see the main post about the release on <a href="http://www.obsessedwithbones.com/2008/08/zacksplanation-time.html">Obsessed with Bones</a>.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~*~ ~*~ ~*~<br /></div><br />Intro for "The Man on the Roof."<br /><br />Jamie proposed this idea out of her "Patty Hearstian" love of Zack. I must be honest that I do not have the same level of passion for his character, but I do have the passion for <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bones</span>, for writing, and for a good challenge. Hence, a script was born.<br /><br />It became apparent rather quickly that Zack would be a case-of-the-week B-story in my script. I wanted to find a way to tell a reasonable continuation of his story but I wanted it, more than anything, to feel <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly </span>like a real episode of the show. I needed to have the Booth/Brennan, the humor, and <span style="font-style: italic;">the feel</span> of a weekly trip into the show.<br /><br />It will be obvious to anyone who reads my script what I love most about this show. To some, you will even be able to tell exactly who my favorite character is. I really enjoyed writing it. I loved delving further into Zack, a character I'd previously enjoyed but not loved, on the same level as others. I hope I did him justice, and I hope you enjoy the whole package.<br /><br />(link removed as I've decided to work it into a full novel completely independent of Bones)<br /><a href="http://eviaded.googlepages.com/TheManontheRoof.pdf"></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160649029460937201.post-60989006531768820492008-08-25T14:13:00.002-04:002008-08-25T14:18:56.136-04:00Desk FlotsamAside from the normal things on my business desk - phone, bills, magazines, pictures - I have a few interesting additions of late.<br /><br />1 Envelope, ripped open with contents still inside. Back used as a hasty note surface for a business voice-mail message that I accidentally cut off mid-way and can't get back.<br /><br />4 carved willow statues in the following forms:<br />-couple dancing<br />-couple woman in front of man, arms entwined<br />-woman with wings and a cradled heart<br />-child with wings and a very thorny rose<br /><br />And then we have the 5th willow statue. She is laying down, tightly clutching her 3 wire flowers. Her position could be likened to a coffin pose, an image which is helped by the fact that her head is somewhere in the vicinity of her right arm. Below it. Facing down.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11253166007934016346noreply@blogger.com2