This Just In...

As I walked through our neighborhood (yeah, gotta walk off those Thanksgiving pounds), it occurred to me that we have some lazy, trifling humans here on Earth. I balked at the amount of trash I saw on the streets. Now, don't get me wrong, the neighborhood doesn't look like a dump - it's a nice place to live in - but nevertheless, thrash still litters the streets.

I noticed empty chip bags, burger wrappers, fast food cups, empty beer cans, cigarettes, cigarette boxes, broken beer bottles, a squished baby diaper (don't even wanna know what was in there), candy wrappers, Styrofoam cups, etc. I even saw a used condom (Are you as grossed out as I was? I would've stepped on the darn thing had I not been looking down at the time.).

People, it doesn't take much to hold on to your trash and throw it in the nearest trash can. We have a Walgreen's and 3 gas stations right around the corner that have trash cans. It takes less than a minute to pull over and throw the trash away. And the used condom wrapper? Ew! Please, spare us the evidence of your passionate night (or day). The sad thing is, the condom was right across from a mosque. Now, I'm not Muslim, but I do respect the worship place of those in our neighborhood...just like I would want someone to respect my church (also in the neighborhood). Call me prude, but I wouldn't dare go there across a worship place. *shaking head in disdain*

Random Thoughts Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some things I am thankful for...

• God/Jesus
• Family
• Life
• Job
• Health - yeah, I have HBP, but other than that, I'm healthy...and HBP can be controlled
• Music
• Books
• my God-given purpose: to educate and empower children/teens
• children/teens (without them, I wouldn't have a purpose)
• My ability to create and write stories that will one day bring smiles to readers' faces
• Fact that people actually read my blogs
• The people before me who fought and/or died for the rights that I'm enjoying now

The thing that I am most thankful for is God. Without Him, my life would cease to exist. Without Him, life would be worthless. He's awesome!

Don't forget to take some time out to thank someone - which, actually shouldn't be limited to one day. So, what are you thankful for?

NaNoWriMo Weeks 2 & 3 Wrap-Up

Well, I've definitely fared better than the first week of NaNo. If I were keeping up with the time, I'd be at about 44,000 words (2,000 words/day). Yeah, that's a laugh. I haven't even broken the 10,000 mark. I'm at 2,891 and counting. I'm not as down as I was the first week. Hey, at least I'm writing, right? And I still have next week (Thanksgiving holidays) where I can maybe catch up...or at least make it to 20,000. I'll be happy with half a novel by the time this is over. So, maybe for my NaNoWriMo Week 4 Wrap-Up, I'll have more words.

Sometimes I feel like both the left and right sides of my brain are fighting for attention. I mean, I use more of my left brain for my dissertation and more of my right brain for my book (which is another reason why I'll be glad I'm done with the dissertation...it's hogging my brain, leaving barely enough time for creativity - although, I'd like to think I have to use some creativity with it). I'm sure other NaNos fared waaayyy better than me, which is awesome. I'm still happy with my accomplishment, considering the fact that I've been too tired after work to even think of writing.

Anyway, like I've said before, the novel's name is, Who's Got Tha Moves. I'm so excited about this novel. Here's a short synopsis (thanks Bev Rosenbaum for helping me sum it up so nicely): In her determination to become more exciting (and hook her crush, Nate), accomplished, but hideously shy dancer, Treasure Davis, auditions for a popular dance reality show. Next thing Treasure knows, she's an insta-star, with all the attention--positive and negative--that comes with mega-celebrity. It's everything she wants--isn't it?

I'm having so much fun with this one. I'm not into reality shows, but I love watching the dance ones (Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Best Dance Crew), since I LOVE to dance. Wanna know a secret? When I was about 5 or 6, I wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. Solid Gold was an old show that I used to watch. I remember sitting in front of the TV every time it came on. Dancing has been my love since then. So, yeah, I'm enjoying Who's Got Tha Moves. I'm channeling my teenage self with this one.

Anyway, next week, I'll post my cast of characters and the soundtrack, but, for now, I'm going to post the opening of Who's Got Tha Moves. Now, remember, during NaNo, it's all about quantity...not quality, so this is a VERY rough draft:

Tee Davis must die. Or at least disappear forever. Either way, I've got to get rid of her.

I'm not some insane chick, plotting the demise of another human. I'm a perfectly sane, 17-year old, plotting the demise of myself...or my old self, rather.

It's time for her to say goodbye.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Dissertation. If you've been following this blog at all, you know my feelings on this subject. That graduation date just seems to drift farther and farther away from me. I keep telling myself it'll all be worth it in the end, but, really, sometimes, it's hard to keep that in mind. I just have to continue to picture myself all decked out in my doctorate regalia, walking across the stage as they call my name: Dr. Raenice B. Weakly.

Rejection. So, I received about 3 more agent rejections within the last 2-3 weeks. Yeah, it stings, but that's how the game is played. I think I received my best agent rejection Monday from The Chudney Agency. The agent, Steven Chudney, sent me a friendly, personalized letter. He made suggestions on how I can make my manuscript better and made notations on the 50-page submission. OMG, are you serious? Clearly this is one of the reasons why The Chudney Agency is one of my top agencies (besides the fact that they represent some good authors). Mr. Chudney even suggested that I keep him in mind. Oh, I will Mr. Chudney...believe me, I will. Honestly, I think the second novel I'm working on, Who's Got Tha Moves, just may very well be my 'breakout' novel. I've always felt this way - since I came up with the WGTM idea. So, I think that, after finishing WGTM and going through a gazillion revisions, I may have more takers for my 2nd novel than my first. I know I'm a good writer. I'm not being cocky or egotistical...I just know that God gave me this gift and everything that comes from Him is good. I'm just looking forward to the day that I move from aspiring author, to published author.

Changes. Some people have a hard time with change. Me? I'm okay with it, every once in awhile. This past weekend, I underwent a major change. I cut my hair off. I'd been looking for something different, saw the cutest hairstyle, and knew cutting my hair was the way to go. So, now, the hair that was once growing past my shoulders is know practically off my neck. People asked why I cut my long hair off. I say, my hair is meant to be played in and styled. I get bored very easily with my hair. I've had my hair braided, cornrowed, cut, and colored in different styles. Besides, my hair grows fast. In 2005, I cut my hair even shorter than it is now and, by 2007, it ended up being past my shoulders. Anyway, I'm lovin my new haircut! It's short and sassy, just like me. :) It's also easy to maintain. Here are pics:

BEFORE

AFTER

Stay Tuned...

I'm knee deep in dissertation work, so NaNo Weeks 2 & 3 Wrap Up will be posted at end of the week.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Barack Obama's Historical Win. My feelings in one word? YAY! For those who doubted that America would ever vote an African American man into office, this election has clearly knocked that doubt out the park. He didn't just win...he won by a landslide. It's so amazing that I'm living to see this day. I mean, this is big! Like put-it-in-the-history-books big! And inspiring. I know Obama ran into naysayers: "A black president? Ain't happening!" But he kept on. He had his race and inexperience going against him, but he kept going. I'll be sending prayers up to heaven for him and his fam. And the fact that people who'd never voted before came out in droves...amazing! This election was just an awesome thing to watch. Yes, I cried when it was announced that Obama was our new President-elect. I thought of all the pioneers who fought hard and died for a time like this. My grandmother, who died last year, would've LOVED this. Martin Luther King would've LOVED this. They all would've LOVED this. I pray that Obama does what he said he'd do. I know it'll probably take more than 4 years to bring America out of the whole, but I look forward to the change that Obama may bring! And may I say, I think Michelle Obama will make an exceptional first lady.

Nebraska Safe Haven Law. Since this law came into play, more than half of the children left at the hospitals have been teens. I know some teens can be a handful, and some parents are probably at their wits end. I don't know. Abandonment? I can't even think of the words to say.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_re_us/safe_haven;_ylt=AlTU_xYhzLMnA4Cdxf4ij6txieAA.

Dancing With The Stars. Last 2 standing? Brooke and Warren. I love watching Warren dance!

Latin Grammys. Waaaaaaaaaaaa! I wanted to be at the Latin Grammys! It's here in Houston and I couldn't go. *SIGH* And we'd heard where the stars will hang out, but we couldn't remember where...not that we would've been able to afford to go. Being broke sucks!

NaNoWriMo Week 1 Wrap-Up

The end of NaNo week 1 has come. You want to know how many words I've written? 70! No, not 70,000. Just...70. Sad, isn't it? I came into NaNo with high hopes. I wanted to write a chapter a day. Little did I know, I'd have a busy week. By the end of the day, I was too tired to do anything this week. Needless to say, this week was a bust.

BUT, I'm not giving up. It just means that starting today, in order to catch up, I'd have to write 2 chapters a day, til next Saturday.

Something good did good did come out of this week (besides our new president-elect): a new story idea - or at least a new character. The teen daughter of the first African American president. I know one of President Obama's daughters is 7 and the other will be 9 next year. What if the children were teens? Being the child of a pres is stress enough, but the child of the first black pres...yeah, that's a book. I know I won't be the only one with this kind of character, but, I'll be adding my voice to the story...putting my own twist to the story.

Happy writing!

Random Thoughts...

...will return next week. It's been a busy (and crazy) week. Lots to say, but no time to write it.