just for the pic

The Spinning Pen has moved!

I'm finally all moved in! Come by for my blogwarming!

http://www.blogcharm.com/thespinningpen/

Also, if you have The Pen linked, please update with the above URL. I appreciate you coming by to hang out with me, and I'll see you at my new place!

Tagged!

I'm procrastinating my NaNoEdMo right now, so I was THRILLED to see Daydreamer tagged me! Okay, here goes... this one's cool.

I Live: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I Work: at being a better person
I Talk: @!#$ most of the time
I Wish: for my algae eater to pull through his stress coma
I Enjoy: Writing, reading, yoga, photography, good music, coffee.
I Look: Someone said once I look like Sophie Dahl.
Quite an honour, even if he was slurring drunk.
I Find: My car keys on the seat when the door is shut and locked, usually.
I Smell: Petrie!
I Listen: To cars driving by outside as I fall asleep and night. They sound like ocean waves.
I Hide: sex toys! hehe
I Pray: untraditionally
I Walk: to great music
I Write: to keep myself sane - I'm miserable when I'm not
making @!#$ up.
I See: Through brave faces.
I Sing: to know I'm through the haze and happy again.
I Laugh: At least once a day, sometimes to tears.
I Can: Make a really kick ass tuna sandwich- about all I can cook.
I Watch: trains roll by as though through a camera viewfinder
I Learn: new ways to make an ass out of myself!
I think: I'm actually my fat, frizzy-haired 13 year old self, and sometimes don't
recognize my own reflection
I Dream: when I'm awake, and deal with reality when I'm sleeping.
I Want: soft things that smell nice
I Cry: when I do long division and get a remainder
I Burn: dinner
I Read: Everything - all writers do
I Love: Stu, my family, adventure I Sometimes: am self-absorbed
I Hate: How petty and selfish society has become
I Touch: everything, especially while shopping.
I Hurt: when people are unkind - it's more common than you think.
I Fear: Complacency
I Hope: but do not count on hope alone to make things happen
I break: nails
I Eat: poorly
I Quit: smoking - on a daily basis!
I Bathe: in luxurious bubbles
I Drink: coffee
I Save: moments to use them in my writing later
I Hug: My pillow/furnace
I Meditate: nightly
I Play: The game at work, and "writer" at home.
I Miss: Edinburgh, my puppy,Tage
I Hold: a Canadian Passport
I Forgive: rarely, but it takes a lot to make me quit someone
I Drive: stick
I Have: obsessive compulsion
I Don't: think there's anything I can't do
I Made: a bad career choice - er... 37 of them.
I Kiss: my submissions before I put them in the mailbox
I Owe: 55% more debt! Almost there!
I Feel: inspired
I Know: There's more in store for me than the things I'm doing now
I Wonder: how many people will have read this far.

I tag: Miss Fern, Puddle of Raine, Newfie Girl, HB, Dan & Loretta

No fun?

Editing Hours: 2:45/50

EMPTY SHELL

For a 60-day-no-fun marathon, I sure am having some fun! Last night I took the $5 I found in a pair of jeans I hardly wear and went down to the Henry the 8th to watch a buddy's band, Empty Shell, play at open mic. They were so good! And I'm not just saying that because Jay's my friend, I really mean it. Scott (AKA Jesus on account of his hair and beard) is going to send me the video and I'm going to figure out how to upload it so you all can hear them.

IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN COME UP WITH?

Then, a few of the girls from work and I decided we weren't done with the evening so we went down to Melrose to mingle with the beautiful people of the city. Really, I should have been kicked out - my hair was curly and swept up in a loose pony tail and I hadn't gone home to put a fresh coat of cover up on my newly-broken out face.

See, Melrose used to be cool before the whole Red Mile thing. Now it's all these suits who go because it's the place to be. There's a line up to get in on the weekends - come on! Why line up to get into a pub?! Regardless, I braved the salesmen in identical striped dress shirts and the girls with fake breasts and enjoyed my company.

A salesman dude with spikey bangs in a striped dress shirt came in with three buddies, also with spikey bangs and in striped dress shirts. They knew one of the girls at our table. They said hello and then took the table behind us. All the while, the one guy was staring at my friend. She explained that, due to absolutely riotous circumstances that I can not discuss, she was kissed him once and - well, now he thinks - well, you know.

And so, after about 20 minutes, this guy actually gets up and pulls her ponytail! I'm not joking, and he wasn't gentle about it. I felt like I was in grade 2 and she was going to tell Mrs. Luck on him. Instead she turned around and told him to @!#$ off, but close enough. Come on men - pulling a girl's ponytail? Is that the best you can come up with?

MICHELLE MILES IS A GROUP SO GO SIGN UP!

Well, doesn't the title just say it all? hehe. With the upcoming release of Ransom and Fortune (mmmmmmm Dane. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - oh sorry. Drifted off there. What was I talking about?! Right.) With the upcoming release of Ransom and Fortune, her readers have a lot to keep up on, and now we can! Check her out at Michellemiles.net, her Blog, Ye Olde Inkwell, and now her Yahoo Group! Good job, girl! I can't wait to get my Dane fix again.

WEATHER PIXIE

Don't forget to post your weather pixie name suggestions! For more info, read the previous post entitled (uuuuhhhhhhh) "Name that weather pixie!" Free stuff! Free stuff!

Name that Pixie!

Okay, before this gets out of hand, I just want to say for the record that my new blog will have a lot more links to other people's blogs. I link to other blogs I enjoy, or friends of mine. Just because I don't have a link to your blog does not mean I don't enjoy it.

If you would like me to link your blog, I would hope you could link mine. Those who have commented here, and those who have emailed me to send a "friendly" reminder about linking to their blog, have not linked me in return. You'll notice a similarity between all those on my blog roll - it's a two way street.

Whew, I feel better about getting that off my chest. Sorry if I've offended.

Yesterday was the first day of NaNoEdMo and I think it went pretty well. I edited for an hour and a half, focusing on finding the word "began" in the first 3 chapters of Mending Resolute, as well as searching for "ly" words and determining whether or not they were required. I have a step-by-step plan for my editing, and today I'm on the hunt for more words, namely "ing" words. This is a bit easier than I thought - I always dread the editing process, but this is easy and already I'm feeling a lot better about my prose.

Get this - last night while I was out on the balcony admiring the evening, four silver mini vans with tinted windows turned right. Himself thinks it was CSIS. I think it's some fracked up version of the Truman Show, and the producers got a deal on silver mini vans.

If you know of any reality-type home improvement shows (ie Extreme Makeover Home Edition or While You Were Out) can you post them in comments please? I need more ideas; Himself and I have a plan (mischievous laugh).

Okay, and one last thing! I'm holding a contest! For the new blog, I'd like to name my weather pixie. So, if you have an idea, post it in the comments below. What will you win? Why, a copy of Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume III! What's so special about Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume III? I'm SO glad you asked!

Two years ago I won honourable mention in the Hidden Talents short story contest with my story "Life As She Knew It". Last year I won 4th place! Volume III holds, within its pages, my story "Love Potion", which has to be the one piece of my work I love, and to which I would NOT take a chainsaw or a pack of matches.

It just so happens that my little contest coincides with this year's Tall Tales Press contest! Deadline is May 31, so writers, crack your knuckles, pound out some prose and send it to Tall Tales Press. Check out the CONTEST to find out the prizes and all other details. And if you have a suggestion for a name for my weather pixie, please post it in comments below. Deadline for entering is Monday, March 6th. If you don't leave your contact information in comments, make sure you come back on Tuesday March 7th to see if you've won!

Excitement, excitement, excitement!

I've been a little down lately, which, honestly, is nothing new for me. I've been fighting it off for a few weeks now, but last night things took a very severe turn for around better corner. I can't get into much just yet, but what I can say is that Himself and I came to a decision that will completely change my life. *disclaimer - Mom, it's not about marriage or babies - sorry!* I can talk about it more mid-April, but I can say right now that things are looking up.

Besides, my new Armchair Cynics cd came yesterday! Okay, it's not really new - it's their old CD from 2003, but I was thrilled when I found it existed, and I'm glad to have a bit more of their music! If you haven't checked out their music, website, bought their CD or wrote them a letter telling them you love them, what the hell are you waiting for?!

I started a new Rent My Blog campaign, and I must say the last 24 hours have been absolute hell for me. Here was my issue: My new friend Newfie Girl bid on the real estate, as well as Henry the Adequate. Anyone who read my blog last week will know I absolutely love the Henry the Adequate blog. It's downright fun. In fact, if you look a short distance to your right, you'll notice I also linked to it! But Newfie Gir! Henry... Newfie Girl...

And so, I figured since I've already linked Henry, I would accept Newfie Girl as my new tennent! Sorry Henry, but I ask everyone to click on Henry's link, as well as Newfie Girl's. You won't regret it, trust me!

While over at Newfie Girl's blog, please comment and tell her you came from The Pen so she knows you dropped by. While you're there, go check out her dog, Princess Taco Fajita Burrito Nacho Jackson GK's blog as well! It's a hoot. You can even donate to buy Taco a new tiara! hehe.
In more exciting news (it's overwhelming, isn't it?!) Today is the first day of NaNoEdMo. 50 hours of editing in a mere 31 days. Whew! All this while blog- moving! Crazy. But I am determined. I've set out a game plan - sorta. Well, I've figured out how I'm going to spend my first editing hour, since the thought of doing 50 hours of line-by-lines makes me want to open a vein. So, I've decided to follow a strategy!

Step 1: Run a check for the word “began”. Anytime it’s used before an action ie: running, walking, reading, showering etc. Cut it and reshape the sentence.

Brilliance welcome - post below if you have any suggestions about what step 2 should be!

One more exciting thing: If you take a look at my little weather pixie to the right, you'll notice there is sun peaking through those clouds! It looks brilliant outside (I haven't been brave enough to step outside with this fresh-off-the-pillow hairdo).

Happy hump day all, hope no one wigs out - Friday's just around the corner!

Mmoonnsstteerr Jjaamm!

Well, I can officially say I've now been to a Monster Truck show. On Saturday night, myself, Tara and Newfie Dan (as well as a couple others) went to Monster Jam at the Saddledome.

Strangely, when I told people my plans for Saturday night I got a vast array of reactions. Morgana's expression turned blank and she said, "why?" Miss Fern giggled for a bit and then said she could never picture me at a Monster Truck rally. Himself - well, I don't think I'll ever hear the end of it.

It was.... well, different.

I walked down to the 'Dome since I only live about 15 blocks away and I'm too cheap to pay for parking. And so, I braved the mounds of snow and the un-shoveled sidewalks in my brown heeled boots and trudged to the Saddledome.

e had a hard time with the cold (-20), and decided after 10 minutes she didn't want to work anymore. She'll get used to it...

At the Victoria Park station I climbed the C-Train steps and used the bridge. A train had just arrived and people were everywhere! Kids running all over; pre-pubescent boys yelling "GRAVE DIGGER!" with their siblings; divorced fathers overcompensating for their abandonment with buying every t-shirt in sight.

And then there was me. 5'9, blond hair, boot cut denim and brown heels. Me = sore thumb.

I waited out front for everyone else and had a cigarette. To my shock, not one single person snarled at me! In fact, there were other people smoking also! Convinced someone was going to come by and show me where the camera was hidden, I kept my eyes peeled for the rest of my party.

Kids, fathers, mothers all streamed up the steps and into the 'Dome, most carrying protective ear muffs. It was at that moment I knew I was in trouble - I didn't have protective ear thingies!!! Oh dear God!

The trucks were kinda scary, actually. There was one called "Jurassic Attack" which was terrifying at first- it was all done up like a dinosaur and was very loud. Then I realized the dinosaur was a triceratops, and remembered (from my childhood when I played with dinosaurs and, consequently, was beaten up by my classmates) that triceratops was a herbavoire, and really nothing to be afraid of.

Then there was a Batmobile monster truck, which was also kind of ominous. Until I remember that Batman was actually a superhero who helped the good people of Gotham City. And so, the Batmobile didn't frighten me anymore. I even thought perhaps I could get him to drive me home in that thing because, well, it was Saturday night and I would be walking home alone through downtown...

There was also freestyle motocross, which was REALLY cool. Those guys are insane! It was kinda hot.

Although I don't think I'll be first in line for tickets to the next Monster Jam, it was definitely an experience. My next experience: Bingo. Jack Osbourne's got NOTHING on me!

e

No, not the drug. I've gone out and replaced my precious D with a new iPod, although D's carcass is still lying on the kitchen table, and makes me break out in whiny sobs each time I pass. Good thing I'm alone most of the time so no one knows! Well.... except you now... between us, right?

It was very difficult trying to find a Shuffle. Everywhere I went they were out of stock because Apple is phazing them out, and I was bombarded with the 'fantastic features' of the new Nano iPod. I don't know how many times, (the last few pleading for robotic salesman to listen to me) I explained I didn't want to spend $300-$400 on an iPod, I just wanted to replace my Shuffle. "Yeah, but it's being phazed out. You can't even get accessories."

"I know that. I have accessories. Please, just sell me that iPod."

"But the Nano..."

*gripping him by the collar on both sides* "Listen, mister. I've been through a lot. I just found my iPod in pieces. I'm distraught. I'm stressed. I'm about five seconds away from Kung-Fu kicking over that rack of DVDs. All I want is another Shuffle. Please. Go unlock that cabinet. Before I poke you in the eye."

"I don't know, ma'am. I think I should get my manager."

"Ah forget it!" and I left.

Fortunately, I found this really great guy at Future Shop (I think he was about 12 years old) who actually hooked me up with an open box model for a really good discount and gave me a 2 year warranty and everything! And here's the best part - he didn't harass me! Shucks, I love that kid.

And so, keeping with the natural progression of things, I've decided to name my new Shuffle "e". I will buy it pretty skins and tell it every night how much I love it. I left D on the table as a warning to little e about what might happen if she tries to run away. Tough love, I know, but sometimes you have to be stern when teaching electronics the dangers of life.

Well, if you've read this far, you're probably here under your own volition, not just killing thirty seconds on BE. So it might interest you to know The Pen is moving! When I officially launch the other blog, I'll let you know. For now I'm spending hours moving each post over to the new place, and including each comment. Thank goodness I only started this blog in September - this is almost as bad as moving apartments!

Last night, after much organizational ado, a bunch of us went for some drinks at The Cat and Fiddle. I had a good time, and thanks to people picking me up and driving me home so I didn't have to pay for a taxi, I only spent $25. Tonight, it's off to the Monster Truck Extravaganza.

Monster Truck Extravaganza. Yes, you read that right. I'm going to watch Monster Trucks. Hm. The crew we've got going is totally fun tho, so even though I'll probably catch syphilis by touching the doorhandles at this thing, at least I'll have a good laugh before I die.

A while ago I posted a plea for people to give me some ideas for new music. The response was underwhelming! After much searching, I finally found some new music. Olive, Imogen Heap and (gasp) an Armchair Cynics CD I didn't know existed.

Also, Pilate emailed me the other day (yes, me personally! Oh who am I kidding...) and told me their new album is coming out in April. God, that's so far away. But they two of their new songs up on Myspace for our listening pleasure. Sounds like it's gonna be awesome - reminds me a lot of U2.

And finally (whew, I'm getting exhausted here! How are you doing? Still hanging in there?) I added a few links to the sidebar to your right. Raine's blog, which is a lot of fun. HB's blog will make you think about life and ensure you have a tasty dinner (Post more recipes, HB! hehe). Also, Morgana's blog - check it out! She just started blogging less than 24 hours ago. I'm looking forward to a Reiki session with her once my 60 day no-fun marathon is over.

All right, that's it. Back to moving the blog and editing my murder mystery game!