Time to get up away from the computer and start my thanksgiving prep...potluck dinner tomorrow with tons of friends. I've made thanksgiving turkeys for years, so I'm definitely confident in that category! My problem is getting as many things done ahead of time as possible (i.e., today) so I can enjoy tomorrow without being a stressed out woman in front of the oven all day. A couple things I've learned from having a crowd three years in a row:
-don't underestimate cooking time. A stuffed turkey takes longer. Whatever estimates I read, I usually add on 30-45 minutes to account for all the oven-opening and basting. Don't count on the pop-up, use a meat thermometer. Cover the breast but not the legs - they need to be done to a higher temp, and this way the breast doesn't dry out. Plan to have the turkey done 1-1 1/2 hrs before actual dinner time, so you have time to put all the other casseroles in the oven. The turkey will stay hot enough under foil.
-simmer the giblets with some onion & celery and use that liquid when making your gravy. Unless you have one of those freaks in your house that likes to cook & eat the heart/liver etc...ew. ;-)
- there is no room in the fridge for beer. Coolers & ice are where it's at. Or liquor. ;-)
- no crappy paper plates. Disposable ones, yes, but nothing that will absorb the food quicker than you can eat it.
- foil, foil, and more foil. Big ziploc bags. To-go containers. Bags of ice. Dish detergent.
- it's pointless to buy anything other than an enormous turkey unless you don't want to deal with leftovers. I chose a 19-lb one and even that might be cutting it close.
and the most important clean-up move of all: cleaning up the turkey. It's only pretty until you cut into it...after that, it's food. Take all the meat off the bone as soon as you can. Keep the skin separate as much as possible. Don't forget the back meat. Put the meat in one containter and throw everything else in a huge stock pot. Put the skin in, too, unless you want a less-fatty stock (or don't use *all* of it). Cover the whole mess with water and bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and keep it going while you get everything else cleaned up. I like to cook the stock for at least two hours. Don't salt it or anything - you can do that later when you're using it to cook with. When the stock has cooled enough that you can deal with it, strain out all the bones. If there are any more big chunks of meat in there, you can pull them out, then throw the rest of the carcass away and refrigerate or freeze the stock in containers. Or, throw in the meat & some veggies and make soup!
...and, most importantly...HAVE FUN. :-)
11.21.2009
11.18.2009
A.M.
I really enjoy this silence, in the morning. No Phish reference intended, but it's there anyway. ;-) One of us already out to work, the rest of the house asleep, it seems like the rest of the neighborhood may be sleeping in as well. I hear everything, even when there is noise, but when there is silence there is so much more.
11.11.2009
File Under SciFi/Comedy/Drama
I am watching an insane number of TV shows right now. It's no wonder I haven't had any time to read books (it's no wonder most of America probably doesn't, either). I can barely list them all but I feel the need to try...Parks & Recreation, Community, Hung, V, Defying Gravity, My Name is Earl, Entourage, Accidentally on Purpose, Californication, Fringe, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Flash Forward, Heroes...not to mention some of the ones that have ended recently or will start new seasons soon: Lost, Big Love, Flight of the Conchords (if they ever get around to writing enough new material...), The Goode Family, The Philanthropist, Better off Ted...oh, and then there's how I tried to get my boyfriend to watch Twin Peaks...we've made it through two. I'm not sure if he "gets" early 90s Lynch...I wonder if there is a better way to ease someone into it. Truthfully, he's seen all I needed him to see. I just needed him to understand it when I make coffee every Saturday morning and then tell him "Wait! Don't drink that coffee! You'll never guess...there was a FISH, in the percolator!!!"
6.02.2008
Updates
(**NOTE, 10/29/09**: This post, and all posts between 9/18/07-6/2/08, were part of a separate blog I started when I thought I'd grown tired of this one. But now I see the point of leaving it all in the same place. ;-) As you were...)
I think I've gotten out of the blogging thing for a number of reasons, including the fact that I'm busy and happy and seem to be finding other things to fill up my time, besides sitting in front of a computer and writing. ;) Not that I don't enjoy writing as much as I always have, but I'm at a point where I feel like my personal communications with my friends and family are way more important than a private journal for the rest of the free world to lurk over. I do still enjoy the forum for comments on current events, or catching up on some of my old blog friends' lives (which is why I'm writing now, thanks to Darek for the motivation!). I spend a lot less time on Myspace (blah) and a lot more time on CNN, Digg and reading news feeds. I guess I believe it's a lot better for my brain, and I know I've become more opinionated than I've been in the past. Autodidacticism rocks...too bad those mail-order degrees tend to backfire. ;)
Nevertheless, it's time for an update of my own, if only to assure everyone else and myself that I'm so much happier now than my last entry would indicate. Really, if you read that last one, the only excuse I have is that birth control completely fucks me up. I still feel some mild anxiety on occasion, but it's not even close to the emotional wreck I become with all those weird hormones. My sleep schedule is a little wacky, but I'm getting better, healthier sleep than I was 6 months ago, definitely.
So, I'm happy and busy. I have a lot of love in my life. I have a love of my life, too. :) I feel like I've grown up when it comes to relationships, and I'm a lot more confident and optimistic because of it. I used to describe myself as one of the most optimistic people I knew, and then for years that was NOT the case. Lately, that optimism has returned, and the motivation to plan and achieve the goals that I have in mind. Love helps. :) I'm gardening (and am in way over my head with the number of tomato and pepper plants I bought, but canning should be fun!), I'm working two jobs, I'm communicating more with my parents and my brother, I'm moving into a new apartment in August, I'm getting some more exercise (plan to buy a bike), and did I mention I'm really in love, too? ;-) And even though, as always, there are things to work on and things to fix and things to think about, those things don't make me nearly as anxious as they would have in the past.
So I don't *plan* on spending much more time writing unless the mood strikes me - which certainly happens on occasion, so we'll see. I'm hoping that this summer keeps me happy and busy enough that I won't be writing again until October, when I'll be looking back on the successful garden, camping trips, amusement park visits, good meals and happy memories with my love and my friends, and telling you all what an awesome summer I had. :)
I think I've gotten out of the blogging thing for a number of reasons, including the fact that I'm busy and happy and seem to be finding other things to fill up my time, besides sitting in front of a computer and writing. ;) Not that I don't enjoy writing as much as I always have, but I'm at a point where I feel like my personal communications with my friends and family are way more important than a private journal for the rest of the free world to lurk over. I do still enjoy the forum for comments on current events, or catching up on some of my old blog friends' lives (which is why I'm writing now, thanks to Darek for the motivation!). I spend a lot less time on Myspace (blah) and a lot more time on CNN, Digg and reading news feeds. I guess I believe it's a lot better for my brain, and I know I've become more opinionated than I've been in the past. Autodidacticism rocks...too bad those mail-order degrees tend to backfire. ;)
Nevertheless, it's time for an update of my own, if only to assure everyone else and myself that I'm so much happier now than my last entry would indicate. Really, if you read that last one, the only excuse I have is that birth control completely fucks me up. I still feel some mild anxiety on occasion, but it's not even close to the emotional wreck I become with all those weird hormones. My sleep schedule is a little wacky, but I'm getting better, healthier sleep than I was 6 months ago, definitely.
So, I'm happy and busy. I have a lot of love in my life. I have a love of my life, too. :) I feel like I've grown up when it comes to relationships, and I'm a lot more confident and optimistic because of it. I used to describe myself as one of the most optimistic people I knew, and then for years that was NOT the case. Lately, that optimism has returned, and the motivation to plan and achieve the goals that I have in mind. Love helps. :) I'm gardening (and am in way over my head with the number of tomato and pepper plants I bought, but canning should be fun!), I'm working two jobs, I'm communicating more with my parents and my brother, I'm moving into a new apartment in August, I'm getting some more exercise (plan to buy a bike), and did I mention I'm really in love, too? ;-) And even though, as always, there are things to work on and things to fix and things to think about, those things don't make me nearly as anxious as they would have in the past.
So I don't *plan* on spending much more time writing unless the mood strikes me - which certainly happens on occasion, so we'll see. I'm hoping that this summer keeps me happy and busy enough that I won't be writing again until October, when I'll be looking back on the successful garden, camping trips, amusement park visits, good meals and happy memories with my love and my friends, and telling you all what an awesome summer I had. :)
10.18.2007
Middle School Makes Birth Control Available to Students
Birth control pills and other methods of contraception are going to be made available to 6th through 8th graders in Maine. While parents initially have to sign a consent form to allow their child to see the school doctors or nurse practitioner, the treatment they receive is confidential under state law. Students do not have to disclose to their parents what treatment they choose to receive. (See full story here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/WireStory?id=3743628&page=2 )
This is really frightening to me because of all the hormonal problems I've had with birth control, and I am 30 years old. People don't realize that a lot of women can't take hormonal birth control (which includes all versions: pills (both low and high dosess of hormones), patches, the nuva ring, etc.). All of these versions of birth control have caused me varying levels of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, and insomnia. In addition, the use of birth control from a very young age has been linked by some doctors to difficulty in conceiving later in life, and to the development of potentially fatal blood clots. I believe that, while many middle school girls have the maturity to take the pill correctly MOST OF THE TIME, the fact is it only takes one missed pill to lessen the effectiveness and result in pregnancy. Couple these risks with the fact that these children may feel less concerned about using a condom to prevent STDs when they already know they won't get pregnant, and I think it's a very dangerous option for these kids to have. I do not disagree with making contraception available to anyone of any age who feels they need it, but birth control is a drug, and its effects on the maturing adolescent body are potentially life-altering. These girls need to be guided in using this with extreme vigilance on the part of the school health officials, and they must remain aware of changes in their mood and physical health at all times. Depression and anxiety are already difficult symptoms of puberty, and they may end up much worse when their hormone levels are altered by birth control. I think it's a much better choice to guide these kids in the use of condoms or other non-hormonal forms of birth control, rather than risk such serious side effects at such a young age.
There is a form of birth control being used by a growing number of women in this country that has not been approved yet by the FDA. It's called Centchroman, and is marketed under the name Saheli. It's available from international sites like AllDayChemist.com, and very inexpensively. I have been looking into it lately because I can't tolerate the side-effects of the hormonal kinds any longer. Centchroman works without these hormones. According the wikipedia entry, it works by causing "an asynchrony in the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the development of the uterine lining, although its exact mode of action is not well defined. In clinical trials, it caused ovulation to occur later than it normally would in some women (Singh 2001), but did not affect ovulation in the majority of women, while causing the lining of the uterus to build more slowly. It speeds the transport of any fertilized egg through the fallopian tubes more quickly than is normal (Singh 2001). Presumably, this combination of effects creates an environment such that if fertilization occurs, implantation will not be possible.[1]" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ormeloxifene)
Aside from Centchroman and condoms, there are a few other forms of birth control that are really very simple and don't require the constant regular schedule that pills do. There are many people out there that still use a diaphragm, spounge or cervical cap to prevent pregnancy, and these methods are not outdated. They are all fairly simple to use, and don't require you to remember a schedule every day or every week.
I believe it's much too risky to give these 6th-8th graders hormonal birth control. There are all these other options out there, none of which have any side effects. Even the Centchroman, while not fully tested for approval in this country, has attracted thousands of women as a viable alternative to hormones and their side-effects. I really hope that these young girls are getting a very detailed education on all their options, and not just being handed birth control when they ask for it. With the risks of potentially devastating side-effects and the increased chance of exposure to STDs, it's going to have a negative effect on many young girls.
This is really frightening to me because of all the hormonal problems I've had with birth control, and I am 30 years old. People don't realize that a lot of women can't take hormonal birth control (which includes all versions: pills (both low and high dosess of hormones), patches, the nuva ring, etc.). All of these versions of birth control have caused me varying levels of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, and insomnia. In addition, the use of birth control from a very young age has been linked by some doctors to difficulty in conceiving later in life, and to the development of potentially fatal blood clots. I believe that, while many middle school girls have the maturity to take the pill correctly MOST OF THE TIME, the fact is it only takes one missed pill to lessen the effectiveness and result in pregnancy. Couple these risks with the fact that these children may feel less concerned about using a condom to prevent STDs when they already know they won't get pregnant, and I think it's a very dangerous option for these kids to have. I do not disagree with making contraception available to anyone of any age who feels they need it, but birth control is a drug, and its effects on the maturing adolescent body are potentially life-altering. These girls need to be guided in using this with extreme vigilance on the part of the school health officials, and they must remain aware of changes in their mood and physical health at all times. Depression and anxiety are already difficult symptoms of puberty, and they may end up much worse when their hormone levels are altered by birth control. I think it's a much better choice to guide these kids in the use of condoms or other non-hormonal forms of birth control, rather than risk such serious side effects at such a young age.
There is a form of birth control being used by a growing number of women in this country that has not been approved yet by the FDA. It's called Centchroman, and is marketed under the name Saheli. It's available from international sites like AllDayChemist.com, and very inexpensively. I have been looking into it lately because I can't tolerate the side-effects of the hormonal kinds any longer. Centchroman works without these hormones. According the wikipedia entry, it works by causing "an asynchrony in the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the development of the uterine lining, although its exact mode of action is not well defined. In clinical trials, it caused ovulation to occur later than it normally would in some women (Singh 2001), but did not affect ovulation in the majority of women, while causing the lining of the uterus to build more slowly. It speeds the transport of any fertilized egg through the fallopian tubes more quickly than is normal (Singh 2001). Presumably, this combination of effects creates an environment such that if fertilization occurs, implantation will not be possible.[1]" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ormeloxifene)
Aside from Centchroman and condoms, there are a few other forms of birth control that are really very simple and don't require the constant regular schedule that pills do. There are many people out there that still use a diaphragm, spounge or cervical cap to prevent pregnancy, and these methods are not outdated. They are all fairly simple to use, and don't require you to remember a schedule every day or every week.
I believe it's much too risky to give these 6th-8th graders hormonal birth control. There are all these other options out there, none of which have any side effects. Even the Centchroman, while not fully tested for approval in this country, has attracted thousands of women as a viable alternative to hormones and their side-effects. I really hope that these young girls are getting a very detailed education on all their options, and not just being handed birth control when they ask for it. With the risks of potentially devastating side-effects and the increased chance of exposure to STDs, it's going to have a negative effect on many young girls.
10.02.2007
"I didn't think things like this existed anymore."
I'm feeling restless, which I know is autumn, and yet at the same time it's a restlessness for wanting to stay still, not move around too much. It's...hibernation. Winter.
But first it's fall, and this weekend was the best of it! :)
Chuck's Harvest Festival was more or less what I thought it would be...that is to say, more than I'd had in the past and less than I'd expected, but in a very good way. I dunno...I think it's just age and the history of it all. I expected it to be what it was for us all 10 years ago - a big, drunken, rowdy, up-all-night, druggy haze of 48 hours of music, campfires, dancing and hippies twirling around everywhere. I have to admit, maybe I just didn't have the energy for that. I *wanted* to have the energy for that, but I think I'm happy that I got to relax instead.
I overheard some guy say that this weekend: "I didn't think things like this existed anymore." They don't. Only because it's on private property, not really advertised, and has grown slowly by word-of-mouth more than anything else, has the festival even lasted this long. It's at risk though - every year it's a little rowdier, the crowd seems a little younger, and the mess left for Chuck to clean up afterwards is a little more difficult for one guy to manage. Will people continue to respect it? I think so...but they need a little coaxing from some of us who've been going there for years. It's worth the effort it takes to make it happen.
What's crazy is that the people I saw there are some of the people who I've known the longest in my life, although there have been some huge gaps in my contact with them. Funny how that usually doesn't matter. I met quite a few of the people there about thirteen years ago; some of them ten, nine or eight years ago. Some of them - only a year ago! But what was crazy was how little the whole picture of these people has changed, even if they've changed a lot as individuals. Maybe they're married, have kids, live far away, cleaned up their acts a bit since freshman year...but the sense of humor and the jokes and the randomness are all still the same. I think that's why I was a little disconnected from everyone all weekend - I had a great time, but I was also just taking it all in from the back of our Volkswagon Van. Ummm...I mean, our rented U-Haul. :) Which, by the way, is a GREAT way to camp! We fit so much crap in the back of that thing and still had plenty of room to sleep, and it blocked out the frigid air and the noise much better than a tent would have done. Good times.
Kinda hard getting back to reality after a weekend like that. Part of me didn't want to leave there. It made another part of me want to pick up and leave and move on to some new adventure somewhere else. It's really, really time to start thinking about that.
But first it's fall, and this weekend was the best of it! :)
Chuck's Harvest Festival was more or less what I thought it would be...that is to say, more than I'd had in the past and less than I'd expected, but in a very good way. I dunno...I think it's just age and the history of it all. I expected it to be what it was for us all 10 years ago - a big, drunken, rowdy, up-all-night, druggy haze of 48 hours of music, campfires, dancing and hippies twirling around everywhere. I have to admit, maybe I just didn't have the energy for that. I *wanted* to have the energy for that, but I think I'm happy that I got to relax instead.
I overheard some guy say that this weekend: "I didn't think things like this existed anymore." They don't. Only because it's on private property, not really advertised, and has grown slowly by word-of-mouth more than anything else, has the festival even lasted this long. It's at risk though - every year it's a little rowdier, the crowd seems a little younger, and the mess left for Chuck to clean up afterwards is a little more difficult for one guy to manage. Will people continue to respect it? I think so...but they need a little coaxing from some of us who've been going there for years. It's worth the effort it takes to make it happen.
What's crazy is that the people I saw there are some of the people who I've known the longest in my life, although there have been some huge gaps in my contact with them. Funny how that usually doesn't matter. I met quite a few of the people there about thirteen years ago; some of them ten, nine or eight years ago. Some of them - only a year ago! But what was crazy was how little the whole picture of these people has changed, even if they've changed a lot as individuals. Maybe they're married, have kids, live far away, cleaned up their acts a bit since freshman year...but the sense of humor and the jokes and the randomness are all still the same. I think that's why I was a little disconnected from everyone all weekend - I had a great time, but I was also just taking it all in from the back of our Volkswagon Van. Ummm...I mean, our rented U-Haul. :) Which, by the way, is a GREAT way to camp! We fit so much crap in the back of that thing and still had plenty of room to sleep, and it blocked out the frigid air and the noise much better than a tent would have done. Good times.
Kinda hard getting back to reality after a weekend like that. Part of me didn't want to leave there. It made another part of me want to pick up and leave and move on to some new adventure somewhere else. It's really, really time to start thinking about that.
9.19.2007
Chicken
...and in the Healthy Eating category...or at least the trying-to-cook-healthy-food-from-scratch category, here's my chicken creation from a few nights ago, which made great leftovers for work-lunches. I always go overboard on olive oil and never use enough salt, but at least I call them by their names and not my own silly abbreviations (ahem, miss Ray, just chill with your A.D.D.-style cuisine...it's been called Olive Oil for thousands of years and I don't think we need to go changing it now.) ;)
Baked Chicken with Veggies and Herbs. (Because it has chicken. and veggies. and herbs.)
2 med. to lg. onions
two green peppers
approx. 10-12 roma tomatoes (less juicy and easier to dice)
fresh thyme, oregano, basil (i used about 3 T. of each FRESH herb - 1.5 T. for each layer; you can use less if you're using dried)
salt
pepper
olive oil
chicken (i used 3 leg/thigh pieces; or 3 boneless breasts)
grated parm (i like the fresher grated stuff in the jar, not the powdery kind)
rice
preheat oven to 400. dice vegetables. grease cassarole dish with thin coating of olive oil. layer 1/2 of the diced onions, peppers, and tomatoes on bottom of dish. sprinkle generously with fresh chopped thyme, oregano and basil (or use dried if you absolutely have to! ;) ) sprinkle with salt and pepper.
next, place chicken pieces on top of veggies. brush lightly with olive oil; salt and pepper. now layer the rest of the diced veggies on top of the chicken, sprinkle again with lots of fresh herbs and salt/pepper. drizzle the whole thing with olive oil (i tend to use way more than is necessary, you might just like a light sprinkle of it...)
sprinkle with just a small amt of parm cheese if desired.
bake uncovered for 1 hr. or until chicken is done and juices run clear (probably less time if you're using boneless chicken). serve w/ steamed rice.
What I think made this extra yummy is the tomatoes and herbs straight from my garden, the peppers and onions from the farmer's market, and the simplicity of it all. Less can be more in life and cooking. ;-)
Baked Chicken with Veggies and Herbs. (Because it has chicken. and veggies. and herbs.)
2 med. to lg. onions
two green peppers
approx. 10-12 roma tomatoes (less juicy and easier to dice)
fresh thyme, oregano, basil (i used about 3 T. of each FRESH herb - 1.5 T. for each layer; you can use less if you're using dried)
salt
pepper
olive oil
chicken (i used 3 leg/thigh pieces; or 3 boneless breasts)
grated parm (i like the fresher grated stuff in the jar, not the powdery kind)
rice
preheat oven to 400. dice vegetables. grease cassarole dish with thin coating of olive oil. layer 1/2 of the diced onions, peppers, and tomatoes on bottom of dish. sprinkle generously with fresh chopped thyme, oregano and basil (or use dried if you absolutely have to! ;) ) sprinkle with salt and pepper.
next, place chicken pieces on top of veggies. brush lightly with olive oil; salt and pepper. now layer the rest of the diced veggies on top of the chicken, sprinkle again with lots of fresh herbs and salt/pepper. drizzle the whole thing with olive oil (i tend to use way more than is necessary, you might just like a light sprinkle of it...)
sprinkle with just a small amt of parm cheese if desired.
bake uncovered for 1 hr. or until chicken is done and juices run clear (probably less time if you're using boneless chicken). serve w/ steamed rice.
What I think made this extra yummy is the tomatoes and herbs straight from my garden, the peppers and onions from the farmer's market, and the simplicity of it all. Less can be more in life and cooking. ;-)
Insomnia
So I've been having trouble falling asleep (and staying asleep) for the past week and a half, and it's been getting annoying. I lie down and no matter how tired I am, my mind is racing. Everyone says I must be stressed, and maybe so, but a lot of the things that had been stressing me out have passed. Still, I have to say that it's been funny, all the thoughts that pass through my head as I'm trying to fall asleep. Maybe I just need a notebook by my bed, except that all the ideas are so completely random, it would be hard to find any consistency in it. And the crazy dreams! At the worst, they're of me arguing with people or being annoyed at their invasion of my privacy. At the best, they're like two mornings ago, when I dreamed I had a big farm field where I owned one big, fat, prizewinning pig, who continually got out of the field by squeezing himself through the wires of the electric fencing (that part of the dream was entertaining; the end of it was a bit more disturbing, and completely unrelated to the pig). Once I do fall asleep, or when I'm in that wake-sleep limbo, it's like some weird creative side of my brain decides it's time for ideas. I'll compose songs in my head - lyrics and music and all. Of course, I forget them in the morning. I'll have entire conversations with people in dreams, as if I'm writing or reading some sort of movie script. I'll think of strange stories, almost like dreaming but more like narrating.
You think I'm nuts. Just WAIT.
This is the little snippet of a story I came up with when falling asleep last night. The only reason I remember it is because I really was in that limbo state, and "woke up" enough to remember what I'd been thinking...like remembering a dream, I guess. This would be a kickass story if I had the rest of it hidden in my brain somewhere. And I'm not kidding - the title was the first thing that popped into my brain, and the rest of the paragraph followed:
"Parasitic Advancements Towards the Moon: A Love Story
The world had reached 2011 A.D. by the time Marcus realized that he had lost all hope. Of course, all the changes they'd predicted had occured to some extent, but they weren't half bad. Sure, the oceans rose, but engineers just destroyed, lifted or moved the buildings that were most at risk. Waterfront property was as sought after as ever. The flu pandemic had been spread through schoolchildren worldwide, but was quickly brought under control with the discovery of a vaccine that significantly reduced one's vulnerability to viruses. This was also good news for the population rebound, since it helped offset the loss of 19 million people in the great Volcano-Earthquake-Tsunami triple-whammy that the planet dished out in January of 2009. By the time Marcus reached thirty-two and he'd lost all hope, the world was as secure a place as it had ever been. Poor Marcus - if only he'd gotten to the moon as he'd planned."
The only way you can read this is as if it's the first paragraph of a novel. I actually know where half of this is coming from - inspired by the book I'm trying to finish, My Ishmael, where the chapter deals with space travel and finding/studying/establishing other cultures. I know where it's going, too - grown out of the idea that humans are parasites, taking over things as we do. It might continue on as a story about this dude and his dashed hopes of becoming as successful a parasite as anyone else, by finally taking part in populating the moon, with a little bit of a love story thrown in for shits and giggles. ;-) And the detail that went into this composition isn't just the description itself - this was well planned! Why did the flu pandemic spread through schoolchildren? Well, because of their horrible hygeine, of course. I pictured snotty kids blowing their noses in their sleeves and wiping their hands across everything. I was sure that this would result in many deaths, so I had to include a way out and give us a prevention for most viruses - which convenienly allowed me to justify the deaths of 19 million others from some exciting natural disasters. I pictured the volcano-earthquake-tsunami disaster wiping out a huge swath of land between - get this - Baja California and southern Florida. (Sure, there might not be 19 million people there, but gimme a break - I had no time for research! ;) ) I pictured huge skyscrapers in coastal cities suddenly having their first 10 floors completely submerged by the ocean, but somehow we'd found a way to just use the rest of the building anyway, make a few new entrances, build a couple walkways or cart everyone out in a ferry, and up the rent for the 360 degree waterfront view. On top of all this, the dates and times and ages were all what first popped into my head - so don't go dreading January '09, I'm certain I'm not psychic. ;-) All this goes on while our poor protaganist Marcus sits idly in his office, feeling bad for himself that he didn't make it aboard on the first public relocations to the Moon. (Maybe this was all about feeling like you should be more personally satisfied with the things you choose do with your life, instead of sitting idly by in your office while everyone else has their adventures.)
I'm telling you...this is the crap that keeps me awake at night.
So I don't know what to do about this sleeping business, but writing more seems like a good idea. It's not something I do consistently anymore, but I need it just to get things off my mind. Or, I need to write the next great American Science Fiction novel, whichever comes first. (Shit, that damn NaNoWriMo I am remembering now...I wish I had it in me, but I've always been more of a short-story person. I suppose that's just as good. :) ) At least it makes for a funny blog, and gives me something to be creative at for an hour out of my day.
I'm not really sure that anything else is going to happen to Marcus, but he'll probably end up in unfinished storyland forever. :) And in the meantime my friends, I'm getting another cup of coffee.
You think I'm nuts. Just WAIT.
This is the little snippet of a story I came up with when falling asleep last night. The only reason I remember it is because I really was in that limbo state, and "woke up" enough to remember what I'd been thinking...like remembering a dream, I guess. This would be a kickass story if I had the rest of it hidden in my brain somewhere. And I'm not kidding - the title was the first thing that popped into my brain, and the rest of the paragraph followed:
"Parasitic Advancements Towards the Moon: A Love Story
The world had reached 2011 A.D. by the time Marcus realized that he had lost all hope. Of course, all the changes they'd predicted had occured to some extent, but they weren't half bad. Sure, the oceans rose, but engineers just destroyed, lifted or moved the buildings that were most at risk. Waterfront property was as sought after as ever. The flu pandemic had been spread through schoolchildren worldwide, but was quickly brought under control with the discovery of a vaccine that significantly reduced one's vulnerability to viruses. This was also good news for the population rebound, since it helped offset the loss of 19 million people in the great Volcano-Earthquake-Tsunami triple-whammy that the planet dished out in January of 2009. By the time Marcus reached thirty-two and he'd lost all hope, the world was as secure a place as it had ever been. Poor Marcus - if only he'd gotten to the moon as he'd planned."
The only way you can read this is as if it's the first paragraph of a novel. I actually know where half of this is coming from - inspired by the book I'm trying to finish, My Ishmael, where the chapter deals with space travel and finding/studying/establishing other cultures. I know where it's going, too - grown out of the idea that humans are parasites, taking over things as we do. It might continue on as a story about this dude and his dashed hopes of becoming as successful a parasite as anyone else, by finally taking part in populating the moon, with a little bit of a love story thrown in for shits and giggles. ;-) And the detail that went into this composition isn't just the description itself - this was well planned! Why did the flu pandemic spread through schoolchildren? Well, because of their horrible hygeine, of course. I pictured snotty kids blowing their noses in their sleeves and wiping their hands across everything. I was sure that this would result in many deaths, so I had to include a way out and give us a prevention for most viruses - which convenienly allowed me to justify the deaths of 19 million others from some exciting natural disasters. I pictured the volcano-earthquake-tsunami disaster wiping out a huge swath of land between - get this - Baja California and southern Florida. (Sure, there might not be 19 million people there, but gimme a break - I had no time for research! ;) ) I pictured huge skyscrapers in coastal cities suddenly having their first 10 floors completely submerged by the ocean, but somehow we'd found a way to just use the rest of the building anyway, make a few new entrances, build a couple walkways or cart everyone out in a ferry, and up the rent for the 360 degree waterfront view. On top of all this, the dates and times and ages were all what first popped into my head - so don't go dreading January '09, I'm certain I'm not psychic. ;-) All this goes on while our poor protaganist Marcus sits idly in his office, feeling bad for himself that he didn't make it aboard on the first public relocations to the Moon. (Maybe this was all about feeling like you should be more personally satisfied with the things you choose do with your life, instead of sitting idly by in your office while everyone else has their adventures.)
I'm telling you...this is the crap that keeps me awake at night.
So I don't know what to do about this sleeping business, but writing more seems like a good idea. It's not something I do consistently anymore, but I need it just to get things off my mind. Or, I need to write the next great American Science Fiction novel, whichever comes first. (Shit, that damn NaNoWriMo I am remembering now...I wish I had it in me, but I've always been more of a short-story person. I suppose that's just as good. :) ) At least it makes for a funny blog, and gives me something to be creative at for an hour out of my day.
I'm not really sure that anything else is going to happen to Marcus, but he'll probably end up in unfinished storyland forever. :) And in the meantime my friends, I'm getting another cup of coffee.
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