The Hobbit

Just in case you hadn't heard, Peter Jackson will be returning to Middle Earth. He and New Line are going to film The Hobbit and a sequel to it.

The Hobbit will be released in 2010 and the sequel in 2011.

You can read more about it here: Jackson back in "Hobbit" via New Line, MGM

Great news! The LOTR trilogy are among my all-time favorite movies. However, Jackson is not going to direct or write the movies just executive produce. Not sure what that will mean for the quality of the movies but at least he and his wife, Fran Walsh, will be involved.

Gotta run, as usual.

Ciao for now!

More of the White Stuff

Much of the country is being hit by really bad snowstorms. We got another two inches yesterday.

Just a brief post as I have to run errands today that I didn't do yesterday as a result of the snow.

December is proving something of a challenge. We've gotten more snow this month than we've had in years. It really affects you. The stress of driving in it, the shoveling almost constantly, the cold and the darkness.

I want to be a bear and hibernate until Spring.

And we've been spoiled, at least around here, the last few years with really mild winters. Then all of a sudden, we get hit with over 20 inches of snow in two weeks!

If you're in the path or have been in the path of these ice and snow storms, hang in there! And dream of Spring!

As for my writing, I'm struggling with it but not giving up. :)

Ciao!

One More Blast!

Another five inches of snow yesterday on top of the 17 inches I know we must have already gotten since December 1st.

But we finally get a break. No snow, rain, sleet or freezing rain is forecast until next Thurday. Or so the weather-shamans say. I hope they're right. We need a break!

I refuse to show pictures of snow as I'm already sick of it, so another tropical paradise adorns this post. Click on it for a larger view of it.

Other than digging out of snow storm after snow storm after snow storm, just working and writing. Writing is a bit slow but moving along. Just one deadline this month, a 3,500 to 4,000 word story, which is plotted out. Just need to draft it and revise it. Have till the end of the month to do that and with the Christmas break will have a few days off to work on it.

Mainly doing a lot of reading this month. Something I've sadly neglected. Just like with writing finding time to read all the books I want to read is a challenge.

Ciao!

More Snow!

More snow. I don't believe it. We got more snow last night!

It looks to be about three inches. Three more inches added to the what?....17 inches we've had in a week!

See that picture? Yeah, that's where I am in my imagination. Some tropical paradise. Warm, soft breezes, the air full of the heady scent of thick, red flowers, some hot, sexy, cabana boy, who doesn't say a word, serving me those fruity drinks with the colorful umbrealls.

My laptop within arm's reach so I can write some hot, sexy story.

Well, I suppose I can write a hot, sexy story without the tropical paradise. *grin* But it sure would be nice.

Ciao!

Dreaming

This is the picture I tried to keep in my mind during my trek home yesterday during the snow storm. A drive home that's usually 25 minutes top took two hours due to the snow and the heavy volume of evening commute traffic.

That's one of the things about winter. Everyting takes longer. You have to put on more clothes, brush the snow off your car, clear out your driveway, hope the plows have cleared off the street so you don't get stuck somewhere and wind up being late, leave home earlier, get home later.

Really cuts into the little bit of free time I have to write as it is.

But you make do and try and do the best you can and dream of spring and warm, tropical islands.

Ciao!

The First Day of the Last Month of the Year

It's the first day of the last month of 2007. As the year winds down to a close, I'm taking stock of what I accomplished this year, writing-wise, and what I hope to accomplish next year.

November was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand I did submit my longest piece yet, a 25,000 word novella and last night I submitted a 4,000 word short story.

On the other hand I had to drop out of NaNo and, as a result of a new temporary work assignment, the early morning writing schedule I had established (which had also proved my most productive writing time) was thrown out of wack due to having to go in earlier and a longer early morning commute.

So I didn't write nearly as much in November as I had done in September and October. I still have yet to find a way to write early in the mornings which does not require me having to get up at 3:30 a.m. That's not to say I can't get up that earlier but I also can't say what use I'll be during the day if I do.

However, it' s December 1st and I'm eager to at least wind up the year having achieved a bit more productivity than I did this past month.

I have three projects I'll be working on, two of which have submission deadline dates this month. The two short stories are due this month; the novella I'm working on is one I want to submit whenever it's done.

We're going to have our first major snow storm today. I'm just glad it's happening on a weekend instead of during the week. Last episode of Torchwood tonight so I'm eager to see that. And I'm going to take a look at Tin Man on Sci-Fi Channel tomorrow although so far the reviews have not been that great.

I got the book Rhett Butler's People from the library, which is an authorized sequel to Gone With the Wind that focuses on Rhett. I always liked Rhett. Personally, I didn't think Scarlett deserved him.

Watched the 1949 version of Madame Bovary last night with Jennifer Jones, Van Hefflin and James Mason. What a great movie! And the costumes! Absolutely gorgeous. If you get a chance, check it out.

Ciao!

Throwing in the Towel

Well, I'm throwing in the towel regarding NaNoWriMo. I started out with high hopes on November 1st that I'd finished, but that's also the day I started my new temp assignment.

Which requires me to not only go in earlier but to drive farther.

It's been a struggle to write in the mornings because I'd have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to get in a good writing bout and have enough time to get ready for work and get there in time. Sure, I get off ealier, but evenings are always touch and go for me, depending upon how crappy or stresseful the day has been.

That's why I liked writing in the mornings.

And, I should not have tried to do NaNo knowing I had a 30,000 word novella to revise in November for a submission deadline of 11/15.

So, I'm pulling out of NaNo. I've "won" it twice before so I know I can do 50,000 words in a month. And I did 0ver 50,000 words in October and, as a result of starting and participating in the 1,000 Words a Day Group, so far, since September 1st, I've written 117,252 words.

So I know I can do it. It's just that November has been something of a bust. And months, weeks or days where things just don't go as you planned do and will happen.

The important thing is not to let that become an excuse just to give up altogether.

Here's a link to a page that talks about setting and achieving goals. The idea is that when planes fly to their destination they are, apparently, some degrees off of course.

One Degree Difference

I've been more than one degree difference off course of my goals this month. That's for sure! But that's okay. I'm still going to keep flying.

And I'm mixing metaphors right and left in this blog post, aren't I? *grin*

Ciao!