Confessions: Part the Second

Confession: I'm not obsessed with changing my layout... exactly. I just like everything to be perfect.

So it's still not finished yet.

Confessions

Confession: I love blogs.

Another confession: I love quirky bloggers who post a lot of pictures and make pretty things.

A third confession: I wish I were a quirky blogger who posts a lot of pictures and makes pretty things.

But I am not.

A Word On NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month.

50,000 words in 30 days.

I did it last year and won. And, to the dismay of my sister (who also happens to be my roommate), I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2010. I have my laptop, my favorite tea cup, fingerless gloves to keep my hands warm as I type frantically in the cold hours of the morning, and a little friendly competition from my friends at the Fairy Tale Novel message boards to keep me motivated. Sounds like the only thing I'm really missing is an actual plot.

According to Chris Baty, the founder of NaNoWriMo, that's not a problem.

Some of my friends have detailed plot outlines and character sketches they've been working on for months. Most of them know how their novel will end. They all know their main character's full name and most likely, their backstory. And they all know their title!

With less than a week till November 1st, I admit it would be nice to know some of that stuff about my own novel.

I really admire anyone who can use NaNo as a way to grow in skill and discipline and actually make some progress on a project. But I'm not like that at all. I'm one of the "pantsers" (as in "seat of your pants"). We take a basic plot premise, one or two characters, and pretty much wing it for the whole month. This is obviously not the only way to do NaNo (and for some, it's not the best), but I had a blast last year. I love the thrill of not knowing exactly what's going to happen. That's the allure of NaNo for me. In other months, I can plan and plot and polish. And maybe someday I'll grow into a mature, thoughtful WriMo instead of a goofy, immature panster (though those "mature, thoughtful" WriMos have no choice but to become caffeine-high, crazed slaves to their novels during the month, same as everyone else). Maybe someday I'll spend a couple months outlining and working on a plot that could actually be readable in December.

But for now, my Novembers are reserved for nonsense and insanity. I dedicate this one to the mysterious and wonderful unknown.

Peter Pan Cast

I was cast as Mrs. Darling! My sisters were also cast in the roles they wanted (one of them is one of Tiger Lily's dancing friends, and the other is playing Liza the maid. I am one proud big sister ;) ).

I'm so excited about this show and this cast! I'm only sad that I only have to be at a handful of rehearsals. :)

First Impressions

(I need a little sidebar banner that says "This blog is addicted to Jane Austen." Anybody care to make me one?)

So I was thinking about my first time with Jane's books. I started with Emma and loathed it and finished with Northanger Abbey and was utterly delighted. What happened in between? I'll show you.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS as well as second and third and sometimes fourth IN A NUTSHELL.
Mild spoilers inevitable.

Emma

First reading: July 2007 Reaction: OHMYGOSH WHY DOES EVERYONE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT FRANK CHURCHILL?

Second reading: February 2008 Reaction: Uh, Emma? Mr. Elton is hitting on you, darling. WAKE UP.

Third reading: May 2009 Reaction: Romance! Knightley! Wittiness and humor!

Fourth reading: April 2010 Reaction: Jane Austen is my hero.

Pride & Prejudice

First reading: August 2007 These characters talk a lot.

Second reading: January 2008 Reaction: Happy sigh.

Third reading: May 2009 Reaction: Giggle, giggle, squee, chuckle, giggle, sigh.

Fourth reading: June 2010 Reaction: (Mute adoration of Jane) Also: I HAVE TO BLOG ABOUT THIS.

Sense & Sensibility

First reading: September 2007 Reaction: Edward, what have you done!?

Second reading: January 2009 Reaction: The Colonel is how old, please?

Third reading: January 2010 Reaction: Oh, Willoughby. How could you? :( :( :(

Fourth reading: July 2010 Reaction: Every teenage girl should read this book.


Persuasion
First reading: October 2007 Reaction: Oh, look! A new baby sister! (I was reading the book in the hospital the night my little sister was born)

Second reading: December 2009 Reaction: Pretty much: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Mansfield Park

First reading: November 2007 Reaction: Everyone is stupid.

Second reading: August 2009 Reaction: Hey, I like Fanny now. Poor girl, misunderstood by family AND readers. 60 pages later: Mmk, I'm done liking Fanny.

(Clearly, I need to give this one another chance)

Northanger Abbey

First reading November 2007 Reaction: Giggle, squee, giggle!

Second reading: October 2009 Reaction: Stupid people are funny!


- all in good fun, of course,
Delaney

We're after the same rainbow's end...

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Old dream-maker - you heart-breaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' 'round the bend...
My huckleberry friend...
Moon river...
And me....

I simply can't find words to describe how this song moves me, particularly Audrey Hepburn's lovely, wistful performance of it in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. Simply beautiful.

At the beach

Some random children playing bakery with mud pies. :)