Lindsay York Levack

I finally decided what to do with the money my grandfather gave me to get the boys Christmas gifts. He wants us to get toys, but I know my boys. They have all the toys they could ever want or need. Lately we've been rocking out on Guitar Hero in the evenings, and having a blast, but we're a family of five, and GH only allows 2 players at once. So, I decided the Xmas money would go into Rock Band 2. It's only been two days, but I can say it's a great investment. We have 4 playing at once, and rotate through the instruments*. The boys had friends over and they rocked the house. And when they're tucked into bed, the Hockey Nut and I rock the house. We must have pretty conservative friends, though, 'cause we can't seem to convince any of our own friends to rock with us.

I'm a terrible singer (tone-deaf in my opinion), but I often have to sing if I want to play with the boys. They're all too shy to sing, so I figure if I let it wail and show them it's not that hard and it doesn't matter if you look like a dweeb, maybe they'll come around. I'm still hoping.

And in the meantime, I'm really, really hoping the developers can hook me up with Pink's "So What".

It's funny, but while playing this weekend, I thought, 'how cool would this be at a convention?' And look-- Wil Wheaton had the same thought and the guts to pull it off.




* Plus, this game doesn't require shooting anything/one. RB has a wide variety of music (much more than GH). And the game teaches co-operation since they all have to play together to get through the song. Time & money well spent, IMHO.

I usually try to write about 6 pages per day. At roughly 1200 words per day, this works pretty well for me. The momentum is good and it allows me time to think about the story and characters and what comes next. I shouldn't have messed with my pace. I should have left it alone, but I'm really digging this story. So I challenged myself to go for 10 pages a day and work up to 13.

It worked as well as it was supposed to. I gained ground quicker, as I'd hoped. I can work at a faster pace, I've done this before, but like always, I run out of planned plot, and I wind up losing a day to plan out the next section. That was yesterday. So in the end, I might be a few pages ahead, but you know what? The stress isn't worth it. My 6 pages a day works pretty well.

Progress meter: 214/300 pages 71%

I'm a little worried right now because I don't have a clue about what I will write next. Those of you who know me know I usually have more than one project on the go, and for me to focus solely on one story has never happened before. So to not have *anything* on the horizon is really making me nervous. Has the pendulum swung too far the other way? Have I used up all of my ideas? Have I burned myself out?

I'm currently reading Jennifer Rardin's ONE MORE BITE. I have a feeling I would have liked the earlier books. I wish I was a faster reader and had more time for reading. So many books, so little time.

It's winter. It's cold. The world is covered in a thick blanket of snow. But we're not worried. We have Guitar Hero I, II, II and Rocks the 80s. The Hockey Nut and I have been rocking out the evenings. Him on lead and me on bass. He is musically talented, gaming gifted, and I-- I am an uncoordinated mess. But we're having fun. And you know, I kind of don't care if winter never ends.

Have you voted today? Check out the 2008 Urban Fantasy Land Readers' Choice Awards. (It was a lot of work, so just check it out already! :o)

I've been writing, thus I haven't been blogging. The YA is going really well. I'm at that part where it's snowballing, and everything I've set up in the first half is paying off now in the second half. I took sometime this weekend to read over everything I've written so far, make notes, and just get caught-up in the story. I'm immersed and I don't want to come up for air. I don't want to go out of the house, I don't want to stop to make dinner, fix the fire, let the dog out. It's exciting, but frustrating. Is there any part of writing that isn't frustrating? I think not. (Estimated progress: 45.5k/60k)

It's currently cold and snowing. There's an Alberta Clipper moving through, and tonight the temperature will drop down to -30C and stay there for 3 days. These are the days I dream of living in a more moderate climate.

I was tagged by Deb: "Open the book closest to you to page 56, copy down the fifth sentence, then the following two to five sentences. After that, make five other people do this, or at least ask them nicely."

The book closest to me is Vicious Circle by Mike Carey, and it's close because I'm working on the review for it.

Page 56: "There's something else," she said, and swallowed hard. "I met a man. Three years ago." She darted a quick glance at me, to see how much I'd infer from those words. I stared back at her, deadpan. I prefer to have the "i"-dotting and "t"-crossing done for me.

And now, if you're reading this, feel free to grab the book closest to you and have at 'er!


* That's not really what this meme is called. I have no idea what's up with the number 56 or the real name of this meme.

It was a good holiday. I enjoyed the time off. We spent good time with friends and family. The boys seem happy with their loot. Relatives gave us a Wii. As as much as I love seeing the boys active, they have to play without me. Just a few days was enough to give me a case of Wii Shoulder. I love the tennis, bowling and golf. The boys can keep the baseball and boxing.

The shoulder pain has been a blessing in disguise. Since I can't play, I've been reading, and boy, do I have a lot of reading to do! Look what my husband gave me:




Our camera definitely has a problem, and I don't think we can fix it. It's not reading the memory card, but the card itself works fine. (I checked it in an external card reader.) Maybe next Christmas Santa will leave us a camera under the tree.

So how am I able to post pictures? This is kind of embarrassing and difficult to admit, but it finally occurred to me that I could use another camera. Yes, I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. But wait, it gets worse for me. Over the weekend, my husband suggested I use a web cam. He would have set it up for me, but he got busy doing other things-- mostly playing with the Wii-- so I set about working on it myself on Monday. Could I find the disk on my husband's messy desk? No. Could I find a driver online to make it work? No. So I went back to his desk and tried again. Not only did I find the driver, but I found the software for our old digital camera. And yes, that's when it occurred to me-- Duh. We have an old camera. Did it occur to me two weeks ago when I cleaned up the hall closet that for some reason houses four film cameras, our old digital camera and my sister's old digital camera? See, I told you this story was embarrassing. Not just because I forgot we have an old camera, but that we have a half a billion junky old cameras that we're never going to use. 
This summer we are having a yard sale. A big one. I've already started putting stuff into boxes. I'm determined to clear out the clutter. Not only does it stress me out, but it's a fire hazard. I find I'm drawn to the clutter-free decorating style. Not quite modern, though. I find modern to be cold sometimes. I like clear tabletops and desktops, clear walls and floors, but there should still be some personality in the room, some indication that humans live there. 
I had a few ideas about the UF WIP over the holidays. There are a few scenes I need to include, and I need to go through and eliminate -ly words, and clean up the language. I have no clue how to edit, and I fear I'm only going to muck it up yet again. Or, hate it and throw it out, as I've done in the past. And that is why I've been working on the YA. It's better. I started writing it with a plot and character change, and although it's no fun knowing most of what's going to happen, it's easier, better, and there are bonus, unexpected little things along the way. Turns out I'm a plotter after all.
Check out my books on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/profile/lindsayyorklevack

For the last six days I've felt like my metaphysical self had been separated from my physical being, and strapped to me as dead weight to carry. I was exhausted. I couldn't focus on anything, could barely stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time. Dizzy and disoriented. Coherent thoughts floated beyond my reach. I felt like someone was juggling my brain and eyeballs.

Maybe it was the flu. Or maybe it was myself telling me I'm making a wrong choice in my life, thus the feeling of being cleaved in two. (Cleaved or cleft? Brain not functioning at 100% yet.) Is re-evaluating one's life decisions usually a symptom of the flu?

At any rate, I'm happy to be back on my feet again and feeling more like a whole person.

Last night at the youth group I listened as one of our parent volunteers told me about the infant and toddler she's taken custody of because the parents were negligent.

Then I listened with tears in my eyes as another volunteer told me about the youth member who just learned he's losing sight in one of his eyes because of pressure from an as yet unknown source behind his eye. He's 16.

Then I discovered another of our youth members just lost his home and possessions in a fire. He's 17.

And did I tell you about the boy in the wheelchair? He has muscular dystrophy. He wasn't supposed to live past his 8th birthday. He's now 14.

Now is my time to help, distract, to do whatever, whenever I can. To keep on giving them a fun, free program every Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. To forget about the power-tripping jerks who've been giving me reasons to quit. I will not quit, and these boys are the reasons why.

I don't usually think much about the subject matter I write about. Oh, I think about it in terms of story, sure. The subject is important to the story. But I don't usually consider whether or not the subject matter will get me tossed out of social circles. Not until I heard author J.F. Lewis had his church membership revoked for writing about vampires, among other apparent sins.

Here is a father of 2, a husband, a church-goer, with a passion for writing, and what did it get him? I could understand it if the book was about satanists and evil triumphing over good, and I might even understand it if the church had no idea what Lewis wrote about, but the facts are this is a book about good winning over evil, and Lewis did run the story and plot points by the church elders before the book went to print. So what gives?

I think the scariest part of it all is this could happen to anyone. Fiction writing is not safe. There will always be ignorant people who think we do the things we write about. There will always be people who believe imaginations are dirty and writing sex scenes is equivalent to having an extra-marital affair.

I hope writers will take note of this and spread the word. I hope more people will show support for Mr Lewis. It depresses me, and all I did was interview him. I can only imagine how bummed out Mr Lewis must be.

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Progress Note: first draft of YA (7.5/20 chapters) (37.5%)

* Cleaned up dog puke. Twice.

* Problems getting a fire lit and keeping it going. The wood is too well-seasoned.

* Re-primed the sump pump after it failed. Will have to replace it today.

* Eldest son at home sick today with what appears to be strep throat.

* Youngest son bored out of his mind. Trouble is never far behind.

* Re-wrote synopsis, answered email, posted blog posts.

And it's not even noon yet.

It's been a heck of a couple of weeks, but I weathered through it (with the help of dark chocolate and pomegranate martinis). I'm very glad I didn't sign up for NaNoWriMo.

Positives:
-- the woodstove was installed! I love, love, love it!

Negatives:
-- I had no time for reading or writing.
-- drama. And that's all I'm sayin' about that.

Off to make words!

At the request of a certain someone, I'm going to try cross-posting from Blogger again. I suspect I'll forget lots, but I will try.

***

I'm not participating officially in NaNoWriMo, but I am trying to finish the first draft of the YA, and I do have about 50k words to write. However, I also have an extremely busy November-- May, November and December are probably the worst months of the year for me to finish a novel in-- so I'll be lucky if I can keep pace. Progress will be noted in the sidebar.

I could still use another beta reader if anyone is interested.

It's been snowing all day (another 10cm, they say), the toilet is plugged again, and I don't care. I have ginger cookies. *g*

(I think I probably will switch to Blogger: http://lindsaylevack.blogspot.com/  I got to thinking about it, and I think it'll be better.)

Ginger Cookies

Preheat oven to 325'F. Grease baking sheets.

Stir together 2 c. flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp each of cinnamon, ginger, and ground cloves (or allspice) and 1/4 tsp salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, using electric mixer, cream together 3/4 c. butter (the recipe calls for shortening, but we only use butter. As my husband says, margarine and shortening are only two molecules away from being plastic) and 1 c. sugar.  Beat in 1 egg and 1/4 c. molasses, until light and fluffy. Stir in dry ingredients.

Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake at 325'F for 12-15 minutes or until golden.

Makes 4 dozen (if you can keep from eating them. :o)

I'm thinking about switching over to Blogger. I like some features on both LJ and Google, however I'm starting to think maybe Google will be able to offer more.

I haven't decided yet, so no worries.

Thoughts, anyone?

• Just finished typing up chapter six:

20,573 / 120,000 (17.1%)

• Am currently writing chapter 8. (Cindy, I apologize in advance for what I have done. *evil g*)
• Still having problems with the toilet. It drains slowly, so we're able to flush it once per hour. However, not at all if we use the kitchen sink. *sigh* Dishes or flushes? What's a girl to choose?*
  
• Finally did some Christmas shopping. I feel a little better, though the bank account is looking anorexic.
  
• Still no ginger cookies, though I did get a bunch of Christmas baking done over the weekend.
  
• Also, got the Christmas cards done and in the mail.
• Oh, and Susan Adrian is getting a very good Christmas present this year, by the looks of it. :o)

*Actually, this girl runs the dishwasher at midnight (thank goodness for the delay timer), or washes dishes in the bathtub.

And after 40cm of snow this weekend, it's looking like a white Christmas (though I hear rumours of +11C and rain coming on the weekend):

  Chapter 6 is calling for ginger cookies, and I haven't made any yet, but that's only part of what's causing me stall. The chapter is moving too fast. Part of the problem is lack of research. I'm working from memory, and would be happier if I could find my pictures. The other part of it requires me to make a decision: I could be brutal or I could go soft. Soft is easy. Hell yes, I'm going to be brutal. It's going to call for a new outline, and it's going to hurt me too. Thus, the stall. 

Now off to work.

I have to confess I am totally, completely, madly in love with David Tennant, aka the Tenth Doctor on BBC's Doctor Who.  (He is also famous for playing Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but I don't love Crouch.)  Tennant is brilliant, playing The Doctor with tons of energy, or with a quiet softness that just breaks your heart. The man can emote. He has a thousand faces. I don't recall ever feeling so amazed by an actor's abilities before.

I also have to confess that when I watched the first season of the new Doctor Who (back in 2005), I hated it. I hated Christopher Eccleston (the ninth Doctor). I hated Billie Piper. And I hated the hokey special effects. The whole thing stank of bad cheese, which was too bad because I wanted to like it. I have memories of watching The Doctor with the curly hair and long multicoloured scarf when I was a kid. Then, last year, after being enticed by Neil Gaiman's blog, I tried Doctor Who again. Had to see what the fuss was about. Found a new Doctor, and fell in love. And I loved his new companion, Martha. So I got caught up. Watched all of season two, when Tennant started, and season three. And then to get the full story of Rose, I went back and watched season one. Okay, so Eccleston is stiff and harsh around the edges, I'm glad for the new Doctor. And as for Rose, I confess I'm happy to see her go. She had good energy, but she was also kind of a drag. Not quite kick ass enough, not quite smart enough. These faults lie more with the character than with Billie Piper, former pop princess. Martha was a brilliant match for The Doctor, but I understand why she moved on.

And okay, so the special effects are hokey. I've come to think of this as a good thing. The writing is brilliant, the acting brilliant, if the special effects were realistic, I might never be able to sleep soundly again.

I don't know if I have a favourite episode. But one in particular stands out as petrifying: Blink (3x10). I will never see a stone angel the same way again.

Any Doctor Who fans out there? Do you have a favourite Doctor? A favourite episode?

Oh, to be in England now that the Christmas episode of Doctor Who series four is there! (Airing Christmas Day!)

Today I'll be thinking about the next action sequence, planning the events to come, coming up with creative delays, brainstorming ways to heighten the tension. Not sure how much writing I will get to today, but I will try. This is an important sequence because it sets up the events that will set the finale in motion, and it feeds directly into my main character's motivations. I want this sequence to hit hard and I want it to be good. So, off to think, think, think.

Vicki (vpettersson)is feeling kinda like she blew the interview she did earlier this week for NPR. I disagree. I loved it! I laughed until I nearly peed my pants. And I want to go get a copy of Holidays Are Hell right now. Mission accomplished, right?

The podcast is here. Hear it for yourself.  And then go tell her how much fun it is.

The cake is most excellent. :o) Moist and rich without being dense or heavy. Very chocolatey. I find some chocolate cakes are pretty light on taste.



I'm speeding along through chapter five, gearing up for chapter six, which will be an action sequence. Can't wait. As far as typing goes, I just finished chapter three:

12,656 / 120,000 (10.5%)

Not too shabby. I'm sure my motivational partner will be pleased. (Hi Cindy!)

After the freezing rain, we've been living in a cold snap. Temperatures are typical for January. Not early December. It is pretty though:

I'm midway into chapter five and beetling along at a decent pace, when I stop to go make chocolate cake. What's up with that? I've got the rest of the chapter ready and chapter six lining up next, and all I can think about is chocolate cake. While I'm sure this has to do with the cold weather and the need for antioxidants from the cocoa, and for fat and carbs for survival, I can't believe I put the pen down at a time when I'm already in the kitchen more often than usual to get ready for the holidays. I didn't make the marmalade yesterday-- I need lemons-- but I did make split pea and ham soup with homemade oatmeal molasses bread for supper.

Today, apparently, I'm making cake. I couldn't just pull out a recipe and make it as it is, no, I had to pull out two recipes and mix up a hybrid:

Chapter 5 Chocolate Cake

Sift together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Set aside.

Cream together 1/2 pound butter and 1 cup of sugar. Mix in 3 Tablespoons of canola oil and 2 eggs.

Add 1 370mL can of evaporated milk, 1 Tablespoon instant coffee and 2 teaspoons vanilla to cocoa/flour mix. Stir to combine, and then add to egg mixture. Pour into 2 round 8-inch pans and bake at 325 degree F for 35 minutes.

Frost with:
1/2 pound butter creamed together with 1 cup icing sugar. Sift in 1/2 cup cocoa powder, mix well and add 1/2 cup condensed milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla.


Mine's still in the oven. I'll let you know how it turns out.