Delusions of Grandeur: 01/12/2003 - 01/19/2003

Delusions of Grandeur

Random thoughts by Deoris

Saturday, January 18, 2003

Writing Successes: Wrote 500 words for Themiscrya. Did a great job, even if I do say so myself.

Music playing: "A Decade of Steely Dan" by Steely Dan. Once again, the DH chose the music here. I have a 3 CD player, this is the third one. I was more interested in "Graceland" by Paul Simon, and in "Greatest Hits" by Elton John. Anyhow, that's what's on today.

Starting looking at the website move. It's going to be a chore and a half. But I think I can cut my usage way down if I move some things off to Angelfire, and I plan to do just that. It means there will be an ad on some of my pages, but they aren't visited TOO often anyhow, so it should be all right. Gives me more room to post writing. If I ever do any that isn't for Themiscrya. LOL

Completed SEA PSP assigment and even posted it. It turned out GREAT! I just love the picture I made to go in the frame, but the frame enhanced it ten fold. Take a gander.

Not much to say in the blog today, really. Got to get going on the site revamp. SO not wanting to do that. I want to play in the MUD! Oh well...

Until next time, keep your sword sharp and your bow strung! Herete!


Thursday, January 16, 2003

Writing Successes:Today, finished making my choices for Dead of Winter contest. Gonna be some fine stories to read when all the voting is done. Keep your eyes on Toasted Cheese. Yesterday, wrote nearly 400 words for Themiscyra yesterday, part one in a series saying farewell to Kuk'tai Yakut.

Music playing: Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World. (This is what Donin put in, then went off to bed. But I like it, good "turn down" music.) It's some drums, some Native American singing, some wolf howls....kind of like my Xena soundtracks, much to Donin's dismay and my amusement. (Sal said she wondered what I was listening to.) (and while searching for an Amazon link to it, I discovered this is by the same guy who did the sountrack to a bunch of movies, including "Gladiator")

Things to do tomorrow: PSP assignments and day one of what we will refer to from now on as Moving Day.

Man, I did so much today, I'm not sure I should even bother to blog. I'm just wiped out. But since I haven't written for myself today, here I am. Good on me. I didn't want to come. I wanted to MUD. LOL

Patrick (Herafter will be referred to as Dacor, his chosen online name. Notice he HAD to have one with a "D". He said it was "tradition". What does THAT say about society?) will be returning to school next semester. That's the 27th. He signed a contract saying he'd work hard and show respect to all adults. Hard things for him, but he wants what they have and he does not: Girls. LOL! We also began a daily report, so I can keep better tabs on his progress, and keep his feet firmly in WORK.

There's a bright round moon outside, with a glowing white halo all around it. A sparkle of stars in the clear sky. A cold night, but my dog needed out and the blueness on the pavement beckoned me to look above. I can't tell the phase from looking at it, my glasses are inside and my own vision blurry, but that makes it all the more special. Sometimes, the bounty of Artemis' gift should be felt more than seen. It was a good sign.

I did a bunch of little things today, but it helped clear off that writing plate. Moving Day is going to push that farther out than I had really wanted, but I'm sure I'll appreciate it when I'm done.

Oh? What the heck is Moving Day? I have been given a domain website by my provider. I'm exceeding some limitations on the subweb (renpdx.com is the host) and had to move to a place of my own. That's right. I am going to pick up Fifth House and move just slightly to the left. LOL. The new URL will be http://fifthhouse.net, still easy to remember and now not my name! I'll keep everyone informed as Moving Day (I have to be "in" the new place by Tuesday, latest) approaches.

Until next time, keep your sword sharp and your wit sharper!




Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Bizarre Quiz of the Day:



Your magical style is Witch.

What type of Magic do you work?. Take the Magical Style Quiz by Paradox




I kind of figured I'd get "Priestess", and seem to recall seeing the picture that came with that. Maybe I've changed, I don't know. LOL Thanks to Jadea for the link.

Yesterday (and today's) writing will be non-existant as I read "Dead Of Winter" contest entries for Toasted Cheese. Time to pick a winner, so I'm out there choosing one. Good luck to everyone who entered. (Want to enter a writing contest? We even give prizes! Come to Toasted Cheese!)

I also discovered I made a heck of a snafu on the Amazon title page, so I'm fixing that. I've been given the opportunity to write someone "out" of the tribe and I'm kind of excited by that. I have an idea what I'm going to do, even. Not that I'm happy to see her go. In fact, quite the opposite. But I'm always happy to write new things. Then again, there's always the archives, isn't there?

Big kudos to Mollie on her new Absolute Blank writing article. It looked faboo to me and was just the right advice at the right time. I hope you all come on over and give it a read. It's worth it, trust me. (But I don't think it will be up until later today, so check tomorrow!)

That's all for now. Must get going on the contest entries. Do you have a comment? Share!



Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Well, didn't do a stitch of writing today. I was way too busy.

Made some real life calls and my brother-in-law stopped by for coffee this morning. It's always nice to see him, even if I'm sitting around in a blanket and bathrobe. (There's no heater back here.) We had a nice little chat and off he went.

Made about 8 Amazon signature tags. (see mine below) Toria was nice enough to share her "gallery" URL, which I'll share, so I picked up a great new picture for Amazon Deoris. Thanks, Toria! And then sent out all the ones I'd made with instructions. We'll see who learns what here. LOL

Then I went through the site and made the language changes. Didn't take as long as I'd thought. I also kept checking the forum. I had made 51 little Lord of the Rings icon graphics for Themiscyra, but nobody seemed to notice them any more than the calendar. Okay, except the usual people who IM'd me. All five of them. (rofl)

Discovered I had a real problem with "thank you". I don't expect it, I demand it. When I don't get it, I kind of go "nuts" and fume. But I realize this is MY problem, so nobody feel obligated (esp. at this late point!). Just need to remind myself that a gift doesn't come with a price tag, of any kind...and shut the heck up.

Did a few more things in life, too, involving complicated computer and modem changes. For all who were in on today's Greek tragedy, it ends with it's usual death knell. The modem? It was 28.8. *rofl*

To finish things off today, here is yesterday's writing prompt writing. It was a good one, and REALLY hard (gee, thanks, Ana!). I tried to stay away from Amazons this time, although "technically" this character was also a Deoris (although mage/dragon Deoris). Her name has since been changed to Reany, and I'll probably change it to Reanya by the time I'm done. If any of you writers out there are thinking this sounds fun, let me assure you that it is. PLEASE feel free to come join us on a Sunday and find out for yourself.

-----

After a hectic time, you or your character is treated to a weekend alone in a natural setting. Write about his/her stay there, unwinding, relaxing, preparing. 30 min.


Reany tilted a little to the left, letting the heated air pocket lift her wing and turn her gently toward the mountain cave. She could see the opening with her superior dragon-sight, even though it was miles away yet. She smiled, pulling back strong mouth muscles across huge canine teeth. She was almost home.

It had been twenty years since she’d been to her family’s home, nestled high in the Aarianna Mountains, near the Gaetan Pass. Her family’s status as ambassador kept them in the middle of the Pass, between the bipedal realm and the shapeshifter realm.

She was anxious to meet her new little sister, Shantanro. Her mother’s note had been brief, as usual, expressing only a desire to have Reany return to the roost and visit. That had been three years ago. Her sister would still be little more than an infant in dragon years, still unable to shift into Elven form. It would be an interesting visit.

She was more concerned about her parent’s reaction to her change. She turned her eye on the shimmering colors of her wing. Once a lovely metallic shade of bronze, it now pulsed with three colors; bronze, gold, and silver. How was she going to explain it?

Reany turned with another breeze, doing a complete roll this time, reveling in the feel of flight. The wind coursed over her sleek metal scales, caressing her. She rarely gave herself this opportunity to fly; dragons were the least tolerated of the shapeshifters, even now. She enjoyed it.

The cave had a large rock ledge and she slowed and landed neatly on its edge. Instinctively she switched to her Elven form and brushed a hand down her white-leather dress, smoothing it. She ran the same hand down her silver hair as she entered the home of her parents.

The opening was wide enough to admit a full-grown platinum dragon, with plenty of sweet-smelling rushes across the floor to please the even the most discerning nose. She inhaled the scent, reminded suddenly of the Onaawa Plains before the battle had begun.

A vision of Arama, Donin and Evan came to her. They were mounted at the head of the army. Donin was decked out in all his knightly wear, sword drawn and ready. Arama struggled not to throw her gauntlets to the ground, eager to have her feet solidly on the ground. Evan’s face was drawn and tired, but determined as he faced what could be his future or his fate.

She shook her head to clear it, banishing the vision. That had been two years ago, but the memory was fresh. The sight of the masses of Drow and Troll had not left her. Nor had the pulse of magic as she and Evan had manipulated and changed the currents of what was normal into shapes of new possibilities.

Just remembering that battle brought a tingle to her fingertips. A warning growl from Behamaut sounded inside her, reminding her whom she now worked for.

“Mother?” Reany called, strolling through the small doorway at the back of the dragon cavern. “I’m home.”

-----

I really did NOT plan it that way. Time was just called as I got there. I was as surprised to see it end there as you are, trust me. I had a whole batch of dialog forming in my head. LOL. Well, that's how the cookie crumbles. Now I have something to think about.

For example, before the war brought the shape-shifters and the bipedals together, was her father an "information-gatherer" (ie: SPY) before he became "ambassador" ? It makes a TON of sense and gives me a VERY strong background for why, when it was time to leave the nest, Reany went the "wrong" direction. (And I don't mean "muggle-obsessed" either. I mean SPY.)

Anyhow, hope you enjoy. Feel free to leave a comment or two or three....