Thought Patterns

was visiting a bunch of blogs (procrastination technique #?) and came across a funny at Sandhill Trek: the post is titled Cat Blogging

This is just two of the photos I just got via email from the ceremony last night.

This is Ryan at the end of his display. He chose to do a new form he had just learned and end with the breaking of the board.

Along with the new black belt, the students also got new pants and a new 'shirt'. Ryan's new shirt, a special order, had not arrived yet so he still wears his 'old' one.

As I looked over the images, I started crying. I wish I could have been there. I am so proud of him and what he has accomplished. I can only hope that someday he understands this.

had had

What the heck heck kind of wording is that?

'So far, Grace had had a bad day at work.'

This is what it was to begin with: "Grace had a rough day at work." It's not that it's a bad sentence, it's just that it is dead, not moving, going nowhere. Yawn. And it sounds as if she is done with the day. She's not.

I rephrased it to the 'had had'. Didn't work. So how to rephrase it so it is moving, here-and-now, you know, good.

Grace's day so far was not going well.
Grace's day was not going well.

I think I like that one. It leaves a lot open. Yeah, think I'll go for this one.

This afternoon, Ryan Johnson will recieve his first degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, a Korean style martial arts. He will be 10 yrs old in May.

I got to see the test, which he passed despite getting a leg cramp and being pulled out for five minutes. Lorna is there today to see the ceremony where they get their certificates and the belt.

I love my nephew, more than he knows. The 700+ miles that separate us rips my heart every day. When I realize that the future of the world is in the hands of kids like Ryan, I can see hope.

Then there is Kelli, his sister. Kelli ('that's Kelli with an i') is currently an orange belt (??) and will be eligible to test for her black belt in a year and a half. But we are thinking that will be too young for any child, since she is now only 5. Kelli has grown up watching Ryan do his thing so when she was ready to start, she was far ahead the other beginners. She and I got the chance to get to know each other when I was up there for a month last year. Then when I was there again a few weeks ago, it was as if we were old friends.

She about made me cry when, as her cousins were being told that 'that would make her your aunt too', she jumped in my lap and said, 'No, she's my Aunt Paula'.
(more…)

Sifted through the rubble and made it to the beginning of Chapter 33. Ack, there are some awkwardly phrased sentences in there. Not a surprise but still, ack!

I also found plenty of 'one step at a time' scenes. She did this then this then this then this. As in she sat down. She took off her shoes. She picked up the book. She turned the first page. blah blah

But hey, it's still not too bad. I am doing this via the computer screen. I've not printed this section out yet. I reckon I should. Just hate wasting paper, ya know?

The trailer is out! The trailer is out!!

Check it out!

The only problem is that you need iTunes to view it. Don't know why, but it do. Probably a sponsor thing.

There are some good tools for every writer, most of them an absolute must.

There's the dictionary, thesaurus, and pencil sharpner.

But there's also the tv remote, trash can basketball, and the internet.

Here are some of the things in my tool box:

PONG! - an extension for Firefox

Clines - another Firefox extension

Die Wagenschenke - a German flash game, I mean a German resource that is mouse movement driven.

Letters - a resource from FlashCom

Amaztype - a unique search tool from Amazon.com