Everything's Waiting

Adam *naf says:
*hey hey i didn't link the picture i just saw
*that thing freaking terrified me
*i hate blinds
*why do we have so many windows
*when i grow up i'm going to have a house without windows and my children will grow free and tall like wild daisies

I feel like we really need to stop talking in all lowercase as like the new capslock because every time I quote us somewhere I worry people will think that we're those people who don't use capitals out of laziness or wanting to be cool or something.

but i can't stop ahhhhh

Rachelle Dulcinea *naf says:
*I LIKE YOU A LOT LOT ALL WE WANT IS HOT HOT
*BOYS BOYS BOYS
*WE LIKE BOYS IN CA-ARS
*BOYS BOYS BOYS
*BUY US DRINKS IN BA-ARS
*let's discuss the characterization of these lines
*what do you think lady gaga is trying to convey with this heartfelt ballad
Arqueete *naf says:
*she is discussing gender relations in the 21st century
*actually i may be mistaken
*this may actually be
*a political metaphor
*where the boys are the democrats and drinks are promises and bars are the white house
*it's actually about obama being elected
**bows*
Adam *naf says:
*beautiful
*imo, the song is actually about the jfk assassination. you see, "boys boys boys" refers to the amount of shots that were actually fired. "we like boys in cars," is just obvious. "buy us drinks in bars" is obviously a reference to the man's sexual desires and many conquests
Arqueete *naf says:
**sheds a tear*

Karen says:
*You know you live in a conservative part of the country when someone on your facebook becomes a fan of The Declaration of Independence and Bass Pro Shops in one post.
*That just happened.
*XD

So I meant to make a post right after NaNo ended to talk about it a little more than just my END post, but I've been lazy. But I don't feel like sleeping so I shall make this post now.

This was definitely my best year for NaNo. Not only did I win for the second year in a row (my third time ever... been doing it since 2004), but I won without any crazy tricks (no contractions-replacement or two-name protagonists this year), and afterward I was already feeling like there was so much more I could've said, instead of the usual pulling teeth to get to 50k. Usually when NaNo is over I feel a great dissatisfaction, but this time I feel like I want to do NaNoEdMo and see what happens when I try and edit this thing. Don't get me wrong. It's a lot of shit. But such as is usually the case with NaNo, in the midst of all of that, there are some unexpectedly great things, and that's what makes it worth it.

I think it definitely helped that I got involved in real-life NaNo meetups this year, and I'm pretty sad that Monday's Thank God It's Over party is the end for this year. I am so fortunate to have such an excellent region, where I can go to these write-ins and everyone greets you like they know you, and you get to bury yourself in writing if you like, or converse with other people who are writing, or just sit and listen to all the incredible and nerdy and lulztastic conversations other people are having around you about things like superpowers and regional rivalries and Harry Potter. And with an amazing ML, Zhie, and the people helping her, who like... made us color-coordinated goodie bags and helped provide snacks and organize locations. Geeze.

NaNoWriMo is so great that way in general, I mean... in their stats blog this year, they asked about the increase in members and whether it made the whole experience better or just more crowded, and to me it's like... NaNoWriMo does not decrease in quality as more people get involved. Unlike other forums or projects that start small and end huge, I don't see any people who are oldbies or elitists in NaNo or "missing the good old days". They always seem so eager to encounter people who are doing it for the first time, and to cheer them on and give them tips. I think it's the whole personal, non-competitive aspect. The forums and the write-ins are just a supplement for something that you are, ultimately, on your own in doing, and that thing has not changed much from the first couple times NaNo happened to today. The community reminds me of [tos]sers and Nerdfighteria -- these groups that are just so full of... joy, and non-judgement. I love that I can go on NaNo boards and ask these weird questions (that are NOTHING compared to other questions asked -- and no one ever wants to know why you want to know) and people come answer me. The community is so huge that I probably won't remember their names later, and probably no one but me will notice they posted there. But just because I wanted to know, even being a complete stranger, they answer me. Just because they feel like it. Because they have the answer, or can speculate. How awesome is that?

So yes, I'm proud of my 50k and my certificate to hang on my wall above my other two. I hope all of you who also made it feel good too, because you should. If you didn't make it as far as you wanted or you didn't work up the courage to try this year, COME JOIN US NEXT YEAR. It's not easy, I won't lie. But it's worth it. And you're never alone.

Coming soon to LJ posts (either here or at my RP journal depending...):

What To Do With My Spare Time Now That NaNo Is Over: I have a fanart project that is epic but it's killing my soul. Also, I'm trying to actually do my homework now!

Word of Your Body/Walking In Space Mashup: I'm OBSESSED.

Team Wells: I'M ON IT, AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE TOO!

The first part of Jake Epstein's Profile of the Month JUST went up. RACHELLE'S QUESTION BETTER BE IN THE SECOND PART IT IS SO GOOD. That's not really a coming soon LJ post but a potential coming soon LJ post.

Now I better sleep.

THE END IS NEAR, EVERYONE. I'm going to bed, getting up, going to an orthodontist appointment, and then from the time I get home I have to write 1k and some change every hour until midnight to WIN.

Current word count: 41182

Since EVERYONE WENT TO BED AND LEFT ME tonight I went into the NaNo IRC room and let strangers pressure me into getting things done.

    <Arqueete>    I'm currently dealing with the fact that I have two very shy characters who have developed feelings for each other.
    <Arqueete>    Paragraphs and paragraphs of neither of them making a move.
    <Hollow>    Oh word fodder
    <Pain>    ahh, shy people... Can't you just lock them in a basement and put them in a life-or-death situation and force them to spit out the feelings?
    <Arqueete>    True, true. But action would also be nice to get some words :P
    <Arqueete>    Haha XD "THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION, YOU KNOW.. AND IF WE DIE... I WANT YOU TO KNOW... I LOVE YOU."
    <Pain>    Yes!! Precisely that!
    <curiosity>    I just want you to know I - *kurhspkershdie!*
    <Arqueete>    XD
    <Pain>    "Oh my god, Jonathan... am I hearing the violins now?"
    <BattleJesus>    WORD WAR: HALF WAY THROUGH WORD WAR. (xoegich, 7.5 minutes left)
    <curiosity>    "You what? Forgot to floss? Didn't wear clean underwear? Have herpes?! WHAT??"
    <Pain>    LMAO! xD
    <Arqueete>    "I just wanted you to know... I have herpes." *DEAD!*
    <Pain>    "F**k you man, died and left me in suspense."
    <Arqueete>    OKAY. Writing. I better do some of that.
    <Pain>    There, Arqie, that's a plot-prompt like no other.
    <Arqueete>    Thanks guys ;P

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FINISH LINE.

21038. So behind it hurts.

Friday's Write-In was AWESOME, though. I got to borrow a laptop which was appreciated and we all sat in a lecture hall at tables and there were snacks and there was a big screen projecting plot bunnies and cool words and triggering word wars. AWESOME. And there was a white elephant auction benefiting Office of Letters and Light.

In other news, I finally saw the video of Lady Gaga speaking at the HRC dinner and playing her cover of Imagine and I've been telling people how it's increased my respect for her. Her cover wasn't spectacular but it didn't really matter -- I felt that the choice to not do one of her songs was wise and that her words and performance were charmingly sincere and, especially in contrast to her usual style, very... conservative. I felt she really showed that she was not there to show herself off and that it would've been disrespectful if she came and did this big performance or something. Instead she just sat at a piano and spoke and sang. Classy.

In other other news, someone I know on Twitter saw Addams Family in Chicago (GRRRRR I AM SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR AND SO BROKE) and if you didn't get the memo, Krysta Rodriguez who I HATE FOR BEING SO PRETTY AND SO TALENTED is in it. And I have this feeling that most people know her for understudying the leads in ITH, but I, and I'm sure a lot of you on my flist, first knew of her for being an SA ensemble member... so as I was being bitter about not seeing Addams Family I was listening to her Wendla for the first time forever (her voice is odd for the role, true, but her acting is intriguing). I remember noticing this way back when I first heard it but I'd forgotten all about it -- in the hayloft, when he gropes her, her lines, from the libretto, are "No. Don't." which I know was always a teeth-grinding moment in the scene for me. I don't hear Krysta's Wendla say no -- in 4/8 I hear, "Wait! Wait." and in 4/11, "Don't -- wait!" Are there any other audios of her? Anyone else hear that? I don't know how on earth she got away with changing the line (or if it was a mistake that she managed to make twice on two different days, seeing as Wendla's next line after that bit is actually "wait"), but... I think just that one tiny change just totally changes the way I look at that scene. She doesn't tell him outright no but she's still clearly conflicted and I think that works better for her character and makes Melchior not a rapist (or... well... moral complications aside.). If only Michael Mayer read my LJ.