United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Some Facts About Norway

miyridian — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:33:21 -0800

Those who were at the TGIAO dinner last night will know what this one is about:

- Svalbard, where a goodly sized part of The Golden Compass takes place, is part of Norway, and has the northernmost airport in the world that has regularly scheduled airline service.

- The longest fjord in Norway is called Sognefjorden.

- A Monty Python skit is based upon the Norwegian Party in UK elections.

- The Norwegian parliament is called the Stortinget

- There is a county in Norway called Telemark, whose country government is located in Skien (naming coincidence?).

- Only Russia and Saudi Arabia export more oil than Norway.

- Norway has the third largest GDP per capita, behind Luxembourg and Ireland and ahead of the United States (according to the International Monetary Fund).

- The runway markings at airports in Norway are yellow, in contrast to those in most other countries, which are white.

- Norway's football team has been to the World Cup three times. They are the only team in the world that has never lost to Brazil.

- Norway has six different types of license plates that a vehicle can have depending on what it is used for.

- Norway's electrical power is provided almost exclusively by hydroelectric power.

- Norway's oldest cathedral is in Stavanger, which is a European Capital of Culture for 2008.

Just a little show of what procrastination can do. :)
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Getting Together

Dellani — Sun, 3 Feb 2008 13:22:01 -0800

I have problems getting together on Sundays. I keep hoping to get back up there, but so far it's been difficult. If anyone is interested in meeting at other times of the week and lives down my way, Edgewater, I'd like to see if we can find a time, place, etc. to meet. I'm busy Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings, but I'm free pretty much any other time. We can even meet at my house if we can't find anywhere else that will take us. I thought we might discuss when and then think about where. I think the NSB or Edgewater libraries might accommodate us that's a place to start anyway.

If anyone is interested, please drop me an e-mail or post here and we can talk about it. Let me know!
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

The Saga of Homecoming

Dellani — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:54:57 -0800

We left Tampa around 3:30. I always go by highway 40 because I hate the lunacy of I-4. Usually it's not too bad, although going through Ocalla is a bit slow. However, yesterday the weather was vile. It was cloudy most of the day, but it was clearing slightly before we left. We got out of Tampa and onto I-75 easily. (sometimes I get confused, but yesterday was no problem) The traffic on I-75 was unpredictable. I'd get going with the cruise control and then come to someone going FIFTY! ARRRRRRG!!

We got to Ocalla and stopped at Burger King for some dinner. In the 15 minutes we waited for our food (some fast food, huh?) it turned from daylight and overcast to black dark and pouring down rain!!!!! Once we ate, the rain had slackened a tiny bit, so we bundled in the car and the windows immediately fogged up to the point where I couldn't see a thing. Defrosters seemed somehow to make it worse, until I found the right temperature, then it cleared - as long as I didn't go warmer or cooler.

Somehow, I'm not quite sure how, I manage to get lost in Ocalla and end up downtown. (no, I don't have a map, but I'm seriouls considering a GPS!) 40 comes through the downtown area, but I missed it. Since I was in the middle lane of a one way street, I had to cross 40 and find a street going back the right direction. Fortunately, the traffic was nil so I was able to do some rather creative driving and get back where I needed to be.

The rain was heavier by this time - of course - and the Ocalla driving went on FOREVER! Once I got out of town and onto 40, I thought it would be a bit better. It wasn't. For some reason, I seemed to be the only person on the road who knew the following traffic truths:

1. Using your high beams in fog makes it harder to see.
2. Using your high beams with oncoming traffic makes it harder to see.
3. Using your high beams when riding up another diver's ass makes it harder to see.

So it was black dark, rain slewing down like a movie set, drivers with high beams both coming and going and little me clutching the wheel of my Kia Optima, praying like crazy!! It seemed like Ormond Beach was never going to materialize at the end of that "long dark tea time of the soul"

When we finally got on I - 95, it was like heaven! Yes, traffic was flying by, but it wasn't raining quite as hard and at least they had room to get around me. This set of drivers seemed to know the rules of the road and left me alone. Bliss!

We got home, ran inside with the few things we needed for the night and nearly collapsed. I immediately informed my husband, who had NOT gone with us, that I needed massive doses of coffee. (My cousin doesn't own a coffee pot. Drinking sodas doesn't have quite the same effect for me that a cup of coffee does.) He started that and I hit the shower.

I had held it together pretty well during the crisis. My boys had no idea how worried and scared I was. But once I got home and it was all over, I had a bit of a cry and told my husband the Saga of Homecoming. I think I said the word "Horrible" at least 11 times. Each with slightly different inflection and emphasis. Not easy to do with one word, but I did it. After that, I was able to face the rest of the evening. I had a large cup of coffee, relaxed on the couch (got a new one for Christmas) and watched Dr. Who and Torchwood. Oohrah!

So that's why I didn't get up to Panera this morning. I couldn't face driving anymore. I need to unpack and deal with the bushel of grapefruit my son harvested last week and I still haven't dealt with. Anyone want some? I'm planning to make grapefruit marmalade among other things. I hate washing the dumb stuff. It takes forever. Actually jucing or cooking with it isn't a problem after that job's done.

Have a lovely day, a profitable week, and no car trouble! I hope to see everyone next week.
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Beyond November -- "Yes, we do meet after NaNoWriMo's over."

PearlRose — Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:09:58 -0800

A thread to keep track of the After November meet-ups, writing sessions, the occasional we-feel-like-getting-together-and-having-dinner meetings, etc. ^_^
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Smile! ^_^

"Time travel is a cornucopia of disturbing concepts."

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Music To Write By

tdbaker67 — Sat, 8 Dec 2007 05:42:18 -0800

Ok all the blues you listed was great. I am especially a fan of Gary Moore. But how can you forget the kid, Johnny Lang. He was so young when he started. I love his voice and guitar work. Check him out if you enjoy the blues. And please let's not forget the legend, B.B. King. Me personally I listen to all types of music, but trying to listen to music when I write is distracting. This is my first message ever, but I am such a huge music lover I had to chime in. I also finished my 50,000 words, but did not finish the book yet. Stilla work in progress.
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Good News!

Dellani — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:00:31 -0800

I have good news! I sent a story to the L. Ron Hubbard Writer's of the Future Contest and got an Honorable Mention! Though I'd have preferred to win (who wouldn't?) I am very pleased to have gotten this. What's cool is that the story I sent is one of the prequels to my NaNo novel. I have some other stories I am going to submit. If anyone else would like to enter, this is the link:

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a season of love, peace and bright lights! Whatever religion you subscribe to - or even if you don't subscribe to any - may your days be happy, healthy and wonderful! Dellani (and the little gnomes under my keyboard who help me write)
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Monitor?

PearlRose — Sat, 8 Dec 2007 11:47:04 -0800

I know it's a shot in the dark, but does anyone around here possibly have an extra monitor lying around I can use? My laptop's monitor just died, and I have finals and stuff that I absolutely have to try and get off of the darned laptop ASAP.

If anyone can help me in anyway, I promise to make it up to you somehow.

-Maggie
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Smile! ^_^

"Time travel is a cornucopia of disturbing concepts."

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Music to Write Stories By

Dellani — Fri, 7 Dec 2007 11:48:07 -0800

Bruce and I got into a discussion about music we listen to, I even posted a list of music I like to write to on my blogspot. Bruce, you posted there and mentioned a musician I'm not familiar with, so I went and looked up Benoit on Rhapsody. Which one did you mean? I got at least 16 bands with that name in it. Help me out here, please! To quote Doctor Evil "Throw me a frickin' bone!" Thanks! D.
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Thank God It's (Almost) Over and Straggler's Parties!

PearlRose — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:41:57 -0800

Okay, here's the official word on the parties celebrating the end of this frenzy otherwise known as NaNoWriMo.

On Thursday, November 29th, at 7 o'clock in the evening, we'll be invading the Daytona Ale House again for our TGIAO party, or the "Winner's Party". If you're done, if you're looking for a break, if you want to celebrate how much you did get done, feel free to come out.

Next Thursday, December 6th, again at 7 in the evening and again at the Ale House, we'll have our official TGIO party, since the month will be, ya know, over by then. It's the "Straggler's Party" for everyone that couldn't bear to seperate themselves from their writing for an evening on the 29th, or for those that just want to come out and have some fun again. (I'll be at both of 'em.)

Feel free to NaNo mail or e-mail Bruce or me if you have any questions, or you can just post here.

-Maggie
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Smile! ^_^

"Time travel is a cornucopia of disturbing concepts."

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Do we have a challenge?

CABridges — Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:26:26 -0700

Bruce, you mentioned at the kickoff party that there might be a local challenge, some oddity for us to work into our novels, i.e. a drunken orangutang, a rain of toasters, chalk, whatever. Was anything chosen?
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C. A. Bridges
2008: "Floating"

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

It's Done!!!

Dellani — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:48:38 -0800

I didn't think I could do it, but it's finished! Sure it needs work, maybe some padding, extra explaining, but by God it's DONE!!!
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

I need a little help

Daynick — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:14:34 -0800

Hello everybody. Could someone tell me how to cut and paste a word document to the word count validator? That probably seems like a pretty basic question, but I don't know how to do it.
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Kick-off party and write-ins

brucedeuce — Tue, 9 Oct 2007 04:49:21 -0700

First of all, hello. If you don't know me, I'm Bruce. I'll be your Municipal Liason this year. Welcome aboard! I hope to have a lot of fun, and to get everybody through this alive! lol I'm sure you'll have questions, and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability.

First of all, there WILL be a kick-off party, as soon as I can get an idea of how many people are signing up. The slowness of this forum isn't helping in that regard, but hopefully we'll have time to get a list, and get some communication going. This will help me determine where it will be. It'll be a completely informal affair, designed to get us acquainted with one another; probably at a restaurant. Don't bring your laptop, unless you just want to show it off!

As far as write-ins: I'd like to meet weekly, at least. I've been meeting with a small group on NaNo'ers since last January, at either Barnes & Noble on International Speedway Blvd, or Panera, right down the street. Personally, and for write-in purposes, I prefer Panera. The seating is better and there are outlets, if you need battery backup for your laptop. I've spoken to the manager, and he has told me that if we want to schedule regular meeting times, he'll have a spot available for us.

For now, let me know who you are, if I don't already know you. My email address is: novadude64@yahoo.com. I hope to see you this November, and beyond, if you'd like. Let's have some fun!

~Bruce
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_______________________________________
2006 winner ~ "Drew Copes" (still being refined)
2007 finisher ~ "So, These Three Murderers are Drinking in a Bar"

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

So You Killed a Character. Now What?

Dellani — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:38:45 -0800

There come times when we have to kill off a character. I know it's hard, but swords slash, guns go off, bombs blow and a life ends.

First ,you cry. At least I do. I can't speak for those people who are callous and uncaring, but I cry like crazy. It's like losing a friend, especially when it's someone you like.

Second, you torture yourself with it for awhile to see how it feels. It's awful. You're a horrible person! How could you do such an terrible thing?

Third, you remember that movie "Stranger Than Fiction" and worry if you really killed off a real person! (Come on, it's a MOVIE of course you didn't. You don't have any special voodoo powers.

Fourth, you move on. You have to resolve the conflict and finish the book. The death moved the story forward. You had to do it. Someone had to die besides the bad guy. So he was a wonderful, sweet, good looking, loving character! Someone had to
do the job, and he did it.

Well, the fourth one doesn't always happen, but you try. I bring all this up, because I just killed off not one, but two very likeable characters so that the plot could advance. One of them was old, he'd lived an exemplary life, he was going to die soon anyway. The other was young, full of life, in prime physical condition, had just fallen in love and found out his fiancee was going to have a baby. He was looking forward to marriage, fatherhood, building a long and happy life together.
Then I killed him. I feel like an assassin. I feel mean and callous and uncaring. Because of me, that woman is suffering. That baby will grow up without a father and his best friend is miserable. But I know that somehow they will soldier on without him and go on with their lives.

Maybe it will make me feel better to imagine his fiancee marrying someone else and finding a happy life with him. Perhaps I'll comfort myself knowing that, although the daughter didn't know her father, the man who raises her loves her as if she were his own child. And possibly, I can delight in the fact that his best friend will find out who is responsible for his death, and make him pay!

Yes, there are many things I can do to molify myself. But I hope I don't have to kill off any more characters in this book, because I just used my last tissue.
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Whoops

AtomicMuffin6669 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:52:33 -0800

Lately I've been letting the NaNoWriMo-bots update my word count for me because Microsoft Word counts words with - between (i.e. 'NaNo-bot')them and words like "well...okay?" as one word and this web site counts them as two. When I copied and pasted, somehow I accidentally did it twice, I guess, because it said I was a winner. When I fixed the problem, the word count is right but the bar is still purple and still says winner.
Oops.

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.:Unzip my body:.
Take my heart out

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Noun Confusion?

AtomicMuffin6669 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:48:41 -0800

I know this will be a blast from the past for anyone that's not a sophomore in high school, but, seeing that I am a sophomore in high school and have no idea about anything drug related other than what I learned in Health class [which was mostly how to avoid being pelted with beans and a variety of NERF balls (and I promised myself that I would bribe the guidence counsellor if need be to keep from ever being in a class with a first-time teacher who also taught the football team AND knew some of the students from his personal life)].

Anyway. I have this box that's made out of wood with a little catch on it so it won't open unless you slide a little strip of wood to the right. I keep the duplicates of my coin collection in mine, but my friend, who is much more popular and is 'cooler' than I am said it was something that you put your pot in, but it was about nine months ago, and I can't remember what she called it. I think it was called a stash box or a pot box or something like that. Any help?
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.:Unzip my body:.
Take my heart out

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Taking a short NaNo Break

Dellani — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:50:26 -0800

I'm going to be taking a short NaNo break. I need to read through what I've written and figure out how the heck to resolve this plot. Meanwhile, I'll be thinking of everyone tapping away! See those of you who will be there, the Sunday after TG.
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Writing Talk

dogwriter — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 16:35:49 -0800

Hello everybody. Sorry I did not make it to Panero's on Sunday. Sounds like ya'll really get busy there!

I was wondering if anyone is interested in getting together just to talk about writing rather than actually writing. I'm a frequent flyer at Barnes & Noble, but I also like to hang at The First Turn now & again. Any takers??
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Help a really new Newbie, please!!!

norahlogan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:57:31 -0700

Hi Everyone!
I'm Mary Z. from NSB and am starting to panic-not only about writing but how to get word count.
Could someone tell me how to paste and scramble excerpt in VERY simple language? Or, direct me to info.
I'm not only new to Nanowrimo but also this kind of site, e.g. how to use forums to find things.
Thank you and Good Writing, Everyone!
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Port Orangers

dogwriter — Thu, 8 Nov 2007 16:53:16 -0800

Okay all of you fellow Port Orangers, would you like to meet some evening for a drink at the Tiki Bar at the First Turn? (corner of Commonwealth & Rt. 1, between the Dunlawton Bridge & Nova. The Tiki Bar is the outside area with the big deck).

Whoever shows up close to the appointed hour- I'll buy first round (yes that is a bribe)! What evening might be good for ya'll? It'd be just for an hour or so. 6:00? 7:00? They have a restaurant inside so we can even get coffee (I've done that). Now how could you pass up a free beer or a free cup of coffee? Call it a meet & greet (ouch! sorry for the cliche!). Whaddya say?

-the dogwriter
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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Pesky Demons

emhopkins — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:07:47 -0800

Hi fellow writers! Well this is my first NaNo and I'm slightly off my word count. Truthfully, that's an exaggeration, I'm well off where I should be with my word count!

Have any of you come across a demon in your head that while writing you get this paralyzing fear that everything you are writing has already been written about? I'm at the point now and I'm trying to push through it. But I feel like I'm just ripping off some other great novelist. I'm not talking about plagiarizing, but it seems like I could find exactly the thoughts I am writing about in a dozen other books...mostly on my bookshelf!

Any suggestions?

Good luck to everyone!

-emily

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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Rocket Launch Write-In?

miyridian — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:52:21 -0800

Crazy idea, I know, but it seemed a good way to combine my love for spaceflight and novel writing, and it just could work.

There's a Delta-IV Heavy launch tonight (Saturday) from the Cape, so I plan on bringing my laptop down to Port Canaveral and writing for however long my battery can hold out. The launch is set for 8:39pm, so I'll probably leave Daytona at about 6.

Directions are below (from http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Launch_Viewing.html):

From Daytona: Leave no later than two hours before launch (more if you are north of Daytona). Take I-95 south about 55 miles to Exit 205 The Beachline EAST towards "Canaveral: Cape-Port-AFS." Stay on for about 15 miles.

***There are two exits for Port Canaveral, the first is a big BLUE sign and the second is a big GREEN sign, marked exits A and B respectively. Take the first exit, the giant BLUE sign marked TERMINAL A (North Terminals, etc; this is also Rt. 401). The exit loops around on the right. You will then go over a drawbridge. About 1/4 mile later, the road both curves sharply to the right and passes under an overpass at the same time. Pull off on the left (water) side of the road. Parking is allowed here for launches and will fill up close to launch time, so arrive at least an hour beforehand

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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

I'd like to extend an invitation

Dellani — Fri, 9 Nov 2007 17:27:05 -0800

I have a small blogspot website that I've gradually added to. It's not much yet, because I'm writing stuff other places. It's pretty random, but you're welcome to visit and comment if you like. My most recent post is about my NaNoWriMo book. I had a lot of trouble getting it to post because I managed to forget my password, etc. See how often I go there? Pretty pathetic, really. Anyway, this is it! http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/

Dellani
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I dye my hair because my kids make me go gray!

United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Write-ins tomorrow, Thursday?

Seadragon — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 20:53:05 -0800

(Figured I better put this somewhere more visible...)

If anyone wants to join me tomorrow (Wednesday), from around 4:30pm until I absolutely have to get back to school, at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks, please do!!

(I am behind by an amount truly horrific)

Also, Thursday afternoon is also a very real possibility.

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United States :: Florida :: Daytona Beach

Wrtie-ins tomorrow, Thursday?

Seadragon — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 20:52:55 -0800

(Figured I better put this somewhere more visible...)

If anyone wants to join me tomorrow (Wednesday), from around 4:30pm until I absolutely have to get back to school, at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks, please do!!

(I am behind by an amount truly horrific)

Also, Thursday afternoon is also a very real possibility.

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