Writing Goal for the Day?

[LettersFromTatyana]

And that sounds good, too.
If it is just me, I'll make a pot (with a pinch of cinnamon in the grounds), then reheat it, by cup, as needed, although for no longer than two days.

In all seriousness, there really is no such thing as a *bad* cup of coffee.

*Note to self; never let Anna or Sydney be in charge of the coffee.*

Who writes a good lezzy scene, folks? Stella Omega? She's the only Lit author I knew who writes them at all. Others?

Speaking of coffee, PacoFear's Jujubees is among my favorites. Colleen Thomas wrote good lesbian stories, too.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

Mostly editing someone else's book today. I hope to be able to get to outlining for my next one later in the night.

I keep meaning to ask... how are the Christmas cards?

 

[sr71plt]

I keep meaning to ask... how are the Christmas cards?

They are still a bit more than half done. It's a complex process and I have to start at the beginning with another batch--cutting the rice paper, printing, painting, folding, signing and chopping (I use a Chinese brush painting style--the "chop" is a Chinese signature block that the artist and all subsequent owners apply).

The schedule calls for twenty-five more this month. But then a different schedule calls for two more e-books written this month too.

 

[Kojote]

Interesting thought. When I use the 12-cup maker, I use 1 scoop per 2 cups, sometimes with just another half a scoop. I just find it funny that everyone says it's good. I mean, c'mon, it's a coffee maker -- how can it be messed up?

And now I await stories of how it can be messed up...

Easily explained...
Every coffee drinker has his/her own ratio. It's just a matter of personal taste and years of experience with different coffee machines (and yes it takes some runs with a new one to get the right mix).
You on the other hand learned just how much coffee brings a decent result. Not too strong. Not too soft. Acceptable for almost everybody.
And since you don't drink it yourself you don't start experimenting with the recipe. You stay with what's working fine.
For every single guest stating that it could be just a little bit stronger there is most likely one that tells you that it shouldn’t be any stronger. It cancel’s out.

And then there is the added bonus of knowing that you don’t drink it yourself and offer coffee out of friendliness. So it would be very rude to tell you that it’s bad if it’s acceptable…

Kojote, that's just how it was when I started drinking actual coffee. I started with those horribly sweet, blended things, then visited people where that's what they do with the reheating of a pot of coffee. Although, they drink enough in a day that it comes out to one pot per day. The pot I made today will be finished tomorrow.

Doesn't change anything. I just adore your toughness...

In all seriousness, there really is no such thing as a *bad* cup of coffee.

Wanna bet? One cup of what we made to stay awake in the navy and you'll gladly confess that there actually is not only 'bad' coffee, but worse.
Without milk it was some kind of weapon of mass hysteria...

 

[SydneyBlake]

Now see my suggestion would be to do some research and get into an actual threesome. I mean you know, just to get a feel for things.

Now we know the rest of the story!

 

[PennLady]

Help... my son is busy listening to ELO and Duran Duran... I don't mind them but I can't take the repetition... ack.

 

[lovecraft68]

Help... my son is busy listening to ELO and Duran Duran... I don't mind them but I can't take the repetition... ack.

Now that's an odd combo. Hungry like the Wolf followed by Don't bring me down?

 

[PennLady]

Now that's an odd combo. Hungry like the Wolf followed by Don't bring me down?

Right now it's just ELO, and we're on to "Do Ya," although "Don't Bring Me Down" was not long ago. Oddly, he was choosing songs other than "Hungry Like the Wolf." I'm going to need some Bad Company or Queensryche to recover...

 

[sadangel]

Wrote about 400 words today. Might not sound like a lot, but it was an intense scene that needed few words. Will attempt to write more tomorrow. Not sure on which book. Have several going right now, and which ever one shows it needs written in will win.

 

[SydneyBlake]

Right now it's just ELO, and we're on to "Do Ya," although "Don't Bring Me Down" was not long ago. Oddly, he was choosing songs other than "Hungry Like the Wolf." I'm going to need some Bad Company or Queensryche to recover...

I haven't listened to Bad Company in forever. Used to blast it from the computer speakers in my old lab. We were geeks, but we were cool geeks.

 

[estragon]

Wrote about 400 words myself. Not particularly good words, but Hemingway was right, at least in my case: "Every first draft is shit."

 

[lovecraft68]

2K and counting for the night, probably have a good couple of hours left, hopefully finish this section of the story tonight.

 

[lovecraft68]

I haven't listened to Bad Company in forever. Used to blast it from the computer speakers in my old lab. We were geeks, but we were cool geeks.

I think Paul Rogers was performing with Queen. That was awhile ago though, don't know if he still is.

Five finger death punch has an awesome version of "Bad Company"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYzt0nsdgrQ

 

[PennLady]

I haven't listened to Bad Company in forever. Used to blast it from the computer speakers in my old lab. We were geeks, but we were cool geeks.

Listening now... Paul Rodgers has such a great voice...

 

[PennLady]

I think Paul Rogers was performing with Queen. That was awhile ago though, don't know if he still is.

Five finger death punch has an awesome version of "Bad Company"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYzt0nsdgrQ

Yes, he did perform with Queen (Brian May & Roger Taylor), but I believe that's done now. I have the stuff; I'm not so much a Bad Co addict as Paul Rodgers. So I also have The Firm, The Law, and some of his solo stuff. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Trying to get work files done so I can perhaps do a little writing before bed...

 

[SydneyBlake]

Listening now... Paul Rodgers has such a great voice...

I did, too. Yes, I prefer the Paul Rodgers version.

Just advised my daughter on what to do about a guy at school who keeps asking for her cell number. I told her to keep it short, keep it sweet, keep it honest: I don't want to give you my number. End of discussion. Any other ideas?

She's a nice girl, and I've told her that she's going to have to find and make friends with her inner bitch; otherwise, these kinds of guys will forever bug her. I didn't learn this until college. Now that I think about it, I didn't have to until then.

 

[annanova]

Doesn't change anything. I just adore your toughness...

Wanna bet? One cup of what we made to stay awake in the navy and you'll gladly confess that there actually is not only 'bad' coffee, but worse.
Without milk it was some kind of weapon of mass hysteria...

Being adored is nice.

Also, knowing that milk is added to coffee in the Navy gives me both a strange feeling of vindication, and a sense of additional closeness to my paternal grandfather.

LfT, why can't either Sydney or I be in charge of making the coffee?

Heh, I was listening to Bad Company in the car.

Okay, they're still at lunch, the waitress is flirting and there's lots of French to stay on top of. Why do I do that? Oh, yeah, my editor likes it. Bastard. At least lunch is nearly done.

 

[PennLady]

Just advised my daughter on what to do about a guy at school who keeps asking for her cell number. I told her to keep it short, keep it sweet, keep it honest: I don't want to give you my number. End of discussion. Any other ideas?

Not sure how well this would work, but -- when I was in high school (way before cell phones) and had in fact just moved mid-term, these girls got it into their head to tell me that some guy liked me. They kept saying he wanted to do things to/with me, and I just kind of ignored them (I'd say, yeah, okay, whatever). They kept it up -- they really had no idea how oblivious and disinterested I was at that point in guys in general -- and said he wanted my phone number.

We'd recently changed our house phone #, as we kept getting calls at all hours of the night. So I gave them the old number. They and he never bothered me again.

Can she give him a random number?

Best course is to say no, I don't give it out, of course, but this might help if she needs to build up to it.

Okay, deleted a scene that I wasn't sure about. That count as writing?

 

[sr71plt]

Okay, deleted a scene that I wasn't sure about. That count as writing?

Only if you now write a new story around that scene.

 

[lovecraft68]

Not sure how well this would work, but -- when I was in high school (way before cell phones) and had in fact just moved mid-term, these girls got it into their head to tell me that some guy liked me. They kept saying he wanted to do things to/with me, and I just kind of ignored them (I'd say, yeah, okay, whatever). They kept it up -- they really had no idea how oblivious and disinterested I was at that point in guys in general -- and said he wanted my phone number.

We'd recently changed our house phone #, as we kept getting calls at all hours of the night. So I gave them the old number. They and he never bothered me again.

Can she give him a random number?

Best course is to say no, I don't give it out, of course, but this might help if she needs to build up to it.

Okay, deleted a scene that I wasn't sure about. That count as writing?

Both of my daughters used me as the kiss of death for a boy. If they wanted me to meet him right away it meant they had no interest in them.

The ones they were serious about met my wife first, who would then tell me that they seemed okay. The dregs or the nice ones they didn't know how to "let down" got me.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Both of my daughters used me as the kiss of death for a boy. If they wanted me to meet him right away it meant they had no interest in them.

The ones they were serious about met my wife first, who would then tell me that they seemed okay. The dregs or the nice ones they didn't know how to "let down" got me.

Hahahahaha My daughters did the same! It was funny!

Another trick they pulled was to whisper, TELL ME NO, then ask for permission to do something or go some place. They'd scream BLOODY MURDER! in front of their friend then whisper, THANKS.

 

[PennLady]

Only if you now write a new story around that scene.

Didn't have time to do that last night and I actually deleted it instead of saving it as I often do. But you never know, maybe later...

Both of my daughters used me as the kiss of death for a boy. If they wanted me to meet him right away it meant they had no interest in them.

The ones they were serious about met my wife first, who would then tell me that they seemed okay. The dregs or the nice ones they didn't know how to "let down" got me.

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a dad as scary as you. Some of us have to make do, and I was the new kid in town. And you have to realize, this was not a matter of being interested or not in someone -- this was some kind of stupid prank.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

Just advised my daughter on what to do about a guy at school who keeps asking for her cell number. I told her to keep it short, keep it sweet, keep it honest: I don't want to give you my number. End of discussion. Any other ideas?

She's a nice girl, and I've told her that she's going to have to find and make friends with her inner bitch; otherwise, these kinds of guys will forever bug her. I didn't learn this until college. Now that I think about it, I didn't have to until then.

I think that's good advice. She's standing up for herself and she's not giving him some stupid lie. I'd be too nervous to be so brash and would probably stick with an "I'd rather not," but it's the same thing, really.

However, she isn't the only one in the discussion, so she can't dictate that her words end the discussion. The way I see it, there's a fifty percent chance he says, "OK," and walks away, and a fifty percent chance he asks, "why?"

And that's where it gets tough, yes?

I tend to sympathize with the wronged party in situations like this (it's a terrible habit), so I have to ask: is he a jerk? a nice guy she just doesn't want to go out with? someone she's really, really scared of? or a geek she doesn't want to lead on? Some of those call for the inner bitch; some call for... compassion? I have a feeling he's on the jerky side (given that he's asked so many times), but teenagers are weird, especially if they have no social skills, and especially if you're daughter's been waffling, perhaps inadvertently giving him hope.* I think dealing with him after not giving out her number--in the halls, after class, etc--will be harder than the initial conversation.

So... yeah. I like your advice, but I'd be surprised if that's the end of it.

*My mother and father have a rather epic love story like this, where he would drive through blizzards and blackouts to ask her out on a date and hang out with her parents while she was out on dates with other guys, only to get rejected over and over again for years, but in a nice way. His persistence paid of in the end, though.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

LfT, why can't either Sydney or I be in charge of making the coffee?

You, the cinnamon. And because I'd never trust you'd made a new pot.
Sydney, because she doesn't think there's a bad cup.

(You know I'm teasing, yes?)

It's a sore subject right now. I just spent weeks with my parents, who make such weak and disgusting flavored coffee that I eventually decided to go without.

 

[PennLady]

I think that's good advice. She's standing up for herself and she's not giving him some stupid lie. I'd be too nervous to be so brash and would probably stick with an "I'd rather not," but it's the same thing, really.

However, she isn't the only one in the discussion, so she can't dictate that her words end the discussion. The way I see it, there's a fifty percent chance he says, "OK," and walks away, and a fifty percent chance he asks, "why?"

And that's where it gets tough, yes?

It may get a little tough, but she doesn't need to give him an explanation. "I don't give out my number" is enough of an answer. Just like "Sorry, I can't make it," is enough of an answer if you're asked to go somewhere or do something. She doesn't owe this guy the details on her decision.

All of that is complicated by the fact that teenagers are still learning the social skills, you're right. Still, it's important to her to stick by her "no" answer, if that's the one she wants to give, and she'll have to learn to keep saying it. But that's all good experience for later, both the compassion and the standing up for herself.

What I wondered was would the kid then go to her friends to get her number; if so, she should tell her friends not to give it out.