Sasha's Brain Stew

Day 7: Where Not Even an Extra Hour Can Save Me

Sasha Devlin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:09:42 +0000

I’m baffled by Daylight’s Savings Time. There. I said it. I grew up not doing it — though my hometown does it now — and I find it utterly confusing.

I’ve spent the majority of today completely befuddled by what time it is or should be. The last couple of days were pretty damaging to the word count war (that I’m waging against myself!) and today was supposed to be a catch up day. And I failed.

But tomorrow’s a new day. One with less time confusion

9,297/50,000

Day 6: Wherein Obligations Make Me Fall Further Behind

Sasha Devlin — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 06:09:11 +0000

Prior to NaNo, I knew the 6th of the month would be action packed for me. I am both delighted and saddened to realize I was right. I hosted a movie Meet Up — “For Colored Girls” was heartbreaking and some of the best acting I’ve seen in YEARS — and attended a wedding.

Am not two days behind. Guess I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow (or later today as it were)

7,205/50,000

Day 5: Where I Fall Behind

Sasha Devlin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:23:12 +0000

It was bound to happen, but I had hoped it would have been later, rather than sooner. I finished up one project and just couldn’t get the words to flow.

I’m disappointed with the day’s word count, but refuse to wallow — and not just because I’m dog tired.

Tomorrow’s another day.

7,205/50,000

Day 4: Where I Ride the Coat Tails of the Previous Day’s Word Count

Sasha Devlin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:43:39 +0000

I wrote a whopping 98 words and then devoted the writing time to another project, and sacrificed my lead. Nuff said.

6,831/50,000

Day 3: In Which I Already Wanna Quit

Sasha Devlin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:16:35 +0000

That’s 100% true. It is also 100% true that I don’t want to quit. it’s very surprising/alarming/terrifying that I’m getting NaNo fatigue on Day 3, but refreshing that I can admit it.

I’m tired, my eyes are burning, and my fingers feel like Jell-o Jinglers. But my word count has never looked this good out of the gate. I know part of it is the Evil Day Job sucking the life out of me, and I’m hoping that stress will lessen soon.

So I console myself with the twin thoughts that: 1) I really like this story and 2) If I have big word days now, I can afford some wiggle room later.

Onward and upward, but first — bed.

6,733/50,000

Day 2: A Novel Idea? We’ll See.

Sasha Devlin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:17:26 +0000

I never doubted that I wanted to do NaNo this year, but was never sure what project. In fact, I made my decision late Sunday evening. And promptly changed it five minutes before I started this year’s draft.

All three of my finalist stories this year were actually stories that have been in the hopper for a while — two of which had aborted attempts either on my hard drive or GASP! long hand.

I went with the one I know the least about. I’m not sure I can write 50K on these two, and that is an odd statement for me to say. I’ve never thought I’d run out of stories before words, but we’ll see what happens.

Day Count: 4,238/50,000

Day 1: As I Blow the Dust Off the Blog and Try For the Best

Sasha Devlin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:30 +0000

I should rename this post “The Epic Fail!” Because I did fail. Failed to complete it and failed to post anything for the first day of NaNo. But, unlike my usual MO I’m not going to sweat blood and self-flagellate (and that sounds way dirtier than it actually is).

I had thought a lot about this entry since it’s my first back in waaaay too long, but I don’t want to get too maudlin.

Instead, a few truths:

I got lazy.

I got complacent.

I stopped blogging, writing, editing and mostly vegged. I can’t even claim that I read a bunch of good books. Oh, I did read *some* good ones, but I read just as many bad ones. I thought I had time; I now know I was waiting for something to magically occur to me and save me from myself.

And then, on a routine trip home back home from visiting family, we were involved in a major car wreck. It was a miracle that we all walked from that nightmare, and we’re all still recovering — hey not bad typing from a girl whose finger is still semi-splinted from a fracture!

During the weeks of recovery, there were several times when all I could do is sit and think. And lament the fact that I was unable to read or write or edit. So now I’m back at it, but things have definitely changed.

I’m not as fast as I was. I have more doubt than ever. But. I’m going to keep pushing.

And one more truth -Got my NaNo word count for the day: 1,963/50,000

Thursday 13: Laugh Out Loud Movies

Sasha Devlin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:26:44 +0000

This one had been bubbling in my brain for a while, and I thought it was time for a nice and light 13. Here are some of the Laugh-Til-I-Cry movies, that still make me laugh after I’ve seen them a gazillion times.

1. Coming to America – Someone was quoting this to me yesterday. My bro and I watched this movie every day for TWO MONTHS straight. This movie still makes me laugh.

2. Robin Hood: Men In Tights – Mel Brooks is a genius, but this is my fave. Oh Cary Elwes. “Because unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can talk with an Elizabethian accent.”

3. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby – I’m from Indiana, but don’t get the NASCAR appeal. But man this movie. Hilarious. “If you’re not first, you’re last!”

4. Zoolander – Ben Stiller is amazing. Ben Stiller playing a male model who may or may not be a part of conspiracy? Priceless. “Do you know what it’s like to be really, really, ridiculously good looking?”

5. The South Park Movie: Bigger, Longer and Uncut – Yes it has foul language and some puerile fart jokes, but this movie has SO much more.

Stan: Chef how do I make a girl like me?
Chef: Oh that’s easy. All you gotta do is find the clitoris

6. Hot Fuzz – This movie actually gets funnier the more times you watch it. Simon Pegg is a riot, and the perfect straight man.

Nick: Getting stabbed was the single most painful moment in my life.
Constable Butterman: Oh yeah? What was the second?

7. Murder By Death – The greatest detectives gather at a cabin for a weekend to solve an unsolvable murder. This movie is even funnier if you’re a writer or avid fan of mysteries.

8. Pineapple Express – To say this is a stoner comedy doesn’t give it enough credit. Any movie that can get Ed Beagley, Jr (as an irate father) to threaten to “skull fuck” another man (his daughter’s bf) is all right with me.

9. Clue – Based on the board game and my favorite movie for years, this is the movie I’ve probably seen the most in my entire life. I can nearly quote it word for word.

Col Mustard: How many husbands have you had anyway?
Mrs. White: Mine other women’s?
Col Mustards: Yours.
Mrs. White: 5
Col Mustard: 5?!
Mrs. White: Yes, just the 5. I believe that husbands should be like Kleenex. Soft, strong and disposable.

10. Young Frankenstein – Another Mel Brooks classic. If you can only watch 5 mins, fast forward to the Putting on the Ritz moment.

11. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story – This movie is concentrated ignorance. However, I can’t stop watching or laughing. You wouldn’t think that accidental machete deaths would be funny, but you’d be wrong.

“The wrong kid died!”

12. The Waterboy – Adam Sandler is hit or miss with me, but this one is definitely a hit. I actually quote this movie on a daily basis – “you’re wrong Col Sanders!”

Bobby: Mama says alligators are ornery because they have all them teeth and no toothbrush.
Prof: Looks like Mama’s wrong again!

13. Fantastic Mr. Fox – I’m truly sorry I didn’t see this one in the theater. This movie is so funny we started quoting it before it had even finished. Even my niece quotes it.

Mr. Fox: No, no, no! They’ll hurt those kids over my dead body!
Mrs. Fox: Exactly. Because they are going to kill you and then kill the rest of us.
Mr. Fox: Oh.

Thursday 13: The Last Minute Edition

Sasha Devlin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:14:00 +0000

First, I must apologize to my fellow Thursday 13ers. I have failed you. I will be doing double duty on comments today because I didn’t hit everyone last week. (I could say many many disparaging things about myself, but you shouldn’t have to read me calling myself a no talent ass-clown). I’m actually still up though my eyes are making that sticky-blink noise. In celebration of time management, here are 13 Things you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to do:

1. Getting permits for construction.

2. Seeing a doctor for that nagging pain.

3. Running from a clown (if you see it from a distance, it’s time to start running)

4. Meeting a deadline. Any deadline.

5. Eating cheese. More fungus is not necessarily a good thing.

6. Booking a trip.

7. Paying a bill — cause you never know.

8. Calling for help …instead of investigating the scary noises by yourself. (Can you tell I just watched a horror movie this week?!)

9. Buying the “Gotta-Have-It” toy for your kids. Anyone remember the frenzy over Tickle Me Elmo of the Dora Kitchen?

10. Did I mention deadlines? Because it bears repeating. Oh vey deadlines.

11. Saying “I Love You” to friends and family. Because you never know. And extra love never hurt anyone.

12. Blog posts and replies. *hangs head in shame

13. Writing Next week’s Thursday 13.

Are You There Interwebz, it’s me Sasha?

Sasha Devlin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:44:36 +0000

Ahhhh not only do I bastardize the titles of great books, I do a runner and leave you in the lurch. I can’t say that I’m surprised at myself, but that I had hoped for better.

IRL I have moments where I disappear off grid. I call it going hermit, and to be fair, saying I go off grid is a bit of an overstatement. I don’t believe in camping (well, I believe it EXISTS but don’t believe there is a good reason to do it unless you’re saving someone’s life by doing so, but that’s another rant for another day), so I don’t really go off grid, but I abandon communications. Emails stop, calls which typically aren’t that abundant to begin with cease, and blogging apparently grinds to a halt.

I typically go to ground, live in mind for a while, and then come back out blinking myopically for several days until I’m back in the groove. This time seemed to last longer than normal. Or perhaps I was more cognizant of the time since I knew this blog was out there, .

Either way you slice it, I’m back, and will be posting regularly. Whether the hermit in me likes it or not.