Winner! I'm a Winner!

I wrote over 50,000 words into a novel from November 1st until today!

This was my 6th attempt and 4th win.

The key now is to edit it from terrible first draft to sell-able final draft.

My goal is to do that by April.

Oh, it's called Hidden Temple to the Lost Gods.

Kαλό μήνα, I Could Use a Good Month

I started my next novel.  I've finished some other ones, and they aren't very good.  Here's hoping I can finish this one by the end of the month and I hope it's a good one.

Wish me καλό μήνα (good month) because I think I'm going to need it.

We are the Champions!

from ESPN

I waited for LTC Tammes to post something, or maybe the CSM.  They didn't so I guess I will have to.

Woo Hoo!  Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup 2013 Champions!  Congrats!

I posted my personal experience on Illin6.

Riding Off Into the Sunset?

Well lil' buckaroo, it's time for this cowpope to say goodbye.

Do you think he'll retire to Florida?  I think the southwest's arid climate would be better for his joints.

The Vatican announced today that Pope Benedict XVI will be resigning at the end of the month.  Didn't think they could do that?  Neither did I but Wikipedia says that it was done back in 1415 (ah remember those good old days when there only was the Old World?).

Want to talk about it?  Go on over to Illini6.  That's the only place you will hear if they elect me to replace him.  Well, actually you will probably see the smoke and hear it from the news agencies.  Then you will hear it from Illini6, then probably you will hear it here because I wouldn't be able to keep a thing like that to myself.

Happy Yule!

Today is the Solstice!  In the Northern Hemisphere (of Earth) it's Winter Solstice and in the Southern Hemisphere it's the Summer Solstice.

Happy Solstice everybody!

It'a also, "World End Day."  Only I don't think so much.  It's more like hoorah, we get a new calendar today.  It's just like when you put up that new puppy calendar in January and take down that tired old calendar of tropical islands.  Where did you get that from anyway?  It was more of a tease, wasn't it, I mean, you were never going to go to any of those islands and it just hung in your little cubicle mocking you all year.  I say good riddance to the old Long Count Calendar and let's celebrate the new one.

These folks obviously are.

Hey, I know what you can get me for Christmas / Yule, visit Illini6 and vote on the poll, leave a comment, and click on the little boxes below some posts.  You know good things come in threes.  I'll bet if you do that then the world won't end today.

Can you afford to risk it?

Merry Christmas

no

Yesterday was St. Nicholas' Day and last night he visited our house and left little gifts in the shoes of our family.  It's a bit of a tradition we do and it really kicks off our holiday season.

Another kickoff of the season is a Christmas poll at Illini6.  I do believe I've done this before.  It's not as strong a tradition as Cthulhu Month in October, but I think I'll try to keep it going from here on out.

Why don't you stop on by Illini6 and vote on the pole, er, I mean poll and if you want you can air grievances too (I guess).

Oh and by the way, did you hear that the Pope doesn't like Christmas?  It's pravda.

Vote Vote Vote

Did you vote this year?  You know this was a big election year, right?  I mean, you had the President of the US, that was pretty big.

Mostly you have to be a citizen of the US and not a felon to vote in that one and I know there are folks that follow this blog that are blocked from voting in that election (for whatever reason, I'm not judging, I understand things happen).

As far as I know you CAN vote in blogs though, no matter where, who or what you are.

You know, I hear there is a really fun one going on right now at Illini6.  There are only two days left for that one, but you can still get in on it.

Hurry, hurry, make your typing fingers heard!

I'd say, "Vote or Die," but hey, like I said, I'm not judging, just saying.

BTW, I voted in both, you can do that you know.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Inner Prop is 46 today.  Come celebrate on Illini6!  Or celebrate here, that's okay too.

Ashes to Ashes

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.  Today is Ash Wednesday.

From ashes we came and to ashes we shall return.

From Katrina I came and to Nightmares of Katrina I have finally returned.

After years of trying (the first post was back in Sep 09!) I have finally finished recounting my experience that I have called Nightmares of Katrina.

Go read, now.  It's groovy.

Who has two thumbs and is a NaNoWriMo 2010 Winner?

This guy!

NaNoWriMo 2010 Begins

Well, I've gone and done it again.  I've thrown in with those crazy National Novel Writing Month people.  I tried to stay out, I really did.  In fact I ran on a No-NaNo platform, but circumstances just forced me.  Now that I'm in it I'm in it to win, so wish me luck, 'cuz I won't be back 'til it's over over there (o'er by dere at Illini6).

There's a Poll at Illini6!

No, not like that.  There's a poll, you know one you can vote on.

Please, Please go vote.

I'm trying to decide what kind of novel to write for NaNoWriMo 2010.

You know, he does have a silly hat.

Now, this is better.

It's That Time of Year Again - Cthulhu Month

The Aztecs used to say, Huitzepotil tloloc tenochtitlan!

It's October and that means it's Cthulhu Month over at Illini6. You know, I went back and looked at past years and at least for the last two years I've claimed that it was the third year of doing a blasted image of the Great Old One each day in the month of October. That means that I've been mistaken or, or, time is not right!

I don't know how long I've been doing this, but this year is special, I'm going to try to put in as many original images, I've gotten my wits about me again (recovered from the Equinox) and I'll be sharing my Katrina experiences and I have another blog, Papa Stories where I'm going to try to record some of the stories my father used to tell.

First up on Papa Stories will be The Night Of the Purple Fog.

Ooooooo! Scary stuff kids!

BEWARE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX!

Full moon, spring tide, Autumnal Equinox, the Earth is pointed at...

Illini6

Tamara Be Talk Like a Pirate Day Maty!

Yar, avast ye, I got me bike commute update on me blog, Illini6.

Hope yorn gon 'ave a fine Talk Like a Pirate Day tamara.

N'er 'eard o' Talk Like a Pirate Day?  Wharn ye been, ya land lubber, TLaPD be a long standin' tradition.  It be te most holy o' holy days fer te Church o' te Flyin' Spaghetti Monster it be, an' it be international.

So, if'n ye don' wan personal ventalation, ye best be talkin' like a pirate tamara!  Yar!

Illini-Time!

I've given up hope on the Bears already, and I've found the Big 10 Network is free on my Dish subscription. I actually watched my first Illini football game, and I'm so sorry I didn't try before.

So, someone help me put the 35-3 win over SIU in perspective. I have a post about it on Illini6.

Oh, and since LTC John hasn't put up any pit-chers from Old Boys, here's one of this old boy. I bought a new hat whilst down there.

William G. La Fleur BG (Ret.) 1942 - 2010

On Sunday night 28 March 2010, William George LaFleur, BG (Ret.), Captain of Chicago Police (Ret.), Rochelle Firefighter, Scoutmaster (Ret.), Brother, Husband, Father and Grandfather succumbed to pancreatic cancer and passed on.

He had been diagnosed in September 2008.  After over a year of chemothearapy, he had been being cared for by his family at his home in Rochelle, Illinois.  He was surrounded by his family when he passed.

He donated his body to science.

Services will be held the week after Easter.  I will keep you posted on the exact date through Illini6 and Flowers of Mundelein.

Cthulhu Sighting At Illini6!

Guess what washed up at Illini6, another spawn of Cthulhu Month!

This is the third year that Inner Prop is posting a Cthulhu image a day during October.

Why not come join the fun, and if you have a Cthulhu image let him know and maybe he'll post it, if it is safe for humanity to know.

Inner Prop is also conveying a story that he's been keeping to himself for four years now. It's about something that happened while deployed to LA after Hurricane Katrina. LTC John can attest to some of the story's veracity, but no body has ever heard the whole story, before now.

BTW, why is Inner Prop writing in the third person, and would someone please help the poor man in the photo. That spawn of Cthulhu has clearly seized him by the hands and intends to do him harm. Help him someone!

Inner Prop's Take on the Election

New President, historic election, we knew that. Now let's see what we didn't know. What's going to come of this?

What do you think?

I put some of my opinions on Illini6, but let me sum up here:

I'm nervous.

Everybody calm down!

Cthulhu Month Once Again

Take a break from your regular horror and stop on by Illini6 for another month of Cthulhu images.

This is the third annual Cthulhu month when I put a different Cthulhoid image on the blog each day.

There are also lots of good things to read over there.

Man! I am so glad we got away from that Army of One slogan.