Wannabe Cowgirl

Bagels

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Here We Go Again

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:28:00 +0000

It's back. Another year of novel-writing mania. I've participated in and won 3 of the last 4 NaNo's, and did not win last year because I did not begin (which was, incidentally, not an accident, in case you were wondering). But now, 365 writing-free days later, I'm just about crazy enough to try again.

Do I have high literary hopes? No, considering that I have not written a syllable of fiction since NaNoWriMo 2007. I do think, however, that it will be fun. I'm excited to reconnect with my local NaNo-ers, as well as plug into the global community of my fellow insane. But why? you ask. Well -- why not?

Zette puts it nicely in this excerpt from her free ebook, NaNo For the New and Insane:

NaNo isn't about proving anything. It isn't about writing the great novel, or about perfection. It isn't, even, about winning. It's about enjoying the act of writing just for itself and letting yourself fly for a whole month without worrying about anything else. It's about joining in the only intellectual activity of its kind along with thousands of others from around the world.

Am I nervous? Am I already experiencing performance anxiety? Is my internal editor already nitpicking every last word that I blog/email/imagine? You betcha. But I think NaNo 2009 is going to be fun anyway.

Google-tastic Procrastination

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:01:00 +0000

I ran across this on Facebook. It's actually quite amusing. Try it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. My own procrastination in this matter certainly paid off. I think.

Ok this is really funny and strange. To do this, you just type your name and "needs" in the Google search engine, as in "______needs". Whatever top 10 things pop up you type in your note. Tag 25 people in your note and make sure to tag who tagged you!!

Beth needs Facebook.
Beth needs a domestic engineer in training.
Beth needs a considerable raise in salary.
Beth needs to retain the Woman's Championship at No Mercy against Candice to keep the division alive.
Beth needs 3/8 of a material to make a pillow.
Beth needs emotional support.
Beth needs sleep.
Beth needs a home. (I should note that this phrase began "Sweet and spunky Beth . . .")
Beth needs a logo.
Beth needs advice.

Intriguing. What do you need?

Image from the Invisible Children Blog.

Intriguing Reads

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:43:00 +0000

This is not normally my genre of choice, but I find myself growing quite intrigued by this book's premise:

Coming 12/22/09 from Bloomsbury...

Nimira is a music-hall girl used to dancing for pennies. So when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing accompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life. In Parry's world, long-buried secrets are about to stir. Unsettling rumors begin to swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry’s involvement in a group of corrupt sorcerers for whom the rules of the living and dead are meant to be broken for greater power. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing fairy gentleman is trapped within the automaton, she is determined to break the curse. But even as the two fall into a love that seems hopeless, breaking the curse becomes a perilous race against time. Because it's not just the future of these star-crossed lovers that's at stake, but the fate of the entire magical world.

Want to win an ARC with original sketches from the author inside? See http://fabulousfrock.livejournal.com for details!

Comical blogging

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Garage sale season

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:38:00 +0000

An "to give away" ad found in The Missoulian this morning while perusing garage sale postings:

2 hens, 2 roosters with cage. We're moving and the kid won't let us eat them. 880-6220

Independent

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Happy Independence Day! The Best Husband Ever and I are still in New Jersey visiting my family. We've done and seen quite a bit, as well as had the opportunity to see missed friends and relatives. So far we've partied down at an Italian restaurant for a family reunion, walked the Brooklyn Bridge with my best friend and maid of honor, unearthed a crab, swum in the Atlantic, photographed a lighthouse (among other things), cheered the Yankees and Mets on in person, strolled the Boardwalk, indulged in ice cream/Polish water ice, and -- possibly best of all -- chilled out. Today we're heading back into New York City to visit my favorite touristy haunt, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But we won't be hanging around for the fireworks. In fact, I hope to miss that rush of people entirely! I'll be quite satisfied with the local showing, if it doesn't get rained out. (Photo nabbed from the LA Times, of all places.)

Headliner

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:09:00 +0000

An article on the Montana primaries that I submitted to Associated Content today was not only accepted, but also became a featured news story on the site's front page!

A real, live artist

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:13:00 +0000

My browser's homepage is set for iGoogle, a personalized version of the Google website. With iGoogle, the signed-in user can add widgets that can range in function from helpful tools to games to social networking. My own iGoogle page, for example, has a widgets that display articles from The New York Times as well as top news headlines in general, a weather report device, my Google Reader RSS feed headlines, my Twitter feed, and a Flickr display.

One of my more frivolous widgets is the How-To of the Day. This displays two links to wikiHow, where the reader can learn how to do something. My favorite titles have to do with recipes or fitness, but they cover just about every topic imaginable, from parenting tips to dishwasher maintenance.

One of today's headlines caught my eye -- "How to be Artistic." Intrigued, I clicked through the link, curious as to how one goes about being artistic. Surely expressing oneself through an art form would be the number one tip, but what about the others?

Once on the wikiHow page for this topic, I found myself sadly in the wrong. The primary step in becoming artistic, according to the site, is to "start wearing unique clothes." Hmm. Only in step number two do we even start hearing about art -- "you know your talents, so use them creatively." Hardly a specific reference to making one's own art. Other tips include becoming more social, hanging out in coffee shops, and listening to unique music.

I suppose that writing poems and fiction is not enough to make me truly artistic. Neither is an active interest in photography, I imagine. At least I spend a good amount of time in coffee shops. I knew all those lattes would one day turn out to be good for something.

Running season

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:38:00 +0000

As I biked out to begin my day yesterday, I saw women with stands standing at an intersection that I was approaching. I would have to wait with them to cross, and I groaned as I rode up, thinking they were pro-life picketers. I don't disagree with those activists, but picketing makes me uncomfortable. How effective can it be? Maybe that makes me a coward. I don't know.

It turned out that last morning's crowd were instead supporters of Hillary Clinton's campaign, urging drivers to "honk for Hillary." Yeah. I thought it was all rather hilarious (pun somewhat intended).

I find politics so over the top, and rather fluffy. (I'm not sure that's the word I'm looking for.) People get so worked up about politics, and seem to take such perverse pleasure and identity from rabid fervor. It's as if, as a nation , we have taken a decent system that actually dealt more or less efficiently with the real business of governing into a popularity campaign pervaded by a lot of wasted breath, wasted money, and a lack of general integrity. The way the whole 2008 campaign comes across to me is of just another form of entertainment. Do we idolize our politicians in the same way as movie stars, musicians, and other celebrities? I think so, and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Is that completely pessimistic of me? I love America and appreciate my citizenship -- but surely we can do better. Right? Or am I just being unrealistic or naive? But I don't mind being naive, if I am -- you can turn that around to say that I'm actually hopeful, that I feel that there's a higher standard that we as a society and a government can aspire to, should be held to, and, most importantly, are capable of meeting.

End in sight

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:45:00 +0000

The first pass revision of my NaNoWriMo 2007 novel is finished! I can hardly believe the words as I write them. Finished? To be sure, I still have to type all of my edits and changes into the manuscript, but this remains a milestone both for the specific project as well as for my writing in general. This is the closest to that elusive ultimate finish line that I've ever taken any long fiction work -- and I want to keep going with it, to the end! I feel so excited to see where this story goes. Hopefully one day it will land in the hands of a publisher who wants to purchase it. For now, though, I will be more than satisfied to see my characters, plot, and writing skill develop.

Writer reading

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:54:00 +0000

I certainly have been lax in my Artist's Way efforts! Not only have I skipped two weeks of morning pages, but I also failed quite miserably in the "no reading" policy of this period. But I'm dusting myself off and stiffly approaching the proverbial horse once again, ready to mount up.

Breaking the no reading assignment was, in my feeling, more than worth it. My most notable literary venture was The Time-Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffenegger. When I heard that Eric Bana is starring in the film version of the book that's coming out around November, I thought that between his involvement -- he's only a small step down from the wonderful Hugh Jackman in my book, especially as Hector in Troy! -- and my vague grasp of the plot, this movie is something I'd be interested in checking out. However, as the book is usually better than its film counterpart, I checked the novel out of the library and journeyed in.

I had low expectations. "National bestsellers" put me in mind of The DaVinci Code, Oprah's book club, Danielle Steele, and, in general, books that may be entertaining but are also of moderate to low quality. Book snob that I am, such texts barely earn a passing glance from me. I only read The DaVinci Code because I was down the shore and wanted something quick and light for the beach. (Plus, I wanted a more informed opinion regarding its then-controversial contents.)

Niffenegger's book was nothing like my thin and sanctimonious expectations. Instead, I discovered an intricately woven plot, vivid characters that walked with me after I closed the pages, and delicate, well-crafted prose. It's been some time since I've met characters that I can truly root for, mourn with, and love. The whole tale reminded me of the voice of the graphic novel Blankets, and the male main character seemed the literary incarnation of Neil Gaiman, somehow. I loved it, devoured, luxuriated in every word. My only criticism is that there is some sexual content that briefly smears the artfulness of the story. But overall -- what rare joy!

Anniversary

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:02:00 +0000

A triolet for my husband, whom I love very much. I feel so thankful that he puts up with my craziness.

Six Months Deep

The sun danced through our twenty-four weeks,
pas de deux with silver moon sister.
Fire burned my knees weak
as the sun danced through our twenty-four weeks.
You learned the pain my pale doubt wreaks,
taught me of flames and God's love blisters
and the sun danced through, our twenty-four weeks
a pas de deux with silver moon sister.

at the table

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:31:00 +0000

i dreamed a table draped
in linen, stained
to royalty and on it bread, beckoning
draw near
draw near
I am here and there

burns a fire pillar near
it crackles taste and
chew. wheat rolls
dough pills in my mouth
through its molar lodging-loosing-
lodge before the waking

the load is not a loaf, now
a bleeding man
covering the linen with his flow, and
the pillar not a pillar
the eyes of a blazing figure
sear me to ash, i shiver
naked in the tabernacle

eat it fills the fissures
taste the table-spread form
bleeds from cracked lips, know.
the bread spreads stringed flesh
tastes of wood fire smoke
in winter, of the east. we fall
warm, one down and down

Persona

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:02:00 +0000

This pantoum is in need of much attention, but I'm still quite happy with it in all of its rough, unrevised glory. It's the first major formal poem I've undertaken since college, and it was good fun to write.

Pantoum

Red hair falls across her forehead,
silver-dark in the crescent black
beside the empty highway. She waits,
asphalt scent thick in her mouth.

Silver-dark in the crescent black,
twin lights prick the horizon.
Asphalt scent thick her her mouth,
she swallows at rising bile, shivering.

Twin lights prick the horizon
and her skin prickles beneath sable thread.
Swallowing at rising bile, she shivers
and finds her feet, muscles protest

while her skin prickles beneath sable thread,
shroud and shield on the lampless way.
She finds her feet, muscles protest
against the twin lights' approach.

Shroud and shield on the lampless way,
she thinks and barks bitter laughter
against the twin lights' reproach.
I am alone in the wide world, now.

She thinks and barks bitter laughter
at thirty years of vacuous soul pursuit,
still alone in the wide world. Now
she blinks up at the silver sickle,

at thirty years of vacuous soul pursuit,
whispered prayers that never reached harbor.
She blinks up at the silver sickle,
blinks back tears hot at the injustice

of whispered prayers that never reached harbor
and the maw that molders in her core.
Blinking back tears hot at the injustice
of lonely life and lonelier death

and the maw that molders in her core,
she blesses the chill night
lonely of life and lonelier in death.
She can hear the engine's toil

and blesses the chill night,
the cool air a kiss in her sob-sore chest.
She can hear the engine's toil
and tries not to wonder if it will hurt,

the cool air a kiss in her sob-sore chest,
when the diesel engine presses steel to skin.
She tries not the wonder if it will hurt
but her brain smolders and gears work closer,

the diesel engine pressing steel to skin
almost, home now, almost time to leap.
Her brain smolders and gears work closer,
louder. Blood rushes through her in a din --

almost home now, almost time to leap --
a cacophony of pump beating roaring synapses,
louder as blood rushes through her in a din.
And then, clouds obscuring silver,

the cacophony of pump-beating, roaring synapses
smooth in even flow. She draws up,
then, clouds obscuring silver,
steady as if the moonlight poured down,

smoothed in even flow. She draws up
a crisp breath of air, sweet and serene,
steady as the moonlight pours down
again, thin across the highway,

a crisp breath of air, sweet and serene,
laying out royal velvet before the engine
again, thin across the highway.
The lights, the engine loom and she steps,

lays out her royal velvet before the engine
like an offering. She sighs, lids slide closed
as the lights and engine loom. She steps
from flesh and, a specter, stands

like an offering. She sighs, lids slide closed.
Beside the form on the highway, she waits
free from flesh and specter-stands
when red hair crashes across her forehead

Happy unbirthday

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:10:00 +0000

six months, one hundred eighty
sun and star cycles, more
or less. leap year does not factor,
half an age spanned today.

Persistant winter

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:12:00 +0000

hope departed

new warmth withers, chill
pall slinking beneath the door.
winter’s not yet through.

Reading, writing, poeming

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:50:00 +0000

I recently happened across a poetry blog called Read Write Poem. It's quite an excellent community in which participants share poems they write based on a weekly prompt. Having first learned of the site from lovely sbpoet, I decided to check it out -- and promptly (pun somewhat intended) loved the idea. So here it is, my first poem written according to one of Read Write Poem's prompts.

fallen verses

i chew the apple like a prayer
earth’s potato, flesh rough-smooth
on my tongue’s pebbled flat
crimson swelling silently
in my hand. the fruit
feeds me like desert raindrops, i
think.
teeth open
clutch it close and swallow
soul mysteries unlocked, fallen
open. it is written
but on broken leaves forgotten. no
matter, i must share
this new dream with man.

Merry Christmas!

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:10:00 +0000

Don't send a
lame Holiday
eCard. Try JibJab
Sendables!

Season's reason

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:12:00 +0000

I saw this Knights of Columbus public service announcement on television and it made this rather grinchy Christ-follower smile. (Well, it made me giggle, actually, which in turn caused nearby people to send me some funny looks since I saw it while working out at the Y.)

An inconvenient truth

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:04:00 +0000

Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize? Seriously? Sure, he's having to share it with Rajendra Pachauri, U.N. IPCC panelist, but still. It seems odd, perhaps wrong. Al Gore? And I voted for him, so it's not like I've got anything against the man. It just seems akin to, say, Schwarzenegger ruling California. Or the fact that they celebrated the Nobel prize ceremony with a Kylie Minogue concert. (Photo from China View.)

Publicity

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:31:00 +0000

Some exciting things have been happening! My best friend, a rocking costumer designer, was reviewed on Backstage.com. And I have had a poem published in the online Christian journal, Haruah. Congrats to us, I say!

Victory

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:33:00 +0000

It

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:53:00 +0000

I was tagged by Ginni for this NaBloPoMo meme.

the rules:
link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
tag 7 random people participating in nablopomo at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And so, we begin. My 7 random/odd/weird things:

I wanted to be WilyKit from Thundercats when I was younger, and would stand on swings and pretend they were hoverboards.
I like muffins. A lot.
I have owned five pet rats in my life time, and had four of them at one time.
I developed a severe asthmatic reaction to said rats, and this is why I can no longer keep them. But if I could, I would.
I am currently employed as a substitute teacher, a coffee shop barista, and at a gaming retail store.
I have lived in another country (New Zealand, for one semester).
I enjoy yoga.

And I tag:

http://www.sbpoet.com/
http://texasfarmwife.blogspot.com/
http://pollywogcreek.blogspot.com/
http://sarahreed07.blogspot.com/
http://itsacanadiangeek.blogspot.com/
http://www.exschutz.blogspot.com/
http://ramblingsoflovingcjm.blogspot.com/

Happy posting/meme-ing!

All dried up?

escagnel04@yahoo.com (Betherann) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:56:00 +0000

NaNoWriMo progress today is not so good. In fact, it's downright terrible -- a grand total of zero words written today. And that, of course, is why I am blogging and fiddling with my other blog (and brand new, I might add, just in time for NaBloPoMo) instead of writing. Plus, as an added bonus I ate so much today that my stomach just hurts. But on a really lovely note, I started reading Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar today -- and love it. I have always wanted to read Plath's novel, but never got around to it. And even if I had, I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I am. I breezed through 80 pages of it today, while working out, no less. That's quite the feat for me as the gym is a place that is (not surprisingly) fraught with distraction. So it means a lot when I can say that Plath's book captured me from page one, since I cracked the spine (not literally, of course! I love my books, probably a little too much) while on an elliptical machine.