Let me hit you with some knowledge

Operation Fast Asleep was unsuccessful. Apparently, my children are built to run around outside for almost four hours and not require any sleep. They are all slightly sun burnt and yet not one of them is asleep right now. What is up with the universe? Stubborn little fighters. Sleep, just close those peepers and give up already.

In unrelated news, I love Red Bull cola--no energy stuff, just delicious taste. Perfection in a soda can.

So, I've been watching the news a lot and it is blowing me away. How did we get to this point where we allow our gov't to regulate the private sector? This is coo-coo-bonkers to me. How in the world do we stop congress from this craziness? Really, I'm without speech. I don't know what we do. I mean, we can email our congress people like mad, but I don't think they listen. And I'm not a spammer...in fact, I loathe spam. (Especially the the political crap because a lot of it ends up being crap spun from the other side trying to scare the poop outta everyone without any real action.) And then, what's up with Nor Korean, Iran, and poor Israel? Scary silliness, if you ask me. Arrrrgh. (I have no ideas, no answers--just frustration.)

I started a writers' group with a couple of friends and we get together once a month to critique each other's work and talk biz-nit. It definitely helps. My writing has improved a ton (not that you would know this from my blog) and it is getting faster and easier to revise the story. I've also learned what I value in writing and storytelling. My big five requirements to a great story:

1. Plot. (Characters are great but if they slow down the plot, I spit on them.)
2. Pace. (It has to move fast and keep me engaged.)
3. Good writing. (No cold granite hands, ie twilight. I recognize I'm not the best at this, but I'm definitely improving.)
4. Strong characters. (I hate weak characters. They can have weaknesses but no sobby-woes-me-hobbitty-dwarfs. You know what I mean?)
5. Invisible narrator. (I don't like the writer to slow down the story, ie Tale of Despereaux.)

So there you go: my mission statement. (Crap, I really am turning into my dad.) I'm trying to apply these requirements to each chapter. It is a process, but I'm getting there. August 6th is the conference, we'll see if I'm ready. (Can you tell I'm procrastinating editing right now?)

I've hit a plateau in exercising...more like a wall. I'm running anywhere between 3-6 miles a day plus pilates and I'm barely denting the scale now. Still, just five more pounds and I'll be happy, you know? Sunny and I have been discussing this at length, because she too has hit a wall. No matter what we do, no change in weight. Sure, there is the argument that we're building muscle but I still have plenty of booty to spare. With pool weather just a few weeks away, I'm starting to think I won't reach the goal. Anyway, Sun and I decided to cut calories--and now I'm starving. Well not really, but I feel like I'm starving. I better see a difference by Thursday or I'm going to be pissed.

Ummm, I think that is about it for thoughts.

sprayer ploy sidebar: 1 frag, 4 suicides. These are not good stats.

conference sidebar: Holland was amazing, as usual.