AbielleRose

Thank you Paula. I feel truely blessed and thankful that I found BCF this year and was able to 'meet' you. You are a treasure. Merry Christmas.

It is a very friendly place. I was on another site but it seemed like everyone had an agenda trying to promote their own books. BCF is wonderful I'm glad you are liking it.

That's too bad that you have to work tonight! Hopefully time will go fast for you and you'll be home before you know it. Merry Christmas!!

Hello there! Hope you're having a good day today

Thanks, I wish the same for you too

I don't know much about the English university system, unfortunately. I admit that I did the whole university thing wrong when I went. I filled my life with distractions and then stuffed school into the empty time slots left over from those distractions. Now that I have been paying off the loans for the last 4 years I am very much aware of the weight of my poor choices. Sometimes it takes seeing something from a different angle to realize how much you want it and how important it truely is.

I really hope things go better for you when you go back. Film, eh?

What do you plan on studying when you go back? Have you considered taking any photography classes?

College would be much better (in my opinion) if we could get rid of the core classes (especially math and speech) and focus solely on what we want for our degree. I ended up taking time off because I was struggling so much with math (and then I became a banker- ironic?) That is my greatest fear about going back. I'm scared I won't be able to handle the math.

I ordered my copy of Salem's Lot today. Should be here before Christmas .

Dracula is fantastic! Have you read The Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker (Bram's great-grandson)? I haven't yet but it is on the list. He actually used Bram's own notes for Dracula.

Haha, when I first told my dad I wanted to write he asked me 'So you want to be poor?' The concept of following one's dreams and running the risk of being poor vs. living in the purgatory of a job you hate praying for retirement for the sake of a steady paycheck is a highly debated one in my family. I guess that's why I ended up compromising and majoring in Journalism. They don't know (yet) that I've decided to change majors and follow my own dreams.

I agree. That's why it is hard for me to read authors such as Nora Roberts or Danielle Steel who use the same basic outline for all of their novels; they only change the names of their characters and locations. Maybe that's why I'm drawn to classics- they paved the way and inspired much of the the junk that is produced today It would be amazing to get inside the head of authors such as J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer (yes, I know...).

I just cracked open a bottle of wine so all is good over here *hiccup*

*Toast's Paula and another approaching year in her life*

A friend of mine who is a writer actually had her work banned in one of the states (Florida I believe). She told me that it is a mark of good work if people fear it. It's never fully made sense to me but if you look back in history some of the greatest works of literature were on the banned list at some point. I still remember my priest telling us that Harry Potter was the devil when it first came out (yet they had it in the library of my Catholic High school... hmmm...)

I have dipped over 200 pretzels in chocolate this morning and am making fudge. I know that I'm a girl and loving chocolate is supposed to be programed into our DNA but if I never see a brick of the stuff again I wouldn't cry.

That's right! Happy early birthday!!! Do you have any big plans?

His work is very unique, that's for sure! Ugh, being woken up by someone is the worst! Hopefully they finish the construction soon.

I'm doing well, just taking a baking/cleaning break. I swear if I never see another chocolate pretzel again I wouldn't care!

You're such a sweet person Paula I've been doing well. It's snowing here but I have alcohol, chocolate and movies so all is good! How is your weekend going?

How is everything going? I hope you're feeling a little more at peace with everything school-wise now that you're done with the semester Have a great weekend!

If you get the chance read Maude by Tennyson. It is one of my favorites. I plan on buying a Poe book this evening as I used to love reading him but haven't since high school. There is one of his works that I cannot remember the name of right now where (I believe) the main character buried someone he killed behind a brick wall and all he could hear was the ticking of a heart beat until it drove him crazy. For the life of me I believe it is called The Telltale Heart but I'm not 100% sure.

How are you feeling? Get any sleep today?

That's a beautiful poem. I will have to read some more of Blake's stuff! Have you read anything from Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Alfred Lord Tennyson? They are two of my favorites.

I agree, it is a crime. People can't seperate cost and worth these days. Most find it synonomus when they are two completely seperate entities.

*Googles William Carlos Williams* Wow, I spent a bit looking at some of his work and it is great stuff! Thanks for the refrence It drives me nuts sometimes when I come across something that I find utterly amazing and someone else looks at it and says 'What do you mean? It's a tree.' The world isn't all special effects and 3D like TV, open your eyes people! Haha, sorry... it's still early...

I usually look for stuff, usually in nature but sometimes in people's expressions, that are usually overlooked by others. Some people see a mushroom growing in their yard and think 'what a nussiance'. I like to get down there and give it a chance to be seen as an object of beauty and intrigue rather than just a fungus.

Thanks What kind of photography do you do?

Hopefully spring comes early this year The city I live in (Sioux Falls) was named for the falls that are in the center of town. There are a couple pictures on my profile that I took last winter of them. They are beautiful and very peaceful to visit. During the summer the city sets up free Wi Fi so that you can sit out on the grass and listen to them while you're on the internet. I got a digital SLR and can't work it worth a darn. I am used to manuel ones! *curses modern technology* Do you like photography?

Do you like snow? Time to break out the ho-cho! It is actually beautiful here today. I think I'm going to go downtown and walk around the falls for a bit this afternoon. I'd like to take my new camera with me but I can't figure out how to work it! lol

I like that! You have a real way with words.

That's the beauty of being a writer. Even if we can't find every detail we need, we can form our own worlds by taking bits and pieces from others. Some of the most amazing stories were set in completely fictional surroundings. Patience is a virtue (or so they say...)

Yes, we've been pretty lucky here so far this year. I've always wanted to see the Pacific Northwest with the mountains and endless trees. It must be so beautiful out there. My dad lived in Portland for a while and is very familliar with Oregon and Washington. He talks about his time there so often it feels almost like I've visited!

An 'ugly sweater' party to be exact I love researching stuff, even if it has no particular goal behind it. Ancient history is especially facinating to me. I would love to write a book set in ancient Rome or Egypt when I'm finished with my current project.