What Am I? Exploring Screenwriting

February or March, 2011 I read a screenplay. In many ways it's a whim. The writer said, "I love getting feedback," and I said, "I love giving feedback." So I read it, and after a few weeks - since I was deep in my final semester of Hamline's MFA - the writer finally said, "So where's my feedback already?!?"

Uncharacteristically, I sat down and wrote out an email in response. I put very little time or thought into it, largely because I'd already put a lot of thought into the script. I wrote something like:

I really love this and this and this.
I don't think this and this and this are working because of why and why.
I suggest doing this and this because of why and why, to enhance that and fix this and that.

The writer responded with something like: "OMG WOW. Can I hire you to help me with my screenplay?" I told him I'd help him for free. He insisted on a contract. I caved. And it's a good thing.

The Many Questions of Fish: Take Two

"Mom, hey Mama? Is it possible to make a giant robotic stuffed animal to help old people but then the makers make it turn EVIL?"

"Hey Mom? Why does the government steal from people? Is it because they're butt faces?"

"Hey Mama, would this be a useful grenade: a tomato grenade?"

"Mom? Hey Mom? Why is the liberty bell in a huge glass dome? Isn't it easy to rob?"

"Hey Mama. How much do miners get paid? Is it like the highest paying - uh, duh! They mine for GOLD!"

"Hey Mom? How big is Brazil?"

"Mom, Mama? Who invented paper? Was it the Egyptians? Or the Romans or the Greeks, no not them, they invented wrestling."

Monday Madness: You Write the Caption!

I began the painful process of going through seven+ years of digital images (everything since getting my first digital camera), and some are so bizarre they defy words.

Or do they? Perhaps I just haven't found the *right* words!

What to Do? Homeschooling / Schooling Angst

Ever since our decision to switch the kids from the charter school to an elementary in our district, I've felt uneasy. Beyond uneasy. Conflicted. No. Queasy. And it's not just watching St. Nick, Pie and Fish climb off the bus every afternoon, although that alone makes me queasy - how I hated the long bus rides home when I was too tired to stay awake but too afraid of missing my stop to fall asleep. Ugh.

Punishment Fail

Apparently our new school requires students to call home when homework isn't completed. As if making a call during quiet reading time is a Mark of Shame.

Obviously, they do not know St. Nick. Call Mom? During the day? From school?! He spent ten whispery minutes explaining that, yeah, his assignment wasn't supposed to have white space and he just totally didn't know so yeah he's fine and lunch was great and there are other kids waiting to use the phone so bye!

I will be Very surprised if St. Nick ever does homework on time again.

Update: two more calls. And we're now halfway through week 3 of school. Hmmm.

Sweetest Baby Ever Learns to Crawl!

And I caught it all on video. Rock on Little Miss Rowdy Britches! And doesn't she rock those sweet wool diaper pants? What am I saying. She rocks *everything*!

Oh, and don't miss the thumb-love at 1:50. It kills me, it's so sweet. She's taking a nap right now, but seeing this makes me want to run up and squeeze her. I'll restrain myself. This time.

(P.S.: I love my Canon 5D.)

How did I get a Website for FREE?

Or almost free. I purchased a couple of domains through 1&1 Hosting, and would you believe it? I got a starter page using their website builder. Free! A simple, five page website that I can customize pretty much however I like, for zip.

I must say, that's pretty sweet. And the design options aren't bad, either. Certainly a huge step up from googlesites. I knew there was a reason *not* to use the ubiquitous Go Daddy! Seriously, try it out, and not just because I'll get a little happy boost if you do. Though happy helps.

 

That being said, I do see limitations with the free site. I can't add custom HTML, for example. I found a workaround for that - in a very simple way. Add an image, highlight the image, and turn it into a link. Then I could build "buttons" to direct people here or to various other websites. Not perfect, but perty dern good for what I paid.

Which would be, in case you missed it, nothing.