So, I really need to profile my characters, as in, give them likes, dislikes and some sort of backgrounds. I have come up with names, looks and friends/boyfriends, etc for each of my five MCs. But now it's time for the dreaded task of to actually back up their personalities. I was searching through the 'net and found a couple of sheets to profile MCs. I think I may use them, it will be very long and drawn out...but I'll get there. 

This is always the hardest part. For me, it's pretty easy to get the MCs and give them names and looks and a friend or boyfriend or girlfriend. But then it's hard for me to really give them sturdy personalities along with likes, dislikes and a history. But this year, I am dedicated to getting that done. One of the mess ups for my last Nano-I did win but...it kind of sucked character wise. As I was writing that Nano last year I realized that I didn't know who my characters where and why they wanted to do what I wanted them to do. Needless to say, it ended badly. Yes, it was a tad bit over 50k, but it was loose and unfocused 50k. 

So, this year I am going to do it right. And by right, I am going to give my characters the best histories, likes, dislikes and problems that I can think up! I'm not going to let them down. :) 

Okay, I am off to profile some MCs. I will post my final results. It should take a bit though, there are 5 MCs afterall. 

Till next time,
-Alyssa 

ok first, new layout =)

well by new, i mean i just changed the header and the colors.
as usual credit goes to minty_peach for the layout codes,
cartonage for the great tutorial about contextual popup,
and passing_girl for the tiny icons.

since i started on LJ, i've always used stock headers. and i really needed something new, so bye bye my old car header, and say hi to Robert Downey Jr, Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. i wont get bored before a while ♥ ♥ ♥


and then, it's a big day today for eccentricrabbit !

How is it that I don't have an issue talking about my family problems and other personal tribulations... but I can't bring myself to write about... well... ugh.

It's like this whole central thing in my life is just nonexistent... and means that I don't post here as much anymore. I don't keep up with LJ like I used to.

I think a part of it is knowing that anyone can read it. Even if some people aren't apart of my life anymore, it still feels weird knowing they could be reading this and silently judging me. I'm paranoid, I know. Always have been; ask anyone.

So, as happy as I am right now, I think it's a personal sort of thing that I'd like to write about with a controlled group of readers, at least being able to see who has access.

That means this journal is now officially friends only.

Feel free to email me (sannhollis at gmail dot com) or comment for an add.

As things looks, I won't be able to go, so: there's a hotel room with twin beds booked, and two tickets up for grabs,for Cindy Lauper in concert in Birmingham on Monday 13th, if anyone is interested. It would be a waste not to use them at all.
I know it's a very short term warning, but I thought to give it a try. My housemate Stef was going to go with me, so if you're on your own, you can still go with her, or if you have a friend or someone else to go with, that's fine too.
I've screened the comments and will check asap.

Snagged from mtrainiergirl who grabbed it from thetoodz.

Really hope ya'll will all fill it out. :)

If you're on my friends list, I want to know 36 things about you. I don't care if we never talk, or if we already know everything about each other. Short and sweet is fine... you're on my list, so I want to know you better!

Comment here and re-post a blank one on your own journal.


01) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
02) What was your dream growing up?
03) What talent do you wish you had?
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
05) Favorite vegetable?
06) What was the last book you read?
07) What zodiac sign are you?
08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
09) Worst Habit?
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
11) What is your favorite sport?
12) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
16) Do you have any pets?
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
18) What was your first impression of me?
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22) What color eyes do you have?
23) Ever been arrested?
24) Bottle or can soda?
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
27) What's your favorite place to hang out at?
28) Do you believe in ghosts?
29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30) Do you swear a lot?
31) Biggest pet peeve?
32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
34) Favorite and least favorite food?
35) Do you believe in God?
36) Will you re-post this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Following in the footsteps of goddessrockgeek , I'd like to give back to the people who have left such great and supportive comments and who have friended me. So, happy early Halloween/Christmas? If you're on my friend's list or have left some comments on my little journal, I'll be taking requests for graphics. Believe me, I'll recognize if you've been around here or not. So if you have an actor/actress/band/animal/wrestler/whatever you'd like something of, just let me know and I can make an icon for you. I can also do friend's only banners, profile banners, and maybe even a header, but I'm new to those so be weary. xP

Anywho, just comment and I'm sure I can do something for you. I just wanted a way to say thank you!

Oh, and the first challenge over at zooeyd_stills  is almost over, but we have only a few entries. Go on over to see the challenge and enter. Deadline is tomorrow, so hurry if you want to be in it.

I think that'll be it for now. It's time for me to get ready for my brother's birthday dinner. Happy 25th, Jeremypoo!

-web access is very partial and erratic, we're waiting for a new router to arrive.
-have seen SPN episodes 1, 2 and 3. Very cool eps, I'm excited again. Missed all your comments/meta and so on, due to the lack of connection, but the show is really promising this year. And John was sweet.
-in the meantime, I caught the first gastro/cold/flu of the season, so have been down for the count since last Sunday. oh joy.
-mum got taken into hospital last night for a respiratory crisis (due to a bronchitis and her general weak state for the chemo, etc), fluids in places they shouldn't be and according to what the doctors have told my brother, her time may have arrived, so I am probably flying off to Italy tomorrow or so.

hugs you all

Friends meme...
If you're on my friends list, I want to know 36 things about you. I don't care if we never talk, or if we already know everything about each other. Short and sweet is fine...you're on my list, so I want to know you better!

Answer here and repost a blank one on your own journal.



01) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
02) What was your dream growing up?
03) What talent do you wish you had?
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
05) Favorite vegetable?
06) What was the last book you read?
07) What zodiac sign are you?
08) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where.
09) Worst habit?
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
11) What is your favorite sport?
12) Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude?
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
16) Do you have any pets?
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
18) What was your first impression of me?
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22) What color eyes do you have?
23) Ever been arrested?
24) Bottle or can soda?
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
27) What's your favorite place to hang out at?
28) Do you believe in ghosts?
29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30) Do you swear a lot?
31) Biggest pet peeve?
32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
34) Favorite and least favorite foods?
35) Do you believe in God?
36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Over 250 caps (848x478) from the new Twilight trailer!

( download link and rules... )

Things are getting crazier. Mom is still recovering from her foot surgery that took place at the end of August. She's getting around a lot better now, and no major bandage changes are required anymore (I was doing all of her bandage changes), but she still needs a lot of help and isn't driving again yet. Just yesterday she realized I'll be gone all next week and she'll have to ask Dad if she needs help with something. She hates asking Dad for help - he's a total grouch when anyone asks him to do anything, it seems like.

So anyway, my schedule for the next little while:

Oct. 11-18 - Panic Extravaganza and trip to Seattle with darksylvia
Oct. 19 - Mom's birthday
Oct. 20 - Dad's eye surgery (outpatient, but can't drive for a while)
Oct. 22-24 - at my sister's; she's having surgery for a femoral hernia (outpatient, but can't lift her son for a while)
Unknown date in first 2 weeks of November - Dad's other surgery (um... being done by a colo-rectal surgeon... more serious than hemorrhoids... let's just leave it at that)
Nov. 13 - Black Gold concert in San Francisco

At least that month of craziness begins and ends with fun stuff. And there is a bit of a break, hopefully, after my sister's surgery.

I was planning to have surgery this year to get my VNS implant removed, but I don't think that's going to happen. At least the implant isn't causing me any problems. It's just weird that it's still inside my body when it's been turned off for longer than it was turned on.

Ah well. One day at a time. :-| Must get to bed. Up far too late as it is.

• 13:25 The parents put a YES ON PROP 8 sign on the front lawn today. I am so thoroughly repulsed by that. Equal marriage rights for all! #
• 16:32 Randomness: I have 11070 tracks in my iTunes. 8318 of them have never been played. At least not since my last reinstall. #

Daily pestering, courtesy of LoudTwitter

I saw it at heartofslash first!

List 10 books you have on your bookshelf that you think nobody else on your friends list has on theirs.

This is kinda like shooting fish in a barrel for me. I have so many freaking books and such weird, diverse interests that most of my books probably aren't on anyone else's shelves.

I'll start off with an easy one that many of my pagan/Wiccan flist might have though:

1. Pagan Feasts by Anna Franklin and Sue Phillips

2. Handbook of Medieval Sexuality ed. by Bullough and Brundage

3. The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rosa Menocal

4. The SAS Personal Survival Handbook by John 'Lofty' Wiseman (This came really close to one of heartofslash's but no cigar>.

5. Zaftig: Well Rounded Erotica ed. by Hanne Blank (You know, I realized that a great many of my books have to do with sex. And I actually bypassed several to choose these.) o.O

6. The Spirit and the Flesh: Sexual Diversity in American Indian Culture by Walter L Williams (see?)

7. The Proper Care of Fancy Rats - I love rats! They're smart, they're affectionate, they're sweet natured. Unfortunately they're also very short lived. D:

8. Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition by B. R. Burg (uh...yeah)

9. The Code of Kings: The Language of Seven Sacred Maya Temples and Tombs by Linda Schele, Peter Mathews, Macduff Everton, and Justin Kerr - Hell I could have picked 10 books alone on either the Maya, Medieval society and the American Old West.

10. NAM: The Vietman Experience 1965-1975 - After Platoon which I went to the theater to see about 10 times, and then Tour of Duty and all the books I bought on that era of the military and all the reading I did, I could give my brother (the Ranger) lessons on The Nam. *G*

I did add in one book of fiction (Zaftig) but the rest are non-fiction because that's by far the majority of what I have. Although I have no doubt I could go pick out as many fantasy or SciFi books that I have that most people have never even heard of let alone own.

So, whatcha got on your shelves?

[13] Jeffrey Dean Morgan
[30] Supernatural


( We Can Watch The World Devoured In It's Pain. )

This has great potential to be embarrassing, but I've been wanting to do it, so... (stolen from i_am_tre)

Instructions: Open up your iTunes and fill out this survey, no matter how embarrassing the responses might be.

How many songs total: 11070
How many hours or days of music: 33.5 Days
Most recently played: Idols - Black Gold
Most played: Don't Wake Me Up - The Hush Sound (played 95 times)
Most recently added: Folkin' Around (cover) - sateenmusta

Sort by song title:
First Song: A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
Last Song: ---- - Snow Patrol

Sort by time:
Shortest Song: Manifesto - Patrick Stump - CitizensForOurBetterment.com (10 seconds) [First actual song: Hello I Love You (10sec Version) - The Cure (14 seconds)]
Longest Song: Warszawa - David Bowie (38:02 minutes)

Sort by album:
First album: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out - Panic! At The Disco (because I made it sort by the actual name instead of ignoring the "A")
Last album: The 80's - Various Artists (compilation CD)

First song that comes up on Shuffle: Stolen - Dashboard Confessional

Search the following and state how many songs come up:
Death - 164
Life - 273
Love - 870
Hate - 49
You - 1342
Sex - 61

Some extra stats I'm adding to put some of those numbers in perspective:
Number of duplicates listed with I go to File > Show Duplicates: 2415
Number of songs never played: 8318

I hoard music. Or something.