text:
Dearest Novel
Hopping on board the blog again, and look! It's like riding a bicycle … just gotta get the rust out of my fingers.
Not that I've been neglecting my writing, but last month, thanks to a timely Holly Lisle tip in my email, I experienced a bit of a revelation about my habit of juggling multiple projects at once. It seems I am hurting my novel by carousing with every other project that catches my eye, while my revision sulks at home watching reruns. It got me thinking: Are my profligate ways turning my story bitter and resentful, and unwilling to reveal its heart to me?
What's an author to do when she wants to make amends with her story? How about writing it a letter? Here's a bit of what I wrote …
Dear Tempest's Serenade,
It is with trepidation that I begin this letter, but it is only by admitting my transgressions that I can hope to move beyond them. Because, after you'd given me characters as real as the people in my life and an ending worthy of a much better writer than I'll ever be, I find myself guilty of being a flagrant abuser of your faith in me.
I could defend myself by saying that I don't deserve you, but that is the defense of the weak and small-minded. You came to me and trusted me to write you down. You gave more than you got, you flowed onto the page when I didn't believe in myself, you trespassed my dreams, showing me the fears I must face and transcribe to give you the depth you needed to transport my eventual readers.
I remember when I thought you'd be the only one I'd ever love. I devoted myself to you in every free moment, carrying snippets of you in my pockets, leaving a trail of Post it notes in coffee shops and airplane seats. I remember our evening trysts, when I sat in the dark with you, my hands deep in story, my eyes gazing beyond my ordinary suburban life and into yours, fraught with passion and danger and higher purpose. I remember the glorious passage into completion of your first draft, the blizzard of virtual confetti bestowed upon my announcement of your birth, as you arrived kicking and screaming at the brightness of this world upon your awkward shapelessness.
In revision you grew sweeter, and I began to see your beauty in unexpected places. I discovered where you were strong and where you needed guidance, and bid farewell to explorations into forlorn cul-de-sacs. I kissed you there, but we did not linger, as I coaxed you back into the main thoroughfare of traditional novel structure.
But I confess that my first dalliance from you came during this stressful time of revision. I had no idea I even had another story in me, and so I welcomed it with open arms and flying fingers. This story was so different from you; I could not help but be seduced by it. My courtship was hesitant at first, only a few hundred words a day here and there, but soon the story had its way with me, until I was writing thousands of words a day to know the ending. I pretended to be with you, but I know you saw those rings of sleeplessness around my eyes; I know you saw the tremble in my over-caffeinated fingers. Patiently you waited for me to return, only to lose me once more to the rabid beast called NaNoWriMo.
I don't know what possessed me, my dearest, except a frantic desire to fill that precipitous word count graph. It was only a month's affair, turbulent and feverish, but it consumed me utterly. That I forsook you, my first and most important project, only to stomp my excessive word count into the annals of plotlessness haunts me still.
There were others after that, many others. Should I recount them? Would it hurt you more if you knew them? Would it help to know that some of them were worthy? There have been other transgressions too– blogging, critiquing of writers in need, explorations of image manipulation. Have you watched in horror while I walk away to pursue activities that take me further and further away from you?
What must I do to regain your favor? Is there any way you can forgive me and welcome me into your pages once more? Can we negotiate some kind of mediation, where I would demonstrate my good intentions? Or is what we had gone forever?
I submit this missive to you, and await your response with a troubled mind. Please do not keep your distraught writer waiting.
With my most humble apologies,
So that is what I wrote …
How about you? Have you ever written down your feelings about a project?
And, would it surprise you to know that my book actually responded? Want to know what it said? Stay tuned!
Bicycle sign image courtesy of Michal Zacharzewski, SXC, Pen image courtesy of Mateusz Stachowski, notebook image courtesy of Clara Lam all @ Stock.xchng
IWSG: Fear, Love, and Writing
It's Insecure Writer's Support Group, again. I know, don't remind me– I was insecure two months ago, and haven't been here since! But it's the first Wednesday of the month and, thanks in part to the fabulous Alex J. Cavanaugh and the IWSG, I'm back. Want to join the best blog hop on the worldwide web, and share your doubts and concerns without appearing foolish or weak? Click on this linky, and join us!
In the meantime, as my blog reverts to barren wasteland, I've been sorting through the dirty laundry of the past year's unfinished projects, deciding what to pursue and what to leave behind. As I sorted the whites of new drafts from the delicates of abandoned muse rants, and tossed the dark ruminations in a pile of their own so as not to turn my bright thoughts dingy, I came upon a bit of a revelation about my goals.
Because, as I evaluated how I allocate the hours of my day, how I stack up my time this way and that, trying to hack my life to fit more writing in without disturbing all the rest that I hold dear, I felt myself become more and more desperate to get something done, and to have something to show for my efforts. And the greater my craving for tangible rewards, the more I felt the joy slip through my fingers, and the passion flicker and dim. Still, I held fast to chasing someone else's dream. Joy is well and good, I thought, but real writers get published. Real writers finish stuff and move on.
Then suddenly it struck me: Am I letting fear drive my writing, instead of love?
Is it fear that makes me wonder if I shouldn't stop this nonsense and do something useful like clean out the pantry or organize my photo albums? Is it fear that demands validation, recognition, or at least compensation?
Fear tells me that I need to write something that will fit into neat little boxes. Fear compares me with other writers who might be doing better than I am, and tells me I'm not worthy. Fear keeps me up late at night as I debate what is best for me to write.
Of course, thousands of years of evolution can't be wrong. Fear isn't always a bad thing. Fear also keeps me at a day job to pay bills, and tracks my word count to ensure measurable progress. Fear makes sure I back up my computer and copyright my blog.
But it is fear that sends me into that sinkhole of self-doubt, where I contemplate obscurity, where I question why I even try.
Would love ever wonder whether I should stop writing and do something sensible? I think not!
Love is when I forget to watch the clock, and work until I'm exhausted but happy and satisfied with my accomplishments. Love is when passion grabs me by the hands and drags me into my story, and when it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. Love knows I'm doing what I'm meant for, and that there is no other path but this one.
After all it was love that started me down this path. When I first began to write stories, before I even knew where the word counter was, I wrote for the love of it. I need to have faith that love will finish what it started.
How about you? Have you ever found yourself writing from fear instead of love? What has sorting through 2014's dirty laundry taught you?
Laundry basket image courtesy of Kitch Bain, coffee stains courtesy of Mark Carrel, hearts image courtesy of Brenda Carson all @ Stockfresh
IWSG: Why Can't I Write Like Everyone Else?
Welcome to this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group post, which you'll notice is the only post on this blog since last month's Insecure Writer's Support Group post. I know. I need to post more. If it weren't for the IWSG, my blog would probably fade away into oblivion!
But fortunately for this blog the insecure writers meet on the first Wednesday of every month, and fortunately for the IWSG, I am almost always insecure. So thank you, Alex J. Cavanaugh, for giving insecure writers like me a place to share our doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Want to join the IWSG? Just click this linky and hop on over to meet some of the nicest writers on the worldwide web.
Today I'd like to talk about the results of last month's experiment in literary abandon, a little adventure called NaNoWriMo.
First I give you: Exhibit A
It appears that I won, doesn't it? Look at that word count! And I'm consistent too, writing thousands of words every day like it's nothing. In fact, I wrote ten thousand extra words to cover myself as a winner, just in case some of my writing is so awful that it falls outside the parameters of literary abandon. You'd think I'd be exploding with confidence.
But I'll tell you a secret. I didn't really write a novel.
Witnesseth: Exhibit B
As may be apparent from the list, I dutifully wrote the first scenes of my novel for the first ten thousand words, but then, because there's nothing like deciding to write a new novel to make me want to revise the old one, I revised my other story and counted those words toward my word total.
Then revision ended up being really hard and the words didn't pile up quickly enough, so I ended up goofing off. What kind of goofing off?
May I present: Exhibit C
My Muse drove a mustard yellow pick up truck through the middle of my novel.
Word count: 2718 words
I consulted with an imaginary literary agent about what my novel needed to make it work and why I was having so much trouble figuring that out. I spontaneously stopped punctuating dialogue and left it that way because I thought it would be cool.
Word count: 11,683 words
Then my protagonist from Ye Olde Novel showed up with a switch blade and dared me to start cutting up his story.
Word count: 3092 words
After that my Muse came back and took me for a ride on his new orrery.
Word count: 1390 words
In between all this, I did manage to make significant progress on my revision, but why do I persist in zigzagging back and forth between stories like this? Why can't I at least stick with one project for a month? Why can't I write in a straight line like everyone else?
Don't get me wrong. I had a blast writing during NaNoWriMo. There were times I would sit down in front of my computer bursting with words, and lose track of time while I wrote them. I was laughing at my Muse's antics, gasping at the revelations I came up with in my revision, daydreaming about scenes for the new story draft. But through all of these words I got nothing finished.
Everything I wrote needs work. It's too weird. Or it's too long. Or it's poorly punctuated.
Which is why I have to ask myself why I feel compelled to write things that defy any sort of publication. Have I lost the ability and desire to write stuff that might appeal to readers? Or have I simply lost my nerve? If this blog is my playground, why am I afraid to come out and play? Is this merely the painful adolescence of my development as a writer?
Will I grow out of this awkward stage and into a real writer? Or am I doomed to write weird stuff that doesn't fit into any of the proper boxes?
I don't know. All I know is that I don't want to stop!
How about you? Do you work in a straight line? Or does your creativity take the scenic route like mine?
Orrery image courtesy of Sage Ross @ Wikimedia Commons
IWSG: The Siren Call of NaNoWriMo
I know you're staring at your screen thinking, "What's with all the acronyms? She's really lost it now. Things haven't been the same at A Scenic Route since the A to Z challenge."
I'll start with the IWSG, short for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We're a bunch of writers, three hundred and counting, who meet on the first Wednesday of every month to discuss our fears and doubts without worries about appearing foolish or weak. Want to join us? Click the linky to be whisked to founder Alex J. Cavanaugh's site, where you can add your name to some of the nicest writers you'll ever meet on the worldwide web.
Now about this NaNoWriMo thing. You might have heard of it: Fifty thousand words, one month, lots of coffee? So why would an insecure writer like me undertake such a monumental challenge, not just once but every single year?
I'll tell you why.
First off, there's literary abandon. At last I can set aside the burden of wondering if what I'm writing has any merit whatsoever. I don't have to edit; I don't have to debate whether my structure works or not; I don't have to vacillate about whether my characters have any business being in my story. I'm free to experiment and I'm free to turn back around and try something different. All that matters is that I keep adding to the almighty word count.
Second let's talk about camaraderie. National Novel Writing Month seems to have become an annual rite for all writers who have ever considered trying their hand at writing a novel, from beginners to multi-published authors. Here we have a chance to work side by side, at least in a virtual sense, on a crazy project that is equally intimidating to all but the most seasoned storytellers. Together we share the challenge of getting words on the screen. What a boost it is for me to be just another nervous writer, instead of working away on my own as self-doubt perches on my shoulder, pecking at my self-esteem with every opportunity.
And, this might sound odd in a challenge where the daily word quota is 1667 words, but stopping and calling it a day is really encouraging for an insecure writer like me. I suffer from the uncontrollable urge to compare myself with other writers, so looking at my word count and seeing that it measures up is a huge boost for my confidence.
Or it could also boil down to the simple fact that writing at this pace leaves no time to be insecure! Falling into bed exhausted, and doing it all over again the next day is a great way to stop worrying about whether my story is any good and just letting it flow onto the page the way it wants to.
I know there are doubters out there— writers who claim that careful outlining and meticulous wordsmithing are the only way to write a novel worthy of publication. Perhaps that is true, but my contention is that there are many ways to write a story, and drafting at this speed is an incredible rush for me. Just look at my word count and you'll see: I'm soaring.
How about you? Does NaNoWriMo make you more secure about your writing? Or are you a fan of more leisurely story crafting?
Test tube and book images courtesy of 'Winner' at StockFresh.com, clock image courtesy of 'magicmarie' @ stock.xchng
Stories and Trees
The arrival of fall got me thinking …
Since I love walking in the woods, I find it often feels as if my Muse is wandering in a forest full of ideas. Writing these stories down, especially as a discovery writer, feels very much like growing trees.
For example, despite their magnitude when they are finished, stories start with nothing more than a seed, a nut with a soft center but enclosed in a hard shell. In other words tough to crack— but put the seed in the soil, water it every day, and if it rains and the soil is damp and well aerated, over time the shell will crack and sprout.
This is the part where the daily words come in. I write almost every day, preferably in the morning, with a cup of coffee at my side. With time and persistence, the story inside me will reveal itself, and eventually a tiny seedling will surprise me as its green shoot pokes out of the fertile ground of my imagination.
This stage of story growth, while exciting, is also one of the most fragile. I must be careful lest a careless stomp of a critical foot presses the tender seedling back into the ground. I must shelter it from storms, from hungry rodents, from drought. Also, tiny as the seedling is, I can't even distinguish what it might become. I must write a little every day before discovering what kind of tree I've got. Is it an evergreen, destined to adorn a future living room's Christmas? Is it a weeping willow, its roots seeking the succulent earth near a lake or a river? Or is it a maple, turning fiery orange and red every Halloween? The excitement of discovering what it might be keeps me writing. Who are these characters who populate my idea? What genre of story do they inhabit? Before the first leaf shows its shape, anything could happen.
Once the tree has revealed its species, I must remain diligent as leaf after leaf unfolds to nourish the emerging trunk and creeping roots, as the theme of the story sends shoots into the ground and branches into the sky. As with many things in life, one can't see the growth from day to day, but over months and even years, that tender sapling grows into a sturdy young tree with broad branches gently swaying in the summer wind. I am incredibly proud of it, but at the same time there are some limbs in the wrong place, shoots springing up next to the trunk that don't belong there, and even the occasional infestation of wood eating pests.
This is where the pruning shears come in. Knowing where to prune and what growth to promote is an art in itself, one that can be learned through practice and observing other properly groomed trees. It can be wrenching to lop off graceful boughs in the name of stronger tree growth, but it must be done. A good gardener knows that the light and the nutrition must reach the branches that will bear the most fruit. A good writer knows where to cut and where to graft to create a rewarding story.
Finally when the tree has grown to its full glory, its magnificent crown dappling the garden below in ripples of shade, I invite my friends over to take a look, to admire the symmetry of the branches, the health of the leaves, the depth of the roots. We can picnic under its benevolent shadow, smell its savory blossoms, and I marvel as I contemplate this massive miracle of wood and bark and leaves and seeds that is my own creation. Trees, because they grow so slowly and tenaciously, sometimes feel as if they live forever. Certainly they outlive us, and stories feel that way to me as well. Writers who came before me, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, have left behind mighty literary forests that still inspire and enchant us today, and that still cast their shadow over lesser saplings like me.
As I look over my orchard of half-finished books I sometimes wonder, will my trees ever bear fruit? Will I ever reap a harvest from happy readers consuming the results of my hard work? Or will my story trees remain forever ornamental, fun for me to look at, rustling at my window as I sleep at night, but never to be shared?
How about you? What would you compare your writing process to? What is your favorite kind of tree?
Leaf images courtesy of Billy Alexander @ stock.xchng
Infinity Edge
Since when do Muses need vacations? Apparently mine does, which is why he's been suspiciously absent from the blog. Oh, wait, here he is …
I brush aside the palmetto fronds to see my Muse sprawled across one of those inflatable chairs in the middle of the swimming pool, his arms outstretched, his wings a sodden feathered mass behind him. His face is turned toward the bright sunlight, his eyes are shaded behind dark silver sunglasses. The wind ruffles the surface of the water as he drifts a little closer to the pool's infinity edge.
I step closer and crouch next to the pool to scoop the cool water in my fingers. Nice. I'd sure like to take an afternoon off myself.
"Why don't you?" he asks without moving from his languid position. Sweat glitters along his exquisite jaw line.
"Hello, M. I've been looking for you everywhere."
He raises the frothy orange umbrella-adorned drink to his lips without stirring the rest of his prone form. His skin looks frightfully pale next to his black T-shirt.
"You're going to get sunburned out here if you're not careful," I warn.
"I've got sunscreen on," he retorts and slips the drink into a cup holder on the pool chair. "SPF 200."
"There's no such thing as SPF 200," I say.
"There is now." He eases himself upright and raises his sunglasses above his eyes to get a better look at me. He appears mildly annoyed. "What do you want?"
I settle myself on the ground by the pool and slip my bare feet into the clear water. "I'm not really sure. But I do want to know how you ended up here."
He lets the silver shades fall over his black-rimmed eyes and paddles closer so that we're both under the shelter of the flowering hibiscus trees. Their pink petals litter the surface of the pool and he listlessly picks one up to hold it to his nose, smiling. "The owner is out-of-town and needs a house sitter. Fairly easy to arrange, actually."
"You mean you get paid for this gig?" I ask in astonishment.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Unlike you, my dear writer."
"Please. Don't remind me."
"Can I get you anything?" he asks, although he appears to be in no position to get me anything whatsoever.
"I'll help myself," I say as I rise. "Don't stress yourself out on my account."
"There's a pitcher of Long Island iced tea in the kitchen …" he starts, but I've found the facility myself, a shiny steel granite counter topped affair that Charlie Sheen would be proud of. I return with a Diet Pepsi and settle into one of the wooden deck chairs, far enough from the pool to avoid getting wet should my silly Muse decide a splashing of his writer is in order.
"Why don't you join me?" he asks.
"I've got writing to do, don't you know? The usual suspects, revisions, classes, blog posts."
He shakes his head and takes another long sip of his orange drink, then picks out the umbrella and lets it float upside down in the water. It drifts away like a tiny lifeboat for his idle thoughts. "I keep telling you, Writer-babe. When are you going to start having fun?"
"Yeah, I've thought about that a lot. I've got a lot of side trips happening, and even this little foray into the Hollywood Hills is potential blog fodder." I glance up to check out the white Hollywood letters above the trees to verify that Morpheus really has taken up residence in one of the most expensive zip codes in the U.S. "What made you decide to take off like this?" I ask.
He quirks the corner of his mouth into a half-smile. "You seemed to have things under control, and every Muse needs some vacay once in a while don't you think?"
"You think I can manage on my own?" I ask.
"Apparently, but then I see you here, longing for some of this, and I have to wonder." Morpheus frowns. I haven't seen him think this hard in a long time. While he ruminates I survey the loveliness that surrounds him. Beyond the infinity edge the city is spread out beneath the villa, clay tile roofs shaded by Bougainvillea and pines and palms, lush vegetation incongruous to this sunny desert climate. Here, in this shady yard, it seems as if the world has forgotten us, one distraught writer and her wayward muse trying to figure out if we're still on track.
Finally he answers me. "Tell me, Writer-babe. Why do your write stories?"
"To try and understand my life."
His eyebrows rise above his mirrored shades and he chuckles. "Really?"
"Okay, to get away from my life," I confess. "And to make myself laugh, and maybe make a reader or two smile."
"You don't want to be rich and famous like this dude?" he says and waves his hand to indicate the sumptuous villa behind us.
"Sure, that would be great, I guess. But I know I never will be." I take another sip of my now lukewarm Diet Pepsi.
"Which is my point, Writer-babe. Why do you drive yourself crazy trying so hard, when you're already here? You've got everything you need right under your fingers; all you need to do is call me."
I stare at my words as the warm breeze wafts the fragrance of hibiscus over my shoulders and swear I hear the soft thump of a reggae beat from the next door neighbor's yard. I'm not in my spare bedroom anymore, staring out into my weed-infested backyard. I'm here in Hollywood, enjoying a sunny afternoon.
"So, you gonna come for a swim?" Morpheus asks and pushes himself and his floating pool chair back out into the sunlight. "It's cooler by the edge."
I eye him warily, imagining myself in a swimsuit that is actually flattering. "Sure, why not?"
So that's what my Muse did on his summer vacation. How about you? Does your Muse need a vacation?
And, would you let Morpheus watch your house when you're out of town?
Jungle image courtesy of 'Lightsource' ,infinity edge pool image courtesy of Steven Heap both @ stockfresh.com, umbrella image courtesy of 'Foxuman' @ stock.xchng
IWSG: Enjoying the View
Warning: This will not be the usual Insecure Writer's Support Group post. Believe it or not, this month I'm actually a secure writer. Shocking, I know, but it's true!
See these handcuffs? That's what it feels like to be an insecure writer. At every turn, you question yourself: Am I doing this right? Am I nuts to think anything will come of this? Who do I think I am to put words on the screen, when the demigods on the NYT bestseller's list, who turn out books with fabulous covers and reviews printed in USA Today and People magazine, would declare this endeavor all but hopeless. After all, I'm just a daydreamer who happens to find words for these pretty pictures floating through my brain.
That's where the Insecure Writer's Support Group comes in. Founded by the fabulous Alex J. Cavanaugh ,we gather on the worldwide web to share our insecurities and encourage one another to fight the good fight, never surrender, and all that good stuff. (Oh, and it's free to join, just click on this linky to add your name to the list of some of the nicest writers on the web.)
I joined without a second thought, (two years ago!) back when A Scenic Route was just a place to post my words as I got used to seeing my thoughts up there for others to read. This terrified me beyond all measure, but the kind writers who stopped by and left nice comments gave me a huge boost of confidence. I saw that I'm not alone in feeling this way. Together our collective of nervous writers can slay this beast of insecurity.
But finally, I've got a huge milestone to report. Much as I hate talking about myself, I think it's only right to share this with everyone who has stuck with me through all my whimpering. Remember in June when I fretted about whether a writing contest would destroy my fragile ego?
Check it out:
I would never have had the nerve to send the first three chapters of this story out if it weren't for everyone who comments here. All your wonderful words of encouragement mean so much to me. Who are these amazing writers who have unshackled me from my insecurities? Where do I start?
Alex J. Cavanaugh of course, but there are so many others! Nancy H. Doyle, Melissa Maygrove, Shell Flower at Tangent Shell, Mark Koopmans, Kristina Stanley, Ivan Borodin, Katherine Lato, Peter Cruikshank, Sammy D at BeMuzin, 'ArmchairAuthor' at Ink, Anushka Dhanapala at Finding My Creature, Liana Mir, Amanda Martin, Jamie Ayres, Mike Schulenberg, Will Hahn, Melinda Hagenson, Katie Checkley, Juneta Key and of course, Holly Lisle.
Can you see me glowing? I know there will be more bumps on this exciting journey, but today might be a good time to take a moment and enjoy the view, because as we insecure writers know, the valley of self-doubt is never far away.
How about you? What were some of the most exciting milestones in your writing journey so far? Did something that scared you ever give unexpected results? Let's celebrate the good stuff this month!
Handcuff image courtesy of Lance Kidwell @ freeimages (formerly stockxchng)
The Meet My Character Blog Hop-Nick Moore
The cold wind gives me goose bumps as climb the front steps to Nick Moore's beach house, gripping my laptop to my chest like a lover. I knock on the door.
Will he remember me? Will he be forthcoming? Have I completely lost touch with my protagonist? Have I completely lost touch with the last vestige of my sanity?
The door opens and he grins broadly. "Writer!"
It is the first time I have visited him here in his new home, now several years into his happily ever after. "Nick?" I ask nervously. "Do you have some time?"
He laughs and steps aside to let me in. "Of course I have time. In fact, I've been expecting you."
I look him over curiously. He hasn't changed all that much since I last wrote him and still has that lean confident bearing that drives the women wild, and he still favors black over all other colors. If I looked closely I could probably see strands of grey in the dark locks that fall provocatively in front of his eyes, but I don't try too hard to find them. Mortality is hard enough to face in myself—no reason to confirm its existence in my characters. "You've been expecting me?" I ask and step inside. The hardwood boards creak under my boots.
"Can I take your coat?" he asks.
A fire blazes in the hearth and soft furniture is scattered in front of it. "Maybe in a bit. But can you find a place for this?" I offer him my precious, my laptop.
He takes it with a smile and sets it on a table behind the sofa as I gaze at the artifacts of my story spread out in the room. The sunburst Strat is leaning on its stand, plugged into a rack with headphones tossed on top. I wander toward it, as if drawn by a magnetic force stronger than my own will. "This is the one, isn't it?" I ask.
"Yes," he replies softly. "You want to play it?" He reaches around me to wrap his fingers around its neck, and the scent of his skin and breath surrounds me.
"Oh no. I don't play. I just want to touch it." Which I do, and marvel at the smooth cool surface.
"Can I get you anything?" he asks. "Pop? Wine?"
"No thanks," I reply automatically, recoiling at the thought of too much wine ruining my chances of discovering what secrets I've left unexplored behind those stormy eyes.
"You sure? Cuz I'm getting a beer."
I settle into the sofa and open my laptop. "Okay, just a glass of water."
"That'll work," he says and scoots into the kitchen while I pull up the questions for the Meet My Character Blog Hop. Since I see that I've already wasted four hundred words summoning him up, I'm determined to keep the answers short and sweet.
Nick returns with a frosty Corona and a glass of water. He leans back on the sofa across from me and lifts the Corona to his lips, taking a long drink while I finish typing. "So, what brings you here tonight? Got more Larry Brooks questions?" he asks.
"Nope," I reply. "I haven't given up on those yet but I've got some other questions for you. It seems I was nominated for a blog hop."
He laughs. "Not the blog again."
"Yes, the blog Nick. They love you over there, you know."
"Course they do …" he says without a trace of irony, then takes another drink of the Corona. "What kind of blog hop?" he asks.
"It's the Meet My Character Blog Hop. Urban fantasy writer Juneta Key nominated me last week, and it seems I'm supposed to post on August 18. So here I am."
I can tell he's repressing a smile, but seems willing to play along. He sets the beer on the coffee table and runs his fingers through his hair. "What about that guy you're writing now? Tristan something or other? Can't you interview him?"
"I thought about it Nick, believe me. But he's in first draft, and I tend to leave first draft behind the closed door."
"Okay, fine, but you do realize that our conversations tend to meander?"
Oh, do I ever. "Yeah, but I'm going to do my best. And then I'm going to edit like a banshee."
He nods and the smile escapes at last. "Okay, shoot then. What do you got?"
I look over the questions and paste the first one onto the screen.
What is the name of your character? Is he fictional or a historic person?
"I think we've covered that one, haven't we?" he points out.
"Yes we have, but for newcomers, I should mention that you are indeed fictional, in spite of all my attempts to portray you realistically."
He snickers. "Next?"
I whip another question on the screen:
When and where is the story set?
His eyebrows rise. "You want me to answer that one?"
"Sure," I type.
"Okay. So most of the story takes place in modern Los Angeles, where dreams are supposed to come true but often don't."
"And?" I prompt.
"Of course there's the back story. The Summer of Love, the acid tests, and the music."
"You know they say the best thing about the Sixties was the music," I observe. "Do you think that's true?"
He gives me that skeptical grin. "And what's wrong with the music of today?"
"Nothing at all, Nick. It's great," I say. And because I know that a discussion about music can eat up hours of story writing time I toss the next question on the screen before he can delve any deeper into his favorite topic.
What should we know about him?
He eases back into the sofa, setting his feet onto the coffee table. "Well, they say I'm pretty good with a guitar…" Then he frowns. "Not so good with the ladies."
"What are you talking about? You're brilliant on guitar, and the ladies like you just fine."
"See? I'm modest too."
"Anything else?"
"Well there's that dying thing. You know, about the ghost and stuff." He avoids my gaze and grabs his beer. "You going to write about that on your blog?"
"Maybe, but I won't give too much away."
"Good writer," he says.
"I try," I type. But we have more questions. I paste the next one up.
What is the main conflict? What messes up your life?
He rolls his eyes. "Where do I start?"
I sit with my fingers poised over my laptop. "At the beginning?" I prompt him.
"Yes. There's Stuart, who was a certifiable drunk, not to mention all that other shit—"
I cut him off. "This is a family blog."
"Yeah, all right. But Stuart. And then there's Libra. Every time I tried to talk to her, she disappears on me …" He stops, unsure if he should continue.
"Perfect, Nick. We don't want spoilers. And we are taking your story to Jami Gold, the book doctor, so anything can happen. How about another question?"
This prompts another long drink of his beer. He wipes his mouth on his sleeve and I slap the next question on the screen.
What is the personal goal of the character?
"You mean my goal, right?" he asks.
I nod.
He takes a deep breath, then fixes me with his dark stare. "I think you know what that is. Same as yours, Writer. To share my music, my art, with the world." He laughs. "Screaming fans. Late nights making music. Touring with guys I can get along with."
"Babes?" I ask tentatively.
He smirks. "Maybe. You'll have to write me to find out."
I pause and think about that for a moment, and I'm relieved to find that the next questions are easy.
Is there a working title for this novel and where can we read more about it?
Nick sits with his arms across his chest and asks, "You can field that one, right?"
"Yeah, okay. The working title is THE TEMPEST'S SERENADE, and you can read more about it on my blog. Maybe start with The Next Big Thing, and Black Hair, Grey Eyes."
"Are we done?" he asks.
"We're never done, Nick," I type, glancing anxiously at my word count. "But yes, this post is almost over. There's one more question, but it's for me.
The question everyone seems to be asking these days appears on the screen.
When can we expect the book to be published?
"What do you think, Nick?" I smile at him and he grins back.
"The book will be published when it's ready to be published," he states.
I nod gratefully, accepting that another round of revisions, followed by some vigorous querying lie in this story's future. But yes, it will be published when it's ready.
So that's my bloated, rambling character intro. Do you get carried away with your characters like I do?
But wait, don't go yet. I have nominees!
The fabulous Will Hahn whose fantasy novel Games of Chance is now available on Amazon.
My fellow How To Revise Your Novel survivor and sci fi aficionado, Nancy H. Doyle.
The super-talented Kristina Stanley whose manuscript Descent was nominated for the Crime Writers of Canada Unhanged Author Award. Its sequel Burnt was nominated for the UK's Crime Writer's Association Debut Dagger.
Look for their Meet My Character posts next week. I can assure you they will be much shorter than this one! (Okay, maybe not Will's …)
Water images courtesy of 'Homydesign' @ stockfresh, masks courtesy of 'Lucretious' @ stock.xchng
IWSG: It's Alive!
It lives. It breathes, and it's ready to take on the world. Or is it?
No, I'm not talking about my lifeless blog–although I can see why you might think that. I'm talking about my novel, and I'm worried …
This month's insecurity is brought to you by the Insecure Writer's Support Group, a whole bunch of awesome created by Alex J. Cavanaugh for writers (like me!) who have issues with their self-confidence. Are you insecure too? Fear not! Just click on the linky and add your name to the list of some of the nicest writers on the web.
So, about my novel.
Last month I got back the last of my reader critiques for The Tempest's Serenade and was thrilled that everyone seemed to like the story. Some readers were confused– some were very confused– but in general they found the characters to be compelling and the concept interesting enough to keep them turning the pages. I'm excited to start in on my next revision. It was scary to share a story that I felt was so broken, but I'm really glad I took the plunge.
Except …
Something surprising came up in the critiques. I'm finding that more than one reader has strongly suggested that, after nothing more than a polishing pass and a run through spell check, I self-publish The Tempest's Serenade as it stands right now.
That's wonderful, right?
Then why do I want to curl up into a ball muttering, "No No No No No no nonononononono …"?
How could I in good conscience perpetrate this mess upon the world? My readers are confused by the story. Hell, I'm confused by the story.
I had to walk away from my computer after I read that suggestion and do something else. I pulled the weeds out of my front yard. I took a long walk in the woods. And I pondered. Should I take that advice? Am I simply dragging my feet on this story? Should I let it go and move on to something else?
Eventually after consulting my playlist (where my Muse lives), I pulled myself together and realized that, ultimately, I am the warden of my own stories. No one else, not even writers I respect, can tell me what to do with them. I don't even think an agent or a publisher can push me in a direction I don't want to go in. I need to learn to be true to my vision, even if that vision is still fuzzy.
Does that make me an uppity artisté? Does that mean I will never make a dime writing fiction?
Good thing I like my day job, isn't it? Because I've decided to be true to myself and proceed with another revision. I didn't sit down to write A Story; I sat down to write this one. And I need to stop and think before I do something that feels wrong for me. Putting The Tempest's Serenade out into the world with so many loose ends is something that feels wrong to me on a fundamental level.
Will I know when it's finished? I think so. I hope so.
How about you, insecure writers? How do you know when it's time to send your story out into the world? Am I crazy to keep banging away at this story?
Toy image courtesy of David Jones, thumbs up image courtesy of 'magicmarie' both @ Stock.xchng
No, I haven't utterly disappeared! But I've been pulled head over heels back into my writing as I've fallen in love with my story again.
What's it like to be in love with a story? Is it like the puppy-love infatuation teenagers have when they hold hands for the first time or cast shy glances across the classroom at their new-found crush?
Maybe. Because that's how it was in the first draft of the story, when everything was rosy and bright and the words flowed onto the page like cream into my coffee, and tasted just as sweet when I read them back to myself. This is when characters lead me by my furiously typing fingers into their world, and didn't let me go until a hundred thousand or so words later I looked up breathlessly to find that I'd filled another Scrivener document with their adventures.
Now I think my love might have matured into the real thing. This is the love that cleans up the dirty dishes after dinner and mows the lawn on Saturday afternoon. This is the love that gets up early in the morning to cook breakfast before heading off to work, and that welcomes me into its arms telling me I'm beautiful no matter how sweaty and mud spattered I look when I come in from working in the yard.
Revision is this kind of love. This love reads craft books like Save the Cat, Writing the Breakout Novel, and Story Engineering. This love is working with book doctor Jamie Gold (thanks to a lucky break and a blogiversary prize) to bang out my plot inconsistencies once and for all. This love painstakingly enters each and every comment from my critique partners into worksheets in preparation for yet another draft.
Still, there are moments where my passion for this story makes me feel like a teenager in the throes of her first crush, and that calls for a playlist, don't you think?
I've called it Believe. These are the songs I'm listening to as I keep the faith and finally put together the story I've dreamed this would become.
Click here to visit my playlist on YouTube.
Have you ever fallen in love with a project you thought was past hope? What do you do when you want to restore faith in your abilities?
And, is this leap of faith the real reason they call it 'make believe'?


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Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy on NRA Enemy List
View Single Post
February 5 2013, 06:01 PM
Location: wallowing in a pool of emotion
Re: Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy on NRA Enemy List
I wouldn't count myself as either a friend or an enemy of the NRA, although I do not own a gun and will never, ever own one. But I think publishing lists like this accomplishes absolutely nothing and will only drive more people away who might otherwise be at least halfway supportive.
I do think the Second Amendment needs to be looked at. Things have changed quite a bit in the world since it was originally written, after all. The Founders themselves were open to changing the Constitution, that's why they provided for it to be amended in the first place. I do not think we should get rid of all firearms, but there's no logical reason at all for assault weapons to be out there in the numbers that they are. The Second Amendment is badly in need of an overhaul to bring it more in line with the reality of life in the 21st Century and it has been for some time. Given the current political climate at the national and state levels, though, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
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We are a privately owned Veterinary Hospital in Egham with a branch Veterinary Centre in Sunningdale, on Chobham Road. Our aim is to provide friendly, veterinary care to you, your family and your friends seven days a week.
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'Lincoln' Leads Academy Award Nominations with 12The Civil War saga 'Lincoln' leads the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture, director for Steven Spielberg and acting honors for Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones.
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Reid Seeks Permission For Popcorn During Senate Viewing Of 'Lincoln'enate Majority Leader Harry Reid is reportedly seeking permission to allow popcorn during a special screening of the movie "Lincoln" at the U.S. Capitol.
'Lincoln' Director Spielberg Speaks In Gettysburg With his new film about the 16th president in theaters, two-time Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg was to make the keynote address during ceremonies that celebrate the 149th anniversary of "The Gettysburg Address."


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U.S. experts began the process of disabling North Korea's main nuclear facility on Monday, the State Department said. Continue reading
North Korea signed a tentative agreement during six-party talks in Beijing to shut down its nuclear program in exchange for over $250 million worth of oil. Two political experts discuss the deal and its chances for success. Continue reading
In a public statement Thursday, North Korea announced the successful testing of several missiles this week and promised to continue launching missiles as "our legal right." Three policy experts discuss what is driving North Korea's defiant actions. Continue reading


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Josh Condie – Here's your chance to win some amazing spending and travel prizes by positioning and selling the new Office:
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Representing #TeamGenevieve from All Around The World! Always remember, Do everything with LOVE. - @RealGenevieveJ
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A Flat Rock woman, 57, was arrested by Flat Rock Police on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm after a dispute with her ex-husband Thanksgiving night in the 25000 block of Vreeland Rd.
The woman shot a gun into the floor during a verbal altercation about 10 p. m. Thursday. She bonded out of jail and will be arraigned in 33rd District Court this week, said Flat Rock Detective Glenn Hoffman.


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I'm a very positive, fun, and realistic guy! I'm extremely outgoing, and very talkative. I love getting to know new people, so feel free to say hello to me :) oh, I dont drink or smoke, but that doesn't mean I won't go out with you and enjoy a root beer ;) haha
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28 • Denver, CO • Man
I'm looking for
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- 5' 6" (1.68m)
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My self-summary
Write a little about yourself. Just a paragraph will do.
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Trying not to die! But seriously...
I'm currently working on getting my teaching license at metro to be a secondary english education teacher. I'm also a co founder of a non profit organization called helping hands. I'm a musician, so if you want to talk music, you might just make my day!
I'm currently working on getting my teaching license at metro to be a secondary english education teacher. I'm also a co founder of a non profit organization called helping hands. I'm a musician, so if you want to talk music, you might just make my day!
I'm really good at
Go on, brag a little (or a lot). We won't judge.
Music, being funny, teaching people, staying positive, keeping chivalry alive, and I'm great with kids.
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Are either my tattoos, or my giant smile haha.
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Help your potential matches find common interests.
So many, but I'll name a few I can think of off the top of my head. Brave new world, house of leaves, fight club, macgruber, family guy, the daily show and colbert report, and anything italian!
The six things I could never do without
Think outside the box. Sometimes the little things can say a lot.
Music, friends, water, the internet, my ps3, and probably my car.
I spend a lot of time thinking about
Global warming, lunch, or your next vacation… it's all fair game.
My future, and music
On a typical Friday night I am
Netflix and takeout, or getting your party on — how do you let loose?
Either working, out with friends, or staying in and enjoying a root beer :P
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Jasmine is my favorite Disney princress. I regret nothing! Haha
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Welcome sign hit by car
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The new sign at the service road entrance to Spring Lake Park was heavily damaged Tuesday morning when it was struck by a vehicle.
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Awesome: A Fistful of Dollars
- "Get three coffins ready."
- The finale. Ramon shoots Joe in the heart. Joe gets back up and continues his Unflinching Walk. Ramon shoots again. Joe gets back up again. Rinse and repeat until Ramon runs out of ammo. Joe then sweeps his poncho over his shoulder, takes out everybody except Ramon and offers him a chance to reload. Naturally, Joe is faster.


text:
Richard Climan
Advertising, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Lateral Moves, Partner Issues, This Is an Ad, White & Case, Willkie Farr
Where Did Dewey & LeBoeuf's Big-Name Partners Land?
In the aftermath of Dewey, where have the pieces of this former empire landed?
Bankruptcy, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Dissolution, Money, Partner Issues, Partner Profits
Dewey Have Data on How Much Partners Got Paid? Yes — Thanks to the Partner Contribution Plan
Here are spreadsheets showing how much Dewey's 109 most highly compensated partners earned in 2011 and 2012, along with how much they are being asked to contribute in "clawbacks" under the "Partnership Contribution Plan." Enjoy!
Join Jeena Cho for her FREE online webinar Dec. 2nd to uncover how today's lawyer can improve productivity and output while reducing stress and anxiety. Register now!
Bankruptcy, Biglaw, Blind Item, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Dissolution, Money, Nauseating Things, Partner Issues, Partner Profits
Biglaw Blind Item: The $6 Million Men
(Plus additional tidbits about Dewey partner compensation.)
Dewey & LeBoeuf continues to hemorrhage talent, all around the world. Who is going where?
Bankruptcy, Bar Exams, BARBRI, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Dewey Ballantine, Dissolution, ERISA, JPMorgan Chase, Lateral Moves, Layoffs, LeBoeuf Lamb, Money, Musical Chairs, Partner Issues, Schiff Hardin, Silicon Valley, Staff Layoffs
Dewey Have an End in Sight? Friday Will Be the Last Day for Many Employees
What is the latest Dewey & LeBoeuf news? Some employees may lose their jobs as of this Friday — plus news about incoming associates, retired partners, and defecting partners.
Bankruptcy, Biglaw, Crime, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Dewey Ballantine, Dissolution, Kimba Wood, Law Firm Mergers, Law Firm Names, LeBoeuf Lamb, Money, Musical Chairs, Partner Issues, Partner Profits, White-Collar Crime
Dewey Know Whom To Blame? Some Say 'Steve'
How much blame do former chairman Steven Davis and executive director Steve DiCarmine deserve for the Dewey & LeBoeuf debacle?


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black leather 'Peekaboo' convertible satchel
designer's notes
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color: Black Grained leather with brushed goldtone and silvertone hardware Decorative studded straps at top corners Structured double sided turn lock closure 11'' top handle has a 5'' drop Removable 44'' shoulder strap with adjustable buckle Dual interior compartments feature tobacco zucca canvas lining with single side zip pocket Five protective metal feet at base Measures approximately 13'' at widest x 10'' tall at center x 4'' deep; weighs 2� lbs. Fendi style #8BN226 Leather; Italy; style# 315803801


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by UK practitioner Master Thomas Coxon (Fellow BCS, MPhil, BSc, FSSA)
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Feng Shui consultant, Master Thomas Coxon has been trained by some of the worlds top Chinese and Tibetan Feng Shui Masters (Master Chan Kun Wah, Master Peter Leung, Master Tuan Anh Diep and Master Harrison Kyng), and has amassed much practical experience as a professional consultant, now making him one of the top practitioners in Europe.
In this website he introduces you to some of the benefits which his clients have obtained from following his Feng Shui advice as a consultant, how to use some basic Chinese and Tibetan Feng Shui techniques yourself, hints and tips, what to expect from a Feng Shui consultation and what to seek when selecting the best Feng Shui consultant. There's even a Feng Shui self assessment Quiz, and some on-line Feng Shui Calculators.
He also tells you about his Feng Shui and Horoscope consultancy services and the unique way in which he combines information from Feng Shui and Chinese Horoscopes in his consultations, together with testimonials from his clients, and feng shui case studies in London, Reading and other cities in the UK.
Feng Shui is a Chinese science about buildings & burial sites, their surroundings and the affect on lives, careers and businesses.
Feng Shui consultants are widely used by Chinese, Japanese & Indian communities, and increasingly by Europeans.
Feng Shui consultants routinely advise to improve luck, wealth, health and harmony by both business and individuals.
Consultant, Master Thomas Coxon, has been researching, studying and practicing Feng Shui since 1980 including qualifying professionally in traditional Tibetan building Feng Shui practice with Master Harrison Kyng and in authentic Chinese Imperial Feng Shui with Master Chan Kun Wah, as well as studying Chinese water Feng Shui with Master Peter Leung and Chinese Yin (grave site) Feng Shui with Master Tuan Anh Diep.
Master Coxon's 1,000+ clients have usually achieved the many and varied improvements which they sought, including:-
Feng Shui enables him to assess the strengths & weaknesses of buildings and the effects they are having on your life and business, both before you move in as well as after you've run into difficulties.
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Read on for UFC Fight Night prelim results... read news >>
Marat Gafurov and Narantungalag Jadambaa went to war in Beijing on Saturday night local time in a back-and-forth fight, which pushed both men to their absolute limits. read news >>
It wasn't a back-and-forth war like the first meeting, but at least the rematch between Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva ended with a decisive winner.Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
MELBOURNE, Australia – After a classic first meeting ended in a majority draw, Mark Hunt made sure to finish off Antonio Silva in the rematch.Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
Daniel Straus went to war with Patricio Freire for 25 minutes before grabbing a unanimous decision to earn belt at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Friday night. read news >>
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie takes a look at the best fights from October. Check out the winner inside and vote in our poll to let us know if we got the winner righ read news >>
Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson went to war in UFC 192's main event on Saturday night. The Toyota Center was restless after a relatively slow main card that featured four unanimous decisions, read news >>
HOUSTON – Is there any surprise that the 25-minute war between champion Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson took home a $50,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus award? Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
HOUSTON – For five minutes, the light heavyweight title bout between champ Daniel Cormier and onetime title challenger Alexander Gustafsson played out as expected, with Cormier using his wrestling ch read news >>
Watch Sergio Pettis turn in a fight-of-the-night performance in a unanimous decision victory against Matt Hobar at UFC 181. read news >>
TOKYO – A war of words between Team Alpha Male head Urijah Faber and ex-coach Duane Ludwig has made its way around the Internet. But UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt said it's business as usual inside read news >>
(Warning, there is graphic language contained throughout this article. There are also videos that might not be suitable for work.) Chapter I Former mixed martial arts fighter War Machine, who changed read news >>
Until Chuck Liddell grows out his hair, stops working out, and maybe deletes a few thousand links from the Internet, he might be fighting an uphill battle. Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
Undefeated lightweight LaRue Burley has a tough task ahead of him in veteran Brian Foster, but he's prepared for war... and an eventual title shot. read news >>
Luis Palomino will get a second crack at WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje when the two rematch in the main event of WSOF 23. Palomino expects the same kind of war the second time around, but read news >>


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Last Activity: 30th September 2015 11:00 PM
About Me
- About jabeth407
- Biography
- I was born a slave, then I got free & aware.
- Interests
- energy in all its forms
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Most Thanked
Post Summary
I want to say hello to the Razr HD community. For those who don't know my work, I develop the JellyBean rom for the Atrix. Today I built this recovery for Razr HD. THIS RECOVERY SHOULD BE USED ONLY ON RAZRHD XT925 WITH A UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER...
That is what I do. I don't like a lot of cluter in my digital storage. It affects how much work that the chip has to do, might as well make it as easy as possible for it. Last longer too. I make a mirror (whole true copy) of my motorola xt907 ...


text: The Clean Air Act of 2007 granted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate vehicle emissions. Furthermore, the act gave individual states permission to set their own emissions policies (the dreaded "patchwork"), a move that would've forced automakers to develop cars that meet different standards depending on where the vehicle would eventually be sold. After a lot of discussion and lobbying, the federal government adopted a nationwide mandate of 34.1 miles per gallon by


text:
Welcome to the new World of Warcraft community site live preview! Consider this your home for all the latest happenings in and around Azeroth, featuring an improved media section, contests, community forums, and brand-new functionality that lets you post comments to news items right here on the site. You'll want to check out this news feed regularly; we'll use it to share community highlights, game information, Arena coverage, and much more.
Take a minute to look around and get acquainted with the site, and be sure to come back often. We've got a lot in store leading up to the December 7 release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. We look forward to sharing and discussing the latest World of Warcraft news, content, and updates with you for a long time to come.


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Looking for the great taste of your favorite potato chips, but on a healthier snack… then this is it. Just pop, sprinkle, crunch and ENJOY!!!!!
Sprinkle Sea Salt & Vinegar All-Natural Popcorn Seasoning onto freshly popped popcorn, as desired.
For microwave popcorn: after popping, sprinkle desired amount of popcorn seasoning into bag and reheat for 5 seconds.
Ingredients: Sea Salt, Maltodextrin, Sugar, White Distilled Vinegar, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, and less than 2% Soybean Oil & Silicon Dioxide for anti-caking.
Nutritional Info: Serving size: 1/4 tsp (1g), Servings per container: 85, Amount per serving: Calories 0, Total Fat 0g (0%dv), Sodium 140mg (6%dv), Total Carbohydrates <1g (0%dv), Protein 0g. Not a significant source of Fat Calories, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Cholesterol, Fiber, Sugar, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, and Calcium. Percent Daily Values (dv) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Net Weight: 3oz (85g)
"This is our third bottle of the stuff. I've tried lots of flavors, but this one is one of my two favorites, along with the Riehle butter salt (though I dearly wish someone would make a plain natural butter flavor without all the salt).
This salt and vinegar has lots of flavor with much less salt, and is great on all kinds of popcorn. I definitely recommend it."


text:
View pollyserial's Comments BY TICKER:
3 Apple iPhone Killers [View article]Sep 7, 2013. 05:56 PM | 0 Likes |Link to Comment
Apple: Last Year I Said Sell -- Buy Now? [View article]Mar 13, 2013. 11:05 PM | 1 Like |Link to Comment
RE: Buffet and options, why go any further than the horse's mouth? His 2008 newsletter has makes some excellent points about derivatives, and he discusses his own derivatives plays for that year. I'm just using the 2008 newsletter because it was practically the first hit on a google search.
Good luck to you and may I suggest that you try not to be so dismissive of opinions that differ from your own. Your market experience will be improved.Feb 2, 2013. 03:53 PM | 2 Likes |Link to Comment
Naivete in your assessment of a titan of the insurance industry. You think he doesn't practice risk management in his extensive portfolio? And just where do you get this information from?
Arrogance in the tone of your writing here on this thread and everywhere else I've had the misfortune to encounter you.
I can appreciate that you're a bit frayed about your Apple investment, but there's no need to take that out on folks here or anywhere else.Feb 2, 2013. 01:23 PM | 2 Likes |Link to Comment
You have no clue about what Warren Buffet or his massive team of investment professionals does. The simplistic naiveté of your worldview is only exceeded by your arrogance.Feb 2, 2013. 11:52 AM | 1 Like |Link to Comment
Apple Is No Longer A 'Don't Buy' [View article]Jan 29, 2013. 12:08 AM | 0 Likes |Link to Comment
Lessons Learned From An Apple Bull [View article]Jan 27, 2013. 12:11 AM | 0 Likes |Link to Comment
Lessons Learned From An Apple Bull [View article]Jan 27, 2013. 12:10 AM | 0 Likes |Link to Comment
If you're buying a dip after earnings, you just turned yourself into a trader.
Jan 25, 2013. 01:12 AM | 0 Likes |Link to Comment
Apple's lost market cap -- just today -- qualifies it as the third largest single day loss of market cap in history. IN A RAGING BULL MARKET. I think it's safe to say there are more sellers than buyers at the moment. It's hard to imagine things won't go your way until they don't -- but it's imperative to anybody buying dips to consider what it will look like if they are wrong. I say this from a market neutral perspective, just a concerned bystander. Whatever very significant forces there are out there who seem dead-set on distributing this stock can probably push it a lot lower before it recovers.
Jan 25, 2013. 01:09 AM | 2 Likes |Link to Comment
how about rule #1a: 'don't try to catch falling apples'?
Jan 24, 2013. 06:46 PM | 5 Likes |Link to Comment
Apple Investors' Greatest Weakness [View article]Nov 2, 2012. 10:24 PM | 2 Likes |Link to Comment
Apple Investors' Greatest Weakness [View article]Nov 2, 2012. 08:02 PM | 3 Likes |Link to Comment
Are Apple Bulls Aware Of The Downside Risk To The iPhone? [View article]Sep 19, 2012. 01:48 PM | 11 Likes |Link to Comment
Apple: One More Thing [View article]
http://bit.ly/Q3DOhrSep 12, 2012. 07:31 PM | 2 Likes |Link to Comment


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Interesting discussion!!!
For ME ... I have given up the quest for "mastery" - of anything - a long time ago. I can't define, nor can I come up with any sort of concept of "mastery". After 10,000 images, or 100,000 - or ten - does some deity materialize out of thin air and write "Master of ..." on your forehead? Or do you experience some sort of mystical epiphany where a loud voice speaks the word "Master" to you?
Even if all this does happen - so what? Will you then be transferred into some sort of infallable... (searching here - I don't now of any beings on this earthly plane that are infallable).
I've been at this for a while. I honestly do not consider myself anywhere nearer to "mastery" than when I started ... and (brace yourselves...) I not only do not care, but I think additional effort to that end only saps my energy - energy that can be exerted in finding the areas and circumstances where "seeing" will be effortless and - more or less - automatic.
I remember one of the most informed people I've ever met - the Instructor in Psyche 101 - considered by his peers to be at the top of the pyramid - "I've been studying Psychology for more than thirty years. Recently I've begun to realize how little I know."
I DO photography. Every once in a while, I get a good one. There are enough of the good ones to make the entire effort worthwhile - more than enough.


text:
Originally posted by NuclearPaul
"Look at me, I'm a mascot for an evil corporation!"
That's what Bart Simpson said in one episode after putting a bra on top of his head. I agree with him.
Originally posted by xxshadowfaxx
Club 33........ 33 mason degrees...... I guess thats just a coincidence.
Not to mention you have to be a millionaire to join the club, just to filter out all the average people. That's a coincidence too.
And the fact that its a 14 year waiting list. I'll be nearly 50 by then.
Sounds like a pretty secretive club to me.


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November 23rd, 2015, 07:11 AMnorbury replied to a thread Is this too mouthy? in Girl Baby NamesI love it, great reasons for using two beautiful names. But I favour the flouncy and middle names are rarely used in everyday life.28 replies | 844 view(s)
November 23rd, 2015, 07:09 AMnorbury replied to a thread Full Name for Ursie in Girl Baby NamesI love Ursula! At a stretch you could play the bear connection and call little Bernardette or Bernardine 'ursie'5 replies | 178 view(s)
November 23rd, 2015, 07:02 AMnorbury replied to a thread Colt? in Boy Baby NamesI think of a horse or a gun.9 replies | 248 view(s)
November 23rd, 2015, 07:01 AMnorbury replied to a thread Sister for Miles and Theo (Theodore) in Sibling NamesFlora is beautiful.16 replies | 1297 view(s)
November 23rd, 2015, 07:00 AMnorbury replied to a poll Final name poll! Arabella, Caroline or Isabelle? in Girl Baby NamesI know too many Bella varients, but only one 'Caro' which means beloved or darling in Italian.7 replies | 332 view(s)
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- Agnes Eilish Madeline born 2010
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Thrilled to be mother to @gnes Ei1ish Madeline and Fe1icity Bridget Be@trice
If we'd had boys the list was: Godfrey, Seamus, Alexander, Michael, Felix, Peter, Ignatius & Sebastian.
If we'd had boys the list was: Godfrey, Seamus, Alexander, Michael, Felix, Peter, Ignatius & Sebastian.
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Brinsley Schwarz (musician)
|Brinsley Schwarz
|Background information
25 March 1947
Woodbridge, Suffolk, England
|Rock, new wave, pub rock, soul, rhythm and blues
|Guitar, piano, organ, saxophone, vocals
|Years active
|Associated acts
|The Rumour, Ducks Deluxe, Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Ernst Pieter Schwarz (born 25 March 1947, Woodbridge, Suffolk) is an English guitarist and rock musician. He formed a band named Kippington Lodge in 1965, which evolved into the eponymous band Brinsley Schwarz. After the band's demise in 1974, Schwarz briefly joined Ducks Deluxe [1] before forming The Rumour and going on to achieve success with Graham Parker as Graham Parker and the Rumour. He continued to record and tour with Parker following the splitting up of The Rumour in 1980, notably contributing to Parker's The Mona Lisa's Sister album (1988).
Schwarz also played the saxophone on the band's albums from 1972 onwards and on Dr. Feelgood's 1974 debut album, Down by the Jetty, on the live recording of the medley track, "Bonie Maronie" / "Tequila".
He produced some Brinsley Schwarz and Graham Parker albums.
As of 2012 he is back on tour with Ducks Deluxe
- ^ Ducks Deluxe - The Manband Archive retrieved 13 November 2008
|This article on a UK guitarist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


text:
Updated 10/22/2014
Fine American crafts and fine art represented by regional and national artists of every genre are the focus at this art gallery and gift shop. You can find blown glass, pottery, jewelry, wood carvings, and all manner of paintings and prints.
317A Pollock St., New Bern, North Carolina, 28560, United States
Website: www.carolinacreationsnewbern.com
Updated 10/22/2014
No Thanks


text:
The New Mexico State men's basketball team will face the University of New Mexico twice within the same week, according to the UNM schedule which was released earlier this week.
The Aggies play host to the Lobos on Dec. 4 and travel to The Pit on Dec. 11 for a 7 p.m. game.
Other featured non-conference games on the NMSU schedule, which has yet to be released, include a road game at Arizona on Nov. 18. On Nov. 20, the Aggies travel to Springfield, Mass., for the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Aggies will play Massachusetts on Nov. 20 and either Bradley or Southern California on Nov. 21. Other non-conference games include two against UTEP, Pacific, Louisiana Lafayette and Saint Mary's.
For more news on the Aggies and the upcoming season, visit Jason Groves' blog at www.lcsun-news.com.


text:
Action Classics: Volume 1 DVD
Price $3.99
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"Action Classics V01" is a 4-disc set that includes three films from the 1950s and one from the 1930s that combine action and drama. In "Swamp Women" (1955), a policewoman breaks into a female gang and they don't realize she's an undercover cop. "The Fast and the Furious" (1958) tells the story of a prison break and the ex-cons' subsequent race for the U.S.-Mexico border. In "The Bloody Brood" (1959), a drug dealer gets taken on by a man who is trying to reveal that the suave pusher killed his brother. Last but not least, "Mutiny in the Big House" (1939) shows the development of a friendship between a prison priest and one of the prisoners.
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DirectorRoger Corman, John Ireland, Edward Sampson, Julian Roffman
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text:
On March 24, NFPA will also host the International Statistics Committee meeting where representatives from fluid power associations around the world will meet to discuss international statistical/
If you have questions regarding the International Fluid Power Summit or International Statistics Committee meeting, contact Eric Lanke, NFPA executive director, at email@example.com or 414-778-3351.
# # #
NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry's channel partners—manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators. Our U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association'


text:
Community! Sketching! Fun! Go!
C&C is most welcome - thanks for looking!
Community! Sketching! Fun! Go!
C&C is most welcome - thanks for looking!
Last edited by floydshayvious; July 9th, 2011 at 04:45 PM.
I like the bw ones! the dynamic in your brushstrokes is great. It's nice to see you develop characters that way.
Valyavande: Thanks! I dunno if it's dynamism or the fact that I dont know what im doing half the time with my strokes, heh heh. I'll try and develop those more.
I liked the Sammi.
Whoa, nice skull there!
Nice first couple of posts :> I hope to see more
Dana's HUNGRY LIKE A WOLF sketch blog
Dana: Thank you kindly. I hope to share more.
My friend Heather...
Nice updates ! Keep us updated
Portfolio |Sketchbook | Blog | Facebook | Youtube
Lyno: Thank you!
I've had difficulty with my stroke economy and general line quality for fucking ever. Need to start using pose maniacs more.
Been a while! Workin on a little portfolio to put up on a website (if I can manage to make it, ha!).
Star wars on the brain with a Togruta Jedi Consular design...
More star warz...
The Asian(looking?) woman is a Sargent fail. -_- I'll try again.
Smuggler and Barbie.
Good to see you posting again! Those portraits are damn good!
Umbravita: Pleasure to be back, good to see you too - thank you!
Zombie. (Zombie... Zombie ie ie ie ie o o o o...)
nice stuff!
I like it when you add bits of colors, really gives it an interesting feel
click and crit
cannibalcarnivale: Thank you kindly. I'd like to master the use of color someday - trying to stick with black/white to understand value. I do like using those little bits of color, though.
Really nice brushstrokes
tronrobot: Thank you. I'd like to be more decisive with them, though.
Friend of mine - moves a lot.
Data data data.
Hi there!
Lovely sketchbook, clearly you take care to practice a lot, and that's just great!
I think that the rougher your sketches are, the better, I am in love with the lady in post 19. Everything about it - composition, colour, finish is just perfect. Obviously it could be rendered further, but that may run the risk of losing the spontaneity of it all.
Watch out for depth and tone in your portraits, make sure they don't stay flat after you sketch them out in rough.
Best wishes,
Get naked, eat sushi!
CA.org sketchbook
I love those faces, nice digitals too! Ah, I'm afraid I have no crits.
Just keep up the good work, mate.
- Sketchbook - Society6 - Etsy
Jansi: Thank you - I appreciate the advice.
Naidy: Thanks! I'll try.
First SP in some time. Using a small mirror. Just under an hour.
Mates dog from life and some demon guy...
Still. Life.
Value studies from life.
Skull photo study and a still life from mates house...
Hands from life + photo study.
Developed Actively by vBSocial.com


text:
|editMizuki [1]
|ミズキ Mizuki
|Volume #1, Chapter #1
|Naruto Episode #1
|Naruto: Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen
|Appears in
|Anime, Manga, Game
|Voice Actors
|October 21
|Blood type
|Ninja Rank
|Ninja Registration
Mizuki (ミズキ, Mizuki) is a chūnin of Konohagakure and a former instructor at the Academy.
Background Edit
As revealed in the anime, Mizuki was originally a childhood friend to Iruka Umino and stood up for him until he was overwhelmed by sheer jealous rage when Iruka was getting better treatment by everyone else. Despite his new-found hatred towards Iruka, Mizuki pretended to be his friend to be noticed and to discreetly keep Iruka miserable. Despite obtaining the rank of chūnin, being initially turned down from a position as an Academy instructor for being suspected of killing a team-mate on a previous mission (which he did, as he believed that said team-mate would hinder the mission's success due to a leg injury), caused Mizuki to despise Konohagakure even though he eventually got this job. Orochimaru witnessed this transgression, and after praising him for being able to take such bold actions, gave him a specialised cursed seal. This meeting, coupled with feeling unappreciated due to initially being denied the position of Academy instructor, made Mizuki decide he would do whatever it took to rise to power and glory, even becoming a secret follower of Orochimaru.
In the anime, Mizuki was the fiancé of Tsubaki, who saw him as a sweet man. However, after his involvement with Orochimaru, their relationship faltered. He expressed to her prejudiced views on how Naruto Uzumaki is an evil individual, and revealed to her of his plan to steal the Scroll of Seals to present to Orochimaru, the latter information she withheld from the village, hoping Mizuki would come to his sense.
Personality Edit
Originally, Mizuki appeared to be very polite and kind-hearted, and was described to be a sweet man by his former fiancée, Tsubaki. In reality, he does not care for anything or anyone beyond his own rise in power. He takes pride in the fact that he is not bound by things like morals or teamwork, and is willing to sacrifice whatever he has to in order to complete his goals. His desire for power seems to come from what appears to be an inferiority complex, as he cannot stand having anyone look down on him. Although Tsubaki claimed that Mizuki was a sweet man before meeting Orochimaru, even that was a façade as he already showcased his underhanded and ruthless methods since childhood, having a manipulated friendship with Iruka for his own benefits, and later murdering a comrade who suffered a minor injury, justifying his actions by claiming he is merely eliminating any potential hindrances for the mission's smooth success. Mizuki's defining characteristics are being greatly ambitious and dishonourable.[1]
Mizuki's craving for power and acknowledgement led him to hate Iruka for gaining more attention than him, and pretended to be Iruka's friend in order to live off of that attention, as well as discreetly inflict misery on Iruka. Because of this, during their second confrontation, Mizuki constantly mocked Iruka while refusing to surrender and repent no matter how many times Iruka tried to convince him to. Due to his disregard for comradeship and friendship, Mizuki detests the Will of Fire, insulting it when Iruka tried to encourage Mizuki to look back into it, dismissing it as irritating nonsense. In what is perhaps an attempt to make him even more of an antithesis to Naruto, Mizuki's least favourite food is ramen, which happens to be Naruto's favourite. Mizuki also has a particular hatred for Naruto, seeing him only as the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. His avarice even drove him to ignore Tsubaki's love, having no more feelings for her himself, as he took advantage of her lingering affections for him and used her to benefit himself, and then attacking her when she begged him to stop, even physically tossing her aside later on. Upon discovering that Naruto gained acknowledgement after risking his life to defend the village, Mizuki grew angrier than ever at him, refusing to accept the boy's heroism, and instead accused the villagers of being easily excited.
When Mizuki overheard the Third Hokage and the examination committee suspecting his field of conduct as a reason for not promoting him, he felt that they wronged him for accomplishing a mission at all cost, and developed a grudge against the village for feeling they neither appreciate nor understand his powers and efforts. He reached his tipping point of betraying the village when Orochimaru praised his actions and gave him a cursed seal; Mizuki came to the delusion that Orochimaru truly acknowledged his potential, and hold the renegade to high regard. Mizuki believed if he went to Orochimaru, he would be granted even more power, and attempted to steal the Scroll of Seals as a means to please him.
Appearance Edit
Mizuki has white shoulder-length hair with a slight hint of blue to it and green eyes. He wore the standard attire of the Konoha-nin before his defection, which included flak jacket and forehead protector that he wore like a bandanna.
Upon being sentenced to the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility in the anime, he wore the prisoner's uniform of a gray tunic with matching pants, with his prisoner number on the back, and going barefoot. During this time, he became much more muscular and well defined in build to the point Naruto didn't recognise him at first. When Mizuki escaped from prison, he changed into an opened black vest, tight black pants, and a dark brown belt which had a silver rectangular belt buckle.
When Mizuki drank the potion concocted from his cursed seal, he gained tiger-like stripes, which also gave him a more feral look. After the potion's effect wore off and his cells began a self-destruction, Mizuki shrivelled up into a frail and decrepit old man, his skin darkened brown and his skin heavily wrinkled. However, Tsunade managed stabilised his deterioration, and even restored his appearance to his original form, before his time in prison.
Abilities Edit
Originally, not much of Mizuki's skill was seen beyond proficiently wielding large shuriken, either as melee weapons or by throwing them.
Later, in the anime, where he was revealed to have always been considered a very clever and talented ninja with a knack for learning advanced techniques. Even the Third Hokage admits he is an excellent shinobi. In truth, the reason he had never advanced beyond chūnin was because there were suspicions on his conduct while in the field. He managed to teach himself various techniques and creatively coordinated them together to corner his opponents. He was also shown to be a very cunning manipulator from how he so easily deceived Naruto and then later the Legendary Stupid Brothers (although both cases were not too difficult, as Naruto was considered to be a little naive and emotionally desperate at the time, while the Legendary Stupid Brothers were simply immensely unintelligent).
During Mizuki's life in prison, he was able to train himself without distractions, thus his prowess increased considerably. With the Legendary Stupid Brothers backing him up, he was strong enough to defeat a jōnin such as Shizune and her entire team. He had obtained an extreme amount of physical strength, able to almost easily overwhelm Iruka in their initial clash with a single hand. Due to spending an entire year in a dark prison, Mizuki's eyesight has adapted to fighting in a dark environment. During his battle with Iruka, he demonstrated a new mastery of a random assortment of techniques. While mostly improvised, he proved very capable of using them in creative combinations that Iruka just barely survived; Mizuki was able to use Earth Release, which allowed him to hide underground, kept himself from being detected, and a combination of a binding illusion and controlling a simple puppet that wielded a sword to finish off a helpless target at a safe distance.
Cursed Seal Edit
Orochimaru has granted Mizuki a special tattoo which was a prescription of a potion that initially transformed him into a muscle-bound behaemoth of himself, with tremendous raw speed and strength. It also allowed him to gain the appearance of a tiger-like being with even greater strength but with much weaker speed, but since the potion was incomplete, his body was eventually destroyed, turning him into a shrivelled up old man. Although Tsunade managed to save his life and stabilise his body, Mizuki lost all of his battle and physical prowess and was never able to become a ninja again.
Part I Edit
Prologue — Land of Waves Edit
At the series' start, playing on the youth's desire to graduate, Mizuki duped Naruto Uzumaki into stealing Konoha's Scroll of Seals for him. Originally, Mizuki had the plan set up to have Naruto as a scapegoat and kill him to hide the truth of his deception and secretly leave the village with the scroll in his possession. However, Mizuki's plan is derailed when Iruka found Naruto first and decided to reveal Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails's jinchūriki to ensure he runs off disillusioned. However, overhearing Iruka standing up for him, Naruto comes to his teacher's aid and uses the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique he had learned from the scroll to beat Mizuki unconscious for harming Iruka.
Mizuki Tracking Mission Edit
In the manga, Mizuki claimed that he wanted the Scroll of Seals to gain infinite power for himself, and after his defeat, his fate remains unmentioned. However, the anime's filler arc showed that Mizuki intended to give the scroll to Orochimaru. Ending up at the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility after his defeat by Naruto, Mizuki bulked up by the time he stages a prison riot to escape from jail, intending to use the instructions given to him by Orochimaru to create a potion to increase his power and get his revenge on both Naruto and Iruka. Before that, he visited his lover, Tsubaki, who claimed that Mizuki used to be a sweet man, but that, ever since he got involved with Orochimaru, her relationship with Mizuki had faltered. After getting a change of clothes and food supply, Mizuki knocked out Tsubaki, whom he apparently did not love any more, when she pleaded him to stop this madness. Mizuki then confronted Iruka, and after besting him with a new arsenal of techniques, attacked a laboratory belonging to the Nara clan to find the ingredients to the potion. Upon gaining what he needed, he took the ingredients to a cave with the equipments inside a secret room to brew the potion.
After consuming the potion, Mizuki obtained enhanced strength and power, stripes along his body, and enlarged arms. Later, as he added extract of a tiger into the potion, Mizuki assumed a tiger-like appearance but decreased his speed as Naruto managed to defeat him with the Rasengan. By that time, the flawed side effects of the Animal Curse Seal take effect with the defeated Mizuki reduced to a frail old man. Although his life was saved by Tsunade as she stopped his body from breaking down any further, and even restored his form to before his incarceration, having no information on Orochimaru's whereabouts while being interrogated, Mizuki loses his ability to ninjutsu for what is later revealed to be have been a failed experiment of Orochimaru's.
In Other Media Edit
Video Games Edit
Mizuki is a playable character in the following video games:
|Game name
|Japanese release
|English release
|Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2
|4 December 2003
|26 September 2006
|Naruto: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 3
|20 November 2004
|Naruto: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 4
|21 November 2005
|Naruto: Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen
|26 June 2003
Trivia Edit
- Mizuki's name means "cornel", a variety of the dogwood shrub.
- According to the first databook:
- His favourite food is chirashizushi while his least favourite food is ramen.
- His favourite phrase is "Positive thinking" (ポジティブ・シンキング, pojitibu shinkingu).
- His dislike of ramen is likely a metaphor for his hatred towards both Naruto and Iruka.
- Mizuki's prisoner number is 99.[2]


text:
The sound of my Nikon D70 shutter release when taking a photograph. Recorded with the Zoom H1 and then a ...
sliced apple halves fall to counter
Recorded my bicycle bell with and ipod touch 3g fitted with blue mikey 2 stereo mic and FiRe app. This ...
Brush writing sound effects
A swish with descending center frequency. Click here to animate this sound!
A swish with rising center frequency. Click here to animate this sound!
I use a bamboo stick to generate some wind *swash* sounds. I used following bamboo stick: Find more similar sounds ...
A small explosion for use in games.
another magic wand
A professional quality Menu click sound effect. Suited to game development
A short piano melody.
Recorded with a Sony M-10 internal mics. Both the fly and butterfly recorded by the closed window of my flat, ...
Some chickens cackling. The rooster crows several times, too.
sounds with Jew's harp
bass sound made from a trash can cover