Weekly Weigh-In Jan 31

This week was not a good week for my diet or consistent exercise.  But seeing things remain relatively steady makes me wonder if it might be a good idea to structure my dieting in a 3-4 weeks on with 1 week off pattern.  Though I've definitely gotten a better idea about which foods not to ever add back.  Not just because they aren't very healthy but because of the way my body reacts to those foods.

Statistics:

Current Weight: 221.2 pounds
Last Week: 222.0 pounds

Weight Loss/Gain: Lost 1 pound

Starting Weight: 226.2 pounds
Highest Point: 226.4 pounds
Lowest Point: 221.0 pounds

5/10 pounds to next Book

Writing Update Jan 29

Well, this was a rough week for writing.  I'm starting to really get into the rewriting process on Hive Mind so I just need to work harder to consistently write everyday.  My goal is to have this round of rewrites down by the end of February so that I can start writing the first draft of the Seasonal Steampunk Serial in March.

So, focus for February: Write Everyday.  No more zeros in the daily word count.

Monday:  0 words
Tuesday:  1068 words
Wednesday: 0 words
Thursday:  0 words
Friday:  0 words
Saturday: 0 words
Sunday: 85 words

Writing Posted:


None this week.


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

51038 / 90000

Steampunk Seasonal Serial - Brainstorming and Outlining, 5/25 sections complete

0 / 50000

Greased Gears - Writing First Draft

9326 / 90000

The Dance Scene in my Head

For me, dancing has been a true source of joy.  For three minutes at a time I get to be someone other than the shy fat girl. For three minutes at a time I get to be beautiful, awesome and joyful.  This is the experience that makes me recommend swing dancing to other people.  The joy of dancing is what makes me go out dancing even when I am physically or emotionally exhausted.  The local scene feels like home to me.  It saddens me to find out that this too is part of my personal privilege.

The privilege of being young, female, christian, relatively hetero-conformative and neurotypical.

That last point is the current impetus of this blog post.  Although, the pair of young men that used to come out and dance primarily with each other?  I haven't seen them in awhile either.  Apparently, if one repeatedly demands that their right to not have a seizure at a dance be respected it gets you banned from the dance.  Because after a year or two, it is still too hard to enforce a ban on flash photography that might kill a dancer.

At first, this revelation made me angry but that reaction is quickly giving way to sadness.  Not just because for the foreseeable future, I won't be able to dance with my friend but because this means that the dance community isn't what I thought it was.  Or maybe it just isn't what I wanted it to be.

The Dance Scene in my Head is:

• Welcoming to Everyone 
• A Safe Place for Creative Expression
• Accepting
• Fun
• Enthusiastic
• Eager to Learn from Each Other
• Willing to Teach
• Sharing the Joy of Dance

This is what I want to see from the local dance scene.  It isn't there now and I don't see it moving that direction either.  That makes me sad and disappointed. To know that the things that make dance special to me aren't being offered to everyone is a terrible thing.  I know it will make me more hesitant to recommend going dancing.  And that makes me sad too.

Portland Lindy Hop Events Jan 25 - Feb 1

The Week of January 25- February 1

Wednesday January 25


Thursday January 26

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music by Brenda and Dante

7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)



Friday January 27


6-8pm Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys


9-12 am The Ukeladies, and the Libertine Belles at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
9-12 Live Music by the Ukeladies, and the Libertine Belles



Saturday January 28



Sunday January 29



7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday January 30


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Partner Charleston
7:30-8:30 Solo Jazz Routine
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/


7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday January 31

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday February 1

Upcoming Events!

February 19 Balboa Workshop with Candace and Mindy (Scottish Rite)
February 24-26 Seaside Jazz Festival (Seaside, Oregon)
March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange
March 30-31 Savoy Swing Jam (Seattle, WA)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Weekly Weigh-In Jan 24

I did better at exercising this week though I'm still struggling to get daily exercise in.  I'm really starting to hate the people who do the instructions for my current workout video so it might be time for something different.  I've got one more video to check out from that set and I have a couple of online workout things to check out. I've reached a compromise with myself that nights that I go dancing count as the exercise for the day which also helps me motivate myself to actually get up and dance.

Dieting hit a few snags this weekend between giant chocolate cravings and a family member that is passive-aggressively undermining the diet effort while trying to play diet guilt-monger.  Suffice to say this is not going over well with the members who are actually trying to lose weight.  I also rediscovered the sugar-free bakery which also has some gluten-free and low carb options.  Too bad there weren't calorie free options...

I also had to go jean shopping this weekend.  Not too traumatizing except for the reminder of how much new jeans suck.  Also, the difficulty of finding jeans that are not low rise since I prefer that my butt fit into my jeans. Strange idea, isn't it?  This is why I wear jeans until they fall apart.

Morale Update: Mildly frustrated.  But mostly with a certain family member and new jeans.

Statistics:

Current Weight: 222.0 pounds
Last Week: 221.0 pounds

Weight Loss/Gain: Gained 1 pound

Starting Weight: 226.2 pounds
Highest Point: 226.4 pounds
Lowest Point: 221.0 pounds

4/10 pounds to next Book

Writing Update Jan 22

Consistency is still not one of my traits.  I'm working on it though.  It probably doesn't help that I still haven't settled into the routine of taking classes again and that I was sick on Friday.  I do have the very satisfying feeling of being entirely caught up with the word count that I should have for #WIP500.  One thought about re-writing: it is a bit disappointing to do lots of writing and only see the word count go up a little bit.  I know that will change especially towards the end of the draft but for now it is still a bit sad.

Monday:  0 words
Tuesday:  0 words
Wednesday: 664 words
Thursday:  0 words
Friday:  0 words
Saturday: 0 words
Sunday: 3876 words

Writing Posted:


None this week.


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

50553 / 90000

Portland Lindy Hop Events January 18-25

The Week of January 18-25

Wednesday January 18


Thursday January 19

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music by Richard and Melissa

7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)
http://www.facebook.com/events/311514958893563/


Friday January 20


6-8pm Anna Paul and the Bearded Lady at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Anna Paul and the Bearded Lady


9-12 am Underscore Orkestra and the Shanghai Woolies at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
9-12 Live Music by the Underscore Orkestra and the Shanghai Woolies



Saturday January 21



Sunday January 22



7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday January 23


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Partner Charleston
7:30-8:30 Solo Jazz Routine
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/


7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday January 24

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday January 25

Upcoming Events!

February 24-26 Seaside Jazz Festival (Seaside, Oregon)
March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange

Writing Update Jan 15

This was not my week for consistent writing or blogging apparently.  Starting classes was a major disruption to my daily routine.  I need to reestablish my routine and really stick to it so that I can write consistently.

I am really enjoying the process of re-writing.  I'm remember what I was thinking as I wrote the first draft and I'm falling in love with the story again.  The words on the page have a long way to go before they do justice to the story but I'm making progress on that too.

Monday:  288 words
Tuesday:  0 words
Wednesday: 1107 words
Thursday:  112 words
Friday:  916 words
Saturday: 0 words
Sunday: 281 words

Writing Posted:


None this week.


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

50039 / 90000

Steampunk Seasonal Serial - Brainstorming and Outlining

0 / 50000

Greased Gears - Writing First Draft

9326 / 90000

Weekly Weigh-In Jan 17

The diet is still going mostly well but last week appeared to be a fluke.  Either that or returning to healthy eating made it simple to drop the holiday weight and now I'm going to have to work hard to lose the rest.  Imagine my surprise. To be honest, I never expected to start off with a giant weight loss so it made a nice positive start.

I didn't do any better at exercising last week.  I'm going to have to work really hard to get into a routine that works well for me.  I've made the first start of building that routine for today, so the next step is to get up tomorrow and do it again.

Moral update: Disappointed but not discouraged.

Statistics:

Current Weight: 221.0 pounds
Last Week: 221.0 pounds


Weight Loss/Gain: None

Starting Weight: 226.2 pounds
Highest Point: 226.4 pounds

Lowest Point: 221.0 pounds

 

5/10 pounds to next Book

Art: Practice Piece #1

I'm trying hard to remember my artistic goals as well as my writing and weight loss goals.  To that end, I'm going to try and get a second drawing done today so that I can at least average one drawing a week.

This is a Celtic Knot-work sketch.  Mostly done to remind myself how the basic design principles work.  Also, it helped pass the time during the two hour lecture on the syllabus and online set-up for my mostly online statistics class.  There are many places where I lost track of the pattern and had to retrace my steps.  The lines are uneven and hesitant.  It is a decent practice piece but it certainly won't be going any farther than that.

Medium: Black Ink and Paper

Review: The Half- Made World by Felix Gilman

The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman
Tor, October 12, 2010
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy

Book Description:

The world is only half made. What exists has been carved out amidst a war between two rival factions: the Line, paving the world with industry and claiming its residents as slaves; and the Gun, a cult of terror and violence that cripples the population with fear. The only hope at stopping them has seemingly disappeared—the Red Republic that once battled the Gun and the Line, and almost won. Now they’re just a myth, a bedtime story parents tell their children, of hope.


To the west lies a vast, uncharted world, inhabited only by the legends of the immortal and powerful Hill People. Liv Alverhyusen, a doctor of the new science of psychology, travels to the edge of the made world to a spiritually protected mental institution in order to study the minds of those broken by the Gun and the Line. In its rooms lies an old general of the Red Republic, a man whose shattered mind just may hold the secret to stopping the Gun and the Line. And either side will do anything to understand how.


My Thoughts:
The Half-Made World is one of those books that I enjoy immensely while reading but once I've finished, I realize that there are enough questions left and flaws that I'm disappointed.

The Half-Made World gives snapshots of extensive world building but when all is said and done, I don't feel that I understand the world at all.  I still don't understand the motives of the Gun and the Line and I don't even have a vague idea about what the Gun does beside oppose the Line.  I can tell that Gilman knows the world inside and out but he doesn't make the connection to sharing that knowledge with the reader.

Another thing that I struggled with was the characters themselves.  I had a hard time relating and connecting with the characters.  I often found them fascinating but there weren't any likable characters.

I did really enjoy the adventure that the characters found themselves undertaking.  I loved the mix of technology and magic and how the world itself becomes a character.  I thought that the pacing of the novel was excellent and it certainly kept me turning the pages.

While The Half-Made World didn't live up to my excitement, it still was an enjoyable read.  It definitely feels like the set-up for another book, which I will read in the hope that it will add more detail to the world building.

Recipe: Tandoori Chicken

The cookbook that this recipe comes from is a new household favorite!  It makes me very happy!

Recipe: Tandoori Chicken

(adapted from The World's Greatest-Ever Curries)

Ingredients:

• 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup natural (plain) yogurt, beaten
• 4 tbsp tandoori seasoning
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt

Directions:

Cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces.  Mix the yogurt with the tandoori seasoning and add salt as desired.  Spread the chicken with the yogurt mixture.  Leave to marinate in a cool place for 2 hours or in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425F/240C.  Place the chicken on a wire rack in a deep baking tray. (We used a glass 9x13 pan lined with foil)  Spread the chicken with any excess marinade, reserving a little for basting halfway through the cooking time.

Pour the olive oil over the chicken pieces and roast the chicken for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven, leaving the oven on.

Baste the chicken with the remaining marinade.  Return to oven and switch off the heat.  Leave the chicken in the oven for 15-20 minutes without opening the door.

Swing Clip: Kevin and Jo at Rocktober 2010

While this is an older clip, it is definitely a new one to me.  I love the way that Jo Hoffman dances.  She dances with her entire body.  She's actively changing her arm movements, head position, the shape of her body and the level of movement through out the song.   This is the type of movement that I want to bring to my dancing.

Portland Lindy Hop Events January 11-18

The Week of January11-18

Wednesday January 11


Thursday January 12

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music

Friday January 13


6-8pm Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys




Saturday January 14


6-8pm Boy and Bean at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Boy and Bean


9-12 am The Stolen Sweets at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
9-12 Live Music by the Stolen Sweets

Sunday January 15

3-6:00pm Lindy and Charleston Workshop with Candace Keillor and Mindy Hazeltine
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
http://www.facebook.com/events/312652588768874/

7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday January 16


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Partner Charleston
7:30-8:30 Solo Jazz Routine
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/


7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday January 17

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday January 19

Upcoming Events!

March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange

Weekly Weigh-In Jan 10

So, I managed to skip a week of posting but it doesn't really matter since I forgot about the diet busting effect of New Year's celebrations that left me at the exact same weight.  After New Year's I kicked the diet up to full gear.  I've been doing rather well at returning to the strict South Beach diet phase 1.  My goal is to maintain phase 1 eating habits for a solid month and I'm going start counting from this last Saturday since I cheated with a couple of freshly baked cookies and a serving of pineapple.  However, that doesn't seem to have had a major effect since I lost a good bit of weight this week.  

I am a little disappointed in myself that while I managed to stick to my diet remarkably well, my daily exercise fell by the wayside.  My goal for this week is to keep going with the diet and to really focus on getting workouts in.


I've decided to add in some incentives for myself by rewarding myself with a new book for every ten pounds that I lose.

Statistics:

Current Weight: 221.0 pounds
Last Week: 226.4 pounds


Weight Loss/Gain: 5.2 pounds lost

Starting Weight: 226.2 pounds
Highest Point: 226.4 pounds

Lowest Point: 221.0 pounds

 

5/10 pounds to next Book

Knitting: Tentacle Hat

This was an excellent bit of fun.  I saw this knitting pattern over at Violently Domestic and was inspired to play around.  I  halved the two sections of the pattern that make up most of the length so that they would be smaller and lighter.  I think that the result was cute and fun but they aren't holding their shape as well as I would have liked.  My next batch of tentacles will probably be on smaller needles and will have a bit of stuffing to help keep the shape.

From the side, pictured with the wig that I wore it with for Halloween.

From the top.

Knitting Goals Progress Update:

Christmas Knitting

Hats Completed: 3/4 (I have to redo one)

Scarves Completed: 3/4

Other Knitting

Coffee Sleeve: 0/1

Water Bottle Sleeve: 0/1

Double Knitting Practice Swatch: 0/1

Gear Pattern for a Scarf: 0/1

Double Knit Scarf: 0/1

Monster Afghan: No New Progress

Hats for the Homeless: 0/12

Writing Update Jan 8

I've done pretty well with writing everyday though I'd like to aim for getting my writing done earlier in the day before I get too distracted by other things.  I'm finding that I need to be careful not to get distracted by shiny new writing ideas.  This week alone, I've had two novel length story ideas try to take over my brain.  It is nice having things to write but it is making it hard to go over and re-write older works.  I had some pleasant surprises in rewriting Hive Mind, in that I actually wanted to keep some of the words that I had written in the prologue though I have this feeling that it is mostly because I started editing once and didn't make it more than a few scenes into the novel.

Monday:  615 words
Tuesday:  517 words
Wednesday: 540 words
Thursday: 517 words
Friday:  781 words
Saturday: 581 words
Sunday: 112 words

Writing Posted:


The Magic of the City
Rough Draft, 265 words
31 Things in 31 Days, Standalone

Charlotte Tryst
Rough Draft, 517 Words
Outbreak Snippet, 31 Things in 31 Days


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

48291 / 90000

Greased Gears - Writing First Draft

9326 / 90000

31 Things for 31 Days Prompt 4: Charlotte Tryst

Courtesy of Eric Albee on Flickr, distributed under an Attributions-only Creative Commons license.http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericalbee/6632588919/, via 31 Things for 31 Days

Another short piece set in the future of the Outbreak Universe. Not exactly how I'd imagined writing a glimpse of this character's future but when you have inspiration...

Charlotte Tryst

Rough Draft, 517 words

Allisyn Bridges

Charlotte Tryst looked at the chronometer across the room. The readout was upside down, though she expected that since she was currently laying on her back with her head hanging off the bed. She was equally unsurprised that it was the same day that she had fallen asleep on. In the windowless isolation room, time was mostly unimportant. For Charlotte, time was mostly a theoretical construct imposed by that same chronometer. Most of the time the chronometer was the only thing that made her feel real. Like this was really happening. Sometimes the chronometer got covered by blankets. Sometimes she contemplated breaking it. She never did.

3 years, 45 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 15 seconds since the end of civilization.

Charlotte turned her head to face the other side of the quarantine field. No change there either. Her mother’s reanimated corpse still stood blankly on the other side. Charlotte pushed her self up to a sitting position. The movement drew the attention of the zombie that had been her mother and the zombie started pounding on the forcefield. Like it always did. She couldn’t hear it but the sight was more than enough.

3 years, 45 days, 6 hours, 37 minutes, and 48 seconds with her mother’s rotting corpse.

The woman from the Senate had said that they were doing her a favor when they locked the privacy screen in place and walked away. At the time Charlotte had disagreed and spent weeks hacking to regain control of the field. It was only off for two hours. For the next year and one hundred fifty six days, Charlotte changed her mind thousands of time. And then the emitters had fused with the privacy screen deactivated. Her only company was the reanimated corpse of her mother. Some days that was better than being alone. Some times it just plain sucked. Today, it hurt to look, so she didn’t. Charlotte shut her eyes.

3 years, 45 days, 7 hours, 22 minutes, and 9 seconds since the colony had fallen to the zombies.

At first, Charlotte’s comm unit had worked but now there was only silence. One by one the communication satellites had fallen into disrepair and stopped transmitting. A handful at a time, the voices had fallen silent. The voices of other trapped survivors. The voices keeping her sane. Charlotte blinked. There was something on her face.

3 years, 45 days, 9 hours, 41 minutes, and 27 seconds of being alone.

Charlotte turned away from the other side of the room. Away from her mother’s body. Away from sights she couldn’t bear to see anymore. She got off the bed and stepped toward the mirror. There was red streaked across her eyes.

3 years, 45 days, 11 hours, 2 minutes, and 56 seconds of the same unchanging room.

Charlotte examined her reflection and remembered. Yesterday, she hadn’t wanted to see. Yesterday, she’d started to claw her eyes out. But only started. She’d made a mess but it would heal. It always did.

3 years, 45 days and 12 hours of things she never wanted to see again.

Recipe: German Short Ribs

This is a great way to cook short ribs!

Recipe: German Short Ribs


Ingredients:

· 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
· 3 pounds beef short ribs
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 large onion, sliced
· 1/2 cup dry red wine
· 1/2 cup chile sauce
· 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
· 3 tablespoons vinegar
· 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
· 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
· 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
· 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 1/4 cup water

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons flour, salt, and pepper. Coat the short ribs with the flour mixture.

In a slow cooker, combine onions, wine, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and chili powder. Mix thoroughly. Transfer the short ribs from the skillet to the slow cooker.

Cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Remove ribs, and turn the slow cooker control to High. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup water, and stir into the sauce. Cook for 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

31 Things for 31 Days Prompt 3: The Magic of the City

The Magic of the City

Rough Draft, 265 words

Allisyn Bridges

Ryan waited for the bus home from class just like every other night this week. His head was aching after a jam packed day of classes and studying. The glare of the streetlights was only serving to make his throbbing head hurt worse. Suddenly the pounding in his head seemed to double in intensity. Ryan squeezed his eyes shut and tried to breath through the pain. When he opened his eyes next, the world around him had changed. The street and buildings around hadn’t changed but the way he saw then certainly had. The streetlights had a golden aura around them that illuminated the world far better than the electric light had. There was a green light across the facade of the tall building across the street, with the name that he’d never even tried to pronounce. A streak of neon light flashed across his vision and he was surprised to feel his headache melt away. He slowly turned in a circle in place and really looked at the buildings around him like it was the first time again.

“So you see it now?” A quiet female voice asked. Ryan spun around to look at the speaker. It was the small petite dark haired girl that he saw at the bus stop often but had never done more than a friendly nod hello.

“But what am I seeing?” Ryan asked.

“The Magic of the City.” The girl turned back to her book and before he could get her attention back, the bus came and the vision of Magic faded until only the normal world remained.

Swing Clip: Skye and Frida at ESDC 2011

This is getting to be one of my favorite clips.  This is social dancing at its best and obviously the judges of the contest agreed since Skye and Frida won.  One of the best things about this performance is that every move in it is basic Lindy Hop and Charleston, albeit done with more style and musicality than anyone else.  There's no aerials or super complicated patterns just simply amazing dancing.

Portland Lindy Hop Events January 4-11

The Week of January 4-11

Wednesday January 4


Thursday January 5

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music by Rod and Ronda

Friday January 6


6-8pm Swing Papillion at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Swing Papillion




Saturday January 7

9pm Trashcan Joe at the Blue Monk
Drinking Age Only, 21+
The Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont, Portland)


9-12 am Paul Evans Quartet at Secret Society
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
http://www.facebook.com/events/217848941631330/

Sunday January 8


7-11:00pm  Bridgetown Sextet Live at Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm Live Music by Bridgetown Sextet
http://www.stumptowndance.com/


Monday January 9


6:30-8:30pm Beginning to Beyond Beginning Swing with Josh and Emily McLaughlin
Wimbledon Square (2837 SE Colt, Portland)
6:30-7:30 Partner Charleston
7:30-8:30 Solo Jazz Routine
http://www.facebook.com/events/215864158491718/


7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday January 10

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday January 11

Upcoming Events!

January 15 Charleston Workshop with Candace and Mindy (Scottish Rite)
March 2-4 Portland Lindy Exchange

2012 Goals

I have a lot of goals for 2012 and they are wildly varied.  I'll list my goals by category

Writing Goals:

• Write 500 words a day, using the #WIP500 challenge to keep me on track
• Participate in one additional challenge a month
• January: 31 Things in 31 Days
• February: Days of Grey
• March-October: Unknown
• November: National Novel Writing Month
• December: Novel Finishing Month
• Write the Second Draft of Hive Mind
• Finish the First Draft of Greased Gears
• Outline, Write, and Edit a Seasonal Steampunk Serial for December 2012
• Brainstorm, Outline and complete a novel for NaNoWriMo 2012
• Experiment with Short Fiction

Personal Goals:

• Dance to Live Music every chance that I get
• Try a different kind of social dance every month
• Lose 100 pounds
• Exercise Daily
• Go back to Phase One of the South Beach Diet
• Keep sugar and soda banished from my eating habit except for special occasions
• Maintain a certain level of Cleanliness around the house
• Find a volunteer position to gain advocacy experience
• Maintain A's in the classes I will be taking 
• Apply to Genetic Counseling Programs in the Fall
• Spend less money
• Pay off the credit card and start saving money

Knitting Goals:

• Finish the Christmas Knitting
• Weave ends in on all four hats
• Weave ends in a two scarves
• Finish knitting and complete a scarf
• Knit and complete a scarf
• Make a coffee cup sleeve
• Make a water bottle sleeve
• Practice Double Knitting
• Design (or find) a pattern for gears for a scarf (double knit)
• Finish the Monster Afghan
• Knit one hat for the homeless each month to be donated in December

Sewing Goals:

• Re-finish the corset that I made this October
• Make the bodice for the skirts that I already have made

Other Crafting Goals:

• Design a Steampunk Block Print
• Draw something once a week
• Paint something once a month

Reading and Blogging Goals:

• Make a dent in my To Read Shelf
• Only buy anticipated releases by favorite authors and books for school/book club until my pile of books to read is much smaller
• Have something read to review once a week
• Keep a consistent blogging schedule

Writing Update Jan 1

Happy New Year!  I ended the year with a large flurry of words to complete the rough draft of my NaNo 2011 novel and started that novel with a snippet from the future of the story.  I didn't write everyday this week but when I did write I was quite productive!

Monday:  0 words
Tuesday:  542 words
Wednesday: 275 words
Thursday: 295 words
Friday:  300 words
Saturday: 734 words
Sunday: 736 words

Today marks the start of the #WIP500  challenge.  I'm excited to get lots of words written this year and I have lots of projects to work on!  I'm also playing along with a challenge on Google Plus called 31 Things in 31 Days for January.

Writing Posted:


Hope for the Future
Rough Draft, 642 words
Outbreak Future Snippet, 31 Things in 31 Days


Works In Progress

Outbreak (NaNoWriMo 2011) - Resting

54270 / 90000

Hive Mind (NaNoWriMo 2010) - Editing and Writing Second Draft

47542 / 90000

Greased Gears - Writing First Draft

9326 / 90000

31 Things for 31 Days Day 1: Hope for the Future

Prompt via 31 Things in 31 Days

This snippet is set in the near future of my NaNo 2011 Novel, Outbreak.

Hope for the Future

Rough Draft, 642 Words

Allisyn Bridges

Angela Rialto followed her team leader, Tony Perrin into the hallway to the biodome. Once Senator Rebekah Terralynn’s global broadcast had gone out announcing that the quarantine beacons had been sent out and that the colony had been deemed lost to the infection. The communication circuits, which had been shut down by the quarantine protocols, had been unlocked for colony wide use since any survivors were going to need every advantage they could get. Households that had sealed themselves off as soon as the infection had started to spread began to connect with each other and coordinate. Angela’s family had joined with several of their neighbors to protect each other and prepare for a lifetime isolated from the rest of the galaxy. It was a few months before they realized that the food from the synthesizers wasn’t going to sustain them as well as the natural food from the biodomes. After a few weeks of planning they had drawn up a plan of attack for clearing out the biodome and relocating everyone to the biodome. Luckily, their coalition included a good many members of the Colony Security and between their stockpiles and those of the empty houses around them, they were able to arm everyone that was willing and able to carry a weapon.

Their team, cobbled together from the current active service members, was the first wave of the attack on the biodome. Angela watched the hand signals from Perrin and followed the man in front of her in fanning out around the entrance of the biodome. From inside the biodome, they could see dozens of zombies shuffling across the turf. Angela scanned her assigned quadrant and prioritized the visible targets in her mind. She waited patiently for the signal to open fire. It made her nervous to keep standing there as the zombies slowly recognized their presence and began to shuffle towards the six person team. Finally, Perrin gave the signal to open fire. The engagement was quick, despite never having worked together before, the team was solid, well trained and unified in their goal and determination. They systematically wiped out the zombies. Once all of the visible zombies were dead, the order was given to fan out and make sure the dome was clear. Despite all the evidence that the noise would have drawn in all of the zombies that were near by, they had no intention of taking any chances with the safety of their families. Angela heard a few isolated gun shots from other sectors of the biodome but didn’t encounter any stray zombies in her sector. Finally, the team concluded that the biodome was clear of any zombie threat. Perrin dispatched two of the others to sound the all clear to their waiting families and then gave the order to start removing the corpses from the biodome. Working in pairs, it was fairly quick work to move the zombie corpses to the room with the incinerator. They didn’t have time to get rid of the corspes now but later there would be plenty of time and the ashes would be good for the soil.

It wasn’t long before there was more than enough help to clear the biodome of the dead. Angela and her partner, Vicki, approached their last corpse of the day and something small caught her eye on the ground near the unmoving zombie. She knelt down and took a closer look, it was a small yellow flower. Angela plucked the little flower and stood back up.

“What do you have there?” Vicki asked. Wordlessly, Angela held out the small yellow flower for her partner to see. The two had a silent moment of appreciation for the little spot of beauty, then Angela tucked the little flower into a pocket and they carried away the last zombie corpse from their best hope for survival.