Production Dayz 08: The Streetlamp Children

This is called a circle story or a figure-eight. Its an exercise my English teacher invented when I was in high school. I do it sometimes to freshen up my ideas. this is the most recent on I did. Majority of the time they don’t make sense plot-wise. the whole point is for the story to come right back to the beginning in order for it to begin again. Its harder than it seems but fun. So yeah, enjoy!

"The Streetlamp Children"

The streetlamp went off at six this morning and a young woman was kissing her boyfriend goodbye as he headed to the bus stop. Watching him board the cross-town bus and vanish on the horizon. As she began to get ready for work herself, she wondered what news she would bring home to him.

Mark ran down the street trying to make it from the bust stop to his job in the call center. He stumbled past security swiping his card hastily. As he ran by to get to his desk he passed by Beth as she walked around the corner just out of his sight.

Beth stepped out into the sun her face buried in her hands. The tears streamed down her face as she wondered how she was going to tell her roommate. She got into her car and took the long drive home. On her way she nearly hit a rough looking kid on a bike. She cursed at him angrily to stay out of the road.

Josh shook his head and continued on his bike. He had an interview at a hotel today and couldn’t afford to be late. Living with his brother wasn’t enough without a job and he hated depending so much on him. A high school dropout wasn’t the best hiring material but he wanted to do better. He sat in front of the manager and nearly cried when she said she’d give him a chance. He hugged her in excitement.

Abigail patted her newest employee on the back. She was happy for him; he looked like he really needed this job. God was with him. She picked up her stuff to go take a smoke break. Working there for ten years had given her a comfortable life and she was about to get promoted. Life was good. Her desk phone began to ring and she picked it up quickly hoping it was the site manager telling her she had succeeded. It was her clinic doctor and she broke down crying.

Dr. Barnett hung up the phone after setting up Abigail’s appointment. He put the test results down and shook his head. Another victim of unprotected sex who had a promising future had passed him by. He couldn’t stop here and feel sorry for each one of them anymore. He had better news to give to a waiting young woman.

Porsha dropped her last pack of cigarettes in the trash and rubbed her flat stomach with a smile on her face. The world made sense for once and she knew everything would be okay. She took out her phone to phone her best friend Beth but the sound of a car spinning out of control made her freeze. She screamed as the force knocked her out of the way.

Josh lay on the ground breathing hard. He looked up into the face of the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen and was happy that he saved her. Things were going right for her from the way she’d smiled coming out of the clinic. He smiled a little as the darkness hit him and thought “Dammit, I just got that job!” His brother was going to be pissed.

Taylor shot up from his chair and logged off his computer. He asked Mark to cover for him because he needed to get to the hospital. He tried to call Abigal to cancel their date but found that her phone was turned off. He could talk to her later.

Abigail went home finding Beth calling any job she could. She asked what had happened and realized Beth had been fired. She began to break down and Beth realized Abigail was HIV positive. They held each other and cried not sure of what to do with one of the unemployed and one dying. Beth called her dad and begged him for help.

Dr. Barnet got off the phone after wiring emergency money to his daughter. He went to the diner for a good cup of coffee and a quick smoke. Porsha, who was glowing like God had kissed her on the cheek, served him the usual and thanked him again. He left her a big tip saying he’d been there with his first born too.

Porsha found out from Mark that Josh would be okay and she used the big tip to send flowers and a thank you card promising to visit him in the hospital. She went to the apartment and rubbed her sore feet, hoping to hear from Beth soon. She smiled at her one bedroom apartment knowing that there would have to be some changes. She made a pot of tea and took out her boyfriend’s favorite cup. Just as the sun set the last bus drove by.

Mark walked into his apartment and hugged his girlfriend, happy that God hadn’t taken her away from him. She kissed him and told him the news, pressing his big hand to her stomach. He was scared and would admit it but the glow on Porsha’s face said that they would be alright. They sat together on the couch and sipped their tea settling in for the night.

The streetlamp came on, lighting up the darkness. The streetlamp children settled for a while, thanking God that they had all made it through the day no matter of the good or bad. At peace they were with the world at the moment and sleep called to them. All was alright until the artificial light stopped shining with the coming sunrise. The streetlamp would blink out and the circles they walked around each other would begin again.

Autumn

Production Dayz 07: Too Much Time On My hands!

Never Die the Rose is bugging me and I'm still going on it. XD too much time on my hands! But I'm going to post a little of my progress. First of all i finally have a "Once upon a time" opening to the story. Now the key thing with "Once upon a time" opening, is that they give you the false security of the story being perfectly linear because its a fairy tale. But we all know I am entirely too complicated for that kinda nonsense. So here is my "Once Upon a Time" for Never Die the Rose:

Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom, there lived a handmaiden that served a beautiful princess. The handmaiden and the princess were best friends and would always sing together. The beautiful princess could sing loudly and move the hearts of all who listened. All of her people loved her. The handmaiden could sing with passion and innocence that could move the heavens themselves. But the handmaiden’s voice was far too small to be heard by the world. One day a prince heard the princess's gorgeous voice and chose her to be his bride. They would be married and live happily ever after. But no one would listen to the handmaiden; she was doomed to live in the shadow of the princess and her glorious voice. Would the handmaiden’s song ever be heard by someone who would love her or is her song destined fade away?

Thus the story of Mischa and Jolie are introduced. this is the premise though I guarantee  that though it will follow this plot line, it totally isn't linear! More details later! ^_^

Autumn

Production Dayz 07: Politics and the News (Focusing on the Mundane Too much!)

So I'm generally out of the loop 99% of the time on politics and the world today. I had been wondering how the presidency was going and if any progress had been made but on the scarce occasions I'm able to watch the news, I have nothing the show for it. Most of the time when I'm trying to learn anything about what the president IS doing I get a bunch of stuff that I really don't care about. For instance, they had a big thing about him greeting the Japanese emperor wrong because he shook his hand and bowed. They said "It was tacky and offensive to the culture" and then other say "it's disgraceful, our president shouldn't bow to anyone!" I was like, he's attempting to respect the culture and the man's position. These same people didn't say SHIT when Bush and other presidents bowed to the emperors and rulers of other nations. I mean, you want the president to not acknowledge the other rulers position in his own country and give them respect? It damages relationships between countries to do things like that, people! Trust me, we don't need anymore conflict. We're cash poor as it.

Anyway, it was always stuff like this that I would see on the news. Faux pas, fashion, interaction with people, what he's NOT doing for us and shit like that. I'm like, okay, that's great that you can find all that stuff. Bush didn't shit his first 100 days....hell the 100 day count didn't exist until Obama got into office but he still got a lot done even though a lot of people think that he didn't. I paid attention to news wondering if change would come but I'm not naive enough or any bit as ignorant (yeah I"m saying it) as the masses appear to be to believe that taking the fiasco our government and economy has become and turning it back to the Clinton days (because in my opinion, the Clinton days were the happiest years of my life) can happen in just a few months and just a few years.

So, I really don't care about approval ratings, 1st 100 days, I don't care if he gave his wife a fist bump, hell i wouldn't care if the man bitch slapped someone  for a racist comment  or any thing like. I just really wanted to know what Obama WAS doing. I wanted to know if he was making progress because if he was, then I can still hope that our lives will get better and this whole era will just be dust in the wind! So I got my answer from my friend Kelra on GAW. Finally, what Obama IS doing. Argue all you want and say what you want...the man is doing his job as best as anyone could. You try being president when everyone thinks you're Jesus Christ and that you HAVE to play the martyr! This is a list of all that the things this man is doing while drowning in the criticism of his own peers and country. He's still TRYING, I respect THAT more than anything.

Autumn

PS: Forgive me for ranting. Its just the news drives me nuts sometimes! I'm eventually going to find a no nonsense news source and it will be wonderful!

What Obama Has Done...

Hey to my GAWs

check this out:


I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.
As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).


1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending

2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women

4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB

6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information

7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family

8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act

9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible

10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House

11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

16. New federal funding for science and research labs

17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect

19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools

20. New funds for school construction

21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out

22. US Auto industry rescue plan

23. Housing rescue plan

24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying

26. US financial and banking rescue plan

27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic

33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions

34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job

36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast

37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles

38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales

39.. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government

40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children

41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program

42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba , allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones

43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions

44. Expanding vaccination programs

45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters

46. Closed offshore tax safe havens

47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals

48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back

49. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices

50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources

51. Lower drug costs for seniors

52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings

53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel

54. Improved housing for military personnel

55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses

56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals

57. Increasing student loans

58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program

59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy

60. Established a new cyber security office

61. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.

62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts

63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness

64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced

66.. Improving benefits for veterans

67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration

68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud

69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco

70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules

71.. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports

72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons

73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive

74. Making more loans available to small businesses

75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare

76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court

77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans

78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000

79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel

80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan

81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans

83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production

84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket

86. Held first Seder in White House

87. Attempting to reform the nation's health care system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured

88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform

89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform

90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform

Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!


Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University

Production Dayz 06: *sings* and Everybody Diez! (just kidding)

Quick note on how the real me is doing:

Well, I'm about to move back into my parents house, which means I'm gonna have my own room again. I guess that a plus. I finally got a job interview at books a Million thanks to the help of the good people in my life.

But what I noticed is that when I made it final that I was about to move back home...the call for a job came.
What does that say about my situation. Deja (me IRL) is a shy, can't hold down a job, bad luck mama who has been having karma shoot at me with explosive rounds. But when I finally gave up on fighting...something good happened. W..T..F?

Eitherway, this means nothing against my writing. I still have a passion for doing things other than going to a dead end job at the moment but a dead end job will help. so me as myself needs to get her priorities straight. So I'm moving home and will have my own room which means I can start networking like i use to back in college. I can start making random videos again, start doing my art again. all the things I couldn't afford to do while living with someone and having no job. I missed having my own money. So wish me luck on that too.


And Now for what Miss Autumn is doing:

Remember that Fairy Tale I told you about a few days ago. Well, the thing with writers (at least with me) is that when I actually start to like the characters, I tend to keep the story. I was planning on just making a sarcastic fairytale to make my doctor mad (because I just do that) and show him that I don't LIKE happy fairytales. But you know what? I started writing and suddenly the Fairy Tale had depth and when it has depth, I tend to drown in it!

I'll probably post a blog later detailing what its about but i guess you can call it a kinda of Beauty and Beast/Swan Princeess/Madame Butterfly kinda thing. That means you'll never figure out what its about until I'm darn well ready. :)

I'll give you something to go on though. The main character is called Mischa. She's a little flying squirrell. I'll have a more on that after the whether. In the mean time, know that this will probably be more of teen type story rather than children like I intended. Because kids these days can't take the kinda fiction I could as a child. they might go shoot up a school XD.

Take care,
Autumn

Production Dayz 05: FairyTales Anonymous (Aiding the Dark Fiction Writer into Being Less Emo)

So I went to my doctor today and he tells me to take it easy (how, I'm not to sure) but I don't have a job at the moment which means I'm screwed either way.

Anyway, he knows I'm a writer and thinks my stories have too much psychological torment to the characters. Shadow of Chance for instance sounds like its heading somewhere dark. It is but I'm not gonna tell him that!

Anyway, he suggests that I write something with a happy ending or happy characters. Or even a fairytale would make things alright. He thinks it would be good therapy and would probably allow me to feel happy and prove to myself that things work out. His point is that it will give me more of a positive outlook.

I'm a huge fan of fairytales...the REAL ones. Grim Fairytales and the like. Fairytales that haven't been Disney-upped! Not the most positive thing but he wants to see if I can be more positive in my writing rather than just dark. (I think he was a step away from calling me Emo. lol) So I'm going to try it. Take something Dark and turn into Light?

That's one hell of an assignment. wish me luck. I'm actually considering a Madame Butterfly theme fairytale (loosely based mind you because I was upset with that ending even though I love the opera)

Butterflies are beautiful but slightly creepy (like Monarchs) Anyway, I'm rambling. Gonna work on that a little since I'll be seeing him again next month. May your day be full of Words and Happy Thoughts...yeah 'write!' have a good day people and a happy thanksgiving.

Autumn

Production Dayz 04: One of Those Days (poetry)

"One of Those Days"


It's one of those days

you wake up too early
swooning
like someone
put you on a merry-go-round
and forgot to tell you to stop!

It's one of those days

when you wake up to someone warm
cozy, comfortable, soft,
only to find its just your cousin
who can't seem to sleep
without the familiar press of her face
against your back
and the presence of one who knows what its like.

It's one of those days

It's too early and the sun hurts your eyes
and leaves more than third degree burns
on an empty heart
experiencing the drought of ages
waiting for the kindle of one sweet whisper
and one soft press of hands

It's one of those days

You gotta do the laundry
And press your face longingly to clothes
wishing, waiting
to breathe in that warm, sweet lover's smell
only to smell
the downy pleasures you bought yesterday on sale

It's one of those days

Your skin tingles
and aches
and calls
for the one you've never met
and needed
and prayed for
to come and show you what happens
when the stories stop telling
and the house empties
and you find yourself alone with just him

It's one of those days

When its been so long
you can't take anymore
and all you want to feel
is the rhythm of a heart racing
when the blood rushes
and the body burns
and that all too familiar ache that calls
calls! calls for the response
of a calloused hand brushing over skin
a gentle touch to a blushing cheek
and fingers weaving through hair
hair that ain't been done in a week
but hell if he cares cause he's likes it anyway!

oh, it's one of those days

yearning for that which
the young body has never felt
that flavor the naive tongue has never tasted
But you've heard its like having white chocolate
melt on your tongue inexpressibly bittersweet
you want that sorta soft sigh
and silly smile
that "walkin' on sunshine" feeling the grown women tell you about
Mmm!
its not just act that the body craves
but the warmth, the closeness,
the tender sweet words shared between people
lovers words, touches, warmth and chemistry
the things which make being a woman
all the worthwhile

Oh, it's one of those days
One of those weeks
One of those years

how many...how many of us are left that still know what is to have those days answered?

how much...how much does it take to make those days go away?

and how long...oh how long will we keep having "those" days?

-----

Just how I feel today...

Production Dayz 03: A Little Experiments

So I was bored late at night and couldn't sleep.

I stumbled across blogger and decided to make a blog out of boredum. Figured I write random stuff like I do here. I'm wondering what project to work on. I have so many in the works and the inspiration to do a lot.

So I'm experimenting in the Horror/Dark Fantasy genre which lead me back to the "Escape from the Looking Glass" story I started almost a year ago. I have to do more writing for that but I have yet to learn what is that creeps people out. Nothing really creeps me out so I'm good for reading and writing some pretty grotesque things but again, what scares the reader these days since everyone is so desensitized to everything

Decapitation is just nasty, not really scary

Ghouls and Goblins are just ugly

Vampires....we've had this argument

Lycanthropes...Almost ruined but not forgotten

Demons - aren't really cared about

Definitely want to make Alice in Wonderland as frightening as possible with its new characters. Either way, I might just browse around the forums of different sites and discover what's scary about the waking world as well as the dreaming one. Off I go. I might post my notes to show what people these days still find scary. Like I said, a little experiment.