What do you think? Should I change my layout?

Each year when NaNoWriMo hits, I change my blog layout to match whatever my NaNoNovel will be about. Once January comes around, it returns back to this my "SHIVER" layout.

Well, it that time of year again... time for me to start thinking about what I'm going to write AND what my new layout will look like. This will be the third year of this (I used my older blog for my writing stuff before than). So, I'm wondering, what should my NaNoWriMo layout be this year? Any one have any ideas?

Background colors? Text colors? Link colors? Should I stay with the black and green? Should I match NaNoWriMo's colors?

I'm in a Japanese mood so my NaNo entry is leaning towards being set in Japan this year... any ideas for a good "Japanese" feeling layout?

I'm open to any and all suggestions at this point. I want my new layout here on my blog by the opening day of NaNo sign ups, which is October 1st, 2008



What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!





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If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:








When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!

Giant Squid Hunting on Squidoo: My Choices

Squidoo is holding a contest for the next round of Giant Squids. Here's my list, mostly filled. I'm missing a few of them, oh well. Anyways, check out these lensmasters and their lenses, don't forget to leave comments on their guestbooks, and if you are a Squidoo member too, than give them all star rates, add them to your favorites, and join their fan clubs. Have fun!

Username:

EelKat



The List With My Answers:

1. Find a PG who has a lens about chocolate.
http://www.squidoo.com/vegan_chocolate_cake

2. Find a PG with a Zippers lens in a New Orleans zip code.

3. Find a Giant-worthy lens about Hello Kitty.
http://www.squidoo.com/hello-kitty-for-moms

4. Find a PG lens about favorite San Francisco restaurants.
http://www.squidoo.com/san_francisco

5. Find a PG who has at least 2 great MonkeyBrain lenses.
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/FlashAllen

6. Find a PG who says the word "curmudgeon" on his or her lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/thirty-day-challenge

7. Find a PG who is from Kenya.

8. Find a PG lens that would win a "biggest geek ever" award.
http://www.squidoo.com/grid

9. Find a PG who uses the Table of Contents module like an Index instead.

10. Find a PG who is tattooed!

11. Find a PG who has posted more than 50 times on the SquidU forum.
http://www.squidoo.com/top_100_guitarists

12. Find a PG who runs a blog about Squidoo.

13. Find a PG with a lens about peanut butter.
http://best.icecream.ever.com/

14. Find a PG with a lens about BlizzCon.
http://www.squidoo.com/wrathofthelichking

15. Find a PG with a lens containing the keyword "snorkel"
http://www.squidoo.com/snorkeling-hawaii

16. Find a PG who is rocking the SquidZippers scene.


17. Find a PG with a lens about the 1970's.
http://www.squidoo.com/vintage70sroom

18. Find a PG lens about "orange" -- interpret that how you want.
http://www.squidoo.com/monarchbutterfly

19. Find a PG who uses the Featured Lenses module really well.

20. Find a PG who likes beer.
http://www.squidoo.com/tin_beer_signs

21. Find a PG lens that's voting for McCain.
22. Find a PG lens voting for Obama.

23. Find a PG lens selling nifty Zazzle stuff.
http://www.squidoo.com/naturally_native_clearwing_moth

24. Find a PG lens selling Etsy stuff.
http://www.squidoo.com/squidetsians

25. Find a PG lens about a bulldog.
http://www.squidoo.com/forfrenchbulldogs

26. Find a PG lens about an amphibian.
http://www.squidoo.com/savethefrogs

27. Find a PG lens about a book you liked, too.
http://www.squidoo.com/horcruxes

28. Find a PG "how-to" lens that taught you something you didn't know before.
http://www.squidoo.com/naturally_native_hummingbird_gardening

29. Find a PG "calling card" or resume lens. What does someone find when they Google you?
http://www.squidoo.com/howtocreatearesume

30. Find a PG who is an Indian Jones Fan.
http://www.squidoo.com/indiana-jones

31. Find a PG lens about scooters.
http://www.squidoo.com/motorizedscooters

32. Find a PG who sells clothing.
http://www.squidoo.com/dragonfly1076srenaissancebodiceshowcase

33. Find a PG lens about a red flower.
http://www.squidoo.com/naturalwondersandmore4

34. Find a PG who loves Squidoo.
http://www.squidoo.com/60_day_challenge

35. Find a PG who has a horse.
http://www.squidoo.com/betterhorsebehavior

36. Find a PG who likes Halloween.
http://www.squidoo.com/traditional-halloween-costumes

37. Find a PG with a lens about Alaska.
http://www.squidoo.com/alaskatrips

38. Find a PG who knows something about pottery.
http://www.squidoo.com/imari

39. Find a PG who knows PHP.
40. Find a PG with a lens about Crocs.

41. Find a PG who supports the ASPCA.
http://www.squidoo.com/aspca/babykitty

42. Find a PG with a lens about the 1980's.
http://www.squidoo.com/back-to-fraggle-rock

43. Find a PG who knows about Maple Syrup.
http://www.squidoo.com/griddlecakes

44. Find a PG with a lens about Squids.

45. Find a PG with a Squidoo "How-To" lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/your-own-fursona-lens

46. Find a PG with a lens about Sesame Street.
http://www.squidoo.com/sesamestreet333

47. Find a PG who uses CafePress.
http://www.squidoo.com/CafeJuice

48. Find a PG who likes Polka Music.

49. Find a PG who supports the Squidoo Charity Fund.
http://www.squidoo.com/rescuechickensfreeasabird

50. Find a PG who is a big Star Wars fan.
http://www.squidoo.com/anakinskywalker47

51. Find a PG who knows how to toilet train a cat.
http://www.squidoo.com/feline

52. Find a PG who is "Green".
http://www.squidoo.com/yogitea

53. Find a PG who uses the best superlative ever.

54. Find a PG who has been fly fishing.
http://www.squidoo.com/fly-fishing-streamers

55. Find a PG who has been LOTD.
http://www.squidoo.com/birdrescue

56. Find a Superstar PG who joined Squidoo in July or August.
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/Juice-Allen

57. Find a PG who donates to your favorite charity.
http://www.squidoo.com/dolphin-swim

58. Find a PG who has a lens in the Arts & Literature section.
http://www.squidoo.com/dalisalvador

59. Find a PG who runs a group.
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/voiceactors

60. Find a PG with the word knitting in their lens.
http://coolest.crochet.ever.com

61. Find a PG who knows a lot about Florida.
http://www.squidoo.com/gallinules

62. Find a PG who loves ebay.
http://www.squidoo.com/treasuresbybrenda

63. Find a PG with a SquidWho about your favorite actor.
64. Find a PG with a SquidWho about your favorite actress.

65. Find a PG with a lens about socks.
http://www.squidoo.com/sockmonkeycentral

66. Find a PG with a Hey MonkeyBrain lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/dalekvscybermen

67. Find a PG who is a stay at home mom or dad.
http://www.squidoo.com/teachkidsbusiness

68. Find a PG with a lens about a cooking.
http://www.squidoo.com/wholewheatpiecrust

69. Find a PG with a SquidVids lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/chroniclesofriddickvideoshowcase

70. Find a PG lens about Canada.
http://www.squidoo.com/canadabirding

71. Find a PG who likes camping.
http://www.squidoo.com/backpacking-tents

72. Find a PG lens about antiques.
http://www.squidoo.com/SATSUMAPORCELAIN

73. Find a PG lens about Easter.
http://www.squidoo.com/OriginOfEaster

74. Find a PG who supports A Day of Hope.
http://www.squidoo.com/adayofhope

75. Find a PG with a lens about fish.
http://www.squidoo.com/TheSanddollar

76. Find a PG with a SquidBoo lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/halloween-superstitions

77. Find a PG with a lens about your favorite television show.
http://www.squidoo.com/doctorwhofan

78. Find a PG who is a writer.
http://www.squidoo.com/mindset_for_success

79. Find a PG who is a Realtor.
http://www.squidoo.com/98225/RyanMartin-knows-98225

80. Find a PG lens about Asia.
http://sharpest.weapon.ever.com/

81. Find a PG lens about a restaurant.
82. Find a PG who is a SquidActivist.

83. Find a PG who has written a book.
http://www.squidoo.com/marylynnplaisance

84. Find a PG with a lens about the 1990's.

85. Find a PG with an historical lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/1780

86. Find a PG who knows how to use HTML.

87. Find a PG who has a lens in the Entertainment section.
http://www.squidoo.com/wecosplay

88. Find a PG who knows how to sew.
http://www.squidoo.com/clothingdarts

89. Find a PG lens that made you laugh out loud.

90. Find a PG with a lens about costumes.
http://www.squidoo.com/Bodicesewingtips

91. Find a PG who has a Polaroid on their lens.
http://www.squidoo.com/hayliewilliams13

92. Find a PG lens comparing one thing to another.
http://www.squidoo.com/disturbedvsslipknotdisturbedichooseyou

93. Find a PG lens about a hot gadget that ISNT the iphone.

94. Find a PG lens that you wish you made (okay that's a shoe-in).
http://www.squidoo.com/bellissima

95. Find a PG lens that actually made you cry a little.
http://www.squidoo.com/goldieandmelifewithagoldenretriever

96. Find a PG who has only ONE lens so far.
http://www.squidoo.com/truffle-recipe

97. Find a PG who lives in Australia.

98. Find a PG lens about your favorite video game.
http://www.squidoo.com/sonicthebestvideogameever

99. Find a PG lens reviewing another website or dotcom.

100. Find a PG lens about a martial art.
http://www.squidoo.com/sokaku_takeda




What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!






Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

Publishing Your Novel? Find out more about Publishing Methods and did you ever wonder How to Start a Publishing Company?

Want to join Squidoo? Than you need to read EelKat's Secrets To Squidoo Success and What Can You Do With Squidoo?

Are you seeking an online debate to join and tell the world what you think about it? Than you need to check out this List of Active Debates that are waiting for you to speak out on them!

Here is where you can find out How To Start Your Own POD Business to sell your art online and How I Became An Artist and What Art Equipment I Use and where
My Art is For Sale Online.

WARNING! Sesame Street is for ADULTS ONLY! . . . ??? . . . Millions of Children Grew Up Watching an M Rated Show!?! Who Knew?

Have you seen the rating in the DVD release of Sesame Street? It says that the show was intended for grown-ups! Did you know that you and your children have been watching an M Rated adult show all these years? WOW!

Cookie smokes a pipe and eats junk food, contributing to obesity.

Cute furry blue monsters are going around asking for way too many hugs... hugging is a big no-no now a days!

So it seems that Snuffy really was "snuff", meaning Big Bird was a drug addict.

The purple dude wearing the triangle shaped collar must be gay, otherwise why have purple skin and wear triangles, and boy oh boy does he have has mental problems because he counts everything he gets near and talks to bats and spiders! For shame!

Best friends who live together, are always gay, so Bert and Ernie bad for kids.

Homeless green grouchy dudes living in trash cans are evil and should be avoided at all costs.

And all men who give milk and cookies to children are pedophiles, thus Gordan and Mr Hooper are not good roll models.

What the hell? What kind of a twisted mind watches Sesame Street and sees puppets teaching the alphabet as rated for adults only? Weird, weird, weird, weird. Don't think it can get any weirder than that.

You know what? I grew up on Sesame Street! It was one of my favorite shows. I watched Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo every day, never missed an episode. I was reading and writing at age 3 because of Sesame Street! And apparently I was watching Sesame Street when it was at it's most evil too: the 1970's! It's the episodes from the 1960's and 1970's that have the M rating on them! oooooooh!

You know one of the things every body is jumping all over about Sesame Street is the fact that the early episodes show adult men befriends 5 and 6 year old girls... men who btw are a stranger to the girls! Thinks of my fave fictional character: Lord Sesshomaru, who suddenly decides to befriend the 8 year old girl, Rin, and from that point on she lives with him and is his closest companion. Like Sesame Street, the Sessho/Rin relationship was greeted with outraged parents resulting in Romiku ended her book by having Kaede taking Rin away from Sesshomaru. *GRRRR* Evil parents complaining, hurt my Sessho. :(

Okay, so InuYasha is sold as a T-16 rated book, and the tv show is rated M, both ratings due partially to Lord Sesshomaru and the implications of his infatuation over Rin, but who knew Sesame Street was so evil? I mean, wasn't Sesame Street aired as being intended for ages 2 - 8? Are they saying that what was okay for 2 - 8 year olds 30 years ago, is only fit for adults over 18 in today's society? Are they trying to tell us that all us children who grew up on Sesame Street now have problems due to our watching Sesame Street and thus children today should not be allowed to watch it in order to prevent them from become like us? Is that the message these rating people are telling us? If so, I ask you than, what is wrong with us? How did Sesame Street corrupt us? What did it do to us that resulted in children today not being allowed to watch it?

I remember Cookie Monster smoking his pipe, eating up cookies, and gulping down whole milk. Today I'm 33 years old, have never smoked, rarely eat cookies, and not only do I drink whole milk, but I also drink heavy cream! And you know what? I'm 5'6", 36" x 28" x 38" and weigh 138 lbs. I'm the farthest thing from overweight. In spite of my drinking heavy cream mixed with whole milk, I seem to have escaped from the evil clutches of the goggly eyed blue Cookie Monster.

Bert and Ernie are gay! WTH? Where do people come up with this stuff? I remember watching Bert and Ernie, and thinking they were brothers. Never thought of them as anything different and still today look at them and see brothers. Looks like my mind wasn't naturally corrupted enough to see past my childish innocence and see Bert and Ernie for the evil monsters they really were! *SHEESH*

Big Bird was a drug addict and high as a kite when he went around talking to Snuffy, either that or he was a dangerous raving lunatic who suffered from an advanced case of schizophrenia. Either way that bird and his imaginary friend are just waaaay too evil for children today to watch. Well, now! It looks like all of us fiction authors, who have imaginary characters running around in our brains begging us to write stories about them, we authors, we certainly are an evil lot aren't we?

It's politically incorrect to portray poverty ridden homeless men as living in trash cans and hating any one who dares come by. I mean, really, the guy has lived in a trash can so long now that he turned green! How evil is that?

All of the characters are men, not a woman as far as the eye can see... except of course the little girls who go skipping by. It's discriminating against women and promoting lolicon at the same time. SHOCKING!

Than you got a perverted blue furry guy who's running around in a cape and asking to hug every one! OMG! Everybody run for the hills, Grover wants to hug you! It's evil at it's at it's cutest!

Lets not forget that weird pointed eared obsessive compulsive freak of a hermit, who has locked himself away in a distant castle, where he sits around all day talking to spiders and bats, playing organ music, and obsessively counting everything in site.

Silly me, here I was watching Sesame Street all these years and I never noticed any of those things! I thought I was watching educational television and learning how to read and write and count and sing along with my favorite puppets. Now we are being told that Sesame Street was REALLY brainwashing us with all sorts of evil hidden messages!

Granted, I can see how Sesame Street did in fact affect me on some levels. My first *love* was Count Von Count, after all, and by the time I was 6 years old I had quite a large collection of Count memorabilia! My first rabid fan-girl mania, was for a purple skinned guy with cute pointy ears, sharp fangs, wearing freaking cloths, suffering from OCD, and playing the piano. Odd... by the time I was 8 years old I had become a rabid fan-girl of Liberace, another weird guy with funny cloths and a piano. By the time I was a teenager I was head over heels for Dracula, Mr. Rochester, Eric, and Lesat.

hhhhmmmm.... Can it be that Sesame Street really did corrupt me after all? If I hadn't become a fangirl of Count Von Count at such a young age, I might never have moved on to the more dangerous vampires. Of course, I've always had a thing for vampy guys with pointy ears and wearing freaky outfits, so can I blame Sesame Street for my current obsession with Lord Sesshomaru? I need to blame Sesame Street for something right? I mean, every body else is after all.

There are a lot of debates going on about this, which you can join in here:

Sesame Street... For Adults Only?
and here:
Sunny Days…and Some Stupid and Sarcastic Ones Too
and here:
Sweeping the Clouds Away
and here:
Is Old School Sesame Street Appropriate for Kids Today?
and here:
Sesame Street: The Hidden Lessons
and here:
Sesame Street "Old School:" for Adults Only
and here:
'Sesame Street': For adults only
and here:
Sesame Street DVD is for adults only

What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!






Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

Publishing Your Novel? Find out more about Publishing Methods and did you ever wonder How to Start a Publishing Company?

Want to join Squidoo? Than you need to read EelKat's Secrets To Squidoo Success and What Can You Do With Squidoo?

Are you seeking an online debate to join and tell the world what you think about it? Than you need to check out this List of Active Debates that are waiting for you to speak out on them!

Here is where you can find out How To Start Your Own POD Business to sell your art online and How I Became An Artist and What Art Equipment I Use and where
My Art is For Sale Online.

Test Post... Disqus

Well, I just signed up for Disqus and linked this blog back to it. Supposedly it will monitor comments, but it changes my comment boxes to do so.

So, I'm testing it out for a few days to see how it works and than I may or may not keep it depending on what it actually does for me.



What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!






Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

Publishing Your Novel? Find out more about Publishing Methods and did you ever wonder How to Start a Publishing Company?

Want to join Squidoo? Than you need to read EelKat's Secrets To Squidoo Success and What Can You Do With Squidoo?

Are you seeking an online debate to join and tell the world what you think about it? Than you need to check out this List of Active Debates that are waiting for you to speak out on them!

Here is where you can find out How To Start Your Own POD Business to sell your art online and How I Became An Artist and What Art Equipment I Use and where
My Art is For Sale Online.

It's That Time of Year Again: NaNoWriMo Here I Come!

Well, with NaNoWriMo coming up again soon, I'm in my planning stages. Two years ago I did aghast-horror-romance-fantasy set in old day America, last year it was adventure-romance-fantasy set in ancient Maya/Inca backdrop.... this year? Momoyama (Medieval) Japan! So I'm doing pretty good I think: 3 years running in fantasy and not a Euro style setting in sight! YAY!


---------------------------
Before you publish your NaNoNovel be sure you read this:
Publishing Methods

Got suggestions for the best fictional men ever? I'm making a list and most of my choices got crossed off! I need ideas for more.



What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!






Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

Publishing Your Novel? Find out more about Publishing Methods and did you ever wonder How to Start a Publishing Company?

Want to join Squidoo? Than you need to read EelKat's Secrets To Squidoo Success and What Can You Do With Squidoo?

Are you seeking an online debate to join and tell the world what you think about it? Than you need to check out this List of Active Debates that are waiting for you to speak out on them!

Here is where you can find out How To Start Your Own POD Business to sell your art online and How I Became An Artist and What Art Equipment I Use and where
My Art is For Sale Online.

Why are you a fantasy fan?

Who are your favorite authors?

Rumiko Takahashi
J.K.Rowlings
Brain Froud
Peter S. Beagle
Don Rosa
Carl Barks
Lewis Carroll
Roald Dahl
Tolkien

I do a lot of just picking up fantasy books and reading them, and have no idea who half the authors are! I see a book and think "Oh, I like the faeries (unicorns, dragons, elves, wizards, whatever) on the cover, I guess I'll read it." I end up reading all kind of fantasy paperbacks based totally on the cover art, and than never stop to think about who the author was!

Only if the book stands out as one I really, really, really like a lot, do I remember the author's name. Like Harry Potter. I really, really, really liked Harry Potter, odd, because it's not the kind of fantasy I normally read.

and these are sci-fi, but I classify sci-fi as a type of fantasy ;)

Keith Laumer
James Blish
Orson Scott Card

Can I call Stephen King fantasy too? :)


How long have you been a fantasy fan?

I wrote my first fantasy (a short story) in 1978...
I'm old, been a fan a long time


Why are you a fantasy fan?

uhm... no idea... I never thought about it actually. It's not just books, cause I'm into all the fantasy movies too; my faves being:
Labyrinth
Dark Crystal
The Princess Bride
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I just like things that could never really happen. It's like being in a dream world, where life is (usually) better than the real world.

and besides, gives me loads of great guys to fall in love with! I got thing for pale skinned elf guys with long blond hair a cute pointy ears! :)

Where do you come up with ideas?

I answered that question here. It's a bit too long to copy and paste it all on this post, but basically from things that happen in my own life. Just ordinary every day things, inspire all sorts of imagination in me.


---------------------------
Before you publish your NaNoNovel be sure you read this:
Publishing Methods

Got suggestions for the best fictional men ever? I'm making a list and most of my choices got crossed off! I need ideas for more.




What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!






Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:




-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

Publishing Your Novel? Find out more about Publishing Methods and did you ever wonder How to Start a Publishing Company?

Want to join Squidoo? Than you need to read EelKat's Secrets To Squidoo Success and What Can You Do With Squidoo?

Are you seeking an online debate to join and tell the world what you think about it? Than you need to check out this List of Active Debates that are waiting for you to speak out on them!

Here is where you can find out How To Start Your Own POD Business to sell your art online and How I Became An Artist and What Art Equipment I Use and where
My Art is For Sale Online.