NaNoWriMo Word Count

NaNoWriMo

Yes, I am going to try it again. I am going to try to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I have failed miserably the past two years but I am determined to get it done this year. It will more than likely by crap, but it will be my crap. Any encouragments, dares, rewards, or bribes will be accepted and expected. Any ideas for plots or plot twists will also be appreciated. I will update as time allows on my word count (or lack thereof). Less than two weeks until it starts - wish me luck.

Aww... He Likes Me!

The girls and I went to the Sedgwick County Zoo yesterday. It was a beautiful day, about 75 degrees, but kind of windy. We thought the animals would be active, but most seemed to have just eaten and were ready to snooze. Kaemie wanted to see the penguins. They were all in the water playing, diving to the bottom of the pool and then shooting up to jump up out of the water. Kenna wanted to see the bears. They were not so active. They just sat on the edge of their pool, staring at the water, until they both laid down to take a mid-afternoon nap. Same with the lion. He was laying on the top of a rock surveying his small, artificial kingdom. The gorillas were also lethargic.

The chimps were slightly more active. I even made friends with one of them. He was in the outside part of his habitat, and he walked up to the glass where I was standing. He stared at me for a few minutes, and then he went to the indoor portion. I wandered in the building for several minutes, then went over to see the chimps. I sat down on a bench by the glass, and the same little chimp walked over and sat down by the glass right in front of me. I watched him for a while, then got up so some of the kids could see him up close. I sat down a couple of benches down. Eventually this same chimp saw me and walked over to where I was and sat down by the glass in front of me again. He pressed his lips to the glass and stared at me. I had to see what would happen, so I walked away again and sat down. A few minutes later, he followed me! He sat down again and put his lips on the glass again. I must say I was flattered. Here's a picture of me and my new friend!

Are Hugs OK?

I don't want to start any big political discussions or get people riled up about feminism, but I have figured out what my biggest gripe (of the many I have) with Sarah Palin is. I have a hard time watching her let men hug her. She is supposed to be a professional. I personally feel that handshakes would be more appropriate from one professional to another. Do men think that just because she is a woman they can grope her? Does she think that because she is a woman that she should let them? And one of the foreign leaders she met (finally) commented freely on her looks and she let him. Is that ok? When professional men meet, they shake hands. And they definately don't comment on each other's looks. I imagine it will be hard to get people to respect her when all they see is a pretty face and a potential cheap feel.