OK, this is embarrassing, but I'm getting contradicting opinions/advice.

I'm concerned about my mare losing weight. Some people at the barn call her fat, and she's always been a little on the chubbier side. The BO talked to me yesterday concerned that she's too skinny. I'm not sure if it's because I'm used to her being chubbier and that's why I think she looks too skinny or if it's because she really is, but when the BO talked to me I was sort of like "OK, maybe I'm not the only one." Comparing pictures, it really does look like she's lost weight recently. My vet and I have become BFFs between Cracker coming up lame, the puncture wound, and recently a bout of colic (plus the other horse needing vaccines, his own wounds, neuro blood testing) but has never mentioned to me that she thinks Cracker looks too skinny. If anything, when I had to drain her wound, I started getting fatty chunks out from her hindquarter, but her ribs are easily felt. When I estimated her with a weight tape (I know not the most accurate), she's around 980lbs and I've always been told she should be around 875-900. I don't know, I'm very confused.

The vet is coming out next week to booster my other horse, so I'll talk to her about it, but in the mean time do you guys mind weighing in for me? She's on a 10% protein, 4% fat pellet feed that I switched her to a few months ago, so I'm wondering if maybe she needs a little more for the winter; maybe it's her age creeping up on her. I also get conflicting advice on if Cracker is senior or not at 22. I'm looking at a senior 12% protein, 8% fat texturized feed.

Extra: Her teeth were floated last Spring (May '09, I believe) and I'm not feeling any jags when I checked for that. I haven't had a fecal on her, but she's always been on a rotational dewormer schedule since I've had her (9 years) and her manure is regular.

( Photos )

Dear fictionwriters,

My problem is this, I've started writing a short story about a politician who gets mauled by werewolves (posted below the cut), and there's a point in it where I segue from discussing the Politicians emotional facade into him getting chased through a field by Werewolves.

Basically? I need fresh eyes, because to me it feels sloppy, but I don't know if that's because it IS sloppy, or if it's because I've just re-written it one too many times. In my writing I like introducing strange things and strange events matter of factly and I don't like patronizing my readers by spelling everything out, so I don't want to give a lot of build up to him being chased through the field by werewolves, but at the same time I started off by trying to introduce it after the attack; going from discussing his emotional facade to him lying on his back in a field while werewolves nommed his chest a bit, and it just felt like I was leaving too much out. So please, read, comment, give me your expert insight.

( As should be obvious, there's a little bit of violence here, nothing too graphic though. )

Get a comfy chair and possible some snacks, oh you peoples of BRPS. I bring you a two-for-one. Half rants, half observations.

Rantish Observation the First:

I have come to determine that generally, there are two mindsets when it comes to those who RP. I call them the RPers, and the Fic Writers. Now, this isn't to say that rpers can't be fic writers, or that fic writers can't be rpers. The two do blend, and as I've often seen, they can blend extremely well. But sometimes old habits die hard, and the ficcers get in over their heads.

There are some key differences, you see. The rpers know that the game, the roleplay, is an overall story of all the characters, all the interactions, all the plots... it is everybody's world, no character any more important than the next. They are in it for the story, the ride, the long haul, the whatever you want to call it. And then sometimes you get a stubborn ficcer (a motherficcer, if you will) who is completely out of their element. They are there for their character's story, and in that, they are the narrator, the story-teller, the Jesus, Buddha, and Zeus. Their character is the main character, because they're writing it, and everyone else's characters, plots, and needs are of a lesser priority.

One of the worst traits I have found in motherficcers are the needs to control everything. Those who play scenes out in their head, before they are written, without taking silly little things into account like, oh, say, how the other characters might react. And then it comes time to play the scene out, and, omgosh! People just don't react right! They RUINED your scene! THEY PLAYED IT WRONG!

Or worse, the rampant wangstbeast motherficcers who have decided not to sit idly by and let other characters ruin their vision. These beastly motherficcers who decide the best way to not let other players fuck up a good story is to try and tell them how it should be played properly. And then when these other players, these peons in your perfect world, dare to refuse – well, naturally there's only one sensible option. Through an epic shitfit, whine in every possible public forum, wangst about how mean everyone is to you, and occasionally flounce entirely.

Listen, you thundercunt motherficcers. If you can't handle the stresses of things like 'other people' and 'free will', why in the seven bloody hells are you even here? Go back to your fic, and your perfect little world that you control. We don't want you in ours. If you require an audience and must come play in our sandbox, do it with a shred of dignity and etiquette, and STFU and STFD.

Rantish Observation the Second:

In this respect, and the observation of countless motherficcers over the years, I have come to think it is generally a bad idea for a writer to play their novel/fiction characters in a roleplay setting – particularly those they've been writing for years. You may love them, and you may love writing them, and you may be terribly attached to them – but really, isn't that all the more reason to keep them in an environment that can't fuck everything up for you?

Think about it. Your novel character has always been in your environment, with your rules. Some times these characters don't translate and transplant well into other sandboxes. And you must take into account that, like it or not, not everyone is going to like your precious shnookums. Both IC and OOC. Before you transplant, ask yourself: can you handle that? If there's even the slightest chance you can't, if a single hair stands up on the back of your neck or the slightest uncomfortable flip of your stomach, don't do it. It will probably end badly.

If you have built up a character so grandly in your head, idolized them, babied them, loved them more fiercely than any character you have ever written in your own fiction, you may not be prepared for other peoples opinions on him/her.

For instance, your precious novel character, who you describe as 'intense', 'tragic', and 'heroic' may be perceived by other characters as more along the lines of 'annoying', 'a crybaby', and 'functionally retarded'. Ask yourself: are you ready for that? Can you handle such a thing without going home to your own tear-stained diary and wangsting about how everybody is always picking on you, and someday you'll publish your story, and THEN THEY'LL ALL BE SORRY MWUHAHAHAHA, like a sad-assed Batman character reject with a shitty origins story?

No? You can't.

Then you may also: STFU, and STFD.

Platitudes. I see pity in every eye, feel the weakness in every touch like it's contagious, a pandemic of heartbreak threatening to rush past my borders and infect their world. They wish the best with oblivious lips, lying without intention or fault. Their words are cacaphonous; I hear only ruin.

Sooooo, there was a bit of a mess-up in the system and the whole supplies-to-worker ratio went FUBAR and I ended up working for 45 more minutes than I normally would on Saturday. Of course, the part of my brain that remembers I have to pack up for a doll-meet onyl kicked in two seconds after I said "okay".
At least my wallet (and by extend Yukio) is pleased. My feet and back though, not so much.

I need some muck boots that will survive the winter, but I'm working on an extremely limited budget. Any suggestions/recommendations? I'd really like to spend less than $50. At the same time, it would help if they are wide since I will be wearing an ankle brace for an indefinite period of time.

EDIT: OP's post screencapped for your viewing pleasure

everythingtold goes out for a meal at a restaurant. As soon as the waitress appears, she gives the waitress her demands -- bring the drink, meal, to-go boxes, and check at the same time and don't come back until then -- because "I really go out of my way to make life as easy as possible for people in customer service".

When the waitress gets annoyed with her, she points out that she's not being annoying. "I turned to the couple at the table next to me and asked if I was bothering them. They shook their heads 'no'. I asked the family at the table on the other side and asked the same thing."

Then, there's a lengthy diatribe about her theory on tipping: "servers get $3-something an hour and minimum wage is $7:30 [sic] per hour. Generally speaking, if I am going to spend an hour in a restaurant, I will be tipping $4."

Finally, after paying her check, the OP gets up for a cigarette break, leaving her music player & book behind. After her cigarette break, she's SHOCKED to discover her table has been bused!

Commentors repeatedly point out that requesting the waitress only visit your table twice -- once to take your order and once to drop everything from drink to bill off -- is very inconvenient for waitstaff, but OP doesn't care. "I guess a lot of people in here hate me for trying to make life easy, lol."

"I actually wasn't trying to come off as SpecialSnowflake/EntitlementBitch at all - just the opposite."

"I cn't [SIC] believe that many people think it's annoying to make sure server doesn't have to worry about me very much."

This is a reminder that Monday, November 30 – the final day of NaNoWriMo – is also the LAST DAY to preorder the first Crossed Genres anthology!

For only $9 USD (plus shipping), you get:

• 10% off the first Crossed Genres anthology, containing a story selected from each of our first 12 issues
• Free 1-year online subscription to Crossed Genres! Includes free .pdf/.prc downloads of issues, exclusive content (beginning in January) , and more coming!
• By preordering, you are automatically entered for the chance to win a free copy of the anthology for the library of your choice!

Just 3 days left, including today, to take advantage of this deal! Preorder now!

Originally published at Crossed Genres. You can comment here or there.

Dear Tux Kitten and Striped Kitten who have decided to nest in my back yard,

You two are so adorable, and you can't be more than a few months old.  You still haven't lost your halos of kitten fluff.  You showed up Thanksgiving night on my back porch and haven't left.

Don't be so shy little ones, I promise I'm not mean.  I just want to bring you somewhere that you can be looked at by a vet and find a forever home.  I would love to bring you in myself, but my apartment is very small and is already at it's limit with kitties.  And I really can't afford to pay the extra deposit my landlord would require to keep you.

I'm going to keep watch over you and keep offering you fuds in the hopes you'll come near me, and when the office opens on monday I'm going to let the landlord know about you two because I'm sure they'd help me catch you.  They've helped little kitties find homes before.

Stay fuzzy my little babies, and please stay away from the racoons that sometimes lurk around here.

~L~

Anyone involved in Arabs and also pursuing a career in the performing arts? How awesome would it be to be a "Swayze Scholar"?

Fri Nov 27, 5:10 pm ET

DAYTON, Ohio – The Arabian Horse Foundation has established a scholarship in honor of the late actor Patrick Swayze and his wife.

Swayze and wife Lisa Neimi owned Arabian horses and competed in shows for several years. The foundation is the charitable arm of the Denver-based Arabian Horse Association.

Foundation President Larry Kinneer of Dayton, Ohio, said Friday that the scholarship honors Swayze for his career and the couple's "love of the Arabian breed and contributions over the years to AHA youth programs."

The scholarship will be awarded each spring to a youth involved with Arabian horses who seeks a performing arts career. It was launched with a pledge from Iron Horse Farms in Canton, Ga.

Swayze died in September of pancreatic cancer at age 57. His wife survives him.

http://www.arabianhorsefoundation.org.

(via http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091127/ap_en_mo/us_swayze_scholarship)

Whenever I'm creating new characters for any form of fiction, I always use the form below. I think I came across it in a fiction writing course a while back. Over time, I've added a few things to it. I hope everyone finds it as useful as I have.



Character Sketch

Name:
DOB:
Age:
Physical description:

Education:

Religion:

Parents:

Family life:

Employment:

Love Interest:

Most influential person in character’s past and why:

Favorite color:
Favorite relaxing pastime:
Greatest fear:
Favorite food:
Food character won’t eat:
Most important person in character’s life now:

Current situation:

Personal motivation(s):


Journal Passage from Characters POV:

This week's new members:

thorbridge, ammonite7, quickestpulse, teacup_romance, marionetteblue2, graverobbing, uriee, auroraluna1, sparks_582, 00_i_am_girl_00, wishblood_wolf, flavorthefaith



Welcome to Creative Writer!

This is your official welcome mat, an introduction to the fun which is our

community and an entreaty for you to join in.



How does it work?

Creative Writer is an online version of a writers' group. While writing

itself is usually a solitary occupation, what all writers need is contact

with other people who can give feedback, answer questions and, as with all

professions, provide guidance and a learning environment. While all artists

create their work, they can't create in a vacuum.

A writers group provides that environment. Here you are able to post

excerpts from your work and receive feedback, here you can learn from other

writers, here you can contribute to others, here is a safe place to grow

your talent.

So welcome to Creative Writer! Jump in, have some fun, any questions, feel

free to ask at any time.



( A little history )



( Community calendar )



( Rules for this community )



( How to make an LJ-cut )



-o-o-o-

Have fun and here's to great writing!

Windcharmer & Ayoub

(your local Creative Writer facilitators)

In the beginning, there was the Q, and he was good. He created an RP for original characters on the new forum features for a certain original fiction website. There were no real rules for entering, other than the need to make an intro thread, and all of the given rules were common sense for ease of play, and it was good. All those that entered read the rules and played characters they felt the need to develop, all interesting with several dynamics played against each other. It was fun, and fast-paced, and exciting.

Then real life happened to many of the original players... Some, like the creator, dropped off the radar completely. Others had to go at the game at a slower pace between posts, and the main thread, where new people entered, lay dormant. The older players, lamenting the state of things put in a couple of new characters, hoping to revive what had once been and encourage new people to join. And it worked, at least somewhat. A new group of players joined the fold, all fairly decent writers and RPers, and much fun was had by all.

But... then came another lull, and a new breed of player joined... game-breakers. Taking advantage of the relaxed rules, the new breed began entering millions of modern, cracky characters into a medieval tavern. They replaced the well-established NPC bar man with a new PC, and generally ran around the whole establishment like ants, adding things there was no reason for as they had already been established, and filling one area with tons of characters played by the same person so that anyone that entered could have no choice but play with the shallow, one-trick characters. It was the death of any interesting character development, at least in the main thread, and the last straw for me. I stopped playing there, and kept to my long-established side quests that had been going for quite some time with some of the older players.

However, some of my friends continued attempting to play in the main thread, long past my point of patience with what it had become. Tonight, however, was the last straw with the last one. She has officially stated that it has gone to hell. With the entrance of a fandom character from Okami, a catgirl who drinks "soki", a guy with an author avatar who's teh awesomest animu drawer evah!, people who show ooc knowledge and give ooc advice ic, and all the rest of it, I am inclined to agree.

Rest in peace, dear tavern. We knew ye well.

ETA: This links to someone's picture of "their character". It made me lawl because of how badly they photoshopped a ganked generic anime pic. Enjoy the thoughts of hidden back braces! http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2ib1942&s=6