I found it!

I have spent months trying to find out what kind of bird this is. Okay, not every day for months, but every time I'd look at my zoo pictures I'd come across one of this bird.

Tonight I spent hours going over books and websites. I went through over 3000 pictures on one site alone. It was not there.

From the location in the zoo, I thought it was a somewhat Asian bird. So I began running through bird spotting lists. First I'd find the birds of about the same size and shape, copy the names over to Google, and check the images section...

And finally, there it is.

This is a Nicobar Pigeon. Lovely bird, really.

And now, at 4 am, I will finally go off to bed knowing that I have put a name to one more of the creatures. (grin) Here's the Wikipedia entry for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicobar_Pigeon

I can put the stack of books away again. 

Why I don't use FM

In an email today someone asked why I never post material on Forward Motion.

There's a really good, simple answer, odd though it is.

I don't post anything for critique because I don't have the time to return the favor.

I believe in the method FM has set up of helping each other. You don't have to be published to know a good (or bad) sentence when you see one. Readers, rather than writers, are just as good at spotting plot problems, too. There are many people at FM who are very good at helping others refine their work.

I believe that in order to get critiques, you need to give critiques. You can post once or twice without offering anything in return, but eventually the people figure out that you're not holding up your end.

Could I get away with 'I own the place, do this for me?'

Probably. But it wouldn't be fair.

So, at best, I'll post a question or two now and then. That doesn't mean I'm not learning a number of things from other posts, though. (grin) 

Working here....

Well, kind of.

Holly looked over the first 2YN book and pronounced it good. It still has a beta-reader period, but after that... it will be gone and out of my hands. Then I have to start working on the second book so that I can have it out in less than a year (though I am not going to do it in a month like this one!).

Beyond that I'm working on Return which is turning into a very short little novella for some reason. I'll write it out as is and then consider either expanding it into novel length later or look for a romance-type novella market, if such a thing exists.

I've barely started on the zoo pictures. I'm not terribly pleased with this bunch. I'm going to have to figure out more of the tricks of this camera. I think I'm just too anxious most of the time. I need to start slowing down and take longer at various spots.

I'm sure there are other things going on in my life. I can't even begin to come up with what they are! 

I'm heading for the zoo!

Russ and I will be heading off for Omaha in a few hours. I'm heading to bed now. I'm turning off my computer, and unless something goes wrong (wouldn't really surprise me!), I won't be back on until we get home tomorrow night.

Russ has some work stuff to take care of, and I get to spend the day wandering around the zoo and acting goofy. I'm looking forward to it.

So, have fun. I'm going to relax for the day and when I come back, I'll find out what we need to do for FM.I'm not going to worry about it before then.

So, I'm off to try and get some sleep. It's awfully early for me, though! 

Rain, Lovely Rain....

Everything is turning green, and as long as I ignore that we're under a flood watch, it's all pretty nice.

FM is back up. It will be another day before I find out what I'll have to do to make things work better. Jatol announces their new plans on Monday, I guess, and I'll have to go through and see what we need and what I can afford. I do appreciate the donations to the site. Those are really going to help!

I'm still working a bit on the 2YN book after all. I forgot a couple little things and needed to add them back in.

On the good side, I finally have access to my PDF stuff and have done the #30 Vision. I will put it up tomorrow. And that, I think, pretty much covers my life since the last time I wrote. Kind of sad, isn't it? (grin)

I did get the 2YN classes up already, though. That's a good point!