Well, I was all set to run this challenge in September, but it didn't happen--still trying to get into the groove of school, and to flat out start writing again. That said, I would like to announce the second annual vignette challenge--October 1-31. Think of it as a prep for NaNowriMo. If you remember how this goes, awesome. For those of you who are new to Ars de Carta and my random challenges, the vignette challenge is thus:
So!
As many of you know, I love vignettes. Small portraits of a moment, a place, a time. So, to help with writing the many essays that will be coming this summer, I want to introduce a challenge.
15 vignettes, thirty (one) days. 15 snapshots, related or unrelated--it doesn't matter. (and neither does length!) The challenge starts October 1.
Indicate your interest in the comments. I look forward to seeing the vignettes you all come up with--I for one will be posting my 15 on arsdecarta.
Cheers
Art
So... Who is in this year?
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
So...
Why does the urge to read manifest itself when we have so much to do, but not when we're bored? Why do household chores we always avoid become so appealing at the eleventh hour? What is it about mind numbingly stupid flash games that can drag us in and never let us up?
Oh, if I could find the answers to these questions.
Oh, if I could find the answers to these questions.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The Great Cricket Hunt
It's always funny how something so small can cause a ruckus.
My place looks like a tornado hit it, and it's all because of this little guy.
So there's even a story here.
Two nights ago, I fell asleep on the couch studying. Half woke up, the lights still on, I see something on the floor. I realize it might be a bug, but roll over because I'm tired. Kinda thought about it in the morning, but didn't give it much thought beyond that.
Last night, sitting there watching TV instead of studying, and he comes out again. I try to hit him with a binder, he jumps away. I look around, don't see him, so I give it up as a lost cause.
So maybe ten minutes ago, about the same time as last night, I see him. And try to hit him again. This time, I must have stunned him a bit, because his jump was to somewhere that I could see. Try again, and he jumps away again. So I start tearing my place apart, holding a very heavy physio text with the intention of smashing him. Of course, it turns out it's not as easy as you'd think to use a textbook to smash a bug, and I trip over my whiteboard and my computer so he doesn't jump on me. The search continues, moving books and pillows and stuff to find him (and rug burning my knuckle somehow), until I realize that he's under my couch. The whiteboard becomes a weapon, one I never get to use. I discover he's jumped to where I keep my shoes.
This was the end. Chacos turned out to be his demise.Cricket is no more. I kinda felt bad, but that was before the primal rush of triumphing over a small insect set in. It felt good.
Okay, back to studying now.
So there's even a story here.
Two nights ago, I fell asleep on the couch studying. Half woke up, the lights still on, I see something on the floor. I realize it might be a bug, but roll over because I'm tired. Kinda thought about it in the morning, but didn't give it much thought beyond that.
Last night, sitting there watching TV instead of studying, and he comes out again. I try to hit him with a binder, he jumps away. I look around, don't see him, so I give it up as a lost cause.
So maybe ten minutes ago, about the same time as last night, I see him. And try to hit him again. This time, I must have stunned him a bit, because his jump was to somewhere that I could see. Try again, and he jumps away again. So I start tearing my place apart, holding a very heavy physio text with the intention of smashing him. Of course, it turns out it's not as easy as you'd think to use a textbook to smash a bug, and I trip over my whiteboard and my computer so he doesn't jump on me. The search continues, moving books and pillows and stuff to find him (and rug burning my knuckle somehow), until I realize that he's under my couch. The whiteboard becomes a weapon, one I never get to use. I discover he's jumped to where I keep my shoes.
This was the end. Chacos turned out to be his demise.Cricket is no more. I kinda felt bad, but that was before the primal rush of triumphing over a small insect set in. It felt good.
Okay, back to studying now.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
What did I do?
OtherI turned down a typewrite on my list.
It was a $10.25 Underwood Touchmaster.
Okay, there's a backstory here that I should explain.
First, I'm moving in a few weeks, and I don't know how much space I'll have in my new place. Having never seen a TM in person, I didn't realize just how HUGE they are. I have no clue where I'd put it, not to mention even getting it moved.
Second, I only had $10 with me and didn't want to bum money off my mom. (I heart girls antiquing trips though!)
Third: The TM was sitting outside on a table. It wasn't covered, and if the smell off a Sterling I opened was any indication (by the way, what is it with Utah and baby poop brown Sterlings in the tweedish cases?), as well as the fading on the price tag, it'd been out there, and who knows what it'd seen. I've had enough with fixeruppers... So I passed it up.
Sure, some of me is regretting it, because the action seemed to work and the parts were moving.
But, I think that I'm going to stick to portables right now.
Oh, and in other sightings news:
Couple of standard Royals.
Old Underwood Standard.
Two baby poop brown SC Sterlings
And, at my local shop, a cute 30s Corona Four... Was tempted by it, but I don't know if it works, and money is my limiting factor right now.
Well, sorry for not getting pictures of any of these, but it's been a fun few days! Gotta love summer!
It was a $10.25 Underwood Touchmaster.
Okay, there's a backstory here that I should explain.
First, I'm moving in a few weeks, and I don't know how much space I'll have in my new place. Having never seen a TM in person, I didn't realize just how HUGE they are. I have no clue where I'd put it, not to mention even getting it moved.
Second, I only had $10 with me and didn't want to bum money off my mom. (I heart girls antiquing trips though!)
Third: The TM was sitting outside on a table. It wasn't covered, and if the smell off a Sterling I opened was any indication (by the way, what is it with Utah and baby poop brown Sterlings in the tweedish cases?), as well as the fading on the price tag, it'd been out there, and who knows what it'd seen. I've had enough with fixeruppers... So I passed it up.
Sure, some of me is regretting it, because the action seemed to work and the parts were moving.
But, I think that I'm going to stick to portables right now.
Oh, and in other sightings news:
Couple of standard Royals.
Old Underwood Standard.
Two baby poop brown SC Sterlings
And, at my local shop, a cute 30s Corona Four... Was tempted by it, but I don't know if it works, and money is my limiting factor right now.
Well, sorry for not getting pictures of any of these, but it's been a fun few days! Gotta love summer!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Am in Shock.
http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/node/4189006
I don't know what to say. I enjoy NaNoWriMo, but I love Script Frenzy.
I will be continuing to write. Every April.
I don't know what to say. I enjoy NaNoWriMo, but I love Script Frenzy.
I will be continuing to write. Every April.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
THE FIRST EVER UTAH TYPE IN/OUT!
Yeah, you heard it!
UTAH TYPE IN/OUT
We don't actually know where. Or when. But it's happening.
So, if there are any closeted Utah typospherians who are interested in joining us, shoot us an email at arsdecarta [at] gmail.com. We'd love to know that we're not the only ones!
UTAH TYPE IN/OUT
We don't actually know where. Or when. But it's happening.
So, if there are any closeted Utah typospherians who are interested in joining us, shoot us an email at arsdecarta [at]
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
AC
Look what I found in the neighbors' shed last night!
They were amenable, so I am now the proud owner of one militantly ugly electric typewriter.
It's an Olympia International, Electric 45.
Despite years in the shed, it runs like a dream.
My thirteen year old brother is nearly as fascinated with it as I am.
He grabbed the manual to try it out first and five minutes later he's yelling at me to come help him.
It was an owner's manual for an air conditioning unit and he hadn't even noticed.
I laughed over that one.
I threaded some paper for him and we've been arguing over whose turn it is ever since.
I think I'll call her AC.
Monday, June 25, 2012
A subtle shift
Things are changing around here. In a month, I move out of Utah. I don't know where Ars de Carta as a project is going to go, to be honest. I still have a long list of posts I'd love to write, and I'm still looking forward to the Vignette challenge in July, but beyond that, who knows?
M and I had talked about doing a best of post for our 200th post, but maybe it'll be for 250. Or 201. or 213 or 293. It might happen, it might not. But isn't that where the fun comes in, from the not knowing?
There's a lot of that in my life right now. Things are changing, big time, like I said above. Mike will have to move my little marker thingy to a new state, but, despite what the detractors say, I'm pretty damn stoked.
It's summer now, which means a change of pace for life. More outside, lots less computer. So I'm going to go enjoy that, and we'll be back to you in July, or maybe the fall (yes, I'm suggesting postponing the challenge.)
Enjoy the summer. :)
A
M and I had talked about doing a best of post for our 200th post, but maybe it'll be for 250. Or 201. or 213 or 293. It might happen, it might not. But isn't that where the fun comes in, from the not knowing?
There's a lot of that in my life right now. Things are changing, big time, like I said above. Mike will have to move my little marker thingy to a new state, but, despite what the detractors say, I'm pretty damn stoked.
It's summer now, which means a change of pace for life. More outside, lots less computer. So I'm going to go enjoy that, and we'll be back to you in July, or maybe the fall (yes, I'm suggesting postponing the challenge.)
Enjoy the summer. :)
A
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Camp NaNoWriMo
Should I do it?
That's the question.
It'd have to be June, as I start school in August. Thing is that I don't know if I'll have the time to work this in November, so maybe a trial run would be good? That said, I'm working at an actual camp this summer, and I'm wondering if I'd rather focus on that and climbing... and just see how November goes? That might be more fun, as a computer and bouldering don't really mix. Blood just makes my computer dirty, and packing it on a long approach to routes isn't exactly practical. I've been writing, just not at the pace that I'd need for a summer comp (unless it's a set your own goal sort of thing, in which case, tell me and I'll reconsider.)
Sitting here thinking about it, I'm leaning towards something I wrote about last July (oh, and maybe I should save my writing impetus for July and the Vignette Challenge--I'll give it one last go before declaring it an official flop.)
Here are more awesome videos about bouldering... including some stuff that has kicked my butt recently.
That's the question.
It'd have to be June, as I start school in August. Thing is that I don't know if I'll have the time to work this in November, so maybe a trial run would be good? That said, I'm working at an actual camp this summer, and I'm wondering if I'd rather focus on that and climbing... and just see how November goes? That might be more fun, as a computer and bouldering don't really mix. Blood just makes my computer dirty, and packing it on a long approach to routes isn't exactly practical. I've been writing, just not at the pace that I'd need for a summer comp (unless it's a set your own goal sort of thing, in which case, tell me and I'll reconsider.)
Sitting here thinking about it, I'm leaning towards something I wrote about last July (oh, and maybe I should save my writing impetus for July and the Vignette Challenge--I'll give it one last go before declaring it an official flop.)
Here are more awesome videos about bouldering... including some stuff that has kicked my butt recently.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
What once would have been called an epic journey through academia is now the long slog through a paper on my personal feelings on academia. Like wading through a swamp.
I think the title says it all. At least it's due by midnight, right?
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Epic Journey: Flashback
Remember all that writing?
And all that posting?
So do I.
I would love to regain some of that motivation. Paper due by midnight and massive 6 hour final tomorrow... and tomorrow is the 30th.
You may well see "A Slightly Less Epic but still rather Epic Epic Journey" in the next few weeks, as I have one paper to tackle after this one.
And all that posting?
So do I.
I would love to regain some of that motivation. Paper due by midnight and massive 6 hour final tomorrow... and tomorrow is the 30th.
You may well see "A Slightly Less Epic but still rather Epic Epic Journey" in the next few weeks, as I have one paper to tackle after this one.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Done
It's done, or mostly so. Sure, there are a few places that I'll be expanding, a few conversations, etc, but it's done. I just wrote the last dream sequence. It's a bit short, hence the expansion, but wow. This is a great feeling.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Script Frenzy Day 6
Okay, so I'm kind of in a strange place right now. I've never been this close to actually finishing a script during script frenzy. Not talking 100 pages finishing. But finishing as in having a story that makes sense, where it flows, and where I maintain continuity. Now I just got to write the last three scenes without psyching myself out--I've been putting them off, because they're the biggest scenes of the movie.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
In which I realize that ITAM is over, CLUB is starting, and I don't know how much I care.
Yup, another long title.
February and ITAM is over... I typed on a typewriter once, it acted up again, I put it away, and didn't touch it or any of my other machines for the rest of the month.
But I did think about it.
And I thought about the Typosphere.
Then the news came from M and it brought back a lot of memories for me, and I've spent time with them, rather than the blog. My apologies.
Now, it's time for Celebrate Local and Used Bookstore Month, and I don't know if I'm going to do anything for it. My life has changed in these past few months, and it's put a lot of things into perspective that I hadn't thought about before.
So I'm sorry for neglecting this space, for not posting typecasts or pencasts or even the beautiful letter to my great aunt that is sitting in my desk, just waiting to be transcribed and posted. Maybe we'll get back on track, one day.
We'll see.
A
February and ITAM is over... I typed on a typewriter once, it acted up again, I put it away, and didn't touch it or any of my other machines for the rest of the month.
But I did think about it.
And I thought about the Typosphere.
Then the news came from M and it brought back a lot of memories for me, and I've spent time with them, rather than the blog. My apologies.
Now, it's time for Celebrate Local and Used Bookstore Month, and I don't know if I'm going to do anything for it. My life has changed in these past few months, and it's put a lot of things into perspective that I hadn't thought about before.
So I'm sorry for neglecting this space, for not posting typecasts or pencasts or even the beautiful letter to my great aunt that is sitting in my desk, just waiting to be transcribed and posted. Maybe we'll get back on track, one day.
We'll see.
A
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Existential
In the gracious words of my little sister that are posted on the fridge even as I write this...
Cancer
It takes just
six small letters
to make a hero of
a well functioning
Liver,
and the previously unknown
location of the
pancreas
becomes obvious:
It's in the back of the mind
near Hope,
just below "What's For Dinner",
and next to
"How Does One Say
Goodbye?".
~ G
This is the best explanation I can offer for my long and not exactly sporadic absence. The woman who can call down the hummingbirds to her welcoming fingers, who loves an exasperating man and raised six exasperating sons and one stubborn daughter, who taught me stillness and pies, who gave me dainty ankles and dimpled cheeks, her middle name, and hatboxes on my birthday, will be gone before long. I haven't a moment to lose.
Cancer
It takes just
six small letters
to make a hero of
a well functioning
Liver,
and the previously unknown
location of the
pancreas
becomes obvious:
It's in the back of the mind
near Hope,
just below "What's For Dinner",
and next to
"How Does One Say
Goodbye?".
~ G
This is the best explanation I can offer for my long and not exactly sporadic absence. The woman who can call down the hummingbirds to her welcoming fingers, who loves an exasperating man and raised six exasperating sons and one stubborn daughter, who taught me stillness and pies, who gave me dainty ankles and dimpled cheeks, her middle name, and hatboxes on my birthday, will be gone before long. I haven't a moment to lose.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Spring Tension
Anyone have a suggestion on how to determine the proper spring tension for a replacement spring on a Silent Super? I keep trying to cannibalize springs from other sources, but can't get it to type more than half of a page before the problems start again.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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