Nano Nano: 50K Words and the Elusive Polite Society

Well, writers, how did you do during November? 

Nanowrimo is marathon-running for the creative mind. The imagination is exercised by creating new characters, charting a destination, building a fantasy world, and writing everything in-between. It can feel like running an actual marathon. 

This year, I committed to writing Sacred Homicide. Unfortunately, I only wrote halfway to the goal of 25,000 words, due to constant interruptions in my environment. With an industrial air cleaner, laundry machines, and noise-cancelling headphones, you would think I could find the quiet time necessary to write. In normal circumstances, I would agree, but the peanut gallery who live around me believes that their ruckus is far superior to any neighbor's need for privacy. This entitlement to other people's time, energy, and property is a symptom of the me, me, me culture. 

Not sorry, but living out loud ends at my property line. I don't owe you anything. The time that is wasted by acting like out of control juveniles for my attention is time I can never get back. Theft comes in all forms, and stealing someone's time, energy, and the use of their private space is one of them. 

But you are living on stolen land! That is incorrect, where I live the land was purchased from the country south of our border. Not stolen: bought. Not once, but twice, did the landholder sell to the United States in the American southwest: The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago and The Treaty of the Gadsden Purchase. 

But, but, but...!!! I wish people would stop acting like their heads are in their butts. That would be most helpful. 

Stolen land, reparations are excuses to behave like situational victims, when in fact, other people haven't inflicted any course of action against you. Stolen land was hundreds of years ago. Reparations were over a hundred years ago. So, it appears the only person victimizing you is, well: YOU. Then you take that angst, attack your neighbor for their skin color and the lies of "social justice." Social justice in my day meant: vigilantism, and that domain was left for comicbook movie characters. There is no justice without a fair trial, and I preface that statement with being unbiased, uncensored, and politically neutral. 

If you truly wanted justice, then if your family was denied their reparations: it's called a lawsuit. It's not for politicians to hand you taxpayer money. You have to make a real evidentiary case out of why you deserve what was denied your ancestor. Until someone can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this occurred and is a descendant, then why is this being used as emotional blackmail on other Americans? The court system is for Americans to redress their grievances, especially against their government. Go redress them, if you believe that you have a case.

Instead of doing the right thing, we have manufactured a culture of "karens." Karen is defined as someone who has to insert themselves voluntarily into other people's lives and then cries victim. I have an entire neighborhood full of karens. From playing loud music; drunk/disorderly parties; neglecting their children; loud, heavy bass vehicles; revving noisy engines at midnight; or anything else that creates undue attention to themselves, as long as the spectacle places them in the spotlight. Then these karens complain when you tell them to shove off and start acting like mature adults and responsible parents. 

But... but... but, here we go again. It's my culture. It's for my community. As an American? Nope, I don't think so, and it's embarrassing. Cultural appropriation of another nation's holidays and rites of passage is reprehensible. But, my grandmother came from the old country. You didn't, so what is your excuse? Don't say: stolen land, because you never owned this entire parcel of land. You only own your property. Just like me.

So which is it? Live your life in your front yard and middle of the street, which then your dirty laundry is open to public criticism. Or, live your life like respectable adults, and keep the shitshow away from public view? 

I rather keep my private life my own, so I can write, create digital art, and do community service... if it's all the same to you. 

Therefore, I uploaded another writing project to Nanowrimo that I have been working on: The Town Santa Forgot. It's complete, except for placing the correct word count on that site. Editing is done, but I am still polishing here and there for publication later on this month. 

The book cover is finished. There is a Cover Reveal Party this weekend online. I hope to see everyone who loves books participate.

And remember that being a good person who lives with others in peaceful harmony is more than a choice: it's how a society prospers. Without an auspicious society, we have no culture. No culture, and there is no need for creative writing, art, or community service. In a collectivist society, those expressions are hijacked for spreading propaganda. Be an individual and let your imagination become unleashed!

It's something to think about.

Have a great rest of your day.

_____

A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet. 

 Keep up with her activities by subscribing to her monthly/quarterly A Novelist Idea Newsletter.

Vultures and Telemarketers

Vultures. 

We all know them. We have had these people in our life but have you ever seen one? A  real, wild vulture? 

I have. 

I was able to cross this item off my bucket list before I had a chance to put it on. One day someone brought me a gift in his hands. Someone had discovered a baby vulture. I petted its head and then washed my hands for several minutes just in case. My close encounter with the carrion kind was over 10 years ago, but I still remember it. 

To pet a wild, carrion bird is awe inspiring. So fragile but so grand. Carrion birds are necessary to the ecosystem. To meet one is a very humbling experience. 

So earlier this week when I viewed six vultures gliding on the air toward their nesting trees a couple miles away by the river front, I remembered my personal introduction to a baby one. 

But there are other types of vultures. People vultures. With my illness and being disabled by it, I have had my fair share of vulture run-ins. Even now, I have to deal with a situation I should not have to because other people feel entitled to what is not theirs. Vultures.

As I slept in my bed one night, someone called at almost 3am. I did not bother to even pick up. After days of incessant ringing, I answered. The sad situation was it was a telemarketer. The Asian sounding woman on the other end was looking for a Josh. Really? Josh Gates, perhaps?

After I trashed her dreams of finding Josh, she made the travel opportunity available to me. Wait for it... I'm sorry, I am disabled and cannot travel. Let the guilt trip for calling my ass begin. Well, I doubt that company will be calling my unlisted, Do Not Call List number again. 

Vultures. 

Have a great and vulture free day!

Taking a Stand

I've add a new banner to my blog. One I hope everyone will put on their website and blog. It is important to let the world know that we will not put up with mass surveillance.

I hear excuses of: well, if you aren't doing anything wrong...

That's an immature response. The idea is freedom from this type of mass intrusion. The government is NOT allowed to watch anyone without due process of law and a warrant signed by a judge showing probable cause. 

No more secret laws, secret courts, secret charges. Enough is enough. The secrecy has to stop!

It's against the law. It's against the Constitution. It's against the Bill of Rights.

Therefore the government and private corporations are stealing from you. It's called theft. 

It's not for national security because the more information that is collected and stored places your nation's security in more jeopardy, not less. 

So if you love liberty irregardless of lame excuses, then please join me in protesting the illegal acts perpetrated by our government on innocent people for power and control.

Be the hero of your own life: save privacy and freedom!