FearfulSymmetry: I try to play without mods (or only with cosmetic ones) for the first run as well, but after that everything's allowed. ;) And yep, I'm a mod addict. "Do I really need 300 different hairstyles in Skyrim? Why yes, I believe I do!" *installs mod to keep character creator from CTD'ing due to sheer overload of mods*

*starts eating candy* I did buy three fancy chocolate bars that I plan to use as reward for hitting small writing goals this month. :P

AgentBirdnest: Hahaha XD ... I had a bit of a problem with that in New Vegas. I just couldn't have enough new and fascinating guns (I'm an American, after all :-p)

Sounds like a nice incentive for yourself :-) What are your goals?
(Maybe I'll finally try writing something next month. I always say I'll do it, but never actually do.)

FearfulSymmetry: Well, the final goal is 50000 words. I was thinking of having a bit of chocolate for every 2000 words or so. It'll probably run out before the end but it might provide some early motivation. Or something. :P Mostly I just felt like eating chocolate but at least this way I'm making myself work for it. :P

Good idea! You could reward yourself with leftover Halloween candy. :P And yep, the hardest part about writing is just sitting down and getting started.

AgentBirdnest: Hehe... Well, it's a very good excuse to eat some chocolate :-) Bon courage to you.
Maybe I could do something like that... a full bar after each page maybe ;-)

Another hard part for me is remembering my characters' names. I tried writing a little a few months ago, and I had to write the names of my my characters on a piece of paper next to my computer so I wouldn't forget them. I don't have the best memory :-p

FearfulSymmetry: Yeah, I usually write them down as well. But mostly the process of finding a suitable name for my characters is one that takes several hours (I spend too much time on websites with baby names ...) I'm the kind of person who wants to know what a name means, how popular it is is, what it's commonly associated with ... I'm missing that this year because I'm just using Shakespeare's names.

Stilton: Since there's been quite a lot of talk about families here today I think its time I showed you a picture of my family and me...

Stilton: Since there's been quite a lot of talk about families here today I think its time I showed you a picture of my family and me...

AgentBirdnest: I teared up a little from reading that :'-/
Just... dammit. I'm so sorry for you and your other half. That is awful. In a way, I even feel a bit sorry for her dad, being such a miserable shit that he can't even enjoy the announcement of his grandchild.

I always say "as long as it's not hurting anyone, I have no problem with religion." And I really mean that, but the truth is, I don't know of any situations where it has not been hurting someone, in some way :-\

Thanks for sharing.

Empress_Owl: ... I'm so sorry about it... really sad. The dark and sad side of religions....
On another hand, it also reminds me my own story, even if the circumstances are a bit different ... my partner's mother also really badly reacted when we announced her I was pregnant (of her first grandchild !). Like "no... impossible. Not now. Not me."... She reacted so selfishly... saying stuff, like she was not ready to be a grand mother, that it was not "logical" because my partner wasn't her oldest son... that it wasn't the right moment, because (...) well. She was so... angry ! My partner cried as well, he was shocked, and disappointed... I took my eldest owlet with me (only 3 years old ; he should have wondered what happened... and was about to leave their house, when she grabbed my sleeve to hold me back "ho no, you won't leave !"... ô__ô .... And then I just...yelled at her... i hadn't been that angry for a decade. I thought I could have hit her if she hadn't let me go.... Awesome family memories... !! Now she is totally fine with it and loves her grand daughter, but something is spoiled forever in her relationship with my partner and her... and since then, between my partner and me (he lost his self confidence, and was really depressed for 1,5 year at least. Things will never be the same now...
The importance of "first reactions"... she tried so hard to make up for it afterward... but it was too late.... :-\
I totally sympathize.... I wish things got better for your wife after that, but I doubt... ?

Stilton: Since there's been quite a lot of talk about families here today I think its time I showed you a picture of my family and me...

FearfulSymmetry: Haha, unfortunately this is not really the kind of thing I can burn. ;) And you better be careful, don't want to set yourself on fire! (although that would make a pretty good halloween costume, for the couple of seconds it lasts :P)

AgentBirdnest: Launched "Blood" for some Halloween fun. Interesting that for some of these old shooters, you have to check "invert mouse" to un-invert it :-p

Empress_Owl: **eating leftover candies**

AgentBirdnest: *whistle* :-o
Not bad at all!! Quite a smile on the little one! :-)

FearfulSymmetry: The one on the right looks particularly vicious ... ;)

Empress_Owl: **eating leftover candies**