No Frills Status Update

Thought I would post a status update since it has been awhile. I am slowly catching up with the stories I follow via Google Reader. I promise to leave a footprint on each of these very soon.

Writing is coming along nicely. I set aside one story to focus on another that took off like wildfire. Hoping to have that first draft completed before the end of August. Studio Time is still on hiatus but it is not permanent. We will be back. I just do not want to pin a date on that when I am so bad with deadlines and schedules. I hope that you can be patient on that front.

I have also made some progress on the CC front with regard to TS2. Let me just say that size definitely matters with regard to downloads. So far, I am at just under 20,000 files and the game loads immediately! Of course there are no high poly files in there yet (hair, skins, clothing) but I am going to be more selective about what I install in that area. That means if I cannot find it to re-download or cannot distinguish it in my CC folder then I go without and so do the characters. Everyone needs a fashion makeover right? I have a post-it on my monitor that reminds me not to reflex-click on the download link for every cool thing I come across.

I have a "writer blog" for non-Sims 2 posts under the pen name Gayl Taylor (homage to my man Rafe). If you follow me here and are interested in what is going on with my writing/future publishing progress, that site would be a good place to go. I am all over the place socially and trying to manage all that is not easy for a recluse! However, if you would like to keep up with me on the writing front (and why wouldn't you?), I am at the following social networks:

Twitter - gaylschat

Facebook

Goodreads

She Dreams - My writing blog

Google + (both my gaylsmail and gtaylor423 ID)

That is about it for now. Once I get this social network thing under control, you should hear from me more often!

Passages - Stray Thoughts Taking Shape

A new update at Passages. I love this one, and I am so happy that Beth put it up there. And this might not have been the best choice for an ad shot but I loved the paintings in the background.

Passages 26

Announcement and Small Update

Sessions will be on a temporary hiatus. No explanation needed I'm sure. Thanks for your understanding.

I did put up a small update at Intermezzo, a continuation of Randi's encounter with her cowboy. Those interested can access it here:

Doing Time

Cigarettes and Champagne

A new update is posted at Passages. You can read it HERE. Love LOVE these two together.

I am also looking for a site that had some really gorgeous lots in the New Orleans/French Quarter design. They are not the ones at GoS. I think it may have been an LJ or DW site but I can't be sure. All I know is that the lots were absolutely amazing.

ETA: Site has been found. Thank you Kara!

Lightning Bugs

I seem to have an obsession with boys and bugs. If anyone would attempt catching lighting in a bottle it would be Jimmy.

Beth has posted a Passages update HERE. The events happen after the events in Rising Above Chapter 13. Since both of these pieces are a prelude to the big guns we are going to pull out I thought I would mention it.

Losing Light

Sometimes it is good to try something different, to bend the rules and be innovative, to just take a chance on doing something outside the norm. This piece is exactly that. It takes a look at one situation from different eyes. I love it.

I am thrilled to have been a part of it but the creativity was all Beth.

Passages 21.

Nature Boy

This shot has nothing to do with the update I just posted over on Intermezzo. I just liked the shot. It made me smile. Little boy no more. Still Bug Boy at heart though.

This piece was written awhile back in celebration of Nic's birthday.

Learning To Let Go

Announcement and an Update of Sorts

As a person who is generally resistant to change the need to start a new blog always baffles me. But I was talking about it with Beth and realized that my need to create, particularly when I am stuck, is why I think I do it. It is like a quest for perfection and I am looking for that perfect place to call home for my writing. Of course there is no such thing IMHO, perfection that is, but at least it settles the need in my mind.

Having said that, I am announcing another blog. It is called Intermezzo. What we will post are short pieces that don't have anything to do with the main storyline but touch on the day to day lives and events of people we do not normally write about. There will be no posting schedule and you do not need to feel obligated to read although you may enjoy it.

We have wanted to do this for a very long time and with Beth's encouragement the first piece is there. Approximately 880 words and 8 screen caps. An Unexpected Encounter.

Lightning in a Bottle

Obviously Jimmy is jumping for joy...happy to be home no doubt. You have to go check out the latest Passages update. Wonderful writing, pure Jimmy.

Link is here: Passages 19

Peeling the Onion Slowly

Beth has posted another wonderful update on Passages. I think we are both quite enamored with the Toad and the Princess. I am loving the journal style of these updates; they're revealing but only just so much...like a teaser!

And I have to say that Jimmy has an appeal that grows on me daily. I love LOVE this shot of him!

Check it out here: Passages 17

Princess and the Frog

New update on Passages. As hard as Beth is on herself I have to say the amount of work and care she puts into her updates really shows, always. This one is no exception!

Please go check it out if you haven't already done so!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Not sure how the idea developed but I am pretty sure it had something to do with nipples, Jack Daniels and Ryan. Between passing the JD back and forth and pondering the level of inebriation required to do a few things I will not mention, (although some of it was aimed at Gabe) Ladies Night was born.

Go put on some Kool and the Gang and check it out over on Serendipity! I'll warn you it is heavy on images but light on text and a total hoot.

A Tangled Web

A powerful update is posted at Passages. Just when you think things could not be more complicated...

I am completely blown away by it. You will be too.

Passages 12

Plowing Through Heavy Snow

I wanted to announce the latest update posted at Passages. Considering the tremendous struggle Beth faced in order to keep the game up long enough to get shots, she did an incredible job.

Link to her latest post is here -> Passages 10

Crawling in the Dark

Chapter 4 of Chameleon has been posted. It (loosely) follows the prompt Conspire from the simfic50 table.

I want to thank S.B. for doing the heavy lifting and putting up the shots and text for me to the post.

Chapter is here -> Conspire

Update at Passages

Passages 4 has been posted! SB aptly describes it as Down the Rabbit Hole. I loved her concept for this piece and I think it came out quite well. Incredible use of color in her shots.

Song for this part is First Cut is the Deepest performed by Sheryl Crow.

Access the chapter here -> Passages 4

Announcement - Finally

Meet Thalia Owen, nine year old daughter of Melinda and Damian Owen. Raised by her mother and shielded from her mother's travails as well as her father, a man who never wanted to know her, Thalia is a shy and soft-spoken little girl.

Nearly a year ago I made a decision to attempt (unofficially) the writing prompts from Simfic50. I say unofficially as I don't include word count, summary, etc. but I wanted to use the premise for when I am blocked or just feel like I want to do something different with all the crazy ideas in my head. I already had a blog set up for short stories so I thought I would post there. I took down the previous work (the images were too small) and added a piece based on my Chameleon series which was not going to follow a traditional story timeline; it was simply going to be stand alone pieces based on Melinda Owen, proprietor of the "gentleman's club" called Chameleon. You may have seen photo shoots of her "girls" on my photo blog, Through The Lens.

It has since grown and woven its way into Sessions by way of crossover characters, something I had not intended but ended up happening. Having discussed the future of the story and where I am going with it with Beth, we both agreed that it should become a companion to Sessions. To that end I have created a new blog that will thread in and out of Sessions in a similar fashion to Rising Above and Passages.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story line:

Chapter 1 - Death
Chapter 2 - Beginnings

The pieces are relatively short, the newest one, Chapter 3 - Choice, being a mere 22 screens. It has been written for awhile, just not screen capped. I hope you will enjoy Melinda's journey.

Disclaimer: No tendons were harmed in the posting of this chapter.

Posted - Bonni Bio

You can access her bio from this link - > Bonni McCallister Savage

Comments are disabled for bios but if you want to leave one, you can do so here.

Corinne's Continuing Saga

Life...Or Something Like It has another fabulous update written by Emily. You can access part 6 by clicking this link: Zoot Suit Riot

Corinne is on a very rocky road right now. Where will she end up next? You just have to read to find out!

Life...Or Something Like It ~ An Update

Part 5 is now posted. Titled My Fair Lady, it is a bit of a departure from my personal comfort level with writing and decor but if you don't try something new once in awhile, you aren't challenging the creative process. So, as I have been telling many people...been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. I'll leave the period pieces to the masters! LOL!

This fellow's name is Marius. He's a good guy...I think...
Working on the next bit for Dark December so hopefully I'll have the rest of those loose ends in a nice, neat bow. Lots to tell, a lot has happened.

Stay tuned...