the secret parchment

This year….

2012-01-01T00:01:00.002-07:00

Thankfully, 2011 is just about done. Not that this has been the worst year of my life. This has just been a long tiring year.

Yes, this year there were lots of tears.

And there was laughter. Not as much as there should’ve been. Still there were good times.

There were things to celebrate.

And things to mourn.

I found old friends.

And I learned that death took a few from me.

I didn’t bother looking back on my post from last year about resolutions or goals. This year has been a very strange year full of lots of growing pains, and the list of goals I had written from last year seems almost silly now. Outdated. Tonight I won’t be writing up resolutions or goals. Or giving this year a theme. 2012 is all about seizing opportunities with hope and about facing the troubles coming my way with courage.

This year, I’m wishing all of you courage. To try something new. To send off your manuscript that you let linger too long on your hard drive. To show off that singing talent you’ve kept hidden. To get out of bed when you think there’s no reason left. To find laughter even when you have tears on your cheeks. And joy when the world seems so heavy with grief.

2012 is here. Happy New Year!!!

Aw....

2011-12-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

I really hope I have this much energy and hutzpah when I get this old. Come on, enjoy and watch the video. Senior Citizen Flash Mob Performs To 'Last Christmas'

This late breaking post is all because of Val

2011-12-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

Val just had to share this link with me because...you know...everyone needs a break from work. Some nativity scenes should not be posted on the web. I think some had good intentions...like the cupcake toppers. I love them by the way. It might be a little creepy to eat baby Jesus but still it's cute. Godzilla and the zombies...well....you be the judge.

Ain't this pretty

2011-11-28T07:46:00.001-07:00

This photo doesn't do that sunrise justice. It was just amazing. (Florida has beautiful sunsets but out here we have gorgeous sunrises.)

In the dawn hours EVERYTHING was bathed in a splash of pinks and oranges.

Then I realized storm clouds were moving in. That's okay. Most of the snow from the last storms have melted except for the gray gook shoved in shadowy corners of the parking lots.

I'm off to see a doctor. You guys have fun this morning.

Broken

2011-11-26T01:48:00.002-07:00

I'm use to the sound of things crashing.

Things break all the time in my house because I have a cat and dogs. It's inevitable.

But when my heart breaks it feels like the first time ever single time. As if I could forget this exquisite, bittersweet agony.

You know what I mean. The painful moment when time seems to stop the instant you get smacked by the betrayal and lies. The reality you thought you knew so well was nothing but an illusion.

And once the truth is out, the person that breaks your heart walks out and moves on with their life. Me? I get to be lucky one that has to clean up the mess.

I hate messes.

Unlike things that can be repaired or replaced, the heart always has that little scar. Some friendships and loves are lost forever. Other times the heartbreaker returns to try and rebuild but it's never quite the same.

Broken doesn't mean despair. IT doesn't have to mean the end of everything. It means it's time to clean up. Time to move on. Time to see where the next adventure will lead me. And truthfully, I can say I'm stronger from this.

A lover's embrace

2011-10-22T15:38:00.000-06:00

Aw...now who says love is not eternal? Check this out. A couple found still holding hands after 1500 years. Yeah. 1500. I can't get anyone to hold mine for 15 minutes.

Now this is amazing

2011-10-17T10:48:00.000-06:00

Not a great start to the week weather-wise. Outside it's overcast and rainy...and cold. It's Monday, too.

But through the gloom and doom, there is a fantastic story of a man who turned tragedy to triumph. I will never again whine about Pilates or learning something new.

Books that I grew up on

2011-09-25T05:11:00.000-06:00

There was only one major rule growing up in my house about going out with friends, DON'T get brought home by the cops.

I only broke that rule twice but my parents didn't know about them because when the police pulled up to my house, they let me go with a warning.

The police thing isn't the important part. The important part was that my parents pretty much gave me free reign to roam. I'd like to say they trusted me. The truth was probably that they were too busy dealing with the chaos my brothers were causing to be bothered with what I was up to. My friends in high school thought it was cool. Truth was I wished my parents cared more.

Anyway--I was pretty much ignored. And lonely. So to fill my time I read just about everything. Judy Blume was my all time favorite author back then. I mean is there a girl who didn't read Forever back in the day???? Or Blubber? Man, what a great story to this day.

Or how about Go Ask Alice by anonymous? Or Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird?

These are a few of my favorites from those days. They echoed with me. The characters' triumphs and failures stayed with me long after I read the last page. Isn't that what a great story is supposed to do?

Why then do so many want to silence these authors? These stories are an insight to history, to a way of life and maybe shed light on a way out of a bad situation. Or maybe stories are just good fun and an excuse to daydream to escape the ugly stuff in one's life.

I have never banned a book in my house. In fact, I appreaciated when my kids brought up stories they read to discuss them. Isn't that what a family is supposed to be about? Talking and not ignoring the troubling stuff. But what do I know. I grew up in a dysfunctional family long before that home life was considered the norm.

Those books your mother warned you about

2011-09-24T09:01:00.000-06:00

Okay, you know what this week is, right?

You got it. This week is all about banned books and the freedom to read them.

Since seventh grade, I've been an advocate for all things that would make my mom scream. Truthfully, getting my mom to yell really wasn't too hard to do.

Anyway, I am late posting this and I'm rushing to get this first entry up. So for your reading pleasure here's a link, okay two links to kick off the week.

I know...I vanished for a while

2011-09-12T05:54:00.001-06:00

Okay, I fess up. I was NOT kidnapped by invading space aliens.

Though if I was it would've been a cool holiday.

But I get the feeling I wouldn't have been taken by the drop dead gorgeous warrior aliens.

Nooooo....I'd get the ten armed, rotting flesh critters. And they'd probably be into cow mutilations and anal probes.

See, that is my luck.

But I do promise to be a better blogger.

Let's just forget July

2011-08-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

July was not a good month for me. I won't bore you all with the details because, you know, there's only so many times anyone wants to hear me rant. Trust me. I know whining it's not a pretty look on me since I dwell too much on the negative.

So for me...I'm looking forward to August. Finishing up old projects and starting new things. Hopefully lots of new things.

Home

2011-06-18T04:17:00.010-06:00

Jean got me thinking with her comment on the previous post. I started to answer her below but my answer kept going and going. I figured I’d share it here instead.

<< And I've adopted a small town in Central Texas as my home, but as far as the residents are concerned, I'm not from there, and neither was any of my family, so I live here, but I'll never, in their eyes, live here. >>

Ooooh man, I can so relate.

Let me go back to 1985. I had just graduated HS when my parents moved to a small town in FL. Literally I went from major shopping centers and mass transit to cows in a pasture outside my front door. Okay, the field was across a very narrow road...but still. You get my point, right?

I was the girl with the funny accent. Whenever I went on a job hunt, it was my New York pronunciation they noticed first.

It took a while but I did finally get a job. At McDonalds. Yeah. I was the grease and garbage girl.

Oh and the social quirks. In NY, I grew up in an Italian/Irish community. (Roman Catholics were everywhere.) We tended to hug when we greeted someone we hadn’t seen in a while and used our hands when we talked. This was so not the norm in rural FL. Up in NY guys and girls hung out as a group many times. As friends. No big deal. In that small town...I got labeled because I talked to guys. (Again, this might’ve had to do my NY accent. It got me into lots of trouble.) Whatever it was rumors spread like wildfire. Even some of my so called friends would make vicious jokes about me in front of boys at college.

I learned the difference between being alone and lonely.

There were many times I was accused of being a snob or rude because I didn't acknowledge someone. Most times it was because of my eye problem. (oddly, many people in NY didn't mind asking me about my eye disorder. Down in FL they didn't come out and ask. Perhaps they thought it was rude?) But I have to admit there were times I didn't acknowledge someone because I was too shy or leery.

There were some great times though. They were hilarious. Poignant. And sometimes they were sad. I met people from different walks of life that I would never have met in NY. I’ve learned sometimes you have to appreciate the folks around you now. They might not be your best friends but they might teach you something. I learned to appreciate a quieter life. And for the first time I was able to see the brilliant glow of the stars at night because there were no city lights to make them dimmer.

Here’s the part you’ll find really odd, Jean. To this day, when I talk about my years of living in FL, I describe them as the best and worst days of my life. I was born and raised in NY, but I had to grow up in all new ways down south. When I stumbled and made mistakes—they were huge. But when I think of home, that little town in Florida comes to mind before NY. It’s weird. But like you Jean, I will never be a real part of that town. I wasn’t born there. My family has almost all died out now. A few people there might remember me but…most likely they won’t.

I’ve been thinking, Jean, maybe home isn’t some place we can go back to all the time. Maybe it’s the place that forced us to grow. It’s the place that holds the most memories for us. The good and the bad.

Homesick

2011-06-15T07:35:00.000-06:00

Don't get me wrong here, Colorado does have some perks. In just 45 min I can drive to the countryside. The snow covered mountains are amazing. The rushing creeks and rivers are a beautiful sight and comforting to listen to.

Where my house is located it reminds me of NY where I grew up. I have no worries about how to get some place. Buses. Trains. Strip malls are in walking distance if I need to. And shopping. I swear I think besides skiing, shopping must be another major sport here.

And I have two of the best bookstores only a bus ride away.

BUT

(you guys knew there was a but coming)

I've never felt at home here.

Maybe I'm getting old--cough--and I'm feeling nostalgic for things and people long gone. Maybe it's because I've never made real connections here. Or maybe it's that I've been here for ten years now, and it's time to move on.

The other morning I dreamt I was walking on a beach. I woke up and for a fleeting moment I thought I smelled salt water and seaweed. I know they were memories from my days in FL and NY. But for just for a few moments there, I felt at home.

Then reality set in because the nearest ocean is what...a thousand miles away? I've got some lakes out here. Reservoirs. Rivers and streams. I suppose for now I can make due here in this dusty state.

A terrible thing to be homesick and you don't even know where home is.

Tap...tap...tap. Testing.

2011-05-27T16:32:00.000-06:00

Blogger is messing me with me now. Two posts eaten and I can't even comment on my own posts now.

While I was gone for the last two months

2011-05-23T11:16:00.001-06:00

Someone thought it would be a fantastic idea to give the girl a kitten for her birthday.

Yeah, this would be the little monster. I call him Evil. The girl named him Zeke.

Have I mentioned I'm allergic to cats?

Have I also mentioned the girl is allergic to cats???

But this is her baby. Thankfully there's Zyrtec now.

Sooooo...his favorite place to sleep is on top of the birdcage.

Yeah. The birdcage. Its...strange. But normal for my house.

Hiatus over

2011-05-22T07:59:00.000-06:00

Not that most folks noticed me gone with how sporadic my posts have become but still I though I'd mention I'm online.

I had this witty post I wanted to write up this morning, but my oldest dog--who has recently gone blind--decided to leave me a surprise. In my bedroom. Funny how my dog can make his way all the way upstairs to do this mess instead of getting the attention of my girl who was sitting downstairs with him. Oddly the need to steam clean at five in the morning motivates me faster than a coffee rush.

I think I'm off to go exploring today. Have a good day all and try to do something totally out of the ordinary.

Lighting up the night

2011-05-01T14:26:00.002-06:00

Do you all remember way back in March when the moon's orbit was at its closest to the Earth? It was a cold and cloudy night here. I was about to give up hope for any type of shot when the moon finally made an appearance.

I took this picture with my little point and shoot camera. This is not as pretty as it was in real life. It was a beautiful silver bonfire, shining against the darkness that was slowly edging in as it tried to blot out the light.

This is gonna sound lame of me, but it was a calming sight. Like a lighthouse beacon guiding a traveler.

Yeah, I know. You all can commence with the teasing now.

Anyway, I hope you guys are a having a great May start.

Tree of Life

2011-04-18T05:32:00.005-06:00

According to wiki, the Tree of Life in mythology represents all things are connected. For those that are religious, you already know this in your hearts because of the teachings of your faith. I swear this is not a post about religion or beliefs.

But, you know, lately I'm not getting why some things had to happen.

Let me explain better. The other day--and I don't know why the name popped in my head--I had the urge to look up a college friend that I had lost touch with over the years. I typed the name in Facebook and while no match came up on the site, Bing found an obscure news article--about how the person died. An accidental death. A totally freaky accident that shouldn't have happened.

And, man, I felt like someone had punched a hole through my heart. Regrets. Guilt. Anger, even. There is no more time to make things right between us.

I will be the first to tell you all, I try to be a good person. I really try. There are too many times I think--okay, I know--I've failed. My past is overflowing with screw-ups. You'd think after all the mistakes I've made, that I'd make better choices now that I'm grown.

Um, no. I make new and exceptional ones.

This is a year of changes. Some are bittersweet. Some are painful. And all of them are downright terrifying. I do pray. I do ask for understanding. And guidance. If all things are connected, then somewhere along the way I'll come to understand why things happened the way they did. Until then, I have to believe there is a reason.

Sunday Starters

2011-03-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

Mmmm...cheddar biscuits. I know they're not always a breakfast item, but you know they were a great start to my morning. And I figured I deserved them because I managed to get 1500 words last night.

Yes, I baked them. I know. Some days I shock myself.

Rambling post about...nothing.

2011-03-14T05:55:00.000-06:00

What is it about Monday?

I had strange dreams. Not even the fun strange kind…just strange.

Really, really didn’t want to get up this early, but I have coffee so that makes everything better.

Writing should be fun today. I did leave off at a good part so that's always a plus.

To the FBI, NSA, CIA or whover watches our internet searches now

2011-03-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

I am sooooo not trying to build a better bomb. I have a character who needs to move a bomb. Just wanted to make that clear because, you know, being interrogated by you all would ruin my day.

And, as a side note, learning the little nuances about bombs seems to be taken off of google. And Bing. I thought that interesting.

I interrupt this blog to share a cool moment

2011-03-03T06:32:00.001-07:00

I had a post all planned out for this morning, but then I saw the moon and the sun was barely cresting over the houses out back. There was some fog going on. In person the moon looked kinda red, but it didn't show up right in the picture.

I know, I know. I should grab a tripod one of these mornings.

But anyway, it all looked sort of surreal. Like something out of a dream, and I was just blessed to catch this glimpse.

Now I did have to doctor the picture some, and sadly, it doesn't do the morning justice, but I do hope you can imagine the vibe.

Have a good Thursday all.

Winston is coming

2011-03-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

I saw this picture in my collection about a month ago and immediately my dark and crazy character came to mind.

Winston is that summer storm brewing and rolling in over the mountains. Though, he doesn't want to be a danger to anyone, he can't help it. He hunts the nightmare riders, and they hunt him.

This week I'm two timing on Brooklyn to work on a rough two page overview of his story. I'm emphasizing the rough part here. So much can change at this point. I love the feel of this story.

But then, I've always loved a good thunderstorm.

Happy Monday Morning

2011-02-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

I know it's a Monday morning because:

I woke up late.

Dog got excited and peed on me.

The girl's alarm clock never went off.

Girl couldn't find her homework. Her backpack. Her medicine.

Dogs tripped me as I was going up the stairs with laundry.

But, I kept my sense of humor and drank two cups of coffee. Yay, me.

Evil in a wrapper

2011-02-27T05:01:00.002-07:00

These things just undermine my self-control.

EVIL...

And soooo tasty.

Huh...I think Winston needs a piece of candy.

Second Attempt

2011-02-25T04:57:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Jean, for the recipe.

I know it looks kinda strange because there is meat on this pizza. This came out delicious. Great crust.

This is where the chorus sings.

Good Morning!!

2011-02-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Good morning. I've been up since three so for me this is like midmorning.

What is it about me and the month of February?

Things sort of always fall apart.

I mean, sure it might have something to do with the big plans for the year. Those pesky new year's resolutions. But I didn't have many.

Could it be that I just had some high hopes for personal stuff this year?

Not sure. But I do know I have an annoyed muse that really, really wants to write on new character that doesn't want to stay quiet. Normally a gag might work. Or the threat of deleting a folder. But Winston is just too crazy to understand. He'd keep whispering in my ear regardless.

Hope you all have a great Thursday.

I did NOT forget to post

2011-02-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Last night I sort of deleted a post instead of editing it. I've done that before. You'd think I'd learn?

So today was like one of those orange juice commercials. You know the ones where the mom is sipping her OJ and asks everyone around the breakfast table what sort of bumps in the road she's about to have? I wish I could've known beforehand what all was about to happen.

Like the girl waking up at 12:30 AM--and decided to rearrange my living room.

The dogs deciding since she was up, why wasn't I?

The coffeemaker. Because you know I'd love some actual coffee with the all the grinds in the cup.

And all that was before 6 AM.

My homework is done so I am off to relax. Later folks!

Some days are just like this....

2011-02-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words." — Mark Twain

Yes, I stress over not only finding the perfect word, but the perfect first line.

First Attempt

2011-02-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

In case you all can't recognize it, that's supposed to be pizza.

Since the girl's been sick, I've been trying new recipes and making things from scratch. Her favorite food is pizza so naturally I have to come up with recipe that works.

Something with the dough didn't quite work out. Maybe being up at this altitude meant an automatic fail for the recipe. Not sure.

Cooking, I'm realizing, is lot like writing. It's a series of trials and sometimes epic failures when it comes to learning to write. Or learning a new writing process. A new way to plot. Or getting to know a stubborn character.

And some stories are simply harder to write.

Like the elusive great pizza dough.

Death by chocolate

2011-02-14T04:13:00.001-07:00

Yes, that is exactly what it looks like--an assorted chocolate junkie's dream. I love fresh fruit--and chocolate. Ooooh, yeah....

This is how I celebrated my pre-V day.

And in honor of Valentine's Day I shall break the heart of one of my characters. Okay, maybe two.

Go forth and have fun with the one you love.

Sunday chat time

2011-02-13T05:56:00.002-07:00

Time to put away all the knives, guns--laser canons, and enjoy the company of your characters over a cup of tea.

Okay, maybe some of you all are reaching for the beer.

But have a nice chat without hitting the delete button. You never know what might creep into a conversation that can change the whole outlook of your story.

It gets really dark out there some days

2011-02-09T04:31:00.001-07:00

We all have dreams. Some are closer to getting them to come true, while others have a ways to go. No matter where we are in the journey, we all have these close calls. So close that we can touch them. See them. Feel them. We're about to get everything we ever wanted.

Then...

Whack. Gone. You lose.

It sucks. It's painful. It's the soul-sucking-black pit of doom.

It's okay to feel lost. Cry. Pray. Go for a run...do whatever it takes to get ready to go again. Okay, anything that's NOT self-destructive.

Dreams aren't lost. The only way you ever lose your way and your dreams is if you never try again. Yeah, I know it sounds like a Hallmark card. But it's true.

To my friends who feel like they've been kicked in the gut one too many times, you can get through this. WE can make it.

Break in the storm

2011-02-06T08:22:00.001-07:00

It's been snowing on and off since yesterday and we finally have a moment of sunshine. From the weather reports I've seen, I need to appreciate this because another storm is moving in soon. But for the moment it's a calm, beautiful morning. Sunrise was amazing. No shots of that. I was enjoying my coffee too much.

Enjoy these moments in your life. And, you know, maybe show a little mercy to a character or two. Then slam them with the bad stuff.

-15 F

2011-02-02T07:47:00.002-07:00

It's a bit chilly out there this morning. And I can't get Miss Kitty to stay outside to do her business. Tossed her out the backdoor twice, and each time that fur ball ran right between my legs the moment I tried to close the door.

Suppose I don't blame her. If I had a choice I wouldn't be leaving the house either. But, I have to take the girl to another test today at a new hospital. Who knew Colorado had this many hospitals in my area?

I also have homework to do so I won't get bored while waiting around for the girl to wake up from the anesthesia. The homework has to do with writing a query letter for Brooklyn. Yes, I am working. You all thought I was slacking off.

Keep warm everyone.

Where's my coffee?

2011-01-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

My taxes are somewhere in electronic limbo, and I hope I don't have to look at them again.

So today I shall be off to write.

Yes, I actually do write.

(Cute bear, don't you think? )

six reasons why birds are better than dogs

2011-01-28T05:24:00.001-07:00

We don't go around sniffing our butts.

Speaking of which, our breath doesn't smell like butt.

You drool, we chirp.

You fart. We don't. (Why do you dogs sniff each other's butts????)

We fly, you butt surf. (Anyone else seeing a pattern here with butts?)

And we are smarter. When we fly in circles, you dogs are stupid enough to follow. Helllooo...dumb.

That is why we were left in charge of the blog while the master is off doing taxes.

I meant to post something sooner but...

2011-01-25T04:00:00.003-07:00

Okay, there really isn't a great reason.

Anywhoo....

While I am off traveling around to speak to yet another doctor for my girl, I'm leaving you all entertained with a link telling the Colorado tall tale of the Slide-Rock Bolters.

You'll also notice this site has all sorts of nifty little tales to keep you busy while I'm gone.

Enjoy!

Sometimes I wish there was a door on my life that says Emergency Exit

2011-01-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Or that I had this key to unlock an escape door.

Nooo...don't panic. I don't mean check out permanently. Just a quick vacation.

Sometimes the universe keeps kicking me down. I will admit I do take a lot and keep it bottled up until it becomes impossible to deal with. At the same time I also tend to wonder, man, am I cursed or what?

But then I get a reality check--and it's sometimes a cruel realization--life is untidy and it's time to deal with it.

Right now, the girl and I are dealing with a lot.

No, I'm not looking for sympathy. Things all happen for a reason even when they're bad, but it's up to me to figure out how to use it for strength, not an excuse to fall into depression.

Um, yeah, I'm babbling here. But you know, if I ever get published and get asked to give a workshop, it won't be how to get published. It'll be how to climb out of the depression. I notice a lot of writes tend to fall into a vicious cycle.

I now resume the strange ramblings that this blog is known for.

Writers are never content

2011-01-20T04:02:00.002-07:00

Have you ever noticed that? There's always something we wish we could do better.

Yeah, even I do have my wishes.

I wish I could write more poetic, but my characters come off like construction workers hanging out in a rowdy bar after work.

I love my colorful band of misfits too much to give them etiquette classes.

So maybe sometime I'll create a kinder, gentler soul that enjoys a beautiful poem instead of a limerick that starts with, "There once was a man from Nantucket..."

Of course, I'd probably end up killing them off.

Meeting a new doctor is like ...

2011-01-19T04:04:00.001-07:00

Going on a blind date.

Do you bring flowers, candy...stool specimen?

Then you get all those mortifying personal questions. Everything from bowel movements to eating habits.

And this is all before we get to the second date that includes embarrassing tests.

I'm just saying, it's all awkward.

Shhh...

2011-01-16T16:51:00.001-07:00

Master is sleeping off
NyQuil dreams,
this message is brought to you by
the ever faithful sidekick dog

A couple of quick links

2011-01-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Because I know some folks love contests. I did leave this pretty late but I hope someone can try for it. Author C.J. Redwine is holding a contest for a signed copy of Maggie Stiefvater's Linger. C.J. Redwine keeps a very humorous blog. Her's is one of my favorites to read.

Then my friend Deb shares a lot of great giveaways and information on her blog as well.

I tend to forget them.

Now, I'm off to nurse my cold.

That's not fair

2011-01-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

I ordered a 29 oz bag of coffee and got this little guy instead.

This is such a tease. I'm hoping the sidewalks are clear enough to get another bag before the weather turns again.

Dreams that never come true...probably for good reason

2011-01-13T04:27:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid I always wanted to play an instrument. I tried electric organs. Guitar. Flute. Even a harmonica.

Personally, I think some of the pets ran away from home to get away from my playing.

You have to understand, most of my family plays an instrument. Or they sing beautifully. Or they write music. My girl plays two instruments. Some people are just born with talent.

Then there's me. I can't carry a tune. Or hum straight. In fact, I am probably the only person who has ever passed chorus by mouthing the music.

I was not always this calm about it. In fact, I was angry. Sad. Miserable.

Then eventually I moved on. Because I did realize wanting it, didn't mean I deserved it. If you wanna know, I didn't really enjoy practicing. I think I loved the idea of playing, but not so much the work behind it. If you noticed, I tried a lot of instruments but didn't stick with any of them.

I still appreciate music. I was deeply upset when my mp3 player died and, by the way, my playlists consist of everything from classical to rap. My characters have soundtracks. I love going to musicals and live performances.

But in my heart, I know I'll never be a muscian of any level. And I'm fine with that.

Some days I like to mess with my neighbors

2011-01-12T04:01:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, it was a total of 5 degrees F out when I went to shovel a path to the house.

I also want to note I was the only person outside in the snow.

I did make a slightly crooked path.

Added lots of salt simply because I hate falling on my butt in front of the neighborhood.

Looked around when I finished and felt something was missing.

First, I tried to make a snowman. Sorry, snowperson.

But that didn't work out so well. Snow kept falling apart.

Next, I thought of a snow angel. I haven't done one of them since I was a kid.

But then I remembered it was only 5 degrees out.

Bad idea to get wet.

It hit me. Smiley face.

Not as easy as it looks on a slight hill.

Several of my neighbors drove by real slow to watch me. One came out of his house to ask if I was doing okay.

You'd think no one ever played in their front yard before.

Yeah, it might've been a little odd, but it made the girl smile when she came home.

A dog's life

2011-01-11T04:22:00.003-07:00

I would've loved to have stayed in bed, especially since it's below zero....
But noooo.
Someone had to get up and shovel the snow from Sunday's storm.

Guilt Free Monday

2011-01-10T04:58:00.001-07:00

It struck me yesterday that I have a lot of guilt. Maybe it's an Italian thing. Or maybe from being raised Roman Catholic. (Us Catholics overdose on guilt daily.)

Whatever the reason, I live with remorse over EVERYTHING. And the number one cause for guilt lately is taking time for myself. Whenever I read or write, I always have this awful sickening feeling that I should be doing something else. Anything else.

So my fellow online friends, today is Guilt Free Monday. I will not feel horrible because I want to write. Or read. Or hell, maybe I'll doodle. Doodling is fun.

And whatever I do today, I will love it.

What will you indulge in today?

Ahhh....Sunday...

2011-01-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Justin on FM, Sundays have become character chat day for me.

Soooo...bring some flowers to your favorite villain or antihero and see their reaction.

Bad guys need love, too.

A time to read

2011-01-08T09:22:00.001-07:00

Sooooo...supposedly a strong storm is headed my way. I hear this a lot. Most days I ignore the warnings because Colorado weather is flaky. But this one does look big enough to give me some snow.

On my list of things to do before the storm hits is make sure my Kindle is charged. Hey it's a priority. Right up there with bringing in firewood.

Speaking of firewood, I need to check the fireplace flue.

Hope you all have a warm and safe Saturday.

One day

2011-01-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

I have a dream after visiting this website here. One day my husband and I will have to take a cross country trip and hunt down the creepiest and most haunting graveyards. (Haunting as in memorable. Not ghostly. Well, maybe ghostly too.) Of course, I'd share with you all.

I know. Most folks would prefer a beautiful exotic resort or a trip to Europe. But hey, I bet there are some great cemeteries in Ireland.

Check it out

2011-01-06T06:21:00.002-07:00

COFFEE....

Ahhhh...happy, happy sigh. Now I can torment my characters with a lot more energy. Yay!

And yes, I like my coffee light and sweet.

Piecing a story together

2011-01-05T04:24:00.003-07:00

This is going to sound a bit strange but I love to hand piece quilt blocks. There's just something about sewing the tiny stitches and building each line until something really neat appears. Now this is where the strange part comes in, I don't put the blocks together to form a proper quilt. I've never built a quilt.

I'm not sure why. I mean maybe it's just the fact my friends in Germany only had time to show me how to make blocks, but I'm sure that's a cop out. I know if I looked hard enough I could find a class here in Colorado. But I'm not sure I want to learn.

It might ruin the fun. Or I might get obsessed with the idea it has to be perfect. Yeah, there are some things I do obsess over. Housecleaning is not one of them. But making sauce for macaroni is. I know. There's no reasoning to it.

I tend to wonder if this same process of sewing blocks is why I'm re-writing Brooklyn's story in short blocks. Building each scene part by part in order to give it a twist. A meaning. A layering to the story.

Or maybe these strange meanderings of quilt blocks and writing is from my muse going through withdrawals from an insufficient amount of coffee.

What will you be doing next year?

2011-01-04T04:27:00.001-07:00

My writing friend Erin shared this Full Frontal Nerdity comic with me. I thought it was funny. I play games like World of Warcraft so I understood the Ding and the rest of the jokes. The last guy's statement is what prompted this post, though. "I have got to get a date next year."

Yeah, I know, simple things get my mind working. But it was sort of like those questionnaires for work that ask, "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Seriously, do they want the real answer or the one that won't get me fired?

Anyway, what do I want next year? The answer came quick.

Next year, I so want my family to be together for the holidays. And healthy.

What is it you want for the holidays next year?

Let there be BREAD

2011-01-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

For the first time EVER I made bread. Okay, so it might not be that pretty looking but it tasted great. Two loaves made and they're both gone. The darker areas are garlic and butter that browned faster. But I'm still proud.

After having a full house for two weeks, people coming and going, it is odd to have the house to myself this early Monday morning. I still have all the animals home with me and they all have attitudes. Except for the critters moving about and the clock ticking, the house is silent. Peaceful. Suppose it's time for me to get started with work.

Good morning, folks.

Oops

2011-01-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

To schedule a post to show at a certain time I have to set it up correctly. My bad. But hey; thanks to hubby I found a website with some really haunting pictures. Creepy and sad.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T00:01:00.004-07:00

I'm not going to make goals or resolutions this year. I'm sort of winging it right now, but I will post monthly roundups, especially when it comes to the writing.

Okay, maybe I do have one goal. I lost twenty pounds last year. This year I'd like to lose another fifteen. I started doing pilates and I have to admit I like it. I know. Me and exercise. Who knew I'd learn to enjoy it?

Most of all, I want to try new things. Go places I've never been. See amazing new things. Learn new things. I guess to put it simply, I want to live a full life.

So my wish for you all in 2011, may your year be filled with some great adventures and wonderous new experiences.

Saying Good-bye to 2010…

2010-12-31T11:24:00.003-07:00

I am so not gonna miss this year at all. Yeah, I had high expectations for the year. I looked back and read what I wrote and almost choked on my coffee. What was I thinking?

This year I had way too many hurdles to get over. And, for the first time in a while, I had to face down my own depression. I cried too much this year and realized I was trapped in my pity. For me, there is nothing harder in the world than overcoming my own doubts, fears and sadness. Doing it alone is tough. And yeah, I think I had to find that strength alone because no one can be with me 24/7.

I mentioned last year that I thought 2010 would be great. In a way, it was great but not in the sense that I thought it would be. See, I made it through an awful lot this year. A sick child. Sending another child off into the world. Another year without my love. Doubts with my writing and feeling lost.

And, I have made it through all these doubts and worries.

This year could be summed up with the story of the last care package I sent to my husband. I’ve sent him numerous cards inside care packages and even through regular mail, and never once has any of them gotten lost. This time I sent a card with money. (He often exchanges the American funds for whatever country he’s in. He does have some expenses. And yes, I know, I shouldn’t send cash.)

You can guess what happened. The box looked pretty beat up when it arrived to him and the only thing missing was the card with money. This morning in chat my husband tried to cheer me up with the following:

My love: Did you stop to think that maybe the box opened up and the card dropped out to be found by someone that was close to losing their job or short on money to provide a Christmas for their kids?

Me: No, it hadn’t occurred to me maybe because I was too pissed.

My love: I won’t lie, I was mad too. At first. Some things like that don't happen by chance. What are the odds of the package just losing the card and money over Christmas?

Me: I had thought of it as an odd circumstance.

My love: I want to believe that someone needed that money more than me. I’d like to think that maybe we gave someone a Christmas miracle. That is what I would like to believe.

Sigh. Some days my husband is a better person than me. HOPE. That should be my word for next year. My wish for all of you is that we never lose hope in 2011.

Have a good and safe New Year’s Eve!

Not too bad

2010-12-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

See, why you all were off doing end of year stuff I was playing. Granted, I probably shouldn't have been playing with this because I have a lot to do these days.

Speaking of changes...

2010-12-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've been pondering what to do with this blog. Not that I'm going to close it because for some strange reason I like having it. Yeah, I know you all wouldn't have guessed that from my lack of attention to it, but I do like it. More than I like having a website actually. And now that blogger has pages added on that you can use, who needs a website? Okay, that's probably my lazy side talking.

I think more pics are in order. Maybe even update the template since blogger has gone out and created that really nice design feature.

Anyway, off to ponder. And clean my house.

All things change

2010-12-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

For those few people in the blog universe that don't know this, my son is home for a visit after being gone for six months. We're both trying to figure out our new relationship. He's no longer the kid I can give orders to. I was more prepared for this adjustment than he was. Okay, on some MOM level I didn't want things to change but, you know, they have to. And honestly, I think he's still trying to figure where he fits in with his old high school friends.

Lives change, People change.

As much as I love new circumstances, I'm also apprehensive to have everything flipped.

Life is about to get interesting. Again.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T04:43:00.001-07:00

I hope you all find time to cherish the loved ones that are near and remember those that couldn't make it to your table this year.

Though the following anonymous poem is meant for military wives, there are many this year that have been separated from their loved ones because of unseen circumstances. God bless and stay strong....

The Military Wife

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's the matter with the standard model?"

The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, posses the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she's pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move 10 times in 17 years. And oh, yes, she must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head. "Six pairs of hands? No way!"

The Lord continued, "Don't worry, we shall make other military wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it's over-worked and tired, and be large enough to say 'I understand,' when she does not, and say 'I love you,' regardless."

The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."

"She might look soft," replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."

The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence. “What you see is not a leak," he said. "It's a tear."

"A tear? What is it there for?" asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."

"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.

The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."

Dang these evil allergies

2010-11-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

So finally the leaves started falling and I figured I'd go out there and take care of them. Four full bags later I was stuck in misery. Nasty, wicked sinus headache.

Hope you all had a good Sunday.

Daylight Saving Ends

2010-11-06T18:10:00.002-06:00

It's kinda crazy to see this happening. I mean, yeah, I know it happens every year...but this year is just odd. We still have lots and lots of leaves on our trees. And it's been in the 70's for the last two days. But hey, by next week we're supposed to have snow. Really. Honest. Snow.
PS Remember to reset your clocks.

Stats???

2010-11-05T05:18:00.000-06:00

From paperback writer's blog, I learned Blogger put in a stats tab and, wow, don't my stats look depressing. Actually I was pleasantly shocked there were five people still reading this blog this week.

The downside to this? If you're obsessive about your popularity, you now have a whole new tool to increase your anxiety.

Yeah. Not so sure I like the stats page. But I haven't had my morning coffee yet soooo...everything looks sketchy.

Roughing it

2010-11-04T02:42:00.002-06:00

I once found a cemetery out in the middle of nowhere. I suppose it was somewhere because there were a couple of houses around, but no official town sign. We were driving along looking for a place to turn around when the paved road turned into a dirt path. Not sure if you could call it that because it was more like a set of tire ruts worn into the road.

ANYWAY

We found this creepy little graveyard. Mostly overgrown. You'd think I would stay in the truck because I'm sure Colorado has poisonous snakes, but you know, it was a really cool cemetery. And the place gave off the most disturbing feeling. As finds go, this was a keeper. I doubt we'll find it again. But we had great fun in the process of getting lost. We even found a wolf print in the mud right in front of the place.

That's what's kinda cool about NaNo. You can try new things. New genres. New ways to write. Plot. No plot. You can have fun. And you better have fun with it. NaNo is supposed to be FUN. So go ahead. Challenge yourself. Try things. There are no failures.

I am stealing this blog...

2010-11-03T11:57:00.000-06:00

I am leading the Chihuahua takeover of the internet.

And my master is too busy to notice me.

You cannot resist me.

You cannot ignore me.

I am too cute. And I have an annoying bark.

Plus, I am adorable when I dance and beg for food.

Ever get that feeling?

2010-11-02T06:01:00.000-06:00

That something's following you? For me it's probably my irrate characters. I seem to have a backlog of them fighting for my notice.

But alas my fine imaginary friends, I'm going to be away from the keyboard today while I run between doctor visits and, yes, voting. That means I'll be carrying a notebook around and writing longhand.

I know what Margaret would say. Mini netbooks fit nice in a purse. Just give me paper and a pen.

To all you NaNoWriMo folks, have a good day!

NaNoWriMo

2010-11-01T04:07:00.003-06:00

Let the Word Wars BEGIN!!!!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T18:36:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know it would be sooo much better if I wrote on this poor neglected blog more. I shall try. At the stroke of midnight is the start of NaNoWriMo. Go forth and party tonight, for tomorrow characters will cry.

Insert evil laugh here.

Book giveaway

2010-10-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

Ah come on, we all love to win free books. And my buddy, Erin, is hosting it. Check it out.

Yes, I could've written another message about book banning week

2010-10-03T17:52:00.000-06:00

But there are times that I feel my own words on this matter are just not strong enough. Sooo...thanks to Julia Karr, I found this moving and heartfelt post about banning and the folks that are hurt the most.
I doubt anyone will enjoy reading them but I think it's a must. Warning, the second link is about rape.

Mornings like this…

2010-10-02T07:46:00.000-06:00

October mornings are cooler by nature. Crisp. The sun takes its time rising.

The dogs and the girl are cuddling on the couch, sleeping.

The house is quiet except for the ticking of the coo coo clock.

And the occasional parakeet chirping.

While sipping my Scottish breakfast tea, I’m grateful for the calm this morning.

(Yes, I know this is a bit hokey for me. Maybe it has something to do with the cold medicine I’m taking.)

Nightmares, screaming dogs and the girl

2010-09-17T05:38:00.003-06:00

Between nightmares and the dogs howling last night, leads me to think my characters are going to have a crappy day.

Hey, it’s either them or me. I have to get my annoyance out somehow. I suppose I could get all over my girl’s case. But in the wee hours of the morning, without my coffee, she is much more sarcastic than me. That is scary.

I know I’ve been bad

2010-09-16T06:18:00.000-06:00

And it sucks because I don't have a good reason for avoiding my blog. Heck, I've ignored most of my friends' blogs as well.

I wonder if there’s a way to get ticketed for neglecting one’s blog? Ooo…what would be the punishment? A dozen paper cuts?

I can’t say things have been terribly bad here. Incredibly busy. Frustrating at times. And this rewrite is taking forever. But I am loving what I’m getting.

For some reason I’m antsy lately. You ever get that feeling that there’s something important you’re supposed to be doing, but you don’t know what? It’s a strange sensation. And I’m sure I’m not crazy. It’s just the odd the feeling that I’m missing something. Besides the obvious my son and husband aren’t here.

Something is amiss I think.

I promised you guys pictures...

2010-08-16T11:07:00.000-06:00

First of all, we had to get up early for my boy's ceremony. VERY early. For those that don't know my girl--this is a nearly impossible scenario. Extreme wake up calls in my house means banging pots and water being poured over her head.

Get this, she actually did wake up on time. And the girl was ready to catch the shuttle to the base without me yelling. Amazing.

Here they are together. They almost look happy to see each other.

But as you can see they were back to their normal brother/sister behavior in no time.

You all can feel the love between them, right?

We took the boy out to eat. Thankfully we weren't in a rush because the restraurant took forever with our food. We stayed there until they brought us the check without even asking if we wanted any dessert.

Huh, maybe we got a little loud but it wasn't that bad. Honest.

I hated having to say good-bye to the boy. One day is not enough. Yeah, I know, he'll be home for Christmas break. So that's not bad.

And maybe my love will be home by then. I can hope.

Girl and I flew from Chicago back to Denver, where we stayed downtown for a couple of days.

I am so not a city girl. I mean, I don't mind passing through or going shopping for few hours, but staying downtown for several days was...shudder...painful.

The things I do for my daughter.

Okay, really she wanted NYC and a broadway show. I'm working my way up to something like that. Baby steps.

Hm...blogger didn't upload all the pictures in the tray on Picasa. I might have to use Facebook for all of them.

Hello, Hello, Hello

2010-08-11T08:38:00.000-06:00

I'm back. Sort of trapped in a whirlwind called, "getting ready to go back to school". Oooo...the fun is neverending. I do have lots and lots of pics to share later.

So while I'm busy I'm leaving you all with some entertainment. Check out WriteOnCon. Free conference online fun. Lots of great information not only for children and YA writers. Go on. See for yourself.

I'm feeling sort of silly

2010-08-01T22:44:00.000-06:00

I had this great idea for a blog post, and I had the perfect pictures that I took in PA--and I can't find them anywhere. I know I uploaded them to the pc, but they're not in any folder. How does one lose a hundred photos on their OWN computer???

I feel blonde. And I can say that because I am blonde.

Roar....

My friend could use some prayers

2010-07-27T07:48:00.000-06:00

If any on you have noticed in my followers list, there's a man with a beard. That's David. Right now he's going through a parent's worst nightmare--a child in serious condition. If you could pray or you know...send warm thoughts his way, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Morning

2010-07-26T07:31:00.000-06:00

There's nothing like waking up to a dog licking my face. Until I remember what else he tends to lick. Yuck.

Have a good day.

The Most Disgusting Post I Will Ever Write

2010-07-23T07:50:00.000-06:00

Dog Pooh. It’s been all about the dog pooh. My oldest has had issues with his bowels. The cocker spaniel. Not the boy.

Vet wants specimen. Ew. But okay. So when does my dog do his business?

1 AM in the morning. All over my kitchen floor.

Dog forgets to sometimes bring the ball back when he’s playing fetch, but the other night he was nice enough to wake me to let me know he made a mess.

And, I can’t use that for his test because the vet clinic doesn’t open until 8 AM. They want FRESH.

Of course, they do.

For hours I stalked him. Waiting. Watching.

Nothing.

Walked him three times around the block.

Success!

I walked it down to the vet. Waited an hour for the vet to tell me…

The dog is probably stressed.

HE’S stressed? Really? Really? He sleeps all day!

With ten pounds of special dog food just for him, I head home. (I’m still walking)

And that’s when it started to rain.

The Birthday

2010-07-20T09:20:00.000-06:00

I went and celebrated my birthday early by going to the Denver Art Museum. (Because I know if I waited and went on my birthday, disaster would strike. It did. And it included puking. Not pretty.)

Annnyway.

The King Tut exhibit was there. I had seen it once before in Pennsylvania, and it is still amazing the second time around.

My girl and I were in luck to see the photography display. I love black and whites. To me, you don’t get overwhelmed by the blast of colors and fancy editing software. I’m not dissing on the graphic designers here. There is just something so beautiful about someone taking the time to develop these shots. And there were a couple of incredible old style overlays. (Two photos seamlessly merged to create something wonderful.) I would share but you know…copyright laws.

I don’t go to museums for inspiration. I’ve yet to see a story in any bit of artwork. Music is where my muse takes off and starts rambling ideas like a hyperactive kid on a candy rush. Still, I find going to art museums a nice recharge for my spirit.

I have one itsy, bitsy confession to make. There are times I just don’t get some of the newer abstract art pieces.

Hellooo Monday

2010-07-12T07:44:00.000-06:00

Time to get back to work. Real work. No more dabbling an hour here or maybe I’d spend two hours at night at the computer. (And one of those hours was likely wasted in surfing the net.)

Yes, time for me to return to a set schedule. Gawd, that almost sounds so grownup of me.

I can’t say there was too much relaxation during my husband’s vacation this time around. On a stress scale of one to ten, I’d probably give it a nine. Now wait, don’t say, “Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that.” At the end of six weeks, after two funerals, another car accident (Not our fault) and a whole a mess of drama….my family and I are all good. Really. We’re great. In fact, at the beginning of August I should be heading out to see the Boy graduate boot camp. Should. There are always things that can go wrong. Life is never what you expect. But, you know, there are some days I wish for some calm. Or maybe to hear some amazing news. Good news would be a fun change.

Anyone want to share some news? Or maybe some horrific vacation plans that went awry? Come on. We can laugh about it.

Night time musings and whispers

2010-07-10T22:00:00.000-06:00

I love the night, especially when a storm is moving in. My imagination tends to go into overdrive. Potential characters show up trying to entertain me. And sometimes a strange notion emerges. Its kinda like I'm seeing the end of a story or a major turning point. On a rare occasion I share them with the family. Very rare. I almost never that chatty when the muse takes over. I know. That's a bad thing to be soooo antisocial. But most of the time I need to let these fledgling ideas play to see if they have that potential or if they need axing. Some are just too freaky to share.

So, what jump starts your muse? Come on, I know there must be one person who stops by to read my journal.

Just the two of us...

2010-07-03T15:26:00.002-06:00

On July 1st my husband had to head back overseas. I hate when he leaves. And I'm noticing the depresssion hits harder after each visit. Don't get me wrong. I want him home to visit. I'd be downright mean if I never ever got to see him. But you know, it gets harder to say good-bye after having him home for a month.

Things are coming together though. Today is better than yesterday. And tomorrow--even though it's a holiday--I'm gonna be working things out on how to attack Brooklyn's revisions. More on tackling that problem later.

Anyway, I'm here. Yay.

Home again

2010-06-23T11:54:00.000-06:00

And with oodles of dirty laundry. How do these dirty socks multiply sooooo fast?

As funeral services go, this one was beautiful. It captured Uncle Jim's humor, illustrated his love for life and for those around him. He was a anazing man. The world feels a little emptier without him.

Leaving for a few days

2010-06-17T18:51:00.000-06:00

We've had a death in the family and have to take off for a bit.

And as a sidenote to the flurry of travel plans, US Airways is annoying to deal with. They are going to nickle and dime me to death.

AND...why would any family member drunk dial me in order to ask if I'd drive to Florida to pick them up and take them to Pennsylvania? I need to be meaner so no one mistakes me for being a sucker.

Learning to let go...

2010-06-15T12:05:00.000-06:00

Yes, the day finally arrived for my boy to head off to the military. I swore I wouldn't get teary eyed in front of him. And I didn't. Sniffling in the bathroom does not count because no one saw me.

The thing that does surprise me is the growing emptiness in my home. It's like a little bit of the home's soul is being ripped away when a person leaves. Yeah...I realize that might be a bit over the top, but it's how it feels some days.

Like...today.

And yes, I know too well that this sadness will fade as I form a new daily routine. But for today, it kinda smarts to have to say good-bye to the boy.

Meet Rex

2010-06-14T08:09:00.002-06:00

Rex would be my new pc. A present from my hubby. My old computer had an emotional breakdown from too many outdated games being loaded on it. My boy thought I was kidding when I told him no Doom on my tower.

My guy is home on vacation. And he is the shiz when it comes to retrieving information, so nothing lost. As for Windows 7, I like it.

Best of all, it feels good to be back online.

P.S. As for my old pc, it's going to be used as a spare for my girl to do her homework on and edit photos. And no games will ever be loaded on Rex. Except for World of Warcraft. Because, you know, it's WoW.

Losing track of everything

2010-05-28T07:47:00.000-06:00

It's chaos here. End of the school year stuff for the girl. Boy getting ready to head off to basic training. And my best friend, my love, will be arriving soon for a month long vacation. Yes, just a month. Yeah, I hate that part, too. A month. But hey, I'll take it.

Writing is sporadic, but comfortable. There's a pleasure I feel when I write longhand. The weight of the pen as it molds to my fingers and the smooth softness of the paper. I'm sure some feel the same joy when their fingers lightly dance over a laptop keyboard. But my parents ordered me to learn how to type on a manual typewriter at a young age. They wanted me to learn a work skill. (Yes, even at age seven my parents feared I wouldn't be a productive member of society.) So now, sitting in front of a keyboard is more like a chore. It might be why my creative spark just isn't there when I'm at a computer.

Or I suppose I could just be babbling here.

Midweek Musing--my strange addiction

2010-05-19T07:50:00.000-06:00

My husband got me hooked on watching Dexter. You know the series, right? The serial killer who has a "code". I hate to admit this but in the evenings I'm running my own personal marathon through the seasons. I've watched the first two so far. I do have the third season on hand, but I'm trying to prolong the pleasure.

I love a good twisty plot. Add one anti-hero and I'm hooked. It's almost like eating a Reese's peanut butter cup in the dark. Sheer secret indulgence. I'm totally warped. I mean, hello, I'm quietly cheering for a killer.

But man, I'd love to write a story like that.

Monday

2010-05-17T07:46:00.000-06:00

I picked that title because...it is Monday. Morning still by me.

Mostly this is just to say I'm here. Alive. I've learned banking rules suck and getting my roof replaced is like asking to win the lottery. Nah. I get the feeling winning the lottery would be smoother. And oddly it's not my insurance company giving me the grief. They're willing to cut checks and send them to me. Depositing them....sigh. That's where the fun begins.

My writing time has been crazy. Really. I have an unbalanced character. He's fun to play with. Easy to be with. But we soooo have to cool our time together because I need to get Brooklyn cleaned up and out of here.

The Dreaded Blue Screen of Death

2010-05-11T07:52:00.001-06:00

Also known as the, "You're Screwed Screen."

So my tower is out of commission. What hurts the most is losing some of my pictures and music. I just bought a bunch of music, set up new playlists when my tower failed. I'm sure everyone living within a mile radius heard me screaming, "Noooooo."

The blue screen scares me because it often means I am in waaay over my head in software or hardware troubles.

I guess it's a good thing I like writing by hand.

The internet is out to get me

2010-05-04T17:12:00.002-06:00

Yahoo hates me and won't let me log on. Itunes is taking forever to download one song. LJ wouldn't let me comment on someone's post. Even blogger is giving me issues.

Or maybe the Fates are trying to tell me something. Like stop procrastinating. I would argue though the above stuff is work.

It's Monday and I'm in a good mood

2010-05-03T07:50:00.000-06:00

I know. That's soooo unheard of for me.

When I first wrote and plotted Brooklyn's story, I had no clue how to start it. Most writers will tell you, the first chapters are always the hardest to get down and they require the most revisions. I don't freak out when this happens. Normally, by the time I get past the first round or two of revisions I can see the opening.

Normally.

That didn't happen with Brooklyn's story.

I've been beating myself up because I just couldn't see where to start the story. Yesterday, after a series of writing exercise, I didn't come up with one possible opening, I had three. Three.

Funny how the universe clicks, don't you think?

Yikes...It's May

2010-05-02T13:26:00.003-06:00

And you know what that means, yes? Story a Day challenge is going on right now.

Seventh Sanctum has some great prompts, as well as Justin and his writing exercises on FM.

I can't seem to write a story that'll stay short enough for the markets. I blame it on my muse. But hey, if you're adventurous enough, you should go for it. On FM we even have a board set up to track your progress.

Good luck, folks!

Starting the month off with a new look

2010-05-01T23:40:00.000-06:00

Yeah....don't know why but I had the urge to play today on my blog. I wanted something...simplier. Not sure if I'll keep this or not.

Speaking of changes, did anyone watch the new episode of Doctor Who? New actor. New rainbow colored Daleks. Yes, rainbow assortment. They reminded my boy of the Power Rangers. I can't say I'm loving this season, but I'll give it more chances.

Some days you just can't get ahead

2010-04-20T08:07:00.000-06:00

Lately, I have had waaay too many days when I felt like this. Oddly, being that it was a Monday and I'm sure by now everyone knows I feel about Mondays, yesterday turned out decent. Better than decent.

Wrote about a character with anger issues and how he dealt with betrayal.

Started the new index cards for Brooklyn's revision. Half way done.

Loads and loads of laundry cleaned, folded and put away. (How did all these clothes pile up anyway? Are the kids hoarding dirty underwear under their beds or something?)

At sunset, the kids and I sat around in the backyard, enjoying the sweet smell of freshly mowed grass and talking about everything. And to end the night, we watched the newest Doctor Who.

Does it get anymore perfect?

Sweet 16

2010-04-18T07:44:00.000-06:00

After the crazy, anything and everything could go wrong week, it was time to sit back and party some. Okay, no party. Girl didn't want anything resembling a gathering. And the Girl looked ready to rip out throats if anyone attempted to sing Happy Birthday.

I hummed it.

Girl swore she was disowning me.

Five minutes later, she was back for more teasing.

Favorite present? Johnny Depp's character the Mad Hatter.

Because everyone needs a little Johnny in a box.

The MOM Challenge

2010-04-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

My week kinda looks like this so far: disinfect the house from sick girl germs, play nursemaid, cleanup dog vomit, pay bills, take care of multiple phone calls, order flowers for a funeral, plan a birthday, supervise the lawn care, make something edible to eat, laundry, more laundry, dishes, deal with doctors, teachers, more teachers, juggle the legal yuck over the boy’s car accident, listen to one child’s rants, another child’s mad ravings from fever, sounding board for my husband, visited the drug store so much that I’m on a first name basis with the pharmacist--and I still found a little bit of time to write.

And it’s only Thursday.