Life is What You Make It, Laughter is the Key

Writing and Your Health

2012-01-18T08:51:00.002-05:00

So, I figured out there are different types of writer's block. One is where you pull your hair out and just can't figure out what you want your characters to do next. I don't think I really had this one much. Another type is where life gets in the way. You want to write, you know exactly what is going to happen and have it all planned out in your head, but first you have to make dinner, fold clothes, go to the children's concert, etc. That is usually the kind I get.

However, I realized yesterday there is a third type, at least for me. It's not a creative issue, it's a medical one. In my case, a thyroid issue. I want to write. I've said that many times. I've even had a couple little spurts which were fantastic. But, when I do have the time to write, I find myself sleeping instead. No amount of desire can pull my eyes back open. It's been this way for the better part of my break from school.

The doctor confirmed yesterday that I need an adjustment in my meds based on levels found in my blood work. So, I know this is not just me procrastinating when it comes to writing. I started the new meds today and I am hoping they help. Wish me luck. If they do help, maybe I'll find the time to write, even with school starting back up in less than a week.

So, that's my excuse for not writing lately. What's yours?

Shiny.

What have you written today?

School's out . . .

2011-12-20T15:17:00.003-05:00

School is out for a month. Yah. I got a 95 on my final and a 90 for the course. I am officially in Nurs II now. Woo-Hoo. I am decompressing and getting ready for Christmas. And . . . the writing bug is biting me again. I may be updating word counts very soon and I'm very happy about that. I miss writing. I miss getting the crazy out of my head and onto paper. Happy holidays everyone. =)

Shiny.

What have you written today?

The Law of Doubles

2011-11-30T16:30:00.003-05:00

I was walking into school today, thinking about how most of the kids I go to school with are half my age, when I was struck with a thought. All of my perceptions in life are colored by age doubles. When I was three, I envied the old six year olds going to school. When I was six, I thought the twelve year olds, so old compared to me and starting junior high, were so cool. It works with every age I think about - 8, 11, 16, etc.

At twenty-two, I was half the age of my mother and thought forty-four was old. Now I'm thirty eight and when I think about "old", I think seventy something. Double thirty eight and you get seventy six. Yet, go backward and cut it in half, 19, and I think they are young.

There was a time where I thought the law of doubles applied only to me. Then I had kids and realized from watching them that it applies to them also. It could be they are my children and so they are like me - therefore, I turned to my in-laws. My brother-in-law has the same thing with his kids.

They say knowing something is half the battle. Now that I know this is out there, how can I use it in my writing? I say this everytime I post, but I miss writing and I am studying right now only so that I can get a break from school and have a chance to write. I think I might use this in my next piece.

Shiny.

What have you written today?

Really?

2011-11-02T18:48:00.004-04:00

Life is just humming along. Nursing is melting my brain, but in a good way. We are 2/3 through the semester and I'm feeling much better. Don't get me wrong - this is the hardest thing I have ever done and I have three more semesters, which is a little daunting. All in all, though, this semester is moving along just fine.

Writing is not moving along at all. Can you hear the crickets? They churp for me. The sound is almost a lament to my creativity. I miss writing. I pass other students who ask me if I've been published yet and I have to hang my head. How will I ever get published if I am not writing?

On another front, are you aware that Word will grade your writing and tell you if it's readable, what grade level it is, and what percentage of piece is passive writing? I have not, as of yet, run my stuff through this because I really don't want a program to tell me how bad I am at writing. Talk about the ultimate insult.

Snow - a lot of it - fell on my house. We lost power for about 28 hours, but we were lucky. I know people going on 5 days without power. What a weird time of year for this to happen. I think someone needs to talk with old man winter and tell him to hit the snooze button a couple times yet. =)

Shiny.

What have you written today?

Fingers Get Drunk Too

2011-10-03T17:12:00.003-04:00

So, after turning in a major paper and completing a competency test, I came home and had a small glass (or 2) of wine. I found out that my fingers apparently get drunk too. For example, it took me five minutes to type this without any errors. Blah.

Has anyone else tried to type when tipsy? Did you notice your fingers slurring too?

Shiny.

What have you written today?

The Grind

2011-09-20T08:14:00.002-04:00

The waters have receded and the air is filled with the smell of musty, wet, rotting leaves. It smells a little like autumn but with a kick. Being that I'm half-way up a mountain, the water didn't even get close. If it ever does, the entire city will be gone.

School is back in full swing (the aforementioned grind) , which has my stress level cranked to an unbelievable high. It's times like these that I wish I was Neo. I want learn things by screwing a plug into the back of my head and downloading the information directly into my cortex.

On a side note - I think I've made it clear that I like Sci-fi. Now I have a confession. I've never really been that into zombies. Sure, I do ghosts and spaceships, vampires and portals, but I could never get the whole living dead genre. However, based on a couple suggestions, I'm on my second book of zombies and I have to say that I am impressed. They are well thought out which makes the whole thing seem plausible. I may have to read more. Who knows? Maybe I have a zombie book inside me somewhere.

Shiny.

What have you written today?

Evacuation

2011-09-08T12:10:00.003-04:00

Well, my college was closed today due to rising flood waters. Heck, by the time we evacuated my building, the water was already covering the closest street and it was still rising. I'm home, for now, although I am worried about tomorrow. Could someone please kill the person who keeps doing the damn rain dance in the northeast? Seriously - a friggin hurricane hit the other weekend and it wasn't this bad. I can't pass this semester without a certain number of clinical hours and I just lost a whole shit load of them. Rain dance man - you had better watch your back.

Shiny.

What have you written today?

Burns My Bottom

2011-09-06T21:34:00.002-04:00

You know what burns my bottom - people who actually have a way with words switching from real writing to Twitter. I know, I know. I just said I'm a tweeter . . . twitterer . . . you know what I mean.

But seriously, I just found a page, through My Space no less, where a really good writer would add blog entries. At least, he used to until he move to Twitter. Now he talks in short bursts that aren't even real sentences. It burns my bottom. It's just so sad that someone who has a talent for painting word pictures that are so real you can smell them moved to Twitter.

I want to pull out all my hair and scream or cry. But I think there are only two or three followers, maybe, that would hear me. =)

Shiny.

What have you written today?

Odd Thoughts

2011-09-06T17:39:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am officially on Twitter. I'm twittering. Or tweeting. Which is it? For someone like me, who loves to talk a lot - ALOT - tweeting is almost painful. Does this prove I'm a masochist?

Odd thought for the day - what did they call colors before they were named? Exactly who decided to call blue - blue? Why is the color of grass called green? Seriously - even in another language, it's the same thing. Grass is Verde in Spanish - which translates to green. I want to know why!!

Shiny.

What have you written today?

A Little Bit Crazy

2011-09-02T23:32:00.002-04:00

The title should warn you. This post probably won't make any sense, since I do believe I am a little bit crazy.

Is it possible to be a little bit crazy? Or can you be crazy today, and maybe tomorrow, but sane after that, for like a month? Can crazy come and go like a . . . something, but I can't think of what. I want to say it's school and work and being a mother. I could go on, but it wouldn't be the truth. It isn't any of those things. At least, I don't think that's it.

I feel disconnected. My nose is in the book, yet I'm thinking about weird things. Still. it is not the feeling of being disconnected that bothers me, it's being conscious of that feeling that bothers me. Why do I feel like I'm on the outside, watching everything with my nose pressed against the cold glass?

Hell, why should it even matter if I feel connected to anything or anyone as long as I'm doing what I want and trying my damnedest to succeed because it's what I want to do? Maybe because I feel disconnected from that too. I'm looking for things, trying to force things, that aren't there and I don't want to be there anyway. And the things I want to be there just seem to slide away, like the little sliding of snow that proceeds the massive avalanche.

I want to be a writer. I want to be nurse. But I'm afraid my dreams are going to buried in the deep, dark, rushing cold that keeps sucking at my sanity until it's covered in broken evergreens and dirty white noise. What's scarier - I think that I'll be smiling the whole time the killer fluffy white is crushing me. I might even be the one that happily starts the ball rolling.

Shiny.

Or, it could be that I haven't written any fiction in a couple weeks and my imagination is slowly trying to strangle me in an attempt to get the crazy out and onto paper - well - computer screen.

What have you written today?

A Job

2011-08-14T19:07:00.003-04:00

I am officially a working gal again. After months and months, dozens of resumes, and many hours waiting by the phone . . . I finally got a job. It's only part-time, at the college's cashier's office, but it's something. I'm very happy and extremely nervous. I'll admit that I am worried working might get in the way of school, but you have to do what you have to do.

I have orientation and training next week. And then I start being a contributing member of society again. Yeah, I think. So, how many people out there have gone to school, worked, and tried to write at the same time? Were you able to do it? Any tips?

What have you written today?

Now?

2011-08-09T14:06:00.002-04:00

School starts again in two weeks. I'm rushing to finish house projects before then but I'm not sure I will. I'm ready to pull my hair out. So - what do I decide to do? Send out more queries. Why? Maybe I secretly like to be tortured. =)

Honestly, I really don't know. I woke a couple days ago with the urge to drop everything mid-project and write. Today I woke with the urge to send out letters. So, I did. But I only sent out three. I always do my queries in threes. They're easier to manage that way.

Is it crazy to keep trying? At what point should I throw in the towel and say, "It doesn't matter if I never get published, I enjoy writing and I enjoy reading what I wrote, and that's all that matters?" Ugh.

What have you written today?

School's Out - For Now

2011-06-01T13:51:00.003-04:00

I got through another semester. My brain hurts. My fingers ache. But I got all A's and I made the President's honor list. Now it's time for the really hard stuff. Nursing 1 starts in August. I'm excited and scared. I hope I can do this.

I did start on the new manuscript, but I haven't been working with any regularity. I know, I know. To call myself a writer, I have to write. I think I just needed time for my brain to decompress. Also, the feeling of dragging myself around has some medical roots. Apparently, I'm having issues with my thyroid. I'm finally on medication and have made some improvements. I'm no longer a zombie but I do still have afternoon crashes. Still, I'm better than I was and I'm hoping to continue to improve from here on out.

So, summer is just starting, school is done for a little while, and I'm starting to feel better. Writing - here I come . . . after a nap. =)

What have you written today?

Life Trudges On

2011-04-25T18:29:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who left comments on my last post. Wow, I'm working on finishing up this semester, so I've been away for over a month, and when I finally get back here, I have over ten comments on my last post. Holy cow! It's amazing how much people depend on music, in one fashion or another, as part of their life.

For the first time ever, I am planning a sequel to a book. I've never done one before and I have to admit that I am a little nervous. Sequels scare me for one basic reason. Continuity. I read a lot of novels that have seven or eight books in their series. I enjoy them immensely - when they are done right. Yet, even the best ones sometimes drive me up a wall. I hate it when I find an inconsistency. My biggest complaint (besides the word pet-peeve) is when book one says something can't be done because of reason A but book five suddenly has the main character doing it and it's rationalized because of the, up to now, unforeseen reason B that suddenly lets this one character, for this one moment, break this huge cardinal rule.

For that reason, I've been staying away from writing the follow-up. But I think I'm ready to tackle it. I think. I still have time, because first I have to finish this semester. Once it's over, I'm going to write again. I miss writing. I miss getting away from my life for a little while. I miss torturing others - in my story telling. Only in my storytelling. =)

What have you written today?

Background Music or Silence

2011-03-06T16:29:00.003-05:00

The second novel I wrote was written entirely while listening to music. Rough, hard, edgy music that didn't really sink in to my consciousness but definitely effected the novel. It has a quality that I can't explain in words. I even like to listen to music when I read it. I've had music on at other times during my novels, but not while writing the whole thing like I did for the second. Music was a good way to block out the family and write with out having to go to another room or lock myself in the basement.

Now I've noticed just how much music effects me. For example, Air Supply makes me want to write sappy, happy love scenes. "This Never Happened Before" by Paul McCartney makes me want to write a scene where two people are surprised to find they like each other. Metal bands like Guns N Roses makes me want to right an action scene or a fight scene. Has anyone else noticed this trend? Does music move you so much that influences the way you write? Or, can you only write (that is create) in silence?

What have you written today?

Into the Fire

2011-03-04T14:28:00.002-05:00

I feel like it's been months and months since I posted here, but I realize it's been less than 3 weeks. Weird. It makes me think about how a lot of our life is relative. Everything in our life sits on a scale and it's us that decides which way that scale goes. Time is relative. There's the one hour class that seems to take forever versus the one hour class that is so fun, it feels like you just sat down and you have to leave again already.

It works for simple things like the weather too. At the end of summer, after 95 degree weather, a nice autumn day of 70 degree weather has us sipping hot apple cider while bundled in blankets and coats. But, after a cold winter with days topping out 25 degrees, a spring day of 70 degrees has us pulling out our shorts and dancing in the streets - well maybe just going for a walk. Relative.

My grades are like that. To me, and I study at least five hours every day, a grade of 89% is, basically, a failure. To another classmate who usually gets 69%, that 89% is this awesome achievement. It drives me nuts when they get mad at me for being upset that I didn't get a higher grade. I try to explain that it;s relative, but I'm not sure anyone really understands what I mean.

Can you think of any relative things in your life? I can think of a lot more, but I figured it was time to work on novel and quit babbling. =)

What have you written today?

Crossing My Fingers

2011-02-14T10:11:00.002-05:00

One of my biggest issues with query letters is that they want you to tell them where you've been published before. It feels like a catch-22. I can't get published until I prove I've been published, which I can't do . . .etc. So - I've had several people, including professors, tell me to submit my work to the college. There is a book of outstanding work that gets published once a year. It's only for students and, if my work gets accepted, it would be something I could include in my query letter. So, I've submitted three pieces - two essays written for lit class and, based on recommendation from a professor and a book staff member, an excerpt from one of my novels. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I didn't realize how hard it would be to choose only four pages from five novels. Wow. I'm still not sure I choose the best scene. I'm not even sure I choose the right novel. But, it was a scene I liked where the main character, by jumping to a new time line, gets to see her mother who's been dead nineteen years. If you had to a pick one scene out of everything you've ever written, would you find it hard or would you know exactly the scene you wanted to use? Oh, can everyone send good vibes my way for getting picked for this publication? (If you could see me, you realize I'm on my knees right now.)

What have you written today?

Dusting Myself Off

2011-02-05T14:40:00.003-05:00

So, I heard back from the first agent to ever ask to see my work. They did not think my work was right for their office. I'm trying not to let it get me down. Lord knows, I have plenty of stuff to worry about right now without worrying about this. Yet, for as much as I feel positive, there is a small grain deep inside that just doesn't feel like writing right now. I blame it on college, on learning a new language, on studying the heart and coronary circulation, and on the tiny microbes that I'm learning to stain and smear with aseptic techniques.

It's a lie though. There were two days this week that it didn't snow, and I was in my normal routine. I choose not to write then. I didn't want to write. I didn't feel like it. So I guess the pass bothers me more than I want to admit. I'm not mad at the agent or agency, I totally understand and would prefer someone say no than try to make it work and have it be a horrible fit. But . . . it would have really been nice. *Sigh* Time to get back in the saddle. Back to the query machine. Well, maybe tomorrow.

What have you written today?

On A Roll

2011-01-19T21:34:00.003-05:00

I hope the rest of the year keeps going just like this. It doesn't have to the most spectacular year I've ever had, just this nice - once a day something to smile about - pace will keep me happy.

As crazy as it sounds, this week I beat a Game Cube game that I've been trying to beat for seven years. I was pretty good at 98% of the game, but I'd get to the final boss and just die. Over and over and over. Suddenly, at the beginning of this week, I beat the final boss. Not once, but twice. I had to make sure it wasn't just some fluke. It wasn't. It's weird that this means so much to me, but I'm relieved. I have closure. I'm happy. I proved I can do it. Just give me about a decade and I'm all over it.

On another positive note, I received an email today that my application to the Registered Nurse program has been accepted. I was floored. I mean, sure, I've gotten all A's, but there are hundreds of applicants, so I assumed many, if not most, would have more points than me. I cried when I found out. I sat down like a baby and cried. I've been checking into alternate career choices because I really thought I wouldn't make the cut. And I did. I'm in. And I'm crying again. I'm done.

What have you written today?

Happy New Years?

2011-01-14T17:10:00.002-05:00

Well, I missed the actual day, but I can still say it. Happy New Years everybody!! I'm praying this year is better than last. Actually, it's already started out better than last. My hot water heater replacement went well and the guy was done in three hours. I'm getting ready to start a new semester. And my unemployment is getting ready to end with no new job in sight, which totally, royally sucks. Oops. That wasn't a good thing. But with good comes the bad. It's the only way we can really appreciate the good moments.

Like, just the other day I got my first request for a partial from an agent. (WOOOOHOOO!!) I know that it doesn't mean a blessed thing. They could read my work and decide I suck or that I am just not a good fit for them or that they already have a client with a similar piece so they can't take me on no matter how much they want to. I know all that. It doesn't stop me from being excited that I finally got 1 person in the profession to want to know more about my stuff. It was the most awesome email of my life, well, to date anyway. So I know this year is going to be a good one. I'm choosing to make it a good one. I have that power. =)

What have you written today?

Let It Snow?

2010-12-26T18:07:00.002-05:00

It's snowing outside. Windy, blustery, blowing snow is coming down right now. It's so cool. Sure, it's not Christmas, but it's close enough. And, I've been reading since yesterday morning.

My favorite, and very cool, gift this year was a Kindle. I've downloaded 40 books (all Free) and have been reading like a mad-woman. It is soooo very neat. Anyway, I know I should I write, but I'm really caught up with my toy.

I'll be back to writing in a day or two. Or maybe tonight. I don't know. Part of me wants to write. But - I'm just having so much fun with my Kindle. I hope everyone else had a great holiday too.

What have you written today?

At Last

2010-12-19T10:55:00.004-05:00

Finals are over. I think I got all A's. It was really hard this semester. Harder than it's been any other semester so far. And I'm so happy it's over. I've applied to Nursing Clinicals. I hope the A's are enough to give me an edge.

On the flip side, now that school is over for a bit, I've cleaned the house top to bottom, caught up on the laundry, finished the Christmas shopping (almost), and started writing again. I feel so much better. I seriously plan to play mindless video games over the next week, too. I'm craving mindless, shoot'em action.

I'm happy to be writing again. I've missed it. It's nice to know that there are people with problems a hell of a lot worse than my own. It's fun torturing others, at least when I'm writing. =)

What have you written today?

Happy Anniversary

2010-12-06T09:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary to my Mother and Father. You guys are awesome.

I'm Back

2010-12-03T20:27:00.004-05:00

Finally, I'm back. I didn't get a chance to write over vacation because of a project for school. It's been two weeks, but I got some writing done tonight. I didn't feel like it. I'm tuckered out from studying for finals. And I have a whole week to go yet before finals. My brain will be Jello. I've never been so happy to have Christmas come. I swear. Vacation, other than studying and finishing projects, was terrific.

Oh, and on a side note, I quit smoking two weeks ago also. I did use the gum for a couple days, but then I stopped. I haven't had any nicotine. I don't really want it. I've only had a handful of really bad cravings and a stick of regular gum has been enough to distract me. I've smoked for 25 years (for the most part though I did quit a couple times before) and I just don't want any more nicotine. I think I'm over the worst now. I don't think not writing has anything to do with quitting. It's just a coincidence. I'm sure. (I hope.) Anyway, I'm exhausted. Later.

What have you written today?

Short - Sweet - I'm outta here

2010-11-24T08:39:00.002-05:00

No Online Access - But I will be writing, starting on Friday. I'll update each days word counts when I get back.

Studying - Getting ready for finals.

Sunday -When I'll check back in with everyone.

Holiday - Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

What have you written today?

Trying Again

2010-11-18T19:02:00.002-05:00

I guess I'm trying to balance myself out. I'm doing well in college right now and feel the need to have someone kick me. First, thank you Ben your well said comment to my last post. I took your advice and, rather than spending a lot of time of researching self publishing again, I wrote a query letter for my third novel.

I sent it out to three agencies tonight. And my palms are sweaty, my heart is thudding, and I might just throw up. Last time I tried this, which was with my first novel, I got fifteen rejections. Admittedly, fifteen is not that many. But it still wasn't fun. Here's hoping I do better this time.

What have you written today?

Full Circle

2010-11-17T21:31:00.002-05:00

I read agents blogs. I check with respected, and recommended, sites such as Preditors and Editors to ensure any place I'm looking is not a fraud. I've read articles on traditional publishing versus self publishing. I know that most of the agents I've read attached a stigma to self published authors. I even understand why. So, I made the decision that I want to be traditionally published. Someday. When I find the time and the talent to write a good query letter and get noticed, it will happen.

Yet, once again, the self publishing angle has been thrust in front of me. A professor at my college asked if I had ever thought about it. He is all for it. When I danced my concerns in front of him; for example, the cost involved, he recommended an e-book publishing or a print on demand publishing. He pointed to small sales, but sales none the less. Then, I came across this article in the New York Times that also points to the fact that self publishing does not have the stigma that it once did and I'm again confused.

I'm not sure that I can get over the stigma of self publishing. But, am I overlooking what is quickly becoming a standard in 21st century because I too am biased? Should I give it consideration, again? What do you think about self publishing? Respectable or not?

What have you written today?

Argggghhhh

2010-11-14T18:00:00.002-05:00

There is nothing worse than printing out 400 hundred pages of a novel that you thought you had completely edited only to find a hard copy with scribbles in it that were never transferred to the electronic copy. My entire weekend is shot. This sucks. I want to have a hard copy ready for a professor to read and I need to have it ready by Tuesday. Am I freaking insane?

On the good side, he is a published writer that has also worked as an editor and knows people in the business. I'm hoping that my work completely Wows him and he decides to take me under his wing and help me get published. (Pipe dreams, but what the hell.)

Of course, there is a small part of me that is screaming he is going to think my writing is childish and mundane and will never speak to me again outside of class. Why are writers like this? I know I'm not the only one. Anyone else have anxiety over letting others read what they've written?

What have you written today?

Total Nerd

2010-11-06T22:00:00.003-04:00

I'm a total nerd. I mean it. I know more about Star Wars, and Star Trek, than my boys. I can even tell them why Star Wars is cooler than the Star Trek. Total nerd. Yet, I've reached a new level. Tonight, I spent the better part of a car ride lecturing my boys about why Batman was better than Superman. Seriously, I didn't even know I felt that strongly about it, but apparently I do.

And now, my new thing is Avatar: The Last Air-bender. It's more than just a kids cartoon. You can tell because they had actual seasons and everything. I think it may be my new nerd thing. I say that because I saw all the seasons with DVD specials at Wal-Mart and I want them for Christmas. Hopefully, my kids and husband take me seriously.

Any other nerds out there?

What have you written today?

I'm Melting

2010-11-03T20:07:00.003-04:00

Neurons. Mine are fried. Ironically, they're fried from studying neurons. The chapter exam was today, so I had a relatively free night to just write. 1037 words. I can't believe how they just flowed. I could see everything in my mind. That hasn't happened in a really long time. It was a . . . relief. That's the only way I can put it. It's a relief to escape into writing, to have fun, to be someone else, somewhere else, with completely different worries. I personally think writing is therapeutic. Anyone else feel that way?

What have you written today?

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

2010-10-24T20:57:00.003-04:00

I spent a large portion of my afternoon writing. I know I shouldn't have. I should have worked on my research paper for Sociology. I don't normally put off school work, because I can't stand having things hanging over my head. It drives me crazy. But, . . . I was having too much fun writing. I mean, serious, kick ass fun. Earth tremors, buildings breaking apart, no phones, most cars aren't working, and it's awesome.

I realized one of my biggest hurdles was that I have multiple computers. That means I either need to keep my WIP on a thumb drive or switch computers every time I want to write. And, even on a thumb drive, I need to have it on me at all times for it to useful. So, I'm trying something new with this novel. I'm writing it in Google Docs and now I can access it from anywhere, with any computer. Neat. What do you use when you write? Word? Open Office? Liquid Story Binder? YWriter?

For those of you who use the software geared towards a writer, can I ask why? Am I really that different because I prefer to write in one long continuous work? I used to break things down into chapters, but I had to do so much re-arranging when I edited that I gave up. Now, adding the chapter breaks are the last thing I do. I don't worry about what this chapter will have in it, or where that chapter will go. It's only the story and what moves it forward. Does the story make sense? Does it move enough? It's been a relief. Do you know why you write the way you do?

What have you written today?

Word Count Union Site Updated

2010-10-22T20:04:00.002-04:00

I said I was going to stop working on the site so that I could start writing again, but I lied. I've updated the site to have a word count form, which automatically adds the counts to a table. That table can be viewed from the site using the Daily Counts tab and a Grand Total tab shows all words to date. It functioned automatically thanks to Google Docs and their spreadsheet function. Check it out, let me know your thoughts. In the mean time, I'm going back to writing. =)

What have you written today?

We're Back

2010-10-22T08:15:00.003-04:00

Well, we may not be as great as we once were and we may not have as many members, but we are back. The Word Count Union Blog is working. We've already had counts posted as well as cheers and flogs. I didn't realize just how much I missed not only writing or being part of this writing group until I posted my first counts last night.

On a side note, does anybody remember Thundar the Barbarian? Something moved between the Earth and the moon, causing wide spread destruction. Hundreds of years later, after the Earth recovered, Thundar and his friends lived. My new project . . . what was it like to live when the destruction happened. What would have happened to the people then. I mean, my object is not pulling all of the atmoshpere away and suffocating everybody, but it's going to be bad. I think. Maybe. Hell, I just needed a direction and this was it. I'd love some thoughts.

What have you written today?

Calling All Word Count Buddies

2010-10-20T20:29:00.003-04:00

Ing and I would like to start the buddies back up. I'm no Liz, but I can try. I've started a blog here at Blogspot in an attempt to fill void. Right now it is set up so that anyone can visit it. Going forward, it will be restricted to those who want to participate. Please take a look, let me know your thoughts and ideas. Right now, I am thinking that everyday will be a post with, basically, just the date on it. Everyone can add their count in the comments. At the end of the week, someone (probably me) can tally the words written and update the text box on the right side with total words for the weeks and total words to date. We can also us the comments to flog others on days with no word count updates. I'd like to know who's interested and what you think.

www.wordcountunion.blogspot.com

What have you written today?

Blogging

2010-10-11T22:01:00.003-04:00

A blog post about blogging. There is something weird about that, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Anyway, I thought that everyone had a blog nowadays, or at least knew what a blog was today. I started my blog because I'd read many agents that said, "Get out there on the web. Have a presence and make it somewhat respectable." So, okay, I have a presence, sort of. I'm here. I write about writing, sometimes. Sure.

Then in Sociology class the other day, the professor asked, "Who has a Facebook account?" The whole class raised their hands. She asked, "Who tweets?" Okay, this one I don't do and I'm not the only one. Only about half the class raised their hands. She asked, "Who has a blog?" Guess what? I put my hand in the air, I sure did, with only two other people. I was dumbfounded when more than one person said, "What's a blog?"

Huh? Okay, wait. I'm confused. We spent a portion of class talking about blogs and what they were. We talked about how they operated and what they meant for free speech. And I thought - when did I deviate so far from the norm that they were asking me like I was some expert? So, tell me all you bloggers, did you know you were trend setters? Did you know you were different from everyone else? Do you Facebook, tweet, and whatever the hell else is popular that I'm too out of touch with to know about? Does this mean I really do have a web presence, since I'm doing something that is, apparently, not normal?

What have you written today?

Writing

2010-10-10T15:56:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking about writing again. More lately than I have in a while. I miss it. How can I call myself a writer if I'm not writing? Sure, I'm quick to say I've finished five novels, but I have to qualify that with the fact that none of them have been published. And it doesn't really excuse the fact that I haven't seriously written in a long time. So, how do you force yourself to fit writing into your life when most of the time your brain feels like it is either melting through your ears into a gooey puddle at your feet or jammed pack with so much new information you can hear your skull getting stress fractures from the pressure? Is there a good excuse for not writing? Is anyone interested (you know who you are!) in starting the buddy 100 words a day gang back up? Find out next week on Soap! (Oops, I'm dating myself again!)

What have you written today?

I'm on a roll, every 2 months

2010-09-15T21:27:00.002-04:00

Again, 2 months flies by and I haven't posted a thing. School is in full swing. A&P (Anatomy and Physiology) is going to melt my brain into a quivering pile of gray and red goo before the semester is completed. It's happening already.

On the plus side, I did get an extended weekend in West Virginia over the Labor Day holiday. West Virginia is a funny place. For example, in PA, the signs on the highways mark every mile and half mile to the next exit (Ex. Exit 9, 1 mile. Exit 9, 1/2 mile). In West Virginia, they mark every mile and quarter mile. Just as you pass the 1/4 mile marker, you see the exit. What caused that to be the standard?

Or, in PA, when a sign marks a river or a creek, and you pass over a bridge, you can look over the edge and see water. Hmmm. Not in West Virginia. We passed at least 2 different creek signs that marked railroad tracks and a lovely stretch of blacktop. Maybe they're only creeks in the wet season?

I saw a flea market/swap meet on the side of the road that proudly proclaimed "24 Flavors" of ice cream. And I thought, no lie, what happened to other 7?

Somewhere on the trip I saw a sign for Cheat Lake. NO lie. And, here's the kicker, you had to take Fair Chance Rd to get there. Is there a sign at the end that lets you know when your last fair chance is? Do I really want to visit a place called Cheat Lake?

It's the only place where I can by a lottery ticket with the numbers 222 and I get asked if I would like to play it straight or boxed. How would that work, exactly?

I heard a kid, about 12 years old, tell someone at a reunion that he couldn't read cursive yet. That wasn't the amazing part. The amazing part was that all the residents within ear shot were like "Oh, yeah, you'll learn that later." What???!!!

We asked, while staying on the farm for the weekend, if we could feed the cows. There were three penned in a small field that were okay to feed. He told us, "Make sure to feed one with the white face, the others can be ornery." The kicker - they all had white faces. We looked at each, shrugged our shoulders, and headed down to the pen.

West Virginia is one of those places in the United States where I need a translator. Not because they don't speak English. I'm sure they do. But they speak like Boomhower from Hank of the Hill. Seriously. I had to have my husband translate for me.

And last but not least - Community Colleges. I know of two in my half of the state. That's it. 2. In West Virginia, there is a Community College on every other block. And they offer classes that I've never heard of before. Like what? Well, I saw one advertising 40 and 80 hour classes in mining. Neat. Or, how about Fine Woodworking? I would need to know what the difference is between regular woodworking and fine woodworking before I dish out the extra money, though.

I love it there!!!!!!! What does that say about me?

What have you written today?

Say What!

2010-07-23T18:21:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's been two months since I posted anything. Hmmm . . . I think if I try really hard, I can beat that with something else. Let's see - it's been seven months since I first started college. Not bad, but I do better. It's been a year since I lost my job. Ohhh, it's been over a year since I last wrote. Yeah! Now that's something that really sucks.

I'm just jesting. I haven't given up on writing at all. In fact, I still have characters talking in my head because I still have things that need to be written. My main issue is that I don't have the time to write. And when I can find ten or fifteen minutes to write something for myself, I'm so tired from studying that my eyes are crossed and writing anything makes them hurt.

The good news is that this semester is over in a little over a week. Then, I have three weeks to myself. At that time, I'll be jumping back on the wagon at the Word Count website, and pounding out something! As God is my . . . nope, that's already been said.

On a side note - for anyone out there looking to get published, there is a great site of snippets from query letters. Take a look. I have a new appreciation for what Agents have to go through when diving into a slush-pile. Check out SlushPileHell!

What have you written today?

Personal Insight

2010-05-21T19:36:00.002-04:00

I learned something kind of weird about myself today that I wanted to
share.

When I was little, we used to watch mom play video games with her whole body. She couldn't make Pacman move without moving her whole body too. We used to make fun of her for it. My boys noticed the same thing about me when I play Nintendo 64 or the Gamecube. There were certain games, certain tasks, that I felt the need to rock my whole body to complete effectively. The kids thought it was hilarious.

Then the Wii came along. The kids were so excited to see what I would do. I have to say that I thought I did well when I played games.
Because you have to move, I was a natural. But . . . Apparently, I've
gotten weirder, and we only noticed it today. I was playing Metroid
Prime III: Corruption. I was in a particularly intense battle, shooting up the bad guys, when I realized that Dustin was staring at me. A couple minutes of him staring at me while I trying to focus on winning my fight totally threw me off so I paused my game and said, "What!" To which he says, "Stop moving your mouth."Um, what?

Apparently every time I fire at an enemy, I make a biting motion with my mouth. After he pointed it out, I realized he was right. With every shot, I move my jaw up and down like one of the chattering red wind up teeth from the fifties. What's worse is that I couldn't stop doing. I have no idea why shooting a bad guys correctly requires me to bite at the air, but it's stupid enough that I felt the need to share. Go ahead. Picture it. It's funny as all hell. At least now I understand why my
jaw hurts after I play video games. Seriously never thought I'd say
that, but it's true!

And you thought I couldn't get any weirder!! Hahahahaha

What have you written today?

Clarification

2010-05-17T09:22:00.002-04:00

I think I need to clarify my last post. 1st, I speak English and I happen to love it. I enjoy getting things right, so learning to write better is a good thing. Coloring posters for an English project is not my idea of a fun. Sketching art found around the building is not my idea of English class. Studying how different people approach tap dance is not my idea of English class.

Studying vocabulary, sentence structure, format styles, etc, is my idea of English class. My professor was a great instructor and a nice lady. The class just wasn't my cup of tea. I have to admit, being told to use more adjectives and adverbs, almost the exact opposite of what I hear on agents websites, was distracting. I know college professors want me to use my full vocabulary, but I really try to expand my writing without relying on adverbs. Why say 'she cried quietly' when I can paint a picture without the adverb?

Overall, the experience was worth it.

What have you written today?

Almost

2010-05-15T21:26:00.004-04:00

All that's left of this semester is finals. I think I'll do okay, but I'm still nervous. I'll get a little break, then I've got to start buying books and supplies again for the summer semester. I miss everyone and I miss writing - for my enjoyment. It's amazing to me that I love to write but assign me an essay on civil rights infringement during world war II, and it's a completely different ball of wax. Yuck. English has a way of sucking all fun out of writing.

What have you written today?

A Average

2010-04-18T17:38:00.003-04:00

Well, my hard work is paying off. I still have no life, but I have good grades, I'm learning stuff, and I like making my family proud. I can't imagine how people do this, take care of their family, and work two jobs. I couldn't do it. Hope this year is going well for everyone.

What have you written today?

No Time

2010-02-13T22:24:00.001-05:00

No Time.

No life.

Study, sleep, eat.

That is my life.

Not complaining.

Adjusting.

Life's good.

What have you written today?

An Interesting Morning

2010-01-19T10:41:00.002-05:00

Wow. It's not even noon yet and I've taken two kids to school, gone to the college, washed the dishes, and started a grease fire. Everything is fine. I contained it to the pan, but wow. I've never done that before. Who knew that dropping margarine into a super hot pan could cause it to burst into flames?

Okay, okay. I knew. My only defense is that my old Teflon pans would smoke when they got hot and my new metal ones don't. I knew the burner was red, and I know that my new pans take longer to heat up. I had no idea the pan was that hot.

Needless to say, it was a very exciting morning. I wonder if the rest of the day will be this life affirming. And, yes, a sudden grease fire can be life affirming. =)

What have you written today?

Back in the Saddle

2010-01-17T22:08:00.002-05:00

I'm back in the editing saddle. It's moving along pretty well. Why is it that every time I feel stressed out, I turned to writing, or editing in this case? Don't get me wrong - I want to write. I've got characters and dialogue swimming around in my head. Most of it is based on the animated duck dream, but without the duck part. I'm just concerned that if I give in to the madness, I'm going to complicate going back to school.

I saw it happen when I was working. Writing took over every moment of my day. I'd be in a meeting but daydreaming about what was going to happen next. I'm afraid that will happen in my classes. And I'm nervous enough about going to school with out being worried that my novels are going to run loose in my head at every possible moment.

I'm trying to scratch the itch by editing, which is good anyway, because I have to edit at some point. I mean, after this one, I only have two left to edit. That's awesome all by itself.

So, why won't the characters in my head be quiet? Does anyone else have this issue? What do you do?

What have you written today?

My Life as an Animated Duck

2010-01-14T18:43:00.005-05:00

My first post in 2010 and we're halfway through the month already. Wow. Time is really scooting along. Things that have happened to me so far: I've been to a college campus orientation, I've gotten new glasses, I went out to dinner with my family, I've been hounded to finish my edits quicker (a new friend is reading them and wants the next one), and . . .

Okay, this is where my year gets weird. After 15 years of marriage, I can't even cheat on my husband in a dream!! Last night I had a dream that the end of the world came. Be warned: most of my dreams are lengthy. I've had doctors tell me I should go for study because of that. I choose to believe it's because I'm so creative. Anyway . . . The survivors, including me, were holed up in a mall. There weren't many of us, may twenty or thirty at most, living in the mall. I had no family and no friends.

We all paired off into groups of five and each took over part of the mall. We'd meet in the main area for meetings on what to do with food and other things we were able to find. I was the record keeper for my group. The head on my group was a older woman that always wore a scarf wrapped around her head, almost like she was recovering from chemotherapy. Anyway, there was this guy at the meetings that I liked, but my group kept warning me he was no good. They didn't want me to have anything to do with him. It felt like they were saying if I did associate with him, they'd kick me out.

Not a good thing at the end of the world. One night, wandering the mall alone, I bumped into him. He wanted to go out with me. I told him I couldn't. We agreed to go the the theater. At least that way, we could be together and no one would see. And, we didn't have to leave the mall at all. It was really dangerous outside. The movie was an animated, Disney-like flick. I was nervous as all hell. What if my group saw me? I couldn't live without them. When I told him I wanted to leave because I didn't trust myself with him and was worried about the group, he said he had a way we could be together and no one would ever know. I said I'd give it a try.

Here's where it goes from a possible novel to just strange. We went into the movie. He became an animated weasel and I became an animated duck. I was all white, like a domesticated duck. We tried kissing, and stuff, but neither one of us could get into it. (My bill kind of got in the way.) He told me he just couldn't get excited about duck. I knew the feeling, the weasel thing was kind of a turn off for me. We changed back into ourselves, inside the animated movie. I think we were in a pirate ship. It still didn't work. Animation of the Disney-kind is not conducive to a hot steamy time.

The thing is, I kept thinking how Freudian it was that he turned into a weasel. But, did he turn into a weasel because he really was one or because everyone else kept telling me he was one? And, in the end, nothing happened between us. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I just couldn't go through with it. And I keep wondering if it's because, after 15 years of marriage, and the fact that I love my husband very much, I can't even have a relationship after the end of the world because of my husband?

So, votes: should I see a shrink or not? =)

What have you written today?

What a Year!!

2009-12-31T16:16:00.002-05:00

I can't believe a whole year has gone by already. I'm not sure I can even remember all the significant things that happened at the beginning of the year. Everything before being laid off is kind of a blur. We bought a new camper, went camping (three times), and had a blast. Then the big whammy.

After that, lets see . . . married 15 years, camping again (twice), lost a grandmother, registered for college, signed up for classes, took two different placement tests, doctors appointments, Christmas, birthdays, . . . such a busy year.

And I finished one book and edited two others. I'd say that's pretty good. I think it's time to get back on the band wagon and write something new. I know I promised myself I would edit every single thing I've written, but I'm not doing bad in that department and I miss writing.

Besides, as weird as it sounds, I think going back to school (and running myself ragged) will be good for my muse. I like to use writing as a way to slow down, relax, and get away. Maybe the reason I haven't be bitten by my muse lately is that life isn't stressful enough to wake it up. Does that make any sense?

I hope everyone had a great year. May you New Year be safe, happy, fun, and fulfilling.

What have you written today?

Black Out

2009-12-14T21:18:00.003-05:00

Wow, what an interesting weekend! Went to dinner Friday night and, while stuffing fried scallops in my mouth, my cell phone rang. It was my father, asking how long my power had been out. Um . . . no clue. Apparently, my cousin, who lives a block from me, called my aunt and told her a transformer on the mountain blew and the power was out. My aunt called my mother, who called my father, and - well - you know what happened then.

The clock on my stove stopped at 4:57pm. The power was finally restored at 11:31. Let me tell you, it was an adventure. The kids had a ball. Actually, I had fun too. It was different, that's for sure. It was a little chilly, but fun none the less.

And, the most relaxing time I've had for a while. This week is all about the car being fixed, a placement test, a works skills test, buying a tree (I know. I usually have it already, but it's been a crazy year.), and several physicals. Woo-hoo. And how is everyone else doing this holiday season?

What have you written today?

Studying Pays Off . . . Sort Of

2009-12-08T18:34:00.002-05:00

It's no secret that I was let go from my place of employment in July. After looking at the job market and shaking my head for five months, I've decided it's time to take a new road. Since I was identified as some who will potentially exhaust unemployment (don't get me started on that again), I get some extra benefits. Woo-hoo.

I never went to college; 11 schools in 12 years of regular schooling burned me out. Consquently, while I have experience out the wazoo, I don't not have the education most employers are looking for now days. I'm going to try and go back to school. I jumping through my hoops and fighting with the red tape as we speak.

I've registered at the local community college, and taken the first steps with unemployment to get tuition assistance. The next step, at both places, is to take exams; for college, it's a placement exam, for unemployment, it's a skill identification exam. For the skills exam, I had to take a pre-test.

I'm happy to say that the pre-test went very well. I won't get the official results back until Friday. There were three sections, with seven levels in two sections and six levels in the third. Each level had seven questions. You had to score at least a level four in each section in order to be eligible for the actual test or you had to go through training classes. I'm ecstatic to say I was able to complete the entire thing, which means I almost got a hundred. I feel so much better now.

These tests are the primary reason I haven't been reading much for pleasure. I've been studying; brushing up on my grammar, math, and reasoning. My brain hurts. =) At least it seems to be helping. I have just two tests to go before I can get started on the rest of my life.

In case I forgot to mention, in addition to writing, editing, and daydreaming, I'm hoping to become an RN. At 37, I'm hoping I'm not too old to do this. And now I have another literary masterpiece running through my head. I think I can, I think I can. =)

What have you written today?

the host - by Stephanie Meyer

2009-12-02T16:30:00.003-05:00

Arghhhhhh! I did it again. You would think that I would learn by now not to do it, but apparently I haven't. Another night spent reading. Another day feeling like I ran a freaking marathon with a dump truck bumping me every now and then to keep me motivated. I think I crawled into bed and fell asleep around 2:30 in the morning. Yuck.

On the plus side, I was impressed with the host. With each book, Meyer's writing in getting better and more engaging. It was complex and well thought out. I was thoroughly satisfied with the trip. It was a unique look at an old idea, and handled very well. I would recommend it to everyone.

I hope everyone out there had a good Thanksgiving. =)

What have you written today?

My Son

2009-11-06T22:50:00.003-05:00

Here's a video of my son reading at church for the first time. I thought he did great. =)

I now return you to your regular blog.

What have you written today?

You Don't Stand a Chance

2009-11-04T18:36:00.003-05:00

One of the recent headlines from the Reading Eagle Newspaper:

"Pickup hits DUI detail in Sinking Spring" and the article goes on to say, "Officers said they smelled alcohol inside the truck."

Hmmmmm. I didn't see that one coming.

I figure if you hit the DUI detail after the big signs they put around here to announce them, there is no way you're sober.

The truck hit two deputies in a van and another deputy on the street. I hope they will all be okay, but I couldn't pass up sharing this headline.

What have you written today?

Marathon Reading: Hunger, A Gone Novel

2009-11-03T08:39:00.003-05:00

Have you ever done this? Book two in a series has been published in hardback. We read book one and loved it. We saved up (I'm still out of job and hardbacks are friggin expensive) and got the book. My son had already re-read the first one, so he read the newest one while I read the first one again. In one day. Friday. Then, Friday night about ten o'clock I started the new one. I finished it Saturday afternoon at two. 600 pages in 8 1/2 hours. (I had to sleep a little too.)

Let me tell you, it felt like I'd run a marathon with the H1N1 flu. I can't believe how rung out I felt. It's Tuesday and I'm just to the point where I'm me again. I used to do this all the time. More importantly, I used to do this with NO ill effects.

Have I mentioned I feel old? On the plus side, the book was good, worth it, at least. Hunger by Michael Grant. The second in the Gone series. Very Very worth it.

What have you written today?

Common Mistakes

2009-10-21T21:32:00.003-04:00

Ohhhh, I felt the need to do another common mistakes post. This time, I would like to pick on transposition. Are you familiar with this one? This would be where you mean to stop light, but instead type out light stop.

The biggest issue that I can see with this is that the human brain will automatically correct this when you read your own writing. Other people can and will catch your mistake, but odds are you probably won't. This flaw will make your characters unintentionally sound like Yoda.

I've found several of these errors, thanks to my kids no less. The latest had my main heroine using towel papers, she did.

Many writer tip sites recommend having someone read your book out loud, whether it be you, a friend, or even the text to speech function in your PC. This common mistake will be found if you take the time to do this. And that could go far in making your novel much more professional.

And, I've jumped off my soap-box.

What have you written today?

Awwwww . . . Nuts

2009-10-20T21:14:00.003-04:00

I finished going through the 3rd novel and I printed it out. I was so happy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this book on my PC and editing it. I was so excited to print it out and punch my holes. I put my cardboard covers on and my rings to hold everything together and sat it in my finished pile.

I should know better. I know that, even after you edit and re-edit it on a PC, they say to print it out and read it again. They say it's something about how your brain processes things differently from electronic device to print. I don't really understand all that. What I do understand is that today when I went to pick my son up from school, I gleefully grabbed (sorry Liz :P) my 3rd novel.

I found my parking space at the school, shut the car off, and pulled out my book. Within the first page, I was digging around the car for a pen to make notes/corrections. I'm up to page 79 and there is not one page yet that doesn't have cross outs and scribbles. NUTS!!!!

Here I go again. I guess I'll need to do the same thing with number 2. I did do it once, but not since I edited on the computer again. Does the madness ever end? Do I want it to? I guess, if I really want to be published someday, the answer would be no. NUTS!

What have you written today?

More Edits

2009-10-17T21:47:00.002-04:00

So I finished editing my 2nd novel. A large part of me wants to go back and edit it again. I know there are places where I tell instead of show, but right now I'm afraid I'm too close to it again. I've decided to let it sit and move on to edit #3. When I get through everything once, then I'll go back and re-edit #2.

My biggest issue with editing #3 is I'm having too much fun reading it to get any good editing done. I haven't read this one since I wrote. I know I have a couple major story points at the end to work out. Things that have bothered me that I know I can fix if I just focus. Hopefully I've allowed time to pass so that I'm not too close to this one too.

Anyway, back to work.

What have you written today?

What a Day!

2009-10-16T20:53:00.005-04:00

First, Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Wow. I'm exhausted. Since I had finished editing it, I reprinted my first novel on my new printer. Talk about self-publishing. Hehehe.

I have several people asking to read it. And, now that it's truly edited, I think I want their opinions. I think. It's nice being able to print it out in booklet form. It almost looks like a real book, it's much easier to transport and store, and it uses a quarter of the paper traditional printing uses.

I actually got some editing done on my second novel too. Always a good thing. I'll be so happy when I've actually edited all of the novels. It's amazing how much that weighs on my mind. More so since I'd rather be writing. Oh, well. I'm focusing on editing. I mean it this time. Really, I do. =)

What have you written today?

It's Finished

2009-10-15T19:01:00.002-04:00

I've finished my 5th novel. Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!

It took longer than it should have but I'm done. I didn't make the fifty pages I thought were left. It only took about twenty to finish the novel. I feel good. It's been weighing on me, having things hanging. Right now, it only has 66,000 words, but it's finished. Wow.

When I thought about being a writer as a kid, I had no idea how hard it was to actually finish a novel. When I finished my first, I thought to myself that it was something I could never do again. And now, I've finished five. I think I'm going to pour myself a glass a wine and have a good cry.

Five! I can't believe I've finished another one.

What have you written today?

New Profile Picture

2009-10-15T11:55:00.002-04:00

I've updated my profile picture. I was trying to go for a picture that wasn't a color match for the web page. In my last picture, my maroon shirt actually matched the maroon color scheme. Talk about a little too obsessive.

So, I took a new picture and posted it yesterday. Today I realized that the sweater I'm wearing in it is a gray color. It still matches the color scheme. Now I'm being obsessive without even knowing it. I don't think I'm going to change it again, though.

Back to writing. I know my creative juices are at least churning again because last night I dreamt about a mistake I made in my most recent writing that I need to fix. I'm off to do that now. At least I'm writing again. And it feels good. Really good.

What have you written today?

Atlantic City was the Best!!

2009-10-13T15:29:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday MOM!!

Okay, so I didn't win a million dollars. I can live with that. I did come home with almost half my money and that was after a shopping spree and playing slots in the casino. I think it's safe to say that mom really enjoyed her birthday present. We splurged and ordered breakfast from room service. It was a first for both mom and I. It was really expensive, but so worth it. They brought enough food for a small army, along with a paper, linen napkins, and a flower. Here's a picture of mom sitting in bed with breakfast. I'm refreshed and ready to finish my work in progress. Oh, and the last picture is the nighttime view from our hotel room. We were on the top floor. Gave me a panic attack, but I got over it and the view really was terrific.

Writing and Music

2009-10-10T19:56:00.002-04:00

I'm back on the horse, at least for a day or two. I'm going to Atlantic City tomorrow with my mother. It's her birthday present. So, no writing for two days. Not that it's a big deal. It's not like I've written much over the last couple months.

But I did start writing again. And it feels really good. I put my headphones on, cranked up Pandora, and wrote ten pages. And that was after reading through the whole rest of the novel. More importantly, I actually liked it. Weird. I mean, I wrote it, so I should like it, but sometimes I can't separate the writer from the reader in me.

At the beginning of the week, I read a really really bad novella. It's one of these paperbacks where an established author puts three short books into one for her readers. I got through the first one and can't keep reading. It's so bad. So, I read mine. It took me four days to get through 160 pages of hers and a day to get through my 200 pages. It was really weird. I know I keep saying that, but it was.

I can't believe how much music helps me to write. I wish I knew why. Any thoughts? Does it fire up the creative juices or something? Tap into your emotions? What is it? Have a good Columbus day everyone.

What have you written today?

Nothing

2009-09-29T16:54:00.002-04:00

I do not feel like doing anything. I don't want to write, edit, or read, for that matter. I'm tired of TV and video games. I haven't painted in a couple months now. I haven't knitted at all. I don't feel like doing anything.

I have been to bingo. Actually, three times in the last week. It was fun. I miss playing. I'd like to go again. Maybe I will tomorrow. That seems to be my new motto. Maybe tomorrow. It's not like I don't do anything. I clean, wash, cook, . . . heck, this passed weekend my husband and I completely replaced the plumbing in our kitchen do to a major break (actually several) in our pipes.

But all the stuff that I did in my spare time before, all the things I enjoyed, are gone. WTF? I kept thinking this would go away after I adjusted to being laid off. Ha. Okay, I'm ready to feel normal again. Oh, please, please, please, don't tell me I need to be working for some jerk who stresses me out for me to feel normal again. Yuck.

What have you written today? Probably more than I have. =)

Confession Time

2009-09-20T12:50:00.002-04:00

Okay, it's time I confessed something. I smoke. I have for a long time. I quit, several times, for months at a time, but I've always gone back. I recently became aware of new kind of cigarette, because of the FDA. There is an electronic cigarette on the market that the FDA wants to ban.

It's been out a couple years. It is, basically, a nicotine replacement system, similar to the patch or gum or whatever new fangled gadget is out there to give you nicotine when you try to quit smoking. Like a tobacco cigarette, the electronic cigarette is puffed on. Unlike a tobacco cigarette, what is exhaled is not smoke. It is water vapor. The electronic smoke uses an atomizer to vaporize water, simulating smoke, to deliver it's nicotine. The FDA is concerned that these electronic cigarettes might be dangerous.

Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they the same people that promote the use of nicotine replacement because, while nicotine is highly addictive, smoking tobacco kills. Isn't this somewhat of a mixed message?

In an effort to make my home a safer place for my kids, and the environment safer for everyone, I'm going to try the electronic cigarette. My kids, of all people, see the benefit of me not smoking tobacco anymore. Their words were basically: It's only common sense that water vapor is not as harmful as tobacco. Try it. Please.

I've written to everyone I could think of, or that would allow me to write what I really wanted to say. I'd like your opinions. My next post will be the letter I've sent out to the FDA as well as my congressmen and local news stations. Thoughts?

What have you written today?

Rest in Peace

2009-09-19T14:19:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted. I'd like to say life got in the way, again, but, sadly, that's not the case this time. Death got in the way. My maternal grandmother, Alice E (Ott) Styer, passed away on Labor Day. We'd just gotten back from camping, and it was wonderful. We'd showered and put all our stuff away when I got the call.

It's been a really busy couple weeks. I wish I could say it's been all good, but I can't. She is really going to be missed. And, it makes me realize how much I miss my brother. I'll post pictures of him some day.

I, of course, have not been writing or editing. I think, with the kids back in school, and some free time during the day, I'm going to start again. It might be cathartic.

What have you written today?

The Written Word

2009-08-31T09:16:00.002-04:00

I've recently gotten to thinking, again, about how the written word can be misunderstood. Thanks mostly to Psychepsilo.

You can spend hours upon hours writing beautiful words. Fawning over them until you think they're perfect. They speak from your heart. They should move the world.

And they don't.

You could mean them as a compliment, but they only offend someone. You could mean them to be supportive, and they cut down instead. You could mean them to be a literary masterpiece, but instead they flop around on the floor like a dying fish.

But . . . isn't that what makes life wonderful? Makes us each unique? Makes writing so fulfilling and challenging? Yeah - I could do without the challenging - sometimes.

But I wouldn't change it for the world.

What have you written today?

A New Printer

2009-08-29T21:55:00.002-04:00

I realized today that I'm in a pickle. Now that I'm out of work, I can admit that I occasionally used the printer at work to make a personal copy. Not often. It was like once or twice a few times a year.

So, today, I needed to make a copy of my real estate bill before sending it out to my mortgage company. The one year I didn't make a copy, it got lost and I had to scramble to make sure it got paid on time. It was a mess. Anyway, I'm explaining this to my husband.

His response? "So go buy what you need."

I haven't gotten a new printer in probably 10 years. My old printer was so old . . . (can you hear the "How old was it?" response?) Vista wouldn't support it. I couldn't even use the original installation disk in Vista. It just didn't work. Period. Vista would give me some funky, drivers not recognized, error.

I decided on a Canon MP something or other. All I can say is it's awesome. It does it all, and it does it wirelessly. It's amazing being able to sit in the living room and send a document to the printer in the dining room. I was able to copy my tax bill and send out the original this morning.

I can't wait to play with my novels and see all the different things I can do with printing them at home now. Woohoo!!!!

What have you written today?

Cookware

2009-08-15T16:45:00.003-04:00

My aunt is cleaning out my grandfathers house. It's a long story, and boils down to Dementia with Alzheimer's. Anyway, she said most of the stuff was cleared out and what was left was either going to be thrown away or donated somewhere. I choose, out of the items left, two marble top end tables, a grandfather clock, a dining room table and chairs, some incredible wood work that my grandfather hand made, and an old set of RangeCraft cookware.

The clock is something that I do remember from when I was little. My grandparents were the only people I ever knew that owned one. We moved around so much, I really didn't get know my whole family until I was older. But the clock made an impression on me when we came to visit. It's really pretty.

But, I have to say, it's the Range Craft that was the biggest surprise. It is a stainless steel cookware. I have never, in my whole life, not use a non-stick pan. Never. At least, that I remember. There was this time, back when I was like five or six, that I tried to make my brother eggs for breakfast on a metal pan. I used half a dozen eggs, without any oil, and only had a teaspoon size amount left to actually feed him.

Needless to say, I was a little nervous, but decided to give it a shot. My current pots and pans were really bad. And, I have to say, they are so awesome. I cooked scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, and potato pancakes. I was able to slip the eggs out without issues. I flipped the dippy eggs without breaking them (something I have a really hard time doing), and the potato pancakes were actually pretty; golden brown, perfectly cooked, and they didn't stick. I absolutely can't believe it.

My grandmother passed away in 1992. These were bought well before her passing, so it's not like they're new. I just can't believe how easy they were to cook with. I can't believe how well the food came out. I can't believe how well this set has held up. I can't believe that my cookware was sooooo bad.

And, my mother can't believe how easy it is to make me happy. What can I say? I'm a very simple girl. =)

What have you written today?

Reality

2009-08-10T20:49:00.002-04:00

It's a weird thing, Reality. Sometimes, it's great. I cleaned my mothers house, because she hasn't been able to clean it. With the PVD and femoral artery bypass, and now serious lower back issues, she can't. She wanted to clean, but couldn't. So, I did. I snuck over while she was at work, dusted, vacuumed (with the crevice tool and everything), and did her dishes. She called me that night, crying. I made my mother cry. I mean, it was a happy cry, but still. I made her cry.

The flipside of reality. Bridezilla. I can't stand to even watch these commercials. I mean, who's idea was it to make someone famous, even for a minute, that has an awful attitude? Why is everyone so wrapped up in the perfect day? A marriage is not a wedding. Why does our society reward people who are that shortsighted, that nasty, that horrible? And, don't tell me we're not rewarding them, they dedicate a whole show to one bridezilla. It doesn't matter how bad a person they are, we make them famous for it. And it's wrong.

I'm to the point were I tune to a different station just so I don't have to watch the commercials. And we wonder why the divorce rate has climbed through the roof. Why do we put so much emphasis on the wedding day? Shouldn't we worry about the marriage? All those years after "I do" are important, so very important. It's hard work, but worth it.

I got a news flash for all those people out there who need to have the perfect wedding. A perfect wedding is the easy part. A good marriage is the hard part. And, I'm happy to say, I have a good marriage, with all of it's faults and everything.

And, this is what makes reality shows hit the top ratings. All the top rated shows are that way because they spotlight rude, loudmouth, horrible people. Ugh. What has this world come to?

What have you written today?

Picked On

2009-08-02T22:27:00.005-04:00

I feel picked on. It's the only way to describe it. A little history. I've been working since I was 16. Except for when I needed to study for finals, and had my two kids, I've never been unemployed. I've never requested unemployment benefits. Not once in all the years I've been working. And, I was employed for eleven years at my last place of employment.

So, I've been let go. I'm over it. I've only gotten one week of unemployment compensation, to date. I just filed my bi-weekly for last two. On Saturday, I got a lovely little letter, ordering me to attend a Profile Re-Employment Program because I've been identified as a claimant most likely to exhaust my compensation.

WHAT?

One payment and they think I'm likely to not get a job again. And, if I don't go, they stop my benefits all together. I've known literally dozens of people that are college educated, which I admit I am not, that have been on unemployment for over a year and they never had to do this. Was I targeted because I didn't go college? Isn't that, in this day and age, in a job market that isn't hiring anybody, discrimination? Are you kidding me?

One freaking payment and they think I'm a deadbeat? What a way to kick me when I'm down. Gee, we realize that you just got let go, life is uncertain, you're worried about your kids, your bills, keeping your house, and we have no faith that you'll be able to get any employment on your own. So, either let us assess you to tell you how lousy you really are, or we'll cut off the only thing keeping you afloat.

And, when I checked the unemployment website to find out, "Why ME!", it said, "The Profile ReEmployment Program (PREP) is Pennsylvania’s version of the federally mandated Worker Profiling and Re-employment Service system. " Like I really want to here that. It makes me feel so much better knowing I was picked because the Federal Government thinks I'm a dead beat. Woo-hoo.

Needless to say, editing was hard to do because I couldn't concentrate. Still can't. Any thoughts?

What have you written today?

I'm so Happy

2009-07-28T13:41:00.001-04:00

I edited today. 30 whole pages. I can't believe it. I feel so . . . alive, happy, disgusted. Wait. What? No, I really do feel good. It's been a year or two since I finished this one. It was my second novel. And, you what? The writing sucked. Big time. But I think it's fixable. And, I had a blast working on today. It's nice to feel like I really accomplished something. I mean, besides working on the housework. YEAH!!!!!

What have you written today?

Commercials

2009-07-28T10:12:00.002-04:00

I've noticed a trend with daytime commercials. Most of them are either eat this or try this diet. It's about half and half, so that you watch an "I lost a hundred pounds on XXX" followed by "New, decadent XXX for two, but you don't have to share it if you don't want to" commercial. If I ate everything they told me to eat, not even the weight loss programs they're pushing on me would help. Every now and then, just to keep it interesting, I'll see a college online commercial, but that's pretty much the extent of the daytime commercials.

Oh, I take it back. There is one other commercial I see everyday. Colonial Penn Life Insurance. So, if all the eating doesn't kill, but the diet does, or the other way around, my loved ones will be taken care of in the future. When did commercials become so depressing? I mean, it's so bad, it's almost funny. They entice you with artery clogging foods, call you fat, stupid, and irresponsible, offer to make you thin and smart, and want you to do it all before you die a sudden premature death in which they're willing to take care of your family for you. No wonder our world is the way it is. =)

What have you written today?

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-22T19:21:00.002-04:00

Warning: This post is about Harry Potter. It is about the latest movie. If you are not a fan, well, even if you are, you may not want to read this one.

I took the boys to see it today. I'm not sure what to say. For those who can separate the films from the books, or those who have never read the books, it's a great movie. For those of us who read the books, loved the books, wanted to see the books come to life, they didn't. This one didn't.

Don't get me wrong. The actors did a wonderful job. It was visually stunning. The kids really enjoyed themselves. At least once, I jumped in my seat and then giggled self-consciously because I knew what was coming and I jumped anyway. It was very entertaining.

It also was very different from the book. New scenes were added, important things were deleted. And, in this case, I'm not talking about the funeral scene that everyone else has fixated on. The movie worked fine without the funeral. I was, however, gesturing madly at the screen that Harry had not been placed under the spell during the scene in the Astronomy tower. It was wrong. So wrong.

And the kiss I wanted to see, between Ginny and Harry, sucked. The actors did fine, but the this was a big moment in the book. A moment when he turned a corner, found true love (to quote another movie) and it got less screen time, had less impact, then his kissing in the last movie. I'll admit that I was hoping they would keep the intensity the book had for that.

Thank God the theater was empty. I think my exact words were "That's it?" To which, my kids shushed me. They shushed me in an empty theater! Actually, that was kind of cool. Having the whole theater to ourselves was like being rich. I would recommend going to a 9:30am showing during the week. That was awesome.

Will I buy the DVD when it comes out? Yes. Would I spend another twenty dollars to see it in the theater, like I did with the last two films? No.

What have you written today?

Weird

2009-07-20T12:53:00.002-04:00

What a weird way for the universe to kick me when I'm down. I've cleaned the house, several times, and done small fix it jobs, and watched TV. I rediscovered Golden Girls, and The Nanny. Tool Time and Touched by an Angel. And Friday night, my TV died. Poof. It was gone.

Oh, we could hit the on button. It would make interesting clicking noises and then sound like it shut off. At least it didn't sizzle like the cell phone did a couple weeks ago. Is it karma or something? Almost every show I've watched over the last two weeks has been about death or losing a job. It's really depressing. But, I do feel better after I cry with them.

Still, it would have been nice not to have the TV die. Another bill. What fun. We did go out and buy a new one after two days. We tried the TV from our bedroom but the squinting gave me a headache. It doesn't bother me in the bedroom, but I guess the living room is a little bigger and just needs a bigger screen. We didn't go huge. It's only a 32". It was on the small end of the display. But that's fine. It's much better than a 19".

Okay, now I know the true meaning of "When it rains, it pours." Quick, who's slogan is it?

What have you written today?

Normal?

2009-07-11T21:23:00.002-04:00

So, I've come to my first job free weekend. It's been a wild week. Ha. That's putting it mildly. And, apparently, I'm normal. Never would have thought I could say that about myself. I was warned that I'd be depressed for a while. But I don't feel depressed, not really. I'm not sad or angry or asking why me.

And yet, I don't feel like writing, reading, knitting, painting, or doing any of the things I did for fun. I mean - I am cleaning the house and keeping up on the laundry. I've changed light bulbs, installed shades, trim the dog's nail, and changed every sheet in the house. I'm busy and I'm okay. But I can't find the drive, will, whatever, to write. Or even read, for that matter.

So, I guess I am normal. The kids said I need to schedule a time everyday to write and sit down and do it. Their theory is that I'm out of whack because the schedule I've kept for so long is gone. They think that if I schedule a time, I'll get back in the saddle and be fine. I'm hoping their right. Wouldn't it be great if the answer were that simple? Here's praying it is.

What have you written today?

Free Time

2009-07-06T21:08:00.002-04:00

And now I have the rest of the summer to spend with my kids, at home, twiddling my thumbs. I'm sure I'll find something to do. I didn't get missed this time. First summer I haven't worked in twenty years. I'm fine. Really.

**sniffle**

What have you written today?

At the Risk of Repeating Myself . . .

2009-07-05T19:01:00.002-04:00

I'm back. 10 days of bliss, that went by way to %$^%$#$ fast. There were some causalities. I lost a Rapala lure to a stump, and I dunked my cell phone in the lake when I went back the next day to look for it. I didn't find the lure, and the cell sizzled for a while before dying. It was pretty pathetic, really. Other than that, and a sun-burn, I'm dandy.

Four hours on a boat, in the wind, without sunscreen, was kind of excessive. Even the tops of my feet are burned. Hell, my shins are burned, and that's one area I am not used to having a sunburn. It's been, literally, ten years since I've had a sunburn. I'd forgotten how much they ^%^$% hurt.

But, enough complaining. (Come on, you know me better than that.) I didn't get any writing done. Kind of hard to write in a moving boat on a laptop. And, after the losing the phone, I pretty much stayed away from electronics the whole trip. Did I mention that I dunked my watch getting a minnow for my hook? Did I mention that, even with all that, I had the time of my life? Quiet, peaceful, relaxing. I wish it didn't have to end. Because outside my house right now it's not quiet. It is, in fact, the opposite of everything I said above. Calgon, take me away!!!

What have you written today?

Ugh.

2009-06-23T21:10:00.002-04:00

When I started out painting, I started out with oil paints. I love the smell of oil paints. I like how they move on canvas, how they blend or stand out if you want them to do that. I like the way the feel on my paint brush, or turning a plain white slab into something, anything. I especially like to paint the sky or water.

Or I did. When the kids wanted to get into painting, I realized most my old stuff, sitting for over ten years, was bad - to say the least. So, I bought some acrylics. Something I'd never painted with before. And I tried. And they came out nice enough.

Today, staring at the covered bridge I'd hung in my cube, I realized that the colors were darker, muted, compared to when I painted the picture. So I studied it. And then I thought, screw the price, I'm buying some new oil paints and I'm painting the way I like to paint tonight. And, it sucked. It sucked like a great, industrial sized vac. It sucked royally.

I hate to admit that I'm better with acrylics, I really do. The acrylics look . . . flat when they dry. The oils are so much prettier. And I sucked tonight. The flip side - both of the boys painted fabulously with the oils. I'm the only one who sucked. Have I said suck enough?

So, I'm going in again to paint another one with acrylics so I can drop into bed, slightly high from the paint thinner I used to clean my brushes, with a happy disposition. And, maybe, if this one comes out alright, I'll even write - if I have enough marbles left.

What have you written today?

A Freakin Month?

2009-06-22T22:29:00.002-04:00

So, I was going to write how I think the streak has finally broke when I realized it's been almost a whole freakin month since I've written. A month? Where the heck did the time go? I mean, okay, so summer started and things have been crazy and more layoffs happened, and I'm stressed out, but still. I'm near the end of my novel. You'd think that alone would be enough to push me forward. You'd think.

I did write tonight, and I happen to like what I wrote. I was able to fill in some answers about a scene that I like but bothered me. I just couldn't understand why the main character had reacted so badly in that scene. And, tonight, she answered that for me. She realized why and thought about what it meant for the future. It was nice. I mean, if I could get through the last confrontation scene, where she actually gets to let loose and kick some serious butt, I'd be even happier, but for now, I'm good.

I think one of my problems is that I started painting again. And I've changed mediums from oil paints to acrylics. I didn't really want to, but I want to get my boys into painting and the acrylics are cheaper than the oils I buy and dry faster, always a plus with kids. I'll take some pictures and upload them so everyone can tell me how bad they are. =)

Seriously, I'm not the greatest painter, but I do enjoy it and I hung one of a covered bridge and another of a waterfall in my cubicle at work. I can't see outside at all from my cube. It's amazing how much happier I feel when I can see nature, even if it is just a painting.

Could I be using up all my imagination to paint and have none left over for writing? Can that happen? Like marbles in a cup. Maybe my imagination is ten marbles, and painting take nine of them, and writing takes all ten, and, since my cup is now empty, I can't do both? I'm tired. Can you tell? Anyway, life isn't so bad anymore, and I'm hoping with a two week camping trip right around the corner, it will only get better.

What have you written today?

My Streak Continues!

2009-06-05T18:40:00.002-04:00

I've gotten through another day and my streak continues. I got cut on a piece of glass this morning, almost rear ended by a bus at a red light, and at work I got the lovely treat of dealing with idiots all day.

I'm still trying to figure why it's always me that almost gets rear ended. I mean, am I some how responsible for all the near misses I've had lately? I even thought today maybe by break lights weren't working. (They are working, so that wasn't the answer.) My husband assured me that if I'm sitting at a red light and the bus does rear end me, it's not my fault and there is nothing I could have done to keep it from happening.

I was going to transcribe a couple of the more insane conversations I had today but I realized after typing them, they're just too stupid. I can't subject anyone else to the stupidity I dealt with today. It wouldn't be fair.

I owe Kel a thank you. Her link to the "Total Eclipse of the Heart (Literal Video Translation)" had me laughing so hard, I couldn't breath. Definitely what I needed. =)

What have you written today?

Last Words?

2009-06-04T19:57:00.003-04:00

Ing did a post a couple days ago (hell, it could be week now for all I know) about last words. He quoted The Princess Bride. They weren't exactly last words, but they were good. I think they marked the beginning of a black, black, week, for me at least.

Some guy tried to side swipe me, several times, while honking like a nut job because he didn't feel like tapping his breaks so he wouldn't smash into my back end after I merged onto the highway. Yes, there was plenty of time for me to merge, and I was already doing 60 by that time, but since he was doing like 85, he caught up to me pretty quick. When I didn't zoom to the same speed as him, he started honking. Can you say road rage crazy?

Then, I hurt my older kids feeling, pretty damn badly, on the night he graduated from Junior High. I made a stupid comment that I hadn't expected him to get any awards at the graduation. I only meant that I would've been just as proud if he hadn't gotten any because I don't expect him to bust his ass just to impress me. I'm already impressed with him. But he thought I didn't think he was good enough to get any awards. He got like 5, and they were awesome. I spent a few hours apologizing and explaining to him what I meant. I think he understands now, because he does seem like his old, happy self now.

Then, to top it all off, I looked down today and realized the diamond in my engagement ring was gone. I still have the ring, and the ring hugger, but the main ring is just 4 prongs now. Kind of sad. Actually very sad. It's not so much the ring itself, but what it reminds me of when I look at it. When I looked at that ring, I saw my husband getting down on one knee, even when he didn't have to do it, but he did it anyway. It was the most romantic thing he'd ever done. I mean, he's done stuff since, but that was a big one. A co-worker said to me that I still have the memory but it's not the same.

You know, now that my husband pointed it out, I'm not having a bad week. I'm having a bad year. I started out by forgetting 2 birthday's, my husband's being one of them, and just kept going right through today. And, I haven't written at all this week because of the chaos. The worst is I think I'm almost done with this novel. I've got maybe 50 pages left and I just can't find the time. Which is driving me crazy. (Short trip at this point.)

Okay, enough of my complaining. I hope everyone else is having a better year than I am. =)

What have you written today?

I'm back.

2009-05-25T21:45:00.002-04:00

I'm starting to sound like a broken record. But, I am back. It was a fabulous weekend with gorgeous weather. And, I did get some writing done. I'll admit, not as much as I had hoped, but some. I've updated my word counts.

And, if there are horrible misspellings here, it's because I pinched my finger over the weekend and it's friggin hard to type with a band aid on. It's wasn't pretty, it bled, and I was dizzy long before I even saw it. My mother, who happened to be there, thank God, said it was because it was a bad and I bled. Once we got the bleeding stopped, it was just a matter of getting the nail clipped the best we could and getting it wrapped up. Did I mention that the pinch involved a metal piece slicing through my nail and scooping the nail and the nail bed to the end of my finger? No? Well, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Other than that, couldn't have asked or prayed for a better weekend. And, since I'm the only one who got hurt this weekend, I'll say it was one of the best weekends ever.

What have you written today?

Out of it for a While

2009-05-20T22:06:00.003-04:00

I'm not going to be posting word counts or anything else until at least Monday. I'll be writing but won't have access to the Internet. I'll update my word counts when I get back. I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day.

What have you written today?

Exerpt: The Chase

2009-05-18T22:25:00.003-04:00

Unedited, and it has problems(spelling and grammar), but here it is. Thoughts? And BE HONEST! And, blogger does not like indentations, so it's going to look funny. I promise that those are blogger only and the real piece does not look like this.

Annie threw her arms his neck. He held her with one arm and steadied the bike with the other. She pulled his helmet off and smashed her lips to his.

With her lips still pressed to his, he said a muffled, “Get on. Someone’s following me.” He shifted his arm to the front of her, scooped her up, and dropped her behind him. “Hang on.” He patted the helmet down on her head as he said to Trudy, “Can you keep up?”

Trudy had one foot in the car when she said, “Go! I’ll follow.”

The car roared to life. Annie fixed the helmet, wrapped her arms around his middle, and held tight. He gunned the engine and shot onto the road. Annie looked over her should to see Trudy pull out behind them.

Ten miles later, Annie’s stomach fought for space next to her adams apple. She tapped his shoulder and pointed to the side. He pulled over and turned to her.

“I need to drive.”

“What? Why?”

“Look, the truth is I have better night vision than you.” To herself, she said, “Way better.” She jumped off the bike, pushed him to the back, and threw her leg over. She ripped off the helmet, jab it into his chest, and took the handles. The back tire threw up dirt as they took off.

The wind rushed passed her ears, blowing her hair from her face. She couldn’t stop the smile from creeping across her face. The air temperature cooled her skin. Jack pressed to her back cooled her core. She’d never felt this before. She’d never been cold, never had goosebumps from a chill, never needed a jacket outside. But now, here this minute, was the closest she’d ever gotten. What a wonderful feeling!

She whooped into the night and felt Jack laugh with her. He tapped her side and said in a yell, “You’re losing Trudy. Slow down.”

He didn’t need to yell. She leaned away from his head, her ear drum throbbing. She held up her thumb to show she understood. Even if she yelled back, he’d never hear her. She cut back the throttle and made a face. Just to be sure, she listened over the wind, and Jack’s distracting breathing. Trudy’s car sounded like a tweaked lawnmower. Behind that, two other distinct engines roared.

And they were gaining. Shit. She scanned the area around her, looking for blacker pockets in the tree line, something that stood out in the fields and forests flashing by, anything that would hide them. She almost missed it. She hit the brake, and leaned into the bike as she took the no existent corner. She waited until the last minute, until she was sure Trudy had seen where she turned and started to follow, to cut the headlight. Trudy flicked off her headlights and Annie sighed.

She took out her phone and handed it to Jack. She hit button after button as she held it up, then handed it to him. Thank God he got the message. He followed her example. Trudy would be blind here. She’d need something to guide her in. Annie followed the shape of the old barn around the back, and jumped off the bike. Annie whipped the phone out of his hand as she ran. Jack lunged for the handles as the bike spun out. She’d worry about him later. Her eyes locked on the car bumping along in the dark.

Trudy crawled along at two miles an hour. Annie zipped to her door, leapt through the window with the top half of her body and twisted the key, shutting down the engine.

“Crap!” Trudy stomped on the brake, but without the power to assist them, they’d lost their grip. Annie dropped the phone in Trudy’s lap and ran to the front of the car. She braced both hands on the hood, dug her heels in, and pushed. The car came to a stop. The door popped open, the interior light flooding the dark area.

Annie swore. The two cars following them were only a mile away and coming up fast. Their engines were whined out, pushed almost beyond their limits. Annie kicked at the door so hard, the metal caved in with a shriek. She snatched at Trudy’s hand, swinging her into a piggy back position, and ran back to the bike.

Jack shook off the helmet but was still on the ground under the bike. His teeth clenched. Sweat popped out across his forehead. “Go.”

Trudy climbed off Annie’s back, her feet thudding on the ground. “Annie!”

Annie dropped her knees. “What wrong?”

Jack shook his head. “I didn’t get out of the way in time. My foot . . .” He drew a ragged breath. “Go. Both of you.”

Annie’s eyes raked his body, the bike, where his shoe stuck out. The bike hadn’t fallen on him. His foot twisted into it first, then Annie had thrown it on him. She sucked at the air. Her fault. This was her fault. “Trudy, help me!”

Trudy pulled at her hand. “We have to get out of here. If they find us with him, it’ll make it worse. He’s right, we need to get out of here.”

Annie shook her off. Trudy flew to the ground, landing on her backside. “No! This. Is. My. Fault.” She bent over the bike, waves of heat hitting her from the muffler or exhaust or whatever the hell it was. “Jack, I’m going to lift the bike. Can you twist your foot free?”

Trudy scuttled up to his head and gripped him under his arms. “You lift, I’ll pull.”

Annie saw Jack tense. “You can’t tilt it away. You’ll break it.”

Trudy said, “Hurry!” Annie shook her head and lifted the bike straight up. He said, “Holy shit.” His foot, with a little wiggling, dropped free. Trudy slid him back. Annie dropped the bike.

The Agony

2009-05-18T22:16:00.002-04:00

I took my kids the big library we have here in the city. It's four floors, and an awesome place to visit. I borrowed eight books. I've read two so far. But . . . the second book I tried to read was falling apart. I didn't think too much about, and did my best to keep the book together.

However, after blowing through the book one day, I discovered the last thirty pages was missing. Well, everything accept that last two pages was missing. Just as I got to the really juicy part of the story, page 200, I turned and saw page 233 with the main characters kissing at their wedding. AHHHHHhhhhh! I plan to the library know when I return it, because as it is, it's impossible.

What a disappointment. What agony to know that things got work out, but miss out on all the great stuff. Kind of makes the end pointless. Almost. Oh, well. I'm off to start the next one.

Oh, and I'm still writing. I'll be camping this weekend, so I'll have lots of time then. I'm so excited. I'm 170 pages into it, and looking forward to completing it, I'll admit. I'm pulling back a little, not quite so anxious to write right now because I'm getting close to offing a character I really like and, damn it, it's harder than I thought it would be. But, it's time to bite the bullet, and get it done.

What have you written today?

Nothing to say . . .

2009-05-12T21:07:00.003-04:00

I keep meaning to post. Then I realize I have nothing to say at the moment. I hope everyone had a great Mother's day. I certainly did. My kids are the best. I spent an hour and a half on the phone. Best time I've had a long time.

Other than that, not much is going on. I'm writing sporadically, but at least I'm still writing. Always a good thing. I kind of got stuck on a chase scene. It was exciting, but I might cut it. It was really hard to get through and I think it shows. Maybe I'll post an excerpt tomorrow. I don't have the brain power to pick one right now.

What have you written today?

Light Switches

2009-05-08T11:12:00.004-04:00

I'm going to warn you: you are either going to completely understand this post, or I'm going to sound incredibly insane. If you understand, great. If not, come back tomorrow. Maybe I'll be more coherent then.

I am not a light switch. I am a crock pot. I'm happy being a crock pot. I like being pottery. I spend large amounts of time writing about how good life can be as a crock pot. I have fun with it. I love it.

Don't get me wrong. I've been known to be similar to a light switch once in a while. I'm okay with that too. I've even written about switches. They can be outstanding to write. But I am, fundamentally, not a light switch.

Why is that so hard to understand? It's not like a big secret. I've consistently said it over the years. So why am I still misunderstood? I could use a little help here. Any thoughts, anyone?

What have you written today?

Catching Up with Old Friends

2009-05-05T19:07:00.002-04:00

What a great surprise! As I've said before (and am going to say again, so deal with it), I'm an Army brat. I have very few friends that I can still talk to that I grew up with. My best friend ever found me on My Space.

Of course, she looks great. Which, oddly enough, makes me feel like a short, dumpy and fat, old lump. Maybe it shouldn't, but it does. And she really does look great. Still tall, which I expected, but also still thin and pretty.

It's great seeing her (even if it's only cyberspace) again. It makes me feel . . . younger and older at the same time. Is that weird? (Look who's asking!)

What have you written today?

Safety and Guilt

2009-05-01T22:28:00.002-04:00

I made it through another round of layoffs. A lot of good people got the axe, and it makes me for horribly guilty to still have my job. But, I'm thankful that I still have a paycheck coming in, that I can still take care of my children and afford my house. Then I feel guilty for being thankful. This is a terrible thing for everyone. Talk about depressing.

What have you written today?

Babble

2009-04-28T22:01:00.002-04:00

So I had this whole post ready to go and realized the entire thing was one long babble. I hate it when I do that. And, the whole thing boiled down to one idea. I hate it when I let life get in the way of writing. I'd written three paragraphs of babble just to say that one thing.

Yikes. I need sleep. I need my spring back. This early, hotter than I can stand, summer weather is messing with my brain.

What have you written today?

Kisses

2009-04-25T23:31:00.002-04:00

Okay, writing is a great way to work out my own issues. I love writing kisses. Is that weird?

I love that moment when your almost nose to nose. You want it so bad, you ache. Breathing is hard, the air around you thick, and all you smell is the person you're with, that incredible smell that makes your lower abdomen a quivering jelly. That moment when, with any small thing, the spell could be broken.

Your afraid to move, forward or back, afraid that it won't happen, or that it will happen, afraid that you're dreaming. Afraid you might be reading more into the other person than is really there. And yet, you can't stop. The world could explode around you, but you wouldn't know. All that exists at that moment is them, their heat, their lips.

And when your lips touch, finally, it's a hundred times better than you imagine it could be. The jelly in your abdomen explodes into a raging fire, consuming you.

See, I am out there. You'd figure, after almost 2000 words of this today, I'd be over it. What's wrong with me???????

What have you written today?

Back in Business

2009-04-23T22:25:00.002-04:00

I got through the edits and started writing again tonight. Okay, so I only clocked 167 new words, but I didn't count any of the edits, so it is more than that. I excited and hate to have to stop tonight. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh, and Ing had a great blog today. Check it out here.

What have you written today?

Got It, I Think

2009-04-22T22:20:00.002-04:00

With the help of my smarty pants kids, I think I've solved that word problem. It's not what I originally thought about, but it'll work. Maybe I'll change it later, but I'm passed the block for now. I've got two pages left to re-vamp to work with the whole 'we need to stay in the area' plan and then it's back to writing.

It's not as hard to re-work this as I thought. I'm just really glad I didn't get too far passed page 100 before I decided to do this.

On a weird note, I watched a woman drive the wrong way on a one way street. She stopped a the intersection of another one way street and stare at the back of the signal for a full two minutes before shaking her head and turning the wrong way onto another one way street. Buses, cars, trucks, etc were honking at her as well as pedestrians and drivers (including me) yelling at her. She passed me with this small little clueless smile on her face until she met the wall of traffic going the right way on the street and was forced to stop or plow into someone.

Got my heart going, I can tell you that. It was just weird. I mean, did the weather kill of her brain cells? Did she think the entire city had suddenly started liking her? And what was going through her mind when she sat staring at the back of the signals??? Why didn't that give her some clue as to what was going on? Have you ever pulled up to an intersection where only three of the four directions had lights? Sheesh!

And, on a completely unrelated note, my younger son has decided that instead of walking from room to room in my house, he's going to somersault. He's getting really good, he rolls like ball. I'm still not sure it's faster, and I'm kind of hoping it's an 11 year old phase, but he likes it. He keeps telling me that it's good exercise. That's a good thing, right?

What have you written today?

Editing

2009-04-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

Not word updates tonight. I'm working on fixing what is already wrong with the new story. (See yesterday's post.) I've cut another couple pages, but I'm saving the stuff because it might work in later. I have to see. Til tomorrow.

What have you written today?

A Rut

2009-04-18T21:45:00.002-04:00

I think my past is coming back to haunt me. Without getting into too much detail, here's the basics. I was an Army brat. I move almost every year and half and went to 11 school's in 12 years. Okay, so, needless to say, I traveled a lot.

I've noticed a recurring theme in every one of my novels. The premise of the story changes, the characters, hell, even the genre changes. But this one thing stays the same. And I can't help thinking that it's because of my past.

Always, my characters are on the move. They travel, usually by car, usually on the run. Why doesn't matter so much. How they run, where they run, it's never the same. But they do run. And, dammit, I'm frustrated. I can't help thinking they characters don't stay in one place, because I never learned how to stay in one place.

So, I spent the day re-writing. Why? Because my current novel had my characters running too. I didn't want that. I want them to be courageous. I want them to fight. I did write 1256 new words today, to bridge the gap between what I cut and what I thought could stay. I've still got to tweak the story a bit, but at least now, they'll stay in one place and just move around there.

Here's hoping I can pull it off. So, I'm curious. Do you have recurring items within your novels?

What have you written today?

Stuck

2009-04-17T23:46:00.003-04:00

Almost 4000 words today. And I only stopped because I got stuck on a damn word. A word. Not a scene or development or story line. It's so frustrating. It has to sound good, scientific, without being too fictional or hammy.

I'm at about 100 pages and a pivotal scene. I need this word to explain something, to make it real. I've been trying to flesh this word out since I started this novel. I just can't seem to get it.

But, tomorrow is another day, right? I'll try again tomorrow.

What have you written today?

No Post Tomorrow

2009-04-14T22:13:00.002-04:00

I won't be posting tomorrow. I can't face it. Tomorrow is the 10 year anniversary since my brother's death. I thought I was doing better this year. I'm not.

I burst into tears tonight and ran upstairs. My husband found me five minutes later, sitting on the attic steps, in a corner, rocking back and forth and sobbing my heart out. He held me until I calmed down. Have I mentioned how much I love my husband?

So anyway, tomorrow I'm not posting. I'm going to grieve, again.

I have a new definition of Heaven. I heard it in a video tonight.

Heaven means never having to say Goodbye.

What have you written today?

Stereotypes

2009-04-13T19:25:00.003-04:00

Stereotypes are all around us. We subscribe to them without even realizing we're doing it. In my family, we've broken through those ceilings. We've gotten to new heights, and they'll never let me forget it.

I mean, sitcoms make money off the stereotypes most people take for granted. Men taping over wedding overs, men forgetting birthdays and anniversaries, women always doing the wash because when the men do it, they mess it up.

Can you see where I'm going with this? If you guessed that I was the one to tape over the wedding video, you hit the nail on the head. And, why, just this past Saturday, I completely forgot my husband's birthday. I may never live this one day.

Luckily, my husband is a fun loving, awesome person. So, instead of being upset, angry, hurt, or disappointed, he spent the whole rest of the day (once my mistake was pointed out to me, around noon) pointing at me and laughing.

I will never live this one down.

What have you written today?

I'm Back

2009-04-06T23:08:00.001-04:00

Okay, I'm here and I did write this weekend. I didn't write as much as I wanted, what with the thunderstorms and wind and trees coming down in the forest, but I did write. Always a good thing.

As I just commented on my last post, I'm having one of those 'I think I suck at writing' days. You know the ones, I'm sure. Where, no matter how I word something, it comes out sounding so stupid and child like, I think I should just toss in the towel.

Anyone else in this funk right now? Is it the season, the weather, the honest truth?

Camping, though, was awesome. I love my new trailer and couldn't have survived this weekend without it. And trees that fall in the forest, at least ones that are two story's tall, do make a sound. A loud, scary sound.

What have you written today?

Camping

2009-04-02T12:22:00.000-04:00

Hey, I won't be updating for a few days. You know the drill. The season is upon me again and I'm planning to sit next to a lake, watching the sunsets, and writing. I've entered my weak excuse and will update a large word count when I get back.

Til then, lets hear some knuckle cracking and the keyboard pounding out a rhythm. You can do it. It's only a 100 words. That's like, what? Ten minutes of your time. It takes me longer in the bathroom every morning. It's a cakewalk. I believe in you.

(Sorry, but I'm trying to motivate for a couple days here. I promise the sticky sweet washes off with soap and water.)

What have you written today?

Zipping Along

2009-04-01T22:12:00.002-04:00

Okay, this thing has a life of it's own. I actually wrote out profiles for each character and know exactly what happens, who it happens to, why it happens, and how it happens. Connecting the dots is taking a little time, but it's coming. Coming faster that I would have thought.

I've noticed an odd phenomenon. With every single novel, I've gotten to page fifty and stalled out. I've come to expect it. It's when I move from starting a novel, to fleshing it out. I spend large amounts of time thinking about where the story has to go instead of what's happening right now. Since I've done that already, I haven't stalled. It feels kind of weird.

I'm not complaining. I hate to think two of my main characters are going to bite the big one. One isn't so much of tragedy, but the other . . . the other is going to break my heart. It'll break my heroine's heart. And it's going to create this paradox. The hero and heroine will get together in the end, but not as a couple.

He'll take the place of the fallen, having to protect the heroine and humanity but knowing that if he allows them to get closer, if they break the rules, they're both dead. Crap. Crap. Crap. I hate and I love it.

It opens a whole other novel in my head. I don't want to do a series. I'm not sure I can. But, I don't think I can tell the whole story in one novel. Any advice?

What have you written today?