X And Umm....Y

Better late than never. Just pretend today's really Thursday. X is for Xtraneous words. I know, I know, its not how you're supposed to spell it but nobody said anything about not being able to make up stuff, so I'm going to. I have a problem with this. I always have too many xtraneous words and I spend half my time removing them when I'm revising. Why can't I just spot those pesky bad habits the first time around. I vote for an xtraneous word remover for Word. The first person that comes up with this needs to contact Microsoft stat. And BTW, it's perfectly okay to send me the trial version first, just saying.

Now moving onto the Y, and yes, you're now free to acknowledge the day is Friday. 

You- are amazing if you're reading this because I have been a terrible reply blogger all week. Work has been insane. I'll make it up to you. Promise.

Yevan- is the name of a character in a WIP I work on from time to time. He's not a huge character and he's actually dead and only referred to as the dead Yevan, but he's still a character I suppose.

Yaris- Model of the tiny Toyota I should be buying this weekend after spending a HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS IN GAS THIS WEEK. (I was screaming this last part)

Yemen- A place I've never aspired to go. If you're from Yemen and you're reading this, don't take it personally. I've never aspired to go to Idaho either. Crap, if you're from Idaho and you're reading this, don't take it personally. I happen to love potatoes, I just...nevermind.


Happy Weekend, people.

W is for Whimsical.

Whimsical, one of my favorite character traits. In fact, its about seventy five percent of my own genetic makeup( no self love intended). Hey, who knew? When it comes to my WIP, I've always tried to throw in a whimsical character. Add a little spunk somewhere in the mix of the story. Finding the voice for those characters is easy. I just steal or blend a few personalities together from the people I know, hoping to form a snarky little entertaining bubble. At least I hope its entertaining, but sometimes those snarky little comments in a story can be distracting. I know, I do this myself. Where do you draw the line? How do you balance your snark?

V is for Visionaries.

Visionaries...aren't we all?

I know, kind of short but its 8:20 in the evening and its all I've got.
I'm hanging on. Pathetically hanging on...

T-U

I missed Saturdays blog post. I missed the whole weekend and I'm sorry.  I hardly had a minute to open my computer, and after the panic wore off, it felt kind of good. I knew I'd be way behind and I was right, I am. But I got so much accomplished around the house. Even polished my wood floors, so now I'm following the dog around with a lint roller in the hopes of saving my floor from his hair. Its not working and he thinks somethings wrong with me. I just needed some TIME to unwind. It wasn't you, it was me. I think I'm good now.

Speaking of unwinding. I just finished UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand so I'm using the title for my U-day. Loved this book. It will take you back to your first kiss and leave you breathless near the end. I laughed out loud and sighed more times than I can tell you. You gotta check it out.

What have you read lately that's left you breathless?

S is for SOLITUDE!

Today is the first day of spring break. Yay...SO NOT. There was so much commotion in my kitchen this morning I had to sing the alphabet twice just to find the letter that comes after R. There were three kids in my kitchen this morning attempting to scramble eggs and bake sausage balls that have been frozen since Christmas. The dog was busy trying to scavenge (bully) for mishaps, and did I mention that one of those kids isn't even mine. If I hear the dogs name mentioned one more time followed by an UGH, I'm going to jump out of the basement window. 

So, SOLITUDE. Me wants it.

Happy Easter.

R is for Really?

I'm so late getting this out today. The past two days have been crazy. Just last night, a good friend called I hadn't talked to in forever and we'd been playing phone tag for days. I poured a glass of wine, snuggled into the chaise just as my daughter walked into the house sobbing and laughing at the same time. I was puzzled by these twisting emotions. Was she laughing so hard she was crying. Was she crying because she was injured. I didn't know. Then I saw her hand, held up at an odd angle, swelling by the second. Turns out her sister had rolled her fingers up in the automatic car window.
"Why didn't you move your hand," I asked?
"I don't know," she laughed. "That's why we're laughing."
"Really?" 
Seems as though there was a delayed reaction between pain and panic.
The outcome was two bruised fingers and one hairline fracture to the middle finger. One more thing to add to the wall of shame in the family room.
Good times.

Q is for Qua

She sashayed through the house, tie-dyed sheet wrapped round her middle, hands holding onto the ends, arms spread out like wings. Through fluttering lashes, twists and turns, she watched him, hoping he might inquire. Finally, he looked up and held her gaze, extended a quizzical brow then went back to the business section of the newspaper.

She was channeling again, reaching into the misty waters of a world unknown to him. A world within her mind where faery's live to seduce, prey on unsuspecting maidens, and apparently cook breakfast burritos. He was no maiden and she was no faery. He shuddered as she ran a light fingertip down the line of his jaw then watched in mock horror as she stole his coffee and twirled off in a blur of color. She was in qua with one of her characters again, inspired by a scene she'd no doubt created just last night. He wasn't one to thwart inspiration. The paper could wait.

Qua on people! 

And the letter P is for...hum...

I just don't know people. I've been racking my brains. The dog won't stop whining. He wants to eat the cat. The same cat he's been stalking through the back door for oh, nine months now. I keep ranting..."It's the same cat. It's not a new cat. Why is she such a surprise to you everyday". And the cat, d@*n her if she doesn't egg him on, staring through the glass, putting a paw on the door. Psychotic!(there's my P word, right there) That's what she is and he's without a doubt, a bone short. I keep having these pep talks about how he should be the bigger guy and not let her get to him. He's a Great Dane for crying out loud. Being the bigger guy shouldn't be a problem. After all, he's the one inside the house. No, he's got to hop around the kitchen like he's never been so disrespected, when the truth is, we both know she did it to him yesterday and the day before and the day before. I cannot concentrate here! I'm going to Starbucks. ;)

Ordinary...I don't think so.

To be ordinary, one must have no special abilities. Have no qualities or interests. Be the standard level of everything. I used to think I was ordinary. It wasn't my fault, really. I wasn't good at things when I was little. I made the softball team look god awful in those polyester pants. Used my nose more than the glove for catching balls. Was the last person picked for the dodge ball team, and yet, I was the number one target when the game got started. In gym class, I was the kid perpetually hanging from the pull up bar, ya know, the one meant to torment the slightly overweight throughout adolescence. When I learned to ride a bike, I was head first into my neighbors mailbox. I think there's a movie about my life somewhere. My husband, the football star loves to talk about his glory days. Me, I don't even know what those are. Well, that's not totally true. I think I'm living them now. Things get better with age. So when I write, I try to blend a little bit of the extraordinary into my characters, because I know its in there. That ability to be more than you are. That drive to go past the self esteem issues, and find the strength to make things happen. To do a freakin push up at thirty five while chanting your gym teachers name instead of a number. Sorry, got off on a little rant there. My point is, I don't think ordinary people exist. The word should be undiscovered. How about you? Are your characters extraordinary?

N is for Nothing...to it.

Okay, so you're deep in your WIP, really concentrating. It's a good night for working. But then your significant other walks in, sees the furrow of your brow, and inquires. You try to explain your level of concentration. You've been building scenes, structuring plots, researching facts, and lastly, character building. He glazes over, stammers for something to say. A moment of silence passes and you think you'll get thirty more minutes of time to write, but then, he says the funniest thing ever. "Wow, this whole writing thing's kind of involved huh. I always thought there was nothing to it." Suddenly I'm inspired to write in a new character. One that seems habitually lost.

Catch Up!

Here it is, the middle of the month already and I'm throwing together a twofer. Yep, that's right. You guessed it. I'm blending my L day with an M. I've been hanging blinds and doing  family stuff all day and haven't had the chance to even open my computer. It actually felt kind of good. So, I thought I'd be completely original and show off some of my Lovelies in honor of the L-Day that I so blatantly missed. The M-Day will be noted at the bottom. Swear.

          Great Mother Daughter Pose (I'm on the right and she was blowing a tiny spit bubble...nice. )

I told the hubbs to be serious and stop clowning around for the camera (previous pics were ridiculous).

                Daughter number two striking a pose in the driveway.

      My brother, nephew, and father on a mini vacation. My father cooperated.

          Crouching Cooper in my monkey grass when he was just a puppy (120lbs ago).

Why do they think its okay to behave this way? I have no idea where they get this. But now you've met my family (except for my mother who only allows shots of the back of her head) and I'm sure there is no need to tell you that we have never hired a professional photographer. I think they charge by the hour and it will take much more than a few of those to get my delinquents to cooperate. We sure have fun though. I wish I could have showed you the wall of shame. We have a bulletin board in our den plastered with memories that some would like to forget. Good luck with that.

In all seriousness, my header reads: A life without love is no life at all. And it is so very true. I'm blessed even if they're morons half the time.

Now onto my M, its for Mary. 

Mary Waibel. You have to go check her out. She's an awesome blogger and writer friend who is there when you need her. She's always encouraging and full of intriguing ideas. You'd be missing out not to pay her a visit.

Happy weekend.

K is for Kindred.

                                                                  "Kindred Spirits"

This canvas was painted in 1849 by Asher B Durand. A painter who was commissioned by a New York merchant, and art collector to capture the friendship between painter Thomas Cole, and journalist/poet William Cullen Bryant. Cole died an untimely death in 1848. Bryant delivered the eulogy that inspired this painting. You can read more about it if you're interested here, but mostly, it reminded me of  the many kindred spirits in my life. Friends, acquaintances, loved ones, and the like that I'd love to share a moment with, out in the middle of nowhere. It always amazes me how we find each other. Kindred spirits, I mean. Just when you think no one gets you, somebody shows up on a gorge and just does. At times the greatest gifts are in the simplest things.

Jovial is the Word.

And jovial is what I always try to be whether I'm hosting this blog, a barbecue, or stalking the aisles of the grocery store. I love to see people smiling. I find great satisfaction in hearing laughter and it's even more thrilling to cause it on occasion. Sometimes, there's just no place for seriousness but laughter is always welcome. Unless you're at a funeral. Don't do it. People will forgive all sorts of things but that's not one of them.

That's it for the day, people. Saunter (virtually) off to another blog and be jovial.

;)

And the word of the day is Inspiration.

Actually, no its not. I don't seem to have any. I had a big meal last night at Cracker Barrel with my parents (my Dad thinks its the greatest) and now I feel like my organs might be shutting down. I lit a candle this morning, prepared the routine cup of coffee, opened up my WIP, and nothing. I'm not exactly blind but I'm not sure that I'm seeing clearly either. Oh God, eyes are organs, my donor card says so. What if mine really are shutting down. I had baked lard (biscuits), slathered with butter, and apple butter. That's two butter products on lard. I'm going to die. I just don't get it. I was on a roll yesterday. I felt so alive with ideas, then all my inspiration, gone just like that. Slumps into chair, stares at computer, and waits for death. How long does it take butter to harden in your arteries, anyway. I'm turning to Honey Nut Cheerios. If I can't go back, I'm going to move forward. What do you do when you feel all uninspired. For the love of God, don't say you go to Cracker Barrel.

Hemidemisemiquaver!

I found this word in a wonderful little book called The Lexicon, by William F. Buckley Jr. I skim through it occasionally, looking for new words that I might introduce to my own vocabulary as well as my WIP. Upon doing so, I discovered one very important thing. If there is wine involved, never ever use this word in a sentence. Better yet, just don't use this word in a sentence, period.

If, however, you're feeling geekish (like me most of the time). The word is hemidemisemiquaver, and it means thoughts or frustrations lasting for only passing seconds. It also means a sixty fourth note in music but the word is generally only used by the British. We Americans just call it the sixty fourth note. Go figure. I know you stand enlightened. You're welcome.


Happy Weekend.

Blending Again.

Okay, I'm blending again. We have nine more windows to go, sawdust as far as the eye can see, displaced furniture, and naked windows threatening to reveal exactly that if we don't start hanging blinds. My husband isn't exactly modest. If there's a band, it's still underwear. He doesn't care that we live in an associated neighborhood. I can only assume that no member wants to be that associated with my husband.

So I'm blending family, friends, and God. Throw in a few books and what else could anyone ever need. To all of my new followers, bare with me as I find the time amidst the sawdust to follow you back. I'll be visiting you and catching up this weekend.

Happy Weekend Everyone.

Determined to Evolve.

I'm a loser, sorry. I totally missed D-Day. We're having new windows put in our house and the entire place is a mess. So, I'm blending posts. Please don't call the authorities or anything. That's right, I plan to throw a D right onto an E-day.

Here's the big message for the day: Be determined to achieve whatever your goal may be. If you're a writer like me, be determined to evolve in your writing career. Learn all you can about the craft. Read everything you can get your hands on. Lean on your writer friends. Read blogs like this one but look for better blogs that might actually teach you something. This one...not so much. Find critique partners. Build relationships. Stalk agents but adhere to the law, people. No agent wants to be slipped a query letter while they're on the Jon (Is this John or Jon?  See there, evolving.) Don't do it. There are limits to determination and only so much that can be blamed on wine consumption but always move forward. Every little thing you learn along the way will help you with your writing. Even the the things you think to be insignificant, you'll be amazed when you have to use them later. Just keep going. That is all.

The Cornucopia.

You're an odd duck. The eccentric little swimmer, determined to wander from the usual current of the pond. Hey, me too. Somebody's gotta cause all those ghastly fictitious murders, invent the shape-shifters, faeries, halflings, half bloods, whole bloods, vampires, swamp things, alien life forms, seekers, zombies, and tediously throw in a couple of star crossed lovers. Our minds are filled with ideas. Bottomless cornucopias brimming with creativity, often making us the recipients of those blank stares at cocktail parties. The "alrighty thens" as I like to call it. How many times have you explained a glistening little fairy thing to a bunch of paralegals and not gotten the "alrighty then" look, hum? Embrace it. Work with it. Twitch a little if you want to really have some fun with those people. See, they'll never get it. They're the same people who would love to read such inventions and often do. The first in line when the movie comes out. They just don't want to have a conversation about such things, especially, before publication. Just picture Stephanie Myer talking about vegetarian vampires before TWILIGHT was ever even heard of. My husband would have been giving me the ole' nut job by the shrimp cocktail look from across the room in two seconds flat. Totally normal. We, however, are not. I would have been in awe that she had thought of it first. I'm cool with this. Being different is okay with me now. I didn't always feel this way. It took me awhile to grasp that people just don't get what we do. I can't take it personally. Is it okay with you?

Bermuda!

I totally cannot wait till September. Me and the hubbs are outta here. We're going on a cruise to Bermuda. A much needed, long overdue cruise to Bermuda. Now I just have to tan, lose ten pounds, find a bathing suit that doesn't ride into my unmentionables all the time, and conjure up enough strength to leave my pooch. I've never been away from my pup, Cooper. It's gonna be one of the hardest things I've ever done. Oh, and the kids. We'll miss them too.

I keep thinking what it'll be like to take a full week off from writing, and I must admit, the thought makes me wonder if I'll truly be able to stick to that. Sure, I'll be reading books while the hubbs gets all philosophical on me after a few of those umbrella drinks, but secretly, I bet I'll be taking notes. How about you, do you refrain from writing while you're away, or does your muse ever really let you? 

Ack!

Today's the day, people. The first day of the A to Z challenge. The ab initio. Each of you get to hear me opine about one thing or another every day this month. Drat it all! I meant to save opine for the Os. Depressed yet? Step away from the window sill. I know, it's almost too much isn't it? Really, it prolly is too much, but it sounds like its going to be a blast.  I'll do my best to keep my posts short and pithy. And I'm so excited to meet so many creative and talented bloggers along the way. Whether you signed up for the challenge or not, you can always follow along in the meet and greets anyway. You never know who you might bump into. Thank your stars this things completely virtual. I don't know how we're supposed to fit in our daily ablutions and post too. But shower, people. Everyday. Well, its okay to skip Sunday if you want. Be a slob. Drink your coffee. Eat cold pizza. We won't think any less of you.

Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping.