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.