Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Some things cannot be lost

It's true. Once taken some things cannot be gotten rid of either. I ended up this morning editing my Chapter One. I looked at my writing in a very cold and analytical way and it just didn't strike me. I wanted more from my main character, because in fact,it is from her point of view (first person) that we see the story unravel. I think that in the first writing of this story I 'thought' too much. I re-wrote the beginning scenes so much that I confused myself and while perhaps it was important for me to know those events and what had actually occured it is not the right place to start the story. I don't know. I'll send it out to my readers and see what they think here at the end of the month.

Other than that, I have family coming into town this weekend. I swear I feel like my life has been a merry go round since the first part of this month. The cat is in heat so nobody has really gotten any sleep. Have you ever heard a female cat in heat? They make the most god-awful sound in the universe. I swear at about 2:00 a.m. I thought she was dying and if she wasn't I thought my husband was going to kill her if she didn't shut up. I finally ended up going downstairs and locking the poor baby in the kitchen where her cries were at least muted.But worse? She thinks my labs are really big black cats. They don't find it amusing in the least to have a feline weaving in and out of their legs. Nope. Not at all. Several times poor Mia gave me that look. "Please save me from this furry creature who normally tries to smack me on the nose if I get near her." It's so bad in fact that I caught Midnight waiting to pounce on the big dogs from the stairs. She has no shame. None what-so-ever.

So if I survive this weekend. I'm home free. I swear.

Labels:



Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Southern Woman's Guide to Etiquette for Backyard Barbecues
Okay folks. It's Summertime. Everyone loves to have barbecues, right? Right. Here are a few tips just to make sure you and your host have a lovely time.

If your child calls and tells you that you are invited to a barbecue it is your responsibility to call the parents that are throwing the barbecue and double check that this is in fact true. And if you end up inviting yourself to someone else's barbecue, do not walk into someone else's house empty handed. For Pete's sake the least you could bring is some napkins. I swear. Also, it would be nice if your host even knew your first name instead of (So&so's Mom)That should be your first cue that your child is a lame brain and you might want to consider lobotomizing them for embarrassing the ever lovin' crap outta you.

If you are the host throwing the barbecue, make sure you plan for a few more guests than actually come. (See first rule)

If there will be more than one child at said barbecue make sure you have games and such set up outside. Otherwise you will end up yelling at children that do not belong to you and risk the possibility of offending your guests.

Stay tuned for more tips from the The Southern Woman's Guide to Etiquette.

Labels:



Becoming Jane...The Movie
Go HERE
This looks delightful. How come I didn't hear about this one? My favorite part of the trailer?

What is she doing?
Writing.
Can anything be done about it?


Buwahahahahaha....my life in a nutshell.

Must. See. This. Movie. Stat.

Coming this Friday!

Labels: ,



Saturday, July 28, 2007
My new favorite Bella & Jacob Video...warn New Moon spoilers
This is my new favorite New Moon video based off the books written by Stephanie Meyer.


Friday, July 27, 2007
Friday Snippet (1)...why not?
I thought it might be fun to post a Friday Snippet, even if I cannot seem to get the code. This is one of the many beginings I had for TWAB. I have about six different beginnings. Maybe I'll take a poll here to see who likes what? *snort*

Anyway...here we go. Standard disclaimers apply.
Snippet from TWAB


Slogging down the cobblestone street with the light of a full moon casting shadows behind the shrubs and trees, Miranda Burke wondered not for the first time if she’d lost her ever loving mind. What on earth had possessed her to let Angela, her best friend, talk her into sneaking into an abandoned warehouse on a dare? Being popular wasn’t that important to her.

But it was to Angela.

Which left them sneaking out of Angela’s house at the ungodly hour of half past eleven at night to go down to the warehouse and collect a token. A little something that proved they’d been there.

The warehouse part wasn’t what particularly bothered Miranda. It was the fact that they had to walk past Greenville Park Cemetery.

She hated that cemetery. Spooky stuff happened in there. All the time. Just this last spring, the police had caught one of those groups practicing the dark arts in there. No telling what they did before they got caught. Might have stirred up some kind of bad mojo. No sirree, Greenville Park Cemetery was scary enough in the daytime but at night? Well, it might near scare a person to death.

“Are you sure we have to do this? I mean, isn’t there some other way you can become part of Jessica Dupree’s group? They're lame.”

“So you think Kevin James is lame?”

That stopped Miranda in her tracks. She turned around and pointed her flashlight into Angela’s face. “Kevin James is a guy. Guys are trouble. I’ve tried to tell you that before.”

“You like guys.” Angela insisted.

“Yeah, I like cotton candy too but that doesn’t mean it’s good for me.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “Come on. The ware house is right around the corner.”

Stomach queasy, Miranda followed Angela while wishing she could be at home in her bed with the blankets pulled up to her ears not worrying about Kevin James or Jessica Dupree and their stupid popular people games.

“You know, we could come back during the day, nobody would ever know the difference.”

“Yeah, but we’re supposed to do it at night.”

“And why do you think that is? You know they’re probably hiding down there waiting for us to show up so they can scare us. My Daddy always said nothing good ever happens after eleven at night.”

“Don’t you think he told you that so you wouldn’t break your curfew?”

“Maybe. Maybe not”

Angela shook her head in disbelief.

Well, he wouldn’t have directly lied to me, Miranda thought. Maybe being afraid to break curfew was an added benefit but her Daddy rarely if ever lied. At least to her. She was sure at some point in his life he might have lied to somebody because you just couldn’t breathe and not tell a lie somewhere along the way but for the most part he’d been the most honest person she’d ever known.

That had to count for something.

And his advice sure sounded genuine right about now as they were walking past the cemetery.

“So what are we supposed to get anyway?”

“Anything that will prove that we were here.”

Miranda grabbed Angela’s arm. “I told you we could come during the day. Who’s gonna know if we were here tonight or tomorrow morning?"

“The boys.”

Miranda’s heart dropped into her stomach. That explained it. The boys were going to be at the warehouse to make sure they did what they were supposed to do and if Angela could corner Kevin James? Well all the better for her. But what about Miranda? She’d be left alone to fend for herself.

This was so turning into a disaster of massive proportions.

Labels: , ,



Wednesday, July 25, 2007
My Favorite Oldies for Thursday Thirteen...

Michelle's 13 fav Oldies but goodies



This my mother played over and over again. I know ever stanza by heart and can sing it to you verbatim...LOL

I listened to this song over and over and over again from the time I was twelve until fourteen. There is something so haunting about this song.

My Daddy's anthem for me...LOL

Oh, Wow! What list would be complete without Jim Croce. *sigh* Might have to add a few more of him. Some of my favorites are his

Another of my fav's "Brandy" by Looking Glass

Need a little Joni Mitchell too! "Both Sides Now"

"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian


Joan Baez..."Diamonds and Rust" Another haunting song.

I also like this one by her
"The Night they drove Ole Dixie Down" Joan Baez

"If you could read my mind" by Gordon Lightfoot

And what list would be complete without..."Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary

No one will ever sing this song like Simon and Garfunkle...Scarborough Fair
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Michelle



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Labels: ,



Tuesday, July 24, 2007
If anyone asks you for help in stripping a horse stall?


Run like the wind. Don't look back, head for higher ground. No matter how beautiful the horse it is never fun to strip a stall. I ended up stripping three tonight. Sure, I'm a glutton. I cannot stand to sweat. It's not a good look for me. My hair gets all fuzzy and we won't even talk about the flies, the spiders and the fact that there is something very very wrong with Salem's bowels. Truly. Something had to have crawled up into his system and died. Like a few years ago. Ugh.

Labels: , ,



Celebrating new found freedoms...
Well, here it is, a picture of my clean kitchen. There is still more to do, but I'm very pleased. Very pleased indeed. Now I have to tackle the upstairs. Wish me luck! I'm going in!

P.S. The cursed ants are BAAAAAAAAACK!

Labels: , ,



Monday, July 23, 2007
Are you a people pleaser?
Oh my, this is so me. Go HERE and read this. Anyone else feel this way? Yikes!

Labels: ,



Change
One of my major character flaws is that I don’t like change. Doesn’t matter what kind either. Perhaps it’s because as a small child I was forced to live with everyone else’s changes and I had no say in the decision which made me very leery.

But once again I find myself at the heart of another life-change. This one at first upset me but now that I’ve had time to think it through, it’s not so bad. In fact, it’s pretty incredible.

Finding my rhythm is taking a bit more time than I thought but I guess that is to be expected when one leaves a position and decides to stay at home and not work. (outside the home)

For the better part of my life, I’ve worked. And hard. I spent twenty years in corporate America and I have to admit I don’t miss it one whit. While I was entrenched in their camp, I thought if someone ever made me leave that I’d never find my way. I was a working girl through and through. But what I didn’t realize then that I realize now, is that work is work no matter how you dice or slice it. Staying at home and taking care of a house is a lot of work. (Well, it is if you want to do it well and I do.) I love the fact that my house is clean, that we no longer live out of the clean clothes hamper and that we are eating healthy meals every night instead of swinging by the closest fast food joint.

Having a clean house makes one feel so good. I’m amazed. Especially as I’m not a good house keeper, but I’m getting better.

But the best part? I have all this glorious time to write. I can actually take a deep breath, plan my day, and spend part of it doing what I love. Which is writing.

This is one change I’m loving!

Labels: ,



Thursday, July 19, 2007
Miranda...

She really is a good girl no matter how bad she denies it.

Labels:



Siemon...from TWAB

This is Siemon, or who I see when I write him.

Labels:



Meet the characters...

I can actually have a bit of fun now that it's all done. Tee hee hee.
So Here is Tambor from "TWAB"


Wednesday, July 18, 2007
"What if we could"
This song is the motto for my young adult novel. I have completed it. Gawd, it needs at least three more revisions before I'll let anyone look at it. Truly. LOL. But first it's going to sit until August 1st. before I do anything with it. Then I'm going to make *copious* notes and begin the process of revising. In the meantime I have several other projects that I'm working on. I have the time now. ha. Since I'm not exactly working. Oh heck. I'm not working. My house is clean. My Daddy has his insurance and all is right with the world. So anyway, for your pleasure here is my theme song.

"What If We Could"

What if we could
Put our lives on
Hold and meet some
Where inside of the world
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

2, 3, 4...

On a park bench
On a skyscrape
On a mountain
Oh yeah, whatever it takes
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

I'm glad to say that we've met
But I'm sad to say that the circumstances weren't
On our side

So go on
Go on be your own
Go on be your own star

What if we could?
Where would we go?
If it felt right
Would you want me to know
I would meet you
Would you meet me

It's like a last chance
For a first dance
You're a sunrise
Can't somehow exist
I would meet you
Would you meet me

I'm glad to say that we've met
But I'm sad to say that the circumstances weren't
On our side

So go on
Go on be your own
Go on be your own star

A simple star in my eyes
In my eyes

Look in my eyes
Just look in my eyes
My eyes
My eyes!!!

What if we could
Put our lives on
Hold and meet some
Where inside of the world
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

On a park bench
On a skyscrape
On a mountain
Oh yeah, whatever it takes
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

God I would
God I would
I would meet you
Would you meet me

I would meet you
I would meet you
I would meet you


If you want to listen to it you can do that below. It's just a blank screen but I love this song. I have played it over and over and over again.
It just fits...

Labels: , ,



Sunday, July 15, 2007
Gone til Thursday...Check back on the 19th
Just a note to all of my devoted readers of this blog. (All three of you. You will always know who your real friends are! LOL) I'll be out of pocket, meaning no acess to a computer, until Thursday.

Ya'll stay cool til then...ya hear?
M...

I'll have more books stuff to tell you about, and I'm sure more DIETING DRAMA.
I keep hearing the movie man's boom voice every time I type. DIETING DRAMA.

On a funny note, my aunt was here last weekend and she asked me if I remember the story that I was writing when I was twelve? (I was writing a story when I was twelve?) When she started telling me about it. I finally remembered that it was a time travel romance about a girl who goes back in time to the south before the civil war. Dang, I might could do something with that. ROFLMAO. Just goes to show, you should always write that stuff down! I probably have that story half written somewhere upstairs in the attic!

Labels:



Dieting Drama
I've just recently recovered from a carbohydrate coma, thank you very much, from dinner last night. It was scrumptious but I have a feeling that my thighs are not going to thank me later. (Green bean casserole, meatloaf, corn on the cob, and apple crisp for dessert.) In fact, I know it. But today starts my day of trying to keep up with how many calories I'm taking in.

Oh, Stop, you say! Yes. Yes. We (as in me, myself and I) will be blogging about--wait for it.

Dieting Drama

Oh, I actually like that title. I haven't decided how much I'm going to share here but it might be fun. People like to watch other people in misery. Heck, you might be in diet hell right along with me eh? But I have to admit that it must be done. I quit smoking last September and I went a little crazy. Okay, a lot crazy. When I got stressed this year I started cooking. Not that cooking is a bad thing. Well, perhaps it is if for every day of December you baked a different kind of cookie and then sat and ate them YOURSELF. (not a moment I am proud of. Promise.) But I gave myself this whole year to get over smoking. So instead of eating cookies I'm chewing on straws or pretending they are cigarettes. The funky colors kind of give them a way a bit. You would not believe how many mutilated pieces of plastic are in my trash can right now. Well, maybe you would, if you've ever smoked.

I really thought that the craving for wanting a cigarette would have gone away. But it hasn't. Just last month it came back with a vengeance. Not all the time, but especially when I'm trying to write. Especially then. (I'm never going anywhere without my straws)I'm guessing that's because I always used to drink coffee and smoke when I wrote. Granted most of the cigarettes just burned up in the ashtray but they were still there when I needed comfort or when I stopped typing long enough to think about what I was doing. (ha ha ha-joke there)

But it is now TIME to get serious and get this weight off. No more wallowing in my own despair for want of nicotine. I will eat lettuce and carrots instead perhaps possibly turning myself a lovely shade of orange. (Hey--it's been known to happen)

So stayed tuned. You never know what I might blog about next. I will try to stay away from bodily functions. Nobody really wants to know about that anyway!

Oh, and another 2143 words on the novel. And um, I'm also working on one of my other stories. Who knows I may have to sell it to eat. You know, cause like, I'm not working right now and stuff.

Ciao for now!

Listening to: 30 Seconds to Mars: A Beautiful Lie (the whole album in on repeat)
Currently Reading: The Light bearer's Daughter by O.R. Melling (who flipping rocks)

Labels: ,



Saturday, July 14, 2007
Jonathan, I know you're out there lurking...HAHAHAHA
Lynn outted you. You know, though, a true friend would at least comment and say hello. I'm just sayin...

Labels: , ,



Thursday, July 12, 2007
My Search for Black Eyed Pea Salad

I'm on a hunt. One of my friends a long time ago was sitting at work eating this most unusual cold black eyed pea salad. I was intrigued so she shared with me and gave me the recipe and now I cannot find it.

Color me frustrated.

I'm into making all kinds of different salads. Christmas it was cookies and I guess this summer it is salad. I guess we all know what I do when I get stressed eh? ROFLMAO.

Anyway, if one of you people in cyber land happen to have a great recipe for black eyed pea salad send it my way! I'll send you my oriental cabbage salad recipe in return which I have made for two weeks straight and my family has threatened if I make it again before August I may lose my head. (Youch! Do you think they feel strongly about that?)

So, for now, I've got potatoes and eggs boiling in the same pot for some potato salad and I'm thinking about running to the store for some garlic bread and provolone to make french onion soup. It sounds really good doesn't it?

Oh, and on another note, I've been watching everyone as they do the whole 70 days of sweat thing and I'm proud of my friends. They are doing so well. I almost thought about joining but my story will be done in two chapters. So wow, I'm almost done. Isn't that amazing? Then I'm going to let it sit until August 15th. Then I'm going to do a read through, send it to some friends and let them look at it after I fix any glaring issues and then I'm going to be sending it off to a contest by October.

I'm really amazed that I've gotten this done. Two more chapters folks and I will have finished an 80,000 word book.

I'm amazed!


Edited to add: Holy Smokes I found it. But I think I'm going to leave out the green chiles (too hot for me) Texas Caviar Receipe. Thank heavens for google!

Labels: , ,



Monday, July 02, 2007
Happy 4th of July Everybody!
Sorry I've been so absent lately. I can only attribute it to the fact that I'm writing and perhaps I've been doing a lot of re-writing but sometimes that can't be helped.

I wanted to say Happy 4th Everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday on Wednesday. I think we're hanging out at the pool with friends and grilling out. Yeah me. I can smell the steaks already!

On a side note: I bought my daughter a couple of books for summer reading. She is twelve. One of the books, she is addicted to but tonight she told me that there are a lot of curse words that the main character says in her head. I'm not sure how I want to take that. And before everyone gets in a huff, my daughter doesn't live in a bubble and she knows what the bad words are, I'm just not so sure that I was ready for her to be reading the "F" word in her summer reading list. I still can't decide how I feel about this. The funny thing is that my daughter's favorite thing to say to someone who curses is: 'If you have to cuss it only means that you have an extremely limited vocabulary.'

Hmmm...

I'll have to think all this over. But she's halfway through this book and I'm wondering if a couple of curse words are worth the effort of actually getting her addicted to a book. Gawd, I hope there isn't anything else bad in this book. Looks like I'm gonna have to read it first. Ouch! As a writer myself I never thought I'd be thinking this way.

Labels: ,