Pics of my office

                     
                  This a blind my DH affixed to my ceiling so I could add inspirational pictures to it.  I have two of these up.

a desktop fireplace from my Mom

I have a driftwood fetish :S  this one reminded me of a dragon so i picked it up

a branch I painted

                                                an electronics free desk :)

books

                                                                   more books

                                                              and more books

                                                      That's me!

                                                              cool end to a stick I bought at a fleamarket

                                                             I call these my ugly flowers

                                                                shhhhhh

                                                        my favorite fairy

                             

I'm obsessed with post-it notes

                                                         a cauldron of clips

                                                               chest of thumb drives

busy few weeks, library desk space, and life

I have missed writing here, really enjoy my little unloading sessions.  I've had my son home a lot with me lately and so I took the opportunity to do things around the house, although you'd never know it, this house is perpetually chaotic...I hate to admit it but I am a huge pack rat.  I really am trying to overcome it though...I have to weed out some of this mess.  I think I need a few days (or months) of ebay and facebook auction listing. 

So on Friday I took the kids to school, they didn't miss the bus, I just decided to take them to school.  on the way there I had to swerve out from a branch in the road. I told the kids that it was cool and I debated on turning around to pick it up.  the kids think my dead tree/branch obsession is silly, but they were encouraging me to turn around and go get it.  I didn't.  But on the way back it was still there so I pulled over.  It was bigger than it looked so I was having some awkwardness at putting it in the back seat of the van.  A car went by and a group of boys were hanging out the window laughing at me.  I wanted to yell at them "so what my obsession is funky tree branches, when you get older you'll probably collect bellybutton link."  but I refrained.  LOL

I came home and tossed it over the fence and went up stairs to sweep and dust the top of the stairs (what I call my library).  A few weeks ago I went to Frenchy's  to try and find curtains for that area.  I decided that whatever color I found that had two panels I would go with it, I just wanted curtains.  I found two sets of curtains and am in absolute love with them.  So it decided my color theme.  Here's my curtains:

 

 

So as I went through the day thinking of the area I started scavenging around the house and set up the desk with an orange color theme:

 

 

This is a desk that I say is a computer free desk, and where my oldest son does his homework and I edit and write longhand.  So as I went about the day thinking about the branch I tossed over the fence I got thinking of how I can incorporate that into this space, and so I told my DH I wanted spray paint.  He went out today and bought me a can.  I haven't added it to the room yet, but here it is spray painted(it's an awkward angle...my son took the picture): 

I'll post a picture when I add it to the room.  I think it's pretty, and I'm excited for it to dry so I can bring it in and put it somewhere.


~R

ps: it's in the house, going to put it somewhere better than this tomorrow.



Dictionary, and writing, of course

It was a busy week, so busy that I totally forgot my sons appointment with the dietician on the 9th and only remember it this weekend.  I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on.

So my old trusty electronic dictionary kicked the bucket(I've had this for about 15 years):

 

 

 

So I started scouring websites for a new one and low and behold:

 

 

This dictionary (on the right) is so much better than my old one it makes it laughable.  It also has a grammar and punctuation guide which is so handy.    and then I found a wikireader(on left) for only $20.  It has millions of Wikipedia articles and doesn't require the internet.  How cool is that?  This summer when I'm writing at the park or in the back yard,  I'll still be able to research.  I think it's cool, my kids and husband think it's stupid :P

 

I have been really enjoying my current WIP, and it feels so great to be writing...and not just writing, but writing...um, well, what would the word be for what I am trying to say....writing unleashed, I guess.  For lack of another word.  I can't stop.  My mind is just glued to it.  While I'm eating I'm thinking of this novel, while I'm showering, and even when I'm sleeping.  It's a different kind of a thing for me.  and I love it.

Probably the whole story will be crap to someone else, but I'm enjoying it so far.

~R






Writing and sickness

Hi there peoples, bet you thought I'd abandoned you.  sorry no such luck of that.  Was looking through old pictures and came across my books from witches moon and thought I'd share a picture, in case you're interested:

The smaller ones spine was broke when it arrived...it took a little work but I fixed it enough to make it look okay.  I really love them. just thought I'd share.  Just Google Witch's moon if you like them.  they are a bit costly but really well made.


Son #1 has been sick...swollen tonsils and tonight he has a fever and feeling pretty dizzy.  It'll probably circulate through us all.  My daughter was sick already.  I'm amazed son #2 hasn't caught it yet.

I have been writing...galore!  When 2pm rolls around I have to literally peel myself away from my desk.  Love the story, it's so fun to write.  There is so much going on I don't have time to get bored.

Well I started the blog late so I have to head to bed...quite tired tonight.

~R

Long-hand writing, plus a clean office

So today with the kids being home from school, I resorted to writing longhand.  I wrote probably 12 pages...which will probably only translate to 4 but that's okay. 

I cleaned my office tonight...it was in desperate need of it.  I got a whole shopping bag full of old papers from off my desk that were no good...it's unreal the clutter that can accumulate.   I do believe it's time to list some things on ebay or facebook auctions, this house is getting pretty packed and soon it'll take a whole search party to come find us through this mess.

DH and daughter have had a pretty crappy day, not feeling too good, and Son #2 has been giggly all day which is never a good sign.  Weirdly enough that is usually a sign that he isn't feeling too good.

It feels nice sitting in a clean office.  I'm anxious to do some writing tomorrow morning. 

Finished reading my sister-in-laws book last night and am going to start The 100 Year Old Man...tomorrow.

~R

A Starving writer

DH went on a morning trip a few hours away to get a new-to-us furnace, since ours needs to be replaced.  

The kids enjoyed their Easter, and I cleaned.  I had planned that tonight I'd come up and write, but here I am, upstairs, and my eyes are refusing to stay open.  I did read through he last chapter I wrote and decided I liked it okay for a 1st draft.

I find that while I work, if there is no one around to chat with, I think a lot.  And today I was working and started concocting a story in my head unintentionally.  So now I have this whopper of an idea in my head, that I have to set aside until I finish my current WIP. 

I can not even explain what a thrill ride I am on with this current WIP.  I am having a load of fun!  Someone else will probably read it and wonder what I was loving so much about it, but maybe not.  We shall see, someday, maybe. 

well I'm treating myself tonight with an ice cream Sunday.  So I think I'll go down and have that now, and maybe read for a bit.

Hoping to get up early tomorrow and try to get at least 1 hour of writing in before son #2 wakes up.

~R

Writing with my sister's mouth going a mile a minute

I spent the day at my Mom's babysitting my special needs sister so that mom could have an outing.  I made supper (beef and broccoli) and rolls, and then after supper I pulled out my laptop to try to write.  She decides now is the time to start singing.  First she started singing to the neighbour, who we call Peanie.  A version of Ricky Skaggs song Honey won't you open that door, except she was substituting 'honey' with "Peanie'.  After singing that for about an hour she started on Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill, and now as I write this she is singing to the top of her lungs "Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."  Hard to write with that noise going on...but she's happy, that is for sure.

I'm about to give her a roll with jam and cheese, maybe I can get a few minutes in while she stuffs her face.

Happy Easter!

R

This and That and the Other Thing

The weekends always turn out to be slow when it comes to writing.  I did write a little but not as much as I had hoped. 

I went to my moms at about 3:30 yesterday.  made supper for her and us: homemade fries and sloppy Joes.  I made some buns for her as well while I was back there.  we played about 9 games of dominoes.  I really suck at that game, out of the 9 games I won 3.  Mom was determined to stay up until my sister got home, but at about 1:30 we caved and went to bed.  She got home at around 3:30 and instead of staying the rest of the night I went home and slept until 11:30am day.
Son #2 was extremely crabby today, and I wanted to take him outside but there was a huge dog hanging around and I was too nervous.  I think it is my neighbors dog, really hope the dog don't ruin my whole summer.  Hope he keeps it in the house or on a leash at least.  So I ended up putting Son#2 in the van and going for a ride instead...a couple of hours out of the house seemed to do the trick for him.

I finished Stephen King's Cujo today, so this evening we watched the movie.  It was good, but like always the book was so much better. 

My dog is at my feet sleeping and growling at the same time over sounds she hears downstairs...hopefully she figures out soon that it's just DH talking on the phone.  I think she thinks she's scary.  It kinda cracks me up when the doorbell rings and she starts barking like a wild woman, and when I open the door the person always looks a little timid until they see the runt.  She has a big bark, makes her sound so much bigger.

Well maybe I will get a few words in tonight.

~R

Much Ado About Nothing

I'm writing earlier today since I'm going to be gone during my usual posting time.  Spending the night with my Mom, so she won't be alone.

I've been writing this morning.  Invented a futuristic car today, interesting little car if I should say so myself.  If I ever decide to try my hand at drawing maybe I'll do a  sketch of it. 

It's Easter weekend. With the whole family on weight watchers that means not as much candy as before.  For candy my daughter asked for a chocolate rabbit, small bag of chocolate Easter eggs, and a bag of apples(she's an apple monster).  Son #1 wants a family size bag of doritos, whoppers, and a Cadbury premium dark chocolate bar.  Son #2 can't talk but if he could I know what he'd ask for: a kitkat bat. a reese bar, bbq Pepperidge crackers and a box of macaroons.  Everything will be eaten in moderation of course.   Not much candy if you consider the overload we use to get...good for me both health wise and moneywise.

When I was younger my mom use to hide Easter eggs and big nest and buy us gifts and candy galore.  I remember one easter my mom bought me a get in shape girl set, I was on cloud nine.  i still have the tape and the ribbon some where packed away.  Then as we got older we opted for a weekend out of town that weekend instead. 

Well going to write a bit before I have to leave.

~R

I'm in a writing frenzy and my house hates me

I cannot help but share this story with you all. 

So I started writing 30 minutes earlier than usual this morning.  I was writing up a frenzy up until noon in which time I ate my dinner and chatted with my DH for 30 minutes.  After he left at 12:30 I rushed back upstairs before he was even out the driveway, I do believe.  My fingers were itching.  So the words were just spilling like crazy, and it seemed like I'd been writing for a long time and I glance down at the clock on my screen and start to freak 1:59?  Oh no, I need to quickly save my progress, get my phone and my cup, turn off my light, fish the dog out from under the desk, and lock up my office(I do this to keep the cats off my desk, and my son from ripping up all my papers).  I rush down stairs to prepare my son a snack, set it on the sideboard where he knows to go get it (can't leave it on the table since my little dog samples it while I'm gone to the bus).  I put on my boots and coat, and then stand looking out the window over the hill, waiting until I see the bus.  It gets here at 2:09 like clockwork everyday! 

I wait. 

Hm, this seems to be taking longer then usual.  Where is the bus?

2:10

They must be doing a bus drill today, I think.

2:11

It's getting hot in this coat.

1:12

what???  how did that happen?  1:12?  I am going totally insane! 

I rush to the sideboard and seal up his snack.  Fling off my coat. Kick off my boots, and rush upstairs for 45 more minutes of writing.

__________

I am loving this writing frenzy, but I really have to force myself to do housework.  I find myself cutting corners, or being satisfied with just the basics.  Friday, the kids will be home...I'll give it a good cleaning then, I guess.

~R

My tongue is burnt and my fingers are sore

Ahhhhhh, the feeling of having written.  It's a good feeling, I really hope my muse don't decide to up and leave me, right now he's really cranking out the inspiration and I am loving it! 

Something odd happened today, I was writing along, happy to have finally met Mitch after hearing about him off and on, although I was NOT too happy to have to meet him under the circumstances...not pleasant ones that is for sure.  When in between wallops to the stomach he decides to ask me "why in the heck are you calling me Mitch? Don't you watch my news reports at all?  And if you're just going to stand there and watch me getting the crap beat out of me, you could at least call me by my name.  It's Phillip."  So I had to find and replace all the Mitch's and now I have a happy Phil...well not really since I left him suspended to rafters in agony, with a bunch of thugs demanding answers from him between punches.  :(  Sorry Mitch...er, I mean Phillip.

Well I made the most yummiest seafood chowder ever!  It was done early so I set it aside until it was time to eat, but it kept calling to me, and so, I caved.  Shouldn't have but I had a few bites of the deliciousness and yyeee-ouch, burnt the very back of my tongue, practically down my throat...now my tongue feels all weird, almost fuzzy.

It's almost time for the Easter bunny, are you ready?

~R

My Brother Stole my Writing Time...and Frenchys, of Course

So this morning I had to take my daughter to the dentist, we left an hour and twenty minutes early so I could have some time in to frenchys #1.  Son#2 was in desperate need of some t-shirts for school, since he stains up ALLL his t-shirts and I can not get the stains out of them for the life of me.  (ANY TIPS ON REMOVING GREASE (PEANUT BUTTER, MARGARINE,) STAINS FROM T-SHIRTS, DROP ME A LINE IN COMMENTS BELOW). On the way to frenchys my daughter says to me.  "I really hope I find something nice at frenchys, so I can at least have something good about this trip!"  She absolutely hates the dentist, works herself up so bad over it that she actually gets a headache, and gets so dizzy...pretty much ruins her whole day.

Anyway, so we go to frenchys and she comes out happy as a lark!  Why would a girl who's going to be 16 in about 3 months come away from a used clothing store happy?  You'd think because she found some cool clothing, or shoes, right?  Nope, she found a skelanimal (this one), two pokemons (a Pikachu and a mantyke), and her biggest find of all a plush backpack Gir...all for under $5(together).  To her that was a happy trip!  In her defense at frenchys #2 she left with a pair of jeans, and two jackets, so she did get some clothes.  And as suspected she left the dentist with a raging headache.

We came home and after chatting and eating dinner, I had 1 hour left to write, only to get up stairs and have a message waiting for me from brother #4...so there went my writing time, but I always have fun chatting with him so it wasn't a total loss. 

I did get a bit of writing done tonight, and I'm heading off to do some more...on to a new chapter.

~R

Not Much writing to report tonight...

I battled a headache in the morning, and later in the afternoon gave the house a scrub down, made hot chicken sandwiches, rice, and cream of mushroom cabbage for supper.  Made buns and dough flockers(thanks to mom for reigniting my love of dough flockers..mmm).

Tomorrow I have to take my daughter to a dentist appointment and get my frenchys fix, but I should be able to manage at least 2 hours of writing.

We bought a new-to-us rocker-recliner...ahhhh, so comfy.  Almost like new.  I foresee a lot of reading going on in that chair.  Son #3 loves it.  He prefers it over his chaise, so I don't know how much use I'll be able to get out of it.  He already ran my DH out of it once.

I bid on an infinity candle and won it. yeeehaw.  Was I ever excited.  I already have one of them that is larger.  See:

 

 

 

Well time to get a few words in before I head to bed.  Maybe I'll have more for you tomorrow.

 

~R

do all girls fall in love with bad boys?

First off, I'm not writing a romance, although I have intentions of letting me feisty Pia have a romantic interest.

The title is referring to me...

Help I've fallen in love with my antagonist!!  He comes across as a very nice professional man, but I know his thoughts and there is nothing nice about them.  He's conniving, and cocky, but he's so darn determined, and I just love his way of thinking.  He's only doing his job though, so we can't judge him.  For the record this is the picture I have as inspiration for my character who I call Calloway:

Do any of you do this...get visuals for inspiration?  I started doing this when I was a child and it stuck...seems a bit silly maybe, but it works for me ,and I find I write better if I get a collection of pictures to help me visualize the story.  I always create the character first though and then find a picture to work around him.  This picture of Terrence Howard reminds me of Calloway except the space between the eyebrows would be a little wider apart and the hair is cropped so short it's nearly bald. 

Staying up a little later tonight because I have the itch in my fingers and I can't ignore it.

Basically, Calloway is calling me...

I must listen!

~R

ahhh The bliss of writing without blocks...and chickens :s

I'm loving this writing frenzy.  Having so much fun getting to know my characters.  I think I'm enjoying the antagonistic characters as much as I'm enjoying the protagonist.  I have this weird character trait of one of the protagonists that makes him so fun, and bit funny to write. 

I went grocery shopping tonight and broke down and picked up a new microwave too...our old one can not be too safe, the lining inside is so worn. 

I took my oldest son with me shopping, he is a hoot to take shopping, keeps me laughing.  He doesn't stop talking the whole time, and usually it is about stuff that I have 0% interest in, but I nod and play along.  We went to a house just outside of town to pick up a pair of pants I'd bought for my daughter.  I pulled into the yard and she had chickens and roosters walking around her yard.  I freaked out!  I stayed in the van hoping the woman would notice and come out, but she didn't.  I told my son, "I'm just going to get out and hope the chickens leave me alone."  I stepped out of the van. They were just going about there merry way, so I thought, "okay this is gonna be alright."  Until I started around the house for the back door, and then they started following me.  I was freaking out, so I took off on the run to the door, knocked once quickly.  and then just opened the door and invited myself in.  The man kind of looked offended by that too.  :)  I got the pants and went on the run back to the van, the chickens and rooster running full speed behind me, clucking.  And sure enough I got in the van and my son was laughing his head off.  As soon as we got home it was the first thing he told my husband.  Glad he was entertained, however I'm traumatized!  Aghhh I hate chickens!

Overall a good night, if you can forget the chicken ordeal.

~R

Good writing, good food, Crazy Family

I woke up at 5am this morning with my whole head throbbing...I was so depressed because I was so certain that meant I'd have a headache all day long and all my plans would go down the crapper.  Hoping to avoid all that I got up and took two Tylenol...and then did what works for me...warning this is not classy by any means, but I stuck some vicks vaporub up my nose and then wrapped a heating pad around my head.  The combination of the three worked, because I woke up feeling fine!

I put child #3 off to school and then started right away to straighten the house.  Child #1 and #2 left for school.  I finished what I had to do and put chicken in the slow cooker with a blend of herbs so that we could pick it and have chicken soup over the weekend (a favorite of mine and DH). 

I headed up stairs at 10am to write, and holy guacamole did I ever have fun, I love days like today when the words seem to be coming faster than my fingers can type.  Just before noon I rushed downstairs and put some pork in the oven for stew for supper, and then rushed back up to write some more.  2pm seemed to get here on the double and I ended up having to stop right in the middle of a super fun scene.  Ah well in the morning I should be able to get back into the swing pretty quickly.

So when Child #3 got home I finished up the stew and the house was smelling divine, but then DH called and said why don't we save the stew for tomorrow night and head out at 5 to have some Chinese food.  So that's what we did.  I overate, and now I feel uncomfortable.  Been eating like a bird since July 2012, my body isn't use to this much food.  The food was good, but this ISN'T a good feeling.

Every time we go somewhere the two older kids don't want to come with us, just this short trip to Digby with everyone talking, and fighting for airtime. made me very grateful they don't come with us all the time.  Child #3 (who has autism) did not enjoy the loud chat and was screaming and slapping the back of the seat.  My daughter who was setting next to him got the brunt of his anger, so part way home she had to slip into the back seat to get away from him.  I know it's not funny, but it made me laugh because Elijah is always so calm during road trips.  he loves them, they soothe him and make him so happy, but with my daughters mouth going a mile a minute he was just so overwhelmed.

*yawn*


~R

My day in a nutshell...

Today was a snow day, so I spent the day playing Harry Potter scene-it with my son, cleaning, and I made a couple batches of strawberry jam. 

My office has been slowly beginning to look like something akin to the aftermath of a bomb explosion, but I guess I will just let that be for a few more days, since tomorrow from 9-2 I intend to write up a storm. 

I slept in this morning until nearly 10am, a new record for my youngest son since he is usually up no later than 7.30.  When my husband left for work at 8:15 he came in to say bye and then after I went to sleep I had the most weirdest dream.  Here's the stickler, I can't tell you what it was, since I really don't know.  I'm hoping it will come back to me eventually which is sometimes accustom.  All I remember is that feeling of utter aloneness in a peach-colored room that was completely devoid of any décor or furniture.  I also remember a panicky feeling of not having my kids with me, but I remember someone coming in the room in jeans, a man I think.  I wish I could remember the jest of it, but alas I can't.

It's hard to believe it will be 6 months since my Dad passed away.  I still find it hard to believe.  I go about my day, and in my head it's like he's still alive.  Then when I think of it, or someone mentions it I get that quickening in my chest(like a flutter), and light headedness you'd get when you are finding out about it for the first time.  I wonder if that ever stops? 
I have really stayed up far to late tonight...it's past midnight. :s

~R

To research, or not to research

I'm trying to write without researching, honest I really am, but wow this is hard. I'm on a scene in my novel where one of my characters, an Egyptian woman, is in a poor community in Cairo, at a faith healer's hut.  I want to stop and look up info, and it's killing me not to.  I know zilch about any of this, so I'm trying to trudge along and fake it...and then worry about the facts later.  It is tough.

It's snowing like crazy outside.  My crazy dog was taking high steps in the snow but she managed to do her business and rush back in.  She is NOT a snow dog, that is for sure. 

On a happier note, I'm writing a lot more nowadays, and though I complained earlier about not researching I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the fact that over the last couple days I've actually made my daily word goal.  I'm trying to be more disciplined, TRYING to stick to a goal.  I'm hoping that by the end of the school year I will have the rough draft of this novel completed.

 I happened upon this today...plagiarism is never pretty.

It's passed my bedtime, which is probably why this is so jumbled.

~R

Therapy...aka writing. Lonely dog, and cold feet.

It felt nice to write in quiet today, but Tajma (my dog) was really lonesome and demanded a lot of attention.  I managed to give her some attention, and after a while of cuddling with her she was content to sleep on my feet and keep my toes nice and warm. 

I finished On Writing.  a wealth of info in it!  The one thing I can't understand-- and I have had a few other people tell me they do the same thing--is how in the world he writes with music on.  I guess there are different strokes for different folks, I really don't think I could do that, but one day I mean to try it.  Maybe the music will drown out that nagging voice that keeps saying "what about that pile of laundry downstairs". 

One of the things my DH has been telling me for years is to forget about research and just write the darn story.  Stephen King says the same thing.  maybe they are on to something.  Anyone else out there write first and research later?

It has been extremely cold today.  No amount of wood in the furnace could warm me, and there is a storm on the way.  Maybe the kids will have a snow day on Wednesday.

~R

Plotting, Writer's Schizophrenia, and Me

209 pages into Stephen King's On Writing, and I am just really glad I decided to give this another go.  I had been writing my current WIP (titled:Merge) without a plot, but then it seemed like plots were the way to go.  Me and a friend decided to become crit partners and she sent me her very nicely done plot and I was like "hmmm, this may be what I am missing." Because I've been having a hard time concentrating and staying on task (sleep deprived, I believe now.)  So I stopped writing,  to plot....*sigh*.

Now after reading Stephen King saying he don't plot...I realize that I was okay not plotting, so tomorrow I'm giving up the plot and going on to to the writing.  In my ebook Don't Open 'til Christmas, I didn't plot.  I did make a visual board of my characters, because I need that, but I didn't plot.  I just had a slight barebones idea in my head and I had no idea what was going to come of it.  I loved the thrill of not knowing. 

Another thing about this book that gave me that 'aha' moment, is that he says that he learns things about his characters as he writes them that he had no idea about and so he enjoys getting to know them.  Makes me want to say to my daughter, "see I'm not a loony, or at least I'm not the only loony in the world."  She makes fun of me because I'll say things to her like "I know I was going to make her run upstairs to hide, but she wanted to go in the back room instead.  I had no idea why, until we got there and she told me there was an exit out of the house in that room and that's why she wanted to hide in there."  I know it sounds nuts, but it's true in a weird way you won't understand unless you're a writer.  Or I'll get writing and have it all worked out in my head and my character will say to me, "oh yeah I forgot to mention I can't hide in that closet because I'm claustrophobic...and I feel like screaming at her 'why didn't you tell me this before I worked the whole thing out in my head!!!" 

Anyway I didn't get upstairs until about 10 minutes ago, it's been a busy day, so I have to end this here and head to bed now.

~R

Book Haul

My used book mini-haul

 

This book kind of tickled my fancy since I have a slight idea forming in my head about a possible novel sometimes in the future about living in outer space.  I wrote some of this idea down already but it never went any further than that because I have other things I want to write first.  This is an uncorrected advance copy, which is kind of cool.

 The Taking, by Dean Koontz  this books sounds so interesting.  Click on the link and read the description.  Right up my alley. Plus It's Koontz, so enough said.

 I was flipping out when I found this book.  Probably won't be as good to me at this age, but when I was younger I was so in love with Paul Kropp...and his books are so hard to find.

 

Picked this book up because it will be good research material for my latest WIP.  :)

 

I've read about 4 Elizabeth Berg books and loved every one of them, so I didn't even read the back of this until I got home.  This woman can really write.  Tugs on the emotions and can really hit home IMO.   I paid a whooping $0.35 for it! 

 I flipped through this thin books and thought it looked promising.  ;)

 

There are some disturbing pictures, but it seemed like a book that might come in handy so I bought it.  For 35 cents, why not?

 

These weren't todays find, I got these in the mail and thought I would share.  Bought the Paradise and Hell book because it's my sister-in-laws book, and as you Know I'm anxious to read The 100 Year old man...etc,..

 

 

 

 

Tonight me, Dh and my daughter are watching a couple of episodes of Dexter, so probably no writing tonight.  On a happy note I get to try out my new foot spa.  I hurt my toe a couple of months ago and I'm trying to find something to soothe it since it is still swollen...trying to make it better so I don't have to return to the doctor. 

 

 

I did do a little writing last night...and next week the kids return to school so I'll get some writing done then.

 

 

Well time to pop the popcorn.

 

 

~R

Stephen King's On Writing, and more ramblings

When Stephen King's book On writing came out way back in 2002, I gobbled it up like a hungry child.  I mean this is Stephen King we are talking about, the be all to end all!  If he's talking, and your a writer, listen!  I am only 95 pages into it now for the second time, and I love it to smithereens!

I forgot to mention I finished J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, it was what I call a slice of life story...or a true to life story.  Very real worldish.  I loved it.  It made me laugh and cry.  It was like being a fly on the wall and peeking into everyone's lives without them knowing it.  and who doesn't want to do that?  Right?

And my copy of The 100 Year Old Man who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared arrived.  I'll start that later, right now I'm into On Writing.

He starts the book by letting us know early on that it isn't an autobiography, but there is an awful lot of his life in there.  Maybe not a complete autobiography but a good glimpse into his life.  It's certainly interesting seeing how his fame came about.  He writes the book not like it's a chore, but rather like the reader and himself are sitting down to tea and he's having a conversation with you.  Very casual and chatty, but not too chatty that it's annoying.  I think knowing Stephen King's fame now makes it hard to believe he struggled to get published so it's a real breath of fresh-air to know that he struggled too.  Not that I want anyone to struggle, but you know what I mean, right?

One of the things in this book that he says is to never write for the money, but write because you love it.  I know someone who tries to write according to what is the 'in thing', and that baffles me.  I am NOT into vampires, although that is all the rage right now, but I am not going to try to write something I don't like because that would be easier to get accepted in this vampire-induced world.  Write what you love!  and most importantly write because you love to write, not because you are hoping that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

With that being said Of course I'm hoping to get published someday ;)  

If not then so be it...I'm getting free therapy sessions out of it.

I'm actually in the writing mood tonight, so I'm going to hit 'publish', and let this out into the Wild Wacky Woo-universe (that's what www stands for, right? Right?...yeah I thought so.)

~R

A Day In The Life Of A Brain Dead Writer

The way this post should go is...ummm..well, simply put,  it shouldn't, but we'll pretend I'm not as brain dead as I claim and try to spew out something anyway.  If you close your eyes real tight (and basically don't read this blog, but pretend that you did and that it was brilliant) and think real hard,you will probably log off and walk away just amazed at my talent (don't choke on your _insert beverage of choice here__.  )  Maybe a hypnosis would be in order right about now, but then maybe not because coming up with the dialect for hypnosis might shatter the image I am trying to portray here.  Remember?  Yeah, brain dead writer. 

So, without further ado,  how my day goes on this lazy March Break: 

7:00AM wake up and talk myself into getting out of bed
7:15 AM finally give into the doggy drool and roll out of bed, head to the bathroom to pee
7:17: AM slip into big floppy boots and oversized coat and take the dog to pee
7:25 AM come inside, and make mine and child #3's breakfast because he's usually up by then
8:00AM catch up on emails and check the dreaded facebook (not necessary but I'm brain dead           remember?)
10:00AM  realize that it's now 10 and I've just wasted 2 hours doing something completely non-productive and then regret it and wish that I'd not flushed that time down the crapper (do this for at least 15 minutes!!
10:15AM  go pull child #1 and #2 out of bed.
10:20AM straighten up the house, all the while wishing you could find a few minutes to write that day (make sure to dwell occasionally on the perfectly good two hours you flushed down the drain earlier).
11: 45AM:  look at the clock and remember "oh no it's almost dinner and the DH will be home soon and expect to be feed.  So try to think up something quick on the spot that you can whip up in 15 minutes.
12:00PM: set a meal that looks like you've toiled all day over (when in actually it's just 5 minute rice, cauliflower, and simple 10 minute fried salmon) on the table and make all the hungry mouths happy...oh except for child #2 who of course don't like fish...*sigh*
12:30PM Do dinner dishes
12:45PM start the rolls for supper that night, the whole while thinking of all the writing I'm going to get done that night
1:00PM set down with some tea and spend a little time with the kids talking about so many different things that after 15 or 20 minutes I drift out of the conversation and wonder what Pia (my currant protagonist) will do tonight...because remember I have a writing session planned that is going to be so epiphanic-like that it's gonna knock the socks off that agent or editor out there that is just waiting for me to come along!).
2:30PM okay need to get to thinking about supper tonight...so I need to work out the points allowances (oh yes me and the family are weight watching :s) of everyone and make sure I can wing it tonight and keep us all on track.  and what I mean by wing it is it's march break...and I just made a pretty good meal for dinner (shhhhh nobody needs to know it took less than 15 minutes), I don't need left over for lunches tomorrow, because there's no school.  So I finally decide:  Eggs and a dinner roll!!!  Perfect for me and the DH at least, child #3 will be happy with the split pea soup I made last night and children #2 and #3 who neither one like eggs can eat a lean cuisine.
2:45 PM:  a headache that's been threatening to come has finally arrived in full force and I'm on the couch, thinking about whether I can make it go away before the evening (you know the big writing frenzy I have on the agenda!) 
3:00PM:  DH comes home and says why not just relax and we'll watch a 45 minute episode of Dexter...which in this household take 1:30 hours with all the pauses.
4:30PM headache has pretty much subsided, but now my eyelids are heavy.  I go out to fry our eggs and reheat the pea soup.  I have child #3 choose which he wants and he takes the soup, and I set down to eat my breakfasty-supper
5:00PM  I decide to load the dishwasher rather than do the small bit of dishes by hand
5:15PM and the time we've all been waiting for has arrived....I head upstairs to write
5:20PM  what's this? Why it's a new Jodi Arias trial video on youtube...must watch that first, it's just a short 22minutes video after all :S
5:42PM eyelids are drooooooopy....yawn   Don't think I can write through this haze...but I must try
7:48PM still staring at the same page...and finding it very difficult to keep my chin off my chest...

I AM BRAIN DEAD!!!!

so note to that editor or agent who is out there twiddling his/her fingers waiting for me...just give me a few more days okay...I'm paying off my sleep debt, I'm in the process of limiting my facebook time, promise!  and Jodi Arias is on day 31 of her trial, she has to be sentences soon, right?

~R

March Break, writing (or lack of), sleep debt, and The Casual Vacancy

Hi and welcome.  :)

It has been raining here like crazy today, but the cold is gone, somewhat.  I hear we are in for another snow storm next week though, so I'm not packing the boots away yet.  I'm a winter girl though, to be honest.  It gives me the perfect excuse to stay inside and write.  Seems more acceptable to be a hermit in the winter doesn't it?

It's march break right now, which, for me, means not a whole lot of writing is getting done.  That's one of the draw-backs of having office-space upstairs, but I'm coping. I do have an alphasmart I could use, but I prefer the quietness of my office. I get a couple of hours in the evening, but lately I find that as soon as I am in front of the computer I can't seem to keep my eyes open. 

My husband is an early to bed and early to rise kind of guy, and he has been telling me for the past 16 years that my sleep pattern is going to catch up to me.  every headache, or ache he attributes to my sleeping.  But I mean come on it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, and I have been a night owl my whole life...and I do mean My WHOLE life.  In this town if you ask anyone about the 'Amero's" sleeping pattern they can all tell you we are night owls...I could not even fathom going to bed before midnight.  that just seems insane to me, I mean why go to bed and waste the best part of your day...er night...morning (whatever).   

but the truth is my lifestyle is not working for me anymore, maybe it's because after 16 years of living with this man he's rubbed off on me, but I find myself staying up late and then barely able to function in the mornings, and if I set down quietly, or put on the TV I'm out like a light bulb.  I refuse to attribute this to my age, so for now I'm blaming it on him.  So I mention to him about my inability to stay awake and difficulty staying focused and he, as I suspected, blamed it on lack of sleep and then he shows me this link, and I'm starting to think he's on to something.  So this march break I'm in bed by 10pm every night and sleeping until one of two things happens 1)I wake up naturally, or 2) My youngest son wakes up.  So far I've been like clockwork, waking up at 7am every morning with just enough time to take the dog out to pee before my son wakes up.  So right now I'm in the process of paying off my sleep debt!  Let's hope this works...I'm tired of being tired.

On another note I'm into J. K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy and despite the fact that the book really sounds snore worthy IMO, I am riveted!!!  This woman can write.  And her characterization is just out-of-this-world unbelievable.  trying to get it finished quickly because I have Jonas Jonasson's The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared on the way.  Have any of you read either of these books?

~R