Flash, Aaaaaahhhhhhh!

Behind her the noise escalated, pushing her to run faster. She was ahead of it by seconds, but those precious few might be enough. If Dana had called in a report, she would never have had this opportunity. It was a split-second decision that saved her life. Climbing higher up the hill she felt the lick of the swell up to her ankle, and made the last desperate push to escape harm. Dana glanced down and saw she wasn't being followed. By anything. She turned to see the village, and everything in it, swept out to sea.

Monkey Butt Powder

I know, but it's all I've got.

We were watching the playoffs on Sunday with friends, and at half time we started a rousing game of Crazy Willis. During the hand which my Latin Lover trumped my bid, and I realized I might not recover, I exclaimed, "OH, Monkey Butt!" To which one of our friends replied, "They have Monkey Butt Powder, you know. They sell it at places like CVS." To which I smartly retorted, "Shut up, Nuh-uh!"

I have yet to google it. I'm afraid I will find it true... or false... I don't know which would be worse.

Shout Out Weekend - Day 3

Last day of the weekend... farewell, beautiful freedom-ish...

Today's shout out goes to an established writer of both print and ebooks, whose encouragement to indie authors is unparalleled. I am currently reading Cherry Bomb on Kindle, and one entire section of my bookshelf is dedicated to the rest of the Jack Daniels series in paperback.

JA Konrath, you are an amazing writer and an inspiration, and I have been devouring every word from your blog, A Newbie's Guide To Publishing. The information you are providing on self-publishing is fantastic, and I haven't missed a post. I am also in love with your stories... I am crushin' on Phineas Troutt, big time. ;^) I can't wait to find out how Jack takes down Alex once and for all!

I purposely got Cherry Bomb on my Kindle in support of the ebook cause, but I will probably also buy it in print because I hate to have pieces of a series missing in my library, and someday they will be worth way more than the paper they're printed on, when eBooks rule the world.

Shout Out Weekend - Day 2

Today's shout out goes to an UBER-entertaining blog that I refuse to miss:

Tawna Fenske at Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing

Tawna's blog is entertaining, informative, and addictive. If her books are even remotely as fun to read as her blog, I will not hesitate to own them all, and pimp them shamelessly!

Ms. Fenske will be on a trip next week and may not post as regularly, but I guarantee I will be checking every day, just in case.

Shout Out Weekend - Day 1

I am dedicating this weekend to the amazing bloggers I follow.

Friday's are always an exciting day for me because I get to jump over to Random Thoughts, and read C.R.Ward's latest installment of her serial fiction piece. She alway's leaves me thinking, "Dang it! Why do I have to wait until next Friday to see what happens next?" Her stories are intriguing, well written, and entertaining. I find myself wanting to download the whole thing so I can read all night until I'm done.

This, painfully, is not an option. meh.

So, I faithfully visit her blog every week (almost every day) to read whatever treasure she has posted. Thanks, CR, for sharing your vision with the world, we are better for it!

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful

In my region of the universe it has snowed about 6 inches since 2pm, and we're expecting more. On the way home my Latin Lover rescued a stranded motorist, then he came home and cooked dinner, and five minutes ago he walked the dog before bed... in a blizzard. And he makes me laugh.

Srsly?

It doesn't get better than this.

...Because I Have To Take The Dog Out

You know when life just gets in the way of everything you could be doing, want to be doing? I try not to make excuses but really... I sat down to the computer and immediately the dog begged to go out. Just like the minute I go to jot down my story ideas my kids start hollering, "Mom! Come here! It's an emergency!" The kind where they can't find the other sock, or do I know where the brush is? I sit down at the computer to write... as soon as I'm done paying bills online...

So now, the dog is crossing her legs and nodding toward the door, and because I don't have the patience to teach her how to flush, I should go.

We will try again tomorrow.

Happy Birthday

Today is my oldest son's birthday. He was born on MLKJ's birthday in 1991, the day after the ground war started during Desert Storm... and we were having a snow storm here that day.

I am proud that he has been able to get a handle on his life, and I look forward to his future successes.

And I am thankful that he hasn't caused so many gray hairs that people stop telling me I look too young to have a 20 year old....

Derailed

I started to tell a story that was going to have an amazing ending, and to be as accurate as possible I was going to take a direct quote from an email I had received. In the course of looking for the email I received a follow up email that totally ruined the story by taking away my happy ending.

How does a story recover from a hit like that? Is there any way to resurrect it, even when your character is no longer getting the resolution they desire? Do you scratch it and begin anew?

These are the things I'm pondering as I lay in the ashes of my happily ever after... what do you think?

Sympathy Exhaustion Haiku

Too tired to cook
Even in the microwave
Bless you Taco Bell

Arrrrggghhh... 1-11-11

Missed posting yesterday! But I must report that I did write yesterday: A list of 12 Benefits I received from my recent life experience. Today's actual post will occur later; this is just honorable mention for yesterday's success.

TTFN

Open Wounds

Josie felt the warmth of it running down her elbow. It stung like hell every time she moved, but there was nowhere to go but forward. He hadn't meant to hurt her, he was actually trying to hold her close to keep her from falling, but the stitches had ripped. The healing process was one step forward, two steps back. She wanted to be whole, wanted to be able to operate at one hundred percent, but only time could help her now.

Once Upon A Time...

...there was a Queen. She was married to the King and they had a kingdom, carefully balanced on the point of a spear. The Queen had to conduct her life on her side of the kingdom, while the King conducted his life opposite her to maintain consistent balance. The Queen could not see through the fog beneath the kingdom, never knowing the depth of the peril below, nor could she approach the King closely enough to inquire without tipping the kingdom. Then one day after many years, the King announced he was compelled to go on a journey and, without warning, leaped from the edge of the kingdom and disappearing into the mist. The kingdom began leaning in the Queen's direction, her side dipping toward the foggy peril below. The accumulation of the King's half, the walls and facades, baggage and flotsam he had carefully placed to balance his side, began crumbling and sliding across the kingdom, crashing into the Queen's own precious walls and accumulation of comfort items, things she collected to replace the space that should have been occupied by the King. It all tumbled downward as the kingdom tipped, and the Queen realized that everything she cared for was destroyed, her King was gone, and she was about to be dragged into the terrifying unknown. Just as she was pulled to the very edge of the worthless kingdom, about to be swallowed up in the fog, the tipping mass halted with a giant thud. The Queen let her foot dangle over the edge, and felt earth beneath her toe. She let go of the last handhold she had found and slid from the kingdom to land on the solid ground. The mist swirled around her and she felt alone, but she was alive, and well, and not terrified any longer. She found that as she walked the fog parted for her revealing small, wonderful areas where she could begin building her own realm. Soon after, she heard footsteps approaching, and a figure emerged to stand in the clearing. It was her King. He bowed before her and declared that while his journey was necessary, it had led him back to the Queen. He vowed his eternal love and commitment and asked the Queen to allow him to join her and build a new kingdom together. She had always loved him, and welcomed him with open arms. They were now able to walk together and conduct their lives arm in arm, not worried about upsetting the balance, but standing on a solid foundation. However, it was not happily ever after, because the story is still being written; instead it is To Be Continued...

Ah, Yes, Writing Every Day

Saturday looked like this:

Sewing Scarves
Vin Diesel
Folding Underwear
Girl's Basketball
Applebee's
NFL

I bet I can find something to write about in there, huh?

2011 Goals: Baby Steps, It's A Process

Here are my three Goals for 2011... yes... only three. And they're not profound, they are 'let's develop good basic habits for once' goals. I will start here and maybe by the end of this year I will have over-achieved! But we're shooting for three.

1. Write EVERY DAY. Something... anything... either here, or elsewhere and posted here.

Seriously. This is a must.

2. Enter and FINISH NaNoWriMo November 2011.

2010 was the first year I didn't even enter since, like, 2003... and I have never finished. I will finish this year.

3. Try at least one other creative outlet this year.

Photography, painting, drawing, sculpting, the culinary arts; something to exercise unused parts of my brain. Of course, then post about it here.

That's it... simple, doable. If I can't reach these goals, then I may have to take remedial breathing classes.

2011 = WIN!