STUFF FROM THE ATTIC

A Little Something.....called Burned Biscuits

2011-06-12T08:47:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said,
"Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect
people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that's my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
-Author Unknown
My brother sent me this in an email and find it comforting.
Things in life tend to dull our senses. We become jaded in our everyday living, we don't take time to just stop and look around, or take a deep breath. There are times where we see only imperfection in everything that surrounds us. for me, sometimes it's those little imperfections that make life a bit sweeter.
My life is hectic at times, I work many hours, I stray from my goals. I don't write in my blog for weeks or months at a time. I get sad or depressed when things don't work in my favor and at times I feel like I'm in a huge hole without a ladder. I want things for me to be better when I should be thankful for what I have. I am.
I'm not perfect, far from it, but I am thankful for those little imperfections because they are precious to me and keep me humble.

2010-10-18T11:05:00.003-05:00

In the Past Seven Days I…

Went camping, enjoyed cool fall mornings and warm afternoons.

Took a walk and got some great pictures of autumn ready to rock the Ozarks.

Spent some of it sick, guess it was too much coffee; maybe too much bread.

Flung into the Muse Online Writer’s conference ready to make hay.

So far, I’m doing all right. Just like most of the attendees, I took way too many classes.

With so much to offer each year, the choices are attractive and I simply want to write better.

So I dive right in ready to go.

It’s Thursday, and payday. It’s gotta be deposited and poof! There it goes, and back to the house I go, ready to take on more of the Muse.

Two chats later, I take a stroll through the forums making sure everything is cool, after all, I’m a moderator. I’m all decked out; got a badge with a lion wearing a crown and “moderator” written sideways. In my signature I have Moderator in red, bold font, just so you know who I am.

The house is quiet, but it won’t be for long and it wasn’t. Not in a good way either.

We have this friend; he and his lady have some big issues. She’s crazy.

(I know another person just like her too; someone I’ve known for a long time. But, that’s another story.)

I step outside for a smoke petting my old lady cat when hubby drives up with a friend.

The friend brought an acoustic guitar, cool, I think, maybe he can put some music to my lyrics. I’d forgotten about this guy; extremely talented; he can sing too.

Hubby explains that he’s kicked the girlfriend out of the car because she‘s crazy.

Yay.

She’s a good person, but needs a therapist.

Three times the girl showed up, cussing, shoutin’ and spittin’ mad.

The night ends on a silent note which is great. I don’t know what happened to the couple and hope things work out for them.

The weekend comes. The conference is nearing its end and husband is laid off. Three weeks earlier than I expected, but the good thing about it is he can work on honey-do list. It’s long and will take him all winter to finish, hehehehhehehe.

Saturday night I decide to go to hubby’s audition. Not really an audition, but it is. The lead singer does not show up and the bass player won’t show until midnight I am told. I am reassured that all is okay and they’ll just have fun jamming. Did I mention the guitar player with girlfriend issues is part of this project? We go by to pick them both up and all issues are resolved with me giving girlfriend a hug and a stern warning.

I have to admit the jam place is awesome and without going into detail for the sake of not revealing what they have. These boys could put on a concert, outdoors, without assistance. And Oh My God is it loud! They have great original material and made a new friend. I think I will show him my song lyrics and see what he thinks. He’s one of the writers of the group, maybe he’ll have suggestions.

Sunday brings the writer’s conference to a close, I learned some valuable techniques. I also learned I don’t have to write ten hours a day, all in one setting. I don’t have to feel bad that I can’t accomplish what some can. I have to work, I have a house I love and do not want to live on the street, so I work. If I even write for only fifteen minutes, actual writing time, nothing else, I have more than I started with. I tried it yesterday and got a full page done in a half hour.

If there are any aspiring writers or writers who believe the craft of storytelling is organic matter begging for manipulation, and there is always room for improvement (and there is, don’t kid yourself into thinking you know everything there is to writing) I suggest registering for Muse Online Writer’s Conference for 2011. Below are the details. I’m setting a goal of presenting two manuscripts to pitch at the next conference, possibly earlier. Muse Online is open year round with workshops and pitch sessions. So, follow the information below and get acquainted with Lea Schizas the founder of the award winning Muse Online Writer’s Conference. A wonderful woman who I have the deepest respect for.

All you have to do is visit our website, bookmark it, click on FORUM, and sign up for our general forum, then to scroll as stated above. If they don't take the poll then they will NOT see the 2011 private forum next year. We are not hand holding any writer. No more yahoo registrations. Vote on the poll and you are registered.

For updates as to who will be our presenters, what workshops, who the agents and publishers will be next year I suggest you bookmark our website:

http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/

and visit often throughout the year because we are going to be holding more workshops and pitch sessions throughout the year and the calendar of events will be mentioned on the website. All new workshops will be held in the GENERAL FORUM so please make sure to participate in that forum throughout the year after the conference and continue mingling and supporting one another.

Fire Hits Tesla Recording Studio, Nearby Apartments - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

2010-10-07T20:01:00.000-05:00

Fire Hits Tesla Recording Studio, Nearby Apartments - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

This is a tragedy! My favorite band of all time was hit hard by a fire.

Night Stalkers or Day Trippers?

2010-10-03T19:47:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed Aron Wong's article about who has the upper hand when it comes to night owls and early birds-

Benjamin Franklin believed that “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” His basic formula is as follows:

Sleep early + Wake up early = Health + Wealth + Wisdom
- from Aron Wong's article Night Owls vs. Early Birds

I do enjoy getting up early, drinking coffee and watching the sun rise, but not for work

It is the nature of most animals to sleep through the night. It is supposed to rejuvenate the soul and repair your body from the daily grind. However, there are nocturnal animals and they do just fine.
My mother is a night owl, as a child growing up, I remember her staying up late into the night. These days, due to her medication she takes and no longer in the work force, she sleeps when she's sleepy.
My father was a cop, therefore he slept when he had the chance. His shifts rotated on a monthly basis and it wasn't until years later did he really establish a sleep pattern. But I think he was the early bird who took naps. Now he is in eternal sleep and does not worry about bedtime.

I have an IQ of 126. I think I got most of that when I worked the fifteen + years on the swing/graveyard shifts. I did make more money. I slept better too because I woke without the aid of an alarm clock. I like being up late at night when the rest of the world is sleeping and the house is quite, it's prime writing time for me.

If I had business to conduct during the day I could get it done before I went to bed. Now I have to take off work....I go to bed by eight pm and rise by three am (using an alarm clock). I think my IQ has dropped to 100 and I cry when I look at my paycheck.

.

For more information about this debate:

http://www.bmj.com/content/317/7174/1675.abstract

And....
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200911/intelligence-the-evolution-night-owls

To visit Aron Wong's blog on this subject go to:
http://www.lookingformylife.com/home/2010/3/16/night-owls-vs-early-birds-who-will-win-morning-or-night-peop.html

Why The Fuss?

2010-09-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

Big Bang Theroy or Let There Be LIght?

Which of the two do you think happened?

Since I tend to think on both sides, I agree with both. I think that when God said "Let there be light", all at once gasses formed and a huge explosion occured. The whole Universe as we know it came into existence in this manner. Just because The Bible does not go into scientific detail as to how the Cosmos came to be does not constiute or dismiss the idea of a Big Bang, or evolution. Rational thinkig would suggest science played a large part in God's making of the Universe, but people have died, fought and debated this issue from standing one side or the other, never just looked at it on neutral ground. How stupid are we to think it is one way or the other? Who do you think put that idea in Scholar's and Thinker's heads? Not God.

Fall is here and so is Muse Online Writer's Conference

2010-09-25T08:06:00.000-05:00

Cool, crisp mornings and warm, sunny afternoons signal the beginning of my favorite time of the year. Autumn. Gardens are harvested and plowed. Birds begin their migrations toward warmer climates and the talk of deer season begins it's fevered pitch. The smell of woodsmoke fills the air and aromas of baking goodies fill the kitchen. Shorter days signal trees to begin their glorious displays of color.

It is also time once again for the Muse Online Writer's Conference. One week filled with intense study of prose, grammar, and camaraderie. This conference is different from all others. You get to stay home for one thing, and attend Muse Online in your jammies should you feel inclined. This is the fifth year of the conference and each year it gets bigger and better. Each year more publishers and agents sign on, each year more workshops are added, and for the second year in a row, you can pitch your great novel idea to a publisher or agent if you wish. It is my fourth year of attending as I firmly believe that writer's should never think they know it all when it comes to perfecting the craft. This once a year event is motivational, inspirational, it is a chance to mingle with other writers and form bonds. You can find a critique group, form a critique group, find and meet new friends who all share the writer's woes. You have mountains of support and the founders are there to help you should you lose your way.
This conference only lasts a week and with so many workshops and chats to choose from it's hard not to overload yourself with them. Even when the conference ends, the site is open year round as they offer workshops and guest speakers too. The best part about Muse Online it is free to attend, but donations are accepted. And they always need volunteers for moderating the forums and chats. However, registrations are closed for now but next year's registrations will begin shortly after the conference is over. If you always wanted to write a novel and don't know where to start, or an accomplished author, Muse Online Writer's Conference is a great place to go. If you would like to check it out click on the link in the side bar of this blog or here http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com

Words when written, crystallize history; their very structure gives permanence to the unchangeable past- Bacon
A writer is dear and necessary for us only in the measure in which he reveals to us the inner workings of his soul- Leo Tolstoi

ROGER MUSE MOOSE

Is Drinking A Sin?

2010-09-21T03:48:00.016-05:00

There are those who say yes, and those who say no. If done in moderation it's okay. Jesus drank wine. Wine is made from grapes, grapes are fruit, fruit is meant to be eaten and pulverized into juice.

I say it depends on the situation.

If you have a drink with dinner, or an after dinner drink, I do not believe this constitutes a sinful mark against your soul. Should you decide to sit under a tree or a sandy knoll on the beach to watch the sun set with a bottle of Corona or a Michelob, no that's enjoying your life and appreciating God's art.
If you attend a party and have a few too many is that a sin? I say it depends on the actions you take thereafter. To get behind the wheel in a severe intoxicated state is commiting a sin because you take the risk of causing injury or death.
Should your intentions to commit a sinful act stems from drinking, then yes it is.

Go over the top everyday, I'd say you're addicted.

Should you live your life by the bottle then yes it is a sin. Why?
Because you chose to let it lead you down that path.
For more on this debate go to http://philthompsonlive.com/

What is the purpose?

2010-09-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

For those of you who read this once, I've revised it and added more information. I reposted this because I have plans to do a series of this type of article asking what purpose certain things have, why it does and other things pertaining to the subject which gives me cause to ponder. I will also pose questions on such things that deal with the supernatural realm, spiritual warfare and our existence. Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment....

There are many things which serves purpose in our lives. Poison ivy isn't one of them.
I wondered about this question from the first time I contracted this horrible affliction nine years ago.

I know what it looks like (poison ivy, oak, and sumac). As a kid hiking trails, traipsing through the woods, even making grapevine wreaths. I know for a fact I touched that stuff several times and nary a bump or itch evolved.
Apparently, it must have been my time when I decided a flower bed needed weeding. Four days later an ugly rash surfaced. No problem, scrub it good with alcohol, that's what my husband does and it goes away. By that Sunday, my arms resembled hamburger, a large unsightly patch boiled up on my right cheek, inches below my eye.
By mid-week, long ugly runnels popped up on my legs. The agony? Endless. The discomfort? Never have I scratched and scratched, I couldn't stop! With a wet washcloth I'd rub and rub, creating an euphoric state until I stopped. Lotions, creams and antihistamines did nothing to alleviate it. Oh it kept it at bay for maybe an hour, only to find myself searching for a washcloth so I could rub, rub, rub, aahh.
When I did finally go see a doctor, I ended up with one who had no idea what Poison Ivy was, but at least he had enough sense to prescribe an antihistamine.
I steer wide of the wicked weed, it continues to rule in my yard despite efforts to kill the monster. However, I think we have finally got the upper hand with a spray far stronger than Evil Ivy.
I discovered a wonderful product called Ivarest, best stuff in the world for drying out the blisters and quelling the itch. Of course, this does not indicate I'll roll in an ivy bed anytime soon.
My co-workers and I discussed the purpose of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. We concluded there was no purpose. Why would God put such a horrible plant on this earth? Could it be a product of Satan? Did God make a mistake? He's not supposed to. Then my boss says, "Take a look at the Flamingo."
I say, "What about the Flamingo?"
He replies "It's knees are backwards."
This does not imply that I think God makes mistakes. I truly believe at one time poison ivy, oak, and sumac may have served a better purpose, like stuffing it into an enemy's bedding or mixing it into a potion of sorts. Unbelievable as it may seem, this plant and it's cousins do serve a purpose....
click here or copy and paste to browser to read more.....
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/i/ivypoi17.html

For more information about Poison Ivy, go to http://WebMD.com

Photos taken from WebMD.com

The Week in Review

2010-09-11T12:02:00.000-05:00

Today 9-11, is a day of remembrance; a day to give pause and reflect. This day in September is a day we should never forget. Where were you when you heard about the attack on our country? I was watching the whole thing unfold. The horror I felt when I watched the plane crash into the second tower, the overwhelming sadness as the skies fell silent; the mountain of grief when the towers collapsed. The days that followed were numbing, I stayed glued to the television it seemed, hoping for survivors. I cried and cheered for the brave souls who overtook the plane in Pennsylvania. This is a day to remind us just how venerable we are and still are. We are not safe anymore. This was one time in our recent history where everyone in the world came together. Too bad it took such a terrible incident as an attack for us to do so.

This past week has been a busy one for me. I've got my classes for The Muse Online Writer's Conference in October and from the looks of it, I'll be burning the candle on both ends! This is my fourth year in attendance and I will also be moderating this year, an honor to volunteer for such a great event.

Labor day weekend was a relaxing time for me. Just to get away and be able to have some much needed R&R where I could work on my book without interruption was great medicine indeed. Well, maybe I'll let the butterfly have a look and see what he says.....

It is my hope that this week you are happy and at peace with yourself. Satisfied with all that you do and loving your life.

Getting in order

2010-09-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

Hello to all my fans! I know you're wondering where I've been and what's happened to me. Although this is no excuse it is one of my main issues. The lab job I took in May of last year has nearly occupied any extra time I enjoyed when I worked in Water Treatment. Oh how I miss that work schedule. I have strayed from my love for writing during the winter and found myself playing online games. I became addicted to them, not realizing how they ate up the hours I needed to be writing.
Trying to manage four blogs, a website, Myspace, and Facebook did nothing but create mass confusion and a desire not to do anything because of time related issues. My husband switched jobs and now works the same hours I do and so sometimes my alone time is not alone. However, he is not to blame (all the time) and he supports me as only he knows how. (I plan to pursue my musical interests because of him and the band projects he lands.)
Then there's my cats. Why is it they have to pile themselves on my keyboard or my lap?
I think I've taken a step in the right direction and decided to eliminate some things (not the husband, he's cool.....for now)
As of now, Stuff From The Attic will remain my sole blog site, everything goes here. For me that's made it better already. I have many things planned this year and goals to accomplish, but I needed a moment to think.....
As for my novel "Savant", it's on the back burner. In order for me to make it work right and be believable I need in depth research. I thought I might have had a publisher interested in the book, as it turns out I never received a response back even after several inquiries. Am I upset? No. I really wasn't ready for that, I needed more time and it needs critiquing rounds in my critique group.
What's going on with me today? Glad you asked. I still plan to do some writing oriented issues such as interviewing authors and reviewing writer's websites and blogs. I also have expanded my horizons a bit and have written a couple of songs. I hold many interests in writing, almost all types of writing is intriguing to me and want to write in the ones I like and see what happens. Book reviewing is also an interest of mine and so expect to see a few of those tossed in too.
The projects I have now? Another great question. I am working on a novel I started in November of 2008 called A Day of Reckoning. I decided to work on this one and get it finished because of the content of the story dealing with current issues such as immigration. There are older postings about this project but as the novel comes to a close, I will post more about it at a later date.
As I mentioned I've written a couple of songs, just words, no music put to it yet because I don't know how. I wouldn't mind learning the guitar, but my hands are small, and arthritis has taken it's toll, so I need to find someone who can play and get song to words and see where that goes.
Sometime back I wrote a piece here entitled "What's the purpose of poison ivy?" This particular post seems to have received more comments than other posts and so I plan to follow this up with a reposting of that along with other things which I wonder what their purposes entail. Like mosquitoes....and fleas.....It promises to produce some controversial issues because I plan to come from all sides, biblical, scientifically and personally, for instance, I believe evolution is part of God's plan. I'm sure this is a subject that is not new, but I'm taking it on.
So, I will be coming to my one and only blog more often, staying away from the cute little games and run the husband out of the room. Some of you will probably notice I reposted some material from the former blogs onto this one, but I will have made some revisions and updated them, so they won't be the same.
I'm looking forward to a great year, I believe many wonderful things are in store for me. As the saying goes, "Less is More"!

Another backroad expierence and Muse news

2009-10-20T11:52:00.001-05:00

My husband had to literally pull me out of my chair Saturday. All week long I stayed faithfully in my office, glued to the chair and to the computer. Muse Online Writer's Conference was coming to a close. I had stepped out of a pitch session with Morrigan Books, an online publisher. My head reeling and hands shaking when Mark Deniz, publisher of MB told me to send in the first five chapters of Savant, my Paranormal Thriller.

Bless my dear husband! He coaxed me with promises of a juicy hamburger and a nice drive to check out fall scenery. I complied, (well the stomach did). I had so many things to do, homework, chat sessions, and editing requested chapters. Still, it was the first pretty day in two weeks. I neeeded to unclog the brain and get out of the house. So I did.

We took a backroad, cooler filled with beer and found some great fall foilage. We would stop, get out, feel the crisp air on our faces, and listen to the wind skipping across the tree tops, sending cascades of leaves on us. We started to head home, I needed to get back, the day was waning, clouds were beginning to sock back in and our pets needed food. But we decided to check out one more road. There's always that one more road thing. We took pictures and followed Osage Creek until we came to a fork in the road. I opted for the northern route. We had our bearings and knew home was north of us, so off we go.

We drove on. I wished we had our truck, however, since we traded it off for a gas effecient vehicle, we made do. Recent rains caused some major erosion on the road we were on. The Sonata is not built for four-wheeling, and several times we scraped the under carriage. I sucked in a lot of spit going down that road. We drove past a place and noticed a man sitting in his truck, we wave and go on. I tell my husband as we try to straddle the huge ruts that guy is probably laughing his ass off at us "city slickers". I wanted our truck. We came to a point where it is no longer possible to travel the road in our car, so we begin to back up as there is no other choice. After hissing at each other about not dropping off into a huge gully on my side of the road, we make it to the spot we had seen the man in his truck. The man is out of his truck. I think he knew we'd be back soon.

My husband gets out and with much glee notices the man has a beer in his hand, so they begin to talk. We stayed about fifteen minutes. Alan (hubby) offers the gentleman a shot from his pint of Tequilla. This fellow drinks about a quarter of the liquid and damn near puked. His faced turned bright red, his eyes watered and he continued to choke for ten of the fifteen minutes. I asked if he was okay to which he replied, "No, I'm not okay." I feared he may throw up or collapse, but he remained on his feet and kept his gorge down.
It is getting darker and the wind is colder. We bade our goodbyes and went on, making it home without dragging the oil pan off or busting an axel. I fed my pets, attended class, and in bed by 9:30pm. I have this thing about backroading or taking a road unkown, but despite some of the situations we find ourselves in we manage to have a great time and meet some interesting people.

I want to make mention our alcohol consumption was minimal during this time until we got home. Mine stayed that way, the hubby's? Take a guess.

What happened to Summer?

2009-09-06T07:48:00.000-05:00

Summer eveming sky

I don't know what happened to our usual hot, muggy summer days and nights, but it's fall around here!

The past few weeks have been unseasonably cool, which is nice for me. I like hot summer nights, but that humidity is one nasty mutha! If it would only melt fat....

In addition to the weird weather, the past few months sped past me! It's been awhile, since May that I posted anything on this blog, May! What have I been doing? Working, working, working. Well, not all the time, but considerably more than what I was used to with the previous job. Special tests and audits, plus a non-stop work schedule during the course of the day makes time fly. While we rejoice when it's time to go home, in the same breath I wish for another hour in order to get the things done that need to be completed. This lab job works my brain! While there is nothing wrong with that, speed is of the esscence, you know that saying, "haste makes waste"? It is the absolute truth folks. I find that if I take my time to do things correctly, I fall behind schedule, so I speed up. This of course leads to mistakes, and that pisses me off. I tell myself I will eventually get the hang of things, that I am still learing this. I wished I had it all learned and able to keep up with my lab partner. She's done this job for twenty-five plus years and flies through it with her eyes closed! She assures me I am doing a great job. She hasn't yelled at me yet, and I know there were a few times she probably wanted to. If I were her I would have. Although this is no excuse, but there are many distractions, many detours taken, and once again, especially with the computer work, I have fallen far behind. It doesn't take but a couple of minutes for that to happen and my fingers simply do not fly that fast!

I'm getting the hang of it though. I love being a lab rat and it will take time, I just have to be patient and not let frustration set in.

When I am not working, I have made special effort to finish my novel Savant, it's getting close! I hope to have it finished before October, before the annual writer's conference. I let a co-worker read some of it, (written in long hand, I take a notebook with me to work and use my lunch break to write) and she liked it. I told her thaat was crap writing, stuff off the top of my head and to only take in the feeling of the scene. It creeped her out and she wants to read more. This lady reads so much, her locker is stuffed with books, she also reads in the genre I write in, so this gives me encouragement.

There is another co-worker who has decided he wants to write a book. Congratulations! I tell him. Let's hear the idea. I feel a tingling on the back of my neck, I have a story idea that could work with his and so I decided to work with the kid. I tell him give me something in writing, let's see what you got.

Sigh

I give him some suggestions and tell him to think hard about what he wants from this. He will be the one to do most of the writing on the first of the trilogy. Yes, a trilogy. The idea is terrific and I hope he is serious. If not, I may have to run with it myself.

I look forward to Autumn, wood smoke,chili,Halloween, and frosty mornings (which means remembering to warm the car up first).

It's Early Sunday Morning

2009-05-09T04:07:00.006-05:00

I made it through the first week at my "new" job working in the Micro Lab. I put the quotes around new because I worked there before, but as a back-up tech. That was nine years ago as far as working the day shift. Many things changed since I left. Where there used to be three technicians during the day and one during the evening shift, is now two daytime technicians and a part-time evening technician.

Monday morning I walked in, greeted by familiar faces. It almost felt like coming home. In a way I guess because I worked in the quality assurance department for seventeen years before taking the waste water treatment job. The people who work in Q.A. for the most part are still there. There are a few familiar faces throughout the plant, but there are so many new ones. That's what happens when you fade into a out of the way job. I like it when someone asks me how long I've worked for the company and I tell them twenty-three years while watching the expression on their faces!

The first thing for me to master is plating techniques. This consists of cutting samples, mixing them in a solution, taking a certain amount and carefully putting it onto what is called a plate. Back in the day, most of their tests were conducted using Petri dishes, now there is a new technology that allows a special type of media on special paper to grow the cultures needed. This is called Petri film. The film saves time, but can slip around so you have to be careful!

The first week has passed and my technique is improving, thus increasing my speed. Not only do I have to get all of the samples "plated", I have to make up several types of broths used for the samples, everyday get certain samples shipped to our corporate lab. If there is downtime (very little of that) we stock up supplies for the lab or clean it. It may not sound like a lot of work, but it is. The day goes quick and before I know it, it is time to go home.

Now if I can only keep my scissors sharpened and concentrate on the task at hand, I'll have that part of the job down.

There is more to the story though. Computer work, paper work and other various things are done by the second technician. Once I learn how to do that part, my lab partner and I will alternate the tasks each day.

This world is the complete opposite from water treatment. The main thing is little or no walking, although there is a lot of standing. So far, this doesn't seem to bother the knee. No stair climbing or straddling water lines involved with lab work. It's clean, not that the treatment plant was messy, but it didn't take much for it to get that way. If something breaks down, I'm not scratching my head trying to figure out what happened or scrambling to make sure sludge and water don't flood me out.

I like the lab job. As for water treatment, it is a fascinating occupation, and should I ever have to resort back to it, at least I'll have an idea of what to expect. Right now though, I believe it's a safe bet I probably won't go back because of my knees and feet. There are places that do have operators who monitor computers all day, so that's something I can consider should I have to.

I will miss the people I worked with. There are a couple of them, and they know who they are, that had they not encouraged me and trained me, chances are I would have quit that job long ago. The first supervisor I had at water treatment had faith in me, yet, I needed to prove to not only myself, but to these guys I could do it, and I did. The current supervisor helped me out many times, especially when I thought I couldn't take it anymore. He was gracious enough and his selfless actions (like during the ice storm in January; providing a ride to and from work, cigarettes, and general orneriness) are what makes him a good supervisor. He was genuinely interested in Alan's music and even attended a gig once.

Long live the water wars!

2009-04-14T15:22:00.004-05:00

I thought I would share a little bit of one of our days out. Enjoy!

A Birthday Party for Two

2009-04-14T11:53:00.009-05:00

This past Sunday my husband and I spent the day and evening in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's not a large town, but it is rich in artistic diversity and culture. Most of the homes sit precariously on edges of hillsides and supported on stilts. The town is old, dating back into the eighteen hundreds and full of history and mystery.

Each year, Alan and I share the same age for two weeks. We decided to celebrate our birthdays together because our work schedules are crazy. When you get our age, it's not that big of a deal anyway, so a two week difference doesn't matter.

At first, I thought we were going out on Saturday night and getting a room with a jaccuzi, but we didn't. I was kind of glad because I had been up since three-thirty that morning and worked until seven that night. All I wanted was a long hot shower and a beer. (They didn't come in that order though.)

We had other options to spend Easter Sunday, dinner at his folks' or dinner at my neice's. The weather was cold, rainy and windy with no signs of a let up. Alan told his mother we wouldn't be coming and I had no idea what time my family was doing theirs. By four Sunday afternoon we left the house to go eat.

We stopped at Forest Hill Court, a buffet style restaurant that also serves pizza cooked in a stone oven and steaks. We got there just as they were switching to the dinner menu. The food was good. I just wish my steak was a little bigger, 6 ounces is not a lot of meat. I loved the beer-battered shrimp, four of them, just enough to satify my seafood pallet. The thing I like the best is their spinach dip served with herb seasoned flat bread. It wasn't ready when we ordered it and the waitress thought we decided to pass it by. After the confusion was put into perspective we left with fresh made spinach dip and flat bread to take home and enjoy later.

If you've read my earlier blog posts, you know my husband is a drummer. His band, Livewyre (I have a video of them in an earlier post, May or June'08). He joined these guys last year, but due to personal and work schedules, the band basically spilt up. Jim, the lead guitar/vocals went on to find another group and finished out the dates with them.

Well, after a few months Jim, Eric, and Alan are jamming together again and everybody is happy. They plan to work on original material and do a few gigs here and there, but they want to spend time working on the show itself. Alan wanted to see what clubs might be open. It being a Sunday few were. We stopped at the Lumberyard, a nice club with the coldest beer around and heaping plates of crab legs. Alan and I both wished we would of ate there. He talked to the bar tender and gave her information about Livewyre. We drank a beer and tossed down a shot of Jose Ceurvo before looking for a new place heading west on the outskirts of town called Marquees.

We have a friend who is a songwriter and he goes out there sometimes. This is where we should have ate dinner! They serve what's called "Pacific Rim" cuisine. Turns out the owner used to be the Head Chef at The Cresent Hotel in Eureka Springs. Alan and he worked together at another club, Alan was in the house band and Marc, was the cook.

Before we walked in we could hear piano music, Elton John's material, being played. Alan knew one of them, the piano player, a former member of a popular local band, Kill Gilligan. You can guesss where we spent the rest of the evening. It was a blast, so much fun. I knew I should have snagged up the camera! We sang more Elton John tunes, some Billy Joel, Alan Parsons and even a Jazz tune which was pretty cool too.

The piano was ancient, but in tune. I finally learned something about the piano I have wondered about for years. What the purpose was for the peddles a pianist steps on. Sound variations. Never knew that, now I do.

I always learn a little bit everyday. It's something few appreciate or pick up on. Knowledge is Power, so it's been said. I think it's a good thing, keeps you young in mind and spirit.

I really had a lot of fun and Livwyre may have a gig there in the future. Can't wait to check out the deck in the back! Thanks John and Curtis for letting us hang out and thanks to Marc and his staff for putting up with us! If you ever get a chance to visit Eureka Springs, check out Marquees, tell them Alan and Connie sent ya!

We headed back to the house weaving in and out of fog banks (bet you thought I was going to say off the road) and rain showers back home. Our cats were happy to see us, and demanded food. Still pumped up from the evening, we watched a music DVD, Cinderella and listened to more tunes. I noticed the time on the clock, twelve-thirty, and I had to be up by seven to go to my last physical therapy session! Ahhh, but the sleep was deep and undisturbed. Other than being a little tired, I was good to go.

Alan and I enjoy going out and doing things together. Those times are few and far between anymore. Many factors are involved, work, band practices and money play huge roles, so when we do go out, it's treasured.

This is my last year of the forties and Alan turns fifty. Fifty! I used to think that was sooo old. It sure got here fast! Each year as another birthday rolls by, I think about things done and not done and each year there are things I would have changed. You can't do that though, the only thing you can do is learn and apply to the future.

Before I go, I want to pay tribute to Billy Powell, piano player for Lynard Skynrd who died last week. May you rest in peace and I hope your heaven is full of music!

Tree Frogs and Beer

2009-04-05T18:47:00.005-05:00

Two and a half weeks after knee surgery, I am back to work. I tossed and turned during the night concerned about taking on a twelve-hour shift. The following morning, I clocked in and made my appearance at the water treatment plant. My co-workers and boss were happy to see me and I have to admit, I was glad to be back. I took it slow, not wanting to slip on wet areas in the plant and trying to climb the stairs one step at a time. The day went on with little incident, but by the end of it, I was ready to get home and put an ice pack on my knee. I was surprised when I woke up the next morning without hobbling too much down the stairs.
I still have stiffness in the knee, that, my doctor told me will be there always and I will experience pain due to arthritis. There is a bit of numbness, I suppose it will eventually go away. However, there is the other knee. It's not as bad as the other one, but it lets me know when I've overdone it. It just confirms I need to get another job that requires less footwork. I'm working on that.
If you want to check out information about the human body go to http://www.innerbody.com/image/skelfov.html
Last night after work, I came home and decided I would enjoy a nice cold bottle of beer. I knew there were two of them in the fridge and so I open the refrigerator, no cold beers. I reflected on the situation. The idea of relaxing and take in the warm evening was appealing, yet I didn't want to drive to the local liquor store either. It was a quick inner debate answered when I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.
I picked out a six-pack of Michelob Ultra, chilled to perfection. I paid for my purchase and went back home, grateful for the sun setting low enough on the horizion it wasn't blinding me. With great haste I ripped a beer from it's cardboard carrier and took a drink.
Ahhh.
That first sip was great! (Let me say, I am not a sot, but I enjoy a good beer or a glass of wine on occasion.) I sat with my beer on my porch and soaked in the sounds of the neighborhood. The evening still warm, evident by kids shouting at each other as they rode their bikes past the house. Down the street a hopped up truck rapped its exhaust pipes, and several motorcycles could be heard driving into the distance.
I listened to dogs barking and wondered if they really communicated like they did in 101 Dalmatians. (For those of you who didn’t read the book, at twilight, dogs have their own communication system, sending news by barking.)
Then came tree frogs. Initially, their throaty chirps mixed with crickets and birds finding roosting places. As the evening waned, soon it was just the frogs and me. I listened to them and stared at the stars in the sky. The Orion is getting into his summer path and I was happy to see that. (After twenty years of living in the same place, a person gets to know the paths of the seasons such as sunrise and sunsets, you get the idea.)
I think there were only two “talking”. One had a higher pitch than the other one, projecting the note into the evening air. I listened to these two going back and forth for another three beers before I noticed they had slowed down. By the fifth beer, it was time for me to go inside and go to bed.
That was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time and was proud of myself for not having a hangover.
This does not mean I will do this all the time, which, I think makes the experience that much more pleasant. However, the days are getting longer and sitting outside in the evening listening to nature tempts me.

Even though it's March....

2009-03-23T10:00:00.011-05:00

I am beyond behind here!

Days have came and went. Christmas, New Year's, an ice storm and knee surgery. I've not visited "A Writer's Wish/Stuff From the Attic" in a long time, so I have a lot of ground to cover!

Christmas came and went, I had to work, but all in all, I tried not to let commercialism hamper the spirits. Let's face it, as long as there is advertising, we might as well figure Christmas will be thrown at us in September. Just remember the reason for the season. The new year came and went in the same fashion, I was at work.

At the end of January, residents in Northwest Arkansas and southern Missouri were slammed with ice and lots of it. At first, it seemed we could get by without too much, but as the day wore into the afternoon, it became apparent we were in trouble. When the power went out, we figured it was short term. When we called in the outage, a recording informed us it would be hours, then it became days.

Limbs snapped like gunshots in war, ice continued to fall. Everywhere around us the sounds of transformers blowing out and trees cracking under the weight of ice had us running to our windows each time. We thought it was unfair we were the only ones on our block not to have electricity. Our neighbors across and up and down the street had power. It was as though they all had every light on in their houses including the porch lights, rubbing it in our noses. A couple of the neighbor kids laughed at our misfortune, that is until a major power line snapped and not only blackened out the entire town, but other small towns up and down the grid. Who was the ones laughing now? As much as I wanted to, I couldn't because those neighbors had huge limbs falling on their house and vehicles.

Going to work was a strange experience. Yes, I had to work. The main plant didn't work, but someone has to be at the treatment plant 24/7/365, it doesn't matter if anyone works or not. I wasn't too excited about sitting in the dark either. Thank God I work day shift! It was dark when I went in at 6:45 in the morning and dark by 5:00pm. Armed with only a flashlight, I tried not to let my imagination get the best of me. Here I was inside that huge dark, quiet building, the only sounds were occasional drips of water and several unidentified thumps coming from dark corners where even a flashlight couldn't penetrate.

And cold! Even with several layers of clothing, insulated coveralls and a heavy coat, those icy fingers found their way in. Fortunately, the weather warmed, melting inches of ice. That was kind of cool, watching huge icicles fall from power lines and crash to the ground. I had to wear a hard-hat, the icicles were large enough to cause damage to a person's skull if one were to fall just right.

By the fifth day, I became tired of no electricity. Heating water for washing and coffee got to be a pain in the ass. I like to camp out, but I was ready for a hot shower. It never fails to humble me when the little things aren't there in my daily comforts.

The surrounding area looks like a tornado came through minus scattered debris. Now that Spring is here, it doesn't look so bad, as life comes forth, flowers, grass, and buds on trees. The twenty-year old willow tree in my back yard is the only major casualty we suffered from the '09 Ice Storm. Against my wanting to keep all of my lovely trees, we had most of them topped or brought down a couple of years ago, good thing too. I fear the results would have been disastrous. What I find unusual is the willow did not give up the ghost. The branches we still need to remove have sprouted new growth.

January spilled into February, on Ground Hog Day I went to see my family doctor. I've had problems with this nearly five years now and it was just getting worse. There were days I barely walked up to the parking lot because in addition to my sore feet, my knee swelled up.

Anyway, I had x-rays taken of the knee and an appointment with an Orthopedic specialist.

So far, I learn from my family doctor I have arthritis. This doesn't surprise me all that much. I have it in my hands, I have family members who have it. The specialist takes more x-rays and says I need an MRI. I never had one of those, but I am concerned. I've seen those commercials on TV about a dye which is injected, will I have this? Thankfully, no, I just had to lay still. I did okay until I could feel my leg wanting to move, but just as that feeling was becoming unbearable, the technician came in and it was over.

My next appointment with the specialist reveals I have a cyst and fluid build up, it reveals more arthritic issues too. An appointment is scheduled for surgery. He says it's a simple operation, remove a bone spur, the cyst, and drain the fluid. I'll feel good as new. Great. Let's get it over with so I can get back to life.

I get the operation done. The doctor tells my husband I have the knee of a seventy-six year old woman. The operation went well, it just took a little longer than expected. I had a huge chunk of cartilage hanging, they took that, shaved a bunch of the cartilage down, I had torn ligaments too. I am blaming that on a stupid stunt I did nearly thrity years ago, and time finally caught up with it. He also tells my husband chances are probable I will need knee replacement surgery in the next couple of years. Great. The only thing good was Vicodin (just kidding). It did help me sleep well. And fast acting! It took less than twenty minutes for me to start nodding out. I have one left and no refills, where's House when you need him? (Again, just kidding)

I am concerned about going back to work in water treatment. There are many obstacles, the floors are slick sometimes, I have to lift heavy bags and many hours of walking, stair climbing and standing. There are days where I have experienced no time for sitting down until the shift was almost over, or maybe for ten minutes, long enough to shove a little food in my head and then off I go. I have many things to think about concerning my job and have decided I need to get out of it. I do not see myself working there too much longer and fear it could have some serious repercussions later on, healthwise, that is. I am working on several things, but it will be sometime before those come to pass. I am excited about these prospects so hopefully something will come out of it.

And so, March is on it's way out, April first is next week. Both mine and my husband's birthday's are coming up. He turns fifty, I, forty-nine. I'll reflect on that later. Happy Spring!

Another notch in the belt

2008-12-01T10:00:00.004-06:00

As you can see, I once again have "won" the challenge! A Day of Reckoning will continue to get worked on but, it's time to work on another project. Savant is in the process of heading to the finish line and hopefully, in the next couple of months I will have the first draft finished! Next will come the arduous task of editing. I think I will enjoy this part because it's fine tuning and digging deeper into research. I want it to be as close to the truth without it being non-fiction.

Because this is my rambling log, I thought I'd toss this photo in for laughs. My friend had a cat that did not care for sharing its food with others and judging from this little guy's face, he doesn't either. It's hard to make out the caption, but it says, "my baloney has a first name, it's momnommmm. something to that effect.

Christmas is coming soon, and Thanksgiving? I was at work, which I am thankful for, many are losing their jobs, their homes, their livelihood. My boss was supposed to bring me dinner, just like last year, but poor me, I suffered and ate a baloney sandwich. I take that back. I had burritos. I took my laptop with me, but I worried too much of overloading circuits or blowing my computer's innards. I don't think I'll take it with me again. I don't have Internet access and working on a project on the job that actually pays, well it probably isn't the right thing to do. I'll just stick to pen and paper, doing crosswords, or sleeping. Don't worry boss I don't do any of that!

Another year is nearly gone and what have I done? Grew a little older, got a little fatter, and heading closer to menopause. I'm not sure if I gained wisdom of any sorts, maybe next year, I'll know.

Five down and counting...

2008-10-26T13:55:00.005-05:00

It's getting to the wire, five days left and my world becomes a little crazier for the next month!

Fiftythousand words, thirty days. Look out NaNo, here I come!

I have a new blogsite called Writer Potpourri. It is strickly about writing and the craft, books I read, my opinion of them will also be posted there. I plan to have other writers come and talk about their projects, and I will post comments about websites I find. This is exciting for me, because as I get deeper into writing, the better my chances are of getting my material published. It also helps me to hone my writing skills, and keep intuned to the writing world.

However, I am seriously considering self publishing my novel "Savant", in the hopes it will catch a publisher's (or agent) eye. These days it gets harder to become published and noticed. There are many writers who want the brass ring, and competition is tough. Publlishing houses don't take risks on new writers, and I could spend years looking for someone to have enough faith in me, and my material. With our nation's economy on the downslide, it's understandable they (the publidhing houses) would do a little eggshell walking. More and more writers are turning to self-publication for the same reason I do. That doesn't mean I quit sending queries, that's part of the process. I would probably spend nearly every waking hour writing if I could, but the butt would get really numb, the house would get dirtier than it already is, and the animals would starve, so it's just as well I don't.

The Muse Online Writer's Conference

2008-10-20T10:51:00.012-05:00

First and foremost, I want to thank Lea Schizas, for this years writer's conference. Last year. I barely came in under the wire to register. That was my mistake on the email address. I gained a lot if information about websites and met some really cool folks. It ended up propelling me into writer's cyberspace! This is my second conference to attend and it was the most intense week of learning I've ever been a part of.

Because of Lea's selfless acts, many aspiring writers, (and established/published authors) gain thousands of dollars of valuable information from the week long conference. All of this great stuff for free. There is a place for donations, it cost quite a bit for maintenance and the web master fees, etc. So, as of November 1, 2008 you can register for next year's conference by clicking on to this link http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ and sign up! Believe me, it's worth it. You do get to meet publishers and published authors. As a matter of fact, I'm talking to a nice lady about a coffee table book. It was totally unexpected and could be what I need to get credits for publication. I am into photography and I'm thinking about submitting some photos and accompanying them with short poems. From the conference, I have the makings of a "cozy" mystery, a step below mystery which is a bit darker than the cozy. I didn't know that, but now I do. I think it will be a lot of fun and giving serious thought to making it my NaNo project. I also came away with a series of short stories gathered into a collection called a series novel. I took two short stories that were laying around in their files and wove them together for a novel.

Last night, was the end of the conference, and the after party! That was the funniest thing! Someone mentioned that it was a crash course in speed reading. That was no joke. Words flew by (those of you who go to chat rooms may have an idea of how that works) so quick that if a comment was made you better have fast fingers and a quick pinkie for hitting the return key because your comment may not mean anything within two minutes. The chat rooms also come with a variety of sounds and smiley icons, there were plenty of those flying around too. I am not a chat room sort of person and last year's conference was my first experience in "chatting".

To attend a conference in person cost hundreds of dollars. The registration fees. Booking a flight, hotel room cost, food and transportation. The upside of this, is meeting authors and guest speakers in person, maybe an agent or publisher. Going to a different place and seeing a city you have never visited, meeting people you may have been talking to on the Internet in one of your groups are some of the other perks. The downside is, of course the cost. Many of us simply do not have that kind of cash sitting around the house to spend. There are several of my new friends who are disabled and the online conference lets them mix and mingle with everyone too.

We writers tend to think we know it all. We think our work is beautiful, everyone will love it. There will be hundreds of publishers and agents knocking down the door just to have you on board. The reality of it is, (unless you are extremely gifted or a famous author in a former life and kept all you knew,) getting published is hard. I think possibly harder now than in the good ol' days, simply because of the competition. Publishing houses anymore do not hand out huge advances unless you have a big name. You have to be careful too. Unfortunately as with any good thing there has to be a bad side. If you are looking for an agent or a critique group go to http://www.predatorsandeditors.com/ and check them out. This is a valuable resource for every writer. They go through the markets and do a thorough check to find out who's legit. They post their findings and pass them on to you. The Internet has become a valuable tool for authors. (I wish my dad could of seen all of the resources available for today's writer.)

On that thought, it is very easy to get caught up in all of those wonderful websites, blogs, social networking, and newsletters. I suggest going through and picking out which ones will help you out. Ask some of your writing friends if they know about such and such site or google it. There again, check out predators and editors. Throughout the next couple of weeks, I'll be adding links to various websites and giving you my impression of them. I hope you check them out.

If you haven't read any of my past postings, I would like to introduce you to Roger, my writing totem. Roger was my dad's name and I know he's hanging out so I put him in the moose. They are my muses.

My Pets Rule!

2008-09-23T09:24:00.008-05:00

Those of you who have cats or have had one know what I mean when I say I am ruled by them.
I have two, Troy, aka "T" (named after Tesla's drummer), and Love Bug, aka, "Buggy" (named after no one, she had unusally huge eyes when she was little). Their personalities are complete opposites.
"Buggy" is loveable, docile, and sleeps by my side, or inside the crook of my legs at night. When she was little, she had this thing of trying to lay across my neck, which I had to break her from since I do not care for asphyixiation.
She loves milk and curling up in my lap when I read. She's not too picky when it comes to food, she will pretty much eat whatever I give her. She does not have a tail, it's a little stub, I suppose she was born with it. She's muscular and stout, but a real puss when it comes to storms, kinda like me, except I don't hide in a spidery hole *shudder*. She is skiddish around other humans, why, I don't know. She hears a voice that is neither me or my husband's, into the hole, under the house, or up the stairs she goes.
Her claws are sharp and do not feel very good when they dig into my flesh. It's not because she's attacking me, she's doing what I call "kneading bread". She has a funny way of standing, especially if she is looking outside or has just stepped out there. Her little legs are spread apart, ready to either bolt under the house or stalk an unsuspecting bird. There have been times when she has sat on my chest or hip while I slept, wanting to go outside. I ignore her until the meowing is unbearble. I had a video clip on my profile once about a cat who did just that, execpt Buggy does not use a baseball bat to wake me up. She cracks me up when she all of a sudden pops up or steps from around a corner, her tail stub twitching, and the legs spread apart. She has a funny way of letting you know when she has to use the bathroom. She runs up and down the stairs, into the bathroom, then outside. This process is repeated several times until the smell hits your nose and hopefully she made it to the litter box or outside. Usually, it's in the bathroom, unless the door is shut.
All in all, she's an ideal pet. She's into her fourteenth year of life, but she still has a lot of vitality although sometimes her hips seem to give way when she runs across the kitchen floor. I like to think it's because the floor is slick.
T, well, he's a brat. No other way to describe him. I found him in the street, crying his little lungs out until I finally coaxed him into the yard. My husband was inside repeating the word "no". Poor little baby kitty, I tell him, he's gonna get ran over.
At the time I had another cat, "Scooter" ( she died of some kind of fungal infection in her bones at the ripe old age of eleven). Both Scooter and Buggy were not happy with the new addition. That tiny orange and white baby got wacked anytime he approched either one of the girls (cats). For a few weeks, I thought Buggy would kill him.
Then he got comfortable with his surroundings. Soon the ambushes began; hiding behind the couch, under the table, or under the bed. A slight movement of a foot under the cover rendered a hefty pounce, claws dug into the bottom of the foot and teeth/fangs sunk into a toe. Scooter and Buggy were under constant attack, Scooter didn't back down, Buggy? She has mastered the art of slipping from sight and claw. Don't think for a minute she lets him get away with it though. He supports several scars on his pink nose.
T hadn't been in the family long until one morning he didn't come home. I was sick, he was so little, so vunerable. I'm worried, I tell my husband. I begin to call his name then I hear a meow far away, I move in the direction of the sound. Then I see him. Relief! I see he's not walking so well. I try to pick him up and he lets out the most horrible cry and hissing. We get him to the vet where we learn he has a broken hip, most likely from a car or possibly a kick from a human. It was going to cost some money to fix him. I just couldn't let the little guy suffer and I did not want him put down. I let my husband make the call.
A week later, T was brought home with a tiny hip replacement. We never did figure out what happened, but he keeps away from cars.
T has totally dominated the household. Sometimes, Alan, my husband, eats sunflower seeds when he watches television. We have discovered T likes them as well. He will climb up on Alan's chest and wait while Alan cracks open a seed. It's only two or three of the nuts but that's all, he jumps off his chest and pursues other interests like terroizing Buggy if she's around.
He loves peanutbutter, not a whole lot, just a little on the tip of my finger is enough to satisfy him. I have discovered he cannot tolerate milk, no matter the type, he pukes it right back up. Grasshoppers, the little green ones are a favorite, he like to bring them in and play with them until he grows tired then eats them. Now, the big green and yellow ones, they get thrown up, ugh, nasty.
He's a hunter, both cats are. T is more so than Buggy. Of course, they have to bring their trophies inside the house. Birds, mice, a rat or two, snakes, Cicadias, even a squirrel(it was dead, but behind the couch) have been lose in the home. I know I enjoy coming downstairs in the mornings and seeing feathers everywhere. We have even been graced with a bat's presence, thanks to T.
He rarely drinks out of a bowl, he prefers drinking from a faucet. I think he learned this from Scooter. People? Not a problem, even the neighbor keeps his garage open so T can go in to maintain the mouse population, which I appreciate because that usually means he has brought them home for us. Thanks man.
If we do not have one of our doors cracked open, just like Buggy, he's telling us he wants outside, usually by stepping across our heads, if that doesn't work, he's trying to take the curtian off the window. Sometimes it may not mean he wants out, it could mean he's thirsty, or he wants food, or simply nothing at all. Little shit. We try to accomodate by cracking the back door so my darlings are able to come and go as they please, but then this invites strays too. In the winter this is a real problem. The doors are closed, it's cold outside, and when he wants in, he pulls the screen door back with his paw then lets it go, BAM! I do not get a full eight hours sleep. I'm not complaining, that's just the way it goes.
He has a urinary tract issue, so we have to give him wet cat food in order for him to maintain a normal pH. When that refrigerator opens, he's right there, and he know where that food is at. If I haven't taken the can out, he shows his displeasure in several ways. Attack a foot, attack Buggy, or attack the little rug I have in the kitchen. Most of the time it's all three. I was hoping he would get over the tantrums as he grows older, but alas, no. He is getting a little more docile the older he gets, but there are those moments....
I have to keep a pillow on my desk so he can curl up next to me, otherwise he's trying to lay on top of the laptop which does not work well when I am using it. I don't know if I could have another cat when these two are gone, as much as I love them, when I lose a pet, it's like losing a child. It breaks my heart and several days are spent in mourning. I tend to be more of a cat lover than of dogs although we have two of them.

I suppose it's because I have never got over being attacked by a German Shepard when I was younger. Yet they rule us too. I just wish they would mow their own yards.

MySpace and other stuff

2008-09-14T07:30:00.017-05:00

MySpace

Hello there! I have tried something new. I don't know if it is going to work, but instead of having to cut, copy or paste from the myspace page when I post a blog (sometimes I do that) here. I would appreciate it if I got a little feedback on this. Would you rather I set up the link, or view the post from here? I suppose, I should make sure this works huh?

I tested the link, it works. I know there are those of you who do not like myspace. If you want to check it out, you will have to sign up. So I have decided to do an edited version. Anything to get someone to read my blog!

Pouring rain, outside my window, all in all I know, it's gettin' better everyday. Soon the sun will shine through my window....
I don't know if that's word for word in Telsa's song Gettin' Better or not, but that's how I feel it best describes the way things are going weather wise. Right now however, I'm hoping we don't have a power outage, the lights keep flickering. I am not a fan of storms.

Anyone who knows me personally, know I have a love/hate relationship with weather. Read, A Wild Ride in my past blog postings. I love the weather channel. It's informative and knowlege is power so "they" say. I agree. I love watching the clouds build, huge "thunderheads", billowing thousands of feet into the atmosphere, the sun setting on them, all that poetic stuff.

I think it's cool to watch them at night, when they are far away from me and have no intentions of coming in my direction. I do not, do not, enjoy being in the midst of one. Especially at work. It sucks.
But that's not what I intend to write about this morning.
Back to the song, Gettin' Better. It also is how I try to handle my life and the situation/issues thrown at it. For over twenty years, I've used this philosophy to guide me through a lot of bad times. And I just wanted to thank the writer(s). Without the gift of words and emotions, there would be no music, art, poetry or books. Thanks Tesla for allowing me the pleasure to keep this song in my pocket.
*sniff*, yeah, I mean it, no mushiness here.
My husband and I are working on a solution to a delimea.
You see, we have tickets to meet Tesla personally. Everytime I think about it, I get light headed. It's...it's a rush of adreneline, it's, OH MY GOD! If I were a teenager, I'd be screaming, jumping up and down, all that fun stuff. I'd probably have posters of Tesla up on my wall in my room. *looking around the study/office* Er, uh, well just one of a nut buster. Oh, and the one that came with the DVD.

Hell, I'm too friggin' old to be jumping up and down!
While I am doing all of those things in my head, I'm gonna be cool and be me.
Stupid.
No, I'm married to a musican, I've met some famous people before, Brad Gillis of Night Ranger and Mitch Ryder. Alan and I even got to hang out with them too, which was way cool.
But, this is Tesla! My favorite band in the whole wide world! Ozzy, by the way, is my favorite solo artist. these are the people who I want to meet, it's listed in my profile as such. To the problem....

At first, I arugued with myself, we could use the money spent for the VIPs, on things we need. Who couldn't?
This is going to probably be a once in a lifetime ordeal for us. It's one of Alan's favorite bands too. Long story short, we have the tickets, not in hand, but on reserve.
We have ran into a snag of financial means. I don't feel that I need to explain the root of the problem, but it could mean having to refund our VIP passes! We would still go to the concert, but, shit man! If we do, I will just absolutely cry. I will be so very blue. But, because I carry Gettin' Better in my heart, it will be okay if it comes to pass. Maybe the next time.

Onto writing, I did a restructuring of sorts on Savant, the novel I am working on. It's possible I may do to another one. I need to either make the main character, an FBI agent, a male or female. I want the MC to like cats, and to have a couple of them. I have two. I want my character to have a motorcycle. We own one and so I know what it feels like to be on one. It's an outlet of the MC. I had one of my crits say that with the mixed emotions and kitties he couldn't find the character believeable. He was right. I read it agin, but this time in the MCs point of view.
He is expierencing a death, trying to catch a serial killer, should a tough nosed investigator not have these feelings? He should, I think, maybe, hell, I don't know. Is it too cliche-ish? What if I made the MC a female? Steroetype? A woman trying to still make it in a "man's world", a cop, no less. Would belivablity of emotions and the struggle to land a top notch position on the FBI ladder make it a stronger plot if she was a female? Hummm....
The Muse Online Writer's Conference is getting close, less than a month away now. I have many things to read about, and yes, homework. It will sharpen my writing skills, and there ain't a thang wrong wid dat! That means, I'm outta here!

Savant Jacket Covers

2008-09-02T14:59:00.007-05:00

This morning after spending a few hours outside burning brush and watching the sky. I had some ideas for a jacket cover.

In this blog, I am only posting the ones I really liked since it would take too long to put all of them here. You can view the rest on myspace, just click on the link and go to the photo albums.

I started having images of what the cover could look like and at the first little drop of rain, I was inside, got a shower, (discovered poison ivy on my elbow, yea for me!) ate lunch and then began creating. I'm pretty impressed with what I came up with. I only scrapped one drawing. Hummm...I wonder.....maybe I need grapic design software for christmas? I don't know, it's the first time I've really played around with the default paint software. It's very basic designing but I sure had fun with it. I thought about having someone do the cover, but I don't think that will be necessary.

I wonder if I haven't stumbled upon something I didn't know I could do? Huh. Here is another excerpt from Savant......

At the end of the excerpt are the covers. Leave a comment if you feel compelled to do so.

It started a year ago, when FBI Agent Gibbons died by the hands of what the media was now calling the Tic Tac Toe serial killer, while on an undercover assignment. His body was found in a trash bin behind a seedy bar in Nashville, Tennessee with the letter “x” carved into his back, and a blood smeared note nailed into the back of his head. His wallet and its contents intact, his watch still on his wrist. With robbery ruled out, motive speculations became clouded and fuzzy. No witnesses, or clues; nothing. It was like that with each case so far. Trent needed Tic Tac Toe to slip up, like someone surviving an attack, have close call victim or laccidentlly leave DNA. Something.
Trent desperately needed a solid lead. He guessed poor Ester Varner, the woman lying face down in her own blood, wouldn’t yield much information either. Maybe when he got a chance to talk to the first officer on the scene something might come to light. Trent’s doubts engulfed him like a dark shroud.
It bothered him that he did not pick up even a slight twinge from the killer, no vague images, or a mental nudge. He had no other explanation for it. He could go to any crime scene and touch the victim or an object nearby and get fuzzy mental pictures, distorted impressions or flashes of the incident. He prided himself on his ability to sniff out the bad guys with his keen sixth sense, a secret nobody knew about, not his family or his boss.
But, with this guy, not a damn thing. That bothered Trent more than anything else. He had to catch this monster and soon.
He stared out into the small knit cluster of onlookers. It amazed him how macabre curiosity could be as he watched emergency lights play across women in curlers and robes hugged tight across their bodies. Their eyes full of concern and questions on their lips. Some of the men gathered in small groups, hands in their pockets, nodding their heads every now and then toward their dead neighbor’s home. Reporters strained against the yellow crime scene tape wanting answers. No matter the incident, the lookie-loos were there, speculating on what happened. The people next door thought she was in Florida, not on the floor of her living room starting to rot.

From Savant copyright March 2007
Connie Clark

In a learning phase

2008-09-01T18:41:00.006-05:00

Hello to all!

I'm excited about November's National Novel Writer's Month project "A Day of Reckoning". If you read the blurb about in my last post, you know it's based on a family situation involving my niece. I'm in the beginning phase of character building, plot and subplots, chapter outlines and research! In addition to still working on "Savant". I really want to have the first draft of it finished by or before the New Year.

For those who think just picking up a pen/pencil and writing a story is all there is to it. Wellllll, as I have mentioned before (read other posts, I hate to repeat myself and cringe when I do) at least for me, it is an involved process. I want to have as much of it laid out in front of me before I get into actually writing. That's my process and works. I can get easily distracted and have many interruptions. I try to limit that by writing when the world sleeps.

The days I work, leave me drained to even think. All I want to do is get out of the stinky clothes, soak my feet/take a shower. Yeah I whine about it, but I am truly thankful for the paycheck! My employer has got my ass out of a sling several times because of the benefits provided and many thanks to them! I have mentioned I want to, need to, rather, find something I can do without having to be on my feet the whole twelve hours, whether it be standing, walking or climbing stairs. I'm sure it would be much better if I didn't have a hundred pounds of ass behind me (no I'm not talking about my Supervisor, that's at least 160- ha, ha, ha!)

I had a melt down at work last week, my annual cryfest. I let too much build up and then a minor incident happened. I accidentally poured a water sample down the drain. I had to tell my boss, dreading it. He's under pressure too and here I go making his day just a little better. I felt so bad, I simply lost my balance and had to find a place to go cry. Being tired, hurting feet and knee, hot and sweaty and what not, like the feather that lands on a teetering stack of glass, over it went. That's how those things work I suppose.

I try to not let work issues bother me. It got so bad I broke down and bought cigarettes, (yeah I did, boo-hiss) and then another pack and another pack. It's hard enough without thinking I'll be blamed for something that I possibly cannot control. This comes from the seventeen years working in the Quality Assurance department. Everything has to be near perfect, all paperwork flawless, all tests conducted in a timely manner, so on an so forth. There was a time in my life I didn't have all these issues, but then, I did not have the responsibility. I want to do my job to the best of my ability. My boss has pretty much said that if I let the job get to me, I should think about getting out. He doesn't want that to happen, but it's not fair for him to have to deal with my menopausal spurts. He did suggest to go one week without worrying like I do, and if I did not feel better, he'd kiss my ass, ack!

When I do find the right job, or rather the one I think I might like to try, then I will leave the treatment process. Believe me, I would like to just jump into a job simply to get away from the weather issues, winter is coming up and fall in this area is full of storms just like spring. Hate them! Working night shift would not be too bad if we had another person who worked that shift, it's a one person show that really needs two. I think it's a safety hazard in itself. I could go through a whole list of reasons why I think this but it just depresses me so I won't. I'm searching the papers, and keeping an eye on our job bids, but enough of whining. When the time comes, and hopefully soon, then I will make the move.

Back to writing, it's a much better subject.

I have a writing friend who I met on "Myspace", named Kim. We make comments and such, and am looking forward to attending her workshop in October during the writer's conference. I was checking out her blog and am amazed that not only her but several other of my writing buddies have a half dozen or so sites, and keep up with them on a regular basis. How they do that, I can't figure out, but more power to them! I've learned something from each one on how they present their work. I'm always for learning new things when it comes to the writing craft. As long as I learn, I can only get better.

At this writing, I am also listening to NBC broadcast discussing Gustav. I'm glad it was not as destructive as meteorologists predicted. I'm sure this is one time they are glad to be wrong. This storm is supposed to work its way up into Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with massive amounts of rain forecasted. Not the news I wanted to hear.

I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day!

To make a long story short

2008-08-25T12:31:00.009-05:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I stepped in here, and things are no different today. There are one or two things different I suppose. I'm still writing and as for the word challenge in August; I'm not going to meet that goal of thirty-five thousand, just too many things going on in my work life and what not.

My niece has had her share of issues, her ex-boyfriend is causing problems. Together, they have two children and I feel bad for those boys. The oldest one is now four and the other day, I babysat him and another little girl. They were at the kitchen table drawing and coloring on paper. As I sat there watching them, I asked Nicholas what he was drawing and he told me a picture for his dad.

His mother has a "friend", nothing serious as of now, although I have my suspicions they are steering towards something of that nature. I think she should have relationships, but it will be rough on the kids. They have their "Am ma" and me, but all little ones want their mom when they get tired. To make a long story short, after a girlfriend of hers buried Jessie's vehicle up to both axles in someones front yard, momma finally said enough was enough. There is more to that story too, but I will not go there.

This past Saturday, I had my sister (Am ma) and my "adopted" daughter/friend were over drinking a couple of beers and shooting the breeze. My niece calls, wanting to leave the kids to go see the ex, supposedly he has diapers for his younger son. I made it known to her she is on a timer. Bring the kids over, I say, but you have 30 minutes, get over there, get the diapers and get back.

We had enough beer in us that we promised if she was not back within that time frame, we would be coming after her. She made it back in 35, of course, I called her at the twenty-nine minute mark and at thirty minutes. I pretty sure she thinks we are totally nuts, that being said, she is a good mom and loves her kids.

This situation with her children and the ex has sparked the project I will do for National Novel Writer's Month in November. The working title is "A Day of Reckoning", in the Thriller genre.

Here is the blurb: After Karrie Jensen is murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Carla Simpson is left to care for the two children. When Carla's sister, Abby is found dead and the grandchildren are kidnapped from school by their father, Carla's worst fear is reality when she finds out he has taken them to Mexico. Now Carla has to find the boys and somehow make Juan Pedreza pay for what he has done.

That is the basic idea of the story.

My being the victim of spousal abuse gives me an advantage. Any writer knows that if they read on the subject of writing, it is preached to write what you know. I know in the past twenty years, great strides have been made to help victims of abuse and to keep it from becoming a tragedy.

I pray that nothing comes from this situation. The boyfriend has shown aggressiveness by pushing and shoving, making remarks she is not to have communications with family members and friends. He has stopped making payments (his half) on the vehicle she uses, cut off the television subscription, good thing she has movies to keep the kids entertained and takes them to the park. The man stalks her, follows her around. I told her all it will take is a phone call and INS will take care of him, yes, he's an illegal alien, and so is most of his family. She wants him to be able to have interaction with his kids. Fine, great, and so he should. So far, he's not going about this in the right way. Momma has made it clear he is not welcome, yeah, that's another story and will probably be in the book.

It gives me a passion that I think will be felt in the book and it is exciting to have this passion flowing. I'm glad that I don't believe in things being said and things happening from that. Like to movie "Stranger Than Fiction" with Will Farrell.

As for the job. I'm coming to a point in my life I want to do other things, the main one of course is to become a published writer and do that professionally. In high school, I wanted to be a teacher and when I went to our local school back in June with my friend and her daughter, it came back, those wants of becoming a teacher. To make a long story short, it's a no-go. Tuition rates are too high, I make too much money for grants and student loans? Uh,no. I don't really want to go through four years taking classes I don't need for gaining a teaching certificate. So, this is something I should have pursued way back when. I could try to get a Bachelor's of Arts, there again, taking classes I don't want to take just to get that degree. Online? Most of them want you to come to the campus for orientation, sooo, it's not going to happen. I want to be able to have more time to write, I get depressed when I don't, it's addicting, even a thirty minute span isn't enough.

Working in the water treatment department is causing some health issues. I hurt all the time. Stretching and pills help some but not enough. I would like to find another job which will allow me to sit down and not worry about something going wrong. I don't want to deal with weather issues, power outages, and equipment failure. I make good money, but honestly, I would rather be happy and less stressed out for less dollars an hour.

But for now, I'll have to put up with my feet screaming in agony and the rest of my joints throbbing that constant dull ache. My ideal setting would be to own my own bookstore where folks could come in and get a cup of coffee, for there would be many flavors and blends to choose from, nice cushy chairs and privacy cubicles for reading. On Tuesday nights have a book club and writer's club on Saturday mornings. During the summer, kids could come in such as a reading group. I'd even do commission of second hand books.

I'll just keep on dreaming that one, I do not see anything of that sort falling into my lap and funding is out of the question. I'm finding that to search for loans, grants and funding also cost money, what little extra we have goes to vet bills, saving for work to be done on the home, the list goes on.

It's funny though, here I am almost fifty, and still don't know what I truly want. Oh, there are things I would like to have, such as the dream store mentioned, a bestselling author would be nice, but for many, that is one dream that reaches few.

To make a long story short, I'll stay where I'm at for now, but keep looking for what I want. I most definitely will continue to write, that is a given

how I feel some days

2008-08-10T14:58:00.001-05:00

Online writer's conference and updates

2008-08-05T10:06:00.002-05:00

Hello to allayaz!

The last time I posted here, I was preparing for a fifty-thousand word challenge (JulNoWriMo) similiar to the one I participated in November. I didn't meet the goal, too many things were going on and too many distractions, and August is turning out to be no different!
I'm in the fifth day of a new word count challenge, (AugNoWriMo) but so far, I only have about 1,450; not too good but, that's okay. The good news is the goal this time is for 35k, and I can continue on Savant. I want to have the first draft of it done before November, cause in that month, It's 50k all the way! It's the mother of all word count challenges, the National Novel Writer's Month or as I will refer to as NaNo. I'll post more about it as the time gets closer. (I know, everybody's groaning. Kiss my ass. *snicker*).

My writing totem shown here hasn't been much help, maybe he just feels sorry for me.

For those of you who do write or are intrested in learning how to write: in October there will be a free, online writer's conference. You can go to this website and check it out. http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/

Last year was the first year for this type of conference and it's one of the coolest things I have ever done. I didn't have to go nowhere, spend lots of money on gas, lodging and getting lost. I didn't have to put on makeup or even take a shower, nor did I have to go out and buy new clothes, ('cause I would of, everything I own either has holes, bleach spots, stains and what have you because of my job). I could take my time, check out the different forums and chat rooms where authors, editors, agents and other writing professionals let you ask questions. In the forums there are different workshops and writing challenges.
It was because of this conference that the internet became a valuable source for an aspiring writer such as myself as well as for writers of all genres and styles. I had no idea there was so much information! I found a writer's group where I can post material without worrying about publication rights and such, several sites about writing, writing contests, writing online magazines, newsletters, and yahoo groups. A person could get caught up so easy in all of those wonderful tools they may not get that writing project off the ground!
It's hard to not check out those places from a writer's point of view, many of them have great information! I'm always learning something or refreshing my brain with tips, not a thing wrong with that!
I love to write, it's a passion I've had on the back burner for a long, long, long, time, and only in the past year and a half have I become seriously serious! This time, no matter how many rejection letters I get, I will keep on keepin' on. that's what you are supposed to do if you have passion and want to succeed. I love the research and character building, plotting the plot and outlinning the outlines. I love the whole ordeal about writing except finding the right agent, a process I've only checked into briefly. I problably won't get too serious about that part until I've finished the novel and put it through the second draft. The search can take a long time too, so I have to make sure I have those who would find an interest in even reading any of my material. By the time I have submitted the necessary requirements to each of my prospective agent picks, I'll have gone through the third revision probably. I may just let it rest and do a wait and see.

Sometimes prospective markets will have suggestions to make your project better and it's good to revise using their suggestions, you send it back, he/she may bite then. I have two other projects in the wings, Dream Drifter, a paranormal/thriller, and last year's NaNo project, as well as the one I will start in November, The Belle of Mobile, a supernatural/suspense kind of story.
It's also a good thing I learned, to have several things going, It can become tiring reading,and rereading the same words over and over. It can get bogged down in research material, or one of the characters may be going in a different direction (it happens). Put that aside for a few days and write a short story, take a month, more if necessary, and work on a larger project such as a novel or screenplay.
Writing is not simply sitting down and thinking it will just fall into your lap. Maybe of a select few, but that's so very, very rare. It's tedious work. It takes a long time, especially if your are just getting into it. Now if you want to write short stories, which I like to do too, it's not as complicated as far as information gathering. Poems, that's a whole different game I won't get into. Just like in music, dance, painting, etc. or anything in life, if you want it, get the passion and desire and keep it in your heart and head. Work, work, work, practice, practice, practice! Payoffs might not be so great, but that's not what should matter. Granted, when they get big enough to count I would like it very much, any fool would. Right now, finishing Savant and getting it to market is my focus.
I'm curious to see how many of you read this blog. How many of you will read the excerps I post? Keep in mind they are only tidbits. I'll give it until the end of the month. You read them, then let me know what you think coming from a reader's perspective. I'd appreciate the input!
Here is the prologue:

It started with one knife gliding through the air. Its blade silent, glinting and cruel. Cold, sharp winks increase in intensity as more knives join. Red tendrils of mist begin to weave through the knife ballet, circling a faceless man standing in the middle.
Max sat up gasping for air, gathering the sheet under his chin. His long hair matted in corkscrews, eyes wide, searching the batwing shadows clinging in the corners of the ceiling. Sweat popped out on his forehead. "Joe" was in his head again. Max struggled against the tangled bedspread. Fear tore at the edges of his subconscious, trying to pull him back into the dream. He dug out from the bed sheets and found his robe and slippers. He stared into the empty street from his darkened bedroom window, gazing at the shimmering lights of Bainbridge Island across Lake Washington. Sometimes watching the planes take off and land at Seattle-Tacoma airport helped loosen the constrictive feeling seizing his heart, threatening to squeeze every drop of blood until there was no more. The Mickey Mouse night light stared at him. Of course, Mickey wasn't scared; Mickey didn't have bad dreams about Bad Things.
He stopped in front of the empty canvas, his chest heaving, tears rolled down his puffy cheeks. Slowly Max sat down. His pupils began to dilate, his breathing slowed and the tears dried. He picked up a wax crayon, his favorite drawing medium, and began; his face set and determined as the crayons skated across the canvas, smooth and silent as the knives in his nightmare.

2008-06-30T09:55:00.008-05:00

Hello to all-a-ya!
Vacations are coming up in the Clark household. Alan has eleven days scheduled off starting Thursday, yeah! He needs to relax for a few days and just hang out at the house and drink lots of beer! I'm quite certian he can take this one on hands down. He's going to be a little busy working on some origninal material in the studio and two gigs coming up the weekend of the 12th. Me, not until October, but my work schedule on the norm gives me some extra off time during the week, so it's all good!

For some writer's, what I am preparing to do may be their worst nightmare. Word count, getting a novel written in a month (or close to it). As long as you reach the assigned number, in this instance 50 thousand words, you are declared a winner. No prizes are given, just a mega boost to my writer's ego and bragging rites. That's a lot when you consider most people can't write a 500 word essay! I love the challege though. It gets me keyed up and ready to rock!
For those who don't understand this insanity, pray for me! When I subject myself to these "contests", what little housework got done nearly comes to a standstill during these challenges. Work is work, but armed with pen and paper everywhere. I have a laptop. It does not go with me to work. (I'd go postal if something were to happen to it there, and trust me, it probably would.)

I will occupy nearly every waking moment to the cause or at least 1500 words a day. By the last week, I should be able to crank it up and sail right past 50k by at least another two thousand. That's the plan. In the site's forum sponsoring the challenge, I read tales of people shutting themselves up, families tread lightly about the house. Writer's who are serious about their craft can be like poking a gorilla with a stick during these times of trial. Be nice to us, we can bite. I have read about those who become stuck in the middle of the month, maybe 500 words into the story, really pray for those folks! Who knows? I could be one of them *gasp* Hell no man! I'm too f**king crazy! (I'll write the word potato if I have to get the last words in if necessary. I actually saw that written about in a writer's forum)
So, in addition to Alan on vacation and a couple of our neices from California here soon, my challenge is heightened. Our two cats are of no help either. They think they can just climb right up on the desks and lay there. No space is sacred when it comes to my little dears.
I will keep you all updated on my progress, it may be at the end of the month when all is said and done though. If there are some of my writing buddies doing JulNoWriMo (July Novel Writer's Month) good luck!

My wooden moose writing totem sits behind my laptop, watching, urging me on.

Where I Am

2008-06-16T18:22:00.015-05:00

I thought it would be fun to show you some of the places where I live. (I tried to put two videos here, but I guess I will have to post the other one in a seperate post.) The video above is a highway (two lane) which winds throughout the area. There is one place in particular I think shows the beautiful little valley I live in. Green Forest doesn't feel like it is in one, but when you get on the downhill side, it really sprawls out.

To look at my town, it's not very big, we only have one 24/7 place, a quick mart store, oh yeah, and the chicken processing plant. The rest of it, shuts down by ten, the two beer bars are allowed to stay open until 1:00 a.m. on Friday nights. But when you get up on top of the hills in the area and look at it from that perspective, it's such a beautiful place!

The series of pictures I took are from several places in the area. Mostly wild flowers that grow well in this particular soil, but some of the trees, and grasses too.

I'm driving down a narrow country lane to a discount grocery store. Again, I thought it would be fun to let my many viewers see what's up in my hood! The day was humid, sultry, and only the beginning of June. The clouds hung low, brushing lush, green hills and snaking their feathery tendrils into the valleys. I passed several vehicles along the way, probably wondering what the hell I had in my hands and talking. Hopefully, no one noticed!

Anyway, the air cleansed free of pollen and stale odors. The road is wet, the tires and windshield are making their own music with the rain. It seems that flowers and fields of grass for hay can be heard growing! When the sun pops out, the sauna kicks in, the air becomes oppressive, the clouds begin to tower higher into the sky. Then the downpours start! We have had so much rain this year, I would think we would be drought free for the next two years at least! Of course, it's doesn't work like that, too bad though. The mosquitoes will be larger than the lightening bugs, they, will be larger than a humming bird. That would be cool I suppose, but I don't think I want to see mosquitoes that big!

Livewyre

2008-06-04T11:10:00.005-05:00

I hate it when people take vacations! No, they have to have them too. I'm just glad I had two days off to recover, five days in a row twelve+ hours each day equals sore feet, legs and knees. As my sister put it, Calgon really needs to take me away!!!! But I'll just look at some nice scenery.......

That's much better.

I am busy with several writing projects. "Savant" is in process of restructuring and will be participating in another 50k writing contest. This one is held every July, this is the fourth or fifth season for this particular one. It's like NaNo, but you can use an active project, you just have to have the 50k to "win". So far, "Savant" has fifteen chapters outlined, and a prologue added, with more to go. I'm excited about this venture. I think I have found a way to jump start my novels by doing these types of activities. My critique group helps me to polish and shine the words and all I have to do now is find an agent.

My other novel, "Dream Drifter" (2007 NaNo project) is in critique now. I have three short stories in active stages as well, "Pumice" (a story about one man's greed)is getting a query letter written, magazine market search and editing, "Man in the Mist" (what would you do if you had the power to change things?) is on hold. Right now, it's in a contest in Colorado, top prize 1,000! The new story, "Thunder Thief"( aka "The Man Who Stole the Thunder")is one written by my dad over thirty years ago. He has passed on however. He sent it out numerous times, and it kept getting rejected. I'm going to see what I can do with it. I have nearly dismantled it, parts and pieces scattered here and there. He sure had a weird sense of humor is all I can say about it for now. I'm trying to decide if I want to keep what he did at the ending of the story or make it have a dramatic ending. Huh, I'll just have to write it and see......

As you can see from the photos I have to the side of my blog, my husband is a drummer. He's played in many types of bands, country, blues, rock and combos of such. He loves playing, I would say so since it's been a passion of his over 30 years now. The newest project is with a couple of guys from the Harrison area and Mountain Home vicinity. The name of the band is "Livewyre". They play a harder type of classic rock, and some newer stuff. Their approach to cover songs is unique which makes them a great three piece band.

Lead guitarist, Jim, Bass and vocals Erik and of course Alan on drums.

This is a video of them playing Ted Nugent's tune "Free For All" I must say I was rather impressed! As the evening wore on, more of the club's patrons decided to bear their breasts and such. I won't be posting those. I must make mention of the fact, I am still learning how my camera works and even though this particular clip wasn't so bad as far as movement goes, it's still shaky. I'm working on my technique. If this one plays and works here on my blog, well you might as well be prepared to listen to some of the other ones I may post here from time to time. I have a myspace page for this sort of stuff, but some people don't like myspace, so.....here goes.

The Graduate

2008-05-27T07:09:00.006-05:00

Ahhh, graduation! Tis the season alright!

This year marks the 30th year since I graduated. It sure doesn't seem like it's been so long ago, but reality check says it has. What have I done with all of that time? If I had to do it all over again would I? You bet I would, in a heartbeat!

There are many things I would do, like not get married the first two times. Never tried cigarettes. Spent more time listening to my folks, maybe even co-wrote something with my dad. Finished college. Kept writing. Exercised. Never refinanced my house( it would be paid for now)! Those are just the major changes. I would have really liked the chance to change some of the paths I chose. Yes, there are regrets. If you hear someone say they wouldn't change a thing, they are lying through their teeth! There is always something, even if it was a minor incident.

Even though I am a bit more savvy about things I learned through my chosen path, I know I can (and have) benefit from those learning experiences. Yeah, sometimes it takes more than one mistake to fully get the meaning, well, for me it has. I wouldn't have to go far to have someone back up that statement. And no, I will not go there!

Some of the positive things from the past 30 years do include the fact I'm still with the same job for over 20 years, not doing the same thing, but nevertheless I'm still there. I have my own house and a couple of decent vehicles. I have beautiful nieces and nephews and two handsome great-nephews. I have had many great friends; some have passed on, others moved on, one or two are still around and I enjoy making new ones. I have reconnected with a "long lost" cousin and a good friend from when my family lived in Nome, Alaska. Even though our family split like brittle kindling when my dad died, we were never too far apart and are now beginning to come back together. I have a pretty cool marriage, it's the third one, but it was meant to turn out that way. He tells me I wouldn't have liked him very much when he was younger, maybe, maybe not. That one can go both ways.

I still make mistakes. I'm pretty sure there will be more. I pray though I have enough sense in my head to not make so many.

To those who graduated this year, congratulations! You have many possibilities that await you. Stick with your dreams. Listen to your folks occasionally, they know what they are talking about when it comes to life's experiences, they were young once. Be wary, be smart; pay attention to the things around you. What's that saying? Trust few, harm none? Be compassionate, but don't let people take advantage of that. Give glory to your God, pray for all humanity.

Now, I have to go. I have a friend whose little girl is getting to see what her kindergarten room is going to look like. She just graduated from pre-school. My great-nephew will go next year, he's only four.

My Senior picture 1978

My g-nephew, "T", and me 2006

Kindergarten Queen 2009

A wild ride

2008-05-26T11:15:00.013-05:00

With aching muscles I climbed out of bed this morning, surprised by the fact I could. Actually, considering what happened, I feel pretty good.
Alan and a buddy of his from work decided they wanted to go on a float trip on the Buffalo River. It was all set and we anxiously awaited the day. Alan and I woke up a little fuzzy from a late night spent with friends who coaxed us into drinking a few beers, but we loaded up our gear and headed out. The start of the day was absolutely beautiful! Sunny skies and warm temps, promises of sunburns and sweaty arm pits in full "for sure" mode, but it didn't matter. There would be plenty of opportunities to jump in the water to cool off. Sunscreen to keep the burns away, (although we saw plenty of folks who I'm sure wished they would have put some on!) sun glasses to shield our eyes and hats to keep from getting burnt heads too. We were prepared and ready to have fun! The first thing we came across on our way to Ponca, Arkansas ( a few miles down the road from us) was a part of the highway washed out from the recent rains we had back in April and March.

The drive was scenic, hills lush with trees in full leafiness (?), fields knee high and higher with grasses of all varieties. Spring is in it's most greenest state. There were wildflowers blooming everywhere! The blackberry bushes are loaded down with blooms, I plan on doing some backroading later on and pick a few before the birds get to them!
Anyway, we got to our destination a half hour early so we walked around and checked out the store which is really cool. They several types of canoes, one of them made of wood on display. The store was loaded with all kinds of stuff a person may need on their float or camping trip they may have forgotten at home.

The folks running it were really nice and full of information about the river and it's condition. One of the things they told us was that there were places in which we would have to get out and ford the river. Even though we had all that rain the river was pretty low in several areas. We just didn't know how low it turned out to be!
Soon we were on our way and pushing out into the river. Now mind you, it's been nearly fourteen years since the last time I went floating in a canoe. I'm about 80 pounds heavier now than I was then and of course I'm fourteen years older too. No, we didn't dump the canoe! We did finally get our bearings and with a few wrong turns with the paddle I thought I had it down. It was so beautiful! I would like to say it was peaceful, but there were plenty of canoes and kayaks along for the ride too, but that was okay. I was really enjoying this! I wasn't so sure I would be able to though, I have carpal tunnel in hands, elbow issues and a jacked up knee. But I was having a nice time. Then we started to hit the low spots. We had to get out of the canoe to get it over the rocks. They had a thin film of algae on them and of course rocks move when you step on them. I just knew I would end up breaking or spraining my ankle. There were a few times we were able to just push with our paddles and make it over the low areas, but more times than not, it was out of the canoe again. My poor husband did most of that tho, and he's my hero for the week (He's always my hero ).
We finally stopped to eat. So far, Alan lost his sunglasses and stubbed one of his toes. His hat that he uses when mowing the lawn fell in the water as well, but he retrieved it, soggy and misshapened, still wearable for the time being. Egg salad sandwiches and veggies with ranch dip and chips, to eat and flavored waters to drink. There were other beverages, clamato beers (which are yummy) and frozen margaritas (of course by now they weren't), but after the previous night I really wasn't up for that, I stuck with water. Alan decided to try a little fishing. We spotted a few fish along the way, most of them are sucker fish, they eat algae and snails , but there were blue gills (panfish) and several bass too. On his second cast he caught a fish, a "brownie" small mouth bass with a crayfish lure. It put up a pretty good fight too. We figure it was at least a foot long.

On we push, after a few more of those low water "pushings" my arms were beginning to get sore, more than once I got my paddle directions mixed up, we would end up hitting the shore, get cross ways in a rapid or go down them backwards. We did make a few of them where some folks didn't so I suppose it evened itself out. There was a guy with a video recorder who is doing a documentary (I overheard this) got us going through some particular rough rapids which we aced! I was quite proud of that! We watched as a couple of kids decided to jump from a huge tree overhanging the river. In this particular canoe, one female and two guys occupied it. It seemed the girl was the one doing all of the work, she had to get out and do the pushing across the low areas, then walk while they floated away (go figure). And we pushed on.

By now, we are wanting to get to the halfway mark, this is a ten mile float and it seemed as though we had been out on the river for hours. Well, we had nearly four hours by then. By now Alan not only lost his sun glasses but somehow lost his fishing pole. As far as we know, it's still in the river. We never saw it go out of the canoe. We kept taking on water, more than once we stopped to dump it out. Then I hear faint rumblings of thunder, great.
The halfway mark is called Hemmed In Holler, this is where most of our fellow floaters were at.

My shoes have large rips in them. The places where I did not get sunscreen applied on well are red. Dark, angry looking clouds are moving in. It looked as though they my move west of us, but I kept looking up to the sky. I DO NOT LIKE STORMS They are wonderful and beautiful as long as I am not underneath them. Our floating companions decided they wanted to take the hiking trail and go check out a waterfall. I would have liked to do the same, but my knee said other wise. My shoes and socks were wet and hiking in those would have spelled blisters, even in that short distance. I use to hike a lot in the Cascades back in the days of my youth, I know how painful that is. I didn't feel comfortable leaving our gear unprotected. There is supposed to be a code of honor amongst campers and the like, but unfortunately, those days for the most part, are long gone. Alan and I stayed while Tommy and his wife Regina took the hike.
Pretty soon the only people who were still on the water were us, Tommy and Regina, and a sparse few. The clouds are really building and the rumbles of thunder are turning into claps of thunder. Bolts of lightening arc across the sky. I'm really freaking out in my head. Everybody knows you shouldn't be out in the water during weather like that, but we didn't have much choice. Now not only was I worried about getting my digital camera wet, I'm worried about rising water, and electrocution. We are making good time though, once past the halfway mark, the water seems a bit deeper, but there are larger rocks in the river and huge slabs in the shallows covered in algae making footing hard. Then it begins to rain.
At first, it was slow, but the thunder is closer between the lightning flashes, the storm is coming and here we are. Oh my god. The canoe has a lot of water in it now and then it begins to pour. I want to cry. After a bit, the rain subsides somewhat and the thunder begins to ease up. Yeah! We have a few rapids to get through, great. I'm pretty wet now, praying the camera is okay inside the bag I have stored most of our food stuff and such in. We make it through them without a whole lot of trouble, there were some pretty big boulders under the water but we steered clear of those, yet we managed to get sideways. Alan's just about had enough of that, it wasn't our fault really, in some places the current is swift and unforeseen circumstances can jump out at you before you have time to say......... oh shit.
Then it happens. Yep, we or should I say I managed to dump the canoe. It happened fast too. We let Tommy and Regina go through the rapid first, they came very close to some flood debris caught up along the shore line. The bank cut in deep underneath all of that crap. Okay, I knew we needed to stay to the right of that and we would be in the clear. That friggin' water was running fast and then I saw these sticks just waiting to poke out my eyes or skewer me right between the eyes (I like my eyes and head to not have sticks poked into them thank you very much) and I ducked, backwards. I leaned over a bit too much and felt the canoe begin to capsize and over we went. I felt like I was getting sucked under the damn thing but all I could think of was my camera and it was in the black bag. I had it up over my head, out of the water, Alan had me and the canoe. He kept shouting for me to stand up, but I couldn't get footing, the current in that particular part was very fast. I finally did but the shock of the water and the swiftness of it had me hyperventilating. I only do that when I'm terrified.
Then I started crying, no one saw me do that. I was pretty scared and I guess the fact that I screwed up made feel bad. I was tired, sore and ready to call it quits. We are still on the river though and we had to recover our belongings and dump the water out. I think what really got to me was the next floaters who came through made it past that without issue. With the help of our friends we were able to retrieve our things, but I lost my sunglasses too. The camera? It still works! I felt bad though, but I was reassured that all was okay. Many people dump their canoes, even the most experienced can have it happen. Alan ended up giving his poor straw mowing hat to the river, it was beyond fixable. His tackle box filled with water too. I had thought about putting the camera it it, I'm glad I didn't! As it was, we were not far from the final destination, Kyle's landing. The rain started again, but I was so glad to see the end. I went to step out of the canoe but I couldn't get up, I think my knee locked up, and had to have Alan pull me up. He's my hero!
Will I ever get into a canoe again? Hell yeah! It was a lot of fun for the most part. I like canoeing, used to do it all the time, but not on rivers. We will do it again, but we think it will be on the lake. It's great exercise, you get to see beautiful views, it's quiet, and no gassy smells (unless you fart).

A busy woman!

2008-05-19T08:27:00.010-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here so please pardon me, I've been busy! (LOL)

A lot has happened, spring has sprung and we are hopping right into summer.

The day after my birthday (April 10th) I met up with a fellow writer (left) Jackie, in the fine town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We met at a convience store west of ES and from there we stopped at an overlook of the White river. Man, what a view! This picture of white river was taken during the opening of the flood gates and the redbud trees were in full color. It was pretty chilly, the wind was kicking up too, thank God it was sunny!

Jackie and I are in a writer's group together. Critique Circle has been my writer's home since January. I read one of her articles and that's how we got to know each other. CC hosts a number of things for members to do in addition to reading & critiquing (or crit) other writer's material. But, because of this I have learned quite a lot on editing and finding the flaws in my own material. You don't even have to be a writer, you can simply read the stories posted as well as enjoy the other amnemities. CC also has a map where members can use a virtual push pin to show where you are from. It's pretty cool too. There is a member who resides in Anartica, how cool is that?

Anyway, Jackie and I live fairly close so we decided to meet and have lunch in Eureka Springs at Pied Piper, a cool little Irish pub setting with excellent Corned Beef and Cabbage dishes and Ruben sandwiches that are piled high with meat and saurkraut and gooey swiss cheese, yuh-uum-uh-ummmmy! *stomach growls*

We talked about our families, the ups and downs of being a writer. We both agree it's a thing of passion to continue despite the pitfalls. We decided to go check out some of the shops in the area on Spring Street. Beautiful quilts and clothing to art pieces beckoned me, wishing I had just a little bit of money to get some of these wonderful things! I'm 100% sure I could spend a thousand G's in no time flat just from what I wanted! Then, I spot the bookstore. I just had to buy a couple books for my reference section, just had to. Out came the credit card, which gets scarcely used by the way, (been there, done that, no fun later when the payments come) and I became the proud owner of a bartender's drink book and another book on the usage of words. Of course, we both wanted to see our novels in this and other book stores, nationwide and across the globe, what writer wouldn't?

We wound our way back to the parking lot of Pied Piper where I drove her to her car parked at the convience store where we met. I thouroughly enjoyed our visit and hoped we could meet again another time. Jackie sent a message to me a couple of days ago that she and her family are moving to Kentucky sometime in June or July.

Unfortunately, I will be busy with work, it's that time of the year when a lot of vacations come around and so days off will be switched around again for a while. My husband's band LiveWyre (more on that later) is off and running, so things are going to be busy there too. I have to have my time to work on projects, the latest, a short story, Thunder Thief aka, The Man Who Stole the Thunder. I want to begin submitting it to magazines on the market. In July, there is another novel writer's month called JulWriMo, the goal is 50k, but you can already have a project in the works with this contest. Again, it's a contest for word count, I'm not sure how successful I will be, but as long as I get Savant moving along toward a finished draft, I'll be happy! I've had my head in research books for this one, I merely want to make sure I am an author who creates beliveable characters and plot. I think I can make some major progress now that I have most of the scenes worked out. Yeah, buddy!

I'm sooo glad the weekly, days on end, rains finally stopped. The last few months are history, floods, and freezing temps are no more, still have to keep an eye to the sky when it comes to the weather though, tornadoes seem to be nearly a year round thing anymore. Aside from nature's touchy temper, it's still an uplifiting expierence for me just to sit out on the porch or under a tree in the yard. A nice, light breeze ruffling the thick green leaves and rapidly sprouting grass. I may have a glass of wine in my hands, I may not, regardless, it relaxes me.

I love the birds chirpping in the bushes, the drone of a twin engine plane flying over which to me is kind of a lonely sound, something I've thought since I was a kid. The only things I wish didn't come with the warm weather are bugs and stinging things. My boss has already been stung by a yellow jacket at work, it nailed him four time on the back of his neck, apparently that was the least of his worries, last weekend (Mother's day) he was thrown off a horse and ended up with a stiff knee and a bruised ass. *Snicker, giggle* only you boss man, only you.

2008-04-11T06:08:00.001-05:00

I turned 48 yesterday I'm just not sure how I am supposed to act now that I am that much closer to fifty. I want to say on record, I do not feel sorry for myself, and am accountable for all I utter. I choose to poke fun at my lovely figure, it's my perogative and necessary.

I notice a pair of shoes, they are so cute! Could I wear those? I look at my feet. Calluses as big as quarters, bunions a half inch thick, and cracked heels shoot a mild bolt of pain. I think I'll just stick to houseslippers and clogs.
An interesting shade of eye shadow, that might bring out the blue of my irises, new mascara promises to strengthen and lengthen my eyelashes. Facial powder, foundation and anti-aging gadgets will help get rid of those age spots and crows feet, fill in the laughlines and make you look years younger.
I sneeze applying the powder, angry red blotches rise up on my skin, and that interesting shade of eye shadow looks like I went a few rounds in the ring. From all that makeup my eyes get itchy so I rub them, it's waterproof so it doesn't smear but little clumps some off and get under the eyelids. Now I need eyedrops to wash out the mascara.
I guess I'll just stick to a facial scrub and vitamin E, it's working. Maybe I'll go wild and put chapstick on my lips.
I find myself wandering through the junior and misses clothing at the store, I hold up a blouse. How cute! I hold it to my chest, pretty sure I won't get an arm through a sleeve without it ripping completely out. Only then do I look at the tag, size 3! and it's one of those little halter top jobs I wore when I was 18. I remember my image this morning in the mirror and then look at it again. More flesh would be spilling over than the waters of Beaver Lake and Table Rock in flood stage. From the pictures on the news, I don't think I have that much hanging out, but wouldn't be caught wearing that stuff now. When I see girls who do wear these types of clothes, and they are, (how can I say this) "plump" comes to mind, (I was called that in my youth) I can't believe I wore such garb, parading around as they do now. Jeans, why would a big assed girl want to draw attention to this area? It's big enough, let alone having a glittering butterfly or puffy pockets to aid the size.
I'll stick to relaxed fit jeans that will allow me to breath when I bend over (if I have too, try to avoid that) and not cut me off when I sit down that I have to stick my leags in front of me. Shirts or blouses that won't expose any more flesh than from the elbow down and long enough they hang down to the knees. I try to stay away from bright colored, large printed flowers or patterns. Just another way to shout how large I am. Unfortunately, I love those so I'll just think of myself as a walking flower garden and be pretty

More stuff to share

2008-04-09T07:37:00.002-05:00

A new laptop computer!
Finally! Still far from being totally techno, I have come a little further into the wonderful world of computers and computing with my very own Dell Inspirion laptop. "Spring Green" it is, and only 17.99 a week from my paycheck. In just one year it will be paid off and hopefully by then I will have become accustomed to it, and have it internet accessed. I got this mainly for writing. With it, I can go sit on the couch, hang out upstairs in the bed and work on my novel (s), short stories or poems. Even better, sitting outside or anywhere as long as I keep the battery charged. To save on the battery I will probably keep it plugged into an outlet when I'm near one. While I still enjoy writing in longhand, it may get to a point where I won't be able to, and so what better way than electronically!

Now a word or two about the last two monts of being smoke free.....
I have to admit, I still have strong cravings for the nicotine sometimes. Although farther apart, they have gotten so overpowering , it nearly drives me insane! I get over the episode but man, I guess it's true that Nicotine is harder to kick than Heroine (I've never tried it by the way). I quit once for a year, give or take a day. I gained fifty pounds because food tasted soooo wonderful! I've quit many times, some lasting three to four days, to only a few hours. This time it's for good. I've decided I really do not want to go through this again. Sometimes number one is great, sometimes it's a repeat of something you should have never repeated, like smoking. Someone I knew told me he had dreams for nearly thirty years about smoking. He said that one day he ran out of smokes and decided that was it. But, when he slept he said he just smoked and smoked and smoked, blew smoke rings, inhaled deep without coughing, just relaxing and smoking. In the last few years he says he has not had the dream, but found it funny he did for so long. I've had smoking dreams and yes, it's true, I just sit there and smoke, and smoke, and smoke. Loving every minute of it! I've heard that those who have quit for years still have the cravings. I do think though now days with smoking banned in many public places, it will be easier to control the "jonesing" for a smoke. I haven't gone to a bar since quitting. Most of you know my husband is a musician and from time to time I go to his gigs. He's come home from them and the smell from cigarettes is as thick as a pollution ring over Los Angeles.
It's not the cigarettes I'll have the need for though. Before I quit, I started smoking the flavored cigars, the little ones. One thing they were/are cheap,( less than a dollar a pack). they don't stink like cigarettes, the flavored ones smell like the flavor they are, peach, vanilla, cherry (you get the idea) and I thought they were quite fitting with my writer's image. I'd rather not carry that image to the point of being strapped to an oxygen machine twenty-four hours a day just because I thought it was cool to smoke tiny cigars.
I've had many people supporting me and would like to thank everyone for that. I love you all for caring!

Vacation?

2008-04-07T05:45:00.003-05:00

A lot has gone on since my last post. Again, it does not seem that time flew by so fast, but judging from the last time I was here, apparently it has.

The last two weeks have been hectic! Once again, our treatment plant is undergoing more changes, upgrades from manual settings to computerized ones. When all is said and done, we operators should be able to monitor all or most of our "goings on" from a monitor. It's going to be a pain to start, getting the "bugs" worked out, and many spills I'm quite positive will occur. There will be more on this later, as of yesterday, Sunday, when I finally left, my boss and maintainence "manager" were still waiting for the technicians installing this wonderful system to return from wherever it was they went with a vital piece of a program.

As much as I want to get in on this (hummm, ahem) I, am on vacation! There are always many things to be done during this time, most of which I hope will have me finishing my synopsis of "Savant" I beleive I am on the right track now and the rough draft is looking pretty good. Now, if I can just get to the end of it, I keep dragging it out, gotta find a way to get the bad guy!

On Thursday. I will turn 48, God, where did the time go? It really blows my mind I have gone so far down the road of life and I turn to look back. I still haven't accomplished what I want, done the things I'd like to do or really made any great and wonderful strides in my life. I guess that's me looking out, perhaps it looks better from the other side. I know I could have done many things much differently, but I can't change them now. I will just have to work on what's on the plate now. I don't feel (mentally) that old. I remember how I thought 50 was soooo old, of course that line of thinking has completely changed! Walk a 30 mile walk-a-thon? When I was 15, 20, no problem....now, no way! My feet have slapped so much concrete in the past 22 years, I am amazed I can walk as much as I do now! I find I do alright until I have sat still for longer than 10 minutes, then I stand up. Stooped in pain, I hobble for the first minute until I get the blood going again, then I'm good to go. Shoulders hurt, elbows and hands now have a dull, numbing pain from time to time, they say surgery will take care of that, maybe. *Smirk* I'd rather have a hot poker up my ass than have to fork out money for a procedure which may or may not work. So I use weights, this helps more than anything and gets blood flowing and the numbness goes away. Damn vultures anyway. I do think it would be kinda cool to unscrew the old feet and put new ones on, but I do not want amputation!

Well, this is just insane.....two more days just went right on by me!!!!!!!!!

Making some changes

2008-03-25T21:55:00.003-05:00

Since I started using myspace I seem to not have much time working on my blogs. I think I will be deleting "Stuff from the Attic" my other blog. Most of the material I have posted on SA will get transferred over to this one I call my Ramblinglog. I have also decided that "ramblinglog" is getting changed to Stuff from the Attic-Connie's ramblinglog. So please excuse the re-construction of this blog.
I am still working on my synopsis for "Savant". I'm on the right track now though (I think). Writing synopsises surely get easier as a writer continues to work on their craft. Doesn't it? Please, tell me it does. I started the rewrite of the first three chapters of Savant by using a prologue. For those of you who read this once before, will notice a marked difference in some of the scenes. This will take a little time in doing, but I know it will work much better. I just keep telling myself it can take up to two years for a first novel to be ready for the market. Find the right agent, DO YOUR RESEARCH! It may take another year to score one of those. Many, many issues can arise when writing. Side projects take me away from the main story, but it helps me from getting frustrated with the story. I set it aside, work on another one, maybe a poem, or a short story for a contest. As long as I write, and keep writing, it will get better and I will reach the long term goal of becoming a published author who wrote the great American novel, a classic!
The no smoking thing is going along just peachy fine. I'm off the medicine, co-pay was a little steep but I didn't need the next phase. I still do the sunflower seeds, but not a whole lot. It's not really very lady like spitting the seeds. I try to aim for the drains, but I make sure I don't leave the floors littered with the shells. I also try not to stuff a whole bunch of seeds into my mouth; not lady like either. The act of breaking the shell and try to keep your taste buds from not getting pinched due to not cracking it well enough (sometimes too many seeds in the mouth aids in this) has me slowly backing off from them. However, I have found that I like "David's" dill pickle flavored ones alot. I'm going to need all that salt for when summer kicks in. Even though I started to gain a passion for chocolate in the last three years, my fondness for it increased since I quit smoking. Here is my plan.......
If I continue to eat the seeds, I'll pinch off my taste buds so I don't taste food, which means I won't eat so much.

A month already???

2008-03-03T04:18:00.004-06:00

Good grief Charlie Brown!

I knew it's been sometime since I posted anything in this blog, but nearly a month has passed and I've seemed to have neglected this site! It's been a crazy, close to depressing time for me. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I'm sure happy to see it!

I try not to gripe too much about my job. I appreciate the fact and very thankful I am fortunate enough to have a job where there are many who don't. I am human after all, and have several negative factors which have tried to work against me, the beginning stages of menopause is perhaps the worst one. I do find I'm griping more, I have weird mixed feelings about things, nothing specific really, just....well, it's hard to describe the emotions a woman goes through during this period in her life. It's not that I cannot have children, I don't have any as it is, and on March 17, 2000, an emergency surgery resulting in the loss of my Fallopian tubes took care of any wants of children then.

It's a jumble of emotions, most of which are sadness, melancholy, remorse perhaps. That main one is getting old. Many people tend to embrace this time in their lives, maybe I should and I'm trying. I look at people in their twenties, so much is still in store for them, they think they will go on forever. Teenagers who believe they are invincible, and now I know the frustrations my folks and grandparents must have suffered when they tried to offer advice. It goes in one ear and out the other for most kids. They think these people are old fuddy-duddies and don't know what they are talking about. And now I have turned into one of these people! It's funny though, I seem to think I'm logical, I tell nephews and nieces the same things I was told. Guess what I get? Blank stares, a threat of a snicker, it's like a slap in the face and that old saying of what comes around goes around? Right there is a fine example, all a person can do is sigh and say a prayer that it somehow sinks into those hard heads. I'm only happy in the knowledge that one day they will be the old fuddy-duddy, they in turn will be telling their children the same things which were told to them.

My body is doing weird things too, I'll not go into to too much detail on this. If you are a woman who has had these experiences, you know what I'm talking about. On the evening news one night last week, the subject of hormone replacement therapy was once again the topic of controversy. I told my husband that perhaps I should just go buy an electric razor or wax kit to keep the beard hairs from growing. His eyes got pretty wide until I started laughing, but I'm not kidding! Although hot flashes do not seem to be a dominant factor, I wonder, because 20 and 30 degree weather seems pretty nice. Last summer was horrible and all I wanted to do was stay indoors under the air conditioning. My boss mentioned several times about my face and neck being so red. I finally have come to the conclusion, I must have been under a hot flash warning, I may need to carry ice-packs with me to work and store them in the freezer. No kidding there, it could make all the difference in the world! I can remember mowing lawns in 90 degree heat and it not having such adverse effects, sure I got hot, but not to the point passing out, no matter how much water I drank! Another sign of the times I suppose *sigh*.

I am a happy person for the most part, but a nervous one at times. I try not to let situations get to me, talk things out amongst myself and take a deep breath. With all the crazy stuff going on inside of me, I decide it's time to quit smoking as well. On March 7th, it will be a month of no "ciggies" whatsoever! Yeah for me! Most of it has been a desire to do this for sometime but not really having the financial capability to tackle this. Thanks to our company, our insurance had a smoking cessation program and I opted for the best one. "Chantix" is a prescribed medicine and with the help of a counselor, this medicine is paid for except for co-pay. I was concerned about how this was going to do at my job, it was just too easy to pop a smoke in the mouth and puff away under stressful situations, but this medicine works wonders! The first week, I still smoked, while taking Chantix, but I had a quit date and when that day arrived, gone were the smokes, ashtrays and cigarette butts. The first night, I even put on a nicotine patch, bought a bag of cinnamon candies and a couple bags of sunflower seeds. I only went through three-quarters of a bag of seeds and a couple of the cinnamon candies, but they were not the only things I had in my arsenal, I also carry a bottle of lavender oil, one of my favorite scents and a tube of chapstick, wintergreen flavor. The lavender oil is well known to soothe ragged nerves and the chapstick is something to keep my hands busy and to keep my lips hydrated because the salt from the sunflower seeds dried them out so bad. Water has also played an important part. It helps in detoxing the body and accompanied with taking deep breaths and long, slow sips of water makes the craving pass. I thought work would be the major stumbling block, but I discovered another. At home writing. I did not realize smoking played such a major role, but it did. It was something I could do when I wanted to hash over a scene or a plot point or dialogue from a character. I could go outside and smoke and think.
*
I wrote all of that yesterday and have found that it's Tuesday already. We've been waiting for a monstrous snow storm that was supposed to dump 6-10 inches of snow. As of now, at a little after six in the morning, we are expected to only get 1-3 inches of snow. Frankly, I'm glad, I won't have to put up with a bunch of it melting off, making our yard which is soggy from a drenching rain yesterday that much worse. I'll just be glad for sunny days and warmer temperatures, maybe my disposition will improve.
At work, we finally have a new person which I will start training next week, and hopefully by the end of the month I can let him go on his own. I'll only have to work a couple of days and then it's vacation! My husband has a "honey-do" list for the both of us! There is always something to be down around here and I'm far behind on getting things done.
That includes writing. It would be nice if I had a place away from the house, a small studio, all my books writing material, everything pertaining to writing could go there. No phone, and a big-assed sign saying "no admittance", a couch, fridge, hot plate/microwave, no tv and no cats! In the ideal world I could have this, I guess I could just keep on dreaming, or as the saying goes wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up the quickest would most certainly apply here.
I really have to keep reminding myself I do have a good thing, I'm just being a petty bitch. It's hard to maintain a bright, sunny outlook, but I tell myself, it could be much, much worse. I am truly thankful for what I have, because I could have nothing. Some days, I don't want to even get out of bed, yet, there are those who can't. When I want to whine and moan I stop and think about how it could be, I put it to rest.

Double post

2008-02-06T03:09:00.000-06:00

My sister has invited me to post on her blog. *claping everywhere*Thank-you, Thank-you all! I have been so busy with my own material, I finally managed to have the time to catch up on e-mails and discovered her request. Now it makes it that much easier to deny anything she says about me if I feel like it! LOL :). From time to time I will post my two cents worth there, which is what I did, then copy and pasted it onto to this blog. I figure I wrote this so it needs to go here too. I have done a lot of walking around in cyperspace forums for sometime now and have learned that there are really a lot of people who don't know what they are talking about. That's fine, to each his own, I only ask that you make sense. (like I always do,)* snicker and chortling heard far off*

I cast my vote in the Arkansas Primary today, and was glad to hear Hillary Clinton won this state and Missouri. Some of you may call me an idiot, but the way I see it, I don't think I would want to be in the President's shoes no matter who that person may be. You are scrutinized, picked apart, and placed under a microscope for every move made, every decision you make. Some cheer for you, some call you a pig or worse. You have to try and please the nation as a whole, and in case ya didn't know, it doesn't work. You have to please your allies, you have to sit in front of a thousand flashing cameras with a foe trying to have peace talks, all the while having to play nice. You would have to be one thick-skinned son of a bitch to be able to handle the issues they have to confront.Each person who takes on these types of leadership roles, whether it is a captain of a ship, or leader of a squadron, they all take risks, some win, some don't. Each of these types of people have their own ideas as to how they can fix this problem or make that program run efficently. Again, sometimes they work until someone else comes along and screws it up, and sometimes they screw it up without help. I personally do not think our government can ever be fixed. It's past broken and maybe one day we may get somebody who can fix it, maybe we won't.The way I vote is whoever makes the most sense. Forget the promises, if their ideas sound true, they don't spew out a bunch of empty talk, or have the personality of a rock, they maybe can at least get it going on the right track. I don't think all politicians were/are calloused before politics made them that way. I actually think that some of them went into politics for solid reasons, wanting to help their neighbor, their town, their county or state.With that being said, I still think most of them are crooks, liars and cheats, but I'm sure glad we don't have to get up at sunrise every day thanking God we didn't die from bombings during the night and hope the day keeps us from being the next victims of war. It could happen. If you were president, what would you do to make everybody happy? That does include, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians and other immigrants who gain citizenship. That does include those who lost their job of 20 years due to downsizing, to the consumer who's forking out $20.00-80.00 (or more) for a tank of gas. What would you have done for the victims of Katrina? 9-11?Me, I'd be smacking some heads together! Hell, I don't know what I would do. Who would want the job? Gangster rappers and football players make millions more than a president. I'd rather get tossed around the football field and get paid more for it than have half a nation ready to toss me out on the front porch. And yes, some of our presidents get the big head and go crazy too.I just choose who I personally thought can turn it around just a little bit. Even if a little bit gets done that could possibly be the step in the right direction.

*lots of clapping and cheering throughout cyberspace, steps off of soapbox*

Another site

2008-01-28T05:48:00.000-06:00

Well, Alan decided he wanted his own space on my space, so he has fixed me up with my own space on my space!
http://myspace.com/writeforreal is now my space. With all of this space going on I should be just floating around. but here I am sittin' on my ass.

New Site

2008-01-20T20:46:00.000-06:00

Another week has passed and thank God it's over! Despite water lines freezing up and construction in progress it wasn't as rough a work week I had expected it to be.

My husband and I have a myspace account you can check it out at
http://myspace.com/drumsandbooks I've already posted a blog there. It's mostly Alan's site, but I will have stuff on there too. You'll have to give it some time to get things up and going but it'll be fun! Check it out!

*Aww man! N.Y. Giants and Green Bay 20 seconds to go in the fourth, a field goal attempt was made by N.Y. and its no good! OVERTIME!*

I have sent off a short story, "The Man in the Mist" to Colorado State University. It's English department has a contest with the top prize of $1,000.00. It'll be a long wait for notification, it's not until July. I have also set up a calender of sorts on my writing goals for 2008. So far, I have sent off this story and am close to finishing up my last course with Long Ridge. By the end of February, I plan to have chapters five through eight finished in long hand and have another short story picked out for another contest in "Byline" magazine. Those are the short term goals.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and I am going to have her write out a prescription for Chantix. I had the prescription once and took it to the pharmacist. It would cost me $100.00 for a month's worth for three months. I threw it away. A week later, our company newsletter comes out with an article pertaining to a quit assist program. I called the number and the program would not go into effect until Jan. 1 but I went ahead and enrolled basic information. I wasn't sure about the Chantix being paid for but when I called them last week they told me our company's insurance will pay for the prescription if I have counseling to quit; I said, hell yeah! So when I go in tomorrow, she'll be mad because I gained five pounds (not good) and still smoke.

She'll be happy though when I come for the next visit and quit smoking, mad at me because I gained another ten pounds, (I better not!) She says that I need to walk at least thirty minutes a day. With alternating 36/48hr. work weeks (3 on 4 off/ 4 on 3 off), I figure I work twelve hour shifts, give and take ten minutes on either side of clock in time. I take off an hour's total time on average as sitting down, meaning most of the time it's sitting here or there for five minutes then getting up to go do whatever needs attention. Some days it varies, but not often. That leaves about eleven hours of work time. I am either walking, standing or climbing stairs. My guess is that at least five to six hours is spent walking. So I'm thinking I've met my quota on that.

*New York Giants against New England in the Super Bowl. New England 18-0! New founded respect for them!*

I hope I will be able to do this and maintain my sanity at work. It gets stressful, reach for a cigarette. Gotta watch this water drain, smoke a cigarette while standing there. Waiting for a sludge tank to empty, might as well smoke another one. Whew! Those stairs were a bitch! Better smoke one after I catch my breath. See what I mean? I have decided I will try sugarless gum, and candies. I hope I don't resort to chewing fingernails. I once tried sunflower seeds, I love the things but my tongue became raw from breaking them open. I may do that anyway. It keeps me busy so to speak. Instead of flicking the ashes, I'll be spittin' seeds into a cup or drain. Instead of pulling out a smoke, I'll be shaking seeds out of a baggie. Plus the counselors will know me by my first name and asking about the family when it's all said and done, laughing about the time I called them at 3 in the morning drunk, wanting a smoke! I may just do that to see what happens! Then I can write about it.

But this time I want to once and for all, finally quit smoking. I've tried at least a dozen times in the last twenty years. If I can get that much of a head start with assistance, I think it will be all right.

Anniversary

2008-01-12T15:49:00.000-06:00

The loss of a loved one for many can cling to one's soul for many years. Some can move onto other things and never give the loss another thought. Some, like me push the loss to the backs of their minds and continue on with their lives and then one day when you reflect back on the years it suddenly hits you.
My father was sort of a hero, an idol of sorts when I was growing up. I did not actually acknowledge this until I decided to become a writer. Even then, back in 1990, I did not cherish as I do now that I am in my late 40's.
Being the oldest of five kids, I suppose I should have set examples and I did. I got more whippings and yelled at than the other kids did until my dad figured he was wasting his breath yelling at me. I have to admit, I deserved most of the spankings I got. I did stupid things and therefore I got spanked (those incidences are stories in themselves).
I honestly do not see how my folks stayed sane with five kids. I see people with one or even two kids, and it simply amazes me my parents weren't sitting in a corner smacking their head against the wall!
My father was a dreamer. He loved the wide open spaces and the Rocky Mountain Range. Nearly every summer west is the way we went on vacations, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas and New Mexico. He loved Louis L'Amour and I guess he wanted to go where he had been.
We lived in Memphis most of my childhood in a nice urban area, split level home, nice yard and I'm positive in debt up to their eyeballs. Back in the 60's everyone wanted to be Catholic, and made it a point to keep up with the Joneses, in this case, the Kennedys, J.F.K., that is. I think that after the Martin Luther King riots and civil rights movement, my dad decided he was tired of the rat race. I'm not real sure when he decided to become a writer though. I remember he went to college on the G.I. bill and received his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Law Enforcement, and was writing then. He had a den of sorts, I used to marvel at the shelves of books he had (I have many of those books) and would love to have the setup he had. It was definitely off limits to us kids, especially me, I had a tendency to write in and on things and have no recollection as to how many spankings I got because of that. In my defense, I think they should have tried to encourage this and gave me paper.
the vacations to the west I guess must have become mundane, because we went to Canada when I was 11 for the first time. That story will have to be told at another time. All I can say right now is it was an awesome adventure! I promise to write about that another time. The following year my grandparents sold their home in Memphis and moved to Missouri, near Branson on 40 acres of wooded land which eventually became pasture land they rented. Also that same year, we became members of a place, near where my grandparents lived called "The Wilderness Club". Ironically, that's where most of the Memphis Police and their families spent the weekend hanging out at the lodge and swimming area. It also had trails and dirt roads which we trampled on quite a bit for the next two years until we moved to Alaska. That is another story which is going to be told and I hope to have input from family members, my brothers were too young, but my mom and my sister, Cheryl can help fill in things.
The reason for the move to Alaska? My dad the dreamer. By this time, he had a couple of short stories published in campus papers and "gentle men's" magazines and wanted to become a full fledged novelist living in the wilds of Alaska in a log cabin, snowed in during the winters and I don't know if the thought ever occurred to him then or later on it was probably a good thing that it didn't happen. Five kids, couped up in a log cabin, snowed in???? Yeah, you get the picture.
He and another fellow officer decided they had had enough and both families back their belongings, had yard sales, bade farewell to relatives and off we went.
Unfortunately, for them, had they investigated further, they would have discovered we needed to have Eskimo or Alaskan Indian blood in order to establish a homestead. Pretty sad too, since both my dad and his friend staked out land in which they wanted.
It didn't stop dad from achieving what he wanted to do, but it forced him to find employment in the only thing he knew, law enforcement and after living in a motel for a month, we moved to Nome where eventually he became the Chief of Police.
After a series of moves to Washington and Oregon, he finally moved back to Missouri with everyone but me where I stayed and had a decent job and going into my second year in college where I wanted to work in the Forestry department. Of course, that did not work out.
He continued through the years to write, submitting stories and working on novels, a publication here and there. Sometimes the only desk he had was a kitchen table and an electric typewriter.
Then my world fell apart and I moved home to my parents who, by now lived in a two bedroom trailer on my grandparent's 40 acres. Lucky for three of my siblings, my great aunt had passed away and her living quarters were where they slept, then I came along and with a huge bookshelf used as a wall to block out my sisters I had a tiny sleeping area.
In August 1983, I had moved out and was living in an apartment, partying and having a good ol' time when I found out my dad was diagnosed with cancer. By January 1984,it was nearly nine months from the time of diagnosis to his death.
It was twelve years and one day when my grandmother, dad's mom, passed away from Pneumonia.
This year for some reason, I missed my father terribly, I guessed I wanted him to rejoice with me when I got my first short story published and wished that he could of had all the wonderful tools the Internet has brought to the world. Did he accomplish his dream, was it fulfilled? I think if he would have had the opportunity to live longer he would have eventually become a published novelist. He died a happy man, he found part of what he had searched for most of his life and that was peace within by accepting Jesus as his Saviour. It was a transformation I would have never thought to happen to him. He was a hard-nosed cop, calloused, and cussed alot (expect for the f-word). Finding God turned him into a happy man and I know he was at peace with himself and with God. It is my understanding that when he did pass away, the oldest of my brothers, Mike and a family friend were in the room and witnessed a glow fill the room when he died. Dad told his mother the day before he passed that the other side did not look so bad.
A few years back, when my second ex-husband was running the roads doing God knows what, (I knew) I ran across some of his files of stories and the works of one of his novels. After reading several books in a row it hit me that I wanted to write. Call it what you want, but I could have swore that my dad's spirit started nudging me. Apparently, I either ignored the nudge or sent it reeling down the hillside because I pretty much stopped until recently. Again, I started going through his files, feeling the nudge again, only this time, it was subtle. As if to say, it's my choice, but I perhaps had better decide if I will pursue writing or not, get a thick skin because the publishing world is not a pretty place and you have to keep picking yourself up.
I have decided that I will get thick skinned and keep trying. I cannot see myself in another ten years doing the same job I am doing now, although I like it, it sometimes does not like me!
I'm glad I have this blog though. If I have the notion to write, I can come here. I could have kept a journal, but writing long hand is a difficult task, yet I prefer to write my first drafts in long hand. I think that will come to pass too as my hands and fingers are becoming knotted and very sore as the years go by. Good thing I can type!

My sister's blog

2008-01-06T14:42:00.000-06:00

Hello to all!

Almost a week into the New Year and it just keeps rolling on and on.....

My sister, after I convinced her she could do this has her own blog. I have competition! She will tell tales of our youth, and things that gets her blood boiling. Let me say that anything she says about me is not true! LOL:) She doesn't know it, but I think she could do well writing her own column in a newspaper, but her blog will do just as well. Of course there is no pay for her opinions, but insights to life and things she sees through her eyes are picked apart and put back together again.

If you want to visit her blog go to http://itsallinthetimong.blogspot.com/

As for work..... (boss is cringing)

We are staffed with only one extra person to cover when someone is not there. Our shifts run in twelve hour increments, and thankfully the weeks alternate as four days on, four days off. As of now, we have a position open which leaves only four of us to cover the shifts. There is one person who will tell you outright he is not a team player and gripes about his job and the company and the boss, he basically gripes about everything.

He doesn't like the boss because he thinks that when decisions are made, the boss is the one who has made them all. When weekend assignments are handed out, this person gripes because our boss at one time was an operator and in this person's opinion never did anything but sit in a chair shooting the breeze all day long.

There have been changes made in merit raises and licence requirements, this person grandfathered into a licence and now has to go take a test to get up to date, he blames this on our boss, not the guy's fault, but try telling that to him.

Now he is creating strife with me, at one time I respected this person. He's an excellent operator and knows the ins and outs of water treatment, but in his opinion, why would someone want to go to college and learn how to stick their head in a manhole? This person does not have an open mind and is stubborn as six mules going uphill, and he's finally pissed me off.

He does not care about his co-workers, they could sink or swim as far as he is concerned. He refuses to learn the technological aspects of our job and so when an issue arises, say the computer quits on the treatment systems and sludge spills everywhere, he walks off instead of correcting the situation.

Yeah I'm mad. I cherish my time off just like the rest of my co-workers. I take great pains to ensure the fact that should I need time off, I schedule it far enough in advance so others are aware of it. When situations arise where my boss and our maintenance guy have to get up at three in the morning to come in and fix things, I know they cherish their time off and their sleep! Yet,they are there to help in anyway possible. My poor boss has gone from brown hair to brown and gray hair in less than a year. The maintenance man is also an operator and between him and me, we fill in the days and nights if someone wants off. The other night shift operator is great, he helps fill in those gaps and comes in on his days off to do cleaning on our treatment units so this certain person does not have to drive in on his day off, because he has made it known he will not come in.

I have decided this person has lost alot of respect from me because of his crappy attitude. My boss can only do so much and personally I think he has bent over backwards to keep this person happy and it hasn't worked.

Said person went to our human resources manager instead of our boss and complained he had a week of vacation and wanted to take it. We are short handed anyway, he says it's not his fault the other operator quit, it's the boss'. He claims he is entitled to use his vacation, I agree, but....he could have done so earlier. Hell, there are 52 weeks in a year! There are including this person, four of us who have four weeks vacation.

Do the math! It just really pisses me off! What a sorry deal! He does not think of no one but his own selfish reasons, but perhaps I'm not seeing the whole picture. Perhaps I'm being selfish because my feet hurt and need the time for them to stop hurting. Twelve hours of walking and standing makes my feet hurt, don't know about anyone else. Yeah I gripe and bitch but I'm there to help out and would not ever place my co-workers in this situation. If we had two or three extra people, I damn sure wouldn't be writing about this person's lack of heart.

I think I need the Valium now! Maybe my feet wouldn't hurt and maybe I wouldn't give a flying ***k! I kind of wish this person would just quit, I could move up to the front of the work week, (providing the maintenance guy did not want the position) for me, that's the primo spot in this department.

I guess I've spouted off enough about this for now. Yeah, I'm still pissed. The five day week, (two day shifts and three night shifts) will make for an excellent pay check, but sometimes money isn't everything!

It messes with my body which has decided that it is time to go into menopause, so the griping, crying and whining will probably won't go away for sometime. (Sorry boss :() ) I try to have a positive outlook, for the most part I do. I like my job and my co-workers (execpt the one I'm complaining about) I couldn't ask for better people to work with. I just wish my feet, back and soulders agreed. Hell, if I did not ache so much I would still have a problem with it.

It's the principle of the issue.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T09:57:00.000-06:00

Hello to all and Happy New Year!

The Holidays are over for another year and now it's time to get back to the business of getting my book published! I do however want to share a bit of news, I did get a short story published. It will be in the upcoming issue of "Just Write" magazine. It's not a paying gig but it's a start! I want to net a paying gig, sure, but if I get a couple of publications on my resume' it won't matter how I got them. You can check out the magazine on http://www.uandijustwrite.com/

On to other news.

Alan and I spent the early evening hours of New Year's Eve driving to Russellvile, Arkansas. Our first stop, Alpena, eight miles from where we live to fuel up the truck. For $30.00, we got almost three-quarters of a tank. Pitiful, just pitiful, good thing our little Ford Ranger gets decent gas mileage!

It's been over ten years since the last time I visited Russellville. My good friend, Pam and her two daughters lived there while Pam attended Arkansas Tech. From what I remember of it, Russellville is a pretty nice place. Lake Dardenell, Illinois Bayou, and the Arkansas River are close by, and I-40 helps bring in the people.

Anyway, it's a nice evening for the ride, tunes on the radio and no snow, ice or rain! We are going to Russellville because my husband, Alan is checking out a band looking for a drummer.

Alan is a musician by the way, (in case you haven't guessed) he's been pounding the skins over thirty years now. "Quinntalkin" is the band's name and the club is called the "North Forty", situated right off the Interstate and a Motel 6 right across the street, very nice and convenient!

Now we are on hwy. 7, a very scenic route winding through the Boston Mountains, Ozark National Forest, and the Buffalo River one of the most popular rivers to float. The sun blinds us from time to time, and we sort of made it a game to see who could slap down their sun visor before the sun, which is right at the level it shines in the eyes and sun visors can't block it out. From Harrison to Jasper is extremely curvy, and full of long winding, sharp cornered, inclining hills. But it is so beautiful, breathtaking vistas which one can see for miles. As a matter of fact, there is what we call the "Grand Canyon of Arkansas" just south of Jasper. It was so cool how the setting sun covered the tops of the mountains and the cold shadows of the winter's oncoming darkness enveloped the "canyon". If I hadn't packed the camera into the suitcase, I could have snapped a couple of shots. Oh well, maybe tomorrow on the way home-

(half hour later)-

Man, what a curvy assed road! It's all I can do to keep writing! I have this lap version of a desk,just a bit bigger than a legal pad and a pillow base. A very handy gadget and it's much better than a clipboard because the pillow is helping to keep me warm! It became dark enough that even my little book reading light wasn't helpful and decided to watch for deer jumping out onto the highway. I've seen some crazy pictures of deer and vehicle collisions on emails sent to me, and know people who have hit deer. They can sure jack your car up. We were down to a crawl stuck behind an eighteen-wheeler loaded down with poultry products from Tyson. My guess is he's headed to one of the distribution centers in Russellville. He's doing pretty good navigating the highway, I figure he's done this a time or two. Ahh! Going down hill, wheee!

After a stop in Dover to get out and stretch our legs, we headed onto our destination. At the Motel 6 we checked in and then decided to go check out the club. The first snag of the night is when we went inside, there was another band scheduled to play by alternating the sets between them and Quinntalkin. Problem was "Off The Wagon" had to set up around QT, with OTWs drummer without a place to set up. All was resolved when lead singer Jeff Quinn came in and together both bands worked out the issue. In the meantime, we finished our beer and walked a few feet to "CJs" a burger place, fresh made burgers with whatever you desire on it, home fries and a drink.

I will have to finish my story another time, I just found out I have to work in the morning and at the latest I can get up is 5:00am in order to be there on time (6:45). A co-worker's father in law is very sick and is not expected to make it through the night.

(It's 4:30 in the morning on the following day)

So, far, Steve's father-in-law is holding on, but he's not doing too well. Day at work wasn't a nightmare like I expected it to be- on to my story!

First person who stood out was Todd Clark, the bass player, short spiky hair, and squinty eyes, with a perpetual smile. "Dude!" he shouted to Alan. I think he may have been in Bill and Ted's great adventure. Next to stand out was the lead guitar player, Marty (sorry can't remember the last name!) big ol' boy and lots of hair! Then Jeff, also a good sized character and all about the business. I liked the chin beard (what is that called?) goatee thing. After Alan had another beer, we went to the room and got ready for the party.

We came back around ten or so and the crowd was into an electric slide, lights dancing, twirling and blazing above and around us. We missed OTW's first set but we would be able to check them out later in the third set.

Odd, never have been to a gig where the bands alternated sets, each one 40 minutes long, then the DJ for twenty. That meant each band had an hour break between sets, I don't know if that's a good thing or not so good thing. Nice break for the guys, but how many beers (or whatever) during that time?

The coolest thing about North Forty in addition to it's spaciousness and six pool tables was a huge wagon wheel which hangs over the dance floor, note the picture. (The ladies in the picture, sorry, but I kept it because of the silhouettes against the lights on the wheel.) The dance floor is wood and surrounding it is a rail where patrons may lean against it and watch the dancers. There are two bars plus a beer wagon to assist folks in becoming pleasantly numb and beyond. There were folks dressed up for the New Year, a promise of a nice purse for the winner of the costume contest scheduled for later that evening. I tell you what, seeing all of those college kids running around made me feel rather mature. Although, I did not have four or five buddies running with me to the bathroom, laughing and giggling. It made me realize that women in their twenties still acted like school girls. Ah, youth!

AN HOUR FROM MIDNIGHT

Quinntalkin is on the stage, way cool, they have a country thang going, nice and slow to start, good sound. By the way, Todd and Jeff's wives also are active with Quinntalkin running sound and the lights, very nice ladies. What I thought was also cool was Jeff broke a string and they took it off stage and replaced the string, go girls!

Support our troops! We just met a kid back from duty in Iraq, Chris Hayes who came home in October. What a great thing to see him smile when we all clapped for him! Way cool! He did confess he did not get to see much action, I say lucky for him! Wish him all the best!

Off the Wagon now playing, their style a little more contemporary. The drummer toured with Black Oak Arkansas, I think he said for about nine years. Both bands are really good!

I may be a bit biased, but I think Alan could be an asset to either band! Sorry again, but what can I say?

Last weekend (Christmas) he went to Rogers, "Tony C's" a club, (near Springdale/Fayetteville) and got to sit in with QT, and the reason we drove to Russellville was so Mark could check Alan out since he was not at that gig.

Another first for us! We just found out this place is open until 4:00 am! I am with the understanding that it used to stay open until daylight. I am also with the understanding that however, after 1:00 am no one else was allowed inside. (Thought I might mention this, don't need anyone getting into trouble.)

It's nearing midnight and the North Forty is starting to gear up to the big moment, more people dancing, laughing and yelling. It's funny how a few drinks can turn an ordinary, quiet girl into a yahooing, cartwheeling, invincible thing until she throws up on the dance floor. (At this point it hasn't happened yet, but I'd place money that it will)

I think we are less than a half hour from midnight. As I continued to marvel at its size, I think half the town of Green Forest could fit in here and not see the same person twice!

Okay, perhaps I jumped the gun. There's been a gal who keeps circling the outer edge of the dance floor, I've seen her several times (must be looking for somebody) so I guess it's not that big.

NINE MINUTES TIL MIDNIGHT!

Horns blowing and those little noise makers you twirl around are becoming commonplace. Champagne is being pored. Oooh cool! A champagne fountain and food at another bar near the back where we are sitting.

IT'S 2008! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

First gripe in 2008- My feet are killing me! First pair of heeled shoes in a long time and standing is not an option. If I had only worn flat heeled shoes! I look good though! (LOL)

I still suck at dancing! I'm about as stiff as PVC pipe, made my feet feel real good :( !

Finally after five beers and untold amounts of champagne from the cool fountain, I am beginning to feel "cozy", hey, my feet don't hurt anymore and I'm a dancing fool! (It must have took awhile for the burger and fries to get completely saturated with alcohol.)

Both bands are playing at the same time- Oooh a fight! Security to the rescue! Good God, those bouncers don't mess around! (According to my source, he informed me he's seen the front door a time or two and open it with his head, ouch.) I'm not sure what happened, my guess: A misunderstanding escalating into an ass-kicking because someone looked at someones woman.

Anyway-

Both bands played at the same time. You see two lead singers doing it, two lead guitarist doing it, rare for two drummers, and rarer still, two bass players jamming together. I must admit I was impressed at how smooth that went! Not many bands can go that on the spur of the moment! The bass player brought out his stand up and jammed on it (Check out the Pic), sort of looked like Ozzy Osbourn!

LATER IN THE NIGHT/MORNING

I'm not sure at this point what time it was, past two at least. Alan finally gets to get up and play! (Only two songs though, I'll uh, keep my thoughts to myself on that.) He decided he wanted to jam on OTW's drum set. Although it was not miked that well, he jammed pretty good. I tried to tell him he needed to beat on 'em harder, but of course, they weren't his drums, no sense in putting a hole in the guy's drum heads!

Thanks to a nice gal, Trisha for buying beer and a shot of Tequila for Alan. He thought she was a waitress! She was merely being nice and is a big fan of Quinntalkin.

Hell, last call already! Man this night just flew by! Alan and I couldn't believe time flew by so fast! We bade our farewells and hit the sack.

9:30 THAT MORNING- FOUR HOURS LATER

Ugh! What the hell is Alan doing up? Oh my god, my feet! Ouch my head! I go to the bathroom, of course there is always a huge mirror in these motels somewhere in the room, this one happened to be in the bathroom. Oooh turn off the light, what was that staring at me! Alan left to get coffee and took the camera with him so I slept a few minutes more. With a couple of cups of coffee, I managed to climb out of the bed and grab a shower, that helped immensely! Before we left Russellville, we stopped at Dixie Cafe and ate, breakfast had come and gone but we stuffed ourselves on rolls, salad and fried mushrooms and cheese stix. I know there is a Dixie Cafe in Harrison, we may have to check and see if their food taste just as good. A bit pricey, but we could have done without the appetizers, not!

We stopped at the Arkansas Grand Canyon to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. What a spectacular view! We didn't hang around too long though, there was a stiff, cold wind knocking us around and plus the food was beginning to make us drowsy. We actually made good time coming home, and was I glad to get there! I missed my cats and dogs, my bed. Didn't even bother to unpack, just went to bed......ahhh! No place like home!

BRRRR!

2007-12-10T10:22:00.000-06:00

I suppose it's that time of the year when cold weather sets in, but I still don't like it! Fortunately, we just barely missed the ice, just cold dreary rain. It's days like this I would love to have a laptop and just camp out in the bed, of course, nothing gets accomplished this way but, then again, it never does anyway! My husband and I visited our doctor for our yearly exam, no fun, but necessary. We both have cholesterol issues and so now we are on diets. I wasn't surprised, I do not eat the way I should. It's far easier to grab a sandwich or a frozen TV dinner for work than to eat something nutritious such as a salad and soup. It's kind of hard to even eat what I do, since there isn't a table to actually sit at. Sandwiches and TV dinners are easier to handle standing up or using my lap as a table. I must be doing something right though because I am not starving!
Christmas is just days away. It seems each year it becomes more difficult to buy things, to make things which I have also done in the past, this year, will be an impossibility, time and changes once again at work are going to prevent me from spreading waist lines. Our finances are squeaky tight, and with doctor visits, prescripts to fill, buying presents are becoming a faint possibility as well. Why is it that commercials portray happy families buying thousands of dollars worth of electronics and high dollar clothing, when in reality, those credit card bills that roll in in January won't get paid off for the next twenty years? I know these businesses need to make their money too, but they seem to make it look so wonderful and easy to purchase these items. I can almost guarantee folks who have had to foreclose on those fancy, expensive homes will be just like me, on the verge of scroogeville.
I have always thought Christmas should be about hoping for peace and goodwill, not just on a holiday, but throughout the whole year. Of course, Christmas isn't just about buying presents, I love to give out gifts, I am the most happiest when I do. What has happened to the original reason for the season? Commercialism. Stores are putting out the trees and ornaments in August, and it disgusts me. Families used to be happy if they were able to have food for a Christmas dinner and popcorn to decorate the tree they went out themselves and got, putting it up only days before Christmas. Some of my favorite Christmases were spent barely having presents. My folks had five kids to buy for, and some how they managed to get us all nice things. I know they had credit cards and I am sure they, just like anyone else who uses those things pay out the nose on interest rates for years. These days, it seems kids are not happy with pen and paper, a record, or coloring books and clothes to cover their butts. Is it just me or am I getting old? Is it because of high interest rates and gas prices? Shouldn't Christmas be about being with one's family and treasuring what they have instead of what they don't have? I don't know maybe I am just being a little grouchy, no money, and menopause definitely do not go hand in hand. Maybe I'll just out and by a bag of charcoal and put several lumps in sandwich bags and slap a bow on them! Am I funny or what?

A night at Blue Moon/Alternative Body Creations

2007-12-02T16:18:00.000-06:00

December 1st found us running behind for a scheduled sound check. We were supposed to be there at 4:00pm, four hours before my husband and his band "HaZarDuSt" are to go on stage. With me driving, we made it 30 minutes late, which is pretty good, considering I like to drive the speed limit.
The gig was at a place called the Blue Moon, located in Harrison, Arkansas. The guy, Bob ( don't know his last name) who runs the place also has a tattoo parlor/body piercing business next door. I'm not sure how long this place has been in business, but it appears he is doing fairly well in a town full of conservative stuffed shirts and skirts.
The first thing, Alan gets his finger pinched in his bass drum peddle, taking a chunk of meat out of his index finger and proceeds to bleed like a stuck pig. Ouch! It bled right through the two band aids, (but all is well now). It didn't seem to affect his playing capabilities, but I'm sure it throbbed.
The band room is pretty cool, clean and roomy stage. The walls are painted an electric blue with stars which I believe glow in the dark, (didn't notice because there were swirling lights everywhere) and posters of great rock icons such as Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin, complete with a couple of pool tables.
There was much speculation during the day as to whether the bass player, Jed would show up, it seems musicians have a tendency to show up late sort of thing. What do you know? He showed up, as a matter of fact, he was there before we were. Hazardust is the opening band of the three to play that night, and only for 45 minutes. This is a new band, and they have only been together for about a month. The guitar player, Jasun, has a cousin who is a drummer for the second band "Delta 9" was able to get them the 45 minute slot.
Harrison, is considered to be the "Hub of the Ozarks", where one can continue north to Branson or south to Little Rock, west to Fayettville or east to Yellville. It is also located in a dry county and as mentioned before in a very conservative town. If one wants to indulge in drink, they have to drive to the next county or to the state line. If they want, a person can pay a membership fee and hang out at one of the two or three private clubs. I think it won't be too long however before the voters will allow liquor into the county. I'm actually surprised by the tattoo parlor being in Harrison. I did learn that the police are just looking for a reason to shut the place down because of the fact that it is a family oriented place, I know! A tattoo parlor which is kid friendly. There were kids all over the place, doing what kids do, run, yell, and act goofy. Some of the older ones where just trying to act cool, boy, I sure do not miss those days! (Okay I do!)
I do think that it's great there is a place for kids to go and hang out and watch bands play. The owner is very conscious of the younger ones. He and one of his "chaperons" as a matter of fact were tracking some kids that were suspiciously hanging around in the back, doing who knew what, but it could and can get him shut down and unfortunately, some folks don't care or are not aware it could mean that another place for them could be snatched out from underneath them.
Anyway, I think there should be more places for kids to hang out, whether it is a music studio, gym or arcade. In what I'm referring to is the music, in schools it's one of the first programs to get axed and with the lack of funding for some parents who have to furnish the instruments, it's good to have someone who would rather see kids hanging out and watching musicians and perhaps learn something, than have them up to no good and end up in a bad situation. Besides, who knows, there could be the next Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton could show up there one of these days.
A little after five, the guys have their equipment set up and do the sound check. So far it sounds pretty good, the mix is fairly even, but I think Alan's drums need to be miked. He decides he will have to hit them harder when I tell him about my observation. The drummer for delta 9 has a bass drum mike and that helps. One thing for sure it's good and loud! From what I have heard on recordings their live sound is much better. With the sound check over, it's all about the waiting and waiting, then we wait some more.
It's a quarter to eight and there are a few people beginning to filter in, most of them with kids. They are waiting just like us. Again, music, no matter what genre, are allowed. I think if the arts are not encouraged and carried on by the children of today our world will be a bleak place. The lead singer for the next group, delta 9, had his three year old daughter, smart as a whip that one is, and she loves to hear her daddy sing. I talked with him and he said she follows him around acting like she's singing which think was pretty cool.
This is the first time I have heard "Hazardust" play. Their first gig was played at a small beer bar down the street from us which floored me. I honestly did not think the owner would like their type of music, which they call experimental, phsycadellic, metal, blues, but, they were received pretty good and did well from tips. I am either at work or involved in my writing and I have to admit I wasn't sure how I would take their style. I, like most, want to hear singing and not a lot of instrumental stuff, but it was actually pretty good. Jaysun, kind of reminds me of Bob Dylan when he does sing.....
The 45 minute set is over and now comes the chaotic jumbling of removing drums, amps, etc., so the next band can set up, very confusing! Just watching this and how they keep track of each other's stuff reminds me of the pea under the walnut shell trick-
I forgot to mention that most of the bands who do play here are metal bands, of course, Hazardust had to be different and throw out a country tune for the last number, but it wasn't country by the time they were done with it. Johnny Cash probably rolled over in his grave when they played their version of "Folsom Prison" People liked it!
We stayed a while longer and listened to Delta 9, they rocked! I liked their material, of course they had a following already so more people cheered for them, more people were there for their show.
I think Hazardust will have a following if they are able to stay together. With the guitar player and bass player still in their twenties and Alan nearing 50, I can only hope he will want to stick it out. It's different from anything he's ever done, it's very unusual the sounds they create. As with anyone else, the gas situation sucks, pouring out money and getting less than a half tank of gas. He's already gone through the phase of wanting to make it big. I don't care if he doe's, I think he needs to have an outlet and music is his first love. I hate it when he wants to throw in the towel, so to speak, I know it gets frustrating, but I think if he stops, he'll dry up and become an old man.

A day of celebration

2007-11-29T07:28:00.000-06:00

Good morning to all!
I am very proud to announce I reached the 50 thousand word goal for the contest I entered called the National Novel Writer's Month or "NaNoWriMo". For me, this is a wonderful, glorious uplifting of my spirits. In 1995, I decided I would put my writing career on hold. Somebody should have slapped me upside the head and told me to get back to work and quit crying over the failures! Had I stuck to it, chances are I would have become published and perhaps doing well as an author.
They say hindsight is 20/20 and if I knew back then what I know now, I would never have stopped trying.
Thanks to the Internet, I have found new friends who are writers who share the same dejected feelings and woes as I do. Whose lives are constantly interrupted but they keep their focus on what they love to do, and that is write. Everyday there are instances and situations that pop up a person can benefit from, each day is a learning experience, whether it is bad or good. You should gain strength from these ordeals and just try to stay in the boundaries which keep a person sane.
I have involved myself in writer's groups which I would have otherwise not been able to do because of my crazy work schedule and life's generalities. I have created blogs (such as this one) in which I can talk about things I cannot talk about if I were to carry on a verbal conversation simply because I don't think I can sometimes get the point across. There are online magazines and writer's schools and contests to enter as well as those done on paper. I have the support from all of these wonderful people with a special thanks to Mary Rosenblum, my instructor from Long Ridge Writer's Group. She picked my story apart but also praised me and gave me encouragement with her kind words and stern editing.
I still have a long way to go, still got to publish that first novel, short story or poem. By the way I have found that I do like to write poetry, huh whoda thunk? This contest has shown me that I do have what it takes as well and even though the novel has some major editing to go through on all levels it will get finished and I will get it published. But after December 1 it will be all about working on "Savant". I even set the finish date for the end of May, instead of August, because I want to start setting up for the next novel in next year's 2008 NaNo as the sequel to "Savant". I already have the title; "Indigo Child" and a rough idea what the story will be about.
Well, I have other places to go and continue on with the contest, it will not be finfished until 11:59:59 on November 30. The more I get wrote down the better it will be!

A nice visit

2007-11-18T16:15:00.000-06:00

We don't get many visits from relatives, simply they are too far away, and getting on in years. However, every year just before Thanksgiving, my uncles from my mom's side of the family come up for a short stay. Uncle David, is the next to the oldest and will be 83 at the end of the month. He can't hear so you have to talk to him pretty loud, but he's great. He is very artistic too, as a matter of fact he sells his paintings and is going to draw a sketch of my dad, so I'm curious to see how it turns out. My mom is a very artistic woman, she has surprised us all numerous times, once, she took a drawing of a locomotive engine that was extensively detailed and copied it line for line, I remember she would sit at the kitchen table with a magnifying glass studying that picture. I still have it somewhere. I think she missed her calling. My uncle Billy works for the State of Arkansas, as the head of health and sanitation (not sure if it's for the county-Poinsett, but I think so). He's a quiet, reserved sort of guy, but he and I can get into some great conversations about different events each time he comes. I keep telling mom we need to get down to where they live,(uncle David lives in West Memphis and uncle Billy lives in Cherry Valley, Ar.). We used to go visit them when we lived in Memphis, it was really cool, because my grandparents lived on a working farm, chickens, cows, pigs, all that good stuff. They did not have a lot of material things, I loved going to Cherry Valley. They had a huge screened in front porch where the deep freezer was kept at, always had ice cream in there for us kids, and cases of Dr.Pepper.
My brother, Mike showed up after they left, but it was all right. I hadn't seen him in awhile and we try not to talk about his marriage, which is a story in itself!
I would like to take mom back "home" before she gets to where it will be an impossibility. She has to use oxygen 24/7 and traveling a great distance tires her out. Maybe some day soon I'll be able to figure out how to get her down there without it being a burden on her.

Nine sheets to the wind

2007-11-17T23:25:00.000-06:00

Hello to you all.
Guess what? Yes, that's right, I am nine sheets to the wind. In other words, I'm feelin' mighty fine right now. Had a pretty good time with some friends of mine and saw people I hadn't seen in awhile, so that was cool.
I had a hundred things to say, but when you sit down to write something in this state, nothing comes to mind. If you knew how many times I've hit the backspace key, you would wonder how am I going to make it up the stairs.
Work kinda sucked today, it hurts the soul when you have just cleaned up something like, oh, I don't know a floor, it's pretty big too. Then you spend another two hours cleaning because a drainage line was plugged up from both ends. It sucked. Yet, just like the boss said, when the sun go down, what was it he said? Can't remember, cause I'm nine sheets to the wind.
I'm going to bed, my eyes are getting a bit droopy and they feel really dry. Still around and crossed the 25k mark on the NaNo contest! Yeah for me! (throwing hands into the air with glee).

Just Stuff

2007-11-11T17:38:00.001-06:00

Hello to all!
I know you're out there! Come out from behind that bush you freaks!
Yeah whatever. I think I might actually have my day shift back for awhile! Thank God! Cause it sure sucks switching back and forth, my poor ol' bones can't decide if they need to sleep at 7:00am or 7:00pm! I stay tired for several days until my body catches up with what hours I am working. Too old to be doing that crap on a regular basis, I know that.
I am proud to say that I have reached the 15,000 word mark on the novel writing contest. It would be ideal to put out 2,000 per day but in reality, I write when I can. At work, it's hard to do. I may jot down bits and pieces if something comes to mind, and when it does I have a piece of paper and pen in my pocket. There are just too many things that can happen in a matter of seconds and it's hard to concentrate. I like peace and semi-quiet, but I have been known to write some pretty good stuff listening to Ozzy Osbourne (I know!), Metallica, Tesla, hard hitting, fast paced tempos. As crazy as that sounds to some of you, I type better, make less mistakes and get a rythym going.
Ihad a friend of mine send me an e-mail not too long ago with "JC Penny and surviving the 70's" or something like that. Anyway, (I sent some of you guys this so you know what I'm talking about) There were clippings of clothing that was the hottest fashion sometime in the 70's, I'm guessing form 1976-1979 era. I laughed my ass off because they looked soooo gay, the colors were horrible and the hair styles, well, they weren't too bad. I actually liked the feathered look, my hair does not allow anything but curly, long or short. I made the remark that I don't remember wearing any thing like the stuff this e-mail showed. I suppose I was proved wrong. Okay, so I had a pair of lime-green polyester slacks, hey, THEY FIT! And yes, I liked the wrap around skirts and loved platform shoes (still do but I'd break my neck for sure now). And at the time, the bigger the bell of my jeans the better, I would even slit the sides and add material just to make them bigger! But I can honestly say that I do not think I would have worn the stuff this email had, I hate western shirts, don not believe in wearing his and hers outfits, mucho-lameo! I was a cool kid. Jeans and tee shirts were what I remember wearing most of the time. Uh-oh I'm sure I'll be brought up to date on that! Now days, if I can wear it and it doesn't look too funny, I'll probably wear it!

Greetings

2007-11-06T06:33:00.000-06:00

Hello to all!
Well, this past week has just gone zipppity -do- daing along. Jeez, this 50k novel contest isn't going as well as I wanted it to. I should have already been up to at least 10k, but I keep getting interrupted, changing work schedules and doctors appointments, you name it, (well don't do that!) kinda funny how all of a sudden I get tremendously busy when I decide to pursue something. I sat around this house for years, had nothing in particular happening except for a job change and studying to get licences and extra courses. That has all been accomplished so far. I decide to start writing again, my,my,my! Busy, busy, busy. Yeah I know, I'm bitching' and some may think I'm being selfish. No, that's not how I've seen it. I realize I have obligations and that it never goes the way I think it should, don't know why I thought it would. Honestly though, I guess I thought I probably would not reach that goal, in a way it would mean a great deal, but I don't expect it. I probably should be working on the novel instead of sitting here whaa-whaaing, oh woe is me! But sometimes a person needs to do a little venting, and now that I have ,I feel better. I don't care if you post a comment, but stop and think before you do. How many times have you started on a project and suddenly the whole friggin' world begs for attention? Okay, so the whole world isn't beckoning (an exaggeration at best), perhaps it just seems that way. Well, that's all for now. But just so you all know I have reached 5,000 on the novel contest and besides, there is always next year!

Doin' the NaNo & the boss is gone!

2007-11-03T14:35:00.000-05:00

Greetings to All!
I know you were all so terribly worried and wondering when I would do another posting, just breaking down the door I tell ya!
Things have been busy and my work schedule has been turned upside down as I am filling in for a co-worker who is on vacation. Going from a day time schedule to the swing-graveyard shifts totally sucks the big one.
But, the boss is away on vacation (rubbing hands together) so what can I do? Hee-hee!
No, this poor guy needed one in a bad way, so I won't break anything intentionally. But two days after my employee evaluation, which was a good report, I manage to slam our city plant with some badwater, thank God they can clean it up! On Fridays, the production plant likes to send all the crap down the drain, and I, not being accustomed to the routine, did not see it coming. Just so you all know, I took immediate action to control this situation.
As for the mad race on the National Novel Writer's Month, three days into the competition, and have only logged in 1150 words, so far, but after I get through here, I'm on my way to put in more. On the days off I'll have to do mega make-up and get to word humpin' *grin* I just don't want to write a bunch of excessive wording I'll just have to go through and get rid of, but at the same time, I want to achieve the 50k mark. I'm in a taffy pulling contest!
Have a great day all you adoring fans!

Not another day at the office

2007-10-27T20:38:00.000-05:00

For those of you who do not know me, I work in what is called a pre-treatment facility. This is where the wastewater from the polutry processing plant (no not human waste!) is sent, the pre-treatment facility processes the water to compliance standards and, we send it to the city wastewater plant and they in turn, send it to a "dry creek".
Anyway, I work in this pre-treatment place, which is know simply as "wastewater". There are thousands of gallons of water coursing through 10-12" piping, there are machines whirring, air compressors chuging and sludge in the making. We use a polymere type of chemical to treat all those thousands of gallons of water. This polymere comes in a powder form and mixed with water becomes very slippery..........
Now you may have figured out by now, (if you have read it this far) what has happened. If you have or if you haven't it doesn't matter, I'm telling it anyway...............
There are many hazards in a watertreatment plant, and one has to be extremely careful. I go to great lenghts to be a safety-conscious person.
I do not like Pain, it hurts.
I roll up hoses, pick up crap a person can trip over, make sure my shoes do not have water on the bottom of them when I get around this dry polymer.
It can get slick.
Maintainence and major housekeeping projects abound on the weekends. This weekend I decided I would paint some walls. The bathroom, it also needed a makeover. So on I go, paintin' away, la-tee-da-la-tee-da. The day is going well, not a breakneck speed like during the week; the typical day at my office.
I thought I had forgot to turn off a pump, I'm in the bathroom painting away. La-tee-da, la-tee-da, off I go, paint roller in hand. The floors have two fresh coats of paint all nice and dry and shiny.
The shoes I have on are slip/skid resistant. No, they are not.
Between the water standing in the bathroom from a leaking pipe and what seems to have somehow magically adhered itself to the soles of my slip/skid resistant shoes is, you guessed it, dry powder polymer.
Up comes a smooth spot in the floor, down I go.

Here are somethings I get reminded of when this happens:

Fact #1 Large women do not do the splits.
Fact #2 Large women are not particulary attractive rolling around the floor.
Fact #3 Large women tend to grunt when they land
Fact #4 Large women have to use all available means in order to pick herself off the floor

The paint roller? It bounced away, leaving nice white splotches upon the newly painted floor.

Fact #5 Large women grunt when they have to bend over to wipe up the mess they made.

It could have been worse, but nobody sees me wallow around on the floor, priceless!

A quick note to all of my fans!

2007-10-26T04:32:00.000-05:00

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just a lot goin' on these days! I just love all the comments being made. Thank you my wonderful fans! LOL!!!! I will have more to share on my days off, I know everyone is simply dying to know what's going on in my world!

Thornbirds and a contest

2007-10-21T14:25:00.000-05:00

My how time flies! Just when I get sick of mosquitos and sweat, I'm shivering and standing in front of the wall heater. Sigh, I need to live in Jamaica, (sigh again).
I have committed myself to a suicidal project involving another novel. The goal is to produce a finsihed novel, 50,000 word minimum, and 175 pages long. Whether I complete this remains to be seen, and it really does not matter if I do. That being said, let me explain....
I have had this story stuck away in a dark corner for nearly thirteen years, not sure if I wanted to touch it ever again. I started it in October of 1990, as a matter of fact, I think it was around this time seventeen years ago. I wrote and wrote, poured out my heart and soul. And nearly lost it all. If I have learned anything from writing, back your stuff up, a hundred times if that's what makes you feel secure. I think I must have tossed some of it out, whole chapters are missing, but after reading what I still have, probably no big loss anyway. Some of it was okay, surprised I wrote it, other stuff, good God, how could I have wrote that?
I decided that this project, sponsored by National Novel Writing Month, (aka, NaNoWriMo), is what I need to drag out that first novel and see if it will be salvageable.

I love to read. My motto is anything that holds my attention, gets read. If it's really good, it gets read fast.
I finished a novel called "The Thornbirds" by Colleen McCullough. It takes the reader through three generations of a family who moves from New Zealand to Austrailia. The main character, Meggie, is a small child, her family poor. Her story takes you through her pains and joys, the heart cries because she cannot have the man she loves. A priest.
All in all, I liked the book. The thing is with these types of novels, I like to drag them out, sort of put it into a time frame that makes the story a little closer to reality, regardless of the era. Historical fiction with a touch of romance thrown in I think are one of my favorite reads because the novels are huge, span years of history and gives the reader a chance to know the characters better.
What I didn't like about it was, and this could just be that the author's style is foriegn, I tended to get al little lost on POVs. The parts would be titled one thing and lead you down a differnt path with a little of what the titled part portrayed.
Obviously the book became a best seller, there was even a movie made about it, although I haven't seen it. I usually find the movie to be a disappointment after reading the book, largely in part because I can't see the characters thoughts.
That children, is all for today

Just wanted to let you know.....

2007-10-18T22:59:00.000-05:00

Although no one has read this, I don't really care, this is my place to rattle on about things running through the brain. If you post a comment, great, I'll read it and pop off about it I'm sure. I know I have it labled as my daily log, chances are that's not going to happen, and I haven't decided whether to change the name of it or not. However, I do have another blog, In the next few days I will begin posting my novel in the works, "Savant". Again, I don't care if you comment on it or not. With that being said I have things to do and in November will be taking on a project that will let me see just exactly how well disciplined I can be. Some of you may have heard about National Novel Writing Month. A 50,00 word novel in thirty days, it's a challenge for sure, so come November, I'll be keeping weirder hours than I do now. I have no established sleep pattern so it will not matter if it's non-existent (I know too many negatives). So in leaving tonight I have one thing to say and it's
"I'm on a slick trip and I'm ready to kick ass" -Tesla

October 11, 2007

2007-10-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

It's the end of another long day, but alas, I'll have to do it all again tomorrow. For the last two days, my co-workers and I have busted our asses painting, cleaning, washing, and scrubbing for the big audit. Our boss was told the auditos were looking in every nook and cranny, so that's what we cleaned, painted and scrubbed. We did all wo could do the waited. And waited, then cleaned some more. More cobwebs were found, a bucket of used oil found emitting an obnoxious odor (triggering the gag reflex). God knows how long it sat in wherever it was found. Then we waited again. Just when I thought the boss would have to be hog-tied and fed valium, the phone rang. The caller told me to tell the boss he could chill out, the auditors were heading to another plant. I said I would but that right now, he was yelling at some driver who just washed off a trailer of chicken parts onto the ground, but I would more than happy to relay the message.
In a way, I felt cheated out of that audit, glad we were passed over. I'd like to say that our little waste water treatment plant is not pristine, it looks better than it did. I give it a week before it's trashed again.

More stuff

2007-10-12T06:04:00.000-05:00

I'm new at this blogging stuff and still tyring to get it all figured out. I am writing stuff down long hand and when I get more than two minutes, I'll fill ya'll in on what's happenin' in my world. Right now I know this is some really, really boring stuff, but trust me, I have stories to tell and opinions to soapbox about. I think this is going to be a great tool for me tho. I can rattle on about nothing in particular and not worry if someone listened to me or not, and not be pissed off if they didn't!
I have been attending the Muse Online Writer's conference when I can. It's been a great expierence for me and have solid plans for attending next year! I have found some new friends and it boosted my morale, although it was hyped up anyway. I cringe when I have to do something else, fill in for somebody at work, anything that takes me away from what I love to do and that is write.