Wednesday...The New Monday

...>Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday - Not.

No picture today, because I don't feel like trolling through the same old, same old in the hopes of finding something to post.
So, let's go with a random post of nonsense.
No guessing. Everything below is absolutely true.
********
I switched the dog's food. Big mistake. She is capable of clearing the room. It is not pleasant in any sense of the word. Previous food will be reinstalled. Maybe some day I'll be able to smell again.
*********
Today, as I was setting here waiting for the computer to reload...again...I decided to watch Castle. Lord, I love Nathan Fillion. Watching this makes me wish for Firefly. This episode I'm watching has a guest spot by a guy that was on Supernatural. I loved the character in Supernatural, but I couldn't even focus on him in this show because his lips had way too much color.
**********
Speaking of my computer.
I'm going to throw it under a bus if I can't figure out what's wrong with it. It's shut off about 5 times so far today, seriously hampering my efforts to get any words on the page. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't really be without it. The desk top is fried and I'd have zero options for writing. Not gonna happen.
**********
I'm already done with this week. Bob hit another deer last night - or I guess I should say it's the same as before - the deer hit him. He's okay. Car's okay, though I swear it has a target on it. I'm a little worried about that "third times a charm" thing.
**********
Okay. I'm done rambling. Tall Tale Tuesday will return next week as scheduled.
Behave!

To Whom It May Concern...

Monday's rant/love letters.

Dear Coffee Manufacturers,
I love you.
Thanks.

Dear Four-way stop minivan,
It is not your turn. You just got there. Did you not study the driving manual? You are going to kill someone.
Stop it.

Dear E-mail spammers,
I do not have a penis. Stop sending me information on how to enlarge it.
I am not interested.

Dear Dinner in the crockpot,
You smell lovely already.
I cannot wait to eat you.

Dear Co-habitators,
It is not my job to pick up your dirty socks or your cereal bowl.
Remember when I threatened to go on strike?
Getting there...

Dear Work in progress,
Stop making me doubt you. Stop being stupid. Stop making me afraid of you.
I will win.

Dear Fly Buzzing My Head,
You will die.

That is all.
Behave!

Silly

...but true. This is how I felt at the end of this week!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition

I had every intention of posting last night. Obviously it didn't happen...
So, here we go with the list:
1. Finally after several failed attempts (my sister's dvr only recording half, you tube only having 4/5th of the episode) I got to see Supernatural. We ended up getting it from iTunes this morning.
2. Sleepovers - Swayze, popcorn, laughing, and friends. Good times.
3. A rainy day to snuggle up on the couch with a movie.
4. That even though this week was a long one, I met the 50/50 challenge. Didn't get as many words as last week, but it's still forward progress.
5. The fact that my youngest loves a lot of the same things I do. Unfortunately, she's too young for some movies/shows and that makes her mad.
6. X-men. It's been a while. Wolverine...'nuff said.
7. Sleeping in. Though I guess you really couldn't call it that since I didn't go to bed until nearly 3am.
8. However, sleeping in will happen tomorrow.
Okay, that's enough.
Behave!

Summer Survival Journal: The Lost Entry

The natives have nearly completed their first month of educational camp. It is by sheer will that I continue to survive. Why, if they are in the learning environment, do I feel as if I am not alone? Perhaps they have used my own technology against me and have re-routed the detection systems I placed on the food supply to watch me?
Though, truly I am not alone. The oldest native - the one no longer a teenager is most often here during the time the other natives are away learning. His biorhythm is defective and he is awake when everyone else has bedded down for the night, thus requiring the daytime hours for his own rest. I fear he has become a vampire. I have taken to wearing a wreath of garlic around my neck while I sleep. The beasts we keep watch me. Constantly. I tried to convince myself their behavior was due to missing the natives, but now I cannot help but wonder if they are plotting my demise.
Honestly, I fear aliens have abducted the formerly sweet natives and replaced them with the creatures that share our camp. Creatures with no remorse for strewing dirty dishes, socks, and various educational-type implements as far as the eye can see. I am still theorizing this. While it's highly possible, I have experienced this type of alien-like behavior in the past. Perhaps I am twisting normal?
The summer days have been replaced with days full of educational requirements, activities, and constant obligations. The possibility of ever sleeping past the breaking of dawn is a memory from the past. I mourn it. The realization of the approaching holidays fills me with absolute terror, while the natives look upon this with utter glee.
I fear I will no longer be able to keep this journal. I believe the natives, or the beasts, have discovered my attempts to contact the outside world, so I must use great caution in the future. While I am no longer in danger from the natives and have accepted my position in this society, I put nothing past the beasts. I must make them realize that if not for me, their food dishes would remain empty. I pray I can do this before its too late.
Behave!

Oops! and Answer!

Sorry I missed posting the answer yesterday. Wednesday has become the craziest day of the week around here for some reason and I had to make a choice between blogging and getting my challenge words done.
Did anyone notice the absence of number three? ha! I didn't realize it until just now. What was I thinking?
Okay, here we go with the answer...
1. From the weekend birthday shindig. The backdrop for a lot of silly conversations. Happened, but that's not the picture.
2. Labor Day camp. More silly conversation, marshmallow cooking, and general goofiness. Again, happened, but not the picture.
4. A beach fire. It's been a while. But there's nothing like digging a hole in the sand and having a fire on the beach. Yes. And I miss the beach so, so much. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. A lot.
That's it for now.
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday

Obviously a fire, but when and where?

1. From the weekend birthday shindig. The backdrop for a lot of silly conversations.

2. Labor Day camp. More silly conversation, marshmallow cooking, and general goofiness.

4. A beach fire. It's been a while. But there's nothing like digging a hole in the sand and having a fire on the beach.

Which is it?

Behave!

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together...

So, yesterday turned out fantastically!
Of course Dad wasn't surprised. He knows us a little too well. He was, however, surprised by the amount of people who showed up and by the fact that we had a very good friend of ours (who just happens to be a most excellent musician) play for the party (it was also his birthday).
We put 'burma shave' type signs along the lane. They said: Years ago - you had dark hair - now - it's white - and - you're in a rocking chair - happy bday. At first he didn't think it applied to him because his hair was never really dark and it's not really white now, but we thought it was hysterically funny anyway. The "over the hill" theme's really only done for a 40th birthday party in our family, and we tried to stay away from that with a few exceptions.
The food was fantastic. The music, too. The friends, the laughing - we had a blast. We were in bed a lot earlier than expected, and my sister's house was full with about 11 extras crashing. Today was clean up and sleep.
(oh and K2 is at the beach with a friend. She sent me a picture of her bloody foot yesterday - stepped on a barnacle in the water. No stitches, but it's ugly looking. They did go to the hospital. She's her mother's daughter for sure)
And today is really my dad's birthday. So, Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you!
Back to the real world now. Dang it.
Behave!

Planning...

This will explain the why I mentioned in my previous post.
As you read this, we're in the middle of a surprise birthday party for our dad. We've been planning it for months, which is no easy feat when all of us are running around like crazy headless chickens. Mom, obviously, couldn't do a lot of the stuff herself without mega-explanations. Which is why we spent yesterday on super-concentrated party shopping.
I know he's not going to be surprised. For a few reasons. One - it's a milestone birthday. He has to expect something. Heck, my family never passes up a reason for a party. Two - he's overheard stuff and seen stuff, despite attempts to keep him in the dark. Three - one of the guests who couldn't attend sent him a birthday card already. Big tip off, that.
Anyway.
I am spending my day hostessing, cleaning up, and hopefully having a blast.
I will be tired!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Whoot! Lived to Friday!
Let's see what was good about the week, shall we?
1. Supernatural last night. Loved the episode and while I was sad and mad at the ending, I get why it has to be that way for right now. I need to watch it again for proper processing as it was completely chaotic here last night.
2. Getting stuff done. My to do list is insane. Insane! I'll explain why later, but let's just say there's much to do and not much time to do it.
3. Writing challenges. I mentioned my chapter's 50/50 challenge in a previous post. It's a beautiful thing. People are pushing to at least get 50 words a day, and I have to tell you if it wasn't for having to report in, I probably wouldn't even have opened my document Wednesday. And this morning, I wrote my 50 words first off because I won't have time later. Beautiful. My word count for the week is close to 10k, which is completely awesome!
4. This coming weekend. I hope it's as great as I want it to be.
5. Coffee with pumpkin spice creamer.
Okay, I know there are a lot more good things, but I'm feeling the press of the clock!
Behave!

Thursday Rambling

So...here we are at Thursday again...
And here we go with the rambling...
New Supernatural tonight! Whoot!
I don't think I ever commented on last week's episode. I loved it. Reviews are mixed around the 'net, but I think it's what it should have been. I was sad about what Dean said to Sam at the end, but I'm trusting that their relationship will eventually become better than it was. And seriously? What else could Dean have said to him. It was true. Sam has to prove himself. He did chose a demon over his own flesh and blood. Him being under the influence of Ruby's poison doesn't change the way Dean feels. I want to know who Castiel is working for now, if anyone. And poor Bobby - stabbing himself to save Dean makes me love him even more. I can't wait for tonight.
~~~~
I just realized I will be in birthday party planning mode for the rest of the year. Once I get through the party I'm currently working on, I'll go straight to another milestone birthday, and then another, and then another. Add the holidays in there, and I think I'm going to be out of my mind by January. K3 turns 13 next month, and he and my niece want to have a costume party. (They're only 10 days apart) The venue we originally wanted is not as perfect as we'd hoped, so we're back at square one. Sigh. K2 turns 18 after that. What I thought would be a quiet celebration is apparently no longer the plan. Can't think about that yet though. Then, K4 turns 10. Five months after that, K1 turns 21. (really can't think about this one!! For many reasons!) My head is spinning and the calendar is full. One thing at a time though.
~~~~
This week has been a very long week. Yeah, it's Thursday and my day, while busy, could be immensely worse, but I feel like I've been swimming upstream with weights tied to my ankles. If I can make it until tomorrow night, I'll be golden. In order to get there, though, I have to wade through my to do list - which is incredibly long. It's all mostly good stuff, so exhaustion aside, I'm excited.
~~~~
That's enough rambling, I think.
Behave!!

Answer!

Here we go!
1. The inside of our heating system after months without use. I swear my house is filled with spiders. No way. You'd also see a bunch of other stuff that has no business being down the heater grate. (there are spiders everywhere though!)
2. A grate near the hotel in D.C. There's a little tunnel thing near the back. A man-sized opening that you can barely see from here. Gives me ideas...lots and lots of ideas. Yes! It was very cool and I was very intrigued!
3. If you look closely on the right side, there's a black and white kitten. My sister's cat, Dave. He's always getting himself into trouble, but he's so darned cute. How he managed to wiggle into the attic fan is beyond everyone. Luckily, they got him out and sealed all possible entry points before the fan was turned on. And yes, their house is filled with spiders, too. Nope. Though Dave is quite the cat. Usually he's covered with burrs, or he's trying to steal your pencil, or laying on your checkbook.
And it's not secret answer #4 either, though I have to wonder why there's grape Jello in the minivan. Wait, never mind. I already understand that one. I just found a cup of strawberry milk with a fork inside in my Suburban.
That is all!
Behave!

Sad...

....I was sad to hear about Patrick Swayze's death. I can watch Dirty Dancing or Ghost any day of the week and have a special place in my heart for Roadhouse (don't judge me).
May he rest in peace.
Behave.

Tall Tale Tuesday

Okay. What is this?

1. The inside of our heating system after months without use. I swear my house is filled with spiders.

2. A grate near the hotel in D.C. There's a little tunnel thing near the back. A man-sized opening that you can barely see from here. Gives me ideas...lots and lots of ideas.

3. If you look closely on the right side, there's a black and white kitten. My sister's cat, Dave. He's always getting himself into trouble, but he's so darned cute. How he managed to wiggle into the attic fan is beyond everyone. Luckily, they got him out and sealed all possible entry points before the fan was turned on. And yes, their house is filled with spiders, too.

So, which is it?

Behave!

Moaning Monday

A rare Moaning Monday post. Because I can. And I must.
1. The stupid flies inside my house. If they don't stop dive-bombing my head and crapping on my computer screen I'm going to freak out. Seriously.
2. Fleas.
3. The neighbor mowing his lawn with the mower that consistently chugs. Fix your throttle!
4. Having Word open, but not my document.
5. Not writing at all yesterday. It's okay to miss no more than 2 consecutive days for the challenge, but I didn't want to.
6. No one wanted to get up this morning and we were very nearly late for school.
7. The laundry littering my living room. Why won't it fold itself?
8. Spilling a nearly full container of coffee creamer in my fridge. Ew.
Okay, that's enough! I should be able to focus now that I've gotten that off my chest!
I might have to take a nap first!
Behave!

Happily Ever After

I write romance.
*gasping and covering mouth with hand*
Nah, I've never really gotten that response. Not in person. But I have felt it in awkward situations when someone mentions that I'm an author. The stunned silence, the retreat from conversation, the eventual discussion regarding books and their favorite authors and the implied "why haven't I ever heard of you?", "you must not be very good if you're not widely published". I understand the reaction. I do.
And it changes nothing.
I love a happy ending. And what's wrong with that? What is wrong with sharing the journey to the future with a couple falling in love? Nothing. Most of us are or have been in love at some point in our lives. We remember, or still feel, the butterflies, the yearning for that other person, the hope, and the pain when things don't turn out the way we envisioned. And what about the build up to that first kiss and the sickening beauty of new love?
For me, experiencing those things with my characters reminds me of how it all began for me. While my husband isn't most people's idea of the "perfect hero", he is to me. And that's what matters. The hope matters. It really does.
So while I write post-apocalyptic fiction with corrupt world leaders, brainwashed characters, demons, paranormal abilities, and nuclear wasteland, there will always be the hope of love - of finding someone to complete and compliment your uniqueness, and the possibility of a happy ending (whether implied or stated).
And there is nothing wrong with that.
Behave!

Writing Challenge

Today is the official kick off of the writing challenge facilitated by my local RWA chapter. 50 words in 50 days.
No, 50 words isn't a lot. It's a paragraph, but the challenge focuses on the habit of writing. If you sit down to do your 50 words, chances are you're not going to stop there. I'm at 700 words so far today and have no plans of stopping yet. (Except to figure out what to make for dinner, switching laundry, and breaking up squabbles between the natives. And you know...blog and goof off a little.)
There's a bunch of rules. You can't write your words for the week one day and then be done. It's daily progress - no more than two consecutive days off. And we have to report in every day. Progress is tracked. At the end we'll have a celebration for participating. At this point, nearly three-fourths of the chapter is signed up. Pretty cool. I think it's something we all need after the weird summer everyone seemed to have.
Now, if my computer would stop randomly shutting down on me. Grrr.
My writing pal Susan Kelly posted a really accurate description of the writing life here. Go check it out.
I'm heading back to it now.
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Friday! Yay!
Here's the list:
1. Supernatural! Oh, how I missed the boys. Last night's episode was brilliantly fantastic and I loved every minute of it. Poor Sam. Poor Bobby. Poor Dean.
2. Rain! I love this rain. Maybe that's weird, but I'm all snuggly in my house - already in my jammies and looking forward to a relaxing evening.
3. Stromboli for dinner - homemade.
4. The writing challenge going on right now. I'm motivated.
5. Not too much on the calendar for the weekend.
6. Hanging with my friends yesterday!
7. Sleeping in tomorrow!
8. Surprise plans that seem to be coming together despite a lack of time and the ability to communicate.
9. Peaches.
10. Kids who want to play the violin.
That's all for now!
Behave!

Tonight!!

...Only a few more hours! I'm so excited I can't stand myself! Heeeeeeee!!!

Behave!

Answer!

Here we go with the answer!

1. Chocolate cake batter during the mixing process. No, I didn't take the picture. I'm not sure who did. Or why. Why is really the biggest question. Nope.


2. My kitchen floor. One of those "oops" pictures. Yep. Taken before the road trip to New York to see Jason Manns.


3. Camp mud after bicycles were ridden through. Yeah, there was still mud at camp. The kids had a blast trying to splash everyone with it. I am moaning about the muddy laundry - little dots of mud on the back of almost every shirt. Yay me. That was the July 4th camp out! I probably have pictures of that, but who knows where they are!

That's it! Lame, I know!
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday

Okay...

What is this?

1. Chocolate cake batter during the mixing process. No, I didn't take the picture. I'm not sure who did. Or why. Why is really the biggest question.

2. My kitchen floor. One of those "oops" pictures.

3. Camp mud after bicycles were ridden through. Yeah, there was still mud at camp. The kids had a blast trying to splash everyone with it. I am moaning about the muddy laundry - little dots of mud on the back of almost every shirt. Yay me.

So, which is it?

Behave!

I Forgot...

There was also a turtle! He was almost as big as this one. We spotted him in the creek eating the horrible vegetable soup I made for the picnic!

Feel Good Friday - The Monday Edition

I know it's Monday (though I keep writing Tuesday for some reason), but I hate missing Feel Good Friday.
So here we go:
1. Being with my family all weekend, though we were missing one who had to work.
2. Hanging out with friends.
3. Chicken Taco Soup.
4. Potluck picnics.
5. Bald Eagles.
6. Showers.
7. Campfires.
8. Being home.
9. Refrigerators, ovens, showers, washing machines, my bed, my couch, the Internet.
10. Clean feet.
So there you have it. Now I'm hungry for chicken taco soup again!
Behave!

Back From the Wilds!

Took the camera, but didn't take one picture except for two with my cell phone. One I won't post here and the other I definitely will because it's funny. Not today though. I am too tired.
But, let me sum up the weekend...
Black snakes and black snake trickery - when my brother-in-law put their camper in place he said a black snake tried to crawl inside. So...after they got set up I put rubber snakes in their bed. They didn't get the reaction I'd hoped, but it was still amusing.
Bald Eagles - We saw an full grown eagle three times and a juvenile eagle once. The juvenile was fishing and swooped down over the creek to snag a fish. Pretty cool.
Gnats - They were horrible. As soon as you stepped away from the fire the nasty little buggers tried to clog your nose and eyes.
Middle of the Night Noises - Friday morning around 2 am, B and I woke to this horrible noise. We think it was deer fighting and it sounded like they ran right behind our camper. No one else heard it and it never happened again.
Toilet-papering - Our friend, Jo, came down to visit on Sunday. While she was napping (translation: drooling on my pillow) the kids toilet papered her lawn chair. That's what the picture is of. I'll post it later this week.
Dead Bodies - Friends of ours came up yesterday to camp for the night. While we were talking she said how cool she thought it would be to find a dead body in the woods. So...K2 and 'the boyfriend' stuffed some of B's jeans and a jacket with towels, snagged K3's sneakers and partially buried the scarecrow in leaves. We let him in on it and kept an eye on their little ones so he could walk into the woods with her. She thought it was real for at least 10 seconds and said she had to remember not to tell us things like that ever again.
I know there were a few more interesting things, but my poor brain is too tired to think of them right now. We had a lot of fun and it was a nice way to end the summer (even though I'm still not ready for it to end!)
Feel Good Friday post coming...
Behave!

Thursday Random

I seem to do a lot of these Thursday Random posts. Without new Supernatural, Thursday is just a random day. *sigh* But one week! One week until Season 5 starts, and I am so very excited!
****
On Tuesday I saved $2.30 per gallon of gas. That's right. I filled my tank for $5.97 and saved $69.00. And have (had) a freezer full of meat thanks to the store's promotion. I taped the receipt to the cupboard door.
****
Remember the techno song I posted a few days ago? Well, somehow I deleted it off my iPod. I am in so much trouble. No one has it on their iTunes and no one knows how it got on my iPod to begin with.
****
I am making chicken taco soup for dinner and am so hungry just thinking about it. I did eat a bacon and tomato sandwich for lunch with homegrown tomatoes and bacon out of the oven (yes, that's how I cook my bacon). The cat tried to steal the bacon out of the sandwich while I was eating it. He never does that. My house is full of interesting smells. I have cooked bacon, boiled chicken (for the soup) with onion and garlic, and have a loaf of blueberry bread in the oven. The smell of the fabric softener from the million and a half loads of laundry I'm working is mixed in, too. I am feeling very domesticated today. ha!
***
It has taken me over an hour to write this.
***
That is all!
Behave!

Answer!

1. A container of gummy worms found in K1's car. Estimated time of confinement: 1 year. YES!!! Gross, huh?

2. Something...I don't know what...found in K4's room during the recent cleaning effort. Cut up stuff, old jelly beans, pencils shavings...stuffed in a crystal container and stored under the bed. Nope. Though I found a lot - a whole lot - of weird stuff in her room. Nothing picture worthy though.

3. Bait. A combination of worms, corn, and (gross) pig stomach. Well, the remnants at least. This was what was left after a day of maniac fishing. Nope. B has never used pig stomach for fishing bait. And I'm not mentioning it, because he'll make me buy him one so he can try it.

That is all for today.
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday

What is this?

1. A container of gummy worms found in K1's car. Estimated time of confinement: 1 year.

2. Something...I don't know what...found in K4's room during the recent cleaning effort. Cut up stuff, old jelly beans, pencils shavings...stuffed in a crystal container and stored under the bed.

3. Bait. A combination of worms, corn, and (gross) pig stomach. Well, the remnants at least. This was what was left after a day of maniac fishing.

So...which one?

Behave!