Monday, October 31, 2011

NaBlo End, NaNoWriMo Starting, and Other Things


Let me start by thanking HollyMarie from "The Soulmate Secret" Experiment" blog for honoring me with a lovely award. It was a really nice surprise and made me smile all day. So Thank You!!!

Next up...I guess I could say I failed horribly at NaBloWriMo. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, maybe I just had too many things on my mind...I dunno. Oh well, there's always next year. :D

Last week I found out that my daughters' beloved cat Gizmo lost an eye. The pictures I saw before he was taken to the vet were horrible! I cried every time I looked at them. This poor sweet lovable kitty has been through so much and has probably used up about 4 of his 9 lives already. His eye looked like it was completely pulled out of the socket. He has since had surgery and is recovering. No one knows how it happened, but they suspect someone did it to him intentionally. It is my prayer that the Goddess Bast will keep watch over this sweet boy and keep him safe from harm.

And tomorrow...well almost 8 hours from now the madness of NaNoWriMo begins. I will be attempting it again. I don't know yet what kind of approach I will take to doing it. My current thought is to take my original project, that got siderailed by life and death, is to start completely from scratch. Forget what I have written and just begin all over from word one.

There is another idea brewing in my mind, but I have not done any lick of research into it. The inspiration for this idea is from World of Warcraft. It involves the concept of Undercity and the Ruins of Lordaeron, perhaps even the surrounding area of Tirisfal Glades. But it would mean researching the lore of Lordaeron and Undercity, the Forsaken, etc.

I've also one more idea lurking, but that character isn't speaking much yet and anything involving it would require research, research, research. Plus I've got this sudden fascination with Steampunk, and would like to some how incorporate it with possibly my NaNo project or the lurking character. But I know Jackshit about Steampunk...so again...I guess it would require lots of research.

So here's to what I hope will be a productive if not hectic month of writing.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

NaBloWriMo-Day 25 On Authors and Books

Authors, books, writing and such... Today's prompt is: Who is your favorite author? Or What is your favorite book? Or possibly: Do you find yourself thinking like the characters in the last book you read talk? Is that just me? It's totally just me, isn't it?

Well I have more than one favorite author. When I was in the 6th, 7th, 8th grades it was Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was already hooked on the Little House TV series already and I wanted to read all about Laura and her adventures during the pioneer days.

When I hit high school, a friend introduced me to V. C. Andrews. And man, was I HOOKED! I read everything she had out at the time and reread a few because they quickly became favorites and well just waiting for the next series to be published. I think the "Flowers in the Attic" series and the "Heaven" series are still my favorites. I was sad when I heard she passed away. The person penning the manuscript ideas and stories she left behind is good but just not as good as V.C. was. And you can tell the difference.

Then I got way older and found Tolkien and J.K. Rowling. They have been an inspiration to my imagination. Jo inspired me to put the pen to paper. If she could do it, then maybe someday I could to. I truly hope she will write more books.

My latest new favorite is Kit Berry. Author of the Stonewylde series. They are really good books. The forth in the series I believe just came out and I REALLY need to get my hands on it to read it while I (im)patiently wait for the 4th book in the Eragon series.

Favorite books (in particular order):
Flowers in the Attic
Heaven
My Sweet Audrina
Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
The Stonewylde Series

I don't know that find myself thinking like the characters in a book, but I have had the occasional I wonder what Molly Weasley would do. Or I wonder how Hermione would handle this. Or damn I wish I was Hermione and knew that spell LOL. But I do find myself quoting them at times...Does that count?

Monday, October 17, 2011

NaBloWriMo-Day 17

I'm really failing at this aren't I? It was a busy week, lots was going on. Kept thinking to myself, "HEY! Don't forget to post something!" I kept checking for prompts...but there weren't any. Not an excuse for not posting I know. But they do help with a project/challenge like this. Oh well, can't dwell on what I didn't do.

Then by the end of the week, I was pretty pissed. It was over something someone said. Defending someone that habitually is the cause of a problem 99% of the time? Really?...Could be the PMS, but the comment made to me just rubbed me wrong and I was pissed most of the day. (I hid it fairly well, I think). But when somebody says they're are mad, and you know they are around the person that 99% of the time is the cause of them being mad....Wouldn't you automatically assume that THAT PERSON made them mad yet again? Well whatever...I'm over it. Excuse me for give a shit and asking what was the matter. Maybe I was wrong to assume, but vague comments cause things like that...Ya know?

Well today's prompt is What's your favorite Fall recipe? ( I know none of what I just wrote above has anything to do with cooking LOL but I had to vent a little.)

I don't have a favorite recipe really. I do like to cook some of the more in season foods like Butternut Squash or Sweet Potatoes or Rutabaga (which we always called turnip but anywho).
With the squash, I keep it simple...peel and seed it, cube and boil it till tender. Drain then mash with butter LOTS of butter, a splash of milk, and sometimes I'll add a dash of nutmeg and/or coriander. Sweet Potato...baked to perfection then top with LOTS of butter and cinnamon sugar. Rutabaga we always made it just like a mashed potato. Peeled, cubed, boiled till tender, drain and mash with milk and yes again...LOTS of butter. (Paula Deen is my hero :D)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wishcast Wednesday - Love

It's Wishcast Wednesday again, today Jamie asks "How do you wish to be loved?"

It's kind of ironic that this is the prompt for today since this is sort of what I was talking about with my Beloved's Mom today.

You see my wish is to be loved unconditionally, with out expectations, with out criticism, to be accepted as I am - the good with the bad. To be loved completely...heart, body, mind and soul.

But you know what? Such love can be down right frightening especially if you have NEVER had it before. When it is so far from what you've known all your life...and then suddenly BAM! There it is. When you're told that you are worth it, that you deserve it, that you're perfect just how you are...happy, sad, emo, angry, pms'ing...on your soapbox or off it...All of it, all the different facets that make you who you are, and you are loved wholly, completely, unconditionally. I almost lost it, that love. Because of the fear.

That is my wish though to have it, to keep it, to embrace it, and never let it go.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

NaBloWriMo-Day 9

Okay Okay...I know I missed a couple days here but to be honest...I felt like shit. For a while there I thought I was coming down with something, I was sore and achy all over, felt a little tired, a slight cough. But then I figured out, it might just be allergies since I'm exposed to new stuff out here because I am feeling better. Just still a bit achy but that's better too.

Today's prompt is: Given that Autumn is busting out all over, which is your favorite season and why? Alternately, which is your LEAST favorite season and, of course, why?

Autumn is my favorite season. I love the cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, the pumpkins. I love Halloween and Thanksgiving. And well even though I deny it's existence, my birthday is in the Fall too (in 19 days to be exact).

I don't have a least favorite really. I have my moments where I hate summer but that's only when days are too hot and too humid to enjoy, and the same with winter when the days are just to damn cold. But I have more reasons to like a season than to dislike a season even if my allergies go completely haywire. That's what Zyrtec is for :D

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

NaBloWriMo-Day 5

Prompt: What is your favorite way to spend time with your family?

My favorite way(s) to spend time with family:
  • at the dinner table enjoying a good meal and good conversation
  • watching a movie or show
  • playing games
  • going out and just having a good time whether it's a walk in the park or around a mall
Like today...it was my Beloved's Grandma's birthday. She turned 91, bless her heart. We went
over and sang her "Happy Birthday" and had some baked from scratch cake that his sister made.
She was so happy, she got teary-eyed.

While I felt a little sad knowing that less than a month from today would have been my Grandma's 91st birthday and I miss her dearly. It was nice to spend it with his Grandma and see her so full of life and smiling.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

NaBloWriMo-Day 4

It's actually day 2 for me since I missed the first 2 days. Kinda sucks in a way since I really liked the Day 2 prompt: "If you could live the life of any heroine or hero from one of your favorite books, which one would it be?"

I think I would want to be Hermione Granger or perhaps Eowen. I would say Arwen, but only if I could live the movie version of her. I would even go so far as to say I would like to be Snape or even Dumbledore. (Is it obvious that I love J.K.'s work? LOL)

But alas we aren't on that theme today. No, no...today's prompt is: What advice would you give your fifteen-year-old self?

So we are to advise our 15 year old self. Huh...hmmmm...Well let's see, let me write myself a letter.

Dear 15 year old me,
I'm just going to tell you straight up...okay that guy you think you can save from his addictions...
you can't. STOP! You can't, don't try, just walk away. No, run away from him and don't look back! That way you can also stay in school and graduate (instead of getting your GED) and maybe you can even go to prom. The guy is bad news, a liar, a cheat, a thief and an abuser. You deserve better than that.
When you get a bit older, follow your heart and your dreams. You can do anything, be anything you want to be. You are stronger than you think. You have talents you don't even know about. Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough! No matter who it is.
And go to Grandma when you need help or advice. She's a wise woman and she'll never steer you wrong. She will always be in your corner and will fight for you and support you.
Stand up for yourself, think for yourself, just be you. Not what someone else wants you to be. Remember you are strong, smart and beautiful. Live life to the fullest.
Love,
Your Older, Wiser Still Learning Self.

Monday, October 3, 2011

It's NaBloWriMo or Blogtoberfest.

Depending on which you are doing that is. In all reality you can do both since...well...they are both running the month of October...so YEA! I checked out Blogtoberfest list of blogs and most were about quilting or knitting...and I do neither...maybe that's changed I dunno but I thought I'd be out of place there. Of course I could link my art blog but it's kinda covered in cobwebs at the moment and my art production...well let's just say I haven't actually done any in over 4 months? something like that....before I left at least.

So the goal is to write a blog post every day for the month of October. There will be a daily prompt up at the NaBloWriMo blog to help. Now yea I know I missed days 1 and 2....I totally forgot about NaBloWriMo or more like when it was...but I'm starting now and it's never too late to join in. And who knows, maybe it will help with NaNoWriMo which starts November 1st!

Anywho....today's prompt is: Prompt for Monday, October 3: Many people have lucky socks or shirts or stones or pens. Is there an object you own that you consider lucky? If so, why?


I don't know if I have a lucky (Fill in the blank) per se. But I do have my favorites. Like a favorite shirt or favorite pen. I can't say that I have anything really that I feel like if I don't wear it or use it or whatever it would be a bad thing. Well maybe that's not entirely true now that I think about it. There is the ring that my Beloved gave me. I haven't taken it off since, and I won't...ever! It's a symbol of hope and happiness. I guess I have sorta convinced myself that if I took it off that those things might be gone or it might at the least be disrupted. So okay, yea I do have something. Silly as it maybe or superstitious or whatever label you want to put on it. But I know it's not the ring that keeps us together, it's us that does.

Okay, so there we have it. One post down, the rest of October to go.