Thursday Thirteen

I love to hear what people have to say, especially if they’re funny. I’m particularly fond of quotes that can make me laugh. I have a few websites I like to visit that have some of the best quotes ever. Today, I thought I’d share a few with you.

Thirteen quotes that make me lol. ;)

1. “Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.” - Louis Hector Berlioz (A side of the argument you don’t hear very often…)

2. “I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places.” - Henny Youngman (I would have kicked him with the other leg after I was done laughing.)

3. “I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them.” - George Bush (It’s just funny I don’t care what anyone says.)

4. “A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.” - Groucho Marx (I totally love Groucho Marx… I blame my dad who acts just like him.)

5. “Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.” - Robert Benchley (I do this often… probably not often enough though.)

6. “I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally.” - W. C. Fields (I really know people like this… it’s not me either.)

7. “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” - W. C. Fields (I’ve never added it to the food…I should try that.)

8. “I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.” - Rodney Dangerfield (In my house it’s the other way around… just kidding.)

9. “I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and a radio.” - Joan Rivers (Holy cow!)

10. “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx (Again, I love him.)

11. “I used to jog but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass.” - David Lee Roth (When I picture it happening it’s even funnier.)

12. “I would talk in iambic pentameter if it were easier.” - Howard Nemerov (I shouldn’t have sipped that water BEFORE I pictured this one. *wipes down keyboard*)

13. “What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?” - George Carlin (Dude, I ask this question every time and no one ever gives me an answer!)

If you want to check out more quotes click the links below.

http://www.coolfunnyquotes.com/

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html

Thursday Thirteen

There are a lot of times when I should be writing or doing something equally productive but I’m wasting time instead. I am in fact a master procrastinator. I’m so good at it I could teach classes. Today I thought I’d share some of my procrastination techniques.

13 Methods of Procrastination

1. Daydreaming. Oh yes this little bugger has gotten me into trouble since the third grade. Instead of paying attention in class I’d stare out the window (window seats are a bad idea for me) and imagine flying with magical unicorns. Not much has changed only now instead of ignoring a teacher I’m ignoring my manuscript (MS)…

2. Doodling. This is when I sit with a notebook (usually when I am trying to brainstorm ideas) and draw little hearts, balloons or something equally stupid instead of WORKING ON MY MS. Often I will get inspiration from number one to make the little pictures for this one even more ridiculous. No, I will not post examples of my illustrious illustrations.

3. Surfing the web. This is by far my biggest time suck and procrastination tool. I do research, usually for non related writing things. Today I learned a great deal of information about the great lakes… That I will NEVER use!

4. Romance Divas. One of the greatest places in the internet world. I would describe this place as internet heaven actually. This site is an excellent resource for writing information but also a great place for hanging out, making friends, posting life experiences… procrastinating. Of them all this is the one I would never even think about giving up.

5. Myspace. Seriously, that Tom guy has some serious explaining to do. I don’t know if he’s the one who invented this place or not but I blame him. The stupid apps, and messages, and status updates, comments… okay you get the picture. There is too much to do there and now they’ve attached the IM thingy to the bottom of the window so people can just contact you if they see you’re on. Not good.

6. Obsessively checking emails. I have numerous email accounts (probably a mistake) and I check them constantly even when I’m not waiting for a specific response about something. Really, they must have anonymous groups for people like me…

7. Blogging. *gasp* As much as I enjoy blogging sometimes I do it instead of working on my MS… like now, but I’m almost done so it’s okay.

8. Obsessively checking to see if anyone has commented on blog. Yeah I know I need help. Refer to the last sentence of number 6.

9. Staring for long moments (we won’t count how many) at a blank Word document (or unfinished document) while wondering if the story I’m starting or working on is any good and if there is a point to even writing it. What I should be doing is working on the damn story and not angsting over the nothing that I haven’t written!

10. Yahoo IM. OMG what a HUGE time suck! I spend more time talking to people on IM than should be legally allowed.

11. Talking on the phone. I do this with people I can’t reach on IM. Usually it’s my mom and we talk until the battery runs out on my cellphone. Yeah, that’s a lot of talking and very little writing.

12. Reading. Yes reading is fundamental but not when you’re actually supposed to be writing. Once in school I got in trouble for reading instead of paying attention in class… I think it was an omen.

13. TV. I can’t tell you how many brain cells I’ve lost watching it. I can say, however, that no matter how bored I get or how much I am trying to procrastinate I will NOT watch “reality” TV. Seriously, 99.9% of it is crap and not realistic in the least. I just can’t force myself to watch it. It makes me want to wash my eyes out with bleach whenever I’m forced to watch it… okay sorry went on a little tirade there but now I’m back.

So here is my list of procrastination methods. Do you have any?

Thursday Thirteen

One of my favorite things in the world is traveling. I love to see new places and meet the people and learn about different cultures. When I’m older I plan on traveling the world but for the most part my travels have taken to me various places in the US. I’d like to share them with you now.

13 Places I’ve been

1. Disney Land (not to be confused with Disney World).
This one is sunny Ca. We were at a family reunion and I was very young… maybe four or five. My most unforgettable memories from this trip are from when I leapt into the hotel pool thinking I could swim and almost drowned in 3 ½ feet of water. The other is when we went on this ride that was totally in the dark. It scared me so badly I squished the hell out of Mickey Mouse cap, which I’d thrown on the floor of the ride so I wouldn’t lose it while going loopty loop. Yeah… good times/

2. Vallejo, Ca.
It was a sad event that brought me to this fair little city in Southern Cali. The Man’s grandfather had passed away and I was there for moral support. This was also the very first time I got to meet his family after having been together for six years. Though it was small I thought it was a beautiful place. This was the also the first time I’ve been so close to real mountains. I mean wow those things are huge!

3. San Francisco.
This occasion was much happier than the Vallejo trip. One of The Man’s Friends was getting married and of course I leapt at the chance to go to The Man’s home town. He’d already been to mine plenty. The thing I’ve noticed we have in common is that we both have mostly male friends so sadly I couldn’t hook anyone up. I think they decided to forgive me for that one. The city was sooooooooooo beautiful; I’ve been dying to go back since.

4. Washington D.C.
Going back to my younger years I actually used to visit our fair D. C. all the time. It’s where my great grandparents lived for a very long time. My great grandfather was very influential in politics. He knew people like Martine Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and John F. Kennedy. I went there all the time to visit them and I loved the city but my most vibrant memories of this place are the huge house they lived in… and the pattern in which my great grandmother used to snore in. I was young, what can I say?

5. Dumas, AR
This is actually where my grandmother (on my dad’s side) is from. She hated it so much she left as soon as she was old enough (maybe in her twenties) and never moved back. We went there later on for another of those notorious family reunions and I gotta say… it was really dusty. And there was also a huge bug that lived on the ceiling of our hotel room for the entirety of the trip. On a positive note this is where I ate at my first Sonic… we don’t have those in Chicago.

6. Milwaukee, WI
Being that it’s not that far from Chicago my parents and I used to go here often. It’s also right off the lake (meaning Lake Michigan) and they have an awesome zoo, where I rode my first elephant and camel. They also have a variety of fests during the summer where you can buy great food and listen to great music.

7. St. Louis, MO
I’ve actually been here a number of times since I have family there. I love to walk the city, especially downtown. I really love the area near the arch. It’s very grassy and pretty and the arch is just amazing to see up-close… though going in the arch I could have done without. It was nice to have the experience but the elevators were like shifty, shaky little ovens and I thought I might hurl before I got off…

8. Atlanta, GA
I’ve also been here many times. My mother and cousin both went to college there and loved the city. There are so many places to see since it is place full of history. I visited a number of historical colleges and the Coca Cola Museum which was awesome! I also got to do lots of shopping. The food’s great too.

9. Ontario Canada
I was about eleven when we went to Canada. It was during the summer so it wasn’t cold but it wasn’t too hot either. I thought it was one of the most beautiful cities. There were cobblestone streets and different shops and eateries. The architecture was fantastic; I think we even visited a castle. It’s a place I’d love to visit again only I’d like to maybe learn some French first.

10. Nassau in The Bahamas
Still the most beautiful place I have ever been to in all my life! The water was so clear I could see straight through it. The sand was beautiful and the temperatures were lovely. The food was excellent. I mean they probably caught it and served it to us that same day and the people were so friendly. It was the first time I’d ever seen a palm tree in my life. When a thirteen year old me said, “Oh my God mom look, palm trees.” on a bus full of people I new I was out of place. I never wanted to leave and I am so going back when I get the chance.

11. Universal Studios (Yes now this is in FL)
I had gone to St. Pete, FL with a friend for spring break and she and her mom took me to this wonderful place. I took a picture with The Grinch who I later found out was doing bunny ears. I also took a picture with Thing 2 from The Cat and the Hat (who we had to catch before we could take the picture). Also we took pictures with various XMEN and lastly Betty Boop… who was taller than I remember. Hmmmm

12. Miami, FL
It rained damn near half the time so I was pissed because I didn’t get my much coveted tan. Hey, I had planed on being dark chocolate when I left there not the same caramel that I was when I arrived. Anyway we went to a bunch of different clubs, made friends at a few bars, wore naughty little outfits (some of the time) and enjoyed the beach (when it wasn’t freakin’ raining).

13. Manhattan, NY
I went with my mom which could have been a mistake. We went by Central Park, past a couple of vendors and into the world of shopping. We walked so far we had to take a cab back. We also ate some delicious Brazilian food and went to see a show on Broadway. It was an awesome time. We spent all our money and came back with a t-shirt and a tie for my brother and father…

Thursday Thirteen

Since I was a little girl I've been obsessed with Astrology. My parents even bought me a telescope which my little brother ruined... I've forgiven him for this (mostly). Anyway from time to time I still like to do some studying up on what's out there. I found some very fascinating information here and here. So here we go.

13 interesting facts about Mars

1. Mars has the biggest mountain in the solar system. It’s called Olympus Mons and is over twice the height of Mt. Everest.

2. The Egyptians gave Mars its first recorded name: Har dècher (“The Red One”).

3. In the 1970’s, the Viking orbiter took pictures of what appear to be giant faces and pyramids carved into the planet’s surface in the Cydonia region. Scientists disagree on whether or not they are just eroded mesas or evidence of an ancient alien civilization but still the idea is cool.

4. For a planet with so little atmosphere, Mars has some of the wildest weather in the solar system. There is a variety of windstorms, dust storms and small tornadoes and there are more of them when Mars is close to the sun.

5. There are huge deposits of ice underneath the planet’s surface.

6. Only 1/3 of all the missions to Mars have been successful. Mars is actually referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle” of the solar system. I would NOT plan a vacation there if I were you.

7. Mars doesn’t have an ozone layer; as a result, the surface of Mars is bathed in a lethal dose of radiation every time the sun rises. Really, a lethal dose? Yikes!

8. Although it is much colder on Mars than on Earth, the similar tilt of Earth’s and Mars’ axes means they have similar seasons.

9. Mars’ seasons are twice as long as those on Earth because it takes Mars 687 days to orbit the sun, twice as long as Earth’s 365 day journey. Eek! This would be great for the summer months but not so great in the winter.

10. During a Mars winter, almost 20% of the air freezes. Refer to pervious comment about winter.

11. The average temperature on Mars is minus 81 Fahrenheit and can range from minus 205 degrees in the winter to 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. No good, I would have to move!

12. Until recently, it was thought that Mars’ polar caps were made from carbon dioxide (dry ice) with only a small amount of water. Later observations indicated that the polar caps were mostly frozen water with a thin layer of carbon dioxide. Why is everything here frozen? This is not a selling point!

13. If melted into liquid form, the amount of water in the southern polar cap would cover the entire planet to a depth of about 36 feet. Holy cow, let’s hope they don’t experience global warning!

That's it for this week. See you next time.

Thursday Thirteen

As I searched through the web today at work on my... er break I found this website full if weird words and their meanings. Today I'd like to share a few with you.

Thirteen Weird Words and Their Meanings

1. Abligurition - Spending just an inconceivably large amount of money on food. (I'm personally going to start using this in every day lingo.)

2. Aprosexia - An abnormal inability to pay attention, characterized by near-complete indifference to everything. (There are definitely times I can be accused of this)

3. Bablatrice - A female babbler. (Seriously, how do these people know me?)

4. Bever- A snack between meals. (Gee I just thought it was called a snack...)

5. Coads-nigs! - An expression of surprise. (ROFL try using that in a sentence)

6. Deglutition - The act of swallowing. (*gasp* Just tell me, did your mind go there too?)

7. Emacity - A fondness for buying things. (I'm going to start adding this in my bios.)

8. Floccinaucinihilipilification - To establish or state that something has no value. (Say that three times fast. Hell, just say it one time.)

9. Hoddypeak - A blockhead or fool. (I'd like to throw this one around at work.)

10. Verticordious - To turn the heart from evil. (I have got to put this in a book.)

11. Windlestraw - A person who is tall, thin and un-healthy looking. (Am I the only one who thinks this description fits another word?)

12. Xanthippe - An ill-tempered woman. (Alright now I'm convinced that people have been looking in my window and making up things to call me.)

13. Zizany - A harmful weed. (Get out of my yard you Zizany... Ok I'm sorry I couldn't resist.

To see these and other weird words go check out the website I visited earlier. There are loads more where these came from.

Thursday Thirteen

I absolutely love my new WIP... even if I'm not "supposed" to be working on it right now. Here's why.

Thirteen Things I Love About My New WIP

1. The hero. He is a brooding, sexy, cursed demon. Seriously, it doesn't get much better than that. All that angst. *sigh*

2. The heroine. Even though she is the cause of some of his pain she really doesn't mean to be. On top of that she's scarred, doesn't take shit and knows she's not perfect. Hell, who likes a preachy heroine?

3. I have this awesome secondary character (best one I've written so far) and she rocks! She's mysterious and a little sneaky but with a good cause. ;)

4. It's angsty but not so much you just want the characters to just die lol.

5. It's packed with emotion. There is so much love, hate and desire I sometimes find myself wishing I was in this story somewhere.

6. They're in a place that's really hot. Makes for a lot of sweaty scenes. Can't go wrong with that.

7. It's got a bit of sarcasm... just like someone else I know.

8. The intrigue is there. Let me tell you, I can't wait to find out what's next and I'm the author. Ok, maybe that's because I'm a panster but still I want to know!

9. My mom won't blush quite so hard when she reads it. I mean she'll blush a little, let's just be real here. This story is freakin' HOT! But just not as much as she usually does, so this is something new for me. I love new things.

10. I usually hate doing research but I did it for this story. The surprise was I actually had fun doing it... weird.

11. This story is a refreshing change of pace for me. It's quite different then a lot of things I've written so far. I like change... most of the time.

12. This WIP has helped me to fall back in love with writing. I had been wondering if I was ever going to feel that way again. Now I do. Yay!!!!

13. It just feels damn good to write these characters. I've had them in my head for at least six months and I was tired of them yelling at me. It's nice to let them escape.

Ok thanks for letting me ramble (like it's something new). Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday Thirteen

I seemed to have forgotten all the things I hated about pregnancy so in my ignorance I decided to have another one. What the hell was I thinking?

13 things about pregnancy I can’t stand!

1. Morning (more like all day) sickness. I’ve never gotten the full blown sickness but the halfblown was more than enough.

2. The constant bathroom breaks. Seriously I have never peed so much in my life… ever.

3. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough sleep again. Between the little munchkin in there stealing all my energy and the constant nightly bathroom breaks (up to 4 a night thanks) I’m never going to feel well rested again.

4. If my skin gets any itchier I think I may scratch it off. All the stretching can’t be good for me and there isn’t enough cocoa butter in the world to relieve me of my sadness. *sigh*

5. New wardrobe. Yes this is the one time in life where having to get new clothes is not a plus.

6. My face is so fat it might float of my neck at any second.

7. Pregnancy brain is the devil. Oh yes it does exist. I can’t remember a damn thing… er what was I saying?

8. Trouble breathing. There is a living being in there pushing against my lungs and other organs. Thanks a lot!

9. Cravings. Seriously how many helpings of brownies and ice cream can one person eat… have I mentioned that I don’t like sweets?

10. The constant hunger makes me feel like a vampire. I always need to feed… only food not blood… right, moving on.

11. If one more thing on my body starts to ache I can’t be accountable for my actions.

12. When strange people touch me I want to do violent things. People I do know can touch. If I’ve never before seen you in life, stay the hell away!

13. 9 (Really 10) months is like forever. It’s almost a year! Why am I being punished?

Well that sums up my life in a nutshell. I have to say that even though I totally want this to be over… NOW there is nothing like holding a fresh, newborn baby in your arms. All of this is totally worth it. I’m sure I’ll agree with that statement even more once the pregnancy is over.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I Love and Miss about My Hometown
Some of you may not know this but I’m originally from Chicago, IL. It was like culture shock when I came to the south but eventually I learned to love it. There are still some things I miss and will always love about Chicago.


1. Hot Dogs. The Chicago style hot dog was one of the best inventions on the planet. It really is a meal on a bun topped with pickles, onions, tomatoes, Ketchup and mustard. Some people like to add or subtract but I like it just the way it is!
2. The Gyros Sandwich. I know they have this wonderful Greek treat in other places but in Chicago… wow. They are so big you have to eat it sideways and I have yet to finish one. The lamb meat is wonderful and succulent and they are best served with onions, tomatoes and lots of cucumber sauce. Yummy!
3. Pizza! Chicago is the only place I will eat a deep dish pizza. My favorite place is Gino’s East. OMG they make the pizza on a yellowish cornbread crust and the pizza is so saucy and flavorful. The pieces are so big I can only eat about two. *drool*
4. The Museum of Science and Industry is my favorite museum. They have exhibits that will interest people from 2 years old to 80. There are all kinds of buttons and walk through exhibits and information. It’s just wonderful.
5. Next is the Field Museum. The exhibits there are wonderful as well. You can learn about dinosaurs and see their bones reconstructed, soaring toward the ceiling or catch an adventure into an Egyptian tomb. Really how could you not love it?
6. The Shed Aquarium is to die for. There are all sorts of sea animals and snakes and lizards. They also have shows. It’s well worth the time and money and you’ll have to go more than once to see all there is to see and get the full experience.
7. Brookfield Zoo is excellent. I’m 26 and I still beg my mommy to take me when I go home during the warm months. They have so many activities and events depending on the time of year and it’s just lovely to walk through.
8. Barbeque. I know the south is supposed to be known for barbeque but they don’t do it the way we do. We do it in a pit. (ooh that sounded naughty) You can literally smell the food a block before you get to the place and you can order ribs, chicken, hot links and pretty much anything else. My favorite joint is Lem’s Barbeque House. The food is so good and the sauce is one of a kind.
9. The Taste of Chicago. I haven’t been in years but I want to go back so badly. You can get a taste of what everyone has to offer and meet a lot of people along the way. If you go on July third you’ll be treated to the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen. It’s good enough to stop traffic on Lake Shore Drive.
10. Harold’s Chicken. By far the best chicken joint I’ve ever been to. The chicken is tender and juicy and the sauce is to die for. You don’t go to Harold’s and not get sauce. I usually get a mix of hot and mild. *more drooling*
11. The Lake (That would be Lake Michigan). During the summer the lake is where it’s at. There are concerts, festivals and don’t forget The Taste (mentioned in number 9). It’s the best on an 80 degree. When you walk by you get that nice lake effect breeze and it… just… feels… so.. GOOD! And It’s huge. You can’t even see to the other side. The first time I took The Man there his eyes turned to saucers and he said, “That’s a Lake?”
12. Public Transportation. I love where I live now but the public transportation system sucks. In Chicago I didn’t even need to drive… and I didn’t. There are the buses (The CTA and the PACE), the L Train (which has multiples lines and there are two many to try and list them all) and the Metra. Some of them even run all night long. God I miss owl service.*sigh*
13. Last but not least I miss and love my family and friends. My parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and closest friends all still live there for the most part. They always make me wish I could live in two places at once. I love them all and miss them dearly. *kisses to all my family and friends*

Well it’s time to go to work but thanks for stopping by and sharing things I love about my hometown. See you later.

Thursday Thirteen

Bath room etiquette or 13 rules of public/non private work place bathrooms that should never be ignored.

1. If there are 8 other perfectly usable stalls available DON’T SIT NEXT TO ME! Seriously could you not have used one of the other stalls?
2. If you insist on sitting next to me and I happen to be out of toilet paper the least you could do is hand me some if I ask. Don’t hoard an entire roll in your stall. No one needs that much damn TP.
3. Along the lines of TP don’t leave it all over the floor when you’re done. Again no one needs that much and if it’s trailing the floor (And now attached to the bottom of my shoe) then you’ve gone overboard.
4. Don’t pee all over the seat (especially women). I mean seriously ladies have no excuse. If you don’t want to sit your bare ass on the public toilet then use the seat covers or make one out of TP. Don’t make the rest of us suffer
5. If I don’t know you please do not try to have a conversation with me over the walls of the stalls… seriously if we don’t know each other the only time we should speak is if discussing number 2 and it should still be brief.
6. Speaking of briefs, if for some reason you feel the need to remove your underwear please don’t leave them behind. We don’t want to see them… trust me.
7. Also, women, if it’s your “time” of the month PLEASE do NOT leave behind used feminine products were others will be unfortunate to see them. Really. Those little trashcans in the stalls are there for a reason.*HURL*
8. Let’s talk about the handicap stall. I know it’s got the little blue sign on the door or near the door but seriously, if you are close to having an “accident” please just use it ESPECIALLY if there are no handicap people around. Really I’m sure they’d rather wait a few minutes than slip and fall on your pee.
9. If you feel the need to take your cell phone into the stall with you I beg you not to have a 30 minute conversation while taking up said stall. Really someone could be out there with their bladder about to burst. You wouldn’t want to have that on your conscience now would you?
10. The bathroom is not a conference room. Please do not hold extensive meetings in there with your buddies. Most of us are trying to get in and out quickly and chances are your “meeting” is in the way of more urgent matters.
11. When you’re done handling your “business” please flush. And if it all doesn’t go down the first time flush AGAIN. There is no such thing as limited flushes as far as I know and everyone who comes in afterward would be eternally grateful.
12. After exiting the stall please wash your hands. No other explanation needed on that I should hope.
13. When washing hands please try not to make horrendous mess. I know it can be difficult but the least you can do if the water gets out of hand is clean it up. Really I don’t want to lean to close to the sink and come back looking like a wash rag.

Can you tell I had a not so nice day? Let’s hope for a better tomorrow, shall we? *Sigh*

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Love About Spring.


1. The smell of freshly cut grass. It almost smells sweet.

2. The warmer weather. I'm a winter baby that hates the winter. The hotter the better.

3. Thundershowers. I know it rains during the winter but it rains more in the spring. The sound and the smell relax me and make me sleep like a baby.

4. Saving electricity. I love leaving the doors and windows open to let the breeze flow through. The fresh air just does something for me.

5. Kids. I'm from a generation where the kids liked to spend more time outdoors than inside (even though we still loved to play our video games). Seeing the kids playing outside, when it's finally warm enough just touches my heart.

6. Long walks. Once the weather finally turns, I love to spend time outdoors walking and enjoying the time with someone special.

7. Sitting on the patio (doesn't have to be your patio). What's better than sitting outside and enjoying the breeze? Sitting outside and enjoying the breeze.

8. Then there are barbeques. The smell of food cooking on a grill as you sit on the patio mentioned above is one of the best things ever. I know barbeques are sometimes thought of as a summer thing but around here we barbeque on the first day the temperature hits 70.

9. While enjoying the barbeque I like to watch the leaves come back. There cute light green color makes me feel good and happy inside.

10. The longer days are wonderful. I hate daylight savings time, really who wants to lose an hour, but having longer amounts of time with sunlight is so worth it.

11. I like the new wardrobe colors for the spring. Though the deeper reds and browns from fall and winter are lovely the blues and pinks of spring are my favorite.

12. Speaking of changes in wardrobe I like the new fashions of spring. The shorts, tanks and miniskirts are right up my alley.

13. Finally there are the opened toed shoes. I love to have my feet out and feel the air against my flesh.

It's supposed to be warm out today. I think I may go out and enjoy some of this spring weather!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Woes of a Mom with a Two Year Old Son

1. Bad listening skills. I KNOW he understands me, I can tell by that little sneaky look on his face that says, “I know what you’re saying, but so what I’m going to do it anyway.”

2. The two letter word that should really be a four letter word! Sometimes The Boy is bold of enough to tell me NO… of course after I give him “The Look” he runs off and does whatever it is I’ve asked, which proves the validity of number 1.

3. Kisses! To balance out the horrors above sometimes he’ll give me kisses. They are sweet and a little moist and just melt my little heart.

4. Then he has to go and wipe off said kisses. I don’t know why we just can’t stay on a high note.

5. The running. It seems like just yesterday he was taking his first wobbly steps and now we’ve just skipped to running. There appears to be no such thing as walking.

6. Splashing in the bath tub. OK this one is actually kind of fun… as long as I’m wearing a shower cap.

7. Of course number 6 and pretty much everything else he does leaves behind a huge mess. It’s safe to say that my house will never be clean again.

8. Sleep time is my favorite time of day. He really looks so calm and peaceful and sweet… and quiet.

9. At one year old he wasn’t picky, he ate whatever we gave him, now he’s developing a list of “don’t likes” and I don’t like it. If I hand him a raison he should just eat it! I can’t be alone in feeling like this?

10. I mentioned kisses but forgot hugs. These are almost better then kisses because they are so warm and sweet… and he can’t wipe them off.

11. I totally love the conversations we have. Here’s this morning’s. Him: “How [are] you doin’?” Me: “Fine, how are you doing?” Him: “Fine,” cute little giggles. “How [are] you doin’?” Really this can go on for at least thirty minutes. For some strange reason the both of us find it amusing. Oh, God I must be regressing!

12. Hitting. The Man boxes so The Boy feels he must box… with boxing gloves that come up to his elbows. He does the bounce and “foot work” (his version of it anyway) and even falls down and waits for the count before he tries to get back up. I told them to stop playing that video game around the kid. *sigh*

13. Out of everything we do the best is I love you time! I don’t pick it he seems to feel the urge and there it is. We can do that for a good thirty minutes too but I can’t say that I mind.

OK now I think I need to hug him and go get my kisses wiped off.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Woes of an Anguished Writer


1. Word length. Usually before I begin a manuscript I have an idea of how long I would like it to be. Never in all of my years of writing have I hit the targeted length. Every, single, time I go over… by a few thousand words at least. Yeah, longwinded much? *sigh*

2. Plot Bunnies. They’re like dust bunnies but a trillion (yes a trillion) times worse. Why can’t they stay in the back of my mind where they belong?

3. Uncooperative characters. Seriously, they should do what I WANT them to do, all the time! Don’t they know it’s not about what they want? Arguing with me is not good. *grumbles*

4. Scenes popping up in the wrong place. OK I will admit this is probably a side effect of being a panster but come on, can’t the scenes just come when they’re supposed to?

5. Blockage, for me usually due to massive amounts of numbers 2, 3 and 4. Being blocked is like hitting my head against a brick wall… for like a week. Not good.

6. Editing, OK please let’s have a show of hands to see who really likes editing. It’s slow and it’s painful but necessary.

7. Commas are the devil. I’m sorry to those of you who like them but you’ll have to face the fact someday.

8. Cutting. I hate having to cut parts of a story. After laboring over thousands of words having to suddenly cut them because they no longer fit with some stupid (OK probably brilliant) idea due to number 2 is like loosing a limb. *pout*

9. As much as I hate cutting I also hate layering. Seriously, when I’m done with a story I want to be done, not have to go back fifteen million times (I’m not exaggerating… much) to add something I forgot.

10. It’s probably obvious from numbers 6, 7 and 8 that I can’t stand revisions. Yeah, I’ll admit they usually make the story so much better but damn it, why couldn’t that stuff have made it in there the first time?

11. Submitting. I love getting my stuff out there don’t get me wrong but must I have an anxiety attack every time? Seriously, it shouldn’t take thirty minutes to submit an MS you’ve already finished. There is really no need to check the body of the email three thousand times, and the attachments two thousand times… is there?

12. Waiting for responses to submissions has to be the most nerve racking part of the whole process. After like a day, the panic sets in and I’ve become positive that I’ve screwed up at least one thing (if not all) in the submission package.

13. I’ve saved the best for last. Acceptance! (I totally skipped rejection because I didn’t want to depress people.) Receiving an acceptance letter is the most joyous of occasions and should be celebrated as if it were a major holiday. It’s what pushes every writer to do their best and go through all of 1-12 on the regular. Just the thought makes my little heart sing.

Alright now go write or whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing. *Takes her own advise and skedaddles*