Sidenote: Gina and Query/pitch critiquers, I promised this meme out to Precie a few days ago, so I’m posting it first – I’ll have Gina’s crit up in a day or so, so stay tuned.
I've been tagged by Precie
The rules:
a. Link to the person who tagged you.
b. Post the rules on your blog.
c. Write six random things about yourself.
d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.
f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.
My Six Things:
1. I have favorite desserts for each season, and occasionally each month... odd aren’t I? Seriously, January’s an off month as there’s nothing much going on and I’m probably too bloated from Christmas. Buuut:
- February – I have a need for chocolate covered cherries at valentine’s time
- March – My birthday month, so my cake has to be chocolate, preferably Devil’s Food
- April (or March depending on when Easter falls) You think I’m going to say peeps... but it’s jelly beans, I have to have them and they can’t be the jelly belly’s even though everyone else on the planet loves them and they can’t be starburst – they have to be the cheap crap ones in the ginormous bag, just like the ones I found in my own Easter basket as a kid.
- May (two birthdays and an anniversary this month) though I don’t have a need of it, I always wind up having Chocolate cake with butter cream frosting at least three times this month.
- June – ah, an off month, how flippin refreshing... though I do have to have good Italian Ice (and the place I like is like a half hour’s drive from my house, because it’s in my old neighborhood and yes I risk the flippin drive by’s to go back and get a couple containers and the homemade pizza at least once a summer... I also have a need to have at least one push up – you remember the orange sherbert crap in the little cardboard container that you had to push up from the bottom and it spilled all over your hand and arm... Yeah, that was my favorite from the ice cream man and though I haven’t seen him in eons, I still need at least one a season... So those two cover June and August...
- July – I have to have a slice of apple pie – I know, annoying, but I like apple pie, though not ala mode, especially if they use a good amount of cinnamon in the filling...
- September – Spice cake with butter cream frosting, as soon as fall starts rolling in I get a hankering... I also need at least one batch of banana bread with a large slathering of nut butter, but that’s not dessert so it doesn’t flippin count.
- October – forget the candy, I need a caramel apple, preferably affy taffy... with nuts, and I hate it when they hide the granny smith apples in there, those are no good, I like the red or golden ones
- Novemeber – me needs to have at least one slice of good pumpkin pie
- December... oh, let me count the ways... well then, I have to have at least a few mint meltaways (for those of you unfamiliar with Fannie May, I’m so sorry, you’re missing out) I also love the Christmas cookies, especially my homemade Italian Knot cookies with the red and green sprinkles... la, la, la... oh and of course a few candy canes.
2. Wanna laugh? Besides that long list of sweets I rambled on about up there, I rarely eat sweets... I have those specific things with the seasons they come in... Otherwise, I’ll usually pass on desserts and have a small slice of cake at birthdays to be polite, but I don’t go out of my way for a sugar fix often, and I usually opt for fresh fruit.
3. It’s been a weird few weeks and I’ve actually gotten to see a number of people who I haven’t seen since my early twenties – I’ve heard at least three times that I’m even smaller now than I was then, which is really awesome to hear, but.... I’m a size larger, thank you very much... rather proud of it in fact – it’s not that easy to bear three, rather large children (youngest was 9 pounds 12 ounces at birth) and only go up from an 8 to a 10.. It’s not a size two, I was never going to be a size two, I’d fall over, but you think I’m thinner because I’ve lost the baby fat in my face which isn’t supposed to be a good thing but there ya go.
4. I have no sense of direction and don’t really care. Seriously, I will get lost going anywhere without a set of directions, unless it’s a place I know by heart. I’m notorious for taking the wrong highway and getting us lost and for me it was always the fun of the trip, which tended to annoy my friends – once, my friend Taryn and I were on our way to a concert and I missed the turn off, so instead of going to the concert we hung out in Milwaukee for the day – bothering sailors (seriously, we found sailors on leave and made them take pictures with us) and goofing around... we had such a good time, neither of us cared that we missed the concert.
5. I smoke. Gasp, go ahead, call the smoke Nazis and tell me how bad it is for my health... I actually already know it’s bad for my health.. really, I do.... so is my driving, but I’ll digress on that point. I’ve quit, I think eight times already, sometimes for months, even years... (three pregnancies and breastfeeding... you’d think I’d just never start again)... I will quit again, and for good this time. I was supposed to start on those pills, my dentist had me all hyped about it, and then she wouldn’t prescribe them because she thought I should go through an MD, which was probably a wise thing to say, but jeesh, just prescribe them and shush-y... so I’ll ask my thyroid guy when I go for my next check up and let you guys know where I’m at with it.
6. Okay, here’s a good one – my blog address is happy cat, my name literally translates to Happy Mountain lion, but I hate cats... I’m a dog person.
Well, if you made it all the way through that ramble, here are my six people for to pass on this meme....
Colleen Katana
Mary Witzl
Stephen Parrish
Julie Weathers
JJ Debenedictis
Jersey Girl
Okay, I’ll let all my meme recipients know in the morning... feel free to point and laugh at my silliness in the comments.
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Six Words About Me
Happy Cat In Search Of Spirits
My wonderful friend, Pinhole tagged me for this meme.
The objective is to come up with a six word memoir (see my silly little offering above), inspired by Hemingway, who once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. He came up with: For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.
Here are the meme rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post .
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
Okay, guys, here are my picks for bloggers to participate: Jaye Wells , Erica Orloff , Stephen Parrish , Ello, and Precie
As a side note, right around Valentine’s day, Stephen awarded me with the E for Excellence badge you’ll see in my sidebar... Thank you Stephen, it’s much appreciated even if it took me a half a month to get it up on yon blog. Instead of passing it to specific bloggers, all of you located on my blogroll should consider yourselves awarded this honor if you haven’t received it elsewhere already...
Those I tagged, drop me a line to let me know your memoir’s up... I can’t wait to see how creative some of you will get with this one.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Well, What Did You Expect?
Shelly Bryant tagged me for a meme some time ago, and I’m finally getting around to the post... The question is, what do I expect from this blog? This is a bit different from the general, ‘why do you blog?’ question, which I’ve answered a hundred times... it poses the query in a slightly different light: what do I expect to get out of this blog, on these topics, that I wouldn’t get out of a blog on underwater basket weaving or the many uses of Peruvian shoe leather for someone with a fetish... okay, see that last one might key you in on something... as it did, me – though I consider this my professional writing blog, I obviously don’t treat it as professionally as I should – given the fact that I’m writing middle grade fiction... fine to add the off color silliness if I was a regular adult writer, but it’s probably not a great thing for someone writing for children.
So what, if anything, do I expect from this blog? I’m still pondering this, really. I don’t expect to use it professionally, except as a networking tool to meet other writers and publishing professionals. Obviously, if blogging will be a platform in my novel writing, I’ll need to build another blog that’s solely kid friendly – or at least pg-13. I don’t expect a publisher to come knocking down my door with six figure deals because they fell in love with my silly little blog... that’s not going to happen and I don’t treat my writing here with the same seriousness that I treat my fiction, so it’s really not a goal...
So, what the heck do I expect? Nothing. (see, you read all this drivel for a nothing answer, how’s that for an annoying blogger?) I don’t have any expectations here. What I’ve gained from blogging is another question, and its answer is diverse and ever changing, but mostly it’s a connection to other writers on topics that touch and affect us... But I didn’t expect that, I don’t hold that as an expectation... I don’t earn, or actively seek, money from this blog. I don’t promote this blog, other than being on technorati, which was more to be able to tell who linked me so I could say thanks...
I like a lot of things about blogging, but I don’t hold any expectations for this particular blog. Maybe it’s a learning curve to my author site, whenever I get around to that one. I have ideas for a professional author’s blog and, honestly, not a lot of the content I include here would make it there. Not because I don’t like what I’ve posted but because an author blog would be geared toward my readers, and this one is just me, relaxed, uncensored, and talking a lot about books and writing... okay, sometimes my kids make it into the post and occasionally a moral, because I like that kind of thing.
So there you go – no expectations. I am an aimless blogger. I’m supposed to pass this one on to five other bloggers... oy. I think, Stephen Parish, Mary Witzl, Josephine Damian, JJDebenedictis, and Travis Erwin... If you’d like to pass, I understand, but I’d also love to see what your expectations are.
Okay, fellow bloggers, as I have none, I know I’ve met my expectations... how about you? How does blogging serve you or detract from your writing? Are you an addict or a social blogger... could you stop at just one?
So what, if anything, do I expect from this blog? I’m still pondering this, really. I don’t expect to use it professionally, except as a networking tool to meet other writers and publishing professionals. Obviously, if blogging will be a platform in my novel writing, I’ll need to build another blog that’s solely kid friendly – or at least pg-13. I don’t expect a publisher to come knocking down my door with six figure deals because they fell in love with my silly little blog... that’s not going to happen and I don’t treat my writing here with the same seriousness that I treat my fiction, so it’s really not a goal...
So, what the heck do I expect? Nothing. (see, you read all this drivel for a nothing answer, how’s that for an annoying blogger?) I don’t have any expectations here. What I’ve gained from blogging is another question, and its answer is diverse and ever changing, but mostly it’s a connection to other writers on topics that touch and affect us... But I didn’t expect that, I don’t hold that as an expectation... I don’t earn, or actively seek, money from this blog. I don’t promote this blog, other than being on technorati, which was more to be able to tell who linked me so I could say thanks...
I like a lot of things about blogging, but I don’t hold any expectations for this particular blog. Maybe it’s a learning curve to my author site, whenever I get around to that one. I have ideas for a professional author’s blog and, honestly, not a lot of the content I include here would make it there. Not because I don’t like what I’ve posted but because an author blog would be geared toward my readers, and this one is just me, relaxed, uncensored, and talking a lot about books and writing... okay, sometimes my kids make it into the post and occasionally a moral, because I like that kind of thing.
So there you go – no expectations. I am an aimless blogger. I’m supposed to pass this one on to five other bloggers... oy. I think, Stephen Parish, Mary Witzl, Josephine Damian, JJDebenedictis, and Travis Erwin... If you’d like to pass, I understand, but I’d also love to see what your expectations are.
Okay, fellow bloggers, as I have none, I know I’ve met my expectations... how about you? How does blogging serve you or detract from your writing? Are you an addict or a social blogger... could you stop at just one?
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Horoscope Meme - All About Me
Silken tagged me to do this horoscope blog and, as it looked like fun and I was tempted to try it out when I saw it at Mrs. Parker’s Blog a few days ago, I thought I’d give it a whirl.
The rules are simple. Below is a list of each of the twelve months. Copy paste your birth month into the beginning of the entry and then tell your readers which of the descriptions are accurate – the blogger can simply highlight the affirmative or give an overall explanation... as those of you who read me know that I’m long winded, you can guess which you’re in for here.
All About Me:
MARCH:
Attractive personality. – I hope so... I like it, but then I don’t often have many conflicts with myself... then again, if a friend described me as having an ‘attractive personality’ I would likely assume they were calling me ugly, so maybe I should say no to this one....
Sexy. – It depends on who you ask. Was I sexy after ten hours of labor? Was I sexy at three in the morning smelling of infant spit up? Was I sexy wearing very icky nursing pads? I think you’d have to have some weird fetish to answer yes to any of those... but there is probably someone out there with a weird fetish, so... I think everyone feels sexy at some time, but that’s a blanket kind of sidestepping answer... I would give a yes, but, hey, wouldn’t we all?
Affectionate. – Again, depends on who you ask... if you’re annoying me, not so much. With my kids, all the time. With my dog – she’s 70 pounds and thinks she’s a lap dog, so what does that tell ya? With my husband – see the annoying line.
Shy and reserved. – Yes and no.... ha, aren’t I an enigma? I hate public speaking, it’s on my list of things that I have to master when I’ve actually got a publishing deal – because I know I’ll need it but right now the writing’s far more pressing... I was painfully shy as a kid, somewhat outgrew it in teen years, and most people that know me would never guess shy... but I still clam up and get self conscious around large groups... even smaller groups if I don’t know everyone.
Secretive. – I can’t tell you.
Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic -Yes, yes, and yes. I don’t like being lied to and I have a problem lying... this is not some great moral attribute on my part, my mouth simply works faster than my brain. Seriously, I will say things that most normal people would keep to themselves, it just pops out of my mouth. I attribute this to a sieve problem... most people have a filter between their brain and their mouth, I have a sieve... usually I can keep the things that are going to be hurtful from getting past my teeth, but whatever I’m thinking is flashing across my face anyway. Generous, overly... I will hurt myself financially to help a friend or family member out and have, for most of my life. Sympathetic, see generous, what do you think?
Loves peace and serenity. – I do actually, and I cannot stand drama, but I tend to get more of that than peace and serenity.. I’ve wondered, too, what I’m doing to attract that, because I’d like to stop.
Sensitive to others. – Yes
Loves to serve others. – Yes, but this is kind of a self serving thing, too. I love to cook, more because I like to see people enjoying what I’ve made them than because I actually love the cooking process...
Easily angered. – Would you be surprised if I said Yes – Definitely Yes, I have a hot temper, but I’ve learned to control it a great deal with age... for instance, I haven’t winged a plate at anyone since I was a teenager.. I’m so not looking forward to my kids hitting their teens.
Trustworthy. – Yes
Appreciative and returns kindness. – I try to be but sometimes I’m not as good at sending out thank you’s and such as I should be... I do try to return kindnesses when I can, though.
Observant and assesses others. – Overly, I tend to get a snap impression of people I meet fairly quickly and I’m usually pretty accurate.
Revengeful. – YES – shocked, are you? I am actually, enough so that I’m glad I have too much of a faith in Karmic justice to actually act out on anyone... It takes me a great deal of time to get over slights and backstabbing and when I do forgive it’s more a case of letting it go for my own well being than it is a means to fix the relationship. I should probably add a disclaimer here: not the kind of revengeful that would hurt someone physically... for instance, when someone’s really done something rotten to me in life, if I were to write a character of them, the character wouldn’t get killed or anything, they’d just be overly jerky and might get an std or something.
Loves to dream and fantasize. – Yes – I call this living in my own head and when I turn it to creative pursuits it’s a great plus, but I have to be very conscious of this daydreamer aspect, because it can lead me to feel like I’m accomplishing something when I’m really just being lazy.
Loves traveling. – Nope. There are places I’d like to see, but overall I don’t like to travel
Loves attention. – Okay, is there someone who doesn’t like positive attention? Seriously
Hasty decisions in choosing partners. – Yes, but hasty isn’t always wrong, either.
Loves home decors. - Not so much... There are quirky things I like in my own house, but I’m not one of those people who reads home decorating magazines or anything.
Musically talented. – Not even a little bit!!! I love music, listen to it all the time, but I can’t play or sing a damn thing without causing myself and others great pain.
Loves special things. – No, I hate special things with a passion... what gives them a right to be so, so, special.... Seriously, what does this even mean? (Side note, they left ‘sarcastic’ off this list, but obviously the answer there would be ‘yes’)
Moody. – Yes.... I can be.
Okay guys, below you’ll find the list of the months below with all of the attributes. I’m not going to tag anyone, but I’d love to read yours if you do one, so drop me a link in the comments if you post.
JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.
FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.
JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.
SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.
DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.
The rules are simple. Below is a list of each of the twelve months. Copy paste your birth month into the beginning of the entry and then tell your readers which of the descriptions are accurate – the blogger can simply highlight the affirmative or give an overall explanation... as those of you who read me know that I’m long winded, you can guess which you’re in for here.
All About Me:
MARCH:
Attractive personality. – I hope so... I like it, but then I don’t often have many conflicts with myself... then again, if a friend described me as having an ‘attractive personality’ I would likely assume they were calling me ugly, so maybe I should say no to this one....
Sexy. – It depends on who you ask. Was I sexy after ten hours of labor? Was I sexy at three in the morning smelling of infant spit up? Was I sexy wearing very icky nursing pads? I think you’d have to have some weird fetish to answer yes to any of those... but there is probably someone out there with a weird fetish, so... I think everyone feels sexy at some time, but that’s a blanket kind of sidestepping answer... I would give a yes, but, hey, wouldn’t we all?
Affectionate. – Again, depends on who you ask... if you’re annoying me, not so much. With my kids, all the time. With my dog – she’s 70 pounds and thinks she’s a lap dog, so what does that tell ya? With my husband – see the annoying line.
Shy and reserved. – Yes and no.... ha, aren’t I an enigma? I hate public speaking, it’s on my list of things that I have to master when I’ve actually got a publishing deal – because I know I’ll need it but right now the writing’s far more pressing... I was painfully shy as a kid, somewhat outgrew it in teen years, and most people that know me would never guess shy... but I still clam up and get self conscious around large groups... even smaller groups if I don’t know everyone.
Secretive. – I can’t tell you.
Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic -Yes, yes, and yes. I don’t like being lied to and I have a problem lying... this is not some great moral attribute on my part, my mouth simply works faster than my brain. Seriously, I will say things that most normal people would keep to themselves, it just pops out of my mouth. I attribute this to a sieve problem... most people have a filter between their brain and their mouth, I have a sieve... usually I can keep the things that are going to be hurtful from getting past my teeth, but whatever I’m thinking is flashing across my face anyway. Generous, overly... I will hurt myself financially to help a friend or family member out and have, for most of my life. Sympathetic, see generous, what do you think?
Loves peace and serenity. – I do actually, and I cannot stand drama, but I tend to get more of that than peace and serenity.. I’ve wondered, too, what I’m doing to attract that, because I’d like to stop.
Sensitive to others. – Yes
Loves to serve others. – Yes, but this is kind of a self serving thing, too. I love to cook, more because I like to see people enjoying what I’ve made them than because I actually love the cooking process...
Easily angered. – Would you be surprised if I said Yes – Definitely Yes, I have a hot temper, but I’ve learned to control it a great deal with age... for instance, I haven’t winged a plate at anyone since I was a teenager.. I’m so not looking forward to my kids hitting their teens.
Trustworthy. – Yes
Appreciative and returns kindness. – I try to be but sometimes I’m not as good at sending out thank you’s and such as I should be... I do try to return kindnesses when I can, though.
Observant and assesses others. – Overly, I tend to get a snap impression of people I meet fairly quickly and I’m usually pretty accurate.
Revengeful. – YES – shocked, are you? I am actually, enough so that I’m glad I have too much of a faith in Karmic justice to actually act out on anyone... It takes me a great deal of time to get over slights and backstabbing and when I do forgive it’s more a case of letting it go for my own well being than it is a means to fix the relationship. I should probably add a disclaimer here: not the kind of revengeful that would hurt someone physically... for instance, when someone’s really done something rotten to me in life, if I were to write a character of them, the character wouldn’t get killed or anything, they’d just be overly jerky and might get an std or something.
Loves to dream and fantasize. – Yes – I call this living in my own head and when I turn it to creative pursuits it’s a great plus, but I have to be very conscious of this daydreamer aspect, because it can lead me to feel like I’m accomplishing something when I’m really just being lazy.
Loves traveling. – Nope. There are places I’d like to see, but overall I don’t like to travel
Loves attention. – Okay, is there someone who doesn’t like positive attention? Seriously
Hasty decisions in choosing partners. – Yes, but hasty isn’t always wrong, either.
Loves home decors. - Not so much... There are quirky things I like in my own house, but I’m not one of those people who reads home decorating magazines or anything.
Musically talented. – Not even a little bit!!! I love music, listen to it all the time, but I can’t play or sing a damn thing without causing myself and others great pain.
Loves special things. – No, I hate special things with a passion... what gives them a right to be so, so, special.... Seriously, what does this even mean? (Side note, they left ‘sarcastic’ off this list, but obviously the answer there would be ‘yes’)
Moody. – Yes.... I can be.
Okay guys, below you’ll find the list of the months below with all of the attributes. I’m not going to tag anyone, but I’d love to read yours if you do one, so drop me a link in the comments if you post.
JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.
FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.
JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.
SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.
DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
An Ode to Jersey Girl
In my last post, I took up a meme to bestow a gift upon the first five commenters – this one for Jersey Girl is an extra as she was the first person to comment but also the blogger I picked up the meme from... she did a fantastic job at her place with blog reviews and haikus (thank you so much, I loved the one you wrote for me!!!)
I said in that post that I would do an ode – but I changed it slightly, instead of a straight ode from my own little noggin, it will be a song parody ode... which is actually a little more difficult than it looks but a lot of fun. To change it up, just a little more, I was going to put the you tube video for the original song in the post, in case anyone didn’t know the melody, it’s way more fun when you can sing it the right way... but looking at Jersey Girl’s latest post on signs of the apocalypse, I decided not to use you tube here out of deference to her feelings and because I think the whole thing sucks – excuse the pun.
The song I’ve chosen for Jersey Girl is Hotel California by The Eagles. You can find it all over the internet if you can’t think of the words off hand, though I’m sure most of you are already humming it in your head at the mention of the title.
I left off the last two verses because, hey, it’s a long damn song... well, here goes...
On the Internet highway, it doesn’t seem fair
Those blogs without merit get read more than their share
But I found a great platform, a place for mommy hood’s plight
My kids are screaming and my Vodka’s gone
Her blog can fix me up right
Jersey Girl has her own way;
With a story to tell
There’s no need to be by yourself,
Driving your broke down mini-van from hell
Jersey Girl has a fable and fun games for to play
So if you’re looking for something more
See what she has to say...
Jersey has a story just right for ya
Ironflower’s Grace
Matches Lovebug’s pace
What can I say, Jersey Girl, but I adore ya
Never should you fear, not that way, oh dear....
Her mind is silly and twisted; she’s got a wit that won’t end
She’s got a lot of funny, funny tales, that buck the trends.
If you’re looking for blog posts you won’t forget
Soap Opera Sunday, it’s not over yet.
So I visit quite often
To have a good time.
Parenthood dilemmas mixed in adult humor without the whine
If you’ve got a nasty mom ruining your day
Kids got up in the middle of the night?
Stop and vent away...
Jersey has a story just right for ya
Ironflower’s Grace
Matches Lovebug’s pace
She’s dishin’ it up at her blog each day just for ya
There’s no need for lies, or bad alibis....
I hope you all enjoyed it, especially you, Jerseygirl. If you haven't stopped in there yet, it's a seriously great blog about motherhood but a heck of a lot more, too - if you like your reality with a dose of sarcasm and a side of sass, I can't think of a better blog to visit.
I said in that post that I would do an ode – but I changed it slightly, instead of a straight ode from my own little noggin, it will be a song parody ode... which is actually a little more difficult than it looks but a lot of fun. To change it up, just a little more, I was going to put the you tube video for the original song in the post, in case anyone didn’t know the melody, it’s way more fun when you can sing it the right way... but looking at Jersey Girl’s latest post on signs of the apocalypse, I decided not to use you tube here out of deference to her feelings and because I think the whole thing sucks – excuse the pun.
The song I’ve chosen for Jersey Girl is Hotel California by The Eagles. You can find it all over the internet if you can’t think of the words off hand, though I’m sure most of you are already humming it in your head at the mention of the title.
I left off the last two verses because, hey, it’s a long damn song... well, here goes...
An Ode to Jersey Girl
On the Internet highway, it doesn’t seem fair
Those blogs without merit get read more than their share
But I found a great platform, a place for mommy hood’s plight
My kids are screaming and my Vodka’s gone
Her blog can fix me up right
Jersey Girl has her own way;
With a story to tell
There’s no need to be by yourself,
Driving your broke down mini-van from hell
Jersey Girl has a fable and fun games for to play
So if you’re looking for something more
See what she has to say...
Jersey has a story just right for ya
Ironflower’s Grace
Matches Lovebug’s pace
What can I say, Jersey Girl, but I adore ya
Never should you fear, not that way, oh dear....
Her mind is silly and twisted; she’s got a wit that won’t end
She’s got a lot of funny, funny tales, that buck the trends.
If you’re looking for blog posts you won’t forget
Soap Opera Sunday, it’s not over yet.
So I visit quite often
To have a good time.
Parenthood dilemmas mixed in adult humor without the whine
If you’ve got a nasty mom ruining your day
Kids got up in the middle of the night?
Stop and vent away...
Jersey has a story just right for ya
Ironflower’s Grace
Matches Lovebug’s pace
She’s dishin’ it up at her blog each day just for ya
There’s no need for lies, or bad alibis....
I hope you all enjoyed it, especially you, Jerseygirl. If you haven't stopped in there yet, it's a seriously great blog about motherhood but a heck of a lot more, too - if you like your reality with a dose of sarcasm and a side of sass, I can't think of a better blog to visit.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Christmas Spirit in Bloggy Land
This meme comes to you from the inspired Christmas spirit of our own, Jersey Girl who got the idea from My Mommy’s Place, who in turn grabbed the idear from Mackey
The basic premise here is simple: The first five commenters on this blog are entitled to a present from yours truly. Jersey Girl has offered to post a blog review for me, and I think the bloggers who preceded her were contributing actual flesh and blood gifts for the first five people on their blog.
Okay, so what, pray tell, am I giving away? I’ve been back and forth over this, as I’m sure none of you want cast offs from my house (though I did just finish a good spring cleaning, and have a few boxes of junk to go), and I can’t really afford to go out and buy good gifts for five extra people aside from the ones on my already bursting Christmas list...
The first five commenters can have their choice of two gifts.
1) An ode to them or their blog, posted here and emailed to them directly to either post on their blog or save for posterity...
2) Ready to bake cookies in the mail... I’ll put together the dry mixture for my chocolate chip cookies, complete with directions for how to add the eggs, butter, etc and baking times... (They’re actually really good, I promise)... If you hate chocolate chips (perish the thought) I’ll substitute my Italian cookies, which are also killer but there’s shaping and dough play involved, which makes them more work for you...
Good luck and let the commenting begin... The rules are fairly simple, if you ‘win’ here, you should definitely pass it on in your own blog... Also, please pass on some link love, because it’s always fun to name where it came from and to introduce your blog followers to some of the blogs you frequent. If you don’t win here, feel free to take up the idea anyway. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, or even any money, but it’s a nice way to pass on a little bloggy good will... after all, we spend an awful lot of time with our favorite bloggers, why not include each other in our holiday merriment on a more concrete level.
The basic premise here is simple: The first five commenters on this blog are entitled to a present from yours truly. Jersey Girl has offered to post a blog review for me, and I think the bloggers who preceded her were contributing actual flesh and blood gifts for the first five people on their blog.
Okay, so what, pray tell, am I giving away? I’ve been back and forth over this, as I’m sure none of you want cast offs from my house (though I did just finish a good spring cleaning, and have a few boxes of junk to go), and I can’t really afford to go out and buy good gifts for five extra people aside from the ones on my already bursting Christmas list...
The first five commenters can have their choice of two gifts.
1) An ode to them or their blog, posted here and emailed to them directly to either post on their blog or save for posterity...
2) Ready to bake cookies in the mail... I’ll put together the dry mixture for my chocolate chip cookies, complete with directions for how to add the eggs, butter, etc and baking times... (They’re actually really good, I promise)... If you hate chocolate chips (perish the thought) I’ll substitute my Italian cookies, which are also killer but there’s shaping and dough play involved, which makes them more work for you...
Good luck and let the commenting begin... The rules are fairly simple, if you ‘win’ here, you should definitely pass it on in your own blog... Also, please pass on some link love, because it’s always fun to name where it came from and to introduce your blog followers to some of the blogs you frequent. If you don’t win here, feel free to take up the idea anyway. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, or even any money, but it’s a nice way to pass on a little bloggy good will... after all, we spend an awful lot of time with our favorite bloggers, why not include each other in our holiday merriment on a more concrete level.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Crazy Eights Meme
Jersey Girl tagged me for the crazy eights meme. As my blogging has been rather light of late, and I didn’t want to be a spoilsport, I thought I’d play.
Eight Things I’m Passionate About :
1. Family
2. Friends
3. God
4. Baseball
5. Writing
6. Reading
7. Philosophical ponderings / questions of humanity
8. Art
Eight Things I Want to Do Before I Die :
1. Raise my kids to competent, happy adulthood.
2. Publish my novel (and hopefully multiple novels)
3. Spend some time in Sicily
4. Travel
5. Live in the home of my dreams
6. See the Cubs win the World Series
7. Take an oil painting class
8. Build enough of a nest egg to make sure my kids have a good start
Eight Things that I Say Often
1. It is what it is
2. Boobalah, booba, or boo (pet names I call my kids)
3. Night night, sleep tight, (they finish with, ‘don’t let the bed bugs bite)
4. Oh for fuck’s sake... (I’d like to say I never say this around the kids, I sometimes slip)
5. Wait a minute... (the universal phrase of parenting)
6. Get your shoes on... (seems like we’re always heading out the door somewhere)
7. Finish your milk (at least three times a day)
8. I love you (far more than three times a day)
Eight Books I’ve Read Recently or Am Reading Currently
1. Writer Mama by Christina Katz
2. Lottery by Patricia Wood (just started this and it’s fantastic!)
3. The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose
4. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
5. Interred with their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell
6. Description (elements of fiction writing) by Monica Wood
7. For One More Day by Mitch Albom
8. February Flowers by Fan Wu
Eight Songs I Can Listen To Over and Over
1. The Game of Love by Michelle Branch
2. American Pie by Don McLean
3. Johnny Come Lately or Desperado by The Eagles
4. Sunday Morning by Maroon Five
5. Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick
6. Cinema Paradiso Theme song and whole soundtrack
7. Go Cubs Go
8. Sweet Home Chicago
Eight Things that Attract Me to My Friends
1. Good sense of humor
2. Fun and lighthearted
3. Loyal (not prone to gossip and backstabbing)
4. Thoughtful
5. Family oriented (close to their parents and siblings)
6. Not judgmental or mean spirited
7. Baseball fans
8. Similar interests – reading, writing, art, etc
Things I Learned Last Year
1. It only takes one person to make a negative difference (the same is true for a positive difference)
2. Sometimes wanting a thing with the whole of your heart just doesn’t make a damn bit of difference
3. Losing a dream means you need to find a new one, wallowing means you deserved to lose
4. You can’t control anyone but yourself
5. I enjoy hearing about others’ success
6. How to make Oreo balls (cream cheese and crushed Oreos dipped in white chocolate... mmmmm)
7. A bit about the rules of football (my son plays now so I had to learn a little... )
8. It’s hard to tighten your writing without losing your voice... tough balance to find
Sharing the Love:
I know, these things are meant to be shared and I should be giving you eight new bloggers to do this little ditty.... If you feel like doing this one, great, leave a link so I can go see your answers... consider yourselves universally tagged, but I’m not going to hold it against you if you don’t do this one..
Eight Things I’m Passionate About :
1. Family
2. Friends
3. God
4. Baseball
5. Writing
6. Reading
7. Philosophical ponderings / questions of humanity
8. Art
Eight Things I Want to Do Before I Die :
1. Raise my kids to competent, happy adulthood.
2. Publish my novel (and hopefully multiple novels)
3. Spend some time in Sicily
4. Travel
5. Live in the home of my dreams
6. See the Cubs win the World Series
7. Take an oil painting class
8. Build enough of a nest egg to make sure my kids have a good start
Eight Things that I Say Often
1. It is what it is
2. Boobalah, booba, or boo (pet names I call my kids)
3. Night night, sleep tight, (they finish with, ‘don’t let the bed bugs bite)
4. Oh for fuck’s sake... (I’d like to say I never say this around the kids, I sometimes slip)
5. Wait a minute... (the universal phrase of parenting)
6. Get your shoes on... (seems like we’re always heading out the door somewhere)
7. Finish your milk (at least three times a day)
8. I love you (far more than three times a day)
Eight Books I’ve Read Recently or Am Reading Currently
1. Writer Mama by Christina Katz
2. Lottery by Patricia Wood (just started this and it’s fantastic!)
3. The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose
4. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
5. Interred with their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell
6. Description (elements of fiction writing) by Monica Wood
7. For One More Day by Mitch Albom
8. February Flowers by Fan Wu
Eight Songs I Can Listen To Over and Over
1. The Game of Love by Michelle Branch
2. American Pie by Don McLean
3. Johnny Come Lately or Desperado by The Eagles
4. Sunday Morning by Maroon Five
5. Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick
6. Cinema Paradiso Theme song and whole soundtrack
7. Go Cubs Go
8. Sweet Home Chicago
Eight Things that Attract Me to My Friends
1. Good sense of humor
2. Fun and lighthearted
3. Loyal (not prone to gossip and backstabbing)
4. Thoughtful
5. Family oriented (close to their parents and siblings)
6. Not judgmental or mean spirited
7. Baseball fans
8. Similar interests – reading, writing, art, etc
Things I Learned Last Year
1. It only takes one person to make a negative difference (the same is true for a positive difference)
2. Sometimes wanting a thing with the whole of your heart just doesn’t make a damn bit of difference
3. Losing a dream means you need to find a new one, wallowing means you deserved to lose
4. You can’t control anyone but yourself
5. I enjoy hearing about others’ success
6. How to make Oreo balls (cream cheese and crushed Oreos dipped in white chocolate... mmmmm)
7. A bit about the rules of football (my son plays now so I had to learn a little... )
8. It’s hard to tighten your writing without losing your voice... tough balance to find
Sharing the Love:
I know, these things are meant to be shared and I should be giving you eight new bloggers to do this little ditty.... If you feel like doing this one, great, leave a link so I can go see your answers... consider yourselves universally tagged, but I’m not going to hold it against you if you don’t do this one..
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
My Love Affair with Books
The lovely ello recently put up a meme about books. Now how do you resist posting about books? Impossible!!!!
Ello didn’t name any bloggers to complete this particular meme, instead leaving it open to anyone. I’m doing basically the same thing; if you’d like to discuss your favorite books, drop me a link so I can go see what your preferences are.
Total number of books?
Like everyone else whose done this one, I have no idea what this question means. Is this the total number of books I’ve read in my life? If so, I couldn’t fathom a guess. Is this the total number of books I’ve ever owned, currently own, and read in a year? What’s the damn question?
Here’s what I’ll say. I have four full book cases, five or six full boxes of books in my crawlspace, stacks of writing and miscellaneous books near my desk, and at least two books in various stages of reading in about any room I frequent with the exception of the bathroom. I’m also in the habit of giving away at least one full box of books a year to the library (sometimes two or three). And I often borrow/give books to friends and family. Two of my bookcases hold my leather bounds or hard covers that I love so much I will never part with and won’t lend them out because I’d rather not lose them. Every other book that rolls through my hands is fair game – I will willingly share them once I’ve finished. I also have a mother, two brothers, multiple friends, and a mother in law who are all avid readers – so their books often make their way into my stacks and vice versa.
I have no idea how many books I’ve read. I do have a kind of sort of system: once I’ve finished a book that I know I won’t read again, it goes in a box. If I think of someone I know will enjoy it, it goes in that direction, otherwise it’s in the library pile. The boxed books under my bed and in my crawlspace are a mish mosh of impulse buys I want to read but haven’t yet gotten to and used book sales gone awry – I purchase more than any person with responsibilities could possibly read and I also wind up with borrowed books coming into my house on a regular basis, whether I’ve asked for them or not. On the plus side, I am never without something to read. I do purchase books that I can’t wait to read and open immediately. But often I’ll buy two or three others that look interesting and sit to the side until I get to them... So there you have it. Number of books I read in a month? It varies. Some months only one or two, but then I’m often reading a lot of articles or reference (I don’t count writing references as reading, even though I’ve read an awful lot of them – if you ask me how many books I’ve read, I usually only count fiction).
So, basically, to this question I’d have to say I have owned a lot, given away a lot, bought a lot, borrowed a lot, and enjoyed them whenever I’ve had a spare minute and often when I have other work I should be doing.
Last book read?
I’m currently reading The Time Traveler’s Wife which I’ve had sitting here forever and kept putting off for some reason. It’s fantastic! Now I wish I had listened to all the hype and read it sooner.
Last book bought?
I just bought Lottery by Patricia Wood and I can’t wait to dig into it!
Five meaningful books?
This one’s a hard one because I will without a doubt leave out some books that have meant a great deal to me – it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few this way.... sigh...
The Outsiders I loved this book when I was in seventh and eighth grade and read Rumblefish, and That Was Then and This is Now with equal vigor... It’s not among the best writing I’ve ever read or the most poetic prose, but it had a voice that reached in to that just getting to teenage mindset... I was already reading adult fiction by this point, but these books more than many others drew me in and spoke, which is why I still think of them fondly twenty years later... And that, my friends, is what I hope to someday accomplish with my own writing – it doesn’t have to be Pulitzer prize material, but if it speaks to one reader enough to stay with them over a lifetime, that would be the biggest mark of success imaginable.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn This one I read for the first time in high school, and I read it a number of times since. I tend to drift toward these type of stories, the struggles of urban life and historical fiction with meat and message. This one sticks with me because it so clearly said that enjoyable fiction can be both mainstream and literary – there was more to the language than simple wording and more to the voice than guttural sound.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain will always be at the very top of my list of favored authors, for his voice and wit and brilliance. Because this list is so small, I’ve decided to leave off Shakespeare, as I’ll deem plays different than books, and obviously a lot of the classics that I adore will have to be left off. But with Huck Finn, Twain captured not only the voice and adventure that a child can readily enjoy but the meatier messages of life and morality. I love an author who refuses to stay pegged in a certain bracket with only a certain audience – I think it’s pure brilliance when they can rise above their own station and speak to the whole... some literary types look down on this type of mainstreaming as dumbed down, I think it takes more empathy, though, to bring authentic life to a work that anyone, from any class, can enjoy and experience.
Little Women I just love this work – I tend to really enjoy epic writing, and this was one that pulled me in so fully that the last page brought with it a sense of loss so profound that I had to turn back to the first and start over to keep from depression.
To Kill A Mockingbird This one has been mentioned in other blogs on books but it bears mentioning again. There are other books and authors I love, but for some reason the world of Scout and Atticus, the message of what courage really means, and the poetic coming of age encompassed here surpasses the ravages of time and will continue to speak to new generations of readers, as long as they exist.
So there they are... a long and winding post all about books. If you’re game, I’d like to hear about yours.
Ello didn’t name any bloggers to complete this particular meme, instead leaving it open to anyone. I’m doing basically the same thing; if you’d like to discuss your favorite books, drop me a link so I can go see what your preferences are.
Total number of books?
Like everyone else whose done this one, I have no idea what this question means. Is this the total number of books I’ve read in my life? If so, I couldn’t fathom a guess. Is this the total number of books I’ve ever owned, currently own, and read in a year? What’s the damn question?
Here’s what I’ll say. I have four full book cases, five or six full boxes of books in my crawlspace, stacks of writing and miscellaneous books near my desk, and at least two books in various stages of reading in about any room I frequent with the exception of the bathroom. I’m also in the habit of giving away at least one full box of books a year to the library (sometimes two or three). And I often borrow/give books to friends and family. Two of my bookcases hold my leather bounds or hard covers that I love so much I will never part with and won’t lend them out because I’d rather not lose them. Every other book that rolls through my hands is fair game – I will willingly share them once I’ve finished. I also have a mother, two brothers, multiple friends, and a mother in law who are all avid readers – so their books often make their way into my stacks and vice versa.
I have no idea how many books I’ve read. I do have a kind of sort of system: once I’ve finished a book that I know I won’t read again, it goes in a box. If I think of someone I know will enjoy it, it goes in that direction, otherwise it’s in the library pile. The boxed books under my bed and in my crawlspace are a mish mosh of impulse buys I want to read but haven’t yet gotten to and used book sales gone awry – I purchase more than any person with responsibilities could possibly read and I also wind up with borrowed books coming into my house on a regular basis, whether I’ve asked for them or not. On the plus side, I am never without something to read. I do purchase books that I can’t wait to read and open immediately. But often I’ll buy two or three others that look interesting and sit to the side until I get to them... So there you have it. Number of books I read in a month? It varies. Some months only one or two, but then I’m often reading a lot of articles or reference (I don’t count writing references as reading, even though I’ve read an awful lot of them – if you ask me how many books I’ve read, I usually only count fiction).
So, basically, to this question I’d have to say I have owned a lot, given away a lot, bought a lot, borrowed a lot, and enjoyed them whenever I’ve had a spare minute and often when I have other work I should be doing.
Last book read?
I’m currently reading The Time Traveler’s Wife which I’ve had sitting here forever and kept putting off for some reason. It’s fantastic! Now I wish I had listened to all the hype and read it sooner.
Last book bought?
I just bought Lottery by Patricia Wood and I can’t wait to dig into it!
Five meaningful books?
This one’s a hard one because I will without a doubt leave out some books that have meant a great deal to me – it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few this way.... sigh...
The Outsiders I loved this book when I was in seventh and eighth grade and read Rumblefish, and That Was Then and This is Now with equal vigor... It’s not among the best writing I’ve ever read or the most poetic prose, but it had a voice that reached in to that just getting to teenage mindset... I was already reading adult fiction by this point, but these books more than many others drew me in and spoke, which is why I still think of them fondly twenty years later... And that, my friends, is what I hope to someday accomplish with my own writing – it doesn’t have to be Pulitzer prize material, but if it speaks to one reader enough to stay with them over a lifetime, that would be the biggest mark of success imaginable.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn This one I read for the first time in high school, and I read it a number of times since. I tend to drift toward these type of stories, the struggles of urban life and historical fiction with meat and message. This one sticks with me because it so clearly said that enjoyable fiction can be both mainstream and literary – there was more to the language than simple wording and more to the voice than guttural sound.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain will always be at the very top of my list of favored authors, for his voice and wit and brilliance. Because this list is so small, I’ve decided to leave off Shakespeare, as I’ll deem plays different than books, and obviously a lot of the classics that I adore will have to be left off. But with Huck Finn, Twain captured not only the voice and adventure that a child can readily enjoy but the meatier messages of life and morality. I love an author who refuses to stay pegged in a certain bracket with only a certain audience – I think it’s pure brilliance when they can rise above their own station and speak to the whole... some literary types look down on this type of mainstreaming as dumbed down, I think it takes more empathy, though, to bring authentic life to a work that anyone, from any class, can enjoy and experience.
Little Women I just love this work – I tend to really enjoy epic writing, and this was one that pulled me in so fully that the last page brought with it a sense of loss so profound that I had to turn back to the first and start over to keep from depression.
To Kill A Mockingbird This one has been mentioned in other blogs on books but it bears mentioning again. There are other books and authors I love, but for some reason the world of Scout and Atticus, the message of what courage really means, and the poetic coming of age encompassed here surpasses the ravages of time and will continue to speak to new generations of readers, as long as they exist.
So there they are... a long and winding post all about books. If you’re game, I’d like to hear about yours.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Rules of Engagement - Blogging Style
It’s come to my attention that a number of bloggers out there have been looking for hard and fast rules on running a successful blog. They dispute whether or not such a thing might exist, not a successful blog but the fact that there might in fact be rules of engagement... Well, there are. Here’s a short list to get you going:
Claim Expertise: To run a successful blog you have to be an expert – never mind the fact that you’re not qualified to pick bellybutton lint from your own navel – just lie. Here in cyber space you are who you say you are – nobody really checks those pesky credentials. Pick any old profession and just say it’s who you are – it’s gotta be more interesting than the truth, right?
Show Some Personality: Hell, it doesn’t even have to be your own. To get return visitors, they need to be amused by what you have to say and who you are (not really, just who they think you are) Put up some great pictures of yourself... okay, what if you’re neither pretty or palatable? No biggie – see that picture up on my blog? Yeah, that’s some lady whose picture was on the memory of the last cell phone I boosted – (psst – regular blog readers, please disregard, come back tomorrow and believe me some more)
Just the Facts, Mam: People read blogs to learn stuff, right? So post a lot of interesting facts on your topic of choice... If you’ve claimed expertise on something you don’t understand, even better, then you can just make stuff up... Oh, and those pesky commentors who call you out when you’re lying, just delete them, they’ll go away eventually.
Pay Some Visits: There are quick and easy ways to market your blog for free – just hit every blog you see with a comment – save some more time and don’t bother to read the blog, just leave your link with something pithy to get them interested, like “Will Blog For Food”... or, oh, “Naked Blogging” – that one works pretty good.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger: For those of you ready to beat me with swizzle sticks, blame the evil, wordvixen for putting me up to this post... her little writing assignment was to give the worst blog advice you could think of, or something like that...
For my part, I’m passing this challenge on to Shelly Bryant, FF&F, Ello, and Mary Witzl
Good luck, and drop me a link when you guys have posted yours!
Claim Expertise: To run a successful blog you have to be an expert – never mind the fact that you’re not qualified to pick bellybutton lint from your own navel – just lie. Here in cyber space you are who you say you are – nobody really checks those pesky credentials. Pick any old profession and just say it’s who you are – it’s gotta be more interesting than the truth, right?
Show Some Personality: Hell, it doesn’t even have to be your own. To get return visitors, they need to be amused by what you have to say and who you are (not really, just who they think you are) Put up some great pictures of yourself... okay, what if you’re neither pretty or palatable? No biggie – see that picture up on my blog? Yeah, that’s some lady whose picture was on the memory of the last cell phone I boosted – (psst – regular blog readers, please disregard, come back tomorrow and believe me some more)
Just the Facts, Mam: People read blogs to learn stuff, right? So post a lot of interesting facts on your topic of choice... If you’ve claimed expertise on something you don’t understand, even better, then you can just make stuff up... Oh, and those pesky commentors who call you out when you’re lying, just delete them, they’ll go away eventually.
Pay Some Visits: There are quick and easy ways to market your blog for free – just hit every blog you see with a comment – save some more time and don’t bother to read the blog, just leave your link with something pithy to get them interested, like “Will Blog For Food”... or, oh, “Naked Blogging” – that one works pretty good.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger: For those of you ready to beat me with swizzle sticks, blame the evil, wordvixen for putting me up to this post... her little writing assignment was to give the worst blog advice you could think of, or something like that...
For my part, I’m passing this challenge on to Shelly Bryant, FF&F, Ello, and Mary Witzl
Good luck, and drop me a link when you guys have posted yours!
Monday, May 28, 2007
The Thinking Blogger
I have been awarded the
Thank you, Show in Tale for thinking of me!!!!
Show in Tale was awarded the thinking blogger award by another great blogger, Silken who I would’ve listed in my own awards, but she’s already received one, congratulations, Silken!!!
Here is my list of five bloggers who are great to visit, and always make me think... often they make me laugh as well, which is always great fun....
1. Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts I just found her in the last month or two and have been picking back through posts on a fairly regular basis... any writer moms, writers, or freelancers out there will find Laura’s blog both insightful and fun to read.
2. Dana Prince is another great blog for the writer or freelancer... I first met Dana at my original blog place, writingup (now, I think, defunct) but I’ve followed her as ‘marleymauve’ and under her real name around the Internet and back... all of her other blogs and topic editing positions should be listed at the one linked – she’s a great wealth of information – and wonderful conversation as well.
3. Jersey Girl is a fun romp from the stay at home mom’s perspective.... This girl knows how to infuse a little fun, and an occasional dirty mind, into the humdrum life of the full time mother (yeah, like we have any time to be bored)... She’s a great read on topics of marriage, children, and education... for whatever type of mom you are.
4. Quantamama is another great read for the moms among us... Her blogs are both fun and insightful and you’ll find a lot more there than child raising tips..... always with a dose of good humor.
5. The Writer Mama authored by Christina Katz who recently released a book through Writer’s Digest under the same name... this blog has a wealth of information for the writer, and the mother.... her blog roll in itself is priceless... Anyone out there who writes for a living, or thinks they might like to, would have a fabulous time exploring her blog.
*Should the bloggers choose to participate, please make sure to pass the rules on to the next Thinking Blogs you tag.
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).
This award was began by ilker yoldas at The Thinking Blog. I hope to follow the links to some more great bloggers out there who make us think.
Thank you, Show in Tale for thinking of me!!!!
Show in Tale was awarded the thinking blogger award by another great blogger, Silken who I would’ve listed in my own awards, but she’s already received one, congratulations, Silken!!!
Here is my list of five bloggers who are great to visit, and always make me think... often they make me laugh as well, which is always great fun....
1. Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts I just found her in the last month or two and have been picking back through posts on a fairly regular basis... any writer moms, writers, or freelancers out there will find Laura’s blog both insightful and fun to read.
2. Dana Prince is another great blog for the writer or freelancer... I first met Dana at my original blog place, writingup (now, I think, defunct) but I’ve followed her as ‘marleymauve’ and under her real name around the Internet and back... all of her other blogs and topic editing positions should be listed at the one linked – she’s a great wealth of information – and wonderful conversation as well.
3. Jersey Girl is a fun romp from the stay at home mom’s perspective.... This girl knows how to infuse a little fun, and an occasional dirty mind, into the humdrum life of the full time mother (yeah, like we have any time to be bored)... She’s a great read on topics of marriage, children, and education... for whatever type of mom you are.
4. Quantamama is another great read for the moms among us... Her blogs are both fun and insightful and you’ll find a lot more there than child raising tips..... always with a dose of good humor.
5. The Writer Mama authored by Christina Katz who recently released a book through Writer’s Digest under the same name... this blog has a wealth of information for the writer, and the mother.... her blog roll in itself is priceless... Anyone out there who writes for a living, or thinks they might like to, would have a fabulous time exploring her blog.
*Should the bloggers choose to participate, please make sure to pass the rules on to the next Thinking Blogs you tag.
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).
This award was began by ilker yoldas at The Thinking Blog. I hope to follow the links to some more great bloggers out there who make us think.
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