Dark Moments

We gather strength from sadness and from pain, Each time we die we learn to live again. ~ Unknown

There are currently three cords of firewood in my driveway. I didn't realize how much that truly was. Three. Cords. We're planning on using NO oil to heat this year if at all possible. Usually we burn two cords, and use the stove December through March. This year, we'll start burning as soon as the chimney is cleaned (end of Oct) and burn until the wood is gone (probably April).

I love using the woodstove -- it keeps the house FAR hotter than we could if we used oil. In fact, it frequently gets so hot, I'll open all the windows and air it out inside. I really hate stuffy houses, don't you? And with wood, I don't have to feel guilty. And, considering how fast the trees grow here, I don't have to feel guilty about chopping them down. Seriously, there are plant steroids in the ground or something -- I've never seen a place where the flora is quite so healthy and abundant. It's truly incredible.

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I tried reading a new book yesterday by a best-selling author. Not naming names, because I didn't like it, but I also found out something: I don't enjoy books where the main character is taken down so low that there's nowhere further to go.

This woman wakes up next to a dead body (a friend), doesn't remember anything, calls the police and (of course) finds herself accused of murder. She's a good person, and honest person and suddenly -- she loses not only that friend, but her job, her money, her reputation... everything. It upset me so much to see this nice person put through the wringer that I skipped ahead until she had an ally who believed her. And then, I skimmed the rest. It turns out that this author is straying from the true romantic suspense genre, and going mostly suspense. There was a romantic interest, but that was not so much part of the story, and it really disappointed me. I don't know if I'll read her next book.

As a writer, I understand that there is supposed to be a black moment. A time when everything is wrong and the main character has to fight his or her way back to the light. I guess I just don't have it in me, at least not now, to do that to anyone I like -- and I typically like my H/H (shouldn't I?). That's going to be a fight for me, I suppose. But, if I don't like to read it, I don't think I'm going to write it. And if it keeps me from being a NYT bestseller, then that's just the way it is. I don't mind knocking the characters down from time-to-time, but to kick them when they're down, kill their puppy, have their spouse cheat with their best friend, burn their house and give their beloved mother incurable cancer when her car is foreclosed on? Nope.

**sigh**

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You Are 45% Pirate

Ahoy matey! Ye can think o' yerself as a swashbuckler in trainin'. If ye study hard an 'do what the captain tells ye, ye may be gettin' part o' the booty. Get to work on yer pillagin', swordfightin', an' drinkin'. Ye dasn't want to end up in Davy Jones' locker, so make sure ye pipe down when the captain be around.

Would You Make a Good Pirate?