Wanted: The End

"A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."- Thomas Mann

I've been really frustrated lately with my inability to actually complete something I've written. It's partly due to the fact that my writing time isn't quite as abundant as it used to be, partly because I'm working on several projects, and partly because ON those projects, I'm working toward a specific word count -- longer than usual for me.

I told a friend yesterday that writing short is easy. The first 30,000 words? No problem. But after that, it's tough. For whatever reason, I don't always have enough story for more. I think I do have enough story for my fantasy, especially with the changes I need to make, so the only issue with that is just getting the words down. Geoff will have enough story, too, once I start writing in the heroine's POV (duh).

Still, I want something DONE.

So, I challenged myself to a writing contest. A short story of at least 7500 words by Friday morning. And, then another one of at least the same length by the end of the weekend.

They may be garbage, but my psyche needs to see "the end".

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Dakota did amazing in agility last night. She got over all her fears without telling me. Ran the entire course off leash (except for the weave poles -- they were new, and she didn't know what to do with them). She did the frame, the see-saw... everything!! Not even any hesitation. Amazing. I was utterly shocked. I have a sneaking suspicion we'll be moving into the advanced class when this one is over. Wow. She really loves agility. It's incredible.

There is one other couple in class with a Golden Retriever mix who has always been the best dog in class -- and now, she isn't. Last night, the handler grinned at me and then turned to her dog and said, "Now, you need to pay attention and do as well as--" (finger jab toward Dd) "show-off over there."

We have a good class of folks, and I really like them so would be sad to go away into another class, but I think it would be good for Dakota. Next stop: AKC Agility Championships!

LOL...

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You Are the Artist

You are unique and inspired. You aren't happy unless you are making art of some sort. Almost anything can be a catalyst for your creativity. You find the whole world stimulating. You have beautiful visions, and you're good at expressing them. You like people to see what you see. You also have an inventor's spirit. You're always thinking up new ideas and concepts.

What's Your Life's Mission?

This and That Thursday

Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. ~Voltaire

Yesterday, I had to choose excerpts from "Kitchen Matches" to use for promotion. I swear, that's such a hard task! Judy had suggested two, but the problem was, they wouldn't make sense out of context (the football one, J) OR they were too short (the flaming apron one). I finally chose two and forwarded them on to my editor. We'll see what she has to say.

Hey! I have a free read up at The Long and the Short of It today. At a later date, I may expand it into something longer...if I feel like doing the research into the time (right around the time the gov't opened up the west for land grabbing -- we just studied it in history, and I'm drawing a blank on the exact date. Some teacher I am, though I bet DD knows! LOL...)

It rained all day. My poor garden needed it. Everything is beginning to grow, and with the heat coming this weekend, I think it'll really pop...especially since it won't get cold at night either.

Still no butterflies. I'm beginning to think Rose, Martin and Jill didn't make it through the winter in our basement. The last time we overwintered pupae down there, they did fine. Regardless, they'll be heading out today and will stay out (I've been bringing them back in when the weather is poor). It's supposed to be hot, sunny and clear for many days. We'll see what happens.

My milkweed is developing buds -- it has the prettiest flowers! I recall, last year, that we really attracted all kinds of butterflies when those flowers bloomed. It was also just following the bloom that the monarchs arrived and started laying eggs. I can't wait!

I was going to take Dakota to doggy day care today, but she's not feeling well. She was up and down all night and she gives this odd, juicy sounding cough every now and then. Weird. I may call the doggy doc later.

Still working like a dog (not MY dog, of course... she mostly lies around or chases tennis balls all day) on the website relaunch (coming Monday, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise) for The Long and the Short of It. I'm having to rebuild all the pages... and I need to figure out how to redirect the old ones, because nearly ALL the links are going to change. Whose idea was this again? (**cough**judy**cough**)

*G*

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What the Beach Test Says About You

You tend to be a very social person. You live for your friends and family. You can get social burnout occasionally though. You aren't a total extrovert. You don't fall in love easily. It takes you a long time to get used to someone. Intimacy doesn't come easily for you. You are deeply passionate about several things in your life. You're not passionate about much... and the few passions you have are truly obsessions. Your sense of humor is intellectual and obscure. Only really well educated people get your jokes.

The Beach Test

Okay... mostly right.

Teaching Tact

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian. ~Paul McCartney

Too tired to be coherent today. Why can't I ever seem to sleep in?? Ah well. Spent the day putting in hardwood at my SILs house. It actually went pretty well. I think we're getting quite a rhythm going. We did her living room in a matter of hours. Yay us!

I need to teach DD to be a little more tactful, though. SIL made beef hot dogs for lunch. Um... DD and I don't eat beef -- and what DD said to SIL was, "I don't eat cow." And it became this big issue, with DH getting all upset (partly at me, because obviously my strange eating habits are rubbing off on DD and partly at DD). I half expected someone to sit on DD and stuff a hot dog into her mouth. Okay, not really, but ... sheesh.

Today, I'll sit down with DD and explain that when people serve meat, just don't eat it. Don't raise a fuss. Just eat the things you CAN eat and zip it. That's what I do. If someone notices and asks me, then I'll simply tell them I don't choose to eat a particular food.

My DH's family is one of strict carnivores -- it's all about eating half a cow whenever they get together. They wouldn't understand my choices, so I don't share them (and, no, they don't realize my eating habits yet... amazing since I haven't eaten "cow" for several years now). They usually have a veggie platter or fruit salad out. Cheese and crackers. Something.

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I'll have a short story up on LASR this coming Thursday. It was fun to write, lol. I based it on the song "Buttons and Bows" by Dinah Shore. Don't know that one? Well, here it is:



The local ice cream truck was playing it on the day I was trying to decide what to write. Yes, inspiration can strike in odd places.

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You Are Thanksgiving

You are a bit of a homebody who enjoys being in the company of people you love. It doesn't take a lot to make you happy. You're enjoying life as it is. You have many blessings in your life, and you are grateful for each one. You believe that life is about what you *do* have. You feel like you have enough of the good stuff. What makes you celebrate: Family, friends, and the changing of the seasons. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The host of the party On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Spend so much energy preparing that it's a full time job

What Holiday Are You?