It Finally Happened...

I knew it had to sooner or later...

I got a "poor" rating on Fictionwise. Ironically, it was on one my favorite stories, "The Christmas Curse".

I probably shouldn't be pointing out a "poor" rating, should I? I should pretend it didn't really exist. It's just...

Poor?

Really?

I'm not as upset as I am a bit mystified. "OK" I could understand. I've had "meh" reactions to books that other folks loved.

Oh well. Off to work on another story that will probably earn everything from "Great" to "Poor" ratings again!

Only In My Dreams

Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare. ~H.F. Hedge

I wrote a blog post in my dreams last night. It was fun, and clever -- and it was a meme to share. I remember thinking how I needed to write it up today. Of course, this morning, I can't remember a word of it. Should I find it strange that I'm dreaming about writing in my blog?

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I'm feeling a little odd. I got a request for an interview last week. Like... yanno... I'm somebody people would want to read about (beside you discerning folks who, unexplicably, like to hear my babble daily). It was very weird.

My Samhain novel, "One Love For Liv" has made it through the FLE (would you want to be called a FLE? -- that's Final Line Editor, btw, but I love the acronym), who amazingly caught MORE typos and other various errors despite my eyeballs and my wonderful editor's (waves to Eve). I'm consistently surprised how many things can be missed, despite several pass throughs by more than one person. Anyway, next is galley and covers. I can't wait to see what the cover artist comes up with... I've always been impressed by the Samhain covers.

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Puppy training is moving foward slowly. I was SO spoiled with Bailey... she was an amazingly good dog. The kind of dog who wouldn't touch turkey bones in the garbage or food on the counter, and would die a thousand deaths before she'd pee in the house. I'd forgotten how much work a puppy can be.

I can't complain. She's really quite good (for a baby) and smart as can be. It's also been interesting to see her establish her place in the pack. I'm definitely the alpha, with DH a close second (it was this way with Bailey as well -- since I'm home, I get to be #1). DD and Dakota, though, are still duking it out for spot #3. The puppy won't bite me any more (unless she's gets REALLY overexcited), though she does snap at the air nearby. But DD? Fair game.

My poor two-legged girl was so excited to get a puppy. Now, with scratches and bites all over her hands, and a hole or two in her clothes, she's not so thrilled. I have TWO critters to train: Dakota and my DD. We're getting there, one step at a time.

You know who has training of the puppy down pat? The cat. She got that darling dog in line in a matter of minutes. I suppose, in the pack order, the cat is number three behind my husband and I. LOL...

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We're planning a big Valentine's Day bash in our new Yahoo group... but I'd like to see a whole lot more members so we can entice as many authors as possible to show up, share their work and hold giveaways. Have you joined yet?

Why not? The link is here. Come on... you know you want to.

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Because so many folks hated yesterday's game... I'm giving you one that's a bit easier today:


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Enjoy!

Another Christmas Meme :-)

Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can't buy more hours. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow. ~ Denis Waitely

I'm not sure, but I don't think I can get any busier. All I want for Christmas are 48 hour days... please?

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Another Christmas Meme from Judy:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, depends on the gift. Bags are awesome for those oddly shaped presents.
2. Real or artificial tree? real -- a decent artificial tree is WAY too expensive. Besides, a real tree is actually better for the environment!
3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend following Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Ugh, no. And I don't understand why, because I should. But... ugh.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My "M's Box" -- my SIL made me this great wooden suitcase full of art supplies and had my name engraved on the top. It was the best gift ever. As an adult? My puppy-dog, Bailey.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? One in our living room, and my DD has two in her bedroom.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My husband -- this year, he gave me a list, the website I could buy stuff from and their item numbers. Gotta love it.
9. Easiest person to buy for? my DD -- it's harder to stop buying for her than it is to stop!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? All my gifts were given with love... how can I complain about that?
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mostly mail.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? "It's A Wonderful Life" -- I cry every time I watch it.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually start the day after Christmas... this is the first year I wasn't done shopping by the end of summer. Ugh.. I still have stuff to get. I HATE that.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate -- but, then that's my favorite thing to eat ANY time of the year.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear? You mean the white ones? Then, those.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Of course -- On Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Blitzen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Vixen -- but don't forget Rudolph and Leroy.

What? You've never heard of Leroy? Then click through and enjoy!



20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. We have a big red bow with long streamers.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? THE SNOW -- UGH!
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Nope -- we decorate in early eclectic.
24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Nuthin... we were big meanies! LOL...

If you decide to play, let me know so I can come visit!

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Instead of a quiz, I give you a Time Waster!


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Pay It Forward and Puppy Kisses

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~ Ben Williams

In this post of Groovy's, I was insane enough to sign up for a Pay It Forward gift!

It's a really neat and simple concept:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 2 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. The only thing you have to do in return is Pay it Forward by making the same promise on your blog. I have absolutely NO IDEA what the craft I send will be, but I can be pretty crafty when I set my mind to it. So, if it sounds like as neat an idea to you as it did to me, get busy - comment and then PAY IT FORWARD!

Kay?

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DH and I decided the house was too empty without our darling Bailey. So, look what we found:



You see, I was sitting around, bored, nothing to do... and I thought: I know! I can fill all this spare time making crafts for a Pay It Forward giveaway and potty training a new puppy!

I all seriousness, I have to say: Finding the pup (whose name is Dakota), was a blessing. We decided we really wanted a dog similar to Bailey, because she was such a stellar critter in temperament and brains. She was a Golden Retriever/Gordon Setter mix. We didn't want something that looked like her, though. Too painful, as we still burst into tears at the drop of a hat.

I looked online for Golden/Setter and found a lady about 50 miles from here who had a litter of Golden Retriever/Irish Setter puppies that were just ready to find their forever homes.

Incidentally, I've always been a proponent of Pound Puppies. Bailey was a pound pup. BUT, apparently the northeast is right on top of the whole spay/neuter thing, because there were no puppies in any shelter locally. I looked in NH, Northern MA, VT and ME. Additionally, most shelters won't adopt a puppy out to you if you don't have a fenced in yard (we don't) or an invisible fence (we don't). We would have failed the application process in more ways than one. And, yet, we manage to raise happy, healthy, spoiled dogs... go figure.

In any case, Darling Dakota has filled a bit of a void. She's a LOT of work, but very smart. She's catching on to potty training like a champ. She and the cat are slowly working things out. She's learning to let go of her fixation on my slippers. And, best of all, the DH and DD have a critter to play with and cuddle with again.

I still miss Bailey, though. God messed up: Dogs should have a longer life span.

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It's snowing here, and we have about 4 inches on the ground thus far. The worst, tho, is still to come: Wind. That's what will knock out our power if it's going to happen (fingers crossed it won't). Still, thus far, it hasn't been as bad as they thought. I hope that keeps up!

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Your Expression Number is 7

Very intelligent, you are usually thinking, introspecting, or analyzing. You have a good mind, and you are especially good at finding out the truth. Very little ever escapes your observation and deep understanding. You tend to obsess over wisdom and hidden truths. You are likely to become a authority on any subject you undertake. Operating on a different wavelength, most people don't know you that well. Very logical and rational, at times you tend to lack emotion. So much so, that you often have times coping with emotional situations. You are not very adaptable - you may tend to be overly critical at times.

What's Your Expression Number?

A New Review for an Old Favorite!

Fallen Angels Reviews has reviewed my story, "Magic" -- released the end of August this year.

Here's what they had to say:

Magic is a splendid short story, a real little gem. The vivid descriptions of the lake and all the friends make this story jump right from the pages and into the reader’s heart. I smiled at the humorous bits and felt my heart tug at the love that rises to the surface of Cass and Ben’s relationship. I wondered if the pair could get past their history as “just friends” to find something more. I won’t give away the ending but I will say this story warmed my heart and made me smile. Well done, Ms. Arkins! A charming tale filled with Magic, this is one story I can highly recommend reading. Five angels.

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That was really nice to read!

12 Christmas Q's

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. ~ Carol Nelson

From Hootin' Annie by way of Judy:

1. Christmas is for children. [fill in the blank with ONE WORD] I know, I cheated and used two words. Sue me.

2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past? We were incredibly ... uh, money challenged when I was a child. But my family came up with some clever gifts that I LOVED. One year I got this short little table they'd decoupaged with Holly Hobby pictures and painted pink. Once I got a garbage can (a metal one) that had had each indentation painted a different color and a chain attached between lid and handle to use as a toy box.

It made up a little for the powdered eggs and the MREs my step-dad brought home from the national guard for us to eat! Ugh.

3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what] The best Christmas gift I ever got was this:


Only she was a little smaller then. So, yes... Santa has been very good to me.

4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both? One on Christmas Eve -- when I was little we got PJs and an ornament -- and the rest on Christmas Day. My DH and I fought over this when we were first married, because the tradition in his family was to open everything on Christmas Eve, go to Midnight Mass, and then in the morning they got whatever Santa brought. I had a real problem with that, so that was one time I held firm! LOL... choose your battles.

5. Is there something you make each and every year? No. I used to try to cross-stitch an ornament every year but, UGH, I just don't have time any more.

6. What are your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns? "Oh Holy Night" (but only when it's sung right -- Josh Groban does a fabulous version), "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (again, only if it's done right -- Suzy Boggus does my fave version), "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful", and "Joy to the World". Yep, I'm all about traditional.

Least fave? "Feliz Navidad" -- talk about an ear worm! All it takes is hearing that for one flash, and it's stuck in my head for DAYS. UGH. It wouldn't be so bad if it had more than two lines of lyrics.

7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days? Nope!

8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. For the most part, we stay home. I've asked the DH to have us host the post-morning festivities for his family the past few years. Mostly we have, though once or twice we've been to his folks who live about 40 minutes away. I just really like to be home at Christmas.

9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day? I try to stick with a solid red and green theme. I have a red chenille sweater I've worn the past two years.

10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap? My mom tried ONCE when I was little. I was painfully shy and NOT a happy camper. I've tried to get my DD to do it, but she's wary of men she doesn't know (yes, even Santa, apparently) and won't do it. Once, two friends and I visited Santa when I was nineteen or twenty. Somewhere I still have the picture!

11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year? I'm all about tradition, so most of the ornaments will have some meaning. Many are from when I was a child or that my DD has made. She has her own box of ornaments that we've given her over the years. With the exception of two boxes of balls (my DH loves balls on the tree...), everything else holds a memory. It's very eclectic, but full of love!

12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas? Gah, no. I have a strong aversion to most of the stuff people put in their yards. I'm not going to go into detail because, without a doubt I'll offend someone. We used to put candles in the windows, but haven't replaced the ones that have broken. So, now we just have a wreath.

Let me know if you play along so I can come visit you!

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Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

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That storm in the Midwest-- yanno, the one that closed airports and killed people? Yep, that's the one headed our way. Wish us luck. If, for some reason I don't post tomorrow, it's because I don't have power.

Yikes. I hope that doesn't happen!

December Blues

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. ~Author Unknown

In like a lion? I know, I know, that's for spring... but we've just gotten news to expect our first pretty bad winter storm. I'm hoping the National Weather Service is flat out wrong, but just in case, I'm going to do all my errands for the the next couple of days, today. Because it's supposed to smack us hard starting on Sunday and on through Monday (which means DH will be working from home...but that's another story).

Times like these I miss California more than usual. I really, really hate the cold. And the snow. And the ice. And the wind.

*sigh*

Today, we bring a bunch of wood into the garage because, along with the snow, they're predicting high winds. So... we could also loose power (picture me jumping for joy).

Times like these, I wonder how the first settlers here ever survived, and why the HECK they opted to stay. Crazy, crazy people.

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DD and I watched "The Santa Clause" yesterday. She loved it. I have the second one requested at the library...she still believes in the old guy, but her faith is beginning to be shaken, so these have been really fun movies for her.

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Got one thing off my to-do list yesterday. Only about 15 more to go. In fact, I should probably shut up and get to work... Have a great day!

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Check in the mirror—are you turning green? You're acting grinch-cranky and kinda grinch-mean. Yep, you're grinchy! You feel like your head will explode if you see one more cheery-but-fake holiday smile. If you could skip the holidays completely, you would. It sucks to feel this way when everyone else is bursting with joy, but sometimes grinchiness is only temporary. Maybe try the quiz again in a few days?