I'm Stylish!

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. ~Leo Aikman

Dru Ann gave me an award!

I don't feel particularly stylish (I say, sitting here in my jammies!), but thanks, Dru!

The rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award on

Now ... I'm trying to think of seven things y'all don't know about me that are kosher to share in public. *G*

Hmmmmm......

1. I eat cooked spinach with mayonnaise... which is especially odd because I don't really LIKE mayo. I never put it on my sandwiches, etc., but spinach and artichokes cry out for mayo. Listen to them next time ... I swear you'll hear: "Eat me with mayo."

2. I'm always cold. Unless it's 110 degrees out with humidity, I'm shivering. I wear flannels to bed every night, even in June. My doc says it's partly due to having low blood pressure, so there's not much I can do (save eat LOTS of salt... *G*). DD, OTOH, is always warm. I've stopped buying her winter clothes: long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, etc. She never wears them. Made for interesting times when she was a baby, because the doc always said to dress her how I would dress, so there were occasions I'd look at her and her face would be beet red with sweat rolling down while I was shivering. Poor kidlet.

3. I know how to milk goats. I had goats growing up, showed and raised goats for 4H, briefly. I wish I had a goat now, but DH says no. *sigh*

4. I don't drink milk. I don't LIKE milk. I like milk products: yogurt, cheese, ice cream. But I can't stand the taste of milk. :::shudders::: This is something that distresses both my DH and my DD's doctor. DH because he was raised to think that "milk does a body good" and my DD's doctor because I never gave her milk to drink and they were sure she wasn't getting enough calcium. First: she and I both take supplements. Second: there are plenty of other foods that contain calcium (and, in fact, your body absorbs less calcium from milk than it does from vegetable sources). Occasionally, I use the bone meal I buy for Dakota's food (don't worry -- it's human grade) in food that I cook. I'd be willing to bet I know more about food and nutrition than DD's doc...

5. I'm a study in opposites: I love to talk to people and spend time with them, but I also NEED time alone. When I'm out, I gab with anyone and everyone. I know most of the clerks at the stores I go to regularly, for instance, and enjoy chatting. But if I don't get enough time away from people I start acting like a grizzly bear with a prickle in its paw.

6. I hate camping. I think it can be traced back to when I was younger and we "got back to nature". We lived out in the boonies with no electricity, no running water, no phone ... and initially, no house. We slept in a tent until we finally got a little bitty trailer and my step-dad built a shed for us kids to live in. Our "running" water was a hose he ran from the spring up the hill from us down into the trailer. We used an outhouse, showered with an army shower in the summer and spit baths in the winter. I did my homework by kerosene lamp and once set my pillow on fire when it fell on the little gas heater by my bed. So, yeah ... camping isn't any fun for me. I got it all out of my system back then.

7. I don't understand most womens' attraction to fancy shoes, purses and other accessories. I see posts on Facebook and on blogs, etc. about "I have to have these shoes!" and a picture of 6" stilettos and all I can think is: give me my sneakers any day. I carry a fanny pack -- one I've had for years. I own maybe eight pairs of shoes, and only two are "dress" -- both flats.

I'm passing on the award to:

Angelina Rain (someone who LIKES camping!)

Maria Zannini (whose husband lets her have chickens and goats)

MJ Fredrick (who stays warm down in TX)

Liz Fichera (a desert dweller ... lucky girl)

Let me know when you post so I can come see what you say about yourselves!

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You Are Old Navy

You are a wholesome person. You live a low-key, low drama, and healthy life. You are emotionally stable. You understand what matters most, and you prioritize well. You know where you're going in life... and why you're going there. Social pressure doesn't get to you. You are dependable and trustworthy. Your friends know that you're solid and true.

Are You Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy?

Yep.

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Kindness

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I have a confession to make: I'm not a super happy, "up" person. I'm focused, driven, a little obsessive and tend to have a "glass half empty" mentality (though I always think I can figure a way out to fill that sucker up if I work hard enough). I'm not touchy-feely, which makes it hard for my daughter and I, because SHE is a clingy, huggy child who has to squeeze me fifty times a day and will shout "I love you!" from the top of the stairs for no reason. I sometimes wear blinders, and don't always see ways that people might need help.

Despite all those things, I do *try* to be a nice, thoughtful person. I'm a bit self-absorbed, so I don't always succeed. But I like people. I talk to everyone: cashiers, the lady in the same grocery aisle, the guy sitting in the doctor's office. At beginning agility class, I try to make a point of petting all the dogs, and finding their good attributes (some are in there for behavioral problems, so occasionally I have to really dig), and encouraging their owners.

I know I miss chances to help people. But I always tell DD, you never know what difference even just a smile might make to someone. She's painfully shy (hopefully going to school next year will help her learn how to overcome that), and can't always think of things to say, but her heart is HUGE, so I'm sure that will come with time.

The reason I bring all this up is because we seldom realize how much a single act might change a life. My post yesterday was there because I truly did feel sorry for that woman, and hoped sharing her meltdown might help others to see why they shouldn't react in the same way.

This morning, I randomly clicked on an author banner for Liana Laverentz and stumbled across this page on her site. Amongst all the links she shares was one about a cab driver and the night he gave an elderly woman a ride to hospice. I encourage you to read it. You might also take a look around the site a bit for other touching stories.

And remember, small acts make a big difference. Who have you smiled at today?

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For authors: Samhain Publishing is having a special call-out for short stories about people with superpowers.

From their submissions page:

It’s up, up and away we go, to a world of superheroes and supervillains, where heroes and/or heroines with special abilities and crime-fighting prowess protect the public…and fall in love.

I’m very happy to announce an open call for submissions for a new, yet-to-be-titled spring 2012 superhero romance anthology.

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You Are Productive

You like to stay busy. You believe that there's nothing worse than idle hands. You can handle multiple projects and are always ready for another one. You love to multitask. You are happy to brainstorm, innovate, and think outside the box. You are are groundbreaking in your approach. You see the big picture. Details are important to you, but you don't get bogged down in them.

The Row House Test

Yep.

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What a Character!

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go. -- E.L. Doctorow

So, yesterday I was reading our Whipped Cream Author Spotlight post from Mysti Holiday -- it's "Ten Things You May Not Know About Mysti" -- and had a bit of an epiphany, partly from the post and partly from the comments.

Most of the commenters shared something about themselves that was similar but different than something Mysti shared. Not surprising, really, since we're all different. But ... wouldn't it be interesting to do a "Ten Things You May Not Know About (insert character name here)"? Sometimes I think we forget to round out our characters, especially when we write short stories. We forget to give them quirks, or habits, or fears.

I think I'm going to go back and do just that for my characters in all my WIPs. Not only will it make them more real, it'll probably get the juices flowing for new scene ideas because I'll want to incorporate those things. Right?

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In other news, and my Facebook friends already know this, we heard back from DD's new school. She not only aced her assessment tests, but the teachers found her confident and unafraid to speak her thoughts. She apparently fits in well with the current 7th grade, in both temperament and academically and is cleared to start 8th grade in the fall. Yay!

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You Are a Mirror

You are a very private person. You need your alone time to introspect and recharge. You don't mind being around others, but you prefer to spend the bulk of your time by yourself. You are a slow and critical thinker. You need to mull things over for a long time. You hold yourself accountable for your actions. You are constantly evaluating your life and trying to improve.

Are You a Mirror or a Window?

Yep .. that's about right.

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What's That You Say?

The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks" his "cah," the lost r's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car and invest in "erl wells." ~Author Unknown

I know a person who regularly slaughters the English language by using wrong (but oh-so-close) words or mixed metaphors and slightly skewed cliches. And I'm dying to have a character who does the same.

a couple of recent examples:

About two people who do NOT get along: "They're like fire and water."

Something this person's entire family says: "I could care less."

The only thing that holds me back from creating a character who does this is the effort I'd have to make to think of more of these. Anyone want to help mangle a metaphor? Crush a cliche? Post something close but not quite right in the comments!

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We had another lovely day yesterday. It was windy in the morning, but by lunch time, it was sunny, warm (for us -- about 40 degrees) and no wind. I celebrated by pooper-scooping, since most of the snow is melted on my lawn. DD collected branches that had fallen from the trees during last weekend's windstorm. Sadly, it seems I lost the cover to my composter and I can only imagine how far away it blew.

It looks like spring might actually be coming a bit early this year -- my daffodils and crocus are coming up, the snow is almost gone, the ponds are melting. Amazing.

I'm ready to get outside and start gardening. But, I don't trust the weather THAT much. So, yeah, I'll wait for the "real" gardening until May like always.

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Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISTP)

Your personality type is reserved, methodical, spirited, and intense. Only about 6% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 8% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

That sounds about right...

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Chim-Chim-eny...

If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others. ~Francois duc de la Rochefoucauld

Over the past two days, we've had a houseful of guys fixing the chimney. I've discovered things about myself that I found interesting (and may have to add to a character someday! *G*).

1. I can't eat in front of people I don't know if they aren't eating also. For instance, I have no trouble eating in a restaurant, but I found it impossible to eat lunch while the workers were working. Had they taken a lunch break, I would have been fine, but otherwise? I skipped lunch both days. It was good for my figure -- I lost 3.5 lbs!! Maybe I should skip lunch every day?

2. I was VERY disconcerted by their use of my bathroom. And, when they would use it, I made a point of going away so I couldn't hear them.

2a. I couldn't use the same bathroom -- what if they heard ME? LOL... So, I went upstairs to use the potty when I had to go.

3. It was strange to hear someone older than I call me "Mrs.____" -- the man who ran the crew was easily 10 - 15 years older. I'm used to kids doing so, but not people my age or older. It made me jolt every time.

In any case, our chimney is now better, stronger and faster than before. It's double lined (appropriate for running a wood stove), and a pretty new pipe hooking it up to the chimney. Now, DH just needs to clean and repair the stove (it took a beating in the fire and we have a cracked grate and fire bricks, plus it's just plain dirty from being tossed into the snow).

This whole house maintenance thing is for the birds, I'm telling you. If DH dies before me? I'm moving into a condo.

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You Are a Blueberry Smoothie

You are original and expressive. You have a strong, vibrant personality. You tend to be attracted to the unconventional and obscure things in life. You have strong opinions and preferences, even if they do tend to change a lot. You are not particularly artistic, but you have an artist's temperament.

What Flavor Smoothie Are You?

Strong opinions? ME? Shocking...

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