Reverse Evolution

“The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms” - Lao Tzu

I've come to the recent conclusion that my arms are growing. Seriously... I'm pretty sure by the time I'm 50, my knuckles will be dragging on the ground like some Neanderthal. This winter, the sweaters and sweatshirts I've owned, worn and loved for the past few years no longer fit me. They fit MOST of me... but the sleeves are far too short. How did this happen? It has me scratching my head, and filling a bag for Goodwill -- leaving me nearly naked and hoping spring comes early.

Worse, I can't find any clothes to replace them. Are my arms really that much longer than most women's? Am I going to be relegated to wearing men's clothes during the winter?

I'm so far beyond frustrated. I suppose I could just say that everything I own comes with three-quarter length sleeves... except the length drives me crazy. **sigh**

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DH's job called at 2:43 a.m. this morning, and again at 3:48 a.m. and again at 4:40 a.m.

I'm a little tired, and I really REALLY hope the job market picks up because if it does, he is SO out of there.

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Last night I was feeling a bit discouraged about my writing. So, I shut down the computer early (around 8 p.m.) and went to my bookshelf full of "how to write" books. I pulled this one off:



I'd flipped through it a little before, and thought it showed promise, but like so many other "how to" books, it ended up gathering dust.

Until last night. Last night, I opened it at random and came across one of the "Tool" pages (there are tools, checklists and Q&A pages) called "Organizing Ten Easy Scenes".

He discourages overt outlining, but says if you can brainstorm the ten main scenes of your novel, and write with them in mind, you're good to go.

My sequel to "Kitchen Matches" has been giving me fits, so I opted to try his idea with that story. And, you know what? I think it worked. I have my ten main scenes (most of which are "complications") and I also got to know my heroine better ... she's been sort of ambiguous. But now I know she cries at weddings (but ONLY at weddings), has a list of questions she asks all her dates to see if they meet her criteria and so much more.

I'm re-energized.

Now, if only I hadn't been awake since 2:43 a.m.

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You Are A Peanut

You are popular, even with people who tend to have picky taste. Kids love you, as do dogs. From rednecks to snobs, most people have a place for you in their hearts. As popular as you are, there are some people who can't be near you. Don't take it too personally. There's just a few people you rub the wrong way.

What Nut Are You?

ROFL... that's about right.

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Monday Morning Meme and More!

I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn't itch. ~Gilda Radner



1. Does blogging make you fat? Do you find yourself sitting around and eating more since you started your blog? Or do you get so caught up in the whole blogging routine that you forget to eat?

Let me just make one thing very clear: I never forget to eat. I wish I did now and then, but food and I? We are tight. BFFs.

Now, it's not BLOGGING that makes me sit around on my rapidly increasing rear -- it's the LASR/WC website. Yeppers... that sucker is very labor intensive, and it's all computer based. So, yikes. One of the ladies who is participating in JaNoWriMo can write and walk on her treadmill. I need to figure out how to do something like that!!

2. The one topic I will not touch on my blog is __________. Why? What sorts of topics do you receive the most comments on? What sorts of topics do you receive the least number of comments on?

I don't talk about politics or religion -- too easy to get a flame war going on either of those things. I have very, very strong views on both subjects, but don't feel the need to share them here. And, typically I get most comments on topics of a personal nature (like my post, below, about Dakota passing her Good Citizen class, for instance). Least number? My guest bloggers. I guess it's because my readers don't KNOW the person, so unless something specific really resonates, they don't feel the need to comment.

3. Spring is coming. How is your wardrobe? What sorts of clothes do you usually wear in the spring? Where do you normally shop for your clothes? How successful are you in finding clothes for yourself?

I just bought four new long-sleeved T-shirts at the LL Bean Outlet's President's Day sale -- everything in the store was 30% off (be still my heart). Spring and winter clothing isn't all that different for me... temps here still stay cold until May, when I switch to summer clothes. The only real difference is the jacket I wear when I go outside (no more heavy winter coat, now I'll wear my lined windbreaker or fleece jacket).

I typically try to shop for my clothes at higher end stores, but from the sales rack. The fact is, you really do get what you pay for, and a T-shirt from WalMart is utterly different than a T-shirt from LL Bean. OTOH, the frugal side of me refuses to pay $29 for a T-shirt -- so, I wait, and I watch and I scoop them when they are $8 each (oh, yes I did!). I shop at Macys and Kohls and Lands End, but only from the sales rack. I truthfully don't even LOOK at the full-priced clothing.

Yes, I am cheap frugal and wise.

And, finding clothing for myself is very, very difficult because I really dislike the styles (and have for the last 5-6 years). I don't like tight clothes (and, dear heavens, do normal people look good in those skin tight shirts? The answer, folks, is NO.), and I have long legs and arms and no waist to speak of. So shirts? Finding them not tight with sleeves that actually go down to my wrists? HA. And pants? If they fit in the waist, they're baggy in the butt. If they fit my butt, they're so tight in the waist I can't breathe. And, I'm not even going to talk about the fact that most of them are practically Capri's on me.

Oh. Woe.

4. We should treat every day as a special gift - we’re alive, right? What made this past week special for you? (And if you’ve already talked about that special something on your blog, then think of something else - something little perhaps, but had a big impact on you or your loved ones).

These questions are so hard for me. I'm a naturally negative and depressed person, so it's not instinctive to look at the bright spots. Um... Hey, Dakota passed her Good Citizen test!! And, we didn't lose power last night, despite the fact the lights flickered and we lost our satellite signal. Those are good, right?

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We did get whomped with snow... several inches of the heavy, wet, white stuff. And, yes, our lights flickered a bunch. I was a wreck. I don't know if I'll ever get over losing power for so long during the ice storm in December!

I woke up this a.m. around four and couldn't hear the hum of the fridge. I leaped up and checked the lights. On. Phew.

I don't take electricity for granted ANY MORE.

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Long Arms and Lo Mein

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well-informed just to be undecided about them." — Laurence J. Peter

I've been looking all season for a new sweater or sweatshirt that fits. This shouldn't be this much of an ordeal. I'm an average sized woman ... or so I thought. The sweaters are all, without exception, body-hugging, show-every-roll, snug. Why do people wear those things? Even slim people look fat in them. And the sweatshirts? Is it possible that I have abnormally long arms? Every woman's sweatshirt I have tried on hits me mid-radius.

Is it too much to ask to find something that fits, that I don't have to buy at a boutique? Yes, boutique clothes do fit me properly, as they should, but a $200 sweatshirt isn't in my budget.

I can (and do) wear men's sweatshirts, because they fit me... but somedays I just really want to look like a girl.

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I made teriyaki veggie noodles for dinner last night. I made a TON, because they're labor intensive (lots of chopping and separate cooking of things), but they're so GOOD. My DD did a little dance of joy when I told her that was what dinner would be.

Do you ever think you'll die if you don't eat a particular thing? I HAD to have teriyaki noodles last night. Had. To. Nothing else would have worked. Once the thought popped into my head, you could have paraded a hundred different dishes in front of me, and I would have refused every one.

Those kind of cravings don't hit me often, but when they do? Look out...

And, no. I'm not pregnant.

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I got my final proof for "One Love For Liv". Nothing like taking it down to the wire. I need to hump it, and get it checked through... but, to be honest, I'm really kind of sick of looking at the story. I've read through it about ten times since I signed the contract. And, while I believe it's a good book, after awhile even good books get a little old. Especially when you're reading for grammar and typos and not for fun.

I also got final edits on "A Change of Heart". I'm ready to put that story to bed, too.

I really need to get humping on something new. Erhm... I mean, I need to finish my mystery. (Really, Jen, that's what I meant!!).

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For those inquiring minds... yes, I will post all of my virtual tour stops. The complete list will be on my website, but I'll post a link to that list here in a sticky note AND I'll let you know, day-by-day where I'm going to be so you can come visit. I don't want to be alone! :-)

I still have some dates available, if you're interested in hosting me. Hint. Hint.

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The Daily Dakota... keeping up with the big kids!



You can't see it, but she has her leash in her mouth. Baily used to do that, too. I wonder why? It's only when they run... odd...

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What Your Dreams Mean...

Your dreams seem to show that you're a bit disturbed... but nothing serious. You may have a problem you're trying to work out in your sleep. Your dreams tend to reflect your insecurities. You have a very vivid imagination and a rich creative mind.

What Do Your Dreams Mean?

Muh-ha-ha... I am DISTURBED. Actually, I think I'm just a little nuts. Aren't all writers?

Wardrobe Malfunction

Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her. ~Wilhela Cushman

I wrote quite a bit this morning on my NaNo novel, but had to laugh at one point. I have the heroine gathering wood for a fire, but she stumbles upon a few things that are edible and I decide she can use her shirt as a makeshift basket to carry them ... and it occurs to me: I have NO CLUE what she's wearing! LOL... I've never said she's in pants, a dress, a suit of armor, a swimsuit. I never even alluded to it. Worse, I didn't even have a picture in my mind.

So, I need to go back and add that in somewhere so she can now tug out her blouse and use it to carry the food she found.

I'm at 1200 words so far this morning, but want to hit 3000 total for the day. DH is home, though, so unless I get it done this morning, I'm probably not going to get it done at all.

And, on that note, I'm going to get writing!

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What kind of Fairy are you? Fire Fairy You are A Fire Fairy! You stand up for what is right. You say what is on your mind. You may not be the most friendly, but you are a good person. You are independent and you don't let anyone knock you down. Quizzes

No Booking Today

"Death and taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them" - Margaret Mitchell

Well... I actually remembered it was Thursday, and was going to Book It, but at the time of this blog post, there wasn't one up for today. That's sad. Worse, now what do I write??

I splurged yesterday and did something I don't do very often: I bought myself some new clothes. Shocking, I know.

Fact is, I have no problem buying clothes for my daughter or my husband... but I always feel like buying stuff for me is an extravagance. I don't really need it. We should save the money for something more important. I'm sure Freud would have a field day with that.

But, I actually DO need clothes for the winter. I went through my stuff, and I don't have all that much -- not even enough for a different (warm) outfit each day. So, yesterday I went to the LL Bean outlet (and, I will admit, I actually went to see if they had something for my DH's upcoming birthday) and found a turtleneck, a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater. All very nice, solidly made and pretty (Mom, I got a sweater in that neat coral color I love!). Better -- I scored a deal! So, I only feel a little bit guilty...

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Writing went well yesterday, as I'm sure you can see from my post below. I admit to horrifying Michele, though. I mentioned that the really bad guys killed off an entire family, including a *gasp* BABY! She said I couldn't kill off babies in my story. I told her that it happened off screen (off page?) and you never get to know the baby, if that made her feel any better.

True, it was very unlike me--I'm all about protecting kids and critters. But, this had to be done.

Today, my heroine faces the man who lead the charge against the family who was killed: a family that belonged to her.

That man? Guess what? He's my hero.

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Okay, off to write! Have a great day (and check out the blog (you'll have to page down to older reviews), the site had two contests here and here, and many other author contests. And, if you see an author with a contest, send 'em my way--I want to list them on the site!

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Your Inner Pop Princess Is Hilary Duff

"I'm shedding Shedding every color Trying to find a pigment of truth Beneath my skin" You're sweet and cute, but a little more complex than that.

Who's Your Inner Pop Princess?

Who knew??

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Edited to add: I took off word verifcation from the comments, because I find that I HATE TO DO THEM, so I don't figure I should make others do it. We'll see if the spam increases. If it does, I suppose I'll have to put it back on.

Fingers crossed.