Today is my daughter's birthday - my youngest. Twenty-six years ago I gave birth to someone who didn't want to come into the world. Or at least, wanted to make a big stink about it.
The C-Section team was on stand by. Every time I had a contraction, her heart rate plummeted. Finally, the doctor just decided to go in a get her with his hands (I think I might have pushed once - I wasn't even fully dilated).
He's the one who called her a little stinker. Everyone was afraid the cord was wrapped around her neck. Instead, her hand was wrapped around the cord. Everytime there was a contraction, she had grabbed it, cutting off the heart rate monitor and any other vital signs that were being monitored.
We like to tell her she's been ornery ever since. I think she likes to hear it, too.
Yes, she's her father's daughter. And I love her very much.
Happy Birthday, Steph!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Argh!
I sort of know what I want my next book to be about (I won't plot it out, because I just can't.). I sort of know how it should start. The only problem is getting it to start with a hook.
So now I'm wondering if I started the book in the right place. Or maybe I don't know how it should start. It wouldn't be the first time I've started a book wrong.
Beginnings are a pain in the *ss! Books 2 & 3 spoiled me, because I knew exactly how I wanted/needed them to start. I re-wrote the beginning of Book 1 more times than I can remember. It's starting to look like Book 4 will be the same.
So you writer folks out there – how difficult is it for you to start your story? Do you get lucky all the time, or only sometimes? I do know that when it's right, I'll know it (it's when it stops niggling at me). I guess I'll just have to keep at it until the niggling feeling goes away. I just hope that happens soon. I want to get on with the story!
So now I'm wondering if I started the book in the right place. Or maybe I don't know how it should start. It wouldn't be the first time I've started a book wrong.
Beginnings are a pain in the *ss! Books 2 & 3 spoiled me, because I knew exactly how I wanted/needed them to start. I re-wrote the beginning of Book 1 more times than I can remember. It's starting to look like Book 4 will be the same.
So you writer folks out there – how difficult is it for you to start your story? Do you get lucky all the time, or only sometimes? I do know that when it's right, I'll know it (it's when it stops niggling at me). I guess I'll just have to keep at it until the niggling feeling goes away. I just hope that happens soon. I want to get on with the story!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Stylish Blogger Award
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on.
So, thank you, Piedmont Writer, for this award. To check out her blog, click HERE.
I've shared information about myself with the other award I won, so I may end up repeating myself. If I am – oh well…
1. I am a direct descendant of Susannah Martin (she was one of the first women accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials – and she was hung). Genealogy can uncover some interesting family members!
2. My favorite radio stations are KYSR-98.7 FM out of Orange County/Los Angeles (I listen to them on-line while at work) and AltNation (channel 43?) on Sirius/XM radio (which I get in my car). I can't find any local stations that play the music I want to hear (which started out with Muse and has grown from there).
3. My favorite color of car is YELLOW. Do I own one? No. My Xterra didn't come in that color anymore. Made me sad. Not too sad, since I did purchase one (only it's dark grey). Maybe one day I'll get it re-painted.
4. I bought my Xterra because it became a feature in my first book (a yellow one, of course). Doing all that research made me want one of my own! And now I have one.
5. I hate shopping. Doesn't matter what kind. Shoes, Clothes, Groceries. Maybe it's going to the store I hate. I don't seem to have much problem buying books from Barnes and Noble on line, though!!
6. Two years ago you wouldn't have found me on Facebook or this blog. Heck, I didn't even text two years ago! See what writing has done to me?
7. I bite my nails. Yes! I said it. But I'm better now than I used to. Maybe because I'm not as scared as I was when I was younger. Don't know. My nails are still short, though.
I pass this award on to the following blogs:
Linda Leszczuk at http://lindaleszczuk.blogspot.com/
Erin Kane Spock at http://courtlyromance.blogspot.com/
Nicole MacDonald at http://www.damselinadirtydress.com/
Now go check them out!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
More Photographic Art
I got lucky and found some more photos. If anything, this little project of mine is gathering up all my pictures so I can put them all in one place!
Long before I started my photography degree in 1985 at Brookville Community College (Lincroft, NJ), I took a photography class at Cochise Community College (Sierra Vista, AZ) in 1979. I loved my camera, but this class began my obsession. These are two photos I took during that class.
I love contrast. I love the shapes of things – like trees. Especially tress without leaves. Like this big one located at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. I know I took numerous photos of this tree. All on different days. Trying to capture the right light. It wasn't until I developed the film (and didn't burn it – I was good at that, too) that I found the perfect shot, though. At least, perfect for me. It's one of my favorites.
I don't remember what my assignments were, or if I even had any, so I'm not sure what I was accomplishing with the creek picture. Possibly movement? Something with nature? Who knows! My mind's fried. I like it, regardless of what I was going for.
Since that class, people hated me taking their picture. I took too long to set up the shot. I was more concerned in making it look nice than just snapping a picture. I probably still do that, too.
Next time I get in the scanning mood, I'll scan some of my cemetery pictures. Those statues didn't care HOW long I took. Of course, they were the cause of my pneumonia, but that's a story for another blog.
Long before I started my photography degree in 1985 at Brookville Community College (Lincroft, NJ), I took a photography class at Cochise Community College (Sierra Vista, AZ) in 1979. I loved my camera, but this class began my obsession. These are two photos I took during that class.
Since that class, people hated me taking their picture. I took too long to set up the shot. I was more concerned in making it look nice than just snapping a picture. I probably still do that, too.
Next time I get in the scanning mood, I'll scan some of my cemetery pictures. Those statues didn't care HOW long I took. Of course, they were the cause of my pneumonia, but that's a story for another blog.
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Fool's Day!
I loved this day when I was a kid. I even gave this day as a birthday to my cat, Penny, since I didn't know what day she was born on (who, by the way, was named after Penny from Lost In Space – yeah, I'm THAT old).
It's nice to know you can play tricks on people and not really get into trouble because the day allows it. Nothing physically harmful, though. Telling fibs, making up stories, that kind of stuff. (You know, like telling your husband you're pregnant, when it's impossible, but he believes you and panics, because you make it sound so real, so it makes it even more funny when you tell him "April Fools!" because he hasn't checked the calendar and has no idea what day it is).
Yeah, I like tricking my family more than friends (because I get into less trouble that way). I think it works for me because I'm usually such an honest person (I once belched loud enough that people in the other room heard, so I blamed my husband, who was sitting next to me. He denied it vehemently, but no one believed him. That either tells you the type of person I am, or the type of person he is!).
I did laugh at the suggestion I saw on an e-mail to glue magnets to your coffee cup and place it on the roof of your car, right where you might put it as you climbed inside. It would be funny if you could see the expressions you get, but that's not so easy when you're driving, now is it? Plus, I'm not so sure it would withstand my freeway driving, anyway! April Fool's is only fun when you can SEE the reactions (and then say "April Fool's!"). Or am I the only one who believes that?
Here's hoping you have a nice FOOLISH day!
It's nice to know you can play tricks on people and not really get into trouble because the day allows it. Nothing physically harmful, though. Telling fibs, making up stories, that kind of stuff. (You know, like telling your husband you're pregnant, when it's impossible, but he believes you and panics, because you make it sound so real, so it makes it even more funny when you tell him "April Fools!" because he hasn't checked the calendar and has no idea what day it is).
Yeah, I like tricking my family more than friends (because I get into less trouble that way). I think it works for me because I'm usually such an honest person (I once belched loud enough that people in the other room heard, so I blamed my husband, who was sitting next to me. He denied it vehemently, but no one believed him. That either tells you the type of person I am, or the type of person he is!).
I did laugh at the suggestion I saw on an e-mail to glue magnets to your coffee cup and place it on the roof of your car, right where you might put it as you climbed inside. It would be funny if you could see the expressions you get, but that's not so easy when you're driving, now is it? Plus, I'm not so sure it would withstand my freeway driving, anyway! April Fool's is only fun when you can SEE the reactions (and then say "April Fool's!"). Or am I the only one who believes that?
Here's hoping you have a nice FOOLISH day!
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