tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535695097706934712024-03-14T07:36:32.527+01:00CinderwriterThis is log of my adventures and misadventures living life as a military wife, a mommy, a writer, and a domestic muse.Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-6883887286532635362011-11-05T18:12:00.002+01:002011-11-05T18:12:57.663+01:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2412607.With_Every_Breath" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="With Every Breath" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255692925m/2412607.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2412607.With_Every_Breath">With Every Breath</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10359.Lynn_Kurland">Lynn Kurland</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/231488185">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I love time travel, I love the highlands, and I love highland warrior heroes...so this book had an advantage from the beginning. Lynn Kurland has a way of making her readers fall in love with her heroes. I liked Cam so much I even had dreams about him. ;o) I liked the heroine Sunshine quite a bit, but her habits of falling into a puddle of tears every other scene got on my nerves by the end of the book. I was wondering what Cam saw in her and wished I could magically pull him out of the book to be with me, as I wouldn't bawl at the drop of a hat! LOL!! The other characters in this book were endearing and there were laugh out loud moments as well as "make you swoon" moments. <br />
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There was no sex scene in this book, which I did not mind at all, as the romance was enough to carry the book. <br />
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I won't bore you with another plot review, as many of the other reviewers have done a great job reviewing the plot. If you like Time Travel, Scotland, and Warrior Lairds...this is the book for you! <br />
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P.S. I would have give this book 5 stars but Sunshine's incessant crying drove me nuts by the end of the book.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/385185-kimmy-wooten">View all my reviews</a><br />
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</div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-47532960809826566112011-10-28T03:38:00.000+02:002011-10-28T03:38:05.632+02:00Yes, Bryn there really is a Santa Claus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">Santa Claus is my favorite fictional holiday character, I always manage to make a good run of Santa. I can find the perfect little gifts and I manage to keep my kids guessing the whole time. Santa has a good message, better be good or you won't get your rewards, and I can tie him into the real meaning of Christmas rather well. My 11 and almost 10 year old still whole heartily believe. My 11 year old may believe until she goes off to college. Santa Claus brought her a cat for Christmas a few years ago even though Mom and Dad are allergic to cats. This is how it went down:</span></span> <br />
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</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">We had moved into our lovely base housing on Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu Hawai'i a few weeks before Christmas. Our household goods arrived on 19 December. We had 5 days to whip the house into shape before Christmas Eve. To get the kids out of the boxes, and out of darling husband's hair, we walked over to the Christmas parade and festival being held at the water tower on Hickam Air Force base. The parade was a bit cheesy, but the water tower lights were lit, and there was a band playing Christmas music. All and all it was a very enjoyable evening, until Santa arrived. When Santa arrived the children swooped down upon the poor man like a herd of buffalo stampeding in a storm. My kids were pushed around and steeped upon. Santa looked as though he would faint. Mostly the kids wanted their free candy canes, but some of the kids wanted to tell Santa their deepest wishes and desires. After about 45 minutes of standing and bing pushed around in line, it was finally our turn to have a chat with Santa. Santa took both my girls on his lap, one on either knee. Annika went first. She wanted the Playmobil fairy princess castle. Ok, mental note to me, find a specialty toy store pronto! Next it was Bryn's turn. Bryn turned to Santa and asked him for a cat. Not just any old cat, but an orange and white cat. I shook my head furiously at Santa while my girls looked adoringly at his face. "I am allergic to cats" I mouthed. Santa paid no attention to my silent plea. He saw me, he just refused to play along. Santa looked at Bryn and said in his gruff north pole accent " I would be happy to bring you a cat, darlin'." I could have lept past the elves and the candy cane and sugar plum barrier to throttle him with my own hands. Were was I going to get an orange and white cat three days before Christmas and how was I going to get it home before Christmas Eve to keep it a secret? Even more importantly, how was I supposed to convince Darling Husband to let me get a cat when we are both allergic? A quandary, you can see. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, what was to happen next was two days of frantically searching all over the island of Oahu for the orange and white cat. We searched pet shops, shelters, the pet pages of the paper, vet clinics. No orange and white cat was to be found. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">December 23rd: One of the shelters on the other side of O'ahu had been brought a litter of orange and white kittens, who were about 12 weeks old. My sister and I raced to the other side of the island, hoping they would still be there by the time we arrived. We arrived to see there were only two kittens left. They were not the cute little fur balls you see on calenders and cute e-mails. No, theses poor cat were starved, diseased, and the female had a chunk missing from her ear. I knew this was the cat I needed to adopt. After shots, medications, and a lot of coaxing to calm down in the car, we managed to get the kitty home. While my sister ran out for all the supplies, I hid the cat in the bathroom, laying down with her to keep her from meowing and alerting darling daughter number one. The kids came home, had their dinner, got in to bed with no sign of knowing about the kitty. All was well and good, for at least the next six and a half hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">December 24th, Christmas Eve, 2 am: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Mommy, wake up!"I barely register that there is a child next to my bed. "Mom-mmm-y! Wake up! There is a cat in your bathroom! Santa came a day early!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"mmmm....mmrfr? What are you talking about?" <i>wake up, oh crap, she found that cat!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Mommy come see!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Oh, wow!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"See Mommy, Santa comes a day early when he bring the pets that people want for Christmas." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Really. Where did you hear that?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"My friend Alura, she got a rabbit for Christmas, and it came yesterday. Santa must have brought the rabbits and hamsters yesterday and all the puppies and kittens today. Then he will come back tomorrow."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Great, can we go back to bed now?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, the rest is history. </span><br />
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What we are reading to the Kids: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire<br />
What I am working on: Re-write of His Father's Bride<br />
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From Rainy Germany.....<br />
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Life as a miliary wife brings quite a list of adventures, one of which is the PCS, or Permanant Change of Station. We move approximately every three years and this is usally a very exciting time for me, there are so many unknowns. What will our new house look like? What kinds of activities will be in the area? Who will we meet? What will we discover? I love the adventure of the move.</div><div></div><br />
<div>PCS time is different for everyone. My children are anxious and nervous about where they will live, what will happen to thier toys in transit, will they be able to make new friends? My hubby stresses about the new job, will he like it, will there be a big learning curve and what will his new coworkers be like?<br />
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Personally the initial waiting to learn where you are going is the hardest part for me. Right now we are waiting to hear about a job that will begin in July. The application was due last June. The selection board for this job met in September and my hubby was one of 80 people selected to fill 35 slots. The "matching time" to place candidates in slots is from 1 November to 30 January. Sometime during these three months we will find out if he was placed in one of the 35 positions. If not, we start looking to see what else is available for the next rotation. Everyday he comes home and I want to say "Did you hear anything"., but I keep quiet, knowing he would tell me right away if he did hear something. The waiting is agonizing. Other jobs are coming and going and we sit biting our nails wondering if we should forget the dream job and find something else. <br />
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So, where do I want to go? Well, where ever my sweetie will be happy. But besides from that, anywhere outside the CONUS. That is anywhere outside the continental United States for you non military folks. I am up for any adventure out there...Iceland, Norway, Turkey, Egypt, Japan, Australia, Peru, Italy.....you name it, I am ready to go! :o)<br />
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So, join the Air Force, see the world and go a little crazy waiting to see where you get to go.....where in the world will Cinderwriter be next year.....I can not tell you yet, but hopefully soon. <br />
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</div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-49249949536084509492010-10-10T00:41:00.000+02:002010-10-10T00:41:43.729+02:00Do Swedish Fish, Juji Fruits, and Snickers make a balenced meal?I've been a bit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">preoccupied</span> lately, with writing, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">demands</span> of a new homeschooling year, and getting thing in order for my newest role as the commander's wife. So preoccupied, that I have let my domestic duties slide just a bit. I had not realized just how much just a bit was until earlier this week when the kids were complaining they were hungry. Not wanting to give up whatever task I was concentrating on at the time, I directed my self sufficient 11 and 10 year <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">old</span> into the kitchen to make themselves lunch. Here is the resulting shouting conversation being shouted up and down the stairwell. <br /><br />10 year old: "Mommy, there isn't anything to eat!"<br /><br />Me: "Of course there is, what every you pick make sure it is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">balanced</span> meal."<br /><br />long pause<br /><br />10 year old: "Mommy, does <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Swedish</span> fish, J<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">uji</span> fruits, and mini Snickers bars make a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">balanced</span> meal?"<br /><br />Me: "What?!"<br /><br />11 year old: "There is nothing to eat in the house except condiments, Daddy's beer, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Halloween</span> candy. I figured since we are too young for alcohol, and maple syrup, ranch dressing, and ketchup doesn't sound very good for lunch, you would let us have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Halloween</span> candy. Is it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">balanced</span>?"<br /><br />Me: "Add a granola bar, and we'll call it good."<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Domestic</span> g<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">oddess</span>, I am not.Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-59240541508973991342010-03-29T10:29:00.012+02:002010-12-10T13:06:22.744+01:00Hip-pity Hop-pity Easter's on it's Way!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">What I'm reading: Suicide by Sugar, A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction by Nancy Appleton and my Friend Katrina Snow's new book...can't say more until it is published! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">What I am writing: Emmie's Time travel story. I do not have a title yet. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">My next door neighbor Christy ranks up there in the top three funniest people I have ever known in my life. The other two are my darling husband Carl and my good buddy from high school Chris Cushing. Christy has a wonderful blog that I like to check in on every once an a while, when I need a dose of the happy stuff. She has such a light hearted way of dealing with everything. She does not have my quick and out of control Irish temper. (or do I get that from the Norwegian side....) This week she was blogging about the mythical creatures our kids believe in: The Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, St. Nikolaus (Living here in Germany we have to keep up with German ones too).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">My nine year old is convinced she saw a ten foot easter bunny outside our house in Hawai'i so, she knows the easter bunny is real. The other kids on the block are trying to convince her otherwise. "It's was your Dad" they say. I assure her that there is no way in hell her dad would wear a bunny suit. I could have been the giant rats, my other daughter helpfully adds. "Ewe! No, he was cute and fluffy, not...rat-y"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;">How long should I let this go on? We have a ongoing debate about Santa Claus as well, but my 11 year old will cut people off at the knees who try to tell her Jolly Old St, Nick is a myth. Should I send her off to college still believing, or should I take care of this problem? You thoughts?</span></span><br />
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</div><div>Three years ago, during the memorial service for my sweet, wonderful, wise, dashing grandfather, my twelve cousins and I decided to meet up in 2010 and go to the 17 Mai celebrations in Norway. My grandfather was Norwegian and it would be a great trip to see all the cousins we had never met, due to the separation of the family for years. The pact was made. Because I was in contact with several of our cousins in Kristiansand and Lillesand, I would do all the planning and all they had to do was save their pennies. Then the economy tanked. All those extra pennies now had to be put towards frivolous things like milk, and mortgages, and diapers for the newest additions to the Nielsen/McDermott Clan. With 17 Mai 2010 fast approaching there are only two left who will be going on the trip, myself and my sister. To be fair, we both live in Europe. I in Germany and she in Italy. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So, off we will go, with my two daughters in tow, for our great 17 Mai adventure. I have visited Norway before to visit with cousins from both sides of my Grandfather's family, but I have never visited on 17 Mai. We will begin our trip in Stavanger to Hike Pulpit Rock and then grab the train to Kristiansand to spend 17 Mai. My cousin will dress me up in his mother's Bunad for the celebration. (My great great Aunt's Bunad). I tried it on once before, and I was afraid I would loose one of those thousand dollar buttons or cuff links. Walking around all day will make me very nervous. Will I have to take out an insurance policy agains loosing any of the beautiful pieces? I have also wondered about the children, should I dress them up in little generic Fest Bunads? Will that be insulting to the Bunad police? I see photos of plenty of other children wearing the little generic Bunads. The authentic Bundads for children are so beautiful. It seems as though it is quite a bit of money to invest in one outfit for one day. </div><div><br />
</div><div>After Mai 17, we take the train to Oslo. My sister does not want to go to Oslo, but my girls would like to see the Viking Ship Museum. In Oslo, we are starting the Norway in a Nutshell tour track. You are on your own for this tour, which is very nice. It takes you by Train Across the country to the Myrdal and the to Flam. Stopping at many beautiful places in between. Once you reach Flam, you take a boat on the Aurlandsfjord to Bergen. We will spend the day in Bergen exploring and celebrating my birthday and then take the ferry to back to Stavanger.</div><div>On our last day in Stavanger we will explore the Lysefjord by boat. We will fly home that evening. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I am very excited about this trip, but my girls do not want to go with me. They have their heart set on traveling to Egypt this summer. I told them we may not be able to both, we will have to see how many pennies we can save on milk between now and then. :o) </div><div><br />
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</div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-64537377599715764662009-11-25T23:48:00.004+01:002009-11-26T00:17:26.083+01:00Kissing the Frog - or a late night Pity Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/Sw26_7SaTCI/AAAAAAAAAKU/iq-x6eYfCn4/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 118px; height: 120px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/Sw26_7SaTCI/AAAAAAAAAKU/iq-x6eYfCn4/s400/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408184334951271458" /></a><br />Do you ever feel like the frog in life? I think I am having one of those years, ok, let's be honest, one of those decades. I feel like the ugly frog that the princess is forced to kiss. <div><br /></div><div>Ever since I had to drop my insanely funny blog "Run Dirty Girl, Run", I have been at loss for what to write about. Cinderwriter was just supposed to be all about writing, and Run Dirty Girl, well, that was my adventures in getting back into running. It was my release, where I could cut loose and not worry about what editors and readers would think. But, when the blog ended, well, sadly, so did the running. I lost my anonymous creative outlet and my motivation to keep running. Without the runs, I turned more and more into a gelatinous mass resembling a frog. <div><br /></div><div>Why did the blog end you ask? If it was so cute and cleaver and kept your feet out on the trails? I received many kind invitations to get-togethers not fitting for a married mom. Apparently when I said Run Dirty Girl, Run they were not thinking of a gal who loves to run on the muddy trails of the Aiea Trail Loops of Oahu. hmmm....Perhaps some of those followers did not mind kissing the frog.</div><div><br /></div><div>That was a year ago, right before we moved to Germany. I have run a handful of times since then, but nothing to keep me heading back to the fit pre baby shape. I know every mother deals with this, but it is driving me insane. How can I look at my handsome hubby everyday and then look in the mirror and think "Man, he has to kiss this?" He deserves better. My kids deserve better. Hell, my mail lady deserves better! </div><div><br /></div><div>I know, I know what you are thinking. "Cinderwriter, there are plenty of other things you can do to get back in shape!" </div><div><br /></div><div>True. There is the Gym. The nasty smelling gym with enormous guys who like to throw around dumbells and make loud grunting noises that pass for birthing sound effects. Hmm, no Thanks. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Pool. Yes, I do love to swim. Almost as much as I love to run. And I am assistant coach of a swim team. But I can't swim at the same time as my kiddos, and the pool near the house has mean little old German ladies who won't get out of the way when I try to do my flip turns.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next! </div><div><br /></div><div>Is it Karma? When I was younger I was quite obnoxious about my looks and how fit I was. If I saw an out-of-shape or overweight person, compassion was not the first emotion that fluttered through my heart. I have changed though, truly, I have . I know what it is like to look at the pie and gain an inch on my waist when I am eating the celery. I now have walked hundreds of miles in those peoples moccasins. So I ask God. "Hey! Have I learned my lesson yet? I don't want to be the Michelin Girl anymore." </div><div><br /></div><div>God answers: Sure, she learned compassion, but what about vanity and humility? </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh dear, How much longer until I am humble? </div></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-22514634295835661892009-02-15T09:03:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.984+01:00Happy Valentine's Day<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size:13px;"><div><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What I’m Reading: </span></span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Alchemist</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">by Paolo Coelho </span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What I'm Working On: A new version of HFB</span></span></span></span></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>OK, I have been MIA for a verrra, verra long time, but honestly I have not been inspired to write. About anything actually. Yes, My life is crazy busy. But seriously I think I could write for 5 minutes a day to keep this up. <div><br /></div><div>Today I am cutting and pasting a Valentine's horoscope for all those Taurus people out there. I am very excited about what it says, because it is an area of my life that I have felt very insecure about for quite a while. Not great for someone who has been married almost 15 years. So, here is a toast to all the Taurus people out there, let us all have a wonderfully romantic year! </div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. We must give credit where credit is due. This is from the Yahoo horoscope page.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><h3 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 123.1%; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; ">Year 2009 Romantic</h3><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 108%; ">Success in your work life spills over to your romantic life. You are newly inspired as positive friendships develop and your loved ones express how feel about you. Their encouragement helps you feel more comfortable about expressing yourself romantically. Spontaneity can be challenging for you in romantic love, but your gifts are many and it's important for you to appreciate and love yourself so that it rubs off others and attracts the right person.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 108%; ">In recent years, you've been hesitant to trust your instincts when it comes to love, but that mindset doesn't serve you anymore. As you start surrendering to the notion of a one-on-one relationship, the right person will walk into your life. As you let the doors open on your romantic life, your home environment will become sunny and stable, and you'll find your personal relationships improving. By the end of the year, your romantic life will have taken on a whole new dimension. You will be singing with joy as you experience intense intimacy with your partner, leaving you content on an emotional level deeper than you've ever felt before.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 108%; ">Much of the transformation happening to you romantically this year is about discovering how to be comfortable in larger fields of social existence and belief systems. As you expand your personal beliefs, you are also learning to trust others and connect more with the creative energy blossoming between you and everyone you meet -- especially your lover!</p></span></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-2854256514374794922008-05-26T02:32:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.985+01:00Cinderwriter Moons Van Full of Chaperones!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yes, you read the title correctly! After chaperoning my daughter's second grade field trip to Chinatown, a mini-van full of moms dropped me off at the end of the alley behind my house. As I took off jogging down the road, my pants dropped off my body and fell to my ankles. I am not making this up. As I unsuccessfully tried to snatch them back up, I turned around to see if the van was still parked behind me. To my absolute horror it had not moved! Praying that the passengers in the van or the people walking in the alley could not see me, I backed up and hid behind an enormous community mail box and remedied the situation. I was completely mortified. Thank God I was wearing my plain, boring chocolate brown Body By Victoria underwear, and not the Victoria's Secret undies that say "Sexy" across the bottom! Dear Lord. I promptly snuck into the back of the house and called my husband to tell him the tale. Here is the dialog:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Carl: Hysterical laughing for many long agonizing minutes</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Cinderwriter: Large sigh.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Carl: "Well, at least it did not happen in front of the bus while the entire second grade watched"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Cinderwriter: "Can we move tomorrow?"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Carl: More laughter</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Cinderwriter: mumbling "No sex for you for a year."</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Carl: Stops laughing.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I can just hear the whispers of rumors now: "Major Wooten's wife was streaking through officer housing!". By next week it will be: "Major's wife does a strip tease in full daylight for van of lesbian stay at home mothers!"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia">Next Field Trip I will shoot for a Wet T-Shirt Contest among the Chaperones. </p>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-61511910155798935772008-05-14T02:39:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.985+01:00Oh, please organize my stuff!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I entered my first contest last week. It was the Golden Claddagh sponsored by the Celtic Hearts RWA online chapter, of which I am a mostly lurking member. It was quite a rush, pushing the send button. It was not as terrifying as when I pushed send to e-mail my first query. Looking back on the last couple of weeks, I realize the contest taught me quite a bit. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Organizing your drafts, is one of the most important lessons I learned. As a beginning writer, I never realized how confused you could get over one small manuscript. Internal Dialog: Ok which one of these versions had the steamy bathtub scene, and which one had the underwater lovemaking session? Oh, crap! Did I delete the sword fight?!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I purchased a writing software program months ago called Scrivener, but had not used much of it since. It places note cards on a cork board with scene details, and then when you click a card, you can type in the scene. When it comes time to send in a sample of your work, you just pick your scenes and copy them into a virtual binder and export it as a text file, word file, or whatever you need. All your scenes are still intact, you just pick and choose what you want to put in your manuscript and where you want to put it. This allows easy rearrangement with only a little revision on transition. I highly recommend it if you own a MAC. If you are a PC user, there may be a good counterpart out there. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This week I plan to move all my scenes out of Word and Pages and into Scrivener. Don't ask me why I am using two programs, I have no idea. Newbies mistake I guess. Once all my scenes are in place, I could become a contest junkie! It is so exciting to have the prospect of having my work read by an editor instead of sitting in a slush pile. Happy Writing! </span></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-90904613826129786182008-05-06T23:32:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.986+01:00My First ContestWhat I am reading: I'd tell you I love you, but then I would have to kill you. by Ally Carter<div>What I am working on: HFB</div><div><br /></div><div>Accomplishments for the week: Well, last monday I sent in my first query for my children's book, Gramma's Lake House, but I have not heard anything back yet. I check the e-mail several times a day, but there is nothing there. I know they are so busy and realistically it will take several months to hear anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week I am working on my very first contest entry. I paid for entry into The Golden Heart, thinking Hey - I will be done! WRONG! I was not nearly done, and I was rewarded with a very polite disqualification letter. When I read that letter it was a very humbling moment. I am not sure what I was thinking, attempting NaNoWrMo and Golden Heart while my hubby was TDY (Temporary duty.) He was gone for four weeks, came home for three, and then was gone for 10 weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>I digress. Here I am getting ready for my first contest entry. I am entering HFB, but I have several different beginnings, so I am toying with which one I will eventually go with. Funny, but I think one of my beginnings may actually morph into another story. I will have to see how the first one finishes. The contest is the Golden Claddagh and it is sponsored by the Celtic Hearts RWA online chapter. I am a member, a lurking one at best. The judge in the final round of t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he historical division i<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">s </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Esi Sogah of Avon/Harper Collins</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, so being chosen as a finalist is a must! I would love to someday be an Avon Lady! </span></span> The finalist will be notified around July 1st. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will let you know how it goes.</div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-62097297891914014632008-04-27T00:54:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.986+01:00I finally jumped in!<div>What I am reading: My Sailing instruction Book for my Sailing class.</div><div>What I am working on: His Father's Bride</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Well, It is official! I have queried an agent with a query letter and full manuscript according to their guidelines. This was for the my Children's picture book Grandma's Lake House. I sent it out tonight, and I am so nervous. I guess the waiting will be be worst part, waiting to see what happens. <div><br /></div><div>Next on my goal list is the Golden Claddaugh Contest from Celtic Hearts online RWA chapter. I joined this January and although I mostly lurk, I am enjoying the topics of conversation. Lucily for me the Contest deadline was extened a week, so I am going to rewrite, as I hate the begining of my story. I have three different beginnings actually, with three different personifications of my heroine. #1 The nurturer who is facing the kind, #2 the waif who is seeking an annulment, #3 The crusader seeking justice. #3 is my favorite, but it does not fit as well with my GMC. Goal, Motivation, Conflict. I will keep you updated on where this goes. </div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-12862052365560203612008-04-13T21:01:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.986+01:00Sunday Procrastination<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I am working on: I should be writing, or eating breakfast even, but I am vegging on the computer while Annika plays Lego Star Wars on the Wii. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I am reading: The Thrall's Tale</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, I found another fun little quiz....What kind of Muppet are you?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tr><td bg align="center" style="color:#EEEEEE;"> <span style="'color:black;font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"> <strong>You Are Kermit</strong> </span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/themuppetpersonalitytest/kermit.jpg" height="100" width="100" /></center> <span style="color:#000000;"> Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.<br /> You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.<br /> Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.<br /> Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies! </span></td></tr></table> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/themuppetpersonalitytest/">The Muppet Personality Test</a></div></span><br /></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-23860346024566179642008-04-13T05:47:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.987+01:00Getting inside Cinderwriter's Head<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">What I am working on: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-family:verdana;">Query for Gramma's Lake House</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">What I am reading: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-family:verdana;">The Thrall's Tale by Judith Lindbergh. I am also reading it in Norsk. My cousin Lasse is translating it into Norwegian as we read it together.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">A Meme for Today</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">I found this at <a href="http://alysonlove.blogspot.com/">Alyson's Blog</a>, and she picked it up from <a href="http://macyoneal.blogspot.com/">Macy's blog</a>. There are many good new questions here. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Tag, you are it!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">You're feeling:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Crabby, hot, and fat.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">To your left:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Hickam Kukini newspaper checkbook, phone, and a book on calories.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">On your mind:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> getting all the yucky tasks done so I can get back to writing. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Last meal included:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Rootbeer and Pizza Hut personal pan pepperoni pizza - total YUCK, I hate fast food, but my daughter had a Book-It reading award she wanted to share with me. When a seven year old shares, you do not turn down the generosity! <br /><br /></span></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">You sometimes find it hard to:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> get all the things I want to get done during the day. I am the queen of procrastination! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The weather:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Warm, 76 degrees, light </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">trade-winds.</span><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Something you have a collection of:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Books & DVD's.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">A smell that cheers you up:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Gold Canyon Candles - especially Cobbler on the Porch scent!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">A smell that can ruin your mood:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Burning Pine Cones, Doritoes, dirty litter box, dead rats - ewe ewe ewe! And yes, Doritoes fit in that category with dead rats!! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">How long since you last shaved:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> No clue..I wax.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The current state of your hair:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> messy, very long and scraggly.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer):</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Dictionary.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Your skill with chopsticks:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> excellent. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Which section you head for first in a bookstore:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Children's section and then to romance and the featured selections table.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Something you’re craving:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> a long juice fast, and long trail run. I was supposed to do the tantalus today, but my buddies backed out last night and so I wimped out today. I am really mad at myself for doing that. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Your general thoughts on the presidential race: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> I want the defender of the constitution and American Liberties for president, I want....</span>RON PAUL!</span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">How many times have you been hospitalized this year:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> none.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Favorite place to go for a quiet moment:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> snorkeling or diving, or anything in the water.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Photographer - If I had some training.</span></span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Something that freaks you out a little:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Sexual Deviants. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Something you’ve eaten too much of lately:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Calories.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br />You have never:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> gone to jail.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /><br /></span><strong style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">You never want to:</span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> Hurt someone I love. </span></span></p></span>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-59791470710721912992008-04-10T04:34:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.987+01:00Query Query QueryI am sending in my first query this week. I am pretty nervous. You can say that you are a writer for years but to actually put your work, your baby, part of who you are, out in the world to be judged, can be frightening. The person who reviews your work does not know you, is not your friend, and does not love you. The most terrifying prospect is that this person will tell you the truth. To never submit is to never have to face the possibility that you really suck as a writer. <div><br /></div><div>One of my Affairs of the Pen writing friends gave me a kick in the butt this week to submit my children's picture book story to an agent she knows. I have a query, but it is not very creative and the submission guidelines request a creative query. When your book is only 79 words long, how creative can you get? My goal is to have my query ready to send out by tomorrow night. I will send it to my hubby and a few friends to review before I send it off. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wrote Gramma's Lake house years ago, originally as a poem. When my children were small, I changed it into a picture book format for my daughters. Every summer they spent a few weeks at my Grandmother's lake cottage from the ages of two until my Grandmother passed away last year. Annika loves the book, but Bryn says that it is boring. Bryn did add "maybe little kids would like it". </div><div><br /></div><div>I will let you know when I send it off, and I will also let you know if I get a response. </div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-86010400271161933612008-04-08T01:15:00.000+02:002009-03-23T12:36:26.987+01:00Cinderwriter is back! 'Ano 'ai ke aloha e!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_q0LUH3DtI/AAAAAAAAAH8/6kQ8yvYjzwE/s1600-h/DSCN3082.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_q0LUH3DtI/AAAAAAAAAH8/6kQ8yvYjzwE/s320/DSCN3082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186656027343785682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_qwy0H3DsI/AAAAAAAAAH0/6_ESwpkjAY0/s1600-h/DSCN3080.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_qwy0H3DsI/AAAAAAAAAH0/6_ESwpkjAY0/s320/DSCN3080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186652307902107330" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_qwYUH3DqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/vWKz-sDBxGs/s1600-h/DSCN2750.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_qwYUH3DqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/vWKz-sDBxGs/s320/DSCN2750.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186651852635573922" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_qwYkH3DrI/AAAAAAAAAHs/l-dOqEpHbIA/s320/DSCN2898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186651856930541234" /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_quikH3DpI/AAAAAAAAAHc/GceYYhPZL3c/s1600-h/100_0631.JPG"><img style="text-align: right;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R_quikH3DpI/AAAAAAAAAHc/GceYYhPZL3c/s320/100_0631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186649829705977490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;">Helehele mai kakou e</span><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;">I wish you all were with me on this beautiful day in paradise. I am lamenting my imminent departure from the land of Aloha. </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13px;">There will be claw marks left on the tarmac at Honolulu International Airport as they drag me kicking and screaming on to that plane in November. Other than my grandparent's lake home in New Hampshire, there has been no other place on this earth that has let me feel at home. Over the past six weeks I was able to immerse myself in all the old and new of this beautiful Island Nation of Hawai'i. </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Here are some shots from my recent trips to Hawai'i (the Big Island), Molokini, Lana'i, and Maui. We will return to Maui and Lana'i, I hope as our trip was cut short due to a round of the flu. Could have been from all the Vog from Kilauea . </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Click on the Photos to see them without my blog's velum finish. Photo #1 Honu on the black sand beach at Punalu'u. We snorkeled here in the thermoclimes. It was so cold, and so hot! There were so many turtles you had to just hold still so you did not bump into them. We called it turtle soup! #2. The latest lava flow and growing point of the island of Hawai'i. #3. Annika standing at the edge of the Waipi'o Valley. #4 Annika and Bryn exploring an old lava tube that emptied out of the side of a cliff 80 feet above lava boulders! eek! #5 Ko'olina Cove Beach, back here on O'ahu. More Photos to come. And, of course a blog on writing! </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 12px; "><br /></p></span>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-84677221481026621712008-03-23T19:44:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.987+01:00Just for Easter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tr><td bg align="center" style="color:#EEEEEE;"> <span style="'color:black;font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"> <strong>You Are an Egg that Looks Like a Chicken</strong> </span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatkindofeastereggareyouquiz/egg-4.jpg" height="100" width="100" /></center> <span style="color:#000000;"> Cute but totally completely confused. </span></td></tr></table> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofeastereggareyouquiz/">What Kind of Easter Egg Are You?</a></div></span>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-48903922532134950422008-03-05T08:30:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.988+01:00Cinderwriter on Vacation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R85NK9to7OI/AAAAAAAAAHU/-7Ov1rmSPp8/s1600-h/DSCN2704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R85NK9to7OI/AAAAAAAAAHU/-7Ov1rmSPp8/s400/DSCN2704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174157872655297762" /></a>How to dump salt water on your sister's head.......My Loving Offspring! <br /><br /><div>Hello my Adoring Fans...all eight of you! Cinderwriter has put away her quill and broom and will be sparse in blogging over the next few weeks. My Hubby's family is in town for almost six weeks, so I do not have much time to be at the computer. I hope you are all writing brilliant passages in your WIP and I will chat with you after the last guest leaves! Aloha<br /></div><div><div> </div><div>Cinderwriter</div></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-82992109148376078462008-02-23T02:07:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.988+01:00A Pirate's Life for Me!In the 1980's pirate historical romances were quite the rage. Then someone killed them! Argh! With the success of Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series, I am sure we are to see many pirate historicals return to the shelves in the next few months. Which makes me wonder, can I can put a modern girl on an 18th century pirate ship? I have seen time travel romance done dozens of times in medieval Scotland, why not in the Caribbean? And why not a girl who has nothing to loose and nowhere to go? One whose heart has been broken and lost forever? This is what I am working on now. Ian and Isobell have been set aside. After two years of wandering in circles with them, I am ready to move on. Maybe they will decide to stop lounging about in my head and actually do something with their lives. Until then, I am moving forward. <div><br /></div><div>Dread Pirate JM<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tbody><tr><td bg="" align="center" style="color:#EEEEEE;"> <span style="';font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;color:black;"> <strong>Your Pirate Name Is...</strong> </span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/piratenamegenerator/girl.gif" height="100" width="100" /></center> <span style="color:#000000;"> <center><strong>Mad Hairy Legs</strong></center> </span></td></tr></tbody></table> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/piratenamegenerator/">What's Your Pirate Name?</a></div></span><br /></div></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-55276034234182732362008-02-23T01:56:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.988+01:00Basil for me......mmmm I do smell good<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tbody><tr><td bg="" align="center" style="color:#EEEEEE;"> <span style="';font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;color:black;"> <strong>You Are Basil</strong> </span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatspiceareyouquiz/basil.png" height="100" width="100" /></center> <span style="color:#000000;"> You are quite popular and loved by post people.<br />You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive.<br />You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good. </span></td></tr></tbody></table> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatspiceareyouquiz/">What Spice Are You?</a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">The first time I took this test I was cilantro, but so was Alyson. Since She did the test first, I figured I better try again so not to be a copy cat! :o) </div></span>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-52080885722702042132008-02-18T19:58:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.989+01:00Dreaming of Conference...can I fit it in?<div>What I am reading: Breaking Point by Susan Brockman</div><div>What I am working on: New Contemporary </div><div><br /></div>I have waisted my writing hour this morning by day dreaming about RWA conference. I desperately want to go this year, and I may get to go still, but this is a fast and furious six months I have ahead of me. In about 10 days we will learn of my hubby's promotion status and then we have a few short weeks to research possible jobs, talk to the different commanders who are needing personnel, and get our assignment preference worksheet in to the chain of command. After that....we wait. Sometimes you are sent to a place or type of job you requested, sometimes you are not. In June or July we should receive what is called a Rip Sheet, these are preliminary orders telling us where we may be going. In late August or early September we will get our final orders with the actual assignment. As soon as we have orders we can set up the movers and make arrangements to out-process from the base. It is much more involved than just packing up to go. The time from when you receive the orders until the Report No Later Date (the date the military member must sign in to the new job) can be the most stressful and most fun time for a military family. <div><br /></div><div>Now imagine squeezing into this timeline: a Memorial for my Grandfather in Florida, two high school 20th reunions, time needed to prep my mother's lake house to be used as a rental, and a 5 week visit from 7 members of my husband's family, and the RWA conference. Whew! Oh, and did I mention that other than the in-law visit, all of these activities are on the mainland? Remember that I live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Can I make 5 trips to the mainland in 4 months? Plus my hubby wants to squeeze in trips to each of the Hawaiian Islands before we leave. Oh My. </div><div><br /></div><div>OK, now I have waisted Friday's blog by rambling and whining. It will all work out, I just need to figure out how to arrange the pieces of the puzzle. BTW- In-laws arrive Tuesday. Wish me luck. A 5 day visit is fun, but 5 weeks?</div><div><br /></div><div>JM</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. In case you are curious, our top choices for the move are: Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. (Greece, Turkey, England, and Spain are also high on the list.) </div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-74356367191640163562008-02-13T02:03:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.990+01:00I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free...aren't I<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><table width="350" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"><tbody><tr><td bg="" align="center" style="color:#EEEEEE;"> <span style="';font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;color:black;"> <strong>You Are 67% American</strong> </span></td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/howamericanareyouquiz/american3.jpg" height="100" width="100" /></center> <span style="color:#000000;"> Most times you are proud to be an American.<br />Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe<br />Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home.<br />You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you! </span></td></tr></tbody></table> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howamericanareyouquiz/">How American Are You?</a></div></span>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-8872141342619119132008-02-08T00:28:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.990+01:00Films that Shape My Writing Voice<span style="font-family:georgia;">What I am reading: Poison Study by Maria Snyder</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Word Count for today: 504</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am a bit behind on Macy's Challenge, I thought I would do double the writing, but I spent three hours moving my AOTP Blogs over here to Cinderwriter. If you want to read my whole blogging history, it is quite profound, just go to the Archives at the bottom of the page. One of the AOTP members would like to use the AOTP name for her personal blog, so I packed up and moved out. I can't wait to see what she does with her own blog, I am sure it will be fantastic. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I believe that film, as well as books, leave a imprint on our psyche and shape our mores and world views. This also shapes our voice and our writing. A while back several of us at AOTP jotted down our favorite movies to see how this defined ourselves. Here are my choices:</span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-size:10;"><span><span style="font-size:130%;">20 favorite Movies: </span><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:10;"><span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><ol><li style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Braveheart</span></a><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355295/"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Brother's Grimm </span></a></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0349683/"><span style="font-size:100%;">King Aurthur </span></a></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/">Phantom of the Opera</a> </span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325980/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl </span></a></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383574/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Ma's Chest </span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span></a></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120631/">Ever After</a><br /></span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183790/">A Knight's Tale</a><br /></span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/">Titanic</a> </span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/">Stardust</a><br /></span></li><li style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396752/">Nanny McPhee </a> </span></li><li face="georgia"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/">Love Actually</a> </span></li><li face="georgia"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327679/">Ella Enchanted</a> <span style="font-size:10;"><span></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138097/"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"></span></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0138097/">Shakespeare in Love</a><br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a><br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373889/">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</a></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402894/">Casanova</a></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116191/">Emma</a></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/">Clueless (same story)</a></span></span></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"><span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/">Bridget Jones' Diary</a><br /></span></span></span></li></ol> Hmm...Is Cinderwriter living in a Fairytale?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R6uODnuKZHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/GyCiXqTnBGQ/s1600-h/Heath20Ledger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gD1o5AGhVxw/R6uODnuKZHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/GyCiXqTnBGQ/s400/Heath20Ledger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164377590563759218" border="0" /></a><br />BTW- I noticed how many of my favorites included Heath Ledger - he will be greatly missed, by not only his family but all his adoring fans, including myself. Rest peacefully our dear thespian. You will remain in my heart for a very long time.Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-83203878169987104082008-02-02T10:52:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.991+01:00How the heck did this get published?!?!?!I am reading a book right now which is driving me CRAZY. I will not divulge the author or title, as I would never publicly humiliate another author. All I will leave you with is the genre and the reasons why I HATE this book. <div><br /></div><div>1. Genre: It is a historical romance.</div><div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>2. Reasons to throw it against the wall: I usually finish a book in one to two days, unless it is very heady - then I can give it at least a week. Well, after three weeks I am only half way through. I fall asleep reading. I get so bored that I day dream whilst reading. I get so frustrated with the characters, I throw it across the room. The main conflict was resolved by then end of Chapter 3. The Hero and Heroine Happily married each other and have a relationship so sweet, they make the "Waltons" look like serial killers. She head-hops so much I am forced to reread passages to figure out what the hell is going on. POV has even switched mid paragraph! And the worst crime is her "info dumps". I LOVE HISTORY, but when you give me 50 years worth in one character's two page dialog and expect me to believe this is casual conversation, it will not work for me. This is oft repeated offense in this book. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, "Why," do you ask, "are you still reading it?". Good Question. Because this writer has published over thirty books. Because millions of her books are in print. Because I want to find out what she is doing right, what has made her so successful. Perhaps her readers have not read anyone else. I will let you know if something changes, for now I am headed back to doldrums between the covers. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853569509770693471.post-57892584837728100432008-01-27T08:29:00.000+01:002009-03-23T12:36:26.991+01:00101 Things in 1001 Days!I am not sure if you heard of the <a href="http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/">101 things in 1001 days challenge</a>, but <a href="http://www.alysonlove.blogspot.com/">C. Alyson Love</a> blogged about it several weeks ago. I was definitely up for this challenge. Now, not everything had to do with writing, I did not have 101 writing goals, So I have listed them all here on my sidebar. I will post dates when each item is completed. Check it out and see how much you can accomplish in 1001 days! Some of my goals seem pretty simplistic, but I have a need to be close to home right now, so they are pretty earthy and domestic. Some may be considered down right boring, but I am happy with them. <div><br /></div>Cinderwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14219173682906526046noreply@blogger.com0