Archive for July, 2008
I haven’t written in days. I can’t. I’ve tried but I just can’t. It won’t come. I have an idea for an ending but I can’t get it there. I sit down in front of the computer and nothing happens; nothing good anyway. Oh my Bob I suck.
But apparently “Oh my Bob I suck” is not a valid excuse for not writing. So here are some that might be:
I have writer’s block.
I have writer’s cramp.
I’m sleepy.
I’m hungry.
I’m thirsty.
I’m drunk.
My pen ran out of ink.
My computer ran out of electricity.
Dirty Jobs is on TV and I must watch it, um, to study it as research … for my main character … yeah, that’s it. Research.
Telemarketers wanting me to donate to the Fraternal Order of Police called and broke my deep concentration.
My cat had a hairball attack that left me emotionally scarred.
My horoscope said today is not a good day for creativity.
It’s raining.
It’s too hot.
It’s too cold.
I have to take my pet rock for a walk.
Mei spel chek brocke.
What’s your excuse?
July 28th, 2008
I’m a little verklempt, so, talk amongst yourselves.
Bluetooth is neither blue, nor a tooth. Discuss.
(Like I need to give you people a reason to talk amongst yourselves.)
July 25th, 2008
In romance novels, the hero and heroine see each other and get that thrill in the pit of their stomach. This is how we know they will end up with each other (usually after trials and tribulations).
To take this a step further, I know a woman. She has tended to get involved with men who have the “thrill factor.” About 3 years ago, she met a fellow who had that “thrill factor,” He liked to do the same things she does, and they hung out for a couple of years. However, he was not willing to commit further, didn’t really take her anywhere, didn’t really support her when she needed it, never made special plans (she always had to do that), and on occasion he drank too much. They broke up when she discovered that he was not monogamous – a deal breaker that my friend had made clear to him from the beginning. Then, my friend found out that many of the things he told her about himself were either half-truths or outright prevarications. The break-up was hard on her because they had seemed so compatible and did so many everyday things together. Sounds like a page from the “He’s just not that into You” book.
She is now in a relationship with a fellow who is smart, philosophical, pilots his own plane (a small one, but still…), makes plans for special weekends, and flies her to those places. He is attentive to her and never drinks too much. When visiting her house, he cooks for her (well, grills and smokes on the grill/smoker he bought her, but still…). I’m also told that he knows his way around female anatomy better than anyone. And when she had a non-life-threatening medical situation that required driving over 2 hours one-way to see a specialist, he went with her, and stayed with her to make certain she was taken care of. A real stand-up guy. BUT – for some reason known only to the depths of her mind – he doesn’t have that “thrill factor” for her. I’ve seen a picture – nice eyes, good hands, physically fit, and quite good looking. He also has a great, deadpan sense of humor. (When she mentioned to him that she admired his expertise with anatomy – he looked her straight in the eye and said, “I took it in school – twice.”) YET – no thrill factor. Sigh… Go figure…
A woman I work with who studies psychology, says that the “thrill” we feel is actually a fight-or-flight response to a person – mother nature’s way of telling us to keep our distance. But still we chase that adrenalin rush. Why do some of us need that adrenalin rush that the thrill factor brings? Is that why the trill factor is so important to some people? Are they adrenalin junkies? Could you feel that thrill for a man who doesn’t make your stomach flip, but is a good, steady, stand-up guy?
What do you think?
July 21st, 2008
OK - Here’s the schedule as I know it:
RWA Conference:
Wednesday evening: “Readers for Life” Literacy signing - which I assume folks will want to attend.
Thursday lunch: Luncheon with speaker
Friday lunch: Luncheon with speaker
Saturday night: Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony - which I assume folks will want to attend.
So… As I see it, we have three choices:
Dinner either Thursday or Friday
Lunch Saturday afternoon
What is your choice? And what would you like to eat? I would think that someplace near the conference would be a good thing.
July 21st, 2008
Cannon Beach. Oregon.
Doesn’t it look professional? I love my 35mm camera.
July 19th, 2008
When I was a kid the writing assignments I dreaded the most were “My Summer Vacation.” I would try and try and try to remember things so my paper would be the most exciting. Then we would go back to school and I would write about playing softball, swimming, going to my grandparents during harvest or working cattle. We never really went on big, fancy trips. We lived in Texas during my growing up years, and it really is a whole ‘nother country. It is amazing the adventures you can have and the places you can see and never leave the state.
Then I got older, not really grown up, but older, and my mother found me the neatest job, The Grand Canyon. I worked at The Ditch for two summers. It’s where I decided I wanted to work in museums and where I learned a few other things about real life. You can probably figure them out, but I’m not going to admit them on the internet.
The summers after that I was in summer school then I graduated and having no money would have been a step up from where I was so traveling was out. Did some local camping trips and the like but nothing major.
Fast forward a few years and I’m working full time but not full enough to get things like paid vacation and I’m working three jobs, a pretty good indicator none of them paid diddly.
A few years later and I finally have a “real” job with paid vacation and everything. So how do I spend my vacation time? Going home to see the family of course.
Now we’re at today, or at least in the neighborhood of today, and I finally realized. I have earned that vacation time and I can use it to benefit me. Yep, sometimes I’m a little slow. So, I went to Portland, then up to Seattle, ate chocolate and bbq, drank wine and beer, and ended up drunk dialing a few friends. Went to Bellingham on the train and was so close to the ocean I could have reached out and touched it if those dang sealed windows weren’t in the way. I even saw a baby black bear cub and waved to Canada, or at least the security cameras on the border.
It wasn’t a romantic get away and the adventures I had were relatively tame, but oh boy, it was a very good thing.
In a few hours I’m leaving on a plane for the second time this summer. The trip is going to be different. No sleeping late and relaxing and getting drunk at wine and beer tastings. It’s a family thing. It’s going to be good. I’m going to get to see my daddy and my sister and the world’s cutest nephew are going to be there. My folks are mainly settled into their new house and the old one has become a holding ground for all things destined for the mother of all garage sales. My mother hasn’t decided if it is good for us to come home or not, in fact I think we pretty much told her we were coming. I’m not sure why my sister chose Oklahoma in July but there you are so there I’m going.
And where have I been in between the PNW and melting in OK? I’ve been melting in CO. And cleaning house. And hiding my head in the sand.
Talk to y’all later. I’m going flying soon and I don’t have clean undies for the trip.
July 15th, 2008
Once upon a time there was a group of Strong Minded Women (Lou’s description) who decided to gather in the upper left hand corner of the U.S. for what we euphamistically called the Summer Solstice. I’m pretty sure this isn’t what the Druids had in mind. The good news is that no volcanoes actually erupted during the weekend, but we kept a close eye on them just in case.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when GP decided to have herself a little adventure on the MAX since she had been itching to do just that for weeks. And that would have been fine, just fine, except this was the one day for which Plans Had Been Made. It was the day designated for visiting Powell’s and collecting CC, who was flying in that day and who also, apparently, had been yearning to ride the MAX. She, GP, goes off while the Residence Inn residing half of the whack was breakfasting. I think the Residence Inn has become the official CherryBomb hotel, bless their hearts. The staff is always so patient and tolerant of our, um, whackness. Plus which they do a fine breakfast buffet. And a breakfast buffet is an important component in a Whack meet because it gives everyone a place and timeframe for gathering. They close the buffet at 10 a.m. so you know everyone will show up by then. In my case this might mean 9:59 a.m.; but, by Bob, I was there by 10.
Now, the good news about GP wandering off is that it meant there were only six of us at the hotel so we could all fit into Lou’s truck and would not need additional vehicles. The bad news is that we do still need to collect GP and CC from their seperate adventures. Note, however, that while both were adventuring on the MAX that day, they did not adventure together. Oh no, that would be too organized. But at this point all that is needed is to get the remaining whack together in the same vehicle at the same time. Right. Huh.
Do you know what happens when you try to get six Cherrybombs to be at the same place at the same time and without food as an incentive? Herding cats. And Fate, it seemed, had decreed that it was my turn to be In Charge. All my worse control-freak tendencies broke out. Haven’t I given everyone fair warning about what happens when I am put in charge? Did this warning influence anyone at the Residence Inn in any way, shape or form? Nope. First CMS disappears, I think in the company of Lou and Edelweiss. Then JenB goes off on her own. Then the first three are back, but we quickly lose Edelweiss again. And so it went. I finally had to break out the wand and start threatening people with it before we got everyone into Lou’s truck. On a side note, JenB does a very spry quick-step with only a little encouragement. And that’s when they dubbed me McBoss.
Meanwhile back at the ranch there is much cell phone activity with Merry and GP as we try to figure out how to get both of them in the same place at the same time so that GP can be picked up and rejoin the herd - uh, whack - which was a bit tricky since I had only the vaguest idea where they each were, GP wasn’t exactly sure where she was going and Merry, it later came out, wasn’t real clear on where she should be. And she lives there. That is another story altogether, and one which I am leaving to those two to tell.
But we did finally get everyone together and made our way to Powell’s. Well sort of. Some of us went straight there and some of us went off to the open air market and some went off to get CC. But eventually all the CBs were actually all together in Powell’s. Phew!
This is some of us trying to figure out the parking meter set up at the lot near Powell’s. Yes it did take all of us to figure it out.
Powell’s. Cue the Hallalueia Chorus.
And after a hard day of bookshopping, gathering, splitting off again to find more books. Splitting off again to use the restroom. Getting distracted by bright and shiney books on the way back from the restroom and other assorted Powell’s related adventures, we’re all here. I think.
And here we have finally all made it from Powell’s to Cary’s. Ms Merry proposed a toast to the 2008 Summer Soltice PNW Whack-a-do. Champagne was drunk. Pizza was et. It was supposed to be burgers on the grill that evening, but we staged an uprising. Also which, we were all really hungry and and had some experience now at just how long it takes us to get anything accomplished. So pizza was ordered instead. And it was good pizza. And the crankies went away and all was good with the whack.
But we did finally have those burgers the next day. This is GP and K.L. putting the grill
together. Well, it’s a picture of them reading the directions for putting the grill together. And it’s one of those occasions when I was very happy to be in the company of other women, because women read directions so it didn’t take them very long.
In case anyone was worried that, what with the pizza and burgers, that we might not have been getting all the major food groups in there, rest your mind. We ate quite healthy.
Here we have Dr. T and Pam preparing to hang a picture over Ms. Merry’s mantle. No, it’s okay; she wanted it up there. I think. There were a lot of other people standing around doing the armchair quarterback thing, but eventually the picture got hung.
And was duly admired.
Then some CBs went off to find out if the water on the left coast looks different than the water on the right coast. Other CBs hied themselves off to see Portland’s famous roses.
Their fame is well deserved.
And after this we headed back to the Residence Inn because I had a flight out later that night. And while I finished packing and took a quick shower, folks gathered in the hotel lounge area and looked a centerfold pictures of nekkid men, debating whether or not they had been airbrushed. The picture, not the men. Well, maybe that too. For info on what happened after that, you’ll have to ask those who remained behind a little longer.
July 13th, 2008
Make sure the Buffalo airport knows you’re going to Oregon not Maine
Lou looks 20 years younger than her photo ID says she is.
McB needs a flamingo pen to boost her above the crowd.
We’re so used to Special Effects in movies that I wondered why they didn’t turn the lights on Mt Hood at night.
Tanji is the best German Shepherd in the whole world.
In case of tornado or earthquake I want to be with CC or K.L. They know all the safety features.
Fish tacos are a real food. I didn’t get to try one.
GP and Wapak are not exaggerating their fear of bridges. They are both good sports though.
There are more creative, crafty CBs than BCB would like to know about.
Hungry CBs execute mutinies. That’s better than executing other CBs. Phew.
Most of us are brunettes.
We can discuss sex, politics and religion with respect and humour.
When Lori is not available, it is okay to Blame Canada.
Merry’s neighbourhood has an ice cream truck. Actually it’s a guy in a green van with a loudspeaker out the window.
Most places accomodated the Whack with little fear.
Theresa reminded me about the importance of good posture in relation to building self-confidence.
JenB may need coffe in order to start her day but she always looks fantastic and is quite coherent without it.
Pam can navigate her way out of a paper bag and is hard to fluster.
McBoss gets cranky if you put her in charge on her vacation. But she’s a born organizer.
It’s important the directions for one-way streets go in the correct way. OH is good at thinking on her feet. She also remembers people’s addresses off the top of her head.
Not all GPS devices are created equal. Or civil.
Everyone knows Me.
Cary’s icebreaking game was tons of fun and taught us some cool stuff about each other. Let’s see if this link works. CB Cards.pdf
JenT is psychic. We discussed how much we missed her then she called the next day.
It’s hard to stump GP about plants.
Wapak is an excellent surprise keeper. So oddly is Scope.
OH had never heard of the song Sheep go to Heaven, Goats go to hell by Cake.
We don’t need a drop of alcohol to be as silly as we were.
Liquor stores in Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro locked their doors when they saw Merry and I coming.
Three drivers in one car are better than one.
It takes eight CBs to hang a picture on the wall.
K.L. is one of the most resourceful women I’ve ever met. And that’s saying something given the brilliance of the CBs.
Cary and Merry are the most gracious hostesses on the planet.
Four days together was too short. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
July 9th, 2008
When’s the last time you turned your mattress? Yep, I thought so. Not good, especially if one or more persons of weight sleep on it. I turn mine once a month, the day after the first of the month when I’m changing the bed linen.
So, here’s how I started. First, a blank sheet of paper. Mark the upper left corner with a 3. Twist the paper around 180 degrees so that the 3 is upside down in the lower right corner. Mark the upper left corner with a 4. Turn the paper over, left to right. Mark a 1 in the upper left corner, a 2 in the lower right (turn yourself around so the 2 is upside down compared to the 1.) If you hold the paper up to the light you’ll see a number in each corner. Now practice turning the “mattress” with the paper until you’re comfortable with it.
Get yourself a black laundry marker (indelible so it doesn’t ever run onto the bed linen). Write the numbers on the mattress as you did with the paper. (See, you’re starting with a 1 in the upper left corner.) So every 4 months you’re back a 1 in the upper left corner, and the mattress is getting more even wear.
What is your helpful hint for CBs?
July 5th, 2008
For your viewing pleasure and to buy us some room until GP posts….all together now. Awwwwwww!!!
July 4th, 2008
Previous Posts
