June 11th

Hi, It’s Christina –

Happy, Happy Hump Day! I know I said today’s blog will be back to normal, but I guess I lied. It’s coming a lot later than normal because I needed to get Lys to the train station this morning, and we had the chaos of two teenage girls trying to get ready at the same time…with only one bathroom. It’s never a pretty sight.

Anyway, Lys is off to Long Island to spend a few days with Tyler and family. Depending on the weather forecast, they may be back on Friday. If it’s nice on Saturday, they will be going to the beach. If not, Lys will just stay in LI and come home on the train Saturday evening.

I’ve told you before how insane my sister in law’s life is, juggling her three kid’s crazy schedules. Well, Cindy was my photographer for both parties this past weekend, and I guess she has not had the time to send over the pictures yet, but I did not want to push off the recap for yet another day.

Saturday went extremely well. My husband was shocked, but that was not the only surprise we had that day. I had a suspicion it would happen, but because I wasn’t sure, I kept my mouth shut; well, almost. I did say something to Lys, but told her not to say anything because I really did not know. The little stinker didn’t let on that she knew all about it.

Kyle

The big surprise was when my nephew Kyle waltzed into the party. He really shocked his mom. Fran was in tears. I wished someone had videotaped it; it probably would have gone viral like all the other soldier’s surprise homecoming videos. We have not seen Kyle since the few days he had at home after graduation in January. He’ll be here until the twentieth, then it’s back to Mississippi for more training.

When he joined the Marines, he wanted to become an air traffic controller, but because he is slightly color blind, he is unable to pursue his first choice. Now the Marine Corp has him training in some type of intelligence field, but he can’t really talk about it. He seems okay with the change of plans, and still loves being a Marine, so I guess that’s all that really matters.

We managed to get everything broken down from Saturday’s party and transported over to Bri’s house for Sunday’s party before ten o’clock; thanks to Kyle and my “other son” Jason, who were my muscle men. The only things I needed to get over to Bri’s late Saturday was the beer and some food. All along, I thought we would be breaking down and hauling stuff into the wee hours of the morning, but as it turned out, we were all in bed by midnight.

Brianna & Dani Rose

Sunday was another perfect day weather wise, sunny and eighty-two with a refreshing breeze. The church service went well. Dani was funny. She said she looked out into the congregation and half the church was there for her. Well, she did exaggerate a bit, but there were twenty-eight people in church just to see her get confirmed.

I only have one photo to share with you from Dani’s Confirmation. Please excuse the quality, it was taken from my phone. Both her and Bri looked so beautiful, and so grown up!

As I said, this isn’t going to be a usual blog because I’m not going to give you a writing challenge today. Frankly I’m still whooped from this weekend and I don’t have enough time before I have to get ready for work. (I have the ten minutes to do the last prompt, it’s the coming up with a new prompt which would be too time consuming.)

So, until tomorrow, I hope you have a fantastic day, and happy writing!

May 7th Challenge

Hi it’s Christina –

Good Morning and Happy Hump Day!

I had me critique group at PPL last night. The group was small again, so we did not have to split into two rooms, which was great. Plus, there were only four of us who read, so we even ended up finishing early.

The lady, Tamara, I met at the Author’s Day, who came to the last meeting, came again last night. You always wonder if someone new will keep showing up, and I’m glad she did. She’s a sweet woman from Israel, who doesn’t feel her English is good enough, but she is really doing a wonderful job. Granted, some of her phrasing and word choice is a little off, but that is something easily fixed during the editing stage.

We also got to know a little more about the new guy Brian. He has written and published a slew of cookbooks. I’m talking, this is his full-time job, and he’s making a living off of it, so he’s an accomplished author. To be honest, cookbooks are the last thing I would have pictured Brian writing. He has that either mystery or horror writer look to him – kinda Stephen King meets Dashiell Hammett. Goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover… (LOL, sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Even though it was a small group last night, we had another first timer. His name is Buzz. Yes, as in Lightyear, and I did ask him that. I know he said he was a college professor, but I’m not sure if he said he was retired or not. He is writing something I had never heard of before. It’s called a microhistory, which is where you take one object, event, person, place, whatever, and literally give every possible fact about it. He didn’t bring anything to share with him last night. I guess he wanted to get a feel for the group and how it works first. It will be interesting to hear what he brings next time.

I got home around ten, and even though it was late, for me that is, I couldn’t go right to sleep. I need a little time to unwind first, so I usually play on my Kindle for a little bit before I shut off the lights. I decided to check my email and this is what I found:

“I am writing with great news! Your book has been named a Finalist in the SECOND NOVEL category of the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.  Congratulations!”

Last year, A Second Chance, won in the romance category. Even though I am thrilled to be a finalist, I was a little surprised, because I honestly feel Taking Chances is a better written novel. I’m also surprised at the category, because “Second Novel” could be any genre, fiction or non-fiction, and I would think the competition would be even stiffer than in the Romance category, and yet I didn’t even place in a category I won last year.

Although I am still invited to the awards reception in NYC on May 28th, I think, because I’m only a finalist, and the event, in my opinion only, should be for the winners, I don’t think I’m going to go. Now, if word comes in that I am a finalist in the Romance category as well – the emails come separately – then I may change my mind.

Okay, I need to get to work early again today, so I have to boogie. I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

If you could be in a play, what would it be?

When I was very young, I was enamored with the Wizard of Oz. I tried to learn all the songs, and practiced Dorothy’s unusual skip for hours. 

Then when I was a tween, I was lucky enough to see a production of Annie, and that’s it, I was hooked. I walked around the house belting out “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow”. I could picture myself up on stage, as one of the orphan girls, or maybe even Annie herself. Oh how I wanted to be part of a production.

In high school, I got the opportunity to audition for Funny Girl – “Nicky Arnstein, Nicky Arnstein, what a beautiful, beautiful name” – but I got myself so worked up over the audition, I landed myself in the hospital with stomach issues. The biggest case of stage fright ever.

I never did audition for Funny Girl, and I have never auditioned for anything since, but someday, I will get up the nerve to try it again. This time though, I think I’d want to be in The Christmas Carol as either Mrs. Cratchit or one of the ghosts.

Your Next Challenge was inspired by the newest member of our critique group:

Share a brief microhistory on any subject you know about, because you could hardly do research in the ten minute allotted time. Make it as interesting as possible so it does not read like an instruction manual.

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

December 4th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

Happy Hump Day! I didn’t realize yesterday was Tuesday until around 8:30 last night. I completely lost a day with traveling on Monday. This also means I unintentionally blew off my critique group last night. UGH! I hate when I do that!

The photo project took me ten hours, but I finished and got everything up to Lys, so she could do her assignment. While on the phone, I had Lys ask her roommate if I had left anything for her, and her roommate gave her the box of exam goodies I had smuggled up a few weeks ago. I explained to her that the college was doing these exam care packages, but I didn’t want to spend $65 when she didn’t like half the stuff in the package. So instead, she got to open a box of all her favorite things – double stuffed Oreos, Kit Kat bars, oatmeal, flavored teas, V8 Splash, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I even included two raspberry 5-Hour Energy and a bottle of gummy vitamins. You should have heard her squeal when she opened the box.

That child has so much food in her room, they could get snowed in for a week and she (and probably her roommate too) wouldn’t go hungry. By making sure she’s well stocked, it makes me feel a little better, I guess. I’m one of those moms who isn’t content unless I’m making sure you’re well fed. You can ask any of my kids’ friends, if they come here, I’m going to feed them, and they won’t leave hungry.

I am going to be playing domestic goddess for the remainder of the day. During NaNoWriMo, things got seriously pushed to the back burner and now it is time to pay the price. I want to take twenty minutes to straighten up – the house is clean and I’d really like to keep it that way through the holidays – and then I need to focus on laundry. We are all down to the dredges of our wardrobes and I need to remedy the situation. My hubby informed me he was down to his Sunday sox and underwear – you know, the holey ones.

While I’m in the basement with the laundry, I am going to sort out the Christmas gifts. See what I have, see what still needs to be filled in, make sure I have everything collected from all the hidey-holes, have an “ah-ha” moment when I accidentally find something I purchased years ago but couldn’t find to be able to give the gift. You know, the usual.

I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

 

The snow crunched beneath Michael’s boots. A plum of white mist escaped his mouth with every breath he took. He burrowed his hands deeper into his jacket pockets in an attempt to ward off the cold.

Less than a mile to go, and then I’ll be home, sitting in front of a roaring fire. I know I haven’t had it in a while, but I think a mug of hot cocoa might very well be in my future. Then, after I have thawed, I’ll worry about that stupid car.

A deer had run across his path, and when he hit the brakes to avoid it, his car swerved and he ended up in a ditch. After an hour’s worth of failed attempts to free his car, and a lot of creative cursing, Michael gave up and decided to hike the three remaining miles to his home.

You just had to have the house out in the middle of nowhere, didn’t you? Your dream log cabin in the woods. Miles away from any neighbor. Miles away from any cell service. Doesn’t seem like such a good idea now, does it? Michael trudged on as he berated himself, but then he rounded the bend and his home came into view. There, up on the bluff, overlooking the lake, it stood; proud, elegant, welcoming, and he knew, in spite of the lousy snow covered roads, in spite of the isolation, he could never regret his choice. This was home.

Your Next Challenge is:

 

You are posing for one of those “Old Time Photos”. The camera flash goes off, and when you blink the spots from your eyes, you find you are no longer at the photo studio, you are actually in the place where the photo is set.

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

October 30th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

What day is it??? Oh that’s right, there’s been a giraffe invasion, not a camel invasion. If you have a Facebook account, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, then it’s too silly to bother you further.

My daughter and one of her friends decided they were going to be cowgirls for Halloween tomorrow. Nice easy costume. We have all the pieces. So I was getting off easy this year, right? Wrong. Yes we have all the pieces, but not in our possession. My daughter was borrowing my son’s cowboy hat, which his girlfriend was supposed to bring over on Monday, but then couldn’t because of his mishap. Then she was supposed to bring it over yesterday, but instead she drove my son to class last night so he wouldn’t have to drive in the dark with his injured eye. I’M NOT COMPLAINING about her doing these things. It was very sweet of her to rearrange just about everything in her schedule to be able to be there for him, but this does mean I have to drive down to my son’s house today to go get the hat.

The next piece of the puzzle that’s missing is the shirt my daughter wanted to wear, a purple plaid number. She tore apart her room and all the laundry she put in the basement looking for the thing. Then, out of frustration, she asked if I thought her sister took the shirt with her to college. Since I can’t keep track of my own things, I had no idea. I shrugged and sent a text to my other daughter. Yup, you guessed it. The shirt is in Vermont. Now other than my forty minute ride to my son’s house today, I have a trip to Kohl’s on my “to do” list. Well, at least I know where my cowboy boots are…

So, I am going to have my second cup of coffee, take a quick shower and get my day rolling. I hope you have a fantastic day and happy writing!

 

Your Last Challenge was (this is the challenge I offered as homework while I was covering the class for Keith, but the group mutinied and would not do it):

 

Write you own obituary 

 

Christina, just like she always said she would do, left this Earth on the anniversary of her birth. She would say, “This way I’m not messing up anyone’s day but my own.” In life Christina wore many hats. She was a mom, a wife, a coach, a writer and a friend. Although she never conquered her stage freight, she sang in her church choir on Sundays. She enjoyed music, baking, cooking, reading, writing, painting, and playing silly games on her computer, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She left this world with a messy house, dishes in the sink and laundry to be done, but a freezer stocked with meals to get her family through the next millennium and her final story completed and submitted to her publisher.

There will be no wake or funeral for Christina, however, on June 23^rd, all who knew her, are asked to participate in a celebration of her life. She wanted a “good old fashioned Irish funeral”. We ask that you bring photos and stories to share; the good, the bad, and undoubtedly the irreverent. Christina has asked for her ashes to be scattered in the places she loved and the ones she never had a chance to visit while she was alive. Please take whatever money you would have used for flowers and spend it on doing something fun with your family.

 

Okay, I really don’t see what the big deal was about writing your own obituary. This has been used as a creative writing assignment in colleges forEVER. I remember doing it when I was in college, and that was over twenty-five years ago. It didn’t kill me then, and I seriously doubt it is going to kill me now, and if it does, I have until April 1^st anyway. I don’t see it as a negative thing; I see it as a reflection of how we see ourselves and how we hope to be remembered. If there is a disparity from how we are to how we want to be, we recognize it and can work to fix it before it is too late. Think Scrooge, not Grim Reaper. Whatever, to each their own. I hope some of you took up my challenge.

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Start your story with: It’s Mischief Night and you’ll never believe what my friends have planned.

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

August 7th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Happy hump day! Perhaps if I don’t remind the girls it’s Wednesday, they won’t keep asking me what day it is – dang camel! I guess the Geico marketing team hit a homerun on that one. Yet, there are still commercials out there where I can’t help but ask, what were they thinking?

Example; a few years ago, there was a commercial out there, I can’t even remember what product it was, where the man was distracted. There was a faucet left running in one shot and various other things left unattended in other shots. During the first few runs of the commercial, one of those other shots was a baby playing with a roll of tape. The child was completely covered in the tape he had pulled off of the roll. The commercial drove me crazy. Who the heck would be so distracted, they would leave their under one year old baby unattended? What were they thinking airing a commercial like that? Within a few weeks, the unattended baby was cut out of the commercial. I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought they were insane.

 

Now there are commercials peddling a system where you can access items in your house from a remote location; turn on lights, arm your alarm system, adjust your heat, etc. In one of the commercials there is a woman in the grocery store with a young child. She gets a notice on her phone and she pulls up the camera inside her home because her front door opened at 4:15 in the afternoon. If you take notice, you will see there is another young child, probably coming home from school, walking in the door. Again, what were they thinking? Obviously there is no one home or the lady wouldn’t be checking the home remotely, and the child coming into the empty house is perhaps seven or eight years old. HELLO! Why didn’t these advertising folks make the kid coming home at least fifteen or sixteen? Have they all lost their minds? I wonder if it is the same advertising agency that made the first commercial with the unattended baby.

The cannibalistic cereal commercials drive me crazy too, but that is a whole other issue and I won’t drive you crazy with it.

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

I wish I knew what he/she was thinking…

 

How many times have you looked at your beloved pet and wished you knew what she was thinking? Your cat is staring at the wall, twitching his tail and making that funny chirping noise. You look at the wall and everywhere around, but you see nothing. Your dog comes running over, plops down in front of you and cocks her head, practically asking you a question. Wouldn’t you just love to know what she was thinking?

Well, my family has figured out a way to remedy this situation. We all do it, and to unsuspecting onlookers it is either quite comical or they think we have all gone insane. We all talk for our pets. Each pet has his or her own unique and distinct voice and as one member of the household is interacting with a pet, another member of the household becomes the voice of said pet. We are not quite sure when this started or how this evolved, but it has come to the point of a well-choreographed performance.  As I said, some folks think we are insane, but it sure beats saying “I wish I knew what he/she was thinking” all the time.

 

Yup, I just gave you another glimpse into my bizarre personal life. We currently have three cats and one dog, and they each have their own voice and personality. The funny thing is, we have all gotten so good at this, you really begin to think what the “animal” is saying is plausible. I will be annoyed with the dog because he’d be begging shamelessly and one of the kids would chime in with, “But Mommy, I just want a little taste.” Or “But Mommy, I just loves bananas. Fruits are good for me.”

So you don’t call out the men in white coats and butterfly nets, these “conversations” do not go on constantly in our home, but when the improv situation arises, someone is there to supply a voice. I find it hysterical that we even have my husband doing it now.

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.