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.

July 22nd Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

I get up at an ungodly hour so I can have at least three hours of peace and quiet to write, with only one small interruption when my husband leaves for work. The plan usually works well, but today may prove to be a challenge. My oldest daughter had a friend sleep over last night, and her friend’s phone was buzzing already at quarter to seven. UGH, really? I am behind on my writing…I don’t have time for this! I really don’t want to have to start waking up at four in the morning so I can write, but I will if I have to.

There are a bunch of things we need to get done around here before my daughter leaves for college. When the girls split into two rooms, they cleaned their old room by bringing every stitch of fabric (clothes, linens, etc.) down to the basement. This week, I want to get EVERYTHING washed, sorted (what is being kept, handed down, donated), and put away.

When that is done, we are going to paint my youngest daughter’s room. She wants to do one wall in the chalkboard paint. I was resisting, but then I asked myself why? It’s only paint. It can be changed. For the first time ever, she has her very own room, and she should make it hers. My older daughter is a little miffed because I won’t let her paint her new room, but it was painted a few years ago, and it’s the color I want as my office, which is what the room is going to be when she moves out in a few years. I can’t see going crazy trying to cover the navy paint with a pastel color only to make it navy again. She’s only going to be in the room for three months out of the year, she can deal, but I do feel a little bad, because this is the kid who rarely asks for anything.

We also have another beach day scheduled as well as a get together with friends so they can say goodbye to my daughter before she leaves, and this all needs to be done by August 9^th, because we leave for OBX on the 10^th. Oh yeah, I also only have nine days left to finish my Camp NaNo writing and finish editing the book for the other author.

Anybody got a pair of roller skates I can borrow? LOL.

Well, it sounds like the girls fell asleep again, so maybe, just maybe, I can get some writing in this morning. So, on to the challenges then off to camp.

What did you wish for? I really wish you guys would post your responses instead of just telling me you are doing them. I’d love to read what you have written!!

 

Your Last Challenge was:

If I had three wishes… 

 

If I had three wishes, what would they be?

Would I wish for peace and harmony?

Would my wish be selfish or for another?

Would I wish everyone was treated like a brother?

Would I wish no mom would cry?

Would I wish no parent would see their baby die?

Would my wish be serious: end all disease?

Would my wish be frivolous: rid the world of fleas?

Would I wish to end famine, genocide and war?

Oh what would I use my wishes for?

Well, it doesn’t look like anyone is granting wishes today…

So I think I will do the next best thing and pray.

 

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.

July 23rd Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

 

Good morning all. Hope everyone had a great Monday. The girls and I were quite productive yesterday, but we realized there was no way we were going to get through all the laundry any time soon with only one washer and dryer, so today we are going to bag it up and head to the laundry mat. Three hours and it will all be done!

 

A majority of the things being washed are things they will no longer wear and are going to be donated, so I didn’t want to waste any extra time on them, when their time could be spent organizing, or in my older daughter’s case, packing. There are still a ton of things down there from when my son lost all his weight, and although my husband is not opposed to hand-me-ups, some of the stuff is just too young for him to wear.

 

I just realized, many of you don’t know about my son’s amazing weight loss. In a little over a year, he dropped 173 lbs! To put that into perspective, that is the equivalent of losing a full grown man! He cut out all soda and sports drinks, almost all carbs, and started going to the gym. He was determined and focused. We are all so proud of him! I made him take one of those cheesy pictures you see in ads that no one ever believes are true.

 

 

 

YES, those really are a pair of his old pants. He went from a 46 to a 32. I’d be happy to drop 20lbs and can’t manage to do it. I am in awe of my child.

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

 

Phew, the last three bails. Dang my back hurts, but I can’t stop. Not with that storm rollin’ in. Not that I’ complainin’ Lord, we sure could use the rain. These last few weeks have been mostly dry, but if today’s a good soaker, the crops will be just fine. From the feel of my back and shoulder, it’s going to be a good soaker.

Ok, hay done. Next mend the fence, then back to get the horse so I can find where that dang cow’s got to. I swear this is the third time she has wandered off right when she was about to deliver. I don’t get it. Is some rocky ravine more appealing to give birth? Ah, no use complainin’, ain’t gunna change the situation none. I just gotta go get her.

Wonder if Mike’s around? Sure could use the help if she’s actually gone into labor. Best pack some food, just in case we’re out there a while. Lord only knows how it will take to find the fool creature.

There. Done. That wasn’t too bad. Thank God for small favors. Alright, back to the house.

 

A cowboy’s thought’s while he’s working???

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Write a story containing the following three items: Beach Ball, Ice Cream, Life Guard

  

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.