July 22nd Challenge

Hi it’s Christina –

Good Morning! No birthday shout outs today. The beach was nice yesterday, and since I spent most of my time under an umbrella writing, I’m not a crispy critter, which is good.

I did get in the water, but it was still cold and a bit rough for my taste. Normally, I’m usually one to be in there, jumping the waves with the kids, but with my back being sore and the chance the cold water would make it cramp more, the rough surf and a pretty strong under tow, I was apprehensive. I would have been content to stay on the edge of the breakers, but the rocks and broken shells were murder on my feet, so I ventured in. As you can tell, because you are reading this now, I survived.

Writing on the beach went much better this time, but it was not an easy chore. The glare, even with the umbrella, was a challenge. I could see the words on the screen fairly well, but finding my mouse proved frustrating. I was fine as long as I was just typing, but if I had to go back and fix something or add something, it was a chore. That, paired with the distractions on the beach, had me quitting after I finished chapter 42.

It was nice having a change of venue, and I absolutely love being by the ocean, but there is one definite draw back to me being at the beach. I think it has something to do with the salty air. When I’m at the beach, I can literally eat all day. I finished an entire sub, a bag of chips, a bunch of cherries, a pack of cookies, and then on the way home, we stopped for ice cream. Even though I would love to go to the beach every day, if I did, I’d run the risk of getting harpooned, because I would look like a beached whale. I’m sure I burn off a lot of the calories trudging through the sand and playing in the surf, but…

The first few hours of today, I spent chatting on line with author and radio personality Ron Shaw. I’m really enjoying getting to know him, he’s a neat guy. This whole being an author thing has opened the doors to so many wonderful new experiences and amazing people, experiences I would never have had if I hadn’t got up the nerve to submit my first book. I doubt I will ever become wealthy from my writing, but I can definitely say I have become richer for it.

Since my conversation this morning doesn’t count toward my word count goal (too bad because it would have probably boosted me another 1K words), I should boogie if I want to get anything done before I have to get ready for work. I hope you have a terrific day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

Use the following: Sitting on the floor, A Knife, Newspaper

Wrapping, not a fan. But here I am, just like every week before Christmas, sitting on the floor, wrapping paper and presents spread all around, tape stuck on my arm, and my sharpest knife in hand. I don’t use scissors, I can’t get a straight line with them if I tried.

I’m trying to stay in the holiday spirit, really I am, but I keep finding myself grumbling. The deal was, if I shopped – which my husband hated, he would wrap – which I hate; but somehow that promise has fallen by the wayside. Now I do all the shopping AND all the wrapping, while he sits on the couch and watches the idiot box.

I’ve tackled all the standard box sized items, and all that’s left are the unusual shaped gifts. The small ones are not an issue, but I keep eyeing the giant stop sign we got our son as a decoration for his man cave. It would take an entire roll of wrapping paper just to cover it, and, being the scrooge I am, I don’t want to waste an entire roll on one gift. Newspaper it is. I’ll just decorate it with some of the more colorful Christmas ads.

Your Next Challenge is:

Since I haven’t done one in quite a while, today’s challenge is a photo challenge.

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.

July 21st

Hi it’s Christina –

Good Morning! First, Happy Birthday to one of my best friends, Fran! I hope you have a day as wonderful as you are, LUV YA! Yup, two of my closest friends’ birthdays are a day apart, it happens again in November with Barb and Nadia, and then in January, Sharon and Kelly share a day. That’s almost as bad as all the birthdays on holidays in my family.

Again I survived yesterday’s book signing without melting or passing out. It was actually a much better day…weather wise. History did not repeat itself, book sales were dismal, but I got a chance to be outside, in the fresh air, and to talk with living, breathing people, not just the characters in my head.

I’ll be going back to Canterbury Tales for Peach Festival, August 9^th & 10^th. There are going to be other authors there as well, and I think that will help. When there is only one author sitting outside, I don’t think folks realize what’s going on, and they pass right by without even a glance. I smile and say hello to everyone who passes by, but unless they pause, I don’t do a pitch. I do lure some in with candy, or if they have their fur-baby with them, a dog biscuit. Then when they stop, I tell them about my books.

I have noticed it works like a snowball effect; one person stops, and then another person overhears what I’m saying and stops, and then others stop to see what the crowd around my table is all about. The trick is to get that first person to stop. One thing that really cracked me up was how many people asked, after they heard me say it was a book signing, if they were my books. Really? I was so tempted to reply, “No, I’m signing for John Grisham. Here’s your sign.”

I am a little annoyed, well actually a whole lot more than a little. I worked all weekend long. My husband busted his butt doing yard work all weekend long. My daughters sat on their butts most of the weekend. Do you think they would have found the time to empty the dishwashers or change their cats’ litter box like they were supposed to?

Sandy Hook

I am not a happy camper this morning. Even though Dani did nothing all weekend, she’s still getting rewarded. We had planned a beach day, for today, several days ago. I felt bad. The kid has had the most boring summer on record, and I wanted to give her a treat. But let me tell you, if her friend Bri hadn’t been invited, I would have cancelled this trip. Bri didn’t do anything wrong, so I couldn’t punish her.

I’m in the last ten days of NaNoWriMo. Officially I have 6,753 words to go, but unofficially I have 21,753, so I’m stressing just a bit. I’m going back and forth over bringing my computer with me today. Last time I tried (again because NaNo was going on), the results weren’t so good. It was almost impossible to see the screen at the beach. This time however, I have a real umbrella, not one that’s been jimmy-rigged, so I may have better results. Why not give it a try? It’s not like my daughter is going to be hanging with me, right?

We’re supposed to be leaving in forty-five minutes, and I have nothing ready yet, so I should go. We’ll do the writing challenge tomorrow. I hope you have a marvelous day, and happy writing!

September 5th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

I had an interesting experience at the beach yesterday. We went to Sandy Hook, our destination of choice as usual, so nothing exciting with that, but while I was in the water, I got bumped by something. From the feel, I knew it wasn’t a fish or a shark so I wasn’t overly concerned, but I did get out of the water and turned around to look to see if I saw any dolphin. I was quite surprised when I didn’t.

As I exited I told a woman who was entering the water what I had just experienced and she elected not to go into the water and we stood on the shoreline and chatted a while, both watching to see if we could locate what had bumped into me. A few minutes later a couple walked past us with their black lab; I noticed, but didn’t really pay them much attention. The woman, Cheryl, and I chatted a little while longer and then she went back to her blanket. I turned my attention back to the ocean. That’s when I saw what I thought was the black lab swimming with his head just above the water. A wave came and went over the black head. When it didn’t pop right back up, I panicked thinking the dog couldn’t handle the waves, so I rushed into the water to save him. That’s when I got my surprise. When the head popped up again, it didn’t belong to a black lab, but a black seal!

Never, in all my years of going to Sandy Hook, have I seen a seal. I rushed back up to our blanket and told the kids what I had seen so they could see it too. The people around us heard what I had said and they got up and went down to the water. Within minutes the news spread and a huge crowd of people were walking along the shoreline watching the seal’s progress as he headed north. I located Cheryl to tell her they mystery of what had bumped into me in the water was solved and I pointed out the culprit.

Still concerned with what I thought was an unprecedented sight, I located some of the lifeguards who were cleaning up for the season to ask if they could contact a park ranger. When they asked what the problem was I explained what had happened and that I was concerned the animal may be in distress or lost at least. That is when they told me they have actually seen quite a few seals and it wasn’t all that unusual anymore. Surprise number two or is that number three? Anyway, it was an interesting and probably once in a lifetime experience. I am thankful that black head popped up BEFORE I got my arms around it!! Boy would I have really been surprised then!

 

 

Your Last Challenge was:

The Magical Realm is in an uproar…

 

“What’s happening?” “How can this be?” “Why didn’t the veil hold?” “What does this mean?”

 

Mother Nature held up her hands and raised her voice. “Order, ORDER!” Instantly the fearful questions and murmurings stopped, all eyes looked forward. “I realize this morning’s incident has many of you alarmed, but I can assure you there is no need to panic.”

 

A voice rose over the crowd, “How can you say that? That, that child saw us. I know she did. I personally saw the surprise in her eyes.”

 

“I’m sure she did,” Mother Nature cajoled, “as she was meant to.” Before the rumbling through the crowd could get any louder, she continued. “What is it that sustains the protective veil?”

 

“Believing,” the crowd answered in unison.

 

“Yes my children, believing, and in recent years the number of humans who actually believe has decreased dramatically.

 

 

Darn, darn, darn! I really wanted to keep going with this one today. Oh well, tomorrow’s another day. Hope you have a great day and happy writing!

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Write a story containing the following three words: Licorice, Crystal & Cake.

 

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.