July 8th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

“It’s just another manic Monday… wish it was Sunday… ‘cause that’s my fun day…” giggle. Sorry for the dated, or should I say outdated, song lyrics. I’m still a little punchy from lack of sleep, even though I went to bed REALLY early last night.

Here are some examples, just from yesterday, of how punchy I get when I haven’t had enough sleep.

 

My friend took a picture of her cat curled up in her kitchen sink and said “I don’t remember washing that pot.”

My reply, “It was from the cat-sserole you made last night.”

 

One of my cabin mates at Camp NaNoWriMo writes on our cabin message board, “I’m stuck. How do you insult a dragon?”

My reply, “With a fire extinguisher? My pet iguana is more ferocious than you? I’ve seen better scales at a fish market? Your breath smells like burnt s’mores? You fly like a hummingbird? Or you could just start singing ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’?”

Obviously when experiencing extreme tiredness, silly switch gets flipped on. It was after the cat-sserole comment, I decided it was time for bed.

 

All in all, the trek from Connecticut to Long Island was a breeze thanks to some guy I chatted with at the hotel pool. He told me to take the Merrick Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway so I could avoid the dreaded 95, and it was smooth sailing until an accident five miles from my cousin’s house snarled things. It was only about a twenty minute tie up, so it wasn’t too terrible. The only other slowdown we had from Long Island home was getting over the Verrazano, the toll really screws things up! I wonder, are we the only country that charges their citizens to drive on certain roads?

 

Since I do not know the sleeping pattern of our houseguest, I do not know how much time I will have this morning to write, so I’m off to camp.

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

 

When I woke, it was still dark. I cannot explain what woke me. I was on vacation after all, so I had no reason to wake up early, but there I was, on the shore at least an hour before sunrise. The gently moving waters of the lagoon called to me, played their siren’s song. It was a seduction I could not resist even if I had wanted to; to swim completely alone with nothing to guide me but the moonlight, no tourists, no screaming children, even the animals all seemed to be sleeping. Heaven, even if it would be only for a fleeting moment.

I waded in, then dove. I frolicked like a dolphin, swam some good hard laps, then simply floated and let the music of the water surround me. As the sky began to lighten, I made my way toward the shore. Since I was awake, I used the opportunity to take my customary “sunrise over the water” vacation photos. I snapped and snapped until the sun was a complete ball hovering just above the water, then I gathered my things and went back to my room to sleep.

A few weeks later, I was flipping through my vacation photos and came across this photo, taken the morning of my moonlight swim. I guess the water actually does have its own music.

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Well, why’d it do that?

 

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 7th

Hi it’s Christina –

Sorry folks, no real blog today, or at least not yet. Brain is a bit too foggy. I’m writing to you from the Marriott in Wallingford, CT. Last night I took my girls and one of their friends to see the Hunter Hayes concert. They loved it. Me, on the other hand, confirmed concerts are no longer my “thing”.

I spent this morning formatting A Second Chance to be able to publish it on Smashwords. Yup, some new technology for me to mangle. I am a little proud of myself though; I set up a table of contents, created a reviews page and made all the hyperlinks work.

Corporate Blues now has a word count of 17,715, so it is moving along nicely. It is going to be a challenge to find time to write over the next several days because from here, we are going out to Long Island to pick up a cousin who will be spending the next five days with us. While she’s with us, we have planned trips to the beach and to Grandma’s pool. I’ll still steal some early morning time, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep up my 2,500+ daily word count pace. I guess after she leaves, I’ll need to have a marathon writing day or two.

Ok, it’s time to get this dog and pony show on the road. We need to pack up, get something to eat, check out and get on the road. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

Oops, I almost forgot. A very happy 13^th birthday to my beautiful niece Gracie! Love you bunches!!

July 6th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Crazy short today folks, because I have to get some writing done before we leave for Connecticut. I’m bringing the girls to see a Hunter Hayes (country singer) concert. We are leaving around 11, so I wanted to get a few hours of writing done before I had to leave. That’s why it’s before 5:00 am and I’m blogging.

Off to camp, even before the sun rises…

 

Your Last Challenge was:

They could be twins…

 

So there I am, walking down the street of a local town, I pull up short and so does the person directly in front of me. We stop and stare at each other, both of us stunned and temporarily speechless. Same height, same weight and body structure, same eye color, not the same hair color but that was caused by a bottle not nature; it was like looking into a mirror.

 

When we actually started to talk, things got even more strange; Christine vs. Christina, April 1^st vs October 1^st - which was a HUGE relief, next town north vs next town south. We spent about ten minutes talking and were both pretty freaked out. That was the first and last time we ever spoke.

 

They do say, everyone has a twin.

 

(True story – out last names were even similar, hers spelled the English way, mine spelled the German way, but pronounced the same.)

 

Today’s challenge is going to be a photo. Look closely. What do you really see?

 

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 5th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good morning world! Hope everyone had a happy and safe July 4^th.

 

Well, as predicted, my daughter’s cake was the hit of the party. Check it out…

 

The outside:

 

 

Four layers high, with a peanut butter frosting, garnished with crushed peanuts and mini chocolate chips.

 

The inside:

 

 

A round checkerboard with chocolate mousse filling! Yes, it tasted as good as it looked! My daughter just may have a career as a pastry chef, after her career with the FBI of course. LOL.

My son was quite surprised with his gift from us, which is great. We got him a grill (and tools to be able to assemble the grill). He thought he was going to be getting a hand-me-down grill since we got my husband a new one for Father’s Day, but we figured he would use a grill almost every day, so he should have a new one.

OK, let’s get to the challenge so I can go to camp. Oh, almost forgot, I hit 10,240 for my word count yesterday. 20% done!!! YEAH!!!!

Your Last Challenge was:

But it started out so small…

 

Another big party at my house, and I am rushing around like a chicken with its feathers on fire, but then again, what else is new? This time, I was in pretty good shape. The appetizers were ready, the cold food was prepared, and the hot food was either cooking on the stove or in the oven. My husband was out on an adult beverage run and my children had all vacated the premises for more appealing endeavors than an adult social, so at the moment, it was just the dog, the cats and me at home.

I was doing my last sweep of the house to make sure in the last hour no one hung underwear off a lamp or something else equally as ridiculous, when I notice a strange spot on the couch. Small really, only the size of a dime, so I’m surprised I even saw it. I go over to take a look, but I cannot identify what it is. I grab a paper towel to try and blot it up, but the paper towel immediately sticks to the spot and I can’t get it off. Great, now the spot is the size of a quarter with fuzzy paper sticking out of it. I grab a damp sponge and start to dab. The paper towel starts to loosen and finally come off, but now the spot is the size of a doughnut and bright red.

 

Ahhh! I rummage through the cabinets and find some upholstery cleaner, quickly read the directions – spray, let soak for a minute, blot with a clean dry cloth. I spray, so far so good. Fifteen seconds, tiny bubbles start to form – yeah, it’s working. Thirty seconds, bigger bubbles start to form – is that supposed to happen? Forty-five seconds – the area literally starts to foam. Forty-six seconds – I screech, grab the entire roll of paper towels and start blotting frantically. Sixty seconds – I’m sitting on the floor staring at my ruined couch in shock. The cushion has melted, where the foam hit the couch is melted, and where it dripped on the rug it ate a hole almost to the padding.

My husband walks in, sees the mess and asks the obvious “What happened?”

Still in shock, all I can say is, “But it started out so small…”

 

(Thankfully NOT a true story.)

 

Your Next Challenge is:

They could be twins…

 

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.