Orange Day with pretty evening shots

I just love days like this. Where it's crisp and cool in the mornings and evenings. Days when I need to break into my sock drawer and when I actually don't complain about wearing shoes. Yes, I admit it, I'm a shoe-hater. I take them off as soon as I come through the door and they are the very last thing I put on before walking out the door. Though, I have found a pair of backless tennies that just make everyone cringe. They are BRIGHT ORANGE.

Yup... orange. I like the color. Shocking to those who knew me back in my interpreter days where I would wear black because it made me smile. I still smile over black - what? It's classic, comfy and dressy at the same time. But recently, I've fallen in love with orange. The brighter the better.

Just so you know I'm not pulling your legs... here is a snap shot of the shoes. lol

So, yeah.. those are my shoes. I love 'em. Easy on and Oh-so-easy off! Told you they were bright orange. They don't go with much. But I swear they match the orange thread that my jeans are sewn with PERFECTLY... so I'm always matching with my jeans.

Take that "What not to wear" - I match. Muwahaha!

No.. I'm not off my rocker - just sleep deprived and not feeling well.

Did I say yet that I love it when you can see the moon during the closing of the day?

*****

A special thank you to all who stop by and take the time to read and comment.

Write - its okay - just do it

Writing a Book - In One Hit!

I want to encourage any writers out there to have a go at writing a book. Much is said about the time, commitment and inspiration required to do this. Articles about authors who have spent years sweating over their manuscripts (with good and bad results) can be slightly off putting.

Who wants to hear that after 5-years of writing you might end up with zip all and a dusty pile of papers sitting under your bed. I’m not saying that it’s easy to get a book published, that goes without saying, but I would like to stress that writing a book can be easier than people want us to believe.

You may not be a fan of Stephen King, but he can write a book in less than two weeks. But it’s Stephen King. Point taken, but there is no reason why you can’t get a good book done in a short space of time, especially, if you have already started writing for a living.I think it’s one of life’s best-kept secrets. Make it sound hard and people will be put off doing it. Bag of crap I say.

Think about it.How many times have you thought about writing a novel and then been put off because; a) You don’t think you can write well enoughb) You don’t have the timec) You have to be a great writer to botherd) You have no inspiratione) You have no idea what to write about f) It would be too personal and people would know too much about youg) You don’t want to end up like those people you avoid at a party, who can’t stop going on about the book they’ve writtenh) You only want to write it if you can be sure of getting an agent and getting it published.

But think of it like this, the faster you write your first book, the less time you will have wasted if it doesn’t work out. Rejection hurts more if you have spent years working on something, feels a hell-of-a-lot better if, let’s say, it only took you five weeks.

The average novel is about 300-pages, loosely translated that’s about 300-words a page (if you lay out the manuscript according to whatever rules for manuscript layout are out there) so that’s about 90,000-words. How many of us have had to write a thousand word piece to deadline? How about that two thousand-word piece they wanted by Monday? Get my point? But this time when you are writing, it’s not to deadline, there are no constraints to style and content and no one is going to see it.

Try and write two thousand words about anything you like and you will see how quickly you can do it. Now try a few more on top of that. I bet all of you could come out with five or six thousand words over one day of the weekend.

Here comes the point, at last.

5,000 in one-day equals 90,000 in eighteen days.

Many of you will say, but I can’t possibly write 5,000 words in one day.

Okay, try 2,000 words - we agreed that most of us have written that many words on deadline.

So, 2,000 a day for forty-five days is – BINGO – 90,000 words.

Sounds obvious because it is. Now imagine you put the whole weekend aside, let’s say 5,000 words in a weekend – that’s eighteen weekends.

How about setting time aside and doing it one hit?

That’s right! One big hit.

2,500 words a day - 90,000 words in?

45 days. We agreed that we do that all the time for deadlines. T

his is free style, no need to edit or think too much, just write. Believe me on some days you will knock out 5,000 words in a day. That's 90,000 words in eighteen days. You do the math.

So you see it can be done. I think a first book should be done quickly, it’s like pulling off a plaster. Once you have written the first, you will be so delighted, that writing a second one will seem like child’s play.

Ever hear of writers who don’t get published until their third or fourth attempt. Well, your first attempt will be done and that’s great news! Once those 90,000 words are on paper, editing it will feel like fun, sending to agents will be great and the good news the rejections will seem far less painful than if you had spent years honing this unknown beast.

( found at Zone A's blogspot)

'Nessa

Variegated Ivy

" 'Nessa "

Good morning. Well, let me take that "good" part back. It is simply a morning. As usual with Robert's new schuedule, I've been staying up tooooooo late.

It was after 1:30 in the am before we finally even thought about going to bed. Since I have be at work at 7:30 in the morning, waking at 6:45 on a "sleep in" day... I have a wonderful 'I'm tired' headache. Rather than snuggle up with my husband, who is happily sleeping, with covers tucked all around, I'm at the keys. Why you may ask... one word is my answer: insomnia.

Who knew you could have it in the day time too. I did try to lay back down. It was too hot. I couldn't get comfortable. Cats came to visit. Pick your reason... all of them were mine this morning. So... I did what most people of the generation do when you can't sleep - I got online.

The great thing about doing that is I got to talk to my Heather (link to her blog is on the side). She is always posting up various pictures of all sorts of things and well, I'm joining the band wagon. Since moving I don't have all that many plants anymore. What I had when I was in Texas I gave away, to what I hoped was loving homes, in attempt to not be a plant-murderer. I took with me only Daryl (My mini violet - I'll do a pic of her later). Joining the 'family' is 'Nessa. Named after my mother in law (mom) -who gave it to me.

So, mom - this one's for you. May you all have a blessed day.

Weekend Cat Blogging

KILL THE FEATHER

The grey racoon-ish one is Haley - that's Robert's cat.
The white and calico one is Maggie - she's my cat.


Attention Cat Lovers!

This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #68!

Chef Sarah Jane has all the links to this week's kitties.

Thanks Sarah for Hosting!



Their stories were once sad but now happy.

Haley I rescued from the local Loves on our one month anniversary. I'd seen her there that morning and she was still there when my roomie and I went back later that night for sodas. She was apparently quite talkative and had a purple and white flea collar on - so I just knew that someone dumped her. I couldn't resist... Robert and I had talked about getting a kitten and here was one that just needed a home. As you can see - I took her home. She was thin, very sluggish but interested in seeing what was what. A quick trip to wal-mart and a digging out of the littermaid and we were set to be "cat parents". We even bought Haley a pretty red collar (we still don't know where she killed that collar at - we haven't been able to find it in weeks). A trip to the vet and she was given a good bill of health (other than ear mites) and given her first shots. Boy ... she was kinda itchy about those. Yet, we'd promised her on the ride over if she was good - she could roam the Camaro on the way home. She was ... so she did. She discovered she likes the back flap above the trunk in the sun and window. She still likes windows. She does not, however, like baths. We had a fun time naming her though. Going through this that and the other until we settled on just the right one.

Maggie is a different story all together. Our roomie's sister's cat had a litter and we were going to get one of them. The two that we liked didn't make it so we decided to go a different route. On a whim, I went by a shelter and found this tiny white and calico kitten. She has calico wings on either side of her spine right at her shoulder blades, I was in love with a kitty, so I adopted her and brought her home. The shelter said she was two months old. If she was 4 weeks I'd be surprised. She and Haley had a come to Jesus meeting not shortly after coming in the door and Haley made it known that SHE was here first... and Maggie could stay too... so long as she understood the pecking order. Here we were thinking that Haley was being all tough - that is until a couple of days later when Robert walked in on Haley nursing Maggie in the middle of our bed. I don't know who was more shocked, him for walking in on it - or Haley caught being extra nice to Maggie.

They are now fast friends (Maggie still nurses when Haley lets her) and Maggie is slowly but surely learning that claws and "dad" don't mix well and that trying to drink dishwater gets you soaked. Sokay, Haley learned that if you try to drink out of the toliet, the lid gets put down on your paws... or you get bumped into the water (relax - it had just been flushed and we now keep the lid down allllll the time).

I bought them this feather toy and my gosh... even Haley (who normally does not play much) will go to town on it. They stalked and pitched it from the kitchen up into the chair and I just had to get a picture of their newest game of "Kill the Feather".

Blessed Be.

What I learned from a Custom Breyer

I'm a collector of Breyer horses. I currently own... ten and have I think four more on the way. I got the Breyer bug from Heather. (Thanks!) She, today, showed me a custom site and I wanted to share the one that I liked most. I think I like this carefree, colorfull and yet purposed one the most because it reminds me of so many things.

It reminds me that life changes, deal with it and pick up another color

people change, accept that, do some change of your own and keep learning

the way you think will change and trust me that's a good thing - we all used to think that a jar of baby food was damn good stuff

we, as a peole have to be moving or we break down
this little horse...and my messed up texan family reminded me of this



DRASTIC CHANGE OF SUBJECT


My little brother is an alcholic. Self-admited, wants to do AA but isn't allowed to (according to him) because he and his CO are drinkin buddies. Not sure how much I believe the drunken ramblings of my "I can lie right to your face" little brother. But he is my little brother. I have always tried so hard to protect him. Have been hurt in his place - because it was nothing I hadn't experienced before so what was one... or three more people to add to my list of molesters and rapist at the not-so-tender age of 11? My little brothers wife has decided that she likes our cousin better and since he's here and my little brother (kid) is over in Korea doing a service to this country... well... she was lonely. And now their twin sons, my nephews, are calling my cousin "daddy". As if my little brother needed a reason to drink... well hell... I just listed some of the top five right there. If I were a drinking person, I'd be neck deep in a bottle too. I'm not saying it's right.

I fell into the bottle myself, when I was married. It made me numb and I didn't have to think as much. I certainly didn't have to feel. But that kind of shit was not allowed at Heather's and I wasn't about to allow her boys to think it was the right way to deal with things. So ... I went from drinking about a gallon a day to nothing but sodas. I don't think she even knew all of what I was going through when I came to live with her and the boys I love so dearly. She knew I'd been terribly abused by my first husband... had two miscarriages with him (one because of natural causes and one because of ex-husband causes) and smoked when I twitched too bad to not. How I craved for that drink. The welcoming fuzz and the warmth.

With the depressive slump I've been in the last week... two weeks... I find myself wishing for a drink. For that familar fuzz and warmth. Then I think of how Kid is... and how disappointed my husband would be with me. How warm and fuzzy he makes me feel... and I don't even bring the stuff into my house. Not to mention it screws up my already screwed up blood pressure.

All the mess with my little brother, who I raised from the time we adopted him until he moved with mom and dad to VA... I'm to "stay out of it". How am I to stay out of it when he im's me... wanting someone to talk to, needing someone? There again, is it really my problem to take on? Honestly, what can I do? I've told him what he already knows. Repeated what he's told me back to him in my best psych impression... and I pray for him. He knows the steps to take, he knows he needs to be a man, not hide in a bottle. I've told him I know he can do it. The same things (different gender) that he told me ... three years ago when he found out that my first husband was abusing me. He said his peice... often... but didn't really try to help. There was nothing really for him to do but be there for me, remind me that he was proud of me... that I could be and do better. Between him and my husband, my sister and a few others, I finally took that to heart. But that was on my own terms, in my own time. I'll be there for him... listen and tell him what he already knows and pray... but I can do nothing else. The rest is up to him... in his terms... on his time.

CareBear Quiz

Do y'all remember the original era of carebears? I do... I used to have them. Since I saw Heather's quiz, it got me looking for more. Saw this one and well, it was overly simple but surprisingly, it fits. Enjoy!

Yes - I'm feeling better... but I will be feeling amazing when I get my prescription filled and my employer gets my paycheck right -which will be next week. On a positive note - WOOT! my first car payment was made today. Hey - I look at it as a milestone. You got yours, I got mine.

Take the quiz:
Which CareBear Are You???

Harmony Bear
Harmony Bear helps others get along. This peace-loving bear knows our differences are something to be celebrated, not something to keep us apart. When differences are brought together in harmony they create something beautiful. That's the meaning of her symbola smiling flower with different colored petals.

QUIZ

Fun Quiz #1
1. Name: Angeline - but I go by Ang or Angie
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? yes, a very strong willed woman my mom went to school with
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? while typing and publishing my previous post
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Most of the time, yes
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? roasted chicken breast
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? ..................... no
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Without a doubt
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? yes, you are reading it
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? me? no. never.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope, lost 'em a long time ago, if you find 'em... no, I don't want 'em back
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? um let me think about that for a second..... NO
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? not if I can help it
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I try to be... but I don't always feel like I am
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? vanilla... add the right things and it can be anything
16. SHOE SIZE? 11
17. RED OR PINK? (this answer is all my wedding dress' fault) Pink
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? feeling blah - like I do now
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? .... my pawpaw
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? uhm... since it's on a blog... can it be sent back? I mean - I copied and pasted mine... and yes, I'll comment and let her know I did it
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans that need replaced badly and no shoes (the come off first thing!)
22. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? a cheese slice at work - I'm not feeling very hungry right now
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? being as I'm hard of hearing - I'm not listening to anything. I can just barely make out the clack of the keys and I sometimes have to wonder if I really hear them or if I just know they are there and it's like working offline
24 IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? daisy yellow- I want to be bright and happy
25. FAVORITE SMELL? my husband - after a shower (he uses Axe - okay.. blushing now)
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? my mom-in-law
27.THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? how they feel when I shake their hand
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? uhm... I adore the lady who's blog I got this off of... does that count?
29. FAVORITE DRINK? water - it's good anytime, anyday
30. FAVORITE SPORT? football
31. HAIR COLOR? brown with redish highlights
32. EYE COLOR? right now... lots of gold and very little green
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes - I'll never go back to glasses if I can help it
34. FAVORITE FOOD? chocolate
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? both
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED. Covenant - gooooood movie
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? grey
39. HUGS OR KISSES? both
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? chocolate
41. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND THE QUICKEST? depends on who sees it
42. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? again - depends on who sees it
43. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion (my husband is reading it to me)
44. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? an old globe print
46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? anything - except screaming or violence
47. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
48. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Washington DC
49. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I care -too much at times AND I'm an interpreter for the deaf ( I communicate with out saying a word)
50. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? December 31, 1977 in Cleveland, Texas

Dozen

Just a dozen more days until the appointment. I've finally admited to myself that I'm in a bit of a depressive slump. I don't want to get up in the mornings or go to sleep or do anything that I know needs or should be done around my house. I'm hardly saying anything to anyone unless it's nonsense chattering. Nothing of consequence. Nothing that outwardly says how unsettled I am at the moment. Maybe my husband was right; some things are just easier typed than said. Yet, fundamentally, I know that to be incorrect. Yes, easier, but not better, not right and it's flat out cowardice. Then again, what good is it to say out loud the fears in my head? Sadly, I don't know if I want the doctor to tell me that "No, it's not a good idea with your stroke history to try to have children, use hormone treatments and the like" or ... "It's all clear, no significant residual trauma noted and you can try to have children or take hormone treatments". To go from being told with no doubt that I could never have children after my procedure in 2005 to being pregnant and loosing the chance of having a little person that was part of me and part of my best friend and now husband. Right now I just don't know anything other than I want to not hurt for a while. Not hurt physically from the unending cramps and tension headaches and not hurt mentally from trying so hard to pretend that I'm not bothered by whats going on right now.

Okay... my tribute to my husband and mother in law....

Three positives and a negative in a positive light:

1. My husband got the promotion with the company that he wanted
2. I'm mending the bridge between myself and my "sister"
3. I'm honestly happy in my marriage

1- I'm scared, but at least I'm still alive to be scared

World of Warcraft

Good morning all. While I've posted about 13 more days, I wanted to elaborate a little on my most recent gaming hobby. WoW. I have been brought over thanks to my husband, Cookie Monster and JT. Yep, they are all to blame for my waking up at 5:30 in the morning going "I bet there won't be any lag on WoW at this hour... and I can finish my quest and level up before work" - it's a sad state- but I will admit I love it.

For the Alliance!

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/bc-mage/talents.html?203051001000000000000055520001202303105013512030000000000000000000

I play a mage... I'm currently a level 29 HOWEVER - the above link is how I intend to fire spec my chara.

Fun and Blessed Gaming one and all!

13 More Days

This week so far has been great. I was off Sunday and Monday. I was very lazy and played World of Warcraft and baked goodies for family and friends. Also a pepsi pork roast was made for much munchings. Tuesday I had a training class that was frankly a joke as I've done that class at least twice and could teach it without breaking a sweat. Eh.

Either way... its only 13 more days until my appointment. I've entered the "eh" stage where I'm rather non-caring about it as I've finally figured out that I can't do a thing about it anyway.

Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday.

Holy Cow II - 16 more days

16 more days. Yesterday it was 17. Yeah - I'm keeping track - counting down and just trying to not stress over this too much. I have a nuerologist appointment Oct 3. A necessary step in the process. I have a list of questions for the doctor. Main two are this:
1: With my stroke history is hormone replacement safe?
(ie: birth control/ HRT's)
2: With my stroke history is it safe to attempt pregnancy?

With those two questions asked... it leads to a list of things to discuss and decide with my Darlin'. He's not real happy with my being in pain all the time - I know I'm not happy taking pain meds for it daily.

It has both of us scared - to say the least. It's that whole - pray for the best and plan for the worst. Right now - honestly other than feeling scared - I'm numb.

I really don't have anything else to say - maybe it will get better on count-down-day 15?

COOKIES

It's a bit surprising what a small lump of sugar, flour, spice and other good stuffs can make so many people .... well - smile.

I've had this old Ice Box cookie recipe since my senior year - 10 years ago. Since then, I've added to it, played around and made several variations. My most recent - is what I call "ChocoCrasinSpice" Yeah... say that ten times fast ten times. :D

Now... the basic dough part... is all the same - what you add to it - is what changes it. Keep in mind though - this is an ice box cookie so the dough will need to be chilled before you can bake it.

Basic Ice Box Cookie

3/4 Cup butter (not oil)
1 Cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla
1 egg
2 Cups flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
----------------------------------

ChocoCrasinSpice Cookie

3/4 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
3 teaspoons Vanilla
2 eggs
3 Cups Flour
2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
3 teaspoons ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Cloves
1 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
1 bag Crasins
1 bag white chocolate chips


Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs to cream and blend well. Combine spice in a small dish- mixing well. Add mixed spices to creamed mixture. Combine Baking Powder and Flour - mixing well. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture to make the dough. Add crasins - mixing well into dough. Add chocolate chips - mixing well into dough. Cover bowl and chill for a minimum of 2 hours - best if chilled overnight (6-8 hours).
If you want, you can store cookie dough rolled in a log shape in freezer in wax paper.

To cook 'em

preheat over to 350

If you are dipping out of the bowl - use a teaspoon & fashion into as close of a ball shape as possible then press down the middle.
( you don't want huge cookies - they will be raw in the middle and burned on the edges)

Cook for 8-10 minutes until puffy and slightly golden around the edges.

Cool on a wire rack for 3-5
(or burn your mouth eating one fresh from the oven)

Store in a plastic container
(if you leave them unstored- they get hard as hockey pucks)

ENJOY!