Disclaimers and Victoria Secret Models

I’ve been giving some thought since I started writing the blog as to what I should write about next  (I realize for those who know me well it’s a stretch to comprehend me thinking about something aside from my book for more than 24 hours) and it occurred to me…I should probably be thinking about what I’m going to write about from here on out. 

After all…I realize everyone could eventually get bored with my constant rambling regarding the unfair state of vegetable classification (I still say chocolate is a vegetable...it IS derived from beans)  and how if we were all TRULY created equal either I’d consistently be a size 5 or all Victoria Secret models would look like me.  That’s right...think about it.

So  what have I come up with?  This should be a blog about more.  Not just my struggles and victories, but yours too.  Not just topics that will help me, but topics that will also help all those who venture to read…at your own risk of course.  My skilled team of lawyers say I should probably print some kind of disclaimer spouting off about how I can’t be held liable for any actions, comments or likely heated discussions this blog may, at some point, initiate between the reader and any significant others.

In other words…

Ladies - it’s not my fault if your man begins a downward spiral in relevant conversation when you bring up the blatant  inequality between real women and Victoria Secret models.

Men (I highly recommend you heed the following advice closely) – if you have even an ounce of sense and decency the words “Victoria Secret models” will never fall from your lips in the presence of female company.  Never.  (when it does...don’t say you weren’t forewarned)

With all that said…I’m off to think about the next topic of discussion.  If anyone has anything they have questions about, would like more information on or just want to comment…please feel free to…well…comment. J

Until next time, phrases to ponder....
   Gag a maggot
   Try to relax and enjoy the crisis.
   Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
   Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?

Back to the Grindstone

Don't you just LOVE old sayings?
No?
Ok...I can respect that. 

Half the time I don't know what they mean or where they came from anyway.  And, like my food, I like to know where things came from.  I mean, you wouldn't eat a slice of pizza if you were a little bit leery of its origins....would you?  I'm banking on anyone reading this NOT being that creepy kid who would eat anything at the lunch table (or anywhere else for that matter) for a dollar.  Actually a disturbing mental movie just began playing in my mind from junior high....but I won't go into detail.  One - because I'd really like for you to keep reading and two - if I started naming names and some of those "characters" from the mental movie were to read this...there would be some explaining to do. (Not by me...by them...to their current spouses most likely.  I don't want that hangin' over my head.  Especially since I think I'm friends with most of their spouses...hmmm)  Anyway...I digress.  Old sayings.  That's where I was.  The grindstone.

I chose that saying because I took some time off.  Yes, I realize it was over a month, almost two.  But hey, you dealt with the holidays too.  You know how it is.  So it's time to get back to "work."  And obviously...I didn't make that whole ridiculously short deadline.  Guess God just didn't mean for me to enter that one this year.  Anyway...

I had a few adventures since we last met.  Ok...really only one...in Florida.  Key West to be precise.  It involved a scooter...but that deserves a blog post ALLLLLLLL it's own.  Trust me.

I've been rewriting the book too.  I'm a few chapters into the "rewrite."  I'm thinking I will post the first few chapters at some point.(for all 5 of you that have been reading.)  ..just not right now.  I want to make sure I won't be changing them....again.
Meantime...I do hope and pray that everyone's 2011 has gotten off to a blessed beginning.

**************
Before I go...a bit of fairly useless knowledge.

Merriam-Webster offers the following info on Grindstones.

Definition: a flat circular stone of natural sandstone that revolves on an axle and is used for grinding, shaping, or smoothing  (don't know about you, but I seriously can't say I've ever used one of these...much less gotten "back to it".  I think I need a new phrase.)

First Known Use of GRINDSTONE :  13th century

Rhymes with GRINDSTONE  (I had no idea there were so many types of stones.  Frankly I'm a bit shocked they didn't name every bone in the body.  You're humming it now aren't you?  "The hip bone's connected to the thigh bone"...yep.  You're humming it)

agon, aitchbone, alone, atone, backbone, Bastogne, bemoan, Blackstone, bloodstone, bluestone, bondstone, Boulogne, breastbone, bridge loan, brimstone, brownstone, calzone, Capone, capstone, cell phone, cheekbone, chinbone, cogon, cologne, colón, condone, copestone, corn pone, curbstone, cyclone, daimon, dapsone, debone, depone, dethrone, dial tone, disown, Dordogne, downzone, dripstone, drop zone, drystone, earphone, earth tone, end zone, enthrone, estrone, fieldstone, firestone, flagstone, flowstone, flyblown, footstone, freestone, free zone, full-blown, gallstone, gemstone, Gijón, goldstone, gravestone, greenstone, hailstone, halftone, handblown, hard stone, headphone, headstone, hearthstone, high-flown, hip bone, homegrown, hormone, hornstone, impone, ingrown, inkstone, in stone, intone, jawbone, jewel tone, keystone, León, life zone, limestone, lodestone, long bone, Maidstone, milestone, millstone, moonstone, mudstone, nose cone, oilstone, orgone, ozone, pay phone, peptone, pinbone, pinecone, piñon, pipestone, postpone, potstone, propone, redbone, red zone, rhinestone, sandstone, shade-grown, shinbone, siltstone, snow cone, soapstone, splint bone, strike zone, T-bone, tailbone, thighbone, time zone, toadstone, tombstone, touchstone, touch-tone, tritone, trombone, turnstone, twelve-tone, two-tone, Tyrone, unknown, unthrone, war zone, well-known, whalebone, wheel-thrown, whetstone, windblown, wishbone, Yangon

The Toothbrush Backstory

Ok...so I know many of you have been on the edge of your seats, anxiously awaiting the story behind last Friday's "Question of the Day"....haven't you?  It's ok to admit it.  So here it is.

Last Thursday night my toothbrush was wet....and I hadn't brushed MY teeth with it yet.  It kind of freaked me out a bit.  But I handled it well...really...I did.  I opened the bottom drawer of the bathroom cabinet and pulled out one of the stash that always comes home with us from every visit to the dentist (at least we get something from the seriously inflated bill).  Anyway...I used THAT toothbrush.  My new, personal, hot pink toothbrush.  A girly toothbrush.  One that will (hopefully) deter any future male inclinations to even touch it, much less go through the process of using it for any reason.  I even left the other TWO toothbrushes in the holder so he still has options.

Needless to say, the Dear Hubby (aka DH) doesn't seem to see anything wrong with sharing a toothbrush.  Makes me wonder how many times in the past he has used it that I'm oblivious to.  (Truthfully....I don't think I WANT to know...really)

I would go into detail about my rant and subsequent "hissy fit" that occurred the following morning.  But I want you all to continue reading....plus...it's good for you to exercise your imaginations.  I'll leave it at that.

So now you know my answer.  Unless there is an emergency situation - like say a hurricane or tsunami wiped out the significant other's toothbrush - then that's a no go on sharing.  As I told my DH:
DO NOT TOUCH MY TOOTHBRUSH.  EWWW.

The Toothbrush That Broke the Camel's Back

This morning something came up...it's not even remotely closely related to my writing this book.
Nope. Not at all.

It was one of those things that comes out of the blue and has led me to think I need a "Question of the Day"

So here it is...I'd love to hear what you think about it.  By all means...chime in with a comment.  I'm fairly curious if everyone else feels the same as I do...or what the overall consensus is.  (I've already learned a few heated opinions - for Tink, apparently...this is a major deal breaker).

I won't tell my "story" about the question until I've heard a few inputs. :)

Question of the Day:

Is it okay to share a toothbrush with your significant other?  Why or why not?

So let's hear it!

It's official...I need therapy

I realize that it's a good thing to push yourself, to expect more from yourself...to strive for greater things.  But, at what point do you declare yourself nuts and seek professional help?

Ok, ok...so the professional help I need may not REALLY be in a therapeutic sense. (Though I am a firm believer in chocolate therapy...big fan)  What I really need is help with my tendency to think a little too big at times.

I decided Tuesday that I'm going to try very hard to finish this manuscript (aka...book) by Nov. 28th.  That will give me a couple of days for reading over it and seeing if I need any major revisions that would have to happen at warp speed in order to get said manuscript in the mail to reach the deadline of Dec. 2...which is the date it needs to arrive at the RWA office to be considered for the Golden Heart Award. 

The Golden Heart is awarded each year to one unpublished author (for which I qualify).   I'm not sure what flash of brilliance convinced me it could be done (by Nov 28)...but Jenny (my friend) assures me it's "doable."  I do love her confidence in me..or is it in my muse?

Regardless....I am up for the challenge.  I'll keep you up to date on the progress.
Wish me luck.

Synopsis (That's an author's word for "Summary")

Book of Dreams: (this part of title to be determined)

Halle Michaels is a not so typical seventeen year old with two unusual gifts… her dreams become reality and she hears voices. 

Aeden is an unwavering Guardian… one of a host of immortals assigned as protectors of humanity. One who doesn’t allow emotion to cloud his judgment. 

When Aeden is assigned to guard Halle, life for both of them changes forever and for an immortal...forever is a long time.

The Hellions, enemies of the Guardians and all of humanity, believe that Halle is the key to finding The Book of Dreams, a book of ancient truths.  The Book holds knowledge that could lead the Hellions to the Tree of Life, lost at the beginning of time when humanity fell from grace.  Finding the Tree of Life would give the Hellions power to control the mortal world and wage war once more against the heavenly Kingdom of Marom.

The High Guardian, Gabriel, learns of the dangers Halle faces and assigns Aiden to protect her.  An assignment Aiden thought would be simple enough. He didn’t count on her unusual abilities factoring in to the equation, nor was he prepared for the effect this mortal would have on him.  Learning that she was the daughter of the one Guardian who gave up immortality to become human complicated his assignment even more.

Halle must find a way to make sense of the voices and her dreams in order to learn to use her abilities to save herself, those she loves and possibly mankind.  

Aeden must decide between duty and his heart, when Halle begins trying to prevent the terrible things that happen in her dreams from becoming reality.  Does he break the cardinal rule not to interfere in the decision of a mortal to save Halle’s life ultimately losing his chances of finding the Book? Or does he follow the rules he has protected for longer than humanity has existed, obtain The Book, and leave Halle to face her consequences, knowing she could be lost forever?

Hello World Wide Web!!!

I finally decided to join the rest of the world and start a blog. I admit, it was a tough decision considering the fact that I sometimes feel like I have to steal what time I get to write on my manuscript and now I'm adding a blog to the mix.  BUT...as an author aspiring to join the ranks of the published, I've been encouraged (strongly, might I add) to create a presence in the vast world of technology...aka: the web.  So...here I am, putting my thoughts and ramblings out there.  After all, as a writer, isn't that what its all REALLY about anyway?  Just writing.  So, I write for me and for all those who are brave enough to venture into the words that flow from my (twisted, genius, rambling, hyperactive, half-baked, curious, inventive, stubborn, amiable, perceptive, highly original but sometimes hard to fathom) mind.

What will I be posting about you ask? Excellent question.

I'll begin by documenting my journey through my first manuscript.  Hopefully my (mis)adventures will be helpful to others who may be on their own journey. 

I'll also post about sites and information I come across that could be helpful to other writers...or whoever.  I don't discriminate.

Once I've completed my manuscript (please...no one begin holding your breath...could be a while)  I'll continue on with the challenges, progress and adventures that present themselves along the road to published author.  Yes...I'm aware that I sound very confident.  I am.  I have to be...don't I?  If I dont' have confidence in my success who will?  Ok, besides my Mom.  But she HAS to believe in me...I'm pretty sure she signed some kind of contract stating so before she was allowed to bring me home from the hospital.

I am currently working on a YA paranormal romance, which is not yet officially titled.  I have a working title, but I've mentally changed it at least 7 times, so I'm sticking with the "no title" story for now. I will post a brief synopsis and sample chapters soon.

I'm looking forward to cementing my adventures in writing as I make my way through my first novel.  Hope you'll join me since I'm a social butterfly type and I hate being alone (which might be why I've started writing this novel...characters are always with you - yes, I know...I have a therapist on speed dial).

God bless!
Bridgette