Erg.

donthangupthequill — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:58:20 +0000

My kids are taking a Capoeira class – it’s a Brazilian martial arts dance class thing. I thought I’d bring along my laptop and write.

Only this guy sat next to me and I froze.

Now, I’m sure he wasn’t interested in anything on my screen. But I just couldn’t bring myself to type while he was sitting next to me. I played Hearts instead.

I’ve mentioned before I have a hard time writing if anyone is nearby. So I guess it really wasn’t any big surprise. But I’m kinda bummed – an hour of writing time wasted because there weren’t enough seats for personal space. *sigh*

I’m doing Camp NaNo in a few days, and I’m already scared. The first week I’m going to my nephew’s graduation and I’m hosting a game night with the ladies of the neighborhood. Second week is my RWA meeting and staying the night in Jacksonville. Third week I’ve got plans to sing karaoke. Remind me again why we do this to ourselves??? :)

Ever wonder…

donthangupthequill — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:18:30 +0000

I like experiencing things that will help with writing descriptions – like riding the mechanical bull or doing a skywalk 40 feet in the air (okay, so what if I only made the first level of ten feet?). But over the weekend I had one of those unexpected experiences.

My awesome friend Lisa had an 80s-themed birthday party. I had to use the restroom after I got there. While I was using the restroom, someone else came in and started washing her hands. I flushed and got out of the stall… and it wasn’t a her washing hands. Uh…

“Did I walk in the wrong room or did you?” I asked.

“I think you did.”

I turned and there was a urinal. Oh, geez.

To make it worse, the gentleman in question was Lisa’s 15-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW (though he looked like he was in his early 20s). Oy.

So, now, here’s the thing. Do I stay or do I go? The thought of leaving the bathroom without washing my hands completely grossed me out, and since he was washing his hands, too (AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!!), I stuck it out and washed. Would I have done differently if he was using the bathroom? I’m glad I don’t have to think about it.

Any of you ever do that?

Flight booked!

donthangupthequill — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:58:33 +0000

Just bought my ticket to the RWA National Conference. Yeehaw! And I got a non-stop flight, so while it will involve two hours to get to the airport, it’s totally worth it.

Tomorrow I buy trip insurance.

Oy.

donthangupthequill — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:45:56 +0000

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that I’m not shy. Put me in a room full of strangers and I’ll have them singing rounds of Row, Row, Row Your Boat in no time.

I’m also not afraid of speaking in front of people. I’ve been in plays. I’ve sung in front of strangers. Been on job interviews. I’m also president of my local RWA chapter.

But… BUT on Saturday, I’m presenting a workshop. On fear. As in, ignore it.

Okay, granted, we’re doing a workshop blitz so it will only be 20 minutes, not 1.5 hours. And I’ve done many blog posts about this subject. But those were blog posts. Where I could carefully and thoughtfully carve out every word before its seen by the public. Not speaking about it like I know what I’m talking about.

*gulp*

How far she’s come

donthangupthequill — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:30:04 +0000

For those who don’t know – I like to consider myself somewhat of a grammar queen. I know more about comma placements and where apostrophes go than I ever wanted to know. I also write technical manuals, so that helps.

Eden Glenn was in my critique group, and while her stories were fascinating, I had a hard time following along because of comma issues and run on sentences and other things. She moved to another state so she had to leave our group, but we kept in touch and celebrated when she got published!

I read her novella, Raynia’s Magic. And I could feel her in the pages and like the title, it was magic. Smooth and engaging and amazing. Hard work, ladies and gentlemen. She found her niche and her groove and blossomed and I couldn’t be happier to read her work.

Okay, I know this posts sounds like an advertisement, but I wanted to relay how proud I am of her ability to stick to it and learn and grow and gain the published goal.

I’m back and ready for action!

donthangupthequill — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:22:16 +0000

… as soon as this vertigo goes away.

And hello to my Lalas!

Just got back from a three-day Orlando adventure with the family for Spring Break. On day 1 we went to the Kennedy Space Center and I got to hear Astronaut Susan Kilrain talk about her time in the space program. Then the floor was opened for questions. I asked for her Call Story – how she felt when she learned she’d been accepted as a candidate to fly in space.

It hit me when I listened to her earlier talk that Call Stories are a lot broader than I ever thought about. I’m sure every profession has one (though I can’t think of one yet as a tech writer. Give me time). Susan said (and I’m paraphrasing) that she had been in flight doing dog fighting in Miami, and while she was taxi-ing to the runway, she got a Call that the Person in Charge (whose name I can’t remember) wanted her to call him back. She knew that a call from this person meant good news – a call from someone else would have meant bad news – and she had a really hard time landing her plane.

Loved it.

bye bye, 100×100

donthangupthequill — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:40:34 +0000

I made it about 14 days and then was so tired and so uncreative that I didn’t write. Then I got on another small roll, but came home after five days away and just couldn’t muster up enough energy to do anything other than watch the missed shows on my DVR.

So now here I am again.

Oy.

donthangupthequill — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:27:56 +0000

I finally went to the optometrist and picked out glasses. Part of it was fueled by the Groupon for $200 worth of glasses for $50.

I tried on several pairs of frames and narrowed my choices to four. Then the optometrist priced each frame. The most expensive one was over $500!!! Forget that – even with the coupon! The other pairs were either $210 or $275.

After comparing the three pairs, the optometrist and I decided we both liked the $210 pair the best. Nice how that works out, huh? I should get them on Tuesday.

*sigh* I’m gonna be 40 this year. Blech.

in hiding…

donthangupthequill — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:01:08 +0000

Can we say “blog slacker?” I knew we could.

I’m doing another 100×100 challenge and I’m on day FOUR! I’m definitely on a roll. *laugh*

And that’s about what’s going on with me.

Catching up

donthangupthequill — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:18:22 +0000

Spent most of January reading my MS and changing it per my agent suggestions. She’s read it and sent it back to me and I’m working on it again. And during all this, I’ve been performing in a local medieval faire as a singing wench.

My group sings very naughty songs. And it’s SO MUCH FUN.

I’ve been participating in the medieval faire for *cough*twenty*cough* years, but this is the first time I’ve been hired as a singer. My feet hurt and I’ve got a slight bodice burn (the weirdest-looking sunburn you’ll ever see) but it was completely worth it.

One of the best thing was having other performers tell us how good we sound. I hope I hope I hope I get to do this again next year.

You can watch one of our videos here. I’m the short, squat one in purple.