Guilt.

We all wish we could go back in time and fix things, don't we? To try to live something over. To be a better person. To do the right thing. Because what we have is guilt.

Guilt is worse than a leech, isn't it? It sticks and sticks to you and sucks the joy, the happiness, the contentment, the life out of you.

But the thing with guilt is...we can allow it to stick to us. Or we can come to terms with our past. It's like the song lyric, "What's done is done." As much as we'd like, we can't go to the past and change. So why are we still dragging that guilt along with us like a weight on our leg? It slows us down, it stops us from living our life to the fullest in the present...it slows us down from being the best we can in our future.

The thing is, even when we turn away from what we did wrong and ask for forgiveness from God and those we hurt, the guilt is still there. And it's up to us to decide whether or not it's going to rule our life. We can't ruin our entire life, sitting in misery and feeling so weighed down because we harbor the guilt. If we truly felt bad about what happened, we would be working on getting over this guilt and learning from our mistakes. We...no...I should be working on making my life better...more to glorifying God, because I've seen what it's like to make a mistake and feel guilt and know how awful it is.

What's done is done. I need to learn from my past but not drag my guilt with me forever. It only stops me from moving any further with God.

Hans Zimmer

I did not get the chance to go see "Inception" in theaters. But I did not miss out on the soundtrack. If Hans Zimmer composed it, then I'll listen to it.

Most people don't notice the soundtracks to movies. It is one of the first things I do notice. And I have never been let down when it comes to a Hans Zimmer soundtrack. Hans Zimmer has a gift for hitting the right sound. I've heard people say that his soundtracks sound too much alike. I couldn't disagree more. Yes, there are similarities, but that's just Zimmer's style. You going to hear it in all his music. He can compose the most heart breaking and sweet themes to the most epic, action-packed theme. And sometimes he even combines the heart-breaking with the epic. It is beyond amazing. You cannot listen to all of Hans Zimmer's soundtracks and still think he does the same thing over and over. You just cannot compare "The Holiday" with "Pearl Harbor".

My favorite soundtrack by him (so far) is "Pearl Harbor"...I just cannot resist "Tennessee" and "Then I Kissed Him". They are my comfort songs.

My latest favorite, however, is the soundtrack to "Inception". It gives me goosebumps every time. You don't need to watch the movie to appreciate the emotions in the music (I should know...I haven't seen the movie yet!) All you have to do is close your eyes and hear the music to feel the emotions.

Hans Zimmer's music is powerful. You don't agree with me? Just listen to this track from "Inception" and I dare you to disagree with me then.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #30!!!!

30. Final question! Tag someone! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!

Ohmahgeekers! It's the last day already!! I'll have to come up with a new project to do on my blog! :)

Okay. Well, I tag Amy, which is kinda pointless since she's already doing it. :D But I still tag you. *nods*

Okay, what I like about you? What do I like about you as a writer? Well, I love the fact that you put me into your story and gave me a Robin Hood. :D :D That totally made my NaNo year! :P I also love that you enjoy writing mysteries as well. And I love that you're so enthusiastic about NaNo as me, and that you're steady and diligent and I love the humor you put into your stories! :D I love the charm that oozes out of your characters! What do I like about your characters? Well, as I said, I love the charm...I LOVE the fact that there's a Sam and a Robin Hood couple. :P I know, I know, of COURSE I would! lol.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #29.

29. How often do you think about writing? Ever come across something IRL that reminds you of your story/characters?

Pretty much every single day...when it comes to thinking about writing. I'm not gonna say that I think about it ALL the time...but if I'm bored with nothing to do or lying awake in bed at night, I'll be thinking about my stories. A lot of the time when I'm doing chores, I'll be thinking about it as well. :D

Oh, gosh, yes, yes, yes. I actually love taking real life events and putting them into my stories. So if I see something funny, it's bound to get put into one of my stories some time. And conversations! Lots of wacky conversations that my sis and I have had (and even some that my friends and I have had) have ended up in my stories...mostly conversations between Karrie & Hayley or Karrie & Mark. Total fun stuff. Sometimes it might not make as much sense to my readers, but they sure do to me. :P

And I mean, I'll come across people at work, or out that I'll just be like, "Ohmahgosh...she's just like Judy! Or he's just like Will!" So yup.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #28.

28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there’s nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.

Nope...not really. I mean, I had a character who tortured another character and used witchcraft...does that label him as crazy? :P I've had a dude who had a limp! Um...another dude got his legs crushed. Oooh! And I had a guy who was faking being lame and having to sit in a wheelchair. But other than that, nope, no one.

Wonder Girl

Ever felt the pressure of the world on your shoulders?

Maybe add an enormous struggle...

Maybe you have to pretend to be happy all the time, because it's what everyone expects.

Maybe you have to stifle your tears because you hate to show weakness.


But.



I am not Wonder Girl.


I don't have to hold the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I don't have to hold onto my struggle.
It's okay to show sadness. It's okay to appear weak. It's okay to cry.

Because...

...He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber. (Psalm 121:3)

I can let Him be the Wonder person. I can let Him help me carry my troubles. I can fall onto Him. I can let Him see me cry.

Because...

I am not Wonder Girl.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #27.

Instead of blogging my answer...I recorded it. If the link doesn't work for you leave a comment and I will write out my answer. :P

http://h1.ripway.com/knittergirl17/Untitled (35).wma

...of the day

Facts of the day:

* Rather a blue-ish sort of day.

* I haven't been feeling the greatest. Right now I'm so plain exhausted I don't think I can move to go to bed. A lot of trouble sleeping lately, which is probably what's the matter with me.

* Long day at work.

* No coffee.

* Missing certain people.


Highlights of the day:

* A phone call from a dearest friend.

* Working on a letter to another friend.

* Texting three good friends.

* Reading "Good Night, Mr. Tom".

* Watching an episode of "House".

* Remembering nicknames that I love.


Randomity of the day:

* Hearing a three year old ask, "Mom, can I have a cucumbuh."

* New music is the bees knees.

* Someone calling me an "angel". *snort* Yeah.


Thoughts of the day:

* Robin Hood is cute.

* Sleep is wonderful.

* Sometimes it's too darn hard to be cheerful.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #26.

26. Let’s talk art! Do you draw your characters? Do others draw them? Pick one of your main characters and post your favorite picture of him!

As you've seen in my previous posts, I NEED pictures of my characters so that I can visualize them better...I don't ever draw my characters. I'm a lousy artist. And I've never had anyone else draw them either...I just google pics. or look on stock photo websites. :D

Okay, so I've already posted pictures of Mark, Karrie, William, River, and even Teagan...so I shall post a picture this time of Charlie Kaye, who just MAY be the main character of my newest NaNo series...(that's a big maybe lol.)

Charlie (Charlotte) Kaye. Young woman. Bit of a geek. Solves mysteries. And that is all you're allowed to know for now. :P

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #25.

25. Do any of your characters have pets? Tell us about them.

Mark & Karrie have a dog named Asta...yup, a wire-fox terrier...just to have a reminder that Mark & Karrie were inspired by Nick & Nora Charles. ;) Mark gave him to Karrie as a gift in...I think it was in "In Blackest Night" but I'm not positive. Hm. lol.

Then River Davies has a dog (can't remember if I decided what kind yet...but it's a large dog...) named Higgins. And I have yet to decide if Teagan Harper will have a pet. I like dogs, if you couldn't tell. :P The pets don't have a big part in my story...at least they haven't so far. So there really isn't much to tell about them. :)

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #24.

24. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? What’s the most interesting way you’ve killed someone?

I'm actually very willing to kill my characters if the plot demands it...so long as that character isn't Mark. I put my foot down when it comes to Mark. :P Most of the time, when I kill someone I like, it's just how it comes out...I don't plan it. It just happens. SPOILER: Like Judy from "Pearls in Her Hair"...she wasn't supposed to die and I was very bummed when she did. :P

The most interesting way I've killed someone? I wouldn't say any way is interesting...lol. Shot, strangled, hanged, stabbed, tortured....um....I haven't done death by burning yet or drowning...I don't go into details with my murders, but I DO write murders. :P

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #23.

23. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story—from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?

Well, most of the novels I've actually finished were written during NaNoWriMo...so generally I start planning a month in advance for NaNoWriMo...then I can write the novel in the month's time. Last year, I started writing my novel and got to 50,000 in 15 days, decided I hated the story, and started another, finishing it by the 30th. So that was 100,000 in one month and two novels. :P

For a novel that I'm just writing any other time of the year...it usually takes me FOREVER. Cuz I don't have the pressure of NaNo on me, so I'm lazy and don't work on them as much. ;) It took me like a year just to write "There on the Titanic"!! :P

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #22.

22. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you’ve never written or told anyone about before! Serious or not.

Why not post the scene that no one's ever read before instead of talking about it?? :P


Okay, so I'm not sure if any of you have read this bit, but I always find it amusing to re-read as it was a friend's idea to write this scene down...especially the bit about the sky being green. Yup...inside jokes. :D


A loud crash outside of the room interrupted them, however.
“If I got a dollar for every time I was interrupted, I'd be rich!” Mark complained, hurrying to see what was happening.
A young boy was lying on the floor, his face in the middle of a rug. A second young boy stood over him, his foot on his back, holding him down.
“Take it back! Take it back!” the second boy was shouting.
“Jacob, get off of him! Right now!” Mark scolded him. “Go finish packing up in the back room. Now.”
The boy skulked back down the hall, with a fierce glare at the first boy, who still lay on the floor.
The first boy was still moaning into the rug.
“The sky is purple.” he said.
“No it's not. It's green.” Karrie was obviously enjoying the spectacle.
“No, it's blue.” the boy changed his mind.
“Daniel, that's the floor, not the sky, now get up!” Mark rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“My head!” the boy held a hand over the bump that was coming out on the back of his head.
“I'm thinking you deserved it, the way you've been irritating Jacob lately. Now go on upstairs and help Mr. McColly with his books.”
“The sky's still green!” Karrie shouted after the boy.
“You should go home to lie down.” Mark said.
“No, no, no!” Karrie frowned harder with each no.
“You're acting up, Karrie.” Mark said in stern tones. She couldn't quite tell if he was being stern or if he was just teasing her again.
She tried her puppy eyes. They didn't work.
“Come along, I'll have one of the boys drive you home. I think you need a nap.”
“I've had a nap.” Karrie protested.
“You need another. You're acting skonklish.”
“I am not! I'll BE skonklish if you make me take a nap.”
“Do you want me to call your mother?”
Karrie gasped in horror, “You WOULDN'T!”
“Wouldn't I?” Mark marched back down the hall towards the room that had the telephone.
Karrie squealed and hurried faster for the outside door.
“I'm going! I'm going!” she called back.
Mark grinned wickedly and called for one of the teenage boys that still hung around the agency.
“Drive Mrs. Ingleford home, won't you Barney?”
“Will do, Mr. Mark!” 'Barney' grinned donkey-ishly.
“Barney. How much would it take to bribe you to say you took me home but you really take me somewhere else?” Karrie grabbed the boy's arm when he got closer.
“Nothing doing, Mrs. Ingleford.” Barney shook his head good-naturedly.
“Drat.” Karrie wrinkled her nose.
“You's gonna have a baby?” he looked at her bulging stomach.
“No, I'm going to have a watermelon.” she snapped back.
His eyes widened at her tone, and he shut up.
She sat crankily in the car, as he clambered in the driver's side. Mark came up to her side of the car and leaned through the window to kiss her goodbye.
“Have a nice nap, darling. I'll see you at dinner.”
She had to smile after his kiss.
It was a whole street later that Karrie suddenly realized something.
“He didn't tell me about his phone call! And I didn't get to see what that book was!!!!” she positively growled.
Barney watched her out of the corner of his eyes rather nervously.
Pregnant women. He thought. Crazy! Totally bonkers!
(Taken from "In Blackest Night")

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #21.

21. Do any of your characters have children? How well do you write them?

Mark & Karrie have a son...he was born in "In Blackest Night" and is one year old in "Switched". He really isn't in either much, so I haven't really developed him. Yet. ;) Who knows what could happen if I continue the series! Anywho, that's the only kid I've given any of my characters...mainly because most of my characters are young adults and not married. I have written many stories for kids about kids though, so I know I'm capable of writing kids. ;) And I believe I write them pretty darn well. My children's lit. instructor seemed to think so. ;)

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #20.

20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?

I can't help it. I LOVE writing the wackiest conversations/interactions between Mark & Karrie. Just ridiculous stuff. Especially one's I've had in real life...ones with my sis and girl friends...ones that guys just don't seem to "get". They may not always seem to make much sense in my stories, but every single one of them has me laughing...partially cuz they're inside jokes. So to the reader they may just seem ridiculous, but to me, they're hysterical, cuz they bring back memories and cuz they're so like me and my sis and friends. For example:

“Fairies?” Mark was confused.

Karrie looked over at him, her eyebrows raised in amusement.

“She believes in fairies?” he asked.

“Of course she believes in fairies. Everyone does.” Karrie murmured. “Don't tell me you don't?” she said.

“What? Of course not!” Mark said into the phone.

Karrie tsked, “Really, Mark, you shouldn't say that. Not out loud, at least. Every time you say fairies aren't real, a fairy dies. Oops, there I go. Another one down. How many left?”

Mark frowned in her direction, motioning for her to be quiet.

“She has a fairy collection, if I'm not mistaken.” Mr. Downing was saying.

“A fairy collection?” Mark asked.

“She collects fairies? How fascinating! Ask him if she has the water kind...I would so like to see the water kind!” Karrie smiled angelically.

“What sort of fairy collection?” Mark continued.

“Statues, fairy furniture, all sorts of fairy things. She was obsessed with fairies. It was the most important thing in her life. She got all excited just last week because she said she discovered a fairy ring out in Breckton Woods.”

“So you say she disappeared two nights ago?” Mark said.

“Most likely the fairies took her.” Karrie murmured.

Mark glared at her.

“Yes, that's right,” Mr. Downing continued.

Just then another knock came at the door. Mark rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“Could you hold a moment, Mr. Downing?”

“Absolutely.”

“Now, WHO is that?”Mark said in frustration.

“Probably Santa Claus.” Karrie struggled to her feet to answer the door.

(Excerpt from "Switched"...)

Or:

"You've never seen it?" Karrie gasped.
She turned to Hayley, "He's never seen
it!"
"You've never seen it?" Hayley gasped.
"He HASN'T seen it!" she shrieked to
Karrie. Both gasped at the same time,
placing their hands over their hearts.

(Excerpt from "Pearls in Her Hair"...)

I like drama. :D

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #19.

19. Favorite minor character that decided to shove himself into the spotlight and why!



Easy...William Holbrook of "Pearls in Her Hair". He may not have stolen the spotlight from Mark & Karrie, but he certainly pushed himself into the story! He was supposed to be an idiot police sergeant, who only causes problems for Mark! Instead, he turned out to be his best friend, an important factor to the case, and he ends up marrying Hayley.

William (or more commonly known as Will) Holbrook starts out as desk sergeant on the police force, while Mark is detective sergeant. However, he gets promoted to detective sergeant, when Mark becomes detective chief. He's around twenty-six (or twenty-five) and a very easy-going kind of guy. A jokester. He immediately makes friends with Karrie when she first starts working at the station. When Mark takes on the case at the senator's home, William tags along as his right-hand man. He not only takes orders though...but he also advises Mark as a friend...helping him in anything and everything.

He's a caring dude...funny, great with people...


WARNING: SPOILERS OF "PEARLS IN HER HAIR" BELOW:

When Mark is accused of false testimony and accepting bribes, and taken off the case, Will is placed in charge of the case. It was his first case on his own and he rose to the occassion, working it out with the help of Hayley. As a non-Christian, it is when faced with the GH38 (Great Hurricane of '38), that he sees what life is like without God, which makes him begin to question what he really does and does not believe.
When Mark resigns from the force, Will is made Detective Chief...and at the end of the novel, he asks Hayley to wait for him while he considers following God. :P

He wears glasses too. lol. Just an odd tidbit there. :D Anywho, I loved him to bits. Not as much as Mark, but he was just fab. :D

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #18.

18. Favorite antagonist and why!

Okay, first off....MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW!!! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ "SWITCHED" AND ARE PLANNING TO, THEN DO NOT READ BELOW THIS!!!!

You were warned. :P













Leighton Armstrong is my favorite antagonist. Why? Because she was so evil...lol. That sounds great doesn't it...liking someone because they're so evil. What I mean is, she was interesting to write...
The thing that makes her so interestingly evil, is that she has the ability to be a good person. She has it in her to choose a better path, but instead shoves all that away to follow a cause that was brainwashed into her. So...it's like she has the ability to be a good person...even seems to have genuine qualities of a better person...but she doesn't even know it because she was brainwashed by evil morals and lies. She is the wolf in sheep's clothing. She is pretty and puts on a sheep's skin of sweetness and naivety and helplessness. She seeks out the protection of two strangers, slipping past their guards and taking their trust and honest, caring friendship to use for her advantage. Under all her sheep skins, she is hardened to anything but the cause she believes in. She murders with no regret and appears to have no conscience. She murders her own accomplice when she has no other need for her. She acts on command, without thought to right or wrong. She proves that looks are deceiving.


(And just in case you were wondering...I always have to have a picture of my characters...just the way I work. I have to have something to look at...a visual of my character. The pictures are not always exactly how I pictured my character in my head, but the ones I use are the closest that I could find.)

More Random

Another random post from moi, your random author of this random blog. I like the word random, okay? Deal. Prepare yourselves for more randomity.

- I forgot how much fun it is to bike.
- I started to sit in the sun today...going to get a tan this summer or die in the attempt.
- Listened to Ludovico Einaudi and the Batman soundtrack til I had my fill of epicness.
- I love summer. Why can't it last longer?
- I need new sheet music. I'm dying for something new to learn. *sigh* Bored of playing the same pieces over and over.
- I worked on my River Davies novel tonight. One and a half chapters done.
- I read "Emily of New Moon" today. Been ages since I read it. L. M. Montgomery writes magic. Plain and simple.
- I had real coffee today. Well...it was half caf. and half decaf. So not fair. Did barely anything to me and certainly didn't last that long.
- Plans for at least three different possible NaNoWriMo novels are being jotted down.
- I've decided. Writing keeps me sane...it helps stop breakdowns.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #17.

17. Favorite protagonist and why!

Well, we all know that Mark is my favorite protagonist...then Karrie, but I've done posts on both of them in the past, so I'll just choose another protagonist that I love. And that would be...

River Davies.
Her story hasn't been finished yet...and needs a new title...but I suppose it won't hurt to talk about her.

She is nineteen years old and in her second year of college. River's mother had married and become pregnant with a boy...then her husband died and she was left alone to raise her son, Storm. A year later, she married again, to Mr. Davies. And soon they had a baby girl...River. Mrs. Davies died when River was only thirteen years old, and she and her brother were raised mainly by their father. River and Storm are very close, though they do not look anything like each other. Storm looks like his own father with dark hair and eyes. Meanwhile, River looks like her father with her blond hair and blue eyes.

River grew up to a young woman with a quiet and rather serious nature. She has an enormous chip on her shoulder, blocking out everyone but her father and brother from her life. She feels no need to make friends or accept anyone else into their little circle.

Her personal bubble is jolted quite suddenly with the appearance of her brother's best friend, Logan, who comes to stay with the family until he can find his own apartment. Logan is the opposite of River in every way...extrovert, friendly, joking, easy-going compared to her introvert, silent, unexcitable, and hard-to-read nature. She resents his presence and argues with him constantly.

Her father is wrapped up in his work and is suddenly called away on a business trip out of the country. It is while he's gone that her brother, Storm, goes missing. He has vanished into thin air. And if that wasn't suspicious enough, someone has broken into their house, evidently searching for something. As suspicious and unrelenting as ever, River refuses to go to the police...not trusting them to find her brother. Instead, she goes off on her own to find him...Logan tagging along behind (to River's GREAT annoyance).

So to sum River up: she is an obnoxious, uptight, non-fun-loving, resentful sort of gal, who doesn't trust anybody and wants to be in control of her own life. At the same time...deep down, she wants to be a different person, wants to change, and hates feeling so angry all the time. She knows it stems from something traumatic from when she was younger. She just doesn't know how to deal with it. Nor with the thing that she struggles with the most.

Doesn't sound like a lovable character does she? I suppose she isn't in some ways...but I am finding her absolutely fascinating to write about. I rarely write about a protagonist who is so angry and introverted...it's an interesting change. :D Which is why I love her.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #16

16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? ;)

I have the romantic relationship between Mark & Karrie...but that's the only one I've done...so far. I'm working on getting into another...but, no, I shan't tell you which book that's in! :P
How do I do with those? Well, for one thing...I don't particularly like writing a romance because I know I'd do it horribly. lol. So with like Mark & Karrie, I kept it very simple. They meet...she aggravates him, she admires him. Then they're forced to work together and slowly discover more and more about each other. And by the end, he realizes he loves her, blah blah blah. He proposes, she accepts, they kiss. See? Simple. ;) Then for the rest of the books, they're married...lol. And how "far" am I willing to go? Hugging and kissing. :P Flirting...that's about it. :P

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #15.

15. Midway question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not!

There are so many authors I admire! Jane Austen! Arthur Conan Doyle! P.G. Wodehouse! Cornelia Funke! C.S. Lewis! L.M. Montgomery! Louisa May Alcott! Joan Aiken! The list goes on and on! Which one shall I talk about? I guess L. M. Montgomery since that is who I'm reading at the moment...at least, I'm reading her "Emily of New Moon".
L. M. Montgomery's books are all very very similar, but they're so wonderful (mostly...) that one can't help but read them over and over. This line alone from "Jane of Lantern Hill" holds a certain magic for me:

"He taught her the loveliness of words...dad read words as if he tasted them."

Oh, I love that...words that taste. Words that are lovely.

Okay, yes, yes, let's all cry "NERD!" at me. :P

L. M. Montgomery has a dreamy sort of style to her books...dreamy and light and beautiful. She draws such pictures in your mind so that you can see everything that she wrote down. Words were not just words with her. Words were...as she said in that sentence...lovely. They have a grand taste to them. It just inspires me all the more...and reminds me how much I love words, how words form the pictures inside my head, and how I want my words to be lovely.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #14.

14. How do you map out locations, if needed? Do you have any to show us?

I don't really map out locations other than in my own head...but sometimes I have to draw little sketches down just so that I can keep track of details...like this pic. I drew of the Senator's home in "Pearls in Her Hair"...I quickly drew it one night while I was writing, that way, I could keep track of how many windows there were (yes, the windows were important. :P)...and noooooooooooo, I do not even THINK I'm any good at drawing. lol. I'm horrible at it, but this was just for my own reference and was just scribbled down as quickly as I could get it down.



And, hey, you get to see a sample of my extra-horrible handwriting when I'm writing in a rush. :P

And, here's another for "Switched"...that way I could keep track of which sleeping compartment was next to which on the train...And just because I'm weird...you can see Brandon's body lying in front of the compartment that says "Brandon's" but is really Leighton's compartment and Leighton's is Brandon's. Yes, so confusing. That's why I drew it out. ;)

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #13.

13. What’s your favorite culture to write, fictional or not?
*shrugs* Should I have a favorite? lol. Seeing as nearly all my stories are set during WWII...mainly in New England and England...that should answer the question. :P

I have to decide if I actually like writing modern-day stories. Hm.

What a boring question. :P

Randomity.

*gasp* Would you look at this! A blog post that's not part of the 30 Day Writing Meme! Ohmahgeekers.

Yeah. My blog. My rules.

So. Me feeling random tonight, decide (randomly) to do a random blog post on here. How random, hm?

~

To start out with...the highlights of my day:

Yogurt. I love my yogurt. *shrugs* What can I say? It doesn't take much to make this gal happy.
Laughing with co-workers. And I seriously have the best co-workers. They've always got my back.
Listening to Hans Zimmer. Okay. Seriously. ZIMMER IS MY MUSICAL HERO. The "Inception" soundtrack?? Nothing less of a.w.e.s.o.m.e. Hoping to actually see the movie soon.
Getting to call a best friend and squee excitedly about something. Though I didn't actually get to do a real squee...just talk excitedly. Ah, well.
Working on "Those Who Wait". Haha. I get to write any wacky stuff I want to, just because it's a comedy. Brilliant, no? Yeah...okay, it's not working. Drat. Backspace anyone?
Flirting. Okay, so it really was just peek-a-boo with a 1 year old. But, peeps! He had the most GORGEOUS blue eyes ever. Enough to melt even the hardest of hearts. Awwwwwwwwww.
Going barefoot. I hate shoes. My feet want to be "free! free! free! Fly away feet! Fly away!" (Yeah, okay, too much "Love Crazy" in my life...*shrugs*)

~

The downsides to my day:

Crabby patrons. 'nuff said.
No oreos.
No coffee. Not even decaf!!!
No chocolate. :'(
The humidity. My hair hates me.

Okay, now I'm making myself depressed...no more sad stuff.

~

Today I was told:

That I am awesome. "Course I am, sir...why do you think I wear a cape?"
That ants stink. I wouldn't know...I've never actually smelled an ant. "I'll take your word on it, kiddo."
That Gabe has bad hair. *GASP* "Don't mock the hair!"
I should wait a while before I get engaged. "Oh, darn, and I was so planning on next week...I spose I should find a guy first. That might help. Hm."

~

And today I discovered:

My eyes hate me. That or the mascara. Evil mascara.
If I sit back and relax at work someone's bound to walk in the door. "Quick! She's sitting down! Let's ask her another question!"
I smile fake way too much. Repeat to one's self: Crinkle the eyes. Crinkle the eyes.
I hate the board puzzles. "Yeah, kid, let's just use the pieces as confetti! That's right! I don't mind picking them up after you!"
I miss baby smiles. Dimples and first tooth showing. Definitely miss that. :)

~

Favorite word of the day?

Coffee.

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #12.

12. In what story did you feel you did the best job of worldbuilding? Any side-notes on it you’d like to share?

Well, gee...I mean, it's not like I actually came up with my own world! All my stories have been placed in the real world. I do love writing about the time during WWII...try to make it as accurate as possible...in what little I actually write about the surroundings. ;) I had a blast writing about England during WWII in "Death Because of Amber" (haven't quite gotten to France yet...but I'll get there...) and I LOVED writing about the Great Hurricane of '38 in "Pearls in Her Hair"...that was a blast...especially the research. Fascinating. :D

But as for creating a world from scratch...haven't done that. Not yet, at least. If I ever do, I shall get back to you. ;)

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #11.

11. Who is your favorite character to write? Least favorite?

Favorite? Easy!

*drumroll*

Mark Ingleford!! Is that so shocking? ;) lol. But I must say, I am REALLY enjoying writing Teagan Harper, and I love writing Karrie Ingleford too. Oh, and Leighton in "Switched" was VERY interesting to write! Oh! Oh! And Nathaniel in my "Beauty & the Beast" retelling! He was hysterical. :D

My least favorite character to write? Probably...well, I started out loving Arabella Knightley, but by the end of the story I was sick of her. lol. But a character I really disliked writing? Hm...probably Judy's aunt in "Pearls in Her Hair"...OH! OH! That girl in the "Emma Atwood" novel I started. Darn. I forget her name...shows how much I remember her. lol. Anyways, she was a stupid idiot and drove me CRAZY. I literally hated her two paragraphs into the story. Yup. :D

30 Day Writing Meme: Day #10.

10. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Everything from serious canon scenes to meme questions counts!

Really weird situations...hmm...

Weird??

Gosh. Well, there is the scene where a poor young man is trapped in a car with Karrie when she goes into labor. That was...more awkward than weird. lol. Mark gets trapped inside a house. Another character falls through some floor boards...Teagan gets stuck in a telephone booth! Does that count?

Tell you what...how about I add more weird scenes to "Those Who Wait"? That satisfy you? Okay. Good. :P