Celebrate!

It’s all about celebrations around here this month. Or, as we like to say, “shell-ebrations”!   

In our household, we have my husband and my wedding anniversary and the tortoises turn 17. 

 

Outside our household, we’re sending happy birthday wishes to one teen and…well, let’s just say, one hasn’t-been-a-teen-for-quite-awhile, and also congratulations to a high school graduate and a college graduate. 

 

Even though I’m basking in the joy of it all, I still feel those waves of nostalgia lapping at my toes. Sigh. Where does the time go?

 

WRITING

I’ve got drafts of two stories going. I hope to have one ready to submit mid-month.

 

READING

The novel, Ask for Andrea, by Noelle W. Ihli utterly broke my heart, and The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland took me on a wild, twisting ride.

 

WATCHING

We have lots of things on our To Watch list, but we haven’t really gotten to any of them. We did re-watch – and still loved! - the first Downton Abbey movie. The next two movies will be new to us.

 

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Are you celebrating – big, small, anything at all! - this month? Do you know where the time has gone? Any relatively recent TV shows or movies you’d recommend we bump to the top of our To Watch list?

Inspiration Abounds!

Late winter/early spring is one of my favorite times of year around here. Cooler air and sunshine make it easy to get outside (See ya later, “dreadmill”/treadmill!). Everywhere I look, people are walking, running, riding bikes, playing pickleball and tennis, hanging out with their canine pals at the dog park. Every weekend, there are art shows and craft fairs and garage sales. Oh, and food trucks! And let’s not forget spring training! Yes, there are more people and traffic (I’m looking at you, snowbirds and spring break visitors!) but there’s more energy, too. Life just feels full of color and texture and vitality right now. Inspiration abounds!  

WRITING

I subbed the short story I mentioned last post. . . and received a rejection. Sigh. But I'm not giving up on that story just yet. I'm pretty sure it's still got some life in it. I’ve also got a loose draft of one story and scribbled notes on another.  

 

READING

I’ve got two different kinds of “claustrophobic” reads for you:

The emotional, dread-inducing kind in Adrift by Will Dean. A story that will stay with me a long time. 

And the physical kind in Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams where the characters go on an “ill-fated caving expedition.” That means underground, people. Under. Ground. Enough said.  

 

WATCHING

We finished Season Three of The Night Agent and enjoyed it way more than we thought we would. 

And can someone please explain to me how it’s possible we’re now watching Season 50 – 50! – of Survivor? Where did the time go?! 

 

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Do you have a favorite time of year? What makes it your favorite? Has a recent read left you filled with dread? (In the best way possible, of course!) Has anything made you feel old – or young! – lately?

You Just Never Know

When I was out and about as a kid, I didn’t see much wildlife. Maybe some pigeons and a squirrel or two. Now, when my husband and I go for walks around our neighborhood, we see not only lots of different birds, like sandhill cranes, but also the occasional armadillo, bobcat, raccoon, turtle, and yes, alligator. (And we’ve been seeing a lot more gators lately. Like me, they enjoy basking beneath the Florida sun during the winter.) 

If you had told me, back when I was younger, that I’d one day live in a place where spotting an alligator hanging out on a lake bank was as common as spotting a squirrel running up a tree, I’d have rolled my eyes and went back to playing stoopball. 

 

You just never know.  

 

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WRITING

I’m in the middle of revising a short story. The submission window is tight so I’d better get going. 

 

READING

Totally enjoying Kelley Armstrong’s new book, First Sign of Danger (Haven’s Rock, #4).

 

WATCHING

Pleasantly surprised by Season Three of The Night Agent (Netflix). We loved Season One but Season Two left us wondering if we’d keep watching the series. Glad we gave it another chance! 

 

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Had any “you just never know” moments that have pleasantly surprised you? What’s the most “exotic” animal you’ve seen on a walk? What are you creating, reading, writing lately? 

Here's Hoping

January felt like a looooong month around here. If I managed a creative thought at all, it was like a slow pour of syrup. Only not nearly as sweet.  

But, keeping in mind my “keeping it simple” plan for 2026, I set my fumble fingers to “create” and took an art class, coming away with a not too shabby mosaic flowerpot. While I could’ve done without the grouting part of the project, I did thoroughly enjoy designing and gluing the tiles and doodads to the pot.

 

Here’s hoping for a bright and busy-in-the-best-way possible February!

 

WRITING

Since my writing mojo seems to be hunkered down and dozing with the tortoises, I’ve mostly been playing with a prompt here and trying out a theme there. 

 

READING

If you’d like some chills - of the reading kind, that is! - try A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. It had me looking over my shoulder more times than I’d like to admit! 

 

WATCHING

We’ve been re-watching Downton Abbey. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it! When we’re done with the series, it’s on to the three Downton movies, two of them new to us. 

 

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How did January go for you? Is your creativity hibernating? Have you re-watched and/or re-read anything lately?

Fall Focus

I'm glad it's September, even though around here it’s still hot, humid and hurricane season. This summer drained me of oomph. I feel wrung out, much like my sweaty gym clothes after a long plod on the “dreadmill.” I blame the heat. (I usually get to a point every summer where I blame the heat. For everything.)

 

So, this is me, falling forward – not very gracefully - into fall!

 

WRITING

The second session of Camp Draft did not go well: 

* The drabble I wrote and subbed received a rejection. 

* The longer short story with the road trip theme never even got out of the garage. 

* The novella is apparently no longer about a cursed island, but is instead about a deserted island because everyone on it has left due to boredom.

 

In September, I hope to 

* Get back to some flash fiction, writing and maybe subbing.

* See if I can save that cursed island. 

* Start making some strides in putting together another collection of my stories. 

 

 

READING

I’m still behind on my 2025 Goodreads Challenge, but Wally Lamb’s incredible The River is Waiting and Shari Lapena’s page-turning suspense She Didn’t See it Coming helped move me closer to my goal. 

 

 

WATCHING

My husband and I had a “28” movie marathon – we re-watched 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later before watching the new 28 Years Later. In my opinion, the first movie is still the best of the bunch by far.

 

We really enjoyed Woman of the Hour (starring Anna Kendrick) over on Netflix. A creepy thriller made even creepier because it’s based on real crimes. 

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How did your summer go? Any plans or projects for fall? How’s your oomph level? Read or watched anything lately you’d recommend?

Is There a Draft in Here?

I definitely feel a draft, and not just the one from the a/c. By the end of July, the first drafts of two stories should – fingers crossed! – give me more chills than the Key Lime Pie ice cream I like too much. 

Welcome to Camp Draft! 

Where:

* I will dive into my novella, featuring a cursed island.

* I will most likely get car sick writing about a road trip gone very, very wrong.  

* And I might dabble with a drabble.

 

Also, here at Camp Draft:

* The only counselors look a lot like tortoises. 

* The only activities are jumping over plot holes and napping.

* My bunkmates are kid characters who are way braver than I am. 

* And the s’mores look – and taste - like cake. 

 

Here I go! 

The Summer of Salads, Stories and Sweat

For a lot of people summer is about relaxing and vacations, but for me, it’s usually when I pretty much hibernate in my air conditioned hidey-hole. This summer is all about:  

SALADS and lighter meals. It’s about getting healthier on the inside. You’d think as a vegetarian I’d have this down but, since pasta is my go-to pal, not so much. 

 

STORIES! Writing my own, of course, but reading and watching them, too. Stories are everywhere!

 

SWEAT. And I don’t mean by just sitting out on the lanai in the Florida summer. I mean the kind I get when I hang out with my old frenemy, the dreadmill . . .  

 

Now, of course, life happens and hurricanes howl through, so this is only a loose plan. But I’m giving it a go!

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WRITING

I finished and subbed a drabble. I made a little progress on the longer short story and a little more progress on the novella. 

READING

I’m behind on my 2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge. For some reason, I’m struggling with reading this year. But since part of this summer is all about stories, I hope to remedy that soon enough.  

WATCHING

TV – My husband and I are thoroughly enjoying My Best Friend’s An Animal [National Geographic, Hulu] So many amazing animals and people out there! (I’m always a little wary of animal shows because I don’t like when they show the gory side of nature. This one doesn’t.) 

 

Movies – We really liked Neighborhood Watch (with Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and The Drop was an entertaining way to spend an hour or so.

 

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What are your summer plans? Do you have any go-to (vegetarian!) lighter meals/salads? Or cookbooks, websites, etc. you like? Any favorite workouts or ways to make gym time go faster? Any suggestions for non-gory animal or nature shows? 

Quirks in the Night

I’m not particularly adept at using my phone – bad eyesight and fumble fingers - so when a character or a line of dialogue or a story idea strikes in the night, I don’t bother reaching for my glasses or my phone. (Besides, there’s a very good chance I’ll knock one or both of them off the nightstand anyway.) 

Instead, I nudge my husband and he’s got his phone in his hand, email open, ready to take dictation in the middle of the night. The next day, I open my email and voila! There are my thoughts, all nicely typed out and legible. (Of course, that doesn’t mean it makes sense, but that’s on me not my husband.) 

It's just one of the many, many . . . um, let’s call them, quirks . . . of mine that my husband puts up with. This month, we’ll be married 26 years, and while he is now, apparently, my personal assistant/secretary, he still is and always will be, my rock and my wings.  

WRITING

I’m playing with ideas for some upcoming themed submission opportunities, one for a drabble and one for a short story. Another short story idea is waiting patiently for its turn. 

 

Progress is being made on a longer story/novella. It’s slow going because I’m still fleshing out backstory and foundational stuff, trying to fill in as many plot holes as I can now so I don’t fall into them later. I’m considering doing my own version of NaNo later this summer to get down a first draft. 

READING

Loved the delightful and heartwarming middle grade novel Old School by Gordon Korman. Five stars and easily one of my favorite books of the year! And I also really liked Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5) by Suzanne Collins. It took me back to when I first read The Hunger Games.

 

WATCHING

TV – Thoroughly enjoyed A Man on the Inside (with Ted Danson, on Netflix)! Fun and funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming. Looking forward to Season Two! And, at pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum, is the dark but absolutely compelling, Adolescence (Netflix.) The acting blew my mind. 

 

Movie – My hopes for The Companion were that it would be solid, a pleasant enough way to be entertained for a couple of hours. Turned out to be way better than I thought! Dark and creepy, yes, but also a whole lot of fun in a weird twisted way. 

 

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Are you handy with your phone? Any tips for old Fumble Fingers here? Do you have someone in your life who encourages and supports your creativity? If you’ve done your own version of NaNo, how did you set it up and how did it go? Read or watched anything good lately?

Down But Not Out

Well, the first month of 2025 found the TSR household down for the count. My husband and I rarely get sick but when we do, it lingers. And the cold, damp, gray, rainy days did not help. In between bouts of chills and coughing and making sure the palm trees outside were not covered in snow, I’d sing “Tomorrow” from Annie, like some prayer of desperation. (And believe me, if I’m attempting to sing, it’s a desperate situation.)

 

So, pretty much all momentum was lost around here, but although we were down, we are not out! 

 

WRITING

My Write 25 in 25 helped me keep at writing, even with being sick. It’s mostly been sessions of 2-5 minutes since that was about all I could focus on.    

 

READING

I was in a bit of a reading slump, but then the fun, twisty thriller, Cross My Heart by Megan Collins pulled me in and wouldn’t let go.  

 

WATCHING

TV – We finished our re-watch of "LA Law"! We definitely enjoyed the first bunch of seasons, and even though it kind of fell apart after that, it was still fun. We’re now re-watching/watching "The West Wing." My husband and I both remember starting this series when it first came out but neither of us can remember if we ever finished it.

 

Movie – although it felt kind of long, we liked "Conclave." The acting was good. And, of course, we enjoyed the turtles. 

 

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How do you get your focus and/or momentum back after being sick? Have you read or watched anything that broke through a slump for you?

Slowing Down . . . Revving Up

November is one of those odd months for me. On the one hand, things are slowing down - the year is coming to a close, projects are wrapping up, and I begin looking back over those challenges and goals I set waaaay back in January. On the other hand, things are revving up - it’s lighter earlier, the weather around here tends to be brisk and cool, and I usually get a burst of mental and physical energy. As an optimistic realist, I try to be - and stay! - hopeful, approaching the upcoming year like a new planner, one full of blank pages waiting to be filled with as many positive activities and plans as possible.

 

Writing

I wrote a drabble then subbed it to a contest. Crafting stories of 100 words exactly is always a fun challenge for me!

 

Reading

I’m closing in on my 2024 Reading Challenge (52 books) over on Goodreads. I’ve mostly been ahead, which is good since I’ve hit some sort of reading slump. It’s not the books; it’s me and my focus. 

 

Watching

For Halloween, we re-watched The Silence of the Lambs. That movie never disappoints!

 

Tortoises

The tortoises took their annual trip to the vet. They’re healthy and solid - Larry is about 12 pounds and Mrs. Larry is about 9. And my back attests to these new numbers every time I bend over to pick one of them up! 

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Are you looking back at 2024 yet? Looking ahead? Both? Ever hit a reading slump? How did you fix it? Are you a fan of the movie, The Silence of the Lambs? If you have pets, how’re they doing? 

Feeling the Heat

Well, I kind of hit the wall last month. Writing wilted. House projects petered out. I blame the heat. Key Lime Pie ice cream can only do so much.  

READING – 

Five stars for Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House! It’s been a long time since I was so freaked out by a book. I am still thinking about that ending…. 

 

WRITING – 

I subbed a longer short story of mine to a market I thought might be a good fit. Apparently, a lot of people thought the same thing about their stories since the market received over 700 submissions. That’s a lot of crossed fingers, including my own! Unfortunately, my story was not accepted, but a hearty congrats to all those that were! 

 

An older idea from years ago keeps popping up. I ignore it, but that doesn’t work. I jot down thoughts in a notebook in an effort to contain them then put the notebook in a drawer to keep them out of sight. That doesn’t work either. So, I’ve been noodling with the idea off and on. It’s like it was asleep for a while, then decided to stick its head out as if reminding me it’s still there and would like some attention now, please. Like the tortoises coming out of their shells, looking for more arugula to eat or for a nice shell rub. 

 

TORTOISES – 

The other day, Mrs. Larry was all smushed into a corner, but with her head poked out just enough to keep an eye on things – as usual. While Mrs. L was watchful, Larry was all chill. Head resting on the edge of the water dish, face tilted toward the window, he snoozed under the warm light. He looked so content, it made me smile. 

 

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Are there any endings – from books, TV shows, movies - that haunt you? (Please no spoilers! Don’t give away the actual ending to anything!) What do you do when an idea keeps returning? Any animal/pet antics that made you smile lately?

July, Here We Come!

Just a quick post to say the writing is going well. I’ve got one flash story done, one in progress, and another slowly revealing itself to be something longer. 

I’m also getting some house projects done – cleaning out, cleaning up and decluttering. (I’m coming for you soon, bookshelves!)

I’ll take a break for our annual rewatch of Jaws around July 4^th but if I stop too long, I’ll melt like a cup of Key Lime Pie ice cream left in the sun. (Sure, like ice cream would ever make it past my mouth, let alone make it outside.) 

 

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How’s your summer going so far? Working hard, hardly working or something in between? Any summery movies or snacks you love? 

Healthy Habits

At the beginning of 2024, I started habit tracking. I set myself one healthy habit per month, aiming to do it every day. I’m pleased to say that, so far, I’ve succeeded!   

JANUARY = I focused on drinking more water. This was a struggle, but I think the cooler weather had something to do with that. This habit hasn’t really carried over so I might set it as a goal again. 

 

FEBRUARY = I meditated every day. Usually between 5-20 minutes each session, keeping it flexible – the timing and/or the focus. I’m still meditating at least a couple of times a week. 

 

MARCH = More vegetables! My diet isn’t the worst, but it needs some improvement. Keeping this goal in the forefront of my mind helped me make better dietary choices overall. I’ve added veggies into the mix of daytime snacks, instead of just fruit, nuts, etc. 

 

JANUARY - MARCH = And for me, the healthiest habit of all is writing. So far, I’ve written every day – The Write 24 in 24 Challenge - and I hope to keep the trend going. I’m enjoying myself immensely! 

 

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Do you habit track? Have any favorite healthy habits you’d care to share? Any favorite veggie recipes or snacks? How’s your creative work going? 

Twenty-Four

This year, I'm loosely following Gretchen Rubin's The 24 in 2024 Trifecta  – "One Word" (which I mentioned last month), "The 24 in 24 List" and "The Write 24 in 24 Challenge."

  

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The 24 in 24 List – these are 24 things I hope to accomplish in 2024. It includes some fun things – art classes! - but it's mostly tasks that have been driving me crazy for the last few years, and I need to get done before I lose the little sanity I have left. I probably won't get them all done, but I'll be pleased with just a handful.

 

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The Write 24 in 24 Challenge – I put this on my 24 in 24 list, and I don't care if it's kind of cheating – it's my list, I'll do what I want. (My One Word = Unapologetic!) This takes place over the whole year, writing 2-4 minutes OR 24 minutes every day. Now, some people might ask, don't I, as a writer, already do this? And the answer is yes . . . and no. I do pretty much write every day, but it's not as focused or as imaginative as I'd like. 

 

Over the last few years, I've lost a lot of my creative joy. I don't know if this challenge will help, but we'll see. I'm also going to re-focus on shorter works – flash fiction, micro fiction, short stories, maybe a novella. So much of the novel work I've been doing has felt so heavy, like one of those weighted blankets. (By the way, I tried one of those and felt so trapped, I almost had a panic attack.) 

 

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Now, we did not do this on purpose to continue the theme, but my husband and I are re-watching the old TV series, "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland. We're up to Season 7, and although it's gone off the rails a bit in these later seasons, it's still been a lot of fun. I only wish I had thought to create my own version of a "drinking game" so that every time Jack Bauer or another character said "dammit" I'd get to eat a Peanut M&M. 

 

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Are you participating in any challenges this year? Do you find them helpful or too restricting? Are you feeling the joy in your creative endeavors or are you trying to get it back? If you're a fan of the weighted blanket, please tell me, what am I missing? Do you remember 24? Watching anything that's fun for you? 

Decisions, Decisions

Well, 2023 is marching on, isn't it?

            

WRITING - 

The POV in this first draft of the novel was killing me. I went with Main Character 1 then went with Main Character 2 then back and forth and back again. I thought their narratives were equally compelling, in different ways, but both had weaknesses. I finally just decided to listen to what the story wants because, as usual, the story really does know best. So as of now – realizing this will probably change with editing and revising - not only do I have two POVs but also a Prologue. Sigh.

WATCHING – 

Movies – I was disappointed in the last couple of movies I watched. And this was after watching the previews and checking out the ratings/reviews. One movie was so bad not even a well-known, excellent actor could save it. Another started off really good then morphed into something so weird I have no words for it. 

 

MENTAL HEALTH – 

Back in January, I mentioned that one of my goals was to work on managing my anxiety. I decided to change that up a bit and focus instead on cultivating calm and finding the tools to calm myself - mentally, emotionally, physically - when I need to (and believe me, I need to often!) I'm trying to meditate and listen to/read/watch more positive things. 

 

TORTOISES – 

My husband and I often take the tortoises when we sit on the patio. My husband is usually settled out there before me and, lately, Mrs. Larry has taken to sitting under the chair next him - my chair. We're not sure if she's keeping my husband company or if she's keeping an eye on him, but once I come outside, she walks off, as if saying he's my responsibility now. 

 

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How do you decide a story's POV? Have you seen any good movies lately? Any suggestions for cultivating calm?

The Push Broom in my Mind

So far, my KISS – Keep It Super Simple - word/strategy for 2023 is working pretty well. When I catch clutter creeping in, especially mental clutter, I imagine my focus as a big push broom, shoving stuff out of the way. (My husband always laughs when I use housecleaning examples because we both know the only time I might ever actually use a broom would be for Quidditch.) 

 

WRITING – 

I'm pretty sure I've done more work on my novel/novella last month than I did last year.  

 

WATCHING – 

Movie – Summer of 84 (2018) is nostalgic AND creepy. The monologue delivered by one of the characters toward the end is utterly chilling. I'm still thinking about it. 

 

TV – Don't ask me how we missed Friday Night Lights the first time it was on because I don't know. I do know, though, that we're enjoying it now! We're in the second season so no spoilers, please! 

 

PHYSICAL HEALTH – 

Well, we signed up for another miles challenge. And we're carrying over one from last year so here's where we are as of 1/29/2023:

19/300 miles

0/100 miles.

 

I usually focus more on overall health, but this year, losing pounds - in a healthy way! – is my goal and will hopefully give me the most benefit all around. So far, I haven't lost any weight, but I also haven't gained any either, so I'll take it.  

 

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How's your year going so far? Any movies or TV shows – old, new or new-to-you – that you're enjoying? How do you lose pounds or handle weight loss in general? Any suggestions?

When the Wind Blows

I wrote the post below before Hurricane Ian blew in then sat over us for what felt like years. As someone who's been through hurricanes before and as someone who writes scary things, let me tell you, that was scary. Even now, I still kind of flinch when the wind picks up. But compared to what others went through, we were incredibly lucky. We only had minor damage to our home and were unable to move farther than our block for a few days. We had spotty communication, and no water or power for a while. But, like the little bougainvillea tree we planted when we moved into our home, we here at The Shellshank Redemption are bent but not broken, and we are so grateful to be pretty much upright again. Please join us in sending good thoughts, positive vibes and prayers for those who are struggling and suffering, and for all those who are helping and working to make things better.   

 

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October is my birthday month, and I usually use this time to start thinking about goals for next year. I kind of look at it as MY new year. And, as this is one of those bigger birthdays, I have mixed feelings. What do I hope to accomplish going forward? What do I do differently? What do I keep the same? What do I try? What do I stop doing? 

 

How do you celebrate your birthdays? Do any soul searching or is it all party?

 

I think it's ironic that I was born in the spooky Halloween season, because, as I've mentioned before, I really am a big chicken. That being said, I do plan on reading and/or watching something creepy in keeping with the season. 

 

Do you have any Halloween plans? Any recommendations for scary reading or watching?

 

What I've been reading – 

Amen, Maxine by Faith Gardner and Look Closer by David Ellis are both five star reads and made my favorite books of 2022 list. I don't want to say more about them because it's best to go in not knowing too much. 

 

Have you read anything lately you'd recommend? Have any favorites so far in 2022?

 

What I've been watching – 

The movie "The Black Phone" was excellent! Creepy and heartbreaking and the child actors were amazing.

 

My husband and I started watching "What We Do in the Shadows" on Hulu, and I will say that while I like it, my husband almost falls off the couch laughing at least once an episode. 

 

Have you watched anything lately that creeped you out or made you really laugh?

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At the moment, our Internet connection is still spotty, so it might take some time before your comments and my responses appear here on the blog.

Progress! And a Story!

I didn't accomplish everything I set out to do this summer, but I did make progress on a number of fronts so I'm counting the season as a win.

 

Back in June, I posted about wanting to get the following done – 

 

* Do some cleaning up, de-cluttering and organizing inside and outside the house.

 

Eh. A little bit here and there. 

 

* Finish the 202.2 miles challenge. Maybe start one of the 100 miles challenges.

 

Nope. I really wanted to get the 202.2 miles challenge done by the end of the summer, but for a number of reasons – not all of them my lazy butt's fault! -  that didn't happen. I did keep slogging along so miles were made!

 

Stats as of 8/31/2022 = 

163.2/202.2 miles (walking only)

0/100 miles

0/100 miles

 

* Get at least one draft of my novella done.

 

Nope. But I got organized, have a loose outline, wrote a chunk of chapters. I believe, think, hope, pray I've got a better handle on it than I did before.

 

* Write and submit at least two stories to markets.

 

Yes! I revised one for a contest where it made the finals but didn't rank in the top three. And I wrote a story for a flash fiction contest on literary agent, Janet Reid's, blog. It didn't make the finals, but it received a couple of nice comments from fellow readers. Some of the rules included a word count of 100 words or fewer, and it must contain five words: Depth, Froth, Phase, Showy, Atoll.

 

Maybe the story will give you a chill despite the summer heat . . .  

 

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Dearest Uncle,

My terror has no depth.

With the moon's every phase, this land's black soul takes root, spreads. I curse myself for bringing my family here!

You recall the elusive beasts, tearing nightly through the fields, strewing shredded entrails as if for show. You suggested I hunt. I found no tracks.

Until now.

They led to the house. Inside, three beasts, blood frothing their mouths, fed on my wife's body.

I pray these words find you, Uncle. Before accepting the legal responsibility that befalls you after my death, know the truth.

Be afraid of my children.

Yours,
A. Tolliver

 

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How was your summer? Accomplish any goals? Make progress on some projects? Have fun?

Melting

So far, my summer of getting stuff done is going . . . okay. The biggest issue for me is lack of oomph. I'm not sure if it's my meandering mind, my foggy focus or the Florida summer heat. I am convinced, though, that I'm not sweating but melting, like a giant scoop of gelato. (Hey, I'm half Italian!)

 

WRITING – 

I'm struggling with the novel/novella. It's starting to sprawl, and I'm having trouble remembering everything. Apparently, my brain forgot how to hold more than one idea inside it. It's been a long time since I wrote anything longer than flash fiction so maybe that muscle is as flabby as the rest of me. I'm determined to keep at it though. I believe in it! 

 

I revised and subbed one story. Of course, it wasn't the story or the market I was aiming for, but I'll take it.

 

READING - 

I recently enjoyed two YA mystery/thrillers: QUEEN OF THE TILES by Hanna Alkaf (Scrabble tournament! Set in Malaysia!) and THIS GOLDEN STATE by Marit Weisenberg (A family on the run! A home DNA test!)

 

And I loved Chris Bohjalian's historical fiction/thriller, THE LIONESS (1960s Hollywood and an African safari!) 

 

WALKING – 

Even though we're behind on the miles challenges, we're keeping at it. I, apparently, need some sort of goal to even get up off the couch so quitting is not an option.  

 

Stats as of 6/30/2022 = 

124.2/202.2 miles (walking only)

0/100 miles

0/100 miles

 

I think I'm just going to apply – and repeat! – the tortoises' favorite mantra to everything this summer - slow and steady, slow and steady….

 

*****

 

How's your summer going? If you were a frozen treat, what would you be? Have you read anything good lately? Do you have a mantra, for the summer or in general? 

What Silence Stirs

Last month, I mentioned trying to be more aware of when I spoke and of what I said, hoping to put less "noise" out into the world. 

 

It stirred up a memory from childhood when I was told my quiet, shy personality could possibly come across to other kids as me being "stuck-up." As an adult, I worry that those same personality traits – in addition to my now trying to not blather on for no reason - are making me seem aloof or uninterested. 

 

This whole experiment also reminded me of how much I crave quiet, both outside of myself in terms of sound and hoopla, and inside of myself in terms of drama and turmoil. It almost feels like within the quiet is the only way my brain, my body, my heart can breathe anymore.  

 

WRITING –

A novella/novel is slowly coming together. It's still in the notes stage but those notes are starting to form a big messy pile so, you know, progress. 

 

WATCHING – 

TV – We really enjoyed the first season of Abbott Elementary (cute and funny!). We just started The Queen's Gambit (intriguing!) and Better Call Saul (my husband laughed so hard at a line from the first episode he about fell off the couch.) 

 

READING - 

I've recently read a number of enjoyable mystery/suspense novels – my go-to genre! - but sometimes I like to switch it up. I just finished Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang, an historical/literary fiction novel that begins in the 1880s, in China, and takes the reader on a journey that won't soon be forgotten. 

 

TORTOISES – 

Whenever we take the tortoises out on the patio, Mrs. Larry enjoys sitting under the grill. There are other places to sit with better views, but Mrs. Larry is her own tortoise. 

 

The other day, the tortoises discovered the grill actually moves. So, under Mrs. Larry's direction, Larry "the muscle" slid the grill a little this way, a little that way, until Mrs. Larry was satisfied with the new location. And, as we all know around our house, if Mrs. Larry is happy then we're all happy.

 

*****

What's your impression when you meet someone who's quiet? What do you need to "breathe"? Watched any of those TV shows? Have a go-to genre for reading? Think we should let Mrs. Larry be in charge of all things decorating and design at our place?