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.

 

*****

 

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?

It's Not Over Till It's Over

I used to be guilty of saying, oh well, the year’s almost over, why bother trying this or that or the other thing. But a couple of months ago, I heard about the 100 days countdown to the end of the year, and seeing that number made me realize, hey, there’s still a big chunk of time left! It’s not only 100 days, it’s still 100 days. 

As of the writing of this post, there are over 55 days left in the year. So, instead of giving up, let’s get going!

 

WRITING

I’m working on the story collection, a drabble and a flash fiction/short story. This story is a little different for me in that it’s heavy on dialogue, but since that’s how it came to me, I’m going with it.

 

READING

I’ve been on a reading roll lately! 

The Private Jet by Sarah Goodwin - an adventure/survival thriller that will have you turning pages so fast you’ll get paper cuts but that's nothing compared to what happens in the book!

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch - another survival/adventure thriller that will make you feel like a slacker unless you, too, are an ultramarathon runner racing through the Sahara Desert.

 

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens – will leave you second guessing that road trip you’re considering… 

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon – left me emotionally wrung out in the way only a really good read can. (I received an ARC in a giveaway. Expected publication date 11/18/2025.)

TORTOISES

The tortoises never fail to amuse me. At the vet for their check-up, their very different personalities were on display. They needed to have their beaks and nails trimmed, and while Larry wanted no part of it, Mrs. Larry acted like she was getting a facial and a manicure/pedicure. 

 

WATCHING

We’ve had some good luck lately with Netflix. Two movies – The Thursday Murder Club was enjoyable and The Woman in Cabin 10 was very suspenseful. A limited series – Hostage – was utterly gripping. 

 

*****

How are you approaching the end of 2025? Have you read or watched anything good lately? Do your pets amuse 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! 

*****

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. 

 

*****

 

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?

The Summer of Making Strides

For a lot of people, the summer is about relaxing and vacations. But since doing anything "normal" would be too easy – and easy stands no chance against my overthinking ogre of a brain – my husband and I mostly spend this sweat-storm of a season with our heads down, trying to get stuff done. 

 

WRITING

Novel/novella – a draft WILL be done by summer's end. I will write through a hurricane if I have to (but, please, let's hope and pray I don't have to!)

 

Mailing List – a mailing list will – hopefully! - be set up by summer's end. I know, I know, I should've done this so long ago. Part of the delay was laziness, some just procrastination, but most of it was that overthinking ogre brain again. 

 

This post - "The Thing That Sticks Out" – by Austin Kleon reminded me how uniqueness in a story should often be cultivated, not squashed. 

 

WATCHING

Movie – "Knock at the Cabin" (2023, directed by M. Night Shyamalan) – I really enjoyed this. It was suspenseful, unnerving and unsettling, all things I love in a story. 

 

READING

Two recent favorites for you:

LONE WOMEN by Victor LaValle (historical fiction/horror) 

CROW MARY by Kathleen Grissom (historical fiction) - I was lucky to get my greedy hands on an ARC of this one. 

 

TORTOISES

The tortoises celebrated their 14^thbirthday! Banana was enjoyed by all! 

 

*****

 

What are your summer plans? Any suggestions or tips for setting up a mailing list? Read or watched anything you enjoyed? Celebrating anything?

 

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. 

 

*****

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

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? 

Numbers Everywhere

I am not a numbers person, but when I look back at 2021 and look ahead to 2022, imagine my surprise when I see numbers everywhere: 

 

Apparently, according to my stats, I have written close to 900 blog posts. I would say I have no words but apparently I do. About 900 blog posts worth of words. And counting. 

 

In 2021, my husband and I signed up to do a virtual challenge of 500 miles. It did not go well. We did learn a lot, though, in terms of energy, pacing, timing and taking into account the seasons (I'm looking at you Florida melt-your-face summer!) For 2022, we decided to do two separate virtual challenges of 100 miles each, one after the other. The focus is on walking, but we plan on adding biking as well. 

 

For the last couple of years, the goal of my Reading Challenge over on Goodreads was 80 books. This is a totally doable goal for me, but since my focus flaps around like a palm frond in the wind, I barely squeaked by. So I'm giving myself a break and setting the 2022 Reading Challenge to 52 books. I will knock this out easily and have an early win, something I really need. 

 

The tortoises are now 12 years old. Larry weighs about 11 pounds. He is a sensitive soul inside that solid shell. Mrs. Larry, who is lighter and smaller, refuses to divulge her stats but wants to make sure everyone knows that even though Larry is large, she's the one in charge. Of us all. 

 

Honestly, I don't even remember my One Word for last year. For 2022, I played with ideas, made lists, searched for the word that will be my theme for the year, that will keep me on a good track. One word jumped off the page – WRITING. Yes, I wrote last year, but it wasn't pretty. My creativity, discipline, focus, imagination, overall oomph fizzled then flattened like an opened bottle of seltzer. My hope for 2022 is that on those occasions when I get anxious, depressed and freaked out (or, in other words, every day) my One Word reminds me of how writing is intrinsic to who I am, that I am not lost, that I am still here, that I am still me. 

 

*****

 

How were your "numbers" for 2021? How are they looking for 2022? Do you have a One Word? Any goals or plans for 2022?

Hunkering Down

The plan for this summer is to pretty much hunker down and Get. Things. Done. Somehow, life – and that includes everything from health to writing to cleaning - has gotten away from me. Keeping things on track is like herding tortoises back inside the house from the patio (believe me, it's harder than you think.) Time to start moving in a positive direction again!

 

WRITING

In publication news, my flash fiction story, "The Perfect Match", is in Shallow Waters Vol. 7: A Flash Fiction Anthology, and I have two drabbles coming out this summer in anthologies from Black Ink Fiction. 

 

I actually "attended" my first StokerCon – the big conference for horror writers - from the comfort of my own home. I watched panel after panel and learned so much. I took pages and pages of handwritten notes, all of which I'm hoping I will be able to decipher. 

*****

 

READING

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a little more of a slower paced book than I usually read but the writing! The characters! The revelations toward the end! The ending! The book just blew me away. 

***** 

 

WATCHING

Movies – "Rent-A-Pal" was creepy, sad, and unsettling.

 

TV – We finally finished watching "Justified" and overall absolutely LOVED it! The last episode was excellent and the very last scene was just perfect. 

***** 

 

TORTOISES

Larry and Mrs. Larry are now 12 years old! They celebrated by having one of their favorite treats – banana!  The rest of us had cake.

***** 

 

WALKING

Seriously, what was I thinking? Why did I let my husband convince me to do this 500 miles walk? Why didn't we just do the 100 miles? We'd be done already! Why did I think I could do this? (Okay, whiny rant over. For now.)

 

Miles walked as of 5/31/2021 = 137.2/500 (Click here for what this craziness is all about.)

 

***** 

 

Any projects – creative or otherwise – you plan to tackle this summer? Have you read or watched anything great lately? How about a pep talk, a butt kick, or a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup . . . or two? I need all the help I can get!

Forward into February

For some reason – and no reason – January had me stymied at almost every turn. Even so, I'm choosing to focus on the positives! Here are some highlights: 

 

WRITING 

Since one of my stories tied for first place in a Crystal Lake flash fiction contest in 2020, I was invited to participate in their Best of the Best challenge, only open to contest winners. Let me just say this: Whew! That was some tough competition! My story didn't win or place, but I'm honored to have been included in that bunch.

 

***

READING

2021 started with the suspenseful The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard. It not only gave me the creeps, but also offered a creative twist to the alternative POV structure. So well done! Loved it!

***

 

WATCHING

TV-wise, we're trying some old-but-new-to-us shows, like "Justified." I can't even begin to tell you how much we're enjoying it! [Please no spoilers in the comments! We're only up to season 3 or so.]

 

Movie-wise, we watched "Don't Tell a Soul," starring Rainn Wilson. So well acted and full of great twists! 

 

***

TORTOISES

We had some cold-for-Florida weather, which meant the tortoises had to stay inside. But it finally warmed up enough for them to wander the patio, taking the occasional break to sit under the grill.

 

***

WALKING

Seen on a walk: A man, dogs on the seat next to him, pulls his golf cart up to the stop sign. Music drifts over from the cart. The song? "Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns N' Roses. 

 

Miles walked as of 1/29/21 = 28/500. Hmm, this might actually be more miles than I walked all of last year. (Click here if you're wondering what this craziness is all about.) 

*****

How's your year going so far? Have you read or watched anything good? (Again, please no "Justified" spoilers!) Are you making progress on any challenges or goals?

Time for a Break

So far, summer is hot and stressful, my focus scattering, evaporating like water droplets sprayed from a hose. 

We're moving soon – fingers crossed! It's been a huge, messy process for many reasons and even though it's far from over, I'll take whatever progress we make, whenever we make it, one step at a time, one packing box full of bubble wrap at a time. 

I'm still writing, but focusing on brainstorming and shorter projects. I'm still reading, because believe me, you don't want to be around when I don't get to read. My husband is still keeping me from totally melting down. And the tortoises are still . . . tortoise-ing. 

Since the tortoises are the sanest ones around here – I swear having shells has something to do with it - I'm going to listen to their advice about taking a blogging break until some time in August. I'll still be around, popping in and out, but no new posts for a bit. 

Take care, everyone!

*****

How's your summer? Is your focus scattered or sharp as tart lemonade? Any packing/moving/getting settled tips? Any advice for an anxious introvert about meeting new neighbors and not appearing like a total wackadoo? 

Superheroes and Surprises

Since a number of nice surprises have come my way recently, I wanted to share some of that positivity with you all. I hope you find something here that lifts your spirits!

***** 

BOOKS - 

I'd heard so many good things about Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center that even though it's a different genre for me - more contemporary fiction/women's fiction/romance – I had to give it a try. I LOVED it. Loved. It. It's heartbreaking AND heartwarming. I cried, I laughed, I rooted for pretty much every single character. I can't recommend it enough.

*****

OUT AND ABOUT -

You know that saying about finding heroes in unlikely places? Well, the other day, my husband and I were out walking  – social distancing rules applying (not for each other, although my husband might have wanted a break from me but was too nice – afraid? – to ask.) We're passing by a tree with a plant – orchid? – growing around it. I keep walking, but my husband stops. Laughing, he waves me back to show me . . . 

BATMAN!

Photo by Madeline Mora-Summonte, 2020

Of course, we then spent the rest of our walk wondering about that Batman figure. Who put it there and why? Is it some sort of secret code for local kids? Did an adult find it and place it there, hoping the owner of the lost toy would come back for it? How long has it been there? No one stole it? 

*****

THE CRAFT OF WRITING - 

The post "Have Shocking Coffee with Your Lead Character" by James Scott Bell is a fantastic tool to get us past those "safe places" in our writing. He mentions a few different ideas in the post, and I hope to try them all, but this is my favorite: 

You, the author, imagine you are seated with your main character over a cup of coffee. She tells you she doesn’t think you’ve quite captured her. That surprises you a bit. I mean, after all, you created her.

So you ask, “In what way?” And your character tells you something that shocks you. What is it? (I have the students write for one minute.)

Then I say: You’ve spit out your coffee. Your character hands you a napkin and then tells you something even more shocking! (Write for one minute.)

*****

PUBLICATIONS - 

After struggling with creativity and focus, I was thrilled to learn one of my flash fiction stories received second place in a contest AND will be published in an upcoming anthology. More information to come!

*****

TORTOISES – 

This month, the tortoises turn 11 years old! The surprise here is that while I like animals fine, I never really considered myself an animal person or a pet person . . . until the tortoises came along. These two make me smile every single day. They're like my own little superheroes, only they have shells instead of capes. 

*****

What pleasant surprises have come your way lately? Read any good books? Seen any superheroes lately? Will you have coffee with your characters? Any creative/publishing/writing news? Do your pets get anything special on their birthday? (The tortoises will get banana but sssh, don't tell them! It's a surprise!)   

When Amphibians Attack: A What If? Scenario

Picture it: Sunday Night. Game of Thrones is over. The hard shelled members of the family are sleeping, the rest of us getting ready for bed. Suddenly, my husband calls out from the bathroom, his tone of voice not 911-emergency-urgent but tense enough to concern me. I hurry to him. Crawling up the wall is the biggest frog we. have. ever. seen.

What if . . . this frog is the beginning of some apocalyptic plague? What if it's a harbinger of doom? 

What if . . . a genie - instead of a prince or princess - was turned into a frog by someone disgruntled with the three-wish-making process? What if the next person who kisses the frog turns it back into a genie and gets a swamp-load of wishes?

What if . . . the tortoises invited their friend the frog over for a sleepover and forgot to tell us? 

Your turn! Is the frog a warning, a magically-cursed critter, or a playdate? Something else entirely? What would you do if you saw a big old frog crawling around your bathroom? (In case you're wondering, I ran away screaming - big surprise - while my husband scooped it into a cup then released it outside.)  

Picture It!

I thought I'd go visual with this post and show some photos - taken by my husband or myself - of the area where we live. We by no means live in the country, but to a girl who grew up in the city, it's close enough. (One day, I'll have to tell you about the wild chicken . . . .)

Ah, sunrise!

This guy might need extra postage.

This cobweb is NOT a reflection
of my cleaning abilities.

Sandhill cranes, protecting their nest.
Check out the egg!

Every place has pros and cons,
but I love where I live

Oh, and the tortoises want to make sure you check out their two new photos over on the righthand sidebar near the top . . . . 

*****

Do you take photos of your daily life or do you wait for an event or a vacation? What critters share your space - inside or outside? Do you love where you live?

Holiday Wishes and a Blogging Break

THE MORE YOU 

PRAISE AND CELEBRATE

YOUR LIFE,

THE MORE THERE IS IN LIFE

TO CELEBRATE.

(Oprah Winfrey)

The holiday season is not joyful for everyone. Some people are grieving. Others are lonely. Many are stressed for reasons ranging from financial to familial. And society - TV commercials, ads, holiday movies, etc - can often make people feel worse for not experiencing the "perfect" time. 

If you're struggling this holiday season, please try to look beyond the trappings and into the heart of what is good in you and in your life. It's sometimes hard to see it with all the hoopla, but it's there. It might seem small or inconsequential to you, but it's not. It's important. You do have something to "praise and celebrate." We all do. 

How's your health? Is there a solid roof over your head? Do you have a pet that you love? Can you pick up a small toy to donate for a children's charity? How about a stroll to look at Christmas lights? Do you find peace in attending a religious service? How about treating yourself to a book you've been dying to read, a movie marathon while curled up on the couch, a favorite rich food that makes your eyeballs roll back in your head? How about starting a gratitude journal? It might be a lovely way to give the old year a solid goodbye embrace while also opening your arms wide and joyfully to the new year that's arriving.

All of us here at The Shellshank Redemption wish you joy - whatever that looks like for you - this holiday season. I'll pop in and out of the blogosphere, but the tortoises say no more posts until after Christmas. It does take them some time to get things done. After all, the tree won't decorate itself! And Larry is not the handiest when it comes to wrapping presents. So, we need all the time we can get around here.

Merry Christmas! 🎅  Happy Holidays! 🎄

Clean Houses vs Finished Books

This is totally why I don't have any published novels to my name:

"WOMEN WITH CLEAN HOUSES

DO NOT HAVE FINISHED BOOKS."

(Joy Held)

Because you know, my house is So. Clean.

Okay, even the tortoises are laughing at that. 

Seriously, though, it's all about priorities. In the past, I got off course, got distracted. I fell for some of society's expectations. I let people and what they thought into my head. I tried to please even as I tried to be myself. My dreams and hopes suffered. My writing suffered. My spirit suffered.

Well, enough is enough. The majority of my energy and focus now goes to health/losing weight and to writing. My husband, my partner in all things, gets that. We're in this thing called life together. 

So, if the dust bunnies form an army, my husband will conquer them with the vacuum. If the laundry pile turns mountain, I'll scale it then throw in a wash. If neither of us feels like cooking, we'll hunt for hearty, healthy takeout salads. 

Now, if only we could get the tortoises to pull their weight around here . . . 

*****

How about you? Are you struggling with priorities right now? Are you balanced, focused, on track for the most part? What's working for you? How dirty does your house have to get before you surrender and get to cleaning?     

Signs of Spring

So many of you have suffered through such nasty weather this winter that I just wanted to share a few shots of Spring here in FL as a reminder that your sunshine and warm temps are not too far away. Hang in there!

*****

I usually refrain from buying too many plants and flowers since they will most likely die in my care, but I couldn't resist bringing home this tulip plant. And surprise - it's not only still alive but blooming, with more buds about to open!

*****

Baseball's Spring Training is in full force around Florida. I actually like going to these games better than regular season ones. The Port Charlotte field where the Tampa Bay Rays play is so open and fun and fan-friendly. Look how close we are to the players! So many of them - Ben Zobrist, above - take the time to stop and sign autographs for fans.

*****

We have some Sandhill Cranes that live in our development and every March they have their babies. Don't they look like ducklings?

*****

And the tortoises love the warmer weather because it means they get to dine al fresco. Here they are feasting on some fresh parsley.

*****

Have you seen signs of spring in your neck of the woods yet? What are you most looking forward to as the warmer weather arrives? 

A Makeup Lesson from an Unlikely Source

Since a number of us are slogging through NaNo, and even more of us are prepping for the holidays, I thought we could all use a chuckle and a reminder of how much fun  creativity and imagination can be….

My husband and I love getting drawings from my six and a half year old nephew, B, and from my almost five year old niece, T. Here's what they sent us the other day:

A portrait of Larry the tortoise, done by B - 

A portrait of Mrs. Larry the tortoise, done by T - 

A close up of the Mrs. Larry drawing - 

Give it a good look. Okay?

Now here's what's written on the back - 

MRS. LARRY WEARING LIPSTICK

(If only I looked as good wearing lipstick. Sigh. Have a good day, everyone!) 

Pacing . . . the Tortoise Way

One aspect I struggle with in my novel writing is pacing - this scene goes on too long, that scene is too short. It's something I'm working on.

But I'm not the only one in my house who struggles with pacing...of a different sort.

The tortoises are usually pretty quiet creatures but once in awhile, Larry decides to be rambunctious. I'll be in my office, writing (or trying to) and I'll hear a thunk from downstairs. A minute goes by and then another thunk. The pattern repeats itself over...and over...and over. This is the sound of Larry pacing back and forth in the tank. He walks to one end, scrabbles in the corner a bit, then turns around, banging his shell up against the glass or the hide or the rocks or Mrs. Larry before walking to the other end and doing it all over again.  

I've explained to Larry how I'm trying to work and need quiet and how he's not being the hard-shelled muse I need him to be. He just looks at me like this...

...and continues pacing. Hmm, maybe he's trying to tell me something - keep at it, don't give up, go until I no longer can then rest before I start again, the other side of the tank offers a different perspective that just might help me see things differently. Or maybe he's telling me to go put on those noise canceling headphones so we can both get back to our respective pacing issues. 

Do you struggle with pacing like Larry and me? Or is it plotting or showing characters' emotions or something else? Or maybe it's all good and you're mellow like Mrs. Larry, who spends her days dozing with her head on a rock, basking in the heat and light of the lamp?  

Mrs. Larry Holds Down the Fort, Um, Tank

I never considered myself a pet person. I liked animals but in an abstract way. Growing up, my family had a cat, then a dog but they weren't mine, you know?

Then my husband and I brought home the tortoises. Now, I know. A lot of people don't "get it." Tortoises aren't like dogs or cats. They don't snuggle and cuddle and lick your face. They don't play catch or chase a ball of yarn. But Larry and Mrs. Larry have their own personalities and their own way of being a part of our family. And when one member of your household is sick, it affects everyone.

Both Larry and I were sick on Monday but poor Larry was throwing up sick - not a good thing for anyone but especially not for a tortoise. He was listless and droopy and just looked sad, much like we all do when we're not feeling well. My husband took Larry to the vet. We figured the doctor would check Larry out, give him some medicine, and he'd come home. 

But Larry is still at the vet. They had to give him a sedative because he is a tough little guy who does not like to be poked and prodded. They drew blood and did x-rays and figured out Larry has an obstruction in his stomach - some cuttle bone lodged in there funny - and it needs to dissolve and be "passed." But until it does, the vet wants Larry to stay there a few more days so they can keep an eye on him and keep him hydrated. 

I explained all this to Mrs. Larry. She looked at me like she understands but she seems a little lost, confused. Sad. She's been sleeping in a different spot. She doesn't plant herself in the warmest corner like she usually does. Instead, she perches on the water dish - just like Larry would do. She even left food in the dish as if she didn't want to eat it all. It's the first time Larry and Mrs. Larry have ever been truly apart. To see only one tortoise in the tank when there's normally two throws both my husband and me off. We all miss Larry's wrinkly little face and hope he comes home soon.  

So, yeah, I guess I'm a pet person after all.

That's Larry resting on the Mrs.