Behold, Kizzy!

You’re right. So sorry. That title has nothing to do with anything.

More things that are of devastating intrigue to me. The fact that Word 2007 shows what may or may not be an entirely accurate set of editing hours for a document. I have no idea what the parameters or limitations are, but I do know that I have compiled a list of my first draft hours for The Last Life of Avrilis, Cait After Exile and Keepsake. They vary so widely that I’m sure there are unknown variables involved. But I’m also “sure” simply keeping a document open couldn’t attach any hours to the total as I basically do not close them when I’m working on a wip. Or at least they would cancel each other out to some degree, since I do so with all of them. Of course it took me three times as long to write the first draft of Keepsake – which is a novella and therefore half the length of the other two – so [insert deduction that is sage and reasonable].

The point is that I love it. And will continue to admire my list that ultimately amounts to nothing but then why do these things make us so happy? Writers, I mean. Because I assume I’m not the only one amused by the 758.17 hours of Keepsake and 537.75 hours of Cait. I’m not even going to say where Avrilis fell.

And if anyone has any idea why my wordpress reader is suddenly empty even though I’m subscribed to all the same blogs I ever was, please feel free to m’expliquer!

So in summary. Fun – checking out the total editing hours on a document. No fun – losing wordpress reader functionality.

 

Things That I Have Decided

(1) To apparently disrupt something more delicate than the space/time continuum by changing my blog address to something that will actually make sense three or so years from now – and this only because WordPress had me in a half-nelson before and wouldn’t let me!

(2) I hereby change my tiny big sister descriptor to Jen-the-Twin.  ::dusts hands together::

(3) This is my favorite Donald Glover as Troy breakdown.

I mean, seriously. Is that even acting? I have never been more convinced that an actor was actually crying. <3chu, Donald!

If you thought any of those things would be connected or further explained, I sincerely apologize. You do not yet know me well.

 

In Which The Jig Is Up

Oh, guilt. You great motivator, you. So I do this thing where I tweet-confess to needing to blog so that someone (inevitably) will encourage me to do so. (Yes, Janelle, you are the muse today! And the swift decline in my kitchen’s pickle population is also your doing.)

{Crickets}

“What’s the quickest, cheapest, easiest way to do something with you?” – “Show us pictures?” – “Anything for my little readers!”

So, basically, my newly-seven-year-old is an MG reading fiend. He’s currently reading the third book the How To Train Your Dragon series and the fact that he finished his first “real” book on his seventh birthday was sort of awesome. As is the fact that he reads on the subway. #NerdLove

“What else, Bethany?”

“[sigh] Oh, things.”

“Riveting.”

“Bite me.”

{Cuddles and kisses!}

ADDENDUM: Okay, I feel like I owe you an explanation. (Mind you, I felt this conviction seconds after initially publishing this post and not before.) I came home with EVERY intention of justifying your love…and then had to fill out the dreaded first day back to school forms that came with getting my little one from the iron claws of that school. And yeah, my brain juices, they are zapped. I’M SO SORRY!

 

What Country, Friends, Is This?

Is what I did *not* say to the man sitting in the gazebo when we just could not take the pretty anymore and pulled over somewhere in Upstate New York (which turned out to be Gouverneur) to take pictures and prance. I did not let my dork flag fly though it was on the tip of my tongue. I permitted myself to ask the village name only and I’m not the least bit proud of myself. I haven’t decided on an act of contrition yet but I’m starting with self-disappointment and so far, that’s progressing nicely.

I don’t know if I mentioned it lo those two years ago, but if you’ve never visited Gary, Indiana – it’s Mordor. Done. Alternately, it’s the place Neo went to die at the end of the Matrix trilogy. (If that’s a spoiler, you should be ashamed of yourself.) No seriously, wtheck? Did you guys scorch the sky?

HOMG – okay, so between Canada and Ohio, nobody cares about the sanitation of my hiney. (Spell check?) SEAT COVERS, PEOPLE. Get on that.

I just crossed into my fifth state of the day – still the second country but we’re pretty essited. I’m in my Daddy’s hometown right now! The first time I came here, I spent four or so days ALONE driving around by myself, staying in my brother’s apartment and listening to The Killers. Smashing. Makes me wanna go find Jarrick and Theresa. CHICAGO CODE, SHOUT OUT.

Also, hey how bout I keep paying these tolls and then not have money for my son to go to college, huh? How ‘bout that.

 LOOK AT ME, AMERICA!

Extra credit if anyone knows the origin of the title aka the thing I wanted to say but didn’t!

This has been a travel blog, written on the road, posted from the Heartland.

 

Do You See What I See

Sooo, everyone’s familiar with hypnagogic hallucinations, yes? Yeees. The downside of lucid dreaming is … well all the other stuff that can happen in the same phase of “sleeping”. Like sleep paralysis. Or – as I mentioned – hallucinations. It’s wundebar, believe me. And having head congestion makes those last two pretty much a sure thing for me. In my opinion, no matter how much “sleep” you get during what was for me a stretch of this phenomena, you don’t really feel rested. Of course, it’s not deep sleep and that may be why this is, but also, it brews paranoia about going to sleep that results in muscle tension (again, for me) and knots in my back. #YAY

So anywhom. That was my last week. And this weekend. Splendid, I know. And after I realized what the NECESSARY is for Avrilis’ sequel, I was really hoping to get back to the actual writing. But wow, writing a second book is faaaar more slowgoing. If there weren’t a reason for a sequel, I would not be into it. The world required more, but I wasn’t exactly sure what the more was. The character still needed something, even if it’s turning out she…really can’t have what she needs…because it would require not being from the world she’s from. (Don’t you hate when that happens.) Now that I know what the world needs – although of course not everyone (the little imaginary people who reside therein) would agree – I want to PowerSauce it like the first one! But…that whole A side/B side. Which you’ll recall or read for the first time.

And then, because I had to go through a few posts to find that one and wanted to share this one, too. (This one! This one!) I seriously have to go through old posts periodically and repost them. Because I’m way more narcissistic than you gave me credit for.

In conclusion, we finally got an answer as to why my son watches the special features of every DVD he owns or rents from church. Apparently, he likes to watch parts about how they’re written and made because he maybe wants to make a movie one day. That’s what you call, hop into my mouth…if you want…to live.

 

Very Specific Pet Peeves

People who can’t tell the difference between passive and past continuous. Seriously. I’m not even giving examples because shut up.

People who swindle others, regardless how dull and flat-out simpleminded said “others” must be to be swindled. That doesn’t absolve the swindler of their intent. Gross. (Seriously, click that and then ask me how someone could be (a) interested in being published, (b) have internet access and (c) use the internet to find this woman and somehow simultaneously miss the presence of agent blogs, agentquery, absolute write, p&e… This is where we have a MASSIVE HEAD EXPLOSION, yes?)

People who want to blog for like three days before they actually get around to opening the Add New Post tab. ::punches self::

Typos that don’t exist until you press send. (Funny story/true story: I had a typo in that sentence.)

Things That Do Not Peeve Me

 

Hang Your Head In Shame

Homgosh, so funny story/true story. I had this page open for about the past twelve hours. ISN’T THAT HILARIOUS?!?!!!!!!!!1

I still have no idea about what to post. I’ll see y’all later.

You could always leave an inspiring comment so we can try this again later.

 

THESE. Are Spirit Fingers.

How could I forget that Little Miss Rosemary gave me another blog award?! My brain is making up for all the productivity of the pas month with an unauthorized bout of mental retardation, that’s how.

sparkle, sparkle

And I’d like to pass it on to:

Cheryl – my WriteOnCon buddy whose query and sample immediately won me (and others)

Kimberly – a new blog pal who leaves comments! I <3!

JenJen’s Style Blog – because I lurve it!

So, you may (or most decidedly not) have noticed that my writing pages have been altered. While I left up a couple shorts, the other samples are gone (but not really). My desire to revisit my adult literary white whale novel has been growing and I knew once I was done with my last book that I’d make the changes that’ve been weighing on me. First of all, I want it back to my denser length – probably not entirely but a bit closer – and I also want to do an alternate sketch of the narrative. By the beginning or middle of September, methinks.

And. Top Three Reasons My Son Is Smacktacularly Perfect This Week:

(1) He begged Hubsy to get my clarinet out of the deep recesses of the closet so that we could play together – I on a woodwind that needs to go to the shop to actually be playable and he on his ukulele. Swoon.

(2) He watches Kiss Me Kate and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers in the living room by himself – he can now put on dvds without assistance – and LAUGHS.OUT.LOUD.

(3) He pets my hair when I pick him up.

nom nom nom.

 

I’m Off To Market!

If you haven’t checked out my tiny big sister JenJen’s personal fashion blog, you should. It’s super fun and not super annoying and cookie cutter-but-I-like-to-consider-myself-unique-because-crazy-is-the-new-black like all the ones I can’t follow. Anyway, it makes every day of getting dressed more exciting, even if you’re not buying anything new. Which I think everybody should experience anyway. It’d probably reduce the number of homeless-looking people walking around (pajamas and uggs never were and never will be grocery shopping attire).

Anyway! So, I decided to do a post just for her and I’m hoping you other girls will show us a snapshot of your day-to-day style, as well! A break from writing or talking about writing or thinking about what we’re not writing sounds like fun, no? (And then we’ll get back to talking and breathing and eating writing, bien sur. Or whatever ridiculousness I usually impart.)

SO, aujourd’hui the boys and I were headed to Cote-des-Neiges marche for some fruit parce que c’est si moins cher (je peux dire ca?) – and I had to dress quickly to keep them from leaving me behind. Anyway, it turned out to be a lovely JCrew day.

Sailing T: JCrew

Matchstick jeans: JCrew

Red flats: Target

Summer Tote: JCrew

Earrings: Forever XXI

I haven’t worn these jeans in forever (the waist is huge and I had to get them…reinforced…somewhere) but I so miss the way they hug my ankles and look great with flats. Oh, JCrew. I miss you. Call me.

Perfect outfit for strolling Cote-des-Neiges today. Momentary sprinkles, otherwise overcast with a lovely breeze.

How was your day? If you post an outfit, send me a link and I’ll post it! And don’t forget to visit PrettyinPDX!

 

Here’s Lookin’ At Me, Kids

You're going places, baby!

So says Bogey. So sayeth Miss Rosemary! Thanks, girlie, for my third blog award!

Tis Miss Rosemary who introduced me to the concept of character interviews – check out her blog to find hers – but lamentably I cannot yet indulge (and I have no idea why I’m talking this way) because today is Birthday Numero Trois of Morrowpalooza. After today (and the wedding anniversary next week), we’re officially done with another year! And since you’re all so kind (and also since I’m super busy writing this month and have totally not kept up on this blog the way I’d like to), I’m going to share a video that usually only my facebook family sees! Yay! Hope you enjoy!

And to round things off, I am finally making a top five list of Backyardigan episodes!

(1) Save The Day (Psychedelic Soul) – favorite song: Save The Day

(2) The Quest For The Flying Rock (Disco) – favorite song: Float, Flutter, Fly

(3) A Giant Problem (80s Synth Pop) – favorite song: I Know A Spell

(4) Tales of the Mighty Knights (Rock Opera) – favorite song: I’m Not An Egg Anymore

(5) Castaways (Bossa Nova) – favorite song: Castaways

Okay and there are episodes whose stories I prefer to some – particularly to the first story because Tasha’s character is super tormentingly annoying in my #1 episode – like the one about the paintings coming to life, the one about the mysterious mansion where Tyrone’s the butler. But these five are my absolute favorites for music! If I had to choose a number sixth, it’d be the one about Mount Olympus.