With a blog title in the style of Jean Craighead George's chapter titles, I can't go wrong. Did I ever mention that my favorite book of all time is "My Side of the Mountain?" I love the fearlessness.
Truthfully, it was a very long 3-1/2 weeks. Just wish my hips hadn't spread so much while I was recovering! OK, maybe I can blame the post-illness depression for the extra snacking and lack of workouts. Or, maybe it was the intense boredom with not feeling well. Anyway, enough excuses already. I need to go get a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad and get back to writing.
Hey, did I tell y'all that I got Rory's Story Cubes and Action Cubes for Christmas? I'm looking forward to "rolling the dice" to try 'em out on a short story or three.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
The end of coughing
Yes, I'm celebrating!!! I made it through an entire day with only one coughing fit. I consider that to be "cured"--horray!
In case anyone's wondering what kept this asthmatic down for nearly a month, the baddie is called Metapneumovirus (meta-numo-virus). Yup, it's a lower respiratory infection that can send asthmatics and children to ICU. I wasn't quite that bad, but 3 days in the hospital is enough for anyone to go a little batty.
Speaking of batty, I must be crazy to be playing so much solitaire on my PC. It stimulates my brain matter, but doesn't get anything productive actually accomplished. Hmmmmph.
In case anyone's wondering what kept this asthmatic down for nearly a month, the baddie is called Metapneumovirus (meta-numo-virus). Yup, it's a lower respiratory infection that can send asthmatics and children to ICU. I wasn't quite that bad, but 3 days in the hospital is enough for anyone to go a little batty.
Speaking of batty, I must be crazy to be playing so much solitaire on my PC. It stimulates my brain matter, but doesn't get anything productive actually accomplished. Hmmmmph.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Eating for Brain Power!
What do writers eat? I don't have much luck with creativity when I'm loaded down with cookies, chocolate, and sodas. In answer to a challenge on the Engine2Diet website, here's an ideal day of healthy eating...
Breakfast, veggie stirfry with portabella mushroom. Takes about 10 minutes to make. I have a desk job, so eating lots of carbs first thing in the morning doesn’t work well for me.
Snack, pistachios and a small banana
Lunch, refried beans, sliced tomato and corn chips (baked?)
Snack, raisin bran flake cereal with unsweetened soy milk.
Dinner, pan-fried tofu slices (non-stick spray), steamed greens, corn, and a salad
Desert, an apple or a frozen, 100% fruit pop
And, of course, lots of water.
Yes, I do feel better on the days that I eat like this; need to make sure I have more of these days in 2012!
Breakfast, veggie stirfry with portabella mushroom. Takes about 10 minutes to make. I have a desk job, so eating lots of carbs first thing in the morning doesn’t work well for me.
Snack, pistachios and a small banana
Lunch, refried beans, sliced tomato and corn chips (baked?)
Snack, raisin bran flake cereal with unsweetened soy milk.
Dinner, pan-fried tofu slices (non-stick spray), steamed greens, corn, and a salad
Desert, an apple or a frozen, 100% fruit pop
And, of course, lots of water.
Yes, I do feel better on the days that I eat like this; need to make sure I have more of these days in 2012!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Rest in Peace, Anne McCaffrey
One of my all-time favorite sci-fi authors, Anne McCaffrey, passed away at age 85 a month ago, on November 21st. From Restoree, to Killashandra, to The Dragonsinger and Dragon-Rider series, to The Crystal Singer series, to The Ship Who Sang.... Mrs. McCaffrey's books and short stories were the ones I read and re-read the most.
Her women were so very human, and strong, and confident, and smart. Her stories gave me stability in my younger world of turmoil. Sanity when all around me there was none. Confidence when I lacked my own.
She's left quite a legacy--a world that I hope to follow someday.
Her women were so very human, and strong, and confident, and smart. Her stories gave me stability in my younger world of turmoil. Sanity when all around me there was none. Confidence when I lacked my own.
She's left quite a legacy--a world that I hope to follow someday.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Things I've learned this summer
Yes, I've learned a few things this summer. Some of these actually caught me off-guard.
I like reading more than I like writing. I think this is because I can read lightyears faster than I can write.
When the going gets tough, throw in an unexpected plot-twist. It seems to me, that the newest middle-grade books all employ this solution to problems. When the MC is backed into a corner, instead of working through the issue, the situation suddenly changes. I just have to remember that these authors have been published while I am not.
When doing intensive edits, it's disastrously simple to get frustrated and burned-out. Yes, my plans for the summer were sidelined by my frustration, and an intense longing to get healthier. I swam, I biked to nowhere (stationary bike), and I'm on my way to healthier.
Writing a book on an iPad comes with extra distractions. Games, news, etc...
Reading the news helps with writing sci-fi. For example, I learned about vertical gardening, which is very helpful in an enclosed habitat.
I also learned that I really do believe in my story, even though this fall and winter will bring another intensive rewrite. All I need to do is get started.
I like reading more than I like writing. I think this is because I can read lightyears faster than I can write.
When the going gets tough, throw in an unexpected plot-twist. It seems to me, that the newest middle-grade books all employ this solution to problems. When the MC is backed into a corner, instead of working through the issue, the situation suddenly changes. I just have to remember that these authors have been published while I am not.
When doing intensive edits, it's disastrously simple to get frustrated and burned-out. Yes, my plans for the summer were sidelined by my frustration, and an intense longing to get healthier. I swam, I biked to nowhere (stationary bike), and I'm on my way to healthier.
Writing a book on an iPad comes with extra distractions. Games, news, etc...
Reading the news helps with writing sci-fi. For example, I learned about vertical gardening, which is very helpful in an enclosed habitat.
I also learned that I really do believe in my story, even though this fall and winter will bring another intensive rewrite. All I need to do is get started.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Restoree
Written in 1967, Restoree is Anne McCaffrey's first full-length novel. Sara starts out as a mousy librarian and soon finds herself as nurse to a strange man on a strange planet.
Her political expertise and technological savvy make this one of my all-time favorite sci-fi novels.
I read the book as a teen, and just completed my first re-read in several years. Amazing how my perspective has changed. :-) The element of discovery and Ms. McCaffrey's flowing wording are what keeps the plot fresh.
This is one book that I'd love to see made into a movie. We now have the technology to make it beautiful.
Her political expertise and technological savvy make this one of my all-time favorite sci-fi novels.
I read the book as a teen, and just completed my first re-read in several years. Amazing how my perspective has changed. :-) The element of discovery and Ms. McCaffrey's flowing wording are what keeps the plot fresh.
This is one book that I'd love to see made into a movie. We now have the technology to make it beautiful.
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