Archive for the 'Sunday Scribblings' Category

June 27, 2010 | Adv Children's Lit,How coolio is THAT?,Life in General,Reading is FUNdamental,Sunday Scribblings

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Life Swap

After reading Shel Silverstein’s autobiography for my ACL class, I would life swap with him. But only certain parts:

~ Endless travel

~Homes in different places

~ Camping out in the conference room of my publisher to take over the production of my book (if I was going the traditional route, that is) and have people be on Celise Patrol (glorified gofers that would bring me whatever I needed)

~ Worldwide adoration of YA fans

~ To have ideas come so ridiculously often that if I don’t have any paper around, I have to use what I got–whether it be my arms are the tablecloth at the restaurant where I’m eating.

~ To leave a million dollar legacy that includes: continuing royalties, books translated in 20 different languages and sold well over 20 million copies.

~ To know that I lived my life to the fullest, doing what I love most, and not have any regrets whatsoever.

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June 6, 2010 | Dance Jam Productions,Life in General,Sunday Scribblings

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Mess

This is an excerpt from DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS, avail now.

***

“If we’re still going to continue to be partners in this contest, I’m going to have to explain something to you. You have no right to judge my situation when you don’t know all the facts and you sure as hell don’t know anything about Tykota.” She pointed an accusing index finger at him.

Jarek nodded, instantly contrite. He’d overstepped his bounds. He wouldn’t be surprised if she kicked him out, never to talk to him again. He wished he could take the words back, knowing he had broken the already fragile bond between them. He would have to bust his butt to get back to where they had been before he’d opened his big mouth.

“You’re right. I don’t know anything about him and I shouldn’t have said what I did. I apologize,” he said sincerely.

Mattie searched his face for a long moment. “Apology accepted,” she said.

But he knew nothing would be the same. At least, not for a while. She was still wary, probably wondering why she had told him anything in the first place.

“So help me understand,” he pleaded, hands out in supplication.

Mattie glanced at her watch, gave Judah a warning command, stood up, and started moving to the doorway.

“I think we’ve said enough already,” she murmured softly.

Apparently that was his cue to leave, so he got up to follow her. His gaze ran over her, taking in the braid that no longer fell to her waist, but now rested between her shoulder blades.

“Mattie.”

She paused and turned to him. Suddenly she felt so old. Old and tired.

“I don’t want to argue anymore, Jarek. And I don’t want you to be mad at me, either. It’s going to be hard enough to concentrate on this contest after spilling my guts to you, and we can’t afford any mess-ups on Friday. So how ‘bout a truce?” she suggested, holding out her hand.

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June 1, 2010 | "Whoa whoa I gotta go...back to schoooool...again",3rd Semester,Life in General,Prescott College,Sunday Scribblings,The 4-1-1 on Me

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Mantra

To be honest, I’ve never had a mantra.

However, right now it’s:

One week at a time and remember to breathe.

I went back to school. After 17-18 yrs of not being in school. I started in the Fall of 2009 and it was a HUMONGO adjustment for me. I was only taking two classes at the time and about a month into it, I was feeling the pressure. I had a little breakdown, was emailing my core faculty (aka advisor) on a weekly basis…it was crazy.

I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard. After I graduated from high school, I did the community college thing for 2 yrs, then the 4-year university thing (ASU) for about a year. Possibly less. I don’t remember it being that hard before. And then my hubby put it into perspective for me:

“You weren’t working full time back then.”

Ah. The light bulb finally clicked on.

I’m working full time now. Some of my courses are online, others will be face to face/phone call convos with my mentors. During the first semester, I made the mistake of looking ahead at the syllabi (both of my courses were online). And got immediately overwhelmed.

I had to have pep talks with my core faculty, with my husband, with another co-worker also in school before this one phrase started to sink in.

“Just take it one week at a time. Don’t look at the weeks in advance, just what’s due the following week.”

I think it’s starting to work. I’ll be starting my 3rd semester in two days. This time, I’ll be taking 3 classes (and will continue to do so if I want to graduate in Dec 2011). I’m feeling both excited and anxious. I’m hoping I’ll be able to handle 3 classes and working full time.

I just have to remember my mantra.

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May 16, 2010 | Life in General,Sunday Scribblings,The 4-1-1 on Me

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Recipe

To be honest, in this marriage, Babendude is the cook. It didn’t start out that way. I mean, I’ve never really cooked. Let me rephrase that. I cook, mostly breakfast food. And I’m not too shabby with spaghetti. However, I pretty much lived on Hamburger Helper (the ones where you add ground beef) and TV dinners before I met him. When we started living together, we still ate TV dinners but he would mix it up a little and sometimes do stir-fry.

Then a Fresh and Easy was built near our house and it was all over but the cryin’. In a good way. We’ve since ditched the TV dinners and now eat “real” food. LOL

Which he cooks.

My contribution isn’t something he created, but a recipe we use from his Chinese Herbal Remedies book when we get sick:

1 can of soup (preferably Chicken Noodle)
Fresh Ginger Root
Green Onions (1 small bundle)

Prepare soup as normal. Cut some of the ginger root into tiny chunks (FYI: this stuff is strong-smelling and strong-tasting, so don’t use the whole thing). Chop up green onions (1 or 2 stalks). Add ginger root chunks and chopped onions to hot soup. Wrap yourself in a blanket (or layers of clothes) and prepare to sweat out your cold.

This works. Babendude and I both swear by it.

I don’t like the smell or taste of ginger. Mixing it with chicken noodle soup (where there’s already tons of veggies mixed in) kind of masks the ginger flavor.

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May 9, 2010 | Sunday Scribblings,Writer Moment

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Courage

Definition of courage from a writer’s point of view…

To write a story that involves one’s tears, blood (it happens), sweat, anger, joy, and send it out into the world for it to be accepted or rejected.

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