A glimspse into my musings ... as rambling, twisted & demented as they may be |
~ A glimspse into to the musings of my mind ... as rambling, twisted & demented as they may be at times. ~ ~"Your acting, or your writing, is not yours to judge. So saying "I'm not very good at this" is some sort of protective mechanism, and it will keep you from sharing it with people. You have to be willing to fearlessly expose yourself." -- Lee Tergesen ~ |
I highly encourage you to check out this book http://www.marcherlordpress.com/books/the_tenth_crusader.html and its predecessor Eternity Falls http://www.marcherlordpress.com/books/eternity_falls.html Team Contract is a fabulous writer and a better person. Support our WDC and add these kick ass tales to your Christmas lists and book shelves!! |
Approximately two years and 8 months after I started posting "His Pet" ... It is DONE! I swear I am the queen of procrastination. I couldn't even tell you the number of stories I have wrote in the mean time, let alone the staggering number I have started and discarded. It feels good to have the project complete. |
There are a lot of sayings about truth and the telling of it. One of my favorites is "The truth shall set you free." Words mean different things to each of us and to me ... I have always been "set free" by writing. When I am troubled I often let my worries flow in the form of the written word be it in the guise of fiction or in the emotional purge of a journal/BLOG. Both are ways to vent, to talk out your problems, to express yourself and yet they are equally dangerous. What moves us more than the plight of family and friends … the people that we love? Nothing. Most of us are more protective and empathic of those we love than of ourselves. How many times have you watched a loved one, be it a child or adult, and wished to take their pain on yourself rather than watch them suffer?? If like me, many. These sufferings can take in many things these days from the physical welfare of your loved ones to the financial. We watch those around us struggling as we struggle ourselves and we worry. When these things build up many of us either find someone to talk to or we pour out our worries and frustrations in words. *Names have been changed to protect the innocent* ... or not so innocent. How many times have we seen this disclaimer, or even seen no names used at all? Plenty. Unfortunately it doesn’t prevent people from recognizing themselves and they may not be overly flattered by your concern. When faced with their struggles in the harsh medium of black and white people may feel as if suddenly they are under a spot light, that their whole life is on a billboard for the world to see. They may feel embarrassed and furious that someone they trusted has tossed their dirty laundry on the front fence. They don’t note the names changed or withheld, they feel as if their mask has been ripped away. They don’t see the concern behind the words, they see betrayal. In the world of BLOGs, Facebook, and twitter, people have the ability to reach worldwide in seconds with their words. Remember the feelings of the people behind your feelings when you vent. A friendship forged over hours and years can be ended in that same second. |
S. L. Britton has flown the coop. She is safe back home in Florida and it feels soooo quiet here now. I guess this is a good time to try and get my writing back on track. to me! |
S. L. Britton 's plane has landed and shortly we will be headed out to a late lunch to kick off her week long visit!!! |
After not writing much more than a scribble here and there since ... NOVEMBER ... it seems I am slowly breaking out of my slump. Have I created literary brilliance? Ummm well ... no ... I have, however, started to write again and I am enjoying myself! I have entered the last four rounds of "The Weekly Quickie Contest" . That means a short story a week! Those that know me know I love to write/read erotica and this contest has allowed me to just relax and spin short gratuitous smut again! Big thanks to Annette: Free & Wild in GoT for reviving The Quickie. If interested in a little heat in your reading here are the short tales I have spun and I encourage you to read the other entries over at "The Weekly Quickie Contest" as the competition has been hot and heavy!
None of them are long or anything extraordinary, but I am writing again and I can not tell you how good that feels. |
~"Your acting, or your writing, is not yours to judge. So saying "I'm not very good at this" is some sort of protective mechanism, and it will keep you from sharing it with people. You have to be willing to fearlessly expose yourself." -- Lee Tergesen ~ |
Opening the office a little early yesterday morning I found myself alone and caught up with the morning paperwork so I logged into my WDC account. I grumbled in question when I noted 14 emails. Not even NL day normally brings me that much mail so I was more than a tad confused/concerned. When I opened my inbox I was overwhelmed with a flood of congratulations and c-notes! Blinking a few times I scanned down the subjects until my eyes landed on the culprit ...***You're Now A Writing.com Moderator*** doesn't begin to describe my feelings. I sat there staring at the subject line for a moment before carefully opening The StoryMaster 's missive. When I did, sure enough there in the TO: field was Mara ♣ McBain~17 yrs on WDC! . I just stared at the blue sun in shock. I tried to read through the information, but my mind was whirling so I closed out of his email and started reading the congratulations and well wishes from my friends. By the time I waded through them I had a silly on my face that just wouldn't stop!! A W00T and a little dance in the empty office followed. Thennnn I wanted to share with my beloved Terror Twin Adriana Noir BUT she was in Florida. Not wanting to bother her hubby J with a phone call in case they had drove late and slept in (like I care if I bother Adriana ) ...I bit my lip ... thought about it ... and settled for firing off a text message. Annnnddd for a change ... was with me. LOL When I got off work, after grinning like a mad woman all day, my hubby and son met me at the office and took me out to dinner to celebrate. They are the best. It is amazing how they both wanted to enjoy my achievement even though the color of my case of WDC doesn't mean a darn thing to them. I am truly blessed. Of course since I like to push my luck ... I even convinced the hubby to stop by the grocery store on the way home to grab some drumsticks for dessert. I am blessed ... and darn spoiled. Thank you to the WDC Staff for your confidence in me and all my friends who made yesterday super special with your c-notes, merit badges, and most of all your well wishes, smiles, and love. You are the best! Love, |
Don't you just love it when full grown adults revert to childish pouting and jealousy? You just want to knock them off their carousel horse. *sighs* Come now ...lets take our big girl/boy pill and grow the hell up. |
Woke up this morning still in a funk ... emotionally and creatively .... saw this article on MSN and it made me think of my beloved Terror Twin Adriana Noir . She always makes me smile and so many things in this shout out to her sign are dead on. Gemini ... Versatility is a great keyword for this dual sign. Expressive and quick-witted, the Gemini presents two distinctive sides to his or her personality, and you can never be sure which one you're going to come face-to-face with. On one hand, Gemini can be outgoing, flirtatious, communicative, and ready for fun, fun, fun! Yet when the other twin is present, you can find this Air Sign contemplative, serious, restless, and even indecisive. Both Twins are able to adapt to life's circumstances well, making them wonderful people to know. Things are never boring when a Gemini is on the scene. Friends and Family Geminis are social and love spending time with friends and family. There will be times when this outgoing sign will want to go bungee jumping, and there will be times when sitting at home playing cards will suit them. Either way, friends are plentiful. Those who can match the Gemini intellect and love of variety will go the distance. One quality they seek out in others is communication. Gemini loves to talk and gain insight from others. Without a clear flow of talk, Gemini will lose interest pretty quickly. Family is important, especially to those of like mind. Friendship with siblings is quite common for the Gemini, and time spent together is cherished. Meeting responsibilities with family can pose a challenge at times, but almost always, Gemini comes through. Career and Money The best-suited careers for a Gemini are those that stimulate the intellect. "I think" is the key phrase for this sign. Geminis are inventive and often literary. It's important that the work they commit themselves to is dynamic and challenging so boredom doesn't set in. Careers as a teacher, debater, reporter, writer, preacher, or lawyer are all well-suited to this sign. Any platform that gives the Gemini room to talk is best! A sales profession is another excellent choice. You can expect to see many tools for communication around this sign, such as PDAs, laptops, and cell phones. Generating new ideas and problem-solving are other areas where a Gemini will shine. Deciding between practicality and pleasure can be a tough thing for a Gemini. While money is a necessary evil, most don't spend a lot of time worrying about where their next dollar is coming from. They don't put much thought into balancing their checkbooks, yet they manage to get by just fine. This is largely due to the flexibility Geminis have. Love and Sex Fun-loving and always up for an intellectual challenge, the Gemini is a spirited lover. The talk that precedes the interlude is just as important as the actual physical contact for this sign, and when it comes to wit, this sign holds nothing back. Flirtatious and curious, the Gemini will spend time with a lot of different lovers until they find one that can match their intellect and energy level. The Gemini needs to experience excitement, versatility, and stimulation to feel fully satisfied. Once the perfect match is found, though, a Gemini can settle into a lifestyle for two for the long haul. GEMINI TIDBITS: Health Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body that is most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Gemini are the lungs, collarbone, hands, arms, shoulders, and the nervous system. Ruling Planet The ruling planet for Gemini is Mercury. Representing intellectual urges and the avenue of expression, this planet rules reason, rationalization, words, awareness, and communication. Its action is quick, and it deals with travel, speaking, writing, trade, and emotional capacity and technique. Color The color of choice for Gemini is green. Gemstone Gemini's star stone is the Moss Agate. Lucky Numbers Gemini's lucky numbers are 3 and 7. Compatibility Geminis are most compatible with Libra and Aquarius. Opposite Sign The opposite sign of Gemini is Sagittarius. The Perfect Gift A surprise party, gift certificate to a bookstore, any activity with friends, Scrabble or another intellectual game Likes Music, magazines, books, music, blogs, chatting with nearly anyone, short trips around town Dislikes Repetition and routine, being alone, being confined House Natural sign of the Third House. This house focuses on short trips, communication, conscious mind, brothers and sisters, and early education. Famous Geminis Hugh Laurie, Johnny Depp, Rudy Giuliani, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Helena Bonham Carter Best travel destination Switzerland, Wales, London, San Francisco, Melbourne Strength Curiosity, ability to share ideas, adaptable, affectionate, kind Weakness Scattering energy in too many places at once, fickle in love, nervous, short attention span Charismatic marks Expressive eyes, quick, bright, often small-boned, refined features Best environment Any busy neighborhood, places where people gather to gossip, bookstores, museums |
Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859 Lust is easy. Love is hard. Like is most important. ~Carl Reiner Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you. ~Author Unknown People change and forget to tell each other. ~Lillian Hellman |
After packing, moving, and over a month of only being able to pop on for a peek here and there at work...it is good to be settled and have internet again so I thought I would give you an update! I thought losing our house and heading into the unknown of renting after sixteen years would be difficult, but it has surprised me. We have settled into the new house and it really feels like home. I really love it and our new landlords are a fabulous Christian couple who have gone out of their way to help us out and make us feel welcome. The hubby's new job is working out well. His patience is paying off and the pay scale is climbing towards respectable which helps. I have been working hard on the budget and it is surprising how big of a weight is lifted by bills being paid on time. Without credit cards to fall back on we have forced ourselves to scrimp and start a savings account. It is a bit anemic so far but it is at least inching towards a safety net. It is nice to know that there is a little there for at least the minor unexpecteds. I have been thinking a lot about writing lately. I miss the escape. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things now that life has settled down. It is the last step in returning to normalcy for me. Wish me luck. Love, Mara |
Cluttered describes my house, life, and mind these days. Who knew that packing to move after sixteen years would be so crazy? I thought finding a landlord who would accept the boxer/pitbull member of our family would be the rough part. The mental acrobatics of developing a budget, cancelling and arranging utilities, trying to find TV, phone, and internet at a reasaonable price in the sticks, and packing up sixteen years of STUFF ...has it beat by a mile. I can't wait to be settled and pray for the day it will go back to muse banter and story ideas bouncing around in my brain. |
Here we are mid February and we have dodged a few bullets but 2010 is beginning to look like the fresh start we have been praying for. Yesterday we received our new insurance cards in the mail. After a year and a half without health insurance, I breathed a BIG sigh of relief. And our Federal Tax Refund hit our bank account this week. After paying State we will still have enough for deposit, 1st months rent, and at least a partial fill on the propane tank at the rental place we are looking at. Hallilujah! While I might not be the most religious of people, the power of prayer is not lost on me. Neither is the fact that our return was $1 more than what I was praying for. Love and God bless, MM |
“The best answer to anger is silence.” |
Just when I thought that we were getting caught up ...could see breaking even ... the propane tank reads ZERO! *sighs* I still owe them 210.00 from the last partial fill and this will be another $450.00-$500.00. *shrugs* back to treading water I go. |
Isn't it wonderful how little surprises put a smile on your face and brighten your day? I just recieved a beautiful WDC ceramic mug in the mail from my beloved TT! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! {{HUGS}} |
“Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart.” |
Maybe it was his way of reminding me just to have faith .... The hubby was in an accident on the way home from work today. Both he and the other driver are FINE ... not a scratch. She lost the plastic front bumper and the only thing damaged on Mike is his pride. I don't think it even scraped the dirt off the Dakota. lol It is a blessing that no one was injured. |
A new friend said the nicest thing to me today ... "Some people just hide the skeletons in their closet better than others. I think you and I have taught ours to dance." ~ Emily Tade |