#GiveIt100 – Guitar

I keep going missing for a really long time. I know. *kicks rocks* Sorry. >.>

Alright, now that I’ve got that out of the way and we’re friends again…

It’s 2014, y’all! WOO!

Are you big on the whole calendar year thing? I’m not. I view my birthday more as a new year than the start of a new calendar year. I’m also not down with the resolution thing. It’s way too calculated and generalized and bandwagony and… Well, you know. I’d rather set goals and reach them as I see fit, and not because everyone else is doing it because OHMYGODITISDECEMBERANDJANUARYISCOMINGSOONANDWE’LLBEWRITINGANEW NUMBERBEHINDTHEBIG20.

All that being said, there are a few things I’m working on. I recently discovered GiveIt100, and I think it’s kinda cool. Except for the video recording bit. I’m not interested in figuring out how to record myself doing something for 100 days, and smashing all of it together into one big video, then time lapsing it. No. That is too much work. How about I just do the thing for 100 days? Yeah. Much better. SO. What am I going to do? GUITAR!

I’m pretty excited about this guitar thing. I was doing really well with it a few years ago when I had a lot of time by myself to practice without worrying about anyone else hearing me. I did a pretty good job of teaching myself with the help of YouTube videos and song chords online. When I moved from Halifax to Nassau, I left my guitar behind. I bought a new one, but I was in a house with nosy people, and people who aren’t always particularly supportive of new, seemingly-outlandish things. Result? I never practiced.

Well, now it’s just me and The Lady, and she’ll totally ignore me if I ask her to, so YAY! Practice, I shall! Starting today, I will spend 20 minutes per day with my Caddy. Caddy is my guitar, y’all. I’m going back to the beginning. I’ll work on learning A, D, and E and switching between those chords for the next few days. Chord switching is pretty easy to practice while watching tv because strumming isn’t necessary. I’ll just sit there with the guitar on my lap, switching my fingers from one chord to the next. Genius, right? I’m planning to be able to play Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds by Sunday. THAT, I am willing to record. I’ll even share the videos with you. Accountability for me… Yeah, I don’t really know what it is for you. Entertainment?

SO! Wish me luck. 🙂

How about you? Are you teaching yourself anything new? Taking any cool courses? Got a project for #GiveIt100?

Random Update

Hey, y’all! Yet again, it’s been a while. Lots and lots and lots going on.

• It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Doing lots of volunteering and part-time work at a local non-profit.
• Short Story Collection to be release in December. Still writing shorts to be added to it. And editing.
• Novel revisions have come to a screeching halt. I need to get back to it. Soon.
• Moving! Yeah, it’s time for a new space. A nicer space. Open, bright, and breezy. Wait ’til you see it!
• Ideas, ideas, ideas. So many of them, all tangled up together. Good grief!
• Website updates. I need to do them. Soon. Maybe this weekend?
• New story posted: Banned Books. Do check it out and comment! There are a few others I didn’t post here too, so check them out. 🙂
• Currently reading: The Story of Beautiful Girl
• NaNoWriMo is coming up! Holy busy! This month and next month will be nuts! I’m mentally preparing. But you know I love it that way.
• Photo shoot last Sunday. YES! For my professional images, author photo for the back cover of my book, and website banner. SO excited. I should get the final images in a few days.

I think that’s it. Is that it? Hmmm… I think so.

I’ll try to be back again soon, but I can’t make any promises. ‘Til the next time, BE WELL! 🙂

It’s Been Ages!

Hey, hey, heeeyyy!

Been a while, right?

Life has been a bit insane lately. Job. No job. Job. No job. Crappy job. Illnesses. Bad news. So-so news. More bad news. Bleh!

I probably won’t remember everything to catch you up on. Let’s see…

• Working a little part-time gig, just until I find something better. I don’t like it at all, but hey… Gotta do what ya gotta do!
• Unexpected travel. Doctor appointments, horrible procedures, crazy side effects. Not for me, but I was there for it. Glad it’s over!
• Novelling. Yep. Still going at it. And Camp NaNoWriMo (July edition) started today. Woot, woooot! Not sure if I mentioned before, but there is a part II to The Whispering Willow, so that’s my job for the month of July.
• Completely fell-off the wagon with working out. I am feeling (and probably looking) like a lump. I keep wanting to get back to it, but then I feel so horribly tired. Part anemia, part lack-of-activity, I think. Must break the cycle!
• Job hunting. Furiously. In both senses of the word. Lol.
• Haircut! Okay, so my hair has always been short. But I went a little shorter the time before last, and shorter still the last time. I love it. My dad took exception to it, but BLEH! Who cares. *I* pay for my haircuts.
• My dad seriously told me to start “wearing longer things”. Can you imagine?! Yeah. You can laugh now. *orders more short dresses and booty shorts online* Oh, wait. I HAZ NO MONIES! Lol.
• Trayvon Martin trial. OMG. SERIOUSLY. The defense lawyer is the biggest jerk. While I do not support loose use of “retarded” I whooped a little when Rachel Jeantel said, “That’s real retarded, sir.” ‘Cause he’s tapped in the head.
• DOMA OVERTURNED! + GOODBYE PROP 8! I don’t live in the U.S., but a victory for one really is a victory for all.
• Ignorance really is all around. I know a couple getting married this month. The woman’s mother has DISOWNED her because she is marrying a man who is not from the same Caribbean country as her and is not white. WHAT?! So she’s pretty much done with her daughter and her granddaughters? You’d think she would be more supportive, especially after the soon-to-be-bride got out of a relationship with a man who abused her and her daughters. I just… *shakes head* There are no words. The struggle is all around. But many of us are strong enough to say, “Screw it, and screw you!” to the naysayers.
• ICE CREAM! (Yeah, I just wanted to end on a high note.)

So… Fill me in! Tell me one thing I probably missed over the past few months. I’ll see how far back I can read, but you don’t mind making it easy for me, do you? 😀

EDIT: How did I forget this part?! Wedding postponed. Bummer. Blah! Such is life. All that stuff. Must make more money, save more money, and get the heck out of here permanently, not just for the wedding week. Not sure how or when we’ll pull it off now. Rather it be sooner than later, but not to impede true (financial and immigration) progress. Stay tuned. (This was actually the first thing to my mind when I was making the bulleted list, but I didn’t want to open with it. Then I forgot it. Brilliant. Hahaha.)

Once per Week?

Looks like I’ve become one of those people, right? I’m not posting daily, or even close to it any more. I guess I have a lot more things to juggle now. I can’t keep all the balls in the air by myself. *sighs* Still, I’ll do my best to keep you updated on the happenings.

Here we go:

• The finished novel is still being edited. Very slowly. I am trying to forget the story before I reread it, and it seems to be working. As I read it, I discover things I totally forgot about. Not just since finishing the whole book, but since writing it (scenes). Things I was supposed to come back to, make reference to, resolve, etc. So yeah… I’m glad I’m doing this read through. There is still a lot of work to be done.
• Book Two is totally necessary. Did I mention this already? I’ve started planning it, but not very heavily. Now that Camp NaNoWriMo is over, I should be able to give it more attention and properly plan it so I can write it during July Camp.
• A cover for The Whispering Willow! My graphic artist has pulled something out! I love it. I wish I could share it with you, but it’s too soon. And I can’t reveal it here. When the time comes, the big reveal will be over at my real website.
• My graphic artist has starting sending me options for the cover of the book I’m currently writing. None of them has really hit the nail on the head, but it still feels like we’re getting somewhere. She’s learning more about my style, my vision, and my concept for the book. We’re well on our way. Progress feels so darn good!
• I got a staff reader position for a new online literary magazine! I’m really excited about it. I’ve been wanting a position like this for a long time. I want to get involve in publishing and get as much experience as I can. It’s all going to add up and make me more knowledgeable about the process, what readers and editors are looking for, and give my writer resume (because, of course, I have a separate resume for my writing) a nice, solid boost. It is not a paid position, but I count the experience. No one else in my life really does, so I haven’t told anyone. I don’t feel like being ridiculed for yet-another-responsibility I’ve taken on that doesn’t-pay-any-bills that actually has me quite excited. It was nice to get the email last week letting me know that I’ve been selected. I’ll let you know when I get started. 🙂
• I got my pen! My great-grandmother gave me some money to buy myself something for my birthday. I wanted to get something that would last forever. After much thought, I decided on a pen. It is VERY cool. I ordered it from an Etsy shop where they make handturned acrylic pens. Picture coming soon!
• I’ve been jobless for four weeks. Luckily, I got a random few days of work this week. This will be a big help with the bills that are piling up. I’ve been job hunting for a while, but the land is dry, y’all.  If you know anyone who needs help with writing or editing anything please send them to Word Wielder! Low prices!
• Things happen in waves. Some not-so-great things are going on. Not really with me, but people around me. Remember that you only have one body. Treat it well! Got mobility? Use it! LIVE, people, LIVE! Seriously.
• ZINES! I’m making them now.  I’ll be producing 4 monthly titles. The May issues are available NOW in my Etsy shop Appetizine. Please check out the listings and let me know what you think. Make a purchase, for you or a friend, and let your friends know about ’em.

Okay, I think that’s it for now. Have a great weekend! 🙂

A Birthday and a Million Projects

Sunday was Babe’s birthday. We celebrated in minimalist fashion, I’d like to call it. Lol.

Last week Monday was my niece’s birthday and my sister made fried chicken wings and macaroni. It was pretty awesome, and Terneille kinda raved about it. When I told my sister her birthday was coming up, she immediately went into planning mode. “I’ll make her a pan of macaroni and fry some chicken wings! What time you want it?” YAY, for awesome sisters! That made it a lot easier for me.

Babe requested a carrot cake. Last year was cheesecake. This set my wheels turning, and I wondered if I could pull something kind of experimental off. I measured, poured, and mixed with confidence. It was only after I put the bundt pan in the oven that I started wondering if I was crazy, and imagining the horrible ways it could all go wrong. But it worked! WAAAHOOOOOO! Carrot cake and cheesecake in one, y’all! I know, I know. I’m a little out there. Whatevs. It worked and it was pretty tasty. Babe really loved it and my sister even called to tell me that she “NEEEEDS” me to make one for her. Hahaha.

Since I’m currently unemployed and don’t even have pennies to count, I made it rain on Babe in a different way. COUPONNNNNS! Let’s just hope she remembers to cash ’em all in. They’re pretty valuable, lemme tell ya!

So aside from birthday stuff, here’s what’s up:

• I’m venturing into the world of zines. I’ll be making some of my own. Four, to be exact. I’m excited about it! I plan to complete the first issues of each one this weekend. Then I’ll start selling them on Etsy next week. Look out for linksies!
• I finished The Whispering Willow! Did I mention this already? Even if I did, once is not enough. I FINISHED IT. The writing, that is. There is lots of editing to be done. But the first draft? FINITO!
• I started writing a new novel. It’s not as fun to write as I thought it would be, and that’s probably because I didn’t plan it ALL out before I started writing. I work much better with a plan. A pretty precise plan. NOTED.
• I need to workout. My body is all achy and sedentary and I’m super lazy right now. I hope to start this weekend. A little bounce on the trampoline. A 20 minute run. 15 minutes of yoga. I’ve gotta get this body in MOTION. STAT.
• Currently reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. It’s a bit slower than her other two novels which I completely devoured. It’s taking me a bit longer to get through it due to pacing plus my zillion plus one projects I have going on. But it’s good. I’m enjoying it. Morton knows how to spin a tale. That’s for sure.
• New 100 word story is up. Read it, comment on it, share it! 🙂

What about you? What’s up? Working on any projects?

Updates and Updates

Okay, guys. Time for another update, yes? Here we go!

Easter Weekend

Laaaaazyyyyy. On Saturday, a very good friend of ours invited us over for dinner. Honey dijon chicken, ricotta pasta bake (with spinach and mushrooms!), and asparagus. Oh, and WINE! YUM! The birthday cake didn’t go quite as planned. Hahaha. You’ll have to read my 100 word story from last week to find out (kinda) what happened there. At the weekly Sunday dinner, the fam had cake. I was confused because we usually have cake on the Sunday AFTER birthdays, but whatever. I had cake early. On Monday we slept in. Like allllll the way in. When I finally got out of bed, it was an embarrassing hour. I won’t even tell you what it was. What is important is that I got up. Haha.

Tuesday: Birthdaaayyy!

I did not, by any means, have any expectations of having a good day. I just figured it would be an average day of nothing special. No plans were made and no money was in my pocket. We went downtown to do our regular errands, I mailed a bunch of things I had piled up, picked up a package (which was awesome! Must remember to post photo on Wednesday), went for a nice sushi lunch, got some cool little prezzies… It was a nice day. 🙂

Wednesday – Friday

Work, work, work. I would not have normally worked all those days, but my little cousin was in town. I had to be in office to keep him occupied and take him on occasional errands. He is a ball of energy, funny, and lots of fun. Here’s a little snippet for you. I had to take him to have a passport photo taken. I explained to him that he could not smile for the photo. We went back and forth about this, and he showed me a few smiles he could use. Nope. No smiling, dude. He got sort of sad and looked up and me and said, “Every picture needs a smiiiiile!” Gotta love 5 year olds!

Saturday

Is it terrible that I don’t really remember Saturday? I guess I didn’t do anything? *shrugs*

Random

CAMP NANOWRIMO, y’all! I mentioned this in my last post, but just to remind you, I’M WRITING 50,000 WORDS IN 30 DAYS! Yes, ma’am! At the end of this month, The Whispering Willow will be DONE! Writing, that is. Lots of editing in the months that follow. But the WRITING WILL BE DONE! WOO.

I’ve told you about NaNoWriMo and how awesome it is before. The program/events exist to encourage and inspire people to write. It provide a ton of resources, including very inclusive message boards for constant communication among writers of various ages, genres, backgrounds, etc. I LOVE it. And they do all this FOR FREE. So, of course, fundraising is huge. So I’m asking you to please sponsor my Camp NaNoWriMo novel. All funds go directly to the Office of Letters & Light which is the non-profit that runs these writing events/programs. If you believe in my book, if you like my writing, if you are my friend, if you really don’t care but have a dollar to spare anyway… Please sponsor my novel. 🙂 Okay, enough begging. Hahaha.

In other news, I just wrote another 100 word story. Please hop on over, read it, comment on it, and share it. I am really trying to get as much feedback on my work as possible. I am also, of course, trying to expand my blog readership. What else? Hmmm… Oh, I got my 5th assignment back from the writing for children course I’m taking. I did really well on it. Hilarious that I thought I bombed it. I let the way I feel about the assignments (like I thought that one was really stupid) affect my assessment of my work. Weirdo. I know.

Okay, this got long really fast. I’m done.

Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

Hey, y’allllll! It’s Thursday againnnnn!

I’m thankful for:

• Generic brands. Ordered a new battery for my laptop – not from Mac – from Amazon for under $20. Yeaaah!
• Patience. I only have a little, but it is usually juuust enough.
• Awesome great-grandmother. She gives me $20 and one meal per week. I may not be working, but I fo’ DAMN sure ain’t gonna starve! Haha.
• Cousin who probably really doesn’t need me, but has me answer phones in his office a few days every week. I need the out-of-the-house-ness, computer use, and pocket money.
• Babe. Awesome, awesome, awesome. And funny. And sweet. And takes me to see movies of my choice. Last night, we saw People Like Us. It was pretty good, although we were kind of annoyed by the guy the whole time. The ending totally made up for it.
• The surprise that’s coming, but I know about it. Only I and the surprise-maker know. We are excited. In two weeks, I’ll tell ya what it is.
• Writing buddies. They entertain me, give me work to do (critiques and edits)/practice, share resources, and other awesome junk like that.
• My good sense NOT to sign up for the website dealio yet. I don’t need the extra expense, even if it’s tiny. I can wait a little longer to do it. Maybe I should buy my domain name though… Hmmm… See how good it is to talk things out?
• Transportation for the next week. We can get to the grocery store with ease. Yay!

How has the week been treating you? What are you thankful for?

Quick Notes

Not too much to say today. Just some quick notes:

• I have a short story written for a competition at the end of the month. Just the first draft. I’m hoping to edit it 2-3 times before submission. It changed directions about three times while I was writing it, so some parts of it don’t make sense. It’ll only take one revision to fix that. Then another revision for language and grammar (which is never a problem for me). Then another for setting and descriptions. Then, a final read-through. Oh, and giving it a title. Always a hard part.
• I have a short story that isn’t the best quality, written in a rush for a competition. It’s not going to even place. It’s not because it’s not a good story. It is. It’s just in that first draft mode. I need to move it beyond that place. Now that I’ve distanced myself from it for months, I can go back to it. Maybe I can get it to a level where I can submit it for another competition.
• I really don’t like grocery shopping. Not here. And I really, really don’t like having to do it more than once per week. We went yesterday, and didn’t have enough money. We clearly did not communicate about it properly, so it was kind of a wasted trip. It’s not that we’re broke. We just didn’t prepare properly. I would have preferred to make one trip. Gas is expensive. The grocery store sucks. And I really don’t like having to do things after work. Thank goodness I didn’t have to get my mother from work after that trip (as originally planned).
• I have to go to the storage unit today. Repairs need to be done, so I have to be there to open it up, and guard the stuff. While I’m there, I guess I’ll start organizing things for the support tents at the bike-a-thon. I can’t stand to be idle. I just hate having to drive there, and all the way back this way. I tried to schedule it for 3pm so that I could just go home from there, but I guess they get off earlier than that. Ugh.
• Came across the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign yesterday. I pledged. You should too. I tried adding the badge to my right column, but no luck, WordPress really pisses me off. By the way, why is it that every time I follow someone now, it signs me up to receive an email EVERY TIME THEY POST?! I do NOT want posts in my inbox. I just want them on my “Read Blogs” page when I log in. Anyone know how to fix that?
• Going to practice my sun salutations. That always makes me feel better.
• I’m feeling really mellow today. I’m not sure why. I didn’t sleep well at all last night. I fell asleep on the couch, during a rest-my-eyes moment during reading time. I woke up on the couch, light off. I was a bit peeved that I wasn’t awakened to go to bed. Anyway, I brushed my teeth and put myself in bed around midnight. I didn’t sleep soundly from there. I was between sleeping, thinking, and scowling. The thinking and scowling slipped into my dreams, so there were arguments and standoffs. Eventually, I decided to give up and just lay there until it was time to get up. I got up, got ready, and got out. The radio was on the classical station from last night (when garbage was playing on the other stations). That must be what shaped my day. I just feel… Mellow. It could be the weather too. I forgot about that. It’s pretty cool (not cold) for The Bahamas right now. I even saw an idiot in a puffy jacket with the fur-fringed hood up.

	Today	Tonight	Tomorrow
Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy / Wind	Showers Late	Showers / Wind
73°F	78°	69°	80°
Feels Like: 73° Get FREE weather on your desktop	High	Low	High

  What are you up to today? How’s the weather? Working on any special projects?

Feel Good Tuesday

Happy Tuesdaaaaayyyyy!

I’m a in really good mood today. I have idea why. There is no logical reason. But me?! Worry?! Never!

This song played just as I parked at work this morning, and I sat in the car to sing it loudly. With the windows down. I’m bad like that. I kinda feel like that… Toniii-iii-iiii-iiiight, we are youuu-oooung, so let’s set the world on fiii-yaaah, we can briii-iighter, than the suuu-oh-uuuh-uuun! WOO!

Talk about energy! Of the positive kind. I’m going to get a lot done today. I’m going to work like I have the day off tomorrow. I’m going to make progress with my novel. I’m going to do something physical when I get home (which probably won’t be running, and DANG IT, I forgot to toss running clothes in the car… Got thrown off when I had to switch cars with my mom this morning so she could take the one I’ve been driving to be licensed.)… Jump on the trampoline, jog on it a little, jump rope… Something. ‘Cause guess what! Toniii-iii-iii-iiight, weee are yooouuung! Hahaha.

Ok. So play that song. Feel the energy. Get yourself in an awesome mood. Make 3 goals for yourself today. And GO AT THEM like the man who stole your grandmother’s wallet on the bus. CONQUER them. Because you can.

I have two meetings today. Maybe three. Lots of opportunity for people to say and do things that could bring me down. IFFF I allow it. And I won’t. I just decided, so it’s a done deal. I will be happy. I will be positive. I will use all energy, whether positive or negative, for good. I will do my best. I will be satisfied. I will enjoy and live in every moment of this day.

When I checked my email this morning, I saw a great post. I read it, and it resonated with me. Being the awesome person that I am, I’m sharing it with you. Be sure to take a few minutes to read The Magnificent Self-Made Person over at CreatingReciprocity.

Two quotes for you today. One from the post linked above:

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.   -Khalil Gibran

And one that I just love:

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.   – Karen Ravn

Go forth, then, blog buddies, and be great. Be great instead of, in spite of, and because of.

Let me know how you’re feeling today. What are your goals for today?

Crying the Parking Lot

I’m a crazy lady. This post comes to you from the driver’s seat of the car I’m using. I’m sitting in the parking lot of a restaurant, crying. Really. You know why?

1. I had some not-so-nice thoughts last night. I realized that I don’t have much support in my life. I was used to it, but then people came along, and I trusted them. Against my better judgment. It was better when I had walls up. I did everything on my own, needed no support, and definitely needed no approval or congratulations. I’m headed back in that direction. This way makes no sense. I do not deal well with disappointment. I refuse to talk to people who will use my words as ammunition. Against ME. I do not need anyone to tell me what I can and can’t do. I don’t need to be belittled or put down. I don’t need negativity in my life. I don’t need anyone to tell me that I’m too afraid to make things happen (by the way, all the evidence says the opposite). Or that I will not wake up at the time I say I will. Or that a relationship with me is “trying.” Or that I have too many goals. Or that I’m not smart enough. Or good enough. To hell with everyone and their wretched negativity toward me and my goals. Screw them all. I WILL do whatever I want, whenever I want. However I see fit. And I do NOT see the need to talk about it. It just gives people more to throw in my face. I’m not having it. Not when I know that I am capable of doing what I want. And capable up living in my own little world with 20 foot walls up, all around. Is it the healthiest way to live? Maybe not. But emotional abuse isn’t healthy either. I had enough of it when I was a child, and now, as a grown-ass woman, I will not allow it.

2. I forgot my lunch at home.

3. I ordered lunch at work. Clearly, no one got my email. My lunch was not ordered.

4. Woman at work sent me a ridiculous accusatory email. Shortest version I can tell: I went to her for a cheque (which I emailed her about). She waved me around because she was on a call. I called someone else for permission to pay cash b/c the messenger is in a rush and waiting only on me. (he was doing me a huge favour seeing that he wasn’t supposed to be on the road at all today.) We need to pay for, pickup and deliver something urgent that I only found out about this morning. I’m thinking I solved the problem. She emailed me to “come get the cheque and get things organized.” I reply that I sent cash after getting authorization. Reply: “It would have been nice if you had told me so I wouldn’t write the cheque.” Oh. First of all, the messenger came for the cash right as a scheduled call came through. An overseas call. I was dealing with the call while dealing with him, and he even ended up calling me while I was on the other call. I really couldn’t send an email right then. There is more (expaining why I didn’t/couldn’t), but whatever.)

5. I drove to the restaurant to get what I ordered for my damn self. Of course, they’re all out. I don’t want anything left on the menu. So I walk back to the car. CRYING. My breaking point was a spicy pulled chicken wrap with black beans not being available for my lunch.

This sucks. I LIKE Mondays. *wipes tears* I will be fine. I will find something to have for lunch, and I will be fine. I just really needed to get that out.

I hope your week is off to a great start! 🙂

EDIT: I am now back in my office, after some fresh air. I am currently putting a hurtin’ on a footlong turkey breast sandwich from Subway. I also got a Coke and a chocolate chip cookie. Because I can. And I deserve it. 🙂