Monthly Archives: April 2009
Writer set your goals…uh, sure
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As a writer, I should set a daily goal and strive to reach it. I try. I honestly do try, but it seems that when I do someone moves the goal line.
My goal for this blog is to write 200 words a day. My daily writing goal on my books is 1000 words. So far, I’m hitting the goal on the blog and falling short on the books. I hope to change that.
I discovered that I was unhappy writing my book in two point of views and I am going back to the original format of writing it in a single POV. This past week I’ve been doing a lot of cutting and pasting. I hope that by the end of this week I’ll be rolling along on a much improved manuscript.
The dual point of view was not working at all. I also think that by going back to a single one I’ll be able to drop clues and red herrings easier. I believe my remaining characters will be more fully developed and become more interesting.
My critiquing group is probably going to kill me when I hand them the new manuscript at the end of the month.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A tangle of topics
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I finally got outside with the camera today and took some shots of the gardens and pond. I posted 3 of the best ones on our garden and pond page.
The pups and I enjoyed the gorgeous, warm day we had today. They played circus dogs and jumped through the Hula-hoop until I ran out of cookies to give them. Then they ran about until they were near collapse. I did some more cleaning out of the gardens, once again over filled, and emptied the wheel barrow four times.
Yesterday, Dear Hubby’s best friend cleaned out all the gutters on my MIL’s house while DH played gofer on the ground. This was a job that hadn’t been done in years and it took most of the day. The high winds didn’t help much. Yes, it’s a real friend, who will climb on a roof for you when the wind is gusting at 48 mph and all you can do is stand on the ground and watch. DH is fortunate to have such a good friend.
My cousin, Carol has posted a new painting on her site, Carol’s Art Blog. I am so impressed with her work. The gal has talent.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A Bulldog’s brief discussion
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have friends who have a female Bulldog. She is in heat and to prevent a mess in the house they put a pair of men’s bikini briefs on her. They fit well and stay nicely in place with her tail sticking out—well, you know where.
The other day while the dog went out in the yard to do her business, my friend was busy talking to her next door neighbor. A while later when she was ready to go inside, she called the dog. Seems the dog was very slow to come, which for her isn’t normal. This Bulldog will run to her ‘Mommy’ like a shot when called. My friend called the dog a second time and the dog finally meandered up onto the deck. Now, a Bulldog’s facial expression is often very difficult to judge because of all the wrinkles. However, from what I heard, there was no problem telling that the look she shot her ‘Mom’ was one of utter disgust.
It seems that ‘Mommy dearest’ had forgotten to remove the briefs. The dog was not happy. Like a kid in diapers she had a full load in hers and didn’t quite know what to think about it. Once ‘Mom’ remedied the situation and the little darling got a cookie, all was forgiven.
MOM, do something... this is so NOT right!
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Wild weather for the beginning of April
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had plenty of crashing thunder, wild lightning, and monsoon-like rain today. The pups weren’t thrilled with being inside but neither were they particularly thrilled with being outside. Patty hates rain, she thinks she’ll melt or something. Gavin doesn’t mind it too much but the drenching we got, was not his idea of fun either. The rain battered the heck out of my daffodils but they might stand back up after they dry out a bit.
Tomorrow the weather people are predicting wind gusts of up to fifty miles per hour. I spent what little daylight (with no rain) we had left, battening down the hatches. I’m sure I probably missed a few things and will find them moved tomorrow. With my luck, they’ll be sleeping with the fishes in the pond and I’ll have to run a salvage operation. Is Jacques Cousteau’s son still around? Maybe I’ll give him a call.
The poor magnolia will probably lose many of its not yet opened buds if the winds get too high. I don’t remember ever having as much wind as we’ve had this year. I do hope this will be the last of the high winds or I’m going to have to take some more bungee cords out into the yard to keep things from blowing away.
Posted in Dog related, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Oh, my aching back!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had such a sunny and warm day today I couldn’t resist doing some yard work. I cleaned out the garden surrounding our pond. Four over loaded wheelbarrows later, I was feeling it in my back and my knees. It was worth it though, that garden looks a lot better.
By this evening, we had clouds and rain again. We’re getting more rain tomorrow so the rest of the gardens will have to wait. Down the side of our yard, I have this one-hundred and twenty feet long by four feet wide flower garden that I have to clean out. Then there’s the twenty feet by three feet garden across the back of the yard and two small circular gardens under the magnolia and tulip poplar trees. The way I figure it, if we keep getting rain like this, it’ll be sometime in June before I have them up to snuff.
The magnolia is beginning to bloom and if I ever get around to dragging my camera out, I’ll have some new pictures to post on my pond and garden page. The pictures I have up don’t show how the privet hedges are gone (I dug them out—all 135 feet of them) nor do they show the new fencing we put in last year. Sunday is supposed to be sunny again. If I get the rest of the gardens cleaned out so they look nice, I’ll take pictures.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Family
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve lost some important people in my life over the last few years, family members who meant the world to me. Today, I write about those I have left and those I have chosen, my special family. They are honest people with good hearts. They are supportive, loving, and kind. I am proud to know them. That said; let me tell you a bit about them.
Dear Hubby, he loves me despite my faults. He is my core and my strength. He always has my back. He will fight tooth and nail for me when he feels someone has wronged me. Without him, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
The Aunties, my father’s sisters are my rocks. They are the bedrock on which I stand when I make decisions. They are whom I go to when I’m sorrowing, happy, or in need of advice. These wonderful ladies taught me a good deal over the years. I love them dearly.
The Cousins, they are many. They are my balance and they stop me from becoming full of myself. They keep my feet on the ground and allow my head to soar in the clouds. I adore them.
My friends, some of you I’ve known for many years, others of you are new friendships forged here on line. You’ve been generous and kind to me and I must say thank you. You, my friends, you keep my soul nourished. Love you all.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Me? Shy?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, much to Dear Hubby’s and many other people’s chagrin. I was in Target today and managed to engage in two different conversations before I hit the register to check out. No wonder a trip that should’ve taken me less than fifteen minutes took me an hour.
When Mother was alive, she used to shake her head in disbelief, as I would engage some stranger in a lively conversation. However, I think she secretly enjoyed every moment.
Me? Shy? Nope. Dave will attest to that since he’s met me in person. At writers conferences you will find me having the time of my life talking to people well into the wee hours.
I can’t help it, I enjoy talking to people that’s why I broke sales records when I worked retail. My bosses loved it. I don’t work retail any more because I got so I didn’t like doing it. It wasn’t the customers as much as it was my last boss.
On the other hand, if my internal alarm goes off and tells me that a person is bad news, (and my alarm is very accurate) I will avoid said person.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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