Monthly Archives: January 2010
Crossing Castle off my list of shows
Posted by doggonedmysteries
That’s it I’m done. When Beckett tasted the drugs that they found in the locker, I was ready to throw a brick at the TV. No *%$#^$ way! The writers of the show seriously need to do some real research or talk to some honest to goodness live police officers.
Hell, Lee Lofland would love it if they came to him for advice or attended the Writers Police Academy. Check out his link on my blogroll–Graveyard Shift.
In the entire show, the only scene I enjoyed was the last one between Beckett and Castle. Geez, that’s bad. Most people who switched channels in disgust missed the best scene. I was busy at the computer—yes, I walked away from the show. Not far though since my computer is in the living room. DH was still watching it and making derisive comments through to the end.
The worst thing is that the premise of this show was good. The writing however, sucked big time. For me it means time to say bye bye to Castle. I have better things to do with my time…like write.
Posted in My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Castle, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, TV, TV Shows, Writer, Writing
It must be January because I’m getting the gardening bug
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It never fails once we get that tiny warm spell, that miniscule thaw out in January; I begin to think of gardening. I scan online seed catalogues. I dig through catalogues I get in the mail. I plan and dream of where things will go in the spring.
I’m on a constant search for perennials. I hunt for anything in a black flower because I love the way the black accents make all the other colors pop.
I blame my father and my Aunt J. for this. They got me started. They caused my addiction to gardening.
My father always planted tomatoes and a few other vegetables each year. I often helped him dig around in the garden. When I visited my Aunt J on a more regular basis, she moved my interest to perennials because she and my Uncle H had a garden shop. Aunt J caused my full blown addiction when they went out of business and she insisted I load my van with plants on several trips.
I still have most of those perennials in my garden. Some of which I’ve split over the years and given to G for her gardens. Now G and I spend the spring haunting garden shops and loading our gardens with new discoveries.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Warm enough today
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The filters thawed at last. (Although, which you will see shortly, not without a minor mishap.) I was able to back wash them and add fresh water to the pond. The Koi are happy and it was warm enough to have three bullfrogs hanging out in the water this evening. I do wish this weather would continue, but it’s January and it’ll never happen.
Early this morning DH managed to catch that I’d left the filter on rinse yesterday instead of remembering to put it back on filter. (Things like this happen when I try to multitask too much.) Yesterday the still frozen filters weren’t even trickling so there was no water loss until today when they began to thaw. Fortunately, DH caught my mistake before the water level went down more than an inch. However, scrambling to correct that and get the hose in the pond to add water exhausted him.
The filters are functioning. The waterfall is falling. The fountains are working…all is right in the garden. We’ll wait for spring to find the leaks in the waterfall. For now all we can do is try to keep everything operating as best as we can.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Weather related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Special announcement
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My cousin Carol, up in Boston, now has some of her art work hanging in the Dewey Library. I’m so proud of her!
Posted in Misc
Tags: Art, Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Painting, Writer, Writing
Rejection letters
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I could paper a room with my rejection letters. That would be enough to discourage most normal people. I never said I was normal. With each rejection letter I’ve received, I’ve been lucky because for some reason the person who has written the letter has taken the time to comment on my writing. I, in turn, have taken the time to listen to their comments and my writing has improved.
I say I’m lucky because so many writers that I know have received the standard form letter type of rejection. A few even got the nasty ‘don’t quit your day job’ types. Those are enough to make a person consider murder—at least in print. Yes, when you read a mystery where one kills an editor or agent, the person who wrote it probably got one of those letters.
Rejection letters are a normal course for writers. They teach us to have the skins of rhinos. What could possibly be worse than a bad rejection letter?
One thing, a critique that not only shreds your book, your dignity, and lacks saying anything constructive but it makes you doubt yourself. I’ll go into that at another time.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Does anyone make a coffee maker that won’t pee on my counter?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I love coffee. I love drip coffee makers. However, I have yet to find one that lasts longer than two years. I take care of them. I keep them clean. I follow all instructions. Nevertheless, before I know it, they become senile and start peeing on the counter.
In 37 years, I’ve gone through a multitude of coffee makers. One decided I worked it too hard and in protest shot its on/off switch across the kitchen, nearly hitting G in the head, and then ceased working. That one was the only one that didn’t hang around long enough to pee on the counter.
I have owned every name brand coffee maker out there and not one of them has remained housebroken. I’ve had cheap coffee makers; middle range priced ones, and a couple of expensive ones.
I’m tired of wiping up puddles on my kitchen counter. It’s worse than having an 8 week old puppy. At least as they get older they learn not to wet the floor.
Do coffeemakers mark their territory? Do they perhaps have weak bladders?
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, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Cold spell damage repairs on the pond
Posted by doggonedmysteries
That long cold spell we had did some damage to the waterfall and froze the filters solid. The weather is supposed to be (hopefully) warm enough to thaw things. It looks as if I have a lot work ahead.
The top of the waterfall is a manufactured piece of fiberglass and cement. I need to locate the leak there and fix it. The two filters are solid icicles so I have to wait for them to thaw. At least the fountains are running and the pond didn’t freeze solid.
I figure, according to the weather reports, that I have three days to get the work done. Once I get the filters and waterfall working properly it can get cold again.
Just in case I can’t get the filters working, if the freezing damaged them, I did look at some new ones online today. There are ton of them out there and most of the new ones have a built in UV light that is great for killing algae and preventing algae blooms. We will go for one of the ones with the UV light if we need a new filter.
Posted in my garden, Weather related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
We are gonna get some warmer weather
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Over the next few days, we’re supposed to see a steady rise in the temperature. Need I say yippee? I can’t wait it’s been far too cold for my taste lately. We might even see it hit fifty degrees by Thursday. Wow, that means I can…do…some…yard…work—oh, crap.
The Koi will be happy because it means I’ll be able to add fresh water to the pond and back wash the filters. They should thaw by then. Not only will they be happy but also the wild birds who have been trying to find water at the top of the falls will be too. I’ve seen the poor things leaning way over the edge of the pond to sip. The littlest ones do have trouble reaching it.
The pups will be thrilled. They have not been pleased with the extreme cold we’ve had the last several weeks. I’ve never seen them hurry so much to get back inside as they have during this cold spell. Yes, they are spoiled. They love the comfort of the furniture and the heat. Same as they do the AC in the summer.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Home, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Sherlock Holmes movie
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you are a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, do not walk but run to the theater and get ready for a good movie. G and I went to it today and we weren’t disappointed. Now I can’t wait for it to come out in DVD so DH can see it. He can no longer sit comfortably in a theater.
This Sherlock Holmes is not one of those sanitized Hollywood versions we’ve all seen. This movie runs closer to the books. Sherlock Holmes is truer to the character Doyle intended. If you want Basil Rathbone, don’t go see this movie. If you’re looking for a foolish, doddering, and fat Dr. Watson, don’t go see this movie. The movie is gritty, action packed, and definitely not a cozy.
Posted in My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Movies, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Are your characters likable?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Plot twists, bodies, red herrings, murder scenes, cops, and bad guys aren’t all there is to a mystery. Your characters are the stars of the story. Therefore, the characters need to draw in the reader. They have to be likable or, at the very least, intriguing.
Editors didn’t like my first mystery. No, that’s not true; most of them liked the mystery. I have the lovely long rejection letters to prove it. However, they didn’t like my main character. She was too independent, too gritty. They couldn’t warm up to her. No matter that, her father and several loving but gristly ranch hands raised her. She was a person they didn’t understand. Their world wasn’t ready for that character.
However, my agent loved her. She worked hard to sell the book. Willing to continue to try to sell it, I think she felt let down when I pulled it to write something different.
Several years have passed, and maybe I should have her shop it around again. After all, since then the program Saving Grace became a hit. Grace is gritty, tough, and an independent character.
Could it be that editors would give the book a second look today? One never knows, but for now, I’m too busy with my works in progress to rewrite that one.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Musing on my muse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Her voice made me jump out of my reverie. “I’m back.”
Once my heart settled back into its normal rhythm, I grumped at her. “It’s about time. I’ve been struggling here.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. You’re the writer.” My muse flounced over to a nearby chair and sprawled into it.
“Yes, but you’re my muse. You’re supposed to be here to give me inspiration.”
“Inspiration, shminpiration I have my own needs.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know.” She stretched out her left hand and checked out her fingernails.
“No, if you don’t tell me. I don’t know.”
“I need space. I need my privacy. I need love too.”
“A likely story.” I turned back to my computer.
She stood and tapped me on the shoulder. “I’m serious here. Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because you only disappear when I’ve written my characters into corners that’s why.”
“So don’t do it.”
With that exasperating bit of news, I shoved my chair away from the desk. “Pray tell, how is that possible?”
“Write literary fiction. Give up on the mysteries.”
I picked up my phone. “Is there someone I can call to have you replaced?”
“Now, is that nice? After all I’ve done for you.”
Posted in My blog, 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, Muse, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The week in review
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This has been a long week. Very cold weather and now today, more snow. Dang, we were just getting to see some grass peek through the last dumping of snow we got. The furnace has been working overtime keeping the house warm. Eeks! We have frigid weather and another inch or two of snow predicted for this weekend. Take note people, with this surge in cold weather stocks in long underwear companies should rocket. Hurry up spring!
Meanwhile back at the pond, the waterfall is frozen but the fountains are running. We need a few days above freezing to thaw the filters and the waterfall. There’s no ice on the pond, due to the cattle trough heater, but leaves clogged the basket on top of the pump, thus the frozen filters. It took me two hours to get the fountains flowing. Ah, wet hands and frigid weather, what a lovely combination.
Gavin and Patty are as sick of snow as we are. Neither one wants to be outside long. Our normally quiet dog barked when she saw some people outside today. It seems that Patty has taken to complaining to the neighbors about the weather.
DH had a bad week. We’re hoping next week will be a better one for him. He’s going to skip his Avonex dose on Monday. We’ll see how that goes.
Here’s hoping for warmer days, melted snow, and DH feeling better.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, my garden, 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, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Snow, weather, Writer, Writing
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