Category Archives: Misc
Note to self or What did I mean by that?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You can thank Elena for this post, she posed the question that started it. “I write myself the most fascinating notes. Wonder if other people write themselves mysterious notes?”
Elena you aren’t the only one who does that. I often come across some cryptic missive in my handwriting and have no clue what I meant when I wrote it. Lately I’m finding measurements but for what I have no idea. Windows? Doors? A space for a cabinet?
Don’t get me started on the many Post It’s stuck to manuscript print outs that must’ve made sense at the time. Does anyone have an idea what ‘OP m to NC’ means? That was one of the easier ones to decipher.
It’s a good thing DH doesn’t shop for groceries because he’d never figure out the special shorthand I use for my list. Shr ch, frz sn, sp whl…etc. When he used to do some shopping, I had to write everything out for him including brand names.
How about you, do you write cryptic notes to yourself and then wonder what the hell you meant?
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Passed the two-year mark
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Two years ago on October 3, when I began this blog, I never expected to see over sixty thousand hits. Heck, I was thrilled when I hit the one hundred mark.
Now, I’m just plain old grateful that folks like you read this blog. I’m happy you come back often and comment here.
I’m grateful for the patience that those of you who want to read my books have shown. I’m not world’s fastest writer. I do hope that when they are finally out there, they are good enough for you. I don’t want to give you shoddy work. I want to give you the best I can do.
I’ve made some good friends through this blog, and for that, I am grateful.
This has been a fantastic learning experience for me.
Thank you, Dear Readers.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Wet weather wet dogs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After having a dry summer, it seems that fall is making up for it. We’ve certainly had a lot of rain. It rained all day, all night, and all day again. At least this time it isn’t coming from the same direction as the last storm and the roof isn’t leaking. However, it did get chilly enough to turn the heat on.
It must be the cooler weather. Just when I think I have them figured out, Gavin and Patty change things. The crazy dogs have altered their schedules over the last couple of weeks. Instead of sleeping from seven to two a.m., when they go out for a last call, and then sleeping for the rest of the night, they are now waking at ten and staying up until midnight. From ten to midnight they race around the house playing doggie tag until they drop. Then they want to go out. After that, they zonk and sleep the rest of the night.
Gavin enjoys going out in the rain some days and others he doesn’t want to go unless he must. Today was one of those ‘let me out every five minutes’ days. Even with his short wash and wear coat, I don’t think he dried out until almost three in the morning. Patty on the other hand hates rain and is content to stay indoors until she’s desperate.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Rain, weather, Writer, Writing
A hodgepodge for you today
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Every time I took the dogs out, I picked up small branches and twigs that the wind knocked down. The ceiling is drying out now that the rain is gone. The wind we had all day helped.
Surprisingly most of the danged squirrel’s nest is still securely wedged in the upper branches of the magnolia tree even though that squirrel has been gone for months. She was the first one relocated in our little relocation program.
We ate the little yellow sugar baby watermelon yesterday. The flavor was good but it’s not something I’ll plant again. There were too many seeds and the vines took up too much space for what little we got from them. I do wonder if that little red one out in the garden is going to be ripe before the first frost.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After many years of fighting the beast, my sister died of metastatic breast to bone cancer at the age of 44. Therefore, ladies, I ask you please remember to do your monthly self-exams and get a mammogram. Gentlemen you can do your part by reminding your wives, daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers…well, you get the idea.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Breast Cancer, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Update on that MP3 player and other things
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I went shopping today and ran across a 4GB SanDisk Sansa Clip+ on clearance. After comparing it to several other MP3s and the IPods, I went with it, not only for the price, but also for the ease of downloading my music to it. I am once again enjoying my favorite music while cooking, cleaning, and doing other menial tasks around here.
Due to some severe weather heading our way I might not be able to post tomorrow. Since I normally write my posts in the wee hours of the morning, the weather might put a damper on that. Do check back though just in case the front moves more easterly instead of north.
DH is still showing improvement in his walking so I have nothing but good things to say about Ampyra.
Patty has decided she wants ice cookies every night after their last out. She’s begun to sit at the freezer door and beg. Gavin waits to one side. He knows she has the right moves to get some for them.
Take care everyone and have a good day!
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Digital audio player, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, IPod, Life, Love, MP3, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, SanDisk, SanDisk Sansa, SanDisk Sansa Clip, Sansa Fuze, Writer, Writing
Now why didn’t I do that before?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve missed music. Lately the only time I’ve listened to music is while driving my car. What an idiot I am. A while back when my hard drive crashed, I didn’t put much of my music on the new hard drive. I have no idea why I haven’t done this. I have a couple albums on the computer and I have many more CDs I can download to listen to while I’m writing.
Tonight I remedied this and now I am listening to some of my favorite music. I realized afterwards why I hadn’t been listening to music as much. DH takes a nap every afternoon and I don’t play music because I don’t want to disturb him.
Duh, use the headphones. Yeah, but that means I can only listen to music while I sit at the computer. I need to buy a new MP3 player or something. Any suggestions out there as to which one is best? Do keep in mind that I am on a tight budget and need something I can easily download the music to from my computer.
The next test is will music jump-start my creativity. It used to let’s hope it still does.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Audio, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Compact Disc, Craft of writing, Dead, Digital audio player, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Music, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Recordings, Writer, Writing
I won’t grow up
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It doesn’t take a lot to amuse me. DH stops at Mc Donald’s every day to pick up a happy meal breakfast for his mother. Most of the time, we give the toys to G for her grandson, or to my new neighbor across the street for her daughter.
Today I snitched one of the toys. I couldn’t help myself. Who doesn’t want a tiny skateboard to play with? It doesn’t matter to me that it’s a Clone Wars skateboard. What matters is it’s silly and fun to play with.
I’ve added it to my collection of silly things on my desk. I have a Scooby Doo with magnifying glass wind-up toy, a large winged gargoyle, and a skull that has dancing black roses coming out of the top all of which sit on my desk. There are bells, whistles, and even a set of dumbbells within reach. My pencil holder is a gargoyle.
I have a fancy magnifying glass, a magic wand, and a miniature treasure chest that holds my thumb drives. I use Winnie the Pooh pencils and there’s a walking robot pencil sharpener at Amazon.com that I covet.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, I still like toys, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Peter Pan has nothing on me, Won't grow up, Writer, Writing
My paper-recycling bin runneth over
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Another election is approaching our area. Politicians waste trees and money sending flyers to me. Said flyers leave the mailbox and go directly into the recycling bin. I could probably save time by placing the blue bin under the mailbox and label it ‘political flyers here please’. Oh, if only they’d get a clue as to how much money they waste. No, I don’t read the flyers especially when the mudslinging begins as it always does.
If you want my vote, do come and talk to me. Give me some proof that you actually care about the people in your district. Don’t waste my time calling me on the phone with a poll. I refuse to answer questions asked by faceless voices. Another thing that will greatly impress me is if you don’t bad mouth other candidates. My parents always said, “If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything.” Nothing lowers my opinion of a candidate faster than when one begins mudslinging.
Do not talk to me as if I am stupid. I stay informed and actually have opinions. However, you will never see them on this blog because my politics are private. There’s nothing I hate more than having someone try to shove their politics down my throat. Therefore, I refuse to do it to my readers.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Environment, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Politics, Recycling, Waste, Waste and Recycling, Writer, Writing
Never work in a snake pit
Posted by doggonedmysteries
For lack of anything to watch on TV tonight, DH turned on that Undercover Boss show. I was working at the computer and only half listening. However, I did come to the conclusion that if someone had done that at one of places where I worked for a very short time I might still be working there.
This office made you dread having to go to work. I stayed only a couple of months. I couldn’t take the vicious backbiting and stress it caused. When I left there, I felt a great sense of relief. How I left there was inspired. I’d had a particularly bad day of dealing with malicious coworkers and impulsively called the human resources department.
“How do I quit this job? Do you want two weeks notice or what?” I asked.
They tried to persuade me to stay but I’d had it. They even offered to transfer me to another location. I still wasn’t interested. They finally told me that since I was only part time I could leave straight away. I told them I’d finish out the day but that would be it.
Before I left that day, I typed a letter to my boss explaining why I decided this was not the place for me and left it on his desk—he was never one to be found in his office. In the letter, I told him it was no wonder that they had such a huge turn over in help. They needed to clean out their snake pit if they wanted anyone to stay more than a month or two.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Television, Undercover Boss, Writer, Writing
A bit of a ramble through my thoughts
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Although my life is mundane, there are moments that I enjoy sharing. I know that I have a cockeyed view of the world, I write about murders. I don’t look at things the same way a lot of people do. My reality often bends and changes as light through a prism.
Because DH has a debilitating disease, we never know what each day will bring. This is what I call living life unscheduled. We live each day as it comes and always revel in small joys and accomplishments. Like any married couple, we sometimes grump and growl at each other but above all else, we never forget that we love each other.
Add two crazy bull terriers to the mix and you walk a fine line between sane and insane. Heck, I should’ve named them that but it would only confuse them and have me locked up. Can you picture me looking for two lost dogs calling out, “here Sane, here Insane.” The men with white coats would scoop me up in an instant.
When I began writing this blog, I never thought that many people would give it a second look. Today the number of hits passed sixty thousand. All I can say is wow and thank you Dear Readers.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Marriage, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Philosophy, Writer, Writing
What’s black and white and shouldn’t live in the city?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G’s husband had a ‘have-a-heart’ trap out in their yard the other day. He hoped to catch a stray cat that has been wreaking havoc on the neighborhood garbage bags. He hadn’t baited the trap yet, he planned to do that the next morning around the regular time he’s seen the cat. Much to his surprise when he came out he found he’d caught a small black and white critter.
Yep, he had a skunk in the trap. Now around here no one will trap, retrieve, or even tell you what to do if you catch one. It’s a good thing it wasn’t the first time one of us has caught a skunk. B very carefully draped the trap with two black garbage bags and ever so quietly backed away.
He came over to borrow DH’s cart hauler that goes on the trailer hitch. There was no way he wanted a trapped skunk inside his 4WD with him. He told us later that he gently set the cage on the hauler and carefully strapped it down. Then he drove to an area where the skunk should be happy and released it all the while praying the critter didn’t spray him. B got lucky the skunk toddled off without a backward glance.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pest control, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 
And a big hello to all the spammers out there
Oct 3
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Cue Monty Python’s Spam music. I do enjoy reading some of the atrocious spam comments that come in. I admit, some of them I go ahead and allow just for chits and grins.
However, if you’re going to spam me please don’t go overboard in your praise of my site. I know better. Sugary overdoses of accolade make me want to go on a diet. I may be a gardener, but excessively flowery praise raises my hackles. Believe me when I say that you aren’t nearly as clever as you think you are.
Did you know that Akismet catches you every time? I am silly enough to slip a few of you through the barricades. I only do it for extreme cleverness, a particularly good turn of phrase, or if I am in a silly mood. Don’t depend on my moods.
For those of you that don’t have a web site through WordPress I will elaborate. Akismet is the spam catcher for WordPress and it does a terrific job. Some spam never even makes my spam folder. Those that do get past Akismet I must sort through and delete. I delete 99% but there’s something about that 1% I let through that I can’t resist allowing.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
2 Comments
Tags: Akismet, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Comment Spam, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Monty Python, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Spam, WordPress, Writer, Writing