Category Archives: My blog
Gavin doesn’t do well with change
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Poor Gavin. He’s very confused. Our kitchen is the coldest room in the house. Gavin’s crate has been in the kitchen since he arrived here at the age of eight weeks. He’s now eight years old. I moved his crate to the living room tonight. With the dreadfully cold weather we’ve had lately, he’s been fussing at night in his crate trying to cover himself with his bedding.
I did some rearranging of furniture a few hours ago and his crate is now next to Patty’s. (Oh, yeah this has also confused her a bit.) When I moved Gavin’s crate, he was busy getting a belly tickle from DH so he really didn’t notice. When DH finished, I showed Gavin where his crate was. I did, honestly I did. Gavin even went in and out of it several times.
Then we let Patty out of her crate so she could see the change too. She thought it was a funny joke. She quickly pounced on, and teased Gavin. Then she did a silly huckle butt on the couch. All this wound Gavin up and he raced back and forth from living room to kitchen. They took a while to settle down.
When I told them to kennel up, Gavin ran to the kitchen and looked for his crate, and looked for his crate, and stood in the middle of the floor looking puzzled. I showed him his crate, again. It’s going to take a while for him to get used to this. In the meantime, I might need to go looking for a dog psychologist.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, 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
Where do you get your ideas?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I hear that a lot. Unbelievably, I can get a book idea from almost anything. DH was watching the show Pawn Stars a few nights back when I spotted an item that I thought would work great in the hands of a serial killer. I took notes.
An overheard conversation will often make its way onto the written page. Don’t scream at someone on your cell phone if you don’t want your conversation to be the dialogue for someone’s book. Your right to privacy stops when the decibel level goes up. I’m a people watcher. I find many characters wandering off the street and into my books.
Then there’s the ‘people I enjoy killing in print’ category. Those people are changed, rearranged, disguised, and are usually the bodies that my protagonist finds. They are people who have caused me harm and heartache. The corpse could be the idiot who walks his dog past our place and never cleans up after it.
I know whom it is that I kill off but my victims never do. It’s so liberating and much better than paying a therapist.
Posted in My blog, 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
Time to trim the toenails
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tonight I noticed that both of the pups sound like tap dancers when they walk. Tomorrow I’ll have to get sneaky and begin the process of trimming their claws. Patty is very good about letting us trim her claws. Gavin, on the other hand, is not. Trimming Gavin’s claws is a long, slow process.
Patty will stay on her back on the couch and remain as still as a seat cushion while I snip away at her claws. On occasion, she will pull a paw back but she does so without any conviction.
We have to sneak up on Gavin to do his. Most of the time, I manage to snip a claw or two when he’s snoozing with me on my chair. It only works if he is on his back, then he’s fairly easy pickings. I never can trim more than two at a time though. By the second snip of the clippers, 65 pounds of white dog rockets from the chair. He has his limits and I’d better have a cookie ready or I won’t get him in that position again.
You can almost see Patty rolling her eyes at him.
Posted in Dog related, 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, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A gift in the mail brightens the day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I received a most delightful treat in the mail today. There was a small package wedged in mail box. It bore a Royal mail UK stamp. My dear friends in Cardiff, GrannyAnne and her daughter Jennie, had decided I needed a bit of cheering up. I have to say it worked well ladies and thank you very much.
I do love the Fred Basset book even though he’s not a BT. The British idioms are different enough from the American to make it a true delight. The huge bar of chocolate will add a few pounds but oh, what a grand way to add them. I’ll think of you two when I’m walking those extra laps around the park to get rid of them. 😉
A few days ago, I also received a gift in the mail from Elena. Thank you, Elena. It was a CD of piano works from a remarkable young man. He donates the money from their sale to the National MS society, Race for the Cure, Baltimore Reads, The Maryland Food Bank, The Matthew Foster Foundation, and Tsunami Relief. You can find him at www.PianoSquall.com.
Tags: Across the pond, Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, friends, friendships, Hands across the sea, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, UK friends, Writer, Writing
How to be a writer
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Write a paragraph. Delete what you’ve written. Write some more. Two paragraphs, three, maybe a whole page. Read them, scream, delete and rewrite them.
Bang head on desk. Get some sudden inspiration and write six pages. Spell and grammar check them. Read them and feel a thrill that they make sense.
Write a paragraph. Delete what you’ve written. Dig deep inside you. Find additional inspiration and write five or six more pages.
Life interrupts.
Write a paragraph. Bang head on desk…
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, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Fampridine approved by FDA
Posted by doggonedmysteries
On Jan. 22, 2010, the FDA approved Fampridine (dalfampridine) under the name of Ampyra. “Ampyra will be manufactured under licenses from Elan of Dublin, Ireland, and distributed by Acorda Therapeutics Inc. of Hawthorne, N.Y. AMPYRA Expected to be Available by Prescription in March 2010.”
DH has an appointment in February and is definitely going to talk to his neurologist about this.
Which brings me to another subject. The neurologist has moved. They sent us convoluted directions to the new office which made it sound as though it was a great deal further away. I spent hours–stupid dial up–trying to locate the office. Once I did locate it, I looked at it in a bird’s eye view and said, “duh!” It’s very simple to get there from here and I even know a great short cut.
Posted in MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Something I miss having around
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I grew up with a piano in the house. We took lessons but none of us was what you’d call a musical prodigy. I remember all the piano teachers both the good ones and the bad. Scales? Yes, I can still play them. One of the teachers had insisted on hours of practicing scales.
However, there was one person in our house who could play beautifully, if you could catch her at it. That person was my grandmother. You truly had to sneak up on her to hear her play the piano because she’d never play when she thought anyone was home. That woman could play like a dream. I remember many a time hiding on the stairs, practically holding my breath to make sure she didn’t know I was there, and listening to her play.
I miss having a piano and maybe one day I’ll buy one. There’s always some old piano for sale in the newspaper at a cheap price. I already know where I’d put a small one. All my old sheet music and lesson books are stashed in a bookcase.
Posted in hobbies, Misc, My blog
Tags: 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, Writer, Writing
The pups are mud bugs and some very bad poetry
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Holy cow is our yard a muddy mess and it’s not even spring yet. All day Gavin and Patty blissfully played in the mud each time they went out. When they came in, they looked like two mud wrestlers. Patty took great joy in paw painting Dear Hubby’s jeans and shirt. Gavin preferred to paw paint me. They are mud bugs.
My laundry basket runneth over. Yea, though they run rampant through the yard and gardens, they fear no mud puddle. For they know they can track a goodly supply of muck onto the kitchen floor. Surely Mom’s wrath will follow, or at least, a toweling at the door. Dad sits by in a muddle, paw printed from toe to neck. Both dogs make a leap for his lap, oh no. He yells, “What the heck?”
There’s mud on the walls three feet above the dogs. How it got there, they aren’t telling. I can’t blame them, because Dad was yelling. Muddy paws wiped all day and the mop and bucket have gone astray.
Two exhausted dogs sleep. Snores from crates emanate. DH is off to bed and I am left to ruminate.
Posted in My blog
Tags: Author, Bad poetry, 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
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
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
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
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
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