Category Archives: Writer
Puppies and kittens for Christmas—not a good idea
Posted by doggonedmysteries
There’s nothing more stressful to a young animal than to arrive in a new home smack dab in the middle of the holiday confusion and excitement. For quite a few years, I managed a small pet store. We specialized in purebred kittens. Around Christmas, the owner would push the sale of them and offered to stay late on Christmas Eve so they could be picked up then. I protested his zeal the first year I worked there and managed to get him to change his policy a bit. We still sold the kittens but the new policy saved the babies from the stress of the holidays.
I talked my boss into holding the Christmas gift kittens until after Christmas. So what if they stayed with us a couple days longer? Instead of taking the new pet home for the holidays, our customers would present their gifts to the intended people in a different way. Some would buy all the needed supplies, wrap them, and put them under the tree with a note that the kitten would be theirs after the holidays. Others would give the intended giftee a picture of their new pet to be along with a collar, or toy, or bag of food. Most of our customers thought this a great idea when I explained how stressful arriving in a new home is on a normal day and was so much more so during the holidays. In fact, they took great pleasure in buying twice as many things for the new pet to put under the tree for the giftee than they would normally buy.
I managed to schedule pick up dates so we weren’t jammed with people on the same day too. All of this saved the kittens the stress of being in a new home when stress and activity levels are off the scale. They would enter their new homes when things were calm and they had time to acclimate to their new families.
I know several dog breeders who have done this for many years. Many of them refuse to allow a pet to leave their premises until after Christmas. Reputable breeders will gladly hold the pups (or kittens) until after the holidays.
If you plan to give someone a pet for the holidays, spare the animal the stress, present the person with the pet’s supplies or a picture, and a note that their new companion is waiting for them.
Posted in Dog related, Holidays, 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, Dogs, Family, Fiction, gifts, Holidays, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Enough snow already.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
the pond is somewhere out there--follow the pawprints
We’ve had quite a snowstorm come through here. It finally stopped around 2 a.m. I, being the fool that I am, went outside and shoveled. I shoveled, and I shoveled, and by gum I shoveled some more. I completed a 150 foot+ long by 3 foot wide path through snow about one foot deep. (Okay, officially it was only 4 to 5 inches deep here but at 3 a.m. it sure looked like a foot of snow.) It’s legal, I’m pooped, and I know I’m gonna feel it when I wake up.
Dear Mother Nature,
We have enough snow for a white Christmas, so when people are wishing for one, please don’t listen. We have enough snow for sledding, so when the children ask for more, please don’t listen. Since Dave so gleefully E-mailed me about let it snow, let it snow, etc. IF you must dump more snow around here, please target Dave’s house and skip mine. (Quit laughing Lee, you’re next on my list.)
Sincerely,
MWH
By the way everyone, today is Elena’s birthday. Happy Birthday E!
Posted in Holidays, Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Mother Nature, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, weather, Writer, Writing
To Bo-tax or not to Bo-tax that is the question
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m all for a tax on elective cosmetic procedures. Don’t tell me that Botox injections and plastic er um fake tatas aren’t a luxury. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about reconstructive surgery after breast cancer or some other problem that causes a real need.
I’m talking about when Mummsy and Daddy buy Muffy a new set of tatas for her sixteenth birthday because she absolutely can’t go through life with a 34B bust line and she’ll just die if she doesn’t have those 38DDs. They’d be smarter to buy her a brain.
I’m talking about when Mrs. Rich Bitch decides her 40 year old bust line needs to be as perky as nineteen year olds are so her hubby doesn’t find himself another piece of arm candy. How about when Mrs. I’m So Vain’s wrinkle spackle isn’t working and she wants to Botox the hell out of her face? Oh, hell yes tax her a$$. Tax the elective procedures and use that money for good healthcare for everyone.
Boobs sag, wrinkles deepen, and one should live with it. It’s life. It’s proof you’ve lived, loved, and have experience. Get over it.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Is Fampridine a ray of hope for those with forms of progressive MS?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It seems that once a patient goes beyond the realms of relapsing remitting MS into primary progressive or secondary progressive his/her chances of finding any form of relief disappears. I’m sorry, but to tell my Dear Hubby to use mobility devices, cope with it, and move on with your life seems to me to be very unsympathetic.
What I say is, “Hey researchers, quit sitting there with your thumbs up you’re a$$es when it comes to progressive forms of MS. Sure they aren’t as interesting or as exciting as relapsing remitting but geez, r & r is not the only form of MS out there.”
The only drug that seems to be a small ray of hope for patients with progressive forms of MS is Fampridine, which is as yet, not approved by the FDA. That might change in January.
I’ve heard both good and bad things about this drug. Reading the possible side effects is enough to scare the beejeesis out of you. Fampridine might help improve the progressive MS patient’s ability to walk faster, handle stairs better, be on their feet longer, and walk longer distances. For this Dear Hubby would willingly risk the side effects. He’s tired of being tired, in pain, unable to keep his balance, unable to walk far, or to stand for long.
I’ve put a link to Fampridine on the right, under the blog rolls, for those interested in finding out more.
Posted in MS related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
What if?…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The hits on my blog have made incredible progress towards my 50,000 hits goal and making me the winner of the ‘dinner out bet’ with Dear Hubby. So many hits in so short a time—amazing.
This brings me to an even more exciting ‘what if’ scenario.
What would happen if I reach out to all the wonderful people who have participated in helping me reach this particular goal when my books are FINALLY finished, sold, and published? Will I sell enough books to make the best sellers list with my first book? Will the publishers then decide to give me a multi-book deal? Will more than two people want an autograph?
The possibilities are endless.
Posted in Misc, 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, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Frozen ground and lots of rain equals a lake
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We now live lakeside and didn’t have to move or spend a fortune. It rained all day and with the ground frozen, the rain had no place to go. The yard is now a lake, and by this time of night, a frozen lake. It’s a good thing that the rain stopped earlier tonight or the Koi might have had a chance to explore the grounds. Knowing them, they would’ve camped out at the back door and waited for food.
Patty doesn’t like wet weather so she only asked to go outside today when she absolutely HAD to go. Gavin doesn’t mind rain, doesn’t like snow much, but the rain he tolerates. He always wants to go out and gives the ‘go out’ bells a good workout every day. Yes, there are days that I want to choke him with the bells.
Bells ring.
“You were out five minutes ago. You peed on everything that is upright. You don’t NEED to go out.”
Bells ring.
“You can’t possibly have to go.”
Bells ring.
“ARGH! All right I’ll take you out.” I put on boots, coat, hat, and we go out. Gavin tinkles on the Tulip Poplar, barks at nothing but the wind, and heads for the door. We go in.
I take off my coat, boots, hat, and settle in front of the computer to work again. I type one sentence.
Bells ring.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, my garden, 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, Fish, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
My muse is silent and my little editor has gone on vacation
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sometimes when I sit down to write and that blank screen stares back at me my mind hangs out the vacancy sign. What was it that I thought would be a good line? Dang lost it. Then there are times when I sit down at the computer and the words fly as fast as my fingers can type.
This is not one of those great moments of flight. I have to reach deep, drag each word out kicking and screaming, type them, delete them retype them. Delve for new words. Deal with interruptions—the dogs want out. Oh, fun it’s freaking cold out there. Get up, take one out, then the other, sit back down in front of the computer, and again stare at the screen. Why did I write that?
My muse is silent and my little editor has gone on vacation, most likely, he’s taken my advice and gone somewhere warm. I feel a draft coming from somewhere. Should I go hunt it down or sit here and work? My brain says work my cold hands and feet say go look for the draft. Instead, I brew another cup of tea and keep typing.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Snow then rain then snow then warmer then fog
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I do wish Mother Nature would make up her mind. After all the weird changes in the weather the last couple of days, we’re supposed to get high winds and a drastic drop in the temperature tomorrow along with some sort of precipitation. Of course, and why not? That’s all we were missing was high winds and more cold.
Patty doesn’t like cold, wet, or windy. Gavin doesn’t like windy and cold. I think tomorrow’s weather will cover all the bases. At least that means the dogs won’t dawdle when they go out.
Neither Dear Hubby nor I like cold weather, but at least he feels better in it than he does in the heat. I guess you could call that a small comfort.
The neighborhood angel shoveled our walk the other day. It’s nice to have some return on the many years we shoveled all the neighbor’s walks. DH worked a lot of middles and nights so we got the jump on the neighborhood and cleared the walks before anyone was up.
95 hits on the blog yesterday! That dinner out is looking good. Thank you for stopping by.
Posted in Misc, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
The stats are climbing—is it dinner yet?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m delighted to say that there were 108 hits yesterday. Only 1259 hits to go! Dear Hubby is truly sweating it.
Just so you all know, Dear Hubby happily made the bet with me, not only because I’m a cheap date. But because he thinks it’d be great if my blog gets 50,000 hits before the end of the year. This is a fun bet. A win-win sort of bet. I know he’ll be popping buttons off his shirt if this gets the hits. He always says he’s proud of me. (Even when I’ve out shot him at the range.) He’s a very secure man.
He’s supportive of my writing and is always ready to lend some expert advice when I need it. He always has my back and I have his.
A big thank you to all of you who have stopped in to boost my stats. Don’t forget to keep stopping by so I can make my goal!
On another note, R is going in for knee surgery today and here’s hoping all goes well. We are worried for him due to an underlying problem with his heart.
Posted in Food, Misc, 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, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Creating setting
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Is setting that important? Today it isn’t as important as it was way-back-when. Long descriptions will put today’s readers to sleep. However, one does need to create a believable world. The old writers took pages to describe the setting. Today, with less patient readers, we need to nail it in a paragraph or less.
A Sci-Fi writer has a difficult task and, at the same time, a simpler one, creating his/her world than a mystery writer does. He/she can invent weapons, creatures, and forms of transportation his/her way and if he or she can suspend disbelief, no one takes them to task.
Try using a weapon incorrectly in a mystery or suspense book. You’ll have people crawling out from everywhere screaming, “On page such and so, you had the antagonist fire this weapon wrong. You should have….” Get the idea? We have to be careful when we construct and create. Research everything, get the details right.
Give me dialogue anytime. I can write great dialogue. I can write dialogue standing on my head, or with one hand tied behind my back. On the other hand, when it comes to setting, I struggle.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Fiction, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Bad TV commercials
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Is it me or are the TV commercials getting worse? It’s bad enough when we’re assaulted by one bad erectile dysfunction medication commercial after another, but now it’s Christmas shopping commercials. Does anyone else find that blond lady on the Target commercials downright psycho? She’s enough to give you nightmares.
And don’t get me started on the mannequin with her jazz hands. Give me cute. Like the Armstrong Floor commercial with the skate boarding Bulldog. Give me snappy and witty but please don’t tell me to have a happy period. If Mother Nature ever showed up here to hand me a ‘present’, I’d slap the crap out of her.
It’s no wonder parents go broke at Christmas. Little Johnny and Janie are inundated with commercials for expensive toys they must have! Excuse me, but what child NEEDS a $30.00 cell phone? Children lose things! Heck, they lose mittens that are strung through their coat sleeves around their necks or hermetically sealed to their coat cuffs. Guaranteed you’ll be hearing about how they lost that phone within a week. You might as well go flush the money down the toilet, or go lose it at the gambling tables. It all amounts to the same thing.
There are no limits to the insanity.
Posted in Favorite TV shows, Misc, 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, gifts, Holidays, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, TV, TV commercials, Writer, Writing
Writer’s guides: Yes, they are useful
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I can’t mention any writer’s guides books without first giving Lee Lofland’s book, Police Procedure & Investigation a guide for writers, a plug. Hey, what can I say? I know the guy and the book is a valuable resource, as is his web page. (Take a note Lee; you might be getting a few more sales here. Or, at the very least, some fact checking E-mails from me.)
Writer’s Digest Books puts out tons of fantastic books for writers. Right now, I’m making heavy use of Lee’s book and one written by Hal Blythe, Charlie Sweet, & John Landreth, Private Eyes a writer’s guide to private investigators.
Also, thank heavens, I have to two real life PIs I can use as resources. One of them I met at a writer’s conference and the other one Dear Hubby knows. Not everything I write comes from books. I do check my facts with the real McCoys.
Both of the books I’ve mentioned are from Writer’s Digest Books Howdunit Series. They also put out The Elements of Fiction Writing Series and the Behind The Scenes series. I think I’m missing one or two from that last series. Hmmm, I think I need a shopping list.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Fiction, Home, Life, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 