Blog Archives
A very long and hectic day indeed
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a mere three hours of sleep, I woke to Dear Hubby telling me we had to be at the oral surgeon’s office at 11 a.m. So tell me, why was he waking me at 8? It doesn’t take me three hours to get dressed and toss back a cup of coffee or two. Ack. I tried to go back to sleep for a bit but that didn’t work. I dragged my butt downstairs, foraged for coffee, and told him, “Do not speak to me until I’ve had a second cup or you won’t need to go to a surgeon to have those teeth removed.” Have I mentioned I had only three hours of sleep and I am NOT a morning person?
We arrived on time. They gave him some paperwork to fill out and took him back to check the damaged teeth. Meanwhile, I sat in the waiting room and watched salt water fish swim around in a huge tank. They were lovely, the music was gentle old time jazz, and I almost dozed off. That’s not easy to do in those hard plastic chairs with low backs.
Dear Hubby goes back October 13th. They will knock him out—they have to or he’ll flip out. I think this time I’ll grab a book to read and, hopefully, will have slept a few hours longer than I did last night. No, I didn’t get a nap after we got home.
Then tonight Gavin was acting out of sorts. He even had trouble eating his dinner. I went to look at his mouth to see what was wrong and he yipped when I touched his lower lip. That’s when I noticed that the right side of his face was swollen. That’s something not easy to spot on a BT by the way. I’m praying it’s a bee sting and will be gone by morning. However, Dear Hubby has instructions that if it’s still bothering Gavin in the morning he’s to call the vet and wake me. Geez, I hope it’s just a bee sting and will be gone by morning I’m not up to another hectic day.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, MS related
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, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Writer, Writing
Weekend wrap
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I added two new pictures to the Bull Pen the other night. They are of Madison a little Bull Terrier gal who walks her human past our house. She’s not a mini bull she’s a very small standard, cute as a button and a real sweetie. When she sees me out in the yard, she drags her human to the gate so she can have some water and cookies. I always have some for her. Today she met the little Papillion, Spot who lives next door to me.
I ordered my Halloween costume. It will be a change from the old one and might come in handy if they do another costume party at the writer’s conference.
The night time temperatures have dropped from the mid sixties to the mid fifties and below. We’ve been in the seventies during the day. The pups do enjoy the cooler temperatures. Both of them are becoming quite spunky.
The rewrite on Doggoned Dead is going slow but I think the book is stronger and has a better flow. I can’t believe how killing off a lackluster character causes so many small changes.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, 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
Scurvy dogs and bilge rats
Posted by doggonedmysteries
ARRR it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day. I hopes that ye’ve had fun today. Swash me buckle but I sure will. I’m out of the galley and on deck ready for some silliness.
“Ahoy, you scurvy dogs what say we go clear the decks of bilge rats?” I asked when I took the dogs for their 2 a.m. last out. The dogs had no idea what I meant they were just glad I was walking them out to the poop deck. I can imagine what Dear Hubby will say when I greet him today with a few arrrs and shiver me timbers.
Have fun me hearties!
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, fun, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, silliness, Talk Like Pirate Day, Writer, Writing
43 days to Halloween
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve already started to haul a few props down from the attic. I bought a big rubber owl today. I needed something to replace my old screeching ravens that fell apart last year. Dear Hubby and I are going to drive each other silly with the owl. We keep moving it around on each other. You never know where the he is going be next.
I’m still on the hunt for a new costume. The one I want I tried to order for two frustrating hours online but for some reason it wouldn’t go into my shopping cart. I’m calling them when I get up and I’ll order it over the phone. After way too many years of wearing and revamping my old costume, I think I’m due for a change. I love to dress up to hand out the candy. Heck, the kids around here expect it now.
You know you’ve lived in the same old house for too long when people come up to you saying that they love your house, they remember Trick-or-Treating here as kids and now they are bringing their grandkids to you door. EEKS!
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Halloween, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, spooky stuff, Trick or Treat, Writer, Writing
Chocolate is brain food
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Okay, that may not necessarily be true, but it works for me. I inherited the chocolate loving gene from my grandmother. I don’t eat so much of it as to gain weight I eat only a little each day. I can claim chocolate as part of the vegetable food group, can’t I? It comes from a bean…. Vegetable. It relaxes me, it helps me think, and I love it.
( Hey, Jennie, tonight I finished that dark chocolate bar you sent. It was yummy!)
Hmm. Therefore, if I follow that same form of logic as is found in the first paragraph, it means that coffee is vegetable juice. Oh, goody. I’ll tell that one to Dear Hubby’s doctor, it will crack him up for sure.
I drink gallons of coffee. Ask Dave he’ll tell you how I carry coffee with me at all times. When I visit the Aunts, I phone them from down the road a piece from the house and ask them if they have the coffee on. They always do.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Chocolate, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, gifts, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
My fantasy vacations. What are yours?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My dream vacation would be a trip to Ireland, England, and Wales. Dear Hubby can’t travel, there’s no way with his MS that he’d be able to sit through such a long plane flight. Therefore, it’s a fantasy but sometimes dreams can come true.
Another fantasy I have is going to the writers’ conference in Maui. I drool over the conference information each year. The only way I’d ever make it there is as a guest speaker with all expenses paid—yeah, like that’s going to happen. Dream on!
At one time, I fantasized about a trip to Japan but the older I get the more I dislike crowds and it is definitely crowded there.
The best I can hope for is a fishing trip to a nearby river or lake. I can live with that. I’d enjoy the serenity of sitting on a river bank or a lake dock with a fishing pole and a notebook. In fact, most summers I do just that. However, these last two summers I somehow haven’t found the time to go. When spring rolls around again the first thing I’m going to do is get a fishing license.
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, Writer, Writing
A little of this and that
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I received a lovely surprise in my mailbox today. The prize package from Jennie arrived. She’s such a dear. She didn’t have to send the package all the way here from Cardiff, Wales. She could’ve fibbed and sent it to someone closer. I’m glad she did send it to me though because it’s a delightful little treasure trove.
The news that one of my favorite actors has died threw me for a loop. I’ve always adored Patrick Swayze and kept hoping he’d beat that nasty pancreatic cancer.
We’ve had two sunny days in a row now—Hooray for the sun! I managed to backwash the pond filters, pick five tomatoes and a dozen or so grape tomatoes. There’s still more out there that aren’t ready yet. The first hint of a frost around here and I’ll scrabble to pick all the green tomatoes—we do love fried green tomatoes.
After I finished the yard work, I went straight to my computer and spent several hours reading and critiquing one of Dave’s books. He’s truly an excellent writer. In fact, I think I used ‘excellent’ more than once in my comments on his manuscript. I’m telling you people, when his books are published, you have to read them.
Posted in In memory of..., 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, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Ahoy me mateys!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Put on yer eye patches and polish up old Polly, Saturday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! ARRR! Elena reminded me of it so now I have the date circled on my calendar.
Last year I drove Dear Hubby bonkers talking like a pirate and I didn’t tell him he had Elena to blame, nor will I tell him she reminded me again this year. From the time I woke up until I went to bed it was shiver me timbers, arrr, and ahoy maties. I’m sure I Arrred and yelled, “Hoist that mainsail” too many times. That could be why he went to bed early…
If you want to drive your loved ones or work mates crazy for a day, talking like a pirate works wonders. I even talked that way at the grocery store. You should have seen the looks it got me. It was silly, it was fun, and I had many giggles all day. It certainly was a lift to the spirits. So go out and have fun Saturday and don’t forget to ARRR and shiver me timbers a few times.
(Oh, boy I can picture you all now…Man the bilge pumps, the sh*t’s gonna to get deep.)
Posted in Holidays
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
Whatever happened to service with a smile?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Linda from over on Crone and Bear it got me thinking about this tonight. It seems to me that the term service with a smile has gone away. Today rude, snide, snot nosed brats (even 70 year olds can be brats) are the norm wherever you go. When I worked where I had to answer a phone our instructions were to answer with a smile. When one answers a phone with a smile pasted on his/her face, it does make one feel and sound more pleasant to the caller.
“The customer is always right.” You’ve all heard this one. That too has fallen by the wayside. It’s a darned shame that so many people, so often have to ask for the manager because whomever they are dealing with has forgotten this rule.
Something a dear friend of great age taught me long ago was that you’ll get a lot farther in this world with a smile and a kind word than you ever will by being nasty. Of course, that old gal could tell you to go to hell in such a way that you’d actually look forward to the trip—it’s called diplomacy.
Posted in Misc
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
I guess two posts in one day don’t count…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It seems that my readers were worried since I didn’t post at my normal weird hour. My excuse? After writing for hours, I was caught up in reading, doing minor rewrites on my mystery and by the time I put it down it was an even weirder hour than normal for me.
I thought about posting, but then I figured that after posting twice yesterday I ‘d already fulfilled my quota.
Yes, the one was only a photo memorial to 9/11. I felt there wasn’t much more one could say about it that hasn’t already been said and the pictures were a better reminder. As a writer I should know better.
I promise, at my normal weird hour tonight/tomorrow, I will post again. I wasn’t slacking off–truly I wasn’t.
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, Writer, Writing
Waking your sleeping muse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
There’s nothing like a good brainstorming session to shake the cobwebs out and wake up your muse. I know because Dave and I had a lovely IM session today. We tossed some ideas back and forth and managed to jump start our writing. We don’t do this very often. In fact, we only do it when one of us is at wits end and screams for help from the other.
Later today I get together with my critiquing group and will break the news that I’m killing off a character—well, two of them sort of. The one will remain but won’t have the separate chapters I’d put him in they weren’t working either. They are going to kill me.
If your muse has taken a snooze, why not get together with friends and see if they can help you out with a brainstorming session. Offer them free coffee and snacks if they’ll play ‘what if’ with you. Sometimes all it takes is a chance to bounce ideas off someone.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Fiction, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
My two circus dogs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve enjoyed teaching dogs to do tricks since I was a kid. Usually it was the old stand bys of giving a paw, sitting up to beg, and a few other common tricks. Our old male Bull Terrier, Malcolm did a marvelous dead dog. I would point my finger at him, say, “bang” he’d drop, and roll onto his back with all four feet in the air. These two haven’t learned that trick but they do have a couple of their own.
Gavin was a horrible jumper when he was a pup. He constantly jumped up at you as high as he could and nip at your clothing—I have a complete wardrobe of Gavin designed holey T-shirts. That’s when I had a flash of brilliance (that only happens occasionally) and bought a Hula-Hoop. I began to redirect his jumping up into jumping through the hoop. He loves to do this now and all I have to ask him is, “want to go play hoops?” He bounds for the door—that danged fool will do anything for a cookie except roll over on his back. Thus, he doesn’t play dead.
The standard poodle across the street learned to do hoops by watching him—she also has a severe cookie addiction. When Patty arrived on the scene, she too learned by watching and, of course, her love of cookies. Patty also does a great ‘stick ‘em up’ her paws go way up into the air for that. Maybe I can add on “bang” dead dog. Right now, I’m working on stick ‘em up followed by a down.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, 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
Doggonedmysteries 