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I will be happy for mud
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Do they make doggie ice skates? Gavin and Patty certainly could’ve used them yesterday. The yard has turned into a rather large ice rink. There has to be at least a two-inch layer of ice on the snow now.
I will be so glad to see all that snow and ice melt away that I won’t complain about having a muddy yard. Well, I promise not to complain too much. Hmm, maybe I should I hang a note up to remind of that when the dogs and DH track a ton of mud across the kitchen floor.
AJ has made out like a bandit with all the shoveling she’s been doing this winter. It has taken its toll on her though. I do adore this hard working woman who has kept the MIL’s and our walks clear for two winters now. I don’t know what we’d do without her.
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Get write right when you write
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I admit it. I have been goofing off the last couple of days. Instead of writing I’ve been reading. (It’s my opinion that reading makes one a better writer.) Some of the books I read were stunning and well written.
Other of the books I read could’ve had their writers spend more time reading. At the very least, they should’ve had someone read their books before they published them. Glaring spelling and grammar errors jumped out at me. One was so bad all I can think of is that writer did a lot of cut and paste and never read it through afterwards. It had too many disjointed paragraphs and sentences that made no sense at all.
When my books get out there, I do hope I am giving you the very best that I can do. I’d be ashamed to give you anything less.
Nothing makes me scream in frustration more when reading a book than to see careless errors.
Do NOT depend on your spell checker to catch all mistakes. There are words that sound alike but have completely different meanings. Take for example the words write, rite, and right. If, you aren’t sure what spelling is correct, do use a dictionary and look up the word.
Read, read, read, and reread your book. Then have others read it before you send it off.
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, Post A Day, Reading, Spelling and Grammar, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing
Happy Groundhog Day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
No shadow today! Does this mean that spring will soon be here? Or does it mean that the whole groundhog seeing his shadow is a load of crap?
I’m hoping for the former since we now have a coating of ice on everything.
Our power has flickered many times so I figure I’d better post this ASAP or forget it.
The dogs are not amused with the ice coating on the snow. I’ve been getting that ‘you want us to go out in that crap?’ look from them.
Y’all have a Happy Groundhog day…stay safe.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Groundhog Day, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil, Snow, Writer, Writing
I’m glad I don’t live in South Dakota…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
On one of my snow posts, Chuck quoted something DH has often said …”Just remember that all you need to think about when you think you have it soooo bad you don’t always have to look to far to see that some poor schmuck always has it worse….”
That certainly hit home today. I received an E-mail from my ex brother in law and in it were 20 some pictures taken in Lead, South Dakota back on January 5th when they were hit with a major blizzard.
I’d post the pictures but I don’t know who took them so I can’t get their permission. However, picture if you will snow so deep that it makes huge snowplows look like toy trucks. Two and three story homes covered to the rooftops and people having to shovel their roofs because there’s at least six feet of snow on them.
Can you imagine looking out your windows and seeing snow packed up against them? How about opening your door to a wall of snow? YIKES! Yeah, my feelings exactly. Somehow, that makes the total of 29.9 inches for the winter so far not seem quite so bad.
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
I bet you say that to all the ghouls
Posted by doggonedmysteries
He pointed to a vellum document, held a quill pen out to me, and grinned. “Sign here.”
His smirk made my veins feel as though I’d plunged into a winter lake. “I don’t think so.”
“It wasn’t you, who only moments ago, swore you’d sell your soul to finish writing your books and have them published?” His eyes glowed red.
“Well, I may have said it, but I certainly didn’t mean it.” I willed my heart to stop its wild rampage in my chest. “Who the heck are you anyway?”
“I’m not the devil if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m one of his lowly ghouls, a minor minion. However, if you sign here…” He held out the document again. “Your wish will be my command for the minimal price of one soul.”
“No sale buddy.”
“Don’t be so hasty.” He sighed and leaned against the doorway. “Here’s how it goes, Toots. If I go back without my quota, I have to face the music. That music is horrible.”
“Tough, as far as I’m concerned…” I stood and placed my hands on my hips. “You can go to hell.”
With those words, a clap of thunder rocked the house and the ghoul disappeared.
Posted in Misc, Short Stories
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, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Yet again more snow… now we look like this:
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Kindle, crazy, and conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I need to avoid Amazon’s E-books for a while. It’s too danged easy to spend $$$ and the books appear too darned quick on my Kindle. At the rate I burn through books, I must learn to restrain myself.
However, the lousy weather we’re having and the flat tire on my van hasn’t helped. If I wasn’t reading and writing I’d be stir crazy by now.
Yes, Dave and Chuck I know that crazy is a very short walk for me.
The only truly bright thing on the horizon lately is the phone call I received from the gal I room with at the conferences. We have our room reserved. Next, I need to send in my registration.
Hey, Dave. The first round is on you.
Posted in Misc
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
And then there was ICE
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you read yesterday’s post you know that my friend Dave is delighted with this weather. I am not. AJ cleared our driveway tonight so that’s not a problem. We now have to contend with ICE. The heavy snow on the roofs of our house is dripping and growing into substantial icicles. Then the drips are hitting the walks and steps turning them into skating rinks. We are running out of salt.
Now running out of salt wouldn’t be that bad since normally I can drive to the store and get more. However, I have a problem. My van has a flat tire AGAIN. I thought we were done with this problem after we had the wheels polished and tires checked last month. Nope. It’s BAAAACK!
I do not drive DH’s truck. Ever. I don’t like his truck. I don’t like to drive it. I have too many blind spots when I do drive it. I had one narrow escape while driving his truck and I haven’t driven it since.
Then there’s that ice problem again. I hate ice. Our street is very icy and for some reason the salt truck skipped us the last two storms.
Hey, Dave do you deliver salt?
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Yuck, did we ever get snow this time
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“Who filled out the order form for all this snow?” I asked.
“Dave did.” A little voice told me.
“Dave? I’ll kill him.” I gnashed my teeth and paced the floor.
“You’ll be lucky if you can punch him in the knee caps.” The little voice began to giggle.
I tugged on boots, yanked a snow hat over my hair, and threw on my coat and scarf. “Shut up!” I went outside to shovel a path in the yard so the dogs could go. Grumbling under my breath, “Dave could at least come down here and shovel this mess.”
This storm made last February’s blizzard look like a flurry. Isn’t it spring yet?
Quit laughing Dave…
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Brusha, brusha, brusha
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As I sit here looking at the little zip lock packet containing toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss I remember what my childhood dentist appointments were like. They were nothing like the one I had on Monday.
As a child, I had military dentists. They never bothered with Novocain when they drilled and filled teeth, six molars in my case. You were expected to sit in the chair and not butt walk away from their work no matter how close they came to the root. (And they did come too close in my case.) Dentistry back then was brutal.
On Monday, I was asked if I had pre-medicated—I had. Pre-medication is ordered for me before any work is done because of having rheumatic fever in high school. Then the dental hygienist numbs my gums with a topical numbing agent, after which another deeper numbing agent is used. I have very sensitive teeth. However, once all that stuff begins to work it’s let the cleaning begin. You would think that I’d be sweating bullets after those old dentists I had but this is almost a pleasure.
Posted in Misc
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, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
If you could choose you neighbor…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Who would choose? Would there be certain pets you’d want there? Ones you wouldn’t want? Are you the neighbor everyone wishes DIDN’T live next door to them?
We have two small dogs and a large domestic short haired black cat living in the house next door to us along with one teenager and two young adults and one matriarchal unit. I love this family and I hope they stay there forever. Patty however, has issues with the two dogs, they always have a few cross words to bark at each other when they are outside at the same time. We’ve had people in that house I wouldn’t wish on…well…anyone!
The next best person who lived in that house was young single woman with two cats. She was seldom home. I often took care of and played with the cats.
We won’t go into the worst of the worst that lived there before her. I don’t want to hear about people spewing their morning coffee onto their computer screens. Suffice it to say the roach people almost had me move out of my house and then there were worse ones.
We were glad when the house was sold and a new owner (see single gal above) moved in. We were terrified when she sold the house remembering the previous tenants. We hoped no one bought the place to rent it out but rather to live there. We were lucky. (See first paragraph.) We love them.
Posted in Misc
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, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
You know it’s COLD outside when…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The dogs run out do their business and dash back in, in record time.
Long icicles hang from everything.
The cars are grumpy when you try to start them.
The pond heater is working overtime and the Koi are hanging out directly beneath it.
You step outside and your breath freezes in mid-air and drops to the ground with a thud.
You have no desire to go out even when wearing long underwear, layers of clothing, a very warm coat, gloves, and boots.
Yep, it is that COLD outside. When the hell is spring going to get here?
Posted in Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
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