Blog Archives
Write the perfect want ad
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My body is flabby. My brain is flabbier. I am out of shape both physically and mentally. Although I’ve quit smoking and am eating healthier meals I find I’m gaining pounds by leaps and bounds.
I’ve tried exercising but since I’m basically a very lazy person I tend to fade fast. That also goes for any writing exercises I’ve tried. My brain tends to overload rather quickly.
At this point, I’m beginning to think that I not only need a personal trainer to kick me physically back into shape, but I also need a personal writing trainer to tie me to my desk and hold a gun to my head.
Maybe one that does both. How does one write that want ad? How would you write it?
Posted in healthy living, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Craft of writing, Doggoned, Heart smart, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writing
Don’t throw birds
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The dogs and DH were down for the night. For about the tenth time, I wondered why the hell I ever downloaded Angry Birds. I should’ve known better. I am easily addicted to games of this type.
Is there an Angry Birds anonymous?
Do they have meetings?
If you haven’t tried the damned game don’t cast stones at me….
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day 2011, Writing
Another year
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As I move into a new year for my blog I am pondering what this one will bring. The possibilities are endless!
I know I’ll write more about writing, DH’s MS, and life around this loony bin that I call home.
I hope I’ll soon be writing about selling the MIL’s house, fixing our home, and new journeys into the unknown.
Hold onto your hats we’re starting a new year today.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dead, Doggoned, Life, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day 2011, Writing
Writing exercise
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Take a line from one of your books and improve on it, exaggerate it, go over the top!
Curiosity got the better of me; I tugged the gate open and slipped into the run.
Curiosity grabbed me by the scruff of the neck, threw me through the open gate, and into the run.
I blushed for the second time.
I felt the heat of blood infuse my face and knew it looked like a red neon sign for the second time. I could almost picture the cartoon arrow flashing above my head ‘look here, look here!’
Posted in My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
We might not have these this year…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A very poor pumpkin crop this year may prevent G and I from doing our usual fancy carves. So far the harvest looks bleak.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day 2011, Writing
A little whine with the cheese
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Another wet day brought a phone call from the MIL’s neighbor to let me know that there was water in the basement coming from the front and the back. This was something I could’ve gone without knowing.
We cannot sell that house fast enough to suit me. I do not need to deal with the maintenance problems of two homes. DH is now claiming that dealing with that house is mostly responsible for my heart attack.
Have I whined enough? Good.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
It’s only 88 days from now
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A peek at an idea for you…
Brad surveyed the ancient Victorian home with a jaundiced eye. “If I hear one moan, one groan, or one chain rattle, I’m out of here.”
“Aw, come on. It’ll be fun.” I tugged on his sleeve leading him up the steps.
“Fun for you, maybe.”
“Yeah, I always enjoy hearing a big strong man scream like a little girl.”
“Keep it up and I won’t go in there.” He gave me a look that would curdle milk.
“We’re getting paid. Other people have to PAY to go to this house.”
“Remind me, why are they paying us?”
“The say their ghosts are angry about something and they want us to find out what it is before they open the house to the public for Halloween.”
“Yeah, that’s the part I don’t get. We’re private detectives not freaking ghost busters.”
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Dead, Doggoned, Fiction, Mysteries, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
There are bad days and there are good days
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Some days, I find myself terrified out of my wits when I see DH having trouble getting around. Yesterday was one of those days. More hot weather had his MS in an uproar after he was only outside for a little while.
When he can barely walk from one end of the room to the other, tears make my vision swim. My heart weighs heavy in my chest as I watch him struggle to stand upright. I can hear my brain screaming, “I can’t do this.” Then my heart speaks up and says, “You love him. Yes you can.” Yes, I can do this. No matter what my fears, I can overcome them and be here for him.
I’ve learned only to offer my help when he is at his worst. Any other time, he growls at me. I know he doesn’t mean to be such a bear but sometimes it’s his only defense against feeling helpless.
Then there are those special days when I wander downstairs from an inadequate night’s sleep to find he’s poured my coffee and he has it fixed exactly the way I like it. Then he smiles at me and I fall in love with him all over again. We can do this no matter what his MS throws at us.
Posted in MS related
Tags: Bones, Caregiver, Disability, Doggoned, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Home of the mooches
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sometimes we have to share what we’re eating with the pups. It’s either do that or suffer through ‘the mooch.’ Gavin will rest his head on your knee and droooooool. Patty will sit directly in front of you and staaaaare at you.
If we open the freezer for an ice-cube, we must pay the toll of one for each dog or suffer the consequences. The walking blockade maneuver is the most frequent consequence and they use that on DH. I don’t have a problem walking so when they try it on me I can easily push them aside.
Never open a banana in this house and expect to eat it all. These dogs can hear the skin tear and will pop out of a sound sleep for some.
DH likes gummies and these too he must share. The pups get only the teensiest of samples, but it’s either he gives them some or they’ll poke him to death.
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dog humor, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Calgon, take me away!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
With the MIL’s house almost ready for painting, I had hoped my stress levels would drop knowing we might be able to put it on the market soon.
Then we got the county tax, city tax, and school real estate tax bills for the house. EEEEEKS!!!! I can’t believe how high they are when compared to ours. Double taxes, double utilities, double maintenance, this completely sucks. Moreover, we haven’t received the estimate for the roof repairs yet and we still have to pay for the funeral.
Excessive stress doesn’t help when it comes to writing. I find myself getting easily distracted all the time. Even reading, which for me is a passion, is difficult. All I can do is wait it out and hope for the best.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Life, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Property tax, Writer, Writing
Yes, I’m going to complain about the heat
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The last time I remember being in 103-degree weather, I was in Texas. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike Texas? We hit a record of 103 degrees yesterday. Sorry, my southern friends, but some of us weren’t designed to tolerate temperatures over 90-degrees. Please, be kind enough to take your heat back and let us enjoy our normal summer weather.
Just taking the dogs out a several times so they could relieve themselves was more than enough. The five minutes it took to water my potted plants about killed me.
I’m not fond of cold, snow, and ice but I put up with it for our cooler summers. I like being able to go outside all summer. I hate staying inside in the AC. I’m no Southern Belle I’m a damned Yankee.
Posted in Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
I have hit a milestone
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This is my 1000th post! When I began this blog, I never thought I’d keep posting daily for a long as I have. I’ve only missed posting on days I was too sick to get out of bed or when I was away at my writer’s conference.
I never thought I’d have return readers or, much less, a small following, but I do. To you my dear readers I say thank you for without you I wouldn’t have made it to this milestone.
You encourage me to keep writing even when I feel crappy. Writing on this blog has become a way to keep my hand in while my brain is out of gear on my mysteries.
I hope when we sell the house and things are back to a semblance of normal around here I will have no more problems with my books and can finish them in short order.
I promise you, if you hang in here with me during this rocky time, I will get them done.
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
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