Unrhymed and WIP'd!

I tried to write a rispetto, I really did. I actually got the the iambic tetrameter, but am struggling with the rhyme. The feel of the poem feels genuine, and I really don't want to lose that. Maybe it's destined to be a unrhymed rispetto. What do you think, Dear Readers? Should I try to make the rhyme happen, or just enjoy the poem I wrote. I am happy that I got the iambic tetrameter to happen. Do you ever struggle with writing a rhyming piece versus and non-rhyming piece? Do you prefer rhyme to non-rhymed?

Today is my final warm-up for OctoPoWriMo that begin tomorrow. 31 poems in 31 days! Check it out!!

I used Clavichord as my writing prompt. A Clavichord  (from dictionary.com) an early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.

Where Words and Music Meet

When you prepare to write a poem

its best to try to remember 

that meter comes while on a whim

much like those melodies composed

Upon clavichords, metallic

counting the beats as they roll past.

Measures and words, from writers and

composers, are no different.

Today is also WIPpet Wednesday, brainchild of K.L. Schwengel, author extraordinaire. Every Wednesday writers share a bit of their WIP. By taking the day's date, you select a snippet to share. Still confused? Don't worry, it took me a little while to get it. See today is 9/30/2015 and by using the numbers in the date you can pick how many sentences, paragraphs, or words to share. Also, from which chapter and page (if you know that much of you WIP). Clearer now? Okay. 

Come visit my fellow WIPpeteers at the Linky List here.

How could he even get here, wherever here was? Not even sure he could speak. He’s thoughts were wild, racing about the real world. For he believe that he was not in the real world, either a dream or maybe it was the end and he finally succumbed to the pulse of the city he had fled years before.

That made something stir, memories float to the surface of his mind. He was sure that he was still himself, but who that was he wasn’t sure. Memories of his Abeula singing to him, teaching him how to play. Thos were the best of times, sitting in front of the fire after a meager dinner of rice, beans, and whatever vegetable that could be procured by the roadside markets in the middle of the night. He smiled. Was sure he was smiling, thinking about Abeula and the vegetables and the fire and the guitar. He missed her terribly, but another memory floated to the surface.

It was of anger and sadness, and a choice that he made so long ago.

There were harsh words between him and someone else. Not Abeula! She would never have made him leave. Never! Who then?

The image of the angry voice was blurry in the blackness, suddenly he felt cold. And he dropped the memory, he felt a faint warmth tip his head and nose, as it flushed through his body and he was aware of his nose, his mouth exhaling, his eyes blinking. There was dampness on his face, sweat maybe, tear. He didn’t really cry, did he?

Poetry Corner: Where at Last to Reign

It's been a full couple of weeks, and in a scant two days OctPoWriMo begin, and I haven't truly prepared. Since Tuesday are Poetry Corner days, I that I would visit Shadow Poetry and find a new poetic form to try out. Also, since the rains have come with the Tropical Storm Joaquin, today you get a rain inspired poem.

Today's form is a Ghazal, an odd numbered poem using couplets and a repeating word. Each couplet is it's own poem, yet together makes a whole poem. Greater than the sum of it's parts? Hmmmm...

I played a little with words and Rain/Reign. I hope you enjoy, Dear Readers.

When at Last to Reign

The skies at last open and rain,

I know that my time is at an end to reign.

The brightest blue sapphire skies,

have long since departed to the rain.

Cold steel grey papers the heavens,

where the gods have to reign.

Yet the clouds now have overthrown,

seated upon the throne to reign.

A hierarchy they have built this day,

when patiently they begin to rain.

A sign that summer at last has come to an end, 

when the gods have given into the rain.

Much to Report at Round's End

Today I did something different. The Steele Memorial Library in Elmira had a Bad Art Night. It is where you can bring your art supplies and share with others an make "Bad Art". I don't think I have the capacity to make "Bad Art", but I do love making art in any form, whether its good or bad. It was fun to make, see for yourself, Dear Readers. Also, can you guess my favourite TV show?

So, its the Last Day of the Round. Yeah, that's it...

This Week:
        *Reading: finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie). I read this back in college, but not since then, so the twist was a surprise. I am in awe of any mystery writer. A mystery needs to be written backwards. An heck, writing can be hard as is, but to write a story backwards. I remember when I took English Detective Fiction in college, which was where I was introduced to Ms. Christie. The big project for the semester was to write a detective story. I did it. I did do it. Hmmm...Maybe I should try writing a mystery story again, or at least pull out that long forgotten story and see if it still holds oup. Also, I dove back into Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman) and I swear his writing is just so addicting.
         *Writing: wrote Sunday (ROW80), Monday (99 word challenge), Tuesday (986 words - started a new story, based on a dream, very Twilight Zone).
         *Editing: edited a flash fiction piece for #writestuff monthly writing challenge. You can read The Birthright here, if you like.
         *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties.

How did I measure up this Round? Well...prior to Music Man started up I was writing everyday and throughout the summer. I finished my read through of The Real Road Trip and was preparing to type up my edits, organize, and re-write the novel to prepare it for my first CP.

This month I have not done much editing. There has been much with Music Man vying for my attention. I even came up with a new schedule to accommodate my rehearsal nights. I think I am just adjusting still. Good things are on the horizon: an awesome show, Doctor Who is back on, I have a new WIP for NaNoWriMo (Modern Muses is already at 17000+ words), and a new short story (currently Top Secret Project).

I think my current problem is that the next step in revising The Real Road Trip feels daunting, and I am scared that after these edits the novel is going to suck. I need to take that fear by the horns and run with it, tackle it and give it a good cuddle. I did my read through edit and was still convinced it was a workable story back in August. What I need is to push myself. Also, I need to revise the editing goal (which I think I already did), to make the revision of draft 2 (I think that's right) complete by Halloween. I can do it, in fact I WILL DO EEET!!! Note and question to you Dear Readers, is the rough draft  technically a 1st draft? What do you consider a rough draft, versus 1st draft?

Overall, I am happy where I am with my goals and my habits at the close of Round 3. And I know where I need to be for Round 4. I have my work cut out for me though as October is OctPoWriMo and followed by November is NaNoWriMo. I want The Real Road Trip, 2nd draft complete by Halloween. Also, will continue to work off the revised schedule throughout Music Man.

WWW Wednesday!
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
     Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman(. I love the way Neil spins his stories. Oh and he has a new book out now too. Must get all the Gaiman.
• What did you recently finish reading?
    The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Christie), see above.
• What do you think you’ll read next?
    Deep Time, 12th Doctor adventures.


This (upcoming) Week:
       *Reading: finish Fragile Things (Gaiman) and start my recently purchased Deep Time (Doctor 12 adventure) before Round 4 starts.
       *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Refer to new goals in my new schedule.
       *Editing: type in edits, organize an outline, and and re-writes for at least an hour a day, at least three days week on The Real Road Trip. Update twice weekly.
       *Social Media: 4 blogs daily, sponsor duties, sponsor post.
       *Theatre Stuffs: report of show's progress.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Call on in and visit the Blog Hop, meet some new friends, learn a few things about writing and/or how to crochet or how to make a gluten/dairy meal. We have an eclectic group here. I love them all.

WIPpet Wednesdays, the brain child of K. L. Schwengel, where writers share a bit of their current WIPs. Using today's date to pick a snippet of said WIP, this means that the date is 9/23 and by this logic I will share 5 sentences (2 + 3 = 5 sentences). My current WIP, Modern Muses, and it's been a week since I shared anything. We left off with Teri as she was trying to get Mel's help through a Dream Form (think something like an out of body experience, but you know where you want to go), but he is just a ittle distracted.

“Mel? Are you listening to me?”

“Mmmm…” he purred to himself. Teri turned, she saw Mel lying on a fainting couch and getting a massage from a woman in a tight dress. She could feel Mel’s mind slipping away from her and she suddenly caught Mel and the woman kissing and then she was able to reach Mel’s steel walled mind and his memories previously hidden from her.

“So, I am on my own then,” as she turned away from Mel in disgust.

Go and visit the other  WIPpeteers here.

Theatrical Poems - Gearing up for OctPoWriMo

A few poems I wrote back in May of this year (during Zombie Prom) and seeing that I am tech crewing it, I thought I'd share a few of the more technical theatre based poems. And one new haiku, for good measure. Also I am gearing up for OctPoWriMo to start next month. There will be a lot of poem, poetic forms, rhymes, and meter. Hope you enjoy, Dear Readers.

Theatrical Flow V.2 (Tetractys)

Stage

the show

begins now

curtains open

hear the music play, as the story is

given life by the actors, in movement--

Just another day...

another show

we do

this.

---------

Theatrical Flow

Mic Checks

Places

Spotlights

Are Now

To the stage for Mic Checks, Places called--

When the moment spotlights are now trawled.

----------

Dark Night ( a Triquain)

It is time--

opening night of the 

time we have spent together, singing 

and dancing to our Beat, the one we have pulsing

underneath our skin to the rhythm--

born in our blood and we

are onstage.

-------------

Be Ready

When the lights go down

the backstage-- silent, ready

 the curtains will rise

Nursing Love

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a love story. Explore what feeds love. It can be romantic or platonic. It can be devoted or damaged. It can be recovering or enduring. Focus on characters or setting, weaving a 99-word love story. From Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge!

From MorgueFile

“Remember when you were sick that weekend?” Sasha said at the table. “And I had to make you chicken bouillon in your microwave?” while watching tiny sparrows fight at the plastic feeder hanging on the porch.

“Well, no actually,” said Myron.

“Oh come on,” she said, “You mumbled in your sleep that night, ‘Gotta catch the viruses,’” she giggled in the early morning sunshine streaming into the kitchen.

“Oh, right. Well, I remember the time you hallucinated in your sleep, he said.”

“Dreaming?”

“Okay, dreaming. You said, ‘Get the frogs after them’.”

“Okay, touché,” she said smiling at him.

Productive Day

This week's check-in...

This Week:
     *Reading: finished Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams). What a strange story. It was engaging. I feel like I lost the story at a few points, but then found it again a few chapters. Adams is a strange writer, yet fascinating. still I liked it. Working on The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
     *Writing/Blogging: Not much really. I have to sneak time to write this week, but this afternoon and early evening I wrote a 99 flash fiction piece, and posted another piece for Tamara Woods' #writestuff monthly writing challenge. Read it here.
      *Social Media: have kept up with my sponsor duties and 4 blogs daily, except Saturday as I was directing and performing in a 1 act for 24 Hour Theatre.
       *House Tending/Exercise: did a lot of house work this after and afternoon from laundry to dishes, trash to vacuuming, and general tidying up around the house. This also included lots of going up and down the stair, so I probably did at least a mile in stair work today. Also I was walking around yesterday during 24 Hour Theatre. :-)
        *Theatre Stuff: finished prop list for The Music Man, updated cast/crew list.

This weekend was KLP's fall 24 Hour Theatre. This was the first time I wasn't writing for it since the very first one. I was directing and acting along side one of my best friends, Sara and my new friend Luke. The show involved elevator, a child with the chicken pox, over acting teenager, income tax, flirting, and talking with your butt. Yeah, good times! Oh and having my husband cross dress as Yasmine Sapphire! You have to be there. Back I've included a few pictures for those curious souls, Dear Readers.

Beauty Pageant

Untitled: A Working Title

Also, yesterday was the season premiere of Doctor Who and wholly crap, what a season opener. After 24 Hour Theatre we all trucked to Sara (she has BBA). Don't worry, Dear Readers, no spoilers! But WOW!!!

Also in the news, I have a smart phone now. I don't know if this is a good idea or not. We'll see...

Finally over thew crude from two weeks ago, just a bit of a runny nose and a small cough. At the Evil Day Job, I survived the week. Tomorrow will be long as I usually go in early to help with the Monday morning crazy. But I am more rested, feeling better, and having a better out look. Been writing more and after today's productivity am ready for a fresh week, Dear Readers.

This (upcoming) Week:
       *Reading: finish The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Christie), work on Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman).
       *Writing/Blogging: write daily, at least 300 words. Blog on Tuesday and Thursday.
       *Editing: look at The Real Road Trip, make a dent in the edits/rewrites.
       *Social Media: 4 blog daily and sponsor duties. Work on a sponsor post for Round 4 (maybe) before end of this Round.
       *Theatre Stuffs: get sponsors. Report progress on Music Man.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog Challenge that knows you have a life. Here's what you do: write down some goals, follow the goals, blog about your progress twice a week, post to blog and linky list, visit fellow writers/bloggers, meet new friends and learn some new things. Come view the Blog Hop here.
 

The Birthright

“Oh, it’s beautiful, Nana,” Celeste said, staring into the box where a blue dress lay folded up neatly. It looked, almost, like a piece of origami paper what with the white polka dots that looked like stars swimming in a sea of inky blackness. Celeste ran her hand over the fabric. It felt woolen and slightly itchy and made her less likely to actually wear it. But as she took a hold of the shoulders and pulled it out in a quick snap.

The older woman at her side said, “Careful dear, this fabric is precious.”

“So how am I supposed to wear it?” Celeste asked flippantly, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she held up the dress. It looked less like wool now that she was holding it. Squinting, her eyes saw stars and galaxies and the whole of universes within the fabric. “Is this cashmere, Nana?” she asked, holding it up. It looks much prettier than in the box.

“It was made of a rare breed of sheep and mixed with Angora rabbit hair.” Her Nana stood there, “your Poppi brought me some of this yarn, from some far away place while he was in the army. It sat in my box of yarn for almost three decades before I decided to use it. He said something about the yarn, from the lady he bought it from. This yarn was only to be used for special occasions. And your graduation is a special occasion. It’s a beginning of a new life.”

Celeste carefully held up the dress you her chest. I felt surprisingly soft against her skin. “You just forgot about this yarn? Why?” she asked, looking at her Nana.

“Oh you know how much yarn I keep around and how much I buy,” her Nana laughed and fingered the edge of the dress. She looked at her granddaughter with a sad pride. “It was a wonder I ever found anything….” Nana laughed. “Poppi told me he wanted me to make something so beautiful to celebrate, that’s why he bought it.”

“What was it called, Nana? The yarn I mean.”

“Oh, I don’t rightly remember. Tessa something…” Nana stood behind Celeste, beaming. “I am so proud of you, My Dear. I never thought for once that I would have this…” gesturing to Celeste.

“Naaaaaaanaaaa, are you going to embarrass me,” Celeste mock whined.

“To whom, Dear,” as she gestured to the empty room, “No I mean it. When you’re Poppi and me were first married we planned to have a big family, eight children at least. But after five years I guess I gave up. You Poppi he was always sad after that…” Sighing, she pulled Celeste over to the floor length mirror. Caressing the fabric, she smiled at her granddaughter. 

“Why was he sad?”

“Oh, that’s a long story…” Her Nana sounding sad as she petted the dress that was pressed up against Celeste’s body,” I guess at the time he wanted as much as I did.”

“But you made Mom. Why would he be sad?”

“You know how things don’t turn out the way you plan. Well, Poppi’s feels that way about his life.”

“But, once you made Mom, I would think me would be happier?”

Her Nana smiled into the mirror, she looked so sad.

“Oh Nana! I’m sorry. Did I say something?” She looked into the mirror and caught her Nana’s gaze. Celeste couldn’t say a word, but she put her hand on her Nana’s shoulder and smiling said, “I love the dress.

“I’m glad. I do hope you wear it for graduation.”

“I will,” Celeste glanced at the dress. It was really very pretty. It was an A frame style dress bluish black with almost iridescent “stars” and sworls of purple and black swimming across the fabric. “I love it!” She smiled the fabric soft against her knees and hands. “I will wear it for graduation.”

“You’ll be the most beautiful graduate on that stage.” Nana stopped, turning away.

“Nana?”

“Its nothing, I just was thinking.” Her Nana took a hold of the dress and Celeste pulled her shirt off to try the dress on.

“About what?”

“Your Mom. You know she never graduated high school.” Her Nana held the dress over Celeste’s head as she lifted her arms. 

“I didn’t know. She never really talks about her childhood much. I just assumed…”

“She had it rough. Even from the beginning...”

“How so?” Celeste asked, as suddenly she shrieked excitedly as the dress fell around her hips, it practically conformed to her body. Celeste removed her capris and looked into the mirror. “Oh Nana, I love it. I’m sorry if I sounded ungrateful earlier.”

“No you weren’t ungrateful, the fabric is meant to be worn and will only look appropriate when on the person it was made for. You are destined for the stars, My Dear.” Her Nana beamed.

“But didn’t my Mom deserve something this awesome too.” Celeste twirled in the mirror. The edges of the dress flared briefly and settle back down.

Her Nana was silent.

“Nana?” Celeste turned away from the mirror. She faced her Nana, “What’s the matter?” She saw her Nana tearing up, her deep blue eyes filling with tears.

“Oh, this is wrong!” her Nana said, turning slowly away.

“What is it Nana?”

“I have a secret, Celeste. Something I haven’t told anyone.”

“What is it, Nana?”

“Your mother?”

“My mother?”

“Your mother, she isn’t your mother. She is my daughter, a young lady your Poppi and I adopted after our fifth year of marriage. I was about thirty and we went to adopt. We found a little girl of about five, parents had died. She was traumatized. Wouldn’t even call us mom and dad 

“He never really loved her. I believe he tried, at least for me, but in the end they were never close and I think she resented that. She was rebellious and did everything against what your Poppi said and did for her. She ran away too many times to count. And only came home for money.

“Then one day everything change. Your ‘Mother’ was twenty five and I was fifty. I learned I was pregnant...

The words hung in the air. Celeste dropped her hands from her Nana’s shoulders. Looking at her Nana and then turning away, she saw herself in the mirror. Realization hit even before her Nana should say another words. In the mirror she saw that Her Nana looked so much like her, while her mother hardly looked like her. Her Nana had blue eyes wavy hair, while her ‘mother’ had black hair and straight. She realized that she never knew much about her mother. She hardly spent much time with her, but she always around her Nana.

As she stared in the mirror, the sworls seemed to stop, frozen in mid swirl; her hands ran across the dresses folds, soft and comforting. And then she looked up and saw her Nana put an arm around her shoulder, “Mom?” Celeste said the word carefully into the mirror.

Her Nana, blue eyes shining and her wavy white hair falling in ringlets around her face nodding.

“Yes, I am your Mother. My other daughter is your older sister and I think she was even more resentful when I ask her to pretend to be your ‘Mother’. And I never told you, because I was ashamed. But when you were ready to graduate and begin a new life I realized I couldn’t hold this back from you anymore. You are my daughter, and I was saving this fabric to give you a birthright to be worthy of.

Celeste wanted to cry, she felt the shudder in her chest as she choked on tears. “So, if you are my Mom, then that makes me a Delacoeur like you, not a Smythe like my Sister?” The words tasted funny as she said them, but they felt right so she smiled into the mirror at her Mother’s smiling face.

Yes, I want you to be Celeste Delacoeur after all this time.”

Nana?” 

“Yes?”

“No, Mom,” Celeste tasted the words on her tongue, “When I filed for my diploma, I already put Delacoeur on my diploma. I already thought of you are my mother, even if I didn’t know it yet.” Celeste took a hold of her Mother’s hand and squeezed it tight. “This is the best way to start a new life.” 

From andrebog on MorgueFile

Not as bad as I thought...

It's been a weird week. My brain is re-couping from a long week at the evil day job (more evil than normal this week), getting sick over the weekend, and adjusting to a new writing/theatre schedule. I usually try to bounce back after a few speed bumps and re-tool my goals to align with what I need, but this week has been a challenge. Goals that had been habit over the summer I am struggling with. Today is the first day that I made real progress.

I guess it happens. Hell that is what ROW80 is all about. It just feels like a backslid a lot. So, how did I do?

This Week:
     *Writing: I did not write Monday or Tuesday. Today I did a writing blitz (796 words) and am writing this
post, so it's a start. Even with the new schedule that account for rehearsal days, I fell a bit short. I hope to return to form as the week continues.
     *Blogging: I posted late Tuesday. it was on old poem, but it was running through my head and I feel like it want to be read by other eyes than my own eyes.
     *Reading: been at a bit of a stand still, what with waking up early, or sleep later. I am less than 50 pages from finishing Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams). It is a strange story. The characters are interesting, but I am not sure how I feel about the plot. It's a little meandering. It's also Douglas Adams though. Still, I am enjoying the different feel of it. Mostly.
     *Social Media: managed to get to 4 blogs Monday, Tuesday, and today, plus my sponsor goals. Even though once I was my own charge. ROW80 folk will probably understand that.
     *House tending: cleaned smelly food from out of the fridge, did the dishes, now need to run to Wegman's and get some needed groceries.
    *Theatre Stuffs: set of secret group for Music Man (to share pictures, video, and important information, answer emails, and type of more of the props list. Also, got my Sloth Mail ready to be mailed (for Amanda Palmer's Patreon group).

This (upcoming ) Week:
     *Reading: finish Dirk Gently and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words.
     *Editing: returning to my slightly forgotten edits of The Real Road Trip.
     *Blogging: post on Thursday.
     *Theatre Stuffs: finish props list, print more sponsor forms, new schedules, and other Music Man related stuff. Prepare for 24 Hour Theatre this weekend.

It's not much, but I am feeling more like what I usually do. There is some adjustment, so I am not beating myself up so much. Nose to the grind stone and slow and steady wins the race. Any more cliches I can use?

A Round of Words in 80 Days, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come visit with what the other ROW80-ers are up to at the Blog Hop.

That's it for now, Dear Readers. There will be more stuff in the downward slope of the week. Still I feel good.

Poetry Corner: Carousel Dreams

Quick poetry post for my Poetry Tuesday. I wrote a couple of poems yesterday, but the pantoum was not my best and the other was a haiku. I like to post several haiku at a time, because they are short poems. So tonight (early Wenesdayish) we are going back to May. This poem was inspired back the carousel at Eldridge Park in Elmira, NY. Where the rides are a dollar and the chance to win a brass ring. Like the good ol' days!

This is a pantoum. One of my faves and a reminder of summer's end. The repetition seems to evokes feeling of being a child, summer, fairs and such. Enjoy, Dear Readers!

Carousel Dreams

In a colourful blur of memories

spinning around your head--

in the sunshine you hear the music

and you feel like a kid again.

Spinning around your head

as the world whirls in colourful blurs

and you feel like a kid again--

picking out your trusty steed.

As the world whirls in colourful blurs

taking hold in the line the long minutes of

picking out your trusty steed,

for the adventure of a lifetime.

Taking hold in the line the long minutes of

waiting for your turn to arrive,

for the adventure of a lifetime

only costs one dollar.

Waiting for your turn to arrive,

when no cares are to be had--

only costs one dollar

to ride the giant giraffe.

When no cares are to be had--

in the sunshine and memories

to ride the giant giraffe

in a colourful blur of memories.

5-3-2015
12:04 pm

Progress as of...

Goals and progress? Yes? Yes! Not much, but here is what I have...

This Week: 
    *Writing/Blogging: Saturday. Came up with a schedule for my goals during the rehearsal and run of Music Man. This will continue into Round 4 likely, if I like the schedule.

             Schedule
             *Mondays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Write for an hour after coming home.
             *Tuesdays: Poetry Corner posts. Will post a recent or archival poem from my collection. I have a lot of poems. Also, spend time writing (30 minutes) and editing. Tweet chat: #writestuff at 9 pm.
             *Wednesdays: ROW80, WIPpet Wednesday, and WWW Wednesday. Write (30 minutes) and Edit on current WIP and EIP projects.
             *Thursdays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Random flash fiction or blog about something after rehearsal (means write for 30 minutes).
             *Fridays: Write for 30 minutes sometime before bed.
             *Saturdays: Unplugged day, unless I choose to write or blog, edit, read. This is generally my hang out day, where I can go and do stuff with friends. Now that it is fall and the weather will start to change, I will have more days to inside and write, edit, read, etc.
              *Sundays: ROW80 post. Music rehearsals in the afternoon. (not always needs as we rehearse just music on Sundays. Write and edit sometime during the day, as much as I can.

       *Theatre Stuff: typed up attendance sheets, started typed the props list.
       *House tending: laundry and dishes are caught up. Bills paid. Got my calendar for September organized.

Stoopid plague, keeping me down a bit. Resting some today and using me time wisely to get caught up on all the goals. Back on the wagon.

This (upcoming) Week: 
        *Reading: finish Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Doulgas Adams) and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
        *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. This will never change. This is the standard I currently want and am able to do Monday thru Friday.
        *Editing: editing Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
        *Blogging: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (see above).
        *Theatre Stuffs: report updates
        *House tending/Exercise: report of progress.
        *Submissions: research more journals and contests. Report progress.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come in and sit a spell at the Blog Hop.

How is everyone doing with their goals? Have autumn hit your area yet? What have you been up to?

Random Geeky Stuff and Finally a Schedule

Somewhere over the week I caught the "Plague" that that was going around at work. Funny that it should hit right when the weekend starts. Irony? Maybe. Yesterday was the sore throat and tired feeling, and today seems to be the stuffy/running nose and more tiredness. This and the weather has flummoxed my weekend plans, but not one to give up I am taking this afternoon caught up on a few things at home, writing and blogging stuffs.

This is also a good time to let to know, Dear Readers that I am planning a blogging schedule. Finally! i have been thinking for years that I need a schedule to hold me accountable. After this summer, I have grown into my own dedication, but one can ALWAYS do better.

The Music Man has started. Seeing as I am stage managing this show, I have three days a week devoted to rehearsals, plus I am now down a vehicle as the spring in my front driver side strut is toast. The worst part is that even IF I fix it (at a cost of 722.00 cost ), there is a chance that with the rust on my van that one hit of a pot hole could junk my van for good. This van has brought me much luck and had MANY adventures...

The Scooby Gang during Sesame Street

Also, being under the weather I am loath to leave the house, so plans for this afternoon have been rearranged. Still planning on going to my weekly (most weeks) Who Night. As long as I am still feeling better that is.

Plus, I now have at least 4/5 hours to work on writing projects, and resting, should the nap attack occur.

Sheesh, that's a lot to soak in, Cindy. Sorry, Dear Readers. I meant for something more glorious for today's post and you get a longish thread about being sick, broken vehicles, etc.

~Drum roll~ 

I am hear to reveal my new blog schedule. I have missed writing here about things and stuff, so I am returning to regular postings and mixing it up a little too. As you probably know, I am involved in A Round of Words in 80 Days. A blog challenge that I post twice a week about my progress on my goals and writing plans for the future. I also write poetry and do the challenges OctPoWriMo and NaPoWriMo, these are monthly poetry challenges where yo write a poem a day (either free write or the provided daily prompt). I also do NaNoWriMo in November and #writestuff tweet chats on Tuesday nights. I am networking more, meeting new writers and colleagues. Lots of fun stuff, but sometimes I feel the hermit because of it. Does anyone else feel that way?

Also, I do theatre. LOTS and LOTS of theatre and I thus be busy until November 15th with the Music Man.

Instead of feeling weird about not sitting down to write, blog, or edit; I am going to make sure I schedule some time to devote to write on the days I can, this includes posting interesting blogs on Here, There Be a Writer. This is a little new for me so bear with me.
 
             *Mondays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Write for an hour after coming home.
             *Tuesdays: Poetry Corner posts. Will post a recent or archival poem from my collection. I have a lot of poems. Also, spend time writing and editing. Tweet chat: #writestuff at 9 pm.
             *Wednesdays: ROW80, WIPpet Wednesday, and WWW Wednesday. Write and Edit on current WIP and EIP projects.
             *Thursdays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Random flash fiction or blog about something after rehearsal.
             *Fridays: Write for 30 minutes sometime before bed.
             *Saturdays: Unplugged day, unless I choose to write or blog, edit, read. This is generally my hang out day, where I can go and do stuff with friends. Now that it is fall and th weather will start to change, I will have more days to inside and write, edit, read, etc.
              *Sundays: ROW80 post. Music rehearsals in the afternoon. (not always needs as we rehearse just music on Sundays. Write and edit sometime during the day, as much as I can.

Okay, so that part is free and clear. Onto random blog about random fun things. I love a good trip down memory lane. So, in the search of things of my youth I happen upon this...

...It's a Zag the Zebra, circa 1987 (ish?). My mom sold a lot of Avon, and often I got a lot of bubble bath, skin-so-soft, pins with hidden doors with perfume in them, and toys. I think I got Zag when I was sick and home from school, or maybe a birthday. I really can't remember that detail. I just remember the fuzzy, stumpy legged rainbow zebra that was my favourite toy for years. Then like it happens Zag disappeared or became lost. I never forgot. But is conversations with the hubs about Avon memorabilia, Zag came up. To the Google I say, and poof, there was proof he existed and on eBay. Yes, you know the rest of then story. I now own a Zag the Rainbow Zebra. I do feel like a dork, but a happy dork!

Next...

       ...just when you think you have it all!

Yes, Neil, thanks for hitting me in the wallet. I don't regret my choices, but sometimes my pocketbook begs to differ. Upside, I hadn't purchased much for my self in the last few week, so the Zag and the new edition of Neverwhere was totally worth it. I have already read Neverwhere, but now I can re-read it and enjoy it anew. I am a nerd!

Just like the nerdiness that allows me to go to Weird Al concerts, listen to Tardis sounds while I write. Go check out the 1 hour video of the interior Tardis Hum from the 9th and 10th Doctor's Tardis. It's really a good sound to write to and not creepy at all.

So, Dear Readers, what are some things that you geek out to? Things you like to reminisce about?
   

So many days all together...

Funny how fast Wednesday gets here when you miss Sunday completely. Yet here I am blogging into the late hours while eating spicy tuna rolls and edamame. It's what I do. Still trying to fully get back on the wagon with my goals. I'm pretty sure Labour Day is a cover for procrastination day.

Feeling a bit more cheered as a found my secondary story plot for Modern Muses, my current WIP. Speaking of which it is also WIPpet Wednesday. More of that in the next paragraph. I really need to change the title, its not what I want, but I am still finding out more about this story as I go. I am pretty excited that this story is probably going to be my NaNoWriMo this year and thus I have a sizable chunk started. Down side is that it is turning into a fantasy story and ultimately going to be longer. Better news is that I am focused on finding and keeping a plot.Time to finally break out of my fear of writing fantasy. The basic premise is muses in modern California battling an enemy. No spoilers here, Sweetie!

WIPpet Wednesday was created by by K.L. Schwengel the brain child and master wordsmith, whereby you take the date and use some form of math to add up to a snippet from your WIP. See, today's date is 9/9 and under this math I can share 9 paragraphs from when Mel meets the Mistress of the House. Melpomene is the muse of Tragedy and friend to Thalos thje muse of Comedy. Thalos is trying to find the library of the Master/Mistress of the House, while Mel is doing this...

Go and visit the other WIPpeteers and see what they are writing.

He could tell the voice had a distinct accent, not anything from his part of the world, nor the new lands that they had settled in. In had been hard for many of the old gods to come to a much different place. Many felt bitter and resentful, but Mel and his ancestors found a place where they could inspire a new generation of poets and playwrights. California was very different than Greece, but after a while, some two hundred years now Mel was almost use to it. It wasn’t just the muses of Greece that move here; he knew there were other clans that had staked a claim here too. The new force was definitely not local. She, at least Mel though it was a she, sounded welsh.

“Okay,” Mel put on his best charm, “Old Country or New?”

The figure laughed, “So you aren’t completely stupid, little muse. Fine, I like a good game. Old country then.”

Mel rubbed the dagger as he thought of his next move, “Male or female?”

The figure moved closer, raising a hand and swiping it across a nearby table. There appeared a tray of meats and cheeses, another of breads, a decanter of a golden liquid, and several cans of soda pop. “Female,” she said, raising her eyebrows seductively, “Want some refreshments?”

“Hmm…” Mel stood up and walked slowly to the table, fingering his dagger, “Sure, as long as you aren’t evil. So, Evil or Good?” He stood at the table and placed his right hand on the table, leaning closer to the figure and still holding the dagger in his left hand.

“Neutral.” The figure who was clothed in a tight fitting silken dress the colour if fire, leaned closer into the table placing both her on the table, “Now you.” Nodding to him.

Mel gazing into her eyes, the brightest green eyes he had ever seen, “Yes.” And pulling the dagger out of his pocket placed it on the table and let go. 

“Yes,” her voice got whispery as the woman leaned in lips brushing against his, “you would do,” kissing him firmly on the mouth.

And now...

This Week:
     *Writing: wrote Monday (ROW80 check-in), Tuesday (1000+ words/Modern Muses), and Today (791 words/Modern Muses).
     *Reading: continuing with Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams) and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
      *Social Media: 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties. Cleaning up my email and promoted my friends kickstarter and fundraising efforts.
      *Blogging: posted one new post on Tuesday.



Today is also WWW Wednesday! To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
    Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. It's a Douglas Adams novels, meaning that it is a weird story, with a lot of computer and physics stuff and a plot that often meanders. But after having read ALL of the Hitchhiker's Guide, I had to try it. The characters are interesting and the plot leaves me wanting more. And because I tend to have at least three (sometimes four) books in process, I'm able to decide what I am in the mood for. Currently it is Douglas Adams.

• What did you recently finish reading?
    Invisible Moon by James A. Owen. His second Mythworld series. Now waiting for book three to be released.

• What do you think you’ll read next?
    Finish The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey). I seem to be on a mystery kick. :-)

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading: see above.
      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words on Thursday and Friday on Modern Muses.
      *Editing: spend some time working on my The Real Road Trip edits and Scrivener transfer, note taking, outlining, etc.
      *Blogging: set a blogging schedule. Post a blog entry on Thursday.
      *Submissions: work on a schedule and/or plan for this. Report on progress.
      *Theatre Stuff: Props List.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. You see, you set some goal, blog twice a week about them and share your progress with the Blog Hop here.

How are things in your next of the woods, Dear Readers?

Another Random Blog

I remember when The Mini Page, do you, Dear Readers? See my retrospective blog here about what the Mini Page looks like a few years ago. Today it is much different. I know not everything can stay the same, but when I was visiting my Dad a couple of week ago, I saw this in the paper.

What use to be a 4 page spread with puzzles and cool factoids is now a long vertical page. There are none of the original characters: Mini Spy, Bassett Brown the News Hound, Mighty Funny, Etc. Back then there was a maze connect the dots, word search, try and find. No it seems they have simplified.  There is a word search and a word scramble, and only 1 joke. All the 'characters' are all general kid faces, it seems plain and a little sad.

I guess that's what happens to things over time. The silver lining is that you can order books of The Mini Page. Still doesn't feel the same. I felt the same way when I saw how Sesame Street changed from what I remember it to be. The more things change the more they stay the same? Or better yet, if you stagnant then you will never move foreward.

Who remembers The Mini Page from the 1980s and 1990s? What was your favourte part, Dear Readers? I love the Mini Spy and the mazes.

Next, here's a new shot of the August Tree. It's a late evening shot, but you can still see some of the colour. She's a little more red. Its almost like a slow blush as if she realizes that people are watching her. The leaves are falling and it's been very dry. Could use some rain though. It's ironic since we started the summer with a lot of rain.

How is your end of summer going, Dear Readers? Any plans to cap of the summer and welcome the fall? What is exciting about the coming of Autumn?

This weekend, weather permitting will be a trip to Seabreeze for some frolicking and the following weekend 24 Hour Theatre with KLP (Monopoly Edition).

Labour Daybour 2015

The days are getting shorter and the leaves are beginning to turn.

As the shadows stretch away

and the silence breeze trickles by,

I am aware that the daylight is dying.

I will admit it, I have done nothing but goof off this weekend. And it felt really good too! For a Labour Day I laboured on housework and catching up on things. It's sunshiny and warm. A last chance at summer. And while the leaves are beginning to change. My August Tree is turning. Also called the Lady in Red, this is usually the first time in my area that I notice changing. This is the sign that Autumn has arrived.

August Tree

We are still getting a bit of the summertime weather though. It has been in the upper 80 and low 90s all weekend. That prompted a trip up to Rochester to go jump in Lake Ontario. Alas, I forgot to capture the moment, but it was glorious and refreshing (even in jeans). I regret nothing. It was also a  trip to Avon, NY where there is a ginormous flea market at the drive-in theatre. Found a few neat trinket and doodads, including a REAAAAALLY old card game called the "Game of Shakspeare". The cards have quotes and pictures from a number of Shakespeare's plays. What I could find about the Cincinnati Game Co. was that this game was produced around the turn of the century, but not sure how long the game was produce. This deck looks hella old though. If anyone has any information, please share.

And a Paddington Bear!!

I am a day late with my check-in, but I REGRET NOTHING! I got to see Shaun the Sheep the Movie and hang with some good friends (part of the Who Group) and caught a neat movie on Netflix, Chef. Quite the movie, with the all feels and a story that was equally entertaining and well thought out, without being cliche.

This Week:
    *Reading: finished Invisible Moon (James A. Owen).
    *Writing: wrote Wednesday, Thursday, maybe Friday (I can't rightly remember at the moment).
    *Editing: started the big edit of The Real Road Trip, inputted the edits into scrivener. Only about a page and a half. Thinking I am going to revise this goal to be completed by October 31st (or sooner).
    *Social Media: kept up with my sponsor goals and decided to be a sponsor for Round 4. Visited blogs, Weds and Thurs, nothing else over the weekend. But have been catching up on visits and house cleaning the email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
    *Theatre Stuff: working on a props list and preparing for rehearsal to start. Read thru is Thursday. Rehearsal days are Mondays and Thursdays, and Sunday afternoons for music. This'll make scheduling more important.
     *Housework/Exercise: Did a lot of walking yesterday around the flea markets and on the beaches of Lake Ontario. As for housework, laundry is done, folded, and put away; dishes are mostly done (except what I used for dinner; trash is out; and cat litter scooped.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), Dirk Genlty's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams), Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), and Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman).
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words Monday thru Friday on Modern Muses or something else if the mood suits me.
     *Editing: find an editing schedule that works with Music Man schedule, work on it for an hour each day, Monday thru Friday.
     *Social Media: 4 blogs daily, and sponsor duties.
     *Blogging: 1 new non-ROW80 post this week. Probably Tuesday or Thursday.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and see what the other ROW80-ers are up to at the Blog Hop!

It doesn't feel like summer is over, Labour Day has always marked the end of the summer. But here it is. Much excitement having this month and it is going to be an awesome show, awesome fall, and awesome Round. How are you celebrating Labour Day, Dear Readers? The beginning of Autumn? Plans for September? Leave me some love and hope Round 3 or life is going for you.

Peace!

Little Bit of This and That...Labour Day and End of Summer

So much to report....

This Week:
       *Reading: I have been bouncing between my menagerie of books. Haven't finished reading anything new yet, but enjoying the progress. Currently, I am working on Invisible Moon (James A. Owen), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams). I have recently discovered that I enjoy jumping from book to book, as it suit my mood. This sprang up from a conversation with an old friend from High School two weekends ago now about how we read books. I always marveled at her ability to read books quickly.
       *Writing: wrote Monday (650 words) and Tuesday (953 words), and will be blitzing later today on Modern Muses.
       *Editing: finished the reading through/edit of The Real Road Trip back on Friday. I am reallt please dto have made it the whole way through and even more pleased that the story is still workable. Just need some massive re-writes in the process. Enjoyed a bit of a break during the weekend. Now I start the next phase of the edits.
       *Social Media: keeping up with my sponsor duties and returning to my daily 4 blog visits. Spent a little more time on Twitter with my #writestuff tweet chat yesterday.

In the middle of all this I have to find a schedule to accommodate my upcoming rehearsal schedule. Daunted? Maybe a little. Determined? Heck yeah! I built some good habit over the summer and don't want to lose that. I am also trying to do more challenges, like the WWW Wednesdays:

What are you currently reading?
   -about 5 different novels. The one I am leaning more towards is Invisible Moon (James A. Owen). It the second in his Mythworld series about what happens when Rangarok happens in a little Upstate New York town. I don't think that was too spoilery.

What did you recently finish reading?
     -The Festival of Bones, Mythworld Book 1 (James A. Owen). What happens when ancient literature meets opera?

What do you think you’ll read next?
     -finish one of the other books I have started. Also want to revisit and finish the Inkheart series (Cornelia Finke) . I have a pending review of the movie that is just waiting to happen. I do book to movie review/analysis.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: finish reading Invisible Moon and maybe Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey).
     *Writing: write daily, at  least 300 words.
     *Editing: begin my re-write of The Real Road Trip, trying the edits re-writing all the crap, and finally organizing the chapter, maybe an outline too. To be completed by the end of September.
      *Blogging: missed my Tuesday blog day, so this week will be Thursday. 1 non-ROW80 post. Also blog about goal progress in August and September goals.
      *Submissions: 2 new submissions and report on the progress.
      *Social Media:  visit 4 blogs daily and sponsor goals. Thinking of being a sponsor for Round 4.

Music Man read through is next week. Got to work on a props list. Revise my schedule to account for rehearsals and writing/editing time. Prep for NaNoWriMo in November. Post more spoke word to my YouTube channel (as it hasn't gotten a lot of love in the last year). Prepare for OctPoWriMo in October. Also, enjoy the End of Summer.

How are your goals, Dear Readers? What have you been up to as the summer is winding down?

A Round of Words in 80 Days, a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Stop in the Blog Hop to visit my fellow bloggers/writers.

It's also, WIPpet Wednesday. The day we post a snippet of our WIP. Created by K.L. Schwengel. YOu take today's date and used the NEW MATH to get a snippet of your WIP and share with the interwebs. Visit my fellow WIPpeteers here. Today's date is 9/2/2015. Going to make it simple 9+2=11 lines from
Modern Muses.

We find Thalos calling on Teri and she arrives via a dream form...

“Guess I am hearing things now.”

“No, you’re not,” the voice came again, sounding closer.

“Teri?” Thalos called, but when he looked up he didn’t see anyone or anything.

“You called?” Teri’s voice filled his ears.

“Did I?”

“I heard to whisper my name. Then you said something. I then found myself here” 

“What was that,” he said to the emptiness that was the study and to the direction that Teri voice had come from. He closed his eyes and thought about Teri, her shape, hair colour, her smell.

“Talo, it’s me.” The voice was stronger now and he saw through his closed eyes Teri’ small frame standing near the fire. “Come here, but don’t open your eyes too fast.”

“I how can I do that and not trip over chairs and mediaeval armour?”

“It seems to work better when you close your eyes. Relax . Then slowly open your eyes.” Easier said that done, Thalos thought to himself. “I am glad you called. There seems no way out of this room.”

“Where are you?” Thalos asked, finding that he was suddenly standing.

Thalos and Teri's Song: