A Reader

I remember being a little girl of maybe five reading SCAT CAT SCAT to my mom in her beauty salon. My mom, brother and sister read some, but I was the one always with a book. It wasn't until years later I found out that dad was a reader. He wasn't around a lot when I was growing up, so I don't remember seeing him with anything but the newspaper.


What made me think of that was I eldest daughter is a reader (we hope the youngest will be one day - college is taking up most of her time now) and she kept up with her list of books she read last year. Seventy-four, I believe. She was proud of that number and she had a right to be, but then she read on someone's blog that they had read over hundred. I wonder if they have a day job and children? I know that Stephen King usually reads over two hundred in a year. Amazing.


That got me to wondering how many books do I read in a year? I know there are several I only read half way. A few years ago I decided I wouldn't force myself to read a book I no longer enjoy. The reasons I'm not getting into the book can vary. Maybe because the heroine did something stupid, the hero is caveman-like (all sex, no brain), plot is going nowhere, author promises and doesn't deliver over and over again (e.g., almost have sex three times or more in a row but something always stops them) or I just lose interest in finding out what happens next.

So I decided to keep a list on this blog (to the right) of the books I read and finished. Only those I would recommend will I place a star next to them. The ones without stars may not really have anything really wrong with them, otherwise I wouldn't finish them, it's just I had to struggle to finish, I was disappointed with how the author handled the romance or didn't like the ending. They all end happy, just sometimes they appear rushed or dragged out.

I thought about making a list of those I don't finish, but that wouldn't be a positive thing. And I want this blog to be positive. So I might keep that list somewhere else private and let you know how many (number only) that I didn't finish.

It's going to be interesting to see how many I do read.

Snow? Again?

Don't have pictures to share as it's rather dark outside, but it's snowing again. Cool!

Every Little Girl's Dream

When I was twelve my dad bought my sister and I a horse, a Tennesse Walker. We called the mare Lady. I don't remember if that was her real name or if she was called something else. You know how it was when you're a kid. You're just happy to have a dream come true.

Anyway, she was roan color with a white blaze and four white socks with white mane and tail. She looked something like the picture on the left.

I always wanted to own another horse, but never had the funds or lands. Sure would be nice to own an appaloosa, like the one on the right.

Another Huh? Moment

This morning I was driving along, taking an exit onto another interstate when a little car ahead of me in one lane over took the same two lane exit. It sped up and I wondered if it would try to pass the big truck in front of me or move out of the "disappearing lane." I knew the car couldn't make it, so I slowed down to let it move over in front of me. The driver shot me a bird. Several times. Angrily. Huh?

Excuse My Expression

Have you ever hung out with someone that had a funny laugh or a cute quirk? Then before you know it, you sound like or use the same expression?

I do that sometimes. So frustrating. Not all of the expressions are really that cute but it's like I'm a sponge. I try to correct myself whenever I catch myself doing it. :-)

So Not Surprised

Back one day at work and already my nerves are bothering me. Wound up tight and nowhere to go. Hmmm, where are my little pink pills?

Asking Favors

I hate asking people for favors. That's part of why I've gone through so many critique partners. Not many write as often as I do and I usually end up having more for them to look at than they have written. That makes me feel guilty as when they're critiquing my work, they could be writing.

The only critique partner that kept up with me got published. I hate bothering her. She has a monster of a writing schedule the last two years and this year looks to be more of the same. Good for her.

Thank goodness for my beta readers. At least I don't interfere with their writing schedule.

Shades of Gray

It's so frustrating when you know someone has misunderstood a situation (usually they don't know all the details) and you can't explain without making it worse. So you lose their friendship. That's sad.

That's one of the things I've learned in life. Nothing is black and white. All of life is a shade of gray.

January

Beginnings are so more interesting when you don't how they'll end as long as they end happy. Thus why I love romance books.

What I've Learned

The last two weeks off work has taught me something. When I finally retire, I'll need to put myself on a schedule that includes exercise and no writing. Yep. My body has been protesting the long length of time I've been sitting and writing or just plain messing around on the computer.

Of course, that's still a few years away. Maybe by then I can be a full time writer [paid]. That would be nice.

Happy New Year!