I sort of began this journey in February and then life got a little more hectic and my priorities were shaken up a bit and things that had been on my "to do list" were slowly but surely scratched out and forgotten.
Here is a little review of things that I wrote way back when and have long since forgotten but plan to revisit.
Characters:
Melissa
Sadie
Shayla
Jenny
Joan
Tabitha
Callie
Jiuliana
Korey
Paul
Short synopsis:
All the ladies are part of a group that meets weekly. The premise is that they are constantly at each others' throats and there is quite a bit of underlying tension surrounding so many things within the group that Melissa, a newcomer, doesn't quite understand yet but is quickly picking up on. Little does she know she is more connected to the drama than she realizes, having been the reason a certain man broke a certain girl's heart. Though this happened long before Mel was ever around, once she realizes the connection she understands that if it gets out there will be hell to pay and will mean certain social death.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I will be victorious
The day after tomorrow, while children across the country are still buzzing from the sugar high that is about to hit them after they have collected their loot and sorted it out on living room rugs in homes all over the US, I will be buzzing for a whole different reason. I decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month. I feel as though I am a glutton for punishment. I work, I volunteer, I am involved in a lot of things that take up a lot of my time, and I have a social life. All of these things could easily stand in my way of finishing a 50k+ word novel. I have been wanting to write a novel for years, but something always gets in the way. That something is usually my own insecurities and the constant editor whispering lies and less than helpful words into my head. But this year I will do my best to cross the finish line victorious!
I will try to share my progress and even throw out some suggestions and ask for opinions and maybe even some feedback along the way. So stay tuned for updates as this creative sprint begins November 1st.
Also, any tips, tricks or ideas/inspiration are always welcome! Please feel free to direct them my way!
I will try to share my progress and even throw out some suggestions and ask for opinions and maybe even some feedback along the way. So stay tuned for updates as this creative sprint begins November 1st.
Also, any tips, tricks or ideas/inspiration are always welcome! Please feel free to direct them my way!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Inspiration for today
I love Pinterest. It gives me easy access to some awesome quotes. I have always loved quotes as well! So here are some quotes via Pinterest that I found that I wanted to share. There is some great meaning within them that I hope you can appreciate.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Random musings
A coworker of mine is moving to The Big Apple and made a list of things that she will and will not miss about living in Michigan. That got me thinking about what I would and would not miss about my life here. So I decided to do something that I do best and make a list!
Would miss:
~~ My family
I have always been really close to my family. Even when I went away to school I made the 2 hour drive home almost every weekend. And now that my niece and nephew are at fun ages {almost 4 and 7 going on 16} I would miss the time I get to spend just being silly with them and tucking them in some nights. And the way my niece loves me and my nephew tries to avoid goodnight kisses and then runs after me to kiss me when I walk away. They love me and I love them to the moon and back, because the moon is really far away!
~~ My church
As much as the people there drive me batty sometimes, I love it! I have never found a place where I felt more welcome and at home than The River Church in Holly. Nevermind the shameless plug!
~~ My friends
I have always been a bit of a loner, but I have collected a random assortment of close friends in my travels through life that I love dearly. Some I have known most of my days, and others I have met recently, but all of them are so valuable to me and I don't know what I would do being so far away and having to collect more friends in a new place.
~~ Up North
No matter where you live in Michigan's lower peninsula, there is always an "up north" whether it's Bay City or Mackinac there is a place to escape. Michigan has some of the most beautiful scenes that I have ever seen and I would miss them. From the great lakes we are known for to the quiet country towns that no one has ever heard of there is somewhere beautiful just a couple hours drive away.
~~ Being able to use my hand to show where I live
I've been made fun of for answer the "Where are you from?" question by holding up my right hand and pointing to a place a little west of my thumb, but it comes in handy and I love it!
~~ Kid Rock
While I am not the biggest fan of his music, it's kind of cool to be able to say that I live in the same city as someone that famous! Sightings of him in my area are so common now that he rarely gets mobbed by fans. It's pretty likely that if you frequent a couple select restaurants/bars that you'll see him quite often.
~~ Driving
If I moved to a big city I think I would lose my mind not being able to drive. Driving is my therapy sometimes. It is only when I get behind the wheel and let the wind play with my hair on a dark country road that I can truly let go and talk things through just me and Jesus!
Would not miss:
~~ Snow
Driving in it, walking in it, looking at it, knowing that it's falling outside. All of the above. I really don't like snow! Spring comes too late and Fall is too short for me to enjoy winter. I would be content to have snow on Christmas day and have it gone by Dec. 26. End of story.
~~ "The Look"
The look is what people give me when I say I'm from Detroit. {I'm not actually from Detroit but if I said I grew up in Davisburg even many people in Oakland County would have no clue where that is!} The look describes their thoughts of "but she looks like a sweet middle class white girl, how can she be from Detroit?" And that look is further heightened when I say I live half way between Detroit and Flint, both cities ranked in the top 10 {maybe even top 5} most dangerous cities in the country! Again I am a classy, small town, white girl who probably wouldn't last one night in the D or flint for that matter.
~~ Ohio
Driving out of Michigan almost always requires a drive through Ohio, a.k.a. the armpit of America! It's a long, boring drive with nothing to look at except "touchdown Jesus" which burned to the ground 2 years ago. I'm not sad it's gone because it was an awkward site, even for Christians, but it at least gave you something to look at and talk about on a boring drive through the armpit of America!
~~ The UP
I am proud to be a born and bred Michigander, but there are just some things I don't understand! One of those is why the UP is even part of Michigan in the first place. It isn't actually connected and it's closer to Canada and Wisconsin than to us. But nevertheless, it is a part of my home state and I have learned to accept it.
~~ The economy
For obvious reasons.
Would miss:
~~ My family
I have always been really close to my family. Even when I went away to school I made the 2 hour drive home almost every weekend. And now that my niece and nephew are at fun ages {almost 4 and 7 going on 16} I would miss the time I get to spend just being silly with them and tucking them in some nights. And the way my niece loves me and my nephew tries to avoid goodnight kisses and then runs after me to kiss me when I walk away. They love me and I love them to the moon and back, because the moon is really far away!
~~ My church
As much as the people there drive me batty sometimes, I love it! I have never found a place where I felt more welcome and at home than The River Church in Holly. Nevermind the shameless plug!
~~ My friends
I have always been a bit of a loner, but I have collected a random assortment of close friends in my travels through life that I love dearly. Some I have known most of my days, and others I have met recently, but all of them are so valuable to me and I don't know what I would do being so far away and having to collect more friends in a new place.
~~ Up North
No matter where you live in Michigan's lower peninsula, there is always an "up north" whether it's Bay City or Mackinac there is a place to escape. Michigan has some of the most beautiful scenes that I have ever seen and I would miss them. From the great lakes we are known for to the quiet country towns that no one has ever heard of there is somewhere beautiful just a couple hours drive away.
~~ Being able to use my hand to show where I live
I've been made fun of for answer the "Where are you from?" question by holding up my right hand and pointing to a place a little west of my thumb, but it comes in handy and I love it!
~~ Kid Rock
While I am not the biggest fan of his music, it's kind of cool to be able to say that I live in the same city as someone that famous! Sightings of him in my area are so common now that he rarely gets mobbed by fans. It's pretty likely that if you frequent a couple select restaurants/bars that you'll see him quite often.
~~ Driving
If I moved to a big city I think I would lose my mind not being able to drive. Driving is my therapy sometimes. It is only when I get behind the wheel and let the wind play with my hair on a dark country road that I can truly let go and talk things through just me and Jesus!
Would not miss:
~~ Snow
Driving in it, walking in it, looking at it, knowing that it's falling outside. All of the above. I really don't like snow! Spring comes too late and Fall is too short for me to enjoy winter. I would be content to have snow on Christmas day and have it gone by Dec. 26. End of story.
~~ "The Look"
The look is what people give me when I say I'm from Detroit. {I'm not actually from Detroit but if I said I grew up in Davisburg even many people in Oakland County would have no clue where that is!} The look describes their thoughts of "but she looks like a sweet middle class white girl, how can she be from Detroit?" And that look is further heightened when I say I live half way between Detroit and Flint, both cities ranked in the top 10 {maybe even top 5} most dangerous cities in the country! Again I am a classy, small town, white girl who probably wouldn't last one night in the D or flint for that matter.
~~ Ohio
Driving out of Michigan almost always requires a drive through Ohio, a.k.a. the armpit of America! It's a long, boring drive with nothing to look at except "touchdown Jesus" which burned to the ground 2 years ago. I'm not sad it's gone because it was an awkward site, even for Christians, but it at least gave you something to look at and talk about on a boring drive through the armpit of America!
~~ The UP
I am proud to be a born and bred Michigander, but there are just some things I don't understand! One of those is why the UP is even part of Michigan in the first place. It isn't actually connected and it's closer to Canada and Wisconsin than to us. But nevertheless, it is a part of my home state and I have learned to accept it.
~~ The economy
For obvious reasons.
Sanity lost along with the stocks page
I never thought my life would revolve around a stock page. You know the page most of us had to look at for a high school assignment about finances and then never looked at again. The one that is tucked in the paper behind the Money page (that also rarely gets the love it deserves) and has the teensiest font known to man. That page that no one under the age of 65 or anyone with a computer and a basic knowledge of this recent phenomenon known as the world wide web ever have to sift through.
But, alas, this week my life and mental health have hinged on that very page. People are never happy. I think I always knew that, but this week it has become very apparent. I answer the phones at a local newspaper (along with a barrage of other task that mean nothing to you) and people are never happy.
What is it about people that make them prevalent to drama? Why do we live in a constant state of dramatic scenes throughout most of our lives? The cameras aren't rolling people! We are not on a reality show! We don't have to blow everything out of proportion, because guess what? People don't care!
I am the friendly voice that will sooth your fears and quiet your doubts about this whole situation, but inside I wonder about you. Is your life full of people and activities? Or just the newspaper and stock market? Are you a financial analyst or trader? Or are you someone who eagerly pulls open the newspaper and begins the search for that one special page that will make or break your whole day?
I don't think I will ever understand you. But I will do my best to make you feel like you have been heard. So I say to you, "I'm sorry and we will try harder tomorrow."
But, alas, this week my life and mental health have hinged on that very page. People are never happy. I think I always knew that, but this week it has become very apparent. I answer the phones at a local newspaper (along with a barrage of other task that mean nothing to you) and people are never happy.
What is it about people that make them prevalent to drama? Why do we live in a constant state of dramatic scenes throughout most of our lives? The cameras aren't rolling people! We are not on a reality show! We don't have to blow everything out of proportion, because guess what? People don't care!
I am the friendly voice that will sooth your fears and quiet your doubts about this whole situation, but inside I wonder about you. Is your life full of people and activities? Or just the newspaper and stock market? Are you a financial analyst or trader? Or are you someone who eagerly pulls open the newspaper and begins the search for that one special page that will make or break your whole day?
I don't think I will ever understand you. But I will do my best to make you feel like you have been heard. So I say to you, "I'm sorry and we will try harder tomorrow."
Monday, October 1, 2012
Today is not my day
I work in customer service and most days it's not too bad. I can answer an angry phone call and make them love me by the end of the conversation. But today, for some reason, that gift has left, taking my compassion with it. Maybe it's still in bed, snuggled under the covers with its head on my pillow. Oh how I wish I could still be there with it. Mondays are always rough, but a Monday after a less than great weekend is even worse.
Usually I can handle the angry or frustrated caller with a polite response and a helpful answer. But this morning, when I was cussed out at 9 am I wanted so badly to hang up on him. It could be my way of teaching him a lesson on how to be polite to the sweet sounding girl on the other end of the phone. Some kind of renegade justice or something. At least in my mind that's how it would be. The result, however would be more like stabbing a sleeping bear. It would just result in an even angrier phone call with a screaming customer on the other end, instead of just an angry one who said a few choice words.
It's times like these that make me cherish the sweet older ladies that call every once in a while. The ones that ask about my day and really want to hear all about it. The ones who send me thank you notes for being so helpful and kind, when really I didn't do anything outside of my job description. The ones who hear the stressed edge of my voice and ask if there is any way they can be praying for me. Not knowing where I stand on God or prayer. The ones that say, "God bless" or "Merry Christmas honey" and then giggle thinking we're being so sneaky when I say it back to them.
It is also a rough morning because I am awaiting 2 emails both with equal parts anticipation and dread. One from a friend that may not have appreciated my honesty, and one from an opportunity that I want but don't want at the same time! I know that my emotions tend to play tricks on me and cause me to second guess everything, so I'm sure that's a big part of it too.
Usually I can handle the angry or frustrated caller with a polite response and a helpful answer. But this morning, when I was cussed out at 9 am I wanted so badly to hang up on him. It could be my way of teaching him a lesson on how to be polite to the sweet sounding girl on the other end of the phone. Some kind of renegade justice or something. At least in my mind that's how it would be. The result, however would be more like stabbing a sleeping bear. It would just result in an even angrier phone call with a screaming customer on the other end, instead of just an angry one who said a few choice words.
It's times like these that make me cherish the sweet older ladies that call every once in a while. The ones that ask about my day and really want to hear all about it. The ones who send me thank you notes for being so helpful and kind, when really I didn't do anything outside of my job description. The ones who hear the stressed edge of my voice and ask if there is any way they can be praying for me. Not knowing where I stand on God or prayer. The ones that say, "God bless" or "Merry Christmas honey" and then giggle thinking we're being so sneaky when I say it back to them.
It is also a rough morning because I am awaiting 2 emails both with equal parts anticipation and dread. One from a friend that may not have appreciated my honesty, and one from an opportunity that I want but don't want at the same time! I know that my emotions tend to play tricks on me and cause me to second guess everything, so I'm sure that's a big part of it too.
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