This puzzles me...

    In case you missed my bulletin (they whiz by so quickly, they're hard to keep up with) --

Am I the only one who finds something wrong with a mom who makes a myspace page for her 7-year old daughter, saying she's a single 25-year old woman, puts a "bad ass girls ride bad ass toys" Harley graphic in the pics, and doesn't even make the page private to keep predators out? Just curious what others think of this.

3:43 AM - 9 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Do you know me?

Thanks to my friend, Keila, for this one. A nice break in a busy day.

Okay, this one is different - this is funny.

YOU fill in the blanks about ME and send it back to ME.

But FIRST send a blank one out to all your friends, including me, so we can return the favor to you.

Be honest.

They're really SCARY to get back.
It only takes a few minutes, so just do it!

First send this survey to everyone you know to see how well he or she knows you.


Second, hit 'reply' and fill this survey out about the person who sent it to you and send it back to them.


Where did we meet?_________________________
Take a stab at my middle name?_______________________________
Do I speak a second language?_____________________________
Am I a cat lover or dog lover?______________________
Color of my eyes?:__________________________________________
Do I have any siblings?_______________________________________
What's one of my favorite things to do?___________________________
What's my favorite type of music?: _______ ________________________
Am I taller than you?________________________________________
Am I shy or outgoing?_________________________________________
Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?______________________________
What is my birth month?____________________
Do I want to see a woman or man as next president?_______________
I am a member of which political party?___________________________
Do I attend a church regularly? ______________________
Have you ever heard me sing?__________________________
How many biological children do I have? ____________
Where did I meet my significant other?_______________
Have we taken photographs together?_________________
When is the last time you saw me?______________________
When will I see you again?________________________
Have we ever had a falling out?_______________________
If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing that I would bring?___________________________________________
Am I right handed or left handed?___________________________
What type of work do I do?_____________________________

I can't wait to see the answers!

6:12 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Paranormal Interest?
Current mood: tired
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

Abandoned Dark Creepy Investigations (ADCI) is a small group of paranormal investigators based in Danville, Illinois. ADCI is always on the lookout for places to investigate and welcome the opportunity to visit new locations. Currently, field investigators are being recruited to scout new places in their areas to investigate. Drop by www.abandoneddarkcreepy.com and take a look around. If you're interested, don't hesitate to contact ADCI at adci@abandoneddarkcreepy.com.

6:08 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Close to Home
Current mood: sad
Category: Life

Illinois. (O'Bama's State, by the way.)
Kickapoo State Park.
A beautiful place. Tim and I visit there on the Harley several times a month, and I've gotten some of my best nature shots there.

As of November 1st, the park entrance will be barred and "the public will no longer be allowed access." The park will be staffed with "one person, who will perform basic maintenance and security on the grounds." Why? If they're going to close it, give it back to nature and let it run its natural course.

I'm having a hard time understanding this. If funding is a problem, why don't they charge a carload admission, like so many other parks?

The State plans to close 11 state parks, and 13 historic sites, as "a result of a $2 billion state budget shortfall." This also includes laying off 73 employees of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Department of Natural Resources.

I find this very sad. I can think of many other State employee positions that are much more expendable. But, then, who am I? Just a lowly citizen and registered voter who happens to enjoy visiting the parks and historic sites on a regular basis.

I'd love to hear others' opinions on this.

2:47 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Writing for Love or Money...Can’t They Be The Same??
Current mood: crunk
Category: Writing and Poetry

I want to start off by saying I appreciate the freelance work I get assigned from the newspaper, because I have to have some sort of income. But I'm so bogged down writing about village meetings, and drainage issues, and school woes, and building permits, and on and on and on... And I appreciate the editing work I get and the reviewing work I'm offered... But, there comes a time when a writer needs to take a step back. I'm looking inside myself, trying to find that passion, that fire, that gave birth to my love of the written word, and fiction writing in particular. It seems as though, once I'm finished with the necessary writing, I just want to relax and have a glass of wine or a wine cooler and vegetate. And by the time I re-energize, it's time to work and my stuff drifts off in the ether yet again. Once in a while, I feel like I might actually explode from the inside-out, and all the words that need to get onto paper will just go flying, smacking the crap out of anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. I don't know, maybe that's an exaggeration, huh? But anyone who feels stifled by reality when all they want to do is fall into the fantasy world of writing, understands where I'm coming from. I know, I know, welcome to the real world, where everyone has to work for a living, mostly doing things they don't really enjoy. At least I'm fortunate enough I get to write, right? Still, I enjoy cooking, but if my day job was as a chef, I wonder how well my family would eat when I got home? "Let's just order a pizza, honey, I can't stand the stove anymore." I'm beginning to think writing for money is upsetting my balance of writing for love. I trust my comrades here will have excellent advice to assure my sanity remains intact. :) (p.s.- I'm not really crunk, I just like the smiley thing that goes with it.)

1:11 PM - 6 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Last weekend in Converse, Indiana...
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

Tim and I left Danville, Illinois at 5:30 p.m. to make it to Converse, Indiana by 9:30 p.m. (a 3-hour drive, but there's an hour time-difference). Though seeing Bob and Joy was enough to make the trip worthwhile, there were other things in store. It seemed like a pretty quiet night, but in retrospect, things peek out and stand out. From the orbs that I can't dismiss when they disappear from one photo to the next, to the sound of something scurrying around an otherwise deadly-quiet cemetery, to the odd shadow on a solid wall that moves as its creator stays completely stationary, and the sweet smell of pipe tobacco so strong the culprit smoker should have been standing on top of us...a rather quiet, seemingly uneventful evening gave us more than I realized. Tim's video camera caught a glimpse of something close to the floor inside the building, that makes its way so quickly out of the frame, we nearly missed it completely. We'll need Bob to scrutinize that one for us. Meanwhile, take a look through the two folders of "Converse Investigation" pics I posted here this afternoon, if for no other reason than to see our smiling, ghost-hunting faces. ;)
Cheers.

Currently listening : Possession By Sarah McLachlan Release date: 1998-08-18

2:22 PM - 6 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

White bird must fly, or she will die...
Category: Music

This haunting tune was once one of my favorites. A mood-setter, for sure. Enjoy.

White bird,
in a golden cage,
on a winter's day,
in the rain.

White bird,
in a golden cage,
alone.

The leaves blow,
Across the long black road.
To the darkened skies,
in its rage

But the white bird just sits in her cage,
unknown.

White bird must fly
Or she will die

White bird,
dreams of the aspen trees,
with their dying leaves,
turning gold.

But the white bird just sits in her cage,
growing old.

White bird must fly or she will die.
White bird must fly or she will die.

The sunsets come, the sunsets go.
The clouds roll by,and the earth turns old.
And the young bird's eyes do always glow.

She must fly,
She must fly,
She must fly.

White bird,
In a golden cage,
On a winter's day, in the rain.

White bird,
In a golden cage alone.

White bird must fly or she will die.
White bird must fly or she will die.
White bird must fly or she will die.

9:54 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

A Personal Pet Peeve
Current mood: geeky
Category: Blogging

I'm just on a roll this week, aren't I? LOL Pet peeve of the day: lazy bloggers, letter writers, e-mailers, etc. I have seen some blogs lately that are spelling and grammatical nightmares. I can barely finish reading them, because I can't get through the red pencil in my mind correcting everything as I go along. I understand "text message" speak, and that's fine on a cell phone, with the limited space, etc. But I'm talking about just plain laziness in spelling, punctuation, and other things that should have been mastered by second or third grade. Am I being too nit-picky? Does this bother anyone else? Okay, I'll step down now, just wanted to get that off my chest. ;)  Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

11:53 PM - 10 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Something that bugs me...
Current mood: curious
Category: Life

And I know it's very trivial, but it really, really bothers me. Women/girls who call themselves "bitches" like they're bragging. They have little notes all over their profile pages, claiming their amazing bitchery status. There's even one graphic that says "you call me a bitch like it's a bad thing." Um... yea.  Well, when I call someone a bitch (which is not very often), it most assuredly IS a bad thing. Let me just use the dictionary here for a bit of clarification:

bitch - noun
1.    a female dog.
2.    a female of canines generally.
3.    a.    a malicious, unpleasant, selfish person, esp. a woman.
       b.    a lewd woman.
4.    a.    a complaint.
       b.    anything difficult or unpleasant: The test was a bitch.

Okay. In all of the above descriptions, I don't see one that any self-respecting female would claim, and I would be highly disappointed to hear one of my daughters use that vulgar term to describe herself.  If anyone would care to enlighten me on how this came to be a popular description instead of an insult, I'm all ears.

9:40 AM - 6 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Creativity and Mental Illness?
Current mood: cooky/wacky
Category: Writing and Poetry

Creativity and mental illness: prevalence rates in writers and their first-degree relatives.
by NC Andreasen

Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.

7:04 AM - 16 Comments - 13 Kudos - Add Comment

A Bit of Bragging
Category: Life

This has absolutely nothing to do with writing. At the last minute Monday afternoon, Tim and I got a few things together for the Vermilion County Fair here in Danville, IL. He entered three of his photographs: His Swan at Sunset Pond photo took the first place ribbon in the nature/animals category; His tree with an orange sky background, taken at the fairgrounds, won the first place ribbon in the nature/woodlands, etc. category; His photo of the Sybil Stern Mervis statue outside the Danville Public Library took second place in the Open category. This was the first time he'd entered any of his work, and I'm so proud of him!! Though, not a bit surprised, as he's very talented.

I entered the culinary division (anybody surprised? lol). My peanut butter fudge took the first place ribbon, my pie crust (that's right, bottom crust only with no filling or top) took first place, and my chocolate fudge got second place. I wanted to enter divinity and chocolate cake, too, but just ran out of time (and sugar).

So, it was a fun night for us, waiting for the judging (they didn't finish until almost 10 p.m.), and wandering around the fairgrounds on opening night. Piper and her friend, Mallory, were with us, and I think they were even more excited than we were ;)

6:20 AM - 18 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

Life changes
Current mood: busy
Category: Life

Wow, it's been a long time since I blogged! As the subject line says, a lot of life changes happening for me. I'm living in another state now, but feel I'm where I truly belong. I haven't done any writing in a while--far too long, actually, and I need to get to it. I'm starting to get very antsy with several projects waiting for me. I just can't seem to find the time to just do it. I missed the IHW meeting last night, which sucks, and I won't be seeing any of them again until Mo*Con. Really looking forward to that, though, but not sure if I'll be there the entire three days. At least all day Saturday, for sure. I'm picking Piper up in Crawfordsville Friday. I can't wait to hug her and bring her here, introduce her to everyone. I miss her so much, sometimes I don't know if I can stand it. I talk to her every day, but it's not the same at all. I just want her with me. She has one more week of school after this visit, then she'll be here all summer. I have an interview tomorrow with a neighboring town's newspaper for a reporter-correspondent position, which is what I was doing for the Reporter and the Times. Hopefully that will bring some work. Ok, I'm getting beyond blogging and into rambling. I'll get back in gear soon and be rolling right along in no time. Meanwhile, don't you just love my new avatar? ;)

11:13 AM - 14 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Pre-Order Dark Harvest

Dark Harvest is Coming...
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry

June 14th is right around the corner, and that means that not only do we have Mo*Con III to look forward to, but also the launch party for the release of Indiana Horror Writers debut anthology: DARK HARVEST.

The test copy is back from the printer and it is a wonder to behold. We're now ready to start sending out review copies, so if you know anyone interested in reviewing a pdf file of Dark Harvest, please direct their inquiry to:

ihw@comteck.com

6:05 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Join us this weekend...
Current mood: artistic
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

The Indiana Horror Writers will be at Phenomecon (www.phenomecon.net) this Saturday, at the beautiful Crumb Theatre in Columbus Indiana.  If you're in the area, drop by and say hello! Looks like it's going to be a fun day. :)

5:28 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment