Twisted Fairytale

After a long day at work, where I seemed to get progressively ill by the hour, I came home to do even MORE work. I’m working on writing/editing. It wouldn’t be so bad except I can hardly focus. I’m sleepy, achy, and feel like something major is coming on. I hope I don’t get sick. An entire week sleeping on the couch to avoid Chocolate Bear’s flu would be a waste. Not to mention, my backache would be for NOTHING. Bah. Stupid germs.

On another note, I’m feeling soooo bored with myself. I want to spunk up, spice up, do SOMETHING. Ever felt that way? Like you had to break the monotony somehow? Except the monotony isn’t necessarily the everyday routine, although that’s part of it, I mean physically. I want to dye my hair a color completely opposite from what it is now. I want to relax it and make it pin straight, or get really long extensions. I want a ‘ROGUE’ patch of blonde in my bangs or to get colored contacts. Ha ha. I need to do something. I’m feeling like a wilting flower.

Ok, I have to stop procrastinating. I’m going to go back to work. Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Taken from the ladies at Midnight Moon Cafe:

You Should Rule Venus

Venus is a mysterious, stormy planet – shrouded in a thick layer of clouds.You are perfect to rule Venus, because you are quite emotional and volatile yourself.Your emotions change as rapidly as the weather on Venus, and both you and the planet are incomprehensible to others. While you are not a logical thinker, you are quite empathetic. You can care for and understand others, but your emotions swirl too quickly to truly understand yourself.

What Planet Should You Rule?

Today was payday. And the moment I looked at my paycheck I mentally calculated that most of it was already spent. Bills, a few personal products for the home and bath, and whatever straggling necessities have come up from hubby being sick. So… this left me pretty broke. (And in turn, rather sad.) After all, I had planned to buy ONE item on clearance from this online retailer I adore, every week. As a way to replace my oversized clothing (since I’ve lost weight since last year) and start dressing more… *professional*.

Sarai inspired today’s post. She had a drool-worthy pair of shoes on her blog and I thought: Maybe all must not be lost! Maybe I can window shop! And so… that is where this lovely story begins.

*Mind you, I have strange taste in clothing, so consider yourself warned. *

I’ve been leaning more and more toward vintage glam or goth lolita looks. I know, random, but that’s what I’ve been really into. Fads, maybe. But, I tend to like to piece together my looks and every once in a while, a piece will strike my eye that can play both parts. For starters, this jacket is vintage heaven.

It’s feminine and completely old school. It can be worn with straight leg jeans or black slacks. Boots or heels. I’d wear it with white gloves because darnit, it just looks like it deserves a good pair of gloves. But then if I really wanted to, I could completely spice it up with a good pair of Fishnet stockings. Fishnets go with everything.

Of course, occassionally, I indulge in a completely unrealistic outfit. It’s window shopping right? No one said there were rules. Only problem is, where would I wear this dress?

I don’t have a garden where I can frolic. Although I wish I did. I’d have all sorts of trippy Alice in Wonderland moments I could write about. I have no particular photoshoots or gala’s to attend. Yet I can’t help but wish I could wear it. Like just because. To clean. To go to the supermarket. Think they’d look at me strange? Buying peaches in my gown? Overdressed maybe?! HA! Women once wore dresses like this all the time! I’d get a corset too, just for the experience. Maybe I can finally write that historical I’ve been talking about!

This dress right here, hits me right in my 40s-50s vintage heart.

It hugs all the right curves and it looks totally femme fatal. Like I could pull out a gun or a long cigarette holder if you blink the wrong way. And you won’t know which one it is until I’m lighting up or shooting you. Can’t help but love a woman of mystery.

Then again, every once in a while we just feel like being sexy Marilyn and doing the pouty lips and hair flip. Like on a summer day, with a glass of lemonade and a parasol. Or walking the boardwalk.

*dreamy sigh* Why can’t I win the lottery?

Ok, your turn ladies. What would be the ONE splurge you’d spend IF you could? POST AWAY!

In the meantime, have a wonderful, magical, shop-friendly weekend!

Ever known what you had to write and the direction your story was going to take, but no matter how many ways you try and write the scene it just doesn’t seem to work? That’s the boat I’m currently in. I’ve written at least three versions of a very simple scene. It’s not even very long, it’s meant to set up the action that will take place in the scene immediately following it. It’s supposed to be foreboding and edgy, give the reader the sense that something bad is about to happen without outright stating it. And yet, despite how simple it all seems in my head, on PAPER it will NOT take shape!

*growls* I’m so cranky. I hate that. So, I think I’m going to take some time and do some reading and remind myself how other authors do it. Maybe then I won’t feel completely lost. I also made a playlist I’m going to just listen to on repeat and hope that it’ll inspire me. Sometimes, if I can just clear my mind and focus on nothing but the music playing, it’ll suddenly spark the scenes in full technicolor in my head. So let’s hope.

The hubby is really sick. *sigh* Poor chocolate bear has been really sick this year. I’m so concerned. He has a bad case of the flu and has been told by Dr. Man to stay home until Monday. Yesterday he was running a 103 fever. He was so delirious, he could hardly walk. So of course, I’ve taken to playing nurse. Making soup. Feeding him his meds. Making sure he walks around every few hours to avoid pneumonia or anything.

I’m also sleeping on the couch to try and avoid getting it. But I’m feeling the strain. I’m exhausted, achy, and starting to get stuffy, which worries me. Not to mention I have to be at work by 7am tomorrow. I need a vacation.

Either way, I’m watching American Idol, plan to make myself a snack and then fall asleep. I should try and write but my head’s just not in it tonight. What do you do when you just can’t motivate yourselves? Any suggestions? Cause I’m a little tired and feeling kinda blue.

As authors we are also researchers. We study professions we aren’t a part of, parts of the world we’ve never visited, cultures we find fascinating, scientific concepts we may want to bend or explore, even the most basic of human nature as depicted in characterization is a form of human/psychological study. We’re researches of humanity, all in all.

I actually love research. I always find something new and different to store in that little ‘for future use’ box. And really, the supply of inspiration is all around us.

So take today and find something interesting. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box.

And for some art fun, check out Wishmistress‘s DeviantArt page. She’s got some impressive looking stuff. The piece above startled me. It reminded me so much of this scene I wrote for a short story I submitted only recently to an e-mag. I guess this comes full circle, seeing as how I ended up having to do quite a bit of research on something I knew little about. Scandinavian folklore.

*peeks*

Ok, I swear I have a good excuse for not being here. Please don’t throw rotten tomatoes at me. I’m truly terrified of getting hit by flying fruit. I used to have awful nightmares when I performed that someone in the audience would bring apples, instead of tomatoes and fling them at me and they’d knock me out, mid-note. Not to mention the serious bruiser I’d get from an apple to the forehead. It’d be a crazy looking bruise. Like getting hit with a hockey puck. Which I’ve done, on the shin. Not fun.

I’ve been a bad blogger. I can admit it. And I am truly, truly sorry. I haven’t been slacking, I swear! I’ve actually been working. Surprise, surprise.

I got some of my edits back from my publisher and I’ve been working on those as though my life depended on it. We’re taking it a chapter at a time and I really want to get them done before I start to go to that dark mental place where I hate every word I’ve ever written. Edits put me in a foul mood. Mostly because you use such a different part of your brain than when you’re just doing creative writing. It’s the part of my  brain I don’t necessarily get along with. The part that hates math problems and doesn’t give a frick what time train A and train B will collide somewhere in Illinois.

Either way, I’m glad it’s Friday. Working retail during holidays is a killer. I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck, or at least tackled by a big,  burly man. (And I don’t mean that in a sexual or enticing way at all. *sigh*). So I think I’m going to spend the evening lounging. Clean up a tad. Soak my feet maybe? Ohhh, or a hot bubble bath. That sounds nice. But first I gotta clean the kitty litter box and sweep and mop the floors. *rolls eyes* Maybe I’ll just crawl into bed instead.

Anyway, Happy Friday all! Have a wonderful weekend, will ya? Monday will be here before we know it.

I’m not a big fan of it really. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. I was one of those people who rolled her eyes at The Bachelor and Survivor. I was like, really? There’s no one interested in writing a drama or a sitcom? But, thinking about it, I guess I’d have to admit I have quite a few guilty pleasures.

Project Runway would be one of them. I’ve been watching it faithfully since the second season. It can get pretty cliche. But it doesn’t change the fact that the designers create some really pretty outfits that I’d kill to wear.

I’ve also been sucked in to other Bravo favorites. Top Chef. Make Me A Supermodel. *shakes head* I know. I’m ashamed of it.

But my biggest reality tv obsession is American Idol.

As a singer, I can totally appreciate what those people have to go through. I can’t imagine having to learn and perfect a song in a few days time and then perform it in front of all of America. That’s nerve wrecking enough, but then to have the judging panel rip you one if they hate it, that’s even worse. Of course I have my favorites, *cough* David Cook *cough*, but the comptetition is starting to get interesting. Anyone here watch AI who can obsess a little with me?

Yes I love technology, but not as much as you you see, but still I love technology, always and forever….

*snort* Oh Kip. I heart you.

In honor of the neat things made possible by today’s growing and changing technology, I am proud to present Freya’s Bower‘s inaugural podcast! Hosted by FB’s editor-in-chief, Marci Baun, there’s a candid and informative interview with the managing editor Faith Bicknell-Brown. Marci herself created the musical intro and it’s her voice on the track! I think that’s just awesome. Plus, it’s now available on iTunes! Can you believe it? Freya’s Bower on iTunes! That is just neat-o. Go here to be linked!

On a personal note, I’m working on several projects tonight. I have tomorrow off of work so I’ll do a few edits and maybe work on my futuristic sci-fi WIP if I don’t fall asleep. I got 45 minutes in at the gym of high intensity cardio, after an 8 hour work day. So I’m pretty wiped. Let’s hope I can make it for the long haul!

After a long day at work, you can imagine how excitedly I was looking forward to my shoe shopping evening. Hubby had a job interview, then he was going to meet me so we could get our shoe shopping on. Well, that was the plan. What actually happened was quite different.

Hubby didn’t get home til 5:45pm. I then found out wedding rehearsal was at 6pm. I don’t know why he failed to tell me this. I stared at him for a few minutes. He was like, are you ready? I’m like, for what? Do you really expect me to find shoes in 15 minutes? *blinks confused* We wouldn’t even make it to the store for 15 minutes. So yea. Doesn’t quite work.

I head off with him to rehearsal, figuring that maybe after we can hit the stores. It’s Friday night. We still have time. Rehearsal went long. The bride had a breakdown. People were busy associating rather than paying attention. Poor bride. I know that feeling. Doesn’t make for smooth sailing. Plus, I’m sure she had a hundred other concerns on her mind.

Turns out there was a dinner right after. I didn’t complain. I was hungry and food sounded pretty good then. But, there were at least 25-30 of us. On a Friday night. We ate late, and left even later. By the time we got on the road, the stores were closed.

Anyway, I ended up wearing an older pair. Which didn’t work out too bad. They aren’t too comfy to dance in though. Here’s a pic, for the curious:

See the bottom lace of the skirt? I love it.

I just got back from the wedding. It was beautiful and classy. I’m very happy for them both! Now, I get to lounge just a bit. The past two days have been nonstop. I’m going to get into pajamas, clean up my house, and then watch television.

Hope you’re all having an awesome weekend!