November is National Novel Writing Month. According to their website, "National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000-word (approximately 175-page) novel by 11:59:59 PM on November 30."And after participating for the past five years, I can verify it … Continue reading Murderous time traveling robot chefs or where ideas come from
Five life lessons I’ve learned so far.
1. The only sure way to get invited to cool parties is to be the person throwing them. 2. It is never too much trouble to bake someone a birthday cake. It is also never too much trouble to pull an elaborate prank on those you love.3. If you cook, plant an herb garden. You … Continue reading Five life lessons I’ve learned so far.
Creepy Cool Print
For some reason this garage sale find has captured my heart. I found this mid-century modern marvel garage saling among the beautiful Victorian homes in Toledo's Old West End during the annual festival. It was propped up in a driveway and caught my eye immediately. Wonder of wonders, it fit my price point exactly. Under … Continue reading Creepy Cool Print
Old West End Festival
Toledo's Old West End Festival happens the first full weekend in June. We celebrate an awesome neighborhood full of beautiful Victorian and Craftsman architecture where Toledo's captains of industry as well its working stiffs lived. There a beautiful mansions, quaint cottages and a world class Art Museum. I highly suggest the house tours as long … Continue reading Old West End Festival
Bat Baby – Half Bat, Half Baby and off on a European Vacation
This is Bat Baby. Half Bat - Half Baby. One of the few anthropomorphic Halloween Decorations with its very own Facebook Page. Like Bat Baby to get updates on recent adventures. Bat Baby first came into my life at a flea market. I offered five dollars, the lady selling insisted it was a valuable collectible sure … Continue reading Bat Baby – Half Bat, Half Baby and off on a European Vacation
Mystery Photos: What lies inside the envelope
I had lunch with my good friend Cheryl and she brought this along. While cleaning out an old CD holder at her house, she had come across this photo envelope. Inside, were pictures that obviously belonged to me. Pictures from 1998. Holy time capsule, Batman! She wasn't sure how the envelope ended up at her … Continue reading Mystery Photos: What lies inside the envelope
What the Chat Dragged In: The Creative Process from whence it sprang
My creative process at work is fairly straightforward. I get assigned a task with a deadline and I come up with copy and edit material to go with it. Sometimes the turnaround is 3 days, other times 45 minutes. The fiction creative process is much different. I'm pretty much on my own time table and … Continue reading What the Chat Dragged In: The Creative Process from whence it sprang
The last first date ever.
Twenty-three years ago today, I went on my first date with my husband. I was looking sharp in my Star Trek IV T-shirt, plaid pants and silver tennis shoes. We stopped at McDonald's in Toledo for lunch. I ordered a Diet Coke and picked at Tim's fries. Then we went to see this Who Framed Roger … Continue reading The last first date ever.
A Headline You Won’t See
Here's a headline you won't ever see linked on The Drudge Report: Bicyclist Falls Down in Busy Street - Crowd rushes to render assistance. Today we were driving down the busy four-lane section of Glendale about four miles from home and Tim saw a guy go down in the street about a block back. So … Continue reading A Headline You Won’t See
Comforting Thoughts
I went to hear this fellow give a talk tonight. His name is Alexander McCall Smith and he is the author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series among other works. He's written about a metric ton of stuff. You can check out his bibliography here if you like. Suffice it to say, he … Continue reading Comforting Thoughts