Twosday Triumphs

The fine writers at Women of Mystery have something going on called Two Sentence Tuesday.
I've played once or twice, but put my sentences up over there. Today, for a refreshing change of pace, I thought I'd foul my own nest instead.
Offerings are to include two sentences that I've read over the past week and two I've written.
What I've read:

"Some people, for example, think spirit sounds spooky; they may find consciousness more appealing.
Soul sounds ominous to some; extended self-awareness, though, can convey the same meaning."
-from Edgar Cayce Answers Life's 10 Most Important Questions, by John G. Fuller, Warner Books, 1989.

And my offerings for the past week:

“Arturs, are you sure you should use the word living?”
"It makes my point. And I can be killed therefore I must be alive. Anyway, I’m not going to argue the finer points of my existence. Especially given that you can’t die at all.”

It's a bit more than two, but they go together and I didn't want to break things up.

Thanks for reading.

Gratitude Monday - Bluebird Plains Edition

We went for a drive out west on Good Friday. We took our time and stopped for photos as needed. I'd said our mission was to find bluebirds.
There's at least one nesting pair out on the Kootenay Plains, about a 90 to 105 minute drive from here. The Plains are an ecological reserve and many bluebird boxes are attached to the fenceposts along the highway.
We saw bluebird couples four times during our drive. We saw at least two different pairs, based on the colouring. Maybe there were eight birds. Maybe it was four twice, or two four times, or maybe one pair three times and then another. We may never know and it does not matter. We went for bluebirds and they were most accommodating.
It was a good day for a drive in the mountains, and for that I am grateful.

These Boots...

... were made for writing.









By popular demand, okay two commenters mentioned it, here are the cowboy boots I bought for writing.

They're Boulet, a Canadian brand, and they're deerhide.

I put them on and let them work their magic on my mind.

They're comfortable. They feel good. When I wear them I scale the dizzying heights of nearly 5'5".

They help me concentrate and think like my characters. One character likes the feel of bare feet in her boots. Good for her. I don't share the opinion, but at least I got a chance to try it and feel it for myself. It's all part of the research and it's important.

I often wonder what else my writing will compel me to do, but learning things and experiencing life are big draws for the job.

I have a very good job.

The Character Knows Best

Research for writing takes some interesting turns. The Internet is great for looking things up. It’s even better for getting distracted and forgetting your original search after few clicked links.
Questions can be put to people. I discovered through years of reporting that most people are willing to share what they know if they are asked. Further, many a person’s favorite subject is him or her self. There’s a good chance I’m not the exception to that rule.
My current manuscript concerns itself with some vampires, damphyres (half-human) really, who live in the Old West. The family lives as a regular family and at least two of the offspring want to be cowboys.
Cowboy research is easy enough. Best of all it gave me a great excuse to drop a ridiculous amount of money on cowboy boots. I only wear them around the house and I do it when I’m writing.
I say it helps.
On the vampire side of the ledger the bulk of my research is theoretical. I read somewhere that if you throw grain or seeds in front of one he or she is compelled to stop and count each individual kernel. If interrupted said bloodsucker has to start all over.
Okay, this sort of OCD behavior can be tried. One December morn we had some fresh deer offerings out by the composters in the garden. In the interest of research I told my husband what I needed and had him interrupt me three times while I counted them.
It’s very annoying. I felt awfully sorry for vampires that morning.
That’s about all I can do as my teeth aren’t nearly strong enough to do any jaws-on tests. Even if I had some nice, sharp, pointy eyeteeth I assume there’s a limit to how much even my long-suffering mate will put up with from me.
In another wrinkle, one of characters is a lesbian. I’d vacillated on this point for a while and wondered if it was only because she wanted to be a cowboy. I resisted it for no other reasons than I am limited in my research capabilities. I’m in over my head. I don’t even know what to ask.
I was fighting with my character. Was she sure about this because I really don’t know what to do, and could I please have a sign?
I put it out to the Universe and went about my day looking for vampire info. Clicks took me to a website detailing the major veins in the body. The vein in the inner thigh is the called Greater Saphenous Vein.
There’s no arguing with that kind of a sign.


*Confused about why this is a sign?*
Try here.

Gratitude Monday - Still Here, Still Breathing

C'est moi in Tierra del Fuego and happy about it.

Another Monday. Another chance to be grateful.

Still here. Still breathing.

Top of the week to you.

Photo Finish Friday - Chilean Pastoral

This peaceful scene was a treat to see. I'd move there in a heartbeat.
It was along the southern highway which runs along the Reloncavii Fjord in Chile.

My Name Game Post

Here's my version of the name game that Reb did the other day.

1 Your rock star name (first pet, current car) – Trixie Corolla

2.Your gangsta name (favourite ice cream flavour, favourite type of shoe) –
Chocolate Gaucho Boot

3.Your Native American name (favourite colour, favourite animal) – Blue Wolf

4.Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born) – Jocelyn Barrhead

5.Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name) Utale

6.Superhero name (2nd favourite colour, favourite drink) – Red Whiskey

7.NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers) – George John

8.Dancer name (the name of your favourite perfume/cologne/scent, favourite candy) Coffee Caramel

9.TV weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Fleming Frankfurt

10.Spy name (your favourite season/holiday, flower) – Samhain Tiger Lily

11.Cartoon name:(favourite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now) – Strawberry Socks

12.Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, your favourite tree) – Granola Pine

13.Movie (or porn) star name (first pet, first street where you lived) – Trixie Klondike


I can certainly understand why Trixie Klondike changed her name in later years to Jocelyn Barrhead. It's bad enough having been a porn star, but can you imagine if her fans ever found out she was once Granola Pine?!
And we'll not be discussing the years as Coffee Caramel . . .

Okay, I'll stop, but those names clearly have a story to tell.