Heat Wave

I've noticed that there isn't a gradual build up into summer around here. It's a week of humidity at 75 degrees and then POW! it's a hundred or higher from then on.

In protest we put up the pool.

I received my first sunburn of the summer.

And it was very nice.

Trains

You're the Ghost Train!

You often feel that you're the subject of songs, legends, and
even myths. But are you really feeling something real or is this just an
overactive imagination? Is something really calling to you in the great
beyond or do you just really like Halloween? Only you can answer this
question, howling through the darkness as you have been known to do. Maybe
you've spent too much time in philosophy classes, but you're not even really
sure that you exist. This is only part of the reason that you tend to scare
other people.


Take the Trains and Railroads Quiz
at RMI Miniature Railroads.

Viva le France

You're France!

Most people think you're snobby, but it's really just that
you're better than everyone else. At least you're more loyal to the real
language, the fine arts, and the fine wines than anyone else. You aren't
worth beans in a fight, unless you're really short, but you're so good at other
things that it usually doesn't matter. Some of your finest works were
intended to be short-term projects.


Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

College?

You're the University of Chicago!

A bit stuffy and pretentious, you definitely think you're
superior to most of those around you. At the same time, you live in a terrible
part of town and have even gone through a rather large Goth phase. Instead of
trying to resolve these conflicts in a social setting, you prefer to hole up on
your own and study the roots of the issues. Your basement is rather unsafe, and
in your backyard you have a little gravestone marked "Fun".


Take the University Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Book Quiz

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Now That I'm Here

I can't think of anything I want to write. Let me contemplate....

Sorry that blogger was having a brain fart - I couldn't really access anything for 3 days.

Oh, I know, Music.

Have you ever noticed how productive you are when music is playing? What about different kinds? Soundtracks, country, blues, alternative, goth. Every one of them puts me in a different frame of mind. Or maybe takes me out of a frame of mind. I do know it's darned difficult to write mellow and light when I'm listening to LOTR's orc/ogres theme and I can't get too worked up when the hobbit number has a showing. The elven bits get my fingers moving but the actually fellowship keeps them moving.

When I'm mad I end up housecleaning to B.B. King or Rob Zombie. Once my mood lightens up I find things like Garbage or The Dresden Dolls keep me moving. Country keeps me awake in the car usually as does Tom Petty. Soundtracks are my splurge zone though. I love a soundtrack for any number of reasons and usually they cover whatever emotional zone I'm in. The other nice thing? Many times if the soundtrack is good I can remember the scene in the movie where it was playing.

Right now? I know it is the mines of moria "A walk in the dark". Excuse me, the tracks actually called "A Journey in the Dark" I think I'm going now because the bridge scene always stirs me up.

"All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music." - Walter Pater

Books - The More the Merrier

Meh - Barbara Taylor Bradford / Unexpected Blessings

Whohoo! - Naomi Novik / The Black Powder War

To Be Read - Steve Alten / The Loch

Websites That Have Sucked Me In:

Paperback Writer

and

Destress Toy of the Day:

Music - Dresden Dolls

Every Day

Stream of conciousness? I don't know that I can handle that kind of post. I like to have all my answers all thought out and "ducks all in a row." It is hard because I want to write. Really write. I want to have a novel in my hands that I wrote. I don't know that its possible.

Well, it could be if I stopped doubting myself. Sometimes I have to wonder if it is possible that my background caused this writer's block. Something about being the oldest child, the most responsible. The one who Had To Take The Important (Practical) classes. Maybe my imagination just needs stretching.

I wish I could just let go, but when the day job doesn't pay enough and the landlord is setting unreasonable time limits, and the money isn't stretching far enough - well, my mind doesn't want to daydream. It wants to worry. *Sigh*

"Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death but to inspire yourself to life." - Adele Brookman

"So Much To Read, So Little Time"

How to deal with someone who insists you need to read someone's books that, quite truly, you'd never touch (10 foot pole optional)?

Do you just baldly state you don't read that "crap"? I can see that going over real well with the friends or the little old ladies.

Do you lie and say you have? Nothing like being asked about such-and-such a character and try to fib your way out of that one.

My favorite? I've just got so many books on my to read stack, I haven't had the time to pick up a new author. It is polite and leads the fevrent fangirl or fanboy to believe you are seriously interested.

"Good manners are the technique of expressing consideration for the feelings of others." - Alice Duer Miller