ZONING IN

                 IT'S BLOG DAY!

The first Wednesday of each month, 

members of IWSG announce a question that members

can answer in their IWSG  Day post. These questions may prompt you to share insight or a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh and is a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. 

 The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are  Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi and Chemist ken!

Today’s question – Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

 My ritual to get into the writing zone...

Starts at 4:30 a.m....

With Italian roast coffee brewing...

Palo santo incense smoking...

Lemongrass oil in the defuser misting...
And Solfeggio tones playing.

I take several deep sustained breaths and...

**VOILA!**

I’m in my writing “zone”

And it feels like this

However...

If you were to ask me how I get into my editing zone...

That’s a totally different frame of mind... 

Because mentally...

It feels as if I’m being banished into a hut...

In a dense jungle all alone...
And must stay there... 

Until every possible nuance of the manuscript is polished. 

And it feels like this







But now...

If you’re talking about the rewrite zone...

Well......
That feels like I’m being dragged into an abandoned asylum...

And won’t be let out until...well...

However long it takes!

And it feels like this

Thankfully, I've only been there once.
So?
What about you?

What’s your zone?

And how do you get there?

Always,

Em-Musing

DONDE ESTOY?

Hola! 
I'm back!
It's been a while.
Where have I been?

Here, there and everywhere it seems. . .

Paris for a month for one. . .

London, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy for two. . .

And back and forth to the States to see family for three. 
Phew! 
Had tons of fun. . .
Been a bit weary
But in all my travelling. . .
I missed my blog. 
I miss connecting with other writers. . .
I miss the challenge and fun. . .
Of writing daily ditties.
But just so you don't think I'm a slacker. . .
I have been writing.
Still not published though. . .
Well, my novels that is. . .
But I have been published in a travel mag. . .
And have done some copy editing for same mag.
It's nice to be back.
Hasta luego!

Always,
Em-Musing

P.S. this blog is still under construction. Need to tweak.

CAUTION: WRITER THINKING

Writing can be dangerous!

Well not the actual writing part…

But the thinking, envisioning, and fantasizing part…

Unlike the physical part of writing…

When you’re seated writing on a pad or keyboard...

The thinking, envisioning, and fantasizing part…

Is worked up in the corridors of your brain…

Soundlessly plotting away…

Which leaves you free to do things…

Like drive on the highway…

Concocting a plot twist…

At 75 mph!

And then after about ten minutes…

You look around and go…

“Where in the hell am I?

Caution: Writer Thinking!

Or like when you’re putting on mascara…

With a wand that has hundreds of brisk bristles…

That could potentially blind you.

But deep in your brain cells…

Your envisioning which actor your hero looks like…

When—OW!—you just poked your eyeball!

Caution: Writer Thinking!

And then there’re times when you’re at a party…

And all you want to do…

Is find a corner and think of a name for your heroine…

But instead the most boring person in the world…

Has cornered you…

Telling you about one of their boring dreams…

When suddenly they ask you…

“So? What do you think it all means?”

Now you’re desperate...

Trying to figure out what they were saying…

And you realize you don’t have a clue…

However this is the guy who could promote your hubby.

So you laugh and say something stupid like…

“Wow, that’s really exciting.”

And he says, “I dreamt of dying! How is that exciting?”

Caution: Writer Thinking!

So for all those who live or work with a writer…

Or heaven forbid, are driving with a writer…

Be on the lookout for that glazed over fixed stare…

Because…

Caution: Writer Thinking!

Always, Em-Musing

GONE BATTY

There I was Saturday night…

Watching TV, getting over a cold when…

AHHHHHHHH!

A streaky swirl of blackness whizzed by me!

Lord!

It was a black blur…

A black cat pursuing a big black BAT BLURR!!!

AHHHHHHHH!

And then the big black bat…

Came right at me!

AHHHHHHHH!

And then...
Like the fanged bite from a vampire...
All my childhood fears of Dracula…

Oozed up in me again...

AHHHHHHHH!

And then…

The bat went somewhere…

Me?
I hightailed it into the bedroom…

Hoping the bat would somehow find its way out.
I forgot about it until Sunday night…

When…

AHHHHHHHH!
The bat was flying around again.

This time though…

I saw the bat go into the guest bedroom.

I hurried, slammed the door…

And decided to wait until Monday morning...

Where I spied it hanging upside down…

On the bottom of the guest bed.

I then got the pool net and caught the varmint.

I love my new kitty…

Who is a jungle kitty...

And very much a hunter...

And likes to bring me things...
But Indie p l e a s e...

Don’t bring me anymore presents. 

Always, Em-Musing

P.S. I won't be posting for a while...

Heading back to the States to do my taxes.
AHHHHHHHH!

PROMISE NOT TO FOG

I sit…

I stare at the computer screen…

I want the words to come.

They’re not there yet.

Guess I’ll float for awhile longer.

NOT!

I made a commitment months ago to write a post today…

For my writer group, Maumee Valley Romance Writers of America.

I had to drag my muse out of herself to do this…

But a promise is a promise.

So…

You can catch me over at the MVRWA blog today.

Oh, and have a great Easter weekend.

Always, Em-Musing

EMOTIONAL RIPPING

I love the honesty of toddler’s behavior.

They just let their emotions RRRRIIIIPPPPPPP!

And while they’re flailing around screaming in public…

You’re saying in your head…

SHADUP!!!!!

But you got to admit…

Their emotions are genuine…

And really…

Don’t you wish you could really do the same…

When you’re going through say…

A drive-thru bank line that won’t move…

And you’re stuck in the middle…

And you’re already late for something…

Don’ t you wish you could just let it rip…

“WHAT THE ‘F’ IS TAKING SO LONG?

WOULD THE IDIOT WITH A THOUSAND TRANSACTIONS JUST GO INSIDE!

Or you go to a big box store…

And all you want is to get in and get out quickly…

But you’re wandering around…

Looking for someone to answer a simple question…

Like what’s the price of the electric can opener…

And you’ve combed all thirty aisles TEN TIMES…

Don’t you wish you could just scream…

WHERE THE ‘F’ IS EVERYBODY?

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

Or when you’re in say, in a Verizon store…

Needing an answer to a simple question…

About your new 'smart' phone...

And the young woman behind the counter…

Looks at you like you’re Grandma Moses…

And talks to you like you’re two without a clue..

Don’t you wish you could just scream…

LISTEN YOU LITTLE SNOT…

I WAS AROUND…

WHEN COMPUTERS FIRST CAME OUT…

I KNOW DOS! THAT’S RIGHT, DOS!

SO, DON’T CONDESCEND TO ME, MISSY!

So,

The next time you see a toddler screaming…

Be envious…

That they’re displaying their real emotions...

Because soon…

Those real emotions...
Will be spanked or punished out of them.

So?

When do you wish you…

Could just let your emotions RRIIIIPPPPPPP!

Always, Em-Musing

FOREIGN DOTS

It’s been said…

That children learn languages faster than adults.

But I don’t believe their brains are smarter…

I believe it has to do with dots…

Specifically children’s lack of dots.

Let me explain…

In my efforts to learn Spanish…

I find I’m always trying to make a connection…

Between an English word and the Spanish equivalent…

Or visa versa.

Sometimes it’s easy…

Like restaurant and restaurante…

Sometimes it’s not…

Like peanuts called cacawhatees Huh?

Or sometimes I’ll hear a word like yellow…

But it’s not a color…

It’s the Spanish word for ice spelled hielo.

‘H’ is always silent, and ‘J' sounds like ‘H’.

So see?

I’m always searching…

For ways to connect the dots…

Spanish dots to English dots…

And that’s my point…

Children are young enough…

They don't have as many dots...
When they learn a word, a phrase, or a concept…

There's nothing to connect to.

So?

Ever learn a second language or third?

How were you at connecting the dots?

Always, Em-Musing

NINE to FOUR

I sat through the book reading, spellbound…

The story was middle-grade...

Not my usual genre…

But the story hooked me at the first sentence.

As the author read through the first four chapters…

I was impressed with the character development…

How she ended each chapter with a tease into the next…

The intricacy of the plot…

Her choice of words…

Even the protagonists name: Twila.

(where’d she come up with that?)

This book reading didn’t happen…

In a bookstore or a library…

But rather…

On Skype.

The author?

My 9-year-old granddaughter.

I tell you…

This girl is a born writer.

(She even wrote a screen-play…

and shot the movie, I’ve yet to see)

Proud doesn’t even begin to say how I felt…

As I listened to her talent and creativity…

Play out on each page.

What I’ve had to learn….

Seems to be innate in her.

And again….she’s only 9.

I guess from now on…

What used to be, “Grandma, tell me a story”…

Will now be, “Maddie, tell grandma a story.”

Always, Em-Musing

A BIG ROUND OF THANKS

Today I’m being thankful…

First…

To my all my new followers...

I truly appreciate you.
Second…

I’d like to thank Kendra503 at her Flame Writer blog.

She gave me a Stylish Blogger award.

As always, there are rules:

1)      Write about a time you dressed up.

2)    Include a picture if you have one

3)    Nominate five people

Here goes..

It was the morning of Prince William and Kate's wedding...

I was fascinated...

Not so much by Westminster Abbey...

And all pomp and circumstance...

But by all the ladies' outrageous hats.

I had to have one!

I shot up, found a hat, some silk flowers...

And voila!

By then though...

It was time to blog...

So I took a pic of me and my hat...

And blogged.

OK, now to give the award to 5 others...

Constance Phillips at A Writer's Musings

Jayne Kingston and her blog

Jenna Rutland at her fun blog

Wendy Burke at her blog, Whatever, Wendy

Michelle Kott at One Up Style

And finally, I'd like to thank Desert Rocks...
For giving me a Gold Award on her blog on Friday.
That's it for today's post...
Catch me tomorrow...
When I admit to doing something...
Usually only guys do.


Always, Em-Musing

I FEEL FAINT. YES! YES!

HAHAHAHAHAH!

Sorry for my fit of hysteria–laughing fit that is…

But I came upon a juicy historical tidbit…

While researching the history of ‘swoon’ .

Seems swooning…

Was a common occurrence in the nineteen century...

Which often led to female hysteria.

This from Wikipedia:

“Female hysteria The second most common theory

for the predominance of fainting couches is the home

treatment of female hysteria through manual pelvic

massage by home visiting doctors and midwives.

As a ‘disease’ that needed constant, recurring

(usually weekly) in-home treatment with a procedure

that, through manual massage, could sometimes take

hours, the need for specialized furniture for maximum

comfort during the extended procedure arose.

Later, the creation of fainting rooms for privacy 
during the intimate massage procedure were built.”

HAHAHAHAHAH!

Oh, you genteel ladies of the nineteen century…

You had it going ON!

And those doctors! What a scam!
I can imagine a scenario something like this:

A husband leaving for work leans down to kiss his wife…

“What are your plans for the day, my dear?”

“The doctor is coming over.”

“Again?”

“How dare you question my pelvic massages!”

“Settle down I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You’re always doubting my disease! Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“No don’t faint! OK, OK! I’ll call the doctor now.”

Wow, what a scam.

So while the women didn’t have voting rights back then…

They did have ‘fainting couches’!

And…

Husbands that went along with the scam!

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

And I can imagine another scenario….

Guests arrive for a party at this couple’s house.

“Please, come in and have a seat,” the hosts say.

The couple looks around at the seating options..

But the only place left is the ‘fainting couch’.

“Uh, no thanks,” the pastor and his wife say, 
“We’ll stand.”

HAHAHAHAHAH! 
So?
Isn't history fun? 
What fun stuff have you ever discovered?

Always, Em-Musing

TAKE A LICK AT THIS

I’m back from the States…

And pooped!

I had a busy weekend with family and friends.

I wasn’t going to blog today but…

Candace is a follower of mine…

And has opened up a new business…

Words Like Candy...

And I thought you might want to check it out.

Always, Em-Musing

WHO, ME?

I’d like to thank Ilima Kahokuhealani Todd…. 

For this award.

To accept, I've got to write 

Seven things about me...

And pass it on to 5 unsuspecting bloggers.

So, here goes.

1)      When I was a kid, I’d sleep with the blankets 

    pulled up over my head in the summer because 

    I was afraid Dracula would come through my 

    screenless window and make me a vampire.

2)    Because I got caught chewing gum in class, 
  I had to memorize and recite the Declaration 
  of Independence. I memorized, but was too 
  shy to stand in front of the class so I took 
   a week long detention instead.

    3)  When I was a radio DJ, I accepted a gig to do 

         a bike run to the local orphanage. But I was 

         thinking bicycle bikes, not Harley’s. When I 

         showed up at the Harley Davidson store (that 

         should have been a clue), there were hundreds 

         of bikers all leathered up. They outfitted me up,

         chaps and all and away we went. Trust me,
         there's nothing like the smell of hundreds of 
         Harleys revving in the morning.

4)    The first three radio commercials I ever wrote 
     took Gold ADDY Awards. Radio spots are still 
     my favorite thing to write.

5)    I once took acting lessons from Uta Hagen, 
    grand dame of Broadway. I did well my first 
    monologue, but for the second one, she ripped 
    my performance to shreds. I was so hurt I 
    grabbed my props and took off. After a while, 
    I heard my friend ask,“Has anyone seen 
    Leigh?” A crowd of people then found me 
    balling like a baby in the attic of the 
    theater.Too bad I couldn’t act my way out 
    of that scene.

6)  I cry when I hear the Star Spangled Banner.

7)  I am a Christian.

Now, I'll pass this on to:
Shay Lacy 
Jenna Rutland
Constance Phillips
Jill Kemerer
Wendy Burke

Take it away ladies.
And speaking of away...
Leaving for the Sates again...
See you back mid-next week.

Always, Em-Musng

I'M DARK NOW

SUBMITTING IN PROCESS...
But my little brain still wants to post...
My fingers are itching to—
"GET OFF YOUR BLOG AND SUBMIT!"
(said my conscience to my brain)
Alright already!
Bye.


Always, Em-Musing

STILL HINKY

No post today...
Blogger is still acting weird...
Sabotaging my format.
Arrrgghh!
Anyway...
I'll catch up with y'all on the State side...
I'm leaving tomorrow to wrap-up my life in Ohio.
Come February, I'll be here full-time in Akumal, Mexico.
Have a great weekend...
And perhaps Blogger will behave next week for me.


Always, Em-Musing

OH NURSIE, NURSIE ME

Ya know…

What I would really like to have in 2012?

A nursie.

Oh, not because I’m sick…

But because I’m sick and tired.

Of constantly putting out vitamins and supplements…

And then forgetting to take them.

Often, after I've been in my office for hours…

I’ll go into the kitchen…

And there on the counter…

Are the two small bowls of pills…

Still sitting, waiting for me to take them.

But by then…

I can’t down them all at once. My stomach couldn't handle it.

See why I need a nursie?

Just like nurses come into a patient's hospital room ...

With little cups of pills right on schedule...

She, or he, would come into my office…

When the time is right and say,

“It’s time to take your pills, Leigh.”

“But I don’t want to take those yucky things!”

“I know dear, but they’re good for you.”

“But they make me wanna puke.”

“Leigh, these pills will make you look and feel younger.”

"Look younger? Oh, all right. But can I have a cookie afterwards?”

“No dear, cookies will make you fat…

And speaking of fat…

You’ve really packed on a few pounds lately…

So I don’t want you buying anymore of those Kettle Chips.”

“But they’re just potatoes, oil and salt! And I love them!”

“If you keep eating those, you’ll be a flubba dub!

And really? How fat do you want to get?

And speaking of fat, it's time get off your fat arse…

And go do some exercises. Come on, let's go! Chop chop!”

See what I mean?

My health would be better if I had a nursie.

(And I'd look younger!)

So? How about you?

Would you like a nursie...

To remind and coax you to do and eat all things healthy?

Or am I the only lazy butt who can't get off of hers?

Or do you already have someone to nursie you?

Always, Em-Musing