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

COINKYDINK?

Many religions and philosophical beliefs believe…

There are no coincidences…

But I believe they’re referring to life…

Not blogs…

But yesterday Blogger proved me wrong.

My blog post gently poked fun…

At word verifications on other people’s blogs.

I felt confident that no one would really take offense.

But I was thinking people, not Internet blog host.

But after I posted yesterday…

I was all ready to do my next favorite bloggie thing…

And that is comment on other people’s blogs…

But when I went to do it…

I got a message saying I wasn’t  following anyone.

What?

All the people I follow—GONE?!

(I really think ?! should be a new punctuation mark)

Yup!  Zip! Nada! Zilch!

And Blogger wouldn’t give me back my followers…

Till late yesterday.

So?

Was removing my followers Blogger's act of retribution…

For making fun of one of their features?

Hmm?

And has Blogger ever buggered you? Or Wordpress?

But the bigger, more philosophical question is:

Do you believe there are no coincidences?

And if so, why?

Always, Em-Musing

SUFFER THE FINGERS

NOTE: The following is not meant as an insult

Gdorit, shrill, tootlec,

Thisssis, Esmeo, lollgo, grovebec

Nowantee, cannomakmee,

Nonmi, Idontlikee. jekli,wooils,

qonhy, lezhy,toomany, wordeees

Pleeky, vdlgi, skgill, leesig

Cjfcku, inmxs, bropl, swipet,

Treiminii, cockoboodle, titysilly,

What’s all that, you ask?

You can’t make out what I wrote?

Well, neither can I.

You see, it’s too early in the morning…

My eyes can’t focus…

And my fingers struggle to write…

My blog?

My W.I.P?

No!

All the  Word Verifications…

On other’s blogs.

Is it a security issue?

It couldn’t be…

Because agent blogs don’t have them…

And many author and writer blogs don’t have them.

Plus, don’t spam filters catch weird comments?

I know it makes a blog seem more…well…

I don’t know what it makes seem.

But because I blog and comment very early in the morning…

My brain and fingers…

Just can’t, or don’t want to, type these not-word words.

(ah yes, it's all about me!)

Plus, it takes up valuable time.

So?

If there really is a good reason why…

Word verifications are necessary…

Please tell me…

I don’t want to be a smart aleck, offend anyone…

Or criticize another’s blogs

(well, I think that tortilla has already flipped)

But am I the only one who struggles…

With Word Verifications?

And what exactly do these words verify?

Always, Em-Musing

THE DRAW OF ATTRACTION

I was thinking this morning while…

Well, no need for details...

Of the type of man I’ve always been intrigued with…

And always...

It’s a bad boy with a sweet heart.

But does this type of man exist?

He does in my novels…

But what about in real life?

Is “bad boy/sweet heart” an oxymoron?

And why is the bad boy bad?

Dysfunction childhood?

Alcohol/ drugs?

Gang member?

Or maybe...

As I like to think of him...

He's just a misunderstood soul...

Who needs someone to love and understand him.

Then there's the flip side of the tortilla...

A good boy with a bad heart.

Have you encountered one of these…

In real life or fiction?

And what’s behind that personality veneer?

Sociopath? Narcisist?

(Hmm? I think I dated a few way back when)

So writers…

And readers…

What kind of guy/hero do you write about or like to read about?

Or…

What kind of guy or gal attracts you in real life?

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  

HAPPY THREE KINGS DAY!

Happy Three Kings Day...
Or...
Feliz El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos.

I've never heard of this holiday or tradition before...
But I guess besides being celebrated here in Mexico...
It's celebrated in many other countries as well.
This is an extension of the Christmas holiday...
And recognizes when three kings visited the baby Jesus and brought gifts.
So today, kids will get lots of gifts.
Also, a cake, similar in concept to a "king" cake for Mardi Gras...
Is eaten that has a plastic baby Jesus in it.


So? 
Have you ever heard of or celebrated...
Three Kings Day?


Always, Em-musing

FUSS BUDGET

I didn’t realize I was so fussy...

Till yesterday..

Yeah, yeah, I’ve complained recently…

About not having the Internet or enough hot water…

While I’m living here in Akumal…

But that’s legit, no? At least the Internet?

But then yesterday, I found the depth of my fussiness…

When I bought a clear 12” ruler…

To use when I make edits to  my building plans.

You see, I bought clear on purpose to, well—see through.

OK, I noticed there was a label on the ruler…

But silly me, I assumed the label would come off.

Oh, it did, but the sticky schmeer it left wouldn’t…

Not with water. Not with soap. Not with alcohol…

Or even with scraping  it with my fingernail or a knife.

After working on getting the sticky schmeer off for fifteen minutes…

A friend of mine observing me asked, “What’s the big deal?”

And the truth is, I don’t rightly know…

But I was hell bent on getting the sticky schmeer off…

So I could see through ALL of  my see-through ruler.

I couldn’t relax, concentrate, or clear my mind…

Of that sticky schmeer.

God! Am I pathetic or what!

Perhaps I have a condition?

Perfectionism?

Hardly. My blog is a perfect example.

(although when I write, I want my manuscripts to be perfect)

Anal rententivness?

Not likely. My cupboards and closets prove otherwise.

(although I am very particular with keeping my writing notes organized)

OCD?

Doubt it. The only repetitive routine I have is writing at 4:30.

Control freak?

Naw. I’m very easy going. I usually go with the flow.

(although I will not let anything interfere when I want to write)

I finally tossed the ruler and went and bought another one…

Without a label.

It is within my budget to pay for a better one.

So?

What is this “I gotta get the sticky schmeer off” behavior?

Quirky? Weird?

Or yikes! What if I'm delusional? And I'm all of the above?

So?

What about you?

Got any quirks?

Writing or otherwise?

Always, Em -Musing

WATER HOARDING

It’s torture, I tell you! Torture!

What mean fiend would do this?

Especially to a writer!

Right there in the shower…

Right smack in the middle of my creative thoughts…

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Cold water!

How could that be?

This is a new place, hot water is a guarantee!

I’m not even sharing with other residents.

Dripping, fuming…

I traipsed into the utility room to hunt down the culprit.

What the hell?

A Barbie-sized water heater?

Who would do this?

Obviously not a writer/builder.

What were they thinking? 

Obviously not about writers.

What's that you say? Water conservation. 

Puh!

I’m a writer…

I need WATER. HOT water. LOTS of hot water…

Oh, how will I ever think again?

While I was willing to bring in cable and WiFi…

I’ll have to think about coughing up bucks for a bigger water heater…

And besides, it’s not in my rental agreement.

So in the meantime…

I’m going to have to allocate my water time…

Wash hair, important body parts, shave legs first…

Second, wait for the water heater to fill up again...

And third…

Think creatively HARD and fast.

Oh, the torture! The torture!

So?

What about you?

Are you a shower thinker?

Or where do you do your most creative thinking?

And…

Am I the only one to think not enough hot water is torture?

Always, Em-Musing

STUFF, ME

Last night I watched the reality show, Hoarders…

And of course I squealed out all the typical comments…

Eeuuww! Disgusting! Gross! OMG—a pile of dirty adult diapers?

My poor brain just couldn’t conjure a path to follow…

Through these people’s minds as to WHY?

I immediately felt smug knowing that I’d never be a hoarder.

But then…

I got to thinking back a few weeks ago…

When I was sorting through my office in my apartment…

Of what to pack for my permanent move here to Akumal, Mexico…

And while I am not a hoarder…

I am…

A  STUFFER!

No, not junky, disgusting, or duplicate stuff…

But stuff…

Like old issues of writer mags I never read…

Clipped articles I hoped to read, but never did…

Piles of business cards of people I met at writer conferences…

But never contacted…

Papers with new agent names I never followed up on…

Offers in the mail for something I thought I needed…

But never got around to ordering…

And other stuff that doesn’t even have a category…

And all this never-got-around-to stuff…

Took up space in draws, shelves, and parts of my desk.

Well, knowing I couldn’t take most of this stuff with me…

I sorted and pitched. But it was hard!

I felt attached to this stuff...

Even though I've never referred back to any of it.

So?

If I created a new reality show called, Stuffers…

Would your office or writing space qualify you as a stuffer?

Always, Em-Musing 

HAPPY HAPPY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope all your New Year's resolutions come true!
Today...
You can find my first post of 2012...
Over at the MVRWA blog...
Hope to see you...
And your comments over there!


Always, Em-Musing