Writers Notebook

Archived Messages from April 29, 2001 to May 20, 2001

Hello everyone,

Melanie, I've emailed you the second chapter of "Skala's Legacy" Hope you enjoy it.

Don't have much to say today. Been writing, working, the usual stuff. Got to work early in the morning, so it's time to go to bed. Goodnight.

SusanS 5-20-2001 21:59

Gonna try those tips for busting writers block, Theyre my last hope, lol.

Ah well, fingers crossed.

Banky 5-20-2001 20:04

Jack - It was incredible to see a copy of Shadows in a Dream - hopefully being published now will make it easier for all of us to be published in the future.

Allein Allein's World 5-20-2001 16:59

LITTER: Thank you so much, you are a real sweetheart. Everyone loved your poem and stood to applaud after I finished reading it to them. Just thought you might like to know that you touched people so far away with your words. Thanks again, I really appreciated it.

Mary 5-20-2001 16:41

p.s. I just realized that things have gotten a bit large lately. Sometime later today I will archive things. Given the nature of how that works, it will mean a blank notebook for a little while, but I think it a safe assumption that we will fill things back up in short order.

Jack Northwest Science Fiction Resources 5-20-2001 15:36

Allein: It was great meeting you and sorry I did not have more time to sit down and talk with you. Glad you liked the salmon. It is one of the true treasures at this time of year to be able to enjoy Copper River Salmon for about three weeks while they are running, being caught and get to us. I definitely will be eating a lot for those three weeks :-) . Also, having gone to Kubota Gardens for the first time in about a month, it inspires me to go again and take some pictures that I can share here and with you.

The most exciting news was being able to actually hold a copy of Shadows In A Dream in my hands. That was cool. And, yes, I hope we can all three arrange a time when we can have a more focused get together. Take care everyone and hope all have found their missing muses.

Jack Beslanwitch http://www.webwitch.com/tdforum/Northwest%20Science%20Fiction%20Resources5-20-2001 15:29

5-20-2001 14:04

Anyone seen my muse?

Ah, there it is...

Richard 5-20-2001 14:03

Hey all,
I just got back from Seattle.
Jack knows how to throw a good party! :) He and his wife are extremely nice people although we didn't get a chance to really talk very much. Rachel came down with her family and I got to meet her husband and kids including little Sebastian, who is REALLY adorable. :) I couldn't stay away from him too long. We almost got killed driving to Jack's house - there was this maniac girl on the road that was swerving and almost hit us - I don't know if she was drunk or not but she wasn't very nice because she flipped us the finger. I would have flipped her the finger back but there were kids in the car. Sebastian slept through the entire thing.
Luckily, we arrived to the party in one piece.
Jack and Fran made salmon for the party which was very delicious. :) There were all sorts of other food there too but the salmon was by far the best, followed by the chocolate cheesecake. *drool*
We got to tour the Japanese gardens nearby and they were nice but I ran out of film after only taking a few pictures. I wish I'd brought an extra roll but it's probably best that I save some for my trip to New York this summer.
When we returned I met some other anime fans and we sat down to watch Princess Mononoke, which I've seen before but only in raw Japanese (no subtitles) and since this was in English, it was easier to understand. I enjoyed it.
I didn't go into the hot tub (like I've said earlier - I hate being seen in a bathing suit). Of course, I didn't bring my bathing suit either.

Hopefully, Jack, Rachel and I will make plans to get together another time. :) I really enjoyed myself.

Now, I'm going to get some Zzzz's.
*smiles*
Allein

Allein Allein's World 5-20-2001 1:40

Trees - there is a farm site some twelve miles from where I sit, the haunted farm we lived on for a few years. Behind the house was a huge stand of cottonwood trees. We children had tons of fun playing amongst those trees. I used to climb way to the top of the tallest tree, must have been over thirty-five feet, much to my mom's despair. We moved from that farm in 1965, and no-one has lived there since. On my last drive-by of the place, I saw that both the huge white house (that we couldn't live in) and the much smaller brown house (the haunted one which we lived in) were gone. Some of the out-buildings still stood, but those trees were down. It looked like some great hand of God simply reached down and pushed them all over. They were still there, but laying against each other, all facing east. I asked mom about this, and she said it must have been the storm that brought hurricane strength straight-line winds, several years before we moved back. That storm was blamed for millions of dollars in damages to farms in that neck of the prairie. It is always sad to see your old homes gone like that, now that I think of it, none of the houses I grew up in are still standing, only the boarding house that we lived in for a few months when we first moved to town, it stands but has been vacant for years since the fellow who owned passed on. The rest are gone, most are now empty lots. The first house I bought ($300.00) for my wife to live in when I went to Vietnam still stands, in fact the house my daughter bought is right next door, but it is now used as a storage shed for the local handy-man.

I guess there is some truth to the old saying that you can never go home again. Funny too, of our graduating class (the one I was absent from, having married and dropped out of High School) of 54, only two of us still live here in town. Several have gone on to the great beyond, a couple are in prison, the rest like many now days are scattered from coast to coast. The only other that lives here lives just a block West of here, she drives by every day on her way to the family business, where she only makes an appearance. She married well, married the fellow who inherited the local jewelery manufacturer here, they are worth millions, and show it off daily. I have had the opportunity to speak to her a few times, something she never would have done when we were in school. She was with the "in" crowd, I was with the wild bunch and never the two would mingle. Well I hear the sound of distant thunder, it may rain soon, and I best shut down before lightning kills my machines.

Jerry 5-20-2001 1:11

**Rosemary**

HOWARD and everyone else with tree problems:
About thirty years ago, developers and everybody else who wanted a new tree, planted Arizona Ash trees. They grow fast and give a lot of shade. Shade is a very desirable thing to have around here. Now--Thirty years later, all of those great trees are dying of old age. Gads, My horse lived that long. Trees are suposed to be forever.
We have seven or so of the ash trees on the property. The tree we had to take down wasn't dead but it split at the bottom and the only thing holding it up was the roof of the house, a shed and an old dead mulberry tree that wasn't bothering anybody. It came down with the ash. We will be able to get insurance money (don't know how much yet) because the last storm pushed it onto the house.

Good luck and hope you can find better prices.
Rosemary

Rosemary 5-19-2001 23:31

Trees - Our yard has a few decorative bushes, but alas, no trees. My mom, however has a bunch of them on her property, some of which are in very bad shape. Last year she had three taken out, the cost? Well the fellow who takes them out here charges $100.00 per tree, and since mom wanted 3 taken out at the same time, he gave her a deal and did the whole job for $150.00. I guess when you live in a town where any job over minimum wage is thought of as "professional" the cost is pro-rated too. Did I mention, that my daughter bought her 2 bedroom home for $1,000.00? Things are a bit cheaper here, I only paid $11,000.00 for our three bedroom home. Gas however is another story, we pay the same as everyone else, the price today $1.97 for regular, it just hurts a bit more here where wages are so low.

I do have another ghost story turning around my brain, and since I reinstalled my old "Bigfoot" hard drive, I have access to my ghost western again, I may go back to work on it too, I haven't done much writing lately, been busy with life I guess, but I have my mind made up to get back with the program. The wife will be back to work in a couple of weeks, and I will be home alone again, this makes for a great peaceful writing atmosphere. I read somewhere that novice writers must have things "just right" to be able to write. Those who have to write for a living find that even with a house full of kids, the wife, and several pets, they can write through the disturbances. I think this tells us that we can write anytime we so desire, and that such things as others in the area are just an excuse not to write.

Jerry 5-19-2001 23:05

JERRY -- The new IBM Deskstar drives are about the quietest on the market right now. I've got a 30gb and can barely hear it, even with the case open.

ROSEMARY -- It's amazing how much we notebookers have in common! Right now I've got an estimate for removal of two trees - a 50 ft maple in the front yard ($345.00) and a 70 ft white pine near my barn ($450.00). The maple is very close to the front of my house, and is surrounded on three sides by 2 phone lines, 1 cable, and electric service to my mother's house and to one end of our house (we have two separate electric services). The pine is leaning a bit too much towards the barn for me to fell it myself, but I've got at least eleven more just like it to cut after this first one is down. These trees are a bit too old and brittle, and are really becoming too unsafe to leave standing that close to our homes. I have a friend who does chainsaw carving, so I'm going to leave the trunks in 8-10 ft sections for him. I'll replace them with some nice maple and maybe a couple of nut trees too.

I really don't like to cut trees, especially after getting to know the Ents, but I've never seen these move, except for the one that split and fell on mother and dad's trailer, so I guess it's okay.
Speaking of trees, I should probably take some pictures of the oak that owns our side yard. My wife and I together can't even come close to getting our arms around it, and I'd estimate it to be 60-70 ft tall. I love to lie on my back under it and look up into its branches. Sometimes it sings, and sometimes it whispers...

howard 5-19-2001 22:13

*Tina*
Hello all!

Heather, take it easy! These things always happen on a long weekend, eh? My hubby put his out this afternoon, so I've been playing masseuse (sp?) to loosen it up. I'm a huge fan of the chiropractor, or at the very least a proper professional massage. When I damaged my lower back 7 years ago, all the pain reliever, anti-inflamitories and physio in the world didn't help. Five months after I hurt it, I finally went to the chiropractor and in three sessions he had me feeling human again. I swear by my chiropractor!

Working on my story for **P**! Having fun with it.

As always, the May long weekend is rainy, blustery, and gross. Great weekend for writing!

Off to dinner, to meet my girlfriend's new boyfriend! He's from Seattle, so I haven't been able to meet him yet.

Speaking of Seattle, hope the party is roaring along strong, Jack!

TTFN

Tina 5-19-2001 22:06

Wow, all the pain making the rounds. I know exactly how you feel, I have had one of those damn back aches now since 1992. The magic pain remover for me changes as the seasons change, right now, it consists of 2 Ultram 4 times a day, along with 1 Toradol 4 times a day, taken with 1 Flexeral 4 times a day. That seems to work fairly well, and I can get around easier then I was able just a few months ago before the routine changes. They tell me that the body adjusts to the medications, and you build up a tolerance, which is the reason for the changes. Best advice though has already been given, bed rest for the first 48 hours, then ease back into life if you can. Oh and here is the best advice anyone can ever give you - DON'T let them cut on your back until you absolutely have to.

Well I gave in to the wife, and removed my big beautiful 20 gig hard drive, and stuffed the old 3 gig back in. She said the 20 gig made way too much noise, now being about deaf in one ear and not able to hear out of the other, I had no idea it was making any noise at all. Then my daughter came in and said "What's with the noisy computer?" well you simply can't win an argument with two women, so I gave in. Sure do miss the room, and I think I will be searching the auctions for a new larger drive, probably sell the one I have to someone else who is deaf, or cares little about noise.

Writers block - I guess the best suggestions have already been given below, many of which are new to me too. Maybe a print out is in order.

Jerry Ericsson 5-19-2001 20:46

**Rosemary**
Greetings Writers All,
I have been preoccupied (Sheesh sp.) lately with tree removal problems. Had to keep off the phone line for some of them to call. (tree people) Insurance guys also. We got two estimates of approx. $500 to remove that (&@@%) tree. Finally a friend who has a lawn Service business came this morning while I was at my monthly Writers meeting and he cut the thing up into a reasonable pile. My sister handled it with out my help just fine. He only asked for $150 but she paid him $200 because it was a big scary dangerous job.

I read my story written for *P* at the meeting this morning. Got some really good suggestions. It's about 2,000 words so I'll probably go to Mary Lou's house to copy and paste it into the round robin. It might not fit the specs. exactly, but it's as close as I could get it. Didn't turn out the way I started it.

Hallee,
Expect hot, humid weather. Muggy. Icky. Fooey.

Later all,
ps The enter button has always been bottom left on my screen.???

Rosemary 5-19-2001 19:43

RANDALL

Heather: Sorry 'bout the back lady. Some docs say heat it up, some say cold helps. But I've found that a heating pad, half a dozen valium ... 2 sixpacks of beer and a stiff shot of whiskey make me feel a lot better.

Uh.........better xnay the valium and beer and whiskey. :-) That is if you want to LIVE to write! :-))))))

Codine, (that spelled right?) taken for pain may be inspirational. My novel FLOWERS came from a dream I had while suffering from a squashed disc at the L5 level. Cost me 3 months sick leave, but considering the dream I was given...an equal trade off. (Now, if that ain't the definition of a writer.....!!!) The doc had me on "C" painkiller meds 4 times a day...and I went flying away one night...soaring through clouds of plot and character.

In the days following the dream I was, contrary to his orders, sitting at the computer a'pounding the keys trying to capture the dream. Strapped the heating pad around my housecoat, held it in place with a belt and knocked out 3,000 words the first few days. Baby, I was energized!!! Possesed!!!! Or, poked in the ass by a devlish muse. Whatever.... Plugged in the heating pad and kept working away ... It was often agonizing, then, more "C" and I soared far away into a writers heaven.

My son wandered through one morning, eyed the contraption on my waist, carefully traced the cord to the outlet and went screaming to his mother....

"Mom, Dads, plugged in!!!!!!!

Take care and follow my docs advice (Though I didn't!) "Go home, get horizontal and call me in 2 weeks. Only out of bed to pee and poop, nothing else."

Randall

Randall 5-19-2001 19:33

Hi. Sorry about the muddled post - that Robaxacet is quite something... la la la la la la

*giggle*

Heather (sheepish and back again) 5-19-2001 18:56

Banky, scroll down to yesterday's posts. There are some writer's block buster hints. If none of those things work, then I suggest you allow yourself the time off. Don't feel so badly that you haven't found the perfect idea for you next novel yet. You will. But those kind of things can't be forced.
Do something else you love in the meantime, and at least write something, no matter how crappy you think it might be. Write letters, in journals, switch to poetry or news reports. Do a column, even if it's not for publication.
The Writer's Notebook Short shortie night is a great break from our projects (or lack of projects). It's practice, it's a writer's 'block buster' itself, it's fun, it's a challenge, all rolled into one.
Short shortie night here is every Thursday.
I remember you posted once or twice quite a while back. Many people, including myself, have become more inspired just from stopping by this site every day.

Best of luck

and may your muse speak loudly and carry
a teeny tiny
Tazer gun, (low voltage).

Heather 5-19-2001 18:53

Hey peeps.

Its been a while since ive been around these parts so forgive me for being a little behind the times.

I gotta ask for some advice. I got me a bad case of writers block, had it bad for dang well close to three months. Ever since I finished my last novel Ive just totally dried up. Ive had many a suggestion and tried them all and nothing seems to be working. Im starting to worry that ive burned out. Im getting ideas but nothing I can seem to hold onto for long enough or stuff that just dont pan out too well. I can write the first chapeter or two of something, read it over and think its totally gangbusters, but then it all just falls apart.

Help me people, Im at the edge here and Im scared of falling.

Banky 5-19-2001 18:02

Heather, I'm sorry about your back. I understand how painful back injuries can be. My husband suffers from chronic back pain, and has in fact lost a couple of jobs because of it (we didn't have a doctor's note then like we do now so he wasn't protected by ADA) He's in pain a lot and we don't have the money to get him proper treatment. I've been lucky. I pulled a muscle in my back once while swimming, but that's been it. I did discover however from this experience that I'm allergic to Skalaxin. It made my back feel better, but I broke out in hives. I'm also allergic to codeine, so that's out. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

Melanie, my cat also wakes me early in the morning demanding attention. He will sleep on the bed until 5 am, then he wakes up and starts pestering me. He never pesters Allen. It's always me. Right now the little angel is sleeping on the bed with Allen. Our landlord was working on the outside of our trailor this morning and this had Night all uptight and demanding to go out. Now I guess he's worn himself out and needs to rest.

Sometimes my writer's block is not writer's block, but a total lack of enthusiasm for anything I'm working on, but then it turns into block because I get so frustrated.

SusanS 5-19-2001 14:17

Rachel! I hope YOUR back is doing fine now. I can't even bend over to pick things up from the floor... And if I had a wee baby, I'd have had to ask Wayne not to go in for overtime at work this morning too!
Lucky for me my kids picked up after themselves and helped me pick up things that I asked them to. (Wow, discipline at work here)
I'll try Robaxacet - have seen the commercials!
I've been taking Tylenol with 8mg codeine per tab, but that's what I have to take for the occasional headache (hey, they work almost instantly) and they do work well for back pain, but I don't like taking codeine. I have a headache that requires codeine and tylenol therapy maybe once a month or less. If I get a headache that would only require regular aspirin or acetominophen, I usually don't even bother! (That's if I even notice I've got one before it has nearly run its course)...
anyhow, that's about all the rambling I can handle.
I did get just under 900 words written last night, but I would have liked to keep on writing. The pain got too intense to concentrate, as it is right now.

I'll live! The only thing is we'd had so much yard work planned this weekend. I don't know how useful I'm going to be...:o(
I can still shop for the rest of my perennials for the new flower bed, but I'm just going to have to either have Wayne plant them for me, or wait a week. And I have to go in and clean the offices for the weekend. I don't know how I'm going to lug that vacuum around, or bend over to plug it in!
AKKK!

Rescue. Need rescue.

Heather 5-19-2001 13:24

Heather - You poor thing! I hurt my back last week and thought I would die (very sad face). Dan had to take a day off of work, because I couldn't lift Sebastian. Now is that pathetic or what? I also had never hurt my back this way before. I tried something called Robaxacet (extra strength) and the A535 thing. I hope that you recover quickly. You know that you are in pain, when you jump in the van and go to the store for pain medication in your PJ's. I was quite a sight. Me in my sleeping pants and old sweat shirt. Yup, I was lookin mighty fine...

I send you careful hugs.

Rachel

5-19-2001 12:11

Good luck with everything you need to cram into Saturday morning, Hallee!

I tried to get everything done yesterday so that my weekend would be - uh, relaxing? Well, now I have no choice. I tore a muscle in my back doing yard work.
I've never done this sort of thing before - I've torn my hamstrings before, and random muscles (mostly in my legs) but never have I hurt my back this badly. I am really hoping it's not also an injury to any bone. The area in question is about waist level, to the right of my spinal column. The WHOLE area. So I can sit here for a period of time, but if I get too relaxed I have a hell of a time getting out of the chair.
Who would have thought that cutting down underbrush and sawing off dead branches and things could have done that. It wasn't actually that strenuous an activity. Oh, Lord,
I really must be 30! It only gets better, doesn't it?

*Sigh*

Determined not to get depressed about it,

tests

trying

my

determination

oh, A535 and a hot water bottle

may lessen the

pain

but it's my mind that
won't shield

the yielding.

Hey, I still wrote about 900 words last night. On codeine.
So Christi, I've sent you the latest, including last night's work, but I may need to tighten up the very last two sections.

Heather :o/

Heather 5-19-2001 10:35

5-19-2001 10:25

Hey all. I'm feeling incredibly lazy today. It's already 9:00 and normally, my house is already clean by now on a Saturday. But I haven't even started (even last night's dishes...shame on me.) Oh well. Every-once-in-a-while I get this whole lazy weekend syndrome. I feel it in me today, but can't let it take over. I have to do a cake for a party this afternoon with this really complicated logo, church tomorrow, and Kaylee is singing in church tomorrow night, so time is not mine. Meaning, I have to get the house clean, laundry done, and grocery shopping completed before noon today, when I need to sit down and work on this cake.

And yet, here I am (hahaha).

MEL: I checked. It's 20 chapters.

That means only two chapters left to edit and I'm done with book number one!! Well, done with the first-through. I need to go back and incorporate a lot of the suggestions and ideas from the wonderful feedback I've gotten. Then I start book #2. (sigh) I WANT TO WRITE! hahaha

Okay, I'm getting off my rear and getting to the housework. I'd rather take a nap, though....

Hallee 5-19-2001 8:58

:o) Thanks!

H 5-19-2001 1:55

Evening everyone:-)

Hot in Texas today. MOS Saturday, and for the next 5 months or so. Would shag outta here if I could, but once you get the water of the Pecan Bayou in ye, it pulls you back. Speaking of Bayou. 25 years ago a deputy sheriff assured my friend and I, that either the sawed off shotgun we had been shooting floating beer cans with, or our beer soaked bodies were going in, jeans, boots, gimme caps, beer cooler and all. SPLASH! I guess the gun is still there. Just a random bit of info till I work up the nerve to get into a mode to comment on writers block.

Writers block....I'm tempted to play this one cute. But writers block can be as devestating a moniker to hang onto a writer as the dreaded "P" word. My writing desk is cluttered with research, web-site print outs, misc bric-a-brac, radio, cd player, cam-corder, lamp, a dozen books ranging from the World Book Encyp. (can't spell it!) to Nikki Tolstoys, THE SEARCH FOR MERLIN. Enhancements. When I assume the 1,000 yard stare, Tolstoy's research on Merlin comes to my hand. Like a crying baby to mothers arms.

I also have my stack of famous people's quotes, which gives me insight and inspiration. Snoopy is pretty good. "Life is full of rude awakenings." Hemmingway's, "Another round for the bar Manuel, then let's go fishing." Somewhere in the mess is the complete lyrics to America's THROUGH THE DESERT ON A HORSE WITH NO NAME...DANNY BOY...AND SUOGAN, the Welsh ballad so aptly used in the Ballard adaptation of his EMPIRE OF THE SUN. In the floor are .....well, enough of this.

What does this have to do with writers block Ace?

I'm getting there! :-)

I read when things slow down, not stop. And this is a constant source of frustration to my family. "DAD! What the heck are you doing in the bathroom!" We have 2, but my, and I mean MY bathroom is a veritable library, akin to the writing desk, magazines mostly. Every so often my wife heads toward it with a determined march, a large trash bag, but entry usually ends in her weeping and retreating in frustration. That, plus my prostrate body at her feet usually carries the day and I'm safe for a month or so...

Writers block, never had it. Quite the opposite. There are so many tales, misc bits of remembered information and random fragements of tales or articles read 30 years ago, the frustration is that I will never be able to write everything down. Impossible. Had a dream directly related to my ms the other night, and will make changes when possible. The rainbow tale will eventually find a niche as well. (Remember the Rainbow?) :-) I even dream stories, which has caused my wife many rude awakenings in the middle of the night.

"RANDALL, RANDALL wake up. Are you having a dream? Again?"

To reply to a rather rude e-mail received last night; I don't post formal writings related to current manuscripts on the WN. I need this site as stress relief, inspiration, and friendly chatter among like minded associates .... and do not feel the need to PROVE that I am a writer. There is one on here who knows, but I don't believe persons who post on the site are under any obligation to prove anything.

:-) And I am still your friend.

Work tomorrow, goodnight

Randall

Randall 5-18-2001 23:12

5-18-2001 21:29

5-18-2001 20:25

HEATHER -- Re: Heather McHugh's poetry (notice she's also a Heather)
I enjoyed the pieces more than the whole .. TINA, you know that gutter you spoke of? .. McHugh had a way of dropping memorable images, spending time with her was like being in a forest after a rain, I'd get hit with unexpected drops that made me wonder ..

Unlike the forest, though, there was no big picture; she had no cohesive core to make all the images into a personal statement.

I really had "Dangers." I don't any more. After I left Texas and Lamar U., I got a phone call from one of the guys on faculty to say I had forgotten a few books and "Dangers" was one. He said, "she signed it to you." I told him to donate it to the school library.

She was a babe. I *did* enjoy her body language. She *did* keep me at a distance. Considering it was 1977 and I had already peaked my substance abuse career, I'd say she made the right choice.

I have not read any of her later stuff, but judging from what they say at the poets.org web page, it looks like she has only gotten better.

One memorable image I keep is of a person waking up with no glasses on and peering about for something that would look like a small broken bicycle. The link here is to her poets.org page.

Mark Heather McHugh 5-18-2001 18:12

Wow. Thanks Mark & Howard. (Even though I inadvertently stuck Mark in the "potty" - sorry - I just write on the flow and don't pay attention to the names that come.) hahaha

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!
This has been a week of all weeks. Whew. Happy Friday all!

Hallee 5-18-2001 18:11

I have to agree with Mark -- The shorties are all excellent, but Hallee gets the gold plated "OH MY!"

howard 5-18-2001 14:39

HEATHER,

Great suggestions! Even if one of them does not work to relieve writer's block, I daresay they would still provide good fun.

Take care,

Rhoda

Rhoda 5-18-2001 13:49

**Mel**

WOW! From circular rainbows to auroras! :-) Howard, Tina, loved your aurora descriptions :-)

Howard - Arrowheads from dimes...still thinking... I do love those rebirth of the world stories! Hope Heiro comes today...

Heather - Your shorty: oh, the pain of it! :-) And thanks for the offer to read my ms. in future (will I be ready by June???!!!) I'll keep you in mind. :-) I'm starting to learn that keeping busy DOES stave off procrastination (YES!!) If it's staying busy with the "write" projects. :-) And your Block-buster tips are great - Thanks!! BTW, the nifty childhood arm bands: I had some purple velvety ones I made so I could transform into--tah dah! Hurricane Girl a/k/a Twister from the windy planet of Whiradane... I couldn't stop bullets either.

Hallee - Your shorty: tears, then, oh, I love happy endings! :-) Shorties sometimes do lead to story ideas, I'm discovering that, too. Yea, Mary! Yea, Jack! Thanks for the shorty-idea to keep us productive!

Susan - Doesn't your cat know Chamomile is supposed to relax him enough to sleep and stay out of trouble? Meanwhile, my cat keeps waking me BEFORE the alarm, just so he can get a petting! Felines!! Plot threads: yeah, easy to forget. I have to make a list of those things (usually before I start but added ones get added to the outline, when I remember!) I like your advice of one sentence at a time - sometimes it's all I CAN manage, but I try not to get frustrated by that.

Howard - Your shorty: ohh, giggles, tears, you got me all emotionally twisted! :-)

Allein: You won't miss your "wisdom" tooth. I have four and they don't help at all. And I'm NOT blonde!

Mark - Thanks. :-) And your shorty: another happy ending. :-)

Tina - Thanks. :-) And Good Block breaking tips! :-) I can send you Heiro's Journey, soon as I'm done with it...as soon as I get it! love that snail mail...(Howard, I SHOULD have driven over to get it!!) Tina, Your shorty: ooh, shivers! 5 years of luxury and then Death? How's that fair?? Poor girl.

Teekay - I can watch "Frequency" over and over - it's so fascinating!! :-) And no, SIGH, I'm not Peretti or Graham...haha an angel--no, no, I don't think so. Something published? hahahaha - oh I wish! :-) But if the "dollars, dollars, ev'rywhere" remark didn't help ya guess my last name (and it isn't Rumpelstiltskin, either), then I guess I'd better throw that old man into the sea. "Say farewell to your arms, old boy, your legs and fingers too! What? It's not my fault you're hearing bells. Are they tolling for you? Sheesh! The winner takes nothing! Well, what's true at first light is that the sun also rises..." Now go to the library and scan the H's...

Hop - Welcome back! :-) I'm looking forward to Psiforce...

Mary - Your shorty: hahaheeheehoheeha hoo boy! :-)

Y'all have a great day and a terrific weekend of writing, or partying at Jack's (you lucky ones!).

Melanie 5-18-2001 11:46

**howard**

SUSANS -- What do "Wild sex" and "Bedroom" have to do with one another? :-)

howard 5-18-2001 11:24

Rhoda, your letter to the Southwest Writers Conference got me thinking. It does seem like if you're a celebrity you can get published without trying, while those of us who have been writing for years struggle even to get published in small magazines. Celebrity autobiographies make the bestseller list while we toil in obscurity, and I think the publishing industry encourages this. They'd rather make millions off another tedious and sordid celebrity autobiography than take a chance on a decent piece of fiction by some unknown. It's very discouraging.

Interesting suggestions for breaking writer's block, especially the one about wild sex. I can just see myself going into the bedroom. "Allen I have writer's block. I need you to boff me."

SusanS 5-18-2001 10:49

Jack - Great, thank you. :) I'll see you tomorrow then.

Allein Allein's World 5-18-2001 10:26

**howard**

MARK - Have you ever read anything by Otis Adelbert Kline? While Burroughs was writing about Carter on Mars, he was writing about Carson on Venus. Great stuff - come to think of it, could Kline have been a pen name for Burroughs? Have to research that one.

TINA - Check with Mel - she could forward Heiro to you after she's done with him.

I still remember the first scifi book I ever read - "The Mists of Dawn" by Chad Oliver. It was one of those time travel things, and it got me hooked solid!

Great shorties, everyone!

howard 5-18-2001 9:09

**Mary**

Here is my extremely short short shortie on the Lottery. This, of course, is not what I would really do if I won. ;-)

I left the car running and bolted up the front steps two at a time and threw the door open shaking the newspaper. "Honey, Honey! Pack your bags, I won the lottery!"

"Oh my gosh," Jack threw his arms around my waist,"Sweetie, this is terrific! Well...should I pack for the ocean or the mountains or what?"

Laughing uncontrollably, spinning around the room,"I don't care where you go, just get the heck out!"

Mary 5-18-2001 9:07

**Before I forget to mention...*

DEBRA: Where are you, sweetie?

Mary 5-18-2001 8:40

Great shorties everyone, and yes, I will be adding mine soon. Been a bit busy to the point of overwhelmed the last couple days. Had company in from out of state, had those 'mock modem' problems, kittens out the wazoo, painting job, toddler spring colds, yada yada yada. I haven't even gotten a chance to start reading 'Symphony' yet, sorry Heather...doing it today and I can't wait to get going on it.

Back later. Have great days.

Mary 5-18-2001 8:39

Hello. Been away, busy. Hello to Melanie and Rachel who noticed I was missing. Assignments piled up but got it cleared today so I can catch up on what's happening. The stress has done my Psiforce guide some good. I've come up with some good ideas including two new main villains. Squid and Chameleon, I think their names really fit them. Their brothers, children of the creature and any guesses who's more powerful?

It's been cold and warm and cold and then freezing cold down here.

Remember my writing club? Well, the prototype's up at http://www.educk.co.nz//~kmcfarlane/wsproto/index.html

I didn't like Douglas Adam's later books. They became too desperate almost surreal.

Jerry
I believe that people will one day be able to mind-read etc. and I do believe it is happening now. The only thing is that when I type or talk about these abilities I don't have any material or hard evidence to go on. The only thing I have is what I'm writing which is sci-fi since I'm inventing it. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't seem too certain about how they work.

I know for a fact that the elements do not have anything to do with whatever mental powers one has because the elements are used as a focus. True power I believe does not come from rocks or fire or parts of your body. The reason why it seems easier is because it's easier to obtain the power if certain conditions are met like you're in a relaxing place or you don't have a migraine.

Heather
All this mystical stuff I take it seriously in the sense that I know there are sensible reasons behind the mysticism. If it works anyway. Who am I to doubt centuries of practical knowledge simply because its glazed over to sound awe-inspiring? Of course, if something supernatural happened to me I would be impressed but not awe-struck.

Tina
Tomato sauce and Tomato Ketchup has a different taste. The sauce is less salty and tastes more like tomatoes.

Rachel
Glad you like Hop.

Melanie
Psiforce should be in the mail although for some insane reason I can't mail anything larger than 20kb. Oh well. It'll arrive in drips and drapes. I hope.

My characters haven't learned to teleport yet. But the figure can fly.

SusanS
If you don't mind me saying this...they say time heals. Depends on who you're talking to, it sometimes does I sometimes doesn't. I know. Whatever anyone else says, time may not heal things (a rather Western idea if you ask me).

Heard you needed some help with writing villains. What about writing a villain who isn't evil, a very nice person but does evil because of a flaw? The person would be a classic tragic figure I believe. That way the reader will develop a like/dislike relationship with the character. On one hand the person is good but because of the situation has to do evil things.

Richard
Don't think about God and war too hard. I've yet to resolve that dilemma and my father's a pastor.
But here are the two sides of the argument in my head.
1) Society creates people- if you are born in a society which values evilness you will probably be evil.
You may say genes play a part, of course they do but society plays a big part as well.
2) If society makes you evil and you have no real choice but to be so to survive then you can not really be held absolutely accountable for your actions. Although you are accountable, you deserve mercy and compassion because of your ignorance.

3) Therefore slaughtering everyone in a city is bad even if in God's name.

OR
1) You are born evil and in sin.
2) It is up to you to fight that as within everyone is a conscience.
3) Doing anything else, even if you are forced to makes you sinful.
4) No matter society tells you, no matter how ignorant you are you are completely accountable if you make a choice.
5) Therefore your death is justified especially when you are judged by God.

OR
1) We had to kill all of them or they would have grown up and taken revenge (this is one of the reasons given by Scripture union)
2) They practiced abhourent things (another reason by SU) but I would like to point out that society reinforces this and while it may be wrong, people may be too fearful to stop it because they do not have the strength to. Would you if it meant suffering greatly?

I on the other hand believe that if you have to kill someone in self-defense then do it. War is ugly. I don't expect anyone to be held accountable except for those who willingly kill innocents. E.g. an officer who orders his men to slaughter everyone in the village children and women.

Lizzie
Hello. Is that east coast Australia or the US? I'm guessing the US.

Barnabas "Hop" 5-18-2001 5:22

*Tina*

Uh, fellow Canucks correct me if I'm wacked, but I think lottery winnings are tax free in Canada. Unless they get you some other way....

More Ways to Break Writer's Block

*Find a willing audience (spouse works well) and tell them a story. Verbally. It's hard, but it makes you think fast and your brain will appreciate how much easier it is to write things down on paper.

*Re-read your favourite scene in your favourite book/poem/short story.

*Try something artistic other than writing. Draw, paint, play music, do a craft, sew.

*Find an object you like - a favourite flower or fridge magnet or stuffed animal or rock - and write a short description of it, or its 'life story'.

*Edit someone elses work. Gives you great insights into your own.

*Rock a baby to sleep, singing a lullaby.

*Star gaze (okay I'm partial to this one)

*Make some whipped cream and dip fresh strawberries in it. Share it with someone special.

*Before you go to sleep at night, repeat out loud, 'tonight I will dream about my story'. Repeat this at least 20 times, out loud. You may not dream about your current project, but I bet you come up with good ideas!

And that's exactly what I'm gonna go do...
TTFN

Tina 5-18-2001 2:12

I keep coming back after posting and finding MORE posts!

Great second shortie, Jerry. Liked the first one, too. Though I'd hate to think that the Gov't would take three quarters of the winnings! They don't take THAT much, do they? At least they don't in Canada. They take about one quarter.

Heather 5-18-2001 0:28

Tina - loved your shortie! Now that's not a lottery I'd be happy to win...

Heather 5-18-2001 0:25

Ok, so I put my shorty up a day early, now I feel bad because it is so far down the page from the rest of GREAT shortys. Ah what the heck, I wrote another, this is based on the only lottery I ever did win, if you can call it winning.

Oh, thanks for the fine comments on my previous lottery piece.

The Lottery II
By Jerry Ericsson

“It’s here.”

“Let me have it then.”

“Funny, I knew it would be here soon, but somehow, I thought maybe, it would get lost in the mail, but here it is.”

He took the letter, and turned it in his hands, first reading the front, then the back, then the front again.

“U.S. Lottery Service, that’s what they call it now.”

“Open it!”

“I don’t think I have the strength left in my hands to tear it open, look how they are shaking.”

“Let me then!” she said, tearing the envelope from his hands.

“Oh my God!” she said, and fell into the kitchen chair that was behind her. She let the letter drop to the floor.

“That bad? Belle, how bad!”

“Three, a God damn three, how could your birthday come up three? Why not fifty-three, or three hundred like Bob’s?” she sobbed.

“Well that’s it then, a God Damn three. Shit, I might as well pack up my bags, the next letter will be my alert, then it’s off to the Army, and Vietnam!”

There was nothing else to say.

Jerry 5-18-2001 0:24

Allein: Whatever is comfortable. NWSFS Socials are anything but formal affairs. Jeans are just fine.

Jack Beslanwitch http://www.webwitch.com/tdforum/May%20Social5-18-2001 0:19

Teekay! Just posted and returned to find your post... I'd love to read it when you're ready. As I mentioned before, I'm totally swamped, but I love it!
Basically, if someone wants me to read a book length ms, it'll be the end of June before I will be able to spend the time reading it that a ms of that length deserves.
If it's a shortie or a few chapters, I will set aside the time on the weekend or when my son is with his beloved lego... or after I've finished my writing - just so long as I'm still able to concentrate.

I guess I'm saying the end of June for ms length reads because I've already got three that I'm editing... plus writing and editing my own.
But I love to be this busy. If I weren't I'd be procrastinating!

More Writer's Block Busters:

4. Pick up your manuscript (if it's in printed/handwritten form) or pull it up on the computer screen. Find the third or fourth to last page and start reading it from there. By the time you get those three or four last pages read, you will probably know what you want to write next, and will be salivating to get it down!

5. Here's a Hemingway W.block buster - VERY paraphrased: Leave the last sentence you are going to write for the day unfinished. That way when you go back the next day to write, you'll want desperately to finish that sentence. With luck you'll just keep on going.

6. If you feel you need to beef up a character desciption and just can't seem to think of anything, (or when you go to describe him/her, you find Scooby Doo in your head instead) try People Magazine (or something similar) Look for an actor or actress that you think would best portray this character. Describe that actor/actress as a warm up, or use some of the descriptions 'as is'.
You may also feel your block melting away just from this exercise.

7. If you type directly into the computer, try handwriting a scene on paper with your favourite pen. And vice versa.

8. Buy those word magnets (where there are a pile of words, each a separate magnet) and arrange them into a poem or a sentence for your work on the fridge. Make sure it's high enough up so your kids don't mess with it!

9. Take out your photo albums. Close your eyes. Point to a person in the pages somewhere. Write that person a short letter, even if that person has passed away; or even if you point to a picture of yourself. Mail it. (Unless of course, they are deceased, or it's to yourself... just because you have writer's block doesn't mean you're a moron)
Then go to your workspace and keep on writing.

10. Talk about your project with a friend, spouse, child, neighbour, anyone. Sometimes just talking about your project will renew your enthusiasm.

11. Make up a list of things to smash writer's block, just like this one!

12. Whatever you do, do NOT quit writing. Just take a little vacation if the above hints don't do it for you.

13. Sit down at the computer desk (or your writing desk) and have someone tie your hands behind your back. Just be sure they're not going to go off to work and forget that you're bound... You'll have tons of ideas just because you can't reach the keys/pen/rope. As soon as you start getting ideas, have the person untie you and get to it.

WARNING: Do NOT ask someone who likes to play practical jokes to tie you up. You may not be untied for hours.
WARNING #2: Do NOT ask your spouse to tie you up if you can help it - you might end up not writing because you're having wild sex in your chair.

14. Have wild sex. Who says we have to be writing 24/7?

Heather 5-18-2001 0:18

The Lottery

“But momma, I didn’t even want to be IN the lottery!”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re thirteen. Your hair is red, your eyes brown. Such a beautiful child… I’ve always known you’d be in the lottery.” My mother stoically kept her voice even and detached while she brushed my hair and started working it into long braids. “Every girl wants to be in your position, selected to live in luxury and pampered, never needing to work or worry again.”

“But momma! I want to go to school and learn about babies and help woman have children! I want to be a midwife and be useful and….”

“Now you have to stop crying! The Great One won’t like you if you’re crying, and if he doesn’t like you he’ll be upset, and if he’s upset we will all pay for it.” Finished with the braiding, my mother shook out the white dress made of a material softer than any I’d ever touched before. “Just think, all of your clothes will be made of such cloth! And your hair will smell of flowers, and you can do anything you want.”

“Except go to school! Or see you! They can’t make me go if I don’t want to.”

My mother spun me around, her callused hands on my trembling shoulders. I was shocked to see tears on her cheeks and loss in her eyes. Her words had been so firmly resolved!

“My sweetling, they will take you by force if they must. The lottery is drawn only once every five years, and the Great One will not wait another day. But it won’t be so bad. Here, you would have to work every day, in the fields or at the looms or in the kitchens. There you can do as you want every day, and never work until your calluses bleed and feet ache.”

“But momma, I’d choose to be here, with you, growing old while working in the fields, instead of being a queen for five years.”

“And I’d rather you stay, sweetling. But fate and the lottery chose you, and your duty now is to please the Great One and protect us all from his wrath by keeping him satisfied.”

I hugged her then, as tight as I could with my young arms. “Oh momma, I’ll please him, I really will! Anything to keep you safe. And in five years, before the next lottery, I’ll try and come see you, just one last time. I just have to see you again before I die.”

Tina 5-18-2001 0:03

Oh, sorry Hallee - the wonder wench thing was something I used to kid about in highschool... Wonder Wench has these nifty arm bands that squirt vinegar. I don't think they stop bullets, though. ;o)

Heather 5-17-2001 23:49

Mark - thank you! Wow. What a compliment... *shock sinking in, displacing awe somewhat so that awe now floats on the top*

By the way, I was wondering if you actually enjoyed that woman's poetry, or perhaps just her body language!
Heh heh heh

Loved all the shorties so far!
This is a very successful shortie night! Mary - are you going to write one as well?

Hallee - if you read the last line or two of my shortie you'll find out. (Though I'm not a 'wonder wench' - all the years of trying have partially paid off - I guess I could have been more cruel with the ending...)

Randall - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was rolling on the floor laughing with that one... have shovel, will travel.

Heather 5-17-2001 23:47

Hi All,

RHODA: I loved those photos. Absolutely beautiful. One day, when I'm rich I'm going to go to th U.K.

MEL: Saw frequency and loved it. I think that's where I first got the urge to see A.B.

TAYLOR: Been there. Like about 100 times. Thankfully it passes.

HOWARD: There's the Southern lights AKA Aurora Australis?, but I think you need to be in space to see them.
I loved Midworld and I particulary loved Born - see I even remembered his name. The world building was excellent. I could really see it in my minds eye.

Haven't been to the library yet to check out those authors, but shall be getting there today.
What would make them any wiser on the subject anyway??? Curioser and curioser.

MEL: Your little secret isn't that you're Frank Peretti or Billy Graham is it? Or perhaps an Angel?
I bet you've had something published coz you know about time maps. Am I right? Am I?Am I? Huh?

HEATHER: Oh my goodness. What a spectacularly unexpected ending. Fantastic!
Also thanks for the offer I may very well take you up on it. I haven't actually tried planning it out yet.
At the moment it's still fluffing around in my head like this big awesome tangled ball of wool.
It's really strange, on the nights I write, I feel incredibly elated and then, say I miss a day I feel as though I've accomplished nothing. Sucky feeling.

MEL: I read your shorty and am wondering if you are an old man with broken shoes and a nicotene addiction? Am I right? Am I? Am I? huh?

ALLEIN: HAHAHAHHAHA good one - about being blonde and wisdom teeth I mean.

Can't really concentrate on a shorty, my head is too mucked up with thinking about interweaving storylines.
It's a jolly good excuse and has the added benefit of being true.

Teekay 5-17-2001 23:41

*Tina*
Heyo!

Great Shortie night! Having fun reading them, hopefully my muse will arrive in full force and I’ll contribute too.

Heather, have you been consulting with Jerry? That’s the kind of twist I expect from him!
Mel and Hallee and Howard and Mark and Jerry, good stuff!

Mark, pull your mind out of that gutter! But really, I’d be hard pressed to choose between good chocolate, good astronomy and good lovin’! (That doesn’t include great lovin’) :-D

SusanS, I’ll send strong thoughts your way, in hopes that your friend will somehow understand what a good friend he has in you, if only he lets himself see.

Howard, now I’m wanting to read that book, ‘Heiro’s Journey’. I’ll have to see if the library has it, add it to my list of requests!

I won’t get a shortie written by sitting here typing this post! Time to go….

(Debra, Gariess, Laura, Trudy, Sasquatch, Viv, thinking about ya’!)

Tina 5-17-2001 23:21

HOWARD -- Keeping the winnings away from the daughter? oooohh There's a story in there.

HALLEE -- You get my vote this week.

MEL -- Neat twist.

HEATHER --You sure can write.

TINA -- Jupiter and Saturn were up ... there was a massive ejection ... it took your breath away. Uh, are you getting everything you need at home?
What? What do you mean "What I'M seeing"?
Oh.
OK.
Nevermind.

TEEKAY -- Yup, been a sci-fi fan for years and years. Read Edgar Rice Burroughs and Ray Bradbury and Andre Norton before I was a teenager. Whether it was Tarzan's jungle or John Carter's Mars, Burroughs knew how to construct a world.

ALL -- I remember hearing "Don't pray for money." Can't remember why that is. Anyone have a handle on it?

IF I WON THE LOTTERY

Man, I hate this. I never believed it would happen to me. Not really. Here's the freakin' ticket, there's the freakin' numbers. I got 'em.

Shit. Now do I tell her or do I just go out for the bread and milk? Jeez this'd be easier if she was wholly nice or wholly a bitch. How many times have I told myself I'd just get in the car and drive South? I can really do it.

Man, I just don't know. It's that damn way she criticizes me. Before I get all the tools in place, she'll tell me I'm doing it wrong. "Hey, I haven't even started! Tell me it's wrong after you can see what it is!"

ffffffffffffff Ah phooey. She's never talked about splittin'. That's always been me. Things ain't been any easier on her, and she just keeps workin'.

"Hey, babe. Ya got a minute?"

Mark 5-17-2001 22:48

We're in the money! We're in the money! :) Great shorties everyone! :)

Tomorrow is my last day of classes and then I start my externship. :)

Monday I get my wisdom tooth pulled (I only have one) - I'm blonde, I don't need it anyway.

Jack - One last question: are jeans proper attire for the social? I'm not sure what to wear. :) I can't wait to meet you and Fran. :)

Allein Allein's World 5-17-2001 22:30

What a great shortie's night.

HEATHER,

Thank you for the tips on writer's block. I mean to try them, for I haven't been able to write anything since I returned from my trip. I thought I would return full of inspriation, but that hasn't been the case so far. I have worked so hard doing housework, laundry and getting my kids through the last couple of week's of school. Loved your shortie, by the way. Poor Joleen.

I love all the shorties.

Happy writing,

Rhoda 5-17-2001 22:18

To Susan of the Southwest Writers Workshop Conference,

I enjoyed the conference I attended four or five years ago when Nancy Taylor Rosenburg was your keynote speaker. I wish I could have been to more of them, but why did you have Lorna Luft as keynote speaker last year after she had written only one book? Out of all the great authors who would have been thrilled to be your keynote speaker, why her? I told my husband, and he didn't know who she was until I explained she was Judy Garland's daughter and Liza Minelli's kid sister. Lorna sings beautifully and is no doubt very talented. Maybe she even gave a good talk, but most people do not know her for a writer. First our politics goes Hollywood and now the literary arts. No doubt you all had your reasons, but the message that choice communicated was not positive to me. It only served to reinforce the idea that by being a celebrity you can bypass many of the struggles of publication, not that life is fair or should be. It just touched a little pet peeve of mine and diminished your noble organization a little in my eyes.

Actually this year's conference seems much better.

Good luck,

Rhoda

Rhoda 5-17-2001 21:44

Wrot this earlier, but kept getting INTERNAL SERVER ERRORS when I tried to post. Maybe it'sll go okay now?
-
Awakening

"Honey? Honey - look!"

"What? What's wrong?"

"Look at this!"

"What is it? Why are you shaking?"

"Read this number!"

"Which one, the Lotto?"

"Yes, read it!"

"Six, Ten, Sixteen, Seventeen, Twenty-five, and Twenty-six. Why?
You're not telling me..."

"Yes! Look at the ticket!"

"Oh my. Oh my! I never thought..."

"Me either, but it's right there!"

"You better sit down before you fall down! Now what do we do?"

"I dunno, but we gotta think about it real good. Who can we tell?"

"Oh my - just don't tell MaryAnn - she'll have it all spent before
we know it!"

"Yeah, right, and Carl and Eddie too!"

“But they’re your golfing buddies!

“We’ll have to move away from here, to where nobody knows us.”

“And leave our friends? Shirley and Joe too? You’re supposed to go fishing with Joe next month!”

"Honey, what'll we do? I never thought we'd ever have so much money!"

"Me either! But now we can go on that cruise! And get the Mercedes, and…"

“And your trip to Ireland!”

"Yeah, but what about your mom? Nobody else will visit her, and you
know how lonely she gets in the nursing home."

"I know - gotta think. This can’t be happening! Oh crap! - Who's at the door? Don't let 'em in!"

"But honey, it's Missy!"

"I don't care, don't let her in! She'll know something's up and sniff
around until she finds out, and this is OURS!"

"Honey, please - she's our daughter, for God's sake!"

"Oh God! What am I saying!? Let her in!"

"Hi mom! Hi dad! Whatcha doin’, dad? What’s that I smell burning?"

"Hi honey, oh nothing, just something we didn't really need..."

howard 5-17-2001 20:48

Evening all!

Nearly TGIF!

Yes Mark, :-) I'm the guy who likes to quote "Papa." I think his mastery of understatement in writing is without peer. And I especially like the way he pulled Faulkner's tail! I like quotes from famous and infamous people and have several favorite sites on the Web of Authority. Along that line, my favorite comes from Theodore Roosevelt via John F. Kennedy.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena--whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions -- and spends himself in a worthy cause -- who at best if he wins knows the thrills of high achievement -- and if he fails at least fails while daring greatly -- so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt said this in his "Citizenship in a Republic" address in Paris, France on April 23, 1910.

President Kennedy, the last democratic president we had truly worthy of the office, used this quote in his remarks at the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Banquet on December 5, 1961.

Like the lottery tales.

Ah, Heather. Would you be a little more specific of the grave site of the individual who was buried with the winning ticket? Have shovel, will travel.

R

Randall 5-17-2001 20:40

HEATHER: You wench! Hahahaha...did she win or not? huh? huh?

MEL: Hahahaha. And good (short (grin)) shorty.

JERRY: Ah, but that it could happen to you one day! (Hug) Your dialogue is getting a lot better (not that it was bad before...it just flows a lot smoother lately).

ALL: Sorry about the mistakes in the shorty. It was 5:05, I typed it really quick into the box without even knowing what it was going to be about, and pressed "enter". I didn't even read through it first. BUT, boy do I have a novel developed out of that one. (Down, muse, down...editing will be done in several months and you can come back to life again...go play with TAYLOR).

Time to get the chicken out of the oven. Man, quarter 'til eight again. I have got to restructure my evenings now that we live further away from my office and Kaylee's school. My round trip drive home time has increased by 40 minutes.

Hallee 5-17-2001 19:44

And a little joke in honor of the occasion...

Saul was a man of God. He followed the Lord's will in every facet of his life. Yet he remained a poor man. Finally, he knelt in prayer and with anguish lifted his voice to his Maker.

"Lord," he sobbed, "I know all things will happen as You will it, in Your time. And I've done all in my power to be a good servant to You. I know you're proud of me. Yet still I haven't won the lottery. I just need to know why, Lord?"

A golden glow enwrapped him as a deep, heavenly voice replied, "Saul, Saul, first you've got to buy a ticket."

:-)

Mel 5-17-2001 18:43

I just caught the cat trying to drink my Chamomille tea. Then he tried to knock the cup off the table. It's never a dull moment with that animal.

I meant to say before the cat rudely interrupted me, that I have trouble sometimes weaving all the threads of a plot together into a coherent whole, especially when I'm writing a novel. Sometimes I'll forget certain plot threads that I started in an earlier chapter.

That nap did me some good. I wrote a couple of pages on my novel today. Sometimes I think you just have to make yourself write one sentence at a time and not worry about what you're going to do with the next chapter.

SusanS 5-17-2001 17:59

~~Hallee's Shorty~~

It seemed impossible. Beyond impossible. Good things just didn't happen to her.

She checked one more time. The torn piece of newspaper was still on the floor where it had fallen from her numb fingertips. But the ticket was there, still clenched in her left hand.

She had been busy lining the shelves. The canning for the year was done, and she always took the opportunity of the jars sitting on the scarred countertops to replace the lining on the shelves. In all honesty, she'd forgotten she bought the ticket. She had loose change in her pocket she found in Billy's pants pockets from doing the laundry, and though she knew she shouldn't steal from her husband, it counted out to just over a dollar.

That was three weeks ago.

The paper was dated the Sunday after she bought the ticket. She scooped and snatched the piece of paper off the torn linoleum, carefully checking the numbers one at a time.

Holy cow.

"Mamma, why you crying?"

Darien. She whipped her head up and looked into the blue eyes of her oldest child. Nearly six years old but she already had old eyes. She bent and held her arms out. The tears flowed harder when she felt how gingerly Darien hugged her, knowing without being told that her ribs were sore from Billy's boots last night.

"I'm happy, baby." Suddenly, it all hit her and she squeezed her daughter tighter, ignoring the wincing pain of her ribs, ignoring the dull throb of the bruise on her cheek when she rested it on top of her daughter's head. "I'm so happy."

Her eyes caught the clock on the wall. She had an hour. One hour.

"Come on, baby. Where are your brothers?"

"Jacob's still sleepin'. Mark's in the potty."

She stood and carefully put the ticket in the front pocket of her worn jeans. "Okay." She spun in a circle. The old appliances in the even older kitchen stared back at her. She couldn't even get them to shine anymore, they were so tired out. "Okay." She grabbed Darien's hand and pulled her into the living room. "Listen to Mamma. Do you know where daddy keeps his money?"

Darien's eyes grew wide. "I've never touched it. I promise!"

She needed travelling money. If she was going to get to Tallahassee, it was a long way. Billy's family couldn't be trusted, and she had none of her own. "No, honey, I'm not accusing. I need you to go get it for me. Run, baby, hurry. We don't have time to waste."

Moving quickly now, she gathered her purse, the diaper bag, some extra diapers and formula, and told the kids to leave everything else. Jacob wasn't happy about being woken up, but she could handle fussy.

Hell. She could handle anything.

She stood there in the dirt of her front yard, holding Mark in one arm and Jacob's hand with the other. She stared at the dilipated house, the sagging porch, the broken swingset. Billy taunted her for years about her lack of education, her lack of skills, her lack of ever being able to get away from him because she was nothing who had nothing. Well, now she had two hundred and thirty-six dollars in her right pocket, and a winning lottery ticket worth thirty million in her left.

"Come on, kids."

"Where we going, mamma?"

She grinned as she walked down the dirt lane. "Wherever we want to, Darien. Wherever we want to."

Hallee 5-17-2001 17:22

SouthWest Writers 19th Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, Sept. 20-23. Nationally known, nationally respected. Meet agents, editors, published and beginning writers. Hear Catherine Ryan Hyde, Terry Brooks, John Nance, and special guest Alice Walker. Don’t miss this opportunity to hone your craft, learn and network.

Sue Rosenberg SouthWest Writers 5-17-2001 16:05

$$MEL$$

Okay, here's my shortie - and I mean short! (I hope)

MONEY TO BURN

"Hello? Yes, I'm calling to learn if your children's agency needs any additional funding, as I've just won the LAST INTERNATIONAL LOTTO and--oh? Not even a swingset or a few textbooks? Oh...well, good. Have a nice day."

I dialed the next number. "Hello, I wondered if your Senior Complex could use some new furniture or BINGO prizes, as I've just won the LAST LOTTO--uh, hello?" Hmm, guess not.

I tried another number. "Hi! I have an enormous monetary donation to make to your university, as it was my alma mater and I've just won--Well, yes, I know universities no longer charge tuition but I thought maybe you might need new lounge chairs or some swimming pools--Oh, I see. Well, glad to know your memorial funds are no longer needed."

Frustrated, I glanced at the clock. Nearly dinnertime! Spending the entire week calling all over creation was not my idea of a vacation! I threw on a coat, grabbed my knapsack of money and headed downtown.

The streets were quiet; with no longer any need to work for their livings, people had gone home early. Who would have thought that the upheaval of the entire economic system would result in such a peaceful setting? Everyone had what they wanted; people traded services to fill their needs, no more hussling to earn a day's wages.

I scuffed my toe along the sidewalk, feeling the burden of my pack. Suddenly, I sensed the nearness of another presence. I turned toward the alley between the office buildings and noticed an old man sitting against one wall, stretching his legs. Even the homeless all had homes, at least those that wanted them. A few preferred contentment with familiar surroundings and old habits.

I hurried over to the man, noting the holes in his shirt and pants, the shoes long separated from their soles. "Hi!" I said, glad he wasn't napping.

He gazed up at me with tired eyes, a shiver coursing through his limbs as the chill evening wind bit deep.

"I--um, wonder if you need any money for anything, a coat maybe or a few blankets, new shoes..." I set my knapsack before him and opened it wide.

He glanced in the bag, pulled a cigarette from a tattered pocket, blinked at me and said, "Nope. All I need is a match."

I fished last night's bar matchbook from my rear jeans pocket and handed it to him. He took it, scratched it ablaze from the pavement and lit his smoke. Then, he tossed the flaming match into the knapsack.

With a chuckle, he viewed my surprise and chanted, "Dollars, dollars ev'rywhere and nary a cent to spend..."

Melanie 5-17-2001 15:52

Teekay - I know exactly what you mean by having to weave all the events (carefully timed) together so that all the characters end up in the right place at the correct time for the climax (ohhh, sounds X-rated... heh heh)!
DO let me know if you need a hand with it - I've been practicing!!!
Sometimes it's a matter of following one thread through at a time - reading your ms JUST following ONE character through the book (or just a bit ahead of the climax). Then read for another character. I know it sounds like a lot of reading but by the time you've read through three or so, you'll have everything ironed out and you'll know exactly how to get everyone to where they're supposed to be.

Sometimes it also helps to have a READER - HINT HINT!

Christi - yes, girlie! I'll send you my latest on Symphony - and I'll include the scenes I had to work on from last time, but nothing from the beginning since it hasn't changed much. I did fix every last one of the little teensy spots that needed a word change or two. Everything else has stayed exactly as it was. Now that makes me ecstatic! No more going back to change things - it's polished enough. Everything meshes. Everything that's there is necessary to the story.

(Yes - MEL by the way - I would love to read your ms too but right now I'm swamped! By the end of June I should be ready to read it and give you a crit or edit it for you... IF YOU LIKE - let me know and then I'll let you know) :o}

Tina! yes, if you want me to take a peek at your P** story, just email it to me and I'll read it just as soon as I can.
:o)

Americo - please post your steel river story into P** won't you? ((((BIG HUGS TO YOU))))))

SusanS - (((((BIG HUGS TO YOU, TOO))))) I think many of us have had friendships that have dissolved in similar ways, and the pain does let up a bit... eventually. Hang in there.

My best friend died, so there's not much I can do when I want to spend time with her. We used to do so much together - (Tina, it's a strange parallel...) I taught her how to make Ukranian eggs! She kept the one I made her for years in her little miniature cabinet. She taught me how to make swirly eggs by wrapping the egg tightly with pantyhose, and I still, to this day, have a piece of one of those swirly eggs in MY miniature shelf. Actually, that miniature shelf is now in my daughter's room, and she treasures it as I did. Most of the things in it are mine from childhood.
Liz and I taught each other all sorts of things. She taught me determination and a positive attitude, most of all. She'd have gruelling open-heart surgeries, and even when the doctors feared she'd be in ICU for weeks (or die on the table), she was out and home in record time. Even made it onto the news, she did! We grew apart a bit when I moved away, and it pains me that I didn't put more effort into visiting her. I did what I could but I was so busy... but that is still a lame excuse. I should have called her more often.
Anyhow, SusanS, take heart. Though he may not want to be friends again, there is something to be said for memories and those special treasures we call 'lessons'. We learn a lot from friends, and even from the dissolution of friendship. Pain is a teacher, though most of the time that teacher isn't welcome!

Okay. So Jerry and I are really early with shorties. Hey, do I really want that early worm? Yuck.

Mel - Oh, I'm not always without the dreaded blockade. I too, have my days of no writing. I rarely, however, go a day without an IDEA. That's very important. I have a little notepad and pen on my nightstand (for that matter, I have notepads and pens in strategic places all over the house, in the car, in my purse, at work even...) just in case I get an idea or even just a phrase that I may use later in dialogue.

Here are a few ways to PLOW through writer's block - mind you, friends, this list has just been concocted!
Apologies if you've heard any of these before:

1. Shove your favourite movie into that VCR and take notes on how it was written, plot twists, character quirks, and theme. How are the scenes arranged? What keeps the story from getting boring? Why is the protagonist endearing? How do the secondary characters help make the protagonist shine?

2. Go out and do something opposite to writing: jog, walk, swim, feed squirrels in the park. Don't even read street signs. In fact, pretend you are allergic to reading.

3. Uh, sorry. I think I have a block! Ha ha ha ha ha

Heather 5-17-2001 15:51

When Your Numbers Come Up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Heather Myles

It wasn't something she did every week. Heck, last time I remember her buying anything so frivolous was a tube of mascara in 1985. But it was like something struck her, she told me that night, and she got a funny tingle walking by the lottery counter at the grocery store.

She picked the numbers from the family's birthdays, and felt her heart racing when they printed up the ticket and she paid the clerk her last hard-earned dollar.

That night after supper she sat in front of the television as if she were stone, waiting over an hour and a half for the lottery numbers to be announced, the ticket carefully pinched between her forefinger and thumb. I could tell she didn't want to wrinkle the ticket by the way she held it - but the skin of her fingers went white with the pressure.

I had never seen my wife sit that long without moving. She didn't sigh, didn't even wiggle her toes into the remaining fibres of our threadbare carpet. She just sat there, like a statue, her eyes staring straight at the TV.

Finally the news came to a close and the lottery announcer came on. I left the room, wondering how I was going to console her when she didn't win. That dollar could have bought us a packet of balogna or a bottle of that no-name shampoo.

I heard the announcer read off the numbers, but I couldn't hear what he said from where I was standing.

Suddenly I heard Joleen give a hearty gasp and a loud 'whooop!' from the livingroom. My skin just set to prickles and I ran in. She was standing there, shaking, her hand squeezing that ticket like it was a parachute's rip cord and she'd just dropped out of a jet.
Her eyes were bugged out real glossy and round, and never in my life had I seen that expression on her face.

I stepped a little closer. "Did you win?" I asked, hesitating. Her face looked really strange. "Joleen? Are you alright, pumpkin?"

She never said a word, just looked at me with those big bulgy eyes. And then she dropped, just like a lead pipe, hitting the floor with damn near a thunder clap.

"Joleen! Joleen, baby, talk to me!"
I rolled her over, thinking that she'd fainted. But the look on her face was stuck there. Stuck there until the guy down at Bodine's Funeral Home managed to push her face back the way it should have been.

I hate tellin' this story, 'cause so many folks look at me like I'm the biggest damn fool they ever heard of.
You see, I couldn't bear to have all that money if Joleen wasn't there to enjoy it with me, so I buried that ticket with her.

Heather 5-17-2001 15:01

Hi Everyone!

Mel, thankyou for understanding as always. And Tina, thankyou for sharing your experience with me. Sometimes I feel so alone. Then I'm reminded that others have been through similar experiences and that helps a little. I do have very good memories of Logan. I remember sparkling blue eyes, a mischievous smile, and a very naughty sense of humor. I remember an imaginative, artistic person sharing ideas with me. His drawings are still lying about the house. I cherish those drawings. Right now they're all I have left of him. I pray for him at night, because I know he's a very troubled, unhappy person, and only God can help him now. Thank you again for your understanding. I'm thankful I have Allen and the cat to comfort me. (Night may be a little devil, but he's a sweet little devil.)

I'm debating with myself whether to write now, or take a nap and write later. I've been up since 4 am and I'm tired. Maybe I'll write in bed like Mark Twain used to do.

SusanS 5-17-2001 14:17

Sorry - that was supposed to read: "Sterling Lanier used that 5000 years...

howard 5-17-2001 12:23

**howard**

Hmm - That was interesting!

TINA - Aurora Australis - Thanks! I knew I wasn't imaginating it! :-)

TEEKAY - What did you think of "Midworld?" That was, I thought, an excellent example of "world-building," as was "Heiro's Journey."

Actually, "HJ" is more of a "world RE-building," as it takes place right here in beautiful downtown Canada and the US of A, but 5000 years after "the death" (nuclear war). Come to think of it, the most advanced civilisation at that time turns out to be the Catholic Church (in a greatly evolved version) back in the "Kandan Provinces," and Per Heiro Desteen is a Warrior Priest of the mixed Indian and French Canadian peoples. Sterling Lanier used that 500 years, with all the nuclear and biological poisons in it, to change things considerably. It's another of my favorites.

NOW -- going back a couple of decades, I've been trying to recall the name and author of another "end of civilisation" scifi book. About all I recall of it is that at the end of it the kids are making arrowheads out of dimes. Can anyone help me out with the title?

thanks

howard 5-17-2001 12:19

**howard**

howard 5-17-2001 11:59

Teekay - You love me... Well of course you do! I'm adorable (grin/winks and laughter).

Mark - I'm around ;o) I've been doing some work on incompleted, or shorties in need of re-writes/edits. Also been organizing my writing. Looking at/working on a couple of novels that I have going. Thanks for asking.

5-17-2001 11:59

*Tina*

Hello all!

Hallee, you be careful! That's too many near misses!

Teekay, at least once you must find your way to a sub-polar spot to see the aurora, (aurora australis in the southern hemisphere, aurora borealis in the north). I don't live very north, but several times a year we get a display of aurora. Occasionally it's the kind of thing that simply steals your breath away and keeps you gazing for hours. We had one of those last October, in conjunction with a massive solar ejection, and I spent hours outside on my porch, at one in the morning, wrapped in a quilt. Jupiter and Saturn were up, as well, and they shone through the silken curtain of red and green and white. It was like standing under a perfectly clear sky holding a clear umbrella, while a ghostly hand poured coloured paints over the umbrella, the lights just flowed and ebbed and danced. There was another such display this spring, but we were clouded in for that one.
If you get close enough to the arctic, the aurora not only dance in mesmerising colours, they sing, too.

Last night I worked on my story for **P**. Hope there's no word limit! It's getting a touch longer than I intended.
Heather, are you still available for a quick edit before I post it in the workbook? It's not quite done, but I'd love to send you the first bit, get your thoughts on it.

Time to go walk my dog. Be well!

Tina 5-17-2001 10:48

TEEKAY - I thought there was a southern aurora as well - perhaps you're too far north of the pole to see it. I remember the last real bright display here was awesome! I actually took a newspaper out and read it by the light of the "Northern Lights!" Shimmering, rippling curtains of yellow, pink, green, and some colors that you only can imagine - they can't be real! We see them here on rare occasions, during particularly active solar storms, but the farther north we go, the more common the displays become.

Sure enough, here at work the ENTER box is at the right side at the bottom of the entry panel.

howard 5-17-2001 10:10

****TAYLOR****

Hallee: When I do recover it will probably be with a vengence...HA HA

Rhoda: Loved the pics of that old castle and lobby thing, cant remember it off bat or something...I'm going to keep one pic in mind in particular

taylor 5-17-2001 9:21

MEL: I think (it's been a couple of years, so I'm not entirely sure) that there are 22 chapters. I don't really remember. I'm looking forward to your critique. :)

SUSAN: I'm so sorry. ((Hugs))

TINA: I have an almost identical story. It's so sad.

Back to work!

Hallee 5-17-2001 8:59

TAYLOR: I think Heather has some goop you pour on your brain to loosen writer's block. She never seems to have any troubles in that arena!!! :-) Wishing you a speedy recovery (try reading some poetry or glancing at beautiful pics, like Rhoda's trip photos!) The words will flow when they're ready - may they be ready for you soon!

Mel 5-17-2001 8:47

^^MEL^^

Hi, All! :-) Ah, the clouds return - that means the lovely day is somewhere out there for one or more of you, at last. (I was starting to feel hoggish.)

RANDALL: I like your rainbow brain game. :-) Especially the Rainbow People - let's hear more! (Maybe in a shortie?? How DO they put that gold under the rainbow, anyway, if the dang thing is circular?!)

HEATHER: Thanks for all your efforts in advancing Muse Assoc. productivity. :-) A plaque has been entered in your name.

TINA & SUSAN: I too know the pain of loss of "good weather" friends. ((((HUGS))))

SUSAN: Wishing you a happy day today :-) Fill it with things YOU like to do (like writing!) More (((HUGS)))

HOWARD: Gee, thanks for spreading my fame before it even happens! :-)

RHODA: BEAUTIFUL pics of your trip! :-) Ohh, to have been a stow-away with you...

JERRY: Ah yes, the wide open spaces where azure rules supreme... :-) And a 12-year camping vacation? Like it!! :-) Nice shorty.

CHRISTI: "Time For Sale" sounds like a good story idea. :-)

TEEKAY: I'll send you a hint at the end of my shortie to come. :-) Altho' at the rate Howard is dropping clues, there won't be much secret left to damage your giggle-meter. BTW, I saw a bit of the Aurora Borealis (sp?) back in the '70's - so cool!! Rent the movie "FREQUENCY" and you'll see a great big A.B. :-) (Also a wonderful, fantastic movie!!) And re: the novel thing, bringing it all together...Try a "map" for yourself, showing what characters/plotlines are going where by when...kind of a crossword puzzle without the neat little boxes...It does help you sort your mind. :-)

HALLEE: Is this your week for accident-prone-itis? Sheesh! Watch those lampshades! And do tell, how many more chapters in novel #1? (Love your characters!) :-) Partial critique coming soon...

Shortie later...

May your pens all be shiny and your keyboards non-sticky, and the paper supply unending and the idea-well overflowing!!!

Melanie 5-17-2001 8:40

****TAYLOR****

I am on again, but this time I have kind of hit a writing SNAG!!
WRITER'S BLOCK!!! JEEZ I HATE IT!!
Dropped into say hi and see whats been happening...

I thought that focusing on all aspects on myself, you know not neglecting any parts...eg: physical wellbeing, is it would pave a clear road for my writing
Oh well...I guess I will just have to plough through the block...Maybe thats not the right term, I have ideas that won't go into words at the moment

How is everything for everyone...My thoughts go out to you all

taylor 5-17-2001 7:47

RHODA: Wonderful pictures! Thank you!

RANDALL: I'll make sure to tell Conan as soon as he's awake and cognizant.

MEL: Sadly, it was two separate cars. But, the truck is fixed, and now I have to get my alternator in the car checked out.

MARY: Hi there. :)

I may do a story today - really, it depends on the day. I haven't come up with anything yet, but it's been a few weeks since I participated, so I really want to.

I've been sitting here for an hour trying to figure out why I smelled something burning, but my window is open and I thought it was just something outside. Come to find out, the lamp shade fell and was resting on the lightbulb. THAT's a little scary, especially considering the fact that I think this lamp has been on all night. Won't be doing that again.

Okay - off to do more editing.

Happy Thursday all! Two more days before the weekend!!

Hallee 5-17-2001 5:15

**Teekay**

Hi All,

MEL: Well my ears perked up at the word secret and now you have my curiosity glands ozzing (yuck!) and I've been thinking it's about time for a good abandoned giggle so go on and 'fess up.
I just read your reply to why you don't want the devil in P** and all I can say is "oh."
Do wish you'd mentioned it before my rant :-)

HOWARD: HOWARD, HOWARD, well I'll give you A+ for stamina. Just don't know when your beat.
I'll have a look for that author at the library tomorrow and if he's not there I would really appreciate you sending me up whichever book you think is most enjoyable. That's really nice of you, and I'm going to give you A++ now. :-)

JERRY: 100%! That's fantastic!

HOWARD: Funk flashbacks? Leftovers from the 70's perhaps?

HEATHER: You know what I would love to see? The auraura? Arora? Aurora borealis. That would be brilliant.

TINA: CHRISTI sent me 'Contact', but I haven't received it yet. Still waiting expectantly at the post box everyday for it to arrive. If it doesn't come soon I think I'll bite the postie.

MARY: Among other things, one of the reasons I'll always write longhand to begin with is that it's so portable. Don't need a thing but a pad and a pen.

AMERICO: I cared, but I wasn't going to say a thing for fear of the 'pedantic' label. BTW I found your story to be etherealy melancholy.
So saying you are now duty bound to dedicate the next story to me.

RANDALL: You do have a mgical, mystical flair with your pen. Very visual.

MARK: I wouldn't have thought you'd enjoy reading sci fi. Let me know if you like it. I normally don't read it, but I found those books of HOWARD'S rather enjoyable.

HOWARD: Another flashback?
No Jack only moved the N.B. from one place to another and that's probably why.
Or you could just be cracking up.
Or it could be something mystical happening.
Or it's just broke.

RHODA: Will check out your site after this.

I had this wonderful relevation today (Any takers? HOWARD? MARK? heh heh) I actually saw how I wanted my 'novel?' to all come together and it's actually wonderful (well it seems that way to me) But I just have to work out how to bring it all together into one giant sort of climax and at this particular time I'm not real sure how to do that.

It's sort of like knitting without a pattern. I really hope I can do it, and I really hope it turns out as good as it feels like it might in my head. I'm not actually talking about the story part here, but the weaving of the characters actions throughout so that they all join up in the right place at the right time and there are about 8 characters I have to do this with.

Okay,
night all.

Teekay 5-17-2001 3:59

Mary, I just wanted to address a special post just for you. I composed a dorky poem for you and it was soooo incredibly stupid that I deleted it. Does the thought count? Don't even THINK of asking me what it said. (eyes rolling) I won't incriminate myself. :) HUGS!

Christi 5-17-2001 2:58

Teekay Teekay, (HEE!) I loved your Tigger laugh. My son and I can take up the better part of an hour doing that laugh back and forth to each other. And missy, you're on! At least a healthy competition would make something positive out of getting those awful envelopes in the mail. And one day the envelope will not be the manila one we sent out, but a nice thin white one with a contract/check in it! :) I got that last bit from Lawrence Block; paraphrased of course, but the idea is the same.

Thanks, Mel! You're lucky to be in the fun, creative phase right now. The constant sending out and rejection part is not a natural thing for writers and artists, if you ask me. I love the creation part, where I'm making something where there once was nothing. Yeah, baby!

Americo! A dedication? How lovely, how lovely! And your poem is lovely. Are you going to enter it in **P**? I'm glad to see you and hope you'll be sticking it out for awhile!

Welcome back Randall, and Rhoda, and Mark! Now where the heck are Gariess and Debra?

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with the rest of us, Rhoda! I haven't been on vacation in a long time, and I've NEVER gone abroad. Don't mind the green pallor on my face, it's just jealousy.

Congrats, Heather! And Heather, I'm ready for a read anytime you are!

I never got to **P** to read the new stories and I'm so bummed. Turned into a late late night, and tonight is more of the same. I couldn't even read the new shorties, but I hope for some precious moments tomorrow. Does anyone have some time for sale? I'd give my winning lottery ticket for a week off!

Smooches for all and a good night.

Christi 5-17-2001 2:53

Rhoda - I loved the pictures. :) I hope to visit Great Britain one day. You look different than I thought you would though - for some reason I thought you were Hispanic.

*smiles*

Allein Allein's World 5-17-2001 0:57

**Jerry**

Americo it is so good to see your happy writings here again, welcome back, I do hope you will stay with us for awhile this time.

Rainbows huh, I love rainbows, and have seen so many variants, it seems each is unique to itself, much like a snowflake.

Oh that cattle drive, it was great and a wonderful break to the hypnotic road. Many of you may be unfamiliar with the openness of this part of the US. Let me explain that a bit, you see when we leave my hometown, I drive south thirty miles, with only a few farms no town, nothing that even resembles a town. Then I turn and go another twelve miles to the county seat. From there it is nearly fifty miles to the next settelment, where maybe ten families live, a town called Prairie City, (boy somebody was optomistic naming that one) Anyhow, then in another 20 miles or so, there is the town of Riva Gap, (just Riva on the new maps) That town consists of a post office/bar/filling station, and 3 families live there. Then I turn and drive south, it is 66 miles to the next town, with absolutly nothing in between, only two country schools, and a few ranch houses sitting well off the highway. Oh there is the small town of Hoover, (just outside the town is hoover dam, a little concreate dam that holds back the flood waters of a small creek.) It was in that 66 mile stretch that we ran into the cattle drive. And yes the men were on horseback, the wives followed behind in the pickups with the lunches, beer and so forth.
Anyhow continuing the next stop is the small town of Newell, (pop 678) then comes the Buitiful Black Hills, and civilization.

Oh by the way excuse the spelling errors tonight, I just re-formated my hard drive, and haven't put on my spell checker as of yet. (Thanks Bill Gates for IE 6.0) And to top it off, I am still bone tired from yesterdays trip, guess I am going to have to get our more.

Here is my shorty for the Lottery:

The Lottery
By Jerry A.G. Ericsson

“Now let me see if I get this right council, the Bureau is refusing to pay the clamiant any more lost wages because he won the lottery?”

Assistant Attorney General Simms stood, “Yes your honor, you see, the claimant is now independently wealthy, and no longer needs the money.”

“Objection, weather or not the claimant has one dollar, or twelve million dollars is irrelevant, the Bureau accepted its responsibility to the claimant, the claimant has not suddenly been healed, he is still totally disabled, therefore the Bureau should still be paying his lost wages claim!” said Lawyer Phillips who represented me at the hearing.

Lawyer Phillips sat, and turned giving me his best trust me smile.

“I have another hearing in fifteen minutes, and don’t have time to listen to the Bureau complain about how much money the claimant has. Let me ask you this, Mr. Ericsson, exactly how much money did you win?”

“Well your honor,” I began, “The check was for twelve million dollars, but after the Federal Government took their unfair share, I received four point eight million.”

“And do you still need the checks from the Bureau to live, or can you get by on your winnings?”

Lawyer Phillips was on his feet, “That is totally irrelevant your honor!” he shouted. “Totally irrelevant!”

“I understand Mr. Phillips, I was just inquiring as to the actual need of the claimant.”

Ms. Simms, I am going to rule in favor of the claimant, I see no change in his ability to work, he has reported his winnings as required by the statute, the Bureau will continue to pay Mr. Ericsson’s lost wages until such time he is able to return to work, or until his sixty-second birthday. We stand adjourned.” With this, the Judge rapped his gavel on the table, and left the room.

“Well,” said Ms. Simms, “You can’t blame the Bureau for trying!”

I got up and left the room, as we entered the hallway, I turned to my lawyer, “Want to stop by the old academy for drinks. They’re on me!”

Thus began my freedom from worry, and my twelve year camping vacation.

Jerry 5-17-2001 0:57

Rainbows .. leprechauns .. film at eleven.

Netscape 4.77 on Linux .. enter button to the right of text box, bottom.

HOWARD -- thanks, I'll do "Holding Wonder" and see where I am after that. After coffee I have to drive home "holding water."

TEEKAY -- The heart of a mathematician. hmmm. Been wondering about a job change (Holding Wonder?).

RANDALL -- Aren't you the guy who quotes Hemingway? What would he think of, "I understand that we see a circular rainbow, but we really don't see it all." ?? First phrase says you do, second phrase says you don't. I'm pretty sure I know what you're trying to say. The remainder of the post does a better job of expressing imaginative tendrils. When I lived in Texas, the bumper sticker was "Shit Happens." Always thought I'd like to see 'em quit selling that one, then I heard a woman address our club in a moving and eloquent few minutes where she explained her feelings during some really bad times. She summed it up with "shit happens." Suddenly that was less a derogation and more a philosophical viewpoint.

RACHEL -- long time, no 'Hi There'. Sleeping through the night?

AMERICO -- Bravo!

TINA -- Am Holding Breath

HALLEE -- Thanks, good to be back.

HEATHER -- Yes your energy amazes me as well. Happy Birthday. On Mary's sad thirtieth we were inundated with "What it was like when I was thirty" stories. Here's one for you.

I grew up with the phrase, "Don't trust anyone over 30" as a regular part of my vocabulary. Thirty was a milestone that was supposed to bring tidal changes in a person's life. Combine that with the back-of-my-mind certainty that I'd be dead by then and you begin to get a picture of the sotted psyche I took to Heather McHugh's poetry reading that night.

I stopped in the entryway to buy Heather's new book, "Dangers." Having been soldier and sailor, I gave a smug smile to the title, paid for the little red hardcover, and went into the reading studio. It bugged me that she never called me by my first name, I was always "Lenihan" to her. When I asked her to sign my copy of her book (and told her it was my 30th), she signed it, "To Lenihan ..." and some nonsense about wisdom of old age. Mark. Call me Mark, dammit. My ego was just fragile enough that I worried why she wanted to keep this level of formality.

One of the students approached me. "Hi, Mark. Howya doin'?"
"Fine, Thanks," I said, wondering how she knew my name.
She held a slice of apple in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, "I've got the best of both worlds."
I had no idea how that was true, but I agreed with her then went to look for a good seat where I could keep my eye on Heather (or should I say McHugh) during her reading.

All the pieces she read came from a notebook, even the published stuff. We got to hear the works-in-progress pieces and she read some of the "Dangers" pieces from the book where she'd done her composition and editing. I noted the ease with which she dropped personal ideas on us and private moments. I noticed the peculiar way her knees spread and her hand movements seemed to reach out and grab something from the air and bring it into the space between her legs. And I knew she'd call me "Lenihan."

I thought about the girl with the best of both worlds, I thought about the wine, I left the campus and got beers in a local tavern.

Mark 5-17-2001 0:31

*Tina*

Rhoda, it looks like you had a blast! I'm green with envy, because I also long to see Britain and Scotland and Ireland. Thanks for the vicarious pleasure!

!!! Warning !!! sappy personal story ahead.

SusanS ((((HUGS))))
I met a girl when I moved into a new school, in grade 4. We became the best of friends, even when we each moved to different towns about an hour apart. We visited often, even taking the Greyhound bus once a month to see each other, since our parents had little time to drive us. When we learned to drive, we visited even more, and were each other's confidant. School problems, boy problems, family problems, career choices, birth control (gasp!), you name it we shared it the tears of disaster and celebration.
After high school, we stayed close. As we each moved again to attend college, we wrote often and called when we could.
In my last year of college, she had some guy problems and we disagreed on the solution. I had some confidence problems, and somehow her shoulder wasn't there with the support I'd always known. We made arrangements to meet up one Christmas, and I drove hours through a wicked snowstorm to get there. She wasn't there. Turned out her new boyfriend asked her out to a movie and she dumped me for his invitation.
Always, I'd intended on asking her to be my maid of honour at my wedding. When that day came, I asked instead that she be my bridesmaid, because I didn't feel our friendship was mutually important. She refused, because she had an exam two days earlier and her boyfirend didn't want to drive in the dark, which they would've done to make it up to Vernon.
Within a year, our friendship dissolved. She never called, never returned my calls, unless she'd had a fight with her boyfriend (the one I disliked because of the wedding thing). Then she'd call and cry, confused and needy. A million little things added up, and one day I woke up unable to continue putting so much work into the friendship. I'm sure that from her side, I made as many mistakes, but the truth was that we both had grown into very different people. The beautiful memories of our youth weren't enough to keep us friends. The mutual expectations were too much to keep us acquaintances.
The thing is, that even now, 7 years later, I think of her often. Sometimes I wonder what she's doing now, how her life turned out. Usually though I think about the things we did when we were little. She taught me how to make Ukranian easter eggs. I taught her how to drive a standard. Sometimes we would go to the park and sit together and read, for hours. We would play duets on the piano. I remember that stuff, more than anything else. The sadness at losing a friend never goes away, but neither do the good memories made by sharing your life with a friend, and they make everything else worth it.

Whoa. Didn't mean to spill. Susan, I feel the sadness with you.

Gonna go now. Be well!

Tina 5-16-2001 23:15

THis is from Netscape 4.6, and ENTER is on the right side, bottom of the panel. Strange b=how the different browsers handle objets d'html. :-)

RHODA - Nice pictures! Thanks for sharing them!

howard 5-16-2001 22:43

Hurray! It worked!!!

Rhoda 5-16-2001 22:39

**howard**

RANDALL -- Yes! yes! and Charlotte's Web stretches from one end to the other, and the Lost Boys do loops under it, and there's a mad tea party over there in the corner, but it's not a corner, at least not one like you've ever seen before -- it's somehow turned inside out! And mind you don't get in the way of the buffer migration, or the wooly mammoths either! And there really is a man with a wooden leg, named Smith!
But where's Puff? Did the Supreme Court finally kill him? Oh I hope not -- maybe if we clap our hands...?
No, that's TinkerBelle! But is it still fashionable to be a fairy? YES! At least under a circular rainbow it is!
Thanks Randall!
Someone else's turn now!

howard 5-16-2001 22:32

That below link did not work. Try this one.

Rhoda

My trip to Britain 5-16-2001 22:28

I finally finished my web-site. I posted lots of photos for anyone who is interested.

Rhoda

Rhoda My Trip to Britain 5-16-2001 22:25

**howard**

I love technology! My pager just went off for the second time tonight with a wrong number. The guy on the other end just laughed and said "sorry about that!" Dork!

By the way, the ENTER box is on the bottom left of the posting panel again. Maybe it's just at home this happens - I'm running MSIE 4.0 here, and MSIE 5.0 at work. Dunno what it looks like in Netscape.

I had an '81 Dodge pickup once, and the alternator died, so I replaced it with a rebuilt one. Next day, while driving home from work, I began to smell something like hot rotten eggs. I stopped beside the road and opened the hood. There was my battery, looking like a rugby ball! It was swelled up like to burst! Well, it was pretty cold out, so I took out my jack knife and cut the fan belt, and it was back to normal when I got back home. I hadn't returned the old alternator yet, so I put it back in, put on a spare belt, and got another alternator the next day. The clerk said "yeah, we get them like that once in a while. Most times the battery blows up."
One night way back when I was working second shift we got a call from security, wanting to know if Bob Hall worked there. Bob went up to see what they wanted, and was told that someone had just pried open the hood on his Chevelle, and had cut the battery cables, but while trying to lift it out of the car it exploded, injuring the two teenage would-be thieves, and severely damaging his car. Would you believe that a couple of days later they tried to sue him for damages! Claimed he was responsible for their injuries! Judge threw it out.

MEL -- Heiro is on his way! The clerk in the Pack-n-Mail store was impressed with the name when I told him you were part of a writers group.

MARK - Enjoy "Holding Wonder!" And if you'd like to read the whole collection someday we could meet for coffee (my treat) some day and I'll drop it off.

howard 5-16-2001 22:17

It's been a lousy day. I had a sinus headache for most of the day, so I wasn't able to get a whole lot done. Then my husband came home upset. He saw our friend Logan (the one who's not speaking to us) and tried to talk to him. But Logan very angrily told Allen to leave him alone. That he never wanted to see him again. I just don't understand how he can be like this. I don't know what's wrong with him. I know he's mentally ill, and I suspect he's started drinking a lot, but that doesn't make it any easier. And the wound which was beginning to heal, seems to have been opened up again. I will recover in time, but I feel pretty lousy right now. I've come to the realization that you can't replace lost friends. You can go on and make new friends, but you can't replace what's lost. There is only one Logan and no one can take his place. Everyone says he's not worth it, but my heart says differently. I miss him so much.

Well, enough of that. I just needed to tell someone about this. I will be okay. I've got to be to work at 5am again, so I really should go to bed. Too bad I'm not sleepy. And I still have a bit of a headache. Goodnight everyone.

SusanS 5-16-2001 21:27

Hi all!

Rainbows, huh? Stirring the pot, eh Americo? Thanks Heather for the vote of confidence......but FIRST.......

Hallee.....if your battery exploded....It could be your alternator is overcharging, (very bad) .....boiled ALL (or most) of the water and acid away,(much worse) then shorted out the cells inside. KABOOM! Replacing just the battery will not, repeat not solve the problem. Also, a battery when charging creates noxious acid fumes, which are explosive. If there was a spark, from a loose or bad electrical connection near the battery, BOOM! Batteries are as dangerous as a fuel tank, so beware. Alternators, should put out no more than 15 amps. Have it checked ASAP.

Now, you don't get this kind of advice on JUST any web site. :-)

Rainbows. Okay, okay, I understand that we see a circular rainbow, but we really don't see it all. Right? We see, as per Heathers post a semi-circular rainbow, on ocassion a double rainbow. As a resident of the plains state I have seen rainbows that boggle the mind. Flat country, large thunderstorms, massive amounts of water, create rainbows hundreds of miles long and of inestimable breadth and color.

The true writers on WN, who deal in conceptual fantasy and theortical concepts related too; know what I meant. A true circular, ring shaped rainbow is fodder for a writers mind and should send even the most unimagitive author into delightful scenerios of fantasy land spasms of joy. If rainbows are a true circle, on the horizon, where is the other half? Into which dimension do they intrude? At the opposite side of a rainbow you see, are unicorns watching from the other side? Do dwarfs sit under toadstools and marvel at the sight of THEIR half arching down, from the sky? Perhaps Frodo....planning a trip from the Shire pauses in packing and stares? Paul Atradies (probably incorrect sp) and Duncan Idaho, pausing to enjoy the sight.

Then....who lives on the OTHER side of a rainbow? Aside from OZ or Tinman or Dorothy.

"Down Toto down! Not there, on the paper!"

Are trickling streams of crystal clear water bubbling from under fern covered rocks, under the rainbow? Are rainbows, "Over the rainbow" triple banded, and true circles hovering in the blue sky above? Do they emerge from high in the sky and hang upside down, barely touching waist high, lush green grass waving in a warm spring breeze?

"Now little Frodo, if you find where the exact center of the rainbow touches the ground, a splendid magic ring awaits you."

Are snow-white winged horses grazing in rich green meadows surrounded by snow-capped mountains? Do multi-colored dragons fly under, then over the rainbow? Are circular rainbows home for the mysterious, reclusive Rainbow People?

See, and I may be preaching to the choir, but the ring shaped rainbow is a wonderful, enchanting......brain game.

It's like a tart bumper sticker one sees every now and then in Texas. "If you have to ask why, you wouldn't understand the answer."

:-)

Randall

Randall 5-16-2001 20:51

Americo,

What a beautiful story. I like stories like that. I send you a very warm hug.

Rachel 5-16-2001 20:02

I care, Americo. Thanks for clearing up the steal/steel issue. I did wonder if that's what you intended.

Koko, sorry - no info on that one for you.

Heather 5-16-2001 19:43

Interesting! Mary - so you've seen the double rainbow and it was like a sign to you, too! Awesome...
and a side-by side rainbow? Wow!
I wondered if anyone else had ever seen or even HEARD of that happening. I had never heard of it until I saw one - and the vibrancy of the rainbows was incredibly intense - I'd never even seen a rainbow that bright before. Too bad it faded so fast.

Americo - I loved your ghost shortie! I hope you didn't really have a daughter that drowned. It sounded like you knew a little too well that kind of loss.

Mel - I'll try nudging the collective Muse Association into a higher productivity bracket, but no promises!
It took ages just to get them all to stop going out on strike when writers needed them most (the two full days prior to a deadline). Now that they have at least learned how to follow the latest contract specifications, I'm leery about throwing a wrench in. Muses aren't exactly the easiest to make a written deal with, let alone train.
Mine gets my vote for Miss Muse of the Year, so that should appease her unhealthy appetite for hitting me on the head after midnight. I hope.

Time to mow the lawn and hose off ice cream slops from the deck. Oh, and I'll see if I can't plant my rose bush and my other little new perennials before dark.

May your muses ride shotgun for eternity,

Heather

Heather 5-16-2001 19:41

Correction

In my story "Last Winter in the Future" (below) where is "steal" please read "steel". So "still steel water" and not "still steal water". As if anyone cared...

Jack, couldn't you please put the names on top of the posts again? It's so strange to have them under the messages.

Americo 5-16-2001 19:39

Hi All,

Does anyone have info on the Hungry Publisher site?
Are they legit?

Koko44 5-16-2001 18:50

Heather - We had something like that yesterday too but the rainbows were side by side near Safeco Field. They showed it during the Mariners game. And the Mariners won too!! :)

Allein Allein's World 5-16-2001 15:59

MARY: We can add my four kittens to the batch. They're just now opening their eyes. So, we have 15 kittens. Do we have 15 regs? Hahahaha - enough for everyone! Take two!

Hallee (whose two dogs just came out of heat and two of the neighbor's dogs could jump our fence. Check back in a couple of months and I'll tell you how many puppies I'll have to give away.)

Hallee 5-16-2001 15:46

Some may have noticed that it was difficult getting in to the Notebook over the last day. What happened is that my domain was moved from Flordia to machines in California. This should, ultimately, mean faster response time, but in the mean time there may be an occasional glitch here and there. This was not something I was warned about except at the last moment and then I had to just sit back and wait. Sorry about that. Things should be working better now.

Jack Beslanwitch 5-16-2001 14:45

Please don't let that deter you! Hahaha.

5-16-2001 14:45

And yes, free kitties for all who enter.

5-16-2001 14:44

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?

SHORTIE THEME 5-16-2001 14:44

HALLEE: You're supposed to get a new car BEFORE things start blowing up. Sheesh! Glad you and Conan are okay. Now think of the plot ramifications these recent experiences can give you... :-)

MARY: Hi!! Didn't mean to miss halloo-ing ya - my posts usually get so long just replying to recent posts...Anyway, Thanks! What a nice compliment! :-) Musical moments...hmm, maybe there's hope for me yet! BTW, is tomorrow the NB Lottery? Do we win free kitties?? Not that I want one, but I do love 'em... :-)

Again from Mel 5-16-2001 14:39

And now a ghostie dedicated to those who liked Pussy's poem (Christie, Rachel and Heather).

Last Winter in the Future

I remember the steal-watered brook no larger than a child's body whose natural growth had been suspended by sudden death. There I liked to roam on afternoons of eternal longing, thinking of my little girl gone from life on a day of imponderable time.

As I wandered, thin, pale figures looked at me, always kindly in their silence, the silence of someone who will not speak to you no matter how much you try. They walked at my side and over me and all around me, and none has ever promised a word or even a gesture — mere shadows of grey and mist.They made no noise as they were textured in the immateriality that my loneliness was also made of.

Till the day when a woman wrapped in white came steadily walking towards me. As she approached, I knew it was not my daughter's spirit, but myself steadily stepping on my own days, growing old in my destined time--the wrinkling skin, the suplicant arms.

"Touch me, touch me!" I heard her voice in my paralysed throat.

I ran away from the vision to lie face down in the grass at the mangrove whose roots descended from its branches by the brook that incessantly mumbled intriguing, incomprehensible words shrouded in the frost of endless days.

That was the last time I went for a walk along the still steal water of the brook where my daughter drowned last Winter. Why try to recapture what does not exist any more? Only one's future ghost can be seen in the reflexes of a river. Only it can frighten us, as the rest is just the melancholy of possible dreams.

Americo 5-16-2001 14:33

Hi again!

Just visited an interesting website: www.rejectioncollection.com
(For all you rejection slip owners - what a hoot!) :-)

JERRY: Pickups filled with cowgirls? Ohh, I'm disillusioned! I thought cattle drives were hard work, a macho, tobacco-spitting, bean-burping men-only activity! (I guess I really have been watching too many American westerns! Leftovers from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles' or something!) Glad the wife is doing well and that you made the trip WIDE awake! :-)

HOWARD: I'm not famous yet...maybe the name will help?! :-)

HEATHER: WOW!!!!! Does your Muse have a secret well of energy and inspiration or somthing? I want some of that!!!

Mel Link 5-16-2001 14:20

Well it only took me about 45 minutes to catch up on all the posts and figure out that nobody had said anything to me at all. :-(

However, lots of great topics WERE brought around and I had a blast reading them all while eating my lunch.

HEATHER: W