tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-322390652012-02-03T02:18:29.754-05:00Miscellaneous ramblings. Bits of my writing, thoughts that cross my mind, random opinions, and gaming ideas are all likely to be found here over time.Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-81613464357802258782011-11-02T09:44:00.000-04:002011-11-02T09:44:05.768-04:00

National Novel Writing Month for 2011 has begun. It's an event where the goal is to write 50,000 words in the thirty days of November. At the end, you can earn a cute little certificate from The Office of Letters and Light, the organization that started this whole event in 1999, and you get the satisfaction of knowing you can crank out 50,000 words in a month. You also may have a first draft

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-31377200841146380192011-10-15T13:34:00.000-04:002011-10-15T13:34:52.638-04:00

“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” Gustave Flaubert

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-68781634685504143862011-01-30T00:17:00.000-05:002011-01-30T00:17:32.626-05:00

Choosing a college or university can be even more complex than choosing a job. There are several additional factors to consider in your search and often you haven’t really discovered yourself yet. There’s determining your own personal interests and degree choices, where you want to live, the size of the school, the cost, and the environment of the school itself. My son has been discovering the

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-50972032239557882802011-01-26T12:11:00.000-05:002011-01-26T12:11:58.729-05:00

As I previously mentioned, there are several vehicles in my household. All of which require tires. This can really put a dent in ones wallet. We should get a frequent buyer discount at Tire Rack for all the tires we've purchased and will be purchasing. When the Mercury Grand Marquis entered our drive, we knew it needed tires, badly. And after a harrowing night many many years ago involving

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-32289542356466074212011-01-09T20:15:00.000-05:002011-01-09T20:15:20.533-05:00

Our fleet of vehicles grew by two this past year, along with drivers in the house. We've added a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis and a 2000 Mazda Miata. Quite a juxtaposition, I know, but the Mercury is what my oldest chose and once he finishes paying us back it will be his. The Miata is a return to my youth when I didn't have to carry around three kids and a ton of groceries. It also gets better gas

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-77023689171115242452011-01-03T10:20:00.000-05:002011-01-03T10:20:58.352-05:00

A change in routine should help me reach my goals for the new year. So I'm transforming my daily routine for the new year. I think my daily rut last year had too much time wasted on unproductive and unrewarding activities, so I'm eliminating a lot of them and replacing them with actions that should get me to my goal of becoming published. Overall, last year was spent trying to take care of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-2648555208460809802009-07-20T20:45:00.003-04:002010-03-05T02:50:09.044-05:00

I've done a lot of writing in the last six months or so, though little of it appeared here. Sorry about that, but life has been busy and my muse was insistent. Not sure how marketable any of it is, but I'm sending it out anyway. I think it's good and hopefully so will someone else. I've written a few short stories and two novels in the last six months. That's a lot for me. Heck, I would imagine

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-11381439907703668992009-04-23T10:40:00.000-04:002009-04-23T10:39:58.694-04:00

Life has been overly hectic of late and I've been out the of loop with my online presence, but the good news is my rental property is now ready to rent and ads have been placed so we should get a new tenant soon. Besides working on my rental I gave in and bought a new truck. We had several expensive things wrong with my old truck and it was 12 years old and had 180K miles on it. Now I have a

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-70574861931393402172009-04-12T11:02:00.005-04:002009-04-12T12:15:36.489-04:00

So why is there a bunny hiding eggs and leaving baskets on Easter and what does it have to do with the holiday?You have to go way back before Christianity and look at the Pagan religions, as with most current Christian holidays, there is something from the Pagan religions of old at Easter. Many Pagan cultures had Spring festivals to celebrate the renewal of life that comes with the end of Winter.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-39504491563885404722009-04-12T03:02:00.000-04:002009-04-12T03:02:00.716-04:00

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together it spells 'Theirs.'I'm not attributing this to any one person since I have no idea who said it first, but I thought it was appropriate for the week. Did you get your tax return filed yet?

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-41359265400774716522009-04-04T09:12:00.000-04:002009-04-04T09:12:00.370-04:00

"It is never the duty of the leader to struggle for someone else; a leader must encourage others to struggle and assure them that the struggles are worthwhile." -- anon

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-80174592017427382822009-03-16T23:55:00.000-04:002009-03-16T23:55:00.090-04:00

Are you wearing green?St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday honoring the late St.Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and probably the most famous of the Catholic saints. It is believed that he died on March 17 around 460 A.D. Over time, the holiday has morphed from a religious one to a more secular one. The day is filled with celebrations and activities all around the world and parades

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-43247909020269841342009-03-14T12:49:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:49:00.839-04:00

"Beware the ides of March."-William ShakespeareI couldn't resist.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-80973902950865136972009-03-13T08:11:00.004-04:002009-03-13T08:58:49.587-04:00

Fear of Friday the 13thAccording to MedicineNet the word "paraskevidekatriaphobia" was devised by Dr. Donald Dossey who told his patients that "when you learn to pronounce it, you're cured!"Anyone have a fear of Friday the thirteenth?I can honestly say I don't, in fact, the day is pretty much like any other usually, but it did mark the beginning of my relationship with my husband. We've been

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-69796630525989479662009-03-06T20:01:00.005-05:002009-03-06T21:55:34.176-05:00

Are you ready to change your clock? This weekend marks the start of Daylight Saving Time where most of the country sets their clocks forward one hour. Shifting time is thought to save energy, but in actuality the results are less clear. In some studies, there has been 1-3.5% savings in energy consumption per day, but in others there has been 1-4% increase in consumption. There are similar mixed

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-38410488075327698132009-03-01T09:48:00.000-05:002009-03-01T09:48:00.607-05:00

“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done - men who are creative, inventive and discoverers” Jean Piaget

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-17120657189818147572009-02-25T17:20:00.000-05:002009-02-25T17:20:02.735-05:00

After months of stress and worry over delinquent tenants, they are gone and I'm now preparing to rent our place out again. Friends have commiserated and many have claimed how they are so glad they never bought 'that rental place' they wanted for fear of having a similar problem with the tenants. I'm always amused. We bought this property years ago to live in with the intention of eventually

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-8714056308338827172009-02-24T00:09:00.004-05:002009-02-24T17:11:29.823-05:00

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the final day of celebrating before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Catholic Lent period. The event has evolved over the years and has become synonymous with the city of New Orleans, though other locales have similar celebrations. This year Mardi Gras falls on February 24th.The celebration in New Orleans involves dozens of elaborate floats and hundreds of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-48251475761927852082009-02-20T20:33:00.001-05:002009-02-20T20:33:18.435-05:00

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness."-James ThurberAn appropriate quote for the times, I think. Maybe if everyone had been a little more aware for the last decade or so the economy wouldn't be in the mess it's in now.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-900269079214003832009-02-14T14:06:00.003-05:002009-02-14T14:17:11.102-05:00

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-44201955444541597322009-02-08T00:05:00.000-05:002009-02-08T00:05:00.528-05:00

I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen. -- Ernest HemingwayI think many writers are often very good listeners. It can be a useful skill in character and plot development. And it keeps one from saying something stupid.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-21394852968859966722009-02-04T11:11:00.005-05:002009-02-04T13:57:21.420-05:00

In the saga of deadbeat tenants, an end is finally in sight! The Sheriff's office called and we have a date and time for eviction. A mere three months start to finish. Not bad given the horror stories we've heard. Of course, we haven't gotten any rent from said tenants since a partial payment in October, and we're not likely to have the place rented before March, so we're out a little over four

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-29114081735297592642009-01-31T16:00:00.005-05:002009-01-31T16:17:39.489-05:00

The Official Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Ever seen a groundhog? Does it really predict the coming of Spring? I have my doubts, but it is a great tourist attraction for Punxsutawney, PA. They have a whole weekend of activities and specials that started yesterday. It's amazing what a groundhog can do for a town.The groundhog phenomenon has been around in the US since the 1800's and the basic

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-77251716542645546662009-01-27T11:51:00.001-05:002009-01-27T11:51:03.027-05:00

"If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what then, is an empty desk?" - Albert EinsteinMy desk was empty the day it arrived in my house. I haven't managed to get it that way ever again. But then, it's a horizontal surface and they tend to collect things regardless.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-78170282631790388422009-01-25T12:37:00.001-05:002009-01-25T12:37:00.249-05:00

"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."- Oscar WildeI'm not sure I would agree with this one, but it does make one think. There are many books that I enjoyed reading but I have no desire to read again. I would change this to "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in keeping it." But then, I'm something of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-75542647905264943862009-01-22T01:52:00.005-05:002009-01-22T20:34:07.850-05:00

Do not accept accept defeat if that is the only choice given.You may not see the other choice.Fight, though there may appear to be no answer.Perhaps an answer is not what is needed.Fight, even if the body may be weak.The mind is always stronger.Fight, for that is the battle before you.The soul wants to win. by E.S. Blackwell

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-64093487440735358962009-01-20T12:06:00.003-05:002009-01-20T12:40:57.380-05:00

Barack Obama is officially the 44th President of the United States of America!A new era has begun. I know we will see a time of change and a time of contribution. I look forward to the next stage of our nation and I look forward with hope. I hope Americans can truly come together and solve the problems that we face right now. I hope that every individual will look at the whole picture and not

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-86531605978837919292009-01-12T13:20:00.001-05:002009-01-12T13:20:00.958-05:00

"Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow talent to the dark place where it leads."-Erica JongThere are times I find some very dark places as I write. I think they are my best work, but then I'm biased.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-14500028725261716562009-01-07T09:21:00.002-05:002009-01-07T09:32:49.117-05:00

One of the blogs I read on occasion is written by a fellow named Travis Erwin. On January 4, 2009 his home burned to the ground. Thankfully, both he and his wife and both their young sons and the dogs are okay, but they lost everything. Some other very nice bloggers, Erica Orloff and Stephen Parish have set up a site where the rest of us can do something to help. Donate HerePlease help the

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-15667442794465496022009-01-06T19:30:00.001-05:002009-01-06T19:30:01.105-05:00

For 2009 I'm cutting back my list of resolutions. Last year's list was a bit long, I think. It didn't seem like it when I wrote it, but as the year wore on and I did the quarterly reviews I realized I had been a tad optimistic. Here goes.1) Lose another ten pounds (more would be nice, but I'm being realistic here)2) Finish my son's afghan3) Complete one scrapbook from the materials and photos

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-68946498188756857382009-01-04T21:06:00.001-05:002009-01-04T21:06:00.955-05:00

"Each moment in time we have it all, even when we think we don't."-Melody BeattieIt's easy to remember this in good times, but not quite as easy in hard ones.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-24071384394013952772009-01-02T14:23:00.002-05:002009-01-02T14:25:25.163-05:00

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-78622394672971055722008-12-31T09:37:00.000-05:002008-12-31T09:37:00.513-05:00

Well, as 2008 comes to a close I wanted to review those New Year's resolutions I made for 2008. Overall I'm quite pleased with the results though they aren't perfect. I did have a lengthy list of resolutions, so not quite completing them all isn't so bad. Here goes.•Post on my blog at least once a weekI managed to come pretty close on this one, certainly good enough, I think.•Finish laying my

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-14828942380441327872008-12-30T11:32:00.004-05:002008-12-30T11:37:41.077-05:00

I'm trying something new. A 100+ Reading Challenge for 2009. I figure this might be a good way to keep track of what I read as well as encourage me to finish reading some of the books in my "To Be Read" pile.Check it out at J. Kaye's Blog . I may even try my hand at reviewing some of what I read.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-85434152884994868142008-12-28T12:51:00.000-05:002008-12-28T12:51:00.134-05:00

"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances." - Thomas JeffersonIn light of our current landlord troubles, this quote comes to mind. Particularly since our delinquent tenant claims she will be appealing the judgement. The saga continues, unfortunately.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-34964127472742894612008-12-26T12:38:00.002-05:002008-12-26T12:50:16.081-05:00

Christmas is over, almost. The cleanup of present wrappings has begun. The tree will stay up another week but in the meantime we're rearranging things to accommodate a new ottoman that is storing the Rock Band accessories that my kids received from Grandpa, and we're moving my husband's office to my desk area since he's now working out of the house full time and I have a spiffy new laptop.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-18435005287189231702008-12-14T11:37:00.002-05:002008-12-14T12:22:02.226-05:00

Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Seasons Greetings! Happy Solstice!There are so many commitments this time of year that the marketing machine's idea of the joy of the season tends to get lost. But I do wish everyone the best for now and the future. I hope things work out well for you and yours.Okay, enough with all that. I've tried over the years to embrace the season, but

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-88347483045895993622008-12-06T09:42:00.000-05:002008-12-06T09:42:00.900-05:00

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be."-Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)This follows nicely on my last Quote. Very similar, perhaps more precise and with a slightly different emphasis.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-58228742278083078542008-12-03T10:13:00.004-05:002008-12-03T10:25:36.515-05:00

Well. I did it. I wrote over 50,000 words in the month of November qualifying me as a winner of National Novel Writing Month 2008! Woot!I enjoyed every minute of it. Well, most of it anyway. Of course, my brain is completely off in another world, making it difficult to answer basic every day questions, but I won. My final word count was 66,766. I was aiming for 70k, but didn't quite manage

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-23256895513573308982008-11-22T14:20:00.001-05:002008-11-22T14:20:01.215-05:00

"Some people will like me and some won't. So I might as well be myself, and then at least I'll know that the people who like me, like me." -- Hugh Prather.There's nothing like a little honesty when starting new relationships. Makes things easier in the long run as well.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-66377969158865079142008-11-17T20:30:00.000-05:002008-11-17T20:30:00.112-05:00

Well, I've had an interesting month for National Novel Writing Month. Starting with frying my hard drive and losing the first 5200 words of my novel, scheduling and hosting a nine year old's birthday, and dealing with tenants that won't leave. All this is on top of managing my usual daily schedule and the things my kids throw at me. I've got over 30,000 words, so I'm doing okay. And I've got a

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-19590512041111520632008-11-13T09:17:00.000-05:002008-11-13T09:17:00.933-05:00

Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is in reality the ability to reach inside yourself and drag forth from your very soul an idea. Author: Lou Dorfsman

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-68823596880639865452008-11-05T21:54:00.000-05:002008-11-06T16:14:26.494-05:00

I wrote this post intending to publish it this past weekend, but then I had hard drive problems. But since I've already written this one, I wanted to publish it anyway. I'm writing the story that came to me this week at my son's Orchestra Concert and not the one I had outlined, but if I get totally stumped I may switch back. We'll see how things go.So, here is the original post.It's that time of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-34717096956754280512008-11-04T22:09:00.000-05:002008-11-04T22:09:26.402-05:00

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.The bad news is the 5200 words from the story I was writing is gone. Well, I could spend hundreds of dollars on a retrieval service, but there is no guarantee that they'll get anything. And it's only 5200 words. It's not my whole hard drive. Everything else was backed up on my main machine.The good news is I have a great father. He took pity on me,

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-83625884563232529882008-11-02T14:23:00.004-05:002008-11-02T14:47:57.035-05:00

Well, this wasn't a post I imagined I'd be writing. In fact, it wasn't the post I was going to publish today. I had another post all set up tellling everyone about this year's National Novel Writing Month. Unfortunately, bad things happened.I back up my work regularly. I sync my laptop with my main machine every time I come with new data on it, and I save my work as I type without even

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-20228644699787852602008-10-29T21:47:00.007-04:002008-10-29T22:14:19.045-04:00

I've been swept away with the flurry of Halloween preparations this week. I'm making a goddess dress for my costume and my oldest son was invited to a party and we bought supplies to make a special coat for his character, Vash. Plus, of course, we had to carve pumpkins. We only did two, and no, the photo isn't ours. Our pumpkins are much more, hmm, basic. Nothing too exciting. And of course, if

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-79618942445699461292008-10-23T09:20:00.001-04:002008-10-23T09:21:24.136-04:00

This quote really is true for me. I'm always trying to learn about something else. You never know when that information will be useful."The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth -century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-73340131868765312202008-10-16T21:43:00.000-04:002008-10-16T21:43:00.858-04:00

In light of the season, here is the start of one of the novels I'm working on right now. Let me know what you think. Good or bad, I can take it. I think. :-)I was sorry I had looked directly at them. They knew I had seen them. I shifted and tried to look at someone else, but they were too compelling for me to ignore and my glance darted back to the two men.The older man looked at me with hope

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-20304326538054509252008-10-12T20:06:00.000-04:002008-10-12T20:06:00.281-04:00

I think this is one is appropriate in today's world. Innovation is a big thing that has really helped the human race advance over the years in remarkable ways. "Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity" - Michael Porter, Harvard Business School

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-52669563357187558832008-10-10T20:17:00.001-04:002008-10-10T20:19:54.535-04:00

I've followed the trend of vanity and specialty license plates for years now and I am continually amazed at the combinations people come up with. Specialty license plates are offered by many states when you register your vehicles. Years ago they were rare and only were the special vanity sayings that people made up. Now, you can get vanity plates advertising your college alma mater, a charity of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-72592408417555019112008-10-05T09:28:00.000-04:002008-10-05T09:28:00.791-04:00

"The first step to becoming a better writer is believing your own experience is worth writing about."Peter MarmorekI really like this quote, it reminds me that even though I haven't lived a particularly glamorous life doesn't mean I'm not capable of writing some very interesting stories. I recall, years ago, seeing an author interviewed and asked how she came up with such wonderful details for

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-56010506592333370562008-09-30T09:46:00.000-04:002008-09-30T09:46:00.276-04:00

Well, we are three quarters of the way through the year so I thought I'd check in on my goal list. They were sort of a resolution list, but no one ever follows resolutions, so I thought I'd try to name it goals. If you had a list do you remember what it had on it? Have you kept it up? I've usually had trouble remembering my resolutions, but this year I decided to post the list on my blog so it

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-32790310140046732232008-09-26T10:30:00.000-04:002008-09-26T10:30:02.393-04:00

"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure."- Albert EinsteinI only wish more citizens understood how true this quote is. We seem to live in age when most of the citizens of the country take the Constitution for granted, so much

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-60229010126129125962008-09-22T12:22:00.001-04:002008-09-22T12:22:01.042-04:00

I've found this quote to be quite true. I use small moments to accomplish many small things and it is amazing how much actually can be done in those small moments. A lesson I was forced to learn between my own limitations and the demands of babies and small children. Now I use it between my reading and writing demands."Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-85289211909709619042008-09-20T12:07:00.000-04:002008-09-20T12:07:43.241-04:00

I love to read. In fact, I love to read so much it tends to get in the way of other things, like writing. I can read pretty quickly so I always think I can take a few minutes and read this book or that article, but before I realize it two hours have passed. And it's even worse now with the internet and all the wonderful blogs that are out there. I need to prioritize my blog reading somehow and

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-90162441730600261832008-09-12T20:59:00.000-04:002008-09-12T20:59:00.511-04:00

Given the bickering between the two leading parties running for the office the President, I thought this quote was fitting though I will forever hope we find someone who can do the job competently."Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right."-H. L. Mencken

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-24588190256462888932008-09-10T14:57:00.008-04:002008-09-10T20:58:23.581-04:00

While browsing the internet today I found a few things that just made me stop and say, "Wow!". I explored and discovered to my delight a variety of applications that one can download to an iPhone or iTouch™. There are e-books. I hadn't really thought about reading on my iTouch™, but then I have terrible eyesight anyway. I found applications that give quotations from famous and not so famous

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-27729365225650715752008-09-02T20:32:00.005-04:002008-09-07T20:54:17.419-04:00

Ah, the start of September! A time when the leaves start to change, the temperature starts to cool, and the kids go back to school. A time when I can finally work during the day with limited distractions! Yea!I have really, really enjoyed the time when the kids go back to school in the past, and this year, my now-working-from-home husband was finally truly understanding my appreciation, but

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-34212703435871843292008-09-02T18:10:00.003-04:002008-09-02T20:31:49.340-04:00

"It is worth mentioning, for future reference, that the creative power which bubbles so pleasantly in beginning a new book quiets down after a time, and one goes on more steadily. Doubts creep in. Then one becomes resigned. Determination not to give in, and the sense of an impending shape keep one at it more than anything."-Virginia WoolfOf course, this is not a hard and fast rule. I've had

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-41816445413832355412008-08-12T09:25:00.002-04:002008-08-12T09:25:00.344-04:00

"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any."Orson Scott CardAnd there are days when I see so many I can't keep up with them all. those are the best ones.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-71408048540121663912008-08-06T18:18:00.007-04:002008-08-06T21:59:24.104-04:00

The fodder for stories comes from a lot of very strange places. I've been inspired by music, art, things I've read on the internet, and even a man walking his dogs down the street. I relish that ability to draw new ideas from everything around me, but at the same time it can also be an inconvenience. I tend to forget some basic things of life when a story is determined to come out. Things like

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-72896151943149718892008-07-31T10:20:00.000-04:002008-07-31T11:07:25.641-04:00

"Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon."E.L. Doctorow

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-24008629155133175602008-07-21T09:40:00.000-04:002008-07-21T10:16:35.099-04:00

I've noticed in my reading that many stories glamorize street life. They tend to shade over the bad parts somewhat and often I'm left feeling the characters are not authentic. I recall one book in particular that I was so shocked when the author brought up the character's past as having grown up on the streets, I wondered why I was surprised. It made me realize that there was nothing about

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-1663594145199577812008-07-08T02:18:00.002-04:002008-07-08T02:41:32.258-04:00

I'm contemplating going to a writer's conference. Of course, the real question is how do you choose just one? I suppose if you write strictly within a well established genre, you would choose the conference for that genre. The Romance Writer's Conference is an ideal choice for a romance writer, isn't it? And I'm certain if you are writing a mystery/thriller, the Mystery Writer's of America has

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-48404883766375416142008-06-25T05:40:00.000-04:002008-06-25T05:40:55.917-04:00

"Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it."-Jesse Stuart

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-26968258216834611172008-06-08T09:59:00.003-04:002008-06-08T12:47:54.291-04:00

Have you ever noticed how fast we all live today? With electricity humming all around us and giving us climate control, we now move at a frenetic pace no matter what time of day it is or what the weather may be doing. Of course, all that comes to a screeching halt when there's no power.Last Wednesday we got hit with an afternoon thunderstorm that came through like a tropical storm. Now

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-31146336980174561882008-05-09T09:54:00.001-04:002008-05-09T09:54:42.202-04:00

"The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have a free minute. If you didn't behave that way you would never do anything."-John Irving

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-8736406182810599412008-04-28T14:55:00.002-04:002008-04-28T15:53:58.505-04:00

Getting feedback from others on your writing is a good thing, even if what they say isn't as positive as you would like. For one thing, after they've read what you've written, whenever you see them they'll ask you about your writing and submissions. It's like having someone peering over your shoulder to remind you to keep working. This past weekend I had a few of my friends ask about my writing

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-48191078782605846982008-04-23T10:29:00.001-04:002008-04-23T10:32:12.865-04:00

Here's one I need to get me back into writing mode."Be assured that you'll always have time for the things you put first."-Liane Steele

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-1749110407338784342008-04-21T21:12:00.002-04:002008-04-21T21:30:29.041-04:00

I seem to be in a reading phase instead of a writing phase. I try to get into writing but invariably I find myself reading something instead. I believe reading is important for writers. It helps expand your awareness of styles and ways of seeing things, but it shouldn't keep one from actually writing for prolonged periods. Or should it?Does a writer have to write on a daily or on a every

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-89327438265218050782008-04-16T15:05:00.001-04:002008-04-17T15:58:02.897-04:00

"Writers aren't exactly people.... they're a whole bunch of people trying to be one person."F. Scott FitzgeraldThere are times this is exactly how I feel and it can be quite crowded then. Thank goodness for keyboards since I can type much faster than I could ever write longhand.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-39594390862310909372008-04-13T15:59:00.003-04:002008-04-13T16:32:19.442-04:00

Every time I think our house is getting ready to settle into a nice, predictable rut, everything changes. The latest big change involves my husband and precisely where he is working. He's working from home. From our dining room to be precise.This is requiring some adjustment for everyone, as you can imagine. Mostly for him though. Since I work from our living room, a mere twenty feet away

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-35543100001853426762008-03-31T15:12:00.002-04:002008-03-31T15:35:48.904-04:00

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.-Maya AngelouEvery writer lives with this one everyday, I think. The trick is in telling the story so others will want to read it.

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-30334810225257320952008-03-28T09:00:00.000-04:002008-03-28T09:08:26.919-04:00

I thought I'd check in on how my New Year's Goals are holding up. We're a quarter of the way through the year and I must admit to faltering on a couple. Okay, maybe a few. But not all. No, I have kept to some of them.First- Posting on my Blog at least once a week. Well, I haven't quite made that, but I've come pretty close. Close enough I think.Second- Finish laying my back walkway pavers. I'm

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-25838945242041454352008-03-26T02:20:00.000-04:002008-03-26T14:20:23.350-04:00

You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.-Isaac AsimovThis is an excellent point. If you've finished a work. It needs to be sent out to publishers or agents until

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-60469860375207275472008-03-21T20:51:00.005-04:002008-03-21T21:32:07.886-04:00

Baseball season has begun! No, I'm not talking about MLB. I'm referring to Little League Baseball! Yes, that sport which has become an integral part of my life and my family's lives for the last twelve years. I've been a parent of a Little League Player, and wife to a Little League Coach. The players have changed since they can only play from age 5 -12, but the Coach hasn't. He has gotten

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-8783372625962792782008-03-03T12:59:00.003-05:002008-03-11T12:36:14.286-04:00

If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.-Stephen King

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-30136996536120101152008-03-03T12:30:00.004-05:002008-05-09T09:52:14.225-04:00

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”-Eleanor RooseveltThis is one that helps me deal with people who belittle others, and it helps me deal with my teenagers when they are feeling especially obstinate. :-)

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-44791643535991955662008-02-26T15:47:00.005-05:002008-03-03T11:54:04.800-05:00

I've noticed while reading many writer's websites and blogs that they often have a title for a book before they have written it. Is creating a title easy for them? The search for a unique and interesting title that will grab someone immediately is a great challenge. Is the title simple and eye-catching? Does it tell something about the story or the characters? Or is it a reference to some

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-52565717572244162282008-02-22T19:00:00.004-05:002008-02-22T23:02:03.550-05:00

This was a writing exercise I did some time ago. I like the idea, but it still needs a ton of work, not to mention it's unfinished. Tonight we needed to get the vamp that had been killing people away from his target. Not an easy task, but we were not without resources. I managed to locate him, sitting near the back of the theater. It was Jacob’s job to try and convince the other people sitting

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-81753770358757389932008-02-12T14:41:00.000-05:002008-02-12T14:46:48.294-05:00

"Dreams become reality when intentions become actions."-unknown

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-66581867251604999172008-02-06T20:22:00.000-05:002008-02-06T20:36:36.140-05:00

Valentine's Day is coming up, do you have anything special planned? I must admit, I don't. Fortunately, my husband understands and doesn't expect anything special for the day. I'm a bit unusual in that I don't get all wrapped up in dates and things. We got our anniversary engraved on the inside of our rings so we'd remember the date. We both still forget it. The worst was the year we had asked

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-83027337246816745442008-01-31T10:21:00.000-05:002008-02-03T20:04:08.462-05:00

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."-George EliotI particularly like this quote. It reminds us that just because we are living a life it doesn't mean we have to give up on our dreams. People tend to get caught up in the day to day trivia of life and put off their personal hopes and dreams and then one day decide that they are too old to accomplish them. Rubbish. There are people

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-87805667514526371722008-01-21T21:22:00.000-05:002008-01-21T22:02:05.888-05:00

Well, I have one more day of enjoying the warmth of sunny Phoenix and then I head home to Virginia, where it's currently 23 degrees. It's about 57 here, so I know it's going to be an adjustment. One I'm not looking forward to either. Of course, I know most of the continent is having a serious deep freeze and will certainly not sympathize with my plight particularly since many places are

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-4276275794050706922008-01-16T12:11:00.000-05:002008-01-16T13:03:30.339-05:00

Well, I just completed my first trip on an airplane with a pet. A dog to be specific. Overall, things went quite well, but I wouldn't recommend it as a regular event.I was returning an adorable 17 pound Fox Wire Terrier to his momma in Phoenix. I was traveling from Washington D.C. so this meant a long flight. Looking back, I should have examined exactly where my layover would place me and how

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-68656437500258966002008-01-02T12:13:00.000-05:002008-01-20T14:42:33.155-05:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I did once I got away from the problems at home. We had a great trip out to Phoenix and we had a very unconventional Christmas, but it was a lot of fun and no one was disappointed, particularly once we returned and opened the gifts from the local relatives. Suffice it to say, Grandpa was very good to us this year.After much fiddling, a trip to Home

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-10897013990635502992007-12-19T10:15:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:15:07.505-05:00

Well, life has been challenging and things keep going wrong, but I'm leaving for Arizona today for the holidays and so I will leave behind the problems with my house and vehicles and focus on having a good time while away. For those of you that have been following my trials and tribulations, I did get my new washer and dryer yesterday, but the installers broke the valve that brings the water

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-57317730719275497272007-12-15T19:20:00.000-05:002008-01-20T14:42:50.169-05:00

Well, this end of year is proving to be a challenging one for me, but that's not really that unusual. It often times is. This year however, I've tried to remain calm and not get spastic about the details. I fear I may have succeeded too well. Since for the first time ever we will be out of town for the week of Christmas and my husband has been traveling this month, we postponed our Winter

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-76548758303435579002007-12-04T16:35:00.000-05:002007-12-06T23:37:18.072-05:00

Welcome to December!I finished NaNoWriMo with just over 72,000 words on my novel. I actually was writing all the way up to midnight and got closer to 74K, but it was 12:02 when I paused, too late to add to my final word count on NaNo. That's okay though. I had a blast, learned a lot and wrote what I think is a pretty good book. Of course, I haven't gone back and re-read it yet, well not much

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-5337474505691305972007-11-29T16:37:00.000-05:002007-11-29T16:44:10.288-05:00

Okay, I wrote the 50,000 words for NaNo, but the story wasn't over. It could have been, but I didn't like the loose ends that would be left hanging, unanswered. So I continue to write, and now my characters have taken over. Everytime I think I'm getting close to the end, something new happens to throw things off and send me down a whole new branch of information. I really like some the things

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-64396549446185027102007-11-24T18:08:00.000-05:002007-11-24T18:20:55.643-05:00

I did it! I'm a winner of NaNoWriMo!Well, it won't be official until tomorrow when official validation starts, but I did it, I wrote 50,000 words between November 1 and November 30, or in my case, Nov. 23rd. I am quite proud of my accomplishment, but even more I'm glad I joined this NaNoWriMo thing for the overall experience.It has really changed the way I look at my own writing and how I go

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-86995374115377053772007-11-18T14:09:00.000-05:002007-11-18T14:36:18.237-05:00

Well, this NaNoWriMo thing has really taught me a lot about how I write. I do quite well with a deadline. Now, I've tried to impose a deadline on myself before, but it just never seems real and it never works as one. I write as it strikes me or when it's convenient and I'm struggling with the story, or I write to avoid cleaning my house. Well, sometimes at least.I wasn't sure I'd be able to

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-77915250213421575522007-11-12T07:31:00.000-05:002008-01-20T14:42:10.124-05:00

As of today, November 12th, I have 25269 words down for NaNoWriMo. Not bad. Especially considering my schedule had been all out of whack this past week. I had an unexpected trip out of town and several days when I just couldn't get any writing done.I've discovered a few reasons why joining this group is a good idea even if you write regularly all the time. There is a sense of community with

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-45486293493965194242007-11-02T15:05:00.000-04:002007-11-02T15:24:23.196-04:00

I've started writing for NaNoWriMo. If you aren't familiar with it, check it out here.It's a challenge to write 50,000 words in one month. For some that seems like an impossibility and for others, it's a piece of cake. For me, it depends on the day of the week. Sometimes the words flow like a flood and others I can't get a complete sentence out. The first day I wrote over 3,000 words, so far

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-12330402957019360342007-10-30T14:59:00.000-04:002008-01-20T14:43:15.967-05:00

Well, I finally managed to finish my first book and get up enough nerve to send it out to an agent. Unfortunately, a miracle did not occur and it was politely rejected. With a postcard. Ouch.Okay, I've passed that hurdle. I've had a rejection and I didn't die. Now that wasn't so bad. I did flinch though.Now I know I'm really an optimist. Only an optimist could have believed that the first agent

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-36006527021337984932007-07-25T19:38:00.000-04:002007-07-31T07:39:04.473-04:00

Well, I've finished my first book and now I'm on to the next project. The transition took longer than I thought it would since I couldn't concentrate on anything for a time. I discovered that my first story had something else to say and so I had to go back and take care of that.Now, I can really focus on the story that was urging me to write it. My schedule has been altered for a good portion of

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-62814276867066651542007-06-24T10:04:00.000-04:002007-06-24T10:18:06.577-04:00

Now that I've finished a book and I'm ready to try and have it published I need to compose a query letter. Who would have thought that writing could be so difficult for a writer? I've looked at sample letters and read a variety of books and blogs that give great advice, but still I find myself struggling with writing a simple letter.To be honest, it's not just the query letter that is messing

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-6447962899319230172007-06-08T12:11:00.000-04:002007-06-08T12:22:25.839-04:00

Well, I finally did it. I've let someone else read my book. Actually a couple of people. Two of my close friends are currently reading my book in between the activities of their busy lives. And they want to read more! I'm soooo happy. I knew that I liked my story, but I had never had anyone actually read my writing before, well, not since I wrote poetry in high school.I've been sending them a

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-65881556684257187312007-05-23T20:21:00.001-04:002007-05-23T21:00:08.848-04:00

And now for something a little different. And amazingly accurate, at least for me.You Are An IrisYou are a unique person who seeks out novelty in life.An inspiration seeker, you often have to change scenery to recharge.You don't deal well with structure or rules. You need to do it your own way.Your ideal relationships are free and flowing. No one can tie you down.What Flower Are You?

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32239065.post-58204501310412730412007-05-09T16:31:00.000-04:002007-05-09T16:43:50.440-04:00

Okay, I'm still not finished. I've reached a difficult point near the end of this book and now my real life has taken over completely. I've been running around dealing with all the chaos of my family and their commitments and I must admit, I've avoided my story.I know I need to get back to it, but I'm not quite sure what is going to happen next in order to end it. The characters seem to be going

Virginia Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16641613214603672322noreply@blogger.com1