314. Never know what you'll find

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

First off, Laci over Long, Slow, Beautiful Dance tagged me! She wants me too all of you out there six odd things about me, so here I go.

1. I have a huge fear of snakes. Even the sight of them on television or on a movie screen bothers me. They showed a preview for snakes on a plane before X-men Friday, and I had to cover my face.


2. I have this horrible habit of biting my fingernails. I have never been able to rid myself of it.


3. I also have another horrible habit of grinding my teeth in my sleep. It’s so bad one of my very back teeth is worn almost all the way down to the gum.


4. I have a fear of flame, any kind of fire. Chemistry labs were fun. I always had to have a partner do anything with flame.


5. I have a huge love for the paranormal. I love ghosts and stories of ghosts. I’ve had a few experiences with them myself, and they just interest me.


6. Although, I love the paranormal, I’m afraid of the dark. Perhaps one too many brushing with ghosts?

I never really like tagging anyone cause I never know who out there is reading, or who has already done this!

My schedule feels all out of whack lately. I’d usually plan my week by what shows were on air that week. Now most of the shows are off for the year. I don’t remember the last time I had nothing to watch and review on a Tuesday night. It’s kind of nice, but it is throwing me off. I know I’m in what is an adjustment period, so I’m sure I’ll get rid of this off balanced lazy feeling eventually.

For those that come here regularly, you might notice a new name for this blog. I had been thinking of changing the name for about a week now. I’d have the same name since I started, and while I liked One Writer’s Rambles, I just thought it was time for a change. I decided on Inside My Wild Mind because for some reason I think it just fits me better. This blog is all me and my mind, and I can be a bit wild in my thoughts at times, so there you have it.

I’ve been making headway I think with my fiction. Sometimes do you ever feel like you have to go back to move forward? I am thinking that might be what I have to do myself. Go back in order to move forward. When I began focusing on my fiction writing a few years ago, I began by jumping into fan fiction. I had a site, and it is still out there somewhere with people still reading. I won’t link it here because I think my writing has improved so much since those early stories.

So I’ve decided to try jumping back into writing by using my roots in fan fiction. I might try a different fandom. I’ve revived my fiction blog, Eroticisms Fiction. I also made a place for my fiction on live journal. I see that is still where most of the fan fiction people seem to hang out. It’s where I got my start, so I know my way around. Maybe some challenges, some prompts and some new directions will wake up my sleeping muses. At least that is what I’m hoping.

Don’t forget to check out my Blog of the Week. NYC Watchdog is still on my sidebar for one more day. Go check out what he is talking about lately. I know I was interested in his thoughts on some of the current BlogExplosion drama.

313. Memorial Day Weekend

Sunday, May 28, 2006

It’s been a couple of days since my last post. I never did get around to Thursday Thirteen, and I’m not sure I’ll continue doing it in any case. I don’t think I have to make a list of thirteen things to find something to write about in here. In any case, I took some time away from blogging the last couple of days because I could. With the television season ending, I’m looking at shows to cover on my review site for the summer. When the year began, I was actually what would happen over the summer. Three months of downtime would kill any blog, but I’ve found four or five shows to cover in the months ahead, and I’m confident that they will work well with my readers and myself. I won’t watch a show just to review it. I actually have to like the show too.

Friday morning, I did go out to see X-men 3. I was there for one of the noon showings, and I really liked the movie. It had its problems, but the movie isn’t supposed to be rocket science. It’s based on a comic. I have my review of the film up now over at One Couch Critic. Just know I totally recap and review the movie, so don’t go over if you don’t want to be majorly spoiled if you haven’t seen the movie.

I really can’t believe summer is here already. It’s been in the hundreds here already, and it isn’t even June yet. You have to expect that though living in Arizona. The air conditioning was so cold in the theater the other day though, I nearly froze. When I was there, I thought I saw my ex-boyfriend. We haven’t talked in a couple of years, and we broke up ten years ago now. Time flies doesn’t it? I could almost swear it was him. Same style dress. Some look. He even stopped for a second to look at me, but my brother says I’m crazy and it wasn’t him. It was just odd and unexpected. I’d see him going to see that movie the first day too.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my writing lately. I call myself an aspiring writer, but really I don’t know if I fall into that category anymore. When it comes down to it, I’m a writer. I’m a writer that is paid to write. It might not be much yet, but it is monthly and steady. It isn’t hit and miss. So when you think of it, I’m no longer just aspiring. In any case, I was also thinking that being called an aspiring writer is really silly. You’re either a writer or you’re not. If you write, it doesn’t matter if you write articles or stories. For some, it isn’t even about the money. If you enjoy putting down words on the screen or paper, and if you have some skill at it then you are a writer.

Maybe this huge writer’s block when it comes to my fiction the last couple of months isn’t because I’m really blocked. Maybe I know somewhere in the back of my head, what I needed to work on at the time. Maybe I needed to get what I needed done in order to move onto fiction, or perhaps I’m not meant to be a fiction writer at all. I’m still pondering that one. Perhaps, I just need the write story to come to me. Sort of like what happened with the story I submitted. No word on that yet either.

I just love to write. I wrote a fifteen hundred review on a movie, and I didn’t even notice it until the very end. I watch and review shows because I enjoy doing it. I also role-play, and I also enjoy that more interactive type writing as well. I wrote a scene last night with another person, and it was great just bouncing our characters off of someone else. I know I’ve said this before, but writing is just in me. I’ll write what I need to write and what comes to me. Maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself. Writing should be fun too. If it isn’t fun, then you’re doing something wrong.

Have a great Memorial Day everyone. I might pop in tomorrow, but if I don’t I’ll see you on Tuesday. Don’t forget to check out my Blog of the Week on my sidebar. NYC Watchdog has had some thumbnail issues with BlogExplosion this week, but he’s still over there. Go over and tell him I sent you!

312. This day started bad!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Well, its barely noon in my timezone, but I'm already asking for a do over I think. The day actually started off bad when shortly after midnight my cat decided to have a little accident all over my clothes. I won't say more on that one. Then I went to change for bed, and I found the jersey I always sleep in missing. My brother did a small load of laundry yesterday, and it was in there.

Well, apparently someone stole it from the dryer because he remembers putting it in the washer, then the dryer, but he doesn't remember folding it. Who in the world steals a six year old jersey? I loved that thing. It was the only thing I felt comfortable sleeping in. We used to have this problem with our building laundry before, but I thought we were past that!

To top it off, my review site got hit by some kind of awful spambot this morning before I came on. There were between 20 and 30 emails of anonymous spam comments in my email when I checked just now, and they are throughout the site. I don't even think I'm going to bounce all over and delete them all. I guess I need to turn on word verification over there. I was hoping I wouldn't have to!

Everything isn't bad though. My blog here was finally accepted as a renter on another blog. I'd been trying since last week to find a spot to host me for a week, and one came through last night. So thanks to Valkyrie at Neurotic Nonsense. Don't forget to check out my Blog of the Week while you're here!

I also survived a full television season. When the screen faded to black at the end of last night's Lost, I was done for the year. Lost was great last night, but I hate having to wait until October now. Seeing Prince on American Idol made my night too. I have recaps of both on review site. My summer season begins tonight with the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance. I was hoping to take a week off, but after tonight I'll get my wish because some of the other shows I'm covering this summer don't start for a couple of weeks yet.

I know its Thursday, and I started doing Thursday Thirteen last week, but I'm drawing a blank right now. I know I am still in the picking the meme's that work for me process, and I love Click & Comment and Wordless Wednesdays. So those might end up being the two I stick with. I'll see if I can come up with a list later.

I have a lot more to say, a lot on my mind lately, but right now I can't think of any of it! So I'll save it for next time. Have a great Thursday everyone.

311. New Blog of The Week!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

I have a new blog taking up residence in my sidebar this week, and that blog is A Pile of Dog Bones. I'm more of a cat person, but I didn't let that stop me from renting my blog space to NYC's Watchdog. He is a writer and an EMT, and he is uses his blog to hopefully get rid of that nasty thing called writer's block. I've been reading his blog daily the last couple of weeks, and I really like it there. I think you will too. I particularly enjoy his Oogle Monday posts because writer's always need to find inspiration for their characters wherever they can. Taking a look at his profile, we share a lot of the same interests. Someone that puts down Pump Up The Volume as one of their favorite movies and enjoys Star Wars is a-okay in my book. Why don't you take a moment and hop on over to his place for a bit, let him know Gina sent you! To my other possible blog hopefuls, Jessafran and My Corner Of The Web, please try again in the future.

Wordless Wednesday #2

I can't wait until Friday. Anyone else going to see X3 this weekend?

Only leave your link if you're participating in Wordless Wednesday.



technorati tag: wordless wednesday

309. Wanting More

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Do you ever feel like you’re always searching for something more? Something different. Something that will catch your interest and hold it for longer than just a moment. I feel like that sometimes. I want to do something more. I want something to grab onto me writing wise and not let go. It doesn’t matter what it is.

May it be nonfiction, fiction, or some other type of writing. I just want something to grab me. Not a lot is right now. My fiction muses are sound asleep, but I expected they might be with all I’m doing this month. I know the end is near. I just keep looking for things though, and I need to stop doing that. I know that is easier said than done, but I know I need to wake up my fiction muses eventually.

This morning, my kitten Mikey was being a terror. I didn’t get hardly any sleep. He was so bad that I had to leave my room and steal my dad’s bed for an hour until he settled down. Once I came back to my bed, he was as quiet as a mouse. My brother has nicknamed Mikey, The Beast of The Desert, otherwise known as Junior X. So many names for one cat. We’ve also called him Charlie because he loves tuna.

Tonight, I watched the series finale for Alias, and I found it to be a more satisfying end than I did for Will & Grace. Strange, but good. I was sad to see some of the deaths, but they told us people would die. Now we have American Idol and Lost finishing up over the next couple of days. I think I want to see Kat win this week. I heard today she was performing with Meat Loaf on the finale, and I can’t wait to see that. I’m wondering what song she will sing with him. I’m excited for Lost too.

However right now, I’m tired! Don’t forget to check out my Blog of the Week! Utenzi will be wrapping up his stay with me soon.

308. Another Monday!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Did anyone else catch 10.5 Apocalypse tonight on NBC? It was the first part of two. I know the movie is cheesy as hell, but I got a kick out of it. It was nice to just sit and watch something I didn't have to analyze and think about to write on.


Another Monday is upon us. Even though it is not morning yet, I wanted to post this really quickly now before I headed off to bed. I'll be hopping around once I wake up, commenting and checking in on everyone. You can read more about Click & Comment Monday in last Monday's post here.

While you're here, check out my headlines on my other blogs, and if you see something that catches your eye, hop on over and take a look. If you're taking part in Click & Comment, leave your link in the auto-link and let me know! Please don't leave your link if you're not taking part.

307. Preakness upset

Saturday, May 20, 2006

I survived hell week, as I had been calling this week since like two weeks ago. I knew with all the season finales and the upfront in NYC this week, I’d have a lot to write about. Some may think because one writes about television and celebrities, it is fairly easy. No, its not rocket science either, but I have to put my mind to it and focus. I like to give as much detail to my recaps as I can, so if someone misses an episode, they can feel pretty up to date on whatever happened that week, so they don’t feel they missed anything. That takes focus.

I spend anywhere from five to six hours a day working on my reviews and my entertainment blog. Sometimes less. Sometimes more. Now that I know what next season’s schedule looks like, I can start to plan what shows I will cover on my review site. The schedule will stay mostly the same, but I’m already trying to figure out how I’m going to cover three shows in one time slot when my DVR will only let me watch and tape two at the same time. I don’t have one that will tape two and let me watch one, or I’d be set.

Today, I watched The Preakness. A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the first race in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, and its winner. This weekend, the same horse, Barbaro, was set to win again. This time though tragedy struck. After a false start by the horse, he then injured his back leg and had to pull out mid-race. It didn’t look good, and it is likely the horse will never race again.

In fact, the vet said as much when he was interviewed. The vet did say the injury didn’t look life threatening, but they couldn’t be sure of that until they did X-rays and looked at the horse more closely.  The crowd in the stands was upset as many shed tears over the loss of Barbaro. It is severe fracture, and I hope they don’t have to put him down.

In other news, there was some great television this week. Was I the only one that wasn’t too happy with the Will & Grace finale? Maybe because I hadn’t watched the show religiously in a bit, but it just didn’t feel like a proper ending to me. Now with most of the season finales out of the way, I can turn my focus elsewhere. I’ll only be covering a few shows over the summer starting with the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance on Thursday night. As many of you might recall, I covered that series for Blogcritics last season. Now my reviews will be up on my review site only.

I’ve been looking to change the template on this blog lately, and I thought I found the perfect one today, but it won’t work properly with the javascript from my auto-linker. I’ll keep looking, but for now I changed this one up a bit. I didn’t like the last background so much after I put it up. I think that’s all for now. Have a wonderful night everyone.

306. Thursday Thirteen #1

Thursday, May 18, 2006

As I mentioned back on Monday, I planned to jump into more of the weekly memes. The three I chose to jump in are Click & Comment, Wordless Wednesday and Thursday Thirteen. I'm enjoying getting out there and meeting more bloggers than just those in my little writing blogs corner. Thanks to everyone that stopped by yesteray and commented on my new picture of Mikey. I took that just a few minutes before I posted it. He actually cooperated for once!

As for Mikey, he's doing well. Still tiny. My brother and I are starting to think he might have been younger than they said he was when we adopted him from the animal shelter. Maybe even a couple of weeks earlier. He also seems to have some allergies, but he's growing by leaps and bounds daily, so we're not too worried.


Now onto to today's Thursday Thirteen. My list this week has to do with the fall schedule announcements happening this week. All the networks have now announced their schedules for next season, and I've been covering them for my entertainment blog throughout the week. My thoughts on The CW and FOX schedule announcements from this morning will be posted later on today. With the schedules being announced, we also learned the fate of some shows we hoped would be returning next year, but we now know they aren't.

Thirteen Shows I Wish Were Returning Fall 2006

1. Surface: I really loved this show. I watched it each and every week, and I fell in love with the characters. Sure, the plot was a bit out there, but the series made it work. I just don't think NBC ever gave it a real shot. Only fifteen episodes in a season that ended in February. I had a feeling it wouldn't be back.
2. Threshold: Another series that just wasn't given a chance. This time by CBS. I actually really enjoyed this. Yes, another weird plot, but it felt sort of X-files like, and I liked the cast and their characters.
3. In Justice: I was really sad to see ABC didn't pick up this show for next season. I started watching it when it premiered midseason on Friday's, and it really pulled me in.
4. NightStalker: This series scared me, and I hated how they yanked it so early on in the season. I think Sci-fi channel plans to air the episodes this summer though, so that is a good thing.
5. Pepper Dennis: This is the latest cancellation I've heard about. The CW announced its first fall schedule this morning, and Pepper Dennis was not listed on it. I hope this doesn't mean its gone for good, but I think it does. I really loved this quirky show though, and I thought it was perfect for Rebecca Romijn.
6. Courting Alex: I think schedule moves hurt this show. What I saw of it, I liked, and I think if given a more solid time slot others would have too.
7. Freddie: I really loved Freddie and his family, the best friend across the hall. I loved it all, and I watched every week. ABC had something good there, but it is being let go.
8. Still Standing: I just found this series this year, and it reminded me of a Roseanne in Reverse. I liked it, and when I heard it was ending its run I stopped watching. Why get attached?
9. Conviction: NBC hyped this one up so much this year, and now its being given the ax. I saw it a few times, and it was a good show.
10. Arrested Development: I don't watch this one much, but I know a lot of fans that do. I think FOX screwed them around a bit, and now it looks like there is no hope for this series to return.
11. Commander-in-Chief: The main star of the show wins a Golden Globe, and you put the show on two months hiatus? Then you bring it back, take it off again, and now you kill it? They are thinking about doing a television movie, but still I think ABC really dropped the ball here.
12. Alias: I just got into this show during season four, but I really liked it. I feel they are rushing to end it.
13. Will & Grace: I know its had a long run, but I still wish it wasn't going after tonight's episode.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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305. Wordless Wednesday #1

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Fresh Picture of my kitten Mikey

304. New Blog of the Week

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

I have chosen my new Blog of the Week. This week we have residing in my sidebar, Utenzi blog, which is the blog of a male scientific researcher. He's a heavy battler over at Battle of the Blogs, so I see him often, and I always enjoy stopping to see his entries. Today is his 45th birthday, so hop on over to wish him Happy Birthday, and read a joke too today!

I'm so exhausted today. Just two more days, and then it will be Friday. I may write about entertainment and television, but my brain is fried. Hope you're all well out there.

303. Some thoughts on Blogexplosion

Yes, another post from me. I think I might have found a second wind with this blog because a bit of time there I was at a loss of what exactly to write. I've made some changes in the past week, so I'm focusing more on this blog, and once things settle down I hope to work hard on my fiction over the summer months. Still no word on the submission, so everyone keep their fingers crossed for me on that one.

As I mentioned in my Click & Comment Monday post, I had some thoughts on Blogexplosion. I've mentioned that site on this blog before a great deal, and it is included in my traffic exchange review report. I still think it is one of the better blog traffic exchanges out there, and things only seem to be getting better as time goes on. They keep adding new things to play with and help you earn credits that will drive traffic to your site.

In the last couple of weeks, Blogexplosion was taken over by new owners, and when something such as that happens, you have to worry if there will be any bumps in the road. There really haven't been though. Things continue to run smoothly. I've been thinking a lot about two of Blogexplosion's services, and those are Rent My Blog and Battle of the Blogs.

I use both a great deal. Rent My Blog is how I get my Blog of the Week every week. I pick a new blog for that spot tonight actually. I'm a picky landlord, and I'm an even pickier renter. I have only rented space on other blog for myself twice. I actually stopped looking for myself for awhile, but lately I've been out looking to rent again, and I've noticed how high some of the rents are for what you get in return.

Some are charging over between 50 to 100 credits for just one to two unique visitors. To me that seems a bit much. If you're charging that much, I think the person deserves just a bit more than that. I charge about 50 credits, but the renter gets at least ten unique visitors, several entry mentions, and I think I'm an okay landlord now. Before, not so much. You learn as you go. I rent space both on here and on my review site. I have no control on my entertainment blog's sidebar, so I can't there.

When it comes to renting space for myself, I look at blogs where I think my blogs will fit best. Bloggers that share a common interest or similar content. I look back at their histories and see how much they are charging. I've bid on a few blogs this week, but I haven't been chosen yet. I'm learning renting space is not easy. There are so many blogs out there, and people want to rent. As a landlord, I know how hard it is to pick that one blog for the week.

As for Battle of the Blogs, there has been some changes there too. Late last week, the number of credits you could put up per battle was raised. Instead of 10 - 100, battlers could wager anywhere from 25 - 200. This made it just a bit more fast paced, and voters can earn higher credits just by voting. A 200 wager battle earns the voter 8 credits for about forty seconds of viewing time. This is way more than what one can earn surfing. Surfing one earns a half credit for each 30 seconds.

You can make more battling I think. I know that I have this week. I'm still surfing, but I surf battles now too. It helps builds credits, and it helps you get your sites seen and read. That's what we all want in the end. For someone else to read what we have to say.

302. The day everything wants to go wrong

Ever have one of those mornings when you wake up and everything wants to go wrong and does. First thing to go wrong happened before the day even began when I got yelled at somewhere around 4am for letting my cat escape into a room he isn't allowed into in the morning.

Then around 6:30 one of my cats, not sure which, ripped one of my posters off the wall. I got up to fix it. At 7am the phone rang, but whoever it was hung up. Then I banged my hand in the door, burned dinner, spilled water everywhere, and I think you get the idea.

Of course the last couple of nights I haven't been sleeping all that well. This week is crazy work wise, and I'll be glad when it is Friday this week. I just need to make it through then. Tonight was Grey's Anatomy. Check my review site for the recap, and I think I cried once with Doc and again with Denny. I thought Denny was so going to pull through. It was great episode though. I don't know what I'll do this summer without Grey's!

Some good did come out of today too. I won a book in a Mother's Day contest held by author Crystal Inman. I won a copy of her latest, Perfect Timing, in e-book format. It is being added to my to be read pile, but I can't wait to read it. So many books to read. So little time!

Thanks to everyone that stopped by today for Click & Comment Monday. I enjoyed reading and commenting today, so I think I'll probably start joining in every week, depending on my schedule, but I really had fun! I hope you're all well out there. I' to dreamland as soonas I finish catching up on my soap operas from today.

301. Click & Comment Monday

Monday, May 15, 2006

Happy Monday Morning everyone. I hope all of you had a wonderful Sunday, and for those mom's out there, you had a wonderful Mother's Day. Over the weekend, I did a lot of thinking about this blog. I missed posting every day, and I'm trying to get back into that a bit. If not every day, at least more than once or twice a week.

I'm also getting better about commenting, and I'm also expanding the blogs I read. i usually stick to blogs of other writer's I find through the forums I belong to, but I was thinking I see so many blogs as I surf every day at Blogexplosion, I should be a better neighbor and I added a number of blogs to my RSS feeder that I seem to find myself stopping to read the most while surfing or battling at Battle of the Blogs.

I also saw a couple of meme's floating around that are done on a weekly basis, so I'm hoping in on those. One of those meme's happens every Monday, and it is called Click & Comment. We all know comments are blogger food, so I think it is a great idea. I already had a couple of comments from it this morning on my review site.

So if you're taking part, feel free to say hi here or hop on over to one of my others blogs and say hello. My review site and my entertainment blog are in the headlines above, and if something catches your eye and you have something to say about it, hop on over and tell me about it. I like to hear other people's thoughts on my reviews and other things.

This is the information for Click & Comment. I'll be blog hopping, battling and commenting throughout the day, so if you stop by let me know and I'll return the favor. I have some thoughts about some of the recent changes at Blogexplosion, but I'll save those for another entry.


On Mondays, Cat has Click & Comment Day. She posted this to remind you how important it is to comment on other blogs. It truly DOES increase your readership and you most often gain regulars that will visit your blog day after day.

What I encourage is for you to click my renter. Then, you comment on the blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Then you comment on that blog and click their renter or someone on their blogroll. Do this for as many blogs as you can. Sometimes they go full circle, and you end up at the originating blog, then just look up a blog in the blogroll and start the cycle again.

So, let’s get started! Comment here and I’ll either add your name and link to my post or use an auto-link program and let you add your own.

I really encourage you to do this at least to 5 comments if you have ANY time at all. It will give you the joy of sharing a few of your opinions on posts and bring you future readers.

Thanks and enjoy Click & Comment Day!

Are you posting Click & Comment on your blog? Add your name to the list with a link to your blog and I’ll come visit. If you do this you not only gain links but new blog-friends as well.

Enjoy! I’m going to try to do this each Monday. Why not start your week off right?

300. Major League Baseball Goes Pink

Sunday, May 14, 2006

I just heard about this today, so I thought I'd share. For this Mother's Day Sunday, some Major League Baseball players will have special bats to use to hit those homers out of the park. In honor of Mother's Day and to help out the Susan G. Komen Foundation, pink bats will be used during today's games, and once the games are done the player will sign the bat, and it will go up for auction. All proceeds going to the foundation. One team bat will also be signed and that too will go up for auction.

Breast cancer is something that has touched every person's life in some way. Whether it be a mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin or a friend. Chances are you've known someone that has had this disease. Good news is the disease is treatable when caught early enough.

Television shows in recent years have also stepped up to make people more aware of the disease and its treatment. In recent months on The L Word, Erin Daniels' character Dana died of breast cancer. On Guiding Light, there is a current story line of one of the major long standing characters, Reva Shayne-Lewis, developing breast cancer. I've been tuning in to watch that play out in recent weeks. Both characters are strong women, and seeing them deal with this disease is interesting. Life doesn't always work as the death of Dana showed on The L Word. Fans were angered by her death, but it was played out well.

I applaud Major League Baseball for standing up like this for this great cause. Every little bit helps. Don't forget to check out my Blog of the Week on my sidebar! Today is its last day! I'll be selecting a new one sometime tomorrow. Also, I just noticed this is my three hundredth entry. I never imagined when I began this blog in March of 2005, I'd still be here 300 entries later, but here I am. Here's looking at 300 more.

299. Moving Forward or standing still?

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Do you ever find yourself asking that very question? Are you moving forward or standing still? Earlier this week, I felt like I was moving forward. I was seeing progress. And, yes there is some, but I want to see more. I want to do more. I don’t feel like I’ve done nearly enough with my writing yet. I’m getting there, but instead of a race, it is a slow climb.

Shortly after I announced my new Blog of the Week, the blogger behind it commented me to thank me for choosing them and to tell me that my writing success was an inspiration. That also got me thinking too. I don’t feel like much of an inspiration. Sure, I’ve found some success, but I’m not earning enough income to support myself.

In fact, my monthly income isn’t all that much to get excited about, but I do because a year ago I wasn’t even making that much money at all. In fact, I really wasn’t making any. When I started writing about television shows for Blogcritics, I never imagined a year later, I’d have my own review site and I‘d be blogging for another site that actually paid me to talk about television. I never imagined that happening at all.

Watching television is something I’ve always done. I am one of those die-hard television fanatics, and now I’m sharing my love of television with others that share the same interest. However, I still want more. I still want to be able to say someday that I can support myself and live on my own with my writing income.

I want a place of my own. I want somewhere that if I want to walk naked around my apartment at noon everyday, I can. I want somewhere that I can blast my stereo and sing at the top of my lungs, I can. I don’t mind living with my family. My father is not as young as he used to be, so I know I need to cherish this time I do have with him, especially with mom gone going on eleven years now. I just want to be someplace that I can call my own.

I want everything I do to move towards that goal. Right now, I don’t feel like I’m doing that. There are days where I do, and then there are days that I don’t. My fiction writing seems to come and go. My muses are silent, but I have a submission out right now. I had hoped to put something together for Phaze’s latest contest, but after getting a basic idea in my head, I couldn’t get past a few paragraphs. I tried though. The words just aren’t there right now.

I know this coming week is going to be hectic with all the season finales. By the end of May, I should have a bit more time on my hands, and I really would like to do some more with my fiction. Maybe even find some other nonfiction as well. I know its one day a time, but I still don’t feel much forward progress though. Maybe because I’m in the inside, and the world out there sees me and what I’ve done differently. That could be it I suppose.

I want to take this moment to wish all the mother’s out there a Happy Mother’s Day. My own mother is gone, and usually this time of year I hate seeing all the ads and mentions of mother’s day, but this year it didn’t bother me as much. I’m a mom in my own way, if you count furkids. Perhaps time does help heal.

298. When Love Goes Wrong

Monday, May 08, 2006

As a romance writer, I always love a good love story, and I hate to see one go so terribly wrong just as much. News has been buzzing since the winter about the divorce of Jessica Simpson from Nick Lachey. These two were one of my favorite couples, and it looked like they had found their happy ever after so many seek. Then things went wrong, and we're really not sure why.

Today, while I was looking at the various news sites that I use to collect material to write about on my entertainment blog, I saw a story about Jessica saying she didn't want to speak to Nick ever again. He's been out promoting his new CD the last week, and his interviews haven't painted Jessica in much of a positive light.

It really made me sad though. I remember watching the two on MTV's Newlyweds, and how they were. Sure, they had their arguments and problems, just like any other couple. What couple doesn't have problems? When things looked good though, they were really good. Nick surprising her with trips for anniversaries and the like. I was shocked to hear they broke up.

In romance novels, there isn't break-ups, unless they happen in the backstory, and then that person finds their happily ever after with someone new during the story. That is how it works. Life isn't a romance novel though, and sometimes there isn't a happily ever after.

I've listened to Nick's new CD, and some are saying the songs were written post break-up and relate to him and Jessica. There are two sides to every failed love, but the lyrics are so heartbreaking. You really feel for him when you listen. As my brother mentioned to me just a bit ago, Nick is probably a smart man and capitalizing on the break-up, so that means lyrics that could be seen as him getting back at Jessica would sell more records for him. Still its sad though.

No word yet on my submission. I'm still a bit stuck on what to do next. None of the curreent submission calls out there are really grabbing me. I know the next couple of weeks will be a bit crazy with all the season finales, so I'm taking it one day at a time. If something comes to me, I'll grab it then! Check out the new design on my review site!

I also have a new Blog of the Week, The Battle Rock Spot. The blog contains posts about the Battlerockers life and views of the world. Just after a quick inspection of the site, I knew those that stop here on a regular basis would enjoy stopping by! Take a look for yourself. Tell them Gina sent you!

297. Feel Good Kentucky Win

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Earlier today, I was watching the Kentucky Derby with my brother. It is something we do if there is one on television. The Derby is one of the biggest races of the year though, and it is fun to see twenty horses go for it. Today’s winner, Barbaro, was trained by a man that in my mind truly deserved to see his horse win.

Seventeen years ago, Michael Matz was on a plane that crashed just outside of Sioux City, Iowa. He saved three young children on their way to visit their grandparents before running in to save more. Since then he has been an Olympian, and now he trains horses. All three children survived, and they are grown now. They made it a point to be there in Kentucy at Churchill Downs for the race, and they watched the man that saved them train his horse to victory.

I just love stories like these. Good feel good stories about someone that did a good deed and then get that good deed paid back many times over. His horse was favored, but this field of horses was the best they have had in awhile. It really made it hard to see just who would win. Congrats to Barbaro and Michael Matz.

Don’t forget to check out my Blog of the Week! Today is its last day. I’ll be picking a new one by sometime Monday.

296. And the dreaded wait begins

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Well, now the fun begins. Back in September, I submitted a story somewhere, and I got rejected. They did offer some suggestions for improvement, and I’ve been reworking the story ever since. With my schedule, it took this long. With the help of my mentor, I worked hard on this story from January through March. With my goal time the last couple of days, I took one last look at things, and today with my time I formatted the story per the publication’s submission guidelines, and I sent it in just now.

Now I get to wait. The good news the wait shouldn’t be more than a week or two hopefully, and perhaps even sooner. I’ve heard there is fast turnaround with this publication. Back in September, I think it was a few days, so now we’ll just have to see what happens. I’m nervous. I re-submitted to the same publication because I think they are the best fit for the story. I really don’t want another rejection, but if I get one I’ll look elsewhere. I did make a real effort to improve the story, and I hope they notice.

Tonight and Thursday are going to be crazy, so I might take tomorrow off (since I did say five days a week), and then try to tackle something new on Friday. I’m still drawing a blank on what to work on next. There are no stories brewing in my head at the moment.  Hopefully, that will change soon.

295. Fresh month, fresh start ...

Monday, May 01, 2006

May arrives, and with it comes a hopefully renewed outlook and a step forward. I've set some goals for myself in regards to my writing, and this is the day I said would start to work on them. I know I need to get back into the fiction, and there is no time like the present to do it. Now I know some days this month will be a bit on the crazy side with season finales airing left and right. I know this Thursday night will be especially hectic, and adjustments can be made. I want to move forward and not burn out. That won't help.

I'm not setting a page or word count goal because those never seem to work for me. I am setting myself a time goal. I know I can find thirty minutes to an hour each day to work on my fiction. I want to do this at least five days a week. That is my goal. I know I can do it. I'm cutting out some stuff or at least pondering cutting out some stuff. We'll see how keeping to the goal goes right now with my current schedule. Then I can decide if things need to be cut. One step at a time.

As some of you can see when you stop by today, I have a new blog look. I thought the sun was fitting because it is currently 97 degrees, and tomorrow we are reported to hit our first one hundred of the year. Living in Arizona, those only seem to come earlier and earlier each year. Now we'll have the hot weather through October. Fun right?

The poor cats are being kept indoors now. Each day we let the kitten and our older cat out on our back patio to sun and laze around. We live upstairs, so there is nowhere for them to go. Now with the heat, letting them out won't happen as much. They don't want to go out anyway in the heat. When given the option of a free door to go out or staying in, they stay in. Smart cats.

Well, I'm off. Along with the time goal, I set a time of day for me to do it. That time is just about now, so I should find something to do. While you're here, check out my new Blog of The Week, Fragile Musings. It is the blog of another woman and fellow cat lover, so why don't you hop on over and take a look. Tell her Gina sent you.