These Pictures Meme Something

Meme time!

1) Post ten pictures on your hard drive you feel are self-expressive. Further instructions at K.V. Taylor's. I have only six.

Otterly Fun

Yes, I otter be writing instead of surfing the web, stumbling upon awwwwwwwwwww inducing critter pictures.

*Quick, think of a relevant writing question, Bec.*

So, have any of you written a story with critters, whether cute or vile? Me, a chimera named Rocky in "The One Big Catch" and General Arturo, a mutated cockroach in "The Someday Uprising". Fun stuff, playing god, crafting creatures, one of the perks of writing, don't you think?

Before

I'm renovating my living room. If you're anything like me, and for your sake I hope you're not, you liken home improvement to a pregnancy: a long arduous process that inevitably yields something you'll love forever.

For example, I'd like to paint this room a dark blue; problem is, I can't find the right shade. Sherwin William's Downpour comes close, but since I'm a superstitious soul I think that's just begging for trouble, right? Anyway, isn't choosing a paint color kinda/sorta like picking a name for your child? A name can make or break a kid on a playground.

Also, I've picked out my couch and the fabric moniker is Shelly Camel--ahhhhh, lovely. It repels all evil, interwoven with kryptonite fibers. But yikes, this couch costs more than the Blue Book value of my car! Given this sticker shock I've amended my will, instructing I shall be buried in the thing, just tuck me in it as if it were a hot dog roll.

Crap, my comparison falls apart at this point . . . I'm gonna go suckle a decorative pillow soaked in cheap Pinot Grigio and pray this labor is short.

First and Last Sentence Magazine

What a novel idea, Editor Edward Simon, and thanks for this opportunity. The first and last sentence of my 99.9% unwritten novel--I do have a skeletal outline rattling around in my noggin, though--is posted at First and Last Sentence Magazine. I must confess to feeling bemused given I'm a most reluctant novelist. Maybe I'll write this thing after all. The title Spectral Tide isn't quite right, but it will do for now.

Becca's Matinee

Well, everyone is doing this soooo . . .

1. Name a movie you've seen more than ten times.

A Christmas Story. Ain't Christmas without it.

2. Name a movie you've seen in a theatre multiple times.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.

Yes, I'm cheating here. Paul Giamatti, Eric Bana, Will Smith. *All three in one movie, oh please, dear sweet Jesus.*

4. Name an actor that would make you less inclined to see a movie.

Adam Sandler

5. Name a movie you can and do quote from.

Monty Python movies, especially The Life of Brian. " . . . we found this spoon."

6. Name a movie you know all the lyrics to all the songs.

The Sound of Music. Doesn't everyone?

7. Name a movie you've been know to sing along with.

All of them. That's the whole point.

8. Name a movie you would recommend everyone see.

I feel all US citizens should watch at least one Frank Capra movie other than It's a Wonderful Life before they die. My favorites are It Happened One Night and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

9. Name a movie you own.

I have quite a few Martial Arts movies.

10. Name an actor who launched their entertainment career in another medium but who has surprise you.

Queen Latifah

11. Have you ever seen a movie at a drive-in? If so, what?

101 Dalmatians. I was, what, six-years old? Cruella was a ga-zillion stories high . . . I don't know what the hell my parents were thinking . . . a character builder, I guess.

12. Name the movie you keep meaning to see.

Reservoir Dogs

13. Ever walked out of a movie?

Came close with Eyes Wide Shut. Cruise cannot act and even Stanley couldn't coax it out of him.

14. Name a movie that made you cry in the theatre.

Oh lots. On Golden Pond was the worst-- "you old poop!"

15. What was the last movie you saw in a theatre?

Night at the Museum II

16. What's the first movie you recall seeing in a theatre?

Herbie the Love Bug

17. What's you preferred genre of movie?

Romantic Comedy. And they don't make them like they used to--fa!

18. What movie do you wish you'd never seen?

He's Just Not That Into You. Whiny-cynical-self-absorbed much?

19. What's the weirdest movie you've ever enjoyed.

Zardoz

20. What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?

I'm right back where I started with A Christmas Story . . . " you'll shoot your eye out, kid, ho, ho, ho."

Frank McCourt . . .

. . has died. May he rest in peace. Here's a short, interesting article he wrote about his memoirs.

Lorelei Signal Acceptance

My slapstick-romantic-comedy-fantasy-with-just-a-twist-of-horror short story "When Opposites Attack" was accepted by Lorelei Signal and will appear in the October issue. I'm so tickled I'm gonna "Sing, Sing, Sing". Now I know some of you would rather tweeze your eyebrows with salad tongs than listen to Big Band music. Trust me, watching these guys swing is joy incarnate, especially drummer Gene Krupa.* The high-waisted pants are a hoot too.

*Kinda like Animal of Muppet fame, yes?

Best of Lorelei Signal 2008

I'm pleased to say my comical flash piece "Nemesis' Pep Talk" is within its pages. The print edition is now available. Kindle link here.

Free Writer's Nook Entertainment

Does your writer's nook lack excitement? Do you enjoy testing the limits of your patience and in need of a distraction from the tome you're editing? If so, I'm offering two tenacious, glass window scaling, baffle baffling, squirrels. They're perfect for long trips in a small car too. Will ship anywhere. Act now and receive a lazy sixteen-year-old orange tabby in half--er--half off!

My Novel Idea

I'm the only writer I know who dreads writing a novel, likens it to a huuugge homework assignment or suspicious mole I'll remove from my psyche when I get around to it. I've mused on this topic before. In short: I have this solid novel idea but what will it take to motivate me to actually write it?

As you can see the background on my blog has changed again.* I selected this picture (taken when, no lying, I was hanging with the coolest of friends on a secluded island off the coast of Maine) because while there--*sigh* oh great, epiphany time--I was struck by a potential motivating force: a MFA. I mean, since I perceive tackling a novel as a huuuge homework assignment anyway . . .

See, The University of Southern Maine has a writing degree program called Stone Coast; and a degree candidate can submit a twenty page excerpt from their novel. One, if accepted, there's some validation that my idea has merit and/or I might be a potentially sound novelist. Two, if accepted, I'd have to spit-shine finish the thing in order to graduate, I think, so even if it's never published, I'd still earn my degree and be mentored. My hubby and sister hold master's degrees and I want one too. Plus, I'd set a good example for my girls. Ultimately, this is would be more of a self-edification thing.

Now all I gotta do is draft my novel, pump up the excerpt, rob a bank, launder the money . . . this may take a few years to execute . . . thank goodness flash and short stories are so comforting.

Take it from me, never, ever, put yourself alone in a secluded pristine place where you can become all Thoreau-y. Much exhausting marching and drumming is sure to follow.

*My hubby, the clever computer geek, finally succumbed to my nagging and was nice enough to voodoo it for me.

Patriots Celebrate!

Happy July 4th. Have a fun and safe weekend.

Just Lying Around

Well, where and the hell have I been? Why, on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, kicking back with the coolest of friends, of course.

But I could be lying. Tsk, tsk, tsk, how could I on my 100th post? Why because the always dark yet charming L.R. Bonehill tagged me!

"Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don't tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot more from the stuff they just make up. If you're tagged by this Meme lie to me, then tag seven other folks (one of each deadly sin) and hope they can lie.

Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?

Cockroaches. I might not live forever, but no one, I mean no one, is messing with my legacy, baby. So bring on the apocalypse . . .

Envy: What do your co-workers wish they had which is yours?

My invisible jet and my truth-inducing lasso that I seem to have misplaced.

Gluttony: What did you eat last night?

George Clooney

Lust: What really lights your fire?

The universal truth that the whole world revolves around me.

Anger: What was the last thing that really pissed you off?

The realization George Clooney is no sixty minute man.

Greed: Name something you keep from others?

My hypnotize a lobstah so ya can stand'em on their noses secret. Ta Da!

Sloth: What's the laziest thing you've ever done?

Steal Aaron Polson's idea to tag the Seven Dwarfs for this Meme.