tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63448284790619568172024-03-13T21:25:24.287-07:00Fate and FaithPlease join me on this journey as a writer and general observer of life!Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-63460048404859542622013-10-15T04:02:00.000-07:002013-10-15T04:02:29.823-07:00Monday Musings--Did You Miss Me?This was me on August 15th:<br />
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It was immediately after four different shoulder surgeries. My girl tabby was panicking because if something happened to me, she would probably never get fed again.<br />
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This was me on October 11th:<br />
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While I still have limited range of motion, I drove for the first time in eight weeks and I'm eating with my right hand again.<br />
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Thanks for all the good thoughts and help--I couldn't have done it without my stellar husband and super friends.<br />
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I did not get near what I wanted done. I learned I can't write well and I sure as hell can't edit when I'm on my serious painkillers. I can work through the pain for the twice weekly physical therapy and the twice a day exercises (seven exercises, up to 30 reps each with 1 or 2.5 pound weights).<br />
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While I get to try to kick some butt with the short term disabilities people tomorrow, I would like to thank Dr. Zach Hamby and his nurse Lois for all their help.<br />
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I don't know when I go back to work. I don't know if I'll be going back full or part time. I do know I'll be going back to some training. I've missed my crazy co-workers. Two sent this today:<br />
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Love ya, April and Stephen!<br />
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I have found a lot of things as I've been playing on the interwebs. <br />
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This cat is saying, "Kill me, but not before I can kill you!"<br />
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I want to totally do this--plant catnip around my grave site so everyone will think I'm a cat god.<br />
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Mary Balogh posted this: <br />
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A Gentleman is simply a patient wolf. That is so my character Will. She made a funny, because one of her characters in the Simply series is named Wulf.<br />
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</xml><![endif]--><span class="hascaption"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I’ve
had a few arguments with people, but I never carry a grudge. You know why?
Because while you’re carrying a grudge, they’re out dancing</span></span><span class="hascaption"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="hascaption"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></span>" — Buddy Hackett</span></span> <br />
<br />
Mary Margaret loves anything cinnamon and I found this posted:<br />
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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, anyone? I LOVE making these! This
is a requested recipe, so here we go! ONE HOUR CINNAMON ROLLS This recipe will
yield 24 regular siz<span class="textexposedshow">e rolls or around 12 HUGE
rolls. I like mine huge, lol! Cut recipe in half for less. ~3 1/2 cups of warm
water ~3/4 sugar ~1/2 cup of oil (vegetable is fine) ~6 tablespoons of quick
rise yeast ~1 tablespoon of salt ~3 eggs ~10 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
(yes, that's right, lol) CINNAMON SUGAR ~1 cup of sugar ~1 Tablespoon of
cinnamon FROSTING ~1/2 cup of butter ~2 dashes of salt ~2 teaspoons of vanilla
extract ~6 cups of powdered sugar ~milk (as needed) **An additional 1/2 cup of
butter is needed (separated in half for each half of dough) for spreading on
dough with cinnamon sugar. **Make a double batch of frosting if you like a lot
of it. 1.) Mix first 4 ingredients together (water, sugar, oil, yeast) and let
sit for 15 minutes. 2.) Then add the salt, eggs and flour. Mix together for 10
minutes, then let sit for 10 minutes. 3.) Oil counter or cutting board and dump
out dough. Divide dough in half. 4.) Roll out one half into rectangle. Spread
with 1/4 cup melted butter and then half of cinnamon sugar mixture. 5.) Roll up
tight, but not too tight. 6.) Divide into 12 rolls and place on greased cookie
sheet. Let rise on cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Cut dough in half, cut halves
in half, etc. 7.) Repeat with other half of dough. 8.) Bake for 12-15 minutes
at 400 degrees. Enjoy! </span><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span>ℓσтυѕ</span><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
I had one of my characters who loves to cook make these for a visit to his girlfriend's parents (Mary Margaret is her mother).<br />
<br />
My alter ego was fascinated by science fiction author David Gerrold's Facebook post about a quiz on "Which Science Fiction Author Are You?" and I looked up the website and posted it (at http://www.paulkienitz.net/skiffy.html). He shared my post and that my quiz results showed I was Greg Benford. Quite a thrill as I loved his <u>Timescape</u>. Later in the post, Greg Benford posted that his results showed he was Arthur C. Clarke! It was interesting to see the different styles/philosophies for the different authors as the result of the quiz.<br />
<br />
So, I've been keeping busy. I've been transcribing a notebook I had upstairs by the bed and rediscovered some powerful and fun writing. I've kept a notebook with what happened each day, if we went out to eat or I started some new exercise, etc. The first few days were pretty pitiful. Most importantly, as I weaned myself off pain pills, I started a final deep edit of my first book, 7 Days: Will and Elizabeth.<br />
<br />
But I missed blogging and apologize for the previous posts that were written while under the influence. Will you forgive me?Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-8071872995641286842013-09-22T06:24:00.001-07:002013-09-22T06:24:57.434-07:00Sunday Sundries--Writing from Real Life I had my phone and my notebook out on the couch, ready to call my brother, when he called me. We have done this most of our life and my dad did it too, One of us would be thinking of the other and we'd get a call later that day.<br />
<br />
Ed is twelve years older than me. Our brother Joe was two years older than Ed, fourteen years older than me, so I was basically raised as an only child after they left home. But, there was a period of time when I was The Little Sister.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jga472N-tvc/Uj7glV_i3cI/AAAAAAAAEO4/mLh_uI6h90g/s1600/ed+julee+and+joe+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jga472N-tvc/Uj7glV_i3cI/AAAAAAAAEO4/mLh_uI6h90g/s1600/ed+julee+and+joe+2.JPG" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
Joe went off to The Naval Academy after high school, but Ed stayed around to go to community college for two years.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OskSxpM6riA/Uj7hTAjxbKI/AAAAAAAAEPA/0Gc8RHOiVJo/s1600/ed+and+julee+b+and+w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OskSxpM6riA/Uj7hTAjxbKI/AAAAAAAAEPA/0Gc8RHOiVJo/s1600/ed+and+julee+b+and+w.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
He got his chance to be "the older brother." He also went off to college and moved away, but would come back to visit. He took me to movies or different places in our community. Mom, Dad and I would go out to visit every once in a while. Here's one when I was in high school. Ed was a Federal Park Police officer, after a stint at the FBI fingerprint division:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l17L03rJFrI/Uj7ig6hybeI/AAAAAAAAEPM/UYyI4pnET90/s1600/ed+julee+as+teen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l17L03rJFrI/Uj7ig6hybeI/AAAAAAAAEPM/UYyI4pnET90/s1600/ed+julee+as+teen.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
Ed had serious health issues over the years. He lives on the East Coast, so I don't get to see him often, but my husband and I did go out for a visit right before his surgery last November. Here we are with his daughter:<br />
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Since our brother Joe was killed quite a long time ago and we lost Dad in 2001 and Mom in 2004, we still try to keep in touch fairly regularly.<br />
<br />
I say all this, because I've been writing stories about five sisters, two of whom marry two brothers. Each couple has children and their stories are in various stages in my notes and computer files.<br />
<br />
While most of my novels are contemporary romance, some of the stories will not fall into that category. I was thinking especially of Mary Margaret and Rob's oldest son, Mike. He is the quintessential big brother, but I've been careful to make him not perfect. <br />
<br />
I've been transcribing some notes from a journal I filled recently. The book was upstairs and held ideas from my brain when it was fresh from sleep. There were several Mike stories in it, told from different points of view. He takes a month after his senior year in high school to spend time with each family member and go visit distant relatives. Joe used to "go visiting" when he was home and I know he touched a lot of lives.<br />
<br />
But Mike's story needs to be told. He helps his sister Reney get her driver license and takes his much younger sister on a balloon ride to a dressage competition because she's mad for horses. As I quickly scribbled notes into another notebook, I realized these stories will give insight into all of my characters as they are told in flashbacks or as details dropped in conversations.<br />
<br />
So, while these things did not happen to me and those who read strictly romance may be disappointed by it, Mike's story needs to be in the lexicon of my fictional world. It is as essential as my brothers' stories are in the story of my life. Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-840929148727699732013-09-12T00:20:00.001-07:002013-09-12T00:20:01.597-07:00Thursday Thoughts--10 Lessons from the Past MonthIt has been a month since my surgery. I've learned a lot as I've been in a healing drugged haze. Let me share a few of the things:<br />
<br />
1. Eat the cherries. I had to throw out a bag I'd forgotten were in the crisper because they were moldy. *sigh*<br />
2. Do the preparation. There were a few things we didn't get done before the surgery that irritate the hell out of me. Oh well.<br />
3. Sleep the sleep. It's the only way to heal and I sometimes have to force myself to turn off the TV or the computer to get some sleep.<br />
4. Do the exercises. I have physical therapy twice a week and I have to do a set of exercises three times a day.<br />
5. Take the painkillers. I was playing martyr at first trying to withdraw, but the doctor said he wanted me to keep taking them.<br />
6. Accept the help. I have terrific friends and an amazing husband who have toted me around and catered to my whims. I'm a lucky girl.<br />
7. Say the "Thank yous" and "I love yous." Absolutely essential. A former co-worker was killed in a car accident yesterday and it broke my heart for her family.<br />
8. Remember the past. This was written on September 11th. On the fateful 9-11-01, I had both parents in the hospital and all I knew about my brother's job was he worked security at a warehouse "across the road" from The Pentagon. We all need to remember.<br />
9. Push the limits. While in many ways my life has contracted to the main floor of our house, I am amazed at the things I've been able to do after only one month.<br />
10. Learn the Lessons. Listen and observe all the little gifts and coincidences thrown at me every day.<br />
<br />
I have to believe I'm exactly where I need to be.Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-78171553103532592832013-09-02T02:09:00.001-07:002013-09-02T02:09:40.612-07:00Sunday Sundries--Beginings and EndsSo, I was trying to wean myself off the Big Drug Painkillers. When I mentioned it to the doctor, he told me he certainly did not want me to do this. He wanted me drugged up and sleeping for the next month for the chance to heal.<br />
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It significantly reduces my moments of clarity. It means I must take advantage of those I do have. While I can surf Facebook and Pinterest while still fuzzy, I do need a certain bit of sobriety for editing and writing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YoVZRKyQ7n0/UiQ4FQnD1-I/AAAAAAAAEM4/DsoR1GkvbZw/s1600/all+those+moms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YoVZRKyQ7n0/UiQ4FQnD1-I/AAAAAAAAEM4/DsoR1GkvbZw/s320/all+those+moms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>While I'm not a mother so I don't have to worry about kids and I need my husband to help me shower, I am fighting all of my instincts to let go to heal.<br />
<br />
I also had to let go of a lot of things around the house. I've never been really good about housecleaning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q90RcFMzuxQ/UiQ-blhEavI/AAAAAAAAENI/C8vkShU-28k/s1600/you+say+I%27m+messy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q90RcFMzuxQ/UiQ-blhEavI/AAAAAAAAENI/C8vkShU-28k/s320/you+say+I%27m+messy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Had to make sure I had a clear path through the office to get to the desktop computer. I also have a laptop and a net book and I live for my technology. Since I can't very well jump into the car and go somewhere, it is a chance to stay connected. The cable internet connection was interrupted earlier and I went into a panic. <br />
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We got it taken care of, I got all my social media checked and I got some notes organized.<br />
<br />
On Facebook, a group I belong to mentioned a woman who was from my childhood--Miss Ruth Lengelsen. She was the librarian in my small hometown. My mom worked there for many years and I grew up in the stacks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOLUIZZnPgw/UiRIZHjskwI/AAAAAAAAENw/89hAXAbSMKo/s1600/Ruth+Lengelsen+Carneige+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOLUIZZnPgw/UiRIZHjskwI/AAAAAAAAENw/89hAXAbSMKo/s320/Ruth+Lengelsen+Carneige+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>She let me check out books from the adult side of the library, but she had to approve them first. Mom would also take me out to the town's radio station when there wasn't anyone else for Miss Lengelsen's "Story Time" where she would read children's books. My first acting gig, pretending to be six and listening to childhood favorites.<br />
<br />
I've also been very lucky that I have a super husband and some great friends to help with everything.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrOS6gf54-g/UiRFFTT3M_I/AAAAAAAAENk/PsZidByAI5c/s1600/a+friend+is+someone+who.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrOS6gf54-g/UiRFFTT3M_I/AAAAAAAAENk/PsZidByAI5c/s320/a+friend+is+someone+who.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>I am so grateful for Kim, Terry and Teresa for driving me around to get me out of the house, offering to carry my bags when we have that retail therapy, humoring when I repeat questions and stories and giving me a glimpse of life outside by regularly calling on the phone.<br />
<br />
I met Kim and Terry at science fiction conventions back in the late 1980s. This weekend was the World Science Fiction Convention, in San Antonio and some of our other friends were posting about their experiences. Going through some pictures on a flash drive, I found one of me back at a Louisville con in 1991, the year we had the theme of Viking Bikers from Outer Space. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J-oND1nvakg/UiROLvvVuzI/AAAAAAAAEOA/11WaZjS2aCA/s1600/Julee+91+Rivercon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J-oND1nvakg/UiROLvvVuzI/AAAAAAAAEOA/11WaZjS2aCA/s320/Julee+91+Rivercon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I tart up pretty well, huh? We haven't been to a SF convention for a while.<br />
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Here's a pretty picture of a handsome man, Ian Somerhalder:<br />
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<br />
And a bit of inspiration we need:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i5lXhK-jN0s/UiRS6yTxfII/AAAAAAAAEOU/AF2AMpDWjcM/s1600/confidence+comes+not+from.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i5lXhK-jN0s/UiRS6yTxfII/AAAAAAAAEOU/AF2AMpDWjcM/s320/confidence+comes+not+from.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm going to have to allow myself to make some more mistakes, cut myself some slack as I make the effort to heal.<br />
<br />
So, for the end, here's a kitty picture:<br />
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I will see you again soon, promise!<br />
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Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-27999054609635024372013-08-20T00:22:00.000-07:002013-08-20T00:22:30.700-07:00Sunday Sundries Two Days LateHey, I survived!<br />
<br />
It wasn't pretty. As witnessed by this:<br />
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Same day surgery, but a major sling, an ice pack, swollen up like a huge tick and some pain killers that would knock out a horse.<br />
<br />
In my drug-induced haze, I remember debating if I could overcome fifty plus years of sensibility and put the toilet paper wrapped around the back rather than the front, because it seemed easier to grab with my non-dominant left hand. Yeah, that's going in the book. Being proud of myself for being able to go to the bathroom by myself. I had a tub of flushable baby wipes and an old toothbrush if needed. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
Another blind panic when I was sure my driver license and insurance card had been lost at the surgery center. We found the ink pen I filched and my dear husband verified in the rush to get me settled, he'd put the cards up in the mail bin. Then, he mowed the lawn and cleaned the kitchen.<br />
<br />
Through the Percoset, I love him. Especially after he fixed the charger cord I stepped on for the netbook, opened the package for the battery operated toothbrush (can't tell you how good that felt to use!) and took me to get my hair cut super short. "Are you sure?" The hair dresser was worried I'd regret it later.<br />
<br />
Hell, in the now 8-12 weeks I'm scheduled off, it will grow back anyway. I've lost all vanity and apparently modesty as the 20 something physical therapist asked if I minded if he showed me how to put on a shirt. Actually looking forward to not having to mess with bras for a few months. I have a character who develops breast cancer later in my series. I have some experiences to use there too.<br />
<br />
So, these will be typed with one hand for a while. Welcome to my new journey. Please feel free to laugh with me and at me. <br />
<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-4273431410507959492013-08-11T23:42:00.000-07:002013-08-11T23:42:25.092-07:00Sunday Sundries--Some Goodbyes for a WhileOkay, all the paperwork is in to the FLMA and short-term disability folks. I have several ugly XXXL shirts to wear after surgery (oh, yeah, you'll see pictures later). I got some light plastic plates and bowls, then also got some light plastic lidded cups to use over the next few weeks. A buddy who's been through shoulder surgery got a long handled body scrubber in purple.<br />
<br />
I'm almost ready.<br />
<br />
A few more things on my list. I'm having lunch with some friends in the next few days. Went out with my hubby for a big dinner last night. Got some things at Wally afterwards, including another package of dark chocolate Klondike Bars.<br />
<br />
So, transferred some pictures from my one device to the thumb drives. Finally got some pictures of a neighbor kitty that comes to visit every once in a while. It looks like a Japanese Bobtail, but might be a Manx. Friendly critter, seems well fed<br />
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Lets me rub the belly:<br />
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I let it know I won't forget, even though I won't be out to give lovins for a while.<br />
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We went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I saw a young man at the bar that looks like one of my characters. Awesome.<br />
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He had a nice voice too.<br />
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Got another thrill--I replied on a blog and won an autographed book from one of my fave authors, Grace Burrowes. She is a rising star in the Regency field. I'm really pleased at her success.<br />
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I'm grateful for this book, because one of my characters is a medically-retired Marine. Grace and I discussed the sad effects of PTSD on our soldiers. It will be on my reading list while I'm laid up after surgery.<br />
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I've been spending breaks at work walking around the center, looking at how my co-workers decorated their desks. I really loved the patriotic balloons we got for good surveys and here's a cluster of some:<br />
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I can haz balloons....<br />
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One of my co-workers organized a group to crochet and weave/knit hats for kids at the Vanderbilt high risk nursery. Here's a small bit of her yarn stash:<br />
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A team member draws on stones with Sharpies and she did a Guy Fawkes mask face for the guy that sits next to me:<br />
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Another team member has this cool model on his processor:<br />
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So, I'll miss a lot of these things and people I see every work day.<br />
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For a few weeks, I'll be confined to my love seat and downstairs of my house. I'll need my husband or my friends to cut my food or to lift anything over a few pounds. I will be typing with my left hand. My cats are already starting to freak, as is my husband.<br />
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We'll be fine. I may or may not be posting regularly while being off work. But I will try to keep in touch. Take care!<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-58618553695579654262013-08-05T12:18:00.000-07:002013-08-05T12:18:04.223-07:00Monday Musings--Time Shifting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a creature of the night. I struggle if I have
to go to sleep before 2 a.m. If I have to be functioning before say, 10 a.m., I
need massive amounts of caffeine. Unfortunately, I never developed that taste
for coffee, so I usually end up sucking down Diet Mountain Dew or iced tea. But
this is kind of my drift:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNmP1dP18Ls/Uf_5FjIw-lI/AAAAAAAAEJg/Sij3XEBeYJM/s1600/I+accomplished+a+lot+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNmP1dP18Ls/Uf_5FjIw-lI/AAAAAAAAEJg/Sij3XEBeYJM/s320/I+accomplished+a+lot+at+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always been this way, even as a child. My
father worked for the railroad and he and Mom were up all hours of the day and
night. They would drag a friend home from the clubs at closing time and sit and
talk for hours or fix a steak dinner at one o’clock. They would wake me up to
hear a drunk, rambling story about my brother who had been killed when I was
nine. I was trained to thank the stranger and go back to bed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An interesting childhood, huh?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KS3bXen8pow/Uf_5S6eAShI/AAAAAAAAEJo/WpXzf53aOTo/s1600/as+far+as+anyone+else+knows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KS3bXen8pow/Uf_5S6eAShI/AAAAAAAAEJo/WpXzf53aOTo/s320/as+far+as+anyone+else+knows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, guess who had to be in at work from 8 a.m. to 5
p. m. all last week? That would be this gal. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I love being part of a group on Facebook called 5am
Writers, but for me, any writing done at 5 a.m. gets done because I’m still up
then. Needless to say, not much writing got done last week.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did get to meet a lot of new people at work.
Arnish showed me a video of him helping get rid of a refrigerator at his
church. They didn’t want to carry it down the stairs since it didn’t work, so
they thew it off the loading dock. It was cool. When he found out I was a
writer, he got a little worried. He’d been friends with writers before and had
been given this warning:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSpLw1aFh-8/Uf_5eAPt21I/AAAAAAAAEJw/gFIvRCyM6Ms/s1600/careful+or+you%27ll+end+up+in+my+novel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSpLw1aFh-8/Uf_5eAPt21I/AAAAAAAAEJw/gFIvRCyM6Ms/s320/careful+or+you%27ll+end+up+in+my+novel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The woman sitting behind me had gone through
shoulder surgery similar to what I will have and she had some great advice.
While this wasn’t our issue, it made us laugh:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzTOYddMXI4/Uf_5movCX4I/AAAAAAAAEJ4/TnP0ypTbcBM/s1600/carpal+tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzTOYddMXI4/Uf_5movCX4I/AAAAAAAAEJ4/TnP0ypTbcBM/s320/carpal+tunnel.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the huge concern:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHPSMt_TQPw/Uf_5umx1rVI/AAAAAAAAEKA/X4MyY2gdXNo/s1600/If+I+have+more+than+3+days+off+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHPSMt_TQPw/Uf_5umx1rVI/AAAAAAAAEKA/X4MyY2gdXNo/s320/If+I+have+more+than+3+days+off+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At least while I’m home healing from surgery, I
won’t have to see this:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dv6DBIQn_g/Uf_51Q04ZQI/AAAAAAAAEKM/tvLx-gLt8t8/s1600/leave+for+work+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dv6DBIQn_g/Uf_51Q04ZQI/AAAAAAAAEKM/tvLx-gLt8t8/s1600/leave+for+work+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I’m really lucky I won’t have to put up with
this:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lly214YxNKQ/Uf_6C6kNb4I/AAAAAAAAEKQ/2uFP3MATvLM/s1600/managers+be+like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lly214YxNKQ/Uf_6C6kNb4I/AAAAAAAAEKQ/2uFP3MATvLM/s320/managers+be+like.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will have to put up with this:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7R76Xo16Org/Uf_6JjwHJsI/AAAAAAAAEKY/k9dcOyRbFos/s1600/whatcha+doin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7R76Xo16Org/Uf_6JjwHJsI/AAAAAAAAEKY/k9dcOyRbFos/s320/whatcha+doin.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And a portion of my books will be written with only
my left hand. I’ve been practicing the past few weeks. It will be slow, but it
will get done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, thanks for following me on this journey—I’ll try
to keep in touch and keep you amused!</span></div>
Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-43624903267977546752013-07-28T09:15:00.000-07:002013-07-28T09:15:39.382-07:00Sunday Sundries--Slambook Question: Biggest Smack Up Side of the HeadI mentioned in previous posts about the slambooks I used to pass around with my pen pals as a young girl. I would make little stapled booklets out of pretty paper with different questions with spaces for certain numbers of people to answer. The last one on the list was to send it back to the originator. I got very few back.<br />
<br />
I got some information late last week and this week that smacked me up side of the head. I need rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. Here is the link for WebMD:<br />
<br />
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rotator-cuff-repair<br />
<br />
Here's an image of what we're dealing with:<br />
<br />
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Yuck, I know, right?<br />
<br />
After the MRI, which was another of the weirdest experiences I'd had in my life I do not wish to repeat, I was told I had "significant damage." I fell back in November and there is cumulative damage that aggravated the injury in April, when I carried all those bags on our trip to Las Vegas. Duh. We tried to fix it with physical therapy and a cortisone shot directly in the joint (Yuck, again, right?), but when I do things, I do them big. The surgeon will actually be doing four procedures. <br />
<br />
So, surgery is scheduled in the middle of August. I had to apply for FMLA and short-term disability and I am so grateful I have good insurance through my work. I will be off work six to eight weeks, with my right arm and hand basically useless. My husband has asked for time off too, as I'll need help doing a lot of minor and major things. <br />
<br />
Here's the first amazing coincidence: one of my heroes is a medically-retired Marine who was shot while serving in Afghanistan in the right shoulder. That was decided years ago. Now I'll know some of the physical therapy he needs to go through for the scenes in the second book in his series.<br />
<br />
Did I mention I'm right-handed?<br />
<br />
Did some research and I've practiced using my left hand. My husband is a lefty and he laughs at me. When he was in a motorcycle accident, he had the sense to smash up his right hand. <br />
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I had a little experience several years ago where I slipped and landed on my right elbow. I had a few weeks of trying to use my left hand and it wasn't easy, but I could get a lot of things done.<br />
<br />
Second amazing coincidence: the son of my hero mentioned above is left-handed and I have most of his story written. He is a baseball player (many pro-athletes are left-handed) and becomes an architect after his pro career (another career for those south paws).<br />
<br />
Third amazing coincidence: Left-handers' Day is August 13th, right before my surgery on the 15th.<br />
http://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.html (where the above graphic came from)<br />
<br />
While I was hoping for some time off for me to get some writing and organizing done, this was not what I meant. God is indeed laughing at me. I promise I won't obsess about it too much over the next eight weeks, but I still need a lot more practice typing with just my right hand and copying and pasting. <br />
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After all:<br />
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<br />
So, what was your biggest smack up side of the head recently?<br />
<br />
This next week, I'll be in training (like I'll remember any of this when I get back....), so I'll be working a day shift instead of my usual nights. Yeah, it's going to be weird. Take care and be sure to stop by for a visit to follow my adventure!<br />
<br />
<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-31832382764236082702013-07-21T01:42:00.000-07:002013-07-21T01:42:03.944-07:00Sunday Sundries—The Odd Week<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I know, welcome to my world, huh? </div>
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Truth is, my life has been odd lately. It’s been a series of
series, coincidences, feeling overwhelmed and doing my best to play catch up.
But mostly:</div>
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I did a fair amount of editing on SEVEN DAYS—ROB AND MARY.
Had to do a bit of proofreading, because that’s how I roll. I found this one
that made me laugh:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kfnkqpt7tM/Ueub5xQdE4I/AAAAAAAAEHw/vSyNwUkuFdM/s1600/keep+calm+and+proofread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kfnkqpt7tM/Ueub5xQdE4I/AAAAAAAAEHw/vSyNwUkuFdM/s320/keep+calm+and+proofread.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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This is another I had to look at twice:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hAUYj2HcRlQ/UeucCp3iIEI/AAAAAAAAEH4/2xycdoXfDjQ/s1600/prefectionist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hAUYj2HcRlQ/UeucCp3iIEI/AAAAAAAAEH4/2xycdoXfDjQ/s320/prefectionist.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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It kind of hit close to home because one of my friends is
looking for work and frustrated because almost all the jobs require you to
apply on-line now. She is suffering from a super slow computer:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUBjAAM1FIg/UeucP5xLPoI/AAAAAAAAEIA/yB0KAnmkpPI/s1600/load+you+piece+of+crap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUBjAAM1FIg/UeucP5xLPoI/AAAAAAAAEIA/yB0KAnmkpPI/s320/load+you+piece+of+crap.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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I wish I could hire her as an editor/formatter, but alas,
that is not her skill set. I need her help setting up an Etsy store, though.</div>
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But, my second book is essentially done. I wrote the three
scenes that are the bulk of Saturday evening in various notebooks. Just need to
get the words from them and in my mind onto the screen. But, Rob and Mary’s
voices are so much different from his brother (Will) and her sister
(Elizabeth), I re-read the first part of the book to get back in their heads
and remind myself of the word choices and styles. </div>
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And I’ve figured out a way to organize notes that works for
me. For the past year, I would copy and paste something (recipe, quote, short
article, etc.) into a Word document in no particular order. OneNote was
frustrating, because when I work on the files on my desktop, I can’t save the
changes from the flash drive to the laptop or to the netbook I use while at
work. So, I copy and paste into MS Word documents on the specific topics. Food
is sorted into Main Courses, Side Dishes, Breakfast, Beverages, etc. I have a
file on military notes, a file on parenting, one for jokes, another for quotes
and so on. I sorted over two hundred pages of notes last week. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhPO41nL4vc/UeuciBFpShI/AAAAAAAAEII/4Z2NQH81LNA/s1600/flash+drives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhPO41nL4vc/UeuciBFpShI/AAAAAAAAEII/4Z2NQH81LNA/s1600/flash+drives.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was told, after a MRI (one of the oddest experiences of my
life) that I have “significant damage” to my right shoulder. I’m going in for
an evaluation Monday to see if I need surgery or if I can get by with something
minimally invasive. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7E_U0Y1LVs/UeudSwLFDCI/AAAAAAAAEIY/w8kOoxlYd8E/s1600/MRI+scanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7E_U0Y1LVs/UeudSwLFDCI/AAAAAAAAEIY/w8kOoxlYd8E/s320/MRI+scanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
They were playing an oldies radio station in the headphones, some Foreigner and a Beach Boys song. Of course, my nose started itching and the metal under my right arm got hot enough to actually burn my skin. It was not pleasant. You better bet I'm working it into a novel somewhere.<br />
<br />
But the oddest thing is this involved my right shoulder. When I started my novels seven years ago, I gave my hero a major injury in the right shoulder. Payback, huh?<br />
<br />
Take care and have a great week!<br />
Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-10631829770175637432013-07-14T23:36:00.001-07:002013-07-14T23:36:40.742-07:00Sunday Sundries--From Our Past<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I got to
speak to a cousin this weekend I hadn’t talked to in forever. Carolyn is Uncle
Bill’s daughter. He was my mom’s younger brother. Carolyn is tracing the family
history and has found so many wonderful things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We talked about the tons of pictures Mom and Dad had in
shoe boxes in the attic. I come from a long line of pack rats and I've been trying to scan in the old photos, letters, newspaper articles, etc. and put them in some kind of order. Here is one of her at a long ago Christmas:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-274qNBxjGZk/UeOVR0nWJTI/AAAAAAAAEGw/V24yhi_RTI8/s1600/PD_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-274qNBxjGZk/UeOVR0nWJTI/AAAAAAAAEGw/V24yhi_RTI8/s320/PD_0658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Carolyn</span> is a few years older than me, a breast
cancer survivor and a proud mother. My cousin Melinda and I spent a week with
her family when Dad had surgery at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, back in the
1970s. Here’s a picture of us at a petting zoo:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u4TwTkBMdn0/UeOVw0igSJI/AAAAAAAAEG4/QHql_XT7VlQ/s1600/PD_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u4TwTkBMdn0/UeOVw0igSJI/AAAAAAAAEG4/QHql_XT7VlQ/s320/PD_0451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Carolyn was
horrified having to spend time with her younger cousins, but I have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>good memories. We’ve only seen each other
since then a few times, at a party for an aunt and at her mother’s funeral,
then her father’s. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her brother
came to my parents’ funerals. It is sad we’re at the age where we usually only
see family and some friends at life events like that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was
jealous she got to visit with another cousin a few months ago I haven’t talked
to in years. We keep talking about a family reunion, but no one has done
anything about it. There was a family reunion in the 1960s at my parents’
house. Here’s a picture of us kids:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5k6acgIEFE/UeOV-AD0-UI/AAAAAAAAEHA/o1UlLSjMUsY/s1600/PD_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5k6acgIEFE/UeOV-AD0-UI/AAAAAAAAEHA/o1UlLSjMUsY/s320/PD_0447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We talked
for well over an hour, with me filling in some blanks and telling stories and
Carolyn talking about the Ohio branch of the family’s research. Among our
relatives, was an engineer great uncle who had a thermal physics equation named
after him. We also had another great uncle who marched with Martin Luther King
Junior and was friends with Rosa Parks. Pretty funny that my dad’s side of the
family had friends who were members of the KKK. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, we come
from a long line of smart people. There were also some odd coincidences. This
picture of women from the late 1800s brought up some interesting information. In
my novels, two brothers marry two sisters. Two of the sisters in this picture
married two brothers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLqvAMJBUMw/UeOWSgb0NsI/AAAAAAAAEHI/uwNAirTvhvY/s1600/family+of+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLqvAMJBUMw/UeOWSgb0NsI/AAAAAAAAEHI/uwNAirTvhvY/s320/family+of+women.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And how cool
was that? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One relative
was an author on Jewish history and quite famous in Germany. I wrote one of my characters as Jewish in 2009. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The family was
descended from a Baron and had a castle on the Rhine River. Another cousin
recently retired from teaching German and made many trips to Germany and I made one of my heroes a member of the French royal family, with a castle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another
relative was a hero in the War of 1812. I had one of my heroes reading a book
on that topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, amazing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was
concerned that I had two coincidences that brought my hero and heroine together
in my first novel. There is a third at the end that ends, shall we say, badly.
But, with so many in my life, I think the literary gods are watching over me
and smiling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, I know we hear all the time about writing what we know. I say we should write what we don't know and find out by research and listening to old family stories. There are too many that have been lost, too many pictures that were tossed because they weren't labeled and no one knew who they were. Take the time to seek information out and be sure to back up and share it. I sent Carolyn several empty flash drives for her to fill with her newly discovered treasures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you the family archivist? </span></div>
Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-81130723563915168862013-07-07T11:20:00.000-07:002013-07-07T11:20:40.408-07:00Sunday Sundries--It's a Sign!Was looking through a bunch of files of things I'd found on Facebook and Pinterest and found a folder I'd labeled "Signs" that made me laugh. Here's the latest addition:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPJ-EjZPT3M/Udmsa6daLPI/AAAAAAAAEFA/wyq0j0lPRXY/s1600/don%27t+cry+we+have+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPJ-EjZPT3M/Udmsa6daLPI/AAAAAAAAEFA/wyq0j0lPRXY/s320/don%27t+cry+we+have+pie.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
Mmmmm....pie. <br />
<br />
The next one is, I think, not quite what the creator (or Creator) meant:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFvzXIyNQ7k/UdmsuMeerbI/AAAAAAAAEFI/Rtt3BI9jxSA/s1600/don%27t+let+worries+kill+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFvzXIyNQ7k/UdmsuMeerbI/AAAAAAAAEFI/Rtt3BI9jxSA/s320/don%27t+let+worries+kill+you.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This one appealed to my inner geek:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3EiciBfO98/Udms5FYt9ZI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/Yf8iFwXns-k/s1600/booze+and+calculus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3EiciBfO98/Udms5FYt9ZI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/Yf8iFwXns-k/s320/booze+and+calculus.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
No, I never did use that year of college-level calculus. As my brother said, "If you're so smart, say something in calculus."<br />
This kind of freaked me out, but still made me laugh:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M410rWFMJoI/UdmtX84pJAI/AAAAAAAAEFY/_wBsLuYvvGU/s1600/gorgeoud+librarians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M410rWFMJoI/UdmtX84pJAI/AAAAAAAAEFY/_wBsLuYvvGU/s320/gorgeoud+librarians.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
They think they can slap a pair of glasses on a girl....<br />
<br />
This one I just don't know:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVGnKJaOjb0/Udmtoq8Rl-I/AAAAAAAAEFg/h9MJaTFalCA/s1600/hair+removal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVGnKJaOjb0/Udmtoq8Rl-I/AAAAAAAAEFg/h9MJaTFalCA/s320/hair+removal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I don't remember watching the Bob Ross PBS show, but this made me smile:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnH5E5zcvUM/Udmt8UvWFqI/AAAAAAAAEFo/IjSE8I8xMDg/s1600/happy+little+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnH5E5zcvUM/Udmt8UvWFqI/AAAAAAAAEFo/IjSE8I8xMDg/s320/happy+little+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Please remember this next time you're tempted to ask someone for free help:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUQ_Micd4dU/UdmuOoNRnoI/AAAAAAAAEFw/Xb1BM2kzfu8/s1600/I+am+an+artist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUQ_Micd4dU/UdmuOoNRnoI/AAAAAAAAEFw/Xb1BM2kzfu8/s320/I+am+an+artist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't go to a church, but it's not for this reason--<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SApQQgucKn4/UdmuxqsePAI/AAAAAAAAEF8/nHlLqLqel4k/s1600/if+you+don%27t+got+to+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SApQQgucKn4/UdmuxqsePAI/AAAAAAAAEF8/nHlLqLqel4k/s320/if+you+don%27t+got+to+church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Good point. <br />I've seen this one at the local Jimmy John's sandwich shop:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GE8t3fnQLiw/UdmvIONwI-I/AAAAAAAAEGE/1gRvF7EkXwE/s1600/Jimmy+Johns+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GE8t3fnQLiw/UdmvIONwI-I/AAAAAAAAEGE/1gRvF7EkXwE/s320/Jimmy+Johns+sign.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
Talking about food places:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lng8QE6NMY/UdmvrpeyNJI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/ChUb1MNN-3c/s1600/sausage+burrito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lng8QE6NMY/UdmvrpeyNJI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/ChUb1MNN-3c/s320/sausage+burrito.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sorry, think I'm heading down to Mickey D's. I liked this one too:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9PXDI9AuVLo/UdmwKIP3HZI/AAAAAAAAEGY/8j2xvQ-LI8M/s1600/teach+your+kids+about+taxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9PXDI9AuVLo/UdmwKIP3HZI/AAAAAAAAEGY/8j2xvQ-LI8M/s320/teach+your+kids+about+taxes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Finally--wait--have I posted this one before?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BWx4HskW-5g/UdmwmQi2Y5I/AAAAAAAAEGg/AS02C5WmA_A/s1600/warning+drug+use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BWx4HskW-5g/UdmwmQi2Y5I/AAAAAAAAEGg/AS02C5WmA_A/s320/warning+drug+use.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
Some laughs for this Sunday--hope you all have a great week! I promise, I'm almost finished with my Work In Progress and will have something of more a literary bent next time. <br /><br />
<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-5304500188973745082013-06-30T12:38:00.000-07:002013-06-30T12:38:17.607-07:00Sunday Sundries--Wassup?While I haven't gotten any writing on my main Work In Progress done, I did write four major scenes on four other books. Don't worry, it's my goal for July, as I'm almost finished with WIP.<br />
<br />
My petite physical therapist kicked my butt this week, but I'm getting twenty percent more range of motion in my right shoulder and arm.<br />
<br />
My husband did dishes earlier in the week because of my injury and I swear I almost cried in relief. I did some more yesterday. I set up my big slow cooker full of spaghetti sauce:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6T5-gsmMu4/UdCBBbyJtkI/AAAAAAAAEDU/WV2pE_vENWM/s278/retro+crockpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6T5-gsmMu4/UdCBBbyJtkI/AAAAAAAAEDU/WV2pE_vENWM/s278/retro+crockpot.jpg" /></a></div>
Yeah, it's the retro olive green. Don't judge. It still works fine. Aren't the liners a great idea? It will be ready when I get home to eat on all week. Yum!<br />
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One of the things I put in was this:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZyEwu_txEs/UdCBWHHgwSI/AAAAAAAAEDc/Q-JQL7Or-bg/s274/Paula+Deen+garlic+powder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZyEwu_txEs/UdCBWHHgwSI/AAAAAAAAEDc/Q-JQL7Or-bg/s274/Paula+Deen+garlic+powder.jpg" /></a></div>
Because:<br />
1. I like lots of garlic flavor in my sauce and I didn't have any fresh.<br />
2. This was in my pantry and it would have to do.<br />
3. I remembered a picture of my bedroom as a teenager. I had a Confederate flag on my wall. While I'd "studied" The Civil War, I didn't think of the implication or meaning. It was simply something cool to put on my wall. I suppose if I decided to run for Congress in the future (my husband has instructions to buy a gun and shoot me if I do, by the way), someone might bring it up, but you know what I'd say? IF YOU ARE GOING TO JUDGE ME ON SOMETHING I DID OR SAID THIRTY PLUS YEARS AGO, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYONE ON TV OR IN POLITICAL OFFICE. Walmart and Target pulled her products. I don't think they should have. She wall rise above and make even more money. Look at the guy on "Restaurant: Impossible" who lied on his credentials? They fired him, then brought him back and gave him even more endorsement deals.<br />
Anyway....<br />
<br />
My husband hijacked my personal Facebook account and left a political rant on a mutual friend's board. He identified himself, but said friend took it personally. I didn't apologize for my husband, as that's not my job. I did say that if hubby didn't respect our friend, he would have just flamed him instead of doing a little research and posting a carefully crafted argument. This friend is radically conservative in some things and I have to hide some of his posts, as I'm sure he hides some of mine. But, reminder to all, our pages are our pages. Y'all play nice. And don't let your husband/friend/parent post under your name or you might have to make peace.<br />
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Some other stuff I got this week:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WEVgWheH_M/UdCEq9S_JrI/AAAAAAAAEDs/xRLqPdEZqy4/s226/Lipton+tea+and+honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WEVgWheH_M/UdCEq9S_JrI/AAAAAAAAEDs/xRLqPdEZqy4/s226/Lipton+tea+and+honey.jpg" /></a></div>
These are the little drink tabs you put in water and I love them. Of course, they're discontinued at the stores, but I found them at Big Lots and bought about a dozen boxes. They use granulated honey for sweetness rather than the artificial sweeteners. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ptPACCX593I/UdCFIxUufOI/AAAAAAAAED0/NWrYazok8qw/s275/pirouline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ptPACCX593I/UdCFIxUufOI/AAAAAAAAED0/NWrYazok8qw/s275/pirouline.jpg" /></a></div>
Another Big Lots find and almost addiction. Again, don't judge.<br />
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Dear liberal honey and I have been watching our DVDs of this show again: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTfxje-NPa0/UdCFYnu-1vI/AAAAAAAAED8/rn6AVXtpfAM/s278/west+wing+dvd+package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTfxje-NPa0/UdCFYnu-1vI/AAAAAAAAED8/rn6AVXtpfAM/s278/west+wing+dvd+package.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, we've been through the shootings and the Thanksgiving episode. We've laughed, we've cried and we've realized how much we love good writing and acting.<br />
<br />
We saw the first episode of "The Dome" the other day. Hope it lives up to its potential.<br />
<br />
Got a shipment from Better World Books the other day: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dOQKXGSFmo/UdCGHoTHlAI/AAAAAAAAEEM/Kt36oFBwyYU/s276/book+covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dOQKXGSFmo/UdCGHoTHlAI/AAAAAAAAEEM/Kt36oFBwyYU/s276/book+covers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />The Marion Chesney was not in there, it was one I got from the reading room at work, but the others are ones on my teetering To Be Read pile. The Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens started me reading romance again and I'd read the Eloisa James series on my Kindle from the library, but wanted the hard copy. Here's another one I got that looked fun:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAdsPutATc4/UdCG7YH_CDI/AAAAAAAAEEc/KfVMYId_myQ/s277/she+blinded+me+with+science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAdsPutATc4/UdCG7YH_CDI/AAAAAAAAEEc/KfVMYId_myQ/s277/she+blinded+me+with+science.jpg" /></a></div>
Yes, I am a total geek fangirl.<br />
<br />
I got a bunch more needlework projects sorted through and put away and I'm ready to start reassembling my craft closet so I can have better access to things I want to use more often. Here's another piece I knew I'd never finish:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_tIPMkE1ojQ/UdCHgXnf_AI/AAAAAAAAEEk/czDc4LlMaYU/s274/crescent+moon+needlework+rip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_tIPMkE1ojQ/UdCHgXnf_AI/AAAAAAAAEEk/czDc4LlMaYU/s274/crescent+moon+needlework+rip.jpg" /></a></div>
It was on a backed material that was difficult to stitch. If I ever restart it, I have some lovely deep blue hardanger I would use. Rest in Peace, Mr. Moon.<br />
<br />
Finally, one of those face palm ideas--why didn't I think of this?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WT9fSyEQpgw/UdCIJv_OAEI/AAAAAAAAEEs/ZKGy146tycs/s403/ceiling+fan+pulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WT9fSyEQpgw/UdCIJv_OAEI/AAAAAAAAEEs/ZKGy146tycs/s320/ceiling+fan+pulls.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
Duh, but admit it, if you've got a ceiling fan, you'll consider getting this, right?<br />
<br />
So, it's been a productive week, in some ways. Will try to be even more productive next. Thanks for stopping by and sharing some of my world and see you again soon!<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-76213755073662750782013-06-24T02:04:00.000-07:002013-06-24T02:04:38.422-07:00Sunday Sundries--That Which Would Be Thrown AwayOr deleted.<br />
<br />
When I was doing some serious editing on my first in a series of novels, I took out big heaving chunks of stuff, scenes that were unnecessary, information dumps and awkward construction that was more easily rewritten than edited. It would have been very easy to hit the delete key. However, I channeled my inner hoarder. I cut and pasted into an archive folder that was saved onto a flash drive. <br />
<br />
While those electrons may never again be seen, my paranoia would not allow me to let go. I am similarly fighting my compulsions in other areas of my life. Some things are easier to get rid of than others. I am going through my counted cross-stitch projects, so I can reorganize my craft closet in the office. There are a bunch of projects that haven't seen the light of day in over ten years. Here are a couple:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9GcA6ExAvo/Ucf8ly1_vBI/AAAAAAAAEBk/hvA_jrFZG2E/s1600/IMG049+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9GcA6ExAvo/Ucf8ly1_vBI/AAAAAAAAEBk/hvA_jrFZG2E/s320/IMG049+(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
This is the center section (sleeve) from a pattern called Earth Angel. The designer is Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum and the company that put this pattern out is called Lavender and Lace. This is less than one twelfth of a very intense design.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAyCQ67-Uqg/Ucf-MkAhSvI/AAAAAAAAEB0/KxwphmBYfcY/s1600/Earth+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAyCQ67-Uqg/Ucf-MkAhSvI/AAAAAAAAEB0/KxwphmBYfcY/s320/Earth+Angel.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
I looked at it long and hard. I sent many other patterns from this designer to be sold on commission. Would I ever finish this piece? Would I ever even want to work on this again considering the hundreds of other patterns I had more to my taste? Finally, I grabbed the scissors and cut around the little bit of stitching. I was left with a large piece of blue linen and several small pieces.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kR__ceaZwQ/Ucf_4d44JEI/AAAAAAAAECE/nkLC9rd2pgo/s1600/IMG062+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kR__ceaZwQ/Ucf_4d44JEI/AAAAAAAAECE/nkLC9rd2pgo/s320/IMG062+(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
This was my start on Just Nan's Creativity. I started on the wrong kind of fabric and it made it difficult to get some of the bands to come out correctly. This is what it's supposed to look like:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avjBeCVsn0k/UcgA1dYRU3I/AAAAAAAAECU/t5E-hGkP0_I/s1600/Just+Nan+Creativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avjBeCVsn0k/UcgA1dYRU3I/AAAAAAAAECU/t5E-hGkP0_I/s320/Just+Nan+Creativity.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Again, I cut out the bands, giving me two large pieces on either side. I can re-purpose the bit stitched for a bookmark. <br />
There were a few more, but there were still dozens I kept intact. And I still have more to decide about over the next few days. I'm proud of my progress so far, though.<br />
<br />
I've also been going through a bunch of pictures. Those are just as hard to delete. I have to admit, I went through Mom and Dad's boxes and gathered a big zipper bag of what I called mystery pictures. I had no clue who was in them, many of them were out of focus or group shots that were at a distance. It was hard, but I gave the bag to some relatives in my home town. They took the pictures around to see if anyone wanted any of them. Here is one of the better ones I did keep:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d7X0UYFQztU/UcgEZab8gSI/AAAAAAAAECk/aa5G1cXwcig/s1600/PD_0534+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d7X0UYFQztU/UcgEZab8gSI/AAAAAAAAECk/aa5G1cXwcig/s320/PD_0534+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
That's Dad standing. I'm pretty sure it's his high school class get-together at a restaurant in our home town, but the other folks are long gone. Dad passed at age eighty-six eleven years ago. I'll post the picture on the Facebook page for our hometown and I'm grateful I scanned it in, but I doubt I'd put it in an album or anything.<br />
Here's one of my girl cat I took the other day. She was not interested.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLBBPQTlDnA/UcgFfzAjcTI/AAAAAAAAEC0/UYU_pX15B_s/s1600/IMG042+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLBBPQTlDnA/UcgFfzAjcTI/AAAAAAAAEC0/UYU_pX15B_s/s320/IMG042+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That's my husband laughing at her in the background, though, so I may keep it.<br />
Here's one from later that's much better.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAf9XQ-LRyI/UcgFzgJc5iI/AAAAAAAAEC8/aKwvp8FZtfI/s1600/IMG043+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAf9XQ-LRyI/UcgFzgJc5iI/AAAAAAAAEC8/aKwvp8FZtfI/s320/IMG043+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These are only a couple hundred kilobytes on a 16 gigabyte flash drive.<br />
<br />
I was running into the same problem on my Kindle. It was freezing, taking forever to open and virtually unusable. I saw there were over 1100 titles on it, almost all freebies I'd downloaded whether or not I'd ever read them. The great thing about Amazon is those books are still on their "cloud." I deleted like a crazy person things I knew I'd never read. If I decide later I would like to, it's super easy and quick to download to the device again. Now, my Kindle works like it is intended.<br />
<br />
So, there is much editing we can do in every aspect of our lives. Do we really need four ladles and five spatulas? Do we really need that background scene from a secondary character's point of view or can we tell that information in a throwaway bit of action or dialog with a main character? Will we ever do that project we were saving that paper for or should it go into the recycle bin?<br />
<br />
What can you get rid of in your life or in your writing?<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-12331766665106144892013-06-16T07:15:00.000-07:002013-06-16T07:15:08.827-07:00Sunday Sundries--Get Thee Writing!I am truly my father's child, this Father's Day. I know exactly how he felt, all those years working on the railroad, when he had to be away from home and alone. There were a few years I had to be on the road for a job where I spent a third of my life traveling. I feel him when we walk into a Rural King or Office Depot. Cleaning out the old house, I saw dozens of folders and organizers he would use for a few months and then abandon.<br />
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This one made me smile--you can see Mom in the mirror behind him taking the picture. She had issues getting things done too. I remember her rushing around cleaning before the pinocle club took their turn at our house.<br /><br />
They are laughing at me. Dad passed in 2001, Mom in 2004. They are both asking me: <br />
"Why don't you get to work so you can have the success you deserve?"<br />
"Why are you still putting things off, when it would feel so much better if you do the work rather than sit and play your games?"<br />
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Don't have any good answers. It helps me to know they are egging me on in my thoughts, apologizing for bad habits from childhood, confident it can get done and done well.<br />
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So, here are a few things to help you and to help me get going. This one is my new desktop background:<br />
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Yes, Lord Vader. If you will let me continue to breathe, I'll get right on it.<br />
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Right? Keep plugging. Get it done.<br />
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I started physical therapy this week for a shoulder injury that involves a schedule of exercises every day. I'm thinking I will put specific times for me to check each email/Facebook/Pinterest account. It's got to help, right?<br />
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I know part of my problem is that I want to edit/rewrite as I go. So many professionals say you need to get the story down, then go back and seriously edit. As Christina Dodd says, "I can't edit a blank page."<br />
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I had several instances at my job outside the home last week where I had Learning Experiences. Yes, that's where someone points out I was wrong. It's okay. I long ago realized I wasn't always going to be the smartest person in the room. I believe a good part of my procrastination is a fear of making a mistake. I need to get over that, don't I?<br />
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This has been a real problem lately. With my shoulder injury acting up, I haven't been able to do even my minimal cleaning and organizing. It means, I have hundreds of magazine articles and pictures I want to scan in boxes in the office. It means, I remember writing that scene in a notebook years ago, but I can't find it in the notes I've transcribed. It means, I get discouraged and end up playing Jewel Quest III instead of recreating the scene and getting on with it.<br />
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I did work on about twenty pages of a story about a daughter of the two main characters of my second novel in the series. Reney and Carter's story is basically written, but I have it in third person. I'm putting all my novels in first person, because the stories seem more compelling and cleaner. When I mentioned I was working this other story, my husband gently nagged me to finish the book I'm almost done with first. He's right.<br />
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How many of these sound familiar? Number ten is hitting particularly close to home for me.<br />
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But this is my truth: <br />
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My characters have lived with me for almost seven years now and are as real to me as my local friends. I have almost thirty notebooks and boxes of files of ideas, research and snatches of stories that need to get put in some sort of order. Rather than saying, I'm going to work on something today, I need to break down specific, doable goals. And get writing that story that Mom or Dad would love to read!<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-62062963942530530432013-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:002013-06-09T12:49:33.324-07:00Sunday Sundries--Vegas, Baby!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the beginning of April, my husband and I went to Las Vegas for the third time. We had been there twice before, in 2008 and 2009. There were lots of changes.<br />
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While my husband was playing in a poker tournament, I took my Deuce bus pass and started taking pictures. A large section of each of my novels will be set in Las Vegas, so I went up and down The Strip, went down to The Freemont Street Experience and then down to the outlet mall area.<br />
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All up and down, there were these mobile billboards for different escort services. Well, and many limos.<br />
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This was one of my favorites--the Eiffel Tower reproduction in front of the Paris hotel and casino. We got to go up to the top a few nights later. It was too cold and windy, but still a pretty awesome experience.<br />
I loved the detail on The Flamingo.<br />
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Here's a detail from the entrance to Harrah's. We stayed there in 2009 and it was pretty fun.<br />
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The bus ended up stopping at The Venetian for a few moments. While I was able to get a few pictures of the outdoor gondola ride (we took the inside ride in 2009), I was fascinated by the fake windows.<br />
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This was the fanciest Walgreens I'd ever seen:<br />
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We had to go in to get some things earlier.<br />
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I took this picture of a display in there, because one of my heroes gets a pair of glasses, thinking they might make him look a little older. I also found this and took it to be a sign:<br />
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One of my heroines looks like a blue-eyed Audrey Hepburn.<br />
They moved the Welcome sign when they imploded The Sahara last year to the end of The Strip:<br />
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Down on Freemont, I had to take a picture of the Harley-Davidson shop:<br />
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One of my characters buys a shirt there. Also, I thought this was kind of weird:<br />
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One of the things they have down there now they didn't have in 2009 is a zip line. I wanted to go on it, but was carrying a bag. Can you see the rider on the upper left of the picture?<br />
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Finally, Vegas is covered with weird carpets. Here's one in The Tropicana:<br />
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Weird, huh?<br />
I had Chris take a picture of me on the walkway over The Strip wearing my Pittsburgh Penguins hat.<br />
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The hat was a minor plot point--I get asked when I wear this or my Penguins T-shirt if I'm a hockey fan. Especially funny this year, as the Penguins are playing the Boston Bruins in the finals for the playoffs. One of my other characters is a huge Bruins fan. Me, on the other hand, not so much. I happened to have a layover at the Pittsburgh airport and I love penguins. <br />
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So, I hope you like my weird perspective of Vegas. I tried to see details that my characters might notice. Which was your favorite?Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-68481672329034728972013-06-02T01:59:00.000-07:002013-06-02T01:59:39.500-07:00Sunday Sundries--Which Sense Is Primary?I used to run a bookstore. A long time ago, granted, but for almost ten years, every month, I would spend time clearing out over stocked and old titles that hadn't sold. Mass market paperbacks are returned by tearing off the cover and sending it back to the publisher. The trade paperbacks and hardcovers were returned whole copy, of course. <br />
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But, as the mass markets originated during World War II to send overseas to soldiers, they were printed on cheaper paper.<br />
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They weren't meant to be returned for credit whole copy. Because I was manager and on salary, I got to finish pulling and "stripping" these paperbacks, keeping track of the number of each covers I was sending back and disposing of the books.<br />
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Except, some didn't get disposed of properly. I'll admit it. we were supposed to tear out the first bunch of pages and put the stripped books in the trash compactor. Excuse me, but at 3 a.m., it sometimes didn't get done. Also, there were books that I wanted to read, damn it.<br />
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So, that is how I ended up spending a summer reading through three grocery bags of stripped Regency romances. Many of the big name authors started out writing for the different series. Signet/New American Library put out four to six a month and there were several other lines too.<br />
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One Regency author I got to meet at an early Romance Writers of America event was Alicia Rasley. She was a professor at IUPUI and now has a website: http://www.aliciarasley.com/ It's Alicia Rasley's Writer's Corner, where she offers her expert advice on various aspects of the life of a professional writer.<br />
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One thing I remember her talking about in one of her articles was that your character will always have just one primary sense, just like real people. This will help you in your writing, because you can use sensory phrases to describe point of view unique to each character.<br />
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I am visual. While I love music, I spent most of my life reading or doing counted cross-stitch or other craft projects that involve color and texture. My husband, on the other hand, can recognize a soundtrack composer from only a few bars of music.<br />
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Think about how important that could be in defining your characters. Go ahead. I'll wait for a few minutes. Welcome back.<br />
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My hero Will is a sight hound, a medically retired Marine sharpshooter. Even when he's not near the woman he's fallen in love with, he's fantasizing about her in a gold bikini or nothing at all. Later in the series, as motivation, Elizabeth offers to do a Bikini Car Wash if he finishes all of his physical therapy exercises.<br />
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This one is by Mileti and is $65. <br /><br />
Elizabeth used to be a DJ and recognizes the song from before she was born on this album:<br />
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We were thrilled to see Rush inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. About time. <br />
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My other hero, Rob, who is Will's brother, focuses on the sense of touch. I've given his character my occasional Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, where he ends up washing his hands so much they are rough. Rob has several worry stones and has one in his pocket almost all the time. It was warm with friction when he was getting off the airplane to see his brother for the first time in over a year. I recently went to a rock and mineral show and here is one of the displays:<br />
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He has an onyx one and a tiger eye one that are his favorites.<br />
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Finally, his love, Elizabeth's sister Mary Margaret, loves scents. She wonders if the woman from the jewelry store bathed in her perfume, it was so overwhelming. She spills a little of the shampoo in Rob's bathroom when she checks it out. She notices Will smells like sandalwood and bets Elizabeth does too. She loves the smell of cinnamon and they have a huge tray of cinnamon rolls at their wedding, rather than a cake. I thought these were a pretty idea:<br />
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So, which sense do you favor? More importantly, which one does your character favor and how are you going to get that in your novel?<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-41540679173736732652013-05-26T23:17:00.002-07:002013-05-26T23:17:28.523-07:00Sunday Sundries--Memorial Day DessertsI always thought it was weird saying "Happy Memorial Day." I spent several late May days on the Wabash River Bridge and various cemeteries with the Job's Daughters, singing "Nearer My God to Thee."<br />
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This was a Masonic organization I belonged to in my teens. The DeMolay (boy's equivalent organization) would have someone play "Taps" and a woman from the VFW Auxiliary would throw a wreath off the bridge. After all:<br />
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My buddy, Mark Lipinski, recommended a lovely blog:<br />
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<h2>
<a href="http://megcox.com/2013/05/memorial-day-ideas-for-celebrating-our-bi-polar-holiday/" title="From Death to Ice Cream: Ideas for Fully Celebrating Memorial Day">From
Death to Ice Cream: Ideas for Fully Celebrating Memorial Day</a> </h2>
<br />
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<![endif]-->Megan Cox discusses how to celebrate the dichotomy, letting kids visit a cemetery, go to the town parade and then enjoy the cookout.<br />
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One part of the holidays I really love is getting together with family and the food. I've been obsessing recently about desserts. When haven't I been obsessing about sweets?<br />
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Truth. <br />
I love these things and I want to share with everyone:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahCjlZ2NtX8/UaJkN6tb_DI/AAAAAAAAD44/ZmMTaWdEMSE/s1600/books+and+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahCjlZ2NtX8/UaJkN6tb_DI/AAAAAAAAD44/ZmMTaWdEMSE/s320/books+and+chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of my characters lives for dark chocolate, as do I. Hubby and I were in Hawaii for our 15th wedding anniversary and I had carefully packed some dark chocolate nuggets. My husband saw them and decided he was going to start eating chocolate again. I was distraught. I didn't bring enough to share. He gave up chocolate for a couple of years. I could never do that:<br />
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I do try to stay with the dark chocolate and I gave that to one of my characters.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5NMcjj7zag/UaJmT-ZjAhI/AAAAAAAAD5M/gsf9xzAcer8/s1600/keep+calm+and+carry+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5NMcjj7zag/UaJmT-ZjAhI/AAAAAAAAD5M/gsf9xzAcer8/s320/keep+calm+and+carry+chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I do have some Godiva Dark Chocolate Pearls in my purse. I haven't told my husband.....<br />
I've tried to lose weight again. This made me smile:<br />
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I tease my husband about looking at other women's, um, assets. I sneak an admiring look every once in a while too. I may be fixated at this, I admit:<br />
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He loves horror movies. I have to admit, I was intrigued by this:<br />
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Wouldn't this broken glass cupcake be fun for Halloween?<br />
I have some stationery with this on it:<br />
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This isn't exactly chocolate, but isn't this cool?<br />
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I have a package with two boxes of brownie mix that I got because they promised that for each sale, the company would contribute to the USO. Well and because they are brownie mixes....<br />
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Be cool and try not to drool over this one:<br />
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I don't know. It's almost too much. Almost.<br />
One of my characters goes to Japan and I'm fascinated by their odd food options.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4LU434I2yU/UaL5SaPGv3I/AAAAAAAAD6U/1uzfIQE1lco/s1600/different+kit+kat+flavors+in+Japan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4LU434I2yU/UaL5SaPGv3I/AAAAAAAAD6U/1uzfIQE1lco/s320/different+kit+kat+flavors+in+Japan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This display is of all the different Kit Kat flavor options. <br />
Okay, enough talking about it. I'm going in to dig through my secret stash and get something sweet!<br />
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Have a good and peaceful Memorial Day--appreciate the sacrifices of those who went before and those you have with you now. And go get some chocolate!<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-20255714429838620362013-05-19T13:03:00.001-07:002013-05-19T13:03:28.807-07:00Sunday Sundries--All About the WomenMy husband and I finally got to see the new "Star Trek" movie at the theater Friday. I loved it--but I'm a certified fan girl geek. We actually met at a "Star Trek" event back in the mid-1970s, when we were both teenagers. It was hilarious when we realized we met before, after we were already married.<br />
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I liked it a lot. While there were several homages to past movies and the TV shows (don't worry, no spoilers here), there were also plenty of action scenes stuffed between nice touches of human minutes. I also admired the strong female characters this round.<br />
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Yeah, Zoe Saldana gets to kick some butt.<br />
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My heroines are fierce in their own ways. I've always loved strong female characters and I've felt a need to write them. I never cared for the wishy washy, demure ladies of the early Harlequins that my mom read like one eats popcorn. Maybe that was why she blew through them so fast.<br />
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One of the first heroines I wrote was Elizabeth, known to family and friends as Lizzy. She is an Indiana State Police officer who got three of her four sisters (the other was too young) out to Las Vegas for the oldest sister's bachelorette party. While on a daring rescue, she meets Will, a medically retired Marine, who is fascinated by her fierceness. They recognize they belong together and end up married. Elizabeth doesn't give up herself, she has to find out "how to rock this gig without losing myself."<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIh_cJi0xYY/UZkrN3p86EI/AAAAAAAAD2o/4t72cwhLY5I/s1600/follow+your+brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIh_cJi0xYY/UZkrN3p86EI/AAAAAAAAD2o/4t72cwhLY5I/s320/follow+your+brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've seen some pictures of Rachel Weisz and Terry Ferrell that kind of remind me of Elizabeth. Here are two:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8gXcqijm9w/UZkrBXBXh1I/AAAAAAAAD2Y/Kwed4636iks/s1600/Rachel+Weisz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8gXcqijm9w/UZkrBXBXh1I/AAAAAAAAD2Y/Kwed4636iks/s320/Rachel+Weisz.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8029wta60Ns/UZkrI9WnOXI/AAAAAAAAD2g/PJMNbysxaFw/s1600/Terry+Ferrell+big+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8029wta60Ns/UZkrI9WnOXI/AAAAAAAAD2g/PJMNbysxaFw/s1600/Terry+Ferrell+big+smile.jpg" /></a></div>
Her Chinese horoscope sign in a Dragon and I found this as a gift for her:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maKkZPhvqJo/UZkrnNsg32I/AAAAAAAAD2w/a6H2rax8evg/s1600/dragon+carved+amethyst+pendant+for+Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-maKkZPhvqJo/UZkrnNsg32I/AAAAAAAAD2w/a6H2rax8evg/s320/dragon+carved+amethyst+pendant+for+Elizabeth.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
She does have several weaknesses, one being a fear of spiders:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_K4QjEYkXs/UZkr9FhZX_I/AAAAAAAAD24/rsu4yGQs6ho/s1600/a+reasonable+reaction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_K4QjEYkXs/UZkr9FhZX_I/AAAAAAAAD24/rsu4yGQs6ho/s320/a+reasonable+reaction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A reasonable reaction. But, yes, she is fierce.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gdItjVo1GY/UZksXC8gmoI/AAAAAAAAD3A/71Rx4ujQFkM/s1600/lessons+in+womanhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gdItjVo1GY/UZksXC8gmoI/AAAAAAAAD3A/71Rx4ujQFkM/s1600/lessons+in+womanhood.jpg" /></a></div>
Her next younger sister, Mary Margaret, not so much. Oh, she comes into her own in my second series of books, but she is a self-admitted scardy cat.<br />
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She grows into her own, moving to Japan for four months, falling in love with Will's younger brother and finding herself as:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaImyjtqOl4/UZkt9qi5F1I/AAAAAAAAD3U/_AvGsMQTF28/s1600/I+may+appear+harmless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaImyjtqOl4/UZkt9qi5F1I/AAAAAAAAD3U/_AvGsMQTF28/s320/I+may+appear+harmless.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
She's worried she will die a virgin, because:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCKb4doUQFQ/UZkuT0cAE3I/AAAAAAAAD3c/pivU6lvl9MU/s1600/don%27t+die+a+virgin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCKb4doUQFQ/UZkuT0cAE3I/AAAAAAAAD3c/pivU6lvl9MU/s320/don%27t+die+a+virgin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
She loves her garden. She loves her books.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIfdTt8emkg/UZkuu0kHDsI/AAAAAAAAD3k/wJpbWKXDUjg/s1600/if+you+have+a+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIfdTt8emkg/UZkuu0kHDsI/AAAAAAAAD3k/wJpbWKXDUjg/s320/if+you+have+a+garden.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
And here are a couple of pictures of what she would look like:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCpC5JKjG34/UZkvEqxjCgI/AAAAAAAAD30/fdTJngxHxUY/s1600/kiera+knightly+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCpC5JKjG34/UZkvEqxjCgI/AAAAAAAAD30/fdTJngxHxUY/s320/kiera+knightly+photo.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
Yes, Audrey Hepburn and Kiera Knightly. Here's an early jewelry gift for her:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FDMEtFJxIU/UZkvZ_OEfXI/AAAAAAAAD38/Jk0TDfy-ECA/s1600/flower+pendant+for+Mary+Margaret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FDMEtFJxIU/UZkvZ_OEfXI/AAAAAAAAD38/Jk0TDfy-ECA/s320/flower+pendant+for+Mary+Margaret.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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Oh and she loves Hello Kitty and gaming:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfmLZS2z3IU/UZkvnl-XxCI/AAAAAAAAD4E/2k-koisuwho/s1600/Halo+Hello+Kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfmLZS2z3IU/UZkvnl-XxCI/AAAAAAAAD4E/2k-koisuwho/s320/Halo+Hello+Kitty.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
For all you Halo players out there.<br />
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So, hope you enjoyed meeting two of my ladies. I have large character files. Do you do the same for your characters?<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-84041469025885077232013-05-12T04:02:00.000-07:002013-05-12T04:02:02.936-07:00Sunday Sundries--Yo' Mama EditionMy mama passed away in March of 2004. Hard to believe it's been nine years. She was brilliant at a time when women weren't encourage to be, earning a scholarship to a business college in the 1940s. She didn't take it, because she was "in love." Her words. After my oldest brother was killed, she had several different careers, working at the town's library, the hospital and one of the banks.<br />
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This is one of my favorite pictures of her:<br />
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So, I had a fierce, strong example for my life. I am grateful. I also had strong aunts for mentors and my mother in law is an incredible woman. While I do not have children and my nieces live far away from me, I will try to be the best parent for my characters. Mom was an avid reader and I know she would be thrilled that I've completed two novels.<br />
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So, having said that, there have been lots of posts that really made me smile lately. this one was from last year:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_J0jWhILtoI/UY9vYgVaRAI/AAAAAAAAD0o/6DOhzcSTFo8/s1600/don%27t+forget+to+buy+a+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_J0jWhILtoI/UY9vYgVaRAI/AAAAAAAAD0o/6DOhzcSTFo8/s1600/don't+forget+to+buy+a+bottle.jpg" /></a></div>
Did I mention Mom and Dad were alcoholics and I was very proud they both quit my sophomore year in college?<br />
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Mom was a little perverse. While she would never hurt me, this would have made her laugh:<br />
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She definitely would have had this comeback:<br />
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Mom was brave enough to take out a wood spider that was the size of my hand that was in my room when I was in my early teens. While I'm sure if my child was in danger, I'd step up to the plate to pound something like that into oblivion (I think this was the origin of my irrational fear), I'm relieved I'll never have to worry about testing my bravery. Yes, I did put something in my fiction though:<br />
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I know Mom did the best she could, but I feel this is part of what she felt:<br />
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This quote made me sit up a bit straighter. It wasn't always easy to be a strong girl or woman:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jrnk1E_MAJk/UY9zcTJBw9I/AAAAAAAAD1U/AzuoaoAG0qU/s1600/I+want+every+little+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jrnk1E_MAJk/UY9zcTJBw9I/AAAAAAAAD1U/AzuoaoAG0qU/s320/I+want+every+little+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'd like to ask all mamas to remember this, please:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SysTqX_eTjg/UY9z8sVKM5I/AAAAAAAAD1c/m2BAGyq167Q/s1600/iF+have+children+please+remember.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SysTqX_eTjg/UY9z8sVKM5I/AAAAAAAAD1c/m2BAGyq167Q/s320/iF+have+children+please+remember.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I know Mom said this several times:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxMlLQu69os/UY91Nowzc5I/AAAAAAAAD1o/E5ZP-xQSr88/s1600/mama+needs+a+cocktail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxMlLQu69os/UY91Nowzc5I/AAAAAAAAD1o/E5ZP-xQSr88/s320/mama+needs+a+cocktail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, yes, I'm proud to be fierce, like Clara Maude:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcU-uxe77B8/UY91n-BHIFI/AAAAAAAAD1w/c62-nxiCnnQ/s1600/mommy+when+I+grow+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcU-uxe77B8/UY91n-BHIFI/AAAAAAAAD1w/c62-nxiCnnQ/s320/mommy+when+I+grow+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally, all you mamas out there can be proud of your mission accomplished:<br />
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Happy Mother's Day to all you pet parents out there too. Take care and see you next week!<br /><br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-90656364885983926882013-05-06T01:04:00.001-07:002013-05-06T01:04:49.815-07:00Sunday Sundries--Favorite Last Minute TripsSo, for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, my husband who does occasionally have a romantic bone in his body, suggested a day trip to Louisville, KY, to visit bookstores. We left town in the morning and had lunch at the Big Boy in Corydon.<br />
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Gotta love anyplace that serves sweet potato fries!<br />
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The drive to Louisville is very pretty. <br />
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We ended up at the Half-Price Books store on Hurstbourne first:<br />
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We found all kinds of fun things. Some of my characters are game designers and they had a section of games and all things geek:<br />
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We also went to the other Half-Price on the other side of town and the Books A Million in the area too. We got quite a haul:<br />
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This is just one of three piles of books. Not that we needed them, but it's what we've always done when we went out of town. I love running around with my husband to find out of the way stores. We spent the night and ate at Waffle House in the morning, making another stop off before we headed back home.<br />
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My first novels start out in Las Vegas, with four sisters on a bachelorette party for the oldest, who is getting married later that week. They had to move the trip and the wedding up when she got pregnant. Since they went during the week, the rates were very reasonable.<br />
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My parents were always up for an adventure too. Sometimes, before the time of cell phones, I'd try to call them and find out later they had gone over to one of the area casinos.<br />
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So, do you have a favorite, spur of the moment adventure? I highly recommend them, even if it's just getting out of town for lunch.<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-61653940948185160372013-04-28T05:08:00.001-07:002013-04-28T05:08:32.460-07:00Anniversary Edition--The Big Two FiveSuddenly, I woke up and realized I had lived with my husband over twenty six years. Tuesday, April 30th, 2013, we are celebrating our twenty fifth wedding anniversary. While we went to Las Vegas earlier in the month, we both have the day off and will go out to eat at a special restaurant and maybe do something fun locally.<br />
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Here is our "official" wedding portrait, taken by a friend who has since passed on:<br />
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We were both a lot thinner, we were missing the grey and could those glasses have been any bigger? It almost didn't happen, because Chris put off buying shoes until the night before. It was a real test of our abilities to compromise and deal with each others' foibles. I always joke that it was only that I figured I may as well go through with it and collect the insurance later. Could always make it look like an accident.<br />
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It sure wasn't easy. I worked sixty-five hours the week of my wedding and had to find someone to work for me that Friday night. We had to delay the honeymoon a week, because Chris worked at a TV station and it was the end of ratings. When we finally got out of town, we spent a few days in St. Louis.<br />
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It kind of weirded me out that we flew out of St. Louis to go to Vegas this year. But, before we got married, Chris went out with some friends to a couple of the strip clubs in the area. He did tell me pretty much what all happened, but the thing that made me smile most was the DJ welcoming him to The Brotherhood of the Ring. Of course, the password was, "Yes, Dear."<br />
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We were not starry-eyed teenagers.We were both in our late twenties. We met through mutual friends at the science fiction conventions in the region and found out we had met over a decade before at a "Star Trek" fan club meeting. So, this was pretty much how we rolled:<br />
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Financially, it hasn't always been easy, but we realize how lucky we are.<br />
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I really love holding hands. It's reassuring and comforting.<br />
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There were a few times our strong personalities clashed, but I can count them on one hand.<br />
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We've had some great adventures--from Martha's Vineyard to Key West, from Hawaii to Washington, D. C. We love wandering through a used book or record store or even spending time in our local library.<br />
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We've had some great role models. My parents were married almost sixty years and his parents celebrated their 60th last year. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />This was one of my parents' favorite jokes:<br />
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That's been the biggest challenge is realizing we change, but still stay the same. The key is communicating.<br />
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I really have to say:<br />
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And here we are, in front of The Bellagio Hotel in Vegas, 25 years later:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of course, everything is fair game and so many of our stories will show up in my fiction. We will have so many more stories in the future! Here's to 25 more years!<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-81011353065321057122013-04-21T12:51:00.000-07:002013-04-21T12:51:21.135-07:00Sunday Sundries--Slambook Questions Favorite Snarky SayingsSo, in my teenage years, I had a bunch of pen pals. I would make little slambooks to be sent out to my friends. Each person would answer the few questions, then send it on to their pals. The person filling out the last slot was supposed to send it back to the originator. I only got a few of them back, but it was fascinating.<br />
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I suggest we have some questions that are fun to ask ourselves, but more importantly, to ask our characters. One of the things I've been thinking about lately is favorite sayings on T-shirts or buttons.<br />
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We were recently in Las Vegas and without thinking about it, I wore a North Carolina T-shirt I'd purchased on a previous trip. I was amazed at how many folks commented about it as I walked along The Strip. At the science fiction conventions we used to go to, there were a ton of buttons with the obligatory snarky comments for sale. One is my profile picture on Facebook:<br />
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Which is true, by the way.<br />
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Another one I posted recently:<br />
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You can thank me. Some of my characters might have that on a T-shirt.<br />
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Here's another one that makes me smile that I can see a couple of my characters wanting:<br />
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One of my characters had the nickname of Will the Dick, because he, well, displayed dickish behavior way too often. Since his brother and one of his sisters in law are vegetarian, he makes a point of wearing this shirt:<br />
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Since all my characters are readers (Rob has dyslexia, but he listens to audio books), I know they would want this on a shirt:<br />
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This is a shirt my character Elizabeth would definitely wear:<br />
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It says: "Fear me I am a woman who reads, writes, thinks and votes. Now quit staring at my boobs before I punch you in the face."<br />
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This is something I would definitely get for Rob to wear and the onesie for any of his kids:<br />
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My brother agreed that we both should have this one:<br />
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And I'm getting ready to go to my "real" job now and should have this one to wear proudly:<br />
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All of these are available at various Etsy or eBay stores. What would your character wear?<br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-73994289228195839622013-04-14T04:03:00.000-07:002013-04-14T04:03:07.629-07:00Sunday Sundries--Slambook Question: Favorite Travel Memory?Please forgive me for not being diligent in keeping up this blog over the past week--I was on vacation with my husband to Fabulous Las Vegas! Not only did he play in a poker tournament while I traveled about doing research for the parts of my book set there, we went to celebrate early our 25th wedding anniversary.<br />
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Yeah, I'm about fifty pounds heavier than I was 25 years ago, but I'm working on it. I am wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins hat I got flying through that airport many years ago. I got it because I like penguins, but it's a humorous ice breaker because many people think I like hockey. You betcha I put that in my fiction.<br />
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This picture is in front of The Bellagio Hotel, where some scenes from one of my books takes place. A character, Mary Margaret, is a gardener and there is a wonderful area at the back of the hotel. This is a picture from our trip there in 2009:<br />
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This year, they had a butterfly house, along with the other amazing sculptures and flower beds:<br />
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I felt a shiver of delight go down my back. I knew my character, Mary Margaret, would have the same reaction. It is one of her favorite travel memories.<br /><br />
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Another of her favorite memories is of the family trip to Gatlinburg, TN. I tell the story about how Mary Margaret got a hematite band at a gift store there that she lends to her sister to wear as a fake wedding band, "to keep losers away at the bar." It's a minor plot point, but I thought about how she would have stood in the gift shop, trying to figure out what to spend her money on, second guessing her decision a dozen times.<br />
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She would love the small gardens and planters all around Gatlinburg, as well as the rolling hills:<br />
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I didn't put any of that in the novels, but I asked her the favorite travel memory and that's what she told me. It gave me such a great back story, such insight into her. No one else needs to know, but I do.<br />
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Mary Margaret realized that she loves to travel--it was one of the most important things in her life. I send her to Japan in the second series of books. While I have never been to Japan, it's on my Bucket List. I've been lucky, because I've been able to travel quite a lot, first with my parents, then on my own and now with my husband. <br />
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I turned one of my favorite travel memories into a honeymoon story for Mary Margaret's sister, Elizabeth. Again, it won't necessarily appear in a book (though I might sell it on a website as a standalone), but it gives a lot of background for my characters. Elizabeth and Will go to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Will is a medically retired Marine and one morning, they go to Pearl Harbor. <br />
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We were there on September 11, 2003 and it was truly one of the most moving moments I've had. I can only imagine someone with military combat experience seeing it for the first time. <br />
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So, what would be your favorite travel memory? Don't be afraid to ask your characters what their choices would be to gain insight to their reactions and actions.Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-39706136743288706672013-04-02T07:21:00.000-07:002013-04-02T07:21:08.627-07:00Tuesday Thoughts--At the Lowest PointI was a voice in the dark, a life line. Well aware of my responsibility, I tried to slow my speech, get the customer to relax or laugh. I succeeded with both--a small victory.<br />
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"Don't 'Sir' me, call me Mike."<br />
I almost said, "Yes, sir," out of habit. I told him so and got his first rusty laugh.<br />
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I work tech support for a call center and his replacement phone was acting up. He couldn't use the phone to access the internet on his computer or even as a phone to call out, it would only allow him to call the service provider. I was the operator he got this round. It was taking incoming calls to voice mail, which he couldn't access and he'd spent three hours in the store that afternoon without success. <br />
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He had driven from Alaska to Arizona, sleeping under the stars in his small camper. Mike was staying at a campground on a reservation, hoping to reconnect with a cousin who may or may not have time for an old man.<br />
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He mentioned his campground neighbors with their million dollar RVs, half joking that he probably scared them. I asked if they hid their valuables when he walked by and claimed another victory when he chuckled. Mike went briefly into his troubles, not complaining, just explaining. As a Vietnam vet, he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He used phrases like, "totaled out by the military" and "my head ran away," gold to this writer whose hero is a medically retired Marine who had served in Afghanistan. I scribbled them down on the notepad as we talked and have the paper folded in one of my notebooks. <br />
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I shared that my much older brother graduated from The Naval Academy in the late 1960s and was probably a contemporary. He had been killed in service, was buried in Arlington and his daughter was born exactly nine months to the day of his death. For my brother, I thanked Mike for his service to his country and I think he may have shed a tear or two. I know I did.<br />
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<br />
<br />
But, I had to get him to the proper department to fix his issue. I had served my purpose, as a little comic relief in the dark night. I made sure the associate I transferred Mike to was aware of how special this call was and thanked Mike for the pleasure of speaking with him, wishing him well. <br />
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One of the absolute hardest things about my life and my job is that I can't "fix" everything. I make mistakes, some things need replacing, some people are flawed and sh@t happens. All you can do some days is try to learn the lesson that is presented, try to help make the situation as painless as possible. <br />
<br />
One of my lowest points gave me the lesson that Fate and Faith puts us where we need to be, when we need to be there. I was horribly sick, but had to travel for work. In a hotel in Indianapolis, I was able to have my doctor call some prescriptions in to a pharmacy. I'd wasted quite a bit of time and sanity at the wrong store and when I figured out my error, I drug myself back into the car to finally pick up the badly needed meds. I got stopped by a train. After a few minutes of grumbling, I tried to think of all the things I was grateful for, trying for a few could be worse moments to give myself strength to survive the next few days, hours, minutes.<br />
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I thought of my dad, who worked as a conductor for the New York Central Railroad freight line. He was always on the road, staying in crappy hotels, sleeping in dirty cabooses (when there was such a thing) and being away from family and friends no matter how horrible he felt. It was March 28th, the day before his birthday. He passed in November a few years before and I felt ashamed that I was feeling so sorry for myself when I had it so much better than he had. Just then, I looked up. The next to last and third from the last train cars were from his old line and looked like this:<br />
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<br />
As I have my hero say in the book I finished Sunday morning (why we
didn't have Sunday Sundries this week, sorry), you feel the lows, but
that allows you to feel the highs.<br />
<br />
So, with the
Universal Truth that life is not perfect ringing in my ear, I take those
lows and put them into my fiction. Like a cruel, evil master, I put my
characters into difficult situations, then throw a boxcar-load of monkey
wrenches their way and see if and how they dodge. If you truly know them and have built them well, they will come out the other side stronger, with a sense of humor and purpose intact. Your reader will thank you for it.Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344828479061956817.post-75429557000168847962013-03-24T12:27:00.002-07:002013-03-24T12:27:58.973-07:00Sunday Sundries--Slam Book Edition 1A long, long time ago, back before the Interwebs, I spent a lot of time writing letters. I had dozens of pen pals all over the world. It was a thrill, every time I opened the clear glass mailbox at my mom and dad's to find notes from my friends.<br />
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Like this but without the slot at the top. The top is a little rusty, but I have it in my bookcase. I'm trying to figure out where I should hang it on my wall. The house it was attached to was torn down almost ten years ago.<br />
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Anyway, we all would get some cute paper, stationery with an "e."<br />
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There was an interview a few years back with Taylor Swift. She said an interviewer kind of made fun of her because she kept a bin on her tour bus with stationery and sealing wax and stamps. I perfectly understood. I'd glued my favorite artwork from letters all over a box. I sent my sealing wax and stamps to my niece who is proof that nature is stronger than nurture.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we'd cut some paper up and make slam books. It was folded and stapled paper with silly questions that could be answered in a few words or a sentence. The sixth person was supposed to send it back to the person who originated it. I only got a few back, but they were little insights into a time and the minds of the mostly preteen girls who participated.<br />
<br />
So, now we use Facebook and other social media to ask our questions.
Electrons replaced postage stamps and mailboxes. That's cool. If I
really want to save something, I can take a screen shot and put it on a
flash drive. <br />
<br />
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But, with those changes, I'm going to make it a little more adult.<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->My first e-Slam book question would be, "What is your most embarrassing moment?<br />
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Of course, the majority of my embarrassing moments involved alcohol. Number one would probably be my freshman year in college, when I went with my boyfriend to visit his sister. It involved drinking too much:<br />
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And chili and bodily functions. Yeah, that's right. Most certainly not my finest hour. But it was the last time I drank that particular beverage. Funny, I am watching Anthony Bourdain on The Travel Chanel and he just talked about Cuban rum.<br />
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I put the experience or rather the fear of repeating the experience into my fiction. Two of my heroes' parents were killed by a drunk driver. The brothers don't drink at the bachelor party at a strip club and only have two drinks when back at the hotel. Rob had a DUI when he was performing with a boy band. While the sisters take shots the night before the wedding, Mary Margaret is freaking out that she might overindulge at the open bar the next day. She does not want to embarrass herself in front of the family and the man who might be her family someday.<br />
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I do not drink very much anymore. I'm a lot different from the girl drinking with her boyfriend in her early 20s. But I remember her and will put those feelings in my fiction. So, what is your most embarrasing moment? <br />
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<br />Julee J. Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074318571722993020noreply@blogger.com2