Moving Along:

Just a quick note: Moving day is within days, my new life and new residence are in view. My house is being over run by boxes. Everyday I have access to less and less of my stuff. I’m living in a suitcase as of now. Tonight and tomorrow is the last of the packing and cleaning. Then the dreaded move on Saturday. (Raspberry sound with my lips)

“Why do I have so much stuff?” I hear it over and over from tenant who move in or out of our properties. And here "I" am saying it.

Why do I feel I need all this? Organizing and throwing away is going to be the priority once the moving is done.

The only regret is that it might take time away from my reading or writing. That I cannot allow. Slowly, I will toss and pitch unsavory items that have no use as I begin to pull together my new residence.

Notice:
Due to my move and being the first of the month, since I work in property management, my blog postings and storyline "Three Ordinary Lives" will have to take a back seat for a few days. Back on track after that, I can’t wait.

Update on Writing:
Or reading I should say. I was able to purchase a few books. I am so excited!!! Writer’s Digest has books out designed to help the writer. I read about them when I get my email newsletter. Well guess what! I found a few of them at the book store. I was able to buy two books.

1. Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.

2. Conflict, Action and Suspense by William Noble.

Book 1: Characters, what I learned about how to find characters is to look around you, be aware of the characters around you. Take from them but do not use them. The book will explain more on this.

When developing a story, the writer needs to dig deeper than just the clichés of life. Really take time to think about what could possibly happen, but then dig deeper, then dig more, and more. The characters and the story have to be original. The reason why they do something has to be original and what they do about it also has to be original. This book explains it easily and how each point can make the best character, story, and how to write it.

Viewpoint is something that I am in desperate need to understand, and that will come later in the book. Right now I’m only at part 1. Next part is Constructing Characters. That should be interesting.

I love learning. This is better than an 8 Week Creative Writing Class! Ha Ha. For those of you who are new.  I had taken a 8 week creative writing course and was accused of using the class as a therapy session.  Which is untrue and ridiculous.

Back to the books:
Conflict, Action and Suspense. I have learned some great techniques to creating conflict and the difference between passive and active voice. This is great!

I’m moving into chapter 3: Openings right now. This explains the correct way to hook the reader within the first few pages. It is really fascinating. There are a lot of way to hook the reader and what the reader expects from the writer and the story.

I’m thrilled about these books and grateful I found them.    I am learning so much, and plan on working hard to put my new found techniques into my writing. Let me know if you like the improvements.

Update on Braveheart:
Braveheart moves too quickly for me to get a picture of him lately. He is fast, running, jumping, attacking and then hiding from everyone in the house. His attention span is small compared to the others but he is loved an accepted by all.  I love to torture him with kisses. 

Oh forgot to tell you. Since I’m moving into a cheaper place I can afford to keep him. He is mine.
(Mine! Mine! Mine!) No other capable arms can take him but me.

“How’s that for ya? Yeah I knew it would happen anyway. You could see right through me. You knew my soft heart wouldn’t be able to let him go, didn’t you?” (Sign.)

Once life cools down for a minute the posting will come again, and with my new found techniques and better writing skills the blog will be better than ever.   Take care. Until next time.

Little Worrior: Braveheart

A few days ago I acquired a little boy kitten. This little thing was sick and had puss in its eyes. Yesterday I was able to take him to a vet for much needed medicine. This morning the changes are significant. I call him Braveheart because he is a little warrior. When he first arrived he slept most of the time, battling with his inadequate eyesight and persistent sneezing. The sneezing has slowed down and his eyes don’t hurt anymore. I saw him change almost immediately as soon as the drops were placed in the eyes. It was as if he understood the need and was grateful. (By the way  his weight.  1 pound.  What a big boy.)

He also received a bath, which he fought as well as his spirit would allow with his small strength. He wasn’t happy but resigned into it, his paws in a vice like grip around my hand. And like his namesake he was brave. After I wrapped him up in a towel and dried him off he then got real rambunctious. I recognized the signs. I placed him in my lap on a towel where he proceeded to attack my hand as I read my book, trying to bit me and let me know he wasn’t going to take a bath any more. After playing for a moment he grew bored and crawled off my lap to explore his surrounds.

He eyed a box, a box I placed him in when first I protected him, propped by the wall and saw an edge that looked inviting. Getting a start he dove into the box edge claws out and wrapped his paws around, grabbing as much of the edge as he could, while biting with fervor. He was doing his best to hone those fabulous features that gives cats their reputation.

After attacking the box edge he fell to the floor and decided he had enough, he looked around and saw a ball with a cross like top that allow the toy to wobble. He gave it a bat and then attacked it, the movements sparking a frenzy imagining of a future of mice catching, batting it this way and that. Oh, wait he hear tapping, looking away he see a hand tapping the floor. “Well now here’s a challenge, I can get that.” He thinks. He arches his back and bounces towards the hand sideways, confidence that he can get it, with his ferocious look. It moves around him continuously tapping. He stops short, sees the way its going and takes up pursuits. The hand lunges forward and attacks him. He flops down embracing the hand with all his strength biting furiously.

Suddenly the hand is gone and he hears tapping again. “Where did it go? It’s behind the large leg.” He trots around the leg and the hand lunges again. Down he goes and he bites into the soft flesh.
(Ouch! I squeal. * Wink* even though he doesn't hurt me I just don't want him used to biting hands.)

The hand is gone in mere moments. Upon getting up he spies the food dish.  His attention diverted.  “Hmm I think I’ll take a bit. “ The hands is there again tickling him, and he whips around and follows it trying to overtake it. The challenge is exciting and unpredictable. “I will have to work hard to defeat this foe.” He says.

The hand picks him up and places him in front of his dish. “Food, oh yeah, I’m hungry.” He meows. After gorging himself on the food he sees the water dish. Stops to scratch an itch and then attempts to take a drink.  Only the water ends up his nose. "Wow that hurts." as he tries to snort the water out.  He tries again only this time tipping his head so the nose stays out of the water. “Ah yes the refreshing taste of water.”

Yawning he wobbles over to the box and flops down in the corner. He had his workout for now, after a little rest he will continue on to hone those cat skills to be the brave warrior of the future.

Book Review and Update on Weight.
I finished another book. “Legacy” by RA Salvatore. A Drizzt Do’Urdan book 8 in the series.
The writing was fabulous in this one. Drizzt is known for his fighting prowess. But Drizzt has a nemesis who is just as good as he is only they fight for different reasons. No matter how long or how far a person can go their past comes back to haunt them. In this book that is what happens and almost kills all the five friends. The entire book was almost one day in the life of the five friends but some hardships and shocking revelations that shake them up and change some of them forever. What is next for Drizzt, a dark elf, Bruenor a dwarf, Regis a halfling, Wolfgar a barbarian and Catti-bri a human women. Life is never easy in the Forgotten Realm.  

Weight:
I am not doing well in the weight issue. Since my car broke down, accident and then my wrist and arm hurting I haven’t been to Zumba exercise class. The heat is causing me to eat lots ice cream. With the move and the kitty and writing and the ice cream among a bunch of other stuff I feel I am spiraling downhill. I can only hope that I have enough strength to battle through this tough time.

If there a subject that you would like to discuss? An issue that you need help with. Sometimes just talking about it helps. Well In this case writing about it helps. Share, laugh, cry, grow, and bond with others. Until next time.