Kreativ Blogger Award

It's party time, friends, cause I got tagged

not once, not twice, not three times (a lady)

but you guessed it four times!

My cup runneth over!

What did I get tagged in?

And who be these amazing tagging fools?

 Lisa of The Last Krystallos

Angie of Write Me Happy

Stacy of A Jar of Fireflies

Sara of Leggy's Many Sides

A very berry heartfelt thank you to all!

Dear Reader, 

Please make sure to check out 

these awesome bloggers/writers/supporters/friends.

You will not regret it!

I do so swear.

Now onto the shenanigans!

The Rules:

1. Thank & link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the ten questions.
3. Share ten random facts/thoughts about yourself.
4. Nominate seven worthy blogs for the Kreative Blogger Award.

The Questions:

1. What's your favorite song?
Okay, blah blah blah, there is no WAY I could pick a favorite song. But what I can do is give y'all a list of the Top Five Songs I Listen To On Repeat Of Late.

1. Cameras -- Matt & Kim
2. Of Minor Prophets -- David Bazan
3. Keep it Together -- Guster
4. We Are Young -- fun.
5. Magic -- B.O.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo *

*theme song aka the get pumped song

2. What's your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert tends to change on a whim, yet chocolate is almost always involved.

This month's dessert of choice:

Nom.Nom.Nom.

3. What ticks you off?
The word swag. It's just not a good word. sssssW-aaag. *shudders* I've got beef with the creator of this horrid word.

4. What do you do when you're upset?
Become a blotchy mess of rashness and feel all tongue tied. The mister always knows when I'm upset because I get freakishly quiet. A poker player, I am not.

5. Which is your favorite pet?
A hedgehog. His name was Herbie. He shall always be miss.

*raises a bottle of Jack* 

*pours out a fifth*

*bows head*

6. Which do you prefer: black or white?
I like black sharpies and white chalk.

7. What is your biggest fear?
Losing one of my not so lil cuties. We've had some touch and go moments with a few of them, and let me just say, Not.A.Fan.

8. What is your attitude mostly?
I tend to be overly positive toward others. The kind of positive that is so disgusting it makes a person want to vomit. Now, as far as my attitude toward myself, in general, I'm self deprecating emo in the corner.

What can I say? When you've got two brains (a medically proven fact) things get complicated.

9. What is perfection?
I'm not one for perfection. Give me messy, loud, and out of control any day of the week. Perfection makes me nervous and leery.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?
The Vampire Diaries. There. It's out. Phew.

The Random Facts:

1. I am obsessed with socks, long socks, short socks, slipper socks, striped socks, socks, socks, socks. I want them ALL!

2. I despise ketchup. Just the scent of it makes me physically ill. It's something I've learned to deal with in a world covered in condiments.

3. In general, I am not an animal lover, but I am a vegetarian (who eats fish sparingly) so I feel it evens out.

4. My dad's nickname for me was Pinhead. He used my head as a target when golfing in the winter time. It explains a lot about me as an individual.

5. When I was in junior high I came up with the pen name--
                                                                                 wait for it--
                                                                                         Ivory Nights.

6. I have one tattoo and it took me a decade to commit to it. It runs along the inside arc of my right foot and is a quote from one of me and the mister's songs.

7. I enjoy being bundled up and wear long sleeves pretty much everyday, even when it's 118 degrees outside.

8. I've always wished I was Canadian, and I have Anne of Green Gables to thank for that.

9. If I could eat guacamole everyday, all day long, I would. *heaven*

10. The whole time I've been answering these questions my youngest has been hanging on my back whispering random questions into my ear. It's awesome.

The Nominations:

Kim -- @citygirlinAK
Sara -- @reraveling
Carrie -- @onebookishmom
Jen -- @cupcakegirly
Rachel --  @rebunting
Zoe --  @ZoeHarrington_
Bonnie --  @missbonnie13

Five Sentence Fiction -- Foggy

Once again, party people, I'm trying something new.

What might that be?

Why, Five Sentence Fiction, but of course. 

Lillie McFerrin is the creative mastermind behind Five Sentence Fiction.

Here's a breakdown of what it's all about:

Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

Cool beans, right?!
I thought so.

Plus, the number five is involved,

there is no way I could possibly pass this up!

So, let's give this a go, shall we?

*rubs hands together*

The newest word is foggy.

The following is my humble first offering.

 

Shelby’s thoughts were sluggish, her body heavy, her senses dull. The sound of beeping poked at her, the air thick with the scent of ammonia. She felt the prick of a needle and tried to focus on the voices swarming above her. Her murky mind struggled to see beyond the haze, tried to grab onto something concrete. But the gloom rolled over her, wave after wave of mist, and she sank deeper into its embrace.

Hurray for Flash Fiction Day!!

Good morning, one and all!

Today is 

Did ya hear the angels sing?
You can clickity click here to find all the happenings.

In the spirit of Flash Fiction Day

and for the love of all things wordy,

I am sharing with you, my dear friends,

a lil dity I put together just yesterday morning.

And without further ado,

I give you--

THIS FIC IS NOT YET TITLED

Dedicated to 
@bullishink for her encouragement
@citygirlinAK for her hand holding
& 
G-Mail

Sophie opened her bedroom door in a stupor. She stood in the threshold and examined the room. Everything was in its place— same pale blue walls, same white curtains, same quilted bedspread. Pictures of her friends lined the vanity mirror and a pair of socks dangled from the hamper. She breathed in the scent of cinnamon. All of it familiar, yet none of it felt real.

Closing the bedroom door, she walked to her bed and dropped down to sit, resting her head in her hands. Her eyes slide shut and she ran her fingers through her hair. Behind her eyelids, she envisioned a field of gold and a barefoot young man running through it. His laughter filled her ears.

“This is my world. This is where I belong. This is my reality,” she said over and over again, her voice whisper soft and lacking conviction.

Sophie raised her head. Her eyes scanned the room once more and collided with her reflection in the vanity’s mirror.  Her face looked haggard—her green eyes lined with red, her dark hair wild.

Could he be watching her? she wondered. Her stomach fluttered at the thought. She knew the probability of him being there was slim to none, but just the thought made her heart swell and her hands tremble.

Sophie stood and walked toward the vanity, but stopped in the middle of the room. She reminded herself to breathe, begged her heart to slow down, believed she might be insane. But she knew the impossible truth, Luke was real.

There were so many things she had wanted to tell him, but didn’t. And maybe, just maybe, she could say them now and he would know how she felt.

She swallowed hard and took the final steps that brought her directly in front of the mirror. Her knees pushed up against the table.

Sophie raised her hand, stretching her fingers out wide. Her palm connected with the hard cold glass of the mirror and she shivered.

“Luke,” she whispered and stalled.

She drew in an unsteady breath and imagined she was staring into his eyes. She watched a tear slip down her cheek. 

“Luke, if you’re there, I…” she paused, closed her eyes tight and started again. “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for bring me into your world, for sharing your magic with me. I wish I could have… I wish I would have told you, but I was frightened.”

Sophie’s eyes popped open and she looked into the mirror— deep into the mirror— past the image of herself and straight into the heart of the world beyond it.

“I love you,” she said. “And I will never forget you.”

On the other side of the mirror, a young man stood with his hand pressed in perfect alignment with Sophie’s and his eyes stared directly into hers.

“I love you too,” he whispered.

Fin.

 word count: 485

The Lucky Seven Meme

Hey howdy hey, party people.

Just shy of a month ago

the loveliness that is Angie Richmond

of Write Me Happy tagged me in a meme post.

My motto in life is better late than never,

so let's get this party started, shall we?!

Here's how the meme works:

Go to page 7 or 77 of your current MS/WIP
Go to line 7
Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences or paragraphs and post them as they are written.
Tag 7 authors and let them know.

 Since I am all about loving the one your with,

I've decided to post an excerpt from a story I wrote

just last Friday based on a dream I had a few weeks ago.
I decided to do seven paragraphs.
p.s. This is barely editing and smack dab in the middle of a scene.
Have fun.

Darcy and Gideon—unable to see more than a foot in front of them—shuffled down the steep stairs, testing each step as they descended into the darkness. The weight of Violet on her back pressed into Darcy and she feared tripping. The end of the staircase brought them to a doorway made of dirt, rocks, and tree roots. They walked through the threshold and entered a cavern. The ground and walls were made of packed earth. Roots and stones jutted out of the walls. The scent of decaying vegetation filled the space and made it hard to breath.  Dust filled Darcy’s nose and mouth. She glanced above her and stifled a scream.  A man and woman hung from the ceiling. The man dressed in a tux complete with gloves and a top hat. The woman wore a long gown of white shredded at the hem. Their feet were bare. Skeletal in appearance, their glowing faces were as sharp and angular as the mysterious man the children had followed.

“They are the guardians,” the man said gaining Darcy’s attention.

“The guardians of what?” she asked.

“Of this world and the next,” he said. With a sweep of his arm a door appeared in the wall of the cavern. “They have agreed to allow you four children entrance, but they have rules you must abide by.”

“Rules?” Darcy asked.

“You are not to eat or drink anything beyond this door,” the man said.

“But how will we…” Gideon began.

Annnnnd time! 

Now onto the fun part.

*rubs hands together*

Alright, folks!

Ready. Steady.

TAG YOU'RE IT!!

1. Mindy Sue
2. Lisa Shambrook
3. Meg McNulty
4. Jessica Grey
5. Sarah
6. Kerry Freeman
7. Laura Huntley

Five for Friday -- Let's Get Silly

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Friday.
Friday who?
Just Friday, silly.

*crickets*

My calling is clear.
I'm to be a comedian.

*hangs head in shame*
Let's move on, shall we?
It's Friday.
Things have been happenin'.
I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
*winks*

1. This week in the land of Tweets.

Angie did @surlymuse and I a solid and declared a Day o' Naps!

Kerry showed off her walker.

Ang (amcas) left me speechless, as per usual.

Sara and I discussed our upcoming Whelmed Party.

And I convinced my newest tweet-tweet friend Jennifer to eat a bowl of guacamole.

Just doin' my duty, folks.

2. This week in writing.

I wrote a synopsis,
which is a miracle.
How'd I pull it off?
Well, first I tweeted wtf is a synopsis.
Then Eva replied--

 Where did the link lead?
To a post by Susan Dennard on how to write a synopsis.
It is an excellent resource.
It made writing my synopsis of Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap enjoyable.
On top of that, it reminded me why I loved my lil story.
I actually cried!
As I read through my freshly edited synopsis,
I realized I was proud of my work.
*a moment*
You see since I started re-editing last week,
I've felt I should change the title to Crap.
I can never thank either of these ladies enough for
a. taking the time to share their knowledge.
b. just being pure wonderment. 

Truly truly, I am ever so grateful.
*hugs for all*

3. This week in reading.

I still haven't read a book.
Long story short, I just don't feel like it.

There's more to it, but...

 Anywho.

What I have been reading are a multitude of wonderful stories

I've found right here on the webernet!

Here are (you guessed it) FIVE flash fictions/poems

that I thought were the bomb dot com.

1. Trust Me by Jean Elaine

2. My Epic Haiku by Laura Huntley

 3. ReAwakening by JennM

4. Dying for Love by Ruth Long

5. Message by SJI Holliday

Seriously, people, READ THEM.
You will not regret it.

4. This week in The Stache.
Can there be another stache as great as The Selleck?
I didn't think so.
This week I'm bring back an oldie, but a goodie.
Folks, I'm a vegetarian and let me just say I'd go meat for a slice of this action:

source o' wonder

Too much awesome.
I know.
If you think your heart can handle more go here.
Trust me.
Just do it.

5. This week in Pinterest.

buy wonderment here

My bestie and I created a bestie love Pinterest board.
It has made my heart insanely happy.
It will be good for your heart, as well.
I promise.


Annnnnnd if there's anyone still with me,
tis what I know and what I've got.
I hope y'all have a fan-tab-ulous weekend.
I'll be seein' ya on the flippy-flop.

Word Vomit

Please excuse me for a moment,

whilst I word vomit all over you.

There's refreshments on the back table

and a lil mood music for your ear holes to partake in.

You're welcome.
Let us begin.

What in the hell am I doing? During the course of the last few days, I seem to have this thought at least twice every two seconds, give or take. Since "the event," my brain-brain's been in sleep mode. However, this weekend I woke up to find it all swirly twirly. Apparently, it just needed to reboot for a month plus. Now it's ready to come out and play. It's not totally fixed, but it at least wants to bring some things to light.

For example, my brain-brain doth say, the stack of library books sitting on your desk? Yeah, they be overdue by at least two months and maybe you should drop them off and beg for forgiveness and leniency. Oh and you know those kids who claim you have to fed, bathe, and protect them, well two of them have birthdays in a month and maybe you should get on that. P.S. No one can find clean socks. Oh and....

Me thinks you get the point.

A billion-trillion thoughts are being thrown at me, begging me to remember I have a life and I should probably get back to living it instead of just going through the motions.

What my brain-brain really wants to get back to is the writing thing. But on that front, it's even more confused. I keep starting and stalling multiple projects. It's like I have a hundred half eaten chocolate bars lying around my house. Frankly, it's shameful.

Do I start editing Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap? And if so, how do I fight down the feeling that it is all crap, not to mention, that I'm doing it all wrong?

Or do I focus on editing something smaller, like the not so flash fiction story I wrote for Anna Meade's long over fairy contest?

Or do I keep working on that freaky dream I had the other morning?!

Or do I start writing book three, inspired by the song of awesome, lies, and my new found love of horror movies!?!

Or do I look into five sentence fictions?

Or do I join another flash fiction contest?

Or do I finish my 22 Things post?

Or do I finally start the Lucky 7 Meme post?

Or do I.....

I think you get the picture.

Meanwhile, I struggle to even find the time to focus on any one of these questions, let alone decide where to start (see need for clean socks & kids who believe I'm their slave). This maelstrom of madness has left me at a standstill. I long to take part in the fantastic new community of writers I've recently met, I long to edit my purdy lil novel, I long to write something new, I long to simply know what the heck I am doing, what I should be doing, but the answers aren't coming and I'm getting all squirmy wormy inside.

In the end, I know I need to take a deep breath, stop the insanity, batten down the hatches, and get to work. I know the answer is hidden somewhere in the black cavern that is me brain space. Or maybe I just answered it...

The real question just might be,

will I allow all this to stop me 

or can I pull it together just long enough to get 'er done?

As I sit here in a quiet house,

my thoughts tumbling over themselves,

I realize I need to find balance, focus, and let some things go.

I know I can't do it all, even though I'm desperate to.

But what do I let go and where do I start...

Dang it.

I've come full circle.

*headdesk*

Five for Friday -- With A Little Help From My Friends

It's Friday. 

I've got my Avenger tickets in my pocket

and a feel good vibe floating 'round inside my heart.

I think it's all the fairy dust in the air of late.

Whatever it may be,

I'm embracing it, jumpin' back in the saddle,

and putting together a fun times post complete with

cackles,

balloons, 

chocolate,

anthologies,

and marshmallow villains.

It will all make sense.
 

Ready. Steady. 

Let's get this party started!

1. This week in Tweet Tweet Land.

I made new friends.

It made my heart happy.

Here's why--

Sarah from re-raveling and I told fairy tales about eyelashes, big toes, and marshmallow men.

*out -- ya know how it goes on twitter. typos be running wild!

 Susi Holliday (who's blog is here) cackled and my heart sang.

Victoria Pearson (who's blog is here) came up with the best job EVER.

Jessica Grey (who's blog/website is here) wholeheartedly supported my decision to make a tumblr vs being productive in life.

p.s. I also made a pinterest, because ya know, I don't have enough to distract me.
*headdesk*

And my lovely friend Katie and I discussed Ben & Jerry's. 

word

2. This week in writing.

Speaking of Ben & Jerry's, 

this took place yesterday.

 Editing of Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap commenced this week
and, let me just say, my brain-brain hurts.
It's a good thing the doctors decided I have two,
cause I'm pretty certain this whole process is gonna cause one to explode.

 3. This week in crazy awesome news that made my heart stop!!!
Speaking of exploding brains,
about a week ago I entered a flash fiction contest
hosted by @SJIHolliday & @ruanna3.
I do so declare it has been the best experience EVER!!!
Eighty-eight stories were submitted.
I've read every single one of them
and honestly adored them all.
There is no way I am going to win.
Having the privilege of playing a small role in this event has been my prize.
And then, low and behold, an announcement was made that knocked my socks off.

What is this wonderment @SJIHolliday is speaking of?
Why a published anthology of all the stories from the contest,
but of course.
ALL the stories, which means ME!
That's right, folks!!!
I'M GONNA BE A PUBLISHED WRITER!!!!
An actual physical book made of paper with stories in it
will have my name and my words in it!!!
I feel honored.
I feel stunned.
I feel verklempt!
I feel...
*brain-brain failure*

How doth one follow up that news?!
*ponders*
Oh, I know where to go next!

4. This week in heroes of the stache.
Speaking of feeling honored,
it's May and time for us to support our local staches.
This week I'm paying homage to a great hero of the stache--
Mr. Tom Selleck.

You, sir, are a god among staches.

Long live the stache!!

5. This week in yeah buddy.

And last, but oh so far from being least,
my family and I sent messages to our Rocketman last Saturday.

i love you, rocketman

It's been over a month since "the event."
It's weirdy in a far too comfortable kind of way.
And yet, I keep asking myself if it was all just a really bad dream
that I'm going to wake up from any day now.
*sighs*
For now,
I'm grabbing onto everything good and wonderful
and I'm refusing to let go.
Thanks to all of you for helping with the good and wonderful parts.
*hugs all around*
See ya on the flippy-flop.