Countin’ 1, 2, 3.

Okay.  So I re-discovered a freaking fantastic blog today (I’d bookmarked it a while back and kept meaning to get into the reading, but life happens and I’m generally busy AND really good at procrastination)!  As I was reading the lovely entries it struck me that I must thief some of them (don’t worry – I warned the blogster).  This is one such blog.

(To those of you who were glad I stopped with the meme-ish-ness?  Sorry – I’ve been in a bad place lately and this is entertaining me.  I may never fully recover from my survey addiction.)

Check it: My Life in Threes

Reading

1) Laurie Halse Anderson – Speak.  This is a re-read.  I love this book.  It makes me cry, but I love it.

2) Adair Lara – Naked, Drunk and Writing.  ’Cause really?  Why wouldn’t you?!

3) Jim Butcher – Fool Moon.  Yes still.  I just can’t seem to get addicted to the Dresden books.

Listening

1) LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It

(He works out.)

2) Theory of a Deadman – Bitch Came Back

3) Britney Spears – Gimme More

Watching

(Okay.  I don’t have cable, so what you’re going to see here is a list of my Netflix obsessions.)

1) Buffy.  (mephy is most displeased that I’ve started watching this again, but I feel that if he doesn’t want to watch TV with me than he can stfu and let me be a nerd.)

2) Blackadder.

3) Dexter. (This one I am watching new – thanks to my totally rad Sisty and her PVR.)

Needing

1) A vacation.  (To Thailand.)

2) A bath. (I have cold feet and now I really want to go read – I do my best reading in the tub.)

3) $500K.  (I’m not greedy, $500K would solve all of my debt problems (house and truck).)

Wanting

1) A winter work wardrobe.  It’s getting cold.

2) Diablo III.

3) A re-roll on a few life things.

Avoiding

1) My NaNoWriMo project.  The guilt of that avoidance is killing me.  This is a strange phenomenon.  I actually find myself wanting to not procrastinate.

2) Dealing with my issues.

3) Folding the laundry.

Loving

1) Lexie.  Paramount, right now, is this chick.  Babe?  Your encouragement and support of late has been so . . . well, needed.  I appreciate it more than I can say.  You make it easier to breathe.  Thank you.

2) Watching Ayla play in the snow.  So.  Fucking.  Cute!

3) That I can’t go an hour without thinking of the NaNoWriMo project.  I’m avoiding it and I hate what I have so far (because first drafts blow goats), but I started it, I’ve been working on it and I can’t stop thinking about it.  This pleases me.  Big.

(Melissa’s Life in Threes . . . as of 11/08/11!)

You’re caught up, folks.  This is my life.

Britney Spears – 3

UNT.

(Spy?  You’re right.  I have terrible taste in music.  This is criminal.)

When I rock the mic, I rock the mic right.

I either have dissociative identity disorder or bipolar disorder.

Hear me out.

When I went to bed last night I was done with writing.  Done.  I had some tears, but mostly apathy.  Shit, I was ready to box up all of my How To Write references and donate them to . . . somewhere.  I woke up this morning completely jazzed about life and writing again.

This is absolutely maddening, people.  This isn’t the first time this has happened and I’d be willing to stake a small fortune on it happening again (soon).

Earlier this week I had been playing with an idea I have since decided to implement.  Some of you are aware that I’m jacked to participate in NaNoWriMo this year and some of you are also aware that I have been entertaining house guests since Wednesday evening and have had very little time to do much of anything (better excuse than “I’m too tired after a long day of work,” right?).  So!  Fuck proper time constraints.  My NaNoWriMo is Nov 7 – Dec 6.  It’s not 3DNC and I’m only doing it to kick-start an idea I had a year and a half ago.

Seriously.  Try living in my head for five minutes, it’s a goddamn roller coaster.

Robbie Williams – Rock DJ

UNT.

Happy Halloween!

I think I’m going to stop trying to blog every week.  It was a neat exercise while it lasted, but so many (recent) entries are getting trite, poorly-written or just plain YouTubularly non-existent.  I’d like to believe that some of what I blogged before was worth reading.  I am 98% certain that most of what I blog about now isn’t.

I may need to take a break.

Before I do that, however. . . .

Happy Halloween, Blogdom!  Blessed Samhain as well.

Enjoy your holiday, or spooky candy-filled event as best, and as safely, as you can!

(That’s this year.  Did I show you last year?  I think I did, but it totally bears repeating!)

TRHPS – Sweet Transvestite

UNT.

 

Fuzzhead.

I had a visit to my blog today based on a search for Janzhaus German Shepherds.  In my fantasy world, these folks were looking for testimonials to help them make a puppy decision.  Taking that into account and pairing it with The Awesome that is Ayla, I bring you:

Ayla: Juggernaut of Win Part 2

It has been five months since we brought Little Miss Unholy Terror into our family.  Five months of adorableness, awe and mind-numbing frustration.  We love our puppy so big!  She’s amazing.

One of the first things we did as soon as we were able (after she was completely vaccinated) was take her to Puppy Obedience (with Noel Pepin – for those of you in the Prince George area looking for some serious dog training?  Look no further than Mr. Pepin.  He has our seal of approval all the way and has helped us learn so much).  She was an absolute gem.  Sure she’s headstrong, stubborn and altogether the most challenging dog I’ve ever worked with (there haven’t been many, but Ayla takes the cake), but it was so much fun and she came such a long way!  She picked up the sit, down, stand, wait, sit, watch me, and heel so quickly and loved to play with the other dogs on the agility course.

Sidenote: some parents in my life get irritated with me for this comparison, but I’m amazed at the parallel between raising children and dogs.  The structure they need, positive reinforcement, discipline, attention, socialization and all of the basic needs: food, shelter, and love.  The training is, basically, the same – except I think kids like chocolate chips and stickers as a reward more than liver treats and rawhide bones.

The second thing we did, concurrent with obedience and upon recommendation and invitation of Noel Pepin, was enlist Miss Ayla in Tracking 101.  That was fun!  It was so neat to see our little GSD doing what she was bred to do, what her ancestors have been doing since the inception of the GSD.  And man did that little mutt dominate!  She loves tracking and she’s getting to be a little phenom at it!

Along with the obedience training and tracking work, Ayla’s been on a few long road trips, always a dream in the car, and a great camping trip on which she showed us just how adaptable she is – she is an awesome camp dog!  She gets on great with other dogs, is pretty excited to lick the faces of grinning children (and even the not-so-grinning ones), loves to swim (in rivers, lakes, ponds and puddles), has learned to play fetch without problem, and is a great little cuddle bug.  The only habit I really have to work on with her?  She terrorizes people who come to my door!  This is not entirely problematic, ’cause we all love the idea of Crazy Dog snarling at the visiting salespeople, but she just doesn’t give it a rest.  But, it’s trainable behaviour and she’s a brilliant dog – it’ll come.

I think I’ve spelled it out, but I’ll say it straight out: if you’re looking for another testimonial on Janzhaus German Shepherds, from someone 100% not affiliated with Jan and her dogs in any capacity other than having adopted one, you’ve found it.  I can’t recommend this breeder enough.  mephy and I will be bringing another GSD fuzzhead into our family and when we do we will be contacting Jan for another of her amazing dogs.  (As an added bonus: Jan and her husband are such a joy to deal with.  They are a wealth of knowledge and so eager to help you have the best possible new-puppy experience!)

Ayla: Juggernaut of Win Part 1

Metallica – Whiskey in the Jar

UNT.

Don’t that lady look surprised!?

I gave up my paid writing gig.

That was not an easy decision, as you might imagine.  I thought about it, and decided to persevere.  I thought about it more, and decided the pros outweighed the cons.  Then I thought about it some more, and decided both parties would be more successful if we ended our business relationship amiably.  (Thank you, so much, for first allowing me and then encouraging me to take on a creative role.  I will never forget and always appreciate that.)

Now what?

It’s no secret that I’ve been a little creatively dry these last months.  I let the teachings of the inspired Julia Cameron slip by the wayside.  In my first draft of this post I (perhaps unsurprisingly) got a bit melancholy.  (You can’t blame me too much, I’ve been watching a lot of Angel recently and brooding is almost second nature when you do that.)  I got all what’s-the-point and What Is The Meaning Of Life?  It was messy – you’re glad I didn’t post it, believe me.

I just had a bath.  Normally when I do that, at least lately, I’ve been reading me some Harry Dresden.  This evening I was dead tired and wanted something a bit more serial, so I picked up the October issue of The Writer (you can get it at Books & Co. and I suggest you do, it’s awesome – Owen would be happy to set a copy aside for you every month, just tell him G sent you) instead.  I read an article about how werewolves are the new vampires and/or zombies.

Okay, so as far as Great Literature is concerned it wasn’t that inspiring.  Point is?  People write.  Every day, in every circumstance.  Mothers, fathers, doctors, line cooks, cancer patients . . . they all make the time.

I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year.  I have a friend who has so enthusiastically agreed to write with me, to be my motivation while I act as hers.  I’m not going to chince out.  I’m also going to hit up that aforementioned bookshop next week when I’m off work on vacation (this is your only warning Booksters.  You don’t know when I’ll be there, you don’t know where I’ll sit, you just know that I’ll show up.  Probably more than once.  My advanced apologies).  I need to get my shit together.  (I love pep-talk by blog.  It’s always so fun!)

Help me out, people?  Keep me honest.  Make me feel guilty by asking about the book, short story, poem or piece of erotica (rly?) I’m working on.  NaNoWriMo’s right, the more people you tell the more writing you’ll have to do . . . don’t want to look like any more of an asshole than you have to by promising productivity and not putting out.  It just ain’t right.  Write?

Stereo MCs – Connected

UNT.

PS. Because it’s been in my head ALL DAY (thank you Cotter and G-Lo):

You’re welcome!

Thanks! v2.0

I am thankful.

I have an amazing family who lets me make chocolate cake for Thanksgiving dinner (in lieu of pumpkin pie), because niece-creatures look way cuter wearing chocolate icing than whipping cream.  I have a patient father who lets me come over and cheer for the Winnipeg Jets as they oppose his Habs in their first game of the regular season, in a refurbished arena, back in their proper city.  I have a pup who gives me a great reason to get out and enjoy the stellar Autumn landscape and weather.

Most importantly, I have a mephy who is awesome.  I am very, very thankful to be married to him.  (I’m reasonably certain no one else would put up with me.)

Happy Thanksgiving, Canuckians!

And now for something completely different!

My weekend in pictures!

1) Happy birthday niece-creatures!

2) Set with a capital J!  #gojetsgo!

3) Little Miss Unholy Terror lives up to her name.

Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up

UNT.

 

Whoa! This isn’t woodshop class?

The blog and I have not been seeing eye to eye.  I suppose this is not news, given my Monty Python, Blackadder and Angel video posts, not to mention the ABC meme.  I have to post once a week.  I made a promise.  It’s just not coming easily these days.

Confession: I haven’t been writing.  It started out really well with that TAW course – I did my Morning Pages and even found myself getting creative ideas again (to the tune of working on four different prompts for the Northlands Writing Group).  But, in true Kim form, I fell off the wagon.  Oh, I know I can get back on, I’m not really worried about that.  I had my reasons for letting it slip and I don’t regret it.  I have guilt, but I don’t regret working on other things.  However!  I need to write.  I have a pesky idea sitting in my noggin (two actually, but I’m not ready for the second yet.  I need practise before I can tackle that), fermenting.  It’s just getting stronger.  This pleases me.  mephy has even commented on the juggernaut-of-win-ness of this idea, so it really needs to be explored.

I suppose I’m a little sapped.  It’s no secret that this year has not been my favourite.  I feel like I’m investing too much energy into my job and not leaving enough for the important things.  Jobs are neat, they help pay the bills, but they’re not life.  Well.  Mine isn’t.  It is, however, stressful.  Too much so.  I’m allowing that to seep in and nibble away at my poor little brain.  That has to stop.  mephy, Ayla and writing are more important, they have to move back to the front of my priority line.  (The good news: I’ve been taking Little Miss Unholy Terror for a walk every weekday morning at 6am.  It’s great for her and fabulous for me – and helps achieve my walking five days a week goal!  Huzzah – puppies are great excuses for exercise.)

Interesting: I was checking the daily post prompts on WordPress this afternoon, looking for possible inspiration, and came across a listing for NaNoWriMo.  It occurred to me that this is one of those really great excuses to actually start to sketch that aforementioned writing project idea out.  NaNoWriMo isn’t for a perfect, polished piece (alliteration FTW) – December is for that.  NaNoWriMo is a challenge to get you going.  Get ideas out and get creativity flowing.  I have twenty-nine days to decide whether I want to do this or not, and get my shit sorted.  What do you think?  Should I try?  Have you tried?  Are you trying, this year?  What say you, friends, family and fans?

Some things to think about, for sure.  Re-prioritize.

Orgy – Blue Monday

UNT.

UPDATE!  I am a Facebook whore, most of you know this already.  Just before publishing this entry I shared the NaNoWriMo fanpage to my profile and asked many of the same questions I asked here.  Three awesome people “liked” it and encouraged me to go forth and conquer the written world, and one amazing soul eagerly suggested we take the NaNoWriMo challenge together and act as motivation for each other (which will include a few coffee-and-writing-dates at various local java joints, naturaly)!  I agreed.  So?  I’m in!  NaNoWriMo will make me it’s bitch.  (Thanks J!  I’m really looking forward to this!)

Nothing to see here.

Well.  It’s that time of the week.

I’m afraid it’s one of those weeks.  I had great plans for this post – an idea for something long, something with meaning.  Buuuuut . . . then I got to re-reading some old writing (a six-year-old vampire RPG I was involved in) and lost some time.  Now?  I’m just way more interested in not blogging than blogging, but I’ve promised a post a week, so I have to do something.

Requests?  We’ve done Monty Python and we’ve done Blackadder . . . what’s next?

Oh!  Here.  I’ve been watching a lot of Angel lately, this works into the theme:

Deuces!

Nero – Innocence

UNT.

ABCs of your snarky neighbourhood vyxen.

Courtesy of Angie and Kendra (and other people before, but you can follow that trail yourselves).

A. Age: 29.
B. Bed size: Queen, but strongly considering upgrading to King within the next few years.
C. Chore that you hate: Vacuuming.  And ironing.  Arch nemesi.
D. Dogs: One of my life’s greatest joys.
E. Essential start to your day: A shower.  (My showering is an essential start to everyone’s day.)
F. Favourite colour: Red.  (And green, I also love green.  I’m completely all over that whole Christmas thing.)
G. Gold or Silver: Gold, but white gold.
H. Height: 5’6″-ish.
I. Instruments you play: I used to play the flute.  I’m sure I could still play a few tunes, but I’d definitely have to practice.
J. Job title: Assistant Bookstore Manager and General Merchandise Buyer.  And (somewhat more importantly) Freelance Writer.
K. Kids: Love them.  Currently prefer puppies, though.
L. Live: In a fabulous house that I love!
M. Mother’s name: Bonnie.
N. Nicknames: Kim.  Creative, I know.  Kimmy sometimes too, but that one’s reserved for people I like.  A lot.  (I have a great deal more patience for people I like.  A lot.)
O. Overnight hospital stays: I’m not actually sure.  I don’t think I’ve done too much time in the hospital.
P. Pet peeves: People who tailgate, especially when there are two lanes to use.  I do not go below the speed limit folks.  In fact, I’m usually at least 5km/hr above it, but people still tailgate.  If I can’t see your taillights because you’re so far up my ass . . . I set my cruise on the speed limit and piss you off.  Go fuck yourselves.  Srsly.
Q. Quote from a movie: “FYI man, alright. You could sit at home, and do like absolutely nothing, and your name goes through like 17 computers a day. 1984? Yeah right, man. That’s a typo. Orwell is here now. He’s livin’ large. We have no names, man. No names. We are nameless!” (Cereal Killer, Hackers)
R. Right or left handed: Right.
S. Siblings: A (super fly) little sisty.
U. Underwear: Boyshorts.  That’s it, that’s all I ever wear anymore.
V. Vegetable you hate: Hate?!  None!  I love veggies.
W. What makes you run late: mephy.  mephy-time makes me crazy.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth.  Many, many teeth x-rays.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Most currently: pumpkin pie dip (do not use the full amount of sugar folks.  I used 1cup, but I think you can get away with 3/4, maybe even 1/2).  Usually cookies though, and pie.  I love to bake and I’m actually not terrible at it.
Z. Zoo animal: I’m not a fan of zoos.  I would prefer if they didn’t exist.

Xzibit (feat. Nate Dogg – RIP) – Been A Long Time

UNT.

The sky.

This one inspired by a prompt from Kendra (from a lifetime or so ago).

The sky.

Was blue.

Not just any blue.  The sky, today, was The blue.  “Once upon a time” blue.  The blue of sunshine, lollipops and rainbows.  Blue that you just can’t help but smile about.

Today’s sky was a representation of hope.  Hope that the sun will continue to shine, that the orange, yellow and red of autumn will hold off just a bit longer, and that the temperature will allow for just a few more trips to the ice cream stand.

The sky this evening is a different story.

This sky begins at its lowest point with the pale yellow of a primrose dame, continues through a soft dusky pink into a smooth, murky indigo.  This is a comfortable sky, a sky that begs you to sit beneath it with a cup of tea, a notebook and a puppy frolicking in the yard beside you.  This sky is an old friend.

These skies act as mirror to a pretty flawless day.

(It’s been one of those great ones folks.  One filled with friends, family, music and awesome.  This has been one of those days I like to thank The Big Guy for more specially than the days that fill the gaps – this one was a gift.)

The Who – Undun

UNT.