And Then There Were ...

I'm dealing with a bad back, so I give you this in my place.

Someone give this animal an Oscar.

Just a suggestion. 

Fun Friday

I know this has made the rounds before, but when a friend sent it to me the other day, I giggled as if for the first time.

Blessings also to all teachers teaching Grade One. The very thought gives me a mighty thirst. Have a great weekend, everyone!

***********

A Grade One school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic! We know what he (or she) heard around the house!

 

1.	Don't change horses	until they stop running
2.	Strike while the	bug is close..
3.	It's always darkest before	Daylight Saving Time.
4.	Never underestimate the power of	termites.
5.	You can lead a horse to water but	how?
6.	Don't bite the hand that	looks dirty.
7.	No news is	impossible.
8.	A miss is as good as a	Mr.
9.	You can't teach an old dog new	maths.
10.	If you lie down with dogs, you'll	stink in the morning.
11.	Love all, trust	me.
12.	The pen is mightier than the	pigs.
13.	An idle mind is	the best way to relax.
14.	Where there's smoke there's	pollution.
15.	Happy the bride who	gets all the presents.
16.	A penny saved is	not much.
17.	Two's company, three's	the Musketeers.
18.	Don't put off till tomorrow what	you put on to go to bed.
19.	Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and	you have to blow your nose.
20.	There are none so blind as	Stevie Wonder.
21.	Children should be seen and not	spanked or grounded.
22.	If at first you don't succeed	get new batteries.
23.	You get out of something only what you	see in the picture on the box.
24.	When the blind lead the blind	get out of the way.
25.	A bird in the hand	is going to poop on you.
And the WINNER and last one!
26.	Better late than	pregnant.

Habits We Have

What do you do when you are nervous?

Do you

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or do you

Do you...

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Or do you need...

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Maybe you look at....

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or... 

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Maybe you do this...

Or this...

Or eat a lot of this...

Or have an extra cup of this...

And now that you've identified what you do when you're nervous...

(whether I've named it or not)

Think about...

What do your characters do?

Wisdom of the Sheep

Click, click click.

Sheep #1: Ahem.

Click, click, click.

Sheep #1: Ahem.

Clickity-click click click.

Sheep #1: AHEM!!!

Writer: (stopping typing) Yes?

Sheep #2: Hello.

Writer: I'm busy. I don't have time for you now.

Sheep #3: Like that's ever stopped us.

Writer: (sighing heavily) Yes?

Sheep #1: Pray tell, who are they? (pointing a hoof towards another flock of sheep)

Writer: They're a new project.

Sheep #2: We know that. We're not stupid. Look at them - they're lambs.

Sheep #1: Their wool is pristine.

Sheep #2: Their hoofs are spotless.

Sheep #3: They're precious.

All the Sheep: And you're spending all your time with them!

Sheep #1: What about us?

Sheep #2: You love us.

Sheep #3: You've said so.

Sheep #1: More than once.

Sheep #2: Were you lying?

Sheep #1: Because that would be hurtful.

Writer: I'm sorry. I'm attracted to new projects.

Sheep #1: We've noticed.

Sheep #2: This is a problem.

Writer: Why?

Sheep #1: Look around you. How many flocks of sheep do you see?

Writer: Well...there's the new flock I've been spending time with.

Sheep #1: And...

Writer: And the three flocks of 14 sheep over there - those are the three games I'm working on.

Sheep #2: And...

Writer: Way over there is the short-story flock.

Sheep #3: (squinting) Why, they're wasting away.

Writer: (ashamedly) It's been awhile since I've worked on that.

Sheep #1: And...

Writer: And what?

Sheep #2: There's us!

Writer: Of course.

Sheep #1: Mind some advice?

Writer: What if I do?

Sheep #1: You'll get it anyway.

Writer: Fine. Bleat away.

Sheep #1: You can't keep popping from flock to flock. Make your choice. Stay with one flock until you're finished.

Sheep #2: Then move on.

Writer: But...

Sheep #1: You may think you're moving forward - but you're just jumping over the fences between flocks. If you'll notice, none of us have left.

Sheep #2: You're just adding more flocks.

Writer: But, it feels like I'm moving forward.

Sheep #1: Have any sheep left?

Writer: No.

Sheep #1: Pick a flock.

Sheep #2: Stick to it.

Sheep #3: Finish it. Then move on.

Writer: You're right.

Sheep #1: Aren't we always?

Writer: I'm feeling a bit sheepish.

Sheep #1: Don't start.

Fun Friday

Let's face it, treehouses are cool and these pictures prove you don't have to be a kid to think so. I'd think about living in some of these!

Have a great weekend and a special wave to my new followers!

(All images found on Google Images)

Take a Moment

Take a moment....

Stop worrying about...

or

What you're making for....

or...

Oh look - English money..

Sorry, I digress...

Give yourself a moment to be enchanted by the magic of this...

 or the perfume wafting from this...

The tranquility of this...

and the haunting call of this...

Okay.

Feel better?

Break's over.

10 Helpful Writing Hints from Me to You

10. Give yourself permission to "write ugly". Remember the story of the ugly duckling.

9. Don't ask for criticism unless you're ready to receive it.

8. If an idea is keeping you up at night, or knocking on the door of your imagination while you're busy doing other things, it's an idea worth paying attention to.

7. Never forget the funny.

6. Remember some days will be more productive than others.

5. Never assume your characters are finished surprising you.

4. There is such a thing as a too-complicated plot.

3. Love your characters' flaws - perfection can be really boring.

2. Your third chapter might be your first chapter in disguise.

1. Be aware of your facial expressions when you're writing. If you're smiling, you're onto a good thing.

Fun Friday

I'm sharing a video taken by a friend of mine who is down in South America at the moment. No, no, I'm not jealous.

Not at all.

And every day is better with penguins.

In the Beginning...

Our story begins in a...

No....

in a ...

No...

in a...

with our hero...

No...

our hero...

No...

our hero...

searching for his...

No....

his...

No...

his recipe for...

So...

He climbs on his...

No...

He climbs into his...

No...

He climbs onto his...

to begin his journey...

What will he discover?

This?

This?

Enjoy your beginnings! Everything is possible.

Funday (way more fun than Monday)

For some, today is a holiday. For some, this is Monday. For most, cute kitty pictures just make the day slide back a mite smoother. Think about your writing in a few minutes. For now, there are kitties. Thanks to my email correspondent for sending me this and making my day a bit more kitten-filled. My then-kittens now hurl fur balls onto the carpet, demand food on a whim and stare at me in disgust if I deign to enter a room where they're sleeping. They're precious.

1. The Full Situp

To achieve the full situp, you must begin with the genuine intention of exercising your abs and promptly fall asleep midway through the task. This position is extremely advanced and not recommended for amateur sleepers.

Via: swjcc.co.uk

2. The Awkward Spoon
The goal here is not so much intimacy as it is the socially uncomfortable sharing of a physical space with someone. Bonus points if your arm falls asleep but you're too embarrassed to move it.

Via: tonymadrid

3. The Semicircle
Tuck your tail between your legs and imagine that you are an omelet.

Via: designswan.com

4. The Sunbather
The trick is to look like someone who is acting comfortable whilst also appearing extremely uncomfortable. Let's take this excellent opportunity to coin the term "meta-comfortable."

Via: weirdomatic.com

5. The Double Bed
You will need a partner for this one. The goal is not so much comfort as an expression of sheer, unadulterated greed.

Via: weirdomatic.com