[*Finished Reading: New Moon by Stepahnie Meyer, and plowed right on into and through Eclipse as well the same day - I definitely see this series appeal, but I'm still not sure if I actually like it; I find myself wearing my editor/writer's hat and wanting to take a red ink pen, but the characters have appeal and who doesn't love a vampire/werewolf story? -- CR: To Serve and Submit by Susan Wright - Great so far with subservient erotica - and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon - Riveting! I'm having a hard time putting it down when I pick it up, but it may not be to some people's taste in novels. TBRN: No friggin clue! :) More than likely will get Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer so I can finish the series, but I'm not chomping at the bit or anything.]
A quick note to let everyone know that I'm not dead. LOL
Things are a bit crazy right now. Z and I are getting ready to move to the St. Louis area. He got a great job offer (two actually) that he's decided to take. I'm not jazzed about the idea of moving - um, AGAIN - but I am about when we get there. See, I've always been the responsible adult who worked full-time and made sure all the bills were paid (rarely on time, but PAID anyway) while Z was free to work part-time and pursue other paths like school and his own small business. We've been doing this pretty much since we've been together - the last ten years. This being said, when we move to the St. Louis area, Z will have a great job with excellent pay, so we made a pact. It's MY turn to do the part-time work and full-time other pursuit while he plays the responsible adult. I figure since I had the last ten years, he can have this decade; we'll just switch off every so often! :)
I'm not thrilled about leaving all my friends and family and moving two hours FARTHER away, but I am looking forward to city with some culture in it. Don't get me wrong, we do have friends there already and even some family, but nothing like the last ten years we've accumulated here. Oh well...have to buck up and take the bad with the good, right?
As for my writing, I'm still hard at work on it. Mostly working on my writing classes I'm taking currently, but I do manage to get a little "me" time writing time, too. Most of this is spent working on the third book of the Of Shadows series and the second book of the Abigail St. Michaels series, plus my new post apocalyptic erotica I'm tinkering with. Not much more on the publishing front, but I did get a pretty good inside tip about a publisher recently that I plan on using to my advantage soon! (wink) You know who you are!
That's about it for me today...I have some serious house-hunting tomorrow, so I'm trying my best to rest up tonight! Until we meet again...
Keep reading; keep dreaming!
B.B. Walter
30 April 2009
24 April 2009
Write with Me, Learn with Me!
All right, kiddies! I threatened some time ago that I would be posting my writing assignments from the two courses I'm taking right now on here every so often. Today is that magickal day!! *And the crowd goes wiiiiiild!*
No, seriously, folks...I'd really like to hear some feedback about this short story I had to write for one class. It hasn't been graded and returned by the teacher yet, but I'm hoping for some constructive criticism from my friends, or any complete stranger that happens to read it. *wink* So here goes...
EXTRA-ORDIANRY
Tean-year-old Marcus Samuel Simon is what some would call an extraordinarily ordianry little boy. With mousy brown hair and nondescript brown eyes, freckles across his cheeks, he walks home from school with rounded shoulders, his hands crammed into the pockets of his blue jeans. The toes of his red and white sneakers leave wakes in the dirt as he drags his feet. Shades of his classmates taunt him during his trudge down the dirt road leading home.
"Marcuth Thamuel Thimon," the shades mock.
A new year at a new school because his dad has a new job at a new refinery. Marcus had anticipated the ridicule; this was the fourth school in as many years.
He sighs as he takes in the faded lime green pull-behind camper; his home since his mom abandoned them. His dad, Stephen Simon, did what he could but work was hard to find with refineries closing all across the U.S.
Twenty-two minutes and eleven seconds to go...
A piece of cardboard that neither keeps out the rain nor the cold is duct-taped over the busted window (the window where his "bedroom" is) at the front of the camper. Two rusted lawn chairs stand guard outside the dented front door.
Marcus strides across the outdoor carpeting that constitutes their "lawn". He retrieves the key tucked inside his shirt. The key is on a necklace comprised of two of his dad's old bootlaces.
Nineteen minutes and six seconds to go...
He slides the key into the lock and twists. Pushing his way into the dim interior, Marcus reaches for the kerosene lantern to his right. The lantern hangs on a rusted nail his father has driven; the book of matches for the lantern is in a brown glass ashtray. The ashtray is from the local (as in three states and two schools ago) bowling alley. It is balanced on the backside of the bench seat that joins its mate and small Formica table making up their "living/dining room".
Lighting the lantern, Marcus closes the door and hangs his key on the hook. Climbing the two stairs that bring him into the center of his home, he sets the lantern on the table. From his position, he can touch the table, the hot plate, and the bathroom door all at once if so inclined.
Marcus is not inclined.
Fourteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds to go...
Looking at the table, he sees his dad left him a note.Dear, son. chance for overtime. Eat your dinner, do your homework, and wash your face before bed. Here's a dollar; get something sweet from Chuck's. Love, Dad.
Chuck's is the convenience store down the road from their trailer park. Marcus moves the four quarters used to hold down the corners of the note and sighs. A dollar might get him gum if the old man who works there takes pity and doesn't charge tax. Marcus deposits the quarters back into the change jar sitting beside the hot plate. He stirs the jar, making it look like he spent the coins - not that his dad would check.
Stephen Simon works from three each afternoon until three in the morning, six days a week. Overtime meant an additional four hours; he would be ready to drive the hour and a half home about the time Marcus would be getting ready for school. The boy would be in class when his dad got home. Stephen Simon would be too tired to check his change jar to see if Marcus spent the money or put it back like always.
Marcus opens the door on the miniature refrigerator. The refrigerator shares the same counter as the hot plate and makes up their "kitchen". Removing the package of bologna and a juice box, he closes the door. The bread is in the cupboard above him. Within five minutes, his dinner is made; five minutes later, his dinner is eaten and his mess cleaned.
Five minutes and eighteen seconds to go...
There is no homework for the night; it's the first day. Marcus heads to the bathroom.
The bathroom consists of a small commode, a child-sized shower, and a sink the size of a sand bucket. Marcus removes the washcloth from teh edge of the sink and wets it. He scrubs at his face, turning the skin pink, and wrings the water from the cloth. Placing it back on the edge of the sink, he exits the bathroom. To his right, beyond a moth-eaten curtain, in his dad's "bedroom". His dad's room houses a bed and a small two-drawer cardboard dresser. The dresser has decorative pink and purple flowers; his dad found it on the side of the road.
Marcus turns and makes his way to his own bedroom. He extinguishes the light as he passes. His room is past the living/dining room and kitchen. Marcus's dad had hung him a sheet too; the sheet is 'Strawberry Shortcake' but Marcus doesn't mind. He bats the sheet aside and climbs into his bed, kicking his sneakers off as he pulls himself up.
Two minutes and three seconds to go...
Marcus draws the curtain shut, closing himself in. His room is made up wholly of his twin-size bed and the small storage space beneath it. Marcus reaches down and opens the door to the space. He pulls out a battered shoebox, clearly one of his dad's, and settles it in his lap. He sits Indian-style on his mattress. The boy caresses the boy, sliding his hands along the top of the cardboard, before he removes the lid. Light engulfs Marcus and he closes his unremarkable brown eyes.
Seven seconds to go...
Marcus opens his eyes to the adoring faces tilted upwards at him from inside. Salutations of greeting drift to him in melodious harmony.
"Hail Marcuth Thamuel Thimon! Hail King Marcuth, the Creator!" the people cheer.
Marcus's face splits in a dazzling grin. You see, ten-year-old Marcus Samuel Simon is what would ordinarily call an extraordinary little boy.
The End.
Allright, now I've put myself out there; laid my soul bare, so to speak, and I want you to tell me if you think it's pretty or not. *lol* Truly, I would like some feedback on what you think about my little diddy, how I can improve it, etc.
Well since I'm at work, I probably should be getting back to doing what they pay me for. *smile* Even if I'd rather be doing this...Chat atcha again in the future!!
B.B. Walter
No, seriously, folks...I'd really like to hear some feedback about this short story I had to write for one class. It hasn't been graded and returned by the teacher yet, but I'm hoping for some constructive criticism from my friends, or any complete stranger that happens to read it. *wink* So here goes...
EXTRA-ORDIANRY
Tean-year-old Marcus Samuel Simon is what some would call an extraordinarily ordianry little boy. With mousy brown hair and nondescript brown eyes, freckles across his cheeks, he walks home from school with rounded shoulders, his hands crammed into the pockets of his blue jeans. The toes of his red and white sneakers leave wakes in the dirt as he drags his feet. Shades of his classmates taunt him during his trudge down the dirt road leading home.
"Marcuth Thamuel Thimon," the shades mock.
A new year at a new school because his dad has a new job at a new refinery. Marcus had anticipated the ridicule; this was the fourth school in as many years.
He sighs as he takes in the faded lime green pull-behind camper; his home since his mom abandoned them. His dad, Stephen Simon, did what he could but work was hard to find with refineries closing all across the U.S.
Twenty-two minutes and eleven seconds to go...
A piece of cardboard that neither keeps out the rain nor the cold is duct-taped over the busted window (the window where his "bedroom" is) at the front of the camper. Two rusted lawn chairs stand guard outside the dented front door.
Marcus strides across the outdoor carpeting that constitutes their "lawn". He retrieves the key tucked inside his shirt. The key is on a necklace comprised of two of his dad's old bootlaces.
Nineteen minutes and six seconds to go...
He slides the key into the lock and twists. Pushing his way into the dim interior, Marcus reaches for the kerosene lantern to his right. The lantern hangs on a rusted nail his father has driven; the book of matches for the lantern is in a brown glass ashtray. The ashtray is from the local (as in three states and two schools ago) bowling alley. It is balanced on the backside of the bench seat that joins its mate and small Formica table making up their "living/dining room".
Lighting the lantern, Marcus closes the door and hangs his key on the hook. Climbing the two stairs that bring him into the center of his home, he sets the lantern on the table. From his position, he can touch the table, the hot plate, and the bathroom door all at once if so inclined.
Marcus is not inclined.
Fourteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds to go...
Looking at the table, he sees his dad left him a note.Dear, son. chance for overtime. Eat your dinner, do your homework, and wash your face before bed. Here's a dollar; get something sweet from Chuck's. Love, Dad.
Chuck's is the convenience store down the road from their trailer park. Marcus moves the four quarters used to hold down the corners of the note and sighs. A dollar might get him gum if the old man who works there takes pity and doesn't charge tax. Marcus deposits the quarters back into the change jar sitting beside the hot plate. He stirs the jar, making it look like he spent the coins - not that his dad would check.
Stephen Simon works from three each afternoon until three in the morning, six days a week. Overtime meant an additional four hours; he would be ready to drive the hour and a half home about the time Marcus would be getting ready for school. The boy would be in class when his dad got home. Stephen Simon would be too tired to check his change jar to see if Marcus spent the money or put it back like always.
Marcus opens the door on the miniature refrigerator. The refrigerator shares the same counter as the hot plate and makes up their "kitchen". Removing the package of bologna and a juice box, he closes the door. The bread is in the cupboard above him. Within five minutes, his dinner is made; five minutes later, his dinner is eaten and his mess cleaned.
Five minutes and eighteen seconds to go...
There is no homework for the night; it's the first day. Marcus heads to the bathroom.
The bathroom consists of a small commode, a child-sized shower, and a sink the size of a sand bucket. Marcus removes the washcloth from teh edge of the sink and wets it. He scrubs at his face, turning the skin pink, and wrings the water from the cloth. Placing it back on the edge of the sink, he exits the bathroom. To his right, beyond a moth-eaten curtain, in his dad's "bedroom". His dad's room houses a bed and a small two-drawer cardboard dresser. The dresser has decorative pink and purple flowers; his dad found it on the side of the road.
Marcus turns and makes his way to his own bedroom. He extinguishes the light as he passes. His room is past the living/dining room and kitchen. Marcus's dad had hung him a sheet too; the sheet is 'Strawberry Shortcake' but Marcus doesn't mind. He bats the sheet aside and climbs into his bed, kicking his sneakers off as he pulls himself up.
Two minutes and three seconds to go...
Marcus draws the curtain shut, closing himself in. His room is made up wholly of his twin-size bed and the small storage space beneath it. Marcus reaches down and opens the door to the space. He pulls out a battered shoebox, clearly one of his dad's, and settles it in his lap. He sits Indian-style on his mattress. The boy caresses the boy, sliding his hands along the top of the cardboard, before he removes the lid. Light engulfs Marcus and he closes his unremarkable brown eyes.
Seven seconds to go...
Marcus opens his eyes to the adoring faces tilted upwards at him from inside. Salutations of greeting drift to him in melodious harmony.
"Hail Marcuth Thamuel Thimon! Hail King Marcuth, the Creator!" the people cheer.
Marcus's face splits in a dazzling grin. You see, ten-year-old Marcus Samuel Simon is what would ordinarily call an extraordinary little boy.
The End.
Allright, now I've put myself out there; laid my soul bare, so to speak, and I want you to tell me if you think it's pretty or not. *lol* Truly, I would like some feedback on what you think about my little diddy, how I can improve it, etc.
Well since I'm at work, I probably should be getting back to doing what they pay me for. *smile* Even if I'd rather be doing this...Chat atcha again in the future!!
B.B. Walter
07 April 2009
Play Ball!!
“Take me out to the ball game; take me out to the crowd…Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks; I don’t care if I ever come back….!!”
All right, boys and girls, you know what time of year it is….Opening Day of Baseball Season on April 6, 2009! Of course, I (like anyone sane *smile*) will be rooting for the Chicago Cubbies, and that is the theme of my blog today – Baseball and the Cubs.
Since I love this sport (and particularly this team), I’m going to include some baseball facts and then follow up with the 2009 Active Cubs Roster – complete with height, weight, and birthday!!
Fact #1 – Did you know?...Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. didn't miss a game in 16 years. He played in 2,632 consecutive games from April 30, 1982 to Sept. 19, 1998.
Fact #2 – Did you know?...Pitcher Nolan Ryan played 27 seasons in major league baseball and struck out more batters in his career than any other pitcher.
Fact #3 – Did you know?...Baseball stars from the National League and the American League played the first All-Star Game in 1933. The National League has won 40 of the 73 games. The game ended in a tie twice. In 1961 rain in Boston prevented extra innings and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. And in 2002, the game went 11 innings with the score knotted at seven before it was finally called off due to a lack of pitchers.
Ok, and here is the active line up for the Chicago Cubs for 2009:
2009 Active Cubs Roster Active Roster Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB 84 Neal Cotts L/L 6-1 200 03/25/80 46 Ryan Dempster R/R 6-2 215 05/03/77 57 Chad Gaudin R/R 5-10 190 03/24/83 63 Kevin Gregg R/R 6-6 240 06/20/78 37 Angel Guzman R/R 6-3 200 12/14/81 40 Rich Harden L/R 6-1 195 11/30/81 47 Aaron Heilman R/R 6-5 225 11/12/78 30 Ted Lilly L/L 6-1 190 01/04/76 49 Carlos Marmol R/R 6-2 180 10/14/82 45 Sean Marshall L/L 6-7 220 08/30/82 54 David Patton R/R 6-3 205 05/18/84 29 Jeff Samardzija R/R 6-5 220 01/23/85 51 Luis Vizcaino R/R 5-11 210 08/06/74 38 Carlos Zambrano S/R 6-5 255 06/01/81 Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB 55 Koyie Hill S/R 6-0 190 03/09/79 18 Geovany Soto R/R 6-1 225 01/20/83 Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB 17 Mike Fontenot L/R 5-8 170 06/09/80 6 Micah Hoffpauir L/L 6-3 215 03/01/80 25 Derrek Lee R/R 6-5 245 09/06/75 7 Aaron Miles S/R 5-8 180 12/15/76 16 Aramis Ramirez R/R 6-1 215 06/25/78 2 Ryan Theriot R/R 5-11 175 12/07/79 Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB 21 Milton Bradley S/R 6-0 225 04/15/78 1 Kosuke Fukudome L/R 6-0 185 04/26/77 4 Joey Gathright L/R 5-10 185 04/27/81 9 Reed Johnson R/R 5-10 180 12/08/76 12 Alfonso Soriano R/R 6-1 180 01/07/76
So, now that you know a little bit more about me (and the ONLY! team that matters *smile*), I bet you can live your life a little fuller, huh? *LOL* Nah, just joshing…Let’s just…
PLAY BALL!!
B.B. Walter
All right, boys and girls, you know what time of year it is….Opening Day of Baseball Season on April 6, 2009! Of course, I (like anyone sane *smile*) will be rooting for the Chicago Cubbies, and that is the theme of my blog today – Baseball and the Cubs.
Since I love this sport (and particularly this team), I’m going to include some baseball facts and then follow up with the 2009 Active Cubs Roster – complete with height, weight, and birthday!!
Fact #1 – Did you know?...Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. didn't miss a game in 16 years. He played in 2,632 consecutive games from April 30, 1982 to Sept. 19, 1998.
Fact #2 – Did you know?...Pitcher Nolan Ryan played 27 seasons in major league baseball and struck out more batters in his career than any other pitcher.
Fact #3 – Did you know?...Baseball stars from the National League and the American League played the first All-Star Game in 1933. The National League has won 40 of the 73 games. The game ended in a tie twice. In 1961 rain in Boston prevented extra innings and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. And in 2002, the game went 11 innings with the score knotted at seven before it was finally called off due to a lack of pitchers.
Ok, and here is the active line up for the Chicago Cubs for 2009:
2009 Active Cubs Roster Active Roster Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB 84 Neal Cotts L/L 6-1 200 03/25/80 46 Ryan Dempster R/R 6-2 215 05/03/77 57 Chad Gaudin R/R 5-10 190 03/24/83 63 Kevin Gregg R/R 6-6 240 06/20/78 37 Angel Guzman R/R 6-3 200 12/14/81 40 Rich Harden L/R 6-1 195 11/30/81 47 Aaron Heilman R/R 6-5 225 11/12/78 30 Ted Lilly L/L 6-1 190 01/04/76 49 Carlos Marmol R/R 6-2 180 10/14/82 45 Sean Marshall L/L 6-7 220 08/30/82 54 David Patton R/R 6-3 205 05/18/84 29 Jeff Samardzija R/R 6-5 220 01/23/85 51 Luis Vizcaino R/R 5-11 210 08/06/74 38 Carlos Zambrano S/R 6-5 255 06/01/81 Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB 55 Koyie Hill S/R 6-0 190 03/09/79 18 Geovany Soto R/R 6-1 225 01/20/83 Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB 17 Mike Fontenot L/R 5-8 170 06/09/80 6 Micah Hoffpauir L/L 6-3 215 03/01/80 25 Derrek Lee R/R 6-5 245 09/06/75 7 Aaron Miles S/R 5-8 180 12/15/76 16 Aramis Ramirez R/R 6-1 215 06/25/78 2 Ryan Theriot R/R 5-11 175 12/07/79 Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB 21 Milton Bradley S/R 6-0 225 04/15/78 1 Kosuke Fukudome L/R 6-0 185 04/26/77 4 Joey Gathright L/R 5-10 185 04/27/81 9 Reed Johnson R/R 5-10 180 12/08/76 12 Alfonso Soriano R/R 6-1 180 01/07/76
So, now that you know a little bit more about me (and the ONLY! team that matters *smile*), I bet you can live your life a little fuller, huh? *LOL* Nah, just joshing…Let’s just…
PLAY BALL!!
B.B. Walter
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