A To Z Challenge "B"

A To Z Challenge

Robin Carr, a well-published author wrote, "A great writer chases her hero up a tree and then throws rocks at her."
A to Z 2017 Theme: Rocks to Throw At A Hero Who Is Up A Tree

Of course, we all know that 'up a tree' is closely related to 'up a creek without a paddle' or in 'hot water'. The hero has been written into a predicament, a challenge, onto a thin ledge!

(Big Secret: Really great writers have a little mean streak in them.)

Did her partner just abandon our hero, absconding with the loot from their joint account? Is the author throwing the threat of Bankruptcy at her maybe even destitution? Possibly said-partner mortgaged their Bungalow and Business to the hilt Before suddenly dying after Being hit by a speeding BMW while jogging.(Bummer!)

When she slowly crept out of the apple tree (see 'A') did the Battered Bear come back for revenge and applesauce?

Maybe, having missed the CONSTRUCTION AHEAD warning signs, she was  hit in the head with a falling Brick as she wandered down the sidewalk looking for the address of a possible house to rent. Result: amnesia from the Brain injury.

Has our heroine been saddled with Beauty, which, as we all know, attracts gigolos, threatens other women, and seriously affects the way strangers look at her; suspecting shallowness and an apparent intellectual deficit!

Rocks that a writer might throw at the Budding hero are always Barriers to struggle through, or hurdle over. Try as they may, crawling under or swerving around never, ever work for mean old authors, or real life! Thankfully she (the hero, not the writer) is usually accompanied by a good Buddy, a new Buddy or a deceitful old Buddy (that would be  "Bad, Bad ex-Buddy" but not necessarily Bad Bad Leroy Brown).

 Oh, and then, of course, the writer can throw a 'bad, bad buddy" into the mix who, only appears to be bad but ends up just having a secret (drama) and it can't be shared.  Therefore, so-called-ex-buddy-bad-guy, who our heroine has been suspicious of for two-thirds of the book, turns out to be a best buddy, after all.

Booyah!

#AtoZChallenge "A"

 Blogging from A to Z Challenge 

Theme: 26 Rocks to Throw At A Protagonist Who Is Up A Tree

Robin Carr, a well-published author wrote, "A great writer chases her heroine up a tree and then throws rocks at her."  .

Rocks to throw at your heroine after you've run her up a tree? Probably depends on the genre of your story. 

Lots of 'A' words come to mind: Anger, Attitude, Aliens, Attacker, Addict.

Today, though, we're going for the literal and obvious! Apples!

Walking down a dusty, country road, our heroine spots a huge apple tree. The tree's knarled and ancient bark makes her wonder if Johnny Appleseed himself must have planted it.

Many tempting, red apples have dropped to the ground. She really can't think of anything more inviting than a juicy apple. Stepping off the road, she searches the fallen apples but each one is well on it's way to inedible.

Looking up into the branches, bright, ripe apples promise to satisfy the tummy-rumbles that the grounded apples ignited.

She climbs the ancient tree, finds a nice comfortable branch and picks the closest crimson fruit.

As she takes her first bite, an apple ricochets off her shoulder! One especially rotten one explodes off her knee. These are not apples losing their fight with gravity and falling from the branches.

"Hey! Those are my apples you're stealing!" calls a deep voice from the ground just as another overripe apple hits her in the forehead!

Of course, you know that a handsome yet intimidating man is smiling from under the tree slinging the rotting fruit,  His presence promises a rough and rocky beginning but a happy ending of true love.

Personally, I prefer the thought of our heroine strolling down a dirt path in an ancient orchard, when she is suddenly pummeled with apples by several fairies who are guarding the secret entry to their kingdom.

Or, maybe, while our heroine is chomping on the juicy fruit a bear comes to join her. Masking her fear, she drives him away slinging the ripe globes and obscenities!

After all,  from our first toddler days, we all learned that:

"A is for Apples"!

Parkinson's

Do you know someone with Parkinson's?

Do you have any hints about how to ease symptoms?

Do you know of diets that help with symptoms?

Are there any appliances that can make things easier?

Hey, It's Okay

Tuesday, and you know what that means!

Hey, It's Okay over at Airing My Laundry and she's got some amigos who think It's Okay Tuesday, too! You can find links to other optimists there.

It's Okay that I've been awake since 3 a.m. because the rain was incredible. Listening to it, while sitting in the dark was extremely comforting.

It's Okay that I get to spend this afternoon with Brinley. Almost three years old and running over with energy. Guaranteed I will climb the stairs at her house 27 times today!

The massage my physical therapist gave me yesterday was sooooo Okay! Hey, It's Okay!

It's Okay that the great weather machine in the sky hasn't gotten the memo that it is officially spring.

It's Okay, that when I was getting dressed this morning, in the cold, my husband handed me my favorite Penn State sweatshirt. He had warmed it in the dryer for me. Have I mentioned how Okay my husband is?

It's Okay that my reCaptcha is not working this morning and I only got one reply in. There's always later!

Have a great Tuesday, everyone.

Reveal Day

Joining the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year and today is the Theme Reveal Day.

Nora Roberts, a well-published author wrote, "A great writer chases her heroine up a tree and then throws rocks at her."  Or some words real close to that.

After much, well, some, soul searching, I debated between making my theme for this year's challenge Making Yourself Heard due to the political climate. Not sure of the grammar on that phrase but I am sure that I don't mean Herd, I definitely mean Heard. 

Then I realized that I am fed-up-to-here (imagine my arm is 15 feet tall and I am holding it above my head, fully stretched) with politics.

Then I thought of Ms. Roberts' comment. What a great idea, coming up with 26 Rocks to Throw At A Protaganist Who Is Up A Tree.

Can't wait to start!

A TO Z Challenge

From A to Z Challenge

The quote, "Do one thing every day that scares you!" is often associated with Eleanor Roosevelt. There are many who question whether these exact words came from her. She did, however, suggest that new and challenging experiences help us grow and  develop a personal strength.

No matter who said it, I think I am going to do something that kind of scares me. I'm jumping into to the From A to Z challenge this April.

Details can be found on the A to Z's team site. HERE!

Now, it's time to think of a theme because today is the big Reveal Day!

Hmm! Got to put on some James Taylor and crank up the noodle.

 

One Down...mostly

Family room painting is complete!

The walls look great. The book case, rug, old fireplace screen: GONE!

Plus we flipped the room. Sofa and piano switched places so Frank can grow some plants in the south facing window.

We still have art and family pictures to put up but some frames and some matting need to be changed out. That can wait until we are done painting living room, dining room, entry and our bedroom.

As for the purging; a good start. Got some donation boxes, some stuff in the trash, some stuff to be recycled and (shhh!) a few items to keep until I don't want to keep them anymore. We've even put a couple of items out on the sidewalk and, pfff, like magic it disappears! Love those drive-bys!

Want to see the results? I'm pretty happy, so far. Remember, so art on walls yet!

Drapes are a very dark plum.

The cloth on the coffee table is temporary. I'm searching for the perfect fabric to sew a slipcover over it and Frank ordered glass to fit it.  It is actually a trunk. We're also searching for perfect area rug. In the meantime, Frank can do his Risky Business/Tom Cruise impersonation, though I have to say, it's just not the same with business socks on!

The little octagon table between the chairs will be painted, but I am still contemplating the colors.

We're looking for a replacement to our old fireplace screen, which sadly gave up the ghost last winter.

Since we often entertain large groups of family, the heart is often used for extra seating. Between the piano and brick will one of our large baskets to hold cushions for butt comfort.

Now if I could only get rid of the ridiculous amounts of remote controls!

Back into my painting clothes on onto the living room. Wish me luck, friends, I'm going in!

p.s. Frank rescued his clock...for now!

Saint Sheelah's Day

Did you get your fill of green beer and corned beef? I hope you are not hung over, because today, Saint Sheelah's Day, is the big holiday, or should be!

Did you know that St. Patrick was married? Maybe you did, but, did you know that pre-famine, Saint Sheelah's Day was celebrated on March 18, the day after Saint Patrick's Day.

If you are from Nova Scotia, you may have referenced her in March weather.

Courtesy of Irish Central

There is a call to bring her relevance back, not just to Ireland but to women across the world, especially the Catholic world. Read about it on the Mythical Ireland blog.

Oh My, Rex!

As most of you know, Frank and I are in the middle of calming our surroundings. We are painting over wall murals and bright colored walls with neutral colors, eliminating the visual noise!

We have run into another dilemma. While we want our environment to be neutral and calming, we don't want boring. We would like a little bit of color.

Maybe a nice bright slip cover over the sofa. A comfy, soft white duvet cover in our bedroom.

Dilemma?

Reximus Maximus Aurelius III, our Border Collie! Rex sheds more hair in one week than all four of our old Labrador Retrievers did in a year. He also loves, loves, loves to rub up against the furniture as he walks by it. I think he does it purposely to display his resentment that we won't buy him a couple of sheep to chase around the yard.

We had to remove the bed skirt in our bedroom. It was either that, or wash it every-other-day. I am not going to lift a king size mattress a couple of times a week just for a fashion statement.

Someone suggested to shave him. Shame, shame, shame. His coat is adorable, as long as it stays on him.

Frank will brush and comb Rex. While they're outside, I sweep the floors and vacuum the rugs.

Two hours later, company coming in for a visit would think we hadn't vacuumed in weeks.

We have three choices:

1.  Make slip covers and bed skirts and vacuum and wash on a daily basis...uh...no!

2.  Make slip covers in black to camouflage dog hair....ick!!!

3. Buy a couple of sheep for him to chase around the pool!

Three it is!

Comment Maybe

No, Captcha, I am not a robot.

But that doesn't look like a storefront to me.

NO! I'm not a robot.

There was a mountain there, you changed the picture!

I'm not a frickin' robot!

Look, there was a tiny little corner of the sign in that square...

Really?  Now there is a "next"!

That isn't grass. Those were lawns! I'm from California...grass is for smoking, not mowing.

Captcha, you are getting on my last nerve...Hey, it that my address...oh no you di'int!!!

Those Books

Fireplace: DONE! Thank you all for your support.

Looks awesome (to me). We choose a really soft white. It is White Flour from Sherwin Williams. It's true, someone actually got paid to think up that name!

On to painting the walls (Lazy Gray...really? I could do so much better naming paint).

Yesterday, all the art came down off the walls; family photos stacked on dining room table  (anyone in Blogsville know the maximum weight capacity for a dining table with 4" x 4" legs?).

Cleared end tables; moved them and couch, chairs and coffee table to center of room.

Then, moving on to the bookshelf!

Remember, 2017 is the year of the Great Purge for me. Getting rid of shit stuff, lightening the load, clearing the space!

Not so easy. First ten books, need, need, need, oh, I love this one, need, need...OMG, how am I going to do this?

What order should they go? What do I toss, what do I keep?

Oldest first? Dustiest, maybe?

Novels can definitely go, well, except for To Kill A Mockingbird and my first editions of Tom Robbins and Jean Auel collections.

Metaphysics...but all those margin notes and sticky notes?

First Edition of Pinocchio is definitely staying. ( Or, I could E-Bay it and replace the sinks in the front bathroom).

Kids books, definitely going...but wait! What will I read to our great-granddaughter when she stays over?

Deep breathe, Toni, deep breathe.

Do I want to spend Act III of my life dusting books that I might never read again?

NO!

Why do I want those 'certain' books on my shelves? Is it, so that after my funeral, strangers come into the 'estate sale' and think, "My, my, this dead woman sure was well read," or " an intellectual" or "Whoa, she was frickin' weird!"

Mostly likely, those strangers will think, "There certainly is a lot of dust in this place!" OR "I bet those bookshelves have created permanent grooves in the hardwood floors!"

Hmm, I don't care what those strangers think.

I've already told my kids and grandchildren to take any books they want.

Responses: "Your books are too woo-woo for me, Mom, but thanks anyway!" (Though, last year, he did take all of my ancient Edgar Rice Burroughs books with a big old grin on his face!)

                 


 "Man, Mom, do we have different tastes in reading!"

                   "You're kidding, right? Do you know how many books I have to pack to move to Massachusetts? You can have some of mine, if you'd like!" (To which I responded, "Okay! Thanks!" and brought home about 20 more tomes).

                    "Can I please have this one, Nana! I've heard it's good!"

So, this is the plan. I'm headed over to Office Max to buy 10 boxes. I will fill them up and label them. Donate, (school, church and metaphysical library), Garage Sale, Keep.

One KEEP box for every ten boxes packed. Max.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

(In the meantime, while I'm painting, any of you interested in coming over and dusting off some books? There is wine and cheesecake!)

Oh Yeah!

Credit: Black Down Designs/Huffington Post

Americans and friends, I am so proud of you all!