Dream Writing Room II

So, it's been established that I want lots of cubbies. :-) Next, I want a table. Something big enough to spread out research or totally unrelated craft-type projects, or even wrap presents. Because, you see, my writing room will also need to be messy room, because my husband would appreciate it if I try to contain my piles to one area. Ha. So here are some possibilities...



I've always loved these kinds of tables with bench seating.


This table is a little too long, but think of all the projects you could have going at once! :-)

This one seems to be a really good use of space. I might be leaning toward this one, but I'm not sure.

Confession time--have I got you looking for ideas now?

Dream Writing Room

If I wasn't blessed (or cursed?) with a super-active imagination, I would have loved to pursue interior decorating. But now I just dream. :-) And right now, for fun, I'm looking at great rooms for writing. Here are a few I've found so far. I love all the cubbies and the organization.

And I love the reading chair and ottoman in the corner. That's a must. :-)

More coming. And watch out, fellow writers. I'm going to be tagging you to find out your dream writing rooms!

And for my FOUR (yes! I'm up to at least four!) readers, what rooms are you dreaming of? Pictures, please! :-) Leave links in the comments section--I'd love to see them.

All About Blogging

I'm trying to do better with the blogging. I've been posting twice a week. My husband and I have another blog idea that I need to start working on. And I maybe be joining one or two other writing community blogs.

All this for a bad blogger. Scary, eh?

The blogging experts say if you want to be a good blogger, build your audience, you need to have a focus for your blog. Something the readers will come to expect when they open your blog. I'm not exactly the most focused person in the world, and you know, I think I'm okay with that. But it does make me wonder if there's anything YOU, my two faithful readers, would like for me to talk about, a subject you want me to address, whatever. Come on, folks, I wanna know.

If you blog, what helps you come up with topics? What are your favorite blogs to read? Give this bad blogger a little help. :-)

Hard-Hearted Hattie

No, I have not changed my name to Hattie. It just kinda went with the whole alliteration thing. And no, I don't think I'm hard-hearted. But then again...am I? That is the question I'm bringing to you. :-)

I was out shopping the other day and saw something. Now, I am not a very observant person. In fact, I missed a fight and arrest right outside the window at a fast-food restaurant once--My husband even went outside to see if he could help, and I sat staring in the opposite direction, clueless. But this time, I was paying attention. Nothing quite so dramatic, but still...

Here's the scooop. I was standing in line at customer service. There were four women working behind the counter. One at a cash register asked who was next. The man in front of me stepped over to her, but when she asked if she could help him, he waved at one of the women whose back was to him. "No," he said. "I'm just here to see - - - -." I couldn't hear the rest.

So, still waiting and a little bored, I watched the girl he'd gestured to. She didn't turn around. She seemed intent on the computer screen in front of her, but then her hands went up to her hair. Stayed there, pressing into her head.

And I began to really pay attention. Frustrated at the computer? Or angry that this man had come? She still wasn't turning around. He stepped aside a little and waited.

Then her hands came down to cover her face. Still not looking at him or saying a word, she left her station. Crying. The woman who was working with her stayed beside the girl, escorted her to the break room. The man shrugged, arms open wide. And then he walked away.

He was her father.

So...as a writer, I was watching, and my mind was flipping through different scenarios. Making up plot lines. Thinking, I can use this somewhere...

And then I got to thinking that maybe I'm an alien. :-) The human race is only fodder, inspiration for whatever world I want to create in my head. I'll dissect them, see what makes them react certain ways, see what I can do to make things worse before a hard-fought happily ever after comes around. If it does.

What do you think? Alien? Heartless? Or do people in other fields do this kind of thing, too--analyzing to satisfy professional curiosity or something? And, just for the record, a little bit of compassion did kick in later. But the moment I'd care the most...would be the moment I wrote it into a book.

So what's the verdict?

Just Because...

Meet my sorta-part-time dog:

Ain't he cute???

Summer Projects

Ah...summer. Since my husband is a teacher, I still live the whole school year schedule thing, and I have to say I like it. Well, most of the time. Last year it meant moving in with my parents for a month while Jason and I did some major work on our own home.

As you probably know, I love to make lists. And...fortunately or unfortunately...it doesn't kill me if I don't get to cross everything off.

My summer project list is up to 14 so far. I have some decorating I need to finish, a collage I want to make (scary, eh?), a gift I need to put together, a conference to save for, a new blog to work on (details coming sooner or later, maybe), a class reunion to attend (sort of), a shower (probably) to plan, some research to do, some organizing of files, a ton of writing...ah, the list goes on.

Do you have a summer project list? What's at the top? What's the just-for-fun item on your list?

A Because-I-Don't-Feel-Like-Blogging-But-I-Will-Anyway Post

Since we're into the whole gardening thing now, and cilantro is the only edible thing at this point...I made salsa, of course. Lovely thing, homemade salsa. I ate it on chips and also in a burrito and in a taco and mixed in liberally with rice and beans. And I'm trying to make you hungry, because I'm going to give you the recipe, since I don't feel like thinking about this blog post. (But I'm still posting!!!) So here you go:

Mom’s Salsa

Ingredients:
4 chopped tomatoes
½ cup chopped onion
2 Tbs. sliced green onion
1 and 3/4 Tbs. jalepeno, seeded and minced
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro (or more to taste. Definitely more to taste. I think I ended up putting maybe 1/3 of a cup or so in there? I felt oh-so back-to-nature-ish. ha)
1 Tbs. lime juice (1 lime)
½ tsp. sea salt

Directions:
Combine and refrigerate before serving. (It's best to let it sit overnight so the flavors have time to combine.)

Enjoy! And hey, if I can keep a cilantro plant alive, you can, too. :-)