WATER ~ WHALES ~ and KENDALL GREY

I bet you thought I would take today off. After that A to Z Blog Challenge just about everyone involved will be laying low for a day or two. Trust me, when I say I would too, BUT there is something I want to tell you about today ~ 1 May 2012.

FIRST, watch this. My friend Kendall is an addict and she needs your help with her addiction. PLEASE, take a minute to listen to her story.

INHALE, an urban fantasy romance by Kendall Grey, is now available in paperback and e-book for Kindle (MOBI) and Nook (EPUB). INHALE is the first book in the JUST BREATHE trilogy. Kendall is donating all profits from the sale of the trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face. HOW COOL IS THAT?

INHALE

   Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

‘After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything – or anyone – stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.’

*This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable           for readers under the age of 18.

**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.

***Kendall and I encourage you to consider purchasing an e-book instead of a paperback. E-books save, trees, cost considerably less, and bring in much more money for the whales.

For more information check Kendall and INHALE out at:

BLOG:http://www.kendallgrey.com

FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/KendallGreyAuthor

DESPICABLE TWEETS:http://www.twitter.com/kendallgrey1

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108885.Kendall_Grey

NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hmcmg

Z

This is what I was doing on Sunday instead of writing my 'Z' post. Country Music concert at the beach. 

Can you blame me?

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

Z is for…before we go there; I just want to say how relieved I am that this is over. I mean, it has been fun, kinda. I’ve met a whole bunch of new and interesting people, kinda. And, I proved that I could do it – with a whole lot of help and encouragement. BUT all the same, it was eating my brain.

I hate to admit it, but I’m that totally undisciplined, rebellious, somewhere out there (I know there should be some sort of punctuation here, but for the life of me I don’t know what – more proof of the brain eating) soul and having to blog six days a week with a basically prescribed topic and using a minimum of words so you guys would stick with me, was almost more than I could bare. So, I say ZOUNDS we’re DONE.

ZOUNDS {an old English ‘minced oath’ coined by William Shakespeare: a contraction of ‘Gods wounds’ referring to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, formerly used as a mildly blasphemous oath ~ BTW a MINCED OATH is an expression based on a profanity or a taboo term that has been altered to reduce the objectionable characteristics}

And here you thought ZOUNDS was merely an expression of anger, surprise or assertion. 

I find it interesting to know where some of these words come from. This brings me to something that really bugs me... Our common language is getting more and more profane. Today, you hear words on the TV and radio that were on lists of ‘words you can’t say in public’ just a few decades ago. Many of them are those pesky ‘minced oaths’. My least favorite and my rant for today is the word SUCK. Everybody says it. Unfortunately, even I have reduced myself to saying it a time or two, BUT I really dislike that word unless I’m trying to explain to a small child how to get liquid up through a straw.

People who would roll up in a ball and die of embarrassment before they would use the infamous F-word because it’s slang for sexual intercourse and just plain impolite, have no trouble saying SUCK all over the place. Do you realize that SUCK is slang for oral sex? Yeah, think about that. Do you think about that? Do you think when you say some of these words? Like I said earlier I’m an undisciplined, rebellious, kind of out there (still no idea what punctuation should go here) soul. On an earlier blog I admitted to being a sinner and heathen, BUT I do think about saying this particular word, most of the time.

OK, I’m done. We’re done. A to Z is now officially over.


I posted this late last night and left off a song for ya.

I wonder if Sir Paul even knows what he is talking about?

Y

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

Y is for…before we get there I’ve got a few things to say, so sit back and get comfortable.

OK, folks, we’re down to the wire and the letter Y. I have got to admit my brain is A to Z fried. I asked for help on these last four letters of the alphabet and I got it.  W was probably my best post for the challenge, so if this one makes you crazy go back and read that one again. I’ve also reverted to one of my all time cop-out blog post tricks (just post a Youtube video of music – Hey, when you’re this beautiful, you just can’t be clever all of the time)

Anyway…here’s my Y post. I only ever get to hear this song once a year. Actually, I haven’t heard it for two years because I own it on an LP (yes, real vinyl), and when I moved to the Caribbean all the vinyl moved into a storage locker in the States.

Jeez, FAE, shut it and give ‘em the music.

Here, enjoy YOGI YORGESSON (take note that’s a double Y). Hope you can get this little ditty out of your head quicker than I can.

X

Listen to the Beach Boys "Just Because"

Listen to this because it's my ALL TIME favorite Beach Boys tune.

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

X is for XENOPHOBE {someone who has the fear of people who are different from them self}

XENOPHOBE what a strange thing to be. Where I live, in the Caribbean people are different. Very few people are actually native to the island I live on. Many of them come from other islands in the Caribbean, some from the US and other countries. It should be an interesting mix but I have found that there are many a XENOPHOBE here. I’m wondering, if you’re afraid of people who are different, why on earth, would you come to a place like this?

I read an interesting story yesterday; a little trick that might work great for a XENOPHOBE.

This guy goes into a bar…not any bar BUT XENON’s Lounge in Reno, NV (a real place or so I’m told. Sadly, it’s not there anymore.) Anyway…after a few drinks (alright a lot of drinks) said guy plays the same song over and over and over and over again in the jukebox, until he clears the place out of everyone who unlike himself, really likes that particular song. I don’t think he’s a ZENOPHOBE but this little exercise would sure help anyone suffering from this little phobia clear a room of folks different from themselves.

And you thought X was going to be hard.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}       

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z A Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

W

Listen to Tom while I tell you a story.

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

W is for WISHES – WILDFLOWERS – and even WUNDERBAR

WISHES {a hope or desire for something}

WILDFLOWERS {a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally planted or seeded}

WUNDERBAR {a German expression used in English which means wonderful}

For a couple of years I lived in Alma, Colorado. Alma is famous for being the highest incorporated town in North American (sorry Leadville), for more reasons than one. At that time Alma had about 60 residents (mostly old folks and hippies) about 40 dogs and one goat named Hartzel.

While I lived in Alma I was employed as the town clerk. I worked out of my home. It was me and the mayor and town council. On my birthday, one year, we had absolutely no money, so we decided to take a drive up Mosquito Pass (not a real good idea in February). We proceeded to get stuck in a snow bank and had to walk out to the local VFW Post (yeah, it was located on the Mosquito Pass road). The boys at the Post bought us a drink and called “The Alma Hooker”.

That’s when I met Mickey Micek, the owner and operator of ‘The Alma Hooker’ (the local wrecker). When Mickey learned it was my birthday he took us back to the AOB (Alma’s Only Bar – which was located across the street from the other bar in town. Ah, come on there were 60 people in this town,of course, that included small children and babies) and bought us beers while he told his story.

Mickey and his brother had escaped from Czechoslovakia to Austria by swimming the Danube. I think Mickey was about 13 years old at the time. He was one wild mountain man, livin’ the ‘American Dream’, in one wild and wide open town.

A few years later Mickey was killed down in the flat lands just outside of Denver trying to outrun a train. They brought him back up to Alma to bury him at Buckskin Joe, the old time local cemetery. It was winter again (Alma was 10,300 ft above sea level, it was winter there a lot), I had come down to the old town hall to unlock that cold, drafty, haunted building. Mickey was a big horseman, so somebody brought in an old horse drawn hearse to carry him up to Buckskin Joe. They had the ceremonial rider less horse with the empty boots turned back and the whole deal. He was gonna be buried like a true American hero.

I had to run back home for something and was at THE stop sign in Alma when the truck in front of me started to back up. He had a big four horse trailer hooked up so he didn’t see me, actually I don’t think he looked (everyone was pretty preoccupied). I saw him coming at me at the very last minute and couldn’t get my truck in reverse fast enough so I hooked my thumbs around and laid on the horn. He hit me with enough force to break my thumb. That hurt like a @#$%. Anyway…I had to ‘buck up’ and get through this ordeal.

We had to walk up to Buckskin Joe behind the horses. It was cold and the snow was at least three feet deep. Mickey was laid to rest in the hole they had pick axed into the ground the night before. They literally had to cover him with stones until spring. In the spring his grave would be covered with wildflowers once the earth settled. We all walked back to town for a real ’wake’ at the Silverheels Saloon (Alma’s other bar). Everyone decided my thumb was broken, so they kept buying me drinks until it didn’t hurt anymore. Actually, nothing hurt for awhile, not even my heart.

Mickey was finally completely free. Laid down among the wildflowers. I WISH he hadn’t tried to outrun that train.  I WISH he had lived to be an old man followin’ that dream. I WISH I had known him longer and heard more of his stories. He had an interesting accent and used to say some strange things. I can’t remember if he ever said Wunderbar or not but he certainly was.

When I asked a friend with word help for these final few posts, he suggested Wunderbar. That and a post about bars knocked this old memory loose. While it made me sad for a few minutes, it also made me reflect on how much God loves me to have put so many interesting and Wunderbar people in my path. There are no coincidences.

Sorry for the length of this post. I just needed to tell this story. Excuse me while I go and explode.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z A Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

V

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

V is for VIRTUE {1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness 2. Conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness, rectitude 3. Chastity; virginity; to lose one’s virtue 4. A particular moral excellence 5. A good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one’s weaknesses}

To have VIRTUE or be VIRTUOUS seems like a pretty tall order. I can certainly apply number 5 to myself,(I know first hand my own weaknesses – never thought of that as a virtue) as far as the rest of the definitions go; I’m not so sure. Moral excellence – do we strive for it? Is it important? Maybe not as important as it should be. I admire it greatly.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

 A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z A Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

S, T, & U

“WHAT ARE WORDS?’

S is for SPELLING {the writing of one or more words with letters and diacritic}

T is for TOADY {one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors}

U is for UNIQUE {existing as the only one or as the sole example; single, solitary in type or characteristics}

I’ve been AWOL again. Having a bit of a struggle with this strep infection in my arm and the medication. I think the worst is over. So once again, I’m on catch up and have three words for you covering the letters S, T and U.

If you’re a writer SPELLING is pretty important. Have you ever noticed that there are some words that your brain refuses to wrap around. I have a list on a ‘white board’ over my desk of some of those pesky rascals. Most of my SPELLING problems are typos combined with my mild dyslexia. I send letters scurrying all over the place and then I don’t even notice those little red lines ‘Word’ uses to signal misspelled words. BUT sometimes, I create typos that are actually words. One of my favorite expressions of dismay or disgust is ‘Oh carp!’ If you follow me, you’ve probably seen that one before. Recently I’ve had a new one pointed out to me. I seem to like to go places, or do something, TOADY. Occasionally I’m TOADY all over the place. Hope you’ve figured out that should be TODAY.

Hopefully my UNIQUE way of SPELLING doesn’t put you off too much. Hopefully you’re laughing with me and not at me. How about you? Got any UNIQUE ways of saying/spelling/misspelling certain words?

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

 A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

R

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

REPENTANCE {the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change and resolving to live a more responsible and humane life.}

I need to repent of many things. I probably should start with all of those seventy-five cent words, then I could move onto some of the gibberish I post and follow up with my poor grammar. BUT that would only cover the wrongs committed here on my blog. Unfortunately there are many things I should repent of to be a better person. Starting with bad feelings I’ve harbored against anyone, ever. Moving onto the times I have not shown kindness, when it would have been so simple. Coming around to being selfish and putting my needs ahead of others. I could go on all day here, BUT let me tell you, I’m a work in progress. REPENTANCE it’s a process too. I figure God knows I’m on the path and I won’t finish up in this lifetime. I think it’s knowing our weaknesses and working on them that counts. It’s being the very best you can possible be today.

This post has been written for some time BUT today I want to add I’m repenting of all the whining I’ve been doing here in this space. I’m feeling better and appreciate all the support and well wishes.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME BLOGGER? IN THE MIDDLE OF A TO Z YOU ARE CHANGING THINGS ON ME - TALK ABOUT NEEDING TO REPENT OF UNKIND FEELINGS!

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

Q

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

Q is for QUIT{to leave, to give up and stop doing something}

I’m trying hard not to QUIT A to Z. I do appreciate so many of your well wishes to get better QUICK and your kind words in the comment box, not to mention all the new followers. It turns out I’m sicker than I thought – not the flu –I have a Strep A infection that has settled in my right arm (at an old surgery site). Arm is red, swollen and on fire, from midway between my wrist and elbow to my shoulder. I have meds, but they are making me sick and sleepy. The last few posts for some of the ‘harder’ words are not written yet, so who knows what you will get. BUT, I’m not going to QUIT, I’ll keep trying, if you guys will bear with me.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

P

“WHAT ARE WORDS?’

I’ve had most of my posts written for awhile now. It’s a good thing because when I started to get sick this past week, it was all I could do to press the right buttons and get them up here. I’m feeling better, kinda, so I decided to change my P post.

Today P is for PRAYER {an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with deity or an object of worship through deliberate communication} for me PRAYER is direct communication with God.

When I told a friend that I was really sick, he told me he would PRAY for me. You cannot imagine how that made me feel. I cannot imagine anyone doing something greater.

Something else you might want to know about me. I believe whole heartedly in PRAYER. I have no doubt that our PRAYERS are heard and answered. The answer is not always the one we want, but ultimately it’s what is right.

Once again I’m not trying to convert you to anything, just stating my position. BUT, I would challenge you to try something, if you ever have the opportunity. If you’re lucky enough to witness someone PRAY in a language other than your own, let go of your head and open your heart. I’m talking about an close up and personal experience with PRAYER here (not something coming over the TV or anything like that).Personally, I relish the opportunity, because when I can’t understand the words and I open my heart the Spirit takes over completely and I feel wrapped in the arms of that particular communication with God. It is an absolutely awesome experience.

 {definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

O

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

O is for OBFUSCATE {To confuse, bewilder, or stupefy. To make obscure or unclear. To darken}

Here’s another seventy-five cent-er. Using this one would be worth the wrath of your editor. You might even OBFUSCATE the editor enough to convince him that your work is genius. Or you might OBFUSCATE the meaning of your work and therefore hide your NEFARIOUS intentions. So, you see the real reason you are being duped into non-use of such great words. Total OBFUSCATION.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Still a little fuzzy. Fortunately, my posts have been written for awhile. It’s just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Unfortunately, I was too fuzzy yesterday to visit anyone else. Looking for a better day! 

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

N

NOT quite myself. I've been sicker than ten dogs. I never get sick. Apparently, some tropical thing. Now that you've got way more Information for today than you hoped...

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?”

N is for NEFARIOUS {wicked or evil, infamous for being wicked}

When you’re writing NEFARIOUS is one of those words that would be considered a double no-no. It’s an adjective and a whopping seventy-five cent word. It is also NOT a good thing to be. Having the NEFARIOUS tropical ‘bone crusher flu’ is not a good thing either.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

M

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

M is for METAPHOR {a literary figure of speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object}

A good METAPHOR is worth it’s weight in gold. I love a good METAPHOR, although I’m not very good at writing them.

  

“Your eyes are like the deep pools of my past, reflecting all the unrealized hopes and dreams.”

   

“Her screams were the sound of a thousand gulls fighting ovr the same scrap of bread.”

   

“My love is like the endless sea rolling onto the sand of your heart.”

Well, you get the idea. Now, go on try one. Leave it in my comment box. I can use all the help I can get. Write me a METAPHOR.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

 A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

L

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

L is for LOQUACIOUS {talkative or chatty, especially of persons given to excess conversations)

FIRST, let me apologize for not visiting many of you yesterday. The Big Blue of the Caribbean was calling, so I went and spent the day at the beach. I’ll try to make it up to you today.

As a writer, you have to follow certain rules. Don’t use adverbs – ever. Adjectives –sparingly. Never ever use an exclamation point and those wonderful seventy-five cent words are an absolute no-no, unless you’re writing technical manuals.

Personally, I never met a seventy-five cent word I didn’t like. They are absolutely awesome and awe inspiring and amazing! I wish I could use more. Take today’s word LOQUACIOUS, it has a sensual sound as it rolls off your lips and to top it off, what better word to describe me. Oh yeah, I’m a rule breaker too, at least here on my blog, where rules are made to be broken.

 {definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

 A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

K

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

K is for KARMA {in Indian religions the concept of ‘action’ or ‘deed’ understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect}

KARMA, reaping what you sew. What goes around, comes around. Do unto others… The great ‘life IS fair’. I love this concept. Imagine a world where we all lived by a law that said we were paid back exactly what we gave. What would you give? Would it be your all? Would you give of yourself to a stranger? Would you make that stranger your friend? Would you be willing to take the ‘pay’ for your actions? Everyone wants good KARMA. Do you consider that you may also bring bad KARMA upon yourself? Just a little food for thought. Make it a feast.

 {definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

J

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

J is for JUNKIE {a person suffering from drug addiction, most commonly used to refer to a heroin addict. A hyperbolic expression for a person with a particularly strong enthusiasm for some activity.}

While I will admit to you that I was once thoroughly addicted to a particular substance (not heroin), that’s not what I want to talk about. No matter how you cut it substance addiction is not a pretty sight. Stay away from addictive substances. One day you will want to quit (I promise, it’s true) and that’s a rough road. Unfortunately, I know that is true, too.

What I’m talking about is the second definition; a particularly strong enthusiasm. I know about this also, because I’m a ‘WORD JUNKIE. I love ‘em. Never let me near an open mic or blank piece of paper. It’s like Roger Rabbit. You know how he can’t not finish that toon tune ‘Shave and a Haircut’. (Do not tell me you have never seen Roger Rabbit – go directly to Netflix – do not pass go-do not collect $200, until you sit down and watch Roger and Jessica, Judge Doom, and the gang. Oh carp! I just HIJACKED my own comment) Well… that’s me with a blank piece of paper or an open mic. I can’t help myself and I can’t shut up. WORD JUNKIE – what can I say. ‘I’m not bad I’m just drawn that way’.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}A to Z Challenge – 

Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

I

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

I is for INTEGRITY {a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Can be regarded as the opposite of hypocrisy.}

INTEGRITY. We demand it from others. We think we want to have it. We believe it is easy to achieve. We tend to misunderstand it. Having integrity basically means that we are consistent in our thoughts, words and actions and that we are not hypocrites. It does not necessarily mean that our thoughts, words and actions are good.

Throughout my life, my thoughts, words and actions have changed. Many of the circumstances I have witnessed in life have caused me to turn completely in another direction. I hope this does not mean I lack INTEGRITY. But, rather that I am teachable. I am able to see the error of my ways and make a course correction. I believe that life is like a great university. There are lessons to be learned and unlearned. We are granted time, that most precious commodity, in which to perfect ourselves. It’s all a preparation for the ‘next great adventure’. As we find our way through this life, it is our responsibility to remain consistent to the truths that we learn. To maintain INTEGRITY to those truths. To live consistent with our values and principles. It sounds like it should be easy. It’s not always so.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

 A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

H

‘WHAT ARE WORDS’

H is for HIJACK {to stop and rob (a vehicle in transit)}

I am a known HIJACKER. Not the menacing type who forces your vehicle to the side of the road and robs you of your possessions or primarily your vehicle. But, I am a hijacker of words. It happens in conversation all of the time. We’re talking about something and you interject an interesting topic and I’m off and running. It’s probably some form of ADD of ADHD or some other alphabet soup syndrome . I don’t know. I don’t mean to do it. I don’t mean to be rude. It just kind of happens. It’s just how my brain works. Be careful because I have also been known to hijack the comments box on your blog. Some days I just can’t seem to shut up.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

E, F, and G

‘WHAT ARE WORDS’


Here, listen to Van while I talk.

Van Morrison does a beautiful job with an oft recorded song. Not everybody includes the verse about the armour. This Easter Season I hope you all put on your armour because not matter how you look at it, we're in fora fight. (Thank you STMc for pointing me toward this version of Be Thou My Vision) 

Before I get into this let me apologize for being AWOL for a few days here. I had a ‘family crisis’ that turned into a ‘family emergency’. Maybe you all have given upon me, but for now I’m back and I’ll try to catch up. I also want to apologize for the length of this post, but it does cover three letters (days) worth of A to Z posts.

My posts have, for the most part, been written for awhile, but for today, at least, I want to deviate. I read on a blog a few weeks ago that you shouldn’t talk about religion, politics or sports with people, because all rely on a person’s faith. I had never thought of it that way. Well today I’m not going to ‘talk about’ those things, but I am going to ‘tell’ you what I know. I’m also not going to talk about faith.

E is for EASTER {a Christian feast and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary}

F is for FRIDAY {the day between Thursday and Saturday}

G is for GOOD {the distinction between positive and negative}

EASTER, FRIDAY and GOOD. My E, F, and G words, but not necessarily in that order.

EASTER is probably the highest holiday in the Christian world. When I was young I used to think of EASTER as a sad holiday, that was aside from the chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. I found that whole crucifixion thing kind of scary and sad. I preferred not to think about it. When I got older I realized that EASTER is the GOOD news. EASTER is the day that Jesus Christ over came death. EASTER is the day that he gave us the promise of the greatest gift, Eternal Life, or the promise that we too could overcome death.

FRIDAY or particularly GOOD FRIDAY used to seem to be like the supreme oxymoron. What could be GOOD about the day that an ignorant world murdered the kindest, most sincere, sinless person to ever walk the earth? When I really started to understand EASTER, I also realized that GOOD FRIDAY is the celebration of the day that Jesus Christ fulfilled His purpose here on earth. It is the day that He freely gave up his life after taking my sins upon Himself (BTW, this happened about 2000 years before I was even born). This is the day that He embarked on that three day journey toward the resurrection, which would point the way for each and every one of us.  I make no bones about the fact that I’m a sinner and a heathen, trying to find my way. I also make no bones about the fact, that I know these things happened and that they happened for me a sinner and a heathen.

Least any of you think I’m trying to sway you over to my way of thinking, rest assured that I am not. I don’t for a minute think that I could do that. It takes a power much greater than any I could ever hope to possess .  I just thought you might like to know a little more about me. I also think it’s time I show some gratitude here in my blog space for the greatest gift I have ever received.

I do hope you took note of the fact that never once did I say that I believe or have faith in any of these events, because there is one last little thing I want to you know about me. When it comes to the events surrounding EASTER and GOOD FRIDAY, actually anything surrounding Jesus Christ, I no longer have or need faith because, I know that they happened.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

D and INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP

‘What Are Words?’

D was going to be for DENOUMENT {the conclusion or resolution of a plot} BUT then I was reminded that today is also IWSG. So…although ‘denoument’ is a cool word, (it’s even cool to say) today D will be for Demon  {a supernatural being from various religions, occultisms, literature and folklores that is described as something that is not human and, in ordinary (almost universal) usage, malevolent}

Because I’m a writer and this is A to Z you might figure I would write about the demons that haunt our nightmares. But, because this post is ALSO going to cover my ‘INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP’ post, I want to talk about my personal demons or demon. Those things that haunt me in particular.

My biggest personal demon is LOVE. Aha, you say; that’s not a demon. Love should be a good thing. Well, not always. For those of us who believe in love, it can be a terrible demon that haunts our every thought and action. Not the least of which is the written word.

Insecure writers come from insecure people. People who have been betrayed in love, are maybe more insecure than most. Yet the true lover of love, keeps coming back for more, believing beyond hope there is one sincere lover left, who will not betray them. One who will hold their hand in the dark, keep their darkest secrets, protect them at all costs, and return the love in kind. People who truly believe in love, know that it transcends mere romantic love. We know it is more beautiful, durable and tangible than any simple emotion. It is complicated, diverse and surreal. It’s hard to explain and normally comes out of the blue. We’re shocked when we realize what has happened. We’re afraid and often work to push it away, thereby hurting, in terrible terms, that/those which/whom we love.

As writers, we write about it, we write to it, we write it for others, but, especially if it is our personal demon, we are also terrified of it. MY ADVICE, embrace it. Go with it. Let it embrace you. Step out into the dark/on that limb/off a cliff. If for nothing else you will be a better writer. The greater gift is that you will be a better person. I know that I am on both counts, because of love.

Badges ~ have we got badges. Take a minute and check out the IWSG badge to see some of the other posts. Then follow the directions for the A to Z Challenge. Are we having fun yet?

 {definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

C

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

C is for CRITICISM or CRITIQUE {criticism~the practice of judging the merits and faults of something or someone in an intelligible(or articulate) way. critique~the method of disciplined systematic analysis of a written or oral discourse. Commonly understood as fault finding and negative judgment, but it can also involve merit recognition.}

In a perfect world there would only be constructive CRITICSM. But, we don’t live in a perfect world. All too often CRITICISM comes in only one form – fault finding. It hurts everyone.

CRITIQUE is another animal all together. Writers (as distinguished from authors or those who are published) crave a good critique. We believe it will make us better, help us to resolve the unresolved, lead us to becoming authors. A necessary evil, masquerading as good (or maybe god as I first mistyped). Be careful that those CRITIQUES/CRITICISMS do not become vampires.

From Title of Show ‘Die Vampire Die’

“The Vampire of Despair who creeps into your head at four AM to say…

   Who do you think you are kidding?

   You look like a fool.

   No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be good enough.

If some dude walked up to me on a subway platform and said these things, I would think he was some mentally ill 
  a—hole.

BUT, if the vampire in my head says it…

     It’s the voice of reason.”

Be careful what you put into your head. CRITICISM and CRITIQUES may be a necessary evil, but first trust those to whom to lend yourself, else your ATTITUDE becomes BELLIGERENT and you succumb to the ‘Vampire of Despair’.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – 

Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

B

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

B is for BELLIGERENT {inclined or eager to fight, hostile or aggressive}

I used to be BELLIGERENT all of the time. It was very unbecoming, especially for a lady. It was difficult. I was raised to be a lady, by parents who came from two generations before me, and from a more gentle time. At the same time, my father was a hard man and he raised me to take care of myself. Living a contradiction isn’t easy.

My BELLIGERENCE usually took a verbal form, but I have to admit I have an incredible BELLIGERENT ‘look’. Life has taught me, it’s so much easier to have a pleasant ATTITUDE. I’ve learned to stop looking for the fight. I’ll still fight for what I believe in, but most of my beliefs are too sacred, to fight about.  Look at the glass half full instead of half empty. Life isn’t such a contradiction anymore. What is, is. Me, I’m better.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.

A

APRIL A to Z CHALLENGE

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

A is for ATTITUDE {favorable or unfavorable evaluation of something}

There is a lot of talk about ‘free will’ or our right to choose. Everyone talks about it, every one strives for it, and many have died for it. In the end we don’t have a lot of choices.

We don’t get to choose who falls in love with us, who stays in love with us, or if anyone will love and cherishes us. We don’t get to choose if a drunk or reckless driver will be on the road heading in our direction, careening out of control and smashing into us.  We don’t get to choose whether or not a loved one dies. We don’t get to choose if our bodies fail us to a dread disease.

BUT, we do get to choose the ATTITUDE with which we will deal with any adversity that comes our way. At the end of the day this might be our only choice. Our ATTITUDE is in fact everything. It’s wise to pick a good one.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

A to Z Challenge – Want more information? Go right over there to that little A to Z Badge, CLICK and see what it’s all about. While you’re there checkout some of the other participants. It’s fun. You will like it. Go on now, you know you want to.