Life in progress

Category Archives: Life


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Guest Host Q and A: Inspired by ghostmmnc at teleportingweena!

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Hi there! Shan Jeniah https://shanjeniah.com/about/ here, back one more time to thank you all for making my first-ever stint guest hosting a blog hop such a rewarding experience!

When Linda told me I could do a guest post, I struggled with what I would say. It only took two sentences to say thank you, and I don’t want to bore anyone. Then I realized how much I enjoyed the question-and-answer posts over at ghostmmnc’s blog, teleportingweena, like this one: https://teleportingweena.wordpress.com/2017/01/15/fun-questions-and-answers/

When I read them, I wanted to post my own answers…and so, here, the two things happily blended, and I can offer you a guest post that says a little about me without being a me-fest. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I didn’t do all fifty from this post; just as many as I felt like doing. Ready?

Off we go, then!

Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

  • Open. There’s usually stuff in front of them, and I don’t want to move it.

Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?

  • No. I like my own better.

Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

  • I use a fitted sheet on the bottom; quilts above. I don’t tuck; I cocoon!

Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

  • No. Nor now, either.

Do you like to use post-it notes?

  • Sometimes. I used one in a fan fiction story once. =)

What is your biggest pet peeve?

  • Being peeved. Huge waste of my time.

Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

  • Yes.

Is it okay for guys to wear pink as a colour?

  • Who gets to decide this stuff? Let people wear what they want; who cares what’s in their pants?!

Whats your least favorite movie?

  • I don’t really have one. If I don’t care for a movie, I generally stop watching it.

What do you drink with dinner?

  • Water, or coffee.

What is your favorite food?

  • I love salads. Especially if I don’t need to make it myself.

What movie could you watch over and over and still love?

  • You’ve Got Mail; Turner and Hooch; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; probably many others I’m not thinking of now.

Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

  • I might. I’ve posted one censored nude on a blog. I don’t have a problem with non-exploitative nudity.

When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

  • Either a letter to my husband, or to my daughter.


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Just Jot It Jan 17 – Complaint

Let’s see, what haven’t I complained about this year yet?

We had a snow day again today–actually, it was a freezing rain day–but I’ve already complained about those. Seems like a Tuesday thing.

Alex was so upset about not going to school today, he came into my room this morning and started smacking me because of the weather. Then, fifteen minutes later, I picked up the cat to stop him from going outside and he turned around and scratched me. And to top all that off, I was sitting on the couch about fifteen minutes after that, and I sneezed on the dog whilst reaching for the tissue box, so the dog pounced on me because I made him jump.

It’s been a rough day. But not my first this year. I’m sure I must have complained about one of those already, so I can’t do that again.

What else, let’s see… I didn’t go out today. I need to get out more. …aaand I’ve already complained about that.

Next!

I haven’t run out of wine yet, so I can’t complain about that. Oh, wait! I ran out of coffee!!! …but I found some more in the cupboard that I must have bought when it was on sale.

Nope! Sorry. Can’t think of anything new. I guess I’m going to just have to be happy, damn it!

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Thanks very much to our very own Willow for today’s prompt, “complaint.” You can visit Willow and read her own JusJoJan post here: https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/just-jot-it-jauaryday-17-complaint/

And a very special thanks once again to Shan for hosting Just Jot It January for me! Let’s all give her a round of applause!! And make sure you visit and follow her at her blog here, where you’ll find her latest JusJoJan post: http://shanjeniahslovelychaos.com/lovely-chaos-blog/2017/1/16/i-am-penetrable-mindfulmonday-and-jusjojan-day-16-shanjeniahs-lovely-chaos

Don’t forget to check out all the other posts here, and see how you can join in too! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/17/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-17th17/

 

 


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Just Jot It Jan 16 – Impenetrable

So much for taking time today to get caught up on blogging; this full-time work thing is crazy, isn’t it? I haven’t had a “real” job in sixteen years, and even then, I was running my own business. The last time I worked for someone who wasn’t me was in 1995. I think.

Even though I haven’t “worked” in more than 20 years, I have worked. My kids were born in ’94, ’95, and ’00 – one might argue that just being a mom is work. But past that, I push myself to do more. Writing, blogging, and taking courses to improve my skills have kept me on my toes for quite a few years now.

What about me is impenetrable? Probably my hard-headedness when it comes to saying anything but, Sure! I can do it! Just pile it all on. My head is as hard as my plate is large. And nothing is going slow me down… until they both overflow that is. So if you see my brains leaking out of my ears, you’ll know I’ve reached my penetration limit.

At the rate I’m going, it won’t be long.

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Thanks to Blog Woman!!! for our prompt of the day, “impenetrable.” You can find her here: https://blog-woman.com/

And a special thank you to Shan, for the wonderful job she’s doing as host. Let’s hear it for Shan! 😀 https://shanjeniah.com/about/

It’s not too late to join in Just Jot It January. Click the following link to participate and read more amazing posts: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/16/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-16th17/


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Just Jot It Jan 15 – Mercy

Hey! I almost didn’t make it here today. I’ve been working on this project I landed last week, editing a 150,000-word novel by the end of February, which means I have to get through 25K words a week. I’m absolutely loving the work, but mercy, does it necessitate a lot of concentration on the screen! I have to keep taking eyeball breaks.

This post is going to be very short, and it may not be sweet, but I should be back tomorrow to get caught up with everything I missed over the weekend.

Hope all is well out there in blogland!

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The prompt for today was gifted to us by BarbCT! Check out her blog here! https://barbct.wordpress.com/

And a special thanks to Shan for hosting today’s prompt. You can follow Shan’s blog here: https://shanjeniah.com/about/

And finally, to join in today’s prompt, click here: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/15/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-15th17/


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#SoCS, Just Jot It Jan 14 – People

People are funny. Particularly around authors. Most will give you a blank stare if you tell them you’re a writer… I wonder often if they’re just thinking, “what do I say now? And will it end up in a book?” This is why I don’t tell people I’m a writer unless they ask.

But there was one day, a couple of months ago, when I was sitting by the water on my favourite waterfront trail and a woman came along and started talking to me. She told me she was there to write her novel… as if she expected me to be flabbergasted that I was talking to a real writer. We ended up chatting about Amazon and Createspace for the following half an hour, though she couldn’t help herself from occasionally giving me the odd advice on how to write, edit, and publish. No matter how many times I said, “yeah, I know.”

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Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was sitting in a restaurant, minding my own business, proofreading my own manuscript. It’s printed out in a spiral-bound book and I’ve been working through it with a red pen. The waitress stopped to give me my tea, as waitresses do, and she asked me if I’m a teacher. I said no, I’m a writer. She reacted the way the lady down on the waterfront expected me to.

“You’re writing a book? What kind? Can we buy it at the bookstore? Do you have a card or anything?”

*makes note to get cards or bookmarks printed*

Needless to say I got better-than-average service that evening.

I keep having to remind myself that though many people think they can write a book, not everyone actually does it. I’m surrounded here on WordPress by so many talented people, so many authors and people who know authors, that it has become normal for me. And yet I remember the first time my blog was followed by a “real author” and I was flabbergasted, even though I had already written three novels myself. Because he was published, and I wasn’t.

I love people. People are who populate my novels. I write novels about people, not about events. I don’t write plots – I write about things that happen to people and how those people react, and that builds my plots.

I really need to write more.

Potato.

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This post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot It January. The prompt for this week is the letter “p,” with the challenge to start and end the post with a “P” word… thus the potato. Click the following link to join in and read all the other awesome posts! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-and-jusjojan-jan-1417/


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Just Jot It Jan 13 – Hospital

Prepare for a bit of a rant.

My darling son, Alex, with whom many of you are familiar, is deathly afraid of the dentist. So much so, that the dentist refuses to clean his teeth for fear of harming him as he thrashes about.

A couple of months ago, the dentist put in a referral to a hospital in Kingston where he sometimes works, to have Alex seen by anaesthesia with the goal of having him put under for a cleaning. However, that particular hospital lacks the resources to look after Alex if something goes wrong with his heart — he has a heart condition. Result: denied.

Now we have to go back once again to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), which is about a three-hour drive each way, not once but three times. First for a consultation, then to see their anaesthesia department, and finally for the “surgery” itself. This last time, we’ll have to stay overnight, because they’ll want us there at 6:00am.

Don’t get me wrong – CHEO is a wonderful hospital. But this new thing of having to go there for teeth-cleaning every year is for the birds. Life was much easier when I could get there in 45 minutes from where I lived. …which was a good thing, since Alex lived there for the first eight months of his life. But many of you, as I said before, already knew this.

I just wanted to bitch a bit. I feel better now.

Thanks for listening.

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Thanks very much to Charlene Bullard from http://faithtoraisenate.com/ for the prompt of the day: “Hospital.”

Did you know you can join in Just Jot It January any time? Click the link and find out how! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/13/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-13th17/


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Just Jot It Jan 10 – Danger

Yesterday was the first day back to school for Alex, aaaaand… today’s a snow day. And I’m in danger of losing my mind.

Surprisingly, it’s not in the way you’d think. Yes, I’m quite pissed off at the weather, but for some reason my emotions are leading me toward the crazier, more jump-around-and-be-silly bent. Maybe it’s a precursor to when I go postal later. Or maybe this is how I finally implode into a pile of mushy Mominess.

Is it too early for wine?

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Thanks so much to my friend Matthew for the prompt of the day. Please give him a visit and read his latest post here: https://singularfiction.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/polishing-that-draft/

And thank you once again to Dan the magnificent, who has helped me for the past three days with Just Jot It January. I’m sure without him I’d have already imploded. You can visit Dan here: https://nofacilities.com/

Did you know you can join us in the Just Jot It January challenge any time? Click the following link to find out how, and to read all the other amazing posts! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/10/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-10th17/


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Just Jot It Jan 9 – Power

The power of words is incredible, isn’t it? I was on the phone this afternoon with my pharmacist, ordering a refill of my son’s heart medication. Most of the people at the pharmacy are pleasant, but this one pharmacist always sounds as though I dragged him out of bed with my phone call. This is how it went:

Him: (in Eeyore’s voice) Hello. How can I help you.

Me: I need a refill of a prescription.

Him: What’s the name?

Me: Alex (his last name).

Him: Is it the mixture?

Me: Yes, that’s right.

Him: I can’t have it ready for you before tomorrow night.

Me: Oh. I need it in the afternoon.

Him: We’re busy.

Me: Can you deliver it?

Him: I guess. If it’s ready before the 4:00 delivery goes out.

Me: Okay then.

Him: Okay, bye.

Ah, the power of words. And of attitude. I wanted to say, How the hell can you be so busy when your service is lousy and you sound so miserable all the time? Cheer the fuck up! But I didn’t. What I also didn’t say was that I needed a bunch of other stuff at the pharmacy tomorrow and I was going to get it all at once. But because of his bad service and his I’m-too-tired-for-this/busy-for-your-business attitude, I’ll go somewhere else to spend my money.

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Today’s “Power” prompt came from 20/20 Hines Sight. You can find her blog here: https://2020hines-sight.com/

And, of course, very special thanks to Dan for hosting the prompt for me today! Make sure you go and visit his most excellent and entertaining blog here: http://nofacilities.com/

Finally, you can read more Just Jot It January posts and find out how to join in here: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/09/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-9th17/ You can start any time!


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Just Jot It Jan 8 – Mongrel

I’d never had a mongrel before I got Winston. But that’s okay;

mongrel

Winston has never had a human before.

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Thanks so much, Geoff, for the prompt today! You can find him here, at TanGental.

And a special thank you to Dan for hosting today’s Just Jot It January! Dan can be found at No Facilities.

This post is part of JusJoJan: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/08/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-8th17/


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#SoCS, Just Jot It Jan 7 – Coat

I’ve been craving cheese lately. I just want to spread a lovely coat of cheese over everything I eat. And I have no idea why. Maybe I’m lacking calcium, or vitamin D, since I haven’t had much chance to get out of the house lately. I miss my paper route for that reason and that reason only. It was a pain in the neck when I had to do it in the snow and I didn’t have a babysitter, but it did force me to get out of the house and walk around the block every day. And hey, who wouldn’t want to get paid for walking around the block every day?

Instead, I’ve swapped that occupation for one of trying to get my work published. I was truly amazed at how much work it takes to advertise a book. I haven’t been doing all that well, apparently, since I’ve only sold 3 in the last month. I have had some great reviews though, which I should make a habit of posting here to remind people I have a book for sale and to keep the reminders somewhat fresh. Anyway, as you can probably guess I was making more money on my paper route than I am as an author. So far.

I’m coming up to the point where I’ll soon need advance-reader copy (ARC) reviews. I’d like to have a few posted when my next book comes out, so people can see what they’re getting on launch day. OH, and I had a bit of a bite from a local radio station. The story of The Great Dagmaru takes place in the real city of Kingston, Ontario. I mentioned this on Facebook to the rock station I actually mention in the book, and they told me to let them know when the novel comes out. Maybe I’ll get a plug from them. 🙂

I have no idea what this all has to do with coats, other than cheese … I promise my novels aren’t cheesy. That’s the one thing I don’t put cheese on. Or in. Hey, is that lasagna?

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This post was brought to you by both Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot It January. Click the link to read more posts and to see how you can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-and-jusjojan-jan-717/