Life in progress

Category Archives: Random


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#JusJoJan the 31st/23 – It is written

Our prompt word for January 31st is “write.”

And I almost didn’t make it to my own final prompt of Just Jot it January.

It’s been a day.

Started with an hour of cleaning off the car and shoveling it out of the driveway so I could do my weekly grocery shopping.

Then, when I did get home, I had to CELEBRATE a bit because I PUBLISHED A FREAKING BOOK TODAY!

That doesn’t happen every day.

Stroked received a very nice 5-star review on it from a fellow author, Linda Fausnet:

This is a sweet love story between two misfits – a male stripper with a checkered past and a man with an endearing (and sometimes humorous!) speech impediment. Casper and Tristan find love while sharing their passions for art and swimming respectively as well as their passion for each other. Though this is book three in this terrific series, this novel can easily be read as a standalone. Also features a fun cameo from a familiar character that regular readers of this author will really enjoy!

And the rest of my day has been filled with my two new editing clients.

Until now, when I’ve finally had a chance to sit my aching body down and write.

And after this?

Write the next book, of course.

Thanks so much for reading.

See you tomorrow for the JusJoJan wrap up post!

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This post of highs and lows is brought to you by Just Jot it January!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/31/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-31st-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 30th/23 – Canine

Our prompt word for January 30th is “canine.” Thanks so much, Dawn, for the wonderful prompt!

I lived for many years without a canine in my life.

And then seven years ago I got Winston.

Oh, the fleas he had!

Winston

And even when he was barely bigger than a shoe, he had a huge, deep bark in his barrel chest.

Now he’s just a big, lovable lump.

I know you’ve probably seen these pictures before. The prompt was just an excuse to show them again.

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This doggy-filled post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Dawn! Please be sure to check out Dawn’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/30/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-30th-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 29th/23 – The treadmill

Our prompt word for January 29th is “exercise.” Thanks so much, Wendy, for the energetic prompt!

I try to exercise every day.

Okay, maybe try is a big word.

Maybe it’s more like I plan to exercise every day.

Okay, okay, okay. I think about exercising every day.

During the height of the pandemic, when Alex wasn’t going to school and the library was closed so Chris, my other son, stopped going out once a week, I bought a treadmill.

Are there months when it doesn’t even get used? Sure.

I still try to go out for walks when it’s not too snowy or icy or cold or hot and humid.

But does it get used when those conditions are not the case?

I used it a whole three times last week. And once so far this week.

I need to try harder.

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This self-motivational post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Wendy! Please be sure to check out Wendy’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/29/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-29th-2023/ It’s fun!


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SoCS & #JusJoJan the 28th – Profundities

Do you ever read something profound and think I can write something profound?

So you sit down to write something profound and end up with:

If dirt was sentient, would it consider itself dirty?

Then do you realize how terrible you are at writing something profound and just throw in the towel?

Or is it just me?

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This cozy post is brought to you by SoCS and Just Jot it January. Click the link to see how you, too, can join in! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/27/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2023-daily-prompt-jan-28th/

 

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/


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#JusJoJan the 27th/23 – Social amenities

Our prompt word for January 27th is “amenities.” Thanks so much, Kim, for the neat prompt!

I’ve been having issues with one of my amenities today. Specifically, my internet. Which is part of the reason I’m posting this so late. My reason for yesterday’s late posting? I forgot to hit the publish button. o_O

But I digress.

I learned something new today!

As I often do when I’m looking for inspiration for a post, I opened the dictionary. (I’m such a nerd.)

And I found this in Merriam-Webster:

usually amenities : something (such as a conventional social gesture) that promotes smoothness or pleasantness in social relationships

<maintaining social amenities>

Who knew?

Now that I know, it explains a few things for me.

I come to my blog and to most of the social media sites I visit to be social. To have nice conversations with nice people.

Which, I’ve realized, is why I feel icky when I use social media (or my blog) to try to sell my books.

Sure, they tell you when you advertise that you’re giving the consumer something they need (like my books), or something that will make you happy (definitely my books), but I can’t help but feel that it’s unsmooth and unpleasant to talk about buying my books (which you absolutely want to do) with people who are just trying to have a nice conversation with me.

So perhaps the subliminal approach is best.

Because the truth is, I’m excited about my books. Especially when I have a new release coming out soon. And although it might seem to lack social amenities to talk about my books, I’m sure there are people out there who are excited for me.

Right?

Yeah, no. Totally unsmooth.

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This totally subliminal post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Kim! Please be sure to check out Kim’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/27/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-27th-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 26th/23 – Family

Our prompt word for January 26th is “family.” Thanks so much, J-Dub, for the wonderful prompt!

When I was growing up, I always wished for a bigger family. For brothers and sisters. But I never got them. I used to envy my friends their siblings. I imagined idyllic friendships between them. Constant happy companionship. Ah, but I was an only child and knew only what I saw when I was playing with them. They were either getting along or avoiding each other, for the most part.

And I still have a hard time imagining it. When I write a story with siblings, they either get along famously or avoid each other. Yeah, I have three kids. But they’re atypical, two of them being disabled.

*sigh* I’ll never understand. If only I’d had brothers and sisters.

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This retrospective post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and J-Dub! Please be sure to check out J-Dub’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/26/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-26th-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 24th/23 – Ideal

Our prompt word for January 24th is “ideal.” Thanks so much, Astrid, for the great prompt!

I like playing solitaire.

Because no matter what …

I deal.

See what I did there?

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This ridiculous post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Paula! Please be sure to check out Astrid’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/24/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-24th-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 23rd/23 – Broad strokes

The prompt word for January 23rd is “paintbrush.” Thanks go to Paula for the colourful prompt!

When we paint our woes with broad brushstrokes, we don’t really convey everything we’re living.

Ugh, I have so much to do!

It tells a story, but the behind-the-scenes to-do list is not anyone has time to hear about. They have their own to-dos.

Ack! Everything hurts!

It might not be accurate, but it conveys the message better than an inventory of all our aches and pains. And just about everyone can agree that aches and pains are all-consuming when we have them.

But when we paint our accomplishments and happiness, it’s usually more defined.

When was the last time anyone said to you Everything is wonderful! And when they did, could you relate? If not, ask yourself why not?

Because there’s almost always something we didn’t get around to doing. There’s almost always a discomfort or pain somewhere.

But if you take the reverse, when there’s so much to do, isn’t there something you’ve accomplished somewhere along the way?

When everything hurts, is there not usually something that doesn’t?

We let the negative keep us from painting our happiness in broad brushstrokes, but the positive rarely gets in the way of the broad strokes of our woes.

Let’s change that. Right now.

Repeat after me:

Everything is wonderful!

And let’s do that every day.

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This hopefully uplifting post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Paula! Please be sure to check out Paula’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/23/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-23rd-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 22nd/23 – It’s writin’ season

The prompt word for January 22nd is “seasonal.” Thanks go to Kaye for the wonderful prompt!

I’m starting to realize, rather belatedly, that my writing is largely seasonal.

I try to do NaNoWriMo every fall, so that’s when I write the bulk of my novels. Also during the spring and summer NaNo camps, though I’ve never attempted 50,000 words during one of those.

Blogging daily has become a January thing.

I used to do it every day, but then a career or two happened, and I seem to run out of either time or steam by the time I get around to doing much else.

Seems whatever I do, though, I can usually do it in my pajamas.

Hibernation season is all year round.

P.S. My neck is a bit better today. 🙂

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This writerly post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Kaye! Please be sure to check out Kaye’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/22/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-22nd-2023/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 20th/23 – Ain’t phantom pain

The prompt word for January 20th was “phantom.” Thanks, Tuba, for the fun prompt!

I’m a day late with this one, in part because I’ve had a stunningly busy couple of days, and in part because of a crippling stiff neck.

It plagued me all day yesterday, but it was better this morning. Now it’s back, probably due to the fact that I’m stressed over not getting everything done.

It’s a circle.

The circle of life.

Is a pain in the neck. Apparently.

But really, I can pretty much count on some kind of ailment showing up when I’m busy.

Grrr…

See what I did up there, though?

Now I don’t have to write a separate SoCS post.

Sneaky me.

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This sneaky yet agonizing post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Tuba and SoCS! Please be sure to check out Tuba’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/20/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-20th-2023/ It’s fun!