Concerning Prehistory Beasts: Pteradons

In the alternate realm of Burr, Pterandons (also called Pteri) were biologically created both to harass the dragons of enemy Mages in battle (since they are quicker on the wing) and as messengers (because they can endure flying long journeys). They are highly intelligent, but shrewd and they are incredibly loyal to their Mages. They are fond of ribald jokes.

They are deadly, especially to dragons. Their sharp beaks aren't hindered by tough dragon scales. They keep pecking until they find a weak spot in the dragon's armor. They fight in flocks. A dragon who has to deal with three or four Pteri is in grave danger, but they can usually hold their own against just one. Dragons will outright murder any lone Pteri they happen to encounter. 

Pteri maintain an uneasy truce with dragons and the other prehistoric beasts created by the same Mage that created them. 

Suicide Slush

It was the middle of summer: sticky-humid, with no hint of a breeze to cool us. I was visiting my cousins, who lived outside Xenia, Ohio. 

We were outside doing what children do best—getting into things we shouldn’t. Aunt Leona called us inside and gave us money to go to the ice cream stand. Jubilation! 

My cousin decided we’d take the short-cut, through a field of summer-ripe corn. The smell of it tickled my nose. We wove our way through tall cornstalks, trying to avoid bothersome patches of nettles and stinkweed. 

Finally, we exited the field, the ice cream stand just across the street. I asked my cousin what he’s getting. 

‘What’s a suicide slush?’ I asked. I wrinkled my nose in horror at his reply. Then, the ultimate childhood call-out. He dared me to get one, too. Of course I had to, although my heart was set on a vanilla cone. 

With growing trepidation I watched as the vendor concocted our slushes, sliding the cups under each flavor and pumping a precisely timed icy squirt from each. The resulting mixture was disgusting greenish-brown. My cousin lowered his lips to the straw and slurped a third of it down at once, proclaiming it ‘The best Suicide ever!” There was nothing for it. I sipped. 

My mouth sang in tones of orange/cherry/lemon-lime/blueberry/cola. We raced home, heads tingling with brain-freeze, hearts pounding with sugar rush, and finished our Suicides on the back porch. 

A post about upcoming posts...

It's been awhile since I posted any news on my blogs.

It's not that juicy news hasn't been happening, it's just that I've been buried up to my eyeballs in schoolwork and this is a scenario that is not likely to change anytime soon.

I have a couple of items I want to post about concerning upcoming stories of mine that are being published (think zombies, ghosts and a meteor strike).

The biggest news is my story 'The Lust, The Flesh' has been accepted for publication in the upcoming local anthology 'Zombie Nation: St. Pete.' I am working on a post with various news items and links about this project that could be a big step forward in my writing career.

I have other publication news to share also in that upcoming post. I'm working furiously between school studies trying to put together this post and another one, about a special memorial service that my husband's family had for him in Massachusetts last month.

About my college career. I attended an orientation meeting Monday afternoon for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. I signed up to be a new member. Looking forward to the academic benefits of being a member of that organization.

These last couple days has been all about me joining organizations. Last Thursday, I became a two-year member of the Florida Writers Association, another group that is sure to benefit me greatly.

The future is looking very bright.

Blogger Random Question: What's the Best Time You've Ever Had Licking Stamps?

The best time I've ever had licking stamps was the set I bought with the tropical frogs on them. But afterwards, the faces of the frogs on the stamps began to frighten me, so I tore the envelopes up and burned them with some kerosene in a tin bucket out in my garage. I mean, they were staring at me, man! So...maybe that might NOT have been the best time.

Works in (slow) progress...and a trip into the surreal life.

1.) Outlining chapters for my NaNoWriMo novel, which is to be called "Mages of Morrow." It is set in the same alternate world as my short story, "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon."  
2.) Working on finishing up some incomplete poems: "Ars Gothica", "The Thoughts of a Statue of Dead Poet in a Park Watching People", and "Blame, Lies, and Manipulations." 

I have other unfinished business, this is just the stuff I'm working on now. 

I work on these projects when I have a spare moment. And I haven't had too many of those lately. Recently my time has been maxed out with studying and writing essays for college. My term ends 7/23 and then I'll have a small break before the fall term begins on 8/23. I hope to squeeze in a little writing time during that nice break.  

I took a little field trip to the Salvador Dali Museum as part of a cultural experience for an essay I had to write for Western Humanities class. I love Dali's work. Especially those pieces from the years when he was fully engaged in doing his best Surrealist stuff.   

I feel inspired to write a story based on "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's Angelus." But I need to chew on it mentally for a bit. When the time is right, I'll know it. I want to be able to do it justice.
 
This is a photo of the artist outside the entrance to the museum:

To do lists

I found an online image that represents my To Do List:

 If I were to alter this, it would read:

1.) Wake up.
2.) Breathe deeply.
3.) Thank God I'm still breathing.
4.) If at all possible, continue breathing.
5.) Do all those things that need doing.
6.) Go to sleep tired but glad I got some things done.
7.) Repeat.

This is a good one, especially for a college student taking a ten-week term. Miraculously, loads of homework and term papers and studying seems to get done and I'm not sure how. I am more exhausted than I have ever been in my entire life and have virtually no time to write or blog.

But I'm moving toward that goal line.

Pressing on.

Step by excruciating step.

Paper bags, smelling salts on order as November looms...

November is coming. 

No, I'm not worried.

I have done absolutely squat on characterization or plot outlines so far. Nothing. 

I have a grand total of five, maybe six characters (main and supporting) for my grand 50K NaNoWriMo adventure. 

I have been up to my eyeballs in homework getting through my first term back at college. The only writing I've been doing has been speeches for communications class and term papers. Classes ended today for the semester, so I'm determined to get something going on my writing, and especially for NaNoWriMo. I'm starting to get just a little freaked out about being ready for 1667 per day word counts. Everything would probably go a little bit smoother if I had something more than a general idea of where this novel is going. But more on my NaNo project in a bit. 

First, the WIP's I need to advance/complete:

The poems I started as part of NaNoPoMo that I never completed: the grand gothic epic "Ars Gothica" and "Only Silence." I need to complete them so I can send at least one over to Jim at Soft Whispers. And start new poems. I need to start writing new poems. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Okay, story WIP's that need finishing:

So many. "Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dragon," whose end is so near in my mind and whose plot has stagnated there as well. I need to re-read it and get inspired. I started, but need to complete Chapter 5 of my online serial: "The Reluctant Prince." Also, chapter 2 of my #fridayflash Twitter serial 'The Roswell Revenge' called "30 Miles to Dexter" needs editing. "Mind:set," "With Teeth that Tear Flesh" (my first foray into Cthulu Mythos) and "Transcendental U" all need work continued on them. I refuse to abandon them altogether, as the muse insists they are stories worth the telling. 

New ideas:

With so many unresolved stories, you'd think now would not be the time to come up with new ideas for stories. But I can no more help the visions that the muse sends my way than a dog can help barking when he hears the mailman three houses down the street. The ideas come, and I my mind is a channel for them, hearing them whispered from afar and all I can do is write them down and sustain them with constant imagination.

I have one in my mind called "The Brothers." It is a different piece than what I usually write as it is a drama, part of which is set in WWII Poland. 

New sci-fi concept: "Eros and Matilda." Can't go into too much detail on what the story is about at this moment except to say it involves animal experimentation and is probably not anything like what you are thinking. 

Now, to NaNoWriMo.

I still want to stick with my original plan for the novel "Into the Glow, Aborning." Alien nanobe body snatchers using humans as weapons and Earth as the battleground in their civil war. 

That's all I have so far. 

Oh, and I need to find an image to use as my NaNoWriMo avatar for the forums, etcetera. My NaNoWriMo name is waning_gibbous, in honor of H.P. Lovecraft. 

I'm going to browse Clip Art.com and other sources for some possible candidates. 

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Keep in mind that the picture or clip art needs to be free or public domain so I can use it freely on NaNoWriMo's website.

November is looming and I'm worrying about the damn forum avatar!

Blogger Random Question: Digging to China

Decided it was about time to change my Blogger Random Question on the profile. I got several really stupid questions. I don't know where Blogger comes up with some of this crap. I finally settled on the following:

You have to dig a hole to China. Where would you start?

My response?

Beijing. I don't like to work too hard.

There. I've changed my Blogger Random Question and made my next vacation plans, all in one fell swoop.

Florida Proof of Global Warming?

Just wondering if anyone else is curious why it's still barely making out of the 60's some days here in the Sunshine State in mid-March?

As much as I love stormy weather (it's been raining most of the day today with a few nice bolts of lightning  every so often) I can't help but wonder at the curiously cold weather we've been having. It got into the 70's a few days last week, though, so maybe spring is just having to fight for her right to enter the scene this year.

I also wonder about all of those reports of global warming, despite the recent news of scientists unethically fudging the results of experiments in that area.

The Day Grandma Decided to Knock Over a Liquor Store

I just think this picture is so funny. And so, since I don't have anything particular to post tonight (since tonight was a writing night) I'm putting up this picture. It makes me chuckle whenever I think about it and let my imagination roam. Who knows, maybe I'll write Grandma into a 1 K gem and use it for my first Friday Flash story. :-)

Need to Get Cracking on Next Chapter of "Prince"

The thought occurred to me that I am up to Chapter 4 with "The Reluctant Prince" and it is not even finished yet. Then, I will need to edit it and get it uploaded here. At which point I will probably edit it some more...

I've got some work to do, it seems.

Tomorrow, after I've had a bit of shut eye.

 

Tattoo?

I was thinking about ways to celebrate the occasion when I finally sell my first story.

The thought occurred to me that if my friends were to take me out and we celebrated just enough, I might be persuaded to get a tattoo. Something cute and Celtic. And in an out-of-the-way spot. I kind of like the idea, actually, after having been opposed to it for many years.

If anyone has a tattoo and wants to relate their experience, good or bad, I would love to know what you think. Drop me a comment.

I was thinking something along the lines of this, but with some smaller shamrocks flowing out of each side of this main design, perhaps on the lower back...

Blogger Random Question: Forks Evolved from Spoons? Geesh!

Do you believe that forks are evolved from spoons?

Forks were always forks.

They are much too complex in structure to have sprung from the evolutionary loins of the simple spoon.

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe that spoons evolved from forks as the hideously deformed and misbegotten offspring resulting from the illicit matings between forks and knives. It makes me cringe to think of it.

See the photos of the bizarre mating dance of the knife and fork below, which was captured by a very brave cinematographer, if you need further evidence of this.

This is what the offspring of spoons and forks looks like (the rare and ghastly "spork"):

I'm So Raven

A Thought on Martin Luther King Day

Jesus undercut the basis for all violent, exclusionary and punitive behavior. He became the forgiving victim, so we would stop creating victims ourselves. He became the falsely accused one, so we would be careful whom we accuse.

~Fr. Richard Rohr


One of my Facebook friends posted this on FB and I wanted to share it.

Maria Kelly 

Awesome Cat

Blogger Random Question: My Cat? Scared?

Foxes are clever and tigers are cunning. So, what's your cat's safety school?

My cat is bored by a question so obviously simplistic. BratCat would shred them both into tiny, bloody bits and then eat them with some cheese melted on top for breakfast. My cat would then eat the writer of such a question for lunch. And then hack it all up in a hairball.

My cat is my safety school.

My Drabblecast forum avatar (this is not my cat, but funny nevertheless):