Weekend Review

Oh. My. Gosh.

The looooooooooooongest weekend ever.

About 10 hours of sleep for the whole thing.

Don't care if I never see another airplane again (certainly not with my daughter on my lap by myself). Although I did record her talking loudly to the airplanes while waiting at the terminal gate. I'm sure it will be very funny.....MUCH later.

Had a couple brushes with death as my husband's Papa drove us back from the airport to the church. SCARY.

Made several notes for future romantic comedy featuring a wedding weekend where nothing goes according to plan, everything is delayed/late, there are lots of mosquitoes, an impending tropical storm, and the heroine doesn't get to eat any meal. Again, I'm sure this will be very funny....MUCH later.

For now...off to recover. Forgive me if I'm absent from your blogs today. Will be back on later, hopefully!

Q4U: Have you ever been a part of a wedding weekend to remember...or forget?

In Honor of Boo-Boo

We're having some wedding jitters around our house. No, not mine. :) Happily wed now for four years, two months, and 24 days - but who's counting?

No, the jitters are actually for the flight I'll be on with my 18-month-old daughter to go from Memphis to Richmond so we can ATTEND the wedding. It's a short flight (nothing like my transcontinental flights from Northern California!), but I've not flown with her this ACTIVE before. She's going to have to sit on my lap for the flight duration. Before, with her not even crawling, this wasn't a biggie. Where was she gonna go? But now, walking--no, running--everywhere...yikes. Watch out, flight attendants!


The good news is that this is also the first flight she will be on since she's been on what we like to call her "airplane kick." About a month ago, she realized she could say the word "airplane," although it sounds like "airpane" instead) and she's ENAMORED of them. She wants to see pictures on the computer, YouTube videos of them taking off and landing (she yells "down airpane!" telling them to come down), points at them flying overhead--and then says the word ad nauseam after the sighting. I can only imagine what she will do once she realizes that she is ON one. Watch out, everyone sitting around me within hearing distance!


We'll be meeting my husband there, as he's actually in the wedding and is going on a different flight...WITH OUR CAT. Okay...can you say trip to be remembered? Cookie's never been in a carry-on bag cat carrier. We're not really sure how she's going to handle it! I won't go into the reasons we're bringing our cat to our in-laws, but suffice it to say I'm not happy about it. I'll miss my little Boo-Boo, but will get her back ASAP, I promise. That said, I'm dedicated today's post to my cat, Cookie (aka Boo-Boo - see picture above).

All for now. Prayers will be appreciated! Have a wonderful weekend!

T3 - Therapy Basics: Confidentiality

Confidentiality in therapeutic relationships: what you need to know for your WIP.

Fashion Trends...and Another Blog Award!

My husband started college this week. Well, he's been to college several semesters before now, but this is his first semester here at the University of Mississippi. As a non-traditional student, he already feels...shall we say...slightly conspicuous on a campus full of what he likes to call "babies."

Since he's at my Alma Mater, I went up on campus Sunday to walk through his schedule with him. What I noticed was disturbing.

There is no originality on campus anymore. I say anymore, because I seem to remember some originality when I was in school. Now, everyone is a clone of everyone else. No one dresses differently!

And I've noticed some fashion trends that have taken root. Let me indulge you. The ONLY shorts worn by girls are Nike Tempo track shorts. (And guess how many females are on the Ole Miss track team? 25. That's IT.) Many of these females sport the official Ole Miss Nike Tempo shorts pictures to the top right.

The second trend is this metallic thong sandal. Of course, not all were all metallic, but most of them were gold or silver, ALL of them a thong just like this one, with a strap all the way around the ankle. No flip flops hardly at all. And these thongs were paired WITH the Nike shorts (and usually an oversized t-shirt). How much does that NOT make sense?

As for the men, they all wear plaid shorts. ALL OF THEM. Paired with an American Eagle polo shirt (have to have the flying eagle logo on the left breast). Leather flip flops. Every last one of them wore their backpack with the straps fully extended, the backpack flopping around their backside.

So imagine my husband, with khaki shorts, polo shirt with NO eagle, Keen sandals, no tan, and what I like to call his "man purse." (I bought it for him from Fossil, and it's way cool and manly...one that you sling over the shoulder.) Talk about a fish out of water. But he's MY fish, and I'm so proud of what he's doing (and how he's looking). :)


Now to change the pace a bit...

Last but not least, special thanks to Kristin Torres-Toro from Write in the Way for the Lemonade Blog Award! I've got to confess that I've seen these cute little awards on blogs and have been jealous to get one! Who doesn't like lemonade? :)


The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows gratitude or a great attitude.

Here are the rules:

~Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
~Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
~Link your nominees within your post.
~Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
~Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

So my nominations, in no particular order, for the Lemonade Award go to:

1. Jill at Jill Kemerer
2. Jessica at BookingIt
3. Katie and SFHardy at Plot This
4. Patricia at Readin N Writin with Patricia
5. Eileen at A Christian Romance Writer's Journey
6. Ralene at A Call to Love
7. Tess at Tess Hilmo
8. Jaime at The Jaime Reports
9. Liana at Liana Brooks
10. SM Blooding at SM Blooding and Crew

Congratulations, everyone!

Q4U: What were some fashion trends when you were in school?

Treatment Tuesday - Doctor/Patient Relationships

Romance between doctors/therapists and their clients. Ethical dilemma? Click to find out.

PROPER English

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Here's a writing-related forward I got and had to share, just for laughs.


1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than
necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

16. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

17. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

18. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

19. The passive voice is to be ignored.

20. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary.
Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

21. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would
suffice.

22. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others
use them.

23. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put
forth earth-shaking ideas.

24. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I
hate quotations. Tell me what you know."

25. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand
times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can
use it correctly.

26. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

27. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid
colloquialisms.

28. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be
derailed.

29. Who needs rhetorical questions?

30. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than
understatement.

And the last one...

31. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Q4U: Which rule resonates with you the most? Which one irks you the most?

New Column: Parent Pointers!

My monthly column for SAGE magazine online is going to be called Parent Pointers!

I got the logo from the director of SAGE ministries Wednesday night in my email. Here it is:



The first edition should launch September 1st. I'll include a link from my blog when it's live. September's edition will focus on generosity. Since this is a publication mainly for girls, my column will be to reach parents with advice, tips, and "pointers" for dealing with these girls! For next month, I wrote about King David and how he was a generous parent...hopefully it will resonate with parents who read it.

But I just wanted to share the exciting update! I have a logo...for being regularly published!! :)

T3 - Alcoholism...Disease or No?

Cast your vote over at The Character Therapist. Is alcoholism a disease or not?

Blog Award!

Special thanks to Liana Brooks for the Kreativ Blogger award! Made my day on Monday, especially after my post on waiting. So I'll pass my time waiting coming up with seven random, "kreativ" things about me. :)

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Because I'm one to like rules, and I find it conspiciously absent that there are no guidelines about what seven things I should write, I'm going to regale you with seven kreativ things about me you might not have known.

1. I actually play the piano really well. I used to play solos and duets in church all through high school, and recently did a stint as church pianist for over two years at my church in California. I love to play and sing, too.

2. I'm addicted to a really bad show on HBO called True Blood that is so good. It's my biggest vice. But there are actually some really good principles shown through the show once you get past a few naked scenes (gasp!), like not teaching others how to hate people groups (vampires, in this case) for no other reason than that they are different.

3. I was editor of my high school newspaper. This was a major big huge deal at this juncture in life, and landed me a spot in the 1997 Hall of Fame for my school (the editor always got a spot...done deal...oh, yeah!). But it was hard work....deadlines, layouts...we had a newspaper in color that looks just like a normal newspaper!

4. Oh! Before I was overall editor, I was the editorial editor. I couldn't find anyone to write a regular column about their viewpoints about ANYthing. As a result, I wrote a monthly column called "Jeannie's Mood." (My maiden name is Mood...kreativ, huh?) It got lots of attention, needless to say.

5. My first "regular" writing endeavor was in elementary school. I created Good News, a Christian publication of which I was the sole journalist, layout designer, and editor. I posted new editions outside my bedroom door.

6. I like to do beadwork. I've made several pieces for myself, friends and family. I made all my bridesmaids' necklaces and earrings. I like to use semi-precious stone chips and Swarovski crystals. However, I haven't done this in at least two years (because all free time usually goes to writing!).

7. I designed my own wedding ring. I knew I wanted a princess cut center diamond, but instead of being square, I wanted it rectangular, flanked on either side by two trillion (triangle) diamonds. It's exactly what I wanted...perfect. My husband had it made by Ramseys Jewelers in New Orleans, LA.

So hopefully you learned some things about me you didn't know (and hopefully you cared). :)

Here's the seven bloggers I nominate for this award:

1. CKHB at Heim Binas Fiction. For those who don't know...CKHB is an attorney! Might come in handy for those WIPs, people!

2. Danyelle at Myth-takes. Danyelle always has kreativ posts...I just wish I had more time to comment on them more regularly.

3. Katie at Katie Ganshert. She's my fab crit partner, published short story author and just a wacky girl all around.

4. Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author Blog. She has regular book giveaways...so check it out!

5. Crimogenic at Crimogenic. Interesting reads with a sense of humor.

6. Jill at Jill Kemerer. Jill's always got original angles on things all writers think about.

7. KLo at The Philosophy of KLo. She's fascinated by everything, and blogs about it very kreatively.

Q4U: What's the most kreativ thing about you?

Happy blogging today!

Treatment Tuesday - Blended Families, cont.

Blended families once again on the discussion table over at The Character Therapist. See you there!

Waiting

Here it is, August 17. My little girl is officially 18 months old today. The time has flown by, as many of you have already experienced with your own children. We'd like to keep them little forever (sometimes), but time just doesn't stop when you want it to.

But what about when it stops when you DON'T want it to? I'm talking about waiting. At this juncture in my life, I'm doing a lot of waiting. Waiting to hear back about several job interviews. Waiting to hear back about my Today's Christian Woman article. Just WAITING.

How have I passed the time? I've been productive in my rewrite of Blessed. I've visited with family here in Mississippi and in New York. I've written character therapy assessments and Thoughts and I've even started on some other articles to submit to magazines when the time comes.

But in between these periods of prolific editing and worthwhile visiting, I still check my email probably 100X a day, hoping to hear something about SOMEthing, which is a frustrating place to be.

Q4U: How do you pass the time waiting?

The Winner Is...

CINDY!

I hope you enjoy The Duchess and the Dragon! Send your snail addy to charactertherapist (at) hotmail (dot) com and I'll get that into the mailbox Monday!

Public Library Pros and Cons

Just another reminder to leave a comment in Wednesday's post to be entered to win Jamie Carie's The Duchess and the Dragon historical romance!

Just this week, I went down to my public library and got a library card. This is a library I went to quite a bit as a child, from borrowing books to playing in piano concerts there. I had lost my card a long time ago, so hubby and I both got one.

I was NOT expecting the third degree to get a card. The guy behind the desk asked us if we could provide proof of living, working or being a student in our county. So I gave him my driver's license and hubby gave him his student ID. All was clear.

He pulls out this card and it had this superhero "family" on it. My husband, ever the comic book lover since he was a child, says, "I don't recognize these superheroes." The guy behind the desk shoots him a look, like, "What?!" Then he says, "You really don't know who Captain Info is?" People around the desk checking out books are now looking at us like we're foreigners.

Captain Info? We looked at each other and shook our heads. Have we been under rocks since we last were in the South? Who the heck is Captain Info?

Then the little twerp shakes his head, laughing, to inform us that Captain Info is just a local icon created by the library to get more kids to read. There's also Storyteller (who looks an awful like Wonder Woman with different coloring), Page (who looks like Wendy from Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers) and Dewey (who is a cross between a martian and a Stark Trek character). We're nodding, as obviously that's a good thing...getting kids to read. We just would have preferred a less humorous (to him) and more informative (to us) introduction to the revered Captain and his random little family. You know?

Then we go in search of books. I'm looking for the fiction section, my hubs is looking for possible books for school. The good news is that the library has really grown since last time I darkened the doors. In fact, the old piano recital room is no longer, books covering every available space. I see with delight there is a huge fiction section, so I head that way.

It dawns on me, though, that this ain't no Borders. The fiction isn't arranged by genre. Every book is done alphabetically. However, my local library did make the attempt to put stickers on the spines. Just about every book had one, or several. (The above are actually what the stickers my library uses looks like.) So that was handy trying to search for Christian fiction. I just looked for the picture that someone resembles the one to the left here: Jesus with a halo around his head (although at the library, it was blue). I wasn't entirely pleased with the selection. But hey...it's a library, the books are "free" (minus the third degree, a slight embarrassment about not knowing Captain Info, and 10 cents a day late fee - which I don't plan on incurring).

So today, I'm starting my first book from the library. Part of me hopes I really enjoy this relationship with my local library. Part of me hopes I don't like the books as much, because I won't have them at my ready disposal to read again. I'm totally a Borders Brat...spoiled, buying whatever book I wanted, when I wanted. But when you don't have a job yet...that's really not an option! :)

Q4U: How many of you are card-carrying members of your local library? Any other Captain Infos our there?

T3 - Jealousy

Jealousy...what's behind it for you and your characters? Get in on the discussion at The Character Therapist!

Book Giveaway Contest!

Recently, while Books-a-Million was having their 2 for 3 sale on Christian fiction, I picked up some great reads. Some I'm not willing to give up (see post and review here) because the book just struck a chord with this therapist. Others were great reads, but I want to share the fun with others!

So I'm having another giveaway. This time, the book is by Jame Carie, entitled The Duchess and the Dragon. Here's the back cover copy:

Two Worlds, One Destiny

Drake Weston, Duke of Northumberland, is heir to wealth, prestige, and power. But when his rage pushes him to a tragic mistake, he must leave everything behind. Not just his home, but England herself. Cloaked in a false identity, Drake slips aboard a ship bearing indentured servants to America.

Serena Winter lives out her Quaker beliefs tending the sick who arrive on ships in the Philadelphia harbor. But never before has she seen such squalor and misery as she finds on the latest ship from England. Nor has she ever met such a one as the half-conscious man with the penetrating eyes and arrogant demeanor. Though she saves his life, even taking him into her family home, there is little gratitude or humility in this man. And yet Serena is certain that beneath the brash exterior is a heart in search of peace.

Against the rich backdrop of Regency-era England and a young America, two passionate, seeking hearts find in each other the strength to face hard truths – and confront an insidious web of deceit that may destroy all they hold dear.

Donning my therapist cap, I like to give reviews from that perspective. Drake Weston, a duke, has to give up his identity, affluence, wealth and inheritance for that of an indentured servant. This kind of consequence is full blown, touching every aspect of a person's life. Carie writes Drake as a tortured soul, and well she should, considering what he's gone through!

Her main technique is Drake's internal dialogue with himself. Drake hears a "voice," but don't think in a crazy, schizophrenic way. The voice is negative, dark, berating...and Drake believes it. It's words become some sort of inward mantra he has: "You're worthless. No one wanted you and no one eve will. Just look at you. You're nothing."

This spoke true to me because I've counseled people who have thought this exact same thing. And when you believe something like this, you act as if it's true. Everything revolves around this internal schema...and its hard to beat. So I was curious how Carie would write Drake's character arc.

Enter Serena. She's a member of the Quakers - a very simple people with a simple faith and simple trust. She wants what all young girls want: love. And Drake doesn't exactly fit the bill but she'd drawn to him. But to truly love him would mean she'd have to give up everything she holds dear...she'd be excommunicated from her people group. And for what? A man who's not telling her the whole truth? A man who might not even believe the real truth were he told it...because he's got his own inner dragons to contend with?

See why this is an interesting book? You've got to see how it all ends. Carie plays it out beautifully.

Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. Be sure to leave your email address (unless you know for sure I have it already!) :) I'll have my daughter pick a name out of a hat and announce the winner on Saturday.

Treatment Tuesday - Blended Families

Blended families. So prevalent in society they've got to be in WIPs. Bring your questions and check it out at The Character Therapist.

Today's Christian Woman Article Update

Okay. I guess the Lord knew I needed some good news, since nothing has been forthcoming about a new job here in Mississippi. But Friday afternoon, I got an email from the assistant editor at Today's Christian Woman telling me that my article passed the first round of edits and is now being read by the entire staff! I woo-hooed all over the house, of course. I have no idea how many rounds of edits there are, or if they will publish it...but it was such an affirmation!

The topic I wrote on is one near and dear to me...one I'm very passionate about: online romances or attractions where married people are involved. I just think this is rampant and absolutely NO ONE is talking about it. So I wrote about why I thought "laptop love" is happening. The reality is when people don't get their needs met by their partner, they seek it out elsewhere. And because it starts online, it's thought of as "innocent," and not doing anything wrong. But it IS wrong! It's an emotional affair, even if it never gets physical...and it cuts your spouse out of your life so decidedly. So I also included a section on how to approach your spouse with your needs.

Anyway...for those who were curious as to what I wrote about, there it is in a nutshell. I might post more later. But just wanted to share my happy update with my writing family.

What exciting news to you have to share? Did something great happen this weekend? Prayer requests? Let's be transparent with the people who understand us the most: other writers. :)

Oh, and join me tomorrow at The Character Therapist as we discuss blended families. Bring your questions!

New Regular Writing Gig!

So apparently good news comes on Friday posts! You're reading from the newest "regular contributor" column writer for SAGE Ministry's new online magazine which will debut in September. The online mag is in the developmental phases, and the director, Merritt Johnston, is looking for contributors and is very open to creative ideas! I emailed Merritt to see if a regular column by a licensed therapist would work for the magazine, and my idea was met with excitement! So now I'll be writing columns mainly geared toward the parents of young women on how to model healthy relationship values for them! Can you say WAY down my alley?

I might need some help for a cool column name....if you have any ideas, shoot them my way in the comment section.

The magazine will be geared around the theme of Undivided: The Beauty of a Heart Completely His (Psalm 86:11). But each month will have a different subject (see below).




If you are interested, here's a portion of an email (reproduced from Mary DeMuth's website) by Merritt in a call for submissions:

"We will be unveiling our new website within the next month, and we will have a monthly feature topic for each of the coming months running through the end of the year.

The current theme/focus areas are:

September: Generosity - celebrating and practicing a spirit of gracious giving (Deadline: August 15)

October: Mentorship – understanding and implementing the call of mentorship (Deadline: September 5)

November: Family – embracing those nearest to us with a Christ-like love (Deadline: October 5)

December: A Christ-Christmas – altering our perspectives from holiday to holy (Deadline: November 5)

If you have an idea for a project girls could do related to these areas or an article idea, please send those to me. Articles need to be 500 words or less and be accompanied by a brief author bio and pic.

We currently do not have the resources to compensate you monetarily for your work. However, if your work is received well, then there is the possibility of enlisting you for a paid assignment in our resource development department."

Merritt can be reached at merritt@sageministries.org if you are interested.

Haven't heard anything yet about the article I submitted to Today's Christian Woman. Hopefully I'll know something before the ACFW conference...because the editor said 6 weeks. Can you believe the conference is right here on us? Crazy.

Anyway...happy weekend writing!

T3 - White Lies

What do you think about white lies? Join in the discussion at The Character Therapist.

Racquetball and Writing

To qualify this post before I begin, I've recently "taken up" racquetball, and I have to say....it's WAY fun. I'm no expert, though, so don't expect some creative tips or anything. Sticking to the basics here.

So, without any further ado, here's my post.

It goes without saying that there is a learning curve with any new endeavor. When my husband and I decided to try out racquetball as a fun workout to do together, we had to do a little research. Yes, we got the general idea that you hit the ball back and forth between us until one person couldn't return it (a "rally"), and that there was only one bounce allowed to the ball before you hit it, but we didn't know what the various lines on the floor meant or what happens when the ball hits in the crack between the wall and the floor. These little nuances were unknown to us.

We also had to outfit ourselves for the sport. We bought some majorly cheap rackets from Wal-Mart, as well as a pack of the little bouncy blue balls. We had to have safety glasses in case of getting hit in the eye. I had to buy a sweatband for my head as well as a right-hand glove so I wouldn't get blisters. We bought a $15 case to put all our gear in that was designed for rackets.

Then we got a master racquetball player to give us the inside scoop. He showed us the proper way to handle the racket, some defensive and offensive moves, different types of serves (power, lob and "z" serve), what the lines mean on the floor (serving lines and fault lines for the serve as well as a safety line for the non-serving player to stand behind during the serve) and what happens when someone hinders your shot (call "Hinder!") or you hit someone (do the point over again).

There are some shots that are just too hard to execute properly at this point in our racquetball life. The "Z" serve is extremely hard to do. Neither my husband nor I have successfully done it yet. There are opportunities to dive for the ball that I'm just not up to yet (plus, I want knee pads before I get too crazy in there). I've learned that in this sport...it IS okay to hit the wall. But telling that to my inner 10-year-old who was taught never to hit at the wall with anything is hard! I've hit MYSELF against the wall to return a shot. I've learned where on the front wall is a great place to aim for that makes your shot basically non-returnable.

I've also had to get pass the soreness stage. My right forearm and shoulder and elbow were basically useless after the first time we played. I quivered to hold even a glass of water. Eventually, though, the soreness was replaced with a strength that made my shots more sure and myself more confident in my abilities. But before that, I almost wanted to give up. Nothing could be worth that kind of pain, right?

Wrong. Not only is working out for my physical well-being really good to do, but my husband and I laugh our heads off at each others' antics (you got to admit when you make a stab at a ball and come absolutely NOWHERE close to it...it's hilarious). So yes! It's worth it!

SO IS WRITING.

It's like a new sport. One in which we had some idea how it was done before we committed to it. Words to a page. But it wasn't until delving deeper that we realized the placement of those words on a page can vary greatly. And the scheme (structure/plot/goal/motivation) we use to get them on the page can be very different, as well!

We outfit ourselves with the craft tools we need: books, laptops, crit partners, conferences, editorial services. All of the craft books we read are like talking with a master player of racquetball. We learn the nuances.

There are still some things that are too hard for us. Perhaps it's writing in omniscient POV or getting a good grasp on goals/motivation/conflict. or perhaps its scenes and sequels or motivation reaction units (and if you don't know what some of these things even are...that's further proof!). But we're YOUNG in the sport! We've got the time to hone these additional skills.

We have to pass a soreness stage. It hurts to have exerted all this effort writing only to have it returned with less-than-stellar marks. A rejection letter. A bad critique. Not finalling in a contest. All of these things are strengthening our writing muscles!

So press on. Soon, you'll be an even more fit writer than you are now...and you'll be laughing your head off at your earlier antics when you missed the ball altogether (those early manuscripts?). :-)

Q4U: What's your favorite sport, and how is it like writing?

Treatment Tuesday - Superteen Love

The Character Therapist is talking about teen love and pyrophobia. Should be a good time. :)