DoreeAnderson:woolgathering

Where have you been?

2012-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

I've been making a move that took several deliberating days, hours and headaches. Excuse Me, my young adult paranormal was twisted, turned and soon renamed to 'Waiting'. On December 26th, Waiting was self published. On January 23rd, I hosted a book bomb. WOW. What a great way to get 'the word out' and Waiting made three Amazon top selling lists. 28th place :) Oh yeah!

Now, I back at it again. Ante Up is going through another twist and turn so that soon, this book can follow it's other. I must tell you, being published gives you the absolute feeling that you've made it. That all those years and query letters finally say ... "Yes, you are a author... a writer.

Reading is taking an adventure. Take one today.

Until next week, have a happy and healthy week.
Doree

Es dos nicht eine O Tannenbaum?

2011-12-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

Isn't this pretty. No, it doesn't lean like the Tower of Pisa. The photographer is tilted. Always has been a little to the right :).

This is the season for bright colors, carolers, cards, and Christmas Trees. It is also the reason to review what you've done. Who you've helped and maybe those you've hurt who need to be remembered and reassured that you are sorry.

I like to put up the decorations. I do not care for the holiday. I have very little memories from Christmas' past except those that involve my daughter, and now my grandchildren. To me, it tends to be a let down and depression sneaks up and I spend the week between Christmas and New Years doing what oodles of other people are doing...mental evaluations. Is That All There Is?

This year-I've put a kibosh on Christmas music. I started hearing it before Halloween even had a chance to be thought about, let alone celebrated. Isn't that sad. So, the 'season's songs' are nada at the Anderson's. But, have no fear, there is a Christmas Tree this year and (shhh) Candles in the yard :)

Thanksgiving Day and the Next, the Next...

2011-11-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

It's day four- after Thanksgiving and I open the door to the refrigerator. What shall we eat. Seriously? Turkey...again. Please...give me food. A nice juicy hamburger. Throw some cheese on that. A fattening order of fries, no more mashed potatoes or yams for another month, I pray. And the pie, oh my. I'll be pulling out the next waist size, I cry.

But over it is and another month of NANO is coming to an end. Yeah...I proud to claim, I've accomplished my goal and I've won. Again.

December is the month to repair the 'editor in the closet' novellas that I wrote in November. December is the month that I get to wonder just what the heck I was thinking. And who is this character...where did he come from? Why in the world would she do that? And again, I must repeat my all time favorite...What in the world was I thinking about when I wrote that?

Welcome Christmas, colors of bright red and greens lights, the snow (we hope) that covers the yards, and the bright decorations that bring the season to life. Trees in the windows, a wreath on the door, smiles from neighbors as you pass on the street. It's the friendliest winter holiday.

2011-10-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

Scott and I had been thinking about replacing our French doors from the dinning room to the deck. The outside of the door was looking pretty hammered. I shopped around (Yikes) and finally we decided to go with Pella Windows and Doors. The representative came out and measured the door, we went through pretty pictures and decided to go with a Basic Door and Storm Door. I really wanted to be able to open my door
and still keep the flies, wasps, bees, and other obnoxious pests out. We ordered it, and promptly fell over with shock. Holly Tomorrow, it was very expensive. When I say expensive, I mean kiss a few thousand dollars adios.
It didn't help that the door we had was odd sized and a contractor would need to redo the wall around the door. Charming, yes? Well...at least I got new paneling on the back of the house. I had 'accidentally' melted ours when I moved the barbecue closer to the house. Hey, I know better now. Will it ever happen again? Lets go with...hope not!
Gritting teeth, we ordered our new door on the 17 of August. They were to install it on the 3rd of October. W e l l that didn't happen. Oh they started to insert the door. Came back the next day to put up new siding, came back two weeks later to sheet rock, mud and put frame around the door. So, on October 14th, it was done. Whew.
Kelsey and I spent Saturday repainting the walls of the dinning room. I am happy to say, all is done and the room is gorgeous. I love having my door opened and the storm door closed. It let's the light in.

Red, White and Blue - 9/11/2011

2011-09-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

You arrive at work, you park your car. Beside your desk, no worries at all. Then, because of an enemy, your life comes to an end, now every 9/11...we'll remember you again.

American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower of the Worlds Trade Center
United Airlines flight 175 hit the South Tower of the Worlds Trade Center
American Airlines flight 77 hits the Pentagon
United Airlines flight 93 was brought down by American passengers fight against the al-Qaeda terrorist militants that tried to hijack their plane on route to the US Capital.

In a few short hours, nearly 3000 innocent citizens of the US died because of al-Qaeda.

And now our boys are dying in the War On Terrorism - You Can Run, But You Can't Hide as America shows her pride.

Did You Know I Didn't Know?

2011-07-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

I've been learning all sorts of things that I did not realize I didn't know lately. Mouthful, qui? Qui. And, isn't it a blessing that I have a grandchild that sees fit to teach me?

Sir Teagolicious and I went shopping the other day. What an experience. It is a blessing that he was there. I once believed I could shop, Silly Grandma. My minuscule knowledge was laughable. Now I know...

1st Item: If you don need a lot of stuff, you should use a basket. The carts are for lots of stuff.
2nd, Don't get in the way of the cart. They really hurt the back of your feet. Nodin cried for a long time when Callum run over him.
3rd, You have to check every egg, Grandma. Cause if one's broke, it's no good.
and 4th, If you have too much stuff, don't go to this man, he gets real mad and gives you bad looks. Dad does it sometimes and mom yells at him.

I'm constantly amazed at the amount of information my grandkids teach me. How I ever thought I could get through my days without them, I don't know.

Teag is helping me learn Smiths. I can't wait to see what chain of stores Nodin helps me with!

My good health and great family memories go with you.

The first four letters in Firecracker

2011-07-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Isn't it pretty. It's fire- exploding - In the air. 25, 50 feet above your head. And, as we've been taught, what goes up, will come down, in a rain of...fire. And what does fire do? Burn. Interesting.

The Higher Ups in Utah, have extended our laws regarding the shooting off of fireworks. Instead of only permitting the discharge of fireworks 3 days before and 3 days after the Summer Holidays (July 4th and July 24th) we have extended those dates to June 26 through July 26th because those 7 days in a row of consent concern for aggressive and long burning fires to break out due to fireworks isn't heart squeezing enough. We want 30 days during the hottest and driest days on the desert to stir up the making of mountain and valley fires. Yes, when you add fire to dry desert tundra, it burns. Go figure.

Heaven forbid should we wait until the Fourth of July to evacuate families from their homes because the hills are alive with burning sage brush. No, lets do it at the end of June instead. How many square miles did a couple of teenagers with the brains on a gnat (yes, one) burn this year. Charred black, dead and ugly. Killing animals along its way. Oh, that's right, it's still burning. So, Today let me say. Happy Fourth of July. For the Land that was fought to be Free is burning before our very eyes.

2011-06-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

A little early for Thanksgiving, but yesterday, the Mohacs stopped by for dinner. Not all were happy. (Ya think!)

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

I think that it should be said that there are certain things that make a 'father' and making a child isn't one of them.
That being said; let me say; Happy Father's Day to:
The father who holds his child's hand as they walk across the street.
The father who sits for hours at a time and watches the child on the play ground, each and every time that his son/daughter shouts out, "watch me, daddy," and he does with a gentle, caring smile on his face.
The father who rocks his sniffling child and assures him/her that the pain will go away.
The father that hugs his son/daughter and promises he'll keep them safe, no matter what.
The father that carries his son/daughter across the puddle of water or through the mud.
The queasy father who holds his son/daughter as the doctor stitches up the wound.
The athletic father who pushes his son/daughter's wheelchair across the field, proudly.
The father who carries his son on his shoulders, hold his daughter's hand in the fold of his arm as he walks her down the aisle to marry a man he doesn't understand.
But most of all, I want to wish a huge Happy Father's Day to the father that his son/daughter rushes to the front door and flings themselves into his arms the moment he gets home because they've waited all day for him to return. That's the father that deserves this happy recognition day!
To my husband, who's daughter wishes to say, "Yep, my dad deserves a Happy Father's Day.

A Visit With Sir Callum Scott Gressman

2011-05-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is what a visit with my grandson Callum

looks like... That's right, real conversationalist.

I picked him up from his house because, and here's the selling point, he would love to visit with his grandparents over the weekend. He says he enjoys doing stuff with us. What a little tease. He gets in the car and immediately changes my radio stations. According to him, mine are lame. I will admit to enjoying the Gold-n oldies every now and then. Elvis has been gone so long that this child's mother was born the year the gyrating pelvis was laid to rest. He thinks my music is long gone and over with. Really? Well...FYI - I've seen more movement in "The one foot in the grave" Keith Richard and Mick Jagger, than I have in this child at times.

We then proceed to discuss the problems with the world. ie, a specific u-tube commercial that is the greatest. "You have to see this, grandma. It is brilliant." I suffer as a cat head with a pop tart body and a rainbow flying out from its rear end plays on and on and on. "It's funny, right?" Callum's cracking up and rolling on the floor, I just look at him and smile... Oh, yeah, that's cool. And this kid is going to take care of me in my older years...how I pray for some rather quick change.

Convinced I'm not all that interested in seeing all the wonderful and humorous commercials that are out there right now, my grandson disappeared upstairs. He did show himself with words of starvation a couple of hours later. And, his grandfather made him go to bed at a reasonable hour. I had already popped in to remind him that I was willing to visit, share a movie, a cup of hot chocolate, a game of cards...anything, but he was busy on the computer. "Give me a few more minutes, Grandma. I'll be down in a minute."

The following morning, I mean at noon, when he woke up and finished off two bowls of cereal and a bag of Cheetos I delivered him to his home. He gave me a huge smile, hugged me and (show of emotion...sniffle) gave me a kiss before hopping out of my van with a, "Thanks, grandma. I had a blast."

What a tease. And one I'll probably be picking up again this weekend. Isn't he just the cutest?

Query - What's In A Word

2011-05-27T02:10:00.000-07:00

Boogerbutt, scrud, and dag-na-bit. Those are words, right? Yet, they lighten right up with 'spell check.' Even shows up with one of those, vicious little pointer fingers going back and forth...no, no, no. But when I type in the most horrendous, nastiest, scum at the bottom of the pond, word in the world, query - nothing. No lights, not bright red lines, nothing. Good to Go, wouldn't you know? But, in my heart, that diminutive word causes pauses in my pumper. Terror in my ticker.
Why am I whining about it? Cause I have to write one. Yep, I forgot all about slapping one of those puppies together for good'old Ante Up. And now, I have to.
Yet, nowhere in this house is there a crash cart available. My nucleus is critical and there isn't a flippin' thing I can do about it. Well...except write one.
At critique today, Krissee wears this sweet little smile and says "GMC, Doree. GMC."
So, I think okay... I'll get my crowbar. No? Okay, Gobble more chocolate. No? Guzzle my Cola. Grasp Moon Crystals? Grab my crotch? Not bloody likely. So, I smile back at her while other shorter more meaningful words are dancing in my head. Nothing close to GMC, but closer to shi....never mind. And she, oh so sweetly, says...Goal, Motivation and Conflict. That's all you need. Find Max's GMC, write it down and you're done.
Yeah, well I didn't see her offering to do it. I thought a writers life was a team. A circle of collaborators, if you will. But instead, I find myself alone...very alone. The words are gone, if they were ever there. My brain cells, like a liquid alien poured over my backyard fence and now, I sit before my computer and write my blog.
Got one line done. Anyone else have any other brilliant ideas? Huh, anyone. Just shout it out :) Or, write it down. I'll be collecting them as soon as I find enough pennies to cover what I owe the other guy for on the first line.
And so, the life of this writer continues on... (thump....................thump.............)

Fourth at Four

2011-05-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Our fourth grandchild is four today? This sweet little redhead is anything but docile. He can wrestle with the best of them and almost always wins. Of course, being the fourth means that if he cries, others are in a bucket load of trouble. "don't mess with the baby" is his title words.

Unfortunately - this darling little man has a heart-stopping addiction: fruit snacks. This child begins his daily whine for them promptly upon waking and continues until his eyes are closed at night. It's quite the heroin fix for this action-filled, constant in motion cu-tie who celebrates his fourth big boy birthday today. Happy Birthday, Nodin.

Save, and Save Again

2011-03-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

When will I join the world and learn?

Right after you've lost not 100, 200 or even 1,000 words. But, after a whole chapter has been lost, gone bye bye, is now floating out into the wide world of never to be seen again land.

While I was visiting with my sister, I decided to spend a few precious hours writing the next chapter to my YA. After I was done I decided to copy it and paste it into a composed e-mail that I sent to myself. (No, I did not save it. Why? Because I was being so smart and using the brain I was sitting on.) The next morning, I was locked out of my e-mail account because it was hacked.

So, what becomes of the e-mail I sent to myself? Good question. I should have taken the time to send it to my drop-box and then back it up on a flash drive. But, I didn't. (Why? because that would have been the non-butt thinking thing to do).

So, I have finally learned my lesson. And what is that? That it is hard to remember the words that you wrote in the chapter yesterday. That, what might have been flowing like a smooth stream down a spring runoff the day before, is simply a pocket full of missing memories the next day.

Thus, I shall ALWAYS back up my work. I will use a flash drive and every other man made savior that I can get my little paws on. Join me, won't you.

Doree

I Can Still Remember the Days We Communicated in .... English!

2011-03-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

OMG, IMHO, I wish that we could speak in the old fashion, everyone knows what the #@%^& you are talking about, English language.

I am old, therefore, I have been taught how to spell out, add vowels and pronounced everyone letter as I read. This new age of get your point across in five lets or less is wigged out. Yes, that's right, I said wigged out. It's like taking a head sweating, nauseating test every time I try and decipher it.

Acronyms are hard enough. Let's evaluate what I mean. NCIS: Navel Criminal Investigation Services or No, Can't. Infant sleeping. CSI: Crime Scene Investigations or Career Suicide Idiot, FLA, Family Leave Act or Four Letter Acronym, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigations or F***ing Brilliant Idea. FNG Federal Networking Group or Freaking Nice Guy, and IMHO: International Medical Health Organization or In My Humble Opinion. The list goes on and on and on and.... You get the idea.

When I receive a text, I almost need some sort of a text dictionary, a fill-in-the-blank guide, if you will.
After working in the medical field, I am lost at SOB. No, I don't mean son of a bitch, I mean short of breath. LOL doesn't mean laugh out loud, it means loss of life. Talk about a major misrepresentation. Hello!

Deoxyglucose or Don't go, gee - so close. I was reading something my grand-daughter was texting and had to ask the eleven-year-old what she just said. Was I close? No. POS. I figured it was Piece of sh**. Nope, try Parent over shoulder. Excuse me! Not even close.

Yes, I am old and I do find this new form of communication confusing. But, as a member of the YA writing world...I'm learning.

I really miss the days of telephone communication. I can still picture the days of yor. Dial, (yeah that's how old I am), ring and speak...

Let's face it. It's me, Doree. Just your normal PICNIC: problem in chair, not in computer.

Until Later :-)

Atlanta Guest, Darlene Buchholz and Annie Oortman, the Grammar Divas

2011-02-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Grammar Divas graciously treated us to a 'Grammar' workshop on the 5th of February. The all day workshop at the SLC Library was awesome. And not just enjoyed by URWA members, we had several writers from the Utah League of Writers join us as well. Yeah!

The audience questions seemed to be about what the editor wanted and what the writer wrote. Do you follow each 'suggestion' because the editor said to, or do you 'the writer' get to decide. Its our voice, right? This is our story and we should be able to write it our way.

Sometimes it is a Grammar problem that needs fixed and sometimes it is simply the editors preference. So, as a writer, we need to weigh our options. If it fixes the line or paragraph, then you take it and say, 'whew, thanks, sounds a bucket load better.' But, if it changes the 'author's voice' then the author has to decide. There are so many ways to repair a sentence that doesn't touch the voice at all. And, it could be a simple thing as removing the 'fat' or unnecessary words from the sentence, that will tighten it up while never changing the meaning at all.

My editing is going to remove an awful lot of 'fat' which means word count, which means broadening the telling but bundles. Gee, guess Dani has some more adventures to experience. So, off I go to better my book :-) With a great big thank you to Darlene and Annie.

Lisa Williams, me, Darlene Buchholz and Annie Oortman with 'the bear' in Park City, Utah 2-6-2011

Okay, So Let Me Get This Straight!

2011-01-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

Does anyone ever say to you, "Huh? I don't get it?

Maybe you see confusion printed across their faces as well!

I hear you, I just don't get it. I've read it, but....

Kids love to have their parents read to them. Why, because they might use different voices for all the characters, even act out a incident or two. This way, children could comprehend what the writer was saying.

As a writer, we should make it self-explanatory. I'm an adult, I don't want my kid to have to tell me what I just read.

So...Plotting your story becomes essential to your audience. Each event should show progression. Like in Science class, if you do this, this follows. If I read this happening, then....

MaryAnne shivered as her toe made initial contact with the icy water. Each step was excruciating but she would make it. The last thing she wanted Lane to think was that she was a wimp. The idea of a hot shower weaved in and out of her thoughts. Standing below the pulsing spray and letting it remove any chill that linger. Heaven would be the quick disappearance of goosebumps, and replacing it with a warm blanket of heat. The tail fin of a great shark sliced through the water. I'm sorry - say what!!!! How did she get a shark in her shower?

Get me out of the shower and show me the lake or the ocean, or whatever the large body of water is, that would house a great white shark. Toss in a few lines of dialogue, something. I like to read a book that takes me from 'what a shame' to 'way to go' one step at a time.

Plotting out your story allows you to chronologically lay out your chapters with conflict and follow through with your resolution. Study books on our craft. Make it so that as you imerse yourself into a book that you aren't pulled out wondering, "how in the hell did we get there?"

Plot & Structure, James Scott Bell
Conflict, Action & Suspense, William Noble
GMC, Donna Dixon
Plot, Ansen Dibell.

Does Your Character Have Character?

2011-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Does your character have Character?

When you read a story, do you walk away with the feeling that you know the character? Is she the little girl next door, or the high school Cheerleader that you envy? I finished reading a book yesterday (YA, As You Wish) and came away from it remembering a friend of mine from when I lived in Missouri as a Junior High Student. It was such a great feeling to take a walk though my memories. I applaud the author. She did what I, as a writer, strive for; that character that you can relate to or remember.

My grandson (pictured here in his grandfathers glasses and baseball cap) is a little character. His teachers tell his mother that this little four year-old is cute. He always has a funny story or says something funny that makes his teachers laugh. He gives them a reason to 'remember him.' Your characters should do the same.

From the DunMiller's Mansion series, I introduce a teen (fifteen) that has been pulled away from her childhood friends into a whole new set of kids, a new house and a new world (according to her - foreign but still a member of the fifty states) She tends to be a snot. She is rude to her mother, (teens always find someone else to blame) she refers to her brother as 'squid' and pond scum,' and just plain hates her new life. I had a judge tell me that she didn't like my character because she was unlikeable. That she was too snotty and hard on her mother. Yeah! My character showed her true innards, blemishes and all, because, realistically (and I do know this firsthand) girls are fighting the 'need to be in' phase of their life and dramatic changes are hard to understand. Sure, it really brought my score down, but at least my character came across the way I wanted her to.

The judge said that teenagers weren't like that. Say what! Every teen I've ever met, including the one I raised has their 'bitchy' moments. It's call 'woe is me,' I hate my life, why doesn't such and such like me, and then you can add a little puberty in for shading, and you've got a 'real teenager'. If you know of a sweet easy going teenager, I know a judge who will be right there with you. Please, be realistic, take a look at your niece, or the high school wantabe popular girl, I've just described a little bit about her.

Your characters should come across as the boy-next-door, but not perfect. The kid you used to play ball with. You visualize him, name him and give him quirks. i.e., constantly eating, heavy use of inappropriate words, always tossing a baseball into the air, socks that are different colors. Something that sets him a part from the tall, dark and cute category, but makes him that kid that you look for in everyone after you've finished reading the book. Barbie doesn't exist - she's a plastic doll; don't make your cheerleader the same. I'm sure there's someone in the school that the little sweetheart speaks poorly about, even while smiling.

Give your Character - character!

Observation is the invention of characters.

Doree

Carriage Ride to View the Lights

2010-12-21T06:48:00.000-08:00


Merry Christmas from John, Jessica, Judy and Doree

Christmas Lights Tour with Lisa at the Helm.

Merry Christmas from me. It was a beautiful night, last night as we rode in a carriage and enjoyed all the many twinkling lights of downtown. Temple Square boosts about the thousands of lights they start string in August, -- no kidding, every tiny bush, even up the sides of the buildings. And the huge Nativity, really highlights the true meaning of Christmas.

We clip clopped around the block, with Lisa Williams-Cox (fantastic friend) and Charlie (horse debonair complete with lights and flowers in his hair) . Lisa is a fountain of information. Not just what the buildings are, but interesting incites into each one. Like...there is a wall at the LDS Conference building that is the same length as two 747 parked nose to nose? I KNOW. It was the greatest experience for all four of us.

I highly recommend that you experience downtown in a carriage (Carriage for Hire).


Jessica, John, Doree and Judy with Charlie

We May Be On Our Way!!!!

2010-12-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Ghosts of DunMuller's Mansion -
Book One - EXCUSE ME by yours truly,
has been requested by another agent. Here's the fun part - I get to wait for a very long time to see if somebody will love it as much as me. That's okay, I'm well into book two: ANTE UP
Good Luck - Excuse Me.

It's That Time Again

2010-12-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming up. What a wonderful time of the year - yeah right!
I've never been a happy camper during this time. I didn't enjoy it a lot as a kid. Although now, being a grandparent, it is fun. Yeah, the same headaches are there. Money is always an issue and for all of our preparations, it only takes seconds for it to be over with. True.

But look at the spirit. More people smile. Amazing, I know.
Some people are even courteous and giving. I watched a guy I would never have pegged as a giver, actually put in some change (okay, a penny and a nickle) in a bell ringer's can. I was floored. I saw a guy count out his groceries before going up to the 15 or less isle. He still went up with more than 15, but at least he counted.

The neighborhood has lights on more houses than it has ever in past. That's something, right? Mine doesn't, but this year I'm the exception. the exception being... I didn't want to fall and kill myself. I KNOW, every now and then, my brain does kick in. It's a Christmas Miracle.

There might not be any lights on the house, but the trees in the window and the music's playing so, now with the fresh fallen snow, I think we should all have a great and healthy holiday season this year!

From me to you - Merry Christmas.

Who said It's to soon to think about 2011?

2010-11-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

Hey, let’s take a moment and ponder…
We are about to dip into the last month of the year and what do we have to show for ourselves? Nothing – SAY WHAT!
I sat down at my computer this morning and went through my usual routine of checking my e-mails, reading my favorite blogs and chuckling over my kitten pictures (totally the highlight of my day) and thought, “this is what I spend a lot of my time doing.” I didn’t complete a new manuscript this year; I tweaked the hell out of my old one. I’ve also been polishing a manuscript from three years ago. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I did start a new one, ooops, better make that three new ones but never got to the part where I say, whoopee, I’m addicted and can’t wait for the all important, ‘the end.’
So, lets get these resolutions for 2011 underway, shall we. 1st, I’m president of our Utah chapter of the RWA, major commitment there (). 2nd, I want to make sure that Excuse Me has the completed follow up finished, polished and queried so that others are excited about Ante Up as I am. 3rd, the new YA, Hallowed Halls; my all time ‘dear to my heart’ manuscript, needs to be done next. And so it will be.
I blew NANO, so I will gear up to take that on next November. I enjoy it and still let it fizzled through the snow-my bad.
All that said (I mean whined about) I will be spending December getting what is left of this year on the straight and narrow and dedicating 2011 to that lovely four letter word “busy”. Glasses up in the air, Salute. Decision made, accepted and verbally (or written) announced – let’s walk on with our head held high to 2011 and a year of completions.

Guten Auben Herr Halloween

2010-11-01T08:14:00.001-07:00

The spooks have all been put to bed
All that candy gone to their head
And now as parents we stand back to see
Just how dang sick they’re gonna be.

Chocolate, chewy’s and gum for miles or more
Halloween traditions bought from the store.
Say so long to the spiders, the ghosts and the ghouls
Holidays are sprouting – now Christmas Trees rule!

The weather was not ideal for lasts nights trek to the houses. It rained, it stormed and then goodness, it rained some more. My grandson’s little feet were frozen, their tiny fingers were bright pink, but do you think they’d had enough? No. Their bags were dragging by the time they returned to my door. Soaked, but delighted with all their cavity causing merchandise. It was the highlight to the hot and heavy costumes, coats and umbrella’s that they had to wear.
This morning, after a quick church service, I ran to the grocery story and ‘what a transition‘ had occurred. Spiders are gone and Santa has arrived. No moment of deep breath nor preparation was allowed. Out with the bags of fun sized and in with the holiday wrapping paper. The heavy holiday season has just arrived, big sized.
It’s my least favorite time of the year. I prefer the summer months of thanks to our service men, fireworks and picnics. A few words of gratitude and humbling memorials and we get on with our lives. Quick, easy and done. Now, we spend almost everyday worrying about what to get Uncle Tom, Dick and Harry. Chewing our fingers over our guess regarding the shirt size we bought for Teri, Diane or Hilga. Did we miss any one? Oh, and the all time favorite – what am I supposed to where to the company Christmas Party.
Oops, it looks like Grand Mama needs a sweet drink, a good book and a warm blanket so that November arrives smooth and happy. Beware of the boogie man and smile for the fat bird to feast and the family around the Thanksgiving table. Here’s to the up coming holidays and putting on a happy face.
Until next Sunday, have a great week behind the keyboards and a lot of words for Nano

NAtionalNOvelWRIteninaMOnth

2010-10-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

NANOWRIMO

This is the most exciting time for me. I love November 1st and a chance to sit my patootie in the old chair and pound out another novel. I try to get at least three manuscripts written per year and having a whole month dedicated to just writing is fantastic. I call everyone I know and tell them that, phone calls are not answer. Leave a message and after I have completed 2500 words that day, I’ll call ‘em back. The door bell is disconnected and a sign on the door that reads “Children at Work, Parent’s Home Schooling” keeps those pesky little salesmen away. I already have a “no Soliciting” sign, but for some reason, salespeople seem to feel that it’s for everyone on but themselves.

I’ll run the vacuum cleaner and mop over floors on the sly. Nothing is scheduled, all is done my medical necessity. I’ve read my books, brainstormed my ideas and set up my ‘fresh thoughts 10′ directory so…Bring it on.

I’m hoping that by next November, I can be where all the other mama’s are… published! Stephanie Beck, Gnome Mama’s manuscript “David’s Angel has been released! Yeah!!! Wine and celebration in spades to you.

A medical note of interest, if I may. Our four-year old grandson has declared that since his dad got a Kidney Stone from drinking Pepsi, that beer with cause diarrhea. What a wonderful deduction – Grandma is sooooo proud of her babies. Until Next Sunday – Have a wonderful week.

2010-10-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

For a laparoscopic Colonoscopy, they no longer use the good memory forgetting drug of versade. So why would I think that if I fell down a few steps, they’d give me morphine. Pain is pain, I don’t care who you are. What’s happening with the world today? Michael Jackson takes a forever trip down anesthetic avenue and the rest of the world suffers. Not fair. Even a tiny nibble of codine or percocet would have been preferable. But no, I get the aspirin free, anti-inflammatory meds. (yeah, they worked)

Life is not fair. Down the stairs of my house from the upstairs rooms to the living room, the rail is on the left side. Going down from the living room to the family room, the rail is on the right side. Since I have lived here for twenty-one years, this is not an ‘All of a sudden’ situation. So, tell my head that. Yesterday, I suffered a mild attach of the forgotten. I forgot that the hand rail was on the right side. At the same time, my left leg forgot to follow my right leg down the stairs. When they are connected, all will eventually follow. The left leg finally joined in too late and ended up folded and beneath me.

It didn’t break – isn’t that a large dip out of the lucky bucket? And, the liquid ended up around my knee cap. A little squishy, a lot painful but the ibuprophens are doing a fine job. The real kicker, I’m not supposed to go up or down stairs. Say what? But, my house is a tri-level. This just means that these next few days it will be a tri-al to get up and down them.

Ah, the body is such a curious thing. We bend it, we bruise it and sometimes we break it, but it still manages to repair itself and carry on. So…I’m going to do the same. I’m carrying on :-) Have a painless week and I’ll do the same.

Scrapbooking USA

2010-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

There are few things in my life that I get excited about. (Heath issues frankly. Excitement causes stress, which cause...well, lets just say repercussions and use our imagination). Scrapbooking USA is one of them. Twice a year, I gear up to learn new techniques and find new and better page ideas. This Friday was opening day.

Thursday night, I gathered all my necessary paraphernalia. I put the paper in the paper section, the different colors in alphabetical order and zipped it close. This is a simple according type file that has a flap. Works wonders. Next I pulled out the huge case on rollers with a nice long handle. (Your typical suitcase on wheels). My scissors of every shape and size imaginable are in the special 'scissor' slots on one side and the special pens and stencils are housed in fancy pockets on the other side. In the center is my scrap-book. I prefer to keep my paper and cutters separate, because as I understand it, things come alive and play at night. (I've seen all three Toy Stories, and can you imagine what scissors could do to an innocent piece of card stock? The horrors.) Always bend on the side of caution. I cringe at the thought of opening my case to a confetti massacre. separation is imperative.

First thing Friday morning, I grab my purse, the roller case with the according file on top and get into my van. I feel great!

I pick up my good friend, and we arrived well before the line of patrons that wraps around the building, foaming at the mouth to get inside, and claimed the perfect table. (If you are going to be scrapbooking pages for 14 hours, you must have comfort).

Everything goes as planned, until... Our cases are unpacked, we have our glue sticks and pages in front of us and a friend stops by..."Hey, we're on our way over to the stampin' table to learn a new technique, want to come?" Who am I to say no. This is the purpose of being there.

"Sure." I leave Barb at the table (holding down the perfect fort, sort of speak) and I take four steps when it hits me. The irritating stab to the Kidneys. The urge to use the bathroom, right now. I excuse my self and run, (no time to walk) and hightail it to the restrooms. And find myself standing in a line of with several other anxious women. While I, like so many before me, are doing the ever popular

potty dance, realize that this is going to be a reoccurring problem
for the next 13 hours. I should have consumed a few tons of cranberry
Juice when I was doing all that wonderful packing and planning.
So...needless to say, I believe, all-in-all, I got two pages done.
UTI or not...I stayed until Mid-night. Hey! Scrapbooking USA
only comes around twice a year! Next time, I'm supplying the beverages.
Until next week, look forward to the fun things in life :-)

"But, I'm the Baby!

2010-09-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

There are days in a child’s life that no matter what, it’s wrong.
The youngest of my grandchildren is three. He’s a darling little red-head who has had to tolerate three other, older siblings. So, the little dude learns. Fast. He learns to:
Take what he wants, when he wants. Even to the devastation of others.
“He took it from me.” (and who do we believe? The baby)
Push and fight your way; over them, through them. Whatever. If the other cries, ah, the ‘that’s just to darn bad attitude rears its ugly head.
“He started it. He hit me first.” (and who’s side do we defend? The baby)
Blames others. The youngest seems to believe that he or she never does anything wrong.
“I didn’t take it. Somebody else did; I seen him.” (and who do we believe? The baby)
I watched the cutest little guy in the world become the most mischievous little brat ever to walk the earth.
One day seemed to be particularly horrific for him. From the time he lifted his ornery head off the pillow at 5:30 a.m. until tragedy struck around two. I couldn’t quit yelling at him.
His mother works nights and his father is a soccer coach so I was helping out by tending. Or do I mean refereeing? The morning was the same. I arrive at 7:20, the same time my daughter gets home from work. We get the older children ready for school and sit them down for breakfast. “The Grouch” doesn’t want cereal, he wants eggs and toast. We fix eggs and toast. After one bite of toast and he declares that he’s full. Off he goes, out to play.
Let’s face it; grandmothers can be a tad easier on their grandchildren. Especially when he resembles his mother at that age and you see so much of her in him that…well…I might look the other way at some items. I encouraged him to go out and play. No more that five minutes goes by that the four year old is crying and saying that ‘The Grouch’ took his truck.
I tell the four year old, “Let The Grouch have it, and he’ll get tired of it soon.” (Yeah, like right after he ‘wins’ he throws it on the ground.) A little while later, The Grouch leans over and smacks his brother. For absolutely no reason that I could see. After that, he comes in begging for food. I tell him no, he didn’t eat his breakfast, he can’t have a treat. According to him, breakfast was horrible. He wanted cereal. I give him cereal; he takes one bite and goes outside. He comes back in thirty minutes later, the four year old follows, crying that ‘The Grouch’ did…this and that…and the day goes on.
Around two, I am exhausted. His mother is sleeping, the four year old is watching television and ‘The Grouch’ has pulled my last string. I send him to his room, he cries all the way down the hall, down the stairs, and into his mother’s room. He tells her that grandma is mean and she made him go to his room. She’s asks why and he says, “I don’t know, but grandma’s been yelling at me all day long.”
His mother looks at me and I give her my best, if you don’t do something with this child, I will and it will be permanent. She tells him to go to his room like grandma said. His puts his chubby little fits on his hips, and releases the crocodile tears (big and fat, the break you heart tears, which they usually do) and between hiccups declares… “But, I’m the Baby! I didn’t do nothing.”

Examiner.com: Unhealthy homes contain airborne toxins by Doree Anderson

2010-09-01T09:44:00.001-07:00

Airborne mycotoxins may be thriving in your home. Tiny spores pass through our nasal filters causing numerous medical symptoms. The root of this evil is not indestructible, Mold can be avoided or removed.
Mold arrives innocently enough. The moist sweat shirt from the fall drizzle is tossed into a plastic container. It sits, damp and forgotten for a few months in the corner of the laundry room. With the assistance of a few environmental ingredients; temperature, nitrogen, oxygen, and moisture, we have the perfect recipe for mold.
Feed it with doses of oil and dirt. Before long, this fungi will adhere to wood, sheet rock, insulation, fabric, Styrofoam, fiberboard or drywall, and proliferate causing an unclean environment. Mold has become a prime factor in several health issues. Family complaints include dizziness, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties, and memory and hearing loss. In some incidences, allergy suffers are unaware that they are breathing in mold spores. It may begin with a mild cough but graduate into chronic bronchitis.
Black mold or Strachybotrys chartarum, is the most dangerous form. Extreme illnesses from these spores include mental deficiencies, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and many more. Black mold is greenish-black and slimy in appearance. Not only is it airborne but it can attached itself to people and animals.
Preventative steps need to be taken to control the spread of mold. Anywhere there has been a leak or sustained water damage, make sure that the area is thoroughly dried. Try to keep carpet off of basement floors. Flooding without professional cleanups is not recommended. Mishaps happen all the time and without proper ventilation, mold will spread inside flooring and wall cavities. Check for moisture in closets, bathroom cabinets, the refrigerator drip pan, house plants and garbage pails.
Always use the exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Keep your home well vacuumed and clean. Soap and detergents will remove the mold stain but doesn’t kill the mold. A bleach based product will clean and remove the toxins.
For more information contact Utah Disaster and Clean-up at www.Utahflood.net/mold/removal.
Educate your self and family through such places as www.firstresponseutah.com; www.Tilex.com/mold or Utah Department of Health www.health.utah.gov/ Common Health Building, 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Remember: A healthy home shelters a healthy family.

2010-08-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Ode to Tomatoes... I love tomatoes.

Juicy red tomatoes. We wait all summer long for our plants to mature. And then, yes sir ree. There it is. The first one of the season. You quickly pick it. Run it into the house. Show it to everyone, those who could care and those who could care less, even the dog and cat. Remember, it is the first one.

Drum roll please. You cut it up. (one slice because it's the first one and about the size of a cherry). With flare and excitement, you place your cut on a plate, add salt and pepper, (not too much) and take a taste. Nirvana. Oh my gracious. The juice drips down your throat. The acid alerts everyone of your thousands of taste buds. They stand, they taste, they cry. Heaven packed into a small piece of fruit.

And, the following morning, you have been blessed with the biggest cancor sore ever....with just a tiny little blister above your lip. And, as the cold sore enlarges, ask yourself this; was it worth it.
Oh! Heck, yes!!! Thank you to all the tiny tomato plants around the world. For you are my nirvana and my pain :-)

2010-08-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Happiness is...

Do you remember the song from "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown?"

I was thinking about it the other day and though, what a grand idea. Lets do a "Happiness is... for today. Look at the good side of life and smile. Show the world that your today is going great!
Happiness is... waking up in the morning.
Happiness is... good health for you and your family.
Happiness is... the time to write
Happiness is... the sun that's shinning.
Happiness is... the fresh smell of cut grass in the morning.
Happiness is... Life.

As I was walking through Murray Park, the last of the migrating ducks were hanging out and watching us very carefully. They have been so spoiled with people feeding them bread that I think they though I was going to toss them some bread. Yes, it made my little heart break, cause I had to tell them that I was empty handed. So, if you go into the park today, please take a surprise. The ducks are hungry and we've been feeding them, so let's help the little quackers survive.

2010-08-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

What would you do?

I don't want to spend no more stinking monies for a group of ladies to read my story and tell me it can't win ANOTHER contest. Thirty, forty or fifty dollars circling the drain and it's only a little flush away to watch it go bye bye. Yet, I open my mail and find at least three more contests begging for entries. It's like a alcoholic in a liquor store. On Sale, your choice of Whipping -

I've never actually read, "This might not be the correct vocation for you." But, when that happens I have every intention of finding a rock and hiding under it. Shoot, I can read between the lines. I just can't write the actual lines :-)

Gee, wasn't that fun? I feel better.

I am trying to come up with a rock solid plan. A plan that has my butt in the chair, daily. I can make up some real pissy excuses when it comes to doing work. Don't get me wrong; I love writing. It's just that my muse really loves vacationing. The little sweetie has been gone for quite a while. I've left messages, written whinny notes, even set out a box of chocolates to try and lure her back, but...I ate the chocolates. And she's still AWOL. I hoping with a written out plan, I can reel her back in and soon.

So...first, we look at the activities we do on a daily basis. Necessities are a given, reading e-mails and blog sites for hours on end, not. Laundry can be done right along with writing. The floors only need to be mopped once a week and that should be 'after' the grand babies leave, not before, during, or after. The same with the vacuuming :-) Dust - well, until I figure out how in the hell it's being made, I think it can multiply for a few days at a time, not every day. But, naps are necessary. So here it goes...

Monday write for 2 hrs in the morning
Tuesday write for 5 hrs in the early after noon
Wednesday write for 5 hrs morning and early after noon
Thursday should be set aside as a day to write (try 6 hrs and work myself up
Friday should be used to do the errands, vacuum and mop. Weekend is cleaned and I'm satisfied.
Sat and Sun - well with the hubby home, that's always up in the air. Will I have time to write or not. Hum, not.
That should allow me a twenty hour writing schedule - now, lets see if it works.
My butt's in the chair :-)

Until tomorrow - sleep well, my friend.

2010-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Check Me Out...

I've been caught. That's right, I am now also writing on a new blog sight called www.plotmamas.wordpress.com The title says it all, we are some fine mamas. Sugar, Gnome, Hot Lava, Swan, Spinner, Dragon and me; Grand Mama, and we speak out about, about, yeah, life as a mom or grandma knows it, when trying our darnedest to write. The fun everyday challenges that we go through.

Let's face it, kids are a unique commodity. Cute little buggers who do things that are so hilarious that we can't help but write about them. Granted, my 'kids' are grand kids, but I too have found them to become my muse for a day, quite often. So. if you get a chance, check us out and hear what other women with children are talking about. From feeding to freedom and when you are able to find that fifteen minutes of peaceful quite that you can pound out a line or two.

See ya there! www.plotmamas.wordpress.com

2010-06-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Let's chat about critiquing.

This seems to be the most popular time of the year for writer's to jump on the contest wagon. Every where you look, some chapter, somewhere is holding their "Fall in Love", Best Line, Best First Page, or First Meeting contest, etc.

And for a small price you can send in your "however many pages they want," and you'll get a top notch critique on your work. Well, I will say that I am usually delighted to get all the feed back I can on a submission. Winning is not the reason to submit. I think of it as a small price to pay to see where I'm at and what needs tweaking. I do not know if I enjoy the rather rude comments that I've received and so, let's chat.

Critiquing is not an area for one frustrated writer to rip into another one. It is for beneficial criticizing.
In other words, I didn't pay money to have another writer whine about something I wrote. I did pay money to receive constructive criticism!

If you sign up to be a judge, then judge. Do not change the story to fit your likes. Some teenagers can be mouthy and snotty. We're not supposed to argue with the judge and so I won't. But I will say that "I hated this book. If the writer doesn't change the disposition of her character, this book will not sell," is not constructive criticism.

Make general comments: POV violation, dialogue doesn't sound true or timeline is confusing. I didn't get a good feel for the setting or the pacing is off. I'll even except someone telling me that my teenager comes off as a lot younger, or the child sounds more like a parent. That I can change.

Remember that critiques are given as suggestions on how to improve the writer's work, not discourage them. Needless to say, that contest might never get another entry from me. :=(

I judge quite often and I believe that there is a universal etiquette in critiquing, if you don't know what that is, take a class on it. And, don't judge until you've learned how to be encouraging!

2010-06-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

I got a request ---- ye'haw.
That's right. Caren Johnson Estesen Literary Agency asked for my manuscript "Excuse Me, Do You Smell Feta Cheese? .... I'm so beside myself that I had to take a few days to let it sink in. And now that it has, I feel like I'm holding my breath - that's the wait part. I'm handling it pretty well, though. I can now go a few days, oxygen deprived and I'm sure it will be a lot more to come - bring it on. What do they say - What doesn't bring pain, wasn't earned.

It's all about the job. Authors must really like a roller coaster ride, because we hop on board more times than we care to admit. Honestly. Silly people, I say. Oh wait, I'm one of them! And I'm loving it. :-)

Anyway, I finished the manuscript and then, what do I do? I tear it up. Yep, that's the disease. See, its this good, we think, but it can be this much better. I removed the part about Dani's brother Maxwell because, he's the star of his own manuscript. Yep! I'm currently having fun with "Ante Up, Boys" My Maxwell McCarty Paranormal. Max is 12 years old and is a ... naw, too soon. I'll get back to that after, let's say, 200 pages.

Anyway... Here's to hoping that The Caren Johnson Estesen Agency falls in love with Dani McCarty because her brother's hoping to entice them as well.

Later

2010-05-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

The results to the Truth and Lies and Games, Oh my is....6 truths, number 5 is the lie - Thanks for participating.

2010-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Rant, rave, whine, but behave! That's the story of Doree.

And in the right corner is my new bff, Oliver. (isn't he just the cutiest little bug - such a cuddly bear)

I hate depression. It is the most obnoxious, inconsiderate mind mutilation of all time. When it stops by, I get no warning. Just a how do you do, I'm here for you. And, not once has my little pain ever clued me in on the length of it's intended visit. The ever popular bad penny, wooden nickle or rotten egg drops it's crappy luggage and hankers down in my favorite chair. For the next while, I am a servant to it's every whim.

If I thought for even a second that I would be able to work, I was wrong. Relax, get a hair cut, have coffee with my friends, oh no, not gonna happen. You see, depression tends to recruit those around you. If you're down, they are encouraged to join you. Jokes, oh, no sir, those you'll be checking in at the door. Smiles and happy thoughts are off limits. I am it's hostage.

So, what do you do? Pop another prozac? Hide behind closed windows and doors? Yeah. That's always been my salvation to existence during Depressions impromptu visit. Hide now, apologize later. So, to all my friends that have tried to tolerate, but retreated due to my most unflattering disposition these last couple of days, I have a bushel of rotten tomatoes with your names (gently) etched into them, ready for action. I will be standing on my front porch tomorrow decked out in the top of the line rain gear. See ya there!

the fine print: Not redeemable on any other day. Hours may vary - check your local times and if the responisble party makes a showing, I'd be surprised. Call me anytime. Except when I don't answer. Brought to you by me - happy Doree.

2010-05-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Truths and Lies and Games, Oh My!

Author Amber Scott tagged me in a fun, get to know an author game. To play, the author can either do 6 lies and a truth or 6 truths and a lie. You, the reader, get to guess which version I picked and, accordingly, which is the lie or which is the truth.

It’s a ton of fun.

The person who can guess mine accurately will receive a

$40.00 gift card to the Cheesecake Factory for a 'dinner by me.'

Here goes:

1) My career test in high school stated that I would make an excellent Catholic school teacher.
2) I was a model for the Sears clothing catalog.
3) During my years in school, only one teacher ever pronounced my name correctly.
4) When I was twelve, I had to have my left leg pulled down and into alignment from standing too long.
5) Neil Diamond requested the lyrics to a song I had written a couple of years ago, he didn't buy it though.
6) I was born head down in a hospital bedpan.
7) I was a member of a singing group that performed in four states one summer.

Leave your guess under the comments field and I'll get back to you with your results.

Happy blogging.

2010-05-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

2010 Graduations. How many will you attend this year.

My brother and I drove down to Las Vegas on the 7th of June to attend my nephew, Bryan Necessary's graduation from UNLV. This year, the number of graduates receiving diploma's was such a fantastic number that the university divided up their colleges into two ceremonies. So, on Saturday, the day of the commencement exercises, Bryan's Liberal Arts College was scheduled for 2:00. (I really would have preferred the 9:00 am time slot, but then I am just a minor incident as an aunt - the smallest pest known to man).

We left Salt Lake at 55 degrees and ended up in Vegas at 76 degrees on Friday. Saturday out did it's self... 88 degree's as we waited outside of the Thomas and Mack center for my sister and her family to find us. It was hot. Not as hot as it would get, but, hot!

The commencement exercises started promptly at 2:00 pm (very impressive) but they didn't start with the graduate class names until 4:00. Needless to say, with the need to be back in Salt Lake that night, we left before my nephew's name was called. (Two hours too soon) before his name was called).

I was proud to see such an accomplishment realized by so many kids. The first cords of Pomp and Circumstance pulled up the strings to my back and there I sat, in the upper balcony section of the event center and smiled. Wide, strong and so very proud. And then, when I thought about the hard work these kids have put into their education only to be released into a society that is struggling, broke my heart. Where are the jobs that these kids need to pay back the money they borrowed? Will the majority of them ever see the light of being debt free? Hardly.

Only a handful of the top students will receive a paycheck. The rest, sad to say, will be told that they are overqualified because, they have a degree. One door opens and another one closes and frankly, it's a damn shame. These proud kid's may never reap what they have sewn, may never benefit from their two, four or longer years of hard work.

But, no matter what, I sure am proud of our young adults and the fact that they still put their first foot forward and it is a recognition for all of us. Congradulations to each an every graduate of 2010.

2010-04-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

DNA Testing/Character Resemblance

*Note: the picture on the left has nothing to do with DNA testing, I just thought it was great! :-)

So, you're doing your character sketch and wondering about the genetics of recessive eye coloring. You have two people with blue eyes, so what color would the babies be? Blue. Why? Blue is a recessive gene. In order to disrupt the blue gene, you need to sprinkle in a dominant color, i.e. brown. The scientific explanation is below:

This is the simplest case of dominance. The allele that produced the working protein would be dominant over the allele that produced the defective protein. Individuals with two copies of the working allele and individuals with one copy of the working and one copy of the defective allele would both be able to produce working protein. Only individuals with two copies of the defective allele would be unable to produce working protein. The allele that produces this defective protein would be recessive to the allele that produces the functional protein.

Dominance can also be produced by other differences between the protein products of alleles - a recessive allele does not mean a defective gene product. Dominant and recessive should be taken only as descriptions of the expression of alleles, and not given any value judgement. Blue eyes are not worse than green or brown eyes.

Dominant and recessive flavors of genes and the presence of genes on chromosomes that come in pairs can explain the eye color inheritance patterns described here (but remember that there is more to human eye color inheritance than the simple two gene model described here).

The bey2 gene has two flavors - brown is dominant over blue. Each individual has two copies of this gene, each can be one of the flavors. The possible allele combinations for the bey2 gene are: brown-brown, brown-blue, and blue-blue. Of these three, the brown-brown and brown-blue combinations will both produce brown eyes, as brown is dominant over blue. Only the blue-blue combination will produce blue eyes.

But there is a second common gene for eye color - the gey gene. It also has two flavors - green is dominant over blue. In addition, a green allele of gey is dominant over a blue allele of bey2 and recessive to a brown allele of bey. Thus the alleles of the two genes have a dominance hierarchy - bey2-brown is dominant over everything else, gey-green is dominant over bey2-blue and gey-blue but recessive to bey2-brown, and both of the blues are recessive to everything else. Thus the bey2 (brown/blue) gene might be better thought of as the brown/non-brown gene.

To tie this into a nice easy explanation, let us try...

Chromosomes are long, stringy aggregates of genes that carry heredity information. They are composed of DNA and proteins and are located within the nucleus of our cells. Chromosomes determine everything from hair color and eye color to sex.

Human genetics. A discipline concerned with genetically determined resemblances and differences among human beings. In normal humans, the nucleus of each normal cell contains 46 chromosomes, which comprise of 23 different pairs.

The final piece of the story (and remember, it is just a story, there are more than just these two genes involved in eye color inheritance) is that a child gets one chromosome of each pair from each parent. The bey2 gene is on chromosome 15. A parent with brown-blue alleles of the bey2 gene has a pair of chromosome 15s, with the brown allele on one and the blue allele on the other. This parent could give either the chromosome bearing the brown allele or the chromosome bearing the blue allele to a child. A child with brown-blue alleles of the bey2 gene got the brown allele (and one copy of chromosome 15) from one parent, and the blue allele (and the other copy of chromosome 15) from the other parent.

If you are looking for those dominant traits, check the simple inheritance patterns.
A few dominant traits are: Widow's peak, facial dimples, unattached earlobe, cleft chin, brunette iris, color vision, brunette hair, normal nose, ability to roll tongue, normal pinkies, normal thumb, freckles and wet-type earwax.

Science, don't cha just luv it? Enjoy those critical character items.

2010-04-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

A New Outlook or...Never Stop Learning

Yes sir ree! I ate lotsa goodies for Easter. Peeps - I sure love them peeps. Not so much them green ones, they just don't look quite right. Wish it had been prettier weather. Would have liked to catch me some of them cute little bunnies...I mean Easter eggs, yeah-wrangle me up a mess of good looking, pretty, colorful Easter eggs. That's Right!!

Hope everyone had a great Easter. My husband and I enjoyed "The Blind Side" Easter Sunday afternoon and I must say, that was a very good movie. I love Sandra Bullock. Have watched almost all of her movies, but I don't really see 'award winner' here. Her role, (don't get me wrong) was great. A hard nosed, do as I say, yet big heart'ed Christian woman is truly outside of my expertise. I'm just saying that Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates and Quinton Aaron did a fantastic job as well. Bravo to all. I especially loved the little brother-what a kid!

On to the importance of my blogging. Writing. My passion, my reason for getting up every morning (other than lounging around in my jammies with a great excuse). I have been spending a huge amount of my time, learning. That's right. One of the most important aspects of writing is 'always learning.'

Learning how to form a sentence. Learning to draw a picture with words and learning how to mold a character into someone a reader can love or hate. It's not that easy. When I started writing, I thought - Gee, how tough could this be? I graduated from high school, so easy, breezy. Poo!

Hello, can you say 'draw' not 'tell'. Show the reader exactly what you see. Wow, that's hard. I see everything in my mind. I see the oak tree blooming right above the young lovers heads. Yeah, I can see that soft glow of color waiting to shout, I'm here! A tiny tinge of green waiting to burst out into a full leafy bloom. But, how important is that?

Well, let's see: Young Lovers beneath a tree in early spring have the crisp clean air around them. The birds that have been gone since winter are back, chirping and hopping from limb to limb. The tree is coming alive, her leaves are just at the edge of unfolding into brand new bright green. All of that plays a big part in, let's say, their first kiss. The gentle breeze brushes her hair aside as his hand gently cups her cheek. The song of the birds seem to serenade as he leans his head into hers. There lips touch once, twice, before opening up, unfolding like the leaves. It's all new. A new season, a new birth, a new relationship.

Oh, and don't forget the ground, the grass, the flowers...or the sky, the bright blue, puffy white clouds, the sun shinning down and warming up what was recently frozen. It all adds to the couple. It isn't just a boy and a girl tenderly kissing for the first time. It's the whole picture. Major drawing, not just telling.

Every book I've picked up for the last few months, I'm sorry; but happy to say, has been a how to, smooth out your craft. And I really think that this Paranormal YA and Contemporary Romance writing chick is starting to GET IT!!! Soon, Excuse Me, Did you say Feta Cheese, will be done and on it's glorious way to find a agent to room with. :-0

Here's to the future start of another fun book.

2010-03-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Dean Wendell Anderson

We placed a man to rest today,
A man as fine as wine,
He'll forever be a part of us,
As we live out our time.

We said goodbye, and kissed
his cheek, his children one
by one. We spoke of him in
words of praise for all that he had done.

Four children, he had fathered
with discipline and praise.
We'll remember him for all we've learned
beside him night and day.

For now we'll say farewell to you
A soldier, friend, our dad;
For eternity, you're with our mom
And for that, our hearts are glad.

Born: January 19, 1917 Died March 5, 2010 at the age of 93

Sleep well, our gentle soul, tears of pain we shed. But we all know, we'll see you soon and that my friend's not bad. Your loving daughter-in-law, 3/10/2010

2010-02-09T09:38:00.001-08:00

Adapting to our environment: How often do you notice that people in the same family take on the same mannerisms? How many times have you seen humans and their dogs take on a resemblance in each others personality? Well, here is a good example of the adopted becoming one with their family.

This picture of the meerkats reminds me of the game on Sesame Street: One of these things are different than the other; can you tell which one. Yes, the cat. Yet, when you take a look at the family, you see them all reflecting the same mannerisms. The cat has learned to sit on its haunches and balance with the front legs dangling down, the ears are laid back and the head is held perfectly in position. But, could this feral cat stand up fully erect like the one at the end? Yes, because we are all taught how to crawl and then stand by our family.

I think this shows that animals don't discriminate. If another animal isn't aggressive or reflect a sense of danger, they accept them. We are raised the same way. As long as we do not feel in danger, we accept those around us. Unfortunately, ours is also a society that rates others that we don't take the time to know.

Bigotry shows ignorance. When my daughter was in the fifth grade, she was having a birthday sleep over. She invited several young ladies from her class to join her. The most came without question except for one. He father wanted to know which Ward my daughter was a member of. We are a clean cut law abiding family but it wasn't enough. Now, we had to be a member of a specific religion in order for this child to come to our home. My daughter lied! She knew of the ward so she told the father. I thought it was rather funny at the time but as the years progressed I came to understand that we have a lot of humans playing at being one with the group. That there are too many people who change their outward appearance to become accepted. The wolf in sheep's clothing, Michael Jackson-from black to white, Gay to straight, old to young.

Instead of dressing the part to fit in, learn their mannerisms, understand their beliefs and study their society but never change your appearance to suit another. We are all our own person, everyone should accept us as we are. If a cat wants to stand with a meerkat I think it is wonderful.

2010-02-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Oh, those wonderful opportunities to write...

Twitter: I read twitter when I can actually sign in. This tends to be rare because I always seem to have suspicious activities on it. Since I'm not on it much, I don't care. You only have so many characters to make a statement with. I'm a writer, I have to describe everything.

Space Book: I'm not on space book so I can't say one way or another. But if you don't mind being public property, then go for it. I tend to be hesitant in giving out information because, well, we have too many scrupulous individuals out there that think if you're on the sight, your personal information is theirs.

Craig's List: Here again, I'm not on it. I did enough research and heard enough about client problems with it that, I think I'm going to pass. Check out the sites that you are on, get as much information as you can before you supply your whole kit-n-cabootle.

Yahoo groups: Recently I had a meeting on one of the yahoo groups and ended up without a computer for a couple of days. Not one but several nasty little bugs jumped on board while I was exposed. There is no guarantee that you are actually on a safe site, therefore you need to be responsible for your system.

Okay, here is the deal. If you want to be heard, if you need to sound off, here is the best way to get your thoughts expressed without giving up your information: The Newspaper, A popular Magazine, or at a community forum. Newspapers are looking for information to keep readers reading. If there is something going on in your neck of the woods and you feel strongly about it either pro or con, kick out an opinion. We have an amendment in the Constitution of the United States that says we have the right to free speech. So, Speak

Write an article and submit it to the 'public opinion' editor. Study the magazines that interest you and where you feel your information would best fit, get the editor's name and submit it (submission instructions can be found on their website).

And finally, getting a moment to speak your piece at the community forum just takes a request to be placed on the docket. This can be done by visiting your local Court House or Center.

Or, and this is my personal opinion...start your own blog and just spill it. You Go! It is said that if you have a burden you are carrying, share it and others will help you resolve it.

The fine print: I have only mentioned the four avenues that I know about. I'm sure there are other public engines out there that others are in favor of participating in, I just don't know, nor do I wish to know them at this time.

2010-01-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

And again, the ball has dropped. Yes. I like so many other enthusiastic believers that a new year is a fresh beginning sat in my easy chair and witness the dropping of the ball, the end of the old and the welcome to the new. How exciting.

Ah, but is it? Exciting. So many people will spring up from their beds this morning (at least those not swearing 'they'll never drink another drop, God, if you'll just let me live)all excited to start their...... fill in New Year's Resolution here.

Diet? And I will, I promise. (next year)
To be more Organized? Well, yeah. But it's going to take me a year to get organized before I can be organized, sheesh.
To be a better person? I always thought I was but I'll smile more often, yeah that'll do it.
Give more to Charities? One can only donate blood some many times before they need a transfusion themselves. (but - it does make you feel good. I'm giving platelets on Monday. If you're feeling good, join me won't you?)

*Okay, last night, minutes before the year ended, you agreed to do your resolution. So, today, 12 hours into 2010, are you standing by your resolutions?

So, here is Doree's resolutions: 1) To spend more time writing. That's what I do, so danged if I ain't going to. 2) Stay on top of my household chores. Happy days, I have OCD. Everything in my house is clean, organized, maintained to the point sometimes of driving my hubby nuts. 3) Spend more time with my grandchildren. And I will, just as soon as all four of them are in school full time and have a ton of friends to play with. As grandparents, hubby and I take the kids almost every other weekend for sleepovers, sheesh. 4) Diet; oh hell no. Give up chocolate, cola, every thing that is good in this world - yeah? No way and I think not.

So until next year; I bid you a great beginning on those resolutions.

2009-12-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sizing up the he/she in your novel.

When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. Character is a caricature.
–Ernest Hemingway

In my thoughts, I know a soul and with my eyes I see him standing there. But, without the words to paint for you, his acquaintance you’ll never share. –Doree Anderson

1) Setting up the interview.
a) Allow plenty of uninterrupted time. You need to concentrate, observe and document constantly.
b) The setting or meeting place should be comfortable.
1) the couch, kitchen table, the park or the lounge chair on the back porch.
2) supply ambiance with background music and candles.
c) Offer refreshments

Who are you? Who, who are you? –Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey

2) Getting a glimpse into their mind.
a) It’s not just the words they use.
b) hear the passion and tone of voice.
1) does he/she put emphasis on certain words in a sentence, use their hands to highlight their point.
2) are slang words utilized often?

The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own hearts, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth. –William Butler Yeats.

3) Picture yourself sitting beside them, what do you see?
a) Document their mannerisms.
1) a hand to their chin, fingers smoothing down a mustache, nervous laughter, eyes roaming.
b) their dress;
1) style, individualism
A) Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink or Annie Hathaway in Prada
c) their features; eyes, hair
1) contacts or glasses, crossed or uneven.
2) dyed hair, long, short, bald, curly or straight.

First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him. –Ray Bradbury

4) Where does he/she see them selves in ten years?
a) education
b) employment
1) ambitions
c) marital status
1) family size or dreams of.

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with them. – Mel Brooks

You know your characters and their stories. Now all you have to do is convince your readers that they’re worth the time to meet.

2009-12-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, yeah! I think I do remember you. Aren't you the oldest son to my mother's youngest sister? So what, you're twenty, twenty one? 40! No way, why I remember just a few years ago that you like...

Do you remember me? Cause, evidently, I don't remember you-.

I spent this past weekend in Henderson at my Aunt's "Celebration of Life" and thought about all the interesting faces that I reacquainted my self with. Cousins that I haven't seen or spoken to since the death of my Grandmother about fifteen years ago have changed. Go Figure! They grew up, got married, had children, oh my! They went on about their lives without me.

And here I stood, realizing that I had done the same. My daughter and grandson were with me and were strangers to a lot of them. We say this is a small world yet we let time speed by before we reaquaint ourselves with family so how can we say that we stay in contact with friends? We don't.

I mailed out somewhere around sixty five Christmas Cards. A small amount for sure, but it's because I don't keep in contact with people. I send them (if I remember to) a card once a year that says, "Hey, I remembered to send a card and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Unfortunately, I haven't got the time to call or visit and so, I can't recall if you're married, have children or were you that friend that died? Gee, sorry. But, at least I'll write out your name and address on an envelope and once again tell people that I stay in touch with old friends.

When I had a cousin ask what I do for a living and I said that I write, he asked what I wrote and I went on to tell him, books. Obviously, it's not letters! I write books about people that I make up yet I don't write to those whom I already know. So, here is to all those that I sent out a card to; drop me a note and I'll get back to you around... this time again next year :-(.

2009-11-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

NANO time again!

Writers: get ready, get set and go. For the month of November, hundreds, maybe thousands of writers will put themselves to the test and write a 50,000 word novel. That's right! 30 days of story telling through the fingers and tracked, each word at a time. It's fun.

Write! You don't edit, that's for next month. You don't worry about spelling, let the machine underline it and we'll get back to that next month as well. This month is just for the opportunity to test your self and your ability to capture a story in one month.

So, during the month of October, I spent time interviewing and getting to know the characters that will be brought to life in my novel. Screening places and ideas for story boards and putting it all together so that when November 1st comes around, I'll be ready...

Well, here it is and so far, I'm having a blast. The kids are enjoying themselves as they tentatively get to know each other and will eventually fall in love. So, lift you cup of coffee or wine glass and toast to a productive month of NANO!

2009-10-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

URWA Conference turned out to be absolutely wonderful. The attendance was fantastic, the workshops were top nosh and the networking was phenomenal. An enjoyment to the very end. Christine Witthohn from Book Cents Literary Agency and Amanda Bergeron from Avon/Harper Collins were a lot of fun. (the picture to the left is taken in Park City. br. Me and Mary Martinez, fr is Kim Finnegin, Christine Witthohn, Amanda Bergeron and Lisa Williams-Cox in front of the miner's statue).

The pitches went down and some excellent results followed. I, for one, am happy with the request that I received and the valuable information that Christine gave me. Hook? Oh yeah, the hook. We'll lets just say that the hook was asked for and not given. Yet, Christine still gave a request and I couldn't be happier than a bear with a new roll of Charmin. Since then I've been polishing up my synopsis and getting ready to send it out with my first three chapters. My fingers are crossed and my hopes are raising. Hopefully my heart can wait until she asks for more before pounding from my chest.

Friends exchanged hugs and laughter, even Victoria Dahl dropped by to lift up a glass of wine. If anyone would enjoy a great romance, check out Victoria Dahl's 'Talk Me Down' or 'Start Me Up.' Both are exceptional books. All in all, I don't think there was a person in the whole group that wasn't happy with our conference outcome. My favorite part was the game on Saturday night that Diane Stoddard introduced. Our other visiting agent, Kelly Mortimer was with us as each person wrote down a name of a famous person (dead or alive) and then everyone else tried to guess the name we chose. It was pretty fun in front of the fireplace in the lobby of the Deer Valley 'Lodges.' Next year, I understand that it is going to be tons better. Join us, won't you?

2009-10-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hey, Howdy, Hiya,
Posting on our first night here at Deer Valley, Utah's The Lodges. Where Utah's Chapter of RWA's (Romance Writers of America) conference for 2009 starts...now.

Holly heaven, Batman, this place is class. We're talking ala beautiful place. Everything is so gorgeous, done in huge white pine logs, fireplaces, full kitchens, laundry closets in each suite. The suite that we are in is a two bedroom, 3 bathrooms, full sized living room and kitchen with a large 6 person dinning table. Absolutely beautiful. Flip a switch and you have a nice and cozy gas fire in the fireplace, the chairs are big and comfy. Wonderful.

The weather is perfect, crisp fall foliage, the golds, yellows, oranges and reds, a slight nip in the air and traces of a recent snowfall on the ground. Sweater and thick jackets seem to be the appropriate attire. Of course, our cute Mary is wearing flip flops :-)

Our first course of action today was assisting Kelli Ann with the gift bags for the conference attendees and getting everything organized for tomorrow mornings early registration. The day begins at 07:30. The workshops are going to be fun and extremely educational and I'll be up early so I don't miss a thing. The count down to get here has finally made it and now its a rapid whoosh through to the end. Over too soon after waiting so long -life, as always.

Later...

2009-08-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Please...for me! This week, I am saying goodbye to my Aunt. A courageous woman who has fought a long, painful struggle with cancer. Twelve years ago, she went in for her annual mammogram and was told everything looked good. But, they made her another mammogram for six months. One of those, 'just in case' appointments. We'll refer to that as the 'something is there but frankly I have a waiting room full of women and a lunch date, so I'll just cover my butt.'

Six months later, she goes in to have her follow-up mammogram and low and behold, what's this? A lump. You say you mentioned it six months ago. Are you sure? Because, the tech had to have surely seen it and requested an ultra-sound. Hummm. Well, lets do an ultra-sound now. I'm sure there is nothing to worry about.

And the verdict is two, not one now, but two suspicious masses in the left breast. The soonest we'll be able to do that biopsy is.... three weeks. But, no need to worry, it's probably fibrous tumors. Many women your age have them. There wasn't a history of them but, she's in her early fifties so, its possible.

And the verdict is, of course, Cancer. Had it have been anything else, I wouldn't be pounding the keys. She went through everything. An aggressive war was mounted. Well, sure, what else can you do when, it had metastasized to the lung. It's called stop that puppy before it runs amok. Amok, amok, amok it went. from the lungs to the stomach, from the stomach to a black mark on the liver. And she fought. She lost part of her stomach, she lost a lung, they removed the damage to the liver, and she had a Radical Mastectomy before the age of Sixty.

Then, she got sick. (No kidding!) Yep. So after being on blood thinners for a long time, she starts having problems with her back. Osteoporosis? Sure, why not. So they take her off the blood thinners and, yes, she develops a blood clot that does a one way travel to her brain. Stroke! Not massive, bless her heart, just minor. But, now, after enduring all this, she decides that she's had enough. She refuses to eat.

I understand, her daughter understands, but lucky for her she has three sons don't, (you say, you're kidding? Uhm, wish I was!) So, they whine that she's just giving up. Throwing in the towel. "Please....for me!" (Its a good thing these jolly rogers live far away from me cause, I've got a boot that's just itching to kick some cousin's butts.)

So here is the moral of my story, and a reality check for the boys. She has put up with mammograms, ultrasounds, surgery, chemo and radiation for us. If she wants to join her mother, father, sister, brother... my hell, let her. Isn't it her turn? By the way, dudes, it doesn't feel like a smooth vacation when you deny your body nutrition. It's painful. Dying is painful. It is her decision.

I love you, Aunt Judy. I'll mourn your passing, but I'm proud of your heroism. You were my mother's sister, but to me, you were a real good friend. May you never suffer such cruelty again. Goodbye, our gentle warrior.

Ladies, you know your bodies. If you feel something abnormal, fight, kick and scream for that follow up ultrasound. And, biopsies shouldn't be scheduled three weeks out - Do it now! But, most importantly, ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health. Know how you are doing. Get your mammograms, check your cholesterol, test your blood pressure. And for sure, if you're sick, demand your down time. If you don't properly heal, you won't be doing anybody any good.

2009-07-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the price of a huge mansion on a private island question: Why does one editor request your full manuscript and another one reject it?

I was asked by a specific person to send them my manuscript, unfortunately I could only submit it to the submissions e-mail address (give you their actual e-mail address, please) but I made SURE to indicate that this specific person requested it. Almost four months later, I receive a rejection. That's fine. I can cowboy up with the best of them. Except who is this other person who sends me back "Thank you for your submission but your manuscript isn't what we are looking for" generic form?

Maybe the editor who requested it was fired. No.
Maybe the editor who requested it left for another company. No.
Maybe the editor who requested it got ran over by a truck. No. (But if the editor did, be darn glad that someone was nice enough to get back to you)

This is my work, my job: Writing. I enjoy writing. Putting plots together, giving characters life. Not this day in and day out frustration of wait a few months and 'someone' will get back to you, or not, publishing world that I'm swimming in.

Maybe it's just a bad day. So what if no one threw me the beach ball. If I can't wait my turn I should probably pick up my towel and try again another day. Let me get this whine with a little cheese, please.

Don't you just hate it when no one chooses you to play on their team?

2009-07-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

HAPPY Independence Day! My brother celebrates his birthday on the fourth. Four days later, I celebrate mine...but I don't get all the fancy fireworks. Nobody sets of bombs to celebrate the passing of my youth. And, I say that's good. I'd rather cry alone anyway!

Congratulations to my Niece, she had a little girl on the 3rd of July.
Welcome to the world Macie. I just hope it goes from bad to good before it matters to you. I look at my grandkids and want to cry - look at the crap their getting. It's a damn shame. I still think there are several greedy pigs out there that should be shot in a firing squad for stealing money. Instead our lovely government is turning a blind eye and letting them keep it. Well, where in the hell is my 50 million dollar bonus. I deserve it too!!!! Oh wait, I don't know who I should be screwing to get it.
Everyone I know has already be screwed.

The end of the year is quickly approaching. Christmas in July starts the snowball down the hill of Holidays. We enjoy the carefree days of August before the kids are back in school and we hear..."I can't wait for Labor day, What are you going to be for Halloween, Are you going any where for Thanksgiving. What do you want for Christmas." And then we begin again. Yep, the snowball is just beginning to slip over the edge to a quick ending to 2009.

I listened to an interview the other evening between Bill Mahr and Billy Bob Thorton regarding the musical groups that we listen to. Billy Bob said that he had asked someone to give him a list of the groups that are going to be remembered a hundred years from now that are popular from 1980- 2010. Then he said to Bill Mahr that from the 1960's - 1980's he could name a hundred popular ones. Bill Mahr agreed except said "well, not a hundred". Listening to the Oldies stations and hearing the ones from the 60's through the 80's, YEAH, you really could come up with a hundred. Maybe not as popular as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eagles, Rio, Led Zeplin, The Who, Three Dog Night, Lynard Skinard (how ever you spell it) but there are a good long list of them. The ones that are performing today are more of the one hit wonders that scream instead of sing, show violance or rap about it, and just plain don't have the beat. You know, that thing called music that you can dance to. Remember the sock hops, Skinny Johnny Mitchell, and Wolfe Man Jack. I do, well...Isn't it a shame that Twisted Sister isn't declaring "We ain't gonna take it anymore?"

2009-06-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Tired? Now you see it, now you don't. Yes, they'll do it, then they won't. Will there be a school next year or not. They formed a board, they spoke at district meetings, they pleaded for the opportunity to educate or to learn and yet...

Granite High School is closing their doors for the second time. But not to the general public. This time it is closing the educational rights of the destitute student who would never get ahead in a larger school. It is closing to foreigners who have just arrived and speak little to no English. It is closing to the students who are being cared for through foster homes and state custody. It is closing to students that want an education but have a hard time competing with the large volume of students who's parents can afford the football, dance, baseball, cheerleading registration costs. It kind of makes me mad. Now that there is this 'Everyone has a right to an education' act, those who really want to learn are crammed into classrooms with kids that could care less who's tending them that day and they'll let you know it.

During my time on the Valley Journal, Granite High School was a part of my beat. It was truely the funnest place to go. From the unique plays that they performed using students who spoke with accents I enjoyed hearing to watching a child from India adjust and excel in an environment that was so far from their norm. The teachers cared. The students learned. And yet, the school district has decided that there just isn't enough monies in their budget to continue supporting them. What a shame because I'll bet that the percentage of their seniors actually graduated and at least 3/4 of them all received scholorships. That's what happened in 2008.

DON'T TRUST YOUR NEIGHBORS!!!!

There is a comandmant that states "Thou shall not kill!. Because you don't get to decide who lives or dies. The creator does. Yet, this
eighteen year old breaks into Kimberly Hain's house during the night with a bat to steal something - what? Hell, he doesn't know, he's 'supposibly' hiped up on drugs. He makes a noice and wakes up the 33 year old mother of a 8 year old and a 6 year old and beats her to death with the baseball bat. The following morning, the 18 year old is acting as though he has no idea what happened during the night at his neighbors house. Hell, the jerk goes so far as to publicly console another neighbor over the tragedy before a news camera.

I met Kimberly Hains in 1999, when she came to work at Cottonwood Hospital on the 5th floor. Her mother-in-law, Cozi was also a part of the unit and Patrick, her husband was a phlebotomist at Primary Childrens Hospital. While working full time on the day shift, Kim was also going to school at night. In 2000, she became pregnant with Terran. I don't think I knew a more excited mother-to-be. Scrub pants and t-shirts became her mom-of-the-year wardrobe. I have a picture of Kim at the baby shower we gave her on the floor where she is holding up a stuffed moose with the biggest grin on her face. How excited she was! For several years, we worked together, often doubling up in doing patient care jobs. If you called her Kimmy or K-K-Kimberly, she would ignore you until you 'get my name right'. Kim, Christa and I enjoyed our jobs working as a three way unit. Christa left to get married and move to Utah county, Kim left to join Pat at Primary's and I left to work for two wonderful surgeons. Now, Kim's next door neighbor has taken her life and left a lot of people with out the priviledge of knowing and working with her as one of the greatest nurses this state will never see. Talking to Christa the other day, we decided we're lucky 'cause at least we have our memories.
"Rest Well My Friend, For You Are Loved. We Shall Remember You With Warm Thoughts and Deep Words of Joy" Doree

2009-05-23T08:15:00.001-07:00

For Tiffinie: I give you 'Scout'. On your travels to Alaska and the Bering Sea, for months of fishing, waves and missing me, I present the next best thing; Scout The Warrior.

Scout'll hold those critters at bay for you; growling, barking, as a new member of your crew. Now, he may be young and kind of small but through the years he'll grow mean and tall. Battle plans are in his dreams, ferocious, sturdy, a real killing machine. Delusions are in a big bear's mind, to even think lil' Scout can't tow the line.

Precious as a pup can be, I know that Scout will keep you free. To work those nets of fish and more, you'll need your strength to do the chore. So fit your foot inside your boot, leave the critters to this cute Malamute. Have a grand old time with fun abound, family and friends know you're safe with Scout around.

'Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies in the morning, sailor's take warning.'
Have a good time with your brother and snatch up record catches. See you when you return home.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T09:37:00.001-07:00

Yes, Ladies, if the shoe fits, wear it. Enjoy it. Dance in it. Because, you get one whole day to be celebrated for it. Child birth. That moment in time when you endure 2, 12, 24, 38 hours of mind numbing, body tearing, gut wrenching pain. But, it is all worth it when on May 10, 2009, your child gives you a day to sit back, relax, and enjoy your efforts. Congratulations!

I didn't mind my 2 hours and 43 minutes of labor. Of course the epideral hadn't taken effect before they wheeled me into the delivery room. How were they to know that she was in a flippin' hurray? They didn't. Each delivery is different, unique; just as the child is. Text books are for throwing out the window. Some are quick and easy, as the child is during their years of growth. Then there are the 36 hours of acid burning agony and the next 21 years of shear terror to follow. But we love them anyway.

So Moms of the world, enjoy. Drink a glass of wine and sit back. Let them finally, make the meal, do the dishes, wipe the table while you watch. Tomorrow is soon enough to redo the dishes, clean the kitchen and get your life back to normal. :-) <3

2009-05-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Class of 1945, some are still alive...

This is a picture of South High's Class of 45. How did they survive? They began High School at the start of WWII. Following the devastation of the Depression and then celebrated their graduation with the ending of the war. They had sports, but the football helmet was made of leather and padding. Not fiberglass and metal. They had school dances with balloons and streamers, slow music followed with a little bebop. Class rings and Letterman's jackets, poverty and death, basket ball champion banners and discrimination, very few jobs but they all worked with pride. That was in 1945. For the most part, this class of students have witnessed a lot! They watched the bombing of Pearl Harbor, retribution in Japan, Korean War, Tani min Square, Kent State riots, the assassination of Kennedy, Watergate and the impeachment of Nixon, landing on the moon, the great floods of the mid-west, the gas wars, terrorism, Gulf war, the fall of the Twin Towers, the damage to the pentagon, the Iraq war, the recession's of 1984, 1992 and today's borderline depression of 2009. To them, it must seem like their life has come around full circle with nothing learned for the future. What a shame.

Immunize - wise?

I remember when we (the students) were called down to the cafeteria for our iimmunizations. You remember, come on! The sugar cube and the shots. Oh what a wonderful day! We were told that these would last us a lifetime. Who's? As soon as that needle came out, kids were dropping like flies, throwing up, passing out, crying and the only thing we have to show for it is a scar (it's the sort of round one on the left shoulder). Small pox - yep, step right up and get your guaranteed 100 percent, never have to worry again, vaccination. Yeah, well, my parents back then, would believe the government. Today, not so much. Proof, give us proof. Because the scar on my arm is no longer a guarantee against the disease. This time, when I'm told to form a line, I'll take mine in a tall glass of bourbon and 7-up, please.

Oh, so good!

2009-03-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited...my erotica novel placed second in the Great Expectations contest and the publisher has requested my full manuscript. YEAH. With everything that a writer has to go through, the request of a manuscript is wonderful. It is like being a small mouse and waiting until the time that the big cat actually puts its paws around in a welcoming embrace instead of playing you like a toy.
Tomorrow is April Fools day. What will I do? What will I do. Well, I have plans and they are going to be scrumptious, yummy and filling. And if I win at Bunco, well, that's just all the more better. A little pocket money to see me through the week will be the topping on the whip cream of my life. As we move into the month of April, I am especially looking forward to Spring. Not this...now you see it, now you don't garbage, but the real, leave your winter coat in the closet deal. We gotten a test, but I ready for the whole meal. Just like last year, we get out and do a little work in our yards. Say hello to our neighbors; remember that we have neighbors, and then, wham, bam...It's winter again. (please say again again with a poetic tone as wham bam, thanks).

For all you women writers in this (great?) state of Utah, the Utah chapter of RWA is having a retreat in a gigantic cabin by Altamont in the middle of April. Check with the website for details. Its going to be fun, and a wonderful time for getting those words down, gals.

Until again, see ya.

2009-03-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Pain of Grand Parenting

I think the world of my four grandchildren. They are absolutely the love of my life. And, after one day with them, they still are. Two days is pushing it. I don't know if they get on my nerves or if I am one great big nerve to them.

My daughter brought the darlings over on Friday, at 2:00 p.m. I am a saint. I know because I had them through to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The two older kids are at the 'now you see them, now you don't' ages of 9 and 7. They love their video games and the internet. Okay so, they're easy.

The other two are 3 and 2. Both boys, both out to drive grandma insane. They want, they don't want, they need, they have to have, please, please gammy, please. Can we go outside? Ten minutes later, one or the other, or both are crying. Why. He pushed him or he took my... Can we watch a movie? Can we go outside? can we...

Night one, all is well. They go to bed. Those cute little darlings. So sweet. Look at them. One sucks his finger, the other one cuddles a stuffed turtle. One snores. They wake up, way earlier than I do and they drag gammy down stairs cause they want juice. I'm awake...I need coffee but, I'm awake.

The following night, well, suffice it to say those darlings have grown horns, tails and tempers. They are not tired, they will not go to bed and they don't like gammy cause I was born and told them to get to bed.

But, I don't care... I absolutely love these precious children. And, don't call me to tend again for another month.

Cause...Gammy said.

The Birds

2009-03-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Here it is: SPRING HAS ARRIVED!
So, How are we spending the first day of spring? We are cleaning out the birds cages. Yes, birds. We have three of the cutest Cockatiels that we enjoy, well, most of the time. But they do not follow orders worth a tink. I have asked them on several occasions to pick up after themselves. But, do they do it? No. There are seeds all over the place. I talk, they don't listen. I show them how it's done, to no avail. Our oldest is thirteen, a male white face. As cute as a bug this boy is. Although, as will almost all small creatures, he is dilutional. Spike believes that he is an eagle (we've shown him pictures but until we can actually place him face to face, it irrelevant. Gilligan is his little buddy.(Yellow or Pied, eleven years old) Sad to find out thought, that she was a she. This birds takes the meaning of 'bird brain' to life. Gilly will stand on top of a mug of coffee, lean down, take a sip, yipe because it is hot, and go in for seconds. Where other birds are afraid of dark places and reluctant to venture into one, Gilly will walk right into a potato chip bag looking for crumbs. But, we love her. Our third is our favorite, (do not tell the other two) Gilly and Spike have parented several babies. We have for the most part, happily given them away. Five years ago, Gilly gave birth to a little Grey that she must not have liked because she pulled all the babies feathers out so I took the little bald baby and every four hours, fed it with a dropper, mother it and fell in love with Chewy. We kept her. This bird is the biggest tease and thinks the world of my husband. Talk about a bird being comfortable in her environment, she is under the assumption that she is a person. Chewy likes kisses, scratches, tummy tickles and snuggling up under your chin.

And so, I spend a day each week vacuuming their room, sterilizing their food dishes and disinfecting their cages. Why? Because I can't get the little buggers to do it for me.

I'm write in the middle of a fantastic scene in my current novel and I have to do the mommy thing - clean up for the winged vultures lying in wait for an innocent shoulder to 'poop' on. Here's to another day in the week of this writer. Have fun.

ENJOY THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING.

2009-03-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

"People on the outside think there's something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn't like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that's all there is to it"...Harlan Ellison

Writers write because we can, we need to, we have to. Or, because, why not? When I write, I try and envision what my goal is as I set up my characters and their GMC; Novella, novel, short story or just putting ink to paper and doodling. But, it is what I see that goes down. Not what someone tells me to write.

Example: Write a story about the Botanical Gardens in Arizona.
No. Why not? Because, I've never been to the Botanical Gardens in
Arizona and therefore I can't pretend and frankly, the only words I'd be
able to supply are:"It's probably a very pretty place with lots of colors
and smells."

Now...talk about writing something regarding fishing as a kid and you get:
Oh, the solitude of being alone? I love when the humidity beads up on my skin, the sun high in a clear blue sky. The smell of dead fish surrounds me as I crouch down with my fishing pole; a hook dangling at the end of the line into the Ozark River, hoping to snag a slimy perch. While a pesky fly buzzes around my head, searching for food and I'll give it to him because I can't stand the rotten taste of perch.

Ain't fishin' fun? Worms make great bait but I prefer minnows. A worm will break in half while you're trying to string them onto the hook but a minnow, well, you just stick that hook right through 'em and off you go. Lickety split and you got your fish.

The theme song of "Mayberry" strolls through my mind. I really do wish I could whistle. Oh, well.

2009-03-05T11:47:00.001-08:00

Hannibal Haven

2009-03-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

Care to take a trip? Picture yourself at the entrance to Hannibal, Missouri. That's right, beneath the statue of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Take a picture - it's worth it. Now continue walking down the hill to the Mississippi River. Have a seat, yes, on the ground, and look out at the tree filled island east of where you're at.

Okay, if you're going to whine about the mud, move south down the shoreline to the marina where they load and unload the riverboat. Pull up a chair.

It is late May, the humidity is climbing but tolerable. It's a warm 86 degrees, the sky is clear and there is a gentle breeze. (the tornado isn't due for at least another two days, and it looks like it will be south of us - feel better? Good, lets continue)

Now, remember...you're sights are on the tree cover island. Huck is mumbling on about Indian Joe and all you can think about is getting a solid five skips on a rock across the calm river. No worries about the decline in the market, the high increase in unemployment, or those stupid taxes that you still have rounded up all the necessary information to file. This is your moment to dream. To visualize a life back in the fifties, when the war was over, the economy was stable and you could be a kid. Think about the next adventure that you and Hunk can do. Climb the hills, chase the deer or lay back, nibble on a piece of grass and listen to the mumbling going on next to you about Indian Joe.

See. It's nice to put the concerns away and take a small vacation.