The Last Saturday in July 2016

Instead of making a Success Saturday entry, I'm going to list the things I have  to do in August 2016. I'm not listing them in any particular order that way I can change the priority when necessary.  

August Writing 

 

1. Edit Scavengers 
2. Story #21 of 44 
3. Submission for I Write in August, September, and October 
4. Story #22 of 44 
5. Submission to Project Write World 
6. Story #23 of 44 
7. Entry for Virtual Camping in Europe 

That's all I'm planning to write in August. I might do some other writing, but only if I finish  the weekly entries and have time left from the planned editing or writing. I'm looking forward to August because it's the season of monsoonal moisture in the Las Vegas area and that always inspires me. 

 

Motivational Monday: I'm Motivated to Edit One of My Novels

Today I'm editing one of my novels. I copied the first chapter into a word document on OneDrive. I'm thinking of changing the first chapter to something else because I'm starting in the middle of the story. Alternately, I could keep my present first chapter as it is and then make the second the one that gives the background. There is a third possibility, I could use the introduction for the background information. I'll worry about that after I finish editing this chapter. 

I also have to decide on a cover. I'm not a great artist so I'll write out a description of what I want on the cover. I have to focus on getting this story edited because I need to finish another novel. On the bright side while I was copying and pasting this chapter into the word document on OneDrive I discovered how to rename my documents so that I can find the documents I need. It's been a while since I worked with word, so it's understandable that I would forget how to do something. In addition, I'm working in Word Online and I'm still learning to how to use it. 

Success Saturday: At the end of a hot week in Las Vegas

The triple digit temperatures really go to me this week. They were so bad that I wrote a poem about them, I have to go back and rewrite it because I over emphasized the triple digits. I put too many lines with the words "triple digit   temperatures" without looking for other phases. I'll let the poem lay a week or so before rewriting it. 

I'm not sure why the temperature affected me like it did this week. It might have had something to  to with the temperature reaching 100 degrees before noon. Usually the  temperature does not get that high until sometime after 12:00 PM, but this week it hit that mark before 11:00 AM. Of course, it is always better to have the temperature inspire then depress.    I all so finished story number 20 of 44 and now have only two more stories to write before completed the halfway mark. All in all it was a successful writing week. 

Motivational Monday: I'm Motivated Today!

I'm motivated today! This morning I went for a walk halfway around the block when I returned I accessed my checking account to see if I had enough to pay the internet bill. I didn't, but I have ten days to raise this month's payment before the cable company disconnects my social life. I have to have the payment in by July 28 or I have no social life until the bill is paid. As you can see my sense of humor is still going strong which means I'm not depressed and confident that I can somehow raise the money. 

I'm motivated to write today! I've started three short stories for the 44 I've committed to write this year.  If I can finish those by the end of July I will be halfway through the stories and halfway through the year. I've did all right with the previous stories even though some of the word counts are a bit short.  I will just push on with these three stories making sure they are over 1000 words. 

I'm motivated to make blog entries today. Yesterday I considered ending the entries in this blog because I've had difficulties making every-other-day posts. However, this morning I decided that wasn't a good reason to end posting. I will continue to attempt to make entries in this blog, but I might cut it down to two or three days a week. That depends on how much other writing and desk cleaning off I accomplish this week. 

Cleaning off the desk 
I have a desire to see 
My desktop again. 

Motivational Monday: Depression Bugs Me

Motivational Monday 

The mood that bugs me most 

The depression that sets in 

Line Count: 3 

Form: American 767, created by Dennis L. Dean, a three line form with 7-6-7 syllables with a bug as the theme of subject. In this poem I have exercised my poetic license and written about something that bugs me. 

I've been afflicted with bouts of depression all my life. I'm not going into the details of why I think I deal with depression. I will list the things that help me deal with the depression. There are five t hings t hat help me deal with depression and usually cause it to dissipate. Those five things are (1) writing, (2) prayer, (3) meditation, (4) coffee, and (5) chocolate (either dark chocolate or white chocolate). 

Thankful Thursday: Counting my Blessings: A Poem

I count my blessings 

Numbering them one by one 

One line at a time 

I know I am blessed 

Listing my gratitude helps 

Overcome the blues 

I intone a prayer of thanks 

For blessings I have received 

My blues disappears 

 

Holiday Depression

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July which is or used to be one of my favorite holidays. I'm not looking forward to it this year. I'm not sure what is causing the problem. It could be that I just do not find setting of fireworks fun. When I was a child, I enjoyed Fourth of July fireworks displays and parades. When Mom was alive I would stand outside with her while we watched the neighbors ignite both legal and illegal fireworks. After Mom died I watched the Fourth of July specials on television and enjoyed them. This year I'm not looking forward to the fireworks or the specials. 

I suppose it could be holiday depression, but I don't know why I'm experiencing it this early in the year. Usually the Holiday Blues hits me on Thanksgiving or around Christmas. Those are the days that the memories of childhood and my mother are the strongest. I could be depressed because of the weird weather this year. I will figure out  what is causing the problem.  Once I do that I will solive the problem. 

Welcome to July the Month of Chewing Ice

Prompt: How do you feel about some one chewing ice at the table? Would you speak to someone if they were chewing ice or would you ignore it? 

I  prefer to suck on ice myself, but if someone likes chewing on it more power to them. Listening to someone chewing on ice can be a bit irritating, but it is a minor irritation. When I was younger, and had all my natural teeth, I chewed on ice once in a while. The sensation was weird and interesting because the cold hurt my teeth. The sound was  interesting because I could feel and hear the sound at the same time. 

I stopped chewing on ice because it hurt my teeth. I switched to sucking on the ice because I liked the feel of the ice on my gums. I have a complete set of dentures, which make chewing on ice dangerous. Chewing on ice could break my dentures and cost a lot of money to fix. However, sucking on ice is acceptable  because, even with dentures, I still get the same cool sensation in my gums and throat .  

Would I speak to someone who was chewing on ice? That depends on how irritating the sound became. If the sound interfered with the conversation I would say something. If the person wanted to chew on ice more then he or she wanted to talk to me then I would speak up or I would leave. Chewing on ice when you are out  with someone is as rude as  texting or talking on your smartphone. 

The habit of chewing on ice would make a good character trait. A protagonist or antagonist with this habit could be very interesting. I wonder why someone would chew on ice especially since it could damage their teeth. Perhaps make it a nervous habit  that the character does not realize is occuring until someone tells her.