A Lame Attempt at Autumn Decor

As an official mediocre blog writer, I have attempted to change my blog layout to a stunning autumn theme. The results, as you can see, are quite underwhelming.

Oh well, the yellow will cheer me as the days get shorter. Unless, of course I decide to change to a theme of white, dark brown, blue and evergreen for winter. That's always a possibility.

I'd love to be able to decorate and fluff and frill my blog like Pea does. Her blog always looks like it should be featured in Better Homes and Gardens. Mine looks like it should be featured in a package of construction paper.



I get to stay home all day today. No running hither and yon to accomplish errands or attend meetings or pay for more chiropractor appointments. I shall savor the sweet joy of relaxing at home with my girlies (Mulletman is at work) and just being. Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.

And while I'm just being I'm hoping I'll get an inspiration for NaNoWriMo. I have some characters in mind, but no plot as of yet. I simply have some vague scenes in my mind - interactions. No purpose. No direction. I'm not even going to sign up for NaNoWriMo unless I've got somewhere for these imaginary folks to go. They need a home! They need a crisis (or three)! They need some odd and interesting developments! They need an actual, you know, STORY!!!!!!!!!

At any rate, let me introduce you to my main characters:

Foremost in my mind is Candace Eloise Baymen; her friends call her Candy. She is an outgoing, eccentric, overweight, mentally ill lady with multiple health problems and multiple cats. Candy lives in a small government subsidized apartment which is cluttered with piles and piles of magazines and papers and knick knacks and snack foods. She rarely cleans, presumably because of her health issues. She is an expert at guilting people into "helping" her with any number of extraordinary projects and objectives, from finding a working vacuum cleaner for her (which she can't use because of her aching legs) or hauling her around to run errands to buying and giving gifts to others in her name. Candy is very active in the mental health community and has many, MANY fascinating (and sometimes scary) friends.

At least two people who read my blog who can see right through me and know that Candy is based on my real life friend, Special K. This is a good thing, though, because K affords me endless opportunities for observation and learning. K will also never, ever read my stories because, well, she' won't, unless one of my stories about her is featured in a Lane Bryant catalog.

I also have a homeschooling family in mind, the Carlsons. This is Pete's second marriage and he's brought 2 prior children into the mix. It's Evie's first marriage and she and Pete have had three children together whom they now homeschool. They'd like to homeschool Pete's older two, but the ex-wife won't allow it. Pete is calm, quiet, and steady, occasionally prone to depression. Evie is petite, sweet and kind hearted, but is tough as steel when it comes to things that matter.

The ex-wife is Michelle, an overbearing, unpredictable, and unstable person (or is she?) who sows strife wherever she goes (or does she?).

I'm still working on the actual children. Will they be shallow appendages to the main story, or will they each have depth and meaning? I'm thinking that at the very least, the older two will figure prominantly as they are passed back and forth between Pete and Michelle and their conflicting values.

The family attends Payson Community Church, a small church of about 100 people. Their pastor is Jim Briggs. Jim was the pastor of a big church in a large city (details are fuzzy at this point), but left that pastorate for one that, at first appearance, would be much less stressful. However, his flock are anything but peaceful. Jim is Pete's best friend.

*********************************************
Whoa. Do you know, just writing out that much has started my brain to rolling. The creative juices are flowing! OK...I'm off to NaNoWriMo to sign up. My working title? Linear Equation. The title has nothing to do with anything; I just think it sounds groovy!

In the meantime, if YOU have any ideas for some interesting plot twists, turns, or tumbles, be sure to let me know and I'll see if they'll work in. You can enlighten me in the commetns or you can email me at groovyoldlady (at) roadrunner (dot) com. However, if you have TOO many ideas, then maybe you should sign up and write your own novel in a month! If you do, make sure you sign is my buddy! :D

**********************************************

You Are 72% Interesting

You are a fairly interesting person. Many people find you to be intriguing. You have a dynamic, adventurous life... a life that others envy. You are genuinely interested in and open to the world. You love making new friends, and you're always up for an unusual experience. Like everyone else, you can get a bit boring from time to time. That's normal. But unlike everyone else, you can pull yourself out of a rut. You don't stay boring for long.

Are You Boring or Interesting?

Hmmm. Well, if my writing (and particularly my fiction) is 72% interesting, then I shall consider myself....a step ABOVE mediocre!

**********************************************