Tagged!

I was tagged by fellow writer Lauri of Thoughts from Botswana. It’s called Scrabble Tag and here are the rules:

List at least five things you do to support and spread a love of the written word, then tag five people. (If you list something that touches youngsters, you get a bonus letter!)

So here goes:

1. I read. ALOT. I read the Bible. I read classic fiction. I read new releases. I read magazines. I read waaaaaaaaaay too many blogs. I read cereal boxes. I read pill bottles. I read labels. I read other peoples' personal diaries -JUST KIDDING! - I read and read and read nonfiction for research into anything and everything that interests me or that I have a question about. Research in the past week has included, among other things: adrenal supplements, training techniques for long distance biking, P.A. equipment (all those technical specs made me cross-eyed!), chocolate, hairstyles for thin, wispy silvery hair, recipes for Boston Cream Pie, how to diagnose stitching problems on my stupid sewing machine, Third Day's concert schedule, composting, and whether or not my new running sneaks were made in the U.S or not (they were).

How, may you ask, does this promote writing? Well, folks, if no one ever reads it...what's the point? Besides, my girls see me doing all this reading and they are following suit. They know from my example that reading is a form of pleasure, a way to get information, a way to grow, a way to escape, a way to burn your dinner if you're reading whilst you stir!

2. I review newly released romances for The Long and Short of It. Most of these books are of the "e" variety and I read them by sitting 18" away from my computer and wishing I had a portable reader. ;-) Happily for me, LASR allows me to select which books I review, so I can stick to the sweeter and/or inspirational ones.

3.I incorporate writing into every school subject. One of the hallmarks of my high school science classes - I taught biology and chemistry to a co-op group of 7-9 homeschooled students for several years - is extra credit in the form of creative writing. Science has so many fun and weird and interesting words/terms. We pull them out of context, make up new meanings and write crazy stories. It's SO fun!

My own children have grown/are growing in a world of written verbage. One of our favorite activites is writing extemporaneous essays on topics pulled from an envelope. Another is the "stories in the round" that we, as a family create. When I get out paper, a timer, and M&Ms things start getting very exciting around here - even Mulletman (who hates to write) joins in! Each person writes a story title, then passes their paper to the left. Now each person writes for 10 minutes, starting a story based on the title they received. When the timer goes off we all pass our papers to the left, stretch a bit and enjoy some M&Ms, then set to on part-the-second of the story. We repeat the process until the tales are finished. The stories take such bizarre twists and turns that we usually end up in hysteria.

4. I write plays, skits, and songs, many of which have been performed by others.

5. In the past I have conducted homeschool writing workshops in my home for elementary students. The events were very popular and some of the students still bring up techniques I taught them so many moons ago. I am working now on getting Silly-Head's reading skills up to snuff. Once she's doing a bit better, we'll start those writing workshops again.

6. I write. ALOT. I write on my blog. I write comments. I write on forums. I write on Facebook. I write prose on my Squidoo lenses. I write novels and short stories. I write emails and letters.

One of the most common sounds in our house is the clack, clack, clack of the keyboard! And, once again, my girls observe and copy and contribute. They are always "helping" me with plot lines and ideas and names and they are both becoming writers. Girly-Girl is always writing and illustrating stories. Silly-Head just tells us stories - long, hilarious, convoluted stories, some of which I write down for her.


OK...as you all know, I am not a tagger. So if any of you support the spread of the written word, then feel free to "steal" this meme!

Updates and a Reading Meme

Man, that was a lame title. Lame, but apropos.

First, the updates:

-I have not finished my novel. In fact I haven't touched it in a couple of weeks. So no, I did not get in my 50,000 Nanowrimo words. However, I wrote more words in this one story than I think I ever have before AND, better yet, I like most of what I have written! For me, this is success.

Poor Jason was just about to let Sarah (the goth) come over and hang out because ANYTHING would be better than facing mom with a new boyfriend. I will rescue him sometime after Christmas because, frankly, I can't wait to find out what's going to happen next!

-On the Sundays that Mulletman and I are on the worship team at church, we stay for all of first service and for the musical part of second service. For the last part, the girlies usually sit with the Folks down in the third row. This week, while I was still in the ladies' room primping, Silly-Head tripped in the aisle on her way down to Grammy and Grampy and sliced a large chunk of her forehead open on one of the sanctuary chairs. Mulletman swooped her up and comforted her for a few moments, then pulled away to look at her boo-boo. The gaping wound actually made my husband swoonish. He got all lightheaded and weird - this is somewhat bizarre when you consider that he is a critical care cardiac nurse; He sees blood and guts and grossness on a regular basis!

He pulled himself together and ran to one of the kitchens for a towel to staunch the blood and then left behind coats, wife and other child to take her to the ER.

In the meantime, I was blissfully unaware that anything happened. I finished my ladies' room ministrations and made my way to my microphone. My first clue that something had happened came T-2 minutes before the start of second service. One of our pastors came up to me and let me know about the ER visit. I thought he was pulling my leg at first! Then I looked out in the congregation and there was Girly-Girl sitting the Folks. No Silly-Head. And no Mulletman behind the drum kit.

Not good!

However, I now had no car and it was time for the service to start and Aaaaaack, what should I do?! My friend, Mare made the decision for me. "We'll do the music and then I'll run you over to the hospital."

Case closed.

So we sang - although things got a bit jumbled because Pastor Bill was shaken up by knowing Silly-Head was hurt and by having to adjust for our sudden lack of drums.

Well, long story short, I finally got to the ER. They took my name and said they'd call me when I could go back - realize that at this time I had NO IDEA how badly she was hurt. Why couldn't I go back now? Was she in surgery? Did she have a concussion? Did she (gasp) poke her eye out because she was running down the church aisle while carrying a sharp implement??!! And did I have the force of character to actually ask these questions aloud? Nope. I just took Girly-Girl into the waiting room and obediently sat.

They never called me back.

When Mm and Silly-head came out, she was fine. She'd gotten 8 stitiches in her forehead (a lovely sideways V that goes through her left eyebrow) and had been a peach through it all. Now she was silly (duh) and happy and acting like her usual self. In fact, she wanted to know if we could go out for lunch! Mulletman, on the other hand, was a mess. He was pale and shaky and he had blood all over his shirt. He had trouble focusing or answering questions. Poor guy! He was especially upset that they hadn't told me to just come on back because HE NEEDED ME!

I decided then and there that if one of us dies before the other, he will have to go first. He'll never make it if I precede him!

He tried to distract himself the rest of the day. He took a nap, washed the cars, and agreed to go to a concert with me since Silly-Head was doing great. He did not enjoy the concert. He sat there looking tense and stiff and unhappy. Finally he said, "I wanna go home so I can put the girls to bed. Can you get a ride home?"

When I got home later, he was sleeping with Silly-Head in her little single bed with his arm around her. Aaaaaaawwwww!!

-Somewhere in the midst of all this, Mulletman lost his wallet. I spent all day yesterday cancelling cards and getting replacements etc.

The good news is that now I know what to get him for Christmas: A Wallet!


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Now, the Meme:

My writing comrade Elsa tagged me for this reading meme. I did it because I know you are all just DYING to know even more about Groovy. It is, however, the LAST meme I'm doing this year. Groovy is all Meme-ed out!

What have you just read?

I recently read (and adored both) Pi and the Fabulosa (Slightly Married) 24-Hour Man by Dana Mentink (an e-book available at The Wild Rose Press) and In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith.


What are you reading now?

Fiction: The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain and a romance novel that I am reviewing for LASR. I won't reveal the name of that one unless I end up liking it. Right now, it's a bit on the iffy side. By the way, check out the mysteriously veiled list of LASR Reviewers and see if you can figure out which flower in the bouquet is Groovy...

Non-Fiction: See this Meme.


Do you have any idea what you'll read when you're done with that?

Yep, my next LASR assignment!

I'm also very excited about picking up another McCall Smith novel - I'm hooked! I have to put it off until I finish making the ornaments for my ornament exchange and my pay-it-forward gals. (I will finish the ornaments today or tomorrow, ladies! I promise.)


What's the worst thing you were ever forced to read?

Ooo. I have a LIST! Vanity Fair, House of the Seven Gables, Gulliver's Travels, The Jungle, David Copperfield (WHAT was Dicken's thinking!!??), and there are probably some others that were so awful I've blocked them from mind!

What's one book you always recommend to just about anyone?

The Bible! It has everything for everyone.


Admit it, sadly the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don't they?

Sadly? No. They're always happy to see me! And I am happy to see them! There's no "sadly" in the relationship at all, (EXCEPT when I need a book for homeschool and they don't have it and they charge me the mailing fees for the interlibrary loan even though they don't get the book until 3 weeks after I need it).

Welcome to small town Maine!


Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don't like it at all?

Nothing comes to mind here… (Funsocksgirl, any input? Your memory is better than mine.)


Do you read books while you eat?

Doesn't everyone? (Though we, as a family, have a no-reading-during-a-family-supper rule)


While you bathe?

Of course! The tub is a PRIME reading spot.


While you watch movies or TV?

I rarely watch movies and never watch tv, though I have been known to read at the Folk's house while their tv is on.


While you listen to music?

Sure...as long as it's instrumental. Otherwise I start singing along and get confused and lose my place.


While you're on the computer?

It's not my favorite way to read, but I do read e-books and blogs and informational websites. I prefer to curl up sideways in our living room chair when I read.


When you were little did other children tease you about your reading habits?

Um, no. I'm fairly dramatic, so they liked it when I read aloud, though.


What's the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down?

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith


Have any books made you cry?

Many MANY books. One notable one that comes to mind is David Copperfield by Dickens. I was reading it aloud to Funsocksgirl and Scout and I was sobbing so hard I could barely get the words out.

I was JUST reading Anne of Green Gables to the Girlies and lost it when Matthew Cuthbert died.

I've also been known to guffaw and chuckle and snicker and giggle while reading which is somewhat embarassing in public places!