Blog Birthday! And other things...

Guess whose blog is having a birthday today?  That's right!  On this day six years ago, my little blog rose from the ashes like a digital phoenix, and has never looked back again.

Oddly, as I went back in time to peruse the old posts, I noticed that all of the formatting has been lost.  Oh well.  Onward!

E.T.A: I am a writer, not a mather... and I think I have counted wrongly. But, this video brings me back to the days when I was six myself, and so it stays. Deal with it.

I wish I could shower you with presents to celebrate, but, that is just not to be.  

I've been keeping my head down working the last couple of weeks as I get my head around the fabulousness that was Big Sur in the Rockies. It's the workshop that's done by Andrea Brown Lit and they held it in Colorado this year. A. Maz. Ing.  There really aren't words for what's left over of my blown mind. 

In other news, I just learned that Neil Gaiman is coming to The Tattered Cover some time later this year, and tickets (the purchase of the book gets you in) go on sale right before my birthday. Coincidence? I think not.  

What's interesting about this is that I have already pre-ordered a signed copy of his new book from another event and so just might find myself with extra *signed* copies of OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE when that day comes, if luck is shining on me. Or, that is to say...shining on YOU!  Nobody really needs TWO signed copies of anything... Maybe I'll just have to give it away to one lucky blog reader. We shall see, my friends.  We shall see.

For mother's day my family bought me a sodastream soda machine! I've been off the coca cola for *checks the 'days since' app* 118 days!  If you don't count that accidental sip that totally grossed me out around day 80 and then there was an on purpose sip on day 111 that gave me a headache and caused a full body squeamish shiver. 

Yes, I think it is safe to say that I am cured of the soda. (finally!) So this machine is totally cool.  It carbonates the tap water, to which I add a dollop of unsweetened fruit juice and two drops of liquid stevia.  Tonight I'm enjoying black cherry.  OMG yummy.

It comes with all kinds of syrup, which the kids are taste testing. So far, the consensus is the root beer tastes right, but is almost too sweet. That's saying something if my children think anything is too sweet. 

Check it out

I'm reading this book an writing short stories that has me totally engrossed. I am also reading THE NIGHT CIRCUS, which I just love.  I had to put it down while I tend to other things, and it calls to me. The imagery is just so... enchanting. Yes, it is enchanting.

Thanks for stopping by! 

The Writer's Voice Blogfest #41

“The Writer’s Voice” is a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes, Monica B.W. of Love YA, and Krista Van Dolzer. My entry was one of 150 chosen by lottery to take part in this blogfest. So, here is my query of THE EXPATRIATES and the first 250 words of the manuscript. 

Dear Fabulous Agents and Author Coaches,

Seventeen-year-old Jim Wales can communicate with animals, but his mind-tap ability isn’t why he lives with a traveling carnival. Jim doesn’t know they’ve been hiding him there since he was little, since someone started hunting all the Scholars.

When a message arrives from Jim’s not-dead father from their not-destroyed homeland, Jim’s whereabouts are discovered. Jim watches his brother sacrifice himself to save him, leaving Jim and his friends alone and on the run. Boiling with the need for vengeance and answers, Jim discovers that he’s the last Scholar—the only one left with the power to stop his would-be killer, avenge his brother, and keep Bellenor—their magical medieval home world—from drifting into oblivion, for real this time.

When Jim learns the depths of his family’s betrayal and realizes the lengths to which others will go in order to secure him as their pawn, Jim finds that going home isn’t the same as being safe and that trust is everything

THE EXPATRIATES is a YA fantasy that runs 80,000 words. I am a member of SCBWI and a recipient of a scholarship by the Norman Mailer Writer’s Colony for their YA workshop.

Per your submission guidelines, I’ve included my first 250 words below.

Thank you for your consideration.

Corinne O'Flynn

Chapter 1

I’ve never been a fan of falcons. Actually, all birds of prey grossed me out. Mind-tapping a bird of prey was like stepping into a gory dream full of soft fleshy things like eyeball strings and intestines. No, give me someone’s pet canary or parakeet any day. Birds of prey were just nasty.

So when one landed in front of our motor home as we pulled into the fairgrounds, I would’ve totally ignored it. But its silver-white feathers glistened and its eyes reflected the light—greenish sequins that raised goose bumps on my arms. The falcon held my gaze, pulling me to tap it.

I connected with the animal, moving my mind through the windshield of our motor home and into the waiting raptor’s. I braced myself for the gore. But instead of fleshy bird thoughts, my vision split, like I was in two places at once. Light blasted my eyes, giant beams of golden white seared my vision and threw me off balance. I grabbed the arm rests to keep from falling over in my seat, slick palms sliding on leather.

“Jim, what is it?” Mom’s voice from the driver’s seat snapped me back.

I let go of the bird’s mind and found myself back in the RV, white knuckled and sweating.

“I’m gonna puke.” I hopped out and hit the ground. I worked to slow my breathing, rocking on all fours while the sharp gravel bit into my palms.

“You OK, honey?” Mom held the screen door open.

Happy St. Walpurga Day! #atozchallenge

Happy May Day!  

Anyone out there hungover from celebrating Saint Walpurga's Day?

Well, they don't call it the A-to-Z "Challenge" for nothing. I thought I'd have the stamina to keep up and take on the a-to-z like a boss, but April 2013 conspired against me.  Oh, the fun we would've had! The plans! Shenanigans!

I'll share the rest of my planned words for April in brief here... just for that special sense of closure that comes from completing a task. You'll have to imagine the photos I would have included...

R for rahu - a Hindu demon who swallows the sun causing eclipses. Also a point in the sky in Vedic astrology marking the point at which the sun and moon's paths cross in the sky. #northnode #powerful

S for strikhedonia - The pleasure of being able to say, "To hell with it." Kind of like H for Hadeharia.

T for tmesis - The separation of parts of a compound word by an intervening word or words, heard mainly in informal speech *abso-freakin-lutely*

U for ululate - Howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion, typically grief. Behold in action.

V for vesthibitionism - A form of exhibitionism in which a woman exposes part of an undergarment.

W for witzelsucht - a set of rare neurological symptoms characterized by a tendency to make puns, tell inappropriate jokes or pointless stories in socially inappropriate situations.

X for xenobombulate - To exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work

Y for yogini - represents both a female master practitioner of Yoga, and a formal term of respect for a category of modern female spiritual teachers (in both hinduism and buddhism) in eastern countries such as India, Nepal, and Tibet.

Z for zotz - Mayan vampire bat demon or "death bat". Also camazotz.

So, while I got snagged at the end...

*sigh*

SHOUT OUT!  Special thank you to thelmaz, for choosing my little blog among her 26 favorite blogs from the Challenge. How cool is that? It makes my day to know that you enjoyed my offerings this month. Stop by thelmaz blog and say hello! www.widowsphere.blogspot.com 

Also, special thanks to all the blog hosts for this year's A-to-Z.  They work hard and take a ton of time to get this thing working, folks. Hats off!  http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

PHOTO! And now, since we did photos daily with the April posts... I'll show you what May 1 looks like in Colorado.  #lovingit

COMING UP:  This weekend I'll be in Boulder, CO at Big Sur in the Rockies workshop with Andrea Brown Lit and SCBWI. So super excited to get away for the weekend and work on my new manuscript. ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE GOING? 

I've always wanted to attend the Big Sur Workshop in California, so it's super amazing that they are having one within driving distance. My friend and I are staying in these little cottages on the Chautauqua campus. Many of these cottages have historic roots! I'm even more excited about the afterglow that will fuel my inspiration for months! *yay*

Q for Qualtagh - #atozchallenge

Look at that, Q day happened! Let's pretend it's still Friday because I have found a most interesting word for you!

Qualtagh  
Noun [Kwol-tog]
From Gaelic Manx
the first individual or creature a person meets after exiting his or her house after the New Year, or after a long seclusion as with childbirth.

Happy Birthday Jack!

As with most ancient things, there is a lot of superstition surrounding this word, in that your qualtagh's appearance was a signal of your luck in the year to come.

From Folklore of the Isle of Man by A. W. Moore, 1891:

January 1, New Year's Day, formerly called Laa Nolick beg, "Little Christmas Day," was the occasion for various superstitions . Among these was that about the "first foot." The "first foot," called the qualtagh in Manx, is defined as follows by Kelly in his Dictionary: " the first person or creature one meets going from home. This person is of great consequence to the superstitious, particularly to women the first time they go out after lying-in." The qualtagh (he or she) may also be the first person who enters a house on New Year's morning. In this case it is usual to place before him or her the best fare the family can afford. It was considered fortunate if the qualtagh were a person (a man being preferred to a woman), of dark complexion, as meeting a person of light complexion at this time, especially if his or her hair is red, would be thought very unlucky. It is curious that the superstition in Scotland is the exact reverse of this – i.e., to meet a light complexioned person was fortunate. If the qualtagh were spaagagh, or splay-footed, it would be considered very unfortunate. It was important, too, that the qualtagh on New Year's Day should bring some gift as if he or she came empty-handed, misfortunes would be sure to ensue. To meet a cat first on this day was considered unlucky. It was supposed to be necessary to exercise great care to sweep the floor of the house on New Year's morning from the door towards the hearth, so that the dust should go towards the hearth, for, if this were not done, the good fortune of the family would be considered to be swept from the house for that year.

My 2012 word: QUALE - I love this one!!  #spock #cool

Today's photo: BLURRY

A painting I did at the local painting class place. I love dandelions :)

O + P for Oculoplania Prosopography #atozchallenge

I should choose shorter words if I intend to continue titling my posts like this...

"Egad," she said, realizing she was a day behind on the A to Z. This isn't as alarming as the other day on facebook when she thought she made a mistake by placing her M post before N... because you know... that would be wrong.  *ahem*

And so we have recovered to bring you:

Oculoplania:  

The act of allowing one's eyes to wander, in that forbidden way that your spouse would not approve.

This is reminiscent of our lovely word last week for K... Krukolibidinous.  Remember the fun we had there?

...and to catch up with the rest of the world on today's letter, we have a rather interesting one:

Prosopography
[präsəˈpägrəfē] - Noun
A description of a person's social and family connections, career, etc., or a collection of such descriptions.

Per the amazing wikipedia: "Prosopographical research has the aim of learning about patterns of relationships and activities through the study of collective biography, and proceeds by collecting and analysing statistically relevant quantities of biographical data about a well-defined group of individuals. This makes it a valuable technique for studying many pre-modern societies. Prosopography is an increasingly important approach within historical research."

This is such an interesting field of study. As an amateur genealogist myself, it is useful to understand how people functioned in their communities and families in order to track people down through the ages.

Last year's words for O and P:

• P for Polyphloisboian
• O for Oneirophrenia

Today's #fmsphotoaday prompt: Hello!

Yes, you may sleep right there, no worries. 

N for Nudibranch - #atozchallenge

Nudibranch
Noun: [nood-eh-brink]

Soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms. There are more than 3,000 described species of nudibranchs.
 

I will never forget when I discovered these creatures while reading THE HIGHEST TIDE by Jim Lynch. If you have not, then add this to your list. I remember being swept away by the descriptions of all the creatures that live in the NW coastal region of these United States. (and a pretty intense story!) I had no idea.

on Amazon

The nudibranch blew me away. I googled them at the time and am still just in awe. What a weird and beautiful creature! If I had gone walking at low tide and found one of these... I would have run home and put on my foil hat, convinced the aliens were already living among us.

Enjoy... a 3:35 video education - check out what they do when they eat jellies that sting!!

My 2012 Word: Nepenthe

Today's photoaday: your favorite color
I have two... but today it is this one:

Happy Tuesday!

M for Mulligrubs - #atozchallenge

Mulligrubs 
noun [məlēˌgrəbz]

1. a despondent, sullen, or ill-tempered mood : sulks, blues
2. a griping of the intestines : colic

Anyone who has had a child afflicted with the mulligrubs knows that this is the perfect word to describe their misery. (The child's, not yours)

And anyone who has been blah, or down, or just yucky... might find a little delight in knowing this applies to them as well. So, the next time you find yourself with a case of the mulligrubs, take heart! It will usually pass, and until it does, you can make yourself smile as you repeat to anyone who will listen about your mulligrubidinous plight.

My 2012 word: Mathom

Today's #fmsphotoaday: alone

One of my most cherished parts of our recent vacation this winter was waking up to see the sunrise each morning, and finding myself blissfully alone most days, in the dark. This photo was taken well after sunrise, which is probably the better time to be taking photos anyway.  When it was totally dark, you could watch the cruise ships inch along the horizon like magical glowing things...

L for Liripipe - #atozchallenge

Liripipe
noun [lir-ee-pahyp] -
a hood with a long, hanging peak, worn originally by medieval academics and later adopted for general wear in the 14th and 15th centuries.

image source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liripipe

In case you were looking for that special something for the upcoming Ren Faire season, you can purchase a hood with liripipe for yourself!  Behold! 

Methinks we doth bring these clothes back in fashion.  I could use a snood on those special hair days.

My 2012 Word: Logizomechanophobia 

Today's #fmsphotoaday: THE VIEW FROM YOUR BED

This filter makes me sleepy.

Happy Saturday!  We've made it to the half-way mark!  Are you enjoying the a-to-z so far?

K for Krukolibidinous - #atozchallenge

Krukolibidinous 
The act of crotch watching.  Also: The post in which my blog descends into debauchery if only for the one day, and truly so that I might enrich your vocabulary just that one little bit more.

I couldn't find this one in my unabridged, so I can't authenticate its etymology... but for this one time, I really don't care because that word is awesome. So, we'll quote the street for this one.

nothing to see here

In case you were not sure if you had this disorder... I discovered a tumblr dedicated to this exact thing, and which renders everyone who arrives into a fog of krukolibidinousness. The aforementioned tumblr is only NSFW because of why this collection of Jon Hamm photos has been compiled. Otherwise, its just a nice fan site of a fully clothed human, well... sorta. O_O

What can I say... back to bidness.

My 2012 K Word: Knurl

Today's #fmsphotoaday prompt: In the Middle

from my friend D in Oz.

I+J = Jumentous Interfenestration - #atozchallenge

It's Thursday and for that you get a two-fer!  Actually, the two-fer is a result of a very crazy Wednesday, but I digress.  Onward!

Today we have:

Interfenestration
a space between two windows

Considering the fabulous defenstrate... this is hardly a surprise. And yet, still a very fun word to say!  Here is what exists in my office interfenestration: Two songs, two quotes, a tiara, a leafy vision board, a photo of mom, a writing mouse, an achievement, and several gifts... one from a macaw.  It's like I Spy!

and also

Jumentous  
smelling strongly like a beast of burden, especially a horse. And according to google, it relates most often to the smell of its urine.

motifake.com

Delicious!

Not to be outdone, I give you 2012's Words:

I - Illeist 

J - Jentacular 

Today's #fmsphotoadayprompt: DETAIL  a blanket I am trying to complete.  Reminds me of sherbet.

H for Hadeharia - #atozchallenge

Oh, hell! It's H day! What the hell have you been up to? I had to cancel the hell out of my day because the kids schools were closed in fear of the impending snowpocalypse. Can you believe that the weather-people in my state of Colorado were so hell-bent on creating a panic with the oncoming blizzard that they got it completely the hell wrong? It was the NOpocalypse. From Hell.

All this to bring you...

Hadeharia  
The practice of constantly using the word ‘Hell’ in speaking.

Goodness, that was fun! Hope you had an enjoyable day! I've been reading all day and now I'm late on my post. Perhaps I'll be early tomorrow so this hellish post will fade down the annals. Of hell. ;)

My 2012 post: Homunculous

Today's #fmsphotoaday photo prompt: TINY

lol, I wasn't planning to use this photo as I didn't know the prompt until this evening, but serendipity is working with me today. When I stepped outside to snap this photo of the results of the blizzard that wasn't, I slipped and fell and bruised my knee.  It was as if the world was coated in a scrim of invisible ice. Even the dogs slipped.

G for Gossypiboma - #atozchallenge

Have I got a mouthful for you today... and I am disturbed that there is actually a name for this.

Gossypiboma  

Also textiloma. Is the technical term for a surgical complications resulting from foreign materials, such as a surgical sponge, accidentally left inside a patient's body.

The term "gossypiboma" is derived from the Latin gossypium (“cotton wool, cotton”) and the suffix -oma, meaning a tumor or growth, and describes a mass within a patient's body comprising a cotton matrix surrounded by a foreign body granuloma.

So, the next time you're in for surgery, make sure to mark up your body using a sharpie so the surgeon operates on the correct body part, and make a special request that you do not order a case of gossypiboma to go.  Yeah... you're welcome.  Egads.

Source: Wikipedia

My 2012 post: Grok  (loved this one!)

Speaking of a mouthful...Today's #fmsphotoaday: On Your Plate

How perfect this prompt is for today!  Fresh out of my oven: Orange Cranberry Scones! Special thanks to my friend Jen for sending me the recipe this morning. I was jonesing for these all morning!

It's in the 70s F here today (20's C) and tomorrow we're expecting a blizzard, a foot of snow, and a high of 24 F (-4.44 C).  Bring it!  I have scones.

F for Filipendulous - #atozchallenge

Filipendulous
Adj. [fi-li-PEN-juh-luhs]
From Latin filum (thread) + pendere (to hang) - Suspended by, or strung upon, a thread; said of tuberous swellings in the middle or at the extremities of slender, threadlike rootlets.

source: google

What a terrific word! And we can all use this daily when we have had enough and just want to express how fed up we are with all the mayhem and shenanigans going out of control.

"Argh," she shouted as she stormed through the room. "I am... FILIPENDULOUS!" *slams door*

You might buy yourself extra time while your audience gapes in wonder, not at your display, but in confusion over what is actually wrong with you.

This is a botany term, however... and the name was given to this lovely creature:

Filipendula rubra source: Google

My 2012 word: Farctate

Today's #fmsphotoaday: AIR

It's a cloudy day here, probably the best time for air pictures!

E for Estrapade - #atozchallenge

Ah, the glorious letter E. We really cannot get along without it here in the English lands.  Unless you are Ernest Vincent Wright.

Today we have:

Es`tra`pade´
n. [F] (Man.)The action of a horse, when, to get rid of his rider, he rears, plunges, and kicks furiously.
This from the Italian: strappada and strappado: a torture or punishment technique where the victim is tied at a pole which is dropped from a considerable height to just above the soil; aboard a vessel, the victim is dipped into the sea.

How charming...

Speaking of charming... If you've come to Denver through DIA Airport, you've likely seen this monstrosity frozen in the act of estrapading(?):

The evil blue devil horse. There is so much controversy and legend growing about this thing... but it is true that the sculptor was killed when it fell on him and I believe it was completed by his sons. I wish they would just paint it white and give it black or brown eyes.  Or paint it orange for the Denver Broncos. Anything but that.

My 2012 Post: Eleemosynary

Today's #fmsphotoaday: Something Good

We learned a new game today!  I lost, but learned some strategy with which I can beat the pants off the kids tomorrow. Spring Break, fun fun!

D for Doodlesack - #atozchallenge

Doodlesack
noun [ˈdüdəlˌsak]

You heard me... This word is so ridiculous in its current state, I almost feel sorry for it. Doodlesack? Really? It sounds like something obscene. I feel much better talking about it's origin, the German dudelsack. That's much better. I feel a lot cleaner and certainly more proper now.

Oh, you're wondering what it is? Ah, lads and lasses... behold: 'tis a bagpipe.

I've talked about how I feel about bagpipes before on the blog. During an awesome blogfest to honor the wonderful Bernard Pivot. You can read the little interview here.

Could listen to that forever...

My 2012 D Post: Deipnosophist

Today's #fmsphotoaday: "This happened today..."

For those of you who are not aware... here is the story about sweet Frodo.  If you check out the link, we're talking about the sleepy guy, who, it turns out, was quite poorly after all. RIP little dude.