Writing and Linkage

Guess what I'm doing? You got it! Writing my little heart out. I'm working hard on the third Sherry (short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin tween mystery, I So Don't Do Makeup. While it's pretty much plotted out, there are always surprises. Plot stuff that looks like it makes sense in the outline, but doesn't on the page. Characters who decide to take matters into their own hands. Children who forget their swim gear, thus forcing their busy, focused mother to make an additional trip across town. Yes, Child, #2, I'm referring to you.

But, but, but...I didn't want you all to feel forgotten. AND I've been given a couple of very adorable awards and must link and thank and even list some obsessions. Say what?? Me? Obsessions?

Thank you Barbara Martin for this, well, fabulous award! HOWEVER, what makes you think I have ANY obsessions, let alone FIVE?!

I am so very tempted to say I have ZERO obsessions, but I sense a sharpened bolt of lightning winging its way toward me. So, I will admit that Obsession is my middle name and that I'll have a tough time limiting my list to five. But here goes....

1. The first obvious one is licorice. If you've been reading this blog for even a little while, you'll know I adore adore adore licorice. Red. Black. I adore you equally. Way, way more than chocolate. Which I don't really adore at all.

2. Disposable plastic gloves. I always have around 500 of these in a kitchen drawer because there are many things I don't like to touch. Such as, raw meat, laundry, certain cleaning supplies (Comet), onions, turkey guts, wet sponges, people. Ha! Kidding about the people. Just checking to see if you're keeping up!

3. Christmas tree ornaments. I buy a new one every year and date it. I try to find an ornament that represents something significant about the year. Some years have more than one new dated ornament because I couldn't narrow down the field.

4. Packing up the night before. I just don't sleep well if I'm not ready for the morning. I haven't managed to pass this particular obsession on to my children. Pity. It would make our mornings much smoother.

5. List making. I don't know how people navigate life without lists.

And here's an obsession I've successfully given up: letting the gas gauge dip below half. My gas light actually came on this morning!

Thank you, Barbara Martin for this very fun exercise. Although I'm little worried at how quickly I was able to type out this list! Seriously, folks, I'm reasonably normal, lots of fun and not nearly as odd as this post would suggest!

I'll take care of thank-yous for the other adorable awards in another post.

Please, please don't feel obligated, but I am curious about others' obsessions. That said, I completely understand if you don't join in (busy life, privacy issues, eating lunch). But if you do want to play, I'm nominating the following bloggers (in alpha order--oops! another obsession!) for the Your Blog is Fabulous Award:

Brian Kell of The Eyeball Afterlife
From the Desk of Bee Drunken
Gabe of Gabe's Meanderings
Maggie May of Flux Capacitor
Sara of Putting the Sara in Sarakastic

No My Town Monday posts today

No My Town Monday posts today. Travis Erwin, brainchild of this weekly blog round-up, suffered a tragedy early Sunday morning. His home burned down. He, his wife and their two kids are all okay. And now I've passed on all the details I know. Please visit Travis' blog and offer your condolences.

On the car front (where dh was hit by a 22-year-old female who ran a red light, then lied to the police by stating my dh had run the light and then, a couple of days later, told her insurance company she wanted extra money for "bodily damages" (seatbelt bruises):

After dropping off Child #3 at swim practice, I plugged the 22-year-old female's address into my nav. (Got the address from the police report) Sorry, Barbara Martin, I can hear you sighing already. But, please don't despair, I didn't do anything foolhardy. Anyhoo....found the address (scuzzy apartment), found the car (dents in the front), took pictures (as neighbors watched, but didn't speak to me). Drove away. Shaking. I am not as brave a detective as my little Sherry!

DH filed in Small Claims court. The 22 year old was served. Our court date is at the beginning of Feb. We found someone to help us build our little case. Hence the need for the photos.




Several thank-yous are in order. First off, to Kim at It's a Maze and a Maraca for the very adorable photo of her Lizzie and I So Don't do Mysteries. Thank you, Kim!

Also, shouting out to Stephen Parrish for putting up the cover of I So Don't Do Mysteries on his sidebar. One click and you're at amazon.com for ordering. Thank you, Stephen!

A last shout-out to Becky Levine who ordered I So Don't Do Mysteries with her holiday money and posted a pic. Thank you, Becky!

And, just in case you haven't OD'ed on the book, here's a online interview: Scott William Carter's The First Book blog. Incidentally, this is the last book interview Scott is doing.

Thinking of you and yours, Travis Erwin. You know we're here for you. xo