Life in the fast lane--where's the on ramp?

By Pat_B - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Election Day.

I don't even care who won! I'm just glad to see the end of the ads. And the robo phone calls. And candidates knocking on the door. A guy came up to the car as I was backing out of the driveway to go vote. Tried to hand me a doorknob hanger about his candidate. I said keep it, I'm on my way to... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

NaNo writers at Borders

We met at 6:00 last night, most with their laptops. Cursory greetings and then they get right at it. Each one had the laptop, a cell phone, and one had his Itunes going. Says he can't write without music. Mahler, I believe. Shostokovich. I thought it was to be a social event, talking writing...... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 1, 2010

June Was at the Library Sunday

As I picked up my key to the storage in Carnegie's from the real librarians, I heard June chatting with someone over near the coffee machine. "I used the same plot every time," she said. "Ideas I got from the newspapers, something a kid won, how they worked for a prize of some kind. There was always... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

On Becoming a Novelist...

At the time I bought this book by John Gardner I had no intention of becoming a novelist. Maybe one "Great American Novel," but short stories and non-fiction were my thing at the time. Still, he'd been a respected writer and the foreword was by Raymond Carver, who was one of my favorites. Maybe it... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Oh-oh! I just thought of something...

I don't know the layout of the house! I don't know if the bedroom where the murder took place is upstairs or on the ground floor. And it's too late to call Cindy, who owns the house at 922 Holyoke, to get the details. Maybe I can imagine it... Let's say when you come in the back door there's a... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 29, 2010

There's a parade on Sunday: the annual Halloween parade.

They form on the football field at what used to be the high school, now Lincoln Middle. From there it's up the hill to St. Louis street as far as the bank, then up South street past the county's planning department -- used to be a four-unit apartment building, adapted now to offices on the second... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

About yesterday's scene...

First things first: I love the feedback you've given me. Priceless! Secondly -- "Murder at 922" is the working title of my 2010 National Novel Writing Month project, which is now only three days away. I've been working on the pre-write for a couple months researching my characters, going over the... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Jean, my 82-year-old friend, is losing it.

I'm sad to see it. Her memory is kicking her butt, and her attitude is getting worse -- she's bossier than ever. This winter may be the last one she can stay on her own in the log cabin she built out on her fifteen acres. The cabin was a kit from the factory, the logs pre-trimmed and numbered to fit... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 25, 2010

A misty, moisty morning when cloudy was the weather

I chanced to meet an old man, clothed all in leather... Met a crooked man who walked a crooked mile and he found a crooked sixpence beside a crooked stile Hickety pickety my black hen she lays eggs for gentlemen Mistress Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Peas porridge hot, peas... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Accident, serendipity or is the universe telling me something?

Turned on NPR, confirmed that begging & whining week is over. There was an interview with a writer, sandwiched between some pap about baseball and irony* and something about politics. He's one I haven't read, new book coming out, but I didn't make a note of it, so don't remember his name or the... Sign in to see full entry.

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