The Birth of Beta Reader Extraordinaire

So… there's this girl I met… waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy back when I was a youngun'. 

I think I described the experience. Yep, yessirie bob… I sure did. 

Right here.

Well, at any rate, that crazy woman has something special goin' on today. I can't remember what it is, but it's significant, I know it is. No, no… she's not having a baby. She did that already on April 4th. I don't think it's possible to have another one so close. Wouldn't that be something…?? I mean… talk about a feat. That's like lifting the Empire State Building or eating a whole bowl of ice cream in 10 seconds. 

Heehee… I mean… no… I don't think that was it.

It could be that she's planning to be the first woman to run around the world… backward. Or possible chew the largest wad of bubblegum… Make the craziest animal shaped pancake… Nah. I don't think that's it either.

*scratches head*

You know… maybe it was her magical skills at making it be the only NON-rainy day in a week. 

Just because. 

Yeah… yeah… maybe that's it. 

Hmmm… but then the question begs an answer… 

WHY?

Why a sunny day now? Why THIS day?

Must have something to do with all these candles exterminating the darkness...

Happy Birthday to my bestest friend. May her day be filled with light and laughter…

...and may I not get punched for being so obnoxious. HA!

LURVE YA, Beta Reader Extraordinaire! <3

Matter of Opinion

Everyone seems to have an opinion on what I should be doing. How I should be handling life.

And regardless of what I do, someone… somewhere… thinks I've done it wrong.

It's starting to get really flippin' old.


I'm continually pushed from all directions, squeezed until I can no longer breathe or find the oxygen I need to be me.

Instead, I become a shell of myself… keeping all but those on a "need to know basis" out of the loop and in turn, denying myself the ability to live life the way I would. The way I want.

Don't get me wrong. Some of the changes are wonderful. Some opinions matter more than others.

Overall, life has been fantastic.

But the last few days have been hard again. Maybe it's just growing pains. Maybe it's just a rebalance of energy… of life. People push and I have to find the strength to push back.

See, the stupid thing is, I get myself into this mess… because I care.

I care about my family's opinion. I care about my husband's opinion… my kids', my friend's. And when they clash in their opinion, no matter what I do, someone will be upset with me. And really… the only one hurt is me. I feel like no matter what I do, no matter what I choose-- even if I know it's right-- it will be somehow, some way… wrong.

After a while… it wears on you.

It's as if I'm not allowed to have my own opinion. My own life. Make my own decisions.

But I'm done with that.

This is my life.

The only opinion that matters in the end is mine. I will take all others into consideration, make no mistake.

But do not ever make me feel guilty for differing my opinion from yours.

It doesn't make you wrong. It doesn't make me wrong.

It makes me independent.

The Lucky 7 Meme & Excerpt from Pendomus

It's been a while since I was tagged in a fun Meme…  but today I was tagged by the lovely Abby Geiger and I thought this would be a fun one to play along with. 

The idea is to take either page 7 or page 77 of your current manuscript and give an excerpt for people to read. 

What I've decided to post is from page 7 of the very first chapter of Pendomus. Enjoy. 

                                                     -----------------------------

Maybe Baxten’s right. Maybe I’m broken.

I never should have told him of my plan to escape— to live in the woods. I suppose a part of me figured he’d be thrilled. Instead, he laughed at me.

"Right. You plan on going to live out there with the Morph? Its evolutionary leap defied nature. No one can predict what it's capable of now and no little girl is going to stand a chance against it. Not to mention, there's no RationCaps in the woods. It's not as if food grows on dead trees, you know."

Halting my progress to nowhere in particular, I crumple down, curling into a ball in the freezing snow. 

-----------------------------

So, here's the rules if you want to play:
1. Go to page 7 or 77 of your manuscript
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next seven lines or sentences
4. Tag 7 people

Here's my list of people I'm poking in hopes they also play along:

1.) Anita Howard

2.) Aryn Youngless

3.) Brett DaSilva

4.) Pavarti K Tyler

5.) Amber Sweeney

6.) Gina Penn 

7.) K. T. Hanna