 |
| Bear seen by hubby & stepson while they backpacked the Maroon Bells, Colorado (hubby assures me that his camera has an excellent zoom feature and the bear wasn't that close). |
Also there was a severely bent bar and broken door on our wooden trash bin. For those of you who have read my bio from the top tab on this blog, you may have thought I was kidding about "needing to seasonally inform the landlord about bear damage to the trash bin," I was not. Landlord A. will be here on Sunday to make repairs.
To complete this little window into my life, I'll let you in on the fact that my stepdaughter will be a Senior this year. She registered for school this week and finally got her drivers license yesterday (which was both a Hallelujah! and a Oh-my-goodness-why-did-you-just-ask-me-that-question-about-which-way-to-turn-the-wheel-when-you-back-up-please-don't-hit-anyone moment).
This is her last year of high school, and I can see her tugging at the bit of independence and adulthood. Of course, this is also a child who thought it was hilarious to dress up in 80s style for her School ID photo this year:
 |
| The 1980s: Now comin' at you as a historic era, courtesy of teenagers everywhere. Also the decade when I grew up. |
What does this have to do with writing? Not too much, other than the fact that I'll have a little more free time to actually do it. And that gets me just as excited as the Fall season. My WIP is a middle grade historic mystery that takes place in November in the Lake District of England.
Slightly spooky manor house and perhaps a ghost or two. I can't wait for cooler days to help inspire me!
Okay, okay, I can't wait for the Pumpkin Spice Latte to help inspire me :)
Jess, after a summer of driving my 16-yr-old to 2 jobs and sports practices/events, I can only imagine the freedom and time when she finally gets her solo license! Unfortunately, with all of said events, there's no time for her to take driver's ed...hopefully in the fall.
ReplyDeleteWow! 2 jobs and sports events!! It's a blessing to have a motivated, busy kid, but geez...that's a lot of driving :) Mine turned 17 in June~ she's been getting rides for what seems like waaaaaay too long :)
DeleteMmmm... fall sounds good. I love summer, but I've had enough of this heat.
ReplyDeleteYour mg story sounds awesome!
I've had enough of the heat as well! Thanks for the sweet story comment. It's in very early stages thus far. I need a blustery day or three :)
DeleteYes,there is something very sad about the decade in which I was IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE being a historic era. Let's not even get into a childhood in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteSadly, my extra writing time is wrapping up. I go back to school with the kids -- taking my 24th year through fifth grade.
You're a fifth grade teacher?! I loved my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Costa. I loved all my elementary school teachers. Trust me, you are remembered long after you send your class kids on their merry way :)
DeleteWow...I have problems with rabbits digging up my yard. Not sure what I'd do with a bear. =) My oldest is 19 and already driving. My second is 15 and has that itch already. I'm thankful he goes to high school in the Loop (downtown where there's no parking) and has to take the train. No car for him to go to high school. =)
ReplyDeleteYes, the high school parking lot is a place of particular paranoia for me. I feel like if there's going to be a fender bender, that'll be the place.
DeleteI'm all excited about the pumpkin lattes too! I remember when it wasn't dress-up. Bring on the Rave hairspray and Aussie Sprunch Spray! LOL
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh--when I read the words "Rave hairspray" I totally got a taste memory on my tongue. Did you ever spray too much on your bangs and get it in your mouth? Not fun.
DeleteOkay, when you say you grew up in the 80s, what does that mean? Because I grew up in the 80s, and you don't look anywhere near as old as me.
ReplyDeleteI "grew up" as in, I learned to walk, read, ride a bike, enjoy the heck out of Halloween, and get all the way to middle school in the 1980s. I also consider myself a bit of a vicarious expert in 80s early teen year issues since I have two older sisters :)
DeleteAh, okay, see, I equate growing up in the 80s with being a teen in the 80s. By your definition, I grew up in the 70s, but, to me, that's not the "growing up" part.
DeleteReally? I guess I think of it as growing up in the 80s, coming to maturation in the 90s. Different definitions :) Also, I don't get nostalgic for my years in the 90s (those were just stepping stones into my 20s, and didn't leave a huge impact on me)~ all my nostalgia rests solidly in the 80s and my childhood :)
DeleteAll of my nostalgia goes back to the 80s, too; I guess that just proves that the 80s were better than the 70s and the 90s.
Deleteheh heh
Bears are magnificent creatures, but um, not in my back yard. (Especially if they're the sort who drink all the beer and eat all the chocolate.)
ReplyDeleteMixed feelings are the norm when our children get drivers' licenses and gain independence. There's pride because they don't need our constant supervision anymore, and there's a touch of sadness, too, because, doggone it, they don't need our constant supervision anymore. But above all, their freedom is also your freedom. Enjoy!
I'm still in the happy stage. I think the sad stage will come closer to graduation (oh my gosh, I don't even want to think about it...once she goes to college she could theoretically meet the love of her life and since she'll be over 18 she could get married anytime...oh man, and then she'll start having KIDS...and then I'll be a STEP-GRANDMA!!!...oh dear Lord, I've gotta stop thinking about this).
DeleteYour WIP sounds awesome - hope I get to read it someday!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be a dream-come-true :)
DeleteThe temperature hit 62 the other night and I asked my wife if she wanted to light a fire. Yes...I am yearning for fall THAT BAD!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your step-daughters senior year! I'm sure you'll be doing everything you can do make it special. :)
We don't have a fireplace :( It is one of the considerable frustrations in my life. When we finally buy a house, I will DEMAND a fireplace!
DeleteFirst, CONGRATS on the pitch contest win!!! Second, I love both the fall season and the early a.m., so starting this post off with an early morning, almost fall, scene simply made me love the entire post.
ReplyDeleteBtw, my daughter is a freshman in college this year, so I understand that senior year deal. It was pretty cool.
Good luck with your newest WIP and definitely good luck with the agent. :)
Thanks, Linda! I'm glad to find a fellow fall lover. That fact that your daughter's in college leads me to believe you made it through her senior year without turning into a crying, nostalgic mess. I now have hope for myself, so thank you :)
DeleteOoh! Your WIP sounds so good! Good luck with writing it - and with your bear issues! (Not to mention your daughter driving. That must be so nerve-wracking!)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great weekend!
Thanks, Caryn! Hope you're having a great weekend as well!
DeleteOh, the lake district! Awesome! I spent a year in England when I was a junior in college and love to read books set there. If you need a beta later, keep me in mind. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, love the Joan Cusack pic.
Oooo, I'll definitely be in touch!! Could be a couple of months before I crank out a first draft and polish it enough for betas, but I'll put your name on my October/November calendar right now!
DeleteI love Joan Cusack~ she always makes me smile :)
Pumpkin spice latte sounds like something one would drink in the fall. But I'm roasting here...definitely not fall. Temperatures still hitting 100 degrees outside.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great picture of a bear. Good thing your hubby had a zoom lens
He TOLD me it was the zoom lens. I'm really hoping it was. Temps in the 100s still? Oh man, I'm sorry!
DeleteI just cleaned up after our bear this morning, since my husband forgot to roll it into the garage. Seriously, this guy has the trash schedule memorized!
ReplyDelete~Debbie
Ugh! I despise cleaning up bear-spilled trash. It happened a couple of times back when there were dirty diapers in the bags...it was not pleasant. Sorry you had to deal with that!
DeleteHa! Yes, bears are big. I'm a window watcher, too. That must have been adorable~ sounds a little like the beginnings of a picture book, Shelley :)
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, kate spade outlet online, coach outlet, prada handbags, louis vuitton handbags, chanel handbags, louis vuitton outlet online, coach purses, christian louboutin outlet, burberry outlet online, gucci handbags, tiffany jewelry, ray ban sunglasses, nike air max, coach outlet store online, nike shoes, tory burch outlet, burberry outlet online, longchamp outlet online, prada outlet, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, nike air max, michael kors outlet store, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, kate spade handbags, michael kors outlet online, polo ralph lauren, coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, red bottom shoes, ray ban outlet, oakley vault, nike free, longchamp handbags, christian louboutin shoes, louboutin shoes
ReplyDeletenike trainers, lululemon outlet, instyler ionic styler, uggs outlet, giuseppe zanotti, mont blanc pens, longchamp, nike huarache, abercrombie and fitch, new balance outlet, marc jacobs outlet, ugg, vans outlet, barbour, nfl jerseys, hollister, chi flat iron, bottega veneta, beats headphones, ugg outlet, north face outlet, ghd, p90x workout, soccer shoes, reebok shoes, uggs on sale, north face jackets, jimmy choo shoes, babyliss pro, soccer jerseys, roshe run, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, herve leger, ferragamo shoes, valentino shoes, asics shoes, birkin bag, nike roshe, mac cosmetics, insanity workout, ugg soldes, rolex watches, mcm handbags, celine handbags
ReplyDeletetimberland shoes, hollister clothing, converse shoes, karen millen, moncler, louboutin, juicy couture outlet, air max, ray ban, wedding dress, moncler, parajumpers outlet, canada goose uk, hollister, montre femme, supra shoes, converse, canada goose, toms outlet, canada goose outlet, gucci, canada goose pas cher, coach outlet, nike air max, iphone 6 case, canada goose outlet, canada goose, vans, canada goose outlet, oakley, moncler, moncler, ugg, lancel, ralph lauren, hollister canada, baseball bats, juicy couture outlet, louis vuitton canada, moncler, replica watches, canada goose, moncler outlet, moncler, ugg boots, uggs canada
ReplyDelete