The amazing talent of words....

August 4, 2012 I oftentimes wonder where authors come up with their ideas. So many good authors can write so beautifully and spin a story so beautiful and intriguing that you can’t put it down. I am reading a Dean Koontz book, The Light of the Moon, and I am captivated by this suspenseful tale. His creativity amazes me. How did he come up with a story about a guy and a girl who gets injected by a substance that gives them special “gifts?” How did he come up with the scenarios he uses in the book? I don’t want to give away any details because I want whoever reads this to pick up the book and read it for himself or herself. But the situations are not typical or “cookie-cutter”, they are unique and fascinating. I have not read any other Koontz book so I do not know if his work follows a formula or not. He is a well established author so if they don’t, that would prove his talent in more ways then one. I wish I had the gift to write like Koontz or at least the creativity to do so. I would love to touch someone’s life through the gift of literature even if it is just a form of entertainment for a limited time. To have the gift of words would be a dream come true. I can barely keep up with this blog, but I don’t know of anyone who actually reads my ramblings anyway. I have a constant writer’s block. I mean when I am home alone, my imagination is incredibly active, and I can think of more than one way in which someone could break into my house, or hurt me ,and how I would try and stop it. Every noise I hear heightens my imagination, and I am mentally living the scariest thriller in the world until I double and triple check my house before feeling safe enough to fall asleep. But when I sit down and try and remember my mental rambles and put pen to paper, my mind is blank. Maybe, when I have a night like that I should just write what is on my mind and then add some characters to it. Ha-ha I don’t always live in mental anguish, so I am not crazy or anything. I am sure any female who has stayed alone has had these thoughts once upon a time. Do not deny it! I just wish I could make something good out of mentally torturing myself when I am perfectly safe. Who doesn’t love a good thriller? I know I do, but maybe that is just my problem. What does it take to be a good author like Emily Giffin, Dean Koontz, Barbara Delinsky, Kate White, Frank Tallis, Kate Wilhelm (one of the best!) and many other authors that I absolutely love? How do the ideas come to them? How do they put it on paper and spin an amazing story? How do they know what to research to make the tale believable? How do they know how to write to their audience? How do they build characters and make them relatable? Do they have a story from beginning to end before they write or write it out as it comes to them? How do they get from the beginning of the story and come to an amazing conclusion? Do they actually follow the ever-popular writing steps that we learn in school? And most importantly, how do I find out the answers to all these questions? It takes talent to be a successful author. I wonder if writing is a talent you are given at birth or is it something you can to learn to do. It doesn’t matter either way, words make my life more enjoyable and I envy those who have a gift with them. They touch my life and I would love to be able to do the same for others. Does anyone else have questions like these that fascinate them? Is there a talent or a gift that you wish you had?

Emotions are powerful. Sometimes they overcome me at the most random time. Like right now I feel a wave of tears that I can't quite find a reason for. I guess we all have these moments sometimes, moments where our emotions get a hold of us and won't let go. I guess I do have some things to stress about, a new job, hubby deploying, and being away from my family and friends. I try not to think of things like that because, honestly, as a military spouse it comes with the package, but right now, it's an intense feeling. I am dreading this upcoming deployment. It's the first one I will experience as a wife. I have been through one before but I was home with my family and friends and were were only dating at the time. I now have a job and own a house here, where we are posted, and I just don't feel it necessary to leave. It's only 9 months, right? Well, anyway, that is my random thought at the moment. I know if you are a military spouse, facing deployment, you understand my emotional state right now. Things will be fine and I will survive but that doesn't change the stigma. Well goodnight all/. Signing off,

My Review for Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of "Riding Lessons." "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)."Q"Parade." - synopsis from goodreads.com



This book is utterally amazing! I love the way Ms. Gruen could effortlessly go back and forth to the old man in the retirement home and his memories of traveling with the Circus. This book was so full of well rounded characters and the story moved on smoothly. I love the ending, but I won't spoil it! I could barely put this book down. I can't wait till I watch the movie!



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My Review, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have to be honest, when I first started this book, I was appalled at the idea of games. The Hunger Games are pretty much a fight to the death betweeen 24 mostly, poor, starving teenagers to show the power of the "capitol." The Capitol apparently took over 13 districts (one that was destroyed) who all had a certain specialty (like mining), but were kept poor and under control(scare tactics). The games are pretty much modern day gladatorial games and the idea of that almost made me put down the book, but as an educator I persisted. Once I hit the part that was highlighting the games, I could not put the book down. I wanted to see how things played out. I am glad that I prevailed. Yes, the idea of the games are still appalling but I liked how Ms. Collins played out the story. I am currently reading the next one in the trilogy, very curious how things are going to play out.

I like to look at the content in the back of the books and see the extra stuff that is usually added and Sara Collins added her purpose for writing the book. The purpose for her writing this book was to shine light on how war effects the impressionable youth. This book is similar to The Giver and in Atlas Struggled,in the way that, the stories are a bit extreme, but the senerios are interesting. In this book in particular, it is the youth who take on the post war pressures ,literally. They are to provide for their struggling families and in doing so they increase their odds of being thrown into an arena and fight to the death once a year. So not only are they to provide for the family but they are also at risk to have to go to "war" and defend the name of their district.

There is so much more I have to digest in this book because I know that it is chalk full of symbolism. It is very well written and I doubt that I have even scratched the surface of what this book has to offer. This is the eppitomy of good literature, the author has a reason behind her story and she has put into detail her thoughts in the form of symbols that I really want to take time to dig into. AMAZING. I hope that the rest of the trilogy is as well written as this first book.


I am curious though, what age group would this book be recommended for? It's content isn't real gory, like she doesn't focus on the gore, but on the characters reactions to it. But I am really not sure if I would encourage a child under 13 years old to read it. I would defintely put it up for discussion in a High School Classroom.



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New house new improvements

These are before and after pictures....details below. :)

It has been a while since I made a post and I think I want to start blogging on here again. Since my last post, I have moved twice and have finally landed at our "perminant" duty station and have bought a home. I am now able to experience the true army life, good and bad. No complaining here , Life will always be challenging whether my husband is in the army or not. I actually love the life I live.
I am thinking of revamping this blog to focus on the ins and outs (ups and downs) of army life and other life things that may strike my fancy. I am also planning on posting pictures as we make home improvements on our new house. It may teach others how to do these things (especially women like me who sometimes need to take things into our hands due to our husband's busy schedudele)as I do them and share my learning experience with you. It might even prevent you from making any mistakes I make along the way.

Well without further ado, here are some home improvement pictures. In this post I will only post about my blinds adventure and I will post a seperate adventure in my next post. Lets just say I am not perfect and I am doing all these things for the first time, so I am actually proud of what little I have accomplished. lol

My Blind's adventure. :)

First aspect of my blind adventure was measuring the windows I wanted to cover, going to the store and picking them up and then accidently switching them around. lol I am not changing it now, but it is kind of funny. They look fine, though, right?



Before and after picures (above) - only window one, window two not pictured.


The reason I call this an adventure is because I didn't exacally know what I was getting into lol. Yes, to install blinds, its just a few screws you screw in the wall through hardware which connects the blinds to the wall excetera. , but when the prior owners left many holes where they had their blinds that I had to work around and then my first few attempts the hardware fell out of the wall (yes each time) till I realized that I maybe using the wrong type of screw. Well, anyway after I mastered the art of screwing nails into the wall and learning to pre-screw (I don't have a drill) so that the hardware attaches easier and using the right size screw (after like 2 hours ) window # 1 was done. (and yes it took just about that long and was very frustrating) Window two went up in a breeze. I guess I am a good learner lol. HANDY WOMAN TO THE RESCUE!!

Advice I would give to anyone putting up blinds for the first time (and having no home improvement experience whatsoever, like me) always,always measure and mark first. Pre-drill or pre- screw (literally screwing the screw in the premarked whole in the wall about half way and then take the screw out and place the brackets on the wall and then screw the hardware to the wall all the way. Oh, and check the strenth of the screws when you pre-screw by pulling lightly down on them to make sure your nails are holding tight and then redo the same test when you get the brackets into the walls. Oh, and if my intuision is right , if you are attaching the blinds to dry wall, use the skinner scews in the blinds kit. The fatter ones are probably for in window mouting or mouting on wood, because they would pull right out of the drywall, each and everytime for me until I switched to the skinner screws....frustration, yes. Once you get the blinds up make sure you slide the front piece into the brackets after you have the blinds sitting in them. If you don't the blinds will just fall out of the brackets once you try to close them ...no I did not make this mistake but I thought I would point it out just in case anyone needs to know. :) Well its off to bed for this girl. I hope you have a blessed night and thanks for reading.

My next adventures are ....painting my dining room walls by myself and possibly a dishwasher installation. Oh good gracious!!! Stay tuned!! :)
Goodnight,

One Word Answers

Not as easy as you might think! Copy and Paste into your own blog, change the answers to suit you. It's really hard to only use one word answers.

Where is your cell phone?
couch

Spouse?
amazing

Your hair?
messy

Your mother?
Melanie

Your father?
Michael

Your favorite thing?
computer

Your dream last night?
forgot

Favorite drink?
water

What room are you in?
livingroom

Your hobby?
Lazy

Your fear?
death

Where do you want to be in 6 years?
happy

Where were you last night?
home

Something that you aren't?
energetic

Muffins?
Homemade

Wish list item?
declutter

Last thing you did?
typed

What are you wearing?
soffes

Your pets?
Rocky

Friends?
silly

Your life?
changing

Your mood?
lazy

Missing someone?
hubby

Drinking?
Water

Your car?
Spectra

Something you're not wearing?
shoes

Your favorite store?
Old Navy

Your favorite color?
baby blue

When is the last time you cried?
forgot

Where do you go over and over?
Gym

Five people who email me regularly?
sparkpeople

Favorite place to eat?
macoroni grill

Favorite place I'd like to be right now?
Tennessee

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

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