Track 5--"Time After Time"

you said go slow--
I fall behind
the second hand unwinds-- 

"Time After Time" -Cyndi Lauper

As a writer (who also works full time), my biggest enemy is the clock. That's why I love the summer. I have gotten more accomplished in the last several weeks than I did in the nine months prior. 

I can't completely blame my day job. I pile on the extra duties: curriculum, after school activities, etc. I love my job, and I love all the "extra" things I do, but as the school year quickly approaches, I am giving myself a preemptive reminder.

SLOW DOWN.

It's really OK to say no once in awhile, to go home and write a bit, have dinner with my husband, and watch mindless television. (Oh, Glee, I can't wait for September!) I feel slightly guilty if I am not busy or if I waste the day reading a book or watching television instead of working on my novel or a flash fiction piece, but I know I can't. Sometimes the simple pleasures in life help me appreciate what I have when I am going at a non-stop pace. Summer has reminded me of that. . .with the free time, the vacations, the time with my stepson, and just watching my dogs exhibit the true meaning of the dog days of summer. I love this season. 

All good things have to come to an end, or in my case, I have to give up the non-schedule for the 8-4 (yeah, right), and squeeze the writing in somewhere. Yes, I will slow down, but I will not give up on the progress I have made. I will still write every day, and I hope you will all continue to read the bits and pieces I post here.

Bonus Track: "Flying Standby"

I wrote this flash in response to JM Prescott's "I Dare You" Challenge, What Could Happen?.

I received an honorable mention, so I decided to post it here. I encourage you to click the above "I Dare You" link to read the winner, Sal Buttaci's, response to the challenge.

"Flying Standby"

I look up at the departures screen, and I know that I can go anywhere I want. I feel freedom and trepidation at the same time. With a few hundred dollars in my pocket and the clothes on my back, I can spend the rest of the summer working odd jobs and playing my guitar in the downtown area of Any City, USA while businessmen throw dimes and dollars into the case and ask me to play “Proud Mary”.

New York. The Big Apple makes me want to sing a Broadway showtune, and I imagine standing in Times Square, getting “discovered” by a faux-tan gentleman with a handlebar moustache who thinks I could be one of the next Zigfield Girls. My Streisand-esque fantasy ends when I see the last flight of the day has already departed, leaving me to wonder if I will ever wake up in the city that never sleeps.

Las Vegas. Wearing my LBD (little black dress), I'll hop a plane to Sin City, laugh with Ashton Kutcher (he is a frequent Vegas visitor), dance to Katy Perry (who knows what it’s like “Waking Up in Vegas”), and play blackjack at the Palms. I look down at my flip flops and peer into my wallet, thinking my three C-notes won’t last me long in the city where drinks are $20 each and my style will not be appreciated in most of the hot clubs.

New Orleans. I’ll flee to the home of Mardi Gras, my heart breaking for the victims of Katrina. I'll hear Harry Connick, Jr., and I’ll exchange my guitar for a saxophone, bellowing jazz melodies from my tired lungs, praying that any music I make will teach the world that anywhere your family is at is home.

Home?

Home.  It doesn’t seem to fit with the big cities, the bright lights, the anywhere invitation, but I am content when I take my eyes from the departures screen and look at the arrivals. I notice all the planes coming to my hometown, and think that maybe they know something I don’t. Maybe the decision I am making to stay right here is the best one for me.

Walking out into the night, I hail one of the few cabs in this town, and when the driver asks where I am headed, I simply say, “Home.”

Bonus Tracks: Mind Games and "The Phone Call"

My piece about eating disorders was chosen for the 6S Anthology, Mind Games available here.

My flash fiction piece about domestic violence, "The Phone Call", was chosen as the I Dare You winner for the week of July 9 on JM Prescott's blog.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your comments!

Track #4--"Nookie"

"I did it all for the nookie
C'mon
The nookie
C'mon
So you can take that cookie. . ."

 ~Limp Bizkit

"Hi, my name is Jen and I am addicted to nook."

"Nook? You mean, like, sex?"

"No, not nookie, the nook e-reader! I guess it sounds like it, doesn't it?"

It has been almost two weeks since I finally gave in and bought Barnes and Noble's e-reader, and I am definitely glad I did except that distracted me from writing for that week. For the first week, there were no 6S blog posts, no submissions, as I spent most waking moments glued to the nook. Before you give me the bad mother award, these were all moments when he was engaged in other activity: racing his RC car with dad or practicing his guitar. I do spend time with the boy, and occasionally, the husband. I even (gasp) let the boy use the nook a time or two.

Since I am going to be doing a lot of e-reading this summer, I thought I would recommend some summer reading for all of you ebook and non-ebook readers alike, including a few on my wish list.

Here are the books I have read/am reading and the ones I am ready to download next.

READ:

1. Warning---Shameless Plug ahead
The Mysterious Dr. Ramsey 
Edited by Thomas Knox
This is a fantastic flash fiction anthology put out by 6S writers. You may even know one or two.

2. Best Friends Forever 
by Jennifer Weiner
Although I read this last summer, I love the story of Addie and Valerie. Weiner's characters are always well-developed and make you hope for a sequel. BFF is a little bit of Thelma and Louise and the perfect summer read.

3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Rebecca Skloot
I am only halfway through this book, but the story of an African American woman whose "HeLa cells" changed the world of medicine is a study of ethics and humanity that is part scientific study part biography, and compelling with every turn of the page.

4. Hello, Summer Vacay
by Bolton Carley
Yes, Summer Vacay is written by one of my close friends, but it is a perfect YA verse novel for students and adults alike. Told from the perspectives of a teacher and her student, Mrs. H. and Brianna both are uncensored in the words, not telling us what we want to hear, but what they are really thinking in this humorous real verse novel.

5. Heart of the Matter
by Emily Giffin
I just started reading my library copy of Giffin's newest book, and I know it will be a fast read but the first few pages reminded me of conversations I've often had with myself about letting go of silly things and understanding that I am one of the lucky ones. I look forward to reading more.

NEXT (on my wish list):
5. Thin, Rich, Pretty
by Beth Harbison
Harbison is one of the best "chicklit" authors around, and her personable interaction with fans has made her one of my favorites. Last year's Hope in a Jar was delightful, and I am ready for this July 6 release about friendship, weight loss, and tragedy.

6. My Fair Lazy
by Jen Lancaster
It's Jen Lancaster; what else can I say? Jen's memoirs are hilarious, and I hope this one lives up to the uncontrollable laughter I experienced while reading Such a Pretty Fat.
Bonus! It's a lendable nook book!

7. When the Game Was Ours
by Larry Bird, Ervin "Magic" Johnson, and Jackie McMullan
See? They aren't all chick books. This book was released in November 2009, but I've always been fascinated by the friendship by these two adversaries and basketball greats. (Also lendable)

8. Medium Raw
by Anthony Bourdain
I love No Reservations, and Bourdain has such strong voice in his writing. I am looking forward to the followup to Kitchen Confidential. I am adding the debut to my list as well.

Feel free to plug your own writing or list some of your favorites in the comments section.

Enjoy your summer reading!

Bonus Track: The Mysterious Dr. Ramsey

My flash fiction piece has been published in the 6S anthology, The Mysterious Dr. Ramsey. Check out some of my other flash fiction pieces here.

Track #3--Celebrity

"Cause when you’re a celebrity
It’s adios reality
You can act just like a fool
And people think you’re cool
Just cause your on T.V.
I can throw a major fit
When my latte isn't just how I like it
They say I've gone insane
I'll blame it on the fame
And the pressures that go with....
Being a Celebrity"

-Brad Paisley

Like many creative writers, I tend to find inspiration during times of anger and sadness. When things are going pretty well, I don't really feel the divine muse shining down on me, sprinkling magic writing dust on me.

See what I mean. . .puke.

Sylvia Plath, one of my favorite demented poets of all time, found her voice through abuse and depression. Pablo Neruda wrote sonnets of passionate love, gained and lost.

I don't wish for Sylvia's tragedy, and although I am content with my love life, I haven't told my husband lately, "[T]hanks to your love the tight aroma that arose from the earth lives dimly in my body" (Neruda). (Although he has told me, "I like it when you're quiet" while he is watching the Nightly News.)

Today was a rather crappy day, but I was reminded by an old friend that many people have it crappier than I do. Now, I think she was referring to victims of genocide in the Middle East and oil spill victims, but I would hate to find good in such horrible situations. There are, however, people that I will be happy to exploit for creativity's sake.

Case(s) in point:

Charlie Sheen
Joran Van Der Sloot and every woman he has come in contact with
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt
Lindsay Lohan

Yes, some of those really do have it tough through no fault of their own, and others, well, they are getting what's been coming to them for year. Poor Charlie Sheen can't even smoke in Aspen prison. What is this world coming to?

Thank God for idiots like Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. I can draw from the misery and pain over the separation of their made in reality hell marriage, and make a semi-amusing blog out of it. Heck, I might even write a poem or two about celebrity anguish.

"A Haiku For Lohan"

SCRAM! Was that a light?
Booze, parties, call it a night
Better call Doc Drew

Maybe I could try finding inspiration from the happy things in my life. Eventually, I think I might fry my brain reading about celebidiots.

Track #2--You're So Vain

"You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you"

~Carly Simon 

Dear you,

Yeah, you. You know who you are. You are the one who thinks this is about you even when it's not. You are the one who thinks the whole world revolves around you. You haven't reached your dreams because someone is out to get you; it couldn't possibly be because you haven't tried hard enough, could it?

Rewind. Let's think about it. Is it ever your fault? No, it's always someone else's problem. The world is out to get you, the people in your immediate path are successful because of luck not perseverance according to your whining words.

Well, enough is enough. Get off your pedestal. No one is impressed with the one who doesn't get their hands dirty. Get ahead by doing, not just saying you are going to do it. Take ownership of your own life. Don't expect things to get handed to you.

I got where I am today because of skill and hard work. Luck has nothing to do with it.

/rant