As seen on TV

There are literally hundreds of reality TV shows out there. Everything you could ever desire from A to Y (oddly, there is no reality show that starts with a Z. I know because I checked). All these shows got me to thinking: What can we learn from reality TV? Don't hurt your desensitized, television ridden, brainwashed and zombified mind over it. I have been kind enough to come up with a list, but please feel free to add since my list is certainly not complete.

~All girls come in a size 2 or less, unless they are seriously over weight and want to lose it.
~You're not really talented unless a panel of three to four people can judge you.
~You CAN find true love when placed in a house with 20 good looking people.
~In survival situations, it's more important to know how to manipulate others than how to build a fire.
~Celebrities can do anything! Dancing, apprenticeships, and rehab.
~Drinking alcohol is not a casual happenstance, it is a competitive sport.
~Elimination is a part of life. You should always rank those in your social circles by level of importance so the decision won't be hard at elimination time.

To all the contributors of the blog, elimination is coming. Sorry, Kirk. The tribe has spoken.

Dear John Hughes

Dear John Hughes,

I didn't know you, but when you passed away this week, I cried.

You were one of my teachers growing up, the cool one who got that it's okay to be different, families are imperfect, and neither the geeks or the popular kids had it easy. You also made me laugh - a lot.

Thank you for characters like Samantha, Andie, Allison, Claire, and Watts. I don't know how you knew the soul of a teenage girl so well, but you did.

My only major complaint is that Andie should have ended up with Duckie and not stupid Blane. But, maybe you did that intentionally so people would have that reaction?

As a writer, thanks for the inspiration. Rest in peace.

Authors

So today I just wanted to say what amazing authors and editors I get to work with in my job! At a conference this week, it was fun to see them in action promoting their books and interacting with the booksellers at our booth. It's such a wonderful thing to see authors who can write and promote and just be normal human beings all at the same time. Renaissance men and women, if you ask me.

Also, I think I'm finally going to get a really great manuscript from a really good storyteller this next week. I'm crossing my fingers. He's one busy guy, which is good, and I think he's really establishing a name for himself by broadening his interests. Vague overmuch?

Tech Failure

Don't know how or why, but today's very clever post about what if questions never posted. Sorry folks. It was a funny one. I guess I'll save it for another day.

For tonight...um...sleep tight. Kirk's post is going up at 7 am so you won't have time to respond to this one anyway. C'est la vie.

The Chick Lit Author

Yes, its me. I guess? I don't really know. After discussing what genres I should try with some fellow Inkers, I was told... chick lit. Really? I laughed out loud. Or maybe to myself. Still, these people know me pretty well so maybe I'll give it a whirl.

What is chick lit exactly?

The Dramatic Arts

We all know them. We all have associated with them. And on rare occasion, though we try to prevent it, we end up getting tangled in their web. I'm speaking of drama queens, and the rarer species, the drama king.

These overly dramatic, easily provokable, and generally ridiculous people seem to be surrounded with problems. A broken nail can rain down the fires of hell, a spilled milk tsunami can wipe out a village, and if we ever give them a listening ear, endless torment in the form of a crying marathon can result.

I know a drama queen. She always has financial problems, health problems, and is constantly offended. Nothing seems to be quite right in her life, and she is always at odds with other people. But it absolutely isn't anything SHE has done. Everyone around her is at fault, of course.

I have a theory. These dramatic sorts blow things out of proportion for one of three reasons:

1. They want attention

2. They want to make others miserable like unto themselves

3. They think so highly of themselves that it's inconceivable for someone to challenge their kingdom

If you find yourself in association with someone who parallels any of these three symptoms, I suggest you run in the other direction. Fast. These parasitic, soul sucking, misery inducing, troglodytes can only bring you harm. Drama queen is just a nice way to say blood sucking vampire.

Tick Tock

It used to be my biological clock that would haunt me with its incessant tick-tocking, until I was blessed to become a mother for the first time at the age of 35.

Now, as I look to the future, I think about other goals I've had for a long time. I'm not old enough to feel serious pressure about a "bucket list" (you know, the list of things people want to do before they die - made famous by the film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman), but still you think about these things when you're stuck in traffic or have a rare quiet moment.

Other than the big, important things in life, like family and spiritual progression, there are things you just want to say you've done, you know? As this is a writer's group blog, one big one of course is to get that darn novel finished, and (dare to dream), published. But, I would be sufficiently happy if it just got finished to my satisfaction.

Outside of writing, I would also like to conquer some of my fears by doing something beyond my comfort zone, like skydiving or bungee jumping. Maybe when the kids are older... However, by then, it will be my bucket list.

What's on yours?