"Heart Surgery" up at Mused

My short story, "Heart Surgery" is up at BellaOnline's literary magazine, Mused.

I have to admit, it's pretty cool seeing my name up there. My only regret is that the submissions process stripped the italics out of my work and apparently they didn't make it back in, so I think that makes the time shifts in the story a little more confusing than they need to be. But still, it's pretty awesome to see my story in print and the photo that accompanies the story is just right on.

Check it out if you have some time. I'd love to know what you think.

Wordless Wednesday

Can you tell I'm ready for summer?

Tackle it Tuesday

I'm sorta done tackling the flu, though I have that lingering, nagging cough that I would be so happy to be done with.

Today I'm going to be out of the house running errands that have been piling up: getting dog food (the dog has to have special prescription food because he's allergic to everything else--he's so high maintenance), having lunch with a friend, getting the car inspected, shipping stuff off to sell on eBay, and going grocery shopping.

Makes me tired just thinking about it! But I know I'll be so glad when it's done. And the kids can stop whining that there's nothing to eat :)

Heard in the Hall

Because I'm still fighting this flu/bronchitis thing, I've been coming home from work and crashing for a nap for a couple of hours. I was in that weird state between sleep and wake when I heard "Calvin" outside my bedroom in the hall.

"Santa, you're sentenced to the lava pit. Any last words?"

Santa: "Merry Christmas everyone. Try to have a Merry Christmas without me."

Then assorted sounds of wailing and crashing. I'm guessing Santa went into the lava pit.

So at that point I'm up and awake. But you know, I have this short term memory problem, so by the time I stumble out my door I've forgotten about Santa. Until I step on him. Then I'm about ready to send him to the lava pit too. He was a little plastic pencil topper and he hurt!

I'm still not sure why Calvin sent Santa to the lava pit, but he's definitely inherited my warped sense of humor.

Quotable Quotes

I think credit for this grammarial gem of a blog goes to Neil Gaiman. But heck, I've had it in my file so long I can't be sure. However, it's funny and worth sharing if you're fond of words and grammar.

Or even if you're not. Reminded me a little of the Chris Farley SNL character who kept making quote marks in the air with his fingers and telling the kids they were going to live in a van down by the river. Is there a law against abusing punctuation marks?

Check it out.

And tomorrow, maybe I'll tell you why Santa got sentenced to the lava pit. Never a dull moment around my house.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless seems appropriate today since this flu has left me with little voice.

I'm so ready for summer and this picture of my kids on a covered bridge reminds me of that. Of course I look at it and see how much they've grown in the nine months since I took that picture. And they're being loving to each other!

Not Tackling Tuesday

Usually I'd have a Tackle it Tuesday post up here today, but the only thing I'm tackling today is the flu, the nasty respiratory kind that sends me into a coughing attack every few minutes.

I hate being sick. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Did I mention how much I hate it? And it's not like you can take a day off from being a mom, so I'm playing hurt. Ah well, this too shall pass, but probably not soon enough for me.

Posting may be thin this week. Or it might be cold-medicine induced rantings. Guess you'll just have to find out.