JUST POPPING IN FOR A VISIT

It feels good to blog again. My life has been crazy and not the good or fun kind. Work has become a much bigger part of my life and is demanding more of my time than I would like, but I am trying to push through, especially since jobs are so hard to come by in the first place.

I did it, I signed up for the A-Z challenge, even though I haven’t written one post to date and I know I should. I refuse to miss out on this experience again this year. I missed out last year due to work commitments and won’t do it again. I just have to think of what to write and how I am going to manage to visit blogs. But do it I shall.

My writing is going nowhere at the moment. I start something and then I don’t finish it, I just move onto the next idea, which you guys know is nothing like me. But I am sure I will figure something out.

What you are you lovely people up to? Got any news for me? 

LIEBSTER AWARD

I am so ecstatic because I have just been awarded another award, The Liebster Award and this time I have the awesome Jai from And then…to thank for this honour. Thank you!

Liebster Award Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who presented you with the Liebster Award, and link back to his or her blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator; list 11 random facts about yourself, and create 11 questions for your nominees.

3. Present the Liebster Award to 11 bloggers, who have blogs with 200 followers or less, whom you feel deserve to be noticed. Leave a comment on the blogs letting the owners know they have been chosen. (No tag backs.)

4. Upload the Liebster Award image to your blog.

Eleven Questions from Jai to me:

1.  If you could have a super power what would it be?

I think super strength would be great. There are some people I wouldn’t mind dropping a car or two on. (Just kidding!)

2.  Coffee or Tea?

Neither, because both stain my teeth.

3.  Favorite color?

Black or grey, anything dark.

4.  Why did you start blogging?

I wanted to meet people who like writing as well and to share my writing with someone.

5.  Who was your favorite teacher and why.

One of my college lecturers, because he genuinely cared about my future.

6.  Who is your favorite author?

J.R.R. Tolkien

7.  What kind of music do you enjoy?
Rock

8. Do you have a favorite movie?
Pitch perfect (for the moment)

9. What would be your dream vacation? 
My family and our pets spending time together. The location doesn’t matter.

10. What is your favorite healthy food?
My sister’s chef salad with lots of fresh vegetables.

11. What is your guilty pleasure?
I love potatoes and fried things, not to mention that I have a terrible sweet tooth.

11 Random facts about myself 

1. I tend to have a very short temper.

2. I can be really impatient.

3. Most days I like animals more than people.

4. I tend to be a loner. I don’t know why, but I like my own company.

5. I tend to worry about things, small or big. I am just a natural worrier.

6. I have completed four books to date, but only one is in submission condition.

7. I am afraid of people.

8. I can be a bit paranoid at times.

9. I don’t make friends easily.

10. I just recently started reading Stephen King’s books and I absolutely love his writing. He is rather straight forward, which is refreshing.

11. I listen to rock music to help me think. Something about the style of music is rather calming to me. I know how crazy that must sound.

Now, my 11 questions to the reward recipients.

1. What is the worst job you ever had?
2.  What is your favourite snack?
3. What is your favourite TV series?
4. Who would you like to meet? (Person could be dead or alive)
5. If you could be any animal, which would it be?
6. What are you most grateful for?
7. What do you hate?
8. Do you include exercise into your daily routine?
9. Do you like animals?
10. What is your favourite season?
11. What is your favourite food?

Here are my 11 choices for the Liebster Award:

Al Diaz - http://fatherdragon.blogspot.com/

Nancy - http://introverted-writer.blogspot.com/

Andrea Franco – Cook - http://aspiringnovelists.blogspot.com/

Jaime - http://awakeningsandreflections.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth Varadan - http://elizabethvaradansfourthwish.blogspot.com/

Linda King - http://excusemewhileinotethatdown.blogspot.com/

Karen Jones Gowen - http://writingyourhistory.blogspot.com/

Allison - http://alsgeekbanter.blogspot.com/2013/03/to-play-list.html

Reina – Summers - http://reina2000.blogspot.com

LD Masterson - http://ldmasterson-author.blogspot.com

Ryshia Kennie - http://ryshia.blogspot.com/

SOME CHEERING UP (IWSG)

I don’t know about you, but at times I feel I can do with a bit of cheering up and because life is so particularly hard, I have a few quotes to make us all feel better.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Buddha)

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. (Marcus Aurelius)

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. (Marcus Aurelius)

All quotes can be found on www.brainyquote.com. Have a great week everyone.

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the wonderful and talented author and blogger, Alex J. Cavanaugh. You guys can visit Alex over at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.

I'M A BAD BLOGGER FRIEND

I am sorry, I know that I have not been very supportive and that I have been missing a lot of important events in your life. I promise I will try to do better and be a better blogger friend in the future.

Why have I been missing? Well, my new job is unexpectedly very demanding, not to mention that I had to go for last minute training and that my boss likes springing last minute things on me, like that I will have to be working late every Thursday and Friday and possibly Saturdays as well, but other than that...

I am really sorry that I have not been making the rounds and offering my support.

SOME NEWS

I know you guys must be wondering how the interview went and to put you out of your misery I will mention that it was absolutely terrible. But I got a call this morning to say that I was late for work and that I should have been there like an hour ago. So, I got the job (on very short notice). 

Thank you so much to everyone that wished me well and that has been leaving kind comments for me the past few weeks. You guys make my life so much greater.

My new job will involve working as a data capturer and it is also a short term contract, so it is also only for a few months. I am just happy that now I at least know where my next pay check is going to come from. 

THAT SADIE THING and other stories (COVER REVEAL!)



I am so excited to share this cover reveal with you, by the gorgeous and wonderfully talented Annalisa Crawford.

A couple break up on a rainy night; a runaway longs to go home; a woman finds comfort from eating lunch as her best friend lies in hospital; a teenager feels oppressed by her father. All of the characters in these stories are trying to find their place in the world, attempting to find connections that matter with the people around them.

This collection brings together prize-winning and published stories from the past twenty years: the ‘greatest hits’.

That Sadie Thing and other stories will be available on

Kindle from Monday 25th February 2013.

Annalisa Crawford lives and writes in Cornwall with a good supply of beaches and moorland to keep her inspired. She finds endless possibilities in the relationships between people. As this collection testifies, she has been writing for twenty years - but doesn't feel a day over twenty-one.

Find her on her blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

MORE CHANGE WAS NEEDED

Today I had a talk with my attitude and we came to the conclusion that I have to stop being so damn depressing. I read a few of my blog posts for this year and man, do I sound dull. Well, first of all, I just have to mention that I have a job interview tomorrow. I am really excited, probably because this is only the second interview I have ever been invited to. With the other jobs I simply just got hired, being a temp and all that. But I really have a good feeling about this job.

The other thing is, I have been a really bad vegetarian. When I say bad...I mean eating tons of carbohydrates and mostly eating everything fried. Not to mention that I have been eating a lot of those frozen pre-packaged vegetarian stuff, which I know is not good for me on the long run, but I have just been so lazy. So, I have decided to start making my own bean burgers again and to actually start cooking for myself again and actually trying to get some form of exercise. After all, exercise makes you feel happy, right?

I just got so tired of waiting for things to change in my life, so I decided to make a few changes to a few things that are in my control.

I am also working on a short story about a nymph assassin, which I am really excited about. It is the same story idea I had a few years ago, which caused a few of my fellow bloggers to make fun of me for the idea, because apparently nymphs can't do anything aside for running around naked and having tons of sex. Just so that you know, I think that is total bull-crap, but I know it will be good and she will totally kick butt.

What is going on in your life?