THOUGHTS ON A RAINY DAY

It was a rainy day today and the whole time while I was at work, I was thinking about how great it would be to be at home, snuggling under the covers with a big mug of hot chocolate and a nice book. I am suddenly feeling all warm and fuzzy.

I have recently started reading the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. My sister has been trying to get me to read them for years and I finally tried them. I must admit that they are very good. I read book one in just a few hours. Now I am happily moving on to book two.

What are you reading?

READING = FUN!

I just had to share with you a conversation that I recently had with my co-worker about books. Trust me, it is good.





Her: "You brought a book to work?"
Me: "Yes, because the past few days things have been slow and I really want to finish this book."
(There is a feeling of awkward silence and I put my book away)
Her: "You read...like...books?"
Me: Mouth just drops open in surprise.
Her: "I don't read books, magazines and newspapers only."
Me: Mouth still hanging open. I can feel my throat becoming dry.
Her: "I don't read books because then you actually have to concentrate and pay attention."
Me: Mouth still open in shock and maybe a bit or horror now.
Her: "I can't believe people read books."
Me: Mouth still open and feeling rather sad for her now. How depressing it must be not to know books can be fun.
Her: "I am much more of a singer myself. Why don't you sing? Why do you read books?"
Me: Knowing that there is just no use trying to share my thoughts with this person. She is so far gone, it is not even funny and there is just no saving her.
Her: "So that is what you do in your spare time, you read?"
(She sounds rather amused about that thought)
Me: "I write books as well."
Her: Her face is blank and devoid of any life at all.
(Even more awkward silence)
Her: "So what do you write?"
Me: "Paranormal Romance."
Her: Blank stare
Me: "Vampires, werewolves...things like that."
Her: "I don't like reading books. Anyway, why don't you sing? I sing. Singing is my life."
Me: "I write."
Her: Another blank stare
Me: Smiling in amusement, wondering what it must be like being so limited in one's thinking.

FREEDOM IS IMPORTANT

Today my blog is 3 years old and when I first started blogging, I didn't think anyone would ever read what I wrote and now I have 176 followers. How unreal is that?

Unlike so many other cool bloggers, I don't have any special ways to celebrate and I don't have a great give away, sorry. But I wanted to mention that freedom is important to me. The freedom to think, to live, to exist to create and to inspire. So, that is what I want to share with you.

It is okay to be different, to live life the way you want. To write the way you want, to wear whatever you want, to do the kind of job that you want, because it makes you truly happy. The freedom to make your own choices and to be proud of yourself for being true to yourself, that to me is priceless. So...go be free.

THE SUNSHINE AWARD

I was given another great award, the Sunshine Award, by the lovely a talented Sarah Chafin, over at Simply Sarah (http://simplysarahsblog.blogspot.com). She truly has a very interesting blog and she is really the true sunshine lady and she could really do with a few more followers, so please guys, stop by and visit Sarah.

Now, for the rules that this award comes with:

You have to feature a picture of this award in a post or on your blog.

You have to answer 10 random questions about yourself.

You have to nominate 10 other bloggers to receive this award and then you have to link to their blogs and let them know about receiving it.

And now for the 10 questions:

1. Favorite color

I like black and most other colours.

2. Favorite animal

All animals. I can’t really choose.

3. Favorite number

5

4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink

Coca Cola

5. Favorite alcoholic drink

Brandy (Neat)

6. Facebook or Twitter?

Neither. I just like blogging

7. Passions

Writing, reading and learning new things constantly

8. Prefer getting or giving presents?

I am better at giving, because I am very uncomfortable receiving presents

9. Favorite City

I am more of a small town personality, but I have to say that Cape Town is great. I always experience something new whenever I am there.

10. Favorite TV Shows

I love Castle, NCIS, Grimm and the new Sherlock Holmes Series.

Now for the 10 bloggers I nominate…

Annalisa Crawford (http://annalisacrawford.blogspot.com)

Jai (http://jaileenq.blogspot.com)

Lisa (http://diaryofasquaretoothedgirl.blogspot.com)

Adhi Das (http://adhidas-adhi.blogspot.com/)

Michelle (http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/)

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

Rebecca Bradley (http://rebeccabradleycrime.com/)

Manzanita (http://beajayblock.blogspot.com)

Alex J. Cavanaugh (http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com)

Carol Anne Carr (http://caroleannecarr.blogspot.com)

It was hard to make a decision and just because you do not see your name on this list, does not mean that I don’t like you or your blog. I really hate the pressure of picking people for awards. Congratulations to the individuals who are nominated. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

To all the mother's of the world, we love you and are thankful for you. Thank you for all that you do and for always being there to catch us when we fall and picking us up when we falter.

READ A BOOK, WRITE AND READ SOME MORE

I am feeling a little conflicted at the moment.  I don't know what type of story I want to write at the moment. I always leaned towards romance because I have never experienced it before. Yes, we all have crushes, but I have never been in love and I suppose that is why I have been writing about it the past 5 years. 

Having said that, I am leaning towards darker stories and themes these days. Don't ask me why, I guess I have been reading too many Stephen King and James Patterson novels. Though, I can't really see this type of story unfolding right before my eyes as I did with the romance novels. Writing something different is hard.

As I am yet unpublished, I suppose it is okay to switch genres, because lets be honest, I have one romance novel with an agent and even the publishers don't like it. Nobody wants to see more. So maybe I am just not a good romance writer. Maybe I am yet to find the genre that I should write in. 

This weekend I am going to do some reading, just to relax and recharge my batteries and then I am going to try and get some writing done. If the writing does not happen, then I can always read some more and I can call it research. 

Just a thought...What are you writing right now?

SOME PEOPLE SHOULD JUST SHUT UP

I am at a loss of what to do today. I have been at my new job for almost three months and my new co-worker is making no effort to accept me or treat me with respect. She has made it clear that she does not like fat people (I am fat by the way) and she has this way of using humour to insult me.

I have confronted her and once, after being completely overwhelmed by annoyance and anger, went ape shit on her and letting a really bad cuss word slip, which is completely not like me, but she still did not stop. She lightened up for a while, but then she just went back to her bitchy ways. I talked to my boss and all that he said was that I had to understand that not everyone was as professional as me. I am the kind of person that goes to work, to work. My job requires a lot of focus and concentration, as I process data that has a direct impact on other people’s money.

I have been called a cold person, but that is because I am very focused and determined and I take my job, whatever it might be, seriously. I guess I can be seen as too professional, but that is just who I am. Now I don’t know what I should do. I can’t quite, I have bills to pay. Other jobs are damn scarce and this chick (yes, she is a woman) thinks she is my boss when we are actually on an equal level, she just happens to have been in the same job and position for the past 10 years. She acts like she owns me or something.

Of course I bud heads with anyone who tries to force their opinion or ideas down my throat. I have mentioned to her that I want to do my job and then go home. I am not here for drama or to make friends. I get paid to be professional and do my job to the best of my ability. Even my boss said that that was why he hired me. Today I just kept speaking my mind which just made things worse.

I honestly feel tired emotionally because I don’t want to deal with other people’s crap. Why can’t they just do their job? I think I might have to go through the proper channels and make an official complaint or something. Oh, did I mention that I am only on a temporary contract and that she is permanent? Apparently all new data capturers are only given temporary contracts, which can be extended every few months. I honestly do not want to be at the company 

any more. I feel like I was lied to about many things in my interview as most people at the company do not know what the word professional means.  I was told to adhere to certain rules and procedures but most people in the company do not. It feels like I am on a different planet certain days.

I felt this way after the first month and kept it all in, till now, but I had to share. I am just not the suffering in silence type. I thought the problem was me at first and I tried to do things differently in every other way, but still, the same result. I have been having he worst luck with jobs the past few years that I just don't know what to do. 

Aside for blogging, things have not gone good on the writing front. Not to mention that I have not heard from my agent in a few months, so I guess it is just bad news for me all around lately. But A-Z was great. It kept my mind off most of the work drama.