Friday, April 29, 2005

Writing a Novel



For me, writing a novel is like doing a jigsaw puzzle.

I start, seeing the picture, on the cover of the box.

Then the long process of sorting all the little pieces begins.

I create the framework around the edges, and fill in the gaps.

There are times when the work is frustratingly slow,

when I cant get even one little piece to fit.

Yet each piece offers the thrill of achievment.


I can get so absorbed in a puzzle.

When the effort means nothing, to anyone but me. Posted by Hello

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Take your child to work day

">Link http://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org/

Yesterday was take your child to work day.

My son (7) idolizes his Dad.

He went to bed crying, crying, crying...

"Whats the matter baby?"

"I want to sleep in YOUR BED, where Daddy Sleeps." (sniffle)

I offered to put him in the middle, where he sleeps after nightmares, or thunderstorms.

But that was not good enough

The crying continued.

"Whats the matter now baby?"

"I want to be on Daddy's side, by his alarm clock, so I can wake up and go to work."

How sweet.

My little guy was taking this event SO SERIOUSLY.

The next moring he mimicked his fathers every move.

Getting up early, showering, doing his hair, dressing professionally.

Adorable.

Absolutly Adorable.

When they came home, my daughter explained that she attended four "breakout Sessions" and learned about "The World of Work", "Dress for Success", "How to write checks and balance a checkbook" and "A lesson in Diversity."

She proudly said,

"Diversity is:
First we are Different
Then we are the same
Then we come together."

I liked that.

Perfect?

Gave a speech last night at The Wellness Forum.
">Link http://www.wellnessforum.com/kidshealth.html

Large Audience. Nice Crowd.

The topic was "Changing old habits and creating new ones."

I covered all the steps, but put the focus on Loving Yourself.

The way I see it is:

You are not going to put effort into improving yourself if you dont love yourself first.

I told the audience to chase away that little voice: the one that self critisizes.

I said:

Remember The Andy Griffith Show?
I loved Aunt Bea.
What if Aunt Bea was recast, and they put Julia Roberts in the role?
Andy might like that (LOL)

But it would not be the same.

So dont look in the mirror and beat yourself up. Love yourself for who you are.

Aunt Bea was not perfect.
Neither are you.

But Aunt Bea WAS the perfect Aunt Bea.

Often, it was her flaws that revealed her charm.

You too, are loved because of who you are, flaws included.

So love yourself.
Honor yourself.

Know that you are here for a reason,
and that the world needs you to be exactly who you are,

Not who you are not.



Posted by Hello

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Our Pal Petey


It's been a year since I had him put down.
Best dog I EVER had.
Sweet, quiet, tolerant...
Just like Lassie.

But the neighbors were fear stricken.
Filled with media hype.

Ohio law labels him "Dangerous and Viscious"
just because of his looks.

So sad.

Some are dangerous, I know.
But can we say that all Black men are dangerous because they represent the highest violent crime rates and statistics?

NO!

In the 40's The Sheperds were feared.
They represented the Nazi SS Police dogs.

Then it was the Dobermans
crazed by inbreeding...they said

Next it was the Rottweillers
The devil dog from The Omen Movies

Now its the Bully Breeds
Any mutt that is part of any of the ten bull dog breeds, is called a Pitt Bull.
and lumped into one statistical group.

It makes the numbers look bad,
until you seperate them in the same way we do for other breeds.

Society wants to exterminate them all.

Good ol' Petey.
Our Friend and family pet
We miss you much.

Look out folks...
Your dog might be next.
Posted by Hello

Fun with...

Fun is Free!

It don't cost a dime.

May the following pictures inspire you to make the most of every moment!

Carpe Diem!!!!!!

Earthlings Beware!


Fun With Foil, Towels and Make-up Posted by Hello

Fun With Food Posted by Hello

fun with green M&M's Posted by Hello

Fun with Snow Posted by Hello

Fun with Toilet Paper Posted by Hello

My Pacifica


My Dream Car:
2004 Chrysler Pacifica
3 rows of seating
Lots of whiz bangs and gismos
and
A navigation system that talks!

I named her Oprah because she is my beautiful black woman who gives advice and direction!

Ohhh I LOVE this car! Posted by Hello

Monday, April 25, 2005

Spring???


Warm Sun
Green Grass
Flowers Blooming

It did not last. Posted by Hello

Sunday, April 24, 2005

A Great Teacher is a Rare and Extaordinary Gift


Oh mortal son of valor and grace
I wept at your passing.

Nine feet tall with a granite base
You were an Idol to us all.

“Reach Out! Climb High!
Push Beyond all Limitation!”

The cry from your schoolroom pulpit
Nurtured hope in a thousand faces.

Dignity with purpose
Beauty found through Love

Strength honed beyond the veil of fear
Were the lessons you spoke of.

You opened the door and bid us all
To pass beyond the veil.

To go beyond our limits.
And reach for the Holy Grail. Posted by Hello

Handy Latin Phrases

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound

Canis meus id comedit
My dog ate it

Cogito ergo sum
I think, therefore I am

Cogito ergo doleo
I think, therefore I am depressed

Vah! Denuone latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.

Dic mihi solum facta, domina
Just the facts, ma'am

Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse
You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
Beam me up, Scotty

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

The Divine Message from Burbon Street

I was reviewing my blog, and was actually a little suprised at myself for going on such a feminist anti-patricharchy rant.

In real life, I'm pretty happy go lucky, and I dont even think about this stuff too much.

I guess I have just been effected by the media.
The Terri Schaivo case,
The Election of the Pope,
The DaVinci code hype, and
The Red State / Blue State religious debates that have all been saturating the American press.

On top of that, I am constantly being confronted by Christians.

I live in a country that is dominated by this group. They are Everywhere. Their churches are on every corner, they are the teachers in our schools, they saturate the political scene, they send flyers in the mail, and they even have the audacity to knock on my door!

Not that I mind what they worship. For the most part, they are all really nice people. Heck, I even married one! (He's a GREAT guy, by the way.)

It's just that thing about their "duty" to convert everybody else that bothers me.

I'm offended by this. I mean, its not like they want to objectivly discuss religion, or seek truth, They just want me to shut up and conform to THEIR view.


For example:

When I was on vacation last month, I went to New Orleans.

I was walking through the French Quarter and stopped to listen to a group of street musicians playing some really good jazz.

I donated a dollar, and the sax player asked me to buy their CD.

"Thanks, but not today."

He replied that the profits were for a Christian childrens fund. He said "You do want to support the church and help the children, DON'T YOU??? You ARE a Christian, ARNT YOU???"

"No. I'm not a member of any religion, but I'm more of a Taoist than a Christian."

"Taoist? I aint never heard of that."

"It's an Eastern philosophy that finds wisdom in nature, and values simplicity." I said, without going into detail.

He looked at me as if I had just landed from Mars.

"When it comes to the teachings of Jesus, You better learn or you gonna Burn, Honey. Dat be all I know. You hear me girl? You better learn or you gonna burn."

Hmmm. Yea, I hear ya.

Blind faith and fear based doctrine.

The divine message from Burbon Street.

Got that, loud and clear.

Stress Reduction Therapy Posted by Hello

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Quiz

Question:

What do you call a person who writes a journal?


Answer:

A Journalist!

Ten

This weekend, my daughter turned Ten.

We held a party that just would not end.

Eight little girls full of sugar and color,

Testing the patience of an old tired mother.

The night grew late as I tucked them in bed,

Knowing whispers and giggles would soon lay ahead.

Every so often I would peek in the room

Thinking “Surely they will all fall asleep soon.”

I dozed on the couch until well after One

Listening to them, and enjoying their fun.

By two I told them in a motherly voice

“Play time is over, you don’t have a choice.”

At three I was rousted when the dog jumped on my face

Leading me down to the kitchen, the girls were raiding the place.

Four O’Clock came with my sweet little Zach,

Who kicks in his sleep like mule who attacks.

At five, I woke up to five little girl faces,

Screaming “Alex threw up…In two different places!”

At six I was ready to go back to bed

Feeling quite certain that I was already dead

When I passed through the kitchen, and looked at the cake

That I had so happily and lovingly baked,

It summed up my feelings

And made my heart ache.

This vision before me was a true work of art

Sweet sugary goodness that was falling apart!

The Rejection Letter

I am so excited!

I spent the day in a wonderfully musty, creaky floored, rare books store. It was a comfy womb of wonderment and treasures.

I came across an old handbook for writers, and read a few lines. The author instructed that writers must expect rejection letters, but that there is a difference between the pink slip rejection and the hand written rejection.

He said that pink slips infer that the writing is not good, but hand written rejections are a sign that the writing is solid, and that the work should be submitted to other publishers and agents.

Well, today’s little miracle is that I came home to a hand written rejection letter.

How cool is that! I read just what I needed to read exactly at the moment I needed it.

Coincidence? I think not.

The dreaded Query letter

Dear Publisher,

I have written a story for you to peruse, while you sit on
the loo.
I hope it moves you, but if not, consider it a replacement for
charmin.

Sincerely,

Kelley Bell

Political Affilation

I am a Republocrat.

I support the notion of small government and capitalism, but I am venomously against any organization that attempts to legislate morality.

As an educated, responsible, thinking, voting age adult, I resent any attempts by government, industry or religious institutions to parent me.

I will make those decisions myself, with careful consideration to all relevant issues, in a manner far superior to that which any cookie cutter legislation could ever attempt to offer, thank you very much.

Monday, April 18, 2005

The Woman in Red

In ancient times, high ranking women priestesses wore red robes, similar to modern Cardinals.

Strange how the symbolism has been changed.

Thinking about it makes me see red!

A question for Catholic Women:

Ladies,

With all due respect, how long are you going to continue putting your support behind an organization that does not allow women to vote?

Come on girls, The Cardinals are all voting and maneuvering for political power right now in the conclave.

Why not follow their example and use your power to boycot this inequity.

Band together and demand a voice!

Mary would.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Hard Truth - Hot Button

">Link http://www.freakonomics.com/ch4.php

Thought for today

"No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body."

-Margaret Sanger