Pineal Gland Cyst

Well. So, I've neglected my blog posts and blog hopping, because I've been distracted by my MRI results.

I have a 12mm Pineal Gland Cyst in the middle of my brain (top red arrow). It has calcification on one side which could be a tumorous nodule. There's also a black spot (second red arrow) that could be something (tumor), but they need to recheck it. And, then there's the cavum septum pellucidum at vergae (thought you'd appreciate the correct term) which is merely an "incidental" finding with no significance, according to everyone medical who's talked to me so far. But, it does make a pretty picture of a butterfly in my head (bottom red arrow). Supposedly, everyone has the "wings" of the butterfly in their head, but only a small percentage has the "body" of the butterfly. There are only guesses as to why. Personally, I think it's because I've always been an overachiever. There were some other findings as well ... but disagreement as to the meanings. So, far I've seen three doctors, and I have a phone consultation with a Los Angeles neurosurgeon next week.

So, I might not be around making blog posts for a few days ... as I pursue a medical solution. Today, it was suggested that maybe I have MS as well. Sheesh. Whatever. I can do hard things. ... well ... in between crying and sleeping ... I can do hard things.

Once I get my head screwed on straight (literally and metaphorically), I will be back to regular blog posts about writing, blackberry picking, reading, and other fun things. So, please do check back. I won't remain mired in confusion and frustration forever.

2 Quick & Easy Tips for Improving Romantic Scenes

Do you write romance? Or even young adult?

Here are two tips for improving your writing:

Tip 1: Watch "Planet Earth" (especially clips like this) and imagine your male suitor behaving in a somewhat similar manner.



Tip 2: Watch it again, and then implement something you learned from it into your writing. (The dancing bird at the end is my all-time favorite!!)

Bwhahaha.

Seriously.

Unexpected Surprises!

... Lessons in Picking Blackberries #3 ...

I went out to pick blackberries this morning,

but look at what I found in my berry patch:

What a delight that unexpected surprise brought to me!

It reminded me of an article I read in WRITER'S DIGEST titled "The Geyser Approach to Revision" by James Scott Bell. He suggested overwriting "... for a few minutes without stopping ..." because "Intentionally overwriting brings up all manner of surprises, most of which you'll not use. But in the pile you'll pull out a gem that you will want to keep" (page 23).

So, if you're stuck on a scene, description, voice, or whatever, try letting your imagination loose for a few minutes. Go crazy overwriting the problem section. Who knows, maybe you'll find some unexpected surprises!

:)
Happy Writing.
...

What is your favorite revision tip?

A GREAT New Resource for YA Writers!

Do you write for the young adult market?

Well ... there's a great new blog to add to your favorites!

http://yaconfidential.blogspot.com/

Why is it great?

Because the writers behind it will be utilizing real-live young adults for feedback, critiques, features, book reviews, and more!

Check it out.

Do you utilize the feedback of teenagers on your writing projects? Or do you just ASSUME young adults will love what you have to say? Hmm?

Book Review: THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Miguel Ruiz


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read this book probably four times now. I think it is a great book with great philosophies; however, I will always remember that I had highly recommended this book to a group of people, and one of them called me and told me how offended she was by the book (she didn't read more than 15 pages). And, she couldn't believe I would recommend a book that went against her/my/our religious beliefs.


Well ... here's my opinion: Truth is truth, and it is found in many places. Sometimes truth is surrounded by un-truths. It is for us to decide whether it is worth the effort to sort through the information or not.


Whether you agree with everything in this book or not (which, I don't agree with it all) ... it is still a fantastic book. If you learn the basic agreements promoted in this book, you will only benefit:


1. Be Impeccable with Your Word


2. Don't Take Anything Personally


3. Don't Make Assumptions


4. Always do Your Best


I will continue to highly recommend this book. The world would be such a better place if we all did our best to follow these four agreements.


View all my reviews

What book are you reading right now? Do you like it?

Flash Fiction - First Campaigner Challenge

So ... Rachael Harrie has issued the first challenge of the current campaign:

Write a story in 200 words or less. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open.” If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Now, even though I am sometimes a procrastinator (the deadline is today!) ... I am always up to a challenge! HA.

Here ya go - - - exactly 200 words and using the opening and closing words listed above:

Source: http://weheartit.com/

Shem and the Unicorns
by
Margo Kelly

The door swung open and clunked against the wall. Shem poked his head inside. Did the noise alert his father? Only two cows seemed to notice. They chewed their cud, keeping their eyes on Shem. He darted back out and ran to the tree where he’d tied the unicorns. Warm air puffed from the colt’s nostrils as he pulled against the reins, but the filly smiled, revealing her bulky teeth.

Shem tugged them toward the door, and their hooves clacked against the wooden ramp.

“What are you doing?”

Shem backed into the unicorns.

“Answer me, son.”

“Well … we should bring the unicorns. They’re rare. Beautiful.”

“No, son, they are filthy and deceptive.”

“But you were told to bring two of every kind.”

The colt neighed and stepped toward Shem’s father.

“Not those illusory creatures. They’ll devour the food and kill the other animals.”

Shem hung his head. His father took the reins and pulled the unicorns away from the ark. Shem followed as his father slipped the ropes from the animals and slapped them on the behinds. Shem walked back to the ark with his father; then hefted the door away from the wall, and the door swung shut.

---

If you like the story, be sure to CLICK HERE AND VOTE by "liking" my link ... but you'll have to scroll down FAR to find mine (because I'm a procrastinator). My link should be around number 366 or so. (yikes!)

If I Only Had A Brain!

Have you ever considered what's NORMAL and what's abnormal? As writers ... I'm sure you have! Because, that's character development! But sometimes in real life, I wonder ... are my symptoms traits normal for the average human being of my age and gender?

Who's to say really?

Well, I used the golf ball on my ankle (aka bug bite) as an excuse to visit my regular doctor. She said not to worry about it. It will go away.

Then, I took it upon myself to bring up the topic of my brain and the way it functions ... errr ... doesn't function. She took my concerns seriously. Now, this morning I "get" to go have a brain MRI.

What if they find no brain at all? That would ... explain everything.

If I only had a brain ...

Labor Day Weekend Activities

(Crazy long post. If you don't have time to read it ... just look at the pretty pictures!)

We had a great event filled Labor Day weekend!

It started off with bugs (what else?).

I had been bitten several times on each ankle Wednesday night, and Friday night when I went to apply more anti-itch cream, my kids freaked out when they saw my ankle! YIKES. One of the bites had swollen to the size of a golf ball.

I clearly wasn't thinking straight, because I honestly hadn't even noticed. Sheesh. So, my kids insisted I go to "Quick Care" a.k.a. Doc in the Box. The doctor took a look at my ankle and said, "Hmm. That's unusual." Gee, thanks, Doc. He said I was having an allergic reaction and needed to take a double dose of Zyrtec every day until the lump was gone. (That was Friday night. It's now Tuesday morning, and lump is still there ... maybe a bit smaller.)

Saturday, I hit the ground running (even though Doc said I should rest all weekend). I had a Stampin' Up! workshop in the morning.

photo source: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/margo

Then met some friends and used a long arm quilting machine to quilt an big queen sized log cabin quilt. YAY!

This isn't the exact machine I used, but silly me, I forgot to take my camera!

Here's the quilt (it still needs the binding finished):

Close up of the free motion quilting I did (this is the back side of the quilt).

After quilting for 4 1/2 hours, I raced home, grabbed the kids, and headed for Meridian. Because, we had free tickets for the Meridian Speedway! And, it was a crazy crashed filled night! What a blast!

picture source: http://www.asa-racing.com/news.aspx?Id=47835

By Saturday night, my swollen ankle was killing me. So, I took the doctor's advice on Sunday and rested. I finished the hand embroidery on one of my favorite quilts. Then Monday, I sewed the blocks together and "sandwiched" the quilt. While my family watched movies, I started the hand quilting. YAY. Great weekend.

What did you do over the holiday weekend?

Put Me in Coach!

As a writer, have you gone through the query process? Have you successfully found an agent?

At any point in the process, have you ever felt like shouting from the roof tops, "I'm ready!"

But, the agents say:
"Work on your skills."
"No thank you."
"Keep trying."

*sigh*

Have you played sports?

I feel like my daughter and I are going through the same experiences right now. I have skills. She has skills. But, the agents and coaches are busy looking at other players. We need to do something to grab their attention and not let go.

...

"Put me in coach! I'm ready to play ... today! Look at me! I can be ..."



Maybe the coach or agent knows more than us, but maybe the coach or agent has personal preferences as well.

I told my daughter:
"Hustle your butt more."
"Improve your skills."
"Have the most positive attitude possible."
"And keep working at it."

That advice works just as well for those of us in the query trenches.

"Put me in coach! I'm ready to play ... today! Look at me! I can be ..."