Classes, Funeral, Play

Dear Mom,

Study, homework, read, study, class, get up and do it all over again. That’s been my life. All work and no play makes Lynn a very dull girl—and that's been my thinking lately.

I attended the funeral mass for Uncle Bob—Dad’s brother-in-law. Uncle Bob’s oldest son got up to say a few words. A beautiful tribute. I had rummaged through my purse for my pen and notebook when my cousin said that his dad said something like, “When you stop playing, that’s when you become an old man.” Uncle Bob was 92, and even though I didn’t really know him other than what I've heard—he played right to the end.

Hearing this made me realize that I’m not playing at all. Although I've recently met with some friends for dinner. I also meet my critique pals every other week. There are a few other things I allow myself since I've been in school, but daily? I don’t play daily.

That made me think, what constitutes play? Enjoying what you’re doing? Yes? I mean, if you’re having fun, even if it’s so called work, then to me you’re playing.

I journal every morning—which I love and enjoy. Maybe I am playing every day.

If programming weren’t so frustrating and confusing to me most of the time, I might even consider that play. But not so much, yet.

That made me think of something else. (Oh, I can hear my husband, son and stepson now… oh here she goes… they're the ones who give me the most trouble about running my mouth) I suppose my chatting can be like a program that has an infinite loop – ha – I made an analogy with programming. Not surprising, I dream in code.

We had a mid-term final. This class is about an hour and a half long. After what seemed like ten minutes, some genius gets up because he’s finished. I tried not to panic. I was probably on question 3 (of 25). I finished after using the entire class time. I’ll be lucky if half are correct… yeah, and it was open book. Go figure.

Okay, back to my point. (Yes… an infinite loop.)

After the exam, I was feeling dumb again. How’d that kid answer all of those questions so quickly? Who knows really, and it’s not right for me to compare. Maybe he grew up with a computer in his mouth. Maybe that’s all he does in his spare time. I thought, put him in a kitchen next to me and we’ll see who’s the genius. He’ll still be breaking eggs while my soufflé is baking in the oven. Okay, not really because I don’t do soufflés, but most anything else. But that doesn’t mean geek genius is dumb… he’s just not as experienced in the kitchen. And it doesn’t mean I’m smarter either... just more experienced as a cook.

So that’s my point. None of us are dumb. Some of us apply ourselves more than others in certain things, and some of us have more experience in certain subjects than others. That’s what makes us all so unique and interesting.

Uncle Bob, I’m glad your son shared your words of wisdom to play.

Speaking of playing, take a look at Lavender Dreams and see what she’s been playing with…

Anniversary & Advice

Dear Mom,

I could have used the piece of advice that Suzanne shared with me the other night when I was getting ready for the Camp Wyman Gala.

As always, I let doubts and insecurities slip in while getting ready, when I know darn well it makes no difference AT ALL, really. So Suzanne said, “Here’s a piece of advice Mom told me when I was a teenager fussing around preparing for a date. ‘Suzanne, get ready the best you can, then forget about it, and focus on everyone else.’”

Such words of wisdom. How many times could those words have saved me from useless worry and anxiety?

I can apply this advice in many areas, not just getting ready for an event. Whenever I’m muddled in my own self-delusions of pity or pain, I have a choice to redirect that and focus on someone else. I will remind myself of this when I slip into that black hole, to remember: I have a choice. What do I want to pay attention to?

Today, I’m paying attention to you. On the anniversary of your death 43 years ago, and the anniversary of this blog, 3 years ago.

Mothers never leave us.

It's Christmas in March!

Maybe you missed it during the holidays since we're all so busy during that time of year, but don't miss it now because you can have a Christmas gift FREE.

Fifty Shades of Santa by Welkin Press (Patricia B. Smith, editor) will be free as an ebook from March 1st (today, Friday) until March 5th (Tuesday). You can get your free copy here:

http://amzn.to/W9501h

 

Tell your friends, your relatives, your co-workers, your neighbors, your enemies (oh wait, none of you have those, do you?), tell anyone you know. I mean, what do you have to lose, but a little bit of your time? And what do you have to gain? Some really nice (not naughty) romance stories. Hey, and I'm in there!

Back in December, I crammed in one more thing during the busy holiday season and did a reading for my story, "Mistletoe." You can check out my blog that boosts about the event. It's too bad you missed it because I gave away some cute home-made ornaments (and chocolate!). But tell you what, if you get your free copy and send me an email with your address, I'll mail you an ornament that you can adorn your 2013 Christmas tree. Now, that's two gifts in one.  I only have so many ornaments, so hurry. My email address: Lober13(at)gmail(dot)com and if you would, put in the subject line: Ornament.

HO HO HO - MERRY MARCH CHRISTMAS!!!

Happy Birthday Momma!

I say "momma" but I wonder if that's what I'd call you if you were alive - or would I say Mom or Mother, or a combination?

I'm called all three names by my three children, depending on what kind of mood they're in.
"Oh Momma." When they are feeling more sentimental.
"Oh Mom." When I've done something they're not too pleased with and usually for general usage.
"Oh Mother." When I've really embarrassed them.
It's more the tone that says it all.

I also wonder when I'm long gone and it's my birthday, will my kids celebrate it anyway?

Over the past 43 years since you've been gone, I know I didn't acknowledge your birth every year.  Sometimes the day presses on my heart and I can't let it slip by.

 Happy 96th Birthday!

 image from http://www.freepik.com/

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What are you called and does it matter to you? Or what do you call your Mother? Does it matter to her?

New Words

One of my critique buddies scribbled "sounds trite” on my piece. I was too embarrassed to say, “What’s trite?” I sort of understood what the word meant, but I wanted a better understanding so I wouldn’t be trite again. I got up and pulled the dictionary off the bookshelf. Okay, I didn’t. I wanted to. I like books better than the computer, but instead I opened up the laptop, searched the Internet for dictionary.com. These are the things I love about the Internet. Information at your fingertips. I don’t utilize the Internet as much as I could for the very reason, I’d never get anything accomplished, other than stuffing my already full brain with more info. Not that that’s a bad thing.

Trite: lacking in freshness, archaic, rubbed or worn by use. Hackneyed; dull

synonym: ordinary

antonym: original

Okay, it’s worse than I thought. I don’t want to be ordinary and dull in my writing. Now I have to admit, I didn’t know the meaning of hackneyed either, which I want to pronounce: hack-an-eyed (sounds like something my mom would have said when frustrated with her sewing: "Oh hack-an-eyed!") but it’s hack-need, I know. And the meaning of hackneyed: made commonplace.

When I’m reading a page-turner book and come across a word I’m not quite sure the meaning or simply haven't heard before, I am too lazy to get the dictionary. I want to keep on reading. I say to myself, “Oh, I’ll go back and look that up later.” I also get the jest of the meaning based on the sentence. And as you’ve seen by what I did looking up trite, it leads to looking up another word. I’d spend all day with my nose in the dictionary.

That is a poor decision on my part—not looking up the meaning of words—and it’s no wonder my vocabulary stinks.

Now that I’m going to school for Web Development, I MUST know certain words. Some of these words aren’t exclusive to programming. These are words one should know anyway… like integer. Integer means whole number. Seems most folks know that, but I didn’t. I thought it was a programming term and wondered why that couldn’t just say whole number.

I’d like to excuse myself for not knowing integer because: A) I’m not good in Math, more so Algebra and beyond. [Ah, not really an excuse]; B) I only know basic Math [Well, there are whole numbers involved in basic Math, but I never knew integer.]; C) The last Math class that I had in 9^th grade, I was more worried about a girl in there who frightened me. And D) That Math teacher had the personality of a soap dish [and that might be giving him a little more than he deserves]; Oh and don’t forget: E) That was all the Math requirement needed to graduate from high school. [Having no real guidance, that was it for me for Math.]

Since I’m lacking in my writing due to learning coding, maybe I’ll pick a random word from the dictionary and blog about it. Increase my vocabulary and get a little writing accomplished.

What about you? Do you look up words when you’re reading?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Image from: http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/valentines/

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, however, I don't make a big ta-do about it. It's my favorite because it's all about love. What's not to love about love? So Happy Valentine's Day everyone, especially to those having a difficult time. 

Sending love your way...

School and Other Stuff

Dear Mom,

School is going well, and as I figured, it is consuming most of my time. Hence, it’s already February! Haven’t blogged in three weeks, barely do any social media. I feel like a hermit.

Everyone who said I’d love school was right. However, my brain is on overload. Today I’m going to make flash cards to remember all the important lingo that goes with HTML and programming.

The other night when I was in the ER, I watched the nurse inputting info into the hospital system. All I could think of was the person who created that program had to be a Master Geek—and I use that term ‘geek’ in the highest regard of respect—considering how little I know at this point and how long it takes me. I marvel at what goes on behind the scenes.

I was hoping to display a program I’m working on for class as you creative folks might find it fun. Maybe next post.

Ever since school started, I’ve been dreaming in codes.

Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, I’ve managed only two weeks of the Mindful Writing Challenge. I was going to sketch daily… uh, that stopped too. I talked about writing an essay a day… errr, well, maybe I wrote five (rough at that). My weekly blog is more like monthly. Blog reading… hmmm, I try. Oh and I had to change my comment thing where you must enter the garbled words to comment because the spammers were bombarding me.

I want to thank Kathy from Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy for awarding me, which I may not deserve any longer (perhaps when school is over). Her blog is chock full of all kinds of things.

Sending love to my friend Kim who’s going through a difficult time. And my cousin, Jane.

My friend Michele makes beautiful stars—I had her make me some blue ones for my little Christmas tree (that I put away just a week ago). 

Aren’t they beautiful? Let me know if you’d like some for your tree and I’ll hook you up. You know, Christmas will be here before we know it at the way time is flying by. She makes star jewelry too.

And last, but not least, although I’m sure I’m leaving a bunch of stuff out, but I’ll be attending a spiritual seminar here in St. Louis, Missouri in mid-February. If you’re so inclined, it’s free for guests. The guest speaker, Linda Anderson is an author. The seminar may or may not be your cup of tea, but I’m sure you’d enjoy Linda’s talk.

Hope everyone is healthy and happy! Now back to homework...