Pacific Coast Rest-Stop

[Shann]

I'm delighted to see you wander in. I don't mean to say all they want is upbeat topics because that's not entirely true. My in the kitchen story was about men taking the role of leader too far and being quite abusive with his women belong in the kitchen. But this quarter's topic seems to be upbeat in general. It is loosely based on food with topics picnic (mine was about a hosp. girl having her picnic on the balcony but was sad that her favorite part of picnic is watching the ants so the other little girl brings her an ant farm), in the kitchen, then potluck (This was a Wrigley disguised with the name Gracie story about two 11 yo girls who are in charge of the menu and decide to have everyone bring a dessert.) This week's that is up now is savory to the taste(this time my story was about bugs'taste) and next week's topic id diet-- now that could have some dark stories.

Actually, while doing my reading, I came across this riveting tale that has a dark side for savory to taste. I'd recommend it to everyone because it is so well written and though dark, there is a glimmer of hope.
Death Will Wait
I did call and speak to Holly tonight or I guess last night. She is doing well but has been super busy. She has three people who she helps them as needed and they all have had some big health stuff going on. She sounded wonderful and said my call was timed perfectly because she could feel God nudging her to write again. Hopefully she'll pop in soon (I told her where to find us) She sends all of her love.

[Sparrow]

Whew! After three months of almost daily work and a couple weeks of hours and hours each day, the Ruby Ridge book is off to the printer! I don't know whether to post a collapsed on the floor in exhaustion emoticon or a cheering one. I've definitely done similar amounts of work on my own Peculiar People book, but this was my largest project for someone else. I was working as story coach, editor, and formatter, and this author was involved in every bit of the process, making lots of changes all along. I'm glad she was able to be so involved, since it is her book after all, but it made things take longer since we had to pass it back and forth a bunch and keep proof reading things over and over as she made adjustments.

But I think it's a pretty powerful book. It should be ready to buy within a week or two, and I think I even managed to get a promotional discount just for my friends! So I'll post again when it's ready and I know what my friend price is, in case anyone is interested in it.

It was an honor to be hired by a publisher and be involved in this big of a book with a somewhat famous author. But I have to admit I'm excited to be able to get back to my own writing now. I still have another editing job, but it's not as intensive so I will be able to do some of my own stuff at the same time. I still have a month and a half left of my interpreting work break, so am hoping to get a ton done on Voices of the Dark. I still have a couple days of work on Reaching Sky before I send it to that publisher, too.

I was a little stressed with all the formatting and stuff this week as we came up on the August 1st deadline, and I got this sudden crazy burst of inspiration and actually entered the challenge. Felt nice.

And Barb, 90% of my challenge entries are dark, and I place in the EC a fairly high percentage of the times I enter.

And Shann, I definitely did NOT say to put the mushroom poo on Chris' keyboard or pillow. I said it should go somewhere easy to clean up like his chair. Keyboards shouldn't get crumbly, greasy stuff on them. (Though don't tell mine that, since I eat over it all the time )

Shann, in a poll I'll bet you'd be most popular. And all the rest of us would tie in second place. Honestly, I so appreciate every single person in this group. We're all so unique and special, and yet are tied together well. We make the perfect group. So good to see Barb and Kate and Kara pop in again, and I'm enjoying Leah being around more often. Good to see the rest of the regulars, Pup and Becky and Shann, here, too, and everyone else who pops in.

[Kalnozoli Kate]

Anyone need a hair cut, Ian is shearing the sheep, rather late but it will be nice and warm for their nakedness.
Amy, rejoicing with you on a job well done. Thanks Shann and Amy regarding the darkness and light issue perspective.

[Shann]

I just want to clarify that I thought this quarter with the topics all related to food would be more upbeat and fun or memorable. So stories like Barb being so sick and just wanting to get into the kitchen to cool her throat may not have been the light entries they are looking for this quarter.

Definitely for other themes I've seen some outstanding dark stories do well. But my story about In the Kitchen was very dark and ended with a murder.

Leah commented that she thought it was weak on topic and I understand where she is coming from but God insisted that I write that story. I did kind of want to write a light-hearted one because I thought the topic rating on mine probably would score low. However, the only thing that echoed in my brain was Women should know their place and the place is in the kitchen.
no comments on why thoughts echo in my brain!

So in my eyes I thought it was right on topic and even out of the box enough that it should have scored higher for fresh and original ratings. But if the anthology is filled with food stories, Martha and Mary stories, romantic stories, and church stories, then a dark one like mine wouldn't fit.

Now Barb's wasn't dark but it wasn't as connected to the kitchen as I think the judges wanted. Personally I thought it was well-written and I liked how she wrote in about the topic because it was different. After a few weeks of reading almost the same type of stories, I am delighted to read something that feels different. I think every topic had at least one Martha and Mary story (a few people did an amazing job with it, looking at from a different POV. One of my favorites was a modern Martha and Mary.)

Well, I need to get to bed. Amy kept me up all night sending me weird messages about talking in tongues but through texting and then she would just type random letters. I don't know sometimes I wonder . . . maybe a little cuo-coo

Okay I confess I was the one writing in my sleep. One time I even wrote about my uterus and it sounded like I missed her and even capitalized the U. Chris worries about the things I do in my sleep. He's had to wrestle the car keys out of my hand. I think he's just a worrier so what if one time at the end of October after the first frost, I woke up in the middle of the swimming pool sobbing and frantically looking for the kids who were drowning. Sure they were safe and sound asleep but if they had gone swimming in near freezing weather at 2 am you'd think he'd be glad I was willing to risk my life.

Time for bed. Love yas all and in case ya missed it Holly says howdy and she loves ya all and hopefully will pop in soon. Next we go after Ivy and Tim and Shelley. Seema has popped in once in a while but I'd love it while the zoo is being scrubbed down and the monkeys out for some running about, to have her pop in more. Barb too though she doesn't have a monkey problem. At least I don't think. It's hard to keep it all straight some have monkeys and others are monkeys (Bubbles aka Holly was named after Michael Jackson's chimp) some have aliens in their basement while others have been suspected of being aliens.

[lauralnm]

Well, I'm going to jump right in and get my feet wet. As far as the topics this time around, in my opinion, the reason the weekly Writing Challenge is called that is because of the challenge it brings us writers in deciding what to write about. My current entry regarding "Savory to the taste" is very dark, but I felt compelled to write it. If I was reviewing it, I might question what one thing had to do with the other, but I think all in all, it is consistant with the topic. I personally don't feel we have to dwell on the topic to make it a winner. Often times, which was the case for the current topic, I will write two or three stories, but I am always drawn back to the one I finally submit. To me, that is God's approval of what He would have me submit.

To write on a subject and write only what you think the judges want is not a challenge. If that was the case, then we should change the name to say "The Writing Nook," because to write that way would be limiting our creative juices and hence, there wouldn't be any challenge at all. I like to look at each challenge as just that...a challenge to come up with something that no one else will. To me, that is being creative. To just write as we think the judges want is no challenge to me. I like to write outside the box.

Simple thoughts from simple me...

[Kalnozoli Kate]

Well, I'm going to jump right in and get my feet wet. As far as the topics this time around, in my opinion, the reason the weekly Writing Challenge is called that is because of the challenge it brings us writers in deciding what to write about. My current entry regarding "Savory to the taste" is very dark, but I felt compelled to write it. If I was reviewing it, I might question what one thing had to do with the other, but I think all in all, it is consistant with the topic. I personally don't feel we have to dwell on the topic to make it a winner. Often times, which was the case for the current topic, I will write two or three stories, but I am always drawn back to the one I finally submit. To me, that is God's approval of what He would have me submit.

To write on a subject and write only what you think the judges want is not a challenge. If that was the case, then we should change the name to say "The Writing Nook," because to write that way would be limiting our creative juices and hence, there wouldn't be any challenge at all. I like to look at each challenge as just that...a challenge to come up with something that no one else will. To me, that is being creative. To just write as we think the judges want is no challenge to me. I like to write outside the box.


I doubt if anyone here writes for the judges, as such. But point well taken.
Simple thoughts from simple me...

[JesusPuppy]

I got bored at 4 o'clock this morning and start reading, old posts of all things.

Even though I'm on the wrong coast, I had to swing over to the other side of the country. I haven't seen pup on the boards much and wanted to see if all is well. I'm so glad i dropped in because I just love the picture and I am jealous. I'd love to have lunch with you all!

Okay I'm back to my own little corner of the country now. if you all ever decide to have lunch in the middle of nowhere look me up!

This is Shann's first post here, she snuck in just after Leah got married(two+ years ago) and we were blessed with their visit on the coast. Funny, she (Shann) thought she was just posting a quick howdy-do, and now look, still living on the "Other Coast" and a major part of our RestStop family.

Looking through the first few pages, I am glad to see we are all still here. Well, except for Bubbles who seems to be toooooo busy to let us know she is still alive. (mean old Bubbles, someone should pop her one ) Anyway... I am pleased to see that we have mellowed. Somewhat. A little. Ok the rest of you have mellowed.

We have had a lot of people pop in for visits, but the original group is still alive and well. Except for Bubbles, (who was NOT named after a monkey, but her bubbly personality) who I think is staying away just to bug me. (mean old Bubbles) We have added a few, lost a few, and now have even been moved to a major forum, but the PacificCoastRestStop... which I personally gave it it's name... is still here and active. I am just wondering if Holly thought.. those two+ years ago.. that this little thread would still be alive. (Even though she is hiding and not here to enjoy this ramble)

Thank you Bubbles, for starting up this friendly little group. And Shann... I am sooooo glad you swung over for a "Quick" visit.

Anyway... all this just to say the sun has poked out from behind the morning fog bank and I am going for breakfast and a bike ride. OOOoh they are having WindFest here this weekend. Might just lock up the bike and take a walk along the docks. After breakfast of course.

[Shann]

That's funny Pup. When I was reading the quote, I scratched my head trying to figure out how long ago it was. Yep you guys are addicting. I did talk to Bubbles ( and she was named after a monkey I remember someone saying that cuz I'd have no clue what Michael Jackson would have named his monkey!) She is doing great but super busy. She said she'd pop in soon.

So now I'm freaking out cuz we just got Lyd's college bill and back in April we appealed the financial aid because of my health problems and they offered exactly the amount she needed which I saw as God's way of saying yes Lyd belongs here. I was worried about the cost and wanted her to go to a state school but when the exact amount was given we went ahe3ad but it's not showing up on the bill and we might have to come up with $4500 have no idea how we will do that.

[lauralnm]

Don't forget, Shann, God is still in the miracle business so don't give up hope. Just when we think there is no hope, then we allow God to do His work. I don't know how many times I have worried over similar things, and as soon as I let it go, I allowed God to put His plan to work. I'll pray specifically for this particular need. blessings... laura

[Kalnozoli Kate]

So now I'm freaking out cuz we just got Lyd's college bill and back in April we appealed the financial aid because of my health problems and they offered exactly the amount she needed which I saw as God's way of saying yes Lyd belongs here. I was worried about the cost and wanted her to go to a state school but when the exact amount was given we went ahe3ad but it's not showing up on the bill and we might have to come up with $4500 have no idea how we will do that.[/quote]

Try talking to the Financial Aid office. I worked in Financial Aid at uni and hopefully they can sort it out for you. Prayers will be offered.

[Shann]

Thanks Laurie and Kate, I called financial aid immediately but they are swamped and were supposed to call back. I'm hoping it just didn't get added because when I talked to them in April there were two more amounts one a scholarship or a grant and the other a loan. But since it is so late on a Friday I doubt they'll call back today.

[JesusPuppy]

She was NOT named after a monkey, she THOUGHT it odd that I would call her the same thing as what's his face called his monkey. I called her Bubbles because of her personality, that monkey had nothing to do with it. So there.

[Shann]

I think you're remembering wrong. If I recall you even drew a banana and made monkey squeaking sounds! So there!

[srashmi]

Oooo Pop...

Bubbles pop, and she does tend to try popping our bubbles..


POP it should be.

No bananas here.

Signing out until tonight...over and out.
*** Bubbles *** I give in Pup since I can't play as much for awhile and argue with you, so you win...FOR NOW!

[JesusPuppy]

See.. Bubbles.. without a banana... or a monkey. And.. she still hasn't won that argument. (not that I am stubborn..)

And I bet it took Seema a loooong time to find that.