A Little Patience Is Needed

I was reminded that I hadn't posted any of the insane stories from the new job and I think I need to change that REAL quick!  First off, let me begin by apologizing to everyone, including my poor mother, who has to listen to me vent almost daily.  You are saint in this respect!

Look, I am a nerd and am extremely comfortable with this, but here, I am surrounded by people who are nerdier than I!  More often than not, I find that I am okay with this although, there are a lot of times when I just look at them like they're crazy.  One asked me if I had heard the one about the 'Skeleton who goes into the bar and asks for a drink and a rag.'  I couldn't help, but look at him, shake my head and kinda laugh because the guy meant well, despite his lame attempt at a joke.

Okay, I am officially convinced that the smaller the city, the crazier the people!  My second or third week there, I was in the middle of helping someone at the counter when another man came up and started talking to the other secretary.  As far as I knew, he was just another upset person until he commented on wanting a man to help him instead of a woman.  Hmmm, not today.  He said to the other lady, "I don't like when the police come to my house.  I don't understand why they pull out their guns when I pull out my machete!"  Um, hi!  Common sense here, guy!  They consider you a threat and are going to protect themselves.  

After 20, 30 minutes, he apparently got what he needed and left.  The woman helping him came over to where the lady who is in the middle of training me and I were sitting and says, "He told me that the reason why he was so calm is that he was on his meds today."  Excuse me, that guy who was an asshole to the women in the office was calm?!  So, silly me asks, "How does he normally act?" Again, silly me for asking.  The four women standing up there go on to tell me that this guy usually has a temper, has gone into a bank with an ax and didn't see why it was a problem, has been escorted off the premises plenty of times by the township police and only the week before was on the floor below with a large stick!  Apparently there are plenty of crazies like him roaming around that come into the office.  And to think, I thought the oddest thing out there was the guy with the dog and flag that walks up and down Marsh Road most of the year.

I have found that one of the ladies who works in the next division usually has the best stories and craziest visitors.  Just this week, a man came in who got busted for some kind of violation and proceeded to scream at her, saying that she made him sick and how he hated this township, blah, blah, blah.  The whole time, she managed to stay calm and when he finally leaves for the second time, she turns to me and another secretary and says, "Well, apparently, I make him sick," shrugs her shoulders and walks away.  Me, I find this amusing and count this as my entertainment for the hour.

Out of everything, I have noticed that most of the people like each other and are more than willing to welcome the newcomer (me) with open arms.  Even people who aren't training me, are always finding opportunities to show me different aspects of the office, which I am all for. The past few days, with my trainer out on sick leave, I thought people would forget about me and that has not been the case.  I have noticed that that isn't an option and I love that.

So, this isn't everything, but you get the picture. 

What If There's No Hell?

This was the main story on the cover of Time from a couple weeks ago that was sitting on my parents coffee table.  Last week, our pastor talked about this and I didn't realize that he was talking about anyone in particular until I saw this.  It's about a pastor named Rob Bell from Michigan who wrote a book, Love Wins, saying that there is no Hell, which is stirring up chaos in the Christian community.  

In this article, he says that there is no way greats like Ghandi could go to Hell after all of the work he had done while he was alive.  In the Bible, Hell is mentioned or described 623 times.  My question is how can someone who was raised in the church and knows the word deny this why Jesus himself said it was real?  Most religions and even pagan cultures have written about its existence, so I don't understand how he could try to teach something different.  Apparently, Christian pastors around the country are protesting this and want him out of their fold and who can blame them? 

I guess I was just a little shocked by this article, even though I really feel like I really shouldn't be since there are millions of people out there who feel the same way.  I'm not overly religious or anything, but I just don't like the fact that he is teaching people this and that greats like Billy Graham and TD Jakes are lying when they say a person will go to hell when they die if they don't repent and turn to God.  Wow...

Nagging Thought

What would happen if my main characters, Devyn and Miles, got together and would it work out?  I like the idea of it, but I don't want to 'romanticize' the story too much.  (Ps. That last sentence sounded so much better in my head, so not a word!)  They have may given it a chance at one point, but the job may have gotten in the way.

Thoughts?

Memory Lane...

When I started this blog almost two years ago, I was just beginning to tell people that I had written a book. Even now, I still get the occasional "Stop telling people because they don't really care" or "Maybe you should be doing something a little more productive with your time."  Sometimes it sounds like a broken record, but that's fine, because its something that I like to do.

Today, I spent the afternoon with Amy and her little one and she gave me back a copy of my first book that I gave her a couple years ago to read.  I just flipped through it and was amazed by how much the story had changed in that time.  The ending has been rewritten, I came to hate the mini villains even more and root for my main characters just a tad bit louder. 

Maybe its a good thing she held onto it for a while.  It is a reminder of how much work I still had to do at the time.

Soooo...

After five and half months of writing, I have finally finished my second book!  That's a little crazy if you ask me!  Especially since it took years to finish the first one. 

Now that its done, the plan is to read it over before I put it away for a while so that I can focus on my other book and submit it next month to a publisher...eeks!

Untitled

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.~ Saint Augstine

Jumbled Thoughts

Today has been one of those days when I have not been able to focus on anything.  Well, maybe that's a lie.  I have been thinking about my book and the next scene that I need to write.  I'm just trying to get other things done before sitting down to write later this evening.  Right now, I think I have maybe two days at most to write before this book is done, so can you blame me for being excited? 

The most random thing that has happened this week has been the fact that I dreamed about my characters the other night!  No joke!  I think maybe they have taken over my life!  

I think I may like this one better than the first. Is it bad to pick favorites? Or maybe that's just how I feel until I started editing it.  Not sure yet.

Wednesday Randoms

• When did this become my life?

• I love that it took me several years to finish my first book, but less than a year before I feel like I might be almost done with the second one.

• As I'm getting close to the end, I think I might throw one more twist in there. I mean, it would make the ending, which I love, worth it.

• I really didn't plan on introducing a new character this far in, but I think it only makes sense.

• How does "The Past" sound as a title? (Miles' past is called into question by an old "friend".)

Book Ramblings

There was a time when I would post something on a regular basis, but not recently...I have really slacked off. Right now, my life consists of vacation research, writing and deciding if I really want to deal with real people. Okay, maybe not the last one.

~ I really do feel bad for putting my characters in the situations that I do, but it usually makes for a really good story.

~ The villain in my first book was hard to write, but this new one is even harder. This guy is someone that I would never want to piss off and later run into by myself in a dark alley.

~ I jumped ahead and wrote the ending. I like it, but I think something might be missing. How do you think it should end?

~ This villain is insane! (I had this sudden urge to mention that again)

~ These characters are so exhausting!

~ The research for this book has been insane and I'm pretty sure looking up different types of bombs is probably frowned upon or what types of injuries a person can suffer from. You should have seen the look on my parents face when I asked about the injuries. Lol

~ Skipping a day of writing is almost not even allowed. It's like these characters want their story told, no matter the cost.

~ I think I may need a new writing spot or at least a second option.

I know this is a lot of rambling, but this is nothing compared to the thoughts swirling around my head!

A New Reason to Hate Mondays?

After a week of writing almost everyday and getting a lot of work done, I think I have hit that god awful brick wall again.  Is it possible to write too much?  I'm starting to think it is.  Now that I'm home, I thought I would make it a point to head to the library and get a little writing done and after less than 3 pages, I found myself just sitting here with the pen floating over the page. 

Hmm...maybe now would be a good time to double check a few facts and get a few chapters typed up before I head home for the night. 

This is what my life has become! LOL

Friday Night Game

Earlier this evening, I went to a freshman girls basketball game (Arthur Hill High School vs. Flint Northwestern Prep Academy) in Flint with my cousin, Jazmone, to see her sister, Ravonna, who plays for Arthur Hill (A.H.).  You know, to be the supportive family members since she was not too far from Grand Blanc. 

First of all, $5 to get into a girls basketball game is slightly out of control when less than 50 people are in attendance, but whatever.  To have to go through a metal detector and have a couple cops from the Flint Police Department kind of threw me, but again, we were there to support Ravonna.

When we finally got to the gym, it was half time, which more or less consisted of random kids running around on the court and people trying to shoot the ball.  Okay, let me just say that at any other game, this wouldn't have happened.  People have a serious lack of respect when it comes to girls basketball and it's a crying shame.  Had it been a boys basketball game, people would have been thrown out for that crap!

When the game finally started, Jazmone and I were a little surprised by the lack of energy by Rae's team.  Northwestern was damn near ready to fight at one point and one girl had to be pulled away from the other team.  Seriously?!  My cousin got kicked in the back after being pushed onto the floor on one play, but I think that's just something that happens....right? This was A.H. first run in with trash talk and for that, I feel sorry for them.  After the game, I told Rae that that is going to happen and all the opponent is trying to do is mess with your head and throw you off your game.  In this case it worked.  Although, I will never completely understand why the girls from the other team were spitting, but whatever.

Rae's team ended up beating Northwestern on their turf, 50-42, which made me proud.  There were times that I wanted to be that awesome cousin who cheered loudly, but I really didn't feel like getting my ass kicked since that it was their school and I was the "visitor" who accidentally sat on the home side.  Despite the lack of aggressiveness, I really do think this young team will go on to do well. 

Bones

Tonight's episode has warranted a blog post.  There has been a few decent Bones episodes this season, but tonight may have been the best.  No, it wasn't because Hannah didn't make an appearance, although that was kind of nice.

Storyline:

The Gravedigger is up for appeal and is on her way to the courthouse with Sweets.  While they were in the truck, she used this precious psychology against him and made him question his ability to do his job.  (Yeah, he's a baby to me, but I still like him and don't think he deserved that.)  Shortly after she got out of the truck, Taffet was shot down...her head exploded!!!  I have to admit that I jumped in my seat.  Don't tell me didn't!

Our team of crime fighters take on this case, despite how badly this woman/monster traumatized them over the years.  Hodgins is happy she's dead and Max is considered a suspect by Booth and Ms. Julian, who I love in this episode.  The Shooter is a sniper that Booth knows and we ended the episode a little unfinished in terms of the story.

Now for the Booth and Bones moments...I mean, isn't that the real reason we watch the show? 

I love that Max asked Angela, or Angel as he called her, if Booth and Bones were finally together.  Sorry, Max, but your retarded daughter messed that one up....didn't she tell you?  

The bathtub with a body and filled with lye...wow! Talk about gross!

My favorite scene with them is the end where Booth is telling Max, Bones and Ms. Julian about his dealing with a sniper that he thought was responsible for killing the Gravedigger.  I have got to say that I really did miss their silent conversations.  When Bones was outside talking to her dad, Booth was still inside the diner looking out at her with the 'I'm in love with my partner' look that we originally saw in the second season.

Ps. That is sooooooooo not a guy hug!

Anyways, this episode kind of renewed my 'faith' in this show and reminded me of why I started watching in the first place. 

Next weeks episode looks amazingly great!  Check it out!

So my questions is: Does Booth love Brennan or Hannah?  We'll find out soon enough, I guess.

Very excited!!!

Disturbing

**Warning, please know that what you're about to read is just my crazed opinion and should not be taken too seriously!**

So Mom and I were talking about the family trip coming up this summer and the price of airline tickets.  Now, last fall I remember people talking about the new changes in security screening protocols, but of course, I never really paid any attention because I wasn't flying anytime soon.  I do remember people flipping out about it shortly before I hopped on a train to Chicago.  

This is all besides the point...back to my conversation with Mom.  So, while we were talking, I googled the changes and oh my freaking goodness!  I guess I didn't realize first of all, that there were two options or that they were so intrusive!  So pretty much, in order to fly, you have two choices:

• Risk sexual assault with a pat down or;
• Have some creep check you out practically naked via X-ray machine

Hmmm, is none of the above an option?

I, personally, think this is out of control because you and I both know that there is going to be that one creeper who is going to take it too far.  

Am I a little late with this?  Um, yes!

Am I excited to have to deal with this in a few months?  Are you kidding me?!

*Shudder* Just thinking about it creeps me out!

I'm pretty sure I'll have a few things to say about this after my trip with the fam over the summer! ;o)

What if?

So I am working on Book #2 and loving every minute of it!  My mom suggested that I throw in a little twist to shake things up.  I have never been a huge sap, but I have always wondered this: What if my two strong-willed characters got together?

Would it work out or would they find that their job would make things too difficult?  Would they keep this little secret to themselves or would it slip?  And would this play a part in the story? (Last one, I promise!)

So yeah, I've really considered this possibility and am not hating it yet.  Maybe Mom had a point...this could actually be a good idea. What do you think?

Ps. I still have yet to name this one...Thoughts?

The End of an Era

Five and half years ago, I remember standing outside of a large room trying to decide if I had made the right decision and if I should walk in or turn around and go back home to Grand Blanc. Just give into the fear that I wasn't good enough for an internship with the Governor's Office.  Instead, I shocked myself and walked into the room to take on my next challenge.  This turned out to be the best thing I could have ever done.  In that time, I met some amazing people, did things I never thought I would and learned so much about myself.  

In a way, I feel like I grew up there and changed for the better.  I became a more vocal person without forgetting who I was.  I learned to finally stand up for myself, for the most part.  Working in that office, I learned that the people (the general public) that we work for had a voice and all we had to do was listen.  It made me appreciate things a lot more than I ever had before.

I had the chance to work for Michigan's first, and certainly not the last, women governor.  When I worked in Scheduling, I often worked 9, 10 hour days and hated getting up the next morning.  Then I would think of how the governor had probably been up hours before I had and was still going.  It made me rethink a lot of things and pushed me to work a lot harder.  While I worked here, I would often think, 'How many people do you know actually got a chance to say that they ran into the governor in the halls of their building?'  Not that many people.  In my time here, I learned a lot about the ins and outs of state government and saw things the general public didn't know about.  How the governor had to fight with the senate for the people that she represented and protect them.  How the news never talked about the positive things that she achieved, only the negative. 

When my boss said goodbye for the last time yesterday afternoon, the dam broke and I couldn't help but cry.  Despite everything that was ever said, he meant well and was a good boss who would go to bat for his team.  To me, that says a lot about a person.  Other than my internship supervisor in Legal, he will be the one that I remember the most.

It was here that I met some of my closest friends.  It was with Katie that I would IM all day as an intern despite the fact that she was in the next cubicle and laugh.  It took Amy and I a year to realize that neither of us could hear the other and became good friends.  It was Jessica who made working in Scheduling tolerable with our weekly Beaners run and sarcasm.  The "family" lunches weren't as awkward.  It was Adair and Allison that I was glad to have join our group over the summer.  It was my last round of interns that kept me on my toes all summer long.  I honestly could go on forever, but I don't think it's necessary.  Before we left for the last time, we promised to stay in touch and get together as much as possible.  

It was almost like after graduation in a way.  The one difference is that these people changed my life and for that, I am grateful.  They didn't look at where I was from, the color of my skin or anything like other people I had dealt with before.  Instead, they made it a point to get to know me and became like a family to me.  They knew before anyone else when I had a lot on my mind and just needed someone to listen or needed to be called out.  They were the people that I didn't feel like I had to explain myself, almost like my real family.   

Five and half years later, I walked out of the Romney building for the last time remembering all of the memories that I now had and know that no matter what, I was blessed to even get the chance to work there.  To meet the people that I did, who changed my life for the better.  To become a person who now has this insane amount of experience and can go anywhere, do anything.  There were days that I hated my job, but in the back of my mind, I knew that wasn't true.  Any job that I take after this may never measure up to this, but that's okay.

To the end of an era!

My gift to you....

So I was trying to figure what I should give my "dedicated" followers for Christmas when it hit me.  A small intro to a rough version of my second book.  When I was writing this, I loved it because a part of this is from my last trip to Chicago when I visited my friend, Katie.  Please know that the scene in the metro car really happened.

Jumping on the metro to meet up his partner for dinner at a Thai restaurant in Lincoln Park on their day off, Miles Jackson, a young African American homicide detective with the Chicago Area Police department, settled in a seat by the window and watched as the world around him passed by.  Chicago during the summer was probably his favorite time of year.  With all of the festivals, art shows and tourists, there was never a dull moment and that’s what kept him here.  Other than serving in the military, he had never lived outside of the Chicago area in all of his thirty four years.  In his mind, he wondered why anyone would ever leave when everything they could ever want was here.  If you were tired of one area of town, all one had to do was move on to another neighborhood.  No reason to leave the city, he thought to himself.

Once the metro car he was in went underground, he turned to look around the car that he was in at the other passengers as the music from his ipod served as a soundtrack to the ride.  The little girl with an older woman was squirming in her seat trying to get the woman to pay attention to her.  A group of teen-aged girls were in the seats by the doors gathered around a digital camera giggling before taking another picture of themselves.  A young man trying to start a conversation with a young woman around his age in a conversation to see what her favorite vegetables were and about the vegetarian lifestyle.  From what Miles could see, she had no interest in the topic and wished he would stop talking.  The older man sitting in front of him wearing tattered clothing and a bag matching his attire in the seat next to him was engaged in a heated conversation with himself.

Miles stood up to go stand by the doors to get off.  Once the doors opened, he pushed his way through the crowd of incoming passengers and ran down the stairs to walk that last few blocks to the restaurant.  He was a few doors away from his destination when he saw Devyn Williams, his work partner for the past year and half, coming from the other direction and waved.  When she saw him, she smiled and waved back.  A few moments, he opened the door for her and walked in after her.

Christmas 2010

It's been a while since I have been on here and for that, I apologize for that.  I've been working on finding a new job and working on my second book, which by the way, is going great!  Its a continuation of my first and I'll admit that I am not the nicest to them.  So far, a rough sketch of the ending is done, so its nice it have that part done.  I really HATE the villain and am having an issue writing from their point of view.

Anyways, that is not why we're here!

Tomorrow, we are having Christmas tomorrow afternoon at my parents house and as I'm writing this, my family is all sitting in the kitchen getting the food and treats together.  I've got to say that it's kind of nice not having any wrapping to do tonight like I have in the previous years. 

I haven't really gotten into the Christmas spirit and didn't put up my Christmas tree.  It just didn't seem like Christmas.  I think we've seem to have forgotten the real reason for the season.  Every time I think about that it, I think of this season from the Charlie Brown Christmas.

So, enjoy your time with your family tomorrow and have a very Merry Christmas!

Saturday Random....

So, I am a total slacker and have not watched this weeks episode of Bones yet...I will before the end of the day!  I was reading a Bones fanfic, when I thought of one of my favorite scenes in the show.  

Not sure how anyone could hate this show after seeing scenes like this with our favorite non-couple!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Dilemma

Okay, I know that I haven't resubmitted my book yet, but I got an idea for a second book.  The first book was about Devyn Williams past and the betrayal by someone close to her.  For the second book, I'm thinking that this will be more about her partner, Miles Jackson.  The opening scene will start with Miles making his way through the city.  What I do like about this chapter is that a lot of this is based on my last trip to Chicago. 

So here is my dilemma: How should the first (and maybe only) victim die?  I was talking to my mom about it earlier and she couldn't believe that I would even ask her this.  "Because, Mom!  I'm going to ask you about it anyway!"  Right now, I know that it's going to be messy and very gross.  Do you know what she recommended? (And I love her for this one!) "Think about the torture scene from 'Law Abiding Citizen'.  That was a real torture scene!"  Yes it was and even now, its one of the hardest scenes I've ever seen to watch.  (Ps. if you have a weak stomach or don't like blood, PLEASE don't watch that scene!) 

Let's just say I get what she's saying, but I can't do that.  Looks like I will be pulling out my encyclopedia on criminals out this week.  Yikes!

In my head, I know how it's going to end and have mapped out most of the characters, except the murderer.  Its that one part that is going to bug me!

Any ideas?

Ps. I have no idea where these crazy ideas come from and I can already see more than a few sleepless nights in my future.

Random....

As I was adding "It was as if Miles had anticipated how the journal would end", when an idea hit me.  What if I made it so that Carson Maddox was more or less the fall guy and Miles was the real mastermind behind all of the murders?  Terry and Brian would have just been collateral damage.

A small part of me kinda likes this idea.  It would make for one hell of a twist.

The other part is screaming, "NOOOOOOO!!!"  Devyn needs a stable partner who is really dedicated to his job and is a genuinely good person.  Besides, Miles is too awesome of a character to be a villain.  Don't you think?

Just a thought....