For now, I need to stop playing Unconscious Mutterings.

Right now, I’m trying to keep up with Denver Cereal, writing the Queen of Cool and trying to work on the next Alex the Fey book.  In recent days, I’ve had a chance to take a step back a bit. I’ve discovered that I’m really overwhelmed.

I’m not sleeping well. I’m struggling to meet my life responsibilities.  Something has to give.

I have to make some painful cuts to my life. I’m exercising differently. Writing every day from 6-12 noon. I’ve had to cancel all but the most crucial social engagements. I’m cutting back on social media time and organizing my blogging differently. And now I must end playing Unconscious Mutterings.

I cannot tell you how much it pains me to stop doing Unconscious Mutterings. I truly love them, but I simply no longer have the time to read your replies, let alone respond. That’s just not fair.

The book should be done at the end of July or August and my schedule should free up. I’ll check in with you and with me to see if, together, we want to continue playing. In the meantime, I hope you’re well. I appreciate your kindness and understanding.

Have a fabulous summer!

Wow! Summer! Really!? It’s amazing how brilliant summer is when it finally arrives. The last week has been filled with warm days, cool nights and glorious mornings. Our rose bushes are bursting with color and blossoms. Wow! No wonder I spend five months out of the year longing for summer. Our garden is planted (mostly). Our bees are doing well (mostly). We have stone paths to build, sod to lay, new garden beds to plant and… and… and… And… the summer is young!

I’m thrilled that I get to express my summer delight in the form of Unconscious  Mutterings! I can’t think of a better way to clean out the old unconscious and get started on a new day. Will you join me? You play by simply copying these word prompts (created by the lovely Elizabeth at LunaNina) into the comment box. Then answer with abandon. There’s no right or wrong answer. Let your unconscious unwind. If you have time, take a look at what other people said. We are remarkably similar and joyously different.

Here are your word prompts:

1. Diligence ::
2. Volume ::
3. Hospital ::
4. Binge ::
5. Loyalty ::
6. Pediatrics ::
7. Authorize ::
8. Cage ::
9. Studious ::
10. Transfer ::

My answers:

1. Diligence :: in all things
2. Volume :: speaks
3. Hospital :: smell – yuck
4. Binge :: on NCIS DVDs
5. Loyalty :: highly underrated
6. Pediatrics :: baby doc martins
7. Authorize ::  agree to
8. Cage ::d animal
9. Studious :: too
10. Transfer :: of responsibility

Happy Father’s day to all of you who are father’s or father those children around you! Thanks for playing!

Last night, we learned the Lindy hop at dance group. Triple step – walk walk – triple step. That’s it. That’s the magic that unlocked dancing to all the great big band, jazz and other wonderful songs. I personally am on a Harry Connick, Jr. kick, so it was perfect for me. The nicest thing about the Lindy Hop? It’s really fun. What are you learning?

The best thing about learning something brand new is returning to the familiar uncertainty of Unconscious Mutterings. Shall we play??

How do you play? Easy! Just copy these word prompts (created by the lovely LunaNina)  into the comment section. Answer the word prompts with whatever comes into your head. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, silly or serious. Let whatever’s lingering in the recesses of your mind go free! If you have a chance when you’re done, check out what everyone else has to say. It’s amazing how similar and different we are!

Let’s play! Here are your word prompts:

1. Adventure ::
2. Truth ::
3. Expose ::
4. Applause ::
5. Hostility ::
6. Sauce ::
7. Constipation ::
8. Explore ::
9. Senator ::
10. Children ::

My answers:

1. Adventure :: life
2. Truth :: that
3. Expose :: d to something new
4. Applause :: clapping
5. Hostility :: the world right now
6. Sauce :: y
7. Constipation :: mental
8. Explore :: something new
9. Senator :: ‘s belong to corporations
10. Children :: summer laughter

Have a wonderful Sunday! Thanks for playing!

Today is a big day for me. Today I’m going to my first ever spin class. Okay, it doesn’t sound like a big deal. But not so long ago, I was sure I couldn’t do cardio exercise.  That was before I ran a half marathon and now easily run three miles a few times a week. I also thought I’d never be able to do a chin up and I’m making great progress there.  When the spin studio near my house had a spectacular deal (5 classes for $25), I thought it was time to conquer another ‘can’t’. I went in to talk to them already, so now I just have to get myself to class. Wish me luck!

Of course, I’m delighted to have the consistent, and delicious, challenge of Unconscious Mutterings – and you! I love it when we all play together! How do we play?? Easy! Just copy these prompts (created by LunaNina) into the comment section. Fill them in with whatever comes to mind. Don’t hesitate. Just let it flow! If you have time, come back to see what other people have to say. You’ll be amazed to see how similar, and different, we are.

Here are your prompts:

1. Circles ::
2. Born ::
3. Teddy ::
4. Comfortable ::
5. Chaste ::
6. Burned ::
7. Blouse ::
8. Threats ::
9. Cuddly ::
10. Condemned ::

My responses:

1. Circles :: my stories are written in circles so issues in the beginning ‘come full circle’; I don’t know if anyone’s ever noticed (lol)
2. Born :: Welcome!
3. Teddy :: Pooh bear
4. Comfortable ::  in my own skin
5. Chaste :: Chased
6. Burned :: forest
7. Blouse :: French
8. Threats :: terror
9. Cuddly :: Rose the Princess dog
10. Condemned :: to live

Thanks for playing! Happy Sunday!

I didn’t see anyone sucked up into the sky. Did you?

I hope you are still here to play our Unconscious Mutterings! This fun game is a wonderful way to get to celebrate another day in this body, on this planet.  Let’s play! How do you play? Easy! Simply copy these word prompts (created by the lovely LunaNina) into your comment section. Then answer with whatever comes into your mind. Don’t hold back and don’t be embarrassed. If you have time, take a look at what other people have said. You’ll be amazed at similar and different we are.

Here are your prompts:

1. International ::
2. Witnesses ::
3. Rising ::
4. Two years ago ::
5. Sausage ::
6. Physically ::
7. Approached ::
8. Mole ::
9. Collar ::
10. Encased ::

Here are my answers:

1. International :: scandal
2. Witnesses :: catch nothing
3. Rising :: bread
4. Two years ago :: today
5. Sausage :: and egg burrito
6. Physically :: capable
7. Approached :: by madness
8. Mole :: under the covers (Rose likes to burrow under the covers. I call her a mole)
9. Collar :: starched
10. Encased :: in gold

Thanks for playing! Happy Sunday!

The loud speaker is booming in the park and it just finished dumping rain. It must be spring in Colorado! Today is the Colfax Marathon which runs (literally) right through my neighborhood. I could complain about the trash, parking and noise, but really? It’s a lot better than the hoard of hookers which used to come in every spring and summer. Thank God for small favors!!

By the way, Chapter Two of the Queen of Cool, my new serial fiction set in Fort Worth, is up at Stories by Claudia and The Queen of Cool website. We’re only able to share the first two chapters. For the rest of the year, the story will unfold at She is Dallas. Of course, if you’re in the Queen of Cool club, you’d get to read or listen to the Queen of Cool in chapter for every other week before they unfold at She is Dallas. You’d also get discounts and other goodies. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Queen of Cool, I’d love it if you gave it a shot.

Marathons, serial fiction, spring, rain, phew! No wonder I love the calm predictability of Unconscious Mutterings! Let’s play!! How do you play? Easy! Simply copy these word prompts, created by the lovely LunaNina, into the comment section. Answer with whatever pops into your mind. No answer is dumb or silly. Let your unconscious mind unwind itself. If you have a chance, come back to see what other people have written. You’ll be surprised how similar, and unique, we are.

Here are your prompts:

1. Code ::
2. Brothers ::
3. Immigration ::
4. Heavy ::
5. Bracket ::
6. Murder ::
7. Neighbor ::
8. Collar ::
9. Onslaught ::
10. Eyebrows ::

Here are my answers:

1. Code :: Red
2. Brothers :: Karmamosov
3. Immigration :: created the United States
4. Heavy :: lifting
5. Bracket :: comma bracket
6. Murder :: Midsomer
7. Neighbor :: hood association psychos
8. Collar :: bone broken
9. Onslaught :: parking
10. Eyebrows :: waxed

Happy Sunday!! Don’t forget to check out the Queen of Cool! Have a fabulous day!

Happy Mother’s Day! Boy, the switched flicked and we’re getting a bit of summer here – HOT summer. I think it’s going to be a scorcher here. We spent much of yesterday getting a truck full of compost and mulch at yesterdays Free Mulch Giveaway in Denver. Phew. I hope things are drying out in your neck of the woods.

One of the nicest things about my favorite game, Unconscious Mutterings, is that they are warm in winter and cool in summer. I don’t think things get better than that! So let’s play!

How do you play? Simple! Just copy these word prompts (created by the lovely LunaNina) into the comment section. Then answer with whatever comes to your mind. You’ll be amazed at what lingers there! If you have some time, check out what other people are saying when you’re done. We are remarkably similar and unique.

Here are your word prompts:

1. Trumpet ::
2. Love ::
3. Routine ::
4. Infringe ::
5. Misgivings ::
6. Establish ::
7. Stupefy ::
8. Constipate ::
9. Conjure ::
10. Miscellaneous ::

My responses:

1. Trumpet :: Revely
2. Love :: Food
3. Routine :: s = sanity
4. Infringe :: on my patience
5. Misgivings :: Worry
6. Establish :: boundaries
7. Stupefy :: EMF
8. Constipate :: d discussion
9. Conjure :: Trickle down economics
10. Miscellaneous :: b.s.

Happy Sunday! Happy Mother’s Day!

Today, I want to let you know that the first chapter of the Queen of Cool, my new serial fiction set in Fort Worth, has been released at The Queen of Cool and Stories by Claudia. Of course, full chapters (including audio) are available through the Queen of Cool Club. The Queen of Cool also continues to unfold at She is Dallas. If you have some time, check it out. We’ve heard on Twitter and Facebook that people are already enjoying the story. Yea!

And there are still mutterings! I do love this game. How do you play? Easy! Just copy these word prompts (created by LunaNina) into the comment section. Lean back, take a breath, then answer with whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re serious or goofy. Let your unconscious unwind whatever it needs to. If you have some time, check out what other people have said when you’re done. You’ll be surprised at how similar, and unique, we are.

Here are your prompts:

1. Secondary ::
2. Surreal ::
3. History ::
4. Wild ::
5. Bandages ::
6. Farm ::
7. Lab ::
8. Misuse ::
9. Word games ::
10. Nurse ::

Here are my answers:

1. Secondary :: school
2. Surreal :: Donald Trump
3. History :: repeats itself
4. Wild :: Blueberry
5. Bandages :: ouch
6. Farm :: Urban
7. Lab :: rat
8. Misuse :: of power
9. Word games :: verbal sparing
10. Nurse :: to none; victim always

Have a wonderful Sunday! Check out the chapter of the Queen of Cool!

I think it’s raining today. It might be snowing. In a few moments, it will be hot again. Spring in Colorado seems to reflect a little bit of every season. At least this year.

We went in the snow yesterday to pick up new hives yesterday from a new supplier. He also gave me a queen which I kept in my pocket for the hour drive home. Luckily, it was only cold, not snowing at home. We managed to get the bees into their hives and the queen out of my pocket. Then it was warm. Then it rained. Bees like warm, but don’t love cold and snow very much. If it reaches summer today, I’ll go check on them. Otherwise, it may be a day or so.

You can see why I love the stability of Unconscious Mutterings. So let’s play! How do you play? Easy. Just copy these word prompts (created by LunaNina) into the comment section and answer with whatever comes into your mind. Don’t hesitate. Write down the thought that pops in. If you have a chance, go back and look at what other people have said. You’ll be surprised at how similar, and different, we are.

Here are your word prompts:

1. Squid ::
2. Wife ::
3. Promising ::
4. Tingle ::
5. Off balance ::
6. Nice ::
7. Honor ::
8. Emphatic ::
9. Siren ::
10. Plated ::

Here are my answers:

1. Squid :: sandwich
2. Wife :: y
3. Promising :: rain, delivery snow
4. Tingle :: spine injury
5. Off balance :: always
6. Nice :: ly done
7. Honor :: ary geek
8. Emphatic ::, he smashed his fist against the desk
9. Siren :: song
10. Plated :: meal

Happy Sunday! Happy Easter!

It’s a bit of a race to the finish line here.  The Queen of Cool, my new serial fiction set in Fort Worth Texas, goes live tomorrow at She is Dallas. To that end, I’m running a contest here for the Queen of Cool Club subscription to the electronic versions of the chapters, including my return to audio!  It will go from April, 2011 to April 2012 at She is Dallas with a book at the end. This is my first new serial since 2008, and the first project for someone else (ever). I’m thrilled, excited and quite nervous.

At least I can rest in the calm of Unconscious Mutterings. Will you play? It’s easy! Just copy the following word prompts (created by the lovely LunaNina) into the comment section and answer with whatever comes into your mind! There’s no right or wrong answer. Let loose and enjoy yourself! If you have a chance, when you’re done, take a look at what everyone else has to say. In this time of strife and division, it’s wonderful to see how unique and similar we are.

Here are your word prompts:

1. Director ::
2. Operation ::
3. 30 minutes ::
4. Bald ::
5. Calls ::
6. Distant ::
7. Lightweight ::
8. Difficult ::
9. Half dozen ::
10. Boss ::

Here are my answers:

1. Director :: Peter Jackson
2. Operation :: I used to play that game for hours and hours.
3. 30 minutes :: to dinner
4. Bald :: by choice
5. Calls :: voice mail
6. Distant :: message from beyond
7. Lightweight :: feather
8. Difficult :: to define
9. Half dozen :: donut holes
10. Boss :: Hugo

Thanks for playing! Don’t forget to enter the contest for the subscription to the Queen of Cool Club.  Happy Sunday!