Cyn

Zombie Attack!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:50:00 -0600

64%

Created by OnePlusYou - Online Dating

Okay, so I have a fighting chance....can you do better? I hope so!

Cyn

Erotic Romance and Fabulous Fantasies

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:49:01 -0600

Handmade Book Thongs

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:41:20 -0600

These simple instructions for making your own book thongs come from my good friend, Lena Austin.

Please remember simple safety rules such as keeping small objects from children and keeping a lit candle on a flat surface away from flamable materials.

~*~*~*~

A handmade version is easy to make. This thong is a loop of elastic thread with some large beads and/or charms. Here's the instructions:

1) Purchase from any craft store:
1 large spool of elastic thread (your choice on colors)
Several packets of beads and charms appropriate to the books

2) Set up the beads in individual bowls or coffee cups. Set a lit candle aside.

3) Measure about 12" of elastic thread, and cut as many as you need ahead of time.

4) String a few beads and/or charms on a thread in a pleasing pattern. Tie both ends together, and use the strongest knot you can.

5) Burn the knot until it melts and fuses. Be careful! It's hot and melted. You can get burned easily.

6) Allow all the thongs to cool. Bag them in individual ziploc bags with your business card inside.

Alternate: If you remember the child's toy Shrinky Dinks, those shrinkable plastic sheets are still available. You could write your name and website, shrink 'em, and have very unique charms for your thongs.

I've been making book thongs for years. The loop version slips over the book to mark the page, but doesn't fall out.

Eagles CD So Worth the Wait

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:08:45 -0600

Singing along in my Subaru is one of my favorite activities, and my favorite people to sing along with are The Eagles, particularly Don Henley and Glen Fry. Their latest effort, many years in the making and available only at WalMart is a wonderful collection of new work reminicent of the old style and hitting on new problems. And can the boys still sing! So many times, bands should stop while they're ahead, while the memories of their music is at its height. Crosby, Stills and Nash...they should have given up five years ago. And, please, don't torture yourself with the latest incarnations of Air Supply.

But these guys? They so still have it. All of them. Long Road Out of Eden is the perfect follow-up to Hell Freezes Over. I put "How Long" on repeat and sing at the top of my lungs. "Like a blue bird with its heart removed...I've run just as far as I can run..." or the piece, "What Do I Do With My Heart" which melts my heart every time I hear Glen and Don sing it. I just want to hold those two men and tell them everything will be okay.

And for sure fun, you can never ever go wrong with Joe. His unique guitar sound is evident on "Guilty of the Crime" as well as his trademark sense of humor.

You guys are wonderful and inspire me. Thanks!

Choices - Today's Flash Fiction

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:52:23 -0700

"If you walk out right now you'll be telling me what your really love and it won't be me."

"If you loved me, you'd know this moment has been all I've dreamed of since I was old enough to swing a wiffle-ball bat."

Sharice heard enough. Matt loved baseball more than her. Why couldn't he support her for once? She'd been to all his games at home and on the road. In every hotel, while he was on the green sunny fields warming up, she found a piano - even when it meant going into a strange dingy bar , smelling stale smoke from long ago days.

Now, after so much time she could prove to her family, those naysayers, that she played Carnegie Hall, the final proof of her recovery. It was the moment she'd dreamed of since she was old enough to realize music was a beautiful gift.

What about her goals and dreams? Matt had opportunity after opportunity to be selected for the All-Star team. Sharice didn't have that luxury. Playing Carnegie opportunities didn't come around every season. It was a once in a lifetime shot. Her mother never thought she'd be good enough, never thought Sharice's hand would heal and be strong enough to play the challenging runs of complex classical music pieces.

Matt picked up his lone, worn bag. "This chance only comes about once in a lifetime for a guy like me. I'm good, Sharice, without the steroids, without doping up. I have to do this. I've seen guys whose hands have been shattered by a speed ball. I don't know when or if I'll have a second chance. I wish you understood."

She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "I understand more than you know."

Paternity Test for Books on Romancing the Blog

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:30:31 -0700

The authors of Romancing the Blog have made some interesting points regarding the latest fiction scandal, the plagarism accusations surrounding Cassie Edwards.

As I've written elsewhere, the accusations are disturbing on several levels. At this point all one can really do is vote with their finances either pro or con, and make sure they (if they write) don't fall into the same trap.

Many, many books tell us over and again there are truly only a few plots. Many, many books tell us it is the way we present those plots that make them unique. How many times have we been instructed using The Wizard of Oz movie as a template? And how many books have we read that use The Wizard of Oz as a template that we don't even recognize the book as following that pattern because the author has done an excellent job of altering that pattern into something that fits his/her personality and writing style?

Does it take effort to take a dress pattern and create a new gown, different from all the others out there, even if you are using the Vogue pattern? Of course it does. On a basic level, you change the material, change the notions, the color, maybe combine the sleeve of this pattern with the bodice of that (there are usually several patterns in a pattern envelope). The more experienced you get, the less you may rely on the pattern, perhaps only using the most basic shape to get the sizing right, and using more to complete the project from your experience and imagination.

As the authors of Romancing the Blog mentioned, it is getting easier all the time to use technology to verify information, search books, find examples of plagarism. It is up to authors to be as ethical as possible and to create their own stories with a clear conscience, knowing they've tweaked, adjusted, accessorized in a way unique to themselves.

Flash Fiction - Another Round

noreply@blogspirit.com (Cyn) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:55:00 -0700

Collette glanced behind her. Nothing. She was sure she heard footsteps, but if someone had been following, she couldn't see them now. Walking back to her apartment, after the restuarant closed was the worst thing about being a business owner. More than once she wished that Harlan Hamilton would offer to escort her the four blocks to her apartment, but not once in the eighteen months he'd been security for La Roca had he done so.

Around her the cold night air acted as a cloak. How many times had she seen a scene like this in a movie? A lone woman walking down a nearly deserted street without near enough streetlights. Fog rolls in, blanketing everything with an air of mystery. The quiet of the night gets quieter. Then, the eerie tap, tap, tap of footsteps. Footsteps that increase thier speed when she picks up hers; footsteps that decrease in speed when she slows.

Just like tonight.

She pulled her spring jacket a little closer and picked up her pace. Two blocks to go, and then she could bolt herself behind her apartment door, turn on all the lights and chase the fear away once more. The reassuring thought did nothing to calm the eratic pounding of her heart or the raised hairs on her arms.

She picked up her pace.

The tapping footsteps behind her sped as well.

Swiveling, Collette was sure she'd see who stalked her, who filled her with fear. But, as before, nothing.

She turned her attention back to getting home. Not far at all.

A figure loomed in the dark.

Collette screamed, dodged to the right and ran.

Footsteps followed.

Not one pair, but now she could hear two. Two distinctive pairs of pounding soles coming closer in the dark night.