The Brambles

For me, every now and then there comes an author who gets it just right in the descriptive department. Eliza Minot does just that in her novel, The Brambles, describing the essence of being a mother to perfection. Not only does she hit it right on the nose, she's also very accomplished in the "beautiful language" department. This is the way words are supposed to be used!!

It's taking me a little while to finish, mostly due to the fact that by the time 11pm rolls by and I'm finally able to sit down and read, it doesn't take long before I'm nodding off. Although I do enjoy her descriptive narratives, I'm a little ready for the story to move along -- it rambles just a bit with introspective internal dialogues and memory, but I keep on, knowing that the pot of gold at the end of the rambling rainbow will be certainly be worth it.

Amy's Writing Soundtrack

Writer's Digest sent out a writing prompt recently, asking writers to list the 10 songs that inspire them while writing. Since I rarely ever actually sit down to "write", I can only dream of what my soundtrack would be. Here are just some of my fantasies:

1. I Shall Believe (Sheryl Crow)
2. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant(Billy Joel)
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd)
4. Pachelbel, Canon in D
5. Lonely Girl (Ragweed)
6. Natural Woman (Aretha)
7. Seven Spanish Angels (Willie/Ray)
8. Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangster (Ghetto Boys)
9. Dear Mama (Dear Mama)
10. Daniel (Elton John)

The actual soundtrack of my blog entries?

1. The noisiest dishwasher EVER.
2. Jim Spencer saying something about the weather.
3. Jaxson screaming.
4. Ryan singing.
5. The Doodlebops.
6. A ringing phone.
7. Coffee Maker.
8. Washing Machine shaking off it's track because I've put too much stuff in. Again.
9. Mommymommymommymommymommymommy....
10. My own voice, replying..."hang on"..."just a second"... "what??"..."I'm coming!"..."Stop yelling!"..."Don't hit your brother/sister!"..."TIME OUT!!!!"

The Ice Has Hardened Their Hearts

We're under a winter weather warning in Central Texas right now. By all accounts, this is not a time for anyone to drive unless absolutely required to by their jobs. You know, the vital occupations, like hospital workers, police officers, restaurant employees, bankers, realtors...

Hang on. What's that? Restaurant employees and bankers are NOT vital occupations? Could have fooled my husband, dad and sister. It seems the head honchos at Shawn and Ninny's respective facilities find it important, nay mandatory, that their locations be open to the, say, 5 people who actually may be retarded enough to head out in the ice to apply for a loan or stop in for some tasty barbecue. And Dad? Well, his VIP client from Cali is in town, and finds it essential to preview some of the Hill Country's icy roadways and the homes they feed.

Who says Americans don't know how to prioritize their morals and values?