So, I decided that I'm not writing enough with 2 baseball blogs and editing my completed MS. LOL I'm going to participate in NaNoWriMo. My screen name is LSMurphy so come friend me if anyone is participating also. Even if I fail, which is possible, I'm hoping to meet new people through Write-Ins. Honestly, I don't think I'll fail. lol. Thinking that way will only get me in trouble. I've got a couple of what I think are great ideas that will both work for this type of format: one is a baseball story and the other is an internet cyber love story. Both are YA, naturally. I have a few more days to figure out which one to write during NaNoWriMo. Both are plotted out already so that will make things a tad easier. But we all know how characters change the story on you without you even realizing it's coming.

The baby is doing great. As of last night, she has a new baby cousin to play with. We are all excited about this new addition.

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/LSMurphy
And check out my baseball blogs
www.cardinalsmix.com
www.bloggingaboutbaseball.com
(I write under LS Murphy on both of them as well.)

Happy writing.

Current Mood: creative

I love poetry but I'm a very picky ready. Most of the time, I'll give just about anyone a chance but not poets. If I read one sucky poem, I'm out. I don't want to read something that is a "woe is me" type of poem. Or something that is trying so hard to be deep and meaningful but just isn't. I like freshness in my verse. A voice that I would have never consider poetic. A rhyme that works when it shouldn't. A story that doesn't fit with the poetry ideal but works so well in iambic pentameter. That's what I want to read from a poet. Something new. Not a cheap imitation of Anne Sexton or Billy Collins or Maya Angelou. I already know why the "Caged Bird Sings". Show me something exciting and different. That's poetry.

Current Mood: creative

I prefer to blog like I'm talking to someone. It's nice when I get comments back but I don't always expect them. Talking like this allows me to get my thoughts out of my head, uninterrupted. It's just such a great stress relief. And I can talk about anything, usually baseball (Go Cards!), or my daughter (can you believe she's 14 months already?), or my current writing project.

Now about that last one... I'm on my third and hopefully final rewrite. This one I'm going to really try to get published, unlike my last completed manuscript. I sent out a couple of query letters but didn't make a real effort for two reasons. One, a lot of interviews I read with publishers and agents said they did not want to see a vampire story. Two, the same reason publishers and agents didn't want to see vampire stories, Twilight. So I put it aside, along with the tentative outline for the other two books that would have followed. Maybe one day I will revisit it. Maybe not. Who knows.

The Shifter , however, I have great hope for. I've only got seventy eight pages left to rewrite (out of the original 231 pages). So back to work I go. Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho.

Current Mood: creative

Numerical for easier reading...

1) I agree with Colin Powell. Gates and that Cambridge cop were both out of line. Had they both been more cooperative, this wouldn't even be an issue. Maybe he should have been invited to the White House to mediate.

2) No PB&J today. Instead I had a grease fest of Jack in the Box. Yummy but I can already feel my arteries clogging.

3) My daughter (now 14 months) blew her daddy a kiss today. So sweet.

4) I'm very disappointed in Big Papi. The Red Sox deserve an asterisk by both of their World Series wins from 2004 & 2007. Unfortunately, those wins are now tainted by at least 2 players and the legit players have to deal with the "what if".

5) Yesterday I passed 50k in my third (and final, hopefully) rewrite of my WIP. I literally bounced in my seat when I added up my word count. lol

6) If anyone hasn't realized this, Albert Pujols IS the best player in MLB. Even if he's in a minor slump.

I'm eating peanut butter and jelly for lunch. I'd love a steak but PB&J just felt right today. Sometimes, when I'm feeling a little blue or not feeling 100%, PB&J will pick me up. It's the little things in life that make me happy.

I am a huge Cardinals fan. If they are winning, I'm there rooting them on. If they are losing, I'm there too. I love this team. But like many Cardinals fans, this year has been nothing but a mixed bag of confusion. They are in first but they aren't playing as good as we, the die-hard fans and bandwagon fans alike, know they can.

Tony LaRussa managed to make a mediocre team good. That's something he's adept at doing and this year is no exception. Now, I don't pretend to be a statistical wonder-kid. I am simply a fan of the game. So LaRussa's recent defense of Chris Duncan has left me more confused than ever before.

Duncan has suffered through numerous injuries the past few seasons. He went through a radical medical procedure to salvage a once promising career. And for that I give him kudos. But, and isn't there always a but in this situation, Duncan is struggling. His bat is gone. All it takes to strike him out is a pitch down and away. He likes swinging at those pitches. He's almost always fooled by those pitches. Why wouldn't someone throw him that?

Now, TLR is a very supportive manager, as we've recently seen with the Yadi/Al debacle that got out of control. Naturally, he comes to a player's defense. But when is enough too much? With Chris Duncan, he crossed the line. (http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090721&content_id=5981066&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl) TLR attacked the loyal Cardinals fans for their obvious concern about Duncan's lack of production. TLR has his detractors here, he always will but when he starts in at the entire fanbase, then we all have a problem with him. If Duncan is not 100%, put him on the DL. Same goes for Ankiel. Let them get healthy. And if they can't, set them free. Give some of the minor leaguers a chance or sign someone who is bound to be released by their team.The latter has been effective in the past. Anyone remember Felipe Lopez, Ronnie Belliard?

Glaus will hopefully be available soon enough to fill in the dreaded hole in left field. But, honestly, I'm tired of "hopefully". This team has a chance to contend in October. They need some help. And they need to soon.
 

Tags: baseball, st. louis cardinals

Current Mood: happy

I went to the Home Run Derby Monday night. It was incredible. Just seeing some of these players that I would never see otherwise. Just amazing. The air was electric. The crowd was intense. Once in a lifetime experience. I certainly couldn't pass it up. :)

Current Mood: ecstatic

So let's do the Time Warp ... umm... nevermind. It's hard to do a virtual time warp. Gotta love Rocky Horror.

Today's kind of a sad day. A friend of mine starts a new job Monday which is great for her. But I will miss working with her. She's a single mom and needs more money. Plus it's a government job. She's pretty torn up about leaving too. She doesn't really want to but opportunity knocked. I'm happy and proud of her.

On a different note, my hubby arranged for me to get some writing time in this week. His mom came over to watch the munchkin so I could go to the library or whatever. I went to a local cafe and ordered the best baked potato soup ever. I sat in a nice quite little corner, read a short story, and ate my soup. After I finished, I pulled out my legal pad and got to work. So, of course, my quiet little corner became ... unquiet. A gentleman sat in the booth behind me and promptly pulled out his cell phone.  Then he proceeded to carry on several loud conversations. He was on his way to Cleveland. He was staying in Kansas City that night at the Hampton Inn. He spoke with Dave at least twice. Get my point? Oh and this was after the first conversation that I heard when I had put on my headphones! ***sigh*** When did we, as a society, become so rude? If you have business to conduct, fine but always be aware of the people around you. Most people go to these cafes for some peace and quiet or to meet with friends. This is the second time I have attempted to do the cafe writing thing in the last couple of weeks. This is the second time I was interrupted by someone on their cell phone. You know, my husband called me while I was there too. So guess what I did? I didn't answer it. Simple.
Guess I'll be at the library from now on. :(

Current Location: Work
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

My hubby and I had a "date" this weekend. Our niece came over and watched the baby while we went to a movie and perused the book store. It was a little nerve wracking but a lot of fun. We saw Tropic Thunder (very funny) and spent way too much money at Borders and Best Buy. I got a couple of CD's I've been dying for. One of which is the digitally remastered version of The Clash's London Calling album. It sounds great. It was nice to spend time with my hubby too.
We think our little girl has acid reflux. I took her to the doc and now she's on some meds to see if that is it. We also spent the weekend (mainly Sunday) sick. Everyone has a cold. I think I have the worst of it though since I'm still feeling crappy and stuffed up today. The other 2 are feeling fine. ***sigh***
On a different note, I have two stories in the works. One YA and one not. The YA is more novel length and the other a short story. If only my head would clear up so I can work on them today. :)

Current Location: Work, as usual
Current Mood: sick