Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
"After thoughts."
Wowza! Yelp I can officially say that this week was the hardest I've worked since 2008. My day job is picking up more business - which is good - the down side; writing is hard to fit in. Its one thing to be mentally tired, but to be both physically and mentally - leaves a writer licking lollie pops! However we writers never give up our love for the craft. Every second of our thoughts are of our characters and their story - with that being said; writers carry plenty of notebooks and pens. Time is priceless, and can never be replaced.
On another thought.
I've read a few good blogs this week - while scarfing down a sandwich during lunch break and one that I really liked was from Kody Keplinger on "I didn't know I was bullied" I liked this one because I believed that's this happens to girls and boys and they don't recognized it. Please check this blog out. Love it so much I've harassed my daughter to read it!! Oh in case you don't know Kody Keplinger she is the author of "The Duff" which was published at the age of eighteen - need I say more about her? I think not! and BTW - "The Duff is fantastic!
On another thought.
Ok we all know what this weekend is, right? "March Madness" I love this time of the year simply because of March madness, spring flowers, and warmer weather! Enough said right?
On another thought.
A writer always finds time to read - period! I get most of my reading done on audio throughout the day, I'll even listen during my dreadful workouts, but at night I love to have a book in my hand while I lay in bed.
This week I've read:
1. Matched by Ally Condie
2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
3. The Mocking Birds by Daisy Whitney (this one is on my nightstand) still not finished, but so far this book is good - very good!!
All of these books are great reads - so check them out!
On another thought.
I've read a few good blogs this week - while scarfing down a sandwich during lunch break and one that I really liked was from Kody Keplinger on "I didn't know I was bullied" I liked this one because I believed that's this happens to girls and boys and they don't recognized it. Please check this blog out. Love it so much I've harassed my daughter to read it!! Oh in case you don't know Kody Keplinger she is the author of "The Duff" which was published at the age of eighteen - need I say more about her? I think not! and BTW - "The Duff is fantastic!
On another thought.
Ok we all know what this weekend is, right? "March Madness" I love this time of the year simply because of March madness, spring flowers, and warmer weather! Enough said right?
On another thought.
A writer always finds time to read - period! I get most of my reading done on audio throughout the day, I'll even listen during my dreadful workouts, but at night I love to have a book in my hand while I lay in bed.
This week I've read:
1. Matched by Ally Condie
2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
3. The Mocking Birds by Daisy Whitney (this one is on my nightstand) still not finished, but so far this book is good - very good!!
All of these books are great reads - so check them out!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
“Making Out”
I remember over hearing my daughter and her friends talk about a girl who had made out with this guy – keep in mind this is 7th grade we are talking about. I’m thinking “What?” Sex at thirteen; who’s the girl and where do I find the parents. After the girls calmed me down and they carefully explained that making out these days means kissing with tongue. I paused and just stared at them – not believing what I just heard – really? Sorry this gets me every time – I roll over in laughter every single time I hear “making out.” The reason why I laugh is because in my day, oh so long ago (not really, actually quite young thank you very much.) But anyway in my day, “Making out” meant all the way.
I find it odd girls think, “making out” is gross and if done with someone you don’t love would mean you are an easy girl. Another odd “rule” that came about was; before “making out” can occur both parties must schedule and plan this session – really? The guy must ask before he can slide his tongue into a girl’s mouth. How weird is that. The truth is, I can’t imagine kissing without tongue! Does that make me an easy Mom?
My husband and I are on the same page; after hearing this we decided that we would kiss without the tongue – totally gross I must say. Now every time we are around the girls we asked each other for a “make out kiss,” we always get a “eww that’s gross.” In their defense if I saw my parents kissing – sorry I meant “making out” I would be totally freak out too.
Curious, I thought I would ask a few different age groups what they thought about kissing and especially the “making out kiss.” And this is what I found out by these age groups. I stop at the age of eighteen because really other activities are taking place and talking about kissing is just too lame for this age group.
Ages: Girls Boys
6-8 Eww, gross Eww, gross
9-11 Big smiles, red faces Gross – video games please
12-14 When? So ready Thinking about it / who?
15-17 Making out kiss –Yes! Who cares about kissing – all the way baby!
The average age for a first time kiss using tongue (I mean make out kiss) is 13 years of age. Which you can plainly see that my questionnaire makes sense with how kids and teens are feeling. 12-14 year olds are ready and wanting to have their first kiss. Whether it’s called making out, or just plain kissing or like my step Mom use to say “Sparking.”
So Pucker up!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Teenage Sex In Young Adult Books, TV shows.
Hello Chic-Ca-Peas,
This is a hot topic and lately getting much attention due to MTV - Skins.
As a writer of young adult novels I find myself biting my nails off when one of my characters veers off course and decides that "Fuck" is the only word that fits into his vocabulary or when Misty thinks that unzipping Ryan’s pants while driving is a good thing.
Truth is; this is happening in teenager’s lives. I'm not saying all teenagers by any means. However, Family First Aid posted Teen Sex statistics. They stated that 75 percent of teenagers have had intercourse by the age of 21 and for all you parents that believe that little Susie and cute little Johnny isn't one of them - well keep reading. Family First Aid also posted that teens in the United States are most likely to have sex before the age of 15! WOWZA! And to top it off - those 15 years old will have more than one sexual partner during a single year.
So sex is all around them and pretending that they shouldn’t or haven’t participated in sexual activity of some sort before the age of 17 is pure denial.
So as a writer I believe that I should write the truth, the truth being of my characters voice - however as a writer of young adult novels I should be a responsible adult. So in my books, you will find truth, consequences and always a positive outcome. It’s my responsibility as a writer to young adults to believe that my novels will bring a positive outcome in their lives. This is one of the very reasons why I love to write young adult. I think this is true for MTV's Skins. Yes that show is "edgy," but in the end the consequences for those "edgy" actions comes out. The one and only thing that Skin's hasn't done is have a positive outcome to those consequences - however the show is new and I believe that with any teenage show or book you will find that a lesson is always to be taught and learnt.
Let's be honest this is how our children and teenagers learn their greatest challenges because parents just don't talk to their kids on "edgy" topics.
On a positive note; Child Trends Data Bank http://childtrendsdatabank.org reports that condom use is increasing. Protected sex among teens risen from 46% in 1995 to 63% in 2005.
I’m not condoning or encouraging teenage sex, because the truth is teenagers are doing it (no pun intended.) And they will continue to do it. Another truth; they want to do it.
This is a hot topic and lately getting much attention due to MTV - Skins.
As a writer of young adult novels I find myself biting my nails off when one of my characters veers off course and decides that "Fuck" is the only word that fits into his vocabulary or when Misty thinks that unzipping Ryan’s pants while driving is a good thing.
Truth is; this is happening in teenager’s lives. I'm not saying all teenagers by any means. However, Family First Aid posted Teen Sex statistics. They stated that 75 percent of teenagers have had intercourse by the age of 21 and for all you parents that believe that little Susie and cute little Johnny isn't one of them - well keep reading. Family First Aid also posted that teens in the United States are most likely to have sex before the age of 15! WOWZA! And to top it off - those 15 years old will have more than one sexual partner during a single year.
So sex is all around them and pretending that they shouldn’t or haven’t participated in sexual activity of some sort before the age of 17 is pure denial.
So as a writer I believe that I should write the truth, the truth being of my characters voice - however as a writer of young adult novels I should be a responsible adult. So in my books, you will find truth, consequences and always a positive outcome. It’s my responsibility as a writer to young adults to believe that my novels will bring a positive outcome in their lives. This is one of the very reasons why I love to write young adult. I think this is true for MTV's Skins. Yes that show is "edgy," but in the end the consequences for those "edgy" actions comes out. The one and only thing that Skin's hasn't done is have a positive outcome to those consequences - however the show is new and I believe that with any teenage show or book you will find that a lesson is always to be taught and learnt.
Let's be honest this is how our children and teenagers learn their greatest challenges because parents just don't talk to their kids on "edgy" topics.
On a positive note; Child Trends Data Bank http://childtrendsdatabank.org reports that condom use is increasing. Protected sex among teens risen from 46% in 1995 to 63% in 2005.
I’m not condoning or encouraging teenage sex, because the truth is teenagers are doing it (no pun intended.) And they will continue to do it. Another truth; they want to do it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
What Ever Happened To Good Service?
Wowza. . . is all I'm saying.
This weekend wasn't eventful by any means - but it was still a weekend and beside whether it was good or not who can argue with two days OFF of mandatory work - not me!
What happened to good service in America?
I remember as a kid; big macs were the mac daddy of all sandwiches. I couldn't wait to graduate from cheeseburger happy meals to the big mac. Today I don't think McDonalds could pay me to eat one of those and it's not because of my age. Truth is; I don't think McDonalds could pay my fourteen old daughter to eat one - disgusting! It's not just the Golden Arches either. It's all of them. Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, White Castle - All fast food!
My husband and I don't eat fast food that much - occasionally on the road we have too. But when we do eat out we go BIG TIME we eat at places like Fridays, Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel - you get my point? Well they are no better. I can't remember the last time I actually said WOWZA that was the best food ever!! And this weekend was the tipping point - the point of no return for eating out not unless it's a five star. Just this weekend I begged my husband to go to Cracker Barrel. I'm a country girl - he's a city boy. Any way - we went to Cracker Barrel. I ordered my favorite; chicken fried chicken, SAWMILL GRAVY, green beans, carrots and those biscuits. Forty minutes later our waitress comes out with our food. I glanced down.
"Where's the sawmill gravy?"
"Uh. . . we ran out. Kitchen is making more should only be ten minutes," The waitress said.
"Where are the biscuits?" My husband asked.
"Oh did you want biscuits?" she replied.
*Rolling eyes*
Did I mention that SAWMILL GRAVY is my favorite? And ten minutes can be a lifetime when you are hungry. I thought my veins were going to pop out of my forehead. Really? No gravy at Cracker Barrel that's like saying no chicken nuggets at McDonalds - not sure that's never happened.
Fifteen minutes later and only after I finished my green beans, and carrots I got my gravy.
"Too late," I told the waitress.
"Can I get you a to-go box?" she asked.
"Nope," my husband said. "I would like to talk to the manager," He told her.
This is where I hold on to the seat and pray that my husband doesn't make a scene. Lucky for Cracker Barrel my husband is calm.
"We would like to have our meals free, we ordered a meal with sawmill gravy and we didn't get it - we are not the only ones either," he points to another table. "Our experience was horrible and for that I'm not sure we'll be back."
The manager apologizes and takes our ticket. We call it a night by making a vow to never eat fast food again.
So this is my question to you. Do you think that our customer service in America is:
This weekend wasn't eventful by any means - but it was still a weekend and beside whether it was good or not who can argue with two days OFF of mandatory work - not me!
What happened to good service in America?
I remember as a kid; big macs were the mac daddy of all sandwiches. I couldn't wait to graduate from cheeseburger happy meals to the big mac. Today I don't think McDonalds could pay me to eat one of those and it's not because of my age. Truth is; I don't think McDonalds could pay my fourteen old daughter to eat one - disgusting! It's not just the Golden Arches either. It's all of them. Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, White Castle - All fast food!
My husband and I don't eat fast food that much - occasionally on the road we have too. But when we do eat out we go BIG TIME we eat at places like Fridays, Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel - you get my point? Well they are no better. I can't remember the last time I actually said WOWZA that was the best food ever!! And this weekend was the tipping point - the point of no return for eating out not unless it's a five star. Just this weekend I begged my husband to go to Cracker Barrel. I'm a country girl - he's a city boy. Any way - we went to Cracker Barrel. I ordered my favorite; chicken fried chicken, SAWMILL GRAVY, green beans, carrots and those biscuits. Forty minutes later our waitress comes out with our food. I glanced down.
"Where's the sawmill gravy?"
"Uh. . . we ran out. Kitchen is making more should only be ten minutes," The waitress said.
"Where are the biscuits?" My husband asked.
"Oh did you want biscuits?" she replied.
*Rolling eyes*
Did I mention that SAWMILL GRAVY is my favorite? And ten minutes can be a lifetime when you are hungry. I thought my veins were going to pop out of my forehead. Really? No gravy at Cracker Barrel that's like saying no chicken nuggets at McDonalds - not sure that's never happened.
Fifteen minutes later and only after I finished my green beans, and carrots I got my gravy.
"Too late," I told the waitress.
"Can I get you a to-go box?" she asked.
"Nope," my husband said. "I would like to talk to the manager," He told her.
This is where I hold on to the seat and pray that my husband doesn't make a scene. Lucky for Cracker Barrel my husband is calm.
"We would like to have our meals free, we ordered a meal with sawmill gravy and we didn't get it - we are not the only ones either," he points to another table. "Our experience was horrible and for that I'm not sure we'll be back."
The manager apologizes and takes our ticket. We call it a night by making a vow to never eat fast food again.
So this is my question to you. Do you think that our customer service in America is:
- Horrible
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
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