kimlajevardi

Happy Wednesday! We’re midway through the first January of 2020. It’s a calm week in my neck of the woods. I’m currently drafting the first draft of my newest book baby. I had to take today and yesterday to rethink important character information, but I’ll be back at it tomorrow. Until then, some news.

This first story deals with bird poop. I have to share. I’m such a child. 😉

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/05/784728412/this-minnesota-city-has-a-bird-poop-problem-but-the-crow-patrol-is-on-it

This next story shows how wily bulls can be. Run, no. 33, run!

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/03/766697025/a-bull-has-an-afternoon-out-in-baltimore

Last, but not least, science. The idea of understanding a person’s aging profile is fascinating. This could be a huge change for people in my generation. I heart science!

https://www.livescience.com/four-types-of-aging-revealed.html

That’s it for me tonight. See you again in seven.

Happy Hump Day! It’s time once again for some weird, intriguing, or just plain slap-your-head-news. We all need some of that in our lives.

This first story needs a category of its own–wow! Read it, just read.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e1bebb1c5b6da971d1843c3

And sticking to animal stories because they’re the best, a big old example of intriguing/weird.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e175288c5b600960c61e8de

Last, but not least, some science. Robots that can hug. Don’t get you hopes up, though. The robots only dig space trash.

https://www.livescience.com/esa-space-junk-removal-kamikaze-robot.html?_gl=1*mmrtg2*_ga*YW1wLUNKQ3RNRVlVRGcySUpfeWloVGVmbVhBbzhxdU1mX2xPTEwzT1ZsNmV2WDJQU0NXbERnV0ptMmZ3aHhud2ZVQzg.

That’s it for tonight. I’ll see you in seven.

Time for my monthly posting of Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). The first one of the new decade (spare me the controversy–2020 is too cool, 2021 is not). If you haven’t already clicked the image above and soared between insecure blogs, now is the time. While you’re there, check out the new anthology cover. It’s cool!

Special thanks to our co-hosts this month:  T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!

The optional question this month is – What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just “know” suddenly you wanted to write?

Writing for me had always been in spurts that fizzled because of life and the intermittent nature of my dabbling until about ten years ago. I was going through a very reflective time and was in a new house. Part of being in that house was exploring the neighborhood, which I did through walks, the other part was painting. I do all the painting in our family because my husband can’t stand the smell of paint. My walking and painting began at the end of May (because was a teacher and off for the summer). This meant the walks and painting could occupy huge chunks of time.

The reflective side of my life at that time began to simmer in those huge chunks of alone time, swirling as I was completely engrossed in my tasks. The first thing to shake loose was character who appeared as I walked–a little girl. I started thinking about her nonstop–what her life was like, what led to the image of her I was imagining, and a constellation of other aspects of what I later realized was story.

With the little girl character taking up greater and greater parts of my brain, I began to paint. In the background while I paint, I often play movies and TV shows. One of the evenings as I was starting our front room, an interview with J.K. Rowling came on. Something about that interview stirred the swirling story about my little girl. The next day I decided to begin searching for writing resources. And, bam! I came across an online writing’s group. My journey began with the supportive group of writers I found, and from then on, my interest and stories keep blooming.

Now, I’ve finished dozens of short stories, poems, and two novels. I’m in the querying trenches with both novels while I work on my third. All because of a little walking and painting.

*****

Time for some news.

This first story shows one option for school fundraisers. I hope the team makes the Guinness world record book.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/toilet-paper-pyramid_n_5e151525c5b66361cb5c5641

Regardless of the anti-climatic reason for the effect, he has the video to whip out at parties.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/larry-lewis-ring-camera-alien-abduction_n_5e14fa5fc5b687c7eb5cfe73

And in science news, “ET phone home.” Check it out!

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/home-galaxy-second-repeating-fast-radio-burst-is-puzzle

That’ll do it for me this week. See you in seven!

I know you’re all shocked that time slipped for me again. 😏 Well, I blame the weird time-warpy week between Christmas and New Years. It’s weird. I’m not alone. Admit Wednesday is a blurry day for a holiday–admit it, admit it. Are you entertained yet? Distracted away from my Wednesday/Friday posting? No, then how about some weird news?

I just can’t. Eww…

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e0e4708e4b0843d360f96a5

How have I lived this long and not known there are Kissmobiles?

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e0bb23fe4b0b2520d1bb8ad

And in science news tonight, an excuse for me forgetting to post. Time matters, folks. See. 😂

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090152.htm

That’s all for tonight. See you in five.

I’m back. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Best wishes for warmth, health, and happiness in the year to come. And music–can’t forget the music. 🙂

With my schedule ramping up for Christmas, I will be taking two weeks off of blogging. I’ll see you again on Christmas Day. Stay safe and enjoy the season.

It’s time yet again for the monthly posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). The once a month twittering sharing of nervous writers whose words surf the connections of the web in search of commiseration. If you haven’t clicked on the image above and surfed their blogs, do. You will be entertained.

Thank you to our fantastic co-hosts today Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!

The optional question this month is: Let’s play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

My future writer self is a best-selling author with a completed fantasy series and several stand alones in print. If the experiences of several successful authors I’ve heard talk about the subject match my own, writing at that point will continue to feel like I alternately do not know what I’m doing and I’m a genius. Roller coaster rides I will survive with mouthfuls of chocolate and binge-worthy shows as I weep uncontrollably. So, you know, something to look forward to. 🙂

Time for some news.

*********

WTF?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/josh-brolin-perineum-sunning_n_5de6de75e4b0913e6f870d67?guccounter=1

Peloton is lapping up the near-constant coverage of their ad, even if it half of it’s negative.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/peleton-christmas-ad-exercise-bike_n_5de5a660e4b0d50f32a775be

Last but not least, science. Trees that drip nectar through the night to attract pollinator bats made me envision vivid fantasy worlds like in Avatar. Science for the win.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/tree-brazil-arid-northeast-rains-nectar-flowers-bat-pollinators

That’s all for tonight. See you in seven.