kimlajevardi

As a springboard into summer, some of us are banding together and hopping between favorite vacation spots identified on participating blogs. Join us! The wonderful co-hosts below also have special giveaways on their blogs, and who doesn’t like free stuff–especially books?
Lexa Cain: http://lexacain.blogspot.com/
Melanie Karsak: http://www.melaniekarsak.com/
T.F. Walsh: http://www.tfwalsh.com/blog/
Vanessa Morgan: http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/
Jolie Du Pre: http://www.preciousmonsters.com/
Stuart R. West: http://stuartrwest.blogspot.com/

For my favorite, I cracked open my picture folder and sifted through the hundreds of photos I have from my favorite vacation ever. It was 2010, and I was finishing up my Master’s degree program with one final class–the best class ever. The class involved one thing: a trip to Peru, Chile and Easter Island. Seriously. I loved the trip–especially Peru. Easter Island was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but it’s an island. Once you’ve driven from end to end and everywhere in between, you’ve seen it.

But not Peru. Oh my gosh. We went to Cusco, Ollaytaytambo, Pisac, Machu Picchu and several other cultural sites, and we barely scratched the surface. The people were warm and interesting and the history was spectacular. Take a look at just a small sampling of what Peru has to offer:

A women’s collective organization showed us how they dye and weave the textiles they make from alpaca wool. Afterwards, they cooked guinea pigs for us. They’re considered a delicacy in Peru.

The Maras Salt Mines cover an entire mountainside and make up the income for dozens of families. Individual pools of water and salt that make the hillside look snow-covered. We hiked in along a beautiful path and then enjoyed the subsequent hike out through a valley. This picture cannot even begin to do justice to the view.

Terraces everywhere. The ancient Incas made use of terraces on mountainside after mountainside. We hiked a number of them. Beautiful sites to behold and great for the calves. I may or may not have been lapped by an older Peruvian women carrying a baby coming down the side of one of these.

And Machu Picchu needs no explanation. AMAZING!

If you enjoyed my vacation pics, why not hop on over to more participant blogs. It’s the next best thing to actually going to those locals yourself. 🙂

I’m free! Woo-hoo! Another school year in the books.

Ahh…

I’ve been preemptively celebrating for a couple of weeks now. So… I’ll return to talking about news now. Just one final word that sums up everything: SUMMERTIME! Giggle.

First up, you can take the middle school out of the teacher for the summer, but you can’t totally remove the middle-schooler that lives deep inside her. A poop-powered bus. Snort.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/25/poop-powered-bus-speed-record-uk-bus-hound_n_7436884.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

All their promises about the future are finally coming to pass. Back to the Future was so right. Hoverboards, people. Hoverboards!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/05/22/genuine-hoverboard-sets-a-guinness-world-record-for-furthest-distance-travelled_n_7419896.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

And in science news–although let’s be honest, these were all rooted in science. Science teacher going into summer and all–it’s cloudy with a chance of…spiders. For those of you afraid of arachnids, stop reading now. Still with me? Okay, but I warned you.

Imagine if your local meteorologist began predicting this?

http://www.livescience.com/50856-spider-rain-explained.html

That’ll do it for me tonight. Enjoy your Wednesday evening–I know I will. 🙂

Hello from the water-logged state of Colorado. It may be the eve of the school-based beginning of summer, but someone forgot to tell the atmosphere. We’re used to bipolar weather in my beautiful state, but not continuous anything–especially not grey and rainy. Ah well, I guess I can’t complain as I wrap up my work for the school year.

One more week. Squeal.

I know I promised not to throw up fireworks or skywriting, but I simply couldn’t help myself.

Summertime!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many exclamation points? Yeah, maybe. How about a song instead?

Maybe one more 🙂

That felt good. Relaxed yet? Ready for a cool one? I am. Before I go, I have one piece of news for you. Couldn’t leave you without sharing some science. Enjoy!

http://www.dailytech.com/Cool+Science+Video+Glowing+Millipede+Prowls+the+Nevada+Desert/article37351.htm

A little desert heat sounds good right about now. Cyanide not so much. Have a great week in whatever weather you’re living though at the moment. Next week… giggle. My last week before SUMMERTIME.

Welcome to the middle of May. Giggles keep escaping my lips as the school year is rapidly winding down. It’s almost summer. Yay! Random dance party — excuse me for a moment.

Okay, deep giggly breath. I guess I’m done celebrating. Must hold it together for a couple more weeks. I can do it.

Giggle. 🙂

While I wait and maintain my teacherly composure, a little news.

Um, do police really have to tell people this? Uh… running around near a school while drunk and wielding a hatchet makes you the danger — not the bear.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/drunk-man-chases-bear_n_7265770.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Another one of these type of lawsuits, seriously? The US is losing the battle with responsibility. News flash: Coffee is hot. Geez…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/08/cop-sues-starbucks-hot-coffee_n_7241360.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Fecalland sound interesting? How about Poopy Island? Intrigued yet? Check out this cool science piece on an island composed completely of fish poop. I am such a dork. 😉

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/island-maldives-made-parrotfish-poop

That’ll do it for another hump day. When you check in with me next week, I’ll be that much closer to summer break. I’ll try to be subtle. No fireworks or sky-writing, I promise. Giggle.

It’s that time once again. The moment where quivering writers crawl back behind their screens loaded up on caffeine and chocolate and seek out reassurances, commiseration or just a place to vent their fears. Join them–or maybe it’s us–in a virtual group therapy by clicking the link above. What else do you have to do? 😉

Thanks to the co-hosts for the month: Eva Solar Melanie Schulz, Lisa-Buie Collard, and Stephen Tremp!

My issue to share is that of drafting. I’m currently in first-draft status of my second book, and I am progressing slowly but surely. But I have to wonder if the slowly part is the norm or the exception. Some people participate in NaNoWriMo and other equivalents at various times of year. I could not even come close to a complete first draft in a month. How do they do that?

So, what I’d like to know is: How long does a first draft take all of you?

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Time for the news. This week the news is variable. Let’s start with the truly bizarre,well…because I wanna. 😉

http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/authorities-find-fake-skeletons-underwater-lawn-chairs-30859364

This is a competition that I’d pay to see. Knights. Sword battles. I’m in.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-poland-medievalcombat-idUSKBN0NP0W720150504

And in science news, comet showers. Don’t expect a refreshing bath of water.

http://www.livescience.com/50746-eta-aquarid-meteor-shower-peak-webcast.html

That’ll do it for me tonight. If you haven’t checked out the news that makes you think, laugh or just plain gawk, then step to it. I’ll see you again in seven.

Hello all! I’m back for another week of sharing the news, and none is more worth sharing for me personally than that of my contest win. I mentioned a while back that I took first place in a contest with my first novel: Silent Witnesses. Well, the conference I went to last weekend was put on by the same writing group that sponsors the contest: Pikes Peak Writers. Congrats to all of my fellow winners! I hope all of us see our manuscripts in print sometime soon. Take a look at the pic below. It was taken by Jared Hagan.

There’s so much to filter through in the news this week, and, unfortunately, a lot of it is devastating and heart-breaking. But I refuse to give up on the resilience of good people to stand strong in the face of incredible pressure and odds. So… a little good news from some of the hardest hit areas.

We can have conversations and still stand together. Their actions matter.

http://qz.com/394232/photos-baltimore-citizens-protecting-police/

You don’t need my words. My heart is with the people in Nepal.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/29/baby-boy-rescued-from-nepal-earthquake-rubble

And in science news, NASA sends words of support to the people of Nepal.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/nepal-earthquake/astronauts-space-mourn-nepal-earthquake-victims-n349231

Until next week, keep Baltimore and Nepal in your thoughts. And remember that there’s always something going on. Stay informed of more than just the bad. We’re so much more than that.

I’m back. Well, I’m momentarily back. I’m frantically preparing for an all-day field trip and a writing conference. Teacher first and then my writer side gets to come out and play for the weekend. So instead of sharing news, I’d like to share a song that inspires me to keep at this writing thing that requires time, commitment and no small measure of stubbornness.

If you have delicate ears you may want to pass this one up. I’m not inspired by soft and airy songs. But I am inspired, and as the song says: I’m going to be what I set out to be.

Have a fantastic weekend! I very much plan on it. 🙂

Cheers!

Expecting a hello? Well, I thought I’d mix things up. Cheers sounds so happy, and, well… cheery. A great way to end yet another hump day I think.

Time for another round of news pieces that found their way into my life. I found this first one and immediately thought of my horror-writer critique partner. I couldn’t imagine moving through this place myself–it has heebie jeebies written all over it, but I could picture numerous story ideas that could be generated from it. Oh the possibilities. 🙂

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pixable/this-abandoned-hospital-in-detroit_b_6655544.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

I vote spaceship in disguise. All of that snow will melt the second I can find the button to start the thrusters. Where is that darned button?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/house-spaceship-_n_7032780.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Fascinating new biological discovery that proves that genetics is mind-blowingly cool. It’s not just about the DNA folks.

http://news.discovery.com/human/videos/dna-may-not-be-the-sole-player-in-the-inheritance-game-video-150414.htm

That’s all for yet another Wednesday. I hope you have a great end of your week, and in particular, weekend. Goodnight.

Hello again! I’m back. It’s Wednesday evening, and some rain is tapping against my windows while thunder occasionally rolls through the sky overhead. I’d like to think that I’ve seen the last of snow and winter, but I do live in Colorado. If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting my beautiful state, bipolar weather is the best way to describe it. So, although I’m enjoying tastes of spring, I’m in no way convinced that I’m completely finished with the snow. Mother’s Day is when I can be confident. Until then… I read and write. Tonight – some news. You knew that was coming, didn’t you?

The first tidbit that caught my eye–copying Stonehenge with cars. Something to talk about – definitely. Worth visiting? Hmm… You tell me.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roadtrippers/video-explore-nebraskas-carhenge_b_6752066.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Interesting. I wouldn’t have immediately jumped to mold as the cause of creepy sounds and visions of spectral beings. Who knew?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/05/ghosts-caused-mold-clarkson-university_n_7006836.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

This last news item has me intrigued beyond belief. What if their predictions are correct? Definite game changer. I love science!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/08/nasa-alien-life_n_7023134.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

That’ll do it for me once again. Have a fabulous evening and an even better weekend. See you in seven.

Time for another posting for Insecure Writer’s Support Group. This month is a double for a handful of people also participating in the A to Z Challenge. Kudos to you all – I’m not quite brave enough to balance something else, but I’ll stand over here and admire you all from a far. 😉

The awesome co-hosts today are Suzanne Furness, Tonja Drecker, Toi Thomas, Rachna Chhabria, Fundy Blue, and Donna Hole!

Instead of discussing my own personal insecurity, curiosity (which happens more often than not) or posing a question, I’d like to add words of encouragement to those undertaking the monthlong A to Z Challenge. Writing is a slog and willingly challenging yourself is admirable and ultimately builds better writers. These words are so true, so I offer them up to you:

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Stephen King

Blog reading counts, right?

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Now on to the news.

First up, some brazen thieves. How do you steal something that big?

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/10-foot-300-pound-metal-rooster-goes-missing-in-6170022.php

Cool. I wonder if they’re edible. Would that be weird?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/567189/Newly-discovered-mushrooms-look-weirdly-like-tiny-HUMANS

And in science news, it’s possible that George Lucas was on to something. Two sun planets. Definite shorts weather.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/31/tatooine-planets-two-suns-common_n_6970532.html?utm_hp_ref=science

That’ll do it for me. Have a great end to your week.