kimlajevardi

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group!Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month.

Please visit the blogs of our amazing co-hosts: Chemist Ken, Suzanne Sapseed, and Shannon Lawrence!

This month I’m feeling both insecure and ecstatic. Who said being a writer wasn’t fun? 🙂 That twitching you feel is me. Don’t worry, it’ll stop once I refill my coffee.

So, my insecurity stems from my bad week last week. I had a lot swirling about in my over-worked brain; time was working against me, and then, because the universe knows how well I handle stress, I had a big ol’ bad day at work. The culmination of all of that was on Wednesday – when I’m supposed to post my weekly news. Long, and maybe not so interesting story short, I missed last week’s posting because I was hiding in bed with the blankets pulled over  my head. I’m sorry to my massive list of readers, and especially sorry to those writers who I owe a blog visit and responses to previous posts. I’ll catch up after work today.

On a happier, make that fantastic note, I just found out that my novel won first place in a regional writing contest. The contest is associated with a writing conference put on in my neck of the woods, and the local writing group that created it has very helpfully chosen to make it mirror the steps of landing an agent: a query, synopsis and first 2,500 words of your manuscript. There were several rounds with the final round being judged by an agent that is also attending the conference. And I won first place in my category! Woo-hoo! I need emoticons. Hmm…

Any gray left hanging over me after last week dissipated when I got that call I can assure you. Picture a schoolgirl running around the house, yipping and giggling and you get a small glimpse of what my Sunday evening looked like. My family was quite amused. 🙂 I haven’t been able to wipe the smile off of my face since.

Happy IWSG posting day! What about all of you out there in the virtual abyss? Anyone else celebrating good news?

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Now for a long-delayed news break. Let’s just pretend that last week didn’t happen, okay?

First up, a massive discovery. This isn’t weird or crazy, just amazing. Look what happens when we ask questions and try to seek out the answers – we find more than we could ever imagine.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/03/lost-city-honduras-ciudad-blanca_n_6797194.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Um… okay. How relaxing is a small underground tunnel? I’d think a shed or garage, or virtually anything else would be better. Can you spell claustrophobia?

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Toronto-police-say-no-criminal-intent-with-tunnel-6109755.php

And in science news, my backyard is apparently the safest place in case of a zombie apocalypse. Who knew?

http://www.livescience.com/50016-best-place-to-hide-from-zombies.html

That’ll do it for me. Have a fabulous week and weekend.

Hello all! I’m no longer as exhausted as I was last week. That was a doozy of a week. I’m better now. Spring is beginning to play peek-a-boo with us over here, and there are hints that Spring Break is around the corner. I. CAN’T. WAIT. The only way to keep my mind occupied is to stay busy, and what better way than reading the news? 😉

Here’s a bit of what I found.

Do you think the fridge is the weirdest thing ever thrown at those officers? I have a sneaking suspicion that they’ve seen their share of some crazy stuff.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/16/tractor-trailer-chase-34-miles-fridge-thrown_n_6691646.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Very funny! Youtube has opened up a whole new world of entertainment, hasn’t it?

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/watch-this-farmer-make-artwork-with-his-cows-400613443784

Mental telepathy is possible. Wow! Authors get your fingers poised on the keyboards – the stories will practically write themselves.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/16/tractor-trailer-chase-34-miles-fridge-thrown_n_6691646.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

That’ll do it for this week. If you’re buried under snow, just keep your thoughts focused on the idea of one month. In one month, it’ll be the vernal equinox and then we can start counting down to summmerrrtttime. Woo-hoo! Don’t pop my happy bubble by reminding me of how long until it arrives. I can’t hear you. 😛

Happy early Valentine’s Day! This week has brought a flurry of flower deliveries, cards, cookies and candy throughout my work space. Along with the extra sugar and color those things bring, conferences. Two extra-long days where I find myself with droopy eyes and a sore throat. What does this mean? I’m tired. Very tired.

So…

Some music and art.

First up is some cool 3D street art. Talented artists.

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/absolutely-stunning-3d-street-art-paintings/

What do I want to hear before I go to bed? One of my favorites. I like Eminem. It’s not for everyone, but I enjoy it.

http://youtu.be/bmXumtgwtak

I didn’t forgot that we need some science. Cool science!

http://coolsciencenews.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-better-map-of-ocean-floor-has-been.html

That’ll do it for me. Goodnight.

It is time for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group once again. Time to release anxiety, soak in some support or just make connections with other writers out there in the virtual world. If you are so in need, click on the link above and sign up to join in. If you’re just up for some reading, you’ll find material worthy of giggles and more, so much more.

I’ve shown up as the party’s winding down once again this month. Dangnabbit! Overall life business keeps interfering in my writing time. Some days I wish I could chuck it all and just write.

Do you ever have those days?

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First up in this week’s regularly scheduled news update: A gigantic um… okay. I’m all for fundraising, but isn’t this a little creepy?

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Zoo-offers-creepy-way-for-lovelorn-to-get-even-6039354.php

Goes to show you that some political positions aren’t really necessary. Too many bad politician jokes. 😉

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-who-died-in-2012-gets-reappointed-to-Pa-6049040.php

Whatever it depicts, it is absolutely stunning and knowing that it’s larger than our solar system leaves me in awe.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/31/space-globule-very-large-telescope_n_6581042.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

That’ll do it for me tonight. Have an amazing night and I’ll see you in the virtual future.

IT’S WEDNESDAY! Why the exclamation you ask? Well, we’ve been having unseasonably warm weather here in my neck of the woods, and I’ve got a little extra pep in my step as a result. So this ordinary hump day seems just a bit brighter and bolder – the kind of day that requires exclamation points. 😉

In the news, some reflections of that same boldness. Maybe even a subtle plea for a quickening in spring’s approach.

I could not do it, but it looks like it is a blast and talk about bold.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/28/tesla-insane-button-video_n_6560170.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Seriously bold uses for bananas, but I’d stuff the skin and eat the fruit first. No use wasting such a yummy garnish for cereal. Oh, and ice cream – definitely ice cream.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/elisa-roche-jamie-oliver-chef-5060836

Volcanoes rock! Another exclamation point, I know, but the constructive  and destructive forces of the earth are worthy. So cool.

http://www.popsci.com/underwater-volcano-just-created-new-island

Go forth and enjoy the rest of the week. Whether you’re buried under snow or enjoying beautiful temperatures, there’s always something worthy of exclamation points.

Snow is falling and the temperatures are quite chilly in my little corner of the world tonight. It’s been a perfect evening for a laptop, a blanket and a short nap.  Now that I’m awake, *yawn* I thought I’d share some of the news tidbits found during my conscious moments playing around researching online.

The choreography and resets to get these to all work must have been a nightmare, but worth it.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/spectacular-moment-100-mini-metal-5017671

Um, okay. Who’s this really meant to fool?

http://news.sky.com/story/1412215/virtual-boyfriend-app-will-send-you-love-notes

A library preserved in ash that is now sharing its secret with us via an x-ray technique – cool! I applaud any and every effort meant to uncover knowledge.

http://www.popsci.com/new-x-ray-technique-lets-archaeologists-read-scrolls-preserved-vesuvius

That’ll do it for another week. Time to close my laptop and head to bed. My nap was not nearly long enough. 😉

Salom! Hola! Or for those of you that stick to English only – Hi! Another week has come and gone, bringing me back for yet another installment of: The Weekly News. Da, da, da dum. Imaginary drums are necessary. I swear they are. 🙂

Up first at bat, three very cool kids. Next snowstorm I’m going to their house. I bet their mom makes the best hot chocolate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/brothers-snow-sea-turtle-sculpture-minnesota-photo_n_6446376.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Adorable! Animal pics are just too good to pass up. Not news per se, but worth a look. Enjoy!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/earth/11335028/Animal-photos-of-the-week.html

Really cool idea if it helps more people regain their hearing.

http://www.popsci.com/prototype-retainer-could-help-hearing-impaired-hear-their-tongues

That’ll do it for the me this week. I hope you’re enjoying this mid-point Wednesday in January.

Another month has come and gone, and it’s time once again for a round of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (I’m a little tardy for the party, though). If you haven’t clicked on the above badge to go swirling through the virtual wormhole that spits you out on any number of super cool blogs, do it.

As for this slightly tardy writer, well, my insecurity is once again about time. Kind of ironic given my late posting this Wednesday I know, but that’s in keeping with my overall sense of there’s too damn much to do. I have work, family, drafting of my second novel, reviews for my critique partners (which I’m super behind on), the holidays (which I enjoyed, but am happy they are over), personal reading and a ton of other little things. Geez…

I don’t have a question this month so much as a need to breathe. Argh… I’m tired, but I want to finish so much.

How does everyone else balance it all? (I guess I do have a question. 🙂

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On to the news.

Um… Some people have too much money. It’s frozen water that’s meant to melt. If you’re interested in these, I have a bridge that might also peak your interest.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/worlds-most-expensive-luxury-ice-4934855

Yuck, yuck, yuck. YUCK! I don’t know if I’d ever be able to go in a public restroom again. Did I say YUCK?

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Woman-plunging-San-Diego-toilet-pulls-up-5-6000293.php

Not too hot, not too cold. They’ve found even more planets that are just right. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE space? 🙂

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/06/eight-new-exoplanets-discovered-kepler_n_6424646.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

That’ll do that for another week, folks. Have a great one. See you in seven. 🙂

Happy New Year one and all! It is the last chance to grab a bite of news from 2014, and I’m all atwitter about what I have to share. Before I begin, I hope each of reads this with a calm and peaceful end to 2014 and many bright prospects for 2015. If you’re not, then I wish for a change in circumstance.

This first tasty morsel gives new meaning to: Nice boat. Such a cool thing to tool around Venice in, even if the reason he built it is kind of sad.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/artist-carves-floating-wooden-ferrari-f50-in-venice/

Sad face for the bike for sure, but I’m very relieved the guy is okay. You just never know when life is going to turn you upside down.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/somersaulting-cyclists-miracle-escape-caught-4898965

This next one is not really super current news, but just freaking cool. Time travel! Amazing, right?

http://www.livescience.com/39159-time-travel-with-wormhole.html

That’ll do it for 2014. Enjoy your New Year celebrations, just not too much. 😉 See you in the fifteen.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nick will bring me a new car. Okay, maybe not a car, but perhaps a stack of books or a giant B&N gift card. In honor of Christmas Eve, take a few moments to enjoy the music below. For those of you who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas to you and your families. To those of you who celebrate another holiday this time of year, Happy Holidays!

First up, a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ2mku_DTz8

To those of you out there missing the snow… a little nod to white Christmas dreams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKtCM5SyGAg

My final gift to you on the eve of my favorite holiday of the year – a little ditty that I learned as a child. Rudolph and Frosty factored into every Christmas for every one of my *cough* forty years, and I couldn’t part without sharing a little red-nosed reindeer. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLf0DDt3Xiw

Merry Christmas!