tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74659218066505743832024-02-06T19:37:27.483-08:00Cowgirl Contemporary FantasyA Ranch Brat's Book Blog about Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-74337217595239046462014-01-27T19:56:00.002-08:002014-01-27T19:56:58.212-08:00Cats and DanglersMy husband and I were each getting ready for work the other day, he in the downstairs bathroom and me in the upstairs. Our five-year-old had been instructed to get dressed in his room.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From stock.xchng</td></tr>
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His bedroom and the upstairs bathroom share a wall. I can usually tell if he's getting dressed or not because it seems to be physically impossible for him to do anything without singing or talking to himself, a habit I'm certain came from me. If it's quiet, usually he's gotten distracted by a book or toy.<br />
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It had gotten quiet, so I began to listen closely. Soon, I heard a "MEEP!" Not usually a sound that comes from his mouth.<br />
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"Honey? What's the matter?" I called.<br />
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"Kitty's being mean," he answered, and I figured he was letting his legs dangle off of the side of the bed. The cat loves to play with his toes while he bounces his feet this way and that.<br />
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I yell, "Are you dangling anything?"<br />
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"Well, I am naked."<br />
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I think I would have meeped, too, were I male.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-79269967923783464062014-01-19T16:17:00.000-08:002014-01-19T16:25:04.392-08:00A Cowgirl Without a Cow<br />
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I love to wake up to hear the sounds of grass and tree leaves rustling, mixed with the song of the western meadowlark and the wind whistling through the crevices in the wood and steel outbuildings.<br />
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Out of necessity, I must listen to the sounds of car horns, airplanes, and dogs barking, and have done so for well over a decade.<br />
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The hardest thing I have ever done is to walk away from the farm and ranch, knowing it would not flourish under my hand. I still think of myself as a cowgirl, but I find myself without a cow.<br />
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Perhaps that's why I write: to take myself away from the scent of refineries and pavement and back to, as Tolkien puts it, "good clean earth." But dreams only last as long as sleep, and one cannot sleep forever.<br />
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As I step forward in my life, I often wonder if my footsteps will ever be able to turn toward the Badlands, and I pray that God sees a path that I cannot.<br />
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But for now, trapped near pavement I must be, but I long to see scoria roads and cow paths. Some day.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-63566887889671771312013-11-25T15:30:00.001-08:002013-11-25T15:30:30.509-08:00Food for the Gods, by Karen DudleyAnyone who takes a good look at me will quickly realize that I'm not afraid to enjoy a meal, especially now that I'm pregnant. My grandmothers were exceptional cooks and bakers, so I was lucky to learn firsthand how a little bit of love, the right ingredients, and mixing things until it looks right can make for a fabulous dish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8FB-jTnRLRMZt3Y4YUAgcktkY2lXwzprH7Qkr_KJge0JbTUxyeyDmpv6hfWJH1OeMMF3aQeotgK3Qx83auuqkj6YVx8C-tkIFbIQ2Z02BmfXPU7EmL7dwEZwSYn3_l5j4HcvarJXarM/s1600/food+for+the+gods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8FB-jTnRLRMZt3Y4YUAgcktkY2lXwzprH7Qkr_KJge0JbTUxyeyDmpv6hfWJH1OeMMF3aQeotgK3Qx83auuqkj6YVx8C-tkIFbIQ2Z02BmfXPU7EmL7dwEZwSYn3_l5j4HcvarJXarM/s320/food+for+the+gods.jpg" width="213" /></a>Consequently, I love culinary mysteries, especially if recipes are included. When I was asked to read, "Food for the Gods," by Karen Dudley, I was told it was a culinary mystery taking place in ancient Greece. My first thought was, <i>Oh, hell yes.</i><br />
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I'm very glad I said yes. The world-building was effective and unobtrusive. The characters were interesting and diverse, and the dialogue was pithy and sarcastic. One would think that ancient Greek characters with British/Cockney accents would be a bit odd, but in the context of the book, it made social classes immediately clear. <br />
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Thanks, Karen, for a fantastic read. I fell in love, and my only regret was taking so long to begin reading.My reviews are normally a bit longer, but I really don't have any criticisms. I look forward to the second book.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-16182062295282158052013-10-06T19:35:00.001-07:002013-10-06T19:35:54.106-07:00Review: Originated Under Twin Suns, by Michael PickardI'm notoriously nitpicky about my sci-fi. I've been a fan of all versions of Star Trek since before I knew how to properly pronounce Rene Aberjoinois. I like Star Wars, but I don't feel the need to wear my light saber to work. Other than that, I really am more into Tolkein and Butcher than Bradbury or Asimov. <br />
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When I received Michael Pickard's novel, billed as "space satire," my ears perked up a bit. The first chapter made me chuckle, so I threw caution to the wind and decided to dive in. </div>
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<b>The Good</b></div>
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Mr. Pickard's experience as a previously published author made this book's quality a definite cut above most self-published books. </div>
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<li>The text had good flow and a defined voice. </li>
<li>Language use by the Frobs were consistent and had voice.</li>
<li>It was filled with clever puns that made me chuckle.</li>
<li>There were parts that reminded me of Monty Python, which always brightens my day, even if it doesn't involve fish slapping, silly walks, or shrubberies.</li>
<li>It was easy to visualize the action. </li>
<li>The plot was multi-layered and complex enough to be interesting, but not so complicated and spread out that it felt like reading <u>Game of Thrones</u>.</li>
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<li>The middle sagged, lacking enough action to compel the reader to <i>need </i>to turn the page.</li>
<li>Occasionally he spent too much time inside the characters' heads.</li>
<li>I see what he was going for when he wrote the ending, but I found it a bit unsatisfying.</li>
<li>The title doesn't flow as well as I'd like.</li>
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<b>The Ugly</b><br />
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<li>The cover art. Eeeep.</li>
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The quality is a far cut above most self-published works. As space satire goes, the closest analog I could think of was <i>Space Balls</i>, but the humor reminded me more of British understatement than Brooksian absurdity. Overall, it was worth the read.</div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-84984633649728847102013-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:002013-07-24T14:47:49.842-07:00Bodacious Creed<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As a ranch brat that hid my fantasy novels behind my 4-H projects, I have a thing for fantasy and westerns. I wanted to <u>BE</u> John Wayne, Sparhawk, a Rider of Rohan, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, occasional sex changes be damned. It's not that crazy to me to mix genres up a little, so when I got a review request for a zombie steampunk western, let's just say it got my attention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The only thing is that it wasn't really a review request. It was a preview request from Jonathan Fesmire for his upcoming novel <u>Bodacious Creed</u>. Jonathan has decided to do things a little differently by using Kickstarter to fund his project before it has even begun. (Basic details for his project and how Kickstarter works can be found <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonathanfesmire/bodacious-creed-a-steampunk-zombie-western">here</a>, in case you've never heard of Kickstarter.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After reviewing his plan, I had a few questions for Jonathan.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pretend for a moment that my readers have no idea what Kickstarter is or how it works. (I'd never heard of it until now.) Explain how it works and why you chose to do your project through Kickstarter than through other outlets, like traditional publishing or self-publishing. </span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Simply put, Kickstarter is a site that allows anyone with a project to share it with the world. People can then pledge money to get that project funded. This new model is called "crowdfunding," and it allows artists to fund movies, graphic novels, computer equipment, and more.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Each project has pledge levels, with rewards that get better and better with each level. So, backing a Kickstarter project is often like shopping for new and cool products that are still being created.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Each project has a time limit and a goal amount. For instance, I set my funding period for 31 days, and the funding goal for $2,000. Using a spreadsheet, I determined that this was the minimum amount I would need to cover expenses, including sending out the backer rewards.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Getting published by a professional house is extremely difficult, and many amazing books get rejected every day. That's why many writers have turned to self-publishing. Many of the best books out there are self-published, as are many of the worst, and it's the writer's responsibility to make sure that his or her book is top quality.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, print on demand publishing and the Internet have already made it possible for writers to reach their readers directly, upsetting the old paradigm where we wrote to please publishers and then hoped against hope that our work would get noticed.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, marketing is still extremely difficult. So you can work for a year or more writing a book, and then have few sales.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Crowdfunding turns the whole thing on its head. Not only can writers self-publish, we can share a project to see if it's something people would like to read. This gets the word out and gets people excited before the book is finished.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Significant backers get to have input into your book. How do you feel about giving up some of the control over your project? Or, do you get a creative charge out of bouncing ideas around with others? (I do.)</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm excited about working with higher level backers! I have two now, and one wants to have a character based on himself as a villain. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also come from an improv background. I did drama way back in high school and college. At my junior college, I took three semesters of improvisational acting, and was the formative member of an improv troupe that is still going strong. A little like Saturday Night Live, none of the original members remain.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the process of making disparate parts fit together.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It will be a controlled collaboration experience, however. I'll make sure that the characters and ideas fit into the milieu. I hope that more people pledge in that range, so I can work in more ideas and characters!</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It takes a lot of stones to put oneself out there on the internet, potentially inviting criticism before a project has really begun. Have you had negative experiences with backers, or has it largely been a positive thing?</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been a public figure on the Internet since the mid-90s, when I had a relatively popular site called "Introduction to Fantasy." The entire process of creating my demo reel, which Bodacious Creed is based on, is documented in an extensive blog.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As for the Kickstarter project, most people have been very positive and excited about it. I have had some criticism. One person thought it was just plain wrong to ask for funding to help publish a novel. Don't you know, writers have to write first, and then struggle to get a book published, and then hope that people read the book! That's how it's always been done, so how dare I try something different. In fact, even telling people about it is spamming!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another person assumed the book would be about cowgirls riding around on horses, braining zombie hordes. You know, the most cliché idea possible.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I question the rules, and think outside the box. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, there is no box.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But as I said, most people have been very positive, and some have even asked how to go about creating their own Kickstarter projects for novels.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How will the books be sold once they've been printed? Do you have contracts with book sellers lined up, or will it be mostly on sites like Amazon?</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm going to self-publish directly through Lightning Source. That's the company that Lulu and CreateSpace both use. By publishing through Lightning Source directly, I will pay less for each copy, and can sell the book for less.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One person wants to carry the book overseas, and I'll contact various book stores to see if I can get them to carry it. It will definitely be available online through Amazon and other sources, however.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently bought a children's printed book that interacts with the camera on my laptop. My son completely loses his shit when he uses it. Have you toyed with the idea of making enhanced e-books or digitally enhanced printed books, considering your expertise with 3-D modeling? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Excellent question! I don't know about creating an interactive book, though I suppose it's possible through a program like Unity.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What I will probably do, though, as I write the book, is create 3D models of some of the items or characters, and share those on my website, and on the Bodacious Creed site (which I'm developing now).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With the end of his funding period coming fast, I wish Jonathan the best of luck. Many of you know that I'm a music educator, but this year I'm actually teaching a course in creativity and integrated arts. (I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THAT CLASS!) <u>Bodacious Creed</u> is a creative and "novel" approach to writing a novel, and I'm very interested to see how it turns out.</span></div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-89003822479270570122013-07-22T19:19:00.000-07:002013-07-24T14:50:57.388-07:00Review: A Once Crowded Sky, by Tom King<div style="text-align: right;">
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I was approached by Simon and Schuster about reviewing <u>A Once Crowded Sky</u>, by Tom King. After reading the description, which, "...fuses bombastic, comic-book-style storytelling with modern literary fiction..."I knew it wasn't up my alley. However, I married a man that has been glued to every comic book movie ever made and knew it would tickle my hubby's fancy. I've summed up my husband's thoughts on the book, which are largely positive. He really enjoyed the book.<br />
<br />
A devastating force called the Blue attacks all, superheroes and villains alike. The Blue causes supervillains to commit suicide, leaving only the heroes left. In order for the superheroes to defeat it, all superheroes but one to sacrificed their powers to defeat the Blue. The world is left with left with powerless superheroes trying to cope with being normal, save one, a hero named Pentultimate, superhero Ultimate's former sidekick. (The play on words makes me giggle.)<br />
<br />
The Good:<br />
<ul>
<li>Overall story telling was great.</li>
<li>Great twist on superheroes.</li>
<li>Not entirely predictable-the only predictable parts came from making fun of or using comic book cliches.</li>
<li>He dumped superheroes into what they'd be like in the real world. Many weren't coping very well without their powers.</li>
</ul>
<div>
The Bad:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>He spent a great deal of time inside the characters' heads, and at times the monologuing was a bit much.</li>
<li>Tended to drill a point to death instead of realizing the audience had gotten the idea several paragraphs ago.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
The Ugly:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>No ugly. It was a really great take on comic book heroes, though it would probably not appeal to folks who don't care for comics.</li>
</ul>
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Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-8613533632742902732013-07-08T14:29:00.000-07:002013-07-08T14:29:56.551-07:00Branding Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmg2FXZkWnAJlJSsntzHA9m9eF-GvJxr4xd4RevGWWBlkAl7tGC_5k1jOWCkWqPgtxIaT4DmDou4TL-rZim1K3eRbkXr0mZoD049Fy9bFjuEGDRmpC3cXZFzKtXxPK8sX7oDOn89HYgc/s1600/Branding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmg2FXZkWnAJlJSsntzHA9m9eF-GvJxr4xd4RevGWWBlkAl7tGC_5k1jOWCkWqPgtxIaT4DmDou4TL-rZim1K3eRbkXr0mZoD049Fy9bFjuEGDRmpC3cXZFzKtXxPK8sX7oDOn89HYgc/s400/Branding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad, uncle, brother, and husband preparing the calf table and chute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wEPCEJ-8rgFsbNWX6cSExorhID5I5bvlZgfb0fBdQvB7KhvGaC0Lxb7mLQo89uiGFkMChoP8F8EvSC1XflwO3I0Px96nxYgIzZu9z_KVrCCRA9UdIeMnwoIvriJAFuV5K9uKj0VNkzQ/s1600/Branding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wEPCEJ-8rgFsbNWX6cSExorhID5I5bvlZgfb0fBdQvB7KhvGaC0Lxb7mLQo89uiGFkMChoP8F8EvSC1XflwO3I0Px96nxYgIzZu9z_KVrCCRA9UdIeMnwoIvriJAFuV5K9uKj0VNkzQ/s400/Branding+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My vaccine guns in the front, my uncle applying the second brand.</td></tr>
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I think that when most folks think of cowboys, they think of horses, boots, spurs, ropes, calves and branding irons. Historically cowboys used to rope a calf by the hind leg, drag it to the branding area, and then two people held it down while others did the branding and castrating. My family uses a calf table, which allows us to do our job with fewer people and finish each calf more quickly.<br />
<br />
Branding, vaccinating and castrating is a big job, and it probably seems terribly cruel to most. However, ranchers don't just do it for fun.<br />
<br />
Selling calves is where ranchers make their money, and calves can't be sold if ownership cannot be established. Hence, the brand. Good brands are hard to alter and are clearly readable from a distance. <br />
<br />
Compare the brand to a tattoo, which I understand can be a terribly drawn out and painful affair. The brand takes only seconds, and the calf's skin is far thicker than our own. <br />
<br />
An animal rights activist once asked one of my dad's friends why ranchers castrate the poor little calves. He could have said that it keeps fighting between males down or that it increases the quality of the meat. Instead, he said, "It's to keep those little bastards from committing incest with their mothers and sisters."<br />
<br />
'Nuff said.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leg being drawn back to castrate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAR3mqTtUzN_gpF7hQn0OwGpvVLADy-2niyhfszmxgBhwZeS6GHzssN8PlJ_KvmYqS7z_aGfSQbhzhQ5poM6K_UL_n8PztEVFCmrAG3jNmPzEKcO52CgP2v2Q2dJdQsHlhJM8bDugjuk/s1600/Branding+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAR3mqTtUzN_gpF7hQn0OwGpvVLADy-2niyhfszmxgBhwZeS6GHzssN8PlJ_KvmYqS7z_aGfSQbhzhQ5poM6K_UL_n8PztEVFCmrAG3jNmPzEKcO52CgP2v2Q2dJdQsHlhJM8bDugjuk/s320/Branding+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished brand, read aloud as "Lazy F L Bar."</td></tr>
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Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-41587322838893885072013-06-30T19:55:00.000-07:002013-06-30T19:55:55.653-07:00Step One...My son, who cannot read, was helping me make mac and cheese. He picked up the blue box and squinted. "What's step one, Mom?"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I sniggered and replied, "Cut a hole in the box."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"K. What's step two?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwbxEfy7fg">Ummm.....I'll tell you when you're older.</a></div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-17037300835188983482013-06-26T22:16:00.003-07:002013-06-26T23:02:02.219-07:00A Conservative Christian That Supports Gay MarriageAs a <a href="http://videosift.com/video/Stephen-Fry-Interviews-Gay-Black-Republican-Pastor">Republican Gay Baptist</a> pointed out, we are not a country that likes complexity. We like simple solutions to complex problems. Failing schools? Test the snot out of them. Crime problem? Throw them in jail and let them rot.<br />
<br />
Whether you're right wing, left wing, or you hang under the dark underbelly of the plane, like me, the debate over gay marriage is a hotbed of stoutly held opinions. Lobbyists and other political players benefit from fanning the flames of outrage on both sides of the issue, complicating things considerably. In this instance, a simple problem has been made very complex, and the solution is in actuality very simple.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, gay marriage shouldn't even be an issue. It should be legal. Government should not have its nose in the bedroom unless one partner doesn't consent. Most of those who oppose gay marriage do it for religious reasons. Religious intrusion into law and politics usually causes more harm than good.<br />
<br />
To understand how religion and politics can be harmful, one needs to understand emics and etics. Emics view behavior from within a system or a culture, and etics view behavior from outside a system or culture. Mental refers to what a subject is thinking, and behavioral refers to what one can observe them doing. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
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<i>Traditional Religious Conservative View of Gay Marriage</i></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #bdc0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 14.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Mental</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: #bdc0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 14.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Behavioral</b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="background-color: #bdc0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Emic</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Preserving the sanctity of marriage.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Advocating politically to ensure the country stays on a moral path.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #bdc0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Etic</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Afraid of change, and of losing both religious and political clout.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px 5.0px; width: 144.7px;" valign="top"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Fanning a debate with inflammatory language to keep from losing power.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<div>
By dissecting the motivations behind the opposition to gay marriage, I find that it's more about self-righteousness and power than about protecting Christianity. I believe Christians should not be seeking power in any way.** Like an <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/22/i-was-adam-lanza-part-2.html">anonymous young man</a> points out, the brain can be a lot like Lindsey Lohan's defense lawyer, because <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">it may be the best advocate out there, but at bottom, it's still defending every kind of immaturity and poor decision-making there is." The degree to which we can delude ourselves that we are doing the right thing instead of acting like power-hungry control freaks is astounding. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was raised to live and let live, to study the Word and live one's life accordingly. The two men that had a major effect on my moral development were extremely homophobic, but one would never know by the way they treated homosexuals. They shook hands and spoke with respect, kindness, and good humor, which I think is a closer reflection to what loving one's neighbors should look like.**</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know that other conservatives will strongly disagree, citing that law is a reflection of morality, and for the majority of Americans, that morality is strongly based in Judeo-Christian ideals. But, religion and politics never mix without an explosive reaction. <br />
<br />
Atheists often point out that religion has lead the clarion call for violence and war, and they have a point. Think of the Inquisition, the Reformation, the Crusades...the list goes on and on. Those wars had emics and etics, too. The emic mental reason for those wars were religious, but etically, the violence was about power, either maintaining it during a time of tremendous change or grabbing it from another country.</div>
<div>
<br />
Though I'm a religious person, the law should be as religiously neutral as possible because religious viewpoints behind the laws are often biased, which has been demonstrated time and time again throughout history. I have no problem with legalizing gay marriage.</div>
<div>
<br />
<i>**I have verses that I could cite to support my beliefs, but I have found that citing verses usually leads to citation wars that are more about winning and less about actual dialogue.</i><br />
<br /></div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-55665806520230537522013-06-22T20:24:00.003-07:002013-06-22T20:24:38.713-07:00Those Who Want to be BrokenI'm a singer. Most of the time stage fright is not a problem. As a pianist, not so much. I can have mini mental breakdowns in between the Gloria and the Sanctus when I'm playing organ at church. As a writer I deal with my own fear of not being good enough on a daily basis. As a music teacher, I teach my students how to deal with their fear from a very young age. I've had to develop numerous techniques to battle anxiety because all but one of my private voice students are nearly crippled by it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhLeQvJtxw1cbAq2N9AsEN9Hda6nCWdW5QwbHZCp5diqQcqTCi4iHVq5Yg-CpnN0OjU_PxyJPF3X48Z7nPGQ0buCLmZwy5VJInQ0Y8PmM7l6ydc3-TW5cBK3bzfZikTuRNN0jMWDSnN0/s1600/broken+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhLeQvJtxw1cbAq2N9AsEN9Hda6nCWdW5QwbHZCp5diqQcqTCi4iHVq5Yg-CpnN0OjU_PxyJPF3X48Z7nPGQ0buCLmZwy5VJInQ0Y8PmM7l6ydc3-TW5cBK3bzfZikTuRNN0jMWDSnN0/s200/broken+heart.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by cobrasoft at stock.xchng</td></tr>
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<br />
Though music is my game, fear is my specialty in a lot of ways. I realized the other day that I've noticed a trend. <br />
<br />
There are those who conquer their fears and feel amazing for having done so. There are those who still feel it, but trudge on anyway. There are those who quit because conquering fear is more difficult than living with it. Finally, there are those who deliberately sabotage any effort at improving one's physical or mental health because, quite frankly, they get more satisfaction from being ill.<br />
<br />
I've seen those who deliberately sabotage personal progress in my professional and personal life. They get more emotional needs filled from being mentally ill than they do from being well. When one is ill the others in their lives get to take the consequences.<br />
<br />
Julia Cameron calls people who thrive on drama and manipulation "crazy makers." I'm certain we all know a crazy maker, like the folks that post cryptic status updates on <a href="http://lolwtfcomics.blogspot.com/2011/06/im-having-bad-day-ill-update-my.html">Facebook</a>, then refuse to talk about it. Drama is about attention. Adolescents aren't subtle about it, but one person in my life so subtle as to be Machiavellian, having manipulated everyone in her life to hum along to her pity ditty.<br />
<br />
What are your experiences with crazy makers or self-saboteurs?Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-10962569945461790642013-06-18T20:32:00.002-07:002013-06-18T20:32:33.063-07:00Those Who Are IrredeemableMy father loves to argue a point. As most of the people he knew did anything they could to avoid <br />
engaging in an argument they'd never win, my sister and I got to debate with him as we were bouncing in the farm pickup's passenger seat. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AiCOfWHXLshavLsaUnJv-PCZqRSukFLCPvIyKY75iB5dSDwcCEmz_HCo3Khvz69PyVdvpHzFKYx8wzYk2uYx8E1g4F7sRFgbv8kOegLij4mNFiz5AarYF3bU3Otdhlq32JhFfqmWFp4/s1600/1390331_84192120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AiCOfWHXLshavLsaUnJv-PCZqRSukFLCPvIyKY75iB5dSDwcCEmz_HCo3Khvz69PyVdvpHzFKYx8wzYk2uYx8E1g4F7sRFgbv8kOegLij4mNFiz5AarYF3bU3Otdhlq32JhFfqmWFp4/s320/1390331_84192120.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/cahdequech">cahdequech</a> from stock.xchng</td></tr>
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He strongly believed that all people are born inherently self-centered or evil, ourselves included. He saw it in his animals, and most especially in small children. (Think about it. Most kids have to be taught to share, to take turns.) I can't find any numbers to back this up, but it seems as though most folks I run into believe the exact opposite: that evil people are made that way.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of misconceptions about psychopaths, most of which I've covered in a <a href="http://scootercarlyle.blogspot.com/2011/02/authors-guide-to-psychopaths.html">previous post</a>. I happen to agree with my father, that people are born selfish or evil, so I never thought much about how believing in man's inherent goodness could make one a victim. One thing that's really been driven home to me while reading <a href="http://www.lovefraud.com/">Lovefraud</a> is that believing that selfish, evil behavior is due to previous trauma makes you a prime mark for psychopaths or other personality-disordered individuals.<br />
<br />
At Lovefraud one can see countless stories in which victims of disordered individuals were reeled in by the psychopath feigning remorse and a trauma-filled past. Many people react by feeling like they can help "fix" this person, lead them to the light, etc. What victims do not realize at the time is that one can NEVER trust a psychopath's word on anything. They lie to lie. Even if their stories of traumatic pasts are true, they never try to overcome it. They use it to their advantage. <br />
<br />
Psychopaths have no other goal in life other than to get what he or she wants. They are only interested in you as long as you have something they want. Any emotion that a psychopath shows other than impatience, anger, or sexual desire is a feigned, and people who believe that there is good in everyone are easily reeled in by this tactic.<br />
<br />
The hard fact is that psychopaths are irredeemable. They see no purpose in "good" behavior because it does not give them what they want. (Read <a href="http://www.lovefraud.com/2013/06/17/sociopathic-perspective/">this letter</a> and <a href="http://www.lovefraud.com/2013/02/16/letters-to-lovefraud-i-am-a-sociopath/">another</a> from a psychopath written to the founder of Lovefraud.) A lot of people violently disagree that psychopaths are irredeemable because it would mean changing that core belief of inherent goodness. I actually had one person go into hysterics over it.<br />
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What do you think? Please take the survey, and leave your reactions in the comments.<br />
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<tr><td colspan="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>Are people inherently good or inherently evil?</b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5"><input id="gqm7banswer1" name="answer" type="radio" value="1" /></td><td><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><label for="gqm7banswer1">People are inherently good and evil comes from their environment.</label></span></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5"><input id="gqm7banswer2" name="answer" type="radio" value="2" /></td><td><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><label for="gqm7banswer2">People are inherently evil and most learn to overcome it.</label></span></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5"><input id="gqm7banswer3" name="answer" type="radio" value="3" /></td><td><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><label for="gqm7banswer3">People are born as blank slates and all behavior is learned.</label></span></td></tr>
<tr><td width="5"><input id="gqm7banswer4" name="answer" type="radio" value="4" /></td><td><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><label for="gqm7banswer4">Unsure.</label></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td align="right" colspan="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">pollcode.com <a href="http://pollcode.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">free polls</span></a> </span></td></tr>
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Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-19445724814436469642013-06-03T18:18:00.000-07:002013-06-03T19:36:19.125-07:00New Review Policy<a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>
It's been a while since I've done a review here. I've had several really bad experiences for a variety of reasons, and I've been taking some time to create a new policy to address several problems. <br />
<br />
The majority of books I have received are self-published. Many authors sent me books in dire need of editing. I felt obligated to read the entire book, so my reviews wound up turning into editing sessions. This was not always a bad experience. As a teacher, it's fun to help folks find creative ways to address problems in their projects. However, I was only able to manage to do it while I had a student teacher, which gave me a lot of time to ruminate on issues and how to solve them. After I returned to full time teaching, editing was incredibly time-consuming and took time away from my projects.<br />
<br />
Additionally, I felt I had to be honest, but I'm very good at spinning feedback in a positive way. However, I had so many books that were substandard it was beginning to be hard to be positive, which led me to make some bad mistakes with one author that I regret deeply.<br />
<br />
As a book blogger, I feel it's important to be honest. Those who visit my site to read reviews are deciding whether or not to purchase a book based on what I say, but I do not like publicly stating why a novel is lackluster. As a teacher, that is something that should be done in private, but I am not an editor being paid to polish an entire novel, so I couldn't really win.<br />
<br />
From now on, if you would like a review, please send me the first chapter. I will read the whole chapter. If I don't see issues like excessive exposition, poor editing, flat characters, etc., I will read the whole book and give it a review. If I do not think there's a possibility of a good review, I will reply with a short blurb as to why I would rather not review the book. Sometimes it may be due to personal taste, more often because projects are rushed to self-publication without enough rumination. <br />
<br />
I feel the new policy will allow me to give self-published authors a chance, and give me a chance to have a relatively stress-free reviewing process. For more information on what types of books I like to review, click on the "Want a Review?" page above.<br />
<br />
If you have contacted me for a review and have not received one, please go ahead and send me the first chapter. After changing computers I lost many of the files I had set aside for review. <br />
<br />
<br />Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-733212217735915132013-05-29T16:59:00.003-07:002013-05-29T16:59:59.964-07:00Summertime...and the Livin' is Easy...NOT!School is officially out for summer, and it's time to get crackin' on my writing.<br />
<br />
I put my novel aside for the school year to focus on creative projects for my students. The results were pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself.<br />
<br />
My students and I collaborated on creating a program honoring veterans and educating the audience on the challenges they faced throughout the years. We made the Marines cry with, "Sticks That Made Thunder," a bluegrass tune by The Steeldrivers. (Done with permission, of course.) The National Guard presented us with a Patriot Award for our efforts.<br />
<br />
My writing partner, Cathy, my husband, and I created and produced a kid's musical on rangeland ecology called, "Hairy on the Prairie: The Search for Montana's Bigfoot." <br />
<br />
The last program of the year was written almost entirely by the fourth grade kids. The fourth grade recorder program used to be so boring, so we decided a few years ago to modify a musical and write recorder parts for it. That turned out well, but was a ton of work for me. Last year I started having the kids write their own program, recorder songs included. I select a them and some songs that go with it. The kids have to write short skits that match the theme. <br />
<br />
The them I picked this year was, "Western Legends." One can always tell that a skit's been written by ten-year-olds when a cattle drive involves ordering pizza via smoke signals, an alien abduction, and an appearance by Edward Cullen. (They made the most epic rip on <i>Twilight</i> that I've ever seen. Bwa ha haaa!) <br />
<br />
The best part of the program was that a real-life western legend, Chief Joseph Medicine Crow, the last war chief of not only the Crow tribe, but of nearly any Plains tribe, made a surprise appearance. The kids asked his permission to tell the story of how he became a chief by counting coup against the Germans in WWII. He sang his war song for them and reminded them to stay in school so they can become, "good citizens of their community and of these United States."<br />
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<br />
One unfortunate side effect-a dual stomach infection resulting in vomiting blood in the last few weeks of school. Stress sucks. So, I planned on taking the summer to finish <u>The Rider of Nealra</u>. So far, I have no idea when I'm going to work on it between family obligations, a performance with Rhonda Vincent, and, well, more family obligations.<br />
<br />
Writing is still an integral part of my life, but I want it to be my life.<br />
<br />
<br />Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-80232911726294507122013-02-21T10:39:00.003-08:002013-02-21T10:39:52.714-08:00Guest Post by Brad A. LaMar<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pain Meds
and Life Lessons</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Guest Post by Brad A. LaMar</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I’d like to thank Scooter for letting me guest
blog on Cowgirl Contemporary Fantasy, even though I am not a cow nor am I a
girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I would share a story
about my father and my uncle that brought a little humor to a rather depressing
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When my father, John, turned 50 he owned his own
roofing business and was also a firefighter with great work ethic and big heart
for helping someone in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never
really needed anything from anyone since he was going to work twice as hard as
the next guy and make whatever it was that needed to happen happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tell you this because about four months
after he turned 50 he was struck by a debilitating virus in a condition known
as <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001704/">Guillain- Barre syndrome (GBS)</a>. (You can follow the link to learn more, but essentially the covering on his
body’s nerves known as the myelin sheath was stripped away and his body cannot
receive messages from his brain to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can be experienced differently by those who are afflicted it, but in
my dad’s case he became paralyzed from the neck down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, he had amplified sensitivity to being
touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sort of like if you placed a
finger on his skin he would feel it like he was being hit by a hammer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would remain that way for over a year and
a half before he had some regeneration in his nerves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One doctor told him that he had the deepest
case in Indiana history that didn’t kill someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky, but also unlucky.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Dad wasn’t feeling very well at the firehouse and
found some opportunities to take naps in between emergency runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day he drove over to a roofing job
site and met his crew, but he still wasn’t feeling quite right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left his crew to head home, but on the way
home he noticed that he was getting a tingling sensation in his feet and in his
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got home and slept for a while
and then around 3:30 in the afternoon he got up and walked to the kitchen for a
drink of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this time his hands
felt like the circulation to them had been cut off and he fumbled with a
glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he finally took hold of it
he turned on the faucet and filled the glass, but something was way off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He couldn’t direct his arms and hands to lift
the glass to find his mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
My mom walked in from work at this point and
noticed that dad was just standing at the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“What’s wrong?” she asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I can’t find my mouth,” he replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That was it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom led dad out to the car and drove him to the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time they arrived, dad couldn’t get
out of the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nurses came out and
lifted him into a wheelchair and took him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was at my college classes and knew none of what was going on, so when
I came home that evening my cousin was waiting for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me what was happening and we hustled
to the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I arrived and
looked at my father lying in that bed completely unable to move I broke
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nineteen and that was the
first time I had experienced any real heartbreak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Over the next couple of weeks doctors ran a
battery of tests ruling other possible aliments out until they settled on
GBS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A diagnosis was nice but dad was
not sleeping, not eating, and on some heavy pain medication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those three things added up to a man not
thinking straight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
My uncle Steve, my dad’s brother, came to visit
one time while I was there in that first couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was in a chair and was at a slight angle
so he could watch the TV comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Steve and I stood on either side of him as we all participated in small
talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point I noticed that dad
was quiet and staring down at his knee.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What’s the matter, Dad?” I asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Dad sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You won’t believe me if I tell you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What is it, John?” Steve asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well,” Dad began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“There’s a white rabbit sitting on my knee looking at me and I don’t
want him to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Steve and I exchanged looks and Steve decided to
play along (not in a mocking way) and he said, “I’ll get it for you, John,” as
he swept his hand over dad’s knee to knocked the “bunny” away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Dad’s face showed his frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, no, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He just jumped over your hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Help me grab him with my hand.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Okay, Dad,” I said as I lifted his wrist and hand
and helped him to work his fingers to grab the rabbit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I wanted to cry, but the satisfaction on his face
after that did not let me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He later told
me that he knew the rabbit, among other hallucinations, wasn’t real, but to
satisfy his mind he still had to run through the motions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed to be the one to do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I learned something about perseverance and the
strength of a person’s resolve throughout that whole experience with my
father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His ordeal and the way he
responded to it helped me to put things into perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that life is going to hit you with
waves of hardships but you can’t allow the undertow to drag you out to an ocean
of misery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
My father eventually was able to walk again, feed
himself again, and give himself a shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He fought through one of the darkest moments in his life and came out of
it a stronger man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the process, his
son came to think of his father as one of his heroes and greatest teachers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A little
about me…</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana as a kid in the
80’s and a teen in the 90’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went
from neon colors and short shorts to grunge and flannel; funny how things
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I graduated high school and then
pursued a teaching degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been
married and divorced and married again and have two great kids from my first
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been an educator for
the last 14 years and have been writing with being published in mind for the
last six years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I are animal
lovers so we have two little dogs, one puking cat, and two small frogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all bring adventure to our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My Debut
Novel…</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
My book is called The Obsidian Dagger and it is
the first book in the Celtic Mythos Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s the book blurb: </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When a mad witch with a magically crafted and
frightfully powerful Obsidian Dagger threatens to obliterate humanity and
overtake the magic clans of the Celtic Isles, destiny forces 17-year-old
American, Brendan O Neal, and his younger sister, Lizzie, to intervene. Joining
the desperate princess of the Leprechauns, Dorian, and her two loyal
companions, Rory and Biddy, they embark on a dangerous and wondrous adventure
across Ireland and Scotland to thwart the witch and save mankind. Battling the
witch s mutated forces of magical beings, the heroic band will have to reach
deeper into themselves than they ever thought possible to find the strength,
courage, and will to see their quest through to the end. Brendan will soon
learn that the lines between reality, mythology, and divinity are more blurred
than he ever imagined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I was thrilled to learn more and more about the
rich folklore of the Celtic people and as I researched it all a story began to
develop in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, after learning
as much as I can I began to plan the adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could imagine my shock and joy when a publisher offered me a
contract and a series!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listed some
links below, but you can always Google Brad A. LaMar and learn more about me
and my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to Scooter for
letting me hitch a ride on her blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happy reading everyone!</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.bradalamar.com/">www.bradalamar.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
@bradalamar29</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/bradalamar">www.facebook.com/bradalamar</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.lightmessages.com/">www.lightmessages.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6559794.Brad_LaMar">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6559794.Brad_LaMar</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I’m on Pinterest, as well, just search "Brad A. LaMar."</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You can
purchase The Obsidian Dagger on:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Obsidian-Dagger-Celtic-Mythos/dp/1611530296/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353723873&sr=8-1&keywords=the+obsidian+dagger">http://www.amazon.com/The-Obsidian-Dagger-Celtic-Mythos/dp/1611530296/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353723873&sr=8-1&keywords=the+obsidian+dagger</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-obsidian-dagger-light-messages/1113583957?ean=9781611530292">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-obsidian-dagger-light-messages/1113583957?ean=9781611530292</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-45232742109334238892013-01-13T13:13:00.001-08:002013-01-13T20:33:08.650-08:00How I Found a Fuzzy Beaver While Looking for a KidneyJust like the incident with my <a href="http://scootercarlyle.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-i-lost-chunk-of-hair-to-my-grandmas.html">Grandma's vibrator</a>, the beaver story takes a little explanation. "Beaver" and "human kidney" don't often appear in the same sentence, much less be tied together by a haunted house.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp54V-G0aF2U3raIlI6yfe9jtcSAJgsS0eXCjXRaaK0ZP0dM9nUD-ad7r9xLZfsfDP04x-hVCcC8YJsyMBatF4NGR7FOtOL3LSD9oXnv_pUu8ueKdcKpoDQA9KLKuG2zSzHA6KUgPOos/s1600/freeimage-2480395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp54V-G0aF2U3raIlI6yfe9jtcSAJgsS0eXCjXRaaK0ZP0dM9nUD-ad7r9xLZfsfDP04x-hVCcC8YJsyMBatF4NGR7FOtOL3LSD9oXnv_pUu8ueKdcKpoDQA9KLKuG2zSzHA6KUgPOos/s320/freeimage-2480395.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stockfreeimages.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My mom and dad found out about me about three days before I was born. It wasn't like Mom had no idea she was pregnant. She just didn't know I was hiding behind my sister. It wasn't long before the whole family realized two adults, a four-year-old, and a set of newborn twins weren't going to fit into a two-bedroom trailer house.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My grandmother lived in the large ranch house at the time, and she had planned on eventually putting in a new double-wide for herself so my family could move into the seven-bedroom yellow house, what we grew up calling the big house. She graciously offered to move up her plans to ease the housing squeeze.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My brother, at four years old, noticed that something wasn't quite right in the big ranch house while they were moving in. My grandmother never went upstairs. He noticed that the upstairs was full-on creepy: cobwebs and dust cloths everywhere, the whole nine yards. Shortly after the house was cleaned and my family moved in the upstairs bedrooms, the noises started. <br />
<br />
When my sister and I were still infants, the upstairs hallway had hardwood floors, as well as the closed-in porch. One night my mom was reading on her bed at the end of the hall. She heard boots come down the hall, then a voice whispered, "Pat?"<br />
<br />
She immediately thought it was weird that Dad would call her "Pat," because he only ever called her, "Patty." She looked in the hallway and no one was there. She groused all the way downstairs and asked Dad what he wanted. He'd actually been downstairs the entire time.<br />
<br />
It really creeped my mother out. The ranch house is twenty miles from the nearest town and at least two miles from the nearest neighbor. The pack of barking border collies ensures we know if we have visitors. There wasn't anyone else within several miles that could have slipped in the house and talked to her, and Dad wouldn't lie about something like that. Doors would often open and shut on their own, and occasionally some freaky-ass noises originated in the attic, but boot steps were the most common noise heard. <br />
<br />
Mom carpeted the upstairs to stop the boot steps, but didn't put any on the upstairs porch because it was unheated and mostly unused. On Thanksgiving Day in '96, everyone but Dad was downstairs, and the steps we heard were heavy enough to shake the chandeliers. When Dad came back in from outside, we asked him why he'd been on the upstairs porch. He replied that he'd been feeding calves. <br />
<br />
A skeptic could say that Dad was the source of the noises, but in this case he couldn't have slipped by all of us to get upstairs and couldn't have used the outside entrance because the door was frozen shut.<br />
<br />
*Insert <i>Twilight Zone </i>theme*<br />
<br />
Incidents too numerous to count occurred through the years, to the point of coming home to find every light in the house on and my brother sitting wild-eyed on the couch with a shotgun in his lap. My family enjoyed regaling visitors with the numerous stories. <br />
<br />
All of my nieces and nephews grew up hearing things, and last summer several distant cousins came to stay at the farm. My nephews took delight in regaling the girls with ghost stories.<br />
<br />
Finally, one of the girls asked, "Who's haunting the house?"<br />
<br />
My nephew replied, "We think it was Grandpa Art." **<br />
<br />
"Why?"<br />
<br />
"Because he died in the house. Right upstairs."<br />
<br />
The girls looked around nervously. <br />
<br />
I added, "He died of kidney failure. Wanna see his kidney?"<br />
<br />
The girls, naturally intrigued, followed me upstairs to the office. While looking for Grandpa Art's kidney, I opened the closet door and a fluffy beaver skin fell out. I had thought I knew all of the oddities contained in the old farmhouse, so I was a little surprised to find the beaver skin.<br />
<br />
I confess that I had intentionally mislead the girls into thinking it was his actual kidney, mostly to see the looks on their faces. After rooting around behind the space previously occupied by the beaver, I found Grandpa Art's artificial kidney. Dad had kept it after his death because he thought it was pretty cool. And, it is. I even took it to show and tell in second grade.<br />
<br />
Too bad I didn't know about the beaver when I was in grade school. I loved to gross out the prissy girls, so the dead beaver skin would have been epic.<br />
<br />
**<i>This is the most common theory as to what's causing the haunting. I honestly don't have a fucking clue.</i></div>
Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-29291413998377730232013-01-03T19:05:00.003-08:002013-01-03T19:05:53.439-08:00Guest Post by Rachel Carrington-Enjoy Olive Garden
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Enjoy Olive Garden<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Guest Post by Rachel Carrington<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my assistant told me I had been graciously allowed to
guest post at Cowgirl Contemporary Fantasy, I was excited. I love Scooter's
stories and her sense of humor, especially her October 2011 post, <a href="http://www.scootercarlyle.blogspot.com/2011/10/naughty-minds.html">Naughty Minds</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in the interest of keeping with the humor aspect, I
thought I'd share my latest faux pas. In the interest of full disclosure, I was
extremely busy this holiday season (as most of us are), and I was frantically
trying to finish a writing goal I'd set for myself. So I was admittedly a
little scatterbrained. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Usually, I sent gift cards to my friends who live out of
town because I don't like having to lug big boxes to the post office, and I
don't know what they already have in their house. So I stuffed the cards in the
envelopes, wrote an appropriately gushy note under the card's sentiment, and
stuck the cards in the mail slot to await the forthcoming bouts of gratitude.
(Hey, occasionally, my friends <i>do</i>
remember to say thanks!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So on the Friday after Christmas, I received a call from a
friend who lives several states away from me. She asked me what my note meant
on the card, adding that I'd written "Enjoy Olive Garden." Now, who
doesn't enjoy Olive Garden, but it's not a sentiment I would ordinarily
write...until I remembered I'd included a gift card. I reminded my friend of
that in a somewhat pompous tone of voice since I thought the answer should have
been obvious. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend's response? You didn't include a gift card. Huh.
So I searched through all of my wrapping paper and leftover Christmas tags,
looking for that card I'd inadvertently left out. All to no avail. Practically
panicked, I headed to my receipts. (Yes, I keep them organized, but that's
another story.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While my friend remained on the phone with me, I discovered
not only had I not lost the gift card to Olive Garden, I'd never even made the
trip to the restaurant to purchase it. Yet, I had scratched it off my list. My
friend thought this was extremely hilarious, especially since I'd been so sure
she was the one who was slightly off her rocker. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, today, I made a trip to Olive Garden. And
at the rate my schedule is going now, she might get the card by mid-January.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About Me</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
I started writing years ago, and my first attempt was a contemporary romance
that will never see the light of day. I think I may even have thrown it away by
now. It was absolutely horrific as I knew nothing about well…anything to do
with writing.<br />
<br />
After that, I started writing fantasy romances about wizards and wizards,
and once those took off, I segued to paranormal romances (hello, vampires and
ghosts) and romantic suspense. I also write articles for various magazines,
including The Writer’s Journal, Writer’s Magazine, Writer’s Weekly, Writing for
Dollars, Absolute Write, and Funds for Writers.<br />
<br />
I’m fortunate to make my home in historical Charleston, South Carolina.
Beautiful city. Beautiful people. When I’m not writing, I love to read
paranormal romance, romantic suspense, young adult fantasy and paranormal,
create videos, shop, cross-stitch, cook, and drink lots of coffee.<br />
<br />
My latest release, Waking Up Immortal, is an adventurous, romantic blend of
science fiction and fantasy, and it's available now from several online
retailers. <br />
<br />
You can find me all over the internet, but here are just a few of the
places: <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
My website: www.dawnrachel.com </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Twitter@rcarrington2004</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Facebook: rachelcarringtonwrites</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Pinterest: rcarrington2004</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Goodreads: rcarrington2004</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/RachelCarrington </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-86690460588806677352012-12-14T20:08:00.004-08:002013-06-03T18:42:59.151-07:00Nailed It<a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>
What the baclava was supposed to look like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuxf_6tcRPqU9DCa5Q4H7z4T-lQ1_rRP3WDiBlYOmrN4SYyFq8yRR-iShfWpi9b7cEJIFELCBMZn821TRCenlsDgTamQqS1a_8eA3AaQxGU8mi7z6XGU56WHfIsADqweZBdg4Yk6nwfg/s1600/2012-12-14+20.58.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuxf_6tcRPqU9DCa5Q4H7z4T-lQ1_rRP3WDiBlYOmrN4SYyFq8yRR-iShfWpi9b7cEJIFELCBMZn821TRCenlsDgTamQqS1a_8eA3AaQxGU8mi7z6XGU56WHfIsADqweZBdg4Yk6nwfg/s320/2012-12-14+20.58.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's what they actually look like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik8VeZMQBFFjm8FlovIKN2D-V1y_yxwDeJ_MykZrRUXJEpAHm9rOvuOtLfu7J0wlgw_2ERsNVOKMLhbQXk5LLVydUdeQ9iXHxUQ4vYoyaJqYX166Iv8Csqg52a3pU-GJV3H3drvzagzI/s1600/2012-12-14+20.56.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik8VeZMQBFFjm8FlovIKN2D-V1y_yxwDeJ_MykZrRUXJEpAHm9rOvuOtLfu7J0wlgw_2ERsNVOKMLhbQXk5LLVydUdeQ9iXHxUQ4vYoyaJqYX166Iv8Csqg52a3pU-GJV3H3drvzagzI/s320/2012-12-14+20.56.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">NAILED IT.</span>Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-68598220001831747442012-11-16T14:13:00.002-08:002012-11-16T15:05:02.576-08:00Yes, Officer. There's a Rational Explanation for All That Blood...Sooo, this week I had considerable insight into what it's like to try to cover one's tracks after a murder. Put down the phone. You don't have to call the police. It's not like that...though it would have been entertaining to try to explain had an officer walked in.<br />
<br />
My four-year-old thought his clownfish were super, super hungry, so he dumped about a month's worth of fish food into their tank. I got my husband out of bed and we scrambled to remove the food from the tank as we listened to a chorus of, "I'm reawy, reawy sowwy, Mommy."<br />
<br />
An hour into the clean up and water change, I leaned down to wipe up some water that had dripped onto the floor. To my horror, I saw copious quantities of blood on the wall. Apparently I missed a couple (a lot) of streaks when I cleaned up the carnage the week before.<br />
<br />
In my defense, it went down early in the morning. I can't be held accountable for a cleanup that happened before my morning coffee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXe-ijqcCD13x3eKeH0U3GRsqdudS0O7VnQlURN0cdfl2vkitObMQsKcicBajT2hYQj71DQCOv-JViEd-z9XzT03lx5jbrRFuC3Z5V2iDGKV-mVgCwyL8eAkSPxsR7ZVrZC872M88DZ8/s1600/freeimage-4494675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXe-ijqcCD13x3eKeH0U3GRsqdudS0O7VnQlURN0cdfl2vkitObMQsKcicBajT2hYQj71DQCOv-JViEd-z9XzT03lx5jbrRFuC3Z5V2iDGKV-mVgCwyL8eAkSPxsR7ZVrZC872M88DZ8/s320/freeimage-4494675.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.stockfreeimages.com/</td></tr>
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My dog wakes us up at the ass-crack of dawn every morning with heavy breathing and the heavy <i>whump, whump </i>of a Labrador tail. A few days before Halloween, morning began as usual with the hot breath on my face, the wagging of tail, and the cries of my son dying to get out of bed at 5:45 am. I staggered into the kitchen to feed the salivating labrador and the hyper-spasto springer spaniel as the lab's tail thudded into the wall all the way down the hall and into the kitchen.<br />
<br />
I fed them, and when I bent down to drop the food into their bowls, I was a little surprised to see blood all over the floor. I looked up. Blood all over the walls. I went down the hall. Blood all over the floor and the walls. And not just a little bit. A fuck ton, and still damp.<br />
<br />
I hollered for my husband, who jumped pretty fast at the words "blood everywhere." Before I could say, "What the fuzz?" we were searching for the source. The boy was still bouncing on his bed, so it had to be one of the dogs.<br />
<br />
I saw a heavy concentration of drips behind the Labrador, so I peeked at her tail. The tip was pretty mangled, but apparently didn't hurt much because she was happy to whack into the walls and still eat her breakfast. The best we could figure is that one of us, probably the one who is significantly shorter than the other two, closed her tail into the sliding door. Her tail didn't just streak down the hall. It frickin' sprayed as she wagged, flinging droplets as far as the eye could see. <br />
<br />
We did a comical wrap job on the tail, kicked her outside, and grabbed mops and disinfectant wipes, all before 6 am. Our cleanup was frantic and haphazard, trying frantically to get to work on time. <br />
<br />
I discovered a few things that might be useful as you write your crime investigation scenes.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Ewwww.</li>
<li>I missed blood that was in the shadows cast by my lighting.</li>
<li>I missed the blood in corners.</li>
<li>I missed the blood that blended in with the texture of my flooring.</li>
</ol>
So, benefit from one of my "WTF?" ways to wake up. More on that later, but yes, the dog is fine.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-71945561618449288022012-08-24T14:23:00.001-07:002012-08-24T14:23:19.326-07:00In a PickleI find myself in an interesting pickle. There have been several changes to the way I can do my job this year. Not good. Suffice it to say it's like telling a mechanic to change out an engine with only the tools he can fit on a tool belt. I'm a perfectionist, so I find my future uncertain at this point. <br />
<br />
I will be blogging and writing more regularly as soon as my future is a little more clear. Thanks for hanging in there.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-79288356217910230922012-06-07T21:12:00.001-07:002012-06-07T21:12:39.558-07:00Things I Learned During My Blog BreakFirst, I should apologize for my lengthy absence. I've learned many things while I took an unintentional blog break.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>When one takes a kid fishing, one doesn't really get to fish.</li>
<li>Montana is really, really big.</li>
<li>Long breaks from one's project sharpens one's ability to spot one's own stupidity.</li>
<li>A censor button needs to be installed in my brain. Or my mouth.</li>
<li>I know I've become addicted to <u>The Hunger Games</u> when I started looking for tracker jackers in my garden.</li>
<li>When it snows on frickin' MAY 26TH, one should not panic and replace all the plants in one's garden, as it leaves one with a shit-ton of plants when they all bounce back.</li>
<li>Never leave third graders alone in a room full of expensive recording microphones.</li>
<li>Kari Ann Peniche is a crazy maker of the first order.</li>
<li>The squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets a big red bullseye.</li>
</ul>
My three-year-old son learned many things, as well, but most importantly to never, ever drop the toilet seat.<br />
<br />
I also learned that cows have far more entertainment value than drunken cow-tipping.*<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*My husband pointed out that sometimes the cows ran away from the car and sometimes they followed it. There's a reason for that. Cows instinctively follow the rear of something moving away and flee from the front of something coming toward them. That herd instinct makes them much easier to round up and move.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-2650251339711806902012-02-17T09:17:00.000-08:002012-02-17T09:17:19.755-08:00A Week in MontanaMy understanding is this has gone viral, and I can see why. This sums up succinctly why I believe I could never permanently call any other place home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="170" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35769757?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/35769757">A Week In Montana</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/preston">Preston Kanak</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-64496340294498893442012-01-15T12:37:00.000-08:002012-02-16T15:07:43.039-08:00Beware the Staff of the Ninja Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They come out of nowhere in the middle of the night: pitch black Angus cows. My friend Ian calls them ninja cows, as driving at night is pretty scary when these masters of camouflage creep out of their pastures and onto the road. My ego took a serious blow when one of these ninja masters hit me in broad daylight. With a pole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My parents raise Herefords, who are pretty gentle in compared to Angus, but any cow can be dangerous if a person's being stupid. My dad has a picture of my brother riding a Hereford bull at age three. Well, not so much riding as sitting on it while it ate hay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThwv3ht6kz262Pz2tBaRBzaTxBs6YfiAYequQXmbiIx7CRfV-AV1aYGA6M5oIQgjj5X2S2rqMmNUaeLjfgP78Is23I9Uv9I1h4toQzXXfSh8QxDohFrNhsOZ0dLeWG6W9_ty_FV2YwwI/s1600/angus+cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThwv3ht6kz262Pz2tBaRBzaTxBs6YfiAYequQXmbiIx7CRfV-AV1aYGA6M5oIQgjj5X2S2rqMmNUaeLjfgP78Is23I9Uv9I1h4toQzXXfSh8QxDohFrNhsOZ0dLeWG6W9_ty_FV2YwwI/s320/angus+cows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja Cows</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLA7n8QBHtpaamqOzckoxaw5hCuOgYjWv3zOwlgy-2PA6SDoLsOsa5DzBPq_8JbACV663VvSZuz8gOb5H-6LEdaWSyvW_1ep9Mn1RBt2OUYBgLL_OcC3OYYK6RrwU_WkR1N70H5dr2-k/s1600/hereford-cattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLA7n8QBHtpaamqOzckoxaw5hCuOgYjWv3zOwlgy-2PA6SDoLsOsa5DzBPq_8JbACV663VvSZuz8gOb5H-6LEdaWSyvW_1ep9Mn1RBt2OUYBgLL_OcC3OYYK6RrwU_WkR1N70H5dr2-k/s320/hereford-cattle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hereford</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The selling price is a little higher for what we call black baldies, which are a cross between a Hereford and a Black Angus, so Dad runs a few Angus bulls, usually shooting for a herd of calves that are about half pure-bred Hereford and half black baldies.<br />
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Just after Christmas, I was helping my dad do Bangs vaccinations, which involves crimping medicine into a heifer's ear with a nasty looking, green-coated tool. They don't like it. My job was to stick a solid fiberglass pole behind their butts to keep them from backing out of the headgate, which is the mechanism Dad uses to catch their heads. His headgate was made in 1954, so it had a few issues. <br />
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One of the black baldy heifers, who was bigger than the Herefords but probably smaller than I'd like to exaggerate, hit the chute hard. She kicked as I tried to slide in the pole. I couldn't get it through to the other side, turning it into a giant lever.<br />
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She kicked again and all I saw was sky. When I realized I still had all my teeth, I found that she'd caught me with a glancing blow to the right side of my jaw. Thankfully she didn't shatter my jaw, but now there is scar tissue over the nerve that controls the right lower side of my face, making it feel for several weeks like I'd been to the dentist. I tried to play trumpet with my fifth grade band, but the only sounds I could make were closer to that of a flatulent hippo. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DhrCMEKd-uS_NrViR-lkumemnEv5Y8egdL7Da1YlcdzlWEMB9MosCivsukEw1Vn5GbRiy6jxEq6HbvWMhn3-N8ZoEoCRPbVm2H3Cxx7sJcA8edPTKIkBO0H4I14nIFklfmCIumOvAAc/s1600/photo+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DhrCMEKd-uS_NrViR-lkumemnEv5Y8egdL7Da1YlcdzlWEMB9MosCivsukEw1Vn5GbRiy6jxEq6HbvWMhn3-N8ZoEoCRPbVm2H3Cxx7sJcA8edPTKIkBO0H4I14nIFklfmCIumOvAAc/s320/photo+%282%29.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
My husband asked me if I'd try to cover it up with makeup, and I joked that I'd leave it alone so I could get some street cred with the kids at school. Funny enough, I really did. In a rural community like this one, even the kindergarteners shook their head solemnly and said, "You've gotta watch out for those Angus heifers..." <br />
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I must point out that the Hereford bull that was in the chute just after the psycho Angus just stood there and let us cut off his balls. So, for the health and well-being of agronomists everywhere, don't eat ninja cows. Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-65801666913659828172012-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:002012-01-22T19:46:01.310-08:00Review: Pilgrims of the Sky, by Natania Barron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceWer9Xu-Ah_l6JgO0YLMXFfhfWvxeQ0w4wbcJiw1DK9ww39m9WR453BfAJvHHAMx5kq0CWJ2yPIJ4F5f7UGgAmQWzBKKVje7h5nsRDqh5gStK8_W6toWx8qkkMqJCd084rDduCsH4Yk/s1600/pilgrim+web+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceWer9Xu-Ah_l6JgO0YLMXFfhfWvxeQ0w4wbcJiw1DK9ww39m9WR453BfAJvHHAMx5kq0CWJ2yPIJ4F5f7UGgAmQWzBKKVje7h5nsRDqh5gStK8_W6toWx8qkkMqJCd084rDduCsH4Yk/s320/pilgrim+web+cover.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>After Maddie's fiancé, Alvin, disappeared, she tries to disentangle herself from Alvin's family and makes the heart-breaking decision to move away from his mother and his endearingly broken-minded brother. A box of books, a guilt trip, and an unwilling favor later, she's sharing bodies with Matilda in the Second world.<br />
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Huh?<br />
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<u>Pilgrims of the Sky</u> had many strengths. My favorite part of the book is the vivid way Barron paints the other worlds. I applaud Barron's vision, especially considering the fact that I have the artistic skills of a third grader and the descriptive vocabulary to match. She manages to make the setting interesting without spending too much time on description.<br />
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My favorite character was Randy, a special man that reminded me of several of my students in a very charming way. The cast of characters was quite large, and the difficulty of developing them was apparent. I saw why the cast had to be so large, but it did make keeping names straight rather difficult for me. I have a terrible memory for names, especially ones that are similar. It's so bad that my students that I've had for a long while feel obligated to warn new kids that it's not that I don't care, it's that my memory card is made of swiss cheese.<br />
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The stakes for the main characters were deep, and the motivations clear, so I really had only small complaints about the book. One: there were a few sex scenes that were a little more hinky than I usually like. That's a personal opinion, and obviously everyone has their own tastes and tolerances. Two: (SPOILER ALERT!) the climax of the conflict really boiled down to "love conquers all," which made it slightly anticlimactic. There were surprises, of course, but fiction that really floats my boat has some sort of deep, deep meaning, and the whole "love conquers all" thing has been done. A lot. In perspective, though, it's a pretty minor complaint. I loved the book, and hope you do, too.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-86499461335237532522012-01-05T15:10:00.000-08:002012-01-05T15:10:14.151-08:00I Didn't Forget About YouLadies and Gents,<br />
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I apologize for my lack of activity on my site. I've been working on two tricky posts, posts that I'm taking time to make sure I do right. <br />
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The first is an explanation of how to get agriculture right in fiction. When my friend Michael Spence mention he didn't realize that grazing wasn't referring to a near miss by a bullet, I realized I needed to include pictures. The article is ready to go, I'm just waiting for some pictures to be sent to me by a relative.<br />
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The second is a review of the book <u>Pilgrims of the Sky</u>. I allowed the holiday insanity derail my reviewing schedule, so the review will be posted as soon as possible.<br />
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Thanks for your patience, and happy reading!Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465921806650574383.post-59133295075043856772011-12-03T14:54:00.000-08:002011-12-03T14:55:18.926-08:00How to be a Real Native<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uwcJaUaVfR0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<i>Smoke Signals</i>, written by Sherman Alexie, brilliantly demonstrates a major challenge for modern Native youth. Who are they, as a people? Not even they know. Things are changing too quickly.<br />
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During the Christmas season, many of us remember to think of others. We often worry about the future of people thousands of miles away, but forget to reach out to our neighbors.<br />
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Please pray for the Apsaalooke (Crow.) This last year has brought them massive flooding and unconscionable acts of violence. I fervently pray that they, and all Native people, can reach stability and prosperity, and buck both positive and negative stereotypes. They are people, first and foremost, people that have always treated me generosity and warmth.Scooter Carlylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.com0