Pets, food, and elevators

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

As I said yesterday, I'll be talking about the end of my 34th year and the start of my 35th year. However today, I'm going to finish off catching up on the blog prompts and add one more for the September 16 prompt. Then I'll have a post dedicated to non prompts (and me.)

• 14. Did you have a special pet when you were a child?

We got Coco from family friends around the time of one of my birthdays. (I have no idea which one). I considered her mine, even though I think she was meant for both my sister and I. I was trying to name her Calico after my grandmother's cat, but couldn't pronounce it. 

Coco and I became fast friends. She was my cat, and she was the best at snuggling. She was the perfect first pet, and the perfect best friend for a shy little girl.

She got cancer in her eye when I was in high school (I think I was in high school - but maybe grade 8 or 9). Coco was the first death I had to deal with other than a great uncle or distant relative/acquaintance.) I was heart broken, even if I knew it was coming. 

Either way, she brought me many years of happiness. All kids should have pets if they're able. 

• 15. How do you make the perfect cheeseburger?

Add bacon, mushrooms, and cheese. 

This is actually a chicken burger - but still. Delicious. 

• 16. If you were going to be stuck in an elevator for two hours, who would you want with you?

Most people who know me will guess what I'm about to say. I'd want my partner in crime - Clint - with me. He'd keep me calm, he'd make me laugh, and he'd distract me in fun ways. 

I wouldn't want Drogo though. He'd stress out, and I'd stress out because he wasn't safe. Maybe the other way around, I would stress out and that would cause him to stress out. He just happens to be in the picture. 

Tomorrow: BIRTHDAY FUN!

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

Major catch up

September 14th:

As my title says, this post is catch up from my birthday week. I didn't blog at all. Partially because my laptop is terribly frustrating with the broken keyboard, and partially because I was busy enjoying my week off.

I will be talking about my birthday on Wednesday. 

• September 7. Happy Labour Day! Tell us the most important thing you learned during your first job.

I kind of answered this in my first post of September (when I had the questions mixed up. My first job would have been building bins for my father. What I learned? Life isn't easy. Jobs aren't easy. You have to work to make money. Whether it's manual labour or not, you have to be willing to work.

• September 8. International Literacy Day – celebrate by sharing some of your favourite books, or letting us know what you plan to read this fall.

Right now, I am reading Still Alice for the second time. It is a great book, and after watching the movie, all I wanted to do was read the book again.  Once I'm done that, it's back to Game of Thrones, book three. I've taken about two years off.

As for my favourite books, here are two posts I've done in the past about what books I love: /favourite-books-judge-me-if-you-must.html and /favourite-book.html

I don't like picking favourites. This world has too many great books, and so many more I need to read.

• September 9. Tell us what family game night looks like in your world.

My family loves card games and board games. Anytime that we are all visiting my parents, we have game nights. Crib, Tile Rummy... or anything new. We are all slightly competitive, but also help one another with game play. (and my mom usually wins.) 

I love games with or without my family. I always want to play games when friends come over or just with Clint.

• September 10. At the end of a long day, what do you do to relax?

I hang out with Clint and Drogo. I soak in the tub. I watch Netflix.

• September 11. What is on your music playlist right now?

Mostly country music. I'm kind of restarting my collection though. The Ipod was mostly 90s music, and phone music is mostly country.

• September 12. Do you make your bed when you get up in the morning or leave it since you will just mess it up again that night?

If I make it, I don't do a stellar job.

• September 13. Have you ever had jury duty?

Nope.

That's it. I'll do one for today, tomorrow, and the next day in tomorrow's post. And then on to my 35th year post! :)

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

Happy Weekend!

September 5, 2015

How do you like your pizza (and do you call it a pizza pie)?

Umm. I like pizza. I'm not picky. This seems like a waste of a blog post actually. I'm not a fan of ham and pineapple.

But I like everything else. Ranch, tomato, bacon, cheese, bacon, mushrooms...

In other news, I have a week off starting now, so once I fix my laptop, I will be novel writing as well as blogging.

I got a new shirt for the occasion. Ignore the face...

Thanks for reading the most exciting post ever.

September 6, 2015

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter?

It was the day I moved into my new home. My friend sent a postcard with a letter for me to open on the day I moved in. It was a great surprise. Especially since the other mail in my name was a utility bill. 

I don't have a picture of the letter. This is us when we moved in though. The day I got the letter. April 15th.

My friend, Anastasia, and I have been friends since 1998 while I was in Katimavik. We write when we can. It slows down at times, and then we'll write again.

That reminds me. I have to send her a letter! 

It's nice getting letters. Not just because it's mail, but because it gives you a chance to read about somebody's life in a way that isn't Facebook. It's personal, and lovely.

There are a few people I still occasionally write to, and I also send Christmas letters once a year. It's my chance to let people know what's happening in a personal way that's not Facebook. It's also an excuse to write.

Happy Sunday!

I may not be posting for the next two days. We will be relaxing in a cabin, and my laptop is not invited.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

News Sources (and a rant)

September 4, 2015

What is your favorite source of news?

I'd love to say the newspaper. I'd love to, but it's not true.

I'm all about the online news. It's easiest and it's quickest. 

I can scroll down a website and pick and choose what I want to read. 

However, this seems like the perfect time for a rant.

While I do like reading news online, and I enjoy being kept up to date, I think there are times in life when the reporters are racing to get the news out, that they should slow down. They should wait and make sure what they are reporting is correct. 

It's so great having the whole world at your fingertips, but it's not fair that what you read might not be true because people are in such a hurry to beat everyone else, they don't check facts.

"Breaking news" as it's breaking really is just guesses for the most part. I guess I can just be happy it isn't my job. 

Rant over. It wasn't much of a rant. It will be the next time a big breaking news report happens.

Talk to you soon.


As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

Family Tree

September 3, 2015

Have you traced your family tree?

I personally have not traced my family tree. I've researched family, but I haven't done a tree. (Other than probably as a school project.)

However on my mom's side of the family, it has basically been done for me. We actually just had a reunion where they had most of it mapped out. It's not really far back, but it's something. 

This is my great great grandfather. It was his family at the reunion. (Or, his children's children.)

I've been lucky enough to have a family that takes great care in learning about where they came from. I think it could be researched a little more for the other sides of my family.

Maybe some day I'll look into it. It will probably be important for my children to know.

(My possible children.)

That's it for today.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

7 Minutes of Free Writing

September 2, 2015

Second Prompt is a bit more difficult. Not because I can't free write, but because I have to do it from work at lunch. If I free write with my laptop the way it is without editing, it WILL be unreadable and frustrating.

Also, this is really strange, but when I went to see what the prompt for today was, the prompt I did yesterday was different. Now it says this:

1. Share one goal you want to achieve this month.

2. Free write for 7 minutes – and publish without editing.

So here's my plan, I am going to free write for 7 minutes about what I want to achieve this month. Two in one. I have no idea why my first day was mixed up. 


Okay I'm about to set my timer, and then I'll write for 7 minutes about my month's goal.

As I was about to start writing, I remembered a Groupon I purchased at the beginning of August. I saw a discounted writing course, and I decided to go for it. Other than university, I actually haven't taken many writing courses. Some workshops, but not anything online. I thought the price was too good to pass up, so I bought it.

I, obviously, forgot about it, but I think that will be my goal, once I get my laptop fixed. Before I remembered that I bought it my most important goal (other than to turn 35 with awesomeness) was to work and finish my next edit of my novel. Hopefully, I can do both of these things at once. I'm sure I can. So this month will be about fine tuning my novel, and NEXT month can be about sending it to new publishers. And finding which publishers I want to send it to. One thing at a time though. I have to get back to writing, and I have to get back to reaching my writing goals. I will be blogging, that's a promise I don't plan to break, but getting back to my novel is so important. If I get edits done this month, pick a publisher and send next month, than the month after will be NaNoWriMo, and I can strictly focus on working on something new. Something for myself that I know I can do. I really enjoyed it for the first time last November, and now I know nothing has to stop me. However, although I got 50,000 words, I still need to finish all my novels. Having half started novels really won't help me get anywhere.

So this month, I will check out my new writing course, and use everything I learn to perfect my book. I will do my best to edit and finish my very first novel (again again again.) I also have a couple more people to send it to once it's changed for the last time. 

That's my goal. Write. Like every month... but for serious.


Okay - I'm  not going to read what I wrote because I won't be able to not alter if I do that. As per the instructions, I will press publish. By the way, I know with Free Writing it's frowned upon to fix things while typing, but that's always how I do it, and I'm not sure if I can just let it slide if I KNOW I've made a mistake.

Until tomorrow. Day TWO DONE!

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts

First Jobs

September 1, 2015

Apparently, I needed a summer long break from blogging. I did not dedicate a lot of time to anything writing related. Should I have? Probably, but it's over now, and I need to focus on writing in this new month (and months to come).

It's also my birthday month, so of course, it's a good month to make changes for the better. Although, I've decided to only take a week for myself, instead of my usual month. I've booked off next week from work, and having a great birthday week for my 35th birthday. I'll still post though. 

I found a website with monthly prompts for the entire year. This is my goal for September. A month of prompts to get me back on track. The link that I'll be using is below. (September Prompts.)

Today's prompt is Labour Day (officially on September 7th). Tell us about your first job:

I'm trying to remember what my first job was. It depends what you consider a first job.

To be honest, this was my most important first job:

Graduating university.

Here are a few other first jobs.

• I helped my dad build bins when I was a kid. I believe he paid us for our work. It was actually pretty hard work, and I'd be impressed if I could still do it today. By bins - I mean grain bins. We put them together over the summer on farms.
• I did work experience as a teenager, but didn't actually get paid because it was through school. I worked at a senior's home following the Activity Director for a semester, and I also worked a semester at a local newspaper in a neighbouring town. It was a fun job, but I don't think they actually edited anything I wrote, so it was full of grammatical mistakes. (Much like my blog.)
• While in Katimavik, I also had jobs that weren't paying, but were experience. In Newfoundland, I worked at a Marine Centre, and helped build a boardwalk, In Ontario I worked at a daycare (learning I didn't want a career in childcare), and in Quebec I worked at a Women's Centre. Which wasn't really a big job. In fact, I can't remember doing a lot of work there.

Newfoundland Work

• After Katimavik, when I joined real life, I worked in Moose Jaw for a year before I went to university. I worked at a place called Community Connections. To be honest, I have no idea what the job was about. She hired youth, and I think the plan was for us to change the community for the better. I don't think we did, but I met my good friend, Nehal, while I 'worked' there. So it was worth it. I also met my first serious boyfriend. We dated for five years, so while the job didn't mean anything, the people I met while working there were pretty great. After the company kind of went out of business I worked at a restaurant. I did not love being a waitress.
• Lastly, the job I actually consider my first job ever was at a grocery store in university. I worked in the deli department for three years while going to school. Most of the people I worked with were university students. I stayed there for a long time. That might be why I consider it my first job. It was the one I stuck to the longest while getting my degree. Most of the time, it was a terrible place to work, but the people were fun.

Those were my first few jobs. I learned a lot about life from them - but probably not as much as I should have. These were all basically jobs before I became an 'adult'. I learned a lot about dealing with customers. And I didn't always love dealing with them.

That's it. Day one: Done!

I'm so glad I didn't flake on my first 'blog all month' day.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Letter Ideas: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/03/challenge-completed.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

September Prompts: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/writing-tips/writing-prompts-september/

Year long Prompts