Category: Blog

The Holidays are Here!

On By HeidiIn Blog4 Comments

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Okay. Who’s ready for Christmas? *raises hand* Not me! LOL The tree is up, thanks to my wonderful sons, and decorated. Most of the presents are wrapped. Still have a couple to get, but those are money. I really don’t have a problem with giving people money for Christmas. Sometimes the things they want cost more than one person can afford. So why not help them with reaching their goal?

What else needs to be done. Let’s see…. I finally was able to get out into the yard Saturday to clean up the mess from the last two storms and do all the fall things that I couldn’t get to. Between the rain and working on the house I’ve had no time. Saturday was actually sunny (which in the last few months is a miracle. I can honestly say the drought is over in Western Washington!) It never fails that when I clean up debris from wind storms, not long after another one hits and it’s a mess again. So now that it’s clean (I’m so going to regret this) Bring it on Mother Nature! (Yep. Going to regret that big time. 😛 )

Need to buy food and clean house. We are hosting Christmas this year so need to make it presentable. Since we are in the middle of updating the floors and molding ourselves, the downstairs isn’t quite finished. It’s getting there and looks a lot better, though. The carpeting upstairs I think is original for the house, which was build in 1984. So yeah….gross. As soon as the downstairs is done, that is the next project.

I know there are many different celebrations going on this time of year. I don’t know the names of all of them, and I’m not about to try and name them all here because I don’t want to forget any. It seems so easy to offend people these days. I say Merry Christmas and someone gets made because they don’t celebrate Christmas so somehow I offended them. If they tell me happy-whatever-your-religious-holiday-is and I’m not offended. Really, it’s okay. Everyone has their religion, and as long as they don’t try to ram it down my throat and respect that I have my own religion I’m okay with it. (Oh, and before someone says something, I don’t think telling me happy-whatever-your-religious-holiday-is is not ramming it down my throat.) Honestly, why can’t people just get along and be happy with the differences. It would be rather boring without them.

Okay, enough from me. Enjoy your holidays whenever they may fall and whatever they may be. 🙂

Copywrite 2015 Heidi Barnes

Star Wars

On By HeidiIn Blog2 Comments

When I was 11, there was this new movie coming out that everyone was talking about called Star Wars. Since it was a long time ago I only remember bits and pieces of that day we went into the big city of Seattle, waited in line to go into the biggest theater I’ve ever been in, (it even had a balcony!) and watched this new Sci-Fi movie. Everyone was glued to the huge screen, and when Luke lit his Father’s lightsaber the entire theater gasped and jumped.

Since then I have probably watched Star Wars: A New Hope a hundred times. It was the one movie my best friend and I would rent when there was nothing else we wanted to see. We probably wore the video store’s copy out. (For you young’ns. A video store is a place we used to rent these things called VHS tapes.) Then Empire Strikes Back came out and we all received the shock of our lives. Darth Vader was Luke’s father! When I watched Return of the Jedi, I had just finished the book not two hours before we went to see the movie. So I had all the inner monologue in the book that you don’t hear on the big screen fresh in my head. There was a time period from when Vader too Luke to the Emperor until almost the end I had completely forgotten I was in the movie theater. I was that engrossed in the movie.

As we all know, quite a few years later Lucas decided to tell us the story of Darth Vader before A New Hope. Many criticized these movies, saying they weren’t as good and some of the actors were bad choices. Personally I liked them. In Phantom Menace, the fight between Qui-Gone Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul is magic to watch. Yes, Jar-Jar Binks is annoying, but then that is what he’s suppose to be. And the rumor of how Anakin became Darth Vader, that last fight, was finally revealed and, from what I had heard and then seen, it was true! The only trouble I have is determining which three I call 1,2,3. I mean, do I go in order by chapters or by release date?

Now they are going to show us the next generation and their fight against a new Sith Lord that seems to worship Darth Vader in The Force Awakens. I’ve watched the trailers and speculated on some of the things I’ve seen and asked many questions of “why is this person doing this?” I will keep those speculations of myself, though, since I know some don’t want any spoilers. (I’m not sure how I would spoil anything since I haven’t even seen the movie yet, but my son insists I keep quiet so I suppose I will do this here too.)

December 18th is next Friday and I can’t wait!! 3D Imax here we come! We probably will go on the 19th in the morning. I had found that when a big movie comes out, those morning shows tend to be almost empty so no waiting in line for 3 hours before the movie. Always a bonus.

Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂

 

Copyright 2015 Heidi Barnes

When the idea hits…WRITE IT DOWN!

On By HeidiIn Blog2 Comments

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I’ve been told and have told others that when you think of something to write, write it down right away. Do I listen? Not all the time, I’m afraid. Today was one of those days that I did not listen. In my defense I was not really in a place or time where I could write something down. But I should have at least jot a few notes in my phone that would remind me. I have this free app called Notes. I keep my shopping lists, which movies I have and want to buy, poems, even book edits. I also have a list of food that I have to get when I go up to Anacortes from this wonderful deli called Gere-a-Deli that if I don’t bring home I get the evil eye from my family. I’ll tell you about that little gem in another blog.

I carry a small journal in my purse, I have one in my backpack that I carry around work, I have a pad of paper in the nightstand next to my bed. I even have a small pad in my car. I’ve used them all numerous times. But almost just as many times I haven’t. Like I said before, there are times where I just can’t jot those ideas down because of where I am at and what I am doing. The police do frown upon writing while driving just as much as texting while driving. Still… if you are an aspiring writer please, please, please, even if it’s only a few words to jog your memory, WRITE SOMETHING DOWN!

On that note, while writing this I remembered what it was I was wanting to say earlier. I’ll use it for my blog for tomorrow, which I will jot down a few notes down now so I won’t forget.

Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂

Copyright 2015 Heidi Barnes

 

A Christmas Surprise

On By HeidiIn Blog2 Comments

Because of allergy issues we are unable to have a real tree. It’s really comes down to two choices. Enjoy Christmas with everyone or be up  in my room sick and unable to breath. Soooo fake tree it is!

Usually I manage to put the Christmas tree and decorations up right after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, this year I haven’t been able to. One of the reasons is where we store the tree. It’s a 9 foot pre-lite tree that we put on the top shelf in the garage. In order to get it down, we have to pry it off the shelf, slide it over the rails for the garage door opener then lower it down without dropping it. It takes three people, one ladder and two folding chairs to achieve this feat. Oh! And one person standing on the side directing or taking video. Whichever seems more appropriate at the time. lol

This has become a yearly tradition where my youngest son’s friends come over and wrestle it down. However,  they have now gone off to college, so the tree sat on the top shelf, waiting to be brought down, put together, fluffed and plugged in. I even have the Christmas presents wrapped and ready to go.

This week has been very busy. Between work, late meetings and dinners, I really haven’t been home with my enough people to bring the tree down. Until today. 🙂 My hubby and I came home from having a great time with some new friends in Bellevue to find the boys brought down the tree, rearranged the furniture and put the tree up!! They even put the presents under the tree. Best Christmas surprise ever!

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Now for the decorations. Have a wonderful day!

Copyright 2015 Heidi Barnes

To Blog or Not to Blog

On By HeidiIn Blog2 Comments

For a while now, I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not to do a Blog. To be honest, I don’t think my life is that eventful. I wake up, I work, I eat and I sleep. Pretty much the life of most people I would say. So what is so special about my life that I need to shout it out to everyone? I don’t even have strong political views, and to be honest I make it a rule not to get involved in those conversations because it usually ends up in an argument that has no end and no real solution. Same with religion. You have your views, I have mine. They may coincide with each other, they may not, but why take the risk of that argument when someone may decide they don’t want to have anything to do with me. I mean, aren’t we made up of more than our political and religious feelings? I would hope so.

So back and forth I go. Blog. Don’t Blog.

I decided that I would start with my gardening. Talk about some of the projects I’m doing. Show how they are progressing. It worked pretty well, as long as I was gardening. Then spring is over and all that is really left is the maintenance and cave troll expeditions. (Which reminds me. I have a couple I need to route out still. Nasty little beasties!) We have done some other things around the house, but then again do you really want to know about them? I haven’t even Facebooked them to my family and friends because, why?

After reading one of my favorite author’s Blog posts today and how she started out with her Blog, I decided I would try this Blog thing out. Take it for a ride outside of spring time and see how it goes. What will I Blog about? I’m not sure yet. Definitely I will talk about my books and how the next one (Fated to Be) is going. I also am going to try to write once a day. (We’ll see how that goes.) It may be be a Blog or some flash fiction or poem. Just some sort of writing each day. Please bear with me. Where I do like to talk when I become comfortable around others, at first I am a very shy person as I test the waters to see what works and what does not. Then again I tend to stick my foot in my mouth. It really can be a no win situation. LOL

Well, that’s it for now. Because of power outages, our schools are out for the day so I now have time to edit and do a few things around the house. Mostly edit because I am so behind in that department.

Have a wonderful day, and hopefully I will see you all tomorrow. 🙂

Cave Trolls – Gardening

On By HeidiIn Blog, Gardening2 Comments

I have recently discovered I have a cave troll. What is a cave troll you ask? And why is it here and not in Middle Earth where it belongs and there are elves with longbow and dwarves with axes to dispatch them? A cave troll is what I lovingly refer to  moles. Those black little blind rats that dig through your gardens and lawn wreaking havoc.

Over the summer we had… well, no rain. So the trolls  were either digging deep or decided there were not enough grubs in my yard to waste their time. Now that the rain has returned in buckets, so have the cave trolls. Nasty little buggers that evade my well place traps with the ease of a nimble mosquito evading a fly swatter.

What I need to do is go out and tramp down the hills and valleys so I can see where the little buggers are burrowing now. It seems they have been working hard for some time. That is what I get for paying more attention to the inside than the outside. (We are doing a little remodeling, which a whole different story.)

So the war on the slugs has ended and the war on cave trolls has begun. I thought winter meant time off from playing in the dirt so I would be ready for next year. Apparently not.

2015 Heidi Barnes

A Poem Riddle

On By HeidiIn Blog, Poetry3 Comments

This came to me a couple of nights ago. A lot of times I don’t know where my poems come from, but I usually have an idea what they might mean. This one I am at a loss. What I do know is this poem appeared in my head with a force that said it needed to be written. I have tried to see if there is maybe more, but nothing comes to mind. Maybe it will make sense somewhere later in my life, or maybe it will resonate with you. If it does I would like to hear why. 🙂

I walk under the ocean
where the green grass grows.
Thunder wakes me
and I wonder where I come from
is where I need to go.

© 2015 Heidi Barnes

Let me know, because I would really like an answer to this riddle. 🙂

 

Focus – A Freewrite

On By HeidiIn Blog6 Comments

Focus. Something we all strive for. Whether it be focus in our work or focus in our life, at times it seems just out of reach. Just at the edge of our fingertips. If only we reached a little further, tried a little harder, we just might see that fuzzy distorted goal snap into crystal clear focus and we would finally see that ever elusive end. However, before that can happen, we must first put all the puzzle pieces in their place. We must line all our ducks in a row. There are many metaphors that I could use, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

We are in the middle of a renovation. As I look around me at all the boxes, dusty shelves that no matter how many times I dust them it does not seem to help, and I cannot find anything. Even if I had just sat it down I lose it. I don’t mind a messy house, but this…. This is starting to get on my nerves. I need to work on my book. I am late with two birthday cards. I have them already to go except for the stamps that I can never seem to remember to buy. My yard is a mess. I just can’t seem to keep focused. There are too many things I need to do and half of them I can’t do until something else out of my control is done.

Normally these free writes come out as poems or a short story. Not today. Today my mind is too scattered. This week will be the finish of a major piece of the puzzle. Then, hopefully, I can start getting back on track, and the pieces will start to fall into place.

Enough of my ramblings. I wish you all a wonderful week and whatever in your life is out of focus will one day soon become crisp and clear, if only for a little while.

2015 Heidi Barnes

If you want to join in this free write exercise go to Sharyl Fuller’s site Writing Outside the Lines and check it out.

 

Mundane Acts of Day to Day Living

On By HeidiIn Blog2 Comments

Everyday there are things we do that we don’t consciously think about. Putting the brush on the counter after we brush our hair. Placing the silverware in the sink after we use it. Putting our keys on the counter or table when we arrive home. Small little mundane things that are just habit or ritual.

This past week had been a study in how much I actually think about those mundane things before I do them without realizing it. At the present, we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel/wet bar/1/2 bathroom remodel. My kitchen is a empty cavernous room with electrical wires and the metal tube for the fan in the middle of the sub floor. The wet bar, which the previous owners put in a closet and we put our keys, mail and whatever other crap onto is gone. The bathroom is only a toilet. The only sink downstairs is the one in the garage. So needless to say, counter space is left to a white fold up table I bought at Costco that now holds a small microwave and toaster. (Pray for my sanity as I still have 2 weeks to go before we are put back to together. And that is only if everything goes according to schedule.)

My usual routine when I walk in the front door is to put my keys and purse on the wet bar. Yet there is no wet bar. So I have to rethink and set it in the office. I want to make some coffee. I realize then that as I get up my mind goes through the motions of each step of what I have to do to get that cup of coffee because it is no longer in the kitchen. It is in the office. (Let me tell you. My little cubicle of an office is very full right now! :P) So I have to rethink what I need to do. I want to make some toast for breakfast. Instantly my mind sees the kitchen (which is no longer there) and where the muffins and toaster are in the kitchen, (which again are no longer there. They are in the living and dining room among the boxes holding my kitchen). Then last but not least the knife I need to spread the peanut butter and honey on said muffin. (No silverware. We have plastic in baggies and now I’m hungry.)

Do you see where I’m going with this. Even while our mind is on something that may have happened at work or what we are doing this weekend, it is also working on opening the front door, putting the keys on the counter where they belong, taking off our shoes. We just don’t realize it until our world is disrupted and we have to change those routines. In a small way it’s kind of neat to realize how complex our minds are and what we can do with them if only given half a chance.

Have a great week. 🙂