Lori Sizemore

And I’d like to say I’m back from my hiatus, but I can’t make any promises, all the way through the end of September.  See, in real life, besides being a writer, I’m also a social worker.  And through a very fortunate and special set of circumstances, my license was reinstated after ten years with the caveat that I complete 80 hours of CEU’s in about three months.  This has taken quite a toll on my free time, especially with a full time job as well.  So, I have a good reason, but I hate to see this blog lying dormant.  I’m going to try to check in weekly.  Maybe even make the occasional witty observation. No promises! ;-)

I apologize for this blog lying dormant for the last several weeks.  As usual, real life has demanded my attention.  I’ll be back soon with more of my nonessential but nonetheless amusing posts on writing and life.

I love looking at what search terms led people to my site–mostly because it’s so messed up. For your consideration, I offer the following:

“zombies will never happen,” “zombie love,” zombie love story,” and “scientific zombie study.”  I tell you, I have become the queen of zombies.  And I write contemporary romance–not paranormal.  There are no freaking zombies in my manuscripts (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I also got “people flirt.” Well, yeah.  They do.  But what’s this got to do with me?

Someone else searched “laurie sizemore aadom.”  Which is not me.  But, at first, I thought was cool, because I thought, “Double A Dom?” But no.  It’s American Association of Dental Office Managers. Boring.

Finally, and perhaps worst/best of all: “lori sizemore nude.”  That’s not ever gonna happen.  But you can see Lori, the zombie!

Photo from morguefiles.com

I’ve got this weird idea, maybe more of a subscribed belief: painted toenails equate to a flourishing, happy, carefree life.  I realize it’s not really rational.  How do you rationalize something so trivial as an indicator of something so crucial?

You could look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, perhaps, and assume that all those lower needs (like food, shelter, safety, etc.) had been met if you have the interest to pretty up your tootsies.  But, those things, those are basic needs–not exactly a carefree existence.  So where does this crazy belief come from?

This is where I would insert my awesome answer.  If I had one.  I don’t.

But wouldn’t it be easy to make myself happy by just giving myself a decent pedicure?  Well, no.  Painted toenails don’t give me that good life; they just signify it.  My toenails are a bright red as I write this–but I still have food to put on the table, a house payment to make, and a book that really needs publishing.

So, I guess, what it really means is that I can give myself a tiny bit of joy just by spending ten minutes with a bottle of polish (of which I have oodles).  And right now, that’s enough.  But it makes me curious… what small gifts do you give yourself?

I <3 twitter so hard.  I spend significant amounts of time, every day, checking in with my “tweeps.”  (Yes, I know how dorky that sounds.)

1. Sometimes it only takes 140 characters to recognize a person you share a passion with. All over the internet, I’ve looked for writing groups that didn’t end up taking up more of my time than actual writing.  Whatever you enjoy, find others with the same interest with a simple hash tag.
2. Support can come from the most surprising places. Connecting with other people and sharing your life, in little pieces, is a moving experience when they respond and care.
3. Twitter is the great equalizer. Lots of celebrities and famous authors and childhood stars and obscure B movie actors–they all tweet.  You can speak @AlyssaMilano or @WilWheaton (but not @MileyCyrus!).  Sometimes, they even @ you back.
4. No matter the time or day, someone out there is listening. I can tweet at 4 a.m. that I’m listening to Elvis for inspiration and someone else will chime in with what they’re listening to or wish me luck.
5. It’s provides a sense of community to read about other people’s lives. How is the weather in St. Louis? Are you writing this morning? Your son was a smash in his play?  Once you start seeing little bits of info from people, everyday, you begin to connect.  And maybe that sounds like boring tidbits, but when you connect, it matters.

So, I’m netflixing TV shows.  It’s research, honest.  I watch some good TV series, I get this mojo for good writing, it makes me want to write, etc.

Anyway, I just watched the first disc of True Blood which I knew very little about, except that most people raved about how awesome it is.  And, it occurs to me while I’m watching, wasn’t Sookie Stackhouse a character in some novels?  How could they just take that name–it’s pretty unique.  And then I realize, it’s a show based on the novels.  So, now I’m torn.  Great books, great TV, or both?  Will one ruin the other?  I’ve ordered the first book.  I’ll let you know.

Update 3/4/10: So the book is here and I’ve finished the first season.  And I’m kind of not looking forward to the book, because what if it’s just the same thing?  I kind of already know who the killer is.  I won’t spoil it, but… yeah.  But I’ll read it and let you know.

Also, the book may be better, but without the show, I’d never have “heard” Bill say Sookie in that old southern accent of his.  And it sort of defines the show for me.

Update again 3/8/10: I finished the second season.  Very, very good show.  Also: I have a serious crush on Vampire Eric. Serious.

Since these are the last episodes of the last season ever, and since I’ve been a loyal viewer for the last five years, enduring both dull flashbacks and funky flash forwards and everything in between, could you do me one small favor?  Could you try, in future episodes, to make the other 41 minutes less of a chore to watch and actually let things happen in the story as opposed to waiting until the last two minutes?  K, thanks.

L.

But online organization doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many tools for organizing all our stuff, of course, but one of the simplest is the wiki.

We’re all familiar with wikis, of course — Wikipedia being the most famous example, but many other useful wikis abound on the Internet. But one of the most productive forms of wikis is the personal wiki, which you can create at any number of sites.

via 15 Productive Uses for a Wiki – WebWorkerDaily.

I love this idea so much I wanted to share it.  I can see myself creating a Story “Bible”, a mom wiki for my family, a bill wiki.  I’m all over this.  I hope you find it useful, too.

But my daughter had surgery last week and my dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance last night.  I just need a little more time.  Thanks for your patience!

Update:  2/2/2010 Dad’s home from the hospital and my daughter is healing up.  Thanks for your patience.

A great snowstorm took out pretty much all venues of communication for me for the last week.  I’ll be back over the next few days with some posts (especially for the writers).

xoxo