Friday, May 31, 2013

IT IS HIGH SCHOOL ALL OVER!

I have been trying to figure out why it is that I am not fitting in at my place of employment, even though I have gone out of my way to be nice and try and fit in as best as I can and I now know why. It is because it is high school all over again. For those of  you who do not know this, I was never popular. I was always a loner and I was just never good at making friends. Apparently I thought outside of the box and that is frowned upon.

Now, once again, I am the much talked about weird kid who is gossiped about and picked on. Walking into a place where everyone hates you is kind of upsetting and it does hurt my feelings, but hey, my family tells me that is what people do in the real world. They suck it up. A few months ago it was just my one co-worker that hated me and now it seems everyone at work hates me too and has joined her to destroy me or something.

Is there not a point in your life where the whole high school mentality stops and everyone starts thinking for themselves? Are there actually people who still care about who is cool and who is not? Are there actually still people that only wants to be friends with the cool kids? If there are, I can't even begin to understand that kind of mentality. I have never been the kind of person to have other people think for me or force me into things. I never wanted to be one of the cool kids and for some reason, that just makes me even more hated at work, which is my high school experience all over again.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

FREE E-BOOK


Hey guys, Madeline Ann Stringer over at Reincarnated as a writer desperately needs your help with getting her e-book, Despite the Angels noticed. Her e-book is available for free download here or here and all you have to do is download it, read it and write a review on Amazon about what you thought about the book, please.

Or if you simply just want to read it, that is always good too. For those of you without a kindle, there is free software also available on Amazon that you can download here, so that you can read the kindle version. For those of you that prefer the paperback, you can purchase it here.

If you are interested, please check this out or if  you simply want to visit Madeline Ann over at her blog. that is cool too.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

THOUGHTS ON A RAINY DAY


It was a rainy day today and the whole time while I was at work, I was thinking about how great it would be to be at home, snuggling under the covers with a big mug of hot chocolate and a nice book. I am suddenly feeling all warm and fuzzy.

I have recently started reading the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. My sister has been trying to get me to read them for years and I finally tried them. I must admit that they are very good. I read book one in just a few hours. Now I am happily moving on to book two.

What are you reading?


Saturday, May 18, 2013

READING = FUN!



I just had to share with you a conversation that I recently had with my co-worker about books. Trust me, it is good.





Her: "You brought a book to work?"
Me: "Yes, because the past few days things have been slow and I really want to finish this book."
(There is a feeling of awkward silence and I put my book away)
Her: "You read...like...books?"
Me: Mouth just drops open in surprise.
Her: "I don't read books, magazines and newspapers only."
Me: Mouth still hanging open. I can feel my throat becoming dry.
Her: "I don't read books because then you actually have to concentrate and pay attention."
Me: Mouth still open in shock and maybe a bit or horror now.
Her: "I can't believe people read books."
Me: Mouth still open and feeling rather sad for her now. How depressing it must be not to know books can be fun.
Her: "I am much more of a singer myself. Why don't you sing? Why do you read books?"
Me: Knowing that there is just no use trying to share my thoughts with this person. She is so far gone, it is not even funny and there is just no saving her.
Her: "So that is what you do in your spare time, you read?"
(She sounds rather amused about that thought)
Me: "I write books as well."
Her: Her face is blank and devoid of any life at all.
(Even more awkward silence)
Her: "So what do you write?"
Me: "Paranormal Romance."
Her: Blank stare
Me: "Vampires, werewolves...things like that."
Her: "I don't like reading books. Anyway, why don't you sing? I sing. Singing is my life."
Me: "I write."
Her: Another blank stare
Me: Smiling in amusement, wondering what it must be like being so limited in one's thinking.

Friday, May 17, 2013

FREEDOM IS IMPORTANT


Today my blog is 3 years old and when I first started blogging, I didn't think anyone would ever read what I wrote and now I have 176 followers. How unreal is that?

Unlike so many other cool bloggers, I don't have any special ways to celebrate and I don't have a great give away, sorry. But I wanted to mention that freedom is important to me. The freedom to think, to live, to exist to create and to inspire. So, that is what I want to share with you.

It is okay to be different, to live life the way you want. To write the way you want, to wear whatever you want, to do the kind of job that you want, because it makes you truly happy. The freedom to make your own choices and to be proud of yourself for being true to yourself, that to me is priceless. So...go be free.

Monday, May 13, 2013

THE SUNSHINE AWARD


I was given another great award, the Sunshine Award, by the lovely a talented Sarah Chafin, over at Simply Sarah (http://simplysarahsblog.blogspot.com). She truly has a very interesting blog and she is really the true sunshine lady and she could really do with a few more followers, so please guys, stop by and visit Sarah.

Now, for the rules that this award comes with:

You have to feature a picture of this award in a post or on your blog.

You have to answer 10 random questions about yourself.

You have to nominate 10 other bloggers to receive this award and then you have to link to their blogs and let them know about receiving it.

And now for the 10 questions:

1. Favorite color
I like black and most other colours.

2. Favorite animal
All animals. I can’t really choose.

3. Favorite number
5

4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink
Coca Cola

5. Favorite alcoholic drink
Brandy (Neat)

6. Facebook or Twitter?
Neither. I just like blogging

7. Passions
Writing, reading and learning new things constantly

8. Prefer getting or giving presents?
I am better at giving, because I am very uncomfortable receiving presents

9. Favorite City
I am more of a small town personality, but I have to say that Cape Town is great. I always experience something new whenever I am there.

10. Favorite TV Shows
I love Castle, NCIS, Grimm and the new Sherlock Holmes Series.

Now for the 10 bloggers I nominate…











It was hard to make a decision and just because you do not see your name on this list, does not mean that I don’t like you or your blog. I really hate the pressure of picking people for awards. Congratulations to the individuals who are nominated. 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!


To all the mother's of the world, we love you and are thankful for you. Thank you for all that you do and for always being there to catch us when we fall and picking us up when we falter.

Friday, May 10, 2013

READ A BOOK, WRITE AND READ SOME MORE


I am feeling a little conflicted at the moment.  I don't know what type of story I want to write at the moment. I always leaned towards romance because I have never experienced it before. Yes, we all have crushes, but I have never been in love and I suppose that is why I have been writing about it the past 5 years. 

Having said that, I am leaning towards darker stories and themes these days. Don't ask me why, I guess I have been reading too many Stephen King and James Patterson novels. Though, I can't really see this type of story unfolding right before my eyes as I did with the romance novels. Writing something different is hard.

As I am yet unpublished, I suppose it is okay to switch genres, because lets be honest, I have one romance novel with an agent and even the publishers don't like it. Nobody wants to see more. So maybe I am just not a good romance writer. Maybe I am yet to find the genre that I should write in. 

This weekend I am going to do some reading, just to relax and recharge my batteries and then I am going to try and get some writing done. If the writing does not happen, then I can always read some more and I can call it research. 

Just a thought...What are you writing right now?

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

SOME PEOPLE SHOULD JUST SHUT UP

I am at a loss of what to do today. I have been at my new job for almost three months and my new co-worker is making no effort to accept me or treat me with respect. She has made it clear that she does not like fat people (I am fat by the way) and she has this way of using humour to insult me.

I have confronted her and once, after being completely overwhelmed by annoyance and anger, went ape shit on her and letting a really bad cuss word slip, which is completely not like me, but she still did not stop. She lightened up for a while, but then she just went back to her bitchy ways. I talked to my boss and all that he said was that I had to understand that not everyone was as professional as me. I am the kind of person that goes to work, to work. My job requires a lot of focus and concentration, as I process data that has a direct impact on other people’s money.

I have been called a cold person, but that is because I am very focused and determined and I take my job, whatever it might be, seriously. I guess I can be seen as too professional, but that is just who I am. Now I don’t know what I should do. I can’t quite, I have bills to pay. Other jobs are damn scarce and this chick (yes, she is a woman) thinks she is my boss when we are actually on an equal level, she just happens to have been in the same job and position for the past 10 years. She acts like she owns me or something.

Of course I bud heads with anyone who tries to force their opinion or ideas down my throat. I have mentioned to her that I want to do my job and then go home. I am not here for drama or to make friends. I get paid to be professional and do my job to the best of my ability. Even my boss said that that was why he hired me. Today I just kept speaking my mind which just made things worse.

I honestly feel tired emotionally because I don’t want to deal with other people’s crap. Why can’t they just do their job? I think I might have to go through the proper channels and make an official complaint or something. Oh, did I mention that I am only on a temporary contract and that she is permanent? Apparently all new data capturers are only given temporary contracts, which can be extended every few months. I honestly do not want to be at the company 
any more. I feel like I was lied to about many things in my interview as most people at the company do not know what the word professional means.  I was told to adhere to certain rules and procedures but most people in the company do not. It feels like I am on a different planet certain days.

I felt this way after the first month and kept it all in, till now, but I had to share. I am just not the suffering in silence type. I thought the problem was me at first and I tried to do things differently in every other way, but still, the same result. I have been having he worst luck with jobs the past few years that I just don't know what to do. 

Aside for blogging, things have not gone good on the writing front. Not to mention that I have not heard from my agent in a few months, so I guess it is just bad news for me all around lately. But A-Z was great. It kept my mind off most of the work drama. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

THE KEYBOARD DRAMA

My trusted computer keyboard has recently started to cause problems and it was reaching the point where the letters, on them, were no longer existent. So naturally I started to do some research about buying a new one. Man, was I in for a rude awakening. There were really affordable ones and there were also very expensive ones, which I am still confused about as I still do not know why they are so expensive.

So, I went to one of the local stores and first of all, finding someone that works in the computer products department was a task and then trying to get that person to explain to me what the differences were between the various keyboards, was even more taxing, as he did not know either.

So there I stand, having to make a choice between the various brands (which were few, thankfully) and the various price ranges (which varied drastically). In the end, I simply demanded that he open a box of each, as the store did not have any on display and I typed on it to feel the various keys. I finally made my choice, as the other options keys were too close together. I got home and started typing and all was fine, until I started working on a chapter and I noticed that the shift button was the same size as all the other buttons. On my old keyboard, it was twice the size. I am sure I will get used to the small shift button eventually. So much for trying to be smart about it.

How do you choose the right keyboard for you? Got any computer stories to share? 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

THOSE ARE THE BOOTS FOR ME


I have been on the particular mission to find the perfect pair of boots. Now I should mention that I have a very particular taste. I like the biker style boots with the studs and buckles which is not really the type of boots which are in fashion.

Now, because I favour that type of style, I tend to share that particular taste in footwear with many of my main female characters, mostly because it is unusual, in my opinion. I always find people who ask me why I don’t choose boots that are more feminine, when in my opinion I don’t see how buckles make an item more masculine. Why can’t women like buckles too?

After a year and several months of searching, I have found the perfect pair of boots. I love them and yes,  thankfully that is real leather. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

WE SURVIVED! (IWSG)

This month I am not feeling insecure about anything. I feel positive about my life and writing and why? Because A-Z has done wonders for me. I have met new friends, while also getting to know the ones I already have much better. I was also kept so busy with the challenge that I could forget about most of the personal crap that went on in my life.

Thank you to everyone who visited me during the month of April and who always had a few kind words to share. You guys give me inspiration and the kind of motivation that I sometimes require in the bucket loads. You guys are amazing.

We survived A-Z people and that is not an easy thing to do. But we did it, congratulations!

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the wonderful and talented author and blogger, Alex J. Cavanaugh. You guys can visit Alex over at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.

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