"It's not as bad as it looks!"

"It's not as bad as it looks," was one of the first lines in an email I got back from an amazing editor/friend and I have to admit that for a long hours it felt like it was as I sat there staring at the unopened email attachment. I had promised myself that I would not get upset or take anything personally if she hated it but who was I kidding? Of course I would!

For years I have been a part of an online community and had completely forgotten that we had an editor among us until one day I was offering to let a few people read what I had written to get a "feel" for their random thoughts. When she came back and offered to EDIT it for me I jumped, figuratively and literally at the opportunity!

So eventually I gathered up the courage to open the attachment after I had convinced myself that it was going to be horrific and was pleasantly amazed to find that it really wasn't as bad at it looked. kindly she had replaced the red with blue and although the first page was riddled with corrections i found there were some pages with only a comma misplacement here or there and even a few with no errors at all. I know all too well that I am the Queen of comma's so it was not at all surprising to see those errors but then the moment of chagrin hit! i had sent her an older version which was half third person and half first person!?!? How I managed that I will never know but it is now beautifully corrected by her wonderfully skilled hands.

how did i get so lucky?! Now the fun begins!

small excerpt from work in progress.

A small snippet from chapter 8 of 'The Stranger-Husband'

...

When Sophia was finally alone with her thoughts, she sat in her room, cross legged on the uncomfortable bed staring out the window. The glossy picture from her scan sat in her uneasy hands as she looked to the horizon for answers. She felt like a sailor without a compass staring in to the dark hoping the stars would guide her home, wherever that may be. She sighed and looked down at the picture and was saddened that her child’s father was not there to hold her hand and marvel and coo with her at the grainy image. Guilt was pulsing through her as a lump formed in her throat any time she thought of him. Wherever Gabriel was, she knew that he was alone with his demons.

She struggled to walk over to the couch where his abandoned jacket sat and she slowly slid it on over her pajamas. She didn’t know what he would have said to comfort her at a time like this but she wanted to feel a part of him close to her. Faint wafts of his gentle cologne swirled around her senses easing her into a false sense of security as she curled up in the lonely bed, hugging herself tightly wishing that the arms wrapped around her could magically be transformed into Gabriel’s.

...

It may seen odd to post a mid chapter peek but there was just something about this scene that I felt like sharing. I don't see myself as either character but I can feel what they feel and sometimes words need to be spoken or shared to have meaning.

fleeting thoughts...

Once upon a day so dreary, a girl sat alone and weary,
She was neither lone nor jaded; simply felt as though the time had faded.

What once was a splendid thing, now tarnished like a forgotten ring.
Unrequited affections scar, a passion taken much too far.

What once was whole, has paid your toll,

As new friendly loves, take wings on bated Doves.

How to fit 6'4" of Daddy around a tiny finger.

Friday night the husband and I, leading our all too exciting lives, took our 16 month old out with us to the grocery store. We hadn't planned on buying her any treats, the following day would be Valentines day so she had presents coming. We cruised the aisles and smiled at her as she points to everything and tries to learn new words. Just a typical quiet shopping trip. That was until we hit the clearance toy aisle and my husband lost his mind.

There was this mid sized white Teddy bear on sale for $6 that if you squeeze its hand it lights up, changing colours from reds to blue and plays twinkle twinkle little star. We let her look at it and hold it and when her Father tried to put i back on the shelf, this was what ensued...

A 16 month-old's master plan to get whatever she wants from Daddy...
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Step 1) Point to the fluffy teddy bear on the shelf and bat your eye lashes saying, "Dad dad Dad."

Step 2) Hug you new found treasure, knowing all too well that your master plan is unfolding.

Step 3) When Daddy takes the Teddy back and puts it on the shelf, look at him with BIG green eyes.

Step 4) If Teddy is not back in your arms, push out bottom lip into a pout.

Step 5) Arms still empty? quiver that lip and frown.

Step 6) If still unsuccessful, insert tears and flutter out through laboured gasps of breath, Da-Dad-dada .

Step 7) If still unsuccessful, insert full on tears and wailing.

Step 8) Smile and hug your new Teddy Bear.

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Yes she wa successful in getting what she wanted and no that is not how I intend to let her get things but in all fairness, my husband took it away from her twice more at the store simply because he thought her pouty face was cute. i couldn't be that mean.

I fear what will happen if we ever walk past a pet store..... her little pouty lip works all too well against her big tough 6'4" father.

Now, how can I use her strategy for our anniversary in 2 weeks?