Scary reflections of a grown up teenager.

I was reading again, specifically this post by Candy Lynn Fite, a fellow Campaigner, and I was immediately reminded of the very first Stephen King novel I read - "Salem's Lot". I was at college, my first year living in an apartment, not the dorm.  I couldn't put the book down. Naturally, it was evening when I started it, close to 0300 when I finished it.

One wall of the living room was glass with a sliding door and had a balcony feel to it.  I lived on the ground floor which only spurred my imagination more. I couldn't bring myself to open the drapes, though I had to check the locks. Residents were coming in off and on because it was after closing.  The bumps, thumps and loud giggles quickly shushed as they made their way to their apartments or up the stairs were not any easier to for me to push aside as just everyday normal sounds.

My roommates were sleeping, so I had to be quiet while searching for something silver, a cross or something I could use. The closest holy object I could find was a Bible. I sat with it on my lap for a few minutes, then read a couple passages. Even though I knew my roommate was in her bed, I surreptitiously checked to see if she was still herself. I accomplished this by standing as close to her bed as I dared,  reasoning that if she was "turned" she'd have to "turn" me also.  Nothing happened.

I went to my own bed, laid down and then remembered I hadn't checked the window.  I was still clinging to the Bible and dreading having to get out of bed once again.  Particularly as that meant I'd have to put my feet on the floor near the space under the bed.  I struggled with this notion for about ten minutes. Finally, the last roommate came in and I heard her going through her nightly routine.  I hadn't known she was still out. I was a little relieved as my imagination finally settled down enough for me to drift to sleep.  I groggily put the Bible on the nightstand, and turned off the light.  I closed my eyes. A thump had me reaching for the Bible which I then put under my pillow and fell asleep with my hand on the Bible.

Blogger Award

Ms. Saba, Of Thoughts and Words, has graciously awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you for this honor.



The Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers who other bloggers believe deserve more followers, which is then passed on to more awesome bloggers.

Here are the official rules:

1. Show your appreciation to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the camaraderie of the most supportive people on the internet-other writers.
5. And best of all, have fun and spread the love.

And here are my picks:

1. The Ageless Druid
2. Alana Saltz Memoir Writer
3. Mystic Treehouse
4. Paws, Fangs and Smiles
5. Tameri Etherton

{I think the g-----ns are back from their tournament. Formatting and linking didn't want to work.}

First Campaigner Challenge

On the Campaign Trail - Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count... an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut."...make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

The Open Door

The door swung open
There it was in front of me
I beheld the worn out step
Those who entered fearlessly
Won the passage through
I know this time it's only me

I stood before that open door
Thinking of those who've left
Thinking of those behind me
Reasoning out the steps
I took that ended there
The open door is all that's left

Standing, watching, waiting
The silence got louder, louder
The worn out step loomed large
My thoughts those of the doubter
I wrestled all thoughts within me
Cast them out, centered my power

The cool wind touched my hair
Swooped merrily around my body
Light bright, brighter, brighter still
I touched it, hands knotty,
Strained to contain the magic
Welling inside me, washing my body

The door is just beyond the worn step
I must cross while the magic is there
The step is past, the door is near
I walk toward the door as fast as I dare
The threshold under my feet as I step
No worries, no fears, just wonder so fair

The past was past, all ties were cut
I looked about, then heard the sound
Quiet click as the door swung shut

On the Campaign Trail (teehee)

Today has been interesting, very interesting. As is usual in my meanderings through the Great Library called the Internet, I've managed to find several interesting things. One of my recently found relatives posted a picture of two of our great, great grandparents. I finally downloaded a copy and had fun checking them against pictures of various family members. Possible, very possible.

Then in the course of looking for the spreadsheet that lists all the books, characters, etc., I came across some poems I had written a few years ago. Naturally, I wrote another one. Then decided I'd check for the poetry group I thought I saw on the Campaign. Lo and behold it is now 7 hours later. I still haven't entered the group and only have 10, now 9 hours to do so. Maybe not.

I've come across more interesting blogs in the last couple days, excuse me if I've already mentioned this. It is so exciting to find so many all in one place. Yeah I like NaNo, and will keep doing the novel writing. I like reading all the different blogs. I read the forums on NaNo and it's difficult to get a sense of the people around you there.

I've come across some books I've added to my wish list. I found some people I'd like to get to know better. They're positive, upbeat and my kind of people. Some have been posting questions and I think I will work on some to post myself.