Weekly Prompt – Childhood Memories

Hmmm…I think I’ll work on this one.

Mindless Behind the Wheel

MINDLESS BEHIND THE WHEEL

Why is it that every time we get behind the steering wheel of our vehicle, we lose our minds? Oh yes, you see it all the time. You see it… Yes, you. You see other drivers doing the most oddball things, or mindless things, even things that piss you off. But do they ever catch you doing dumb crap? Why, yes, yes they do. No, don’t deny it. You can’t. Do you know why? Well, I’ll tell you. Most of the time, you don’t know that you’re even doing anything stupid, or wrong. And if you do know you’re being an idiot, it does not register that other drivers can see you.

It is all psychological. When we get into our cars, we forget that our window glass is all two-way. Everyone can see us, yet we forget that. So we do dumb things. Some things cannot be helped, maybe. But others are just passing thoughts that our bodies respond to.

I recently started a new job. I drive usually 45 minutes to get to work and sometimes longer to get home. I’ve never had to drive that long to get to any job before in my life. My longest drive was 25 minutes one way. And oh boy!…Do I see some funny stuff. And sometimes some dangerous stuff.

You see it all: nose picking, nose blowing, eating, drinking, smoking, texting, ear digging, ass picking, even other things you wish you’d never seen…such as people having a little “fun” with themselves, if you get my drift. Or maybe having “fun” with someone else.

My funniest story is I was driving for about 2 miles behind this guy. I thought he was talking on his cell phone because he had his right hand and arm in such a position. But then, I noticed the shape near his head. I worried that it was a pistol he had held to his head. Should I call 911? What do I say? Do I follow him? Oh God!…After about 2 miles, he finally pulled his finger out of his ear.

Now, the next thing that shocked me was how the woman next to me decided to take off her bra while she was driving. I mean, okay. No, she wasn’t even discreet about it.

How many times do I see people driving and smoking marijuana. Really? I don’t care what marijuana advocates say, it still impairs judgment and one should not be doing that while they’re driving just like one should not be drinking and driving.

Another thing I encountered, in fact it was just Friday on the way home, a dude driving alone, in traffic. I’m behind him for 5 minutes. The woman driving to the left of him kept watching him and swerving. Then I realized what she was looking at when the head of this girl popped up in the passenger seat next to that guy. Being behind him, I had no idea he had company in the car with him. Okay?…Another thing you should do at home.

And to that person I’ve run into a couple of times in the Trans Am. Yes, you, with that license plate that reads “Rdy Aym.” What are you aiming at?…Well if you don’t drive faster you’ll never reach your target. At least we can do the speed limit. Oh, & about that plate #. If you don’t want anyone to comment on it on the internet, then don’t get rid of that number. (Here’s me praying the car doesn’t belong to a cop and now he’s going to hunt me down like a fugitive.)

Also, to that blondie that kept blowing that horn this past Friday on 55th St…No one’s going anywhere! Stop blowing the horn. Traffic is bumper to bumper you dimwitted asshat. If you don’t like other cars, move to the country and leave the rest of us the hell alone.

To that old lady with the 5 Dobermans in your Lexus. Can you please let one of them drive next time? I think they’d be better at it.

I roll up next to this guy eating McDonald’s. He’s shoveling that shit in like there was no tomorrow. Dude. It’s called lunch. If you’d eat lunch at work, you wouldn’t have a headache by the end of the day and turn into a pig.

And to that dark-haired woman who…yes, in the Ford Focus…who was talking on her cell, smoking a cigarette and trying to pop the top on a Pepsi can… Try putting the call phone down dumbass, before you attempt to open the can. Here’s what happened from my POV. Woman’s driving 35 mph, cigarette in one hand…same hand on the wheel, cell in the other hand. Next thing I know both hands are off the wheel while driving to open Pepsi can, cell phone now shouldered to her ear, Pepsi in one hand, cigarette in the hand trying to pop the tab while the car drives itself up onto the curb. Pepsi explodes, spewing all over the windshield and the driver. She slams on her breaks and hits a sign post. Me, I’m really, really pissed off as I’m behind her. However, I stayed my distance as I had a first-hand look as the story unfolded. I never saw a stupider person yet, but I’m sure I will soon enough.

Oh the things I have to endure on the road!

Despair – Writer’s Humor (reposted from d.g. kaye)

Despair – Writer’s Humor (via http://dgkayewriter.com)

While I was surfing around facebook, I came across this photo and burst out laughing.  I just thought I’d share. I am wondering how many of you, working hard on a book, keeping up with deadlines can relate to it?  I, for one, can certainly relate…

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Someday Always Comes by Wanda S. Paryla Review

Check out RapidReviewer’s review of Someday Always Comes! Thank you, Becky.

RapidReviewer1990's avatarRapidReviewer

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I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion:

I really liked Someday always comes it took a while for me to get into it because it’s quite a bit longer than most books but when I did sink my teeth into it, It was stuck in my head until I finished.

It follows the lives of 5 teenagers who’ve all had a bad start but heavily rely on each other and on music to make it through! Wanda isn’t shy when it comes to her descriptive nature and you really feel the gritty and violent nature of some of the characters.

This isn’t just a drama this is also a love story, one that develops from childhood and matures as the characters do, you really feel it from the start.

Speaking of the characters although sometimes they’re hard faced and full of childhood…

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Writing a Short Story by Rachelle M.N. Shaw

amberskyef's avatar

In many ways, short stories are just like longer pieces of fiction. Both follow a general plot structure, establishing a clear setting and characters within. They then build tension and conflict before resolving it. However, with short stories, the length is limited—usually to 5,000 words or fewer. Not only that, but they capture one snapshot in time and portray a message through that event. Needless to say, it’s important that every piece of a short story propels the plot.

The biggest question you’ll have to tackle when writing your short story is why you’re telling it. What does your protagonist want? What stands in his/her way? Similar to long prose, you’ll need to make the first few paragraphs engaging and captivating. You can do so by establishing a distinct and detailed environment, strong characters, and a clear initial conflict. Just remember to build up to an even bigger encounter at…

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My Reaction to Constructive Criticism from Reviews

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When Stars Die has had mostly favorable reviews, but it has also had some not-so-favorable reviews, but they were written in a way that was very considerate of my feelings and had some valuable criticism. While I may not agree with it currently for When Stars Die, I think the advice is very valuable for the sequel, Stars Will Rise.

Let us begin.

1. If you are not a published author, I advise you that once you are published to take into account every bit of criticism you receive through your reviews. I told myself I was never going to read my reviews, but, well, Goodreads changed that, and it’s like it’s impossible to not see your reviews on Goodreads, especially when you’re curious about how many people have added your book. But I have read the reviews, and while some of them stung slightly, they were also…

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