Captain's Log, Stardate 09.30.2009 I couldn't resist posting these cute dog pictures that my Mom emailed to me! "Pardon me, I just farted." "You have a huge chunk of spinach in your teeth. Let me get it out for you..." Canine of the Corn A true photo hog This amazes me. My dog would not have this kind of self control. Nor this kind of self control, either! Naturally, I couldn't resist posting some recent photos of our dog, Snickers! Know why she's so focused? I am holding a piece of chicken and she is staring intently. We have a kotatsu coffee table , and for some reason (even in the heat of summer) she likes to lie under the cover. She will poke her head out and pant every so often, but she still won't come out. Dumb dog!

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.24.2009 Got this from Ronie Kendig ! You can ONLY answer Yes or No. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. -- and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems. Now, here's what you're supposed to do. . . Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag as many of your friends as you'd like to. ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? YES Been arrested? NO Kissed someone you didn't like? NO Slept in until 5 PM? YES Fallen asleep at work/school? YES Held a snake? YES Ran a red light? YES Been suspended from school? NO Experienced love at first sight? NO Totaled your car in an accident? YES Been in a vehicle at more than 100 mph? NO Driven a vehicle at more than 100 mph? NO Been fired from a job? NO Fired somebody? NO Sang karaoke? YES Pointed a gun at...

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.18.2009 Four, Four, Four, Four... A) Four places that I go to over and over: post office, grocery store, organic co-op pick up place, church B) Four people who e-mail me regularly: Danica, Cheryl, Robin, my pastor (for youth group and worship team) C) Four favorite smells: gardenias, baking bread, roses, eucalyptus D) Four places I would rather be right now: Paris, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan E) Four people I think will respond: ???? F) Four TV shows that I watch: Leverage, 24, Royal Pains, Eureka Your turn! Post your meme in the comments or a link to your blog!

Captain's Log, Stardate 05.27.2009 I had so much fun with this before that I decided to do it again! You guys are just too good! RULES: 1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies. Or movies that you have seen 2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie. 3. Post them here for everyone to GUESS (please don't Google it or do a search on IMDB--what's the fun in that?). 4. When someone guesses correctly, put who guessed it and the movie. 1. I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash. Will that be all? Ironman kalea_kane 2. Cassie, his heart will stop at the sight of you, or he doesn't deserve to live. And, yes, I am aware of the contradiction embodied in that sentence. 3. The code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Ruth 4. I don't LIKE food. I LOVE it. If I don't love it, I don't SWALLOW. Ratatouille Danica/Dream and Charity Lane...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.30.2009 I got this from Pam Hillman . She is Sleezy Farkletush. My NEW NAME IS IN THE SUBJECT LINE. DON'T LAUGH UNTIL YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOUR NEW NAME IS The following is excerpted from a children's book, Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants by Dave Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names... So:- 1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name: a = snickle b = doombah c = goober d = cheesey e = crusty f = greasy g = dumbo h = farcus i = dorky j = doofus k = funky l = boobie m = sleezy n = sloopy o = fluffy p = stinky q = slimy r = d orfus s = snooty t = tootsie u = dipsy v = sneezy w = liver x = skippy y = dinky z = zippy 2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name: a = dippin b = feather c = batty d = burger e = chicken f = barffy g = lizard h = waffle i = farkle j = monkey k = flippin l = fricken m = bubble n =...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.25.2009 I stole this from Danica , who did this for her Thursday Thirteen. I don’t participate, but I thought it was a fun meme. 1. Dog, currently ( Snickers ) 2. ACL (knee) surgeries I’ve had ... on the same knee . Yeah. Lex’s trials in Sushi for One —that was all me, baby. 3. Fingerless gloves I’ve knitted for myself. My hands get cold while I’m typing at the computer. 4. Contracted books: Sushi for One, Only Uni, Single Sashimi, and Deadly Intent 5. Manuscripts I’d completed before I got a publishing contract 6. Unfinished knitting projects lying around my room. And before you say anything, I know knitters who have even more. 7. Boxes of yarn that I have. Yes, I need therapy. 8. Days since I had French fries, and I’m dying! 9. Months until Christmas, which means I need to start knitting my relatives’ presents NOW if I want to finish in time. 10. About the number of Steeple Hill Love Inspired books that I buy each month from Fictionwise.com. They’re ch...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.19.2009 I got this from my good friend and author Ronie Kendig on Facebook but thought I’d post it here instead of there. RULES: 1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies. Or movies that you have seen 2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie. 3. Post them here for everyone to guess. 4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie. 1. I swallowed a bug. Serenity Lita 2. Knowing my brother-in-law, he probably deserves whatever you're about to do to him. But this is my house. I have certain rules about snakes and dismemberment. The Mummy Returns Sierra 3. ...Ah, alas, earwax. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Emily 4. I have got to get me one of these! Independence Day LynnRush 5. Wait, why do I get the girl gun? Mr. and Mrs. Smith Sherrinda 6. Then it is a good dream. The Two Towers Hannah 7. Anne? You want to marry Anne? Whatever for? Persuasion Rachel 8. You of all people should know Terry, in your ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.16.2009 I got tagged by inspirational romance author Debby Mayne ! Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR DID YOU... 1. Did you date someone from your school? no 2. Did you marry someone from your high school? no 3. Did you car pool to school? I walked to school because both my parents had to go to work early. 4. What kind of car did you drive? My mom’s Buick Skylark As Mom commented below, it was an Audi Fox. They got the Skylark when I killed the car the Audi died. Now she drives a BMW and I'm asking myself, "Where was your BMW love when I was in high school????" 5. What kind of car do you have now? 1997 Toyota Camry 6. It's Friday night...where are you now? Home, relaxing with Captain Caffeine 7. It is Friday night...where were you then? Calculus study group. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. 8. What kind of job did you have in high school? A page ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.10.2009 I got this from Ladette Kerr (thanks, Ladette!) Instructions: 1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read. 2) Add a '+' to the ones you LOVE. 3) Star (*) those you plan on reading. 4) Tally your total at the bottom. 5) Another one: put a # by those you've started but not finished. 1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen x+ 2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien x+ 3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte x 4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling x+ 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 6 The Bible x+ 7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte x 8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman 10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens x 11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy 13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller 14 Complete Works of Shakespeare #+ 15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier 16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien x 17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks 18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger x 19 The Tim...

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.28.2009 Ane Mulligan tagged me, so here goes: Rules: Once you've been tagged, write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 10 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. 1. I am currently exercising 6 days a week! Yay! 2. I’m walking/jogging to try to build up so that I can eventually run for 30 minutes straight. 3. I am currently wearing pink fingerless gloves I knit myself. 4. I am also currently wearing a spiral scarf I knit myself. 5. I’ll be teaching a mentoring group at the HeadStart program at Mount Hermon Writers Conference this spring. 6. Actually, I just realized I’m also wearing socks I knit myself. 7. I am really an introvert because large groups of people drain my energy, they don’t give me energy, but being an introvert doesn’t mean I can’t be friendly and outgoing—it just means that once I hit a certain poi...

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.23.2009 My blog has been awarded the "Premio-Dardos" Award today by Crystal Miller of the Chat ‘n’ Chew Café . Isn’t that just the most delicious title ever? Makes me think of homemade sushi and a joke from my uncle Richard. Here is what is said about the Premio-Dardos: "This award 'acknowledges the values that every Blogger displays in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values with each message they write.' Camy here: “Cultural, ethical, literary and personal values”? Um ... well, I get the cultural part, but ethical, literary and personal values? I don’t know if my blog even aspires to such greatness. :P Awards like this have been created with the intention of promoting community among Bloggers. It's a way to show appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web. Camy here: Okay. Well, Crystal must be taking pity on me. I understand this award comes with a couple of rules, and th...

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.21.2009 I think I did this meme before, but OH WELL! 1. What time did you get up this morning? Noon—I slept in today 2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds 3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I think it was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End which I saw with Shelley Adina . 4. What is your favorite TV show? Right now, it’s Leverage on TNT. I used to rave about 24 , but so far, this season hasn’t been exciting my interest as much as other seasons. 5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Homemade low fat yogurt! I’m actually quite proud of myself that I’ve been eating breakfast everyday within 30 minutes of waking up. Before, I wouldn’t eat until lunch, which was very bad of me. 6. What is your middle name? Mie 7. What food do you dislike? vinegar 8. What is your favorite CD? I don't have any one favorite. Right now I’m listening to Matthew West, Something To Say 9. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota Camry 10. Favorite sandwi...

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.17.2008 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bags because they’re HECKA EASIER! HELLOOOOOO! Besides, save a tree. 2. Real tree or Artificial? I like the smell of real trees (had them while growing up) but cleaning up the needles in January was a pain in the petootie! Gimme a fake one anyday! I’ll burn pine logs to get the smell. 3. When do you put up the tree? That should probably be IF we put up a tree. Since it’s in the living room, the Christmasy eye candy is lost on us. 4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year’s Day. Sometimes a few months after New Year’s Day ... 5. Do you like eggnog? Yup! Full fat! Bring it on, baby! 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Books! (Come on, you saw that coming, right?) 7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents! They already have pretty much everything they want. If they don’t have it, they’ve already bought it. And anything they do want is WAY out of my price range. 9. Do you have a nativity scene? No 10....

Captain's Log, Supplemental I stole this from My Friend Amy . However, I cheated and listed miniseries. My top 3 comfort movies/miniseries 1) Pride and Prejudice , the BBC version. I just love love love this miniseries. The acting is superb and I love Jane Austen (if you haven’t already noticed). I have the DVD and watch this at least once every few months. I love how this miniseries follows the book so well. It captures the essence of each of the characters, and the extra dialogue is just what Jane Austen would have written. 2) Cranford , by BBC. I saw this miniseries just this year and it’s FABULOUS! The cast is marvelous! The writing is terrific! I have it saved on my Tivo and I’ve already watched it twice. I intend to get the DVDs when I have a bit more cash. I think I like it because the characters are flawed, and yet they’re so worthy. There’s humor and drama and romance. The ensemble cast ensures for a script that’s always moving forward, always telling a new story. And the ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.24.2008 Debby Giusti tagged me on this meme, so here goes again! 1. I can only knit one thing at a time, right? So why do I have TEN knitting projects on the needles at once? 2. I like reading knitting and yarn catalogs while I’m on the can. 3. My friend Ronda Wells sent me a pink feather boa and a pink tiara, which I wear while writing. It fires my creativity. Really. 4. I like wearing hats solely for the purpose of hiding a Bad Hair Day. Which is why I’m currently working on a Chevron stripe beret, La Parisenne , using KnitPicks.com Essential yarn in Flint Tweed and Tuscany Multi . 5. I am watching the end of the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I have to say, I’m getting bored. (So this proves I’m not a slave to the hype around this series.) The beginning of season three was rather dull, and while it has picked up now, it’s still not exciting enough to make me need to see more. I will probably continue to watch it until it loses me com...

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.20.2008 Ladystorm tagged me for this meme: I would like to know what people keep close by their computer for books. So I was thinking that I would start a Sunday feature of my own that includes tagging 4 other bloggers, not necessarily book bloggers. My meme is: 1. What book is on the left hand side of your computer or closest to the left hand side? 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt 2. Are you reviewing it, is it your favourite, or is it there for some other reason and specify. It’s the book I most often use when I’m in the plotting phase of writing a new book. I like using the archetypes as a jumping off point for creating my characters, and I use the Hero and Heroine’s Journeys for solidifying my story structure. I’m using it to write my next contracted novel, The Year of the Dog (working title). 3. Go to page 38 and write down from the 2nd paragraph, the first 4 sentences. (in the chapter about the Amazon character archetype) The Villain...

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.17.2008 Danica tagged me for this one. The requirements for this award are to list six things that make me happy, then tag six more bloggers. Six things that make me happy: 1. Captain Caffeine 2. my dog Snickers 3. knitting 4. a good book 5. tea 6. wine I tag: Whoever wants to be tagged. Leave a comment with the link to your blog so I can see your answers!

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.11.2008 Cheryl Wyatt and Ane Mulligan tagged me again for this meme. So here goes to see if I can list five more unusual things about me (I'm really not that strange, seriously). 1) I love scarves, especially lace scarves with beads. They are just the perfect accessory for me, because they draw attention to my face versus my body, and they help me stay warm if I get chilly. 2) Horror movies scare me, so I rarely watch them. 3) Both my knees click when I bend them. It's actually kind of gross. 4) I have been trying to improve my posture lately. Don't know if it's working. 5) I love sparking wine, but I have never tasted real champagne from Champagne, France. Your turn! Post your meme or the link to your blog in the comments section!

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.07.2008 Karla tagged me and gave this an interesting twist--she listed seven book-related facts about herself, so I'm going to follow suit, but I'm also including some yarn-related facts. 1. My TBR pile fills 3 bookshelves and 9 plastic bins. No, I am not proud of that fact. 2. In comparison, my yarn stash fills 2 plastic bins and 3 cardboard boxes. Knitters, be proud of me--the only yarn I've purchased in the past six months has been for gifts, with the exception of 4 balls of sock yarn and two colors of mohair yarn. 3. I am in the process of finishing Miss Lambert's shetland pattern for a shawl from Victorian Lace Today . I'm using Knitpicks.com Shadow laceweight yarn in Jewels color. 4. I am stockpiling books to give away for my NEXT website contest, and I'm excited because there are so many, they're already filling 2 plastic bins. 5. My secret ambition is to one day write a Regency romance. 6. My second secret ambition is ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.07.2008 Mimi over at Mimi's Pixie Corner AND Jenny over at AusJenny tagged me for a meme. Update: I got tagged by Sharon Hinck , too! How many tags can I collect? Here’s how it works. It was started by Becky Miller: I’m going to list five MUST Read novels and five Keep Your Eyes on These novels, then tag five bloggers who I’m asking to post my list on their site. They may then add one book to each list but must also subtract one book. Finally they should tag five other bloggers, link here at A Christian Worldview of Fiction , and comment to this post so visitors here know to check out how they may have changed the list. If you aren’t tagged but want to play, copy the 'how to' paragraph above, make your own list of MUST Reads and Keep Your Eyes on These, and tag away. It will be fun to see if we can generate some book wars … uh, I mean, discussions … good, healthy, respectful discussions! Camy here: I actually cheated a bit because, well, i...