Z is for

Z is for Zeal


Often the word "zeal" has a negative association with zealotry, or crazy fanaticism,  but I prefer to think of the word in a positive light.  To me "zeal" represents an intense passion for living life.  Pursuing dreams and striving for the best in whatever it is that you do.  Hitting brick walls and then smashing through them because you won't  be told your dream is unreachable.  It is all about taking on challenges, seeing them through to the end and inspiring others to do the same.

This A-Z Challenge has definitely inspired many.  Thanks to Arlee and the rest of his team for putting on a great challenge.  I look forward to next April!
  
Hope you had a great challenge!  I did! Check out the other A-Z participants.  There are so many other wonderful bloggers involved! 

Thanks so much to everyone who commented and followed.  If I haven't gotten to you yet, I will.

Are you taking some time off now?  or are you going to keep up the intensity?

Have a zesty day!!

Kathy :)

Y is for Yellowstone

Y is for Yellowstone National Park


Last October we had the opportunity to spend a couple days in  Yellowstone National Park on our crazy cross country drive from Ohio to Seattle.

It was after the regular season and it seemed like we had the whole park to ourselves.  The weather was cool and a little rainy, but the mist that hung in the air only added to the mystique of this ancient place.

I felt like we had stepped into the Cretaceous Period.  But we only saw buffalo, no T-Rex.  Which was fine with me!

Inspiration Point

Around every turn, my mouth hung open with awe.  Steam spewed from every crack in the Earth as if it was a living breathing dragon. I couldn't process that a place could be so utterly different than anything I had ever seen.

The kids had a blast watching Old Faithful and walking around the other geysers and boiling mud pots.  My husband and I simply enjoyed watching their love of exploring nature.  I would have loved to spend a few more days there.  It is a trip we will always remember.






Have yourself a wonderful Saturday!!

Only 1 letter left! It has been great!  Make sure to check out all the other great A-Z entries.

Kathy :)

A bubbling mud pot that didn't smell like roses

X is for Xcellent!

X is for Xcellent!


This has been an excellent challenge!   I can't believe there's only 2 letters left!

Thanks so much to Arlee Bird and his wonderful team of co-hosts for helping to bring us all together.  I've met so many new blogger buddies!  I love seeing the variety of everyone's posts, even when people pick the same word, they write it in such different styles that no two posts are alike.  This writing community abounds with creativity!  I'm so happy to be a part of it.  

I also want to thank everyone who supported my efforts in the challenge and made wonderfully encouraging comments.  And a huge thanks to all my followers both new and old!  You guys are awesome!

Don't forget that today is the last day for Alex's giveaway to celebrate his 1500 followers and on May 7 join in on the A-Z Reflection post, where we can tell all our thoughts from this year's challenge.

Don't forget to check out the A-Z blog for more great entries!

Have an xceptional day!!!

Kathy :)

W is for Will

W is for Will

The pieces fell into place.  I knew what I was supposed to do.  But what if they were wrong?  What if I wasn't the One?  Maybe I'd gotten this far merely based on their lies. I would find out soon enough.  Everything came down to this moment.  The cold steel was heavy in my hands. I had a choice, but would I make the "right" one?    Have I ever made my own choices or have I simply followed the path the universe set before me?  From now on I would be remembered, but as a hero or a demon I knew not.


Ok that's my random flash fiction on free will.  Hope you liked it.

Here's a random question...Why are there so many great "W" words?  What is it about a letter that lends itself to create more words and words? And why do they seem to have similar qualities?  It seemed to me that the letter "V" has a lot of depressing or dark words, like vile, venomous, and voracious, but "W" has wonder and waterfall and willing, and many other more uplifting words.  Just wondering.


Have a weird and wonderful day!!

Make sure to check out all the other great A-Z entries.


Kathy :)

V is for Deja Vu

V is for Deja Vu 


We sat at the table, feasting on the Pad Thai Alyssa had just prepared.  Jess reached across the table to get a second helping and said, "This is great, but I'd like fewer bean sprouts in it.  I like them crunchy like this though, the one's in Chinese restaurants are a little softer."

My head spun, and pictures flashed before my eyes.  This had already happened.  I remembered everything down to the exact words Jess had just said.  Then the nagging feeling that some other event was tied to it crept its way into my mind, but I couldn't place what it was.  I tried to recall it, but it slipped away.  I would have to wait for the real event to occur.  

Had I dreamed it? I don't know, I think so, but how can you dream events that have not happened yet?  I don't know how to explain the feeling of deja vu, which in French literally means, "already seen", I just know that I experience it every once in a while and its kind of creepy and cool at the same time.

It's also weird that it happened last night, just in time for me to write about it for "V" today.  Maybe I'm really a science fiction character who travels different dimensions and I can't remember which one is which.

Have you ever experienced deja vu?        

Make sure to check out all the other great A-Z ers.

And don't forget to check out Alex Cavanaugh, he's holding a book giveaway to celebrate his awesome achievement of 1500 followers!  Way to go Ninja Captain!

And check out Alyssa's blog she only needs 18 more followers to hit 100!


Have a voluminously happy day!
(not sure I used that correctly)


Kathy :)

U Does Not = You

U Does Not = YOU


My daughters make fun of me that I refuse to use texting language.  No matter who I'm texting I write every word out.  I know it's silly, but I just can not write a message that looks like:  OMG u r the bst frnd evr!  So  what if it takes me an extra 30 seconds to compose a message.  It hurdles through space at an unbelievable speed anyway. If I want to send a longer message, I'll split it up into two texts, or email it. Words deserve the dignity of all their letters; not to spend a life whacked apart into their various phonetic pieces.  I guess I'm just an old fashioned language snob.  (LOL!)


 Some other great "U" words:  usurp,  ubiquitous, undulate, unctuous

Check out all the other great A-Z posts.  I can't believe we're almost to the end!  It's been so much fun to meet everyone and read their great posts for the challenge.

Have an unbelievable day!!!

Kathy :)

T is for Timing

T is for Timing

I was at the library with my husband and kids yesterday.  They loaded me up with a stack of books to check out and they wandered off to browse more.  I finished checking out and went to find them.  I glanced to the right and walked toward my husband.

 I was just about to say, "Hey honey, ........ " when I happened to look a little closer and notice that yes the guy had on a yellow shirt like my husband but he was not my husband.  I quickly turned right to the next aisle.  I don't think he even saw me but, I was so embarrassed.  In my head I pictured myself casually walking up to this guy and putting my arm around him and then realizing it wasn't my husband. I would have had to run out of the library and never return!  All I could think was thank goodness, I looked just in time.  If I had been a step closer he surely would have noticed I was coming toward him.

It got me thinking about timing and how different a situation can be when the timing changes by even a fraction of a second. As a writer maybe I can use timing more effectively to create funny or tension filled scenes.  How do you use timing in your writing?

Have a tremendous day!

Check out all the other A-Zers.

Kathy  :)  

And Thanks so much to all my new followers!  You're awesome! :)