CyberMinions.net

Time to take my sexy friends to the range... Today is "Chicks With Guns" day (LOL)

I love being retired law enforcement because we have such fun play dates when the gang does decide to get together. Today's bit of work out mischief revolves around The Fun House were hot chicks with guns shoot still and moving mechanical targets for competitive points. FYI: I'm very competitive and I'm sitting over here grinning like a lunatic while cleaning my guns because my C-74 nick name was Dirty Harriet (LOL). I can shoot playing cards at 30 feet and my favorite range game is body-parts (LOL). ;-)

After we waste a bunch of paper targets were going to play paintball and laser tag. Ever run through the woods with a bunch of martial artists playfully trying to take you out? It can be a life altering experience, sort of like great sex or carefully flirting with latent SMBD tendencies with people you trust (LOL). Everyone knows at some point they are going to get their a$$ kicked but we all silently delude ourselves into believing we are the ones who are going to be the powerful peep dishing out the punishment to the other poor shmo (LOL). I love playing virtual war games with the girls because they're a bunch of wicked little mommies when they let their hair down (LMAO). 

Note to some of the men: you have no idea what the stroller brigade is truly capable of... just sayin' (LOL). Pssst... Your wife/potential girlfriend may be a lot more complicated than you know or believe when off on a girlie-girlie day adventure. ;-)

It's not all manicure/pedicure when we go off on a gym/spa date. We've got stuff in our closets and personal arsenals that would make you wanna run home to mama if you ever flipped our mega b*tch switch. There's a really good reason why we want those messages at the end of our play day. Sometimes we PMS and host Fight Club to make ourselves feel better. What's the first rule of Fight Club? (LOL).

Gotta go. As much as I love teasing you guys I gotta do my Starbucks social media thing and hit the road. I'm expecting inspiration to hit me today... literally (LOL).

P.S. If you're a writer doing kick a$$ chick books it kinda helps having kick a$$ friends (LOL). Think of it as character research... among other things (LMAO). Personally, I find a little gym madness and mayhem on the mock battlefield very therapeutic. At least this crew of gal pals know first aid, unlike my uber-geeky yuppy friends from yesterday's bit of mad drama (LOL).

Think I should I invite them? It might improve their writing and kick-start their blood-lust for being the last fighter standing (or make for a very interesting YouTube when the guys find out what we gals really do during girlie-girlie day - evil grin). ;-)

100 Years and Beyond... Will your work last that long? It can if you make your imagination real.

Yeah, it's true. I'll jog and blog anywhere (and even get an idea from looking at a rock - LOL). I have stopped here a few times. I like this spot. It's very quiet... I'm trying to learn New Jersey because I've been neglecting my cousins and friends there. Seems I keep passing through to go other places and they miss me... I miss them too (sigh). We're bugging each other about copyrights and contracts today. I may have to do a sleep-over soon...

Busy, busy, busy, busy... Everyone is friggin' busy. We creative cousins think we'll always have time to catch up so we keep putting stuff off until next time. Seems we have discovered we don't have enough time for anything anymore because we've become project-centric. I plan to play hookie and will be taking a time-out tomorrow to veg out and simply read (and pretend not to be so friggin' busy - silly grin). Kick starting your imagination can come from anything that makes you think. I'm looking for a good book to help me escape from reality for a couple of hours and give the cartoons in my head something to do so I don't have to think. I've been thinking entirely too much lately.

Albert Einstein said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." I have problems I need to solve so I'm going to stop thinking and go play (LOL). I think better when I play. It's a creative thing. Einstein stopped to play for a couple of hours every day. It relaxed his mind so he could think, hence my predilection for embracing the fun and the silly like a little kid. :-)  

Right now I'm goofing off and on with Alicia in Facebook about building up her websites when not spoofing with my hubby in Skype with the kids. I'm doing late night in Starbucks while I blog/write/answer e-mail. Alicia is working on a new author site. I'm trying to keep her blogging... (I try to make everyone blog - it's a weakness of mine - silly grin). She needs to add audio to her website because she likes to sing but I don't use the platform she's on so I'm bummed out about the fact that I can not help her at this time. I guess I'm gonna have to learn her platform because chicka needs her audio (and I have got to finish her album).

Since Amy Winehouse died today my Facebook peeps and I have been talking about the fact that we need to stop acting like death can't suddenly happen to one of us. Winehouse died at the tender age of 27 at her London, UK home. The music she struggled to create wasn't an easy creative gig. She worked really hard at it so if you have a dream you should just go out and do it as best you can (like Amy) and enjoy the people you meet along the way.

Make your imagination real in your books and on your blogs and create something people can discover and enjoy... Create something that will live beyond you... What is Intellectual Property? According to the government: "It is imagination made real. It is the ownership of dream, an idea, an improvement, an emotion that we can touch, see, hear, and feel. It is an asset just like your home, your car, or your bank account."

As silly as I am on my blogs, I do realize that at some point the wee people and hubby are going to own my electronic diary and all of my intellectual property. Those copyrights are part of my estate. All of that collective gibberish I'm making tangible across the Internet and in brick and mortar establishments are going to last long after I'm gone. A series of books are in draft/edit/re-write stages. The photographs are being sorted for coffee books. My art is being sorted for all sorts of interesting mischief and my music is streaming live across the globe 24/7/365 because of iTunes, Amazon and Jango (and 20 other professional entities). I am virtually drowning in paperwork...

The paralegal stuff is being gathered and expanded for Kindle Singles... There's a massive behind the scenes effort going on to get me to behave and finish three novels, one novella, one graphic novel and a script. I'm also being tortured into writing short stories for the writer's workshop and the wee people are creating children's books with me (which is mad fun because my kids and I are crazy together - LOL). There is even a real estate book shaping up out of my blog/notes from hell (Yeah, I'm being audited by crazy editing people reading the serious stuff that sneaks into my blogs once in a while - LOL).

I write across 45 websites so there's a lot of original material floating through cyberspace with my name on it. On ActiveRain I've created 1,301 posts (and counting) so the Internet is practically littered with me and mine sharing  just about anything (thank you RSS feeds - LOL).

Lately, I've been chatting about the books I'm reading because I have books on the brain while working with a cool team of people to create some. The more my writing mentors dig around in my stuff the more I get smacked upside the head for not writing something seriously sooner. They believe I can do this so I believe I can do this.

Problem is, sometimes while I'm in "creative mode" I do not want to think about "executive functions." I don't want to read a two hundred page contract (I read them all but I'd rather not - sigh). It can be exhausting trying to hang on to your copyrights when people keep trying to infringe upon them... Permission and licensing are two different things and people who do not do what I do usually do not understand what it's like to constantly have to explain why A can use something but B can't. They get mad if I close an e-mail account or turn off my phone and start state hopping to escape their creative bit of aggravation or work on other projects I have non-disclosure agreements for they are not a part of but want to be.

Controlling access and degrees of contact can be tricky sometimes when your projects start bleeding into each other and people start overlapping. Mentor A may start screwing with Mentor B's domain, Editor C wants more time than Editor D and then the anti-fun starts because some people like collecting "executive functions." Making decisions and controlling schedules is a "power thing" with some people (sigh). I'm bad. I wake up. I read e-mail. I say yes, no, maybe then dive into my day not really caring who can or can't reach me as long as I have contact with hubby and the kids. Direct result? Now I play catch me in social media if you can games (LOL).

I was thinking about what Penelope Trunk said about her executive function issues: "The issue here is executive function. People with Asperger's have terrible executive function. We cannot stay focused on the thing that is most important. We are easily distracted by what is most interesting. This is a low-level problem for everyone. But for someone with Asperger's it means forgetting to respond to someone who says, "Hi, how are you?" or, literally, burning down the house."

I am very easily distracted by what is most interesting because I am easily amused and crave entertainment (LOL). Miss P is very entertaining and a very smart cookie. I like entertaining writers I actually learn something from. I rarely comment on her blog but lurk there a lot. :-)

It's time for me to get back to my recreational reading for Book Club. I'm two contracts down and one more to read, then veto (I'm in "only license" mode right now - LOL).

I started reading Jeaniene Frost last night. The title Happily Never After cracked me up so I figured spending the $1.99 in Kindle wouldn't kill me (silly grin). That was an interesting little collection of short stories. I pre-ordered Devil To Pay right after reading it because I find her writing style kinda cool and I figure I'll probably plow through Every Night Huntress book she's written before the August Devil To Pay release. I habitually speed read and love books but sometimes it's like a curse because I frequently plow through authors once I decide I like them.

I'm reading Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) because I like the reviews and Vicki Pettersson recommends the series so I'm finishing this puppy tonight. :-)

I've read almost every book in my neighborhood library (not an easy feat - LOL) and will re-read my collections looking for stuff I may have missed once I've gotten to the end of a series. I think that's why I'm so fascinated with urban fantasy writers because you never really understand the whole growth arch of a character until you get to the end of the run. Until recently they were not on my reading-radar but now I'm hanging out in three book clubs reading my a$$ off while waiting for Kim, Vicki and Jocelynn to write something new. Yup. Read every last one of 'em and now suffer from withdrawal (LOL).

Gave away my Dean R Koontz collection to my neighbor. He is a book hound too. It took us a while to figure out how to make his Kindle work but once we did it was nice to pop over and compare collections with him and his wife. I don't have a Kindle but I do use their app on my laptop and Droid. I keep my fave authors with me everywhere I go. I like being amused while in line waiting for stuff (LOL). ;-)

Promised Em I'd check in with an update: Today was a paint day. I've been hauling canvas, gal pals and paint around for weeks. We had a nice jog, posed for each other while sketching and created a wee bit of mischief down I-95 (LOL). We're scouting film locations out of state and I'm on countdown for a FL vacation. I want to be a beach bum with the wee people very soon. I just have three more business meetings and I'm soooooo out of here. Before I go I will hand off some artwork to a few peeps on my creative waiting list. She's been a very good sport about what I've been doing with all those sketchpads and canvas (and has not peeked once regarding her stuff - chicka deserves a peek - LOL).

Irony is dressing in a LOUD yellow tee shirt and having your gal pal not see you (LOL)

I missed Sana today. Bummer... I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks and it turns out she was in the same Starbucks I was hanging out taking an air conditioning break in and we had no idea (sigh). Irony is dressing in a LOUD yellow tee shirt and having your gal pal not see you (LOL).

VIA Facebook:

Me: I'm on QB and UT in Starbucks playing in Skype and blogging. :-)

Sana: I was just there...

Me: Seriously? I'm in a loud yellow tee at the first square table with an elderly hang out neighbor named Sylvia (ROTFL) :-)

Sana: When did u get there? How could I have missed u?

Me: I've been here for HOURS (LOL). I'm leaving at 5.30 :-)

Sana: See how long I haven't seen u, I apparently forgot what u look like :-)

Which of course cracked everyone up including me (LOL). I guess we need to get together, eh? I may have to hang out a wee bit longer to make sure I don't miss my Facebook response (LOL). I told her I have 14 minutes left before I go off-line. Gotta do my sunset jog for eye candy. That means I have to fetch my car from the garage and get going to my next appointment after I see Nydia. ;-)

Duck Hunting with Android and other jog and blog adventures...

I've been really giving my Android a run for its money testing out apps and audio/visual features. I'm playing with the option to use it instead of jogging with my Sony and/or Nikon. I prefer the high resolution of the other two cameras rather than the built-ins of my Droid but since the camera/video option is available I don't think it should be wasted when I'm in the mood to slip out the door with just my keys and a cell phone.

If you want to check blur ratios between cameras there's nothing like duck hunting in Flushing Meadows Park to make you go hmmm. Those puppies are always on the move and sometimes hard to catch on low resolution settings (LOL). Chasing wildlife on the run can also be an interesting challenge if you're making silly blogging bets with your girlfriends to see who can capture the most fowl on the first pass around Flushing Meadow Lake (I did not win this bet - the boats at sunset distracted me - LOL). ;-)

We like to think of this as our Duck Run (LOL). Yeah, I'm still working out with some of my fave crazy ladies who are doing their best to break me. ;-)

I will get them back for the Gym-S&M (evil grin) once I figure out the appropriate competitive retribution for participating in their workouts from hell (silly grin). Seems my gal pals are determined to help me go from a size 10 to an 8 (their idea of the new bikini-me for my water rats - LOL). I kinda want to be lazy and stay at size 10 and just tone up (because everything is kinda sore) but when I start slacking off they remind me I have three music videos to do (sigh). The girls like to state in sum and substance that I should not be filmed with a baby Buddha belly and futon fanny no matter how insane my schedule gets (plus YouTube and Google are a forever virtual threat so I have to shape up - LOL). They're dictators...

Thank God Emelia is pretty reasonable when it comes to working out. Actually, Emmy is reasonable about a lot of things (LOL). We like to cook, shop, work out, take photographs and sometimes eat grasshoppers together. She lets me wander off when I'm a guest at her gym and usually warns me about over-doing it instead of demanding another set of reps. I love having sleep-overs at her condo. She's an excellent cook and never tries to kill me during work outs (unlike some other people I know - LOL). ;-)

The martial arts gym is always fun so I plan to take her as my guest when I get back from vacation. I love Tony Chuy. We've been friends since I was 17 years old and Em knows him as well. He's a wonderful martialarts instructor and very cool friend. Recently I've been missing in action from his gym because of the business traveling, book writing, weight training, and music/art creation (which is usually cool) but now "THEY" (my collective keepers - LOL) are talking about me taking dance classes (WTF??? I did not sign on for - insert the explicative of your choice here - dance classes. Seriously... sigh). If I am going to learn how to move I am going to learn it at Sifu Chuy's gym when not sparring off location with the people in charge of kicking my blogger's butt into shape (LOL).

P.S. I may lose that on-going argument because my keepers are a touchy bunch of professionals determined to get their way (LOL). I am already torturing one choreographer (who is a dear friend) but now it appears if my gal pals get their way I may have to torture two (Oh joy!) Next they'll probably try and make me wear a dress (LOL). I see their girlie-girl-day handwriting all over my virtual sneaker-bum wall. It always comes up so it's only a matter of time before we have our "back off b*tch" conversation again (silly grin). Pssst... I have to protest in public to make an impact on 'em. Yup, my blog is a virtual weapon that sometimes keeps them in check (LMAO).

Do I want to leave for vacation? Yup. In spades... (LOL). My girlfriends/keepers are mad fun, very talented but periodically crazy... We're the type of peeps who wont hesitate to race out into the middle of a storm to chase rainbows or give another blogger the virtual smack down for messing with a fave author or two but sometimes I have to draw the line and hide from them because I need to not play or think beyond spending my day reading, writing and sleeping.

Non-play days are kinda hard on me. I live to fool around and giggle (LOL).

Yesterday was a catch up on my people watching and sleep day because today we're being creative and doing Book Club. I haven't created a YouTube since RWANYC so I'm reading the most recent SMSs on the Brooklyn shoot this afternoon (seems I need to create music for a new YouTube this week end the girls are cooking up - LOL).

Next stop is Brooklyn Bridge and Pier 6. We're jogging and blogging along the waterfront for sunset. ;-)

Are you guys adding a HTTPS login or did I just do something mad stupid? (LOL)

It's a holiday weekend so the last thing I expected was having to make an "Add Exception" just to log into my blog. I noticed the URL had an "https" prefix after I clicked the log on link. I will confess to not previously paying attention to that little detail. Feeling adventurous, I decided to ignore the "Get me out of here" security option so I could log on and lurk in my digital home to fool around visiting with some of my fave social media peeps.

This is either an expired certificate thing or something way above my pay grade (LOL).

It inspired me to go work on one of my other websites resulting in a spectacular crash that I have to go back and eventually fix (or trash it completely and confuse the hell out of everyone - LMAO). I'm over here taking a break from my mad scientist coding to say hello while everyone I am supposed to be meeting continues changing their dates and times screwing around with my road trip itinerary. This is not a complaint, it's actually a good thing  because now I get to hang out and enjoy some tasty BBQ while I create more art (and nap before I hit the road). ;-)

I promised to upload pages from my sketchbook and will do so later. I'm working on something new right now to entertain my ADD and will be back after I finish a bit of artistic mischief I'm cooking up for a gal pal. I'm in Facebook studying her pictures working in pen and ink mode.

Emelia fussed at me the other day for shredding the pencil sketches I created during practice. She hates when I destroy art. It's a necessary evil or I would be swimming in more paper than I already am. I'm drowning in it actually (LOL).

We're sooooo not talking about all that canvas leaning up against the walls in my apartment's living room. The pile is growing... You'd think I'd actually have more than one painting hanging on the wall. I'm a stacker. My kids flip through them like giant pages of a 30x40 canvas book (LOL). I'm working 18x24 and 16x20. It's easier to play in the park with smaller canvas sizes. ;-)

Did you know that parking tickets are now being issued for parking tractor-trailers on New York City residential streets between 9 PM and 5 AM? "The initial fine is $265, but any additional tickets issued to the same owner within a six-month period are $515 each. You are required to respond to a parking ticket within 30 days of the date the ticket was issued; otherwise penalties will be added to the original fine. After 30 days Finance sends a notice for any unpaid parking violation. If you receive a notice and you believe you have already paid that ticket, make sure the ticket numbers on the notice match your records. You can request copies of original tickets online."

I have to update the movie crew on this. That kinda whomps. We're updating our vehicles to rent list so we don't have to deal with that bit of parking ticket trivia up close and personal.

Who knew? Seriously...

What about the truck drivers who used to park near their homes in anticipation of going across country? When I was a kid my Uncle Harry used to stop by off route to share a meal and chill before hitting the road again. I do not particularly care for this rule because I have truckers in my family but it's the law now. Oh well...

Will show you guys how the paintings in the park are coming along later. Lots of canvas to varnish for Ward Nasse before I hit the road this week end. There will be a new artist joining our ranks shortly but I'm saving that post for Tuesday. It's one of our beloved Rainers from KY. ;-)

Right now I just want to relax, lay in the grass, flip music into Twitter and be happy that my MiFi, Android and blog are currently behaving. I may even answer some e-mail and stop ignoring my cell phone voice mail (I owe 7 people phone calls - I will call you back later - promise - after I have more fun - LOL). ;-)

Club Chaos Eye Candy: Briarwood, Queens County, New York Tour of Homes

It's a gorgeous day to play and I've been having mad fun running the streets with my Nikon and Droid collecting eye candy during my turtle run. Sometimes I hang out with my elderly neighbors at Hoover Park when I do my warm ups. We shared ruby red grapefruits (3 for $2 at the neighborhood fruit stand) and bottled water. I love living in this neighborhood. The Zagat rated restaurants are simply amazing, the houses gorgeous and list of things to do with the wee people pretty extensive.

Wanna see some of what I saw today? Welcome to my neighborhood... ;-)

Yes, I did run up the hill past the court house into Kew Gardens and will show you that bit of real estate jogging fun later. I have to get back to my park post. People are still waiting for that one (LOL). If you're going to be a tease you have to deliver at some point. Yeah, still sitting on the political post - not finished with the interviews (LOL). ;-)

Going to sketch co-ops and condos... Might even paint a duck or two :-)

The cool thing about running through the co-ops and condos are their stairs. It's like having a StairMaster in the sunshine with a view (LOL). I love the views adjacent to Flushing Meadows Park and usually spend my cool down strolling home oogling real estate.

My neighbor is going to drive me to the park so I can get my jog on and walk back to Briarwood. Will show you a tour of homes for lunch and the rest of my eye candy from yesterday (circling Flushing Meadow Lake and crossing over the bridge to the Uni-sphere).

Today I plan on doing my turtle run jogging through Flushing, Forest Hills and Briarwood. Everyone is landscaping like crazy in my neighborhood. It's a virtual flower fest (LOL). I may even detour into Kew Gardens just to run up the hill near the court house so I can check that off of my F.A.F.A. list and update my on-line persaonal trainer on my workout progress (which is why my neighbors drive my car home so I can't cheat - LOL). ;-)

While I am out and about collecting more eye candy go check out the Brazen Careerist post by Greg Rollet on how to create an on-line empire that pays your rent.

You should also check out Penelope Trunk on how to quit every job and still have a good resume. I love it when she starts chatting about her gal pal Melissa. OMG - too funny (LOL). I have an autographed limited edition book coming from P this month and I've been stalking my mail carrier like the PT addict I am. Every time I leave her website I feel good.

Know who else makes me smile in the wee hours of the morning? MY AR, FB, Tweetpeep blogging buddy Poppy Dinsey. Poppy Dinsey at WIWT.com is having mad fun as a fashion blogger. Do pop in and tell my fave Blogging Brit hello. Yesterday she wore a very fetching black skirt that made me want to go out and buy some leather to go with my lace. I think it was her "You brought a knife to a gunfight" remark that got me all twitterpated about going shopping for new clothes (LOL).

I am a girl. Voyeurism into other women's closets is what we do when we decide we need to go buy something fabulous that isn't necessarily new.

Gentlemen take note: shopping is a bloodsport when our gal pals inspire us with the notion that we simply have to have something. If a bunch of us girls get together to do "targeted shopping" you need to run away or trail behind happily carrying our bags and not flip our b*tch switch. We are trying to look good for you. Duh? ;-)

Oooo. Text messages are going off. Gotta run. Would chat more but I gotta stick to my new exercise torture schedule so I can produce a new tour of homes post (LOL). Being me, of course I have to tease you with one more bit of eye candy before I go... This shot is from a digital film clip of the ducks I was stalking yesterday for a fowl portrait. I really am going to paint them. My kids love ducks. ;-)

Still off the grid working...

I can't text and do dictation at the same time so chill already! Ya gotta stop blowing up my cell phone (LOL). I am still off the grid working on my writing projects. Notice how quiet I have been? IT'S BECAUSE I'M WORKING ON MY BOOK and a political piece and a movie script and I really, really, really have to get those puppies in.

Got a new album on hold. Got a gallery show in June (plus a trip to TX) so I'm mad busy, not ignoring you.

I promise to get all gossipy and share the skinny of my latest adventures with you shortly but you have to let me work in peace.

I will bring you up to speed later. Seriously... 

I love you. I miss you. I shall mess with you guys later... Just a quick hello to say got your phone calls, e-mails, text messages, DMs, FBs and notes slipped under my apartment door (which was kind of interesting - LOL).

I'm okay. I'm just concentrating on an anal-retentive level, working with three writing mentors who kick a$$  (and have my complete creative attention in spades because teaching quirky little me me is turning into a fabulous bloodsport - LOL). ;-)

Blogger has an interesting transliteration feature... Can we get that on AR?

A reader brought it to my attention because she wants me to write rather than link over there. It adds a button to the toolbar for converting words from English to the selected language of a user. I think it's a neat improvement and definitely will get me writing more on that platform. Imagine publishing in Hindi or French. :-)

Can we get that feature over here on ActiveRain?

That would be a mad cool improvement if you guys can figure out how to do it. I suck at other languages but there are plenty of people here who read and write in all sorts of neat dialects. My hubby can do Hebrew. The idea of an Israeli edition of Life With Wee People is kinda fun for me (LOL). I could also high-jack my Russian gal pals for a bit of childish fun as well. ;-)