10 Reasons To Be Thankful You’re Single At The Holidays

Yeah yeah… it’s great to have someone to snuggle with as the days grow dark and cold. And who doesn’t want to sneak in a kiss under the mistletoe? 💋

But some of us will be single next week on Thanksgiving… and after that on Christmas (or Chanukah) and New Year’s Eve too. We won’t even mention Valentine’s Day. Oops! I think there are some darned good reasons to be grateful for that… so I made a list. Feel free to add to it in comments! 😀

1. No arguing over whether to spend turkey day at his folks’ place or her folks’ place… or worst possible outcome… volunteering to host the event yourselves!

2. No freaking out over whether your honey is going to think badly of you when he or she discovers that a huge chunk of your family belongs to that political party.

3. No agonizing over what gift to buy for your sweetie… is it too soon to buy a pricey gift? Will he be offended if you get a funny gift? OMG, is her mom going to get me a gift too?

4. Okay, it’s cold, right? And you want to wear big cozy layers of sweaters not sexy little bare dresses… well, guess what? You can! You don’t have anyone to seduce, yay!

5. And no more stress about spending a wad of cash on some stupid NYE event you wouldn’t have enjoyed anyway just to impress a date. Whew! 👍🏻

6. You know all those sappy movies you secretly pretend to hate because you’re adulting? Now you don’t have to be a faker! You can indulge your love of Frosty The Snowman while drinking hot choccy and wearing flannel jammies because the cat doesn’t care.

7. Speaking of hot choccy, we may put on a few pounds over the hols, amirite? But now we can relax about that because no one is gonna be seeing us de-layered for a long, long time. What a relief! 😻

8. Unfortunately, the holidays can be a tense time for romances and many of them fail around now or soon after, but we don’t have to worry about this because we’re all alone, wheeeeeeee!

9. We can make our New Year’s Resolutions all about ourselves… our hopes and dreams and goals for the future, without worrying what a “significant other” might want, and chances are he’ll dump us anyway. 🙄

10. Finally, the best reason to be thankful for being single at the hols is when we wake up alone on January 1, 2020, we can say to ourselves, hurrah, I survived last year without getting married to an axe murderer! 🎉🎉🎉

~*~

Images from Pexels, Pixabay, Google.

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Sun in the Fun

A lovely new follower I suggest you check out, Chaotic Blonde (what a fabulous name!), has gifted me the Sunshine Award! Thank you so much, CB! 😍

These days, I’m not much into posting awards and tagging others, but I will still answer questions people have taken the time to compose (when I have the time).

1. What made you want to create a blog?

This blog was created in March 2011 as an outlet to post song lyrics, poetry, etc. that related to my emotional distress at the time. It changed as my circumstances did.

2. Do you prefer writing at night, or in the day?

Whenever the mood strikes, but mostly at home, at night. 🌙

3. What was the last film that made you cry?

Hmm, I can’t remember. It’s been a while since I’ve seen anything good/moving.

4. What’s an interest that not many people know you have?

People were surprised recently when I expressed interest in going to a reptile farm, but snakes are fascinating. 🐍

5. Describe yourself in three words.

Funny, reliable, neat.

6. If you were a cocktail, what would you be?

Irish coffee. ☘️

7. Do you believe in astrology?

No.

8. Name three things on your bucket list.

Travel by train; finish all my WIPs; learn to crochet.

9. Do you think happiness comes from within, or that it’s something to be shared?

Within.

10. To you, what is love?

Chemicals.

11. What’s changed the most about your writing style since you first started out?

I quit writing “poast” because it annoyed Fandango.

~*~

Image credit to the Bitmoji app.

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

PFF21 ~ Novelty

Welcome to my Friday Flashback! This is a post from 8 years ago when I was 20 years younger (do the math). Back then, I was able to leap out of bed at 4am and write like a maniac for 3 hours before going to work. I wrote at night and all weekend too. I can’t do that now, nor do I want to even try… so if anyone cares, no, I am not doing NaNo this year. 👻

OMG!

People. I wrote a 58K novel since early September whatever.

OK, it started as a 4600 word short story, so technically I wrote, uh, less than that. But not that much less because, you know, short story –> novel. Thing. I am so dead here. Can’t think in sentences anymore.

Now. I do not mean I barfed out a bunch of garbage (no offense to barfers) (or garbage). I mean it’s good. For a romance novel. I just went and cut 1000 words to get the 58K. Thinking I might cut 2000 more before I send it, or not. Maybe I should leave it alone. The only parts I feel are cuttable are the non-protag parts, which I like for comic relief. So the editor can suggest cuts if she wants, right?

K. I’ll reread in a couple days for stupids, etc. before sending.

Onto NaNo. No clue really. Do not have time to plan like a maniac, but I have a week of thinkies, which should be good enough.

~*~

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

321 Quote Me ~ Lifestyle

Sadje tagged me to continue the lifestyle theme in this round of Rory’s 321 Quote Me game. Thanks Sadje! 😻

The above was Part 1 of 321 (a thank you). Now I will do Part 2, which will be my two quotes.

Part 3 requires me to tag 3 more bloggers. I think I’ve seen this tag around for a day or so now, which means the usual suspects have already been tagged. I’ll open this up to volunteers instead. It’s a great way to get in the game if you haven’t played yet. Post a couple lifestyle quotes and link back to me (and Rory).

Have fun! 🎃👻😈

~*~

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

The Monday Peeve 4

Smiles and positive posts are all well and good, but sometimes I need to vent a bit. How about you? That’s what The Monday Peeve is all about, a chance to blow off a little steam at the beginning of the week, so then we can go merrily on our way once again (hah). I’ll pick a topic that’s on my mind, but you can vent about whatever you please, here in comments or on your own blog. Grab the photo, use the #TMP tag, and link back to me (or not ~ I dgaf), and Bob’s yer uncle. I do reserve the right to delete any links that offend my delicate sensibilities. So far, none have, but it could happen! I have feelings!

Here we go then with today’s…

Recently I unfollowed some bloggers, but it’s not because they said anything offensive. Some of them I actually like. But I want to be fair, and if a few people are posting like mad while others stick to (what I consider) a more reasonable schedule, then the mad posters dominate my feed. I’m not about to change my habits and receive posts by email to make sure I don’t miss my “faves.” Why not? Because I don’t want to.

To give you an example of what I’m talking about, I just went through and counted the posts that a certain blogger made in a 24-hour period. The total was 50. FIFTY! That is not a reasonable number to me. Most of these were reposts with hundreds of likes already. Why is it necessary to grab more? I don’t know. Probably ad revenue.

Not my problem. I make no money from my blog. This is for fun, and I have no interest in helping people make money from their posts. Get a real job. Write a book. Whatever. But don’t spam me. I am finding myself increasingly peeved about reposts. I don’t mean hey here’s a funny post from 3 years ago you might want to check out… no, I’m talking about the spam type of repost. When I see I’ve already liked a post, and recall reading it recently, I have to wonder why it’s floating through again except to annoy me. Don’t be a feed hog! Let posts from other bloggers have a chance to be seen!

Bottom line: Don’t make my blog reading experience inconvenient for me. If you do, you risk the unfollow click.

~*~

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

One-Liner Wednesday

I’ve always felt that autumn is for fresh starts, not endings, probably because of the school year. But also I get so lazy in the summer and fall revs me up. I’m already more productive. Plus, early September is horrible for my migraines and then they suddenly and mysteriously taper off during the last week or so.

Looking forward to a good October!

~*~

Written for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday and Laura’s October Challenge (Day 2)

~*~

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Four Galore

Question Fun Directory

Welcome to The Daily Four! [via Rory]

Today’s Questions to the Readers are….

1. How often do you write thought provoking content and how topically current are you?

My idea of thought-provoking content is to post my two weekly prompts. I’ve been doing Thursday Inspiration for a while, which is meant to trigger ideas for poetry or fiction via my posted song snippet and/or picture. I’ve also just begun a Monday peeve, a fun way to get people’s complaints out of the way at the start of the week.

My blog isn’t topical ~ I try to avoid current events here, especially politics. There’s enough of that everywhere else. Blech!

2. Do you ever play the role in your blog as ‘Devil’s Advocate with your readership?’

No. I find that annoying when done to me, so I avoid it as well as the condescending “Socratic method” of badgering people with slanted questions to get the answer I want. Just be straightforward.

3. What is your favourited style/genre of writing?

I just blurt sh!t out and try to be funny. Then I go back and delete the most horribly offensive bits. Sometimes I miss a few, oh well. Be sure to fill out a lengthy complaint form; I love reading those. That’s for my normal daily stuff. For fiction, I’ll do a bit of romance with a twist or maybe a touch of fantasy or sci-fi. I find that I like sci-fi more and more for the flash pieces. Poetry gets the whole tortured angst treatment, right back to high school.

4. How often do you write in a risque fashion and what would that be?

You mean sex? I’ve written a lot of sex. It’s so boring. I got so tired of writing sex I began cutting and pasting sex scenes from one novel to the next. It’s all really the same. The vanilla, I mean. I had one great blowjob I used over and over again. (I hope this paragraph raises my stats!)

But that’s for formula romance, which I’m sick of writing. I’m sick of writing it cuz hardly anyone buys my writing, which may be because I’m not thrilled to write formula romance like a real romance writer. Idk. Actually that’s not true. I enjoy writing the bantering dialogue, and I have loved some of my side plots. It’s just the sex scenes… so boring. And I skim over them in novels I read as well because they are all so similar. (I still enjoy the escapism though.)

However! Sex scenes in other types of novels can be great. The scenes I’m writing in my murder mystery are really good imo. I just need more time to tie the complicated threads together before it’s ready to be put on my shelf. And I have this really strange and fantastical novel with tons of kinky sex that’s supposed to be part of a trilogy, but I haven’t had time to begin the second book yet. When the whole thing’s done, it should be the best thing ever!

She says modestly…

~*~

©️2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Sunday Night Blahs

Later tonight my 3TC post will pop into the feed ~ I have 10 more scheduled. These 10 include an announcement that September 10 will be the end of my 3TC hosting. Please let me know if you’d like to host (it’s fun!), and I’ll add your name to the remaining posts so people are aware. I’ve done 178 of these posts now (including the ones coming up), and it’s time for me to move on.

I will continue my Thursday Inspiration prompts because I really enjoy doing those. I don’t always write something myself, but I find it inspirational to search for the music to go with the picture. I’ve been using my Happy Color app pictures, which make me… happy. 🙂

I’ve done two audiobooks and am really disappointed that the narrators don’t seem to be helping out with any marketing. I thought we were in this together. Oh well. It was a good experiment, I guess, but it took a lot of time (and these were short books!), so I won’t be doing more. In a way, I’m glad my 200 page romance novel never got going as an audiobook because that would have taken forever to review.

From time to time, I get bummed out about writing generally, and this is one of those times. I never seem to get anywhere. I don’t have time to market like you’re supposed to, and nothing I write is great enough or lucky enough to simply take off without that. Yes, I write because I love to, but after all these years, it’s depressing not to have made any money at it.

I recently encountered a published poet and his stuff was just so bad… I don’t get it. Not saying my stuff is great or even good. But it’s so random and frustrating what gets attention and what gets published. Same as it’s ever been, I suppose.

Notwithstanding all this whining, there are still lots of good things in my life, just not any good writing news is all. Idk if I want to continue toiling away during my free time finishing all the OCD items on my writing to-do list just to keep seeing a flat line on my sales reports. I could just… stop.

I don’t mean stop blogging. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I have loads of writing in progress. Romance novels in various stages of completion. A murder mystery love story half-done. Stories for anthologies. Finished books I want to edit again. It’s ridiculous.

Happy September. 🐱

~*~

© 2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

The Couch Potato Club [socs 300]

Ever since he was a baby spud 🥔, Russ wanted to become a member of the Couch Potato Club. All the best potatoes belonged to the CPC: Big Red, Goldie, Yam… Russ made it his life’s mission to emulate those tates.

First, he worked out. As soon as he got up in the morning, Russ headed straight for the couch. He never got distracted with invitations to the beach or anything like that. He pulled down the shades so he wouldn’t see sunshine, blue skies, and spuds playing on the grass.

Second, he made sure he had everything he needed right next to him on the couch, just like the CPC handbook said to do. Remotes for the TV, cell phone, snacks, and drinks. He left the couch only to use the bathroom.

Third, if anyone asked him for a favor, he’d say he was busy. It was harsh, but Russ knew he had to be tough and relentless to reach his goal.

Finally, he applied for membership, sure he’d get in. He submitted his best selfie, very proud of how he looked like a big fat lumpy tate on his couch. The reply came quickly. Rejection!

Russ was heartbroken. What happened? He called his friend Yam, hoping to get a direct answer.

“Sorry, bro,” Yam said. “But we have video footage of you in the grocery store.”

“But… but… I needed more snacks!”

“A true Couch Potato orders online and has snacks delivered to maximize couch time. It says so on page forty-seven, paragraph three of the CPC handbook.”

“I missed that,” Russ cried. “I’m sorry! May I try again?”

“Nope. You’re banned for life.”

Russ was so depressed he went outside to play in the sun, didn’t watch where he was going, and got mashed by a truck.

~*~

© 2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

The Daily Four ~ 08/26/19

From Rory’s Question Fun Directory

Welcome to The Daily Four!

Today’s Questions to the Readers are….

What was the worst thing you did as a child?

I got a C in penmanship when I was 10. It made my mom angry and she in turn created my OCD monster, or lured it out. Lots of unfortunate things resulted from this event.

Growing up, what was your ideal dream job and did you bring that to a reality at all?

I had various dreams at various times: scientist, writer, journalist, etc. But I didn’t pursue any of them seriously.

What were the things you both liked and hated about your schooling?

I loved the educational parts of school: reading, writing, even tests (because I was good at them). I hated anything to do with gym or sports or forced social interaction, like Valentine exchanges.

Where there is a will, there is a way! Do you agree?

Somewhat. Forex, I could never be a ballet dancer because I don’t have the innate talent, but if that’s something I loved, I could have been part of that world in some other way, such as a set designer. (Just using this as an example; I don’t care about ballet!)

I think, when we’re younger, we tend to work harder at relationships. Maybe they don’t seem like “work” then. We’re not so inflexible and intolerant about so many things. We decide to be friends or to be in a romance or to pursue a career goal, and we will it to work, whether it’s long-distance or in another culture or whatever. We shrug at hardships and “odds” of failure. Pffft! Failure! We’ll be the special, stand-out case.

But then life happens and most of us non-delusional people (key phrase) come to understand that we aren’t that special. We’ve failed at things we were positive couldn’t go wrong. We’ve been rejected for jobs we snootily assumed we were too good for. We’ve been dumped by dates who weren’t even as smart and cute as we were. Geez!

We start recalculating those odds of failure. We start to understand rejection is the norm whenever we send in a query letter. We start assuming that the next coffee meet is likely not going to be our soul mate. We quit going outside our comfort zone, since even things inside it aren’t sure bets.

What’s sadly ironic is that when we’re young and more inclined to plow ahead with sheer “will,” we probably have less experience and talent to get our “way.” Later when we have experience, talent, knowledge, etc., we have less will to try because of past failures weighing us down, so we just la la around and say meh why bother? I won’t get my way.

I’m sure Rory didn’t want all this gobble goop, but like whatever.

~*~

© 2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon