10 Things You Probably Never Wanted to Know

Brace yourself to be blown away with my utter lack of coolness.

Its a miracle I have any friends.

And by the way, I took this picture out of my scrapbook. I think this one was taken in Ireland. Good times. (sniff, sniff)

Ok. 10 things you probably never wanted to know. Here we go:

1) I love all things Scottish and English and Irish. Give me a kilt, some bagpipes and Ewen McGregor...oh make it Liam Neeson. Oh no. I just can't choose!

2) When I have the time, which is not very often, I watch incredibly nerdy things on TV like Monarch of the Glen and House Hunters International. (ooh, which house will they pick!?)

3) I do not like to fish. I know, that's practically a sin, right? Especially since my husband and dad are fly fishermen. I'd rather sit on the bank and read. Last summer, in Yosemite, I went fishing with my dad. He made me hold the pole as we stood there in the middle of the creek and when a fish (the size of a minnow) jumped on, I threw the pole at him, splashed toward the bank screaming, "Lord have mercy on my soul!" (at the top of my lungs)

4) I am obsessed with yard sales and love to tell people that I only paid a quarter for something. They say, "Oh, I just love that shelf." And I blurt out the cost without thinking.

5) I love old movies. I was raised on films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Tammy and the Bachelor. And because my parents have always been worship leaders, my family is really into breaking out into song. We'll be sitting there and simply start singing about them "Sobbin' Women." My husband thinks we are from another planet.

6) I read Nicholas Sparks when no one is looking. There. I said it.

7) I have no sense of direction. Truly. I get lost on my own street. And because of technology, my genius husband is only a phone call away.
Me: "Uh, honey. I can't find the chiropractor in our hometown even though it only has one main street."
Him: "I drove you there two days ago. It required only two turns."
Me: "I know. I just got lost again. And I'm scared and alone."
Him: "Don't be scared, its in the middle of the day. And you drove yourself there yesterday. And you got lost then also and called me."
Me: "Help."

8) I am a complete and utter scardy cat.
If a horror film commercial comes on, I have to close my eyes and plug my ears while my hubby, (Aka Mr. Wonderful) will dive for the remote and change the channel knowing those three seconds might still give me nightmares.

9) OK this is so incredibly nerdy, but I will admit it: I snuck in to see a movie.
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Nanny McPhee 2.
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(But I did have a ticket for another movie.)
And I was not alone. *youknowwhoyouare*
It was rather fun and exhilarating. I should really get out more. :)

10) When I was little, I used to make homemade Library checkout cards and tape them inside all my books. Then I would sit there and check out a book to myself by filling in my name and making a note of it in a little log I created. (Mind you, this is all in my own room. By myself.) Then I would read the book and check it back into the "Library". Oh my gosh. I can't believe I just admitted that.

Have a nice day! Now I'm going to go disguise myself and possibly change my name.

Writer's Block (part two)

So I'm back on the subject of writer's block. (If you missed part one of this duo, check it out here.)

Do you want the good news first or the bad news?

Good news? OK, the good news is that I've gotten over my writer's block. Hooray (cue the confetti)

But now for the bad news: there was no fool proof solution. :( Sorry. I was hoping there would be one, but at the same time, its a little freeing to know that as an author, I wasn't doing anything wrong. This wasn't a problem I needed to fix. It was just a season. A phase. And it worked itself out.

After googling "How to overcome writer's block," I found plenty of sites that had the best 10 ways of moving forward. Suggestions like, get some exercise, have a snack, while useful--weren't helping. Its like telling someone you have the flu and they say "Have you taken any vitamin C lately?"

"Yes, I practically Od'd on the stuff, thank you very much, and don't even get me started on the amount of garlic I've consumed. Oh, you already noticed. My point exactly. "


I just didn't find the advice I was looking for. Granted, I could have dug a little deeper, but I was trying to write, and googling writer's block meant I had reached and all time low.

So, while I've mentioned there were no clear-cut solutions, there were a few tricks that definitely helped get the ball rolling--asking my fellow writing friends for tips and suggestions was incredibly helpful! For starters, I kept it up with the outlining and continued pounding away words even if I didn't end up keeping them.

Also, I cleaned up my writing play list. Old songs just gotta go. If I've listened to them too many times, they tend to loose their, uh, potency. Writers, you know what I mean. So I added a song or two (really great ones, as a matter of fact!) and those helped me break into a different level of emotion. Also, I tried acting out the scene (thanks, Dona). While I felt moronic sitting at my kitchen table, a pretend cup of coffee in my hand, having a conversation with invisible people, that experience pretty much aided in the elimination of lame dialogue :D

Another thing I did, was accept that me and my delete button were just going to have to get along. I knew that whatever I wrote on day one, would be deleted on day two. And whatever got put down on paper during day two...yep...day three pretty munch meant: select all, delete. Ugh. It was a little frustrating, but I knew that eventually, I would come up with a scene that would be, well...undeletable (not a word, I know.)

I've just organized my writing desk and have stumbled upon pages of scratch paper. Scribbly notes. Chicken scratch. Arrows. Happy faces. All the workings of a mad woman trying to pull her way out of writers block. But it truly helped. At one point, I just decided to settle on a tone for a particular chapter, whether it be happy, or melancholy, etc. Then I circled it and branched off from there with dialogue ideas, action ideas, what NEEDS to happen.

This NEEDS to happen thing is a really important one to me. In an overall book...certain things need to happen. Take The Chronicles of Narnia, for example. What needs to happen? The kids need to find hope and joy in their new situation (solution: the wardrobe and their discover of Narnia), they need the chance to make a difference in a situation since they have absolutely no control in their lives or the war (solution: they help to save Narnia from the White Witch), etc. etc.

So as I sat staring at this unfinished story of mine, I often write down what needs to happen. Character A needs to make peace with Character B or Character B needs to pick a fight with Character C because I need some conflict in that particular relationship. Once I know what is needed in a chapter/section and if there is a particular mood I'm aiming for, then the pieces can start falling into place. I typically do this for each chapter and after taking a few moments to mentally go through these basics, I dive into writing. I don't really do any planning beyond this. And I just sort of take the chapter...for a little ride (actually, more often it feels like the story takes me for a ride and I'm just hanging on for dear life as the action unfolds--no wonder this writing thing is so much fun) :D

My point is, that for the most part, it just took being bigger than the problem. I spent some time in prayer, knowing that it would not only clear my head, but help me focus on what was important, including hurdles that had been overcome in the past. And I trusted that nothing was impossible!

I stared writers block in the face and told it to hit the road. And when it didn't listen (grrr) I ranted and raved for a few days (hey, I'm human) before buckling down and hitting the keyboard with everything I had. Write. Delete. Write. Delete. Until finally, victory!

Its such a blessing to be free of writer's block and if (I mean, when) it comes back at me, I'll be a little better prepared, and above all, trust that its all in the Lord's timing and sometimes, feeling helpless is a good thing. Its humbling and a tangible reminder to be thankful for the good times, and to keep the faith in the bad.

Oh yeah, and I gotta admit that the exercises thing kinda helped. I bought myself a gym membership and after a few rounds on the treadmill, things at the typewriter started flowing again. Maybe there's something to that bit of advice after all ;)

Writer's Block (part one)

Tap. Tap. "Is this thing on?" oh, ok, it is.

"Ugh." I have writer's block.

To be perfectly honest, its been a while since I've been visited my this unwelcome guest. And as much as I'd like him to pack up his little suitcase and obnoxious voice, which reminds me each time I sit at my computer and pull up my current manuscript, "You have no idea what you are going to write about." And, "Haha, you've written yourself into a corner."

Grrr. I feel helpless.

So since my 1200 word quota for my mon-fri 2 hour writing session (aka, kids nap time) has pretty much dissipated into digital chicken scratch, I am down to making short notes that look like this:

Such and such character should do this. And this other character should do this. And they should get mad at each other and then it will snow and maybe a stray dog can wander into the story and we can name him Pierre, but this is Appalachia so I should name him Jimmy Hotsocks or something really cool and is it too late to add aliens? Maybe Vampires? How 'bout an Amish girl. No that's been done and I still have no idea what I am going to do in this chapter so why am I still typing and when is my brain going to get back from vacation?

Have I already said Grr? Oh I have? That's right, I'm also repeating myself. Lovely, this keeps getting better.

So now that I've used up the allotted amount of word count to rant, I've decided its time to seek a solution. There are several. 1) continue on because I am a professional and this is my job. 2) seek an alternate career choice. 3) go on a three month vacation to Reykjavik and read all the books I can while snowed in for the winter.

Option 3 would be great, but our vacation fund just ain't up to par for that one.

Option 2 is tempting, I could always become a baker, or a butcher or a candlestick maker, but then again, I have this half-written novel that's just begging to be finished.

Which brings me back to option 1. Sigh. I will be professional about this. It CAN be done.

So where do I begin? The first thing to do is step back and take a deep breath (resisting-the-urge-to-turn-on-a-Yanni-CD) and accept that it is now time to plow through my true options--and figure how on earth I can kick this thing called writer's block.

Brace yourself--this is not a writing course and my methods are probably not perfect or even correct, but I'm a little desperate, so I might as well start small and build from there.

Here's what I've got so far:

I've realized that I need to sort out my objective for the next chapter(or 2 or 3). What do I want to accomplish? What mood am I trying to evoke? What MUST happen to drive the story forward? Who do I want the reader to sympathize with, the hero? Heroine? Villain? Hmmm. Lots to think on.

This weekend, I've spent many moments in my "cocoon" which includes shutting out the world for about three minutes while I listen to music and try to play the story out in my mind. This has been incredibly helpful, yet not quite getting me over this hump. I even tried different scenes with different moods. Sometimes I'd imagine a scene with a love song, other times a tense song or even an upbeat song. Each time, the scene changed in my mind, different words were spoken, different actions and in the end--a different result. Scenes got deleted or added in.

So as I'm wading around in the swamp called writer's block, I've realized that the process is starting to feel a lot like making a soup--a little garlic, a little salt, maybe a sprinkle of pepper. As I tweaked things here and there, making subtle changes to dialogue, etc., the scenes started to become closer to what I wanted them to be. But its not there yet. My pages are still covered in chicken scratch with no quality writing, so my goal this week is to break through these next three chapters and hopefully come out on the other side with a few great scenes that are just what this story needs.

Which is why this is called Writer's Block, part one. I'll let you know what happens on the other end! (And I would love any advice or suggestions on how you deal with writer's block, so please, share away!)

If you're ready for part two...check it out here!

2010 Favorites

Ok. I just lied to you. I know I said this was going to be a list of my favorite things from 2010 but since this is my first year blogging, I might back list just a tad. (Don't worry, I promise not to go as far back as The Chipmunk Adventure movie, that was third grade. Ok, maybe sixth, and now I'm totally embarrassed. Moving on.)

This a list of books and movies that I would not only recommend, but bring a smile to my face on a cold blustery day when one just wants to curl up with a throw, a good book or the remote control.

Books:

Anything by Liz Curtis Higgs. (LOVE her Scottish Series: Thorn in my Heart, Fair is the Rose and Whence Came a Prince. Buy it now. And a box of Kleenex.) Her newest book, Here Burns my Candle, also set in Scotland, is fabulous.


Anything by Susan Meissner. (I read The Shape of Mercy and just finished Lady in Waiting. I'm currently in the middle of A Seahorse in the Thames and its really great. I was hooked by page two and that's hard to do. Susan is so good at what she does. Required: no social life for about two days. And I wish I had thought of this one: Pizza + paper plates= more time to read.) The woman has a gift. I've never read a title by her that I haven't loved.

Under the Tuscan Sun. (It was so much better than the movie. Sorry, Diane Lane. I still really like you. But the book was completely different and oh so good. And considering I got the paperback at a yard sale, it was a very inexpensive vacation. Pick up some Italian takeout or your rumbling tummy will have you clamoring for plane tickets to Italy, ASAP.)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Yes I had to check the spelling on that one. It was such a great read. Clever. Heartwarming. Truly captivating and entertaining. Checked it out from the library and upon completion, bought a copy of my own.)

Ok...onto Movies:

Persuasion ( Note the picture above. The version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is soooo lovely. The first time I watched it, I wasn't sure if I liked it--it's a rather slow movie--but, something about that story made me start it over. And after the second time through, I was hooked. The. Best. Love Story. (The book is Lovely.)

Sense and Sensibility (I don't mean to be on a Jane Austen trip, but the girl was good. Really good. I love the version with Emma Thomson, but recently discovered the newest BBC version made for television. Such a beautiful film. (I really want to list Emma and Pride and Prejudice as well, but I will restrain myself. Just know that they are brilliant.)


Lord of The Rings (I could have mentioned this with the books, but I was part of the second generation of Ring fans when the movies came out. I devoured the books during my days of eating lunch in my high school art class with all my nerdy Tolkien friends. You know who you are :) But we had fun. And its still a great flick.)

Robin Hood (The one with Russel Crowe. My husband and I went on a date and being an archer himself, he really liked it. I loved the message of faith and conviction behind Robin Hood's character. )

Ok, I'm sure you're sensing a theme. I'm just the Les Mis and King Arthur kind of girl. Give me a bowl of popcorn, a bubbly drink, and a knight in shining armor any day :)

And I'm excited to see what good reads and flicks the new year will hold!

Simply Christmas

Its that time of year where I can't believe there are only a few days until Christmas.

It feels like I was just making turkey and cranberry sandwiches and now, my decorations will be so last week in well...a week!

There are a few more presents to buy, a stack of mail at the post office to pick up, desserts to bake, festivities to plan, a tree to water and there would even be snow to shovel but its decided to rain for the last four days and I hear its not even over!

I just want to slam my foot on the break petal of December. Come to think of it, why not.

I hope you have your seat belt on.

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Just Breathe. Ahhhh. That feels better already.

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So why are we even here? In the midst of this holiday called Christmas, feeling like the world is whirling by in a swirl of snow globes and twinkle lights.

Wasn't there a purpose to all this? You know, the "Reason for the Season." I always see it posted on gigantic signs in church lawns but has it really sunk in this year? Or have I been more focused on the fact that only half the things on my gift-giving list are crossed out and I'm officially one cookie exchange over the cuckoo's nest?

Its time to turn my attention back to the fact that all those years ago, Mary and Joseph were searching for a place to stay. A place where Mary could give birth to her baby boy. I don't think she had aspirations of a stable with animals and a manger. I'm sure she envisioned a snug little bed in an inn with candles, blankets and warm water. All the things she would need.

Or so she thought she needed.

God had a plan and even as they let go of those things, Mary and Joseph brought their child into this world in the most perfect of settings--a humble beginning for the grandest of kings. Can I humble my aspirations enough to truly enjoy this season? Can we take time away from curling ribbon and fluffing garland to remember that this holiday began in humbleness and love.

Because that is where the true joy is found.

Loving friends, loving family and holding on to the true meaning of Christmas; the story of the child who was born into this world, the child they named Immanuel--God with us.

Many blessings and happy Christmas!

Tell me, how do you slow down during Christmas?


Photo credit: The Nativity Story, 2006

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the little lamb to the Shepard boy.
Do you hear what I hear?

That song is full of the most beautiful words.

I'm a Christmas song geek. But I admit it with pride. I just love them. Since the day after Thanksgiving, my computer has been eternally fixed on my favorite Itunes Christmas station, Heavenly Christmas. There is something about the songs of the season that help me remember the reason we are celebrating. And my love of this music, as for many of us, goes back to childhood.

My dad is a mailman, and for anyone who has ever been in the delivery service, knows that the fun only gets better as Christmas approaches (just kidding). My dad would come home late every Christmas Eve, exhausted from his duties of making certain that every package and card was safely delivered before quittin' time. Once home, he'd kick off his black boots, jump in a hot bath and my sister and I would be giddy with excitement (In my family, we opened half of our presents on the night before Christmas).

I always remember my parents turning on the festive sounds of Nat King Cole. Hearing that smooth voice fill our little house as we enjoyed sparkling cider in my mom's holiday glasses is a memory I will never forget. And dressed in his jammies, my dad would emerge, refreshed and ready to share some Christmas joy with his girls.

Although I have a love for Christmas music, I'm not real big on the hits you hear on the radio (ok, that was an understatement). In truth, I have an embarrassingly large stack of Celtic Christmas Cd's and a few Bluegrass ones that are pretty fun.

But my husband is not a huge fan of Christmas music. Not because he lacks holiday cheer. I mean, the guy is certainly festive. He hung a nice display of Christmas lights on our house (granted he got to use his staple gun which is practically a power tool) and he always sets up my village for me. But he grew up on a Christmas tree lot and the day after Thanksgiving meant getting his hands dirty, strapping trees to minivans and enduring six weeks of Santa Baby. So I can't blame the guy. Although to his credit, whenever he hears the stations shift into Christmas mode he calls me up from work and tells me the stations. (Definite brownie points.) Then again, the other day he told me he liked a Christmas song. Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I nearly fainted with shock.

I have a lot of favorite songs--Oh Holy Night and The Holly and the Ivy, pretty much take the cake. But recently, while enjoying my new found radio station, I kept hearing music by an artist that plays the most beautiful songs on the piano. His name is Tim Neumark and after hearing several of his arrangements, I immediately went to the ITunes store to download the entire CD. But I only had $1.04 in my account, and after fighting the urge to throw a minor tantrum, chose my favorite one, its a variation on "Do You Hear What I hear?"


It's hands down, one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I've ever heard. I highly recommend giving it a listen as it reminds us that the true meaning of Christmas, is what was lying beneath the bright and shining star all those years in Bethlehem; the child who has brought us goodness and light.

I'd love to hear what your favorites songs and carols are...

(Directions to my favorite station: Itunes Radio-Ambient-Got Radio, Heavenly Christmas)

For more on Tim Neumark and his music, visit Tim's Website

Sinterklass ~ A Timeless Tradition

Have you ever noticed that my last name is Bischof? My husbands family is a happy blend of German and Italian. I've never seen my mother-in-law use red sauce from a jar and when it comes to pizza and pasta to die for...well I've married into the right family. But back to the German side of things. There is a little holiday the Bischof children always celebrated when they were growing up. Aside from spending every Christmas Eve devouring plate loads of Waffles and Brats for dinner, they celebrated Sinterklass on the eve of December 5th.

If you are Dutch, prepare yourself for our American attempt at your holiday ;)

Even in America, some Dutch communities still celebrate this holiday town-wide with a parade where kids wait and watch for Sinterklass on his gray horse.

The way my husband grew up celebrating Sinterklass (More properly known in the Netherlands as Sint Nikolaas or Goedheiligman) was to put a pair of shoes out the night before and in the morning, Sinterklass, a man with a red hat and snowy white beard (sound familiar?) has filled them with treats. I hear my hubby and his brothers and sister would search for the largest, deepest pair of shoes they owned and they would often times put out hay for Sinterklass' horse, sometimes even putting it up on the roof. Boys will be boys. And what kid doesn't like to wake up on December 6th--three solid weeks before Christmas--to chocolates and goodies stuffed in their shoes?

When I first met my husband, as the shoes-out-the-night-before thing faded, my mother-in-law would hand each of us a mug stuffed with yummies and a Christmas ornament or pair of socks on the 6th--so its fun for kids of all ages. And now that there are plenty of grandchildren to spread the magic with, the shoes can return!

This will be the first year we celebrate Sinterklass with our kids and I am excited to tell them about it and watch them put their shoes out and when they go to bed, help Sinterklass fill the toddler size treads with dutch cookies and treats. Of course, only if they have been good ;)

Just plain Christmas fun!