Just A Little Red

The Great April Fool’s Dream

Posted on April 1, 2015 by DMW

I wanted to do something clever for April Fools’. I thought about writing some elaborate story for a blog post and then at the end declaring, “April Fools’!” I mean I see statuses and such on Facebook all the time. But I was somewhat hesitant about doing it, because as a writer I know building trust with readers is important and a big fake out like that… I just wasn’t sure. And then even if I decided to do that, I had to think about a wild tale I could tell. Something fantastical, but not so far-fetched it is completely unbelievable.

The only two stories that I came up with were saying that I was pregnant or claiming to have won the lottery. As far as pregnancy, it’s been done, but also it is impossible for me to get pregnant so anyone who knows me in real life would know it was a fib, and I could have fun with it. And as far the lottery goes, who hasn’t dreamed of winning? What a crazy and wonderful story I could spin about all of my plans now that we have millions. But I paused when considering both things. If I made these outrageous claims would the universe decide I didn’t deserve to have kids? And instead of a 1 in 198,000,000 chance of winning the lottery, was I screwing myself there too? I mean we don’t even play regularly, but when we do I’d at least like to be 1 out of 198,000,000 instead of a big fat 0. I’m not superstitious at all, I mean really, but I am a worrier and so I just paused long enough to decide, “Better not chance it.”

So then I had to figure out what to write about because I wanted to do something, which is funny since I don’t ever prank others on April Fools’ Day and I think people know better than to try to prank me. And then I remembered a dream I had a couple of months ago and it took place on April Fools’ Day (in my dream, I didn’t actually dream it last April). And I thought, well why not. It was amazing and ridiculous and about April Fools’ or something that everyone thought was a prank, but it wasn’t. That could work. So that’s what I am going to do. And here it is, a dream I dreamt a few months ago about an April Fools’ Day I would love to have materialize for real – no joke!

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Posted in Parenting, Personal, Thoughts | Tagged "April Fools Day", "April Fools", "social media", babies, children, dream, family, holiday, joke, prank, pregnant, relationships, triplets, twins | Leave a comment

The Backlash of Bigotry – A Case Study: Boycott Indiana

Posted on March 31, 2015 by DMW

I hate to say I told you so, oh wait, no I really don’t. (Just ask my husband!) Indiana, I told you so! More than a year ago, I wrote about Arizona and how Governor Jan Brewer was sent a bill for her to sign or veto: SB 1062. The law was similar to what Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, just signed last Thursday. I predicted that should it pass in Arizona, the state and its business owners would be in for a rude awakening. Well, Jan Brewer is just a little smarter than Mr. Pence is, I guess because she realized, “Gay people, and their allies have a lot of money. Maybe I should tread lightly.” And then she vetoed the bill. Pence signed it without hesitation and now he’s trying to backpedal, acting both surprised at everyone else’s reactions, and trying to claim that this bill is no different than other bills in as many as nineteen states. That it’s not about discrimination, but about protecting an individual’s religious rights…

But the problem is that people are smart, and they know how to read, and they’re just not buying the crap he’s selling. I think here is what fanatics don’t understand that other people understand:

I mean seriously, if baking a cake for a gay couple is strong enough to break your faith, your faith wasn’t strong enough in the first place.

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Posted in Christianity, Faith, News, Opinion, Politics, Religion | Tagged 'gay rights", "Angie's List", "human rights", "license to discriminate", "Mike Pence", "Religious Freedom Restoration Act", "religious freedom", #BoycottIndiana, backlash, business, discrimination, Indiana, Salesforce | Leave a comment

Confessions Of A Bookaholic – Guilty Pleasures Edition #71 – Sweet Valley High #65 – Trouble At Home

Posted on March 29, 2015 by DMW

Is this the end of the Wakefield family? One can hope… okay, but seriously, major trouble is brewing and it looks like the end of a marriage is seriously nigh…

“Trouble At Home”

Sweet Valley Scale: 4 out of 5 Twins

There is trouble in the usually happy Wakefield household, and Elizabeth, Jessica, and their brother Steven, are caught in the middle. Mrs. Wakefield is so busy at work that she’s hardly ever home anymore. When she is, all she and Mr. Wakefield seem to do is fight. Tensions rise when Mr. Wakefield tries to help his friend, mayoral candidate, Mr. Santelli after he is accused of accepting bribes, and he case doesn’t go as Mr. Wakefield hopes. When Mr. Wakefield is asked to run for mayor in Mr. Santelli’s place, Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield have a huge fight that might just end their marriage. Elizabeth, Jessica and Steven can’t do anything to help… Could this be the end of the perfect Wakefield family?

In a hurry? Let me save you a lot of time. Mr. Wakefield is acting like an ass because he is going through his own stuff and taking it out on his wife. And then Mrs. Wakefield gets stupid at the end, and they both are being ridiculous and it looks like they’re heading for divorce… But if you have a little more time, here are all the sordid details.

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Reviews | Tagged "in the middle", "internet creeps", "job stress", "midlife crisis", "parents fighting", "party line", "sweet valley high", "trouble at home", book, communication, divorce, family, guilty pleasure, overtime, relationships, sweet valley | Leave a comment

When The Filling Falls Out – Please Don’t Let History Repeat Itself

Posted on March 27, 2015 by DMW

I have terrible teeth. I always try to smile while keeping my lips locked because I am so self-conscious about them. See my teeth look terrible, but my dental care is pretty good. I brush 2-3 times every day. I floss almost every day. I use special mouthwash 1-2 times a day. And I don’t sip sugary beverages, drink soda or do a lot of the other frowned upon things that create more obstacles for happy smiles. I haven’t had a cavity in years. And this is quite a feat, because I do have natural things working against me.

I have a brittle bone disease called Osteo Genesis Perfecta, or OI for short. And it doesn’t just affect one’s bones, but one’s jaw and teeth as well. My teeth are already wanting to crack, break and otherwise retire. (I use special dental hygiene products to help combat this.) I was born without a few teeth in the back on the sides and one in the front refused to come down all the way. And they’re crooked. But when my teeth are just waiting for an excuse to come apart, braces, not to mention more extreme suggestions like jaw surgery or chains on my tooth to force it all the way down, aren’t really options for me. I mean I can totally do them in hopes to make my smile pretty, but most likely it would mean the destruction of my teeth and I would be looking at dentures or implants or something along those lines. No thank you, I’ll stick with my crooked teeth.

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Posted in Health, Life, Personal | Tagged "dental emergency", "dental work", "heart condition", "history repeating itself", "Osteo Genesis Imperfecta", death, dentist, Endocarditis, infection, OI, seizure, smiles, stroke, teeth | Leave a comment

Confessions Of A Bookaholic Presents: Burn For Burn

Posted on March 25, 2015 by DMW

Playing with fire means someone is going to get burned, but in this book three girls make sure that the only people who are going to get theirs, are the people who deserve it the most. Are you ready to get your burn on? 😉

“Burn For Burn”
by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (September 18, 2012)

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is the kind of place where nobody locks their doors at night, where parents can sleep easy, knowing their daughters are tucked away safe and sound in their beds. But bad things can happen, even to good girls, and sometimes the only way to make things right is to do something wrong.

Lillia used to trust boys, but not anymore. Not after what happened this summer. And she’ll be damned if she lets the same thing happen to her little sister. Kat is through with being called a freak. She’s over the rumors, the insults, the cruel jokes made at her expense. It all goes back to one person – her ex-best friend – and Kat’s ready to make her pay. Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. Now that she’s back, he’s gonna be in trouble… ‘cause she’s coming after him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won’t stop until they’ve each had a taste.

Revenge is intriguing. I mean some of the most entertaining things to watch or read have to do with someone out to get someone else, to right a wrong or some sort of offense. As a writer, it is also a lot of fun to write. The project I am working on now – revenge is a central theme, the whole eye for an eye thing. Perhaps it’s because I’m a nonviolent person, but I always think that revenge that is sophisticated, stylish and poetic so that the punishment fits the crime is the best. And in this way this book does not disappoint.

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