The best father any kid could ask for. Answer to question 15 of 100

  15. What is your husband like as a father? How does he interact with your children? What are some of the ways in which he shows them love and respect?

I wanted to give epic answers to these questions in honor of my husband as he deserves all the praise he can get. I have deliberated for many months trying to figure out the perfect responses, nothing I have written so far seems to capture the truth however. All I can come up with ends up sounding like a cheesy infomercial.  I wish I could skillfully tell you how wonderful a father my husband truly is but nothing I say seems adequate. I will just do my best and hope I come close.

 What is your husband like as a father?

My husband is an awesome father! He has been a solid father since the beginning. For example when our first daughter was little he raised her while I went to work. Whenever one of our children was hurt it was my husband who took care of their first aid and comfort. He has always sheltered them from the dangers of the word, and taught them how to survive. He is, and always will be their friend. Our children are blessed to have a father who cares for them as deeply as my husband. He loves them unconditionally and his biggest fear is to die and leave them alone.

  How does he interact with your children?

 As I write this blog post he is playing  video games with them. He also shares with them his passion for music, movies, and TV shows. We are a family of gamers, we play everything from classic to modern. My husband and three of our kids are a killer Fortnite squad and they are a terror of the high seas. The boys play command and conquer with him and they have a lot of fun. Last night we watched Doctor Strange but we have also enjoyed classics like Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof. The same goes for the TV it is extremely diverse. We have binge Stargate one week and I Dream of Gene the next. We even indulge in the obscure things like Wackfu, Rick and Morty, Mike Tyson Mystery Team, and Ōban Star-Racers.  He also spends individual time with each child.

He is teaching our oldest daughter how to cook and order food on a budget.

He helps our middle daughter take and edit photos. He has taught her how to market products and make them presentable.

He builds classic computers with our middle son. They enjoy trying to make the old hardware live again.

With our youngest son, he always answers his crazy questions. He has instilled in him a good work ethic. He has encouraged our son's natural ability to earn and save money by paying him to help with his Angelfish breeding hobby.

What are some of the ways in which he shows them love and respect?

I think the biggest thing that my husband does for our children is while he teaches our children what he knows he is also attentive to their needs and life goals. He has told them on many occasions that he will do whatever he can to help them reach their personal destinations.  

My children and husband do not always see eye to eye, but in the long run, their bond is deep and unlike my relationship with my father they are one lovable unit.They will always be his number one priority.

Abuse is a nasty creature. Answer to question 14 of 100

 14. When you described your traumatic childhood to your husband, what was his reaction? How do you think his perspective on you changed or grew after you talked about it?  

Abuse and its love child PTSD are a living, breathing entities which consume with a hunger that is unmatched in any food chain. How much or little these vile creatures devour of the individuals they pray upon depends on the victim. The reasons for the variation in emotional responses are sometimes people have only a vague notion of what happened to them like a ghost they can see out of the corner of their eye but when they look, at it directly it is gone. While others remember every detail of their abuse as if they are living it repeatedly with full sensory stimulation. My husband is in the latter category not only can he relive his own abuse he can also imagine and recreate other peoples experiences as if he were there personally. This means I have only told him the minor details of my previous life so that he doesn't have more PTSD than he currently has to deal with on a daily basis from his own childhood. These heightened senses are not always bad, however, because he does not treat me with sympathetic indifference when he tells me he knows how I feel he really does. On the other hand, these thoughts are devastating to his mental well being. He has repeatedly told me that he would not be nice to my stepmother or her son if he ever came in contact with them and is always asking me how I survive, with all the things that happened to me. I try to explain to him that I am of the mindset where I know the abuse happened, I can recall some of the most tragic events, but for the most part it feels as if it happened to someone else or like I watched it play out as movie long ago. As frustrating as dealing with my aphantasia has been for him, he never wavers in his devotion to be my protector against my abuse, he would, if given the opportunity fight my battles against my abusers and this makes me feel wanted.

To find out what this question is all about check out my post here

Now what 100 writing prompts

My husband Vs My Father Answer to question 13 of 100

In case you forgot in my absence Writing prompt questions

13. In what ways is your husband similar to your father and in what ways is he different? Have the two of them ever met each other? If so, what was it like, if not, create a hypothetical situation in which they met and chatted.

   

      I have been avoiding answering this question for two reasons, the first being one of my greatest weakness as a writer besides the over use of the word "that" is switching between tenses, past present, and the future, all get mixed together sometimes even in the same sentence. So how do you compair two individuals, one who has resided in the past, while the other is in the present. I still have not figured this out but can not put this off any longer, I am going to just power though, it is not as if this is some massive novel it is mearly a humble blog that I have been neglecting. The second is the very nature of this question requires me to write about my husband who will no doubtably read this if he can get past the first paragraph without getting bored and moving on. Now my husband reading my work in itself would not be a problem except, he always worries about everything. He would  defiantly care about how others will perceive him through my eyes and I do not want to offend him with my words.This my be unavoidable so I beg his forgiveness.

     

     My husband and father, first let me tell you about my father. If you were to ask my brothers to discribe my father they would probably say he was a mean drunk who had no regard for their suffering or their feelings of betrayal and neglect. The believed he just wanted to control them so there was no conflict.  Throughout our childhood my brothers would asked me if I was mad at our dad and I replied "No" every time,  this is not only because it is not in my nature to be mad at someone, I guess I can just see their insides and understand why their exteriors are so ruff around the edges.  To me my father was the man who stood infront of an entire congregation in a dress and lip sang, "Big Girls Don't Cry." He came to my rescue when my candle lighter went out on the way up the isle to light the advent candle. He was the guy who laughed with me so hard at Harry and the Hendersons that we both could hardly draw breath, he was the father who asked me everyday if I had seen Ellie the invisible color changing elephant. In reality he suffered from severe PTSD, and AADHD inattentive type, who bottled up his feelings so much they killed him.

    

    Now to my husband,  the question is where to begin? Let us start on the inside and work our way outward. First of all he has PTSD, AADHD, OCD, GAD,  BD1, and HS. His back is broken and he has severe edima. You would think with all of that weight he has to carry,  he would be a hard person. On the contrary he is one of the softest people I have ever met this does not mean that he is a weakling in any regard he can step up to a challenge if the need arises. I simply mean his heart is not broken. It overflows with love and emotions. Sometimes he is sad sometimeshe is angry but for the most part he is a jolly guy who is quick with a joke, smart, resourceful, and thoughtful of others. He worries alot about the world and what others think of him. He doesn't always see that people care about him, so he feels alone. He is a great muse and a wonderful friend. He loves me despite my flaws and short cummings. His passion for everything he does is massive and his knowledge is vast. He is a caring participating father who loves his children.

      

    So on to the question of my husband's and father's differences, it is like east verses west. My father was a bottler while my husband wears his emotions on his sleeve. My father said nothing, while my husband tells it like it is and then apologies for it afterwards. My father was a workaholic then an unresponsive zombie. My husband does as much as his body allows then plays to ease the pain.  My father did as little as possible to raise us while my husband does as much as he can for our children. Now on to the likes they both are jokers, they love movies, they love me, they like music, and they both have deep scars and fears that effect how they interact with people.

     

      Would they have gotten along? My answer to that is yes and no. The dark side of my father would have hated my husband. He would have been sceptical of his intentions and would have been convinced that he would harm me. He would have advised me not to marry him. The part of my father whom I knew and loved would have noticed how well my husband takes care of, and loves me I truly believe in time he would have accepted him. I think this is why one of my brothers likes my husband while the other does not as they are half of my father one geting the brooding darker side while the other the thoughtful fun side. 

      On one hand I am glad my husband and father never met, it takes away all need to beg my dad to like my husband on the other hand my husband had to deal with my uncle and brothers it is something his photogenic brain can never forget. He spends many hours replaying the situation and hates them for their misjudgment. I am truly sorry he had to suffer their rath and wish I had done more to quench thier fears before they interacted with eachother.

To find out what this question is all about check out my post here

Now what 100 writing prompts

My road to Chemotherapy.

Hello, Normally I am a very private person handling issues internally but lately my life has taken a drastic turn and as a whole it has gotten bigger then myself and my small family to handle on their own. One day I noticed I started getting little brown spots like freckles all over my body then big burses started forming from just the simplest of touch. I jokingly called this my ripe banana syndrome. I went to the doctor and they told me my body was attacking my platelets. To make a very long drawn out story short I have a rare blood disorder. The doctors do not know why I developed it and it is not responding to platelet transfusions, IGIV transfusions and I am having poor response to the steroids. This all means that I now have to have Chemotherapy. For months on end I will be taking treatments with unknown results or side affects. Normally as a person I can handle this sort of thing I think my whole life has been preparing me for just this situation. I however have dependents who need me as I am the sole provider for my disabled husband and our four children. So it is with a humble heart that I call out to you and ask you to read my story the link below and if you have the means give a little. If you do not have the monetary means it is fine I totally understand. I also appreciate all of the prayers and well wishes they are a great comfort.


Sally A Wolf Oncologist Fund

My Anthology submitions published!

Click the links below to find out more!

PRESS RELEASE FOR BLEEDING INK – NOW AVAILABLE AT SMASHWORDS!


Bleeding Ink Author Spotlight – Sally A. Wolf


By it here:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/178855

NOTE: As this book is rated “Adult Content” in Smashwords you must deactivate the “Adult Filter” in order to search/view.

Wednesday WIPpet Time!!

I opened my eyes to find my dog Lovely standing on my pillow his head to one side a thoughtful expression on his face.

What have you done that has been inspired by Art?

          I have decided to take a little brake from answering questions to ask you one. What have you done that has been inspired by Art?


           When I was in Kindergarten, my teacher gave us a piece of paper and told us to make a squiggle on it. Then she told us to turn that squiggle into a picture of something. I made an "S" type squiggle then turned it into a swan with wings and a beak. Since this did not take me very long to do and the other children were still working I continued my picture, adding water and seven Cygnets, one of which didn't want to get in to the water. When the time was up my teacher had us go to the front and show our work. Everyone had one squiggle that had transformed into one thing. When it was my turn I showed my picture and told my story about the poor swan that was afraid of the water. My teacher was so impressed that she hung up my picture on the blackboard.

          I am now 34 years old and I do not draw any better, but the other day when my youngest son was coloring at the table, I sat down, borrowed a piece of scrap paper and drew a squiggle on it. I asked him what he thought it was and he said that it looked like a crown so I turned the crown into a queen. We continued on until we had a queen, a castle, a wizard, a dragon, a knight, a minstrel and a carriage. He asked me to write a story and this is what I came up with.

The Great Queen:

              There once was a great queen, who thought she was the most powerful creature in her kingdom. One day a wizard from a neighboring land came to visit. She summoned him to her throne room.

            “Great Wizard, seer of all things, am I the most powerful creature in my kingdom?” she asked.

The wizard looked into his crystal ball and said, “My dear queen, you do have many great things. The strongest army, the fastest coach, and a mighty castle.”

            “Then I am the most powerful,” she interrupted excitedly.

He shook his head and replied, “No there is another creature greater than you. A dragon lives in your mountains and he is older, wiser and more powerful than you.”

The queen decided that this would not do. She sent all her knights to defeat the dragon, but none returned. She sold her fastest carriage to put up a reward, but no one could best the dragon. Years went by and soon the castle and the queen were in ruins. One day a minstrel came to visit her.

            “I can slay the dragon!” he told the sorrowful queen.

            “I have nothing to offer you in return,” she said.

            “I only ask for your hand in marriage,” he said smiling.

The queen agreed and the minstrel departed. He returned a week later with the head of the dragon. The queen, being a woman of honor, agreed to marry him. They traveled together all over the world singing the tale of a foolish queen who lost it all trying to have everything.

  The forum members at  http://www.devinwrites.com/ write flash fiction contests every month inspired by a photo prompt. The same is true of my poem Forever Mourning. My friend was going to throw out a chalk picture he had done for class: an orange sunset over a bridge. I asked if I could have it and after looking at it for a moment Forever Mourning came out.

Forever Mourning

Time passes so quickly

Like the water that flows under a forgotten bridge

The sun sets on our lives casting shadows across our loved ones

Leaving only the memories of their existence

And the colors behind

The cool water that rushes down river

Whispers a song of sorrow to the weeping wind

It tells of hate and anger

That has long since been abandoned

Opening up to love and friendship that can never end

Since the forever mourning current carries us away

We can only hope to reach the ocean together one day

So until we can walk along the beach

With the sand between our toes

And the foam tickling our ankles

I bid you farewell

As the sun sets beyond the horizon

Leaving only our memories

And their colors behind.

So, in other words, art inspires writing and writing inspires art.  Just look at the success of comic books. Think about that next time you create something, even if you don't think it turned out. One day it might inspire someone else.

Edited by:

I don't know what that sticky stuff is but it is my job to clean it out anyway. Answer to question 12 of 100

12. What is it like working with your husband on his business? Do you enjoy doing this work?  Is it a good way to be in close contact with someone you love? Describe a day in the life working to ship his items.

     I think I am going to approach this question in reverse. First of all what do I do? On the surface, I place the media items that my husband sells into envelopes or boxes tape them up and add labels. There is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes, however. We get the media items in used and abused condition, which means they have to be cleaned, tested and refurbished in order for us to truthfully sell them. Now to someone that has never done anything like this before it might sound easy, but let me tell you it can be challenging. For one thing, some people do not use their items for their intended use.
For example, I have cleaned game systems that have been used for the following: bug motels for ants, spiders, or roaches; cup holders for all kinds of liquids; paint or fingernail polish splatter cloths; ash or smoke trays; stash holders; litter boxes; sticker books; art canvas; candle holder; you name it and I have probably cleaned it off of a system, controller, or game. Even as I write this, I just opened up a Super Nintendo System that is so yucky you cannot even identify what is in it by the slimy remains.
 We buff CD-based items, clean the contacts on cartridges, iron wrinkled manuals, and clean controllers with poor response until they work like new. We believe it is a labor of love to breath life back into used and abused items. When everything is cleaned and tested, my husband artfully displays them for sale. When an item sells, I get a list, which I pull for that day of packing, I double-check the items to make sure they are ready to go, and then I pack them appropriately.
     
      This brings me to my next point: the art of packing. I have to admit when my husband and I first started this business we made all the classic rookie mistakes, like using too much tape, adding newspaper as padding, packing boxed items in envelopes or just wrapping them in paper or newspaper, and packing items in used food boxes. As we matured as a business, we have learned that the post office does not care about your package. It is just an item that must be moved from one point to another regardless of its contents. You cannot expect them to handle it better just because you write “fragile” on it. You are lucky if they read the address correctly, let alone anything you write on the package. It just is not in their unionized job description. Therefore, this means you must pack each item as if it has to survive a natural disaster on its way to its destination. This does not mean you have to spend a fortune on peanuts and bubble wrap; the free supplies provided by the post office are adequate to get the job done. This knowledge comes from the experience of packing over 100,000 items over 12 years.
  
      Are you still with me? Good! Now this job is not for everyone. It requires long hours, dedication and knowledge of the product. So, what are the positive and negative aspects of this job? For the most part, they are one and the same; it all depends on how you look at it.

1.Positive
     a.    You get to set your own hours. There are days when we get up at noon.
  
     b.    There is no one telling you to get to work; you can work whenever you want to.
   
     c.    There is a sense of pride gained in bringing dead items back to life and then    sending them to new homes all over the world.
   
     d.    You get to spend many hours with someone you love instead of only seeing them at bedtime.
   
     e.     There are times when we watch netflix, or listen to music or audio books while we are working.
   
     f.    Media surrounds us; my husband has estimated that if he started today and played one game every day for the next twenty years, he would not have to repeat. That is just pulling from our own personal collection and not including the extra inventory.
   
     g.    We work as a machine every part essential to operate.


2.Negative
     a.    Most of the time we get up at noon because we didn’t get to bed until five AM to get that last package packed for the morning pickup. To make our bills we work almost everyday from the time we get up until the time we fall into bed.
   
     b.    You have to answer to customers who want to know where their product is, and they can be more brutal than the worst boss.
   
     c.    It is a lot of hard dirt, work, and long hours to make abused things like new again.
   
     d.    Spending every minute together can be stressful, especially when mistakes are made, because there is nowhere to escape until the situation is resolved.
  
     e.    Working in the same room means you have to listen to the same music, sometimes on repeat to avoid having to stop working to change it.
  
     f.    There is inventory in every room in the house. Yes, there is even product in the bathroom.
  
     g.    All parts must be present if one of the gears are missing or broken the machine brakes   down. This means that there is little time to pursue other interests like my writing or music for my husband.

     So what do I have to say in conclusion to those of you who have been brave or stupid enough to read all of this rambling? First, you paid money for your items, try treating them like it. Secondly, although many have tried, this job is not for everyone and even though we are not always the lowest price out there, you can buy with confidence knowing we have put our all into making everything we sell the best it can be so you can enjoy it for generations to come.

Edited by:

Love is just a mouse click away Answer to question 11 of 100

11. Talk a little bit about your relationship with your husband. How did you meet and how did you two come to fall in love? 

     Love is just a mouse click away.  Nowadays that phrase does not seem very unusual but in the early nineties it was a big taboo. The internet was just starting to bloom and there were a lot of people who thought it should just be left alone. For a young college student who was living on her own for the first time, the prospect of talking to people around the world was too tempting to pass up. 

      After graduating from High School, I moved to Dillon, MT to attend the college there. One of my first classes was a computer course. We learned about sending email and browsing and writing form letters. One of my friends showed me a great sight called TalkCity.com where you could chat with people from all over the world. From then on I spent every hour I could on there. At home I downloaded the new MIRC to my computer so I could chat with sounds and music.  One day I was having trouble with my computer. I had brought a new printer because the programs on my computer were not compatible with the ones at school and I could not print out any of my writing. I went on MIRC and asked if anyone could help me. My now husband answered and in just a few minutes he got my printer installed.  We started talking every day, first on the computer then on the phone and found out we had similar backgrounds.  After talking to him for nearly a year he invited me to his house for Christmas and I accepted. He flew to Montana then we flew together to Wisconsin. The rest of what happened is another story; needless to say, almost a year and a half after I asked for computer help he asked me to marry him and I said yes. We have now been married for fifteen years and he is still there when I need him.  I am not saying that our lives have been all roses and peanut butter cups but the best part of it is that no matter what life throws at us to upset the balance, we have always got through it together. If I could go back in time and do it all over again I would not hesitate to repeat it all.

The river is so loud it silences all words Answer to question 10 of 100

10. What do you think your stepmother’s reaction was to you being taken away to live with your uncle and aunt? Imagine a conversation between her and your father after they learned of your fate. 

I cannot imagine the conversation that my stepmother and father had after we were taken away. As far as I can recall they never had any conversations when I was still there. My stepmother had a way of talking circles that would confuse anyone into giving her exactly what she wanted and all the while the victim of her rant would think it was their idea.

My brother thinks that such a conversation would have gone something like this.

Stepmother- "Isn't it nice that we can finally take a family vacation without the kids ruining everything? They always found a way to ruin the whole trip. Don't you think so?"

Father- "Do we have anymore of those cookies?"

 Did it happen that way? I would not be surprised if it had. My dad was a man of little words, especially about things that hurt him. He knew deep down what had happened but he was so filled with sadness he could do nothing to stop or change it. 

I can, with a heavy heart, tell you for certain the conversation I had with my dad on the last day I saw him. After a long hard fight, I had finally convinced everyone to let me see my dad alone without a case worker lurking in the background. So one weekend he come up to see me, we got pizza and went to the park to talk.

At first I joked with him about wearing a hideous leather bracelet that I made for him. The funniest thing about this bracelet was that it was bright pink and purple and it looked ridiculous on him. He was so proud of it. He wore it like a Rolex and I felt silly and honored all at once. We talked about school and my brothers, and then as our time together grew to a close he got very serious and asked me:
 

Father-"Will you ever come home?" 

Me- "Do you still live with her?" 

He nodded

Me- "I can't! I just can't live with her." 

He hung his head in defeat. 

We said our goodbyes and he dropped me back at my aunt and uncle's House.

 The very next week he was gone from this world lost in the Missouri River. That dark conversation still haunts me to this day. 

What is the point of revenge? Answer to question 9 of 100

9. Imagine you had the opportunity for revenge on the people who wronged you during your childhood. Would you take it? If so, what would you do? If not, what would hold you back?

I get asked this question all the time when I tell people about my childhood situation. I always answer with a question of my own. What is the point of revenge? 

    Abuse is about power and the desire to fill the endless emptiness inside by taking away your life force. So by wanting to inflict revenge on those who hurt me I am in turn continuing the cycle of power and fulfillment. This means they win. By effectively turning me into them they cause my insides to slowly be eaten away leaving me with an even bigger hole to fill.

    Trust me, if revenge consumes you, you will inevitably miss the fact that you are no longer under the influence of your aggressor; therefore, you will continue to miss the beauty of life that being abused takes away. Stop taking it upon yourself to punish those who have hurt you because now that you are no longer abused you do not have to be driven by their desires. You are free to live your own life. Their thoughts, feelings and wants are no longer your concern, You do not have to try and fulfill them. Start living YOUR life not theirs! I know that if you are reading this right after leaving an abusive relationship you are thinking I am full of it. It will take time to understand that you are now your own person and you no longer have to pretend to be something you are not. I can tell you all this until I am blue in the face but you have to find out for yourself. That is the best part of not being abused anymore: you learn about yourself. You find that you have your own wants and desires. 

     So to answer the question “If you had the opportunity for revenge on the people who wronged you during your childhood, would you take it?” No. 

“If not, what would hold you back?” I feel they will have to answer for their wrong doings in time and it is not my job to render punishment. All I can do is forgive them and leave the rest to higher powers.

     I know that being abused is hard. Every day is a struggle just to survive. I also know that when the abuse stops you feel alone and lost; you can't live without the abuser telling you what to do. It does not have to always be this way. You are now in charge of what you want to be and since there is no one but you, there is no limit to reinvent yourself into someone you can be proud of. Find that inner voice that will guide you. Follow a dream you never thought was possible. The way may be dark and scary but it is not blocked. You can walk freely on your own two legs. Also you can put this special promise that I give to you in a safe place and take it out whenever you need an extra boost of confidence: 

"I don't know you. I have never met you before but I am here!  You are not alone! I love you!"

Thanks for reading my blog I hope it helps.

EDIT DONE BY:

Time is a funny thing. Answer to question 8 of 10

8. Do you think that your childhood situation would have been different in a different era, like 50 years earlier or 30 years later? How would it be different? Would it have stopped sooner or kept going longer?

Time is a funny thing when you turn back the clock or turn it forward things either slow down or speed up.
    I think that if this had happened 50 years earlier and all the members stayed the same. Then it still would have ended up in the same way it would have just taken longer and there might have been a tragedy that I don't know if I could have recovered from.
   That said this had happened 30 years latter I think that it would have been processed a lot faster and we may not have been harmed as much. 
    The real factor would have to be the people involved. I was removed from the home because my brother was going to attempt suicide and my stepmother refused to come and get me after a girl hit me with a backpack and my eye swelled shut. My older brother called my aunt and uncle and begged them to take us. If all of these things had not occurred in the order that they did when they did who knows what would have happened.
    I know that what happened was a terrible thing that I would not wish on anyone including my young self but it has made me who I am today and I would now not part with it for the world.

The World Though Rose Colored Glasses. Answer to question 7 of 100

7. What do you think it was about your step mother that appealed to your father? Why do you think he was willing to let her have her way with you without assertively stopping the punishment? What would you say to a man in love with such a mean-spirited person to convince the man to stay away?


What do you think it was about your step mother that appealed to your father?
     Before you I can answer this question first I have to tell you a little bit about my mother. She was a kind person who saw the best in everyone and refused to believe in the bad. I have heard from two different people now  that my mother met my step mother in collage. When My stepmother was going through a divorce my mother offered for her to come and stay until she was on her feet. It was during  this time that my stepmother would make her first move toward my dad. Several hours before my dad was due home from work she would disappear, and then magically reappear all gussied up when my father came home. She would spend the next several hours waiting on him. This attention stuck in my fathers mind and when my mother died and he no longer had anyone to take care of him he turned to her for comfort. My father had a very dependent personality, that required someone to tell him what to do or he was lost.  I think that it stems from the fact that he never stopped being a soldier.

Why do you think he was willing to let her have her way with you without assertively stopping the punishment?     To some extent I believe that my father was somewhat like my mother in that he only saw the good in people. She took good care of him therefor she took good care of us. She manipulated him into thinking that we were the problem that despite her best efforts we were rejecting her because she was not our mother. Other then that I think that he was color blind. There were things that she did to us right in front of him. Like one time she asked me if I washed my hands before dinner. She didn't believe me so she went outside and got a cup of dirt, pored it on my food, and made me eat it all. My dad was sitting there the whole time just watching T.V. During the trial he told the judge that he had done all of those bad things, I wonder if he truly believed that  because he did nothing somehow he did.
   

 What would you say to a man in love with such a mean-spirited person to convince the man to stay away? 
First of all in relationships like this where one of the parties is being sucked dry by the other. The victim has no idea that, their special someone is mean spirited. This is the real problem, everything to them is wonderful and they are shocked when it all crumbles down around their ears. It is like a great wall that is built out of  bricks of promises of fake safety. Over time  the river of reality  erodes the foundation from underneath it. This means that on the surface it looks like the wall will never fall down but soon there is no  foundation. One day out of the blue the force of  all the lies will make it topple this causes an avalanche that barriers everyone involved. Some people are found or escape, while others are crushed under the wait of the loss. All you can do is be moral support when it is required.

Crime, Punishment, and a Good bunch of kids answer to question 6 of 100

6. What are some of the things you are careful to do with your children as a result of your childhood experiences? How do you teach them things like manners and cleaning when those two areas were so awful during your upbringing?

     The most important thing that I try to do is not carry on the tradition of abuse. I was one of the lucky ones compared to a lot of people who are victimized I was taken out of the home at ten years old therefor I had eight years of experience with a different way of discipline and  teaching of values.
Cleaning
      My children all have assigned tasks that best suit there abilities. The oldest does the dishes and walks the dogs, the middle one laundry and feeds the dogs, and the younger two garbage.  All of them help the others with their tasks when theirs are finished.
   There is also a great difference in the reprimand of poorly done jobs. If for example they wash one dish badly. I do not require them to wash every dish in the whole house just the dish that they miswashed. Sometimes I have to remind them sternly to do their assigned task but I never drag them there, by their ears or make them do it without any cloths on.  If they do not do their jobs their privileges are taken away such as Video games, and TV until it is complete. I give them a three strikes your out rule I tell them nicely three times before raising my voice.
 Manners
As far as manners go there are three rules that I have established that have kept the peace for the most part.
Rule One: Ask person to stop if that doesn't work move to Rule two
Rule Two: Leave troubled situation and do rule three
Rule Three: Tell Parent
My children know these rules and fallow them most of the time.
I have instructed them in Etiquette but I don't yell at them if they put there elbows on the table or forget and chew with their mouth open. Meal times are about being together and most of our everyday meals are on TV trays watching our favorite shows.

Summery 
I know that if you were to ask my children they would probably tell you first off that I am a terrible dictator but then after further questioning consed that I am not that bad. The tasks that I have assigned them are things that they need to know to survive when they leave here. Every one in the house will know how to wash the dishes, do laundry and remedial tasks like vacuuming and bathroom clean up. That said I do not solely require them to do it by themselves I take my turn at all of the tasks.

P.S.
After rereading this I must stress one other point my children are loved outwardly, this means that they are told repeatedly that they are loved. Hugs are given all of the time not just when they are hurt .   There is no secret love around here, and I think that in turn they show this love in there good behavior.

Fact or Fiction You Decide Answer to Qusetion 5 of 100

5. Imagine that the imaginary girl who helped you to cope with your traumatic experiences came back today to help you in your current life. What would you say to this imaginary girl and do you think you would still need her in your life right now?

     I know that it is very childish but Susan is still with me and I don't think that she has ever left. Let me tell you a bit about how Susan came about and maybe you will understand why. When I was a kid they thought that every time I drank milk, I would get cold like symptoms runny nose, watery eyes and chapped lips. Whenever these symptoms happened my Stepmother would accuse me of drinking milk at school. One such occasion it was really cold out side and my lips where very chapped. I came home from school and was on my way to my room to get some balm to put on them. When I was confronted by my stepmother outside my bedroom door she demanded to know why I was drinking milk at school. When I told her that I was not drinking any milk at school she back handed me across the mouth. The cracked lips busted open an blood poured out of my mouth. I put my hand to my mouth and headed toward the bathroom. She back handed me again and told me that she had not given me permission to leave. I stood there shaking before her then she hit me again and said stop bleeding all over my carpet get in the bathroom.  That night I lay awake for a long time hoping that my stepbrother would not come for me when I finally fell asleep this is what I dreamed.

    A mother and child traveled alone along an old back road. The mother leaned forward and squinted through the windshield hoping it would help her see through the blinding snow. Her daughter sat in the back seat holding a warn black teddy bear to her chest. She could feel her mothers anxiety and tried to stay quiet but soon fear got the better of her and she asked.
"Are we there yet?" the mother risked a glanced away from the road and gave her daughter a warm smile hoping that it would reassure her.
"Don't worry it is just a little bit further." When she looked back at the road the mother wished that it was true. They still had several miles yet to go and the storm seemed to be getting worse. With greater intensity she gripped the wheel and prayed. The snow streaked down and the car crawled along. The mother risked a peak in the review mirror once again and she found her daughter nodding off her little head sagging onto the top of her teddy bear. When her eyes went back to the road they were blinded by a bright light coming strait for them in the middle of the road was a large semi-truck. She swerved to avoid it but the icy road spun them around until they were in its path again the truck hit the side of the car sending it flying over the embankment. It flipped over and over until it came to rest at the bottom. The mother was dazed and confused blood was dripping down her face out of a large gash on the side of her head. It seemed to scream in pain when she shook her head trying to clear it. Suddenly she remembered her daughter and despite her pain she craned her neck to see into the back seat. Her daughter was on the ceiling of the car at first she seemed to just be sleeping there until her mother noticed she was bent in an unnatural angle. The mother then screamed one word it echoed through the car and out into the night.
"Susan!"

It was at this moment that my alarm clock chose to go off I was ripped out of my sleep and despite my wishes to remain curled up under the covers I knew that I had to get up. I got dressed at my cereal with orange juice on it and then when into the bathroom to bush my teeth. When I looked in the mirror to examine my split lip it was not my own face that I saw but that of Susan's. She smiled at me and said.
"Don't worry I will protect you now." Startled I stepped back from the mirror and the reflection there in was once again my own. I never saw her face again but every time I was hurt I could her her words in my ear telling me that she was there. From that moment on she became my imaginary friend and we did everything together.
     I know that you probably think that I am a quack and that what I have told you is untrue. I have days when I don't even believe it myself.  Then there are other days when I can still hear the scream of her mother and the unmistakable face in the mirror telling me not to worry that everything was going to be alright now and I believe with all my heart. Know you know why I think that Susan is still with me and I talk to her now and again. I believe her to be my guardian angel that when she is not off playing hopscotch with Jesus she is keeping a watchful eye on me. Whenever I am hurt, in pain or sad she is always at my side to offer counsel and support.

Leave Time Alone Answer to Question 4 of 100

4. What do you think you would tell the third-grade version of yourself if you had a chance to send a message back to her? What would the message say and how do you think it would have affected you to see such a message?

When I was in the third grade it was really bad at home. My oldest brother was taken from the home and placed in a Group home. The middle one ran away and then attempted suicide.  I spent most of my third grade year stuffed in my little cubbyhole crying into my coat. So what would I tell my third grade self. Nothing at all I know that that sounds harsh but, It was that endless crying that got the school worried about me. They started an investigation that took the rest of third grade until the end of fourth with a little help from the counselor at my brothers school as he was the one whom my brother called before pulling the trigger.
     As for my part I came to school in my pajamas, because do to a late night visit from Frank, I slept in. My stepmother  sent me to school without getting dressed in the dead of winter. When I got to school I was shivering in the entryway before school the teacher saw me and asked me why. I showed her and we went to the office where they gave me some lost and found cloths.
     Next I got in a fight on the bus the girl hit me with her backpack that had a cookie monster calculator in the pocket. It hit me square in the eye and it turned all blue, swelled up so much that it closed.  My stepmother refused to come and get me so I had to stay in the office all day. So even though I was suffering I would not tell myself anything. You see I belive everything happens for a reason even if we don't know it at the time.

The Ultimate Conversation answer to question 3 of 100

3. Imagine that you were put into a room with your step-mother and step-brother. What do you think you would say to them? Detail the conversation from beginning to end.


The words for this have been rambling around in my head all day and up till this point I thought I was alright. As the words blink themselves onto the screen I hear that memory truck screaming toward me. You would think in all of these years the driver would have had his breaks fixed. Or are those my screams the ones that caught in my throat as I lay on the cold hard ground after a nightly running session. Or is it the one that filled my mouth and choked me while my stepbrother used my insides to wet his clarinet reed. In any case it is with a heavy hart that I tell you the fallowing conversation. Please note that the names have been changed to ward off the Google spider.



Stepmother Vanessa Burg (she still used my fathers last name 6 years after his death)

Stepbrother Frank

Not long after I realized that holding all of that anger, guilt, shame and frustration was killing me, I put it all at God's feet. He placed a hand on my head and said "Thank You!" Still feeling empty and unfulfilled I looked up my stepmother in the phone book.  This is the conversation that took place.


"Hello Vanessa Burg's residence."

"Hello Van this is Sally is Frank at home I was hoping to talk to you both." there was a long pause on the line and then.

"Sally, My dear girl how are you." I heard him smack his lips.

"Fine I am calling because I wanted to talk to you both about something." Just then tears started to stream down my face and my throat dried to the point that I could hardly speak. I cleared my throat and continued. "Recently I met God and I have given him my burdens." I could her my stepmother start to breath impatiently. "I am calling to tell you both that I forgive you for the bad things that you did to me." there was silence on the other end of the line it was so loud that I could hear every beat of my heart.

Finally she spoke the words echoed around in the ear piece "Is that all you have to say?"

A "Yes!" was all I could muster.

"Fine then!" Where the last words I heard her say before  the click and then a dial tone.


I sat for many hours just crying until I fell asleep. When I awoke I felt somewhat lighter as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Even though, that truck of emotion still haunts me the heavy burden has not returned.3. Imagine that you were put into a room with your step-mother and step-brother. What do you think you would say to them? Detail the conversation from beginning to end.

The words for this have been rambling around in my head all day and up till this point I thought I was alright. As the words blink themselves onto the screen I hear that memory truck screaming toward me. You would think in all of these years the driver would have had his breaks fixed. Or are those my screams the ones that caught in my throat as I lay on the cold hard ground after a nightly running session. Or is it the one that filled my mouth and choked me while my stepbrother used my insides to wet his clarinet reed. In any case it is with a heavy hart that I tell you the fallowing conversation. Please note that the names have been changed to ward off the Google spider.


Stepmother Vanessa Burg (she still used my fathers last name 6 years after his death)
Stepbrother Frank
Not long after I realized that holding all of that anger, guilt, shame and frustration was killing me, I put it all at God's feet. He placed a hand on my head and said "Thank You!" Still feeling empty and unfulfilled I looked up my stepmother in the phone book.  This is the conversation that took place.

"Hello Vanessa Burg's residence."
"Hello Van this is Sally is Frank at home I was hoping to talk to you both." there was a long pause on the line and then.
"Sally, My dear girl how are you." I heard him smack his lips.
"Fine I am calling because I wanted to talk to you both about something." Just then tears started to stream down my face and my throat dried to the point that I could hardly speak. I cleared my throat and continued. "Recently I met God and I have given him my burdens." I could her my stepmother start to breath impatiently. "I am calling to tell you both that I forgive you for the bad things that you did to me." there was silence on the other end of the line it was so loud that I could hear every beat of my heart.
Finally she spoke the words ecoed around in the ear piece "Is that all you have to say?"
A "Yes!" was all I could muster.
"Fine then!" Where the last words I heard her say before  the click and then a dial tone.

I sat for many hours just crying until I fell asleep. When I awoke I felt somewhat lighter as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Even though, that truck of emotion still haunts me the heavy burden has not returned.

Anger vs Faith answer to question 2 of 100

2. How do you feel toward the people who acted in such a negative way toward you when you were growing up? Have you forgiven them?

             It is not my place to judge the people who have hurt me in my past. There was a time that I was consumed by hate and anger toward these people but it started to eat me alive. These negative emotions started to corrode my insides to the point were I was never happy.  As a result I would just sleep for days on end until I almost died from starvation. Then I learned that there was someone willing to take on the burden of judgment and punishment and all I had to do to be free was to give that responsibility to them.  I know that for people without faith that this seems very hokey. I believe that God or whatever you like to call him is a relationship not a religion. Each person has there own duty to decide what that relationship means to them. My relationship is as fallows because I believe that there is a higher power out there that is beyond my comprehension or control.  I do not believe that have to go to church to be closer to him and I work on Sundays. Instead, I talk to God like he is my best friend wherever I happen to be. We have many long chats none of which I do on my knees. During these chats I tell him my troubles and he helps me when he sees fit. This means, I don’t give him ultimatums or try to say what he should do for me.  I accept the help he provides and try not to question his motives as they are usually right even if they seem absurd to me at the time. So in answer to the questions I feel sorry for the people who hurt me in the past I wish them best of luck when they have to answer for their actions. I have forgiven all of them hate and anger are too heavy of an emotion for one person to carry.  

Life goes on answer to question 1 of 100

1. What are some of the ways you’ve dealt with having a traumatic upbringing? What are some of the things you would suggest to someone who has gone through similar past experiences to get on with his or her life?

    Every one deals with pain and suffering in their own way. There are some people who are angry and bitter, there are some who chose to ignore it completely.  There are still others like me who chose to embrace what has happened to them and fold it into their daily life enriching every moment to the fullest. 
How have I dealt with the terrible things that I have happened to me?    
      I write as much as I can happy stories, sad stories, flash fiction contests, blog comments, emails, I am a member of yahoo groups where I pretend to be a wolf or a dragon, discussion groups about the books that I am reading, and a group about writing. I write my own story to tell people what has happened to me. All of this writing helps me work through emotional turmoil of my everyday life and is a wonderful release of pent up emotions. Now don't get me wrong not every day is roses and lollypops there are days where my past comes rolling back into my life like a mac-truck knocking me for a loop but I always try and remember that life goes on. There is always the beat of your hart that remains constant. Like in the Reba McEntire song "For My Broken Heart" “Life goes on the world doesn't stop for my broken heart.” There are good days and there are bad days but if I learn from the bad and cherish the good then life can go on.

So how can suffers from a past or present deal with there pain?

I know that writing is not for everyone but I do know there is something out there for everyone. There is a fervor that is hidden in all of us. You may not know it yet but there is some spark inside you that is waiting to become a raging fire of passion that once it consumes you will become helpless against its will. The trick is to find that spark and give it kindling. I know that that is very vague but every person is different and what works for me may not work for you. Just remember that even though you think that you are alone there is always someone out there who loves you very much and they keep watch over you whether you care for them to do so or not.

Now What?

     I have written about writers block, how I became a self published author, my literary hero and  why I write. So what is left? I am secretly envious of those of you who can whip out a blog post once a week even with busy schedules. Me on the other hand I am lucky to make one every two to three months.  When I can I frequent these blogs and post comments to show my support. A while back I entered a contest on http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/ where the winning comment got 100 personal writing prompts from Bryan Cohen of http://www.build-creative-writing-ideas.com  an author of many books on self writing help and writing ideas all of which are very informative and available on amazon here . By some strange bit of chance I was randomly selected as the winner. Now I have 100 blog posts without having to do anything but answer his 100 questions. So here is the deal right now money is tight because those pesky bills are due so I have limited if any computer time but as soon as I can I plan to try and make one blog post for each of his questions If I can I want to make them at least 100-1,000 words.  Here are the questions so far:

Trauma

1. What are some of the ways you’ve dealt with having a traumatic upbringing? What are some of the things you would suggest to someone who has gone through similar past experiences to get on with his or her life?

2. How do you feel toward the people who acted in such a negative way toward you when you were growing up? Have you forgiven them?

3. Imagine that you were put into a room with your step-mother and step-brother. What do you think you would say to them? Detail the conversation from beginning to end.

4. What do you think you would tell the third-grade version of yourself if you had a chance to send a message back to her? What would the message say and how do you think it would have affected you to see such a message?

5. Imagine that the imaginary girl who helped you to cope with your traumatic experiences came back today to help you in your current life. What would you say to this imaginary girl and do you think you would still need her in your life right now?

6. What are some of the things you are careful to do with your children as a result of your childhood experiences? How do you teach them things like manners and cleaning when those two areas were so awful during your upbringing?

7. What do you think it was about your step mother that appealed to your father? Why do you think he was willing to let her have her way with you without assertively stopping the punishment? What would you say to a man in love with such a mean-spirited person to convince the man to stay away?

8. Do you think that your childhood situation would have been different in a different era, like 50 years earlier or 30 years later? How would it be different? Would it have stopped sooner or kept going longer?

9. Imagine that you had the opportunity for revenge on the people who wronged you during your childhood. Would you take it? If so, what would you do? If not, what would hold you back?

10. What do you think your step mother’s reaction was to you being taken away to live with your uncle and aunt? Imagine a conversation between her and your father after they learned of your fate.

Family

11. Talk a little bit about your relationship with your husband. How did you meet and how did you two come to fall in love?

12. What is it like working with your husband on his business? Do you enjoy doing this work?  Is it a good way to be in close contact with someone you love? Describe a day in the life working to ship his items.

13. In what ways is your husband similar to your father and in what ways is he different? Have the two of them ever met each other? If so, what was it like, if not, create a hypothetical situation in which they met and chatted.

14. When you described your traumatic childhood to your husband, what was his reaction? How do you think his perspective on you changed or grew after you talked about it?  

15. What is your husband like as a father? How does he interact with your children? What are some of the ways in which he shows them love and respect?

16. What do your children think of you? Imagine that they had to write a story about the things they like and know about you. What would they write?

17. Write about a day in the life of homeschooling your children. What do you do to prepare for each lesson? How does a typical lesson go? Do you supplement your school with multiple field trips or other things you wouldn’t normally find in public school?

18. Write a little bit about your children and what they mean to you.

19. If you had to guess right now what your children would do for a living when they grow up, what would you guess and why? How would they excel in those particular professions?

20. Describe your extended family and your relationships with them. How well do you get along and how often do you see each other? What do they think of you and the way you run your household? Go into extreme detail.

Your Writing

21. Which of your stories are you the most proud of? Which of your stories do you think needs the most work and why?

22. What is your goal as a writer? What do you want to have accomplished as a writer in 5 years? 10 years? 25 years? How do you want your writing to be remembered?

23. How do you think that self-publishing has changed your expectations of what you can do as a writer? Do you think that you will eventually self-publish all of your work or just a few selections? What do you think is the secret to selling books on the Kindle?

24. If you could meet any writer to pick his or her brain for an afternoon who would it be and why? What questions would you ask and how do you think it could help your writing?

25. What kind of messages do you feel like you convey in your writing? Do you think that someone could read your writing and get something out if it? What do you hope that someone walks away from your writing thinking?

26. Which do you enjoy writing more: poems or short stories? What do you like about writing each form and what other forms of writing might you be interested in trying?

27. Imagine that you have been given $50,000 to write and promote a book. What would you write about and how would you get the word out about it?

28. If you could write a book that you think your husband you would enjoy thoroughly what would it be and why? Do you think that other people would enjoy it or just him?

29. How do you think that technology has changed writing? Would you have written as much if blogging and posting your material online was not available? How do you think writing will change for your children and future grandchildren?

30. How would life change for you if you wrote a bestselling novel? How do you think your friends and family would react? What do you think you would do to celebrate the achievement?

He is still working on the next 70 this is the first time he has ever made 100 personal writing prompts and I am as complicated as I am simple.  I will post the rest as soon as he is done. I will then start my quest with question one and work my way down. So my few followers keep your eyes peeled for some serious writing going on on my end. Thank you so much Bryan Cohen, The True Book Addict and anyone who happens to read this humble blog.

Next up:

31. Do you enjoy your line of work as a part of your husband's business? What are the five best things about it and why? What are five things about the business that could you some improvement and how could you add those positive aspects to the business?

32. There are many video game enthusiasts in the world and it would not surprise me if more than a few of them have ordered from your business. Tell a story about one of the strangest people you've ever had order from your business. If you don't have a direct story, imagine that one of the biggest video game nerds found your business and bought everything you had to offer and write a story about it.

33. What are some of the things you think about during a long day of packing and shipping in your business? Does your emotion run wild or do you usually think about more practical matters? Write a stream of consciousness of what you might think about during a typical packing session.

34. Have you ever thought about the story of one of these old video game systems and the stories they might be able to tell? Write the personification of one of these video game systems and detail its life from the original factory, to its original owner, the long journey to your house, and the way out to its new, appreciative buyer.

35. If you had the skill and the resources to create a video game what do you think it would be about and why? How have your experiences of the video game business affected your opinions about what would be effective in a video game?

36. What would your dream job be and why? What are some of the things you might miss about your current line of work? What would your husband's dream job be and why?

37. Do you think that you might someday be able to live almost completely based off of your writing like some authors in the world? How would you feel if hundreds of readers were purchasing your books every single day?

38. What would be the best thing that could possibly happen to you and your husband's business? If that did happen, what would you do with all of your success? Expand the business? Start something new?

39. What would you and your husband do for money if the current business no longer worked for you two? Talk about a "back-up" plan and how it would keep you and your family both afloat and prosperous.

40. What is the best job that you've ever had? What was so great about it? What do you think you learned from working in that particular place?

Books, Books, Books

41. Of all the books you've ever reviewed, which is the one you think that changed you the most as a person? Why would you recommend this book to other people?

42. In contrast, what is the worst book you've ever reviewed? If you had a personal conversation with the author, what do you think you would say to him or her to convey what could be done better in a future revision of the book?

43. What is a book that you would read over and over again if you could? Do you think your husband and children would enjoy the book as much as you? Why or why not?

44. What is the best book you've ever read by a relatively unknown author? Why do you think this author's name deserves to be famous and read by as many people as possible?

45. Which character in a book do you most relate to personally? Which character best embodies your husband? Your kids? The rest of your family?

46. What would be your dream book to write? What would the title be and what would the book be about? What type of person would be the most likely to read this book?

47. If you could live in the world of any book, which book would it be and why? What do you think the world of that book has to offer that your current life doesn't offer you? What is one way you could make your life more like the world of the book?

48. What is it about books that are more effective as escape and relaxation than television, radio, video games or movies for you? Does the rest of your family feel the same way? If not, how do you think you might be able to convince them?

49. What is your personal opinion about the big shift from paper books to digital books for the Kindle and Nook? Do you think digital books will ever replace paper books? What is your personal preference?

50. What part do the books you like play in your home schooling efforts? Have you successfully recommended some books for your kids to read? Do they have a similar taste in books as you or a completely different one?

More Family

51. If you had the chance to repair your relationship with your aunt and uncle and their children, would you? What do you think would have to happen to fix the issues you have with them? How do you think your children would react to connecting with them for the first time?

52. What do you think your dad would say about you and your family if he was alive today? Do you think he would be proud of you? Do you think he would be happy with the woman and strong mother that you are today?

53. How do you get along with your two older brothers? Do you have a stronger bond than most families because of the things that you all went through when you were younger? How often do you all see each other?

54. In your story you said that your aunt was disappointed in your during your time living with her. How do you make the effort to show your children that you are proud of the things they do so that they don't have to go through what you did? As they grow older, what do you think you will have to do to build their self-esteem and other positive qualities?

55. What advice would you give to a child who had to be placed into foster care or moved away from her mother and father? How do you think you would best convey that things would eventually be better?

56. What is your most positive memory of living with your aunt, uncle and cousins? Why was this moment so positive?

57. How would you describe your concept of a family? What responsibility do family members have for taking care of each other? How are you going to convey the concept of a family to your children and grandchildren to make sure they have a much more positive experience than you did?

58. How well do you get along with your husband's family? In what ways was his experience growing up different from yours? How do you think that experience shaped him as a person and a father?

59. Have you ever spoken with your mom's mother about your mother? Whether you have or not, discuss the ways in which you think you may be the same as your mother and ways in which you are different. What do you think your mother would say to you if you had the chance to speak about your family and life thus far?

60. Is there a family in a book, a movie or television series that you looked up to growing up as the example of a perfect family? Do you think that such a family could exist in reality or that a family like this could only exist in fiction? 


and the beat goes on

61. Of all the things that you lost in the Nashville floods of 2010, what do you think you’ll miss the most? In contrast, what do you think is something you are happy to be without? Perhaps a pile of papers you never wanted to sort, etc.

62. What do you think some of the positive qualities your children will inherit after having to go through an experience like the flood? Thriftiness? Resilience? Go into detail with each of your children.

63. What did you think would happen when you were originally forced to evacuate your home? Was the final result better or worse than your expectations? Who was more prepared for the outcome, you or your neighbors?

64. Describe a day in the life of your six months living with your mother in law. How were things different than they’d been living in your home?

65. Write a story from the perspective of one of your children during your time living with your mother in law. Go into your child’s thoughts, dreams and beliefs about the future.

66. What were your first thoughts upon receiving word you would officially be moving out of your mother in law’s condo? What the reaction of your husband? Your children?

67. What advice would you give to someone who just lost their home and possessions in a similar flooding situation? What are some of the things you would have done differently if you had a chance to deal with the flooding situation again?

68. What are some of the things you think people take for granted when they have freely running electricity? What are some of the ways you and your family coped without power for five days?

69. What are three things you like the best about your new house in the country? How is it different from previous houses that you have lived in? How is it better?

70. What do you think it means that in the midst of a power outage and a massive flood, that new life could be generated in the form of your Koi babies? Does it say something about life being a cycle or is it just random happenstance?

Creativity, Art, Etc.

71. Of all the stories that you’ve written specifically for your kids, which one do you think connects with them the most? Why do you think they like it so much?

72. Imagine that years down the line, you have had a book become so successful that you are actually on the Today Show promoting it. How would you want the hosts to introduce you to their audience members and the people at home?

73. Imagine that your basset hound gained the ability to talk and read your ghost blog, Matilda the Sold Monkey. What do you think your dog would say? Would your dog say you got it right or that you were way off about what it was thinking and feeling during certain situations?

74. What are some of the things you would flesh out if you could publish “The Chase” as a full-length novel as long as a typical Dean Koontz thriller? What characters would you have to create for this new longer version?

75. Why do you think there has been such a vampire-related craze in the world of fiction? How did it feel to write your own version of a vampire story? What would you do differently if you wrote a full-length version of your vampire tale?

76. Imagine that you were to write a memoir of all your painful tales throughout your childhood and through adulthood. How do you think you would structure it? Who would you market it to?

77. Why do you think that writing became one of your creative methods of expression? Do you think in another set of circumstances you could have been a painter or an architect or some other type of creative person? What is it that makes you a writer?

78. What do you enjoy the most about writing children’s stories that your kids will enjoy? If you got together with an illustrator do you think that you could write and publish a children’s book together? What would your kids think if they saw a published book with your name on it? What would you think?

79. What are five ways in which you could improve your skills at writing and spelling? Would you read a book? Take a class? Scientists are now saying that with enough practice, anyone can learn a new trick. How would you take advantage of this fact?

80. When your children are all grown up and moved out of the house, how do you think this will affect your time on the creative aspects of your life? Will you finally write that grand thriller or vampire novel?