Ménière Disease (a poem)
Why me? Why not me?
Maybe it’s my destiny
Spinning around and around
Bounties abound
Ringing, deafness, feeling drunk, fatigued and shattered
It’s as if my life hasn’t mattered
Never knowing when an attack will hit
I suffer from anxiety a bit
The eventual outcome is deafness and walking like a drunk
People still think it’s all bunk.
No wonder depression can engulf me
It’s hard for others to take seriously
One day I’m fine
The next I can’t walk a line
Life with Ménière’s
Affects more than my ears
If you see me in a bind
Won’t you please be kind
-Rita L Trushaw
Monday, July 23, 2018
My Muse is Back
My muse returned in my dreams/nightmares... and I started to write again. I am so excited about this story, though the characters haven’t started speaking to me yet. I rather miss their constant clamor. It almost drowned out the tinnitus in my ears. LOL!
I need to have more dreams about this particular story. I think it has the potential to be my darkest story to date or a dark comedy of errors.
It’s almost hard to believe that the darkness has all but abandoned me. I am relatively happy despite my health. This may be why I haven’t been writing and when I do it lacks the darkness in my previous writing. There has to be a way to find a balance between the two.
Anyway I am excited that I have already started writing it. I don’t know if it will be a full piece or a flash fiction story, but I feel it has the potential to be at least a novella.
Good writing!
Rita
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Blogging
I have been blogging pretty regularly on My Crazy Life. The writing muse has guided me to write about what is near and dear to my heart... Me. LOL!
My idea is to write about living while dealing with chronic illnesses. And it comes naturally. I hope that by writing about my experiences I can help or inspire others.
So, while trying to get fictional inspiration, life has handed me real life to write about. I know real life has always been available, but it’s never inspired me.
So while I’m not writing about my usual vampires, shapeshifters and witches, I am writing about the biggest monster of all in my life. Ménière’s Disease and how I am trying to conquer it one adventure at a time.
It would be so easy to crawl into bed, I have done this before, and give up... I refuse and while I am fighting, I want to inspire others to keep fighting. So I write... It’s my gift and I will continue to use it.
I hope to return to writing fiction again. And there is room for both. In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know I am not giving up on writing, it’s just different.
I hope the writing muse finds you!
Rita
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
The Writing Muse Struck
I wrote this poem for a local contest in Vegas. It won, though I didn’t get to enjoy my prize at the Las Vegas Writers Conference. My muse is still with me though she has been drowned out by life.
Stay still the voices who want to silence us or suppress the truth. Though it is your right to protest, it is our right to tell the truth.
Freedom Cry
You shall not silence the press or put parameters on what we can report. The people deserve the truth. “We the people...” includes many views and we faithfully report what we witness.
You try to change the truths that we have witnessed by saying “fake news.” It matters not to you that people have witnessed and recorded what happened. If it does not agree with your world view, you call it fake news.
I am here as a witness to say, “We will not back down in the face of these attacks, though it will take great courage to speak out.”
It is becoming increasingly difficult for the masses to sort out fact from fiction. That is why an unbiased press is so important to our country. Freedom of the press is alive and the people demand the truth.
Everyone needs to speak out in protest of censorship. The USA is built on basic tenets that includes freedom of speech. If we lose this one right, how long before others follow.
Shout to the rooftops, across this vast land that we demand our freedoms. Stay true to our basic rights, fight if you must, but do so peacefully. Stand strong for freedom of speech.
By Rita L Trushaw
Stay still the voices who want to silence us or suppress the truth. Though it is your right to protest, it is our right to tell the truth.
Freedom Cry
You shall not silence the press or put parameters on what we can report. The people deserve the truth. “We the people...” includes many views and we faithfully report what we witness.
You try to change the truths that we have witnessed by saying “fake news.” It matters not to you that people have witnessed and recorded what happened. If it does not agree with your world view, you call it fake news.
I am here as a witness to say, “We will not back down in the face of these attacks, though it will take great courage to speak out.”
It is becoming increasingly difficult for the masses to sort out fact from fiction. That is why an unbiased press is so important to our country. Freedom of the press is alive and the people demand the truth.
Everyone needs to speak out in protest of censorship. The USA is built on basic tenets that includes freedom of speech. If we lose this one right, how long before others follow.
Shout to the rooftops, across this vast land that we demand our freedoms. Stay true to our basic rights, fight if you must, but do so peacefully. Stand strong for freedom of speech.
By Rita L Trushaw
Thursday, November 9, 2017
50,000 Words in 30 Days
It's finally here... National Novel Writing Month. November is always a good month to get your good writing habits back on track. As you can see from the lack of blogs over the last few years, I have fallen way off the track.
I am writing again, but today's one of those days that I just want to do everything but write. So what am I doing? I am blogging to you my friends. At least it is writing and it may clear my head to get me back into my story. These words count toward my 50,000, right?
Well anyway, I consider it writing, whether the powers that be at NaNo headquarters do or not. I have reach 10,000 words in my current work in progress. Notice how I did not abbreviate that? It's how I cheat when I write during this month only. Since my NaNo is only a rough first draft, it will have to be re-written. It especially needs re-writing since I began in 3rd person, but something felt off... So, I switched to 1st person. The story is flowing much better and I think with more show and less tell.
If your writing habits need re-vamping, perhaps this month and its friendly contest is the way to get your writing skills on track. Some of us really do need deadlines and meeting a deadline is particularly good skill to develop. I know some people say it stifles their creativity, but I don't find that to be the case. It helps me focus, instead of finding a million other things to do. Today is tough for me, because my mind won't focus on any one thing. This little pre-writing is helping already.
I am using it in place of free-writing, which is another exercise to get past hurdles in your writing. It is basically writing whatever comes into your mind. With the hope that as you write your story will begin to spill out.
I am a pantser... Which means I just sit down and begin typing. It works well for me in the beginning and with my shorter pieces. Sometimes after I have been working on a story, I can go back and start forming an outline of sorts. Once I do this then I can use the outline to keep me on track. I guess that people who can outline in the beginning are luckier than pantsers, because they have their outlined to fall back on. But if you do outline try not to be so rigid that you let go of where the story wants to take you. I think you will find there is a happy balance in being a bit of both.
If all else fails, you can find writing prompts on https://nanowrimo.org, most writing sites online and you can make up one on the spur of the moment.
What tricks do you use to get you writing or past stumbling blocks? Let me know, I'd really love to hear from you.
Good Writing!
Rita L Trushaw
P.S. Yes, you read that write, I was married in February. See, I told you it's been awhile since I've blogged. My groom broke his leg and ankle before Christmas, so he was in a wheelchair for the wedding. He no longer needs a wheelchair and is getting faster everyday.
I am writing again, but today's one of those days that I just want to do everything but write. So what am I doing? I am blogging to you my friends. At least it is writing and it may clear my head to get me back into my story. These words count toward my 50,000, right?
Well anyway, I consider it writing, whether the powers that be at NaNo headquarters do or not. I have reach 10,000 words in my current work in progress. Notice how I did not abbreviate that? It's how I cheat when I write during this month only. Since my NaNo is only a rough first draft, it will have to be re-written. It especially needs re-writing since I began in 3rd person, but something felt off... So, I switched to 1st person. The story is flowing much better and I think with more show and less tell.
If your writing habits need re-vamping, perhaps this month and its friendly contest is the way to get your writing skills on track. Some of us really do need deadlines and meeting a deadline is particularly good skill to develop. I know some people say it stifles their creativity, but I don't find that to be the case. It helps me focus, instead of finding a million other things to do. Today is tough for me, because my mind won't focus on any one thing. This little pre-writing is helping already.
I am using it in place of free-writing, which is another exercise to get past hurdles in your writing. It is basically writing whatever comes into your mind. With the hope that as you write your story will begin to spill out.
I am a pantser... Which means I just sit down and begin typing. It works well for me in the beginning and with my shorter pieces. Sometimes after I have been working on a story, I can go back and start forming an outline of sorts. Once I do this then I can use the outline to keep me on track. I guess that people who can outline in the beginning are luckier than pantsers, because they have their outlined to fall back on. But if you do outline try not to be so rigid that you let go of where the story wants to take you. I think you will find there is a happy balance in being a bit of both.
If all else fails, you can find writing prompts on https://nanowrimo.org, most writing sites online and you can make up one on the spur of the moment.
What tricks do you use to get you writing or past stumbling blocks? Let me know, I'd really love to hear from you.
Good Writing!
Rita L Trushaw
P.S. Yes, you read that write, I was married in February. See, I told you it's been awhile since I've blogged. My groom broke his leg and ankle before Christmas, so he was in a wheelchair for the wedding. He no longer needs a wheelchair and is getting faster everyday.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Braking For Bodies by Duffy Brown
Overview (From Book Seller) Click here to buy.
Evie Bloomfield puts the pedal to the metal—in the latest Cycle Path mystery from the national bestselling author of Geared for the Grave.
Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it’s the best decision she’s ever made. That’s not to say she’s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles.
But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists—including Evie’s friend Fiona’s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA—arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren’t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend’s name...
Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it’s the best decision she’s ever made. That’s not to say she’s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles.
But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists—including Evie’s friend Fiona’s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA—arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren’t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend’s name...
My review....
This is a fast paced cozy mystery, I enjoyed it so much that it only took a day to read. Evil gets herself into some dangerous situations in order to prove her best friend's innocence. Oddly enough everyone encourages her reckless behavior, except the hunky Chief of Police and would be boyfriend, Sutter. Duffy threw out enough suspects and misdirection that I had the wrong suspect until the big reveal at the end. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Disclaimer...
I was given a copy of the book to review by the author. I have given my honest
Friday, August 14, 2015
Living in the Moment
Everyday I thank God for my life. I am trying to live in the moment, though I take many photos, so I can look back on better times. I think memories are necessary to get us through the hard times.
Life has its good and bad moments. I have had my share of bad stuff, but I think the good far outweighs all the bad. Ralph is one of the good things in life and are making wonderful memories everyday.
My outlook on life has changed... I went from being a pessimist who hope for the best but expected the worst to being an optimist. I don't know how this change happened exactly, but it did. In part I think it is that I made a conscious decision to change the way I react to situations. (I am not always good at this.) Once I began working on this it seems that I changed in other ways.
There always seems to be that one person who gets under my skin, who knows how to push my buttons. So I once again find myself in a battle to be a better me. It's not easy to fight myself, but I realize that I share some of the blame in these situations. So I am putting all the techniques I learned in the past to let it go. Did I just put an ear worm in your head? I did in mine.
It helps to write about it, even if I just elude to it and though there are daily reminders, I just repeat The Serenity Prayer like a mantra. Daily meditation helps.
And the small times with my love helps ground me. I miss my support group of friends, exercise buddies, writers group and the DBSA, most of the people involved in these are my friends, but are too far away. And yet still near enough via electronics to offer some support, but not near enough to take a walk.
I need to get out and start building my friend network again. And I have started, but I often feel like I am imposing, so I don't reach out.
In the meantime, I have found my voice (my writing voice that is.) and for that I am grateful. This will help get me through being by myself.
Love, Peace and Light,
Rita
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