Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Burning Hump Day Question, aka "Floaters or Sinkers?"


Camels are known as "ships of the desert."

(Come on. You knew I was going to get a camel or ten in here somewhere. For Pete's sake, it's Hump Day!)



Poor camels.

Anyway, while searching for a camel-related topic for this Hump Day, the whole "ship of the desert" thing got me thinking about boats, which in turn led me to another common phrase: "Whatever floats your boat." (See? This is how my mind works -- skipping merrily from one random thought to another.)

I started tallying up things that float my boat. Here are a few, in no particular order:

  • Hot cocoa on a cold day. Bonus points if it has whipped cream.
  • The crunch of leaves under my feet. Only not indoors.
  • An extra cherry in my Manhattan.
  • Writing my way out of a corner I've written myself into.
  • Any happy news from one of my kiddos.
  • A smile from TG. 
  • Finding a pair of shoes that not only fits, but also looks good.
  • Ditto for jeans.
  • Good news from my agent.
  • Ditto for editor.

In the interest of balance, here a few things guaranteed to sink my boat (again, in no particular order):

  • @sshat drivers.
  • Sick kiddos.
  • Leaky basements.
  • Too much snow; i.e., measurable in feet instead of inches.
  • Artificial sweeteners.
  • Not enough sleep.
  • Politics.

More could be added to each of my lists, but I didn't want to overwhelm you with my floaters and sinkers. You get the gist.

So, what floats and/or sinks your boat? 

32 comments:

Jessica Lemmon said...

I love love love the crunching leaves under my feet and everything that has to do with fall, really. Costumes, pumpkin-carving, jeans. (I also love that you wrote feat instead of feet, b/c it makes me feel better...I do that in my writing. The other day it was since & sense and it took my 2 CPs catching it for me to see it. And that was after I edited and read at least 5 times :P)

As far as sinkers? I'm going to have to go with a book or movie that is perfect until the verrrrrry end. It makes me so upset after all that investment of time & emotion to get a dumb ending. I usually make one up in my head in an attempt to re-remember it my way. >:(

Anne Gallagher said...

Floating -- A clean house.

Sinking -- Hitting the wrong key on the computer and deleting something that's important. And never finding it again.

Linda G. said...

Jessica -- Doh! Can't believe I did that. Well, yes, I can. I make typos all the time. *grin* Still, I think I'll go change it, because I'm just that anal. Thanks for pointing it out! :) Oh, and I hate that about books and movies, too. Ugh.

Anne -- Oh, the agony of delete! Good sinker, because nothing gives you that sinking sensation like that does.

Patty Blount said...

OMG, we are twins separated at birth. Your list is my list. I love leaves. In fact, my boys think I'm insane for this, but I love to shuffle through piles of leaves left at the curb.

And everything else on the list!

Delia said...

With the exception of the cherries in Manhattans, I think we might be twins. Especially when it comes to shoes and jeans.

But if I have to think of my own, hmmm...a day to write with no interruptions and my boat's definitely a-risin'. Too many household chores on my agenda and the bilge, she'll need a pumping. heh.

abby mumford said...

Floater: sleeping in, checking items off my to do list, seeing family, crisp, clear fall days, thanksgiving.

Sinker: traffic, pineapples, living far away from family.

Unknown said...

floaters: when my characters surprise me (in that amazing, i can't believe i didn't think of that way), time spent with family (we're spread across the eastern seaboard, so it's difficult to catch one another), playful puppies (although my 'puppies' are like 100lbs each)

sinkers: when my characters surprise me (in that mean way where they do something so out of character that i need to stop and reevaluate an entire storyline), ending a visit with the family, when my cat finds himself up in the plantshelves of my great room and i must climb up there to free him. buddy, if you got up there yourself, you should dam sure be able to get yourself down instead of meowing at me until i help you.

gee, linda. aren't you glad you asked?

and abby: pineapples as sinkers? really? i think im gonna have to seriously reevaluate our relationship. im just saying.

Missy Olive said...

Oh how I love thee......

You rock Linda.

Sarah Tokeley said...

Floater: The fact that my beloved makes me laugh every single day.

Sinker: The fact that I started a diet today. No more chocolate. (I can't do moderation).

Jennifer Shirk said...

Ooh good ones!

Floaters:
The smell of a fireplace burning ona cool night.

A kind word or compliment to me.

A hug from the kiddo

Sinkers:
Bad drivers

People who dominate a conversation

Anonymous said...

Growing up with all boys, I can't help but giggle when I read "floaters" and "sinkers." *snicker*

That being said, I'd add to your list for a floater: The smell of snow. There's just something so magical about it. :-)

Jen Stayrook said...

That last comment was me. Apparently I'm not using my name anymore. Also, I don't think my comments are showing up on your posts. CURSE YOU, INTERNETZ!

Linda G. said...

Patty -- Twins? Okay, I'm good with that. Let's go with YOUR age, okay? ;)

Delia -- LOL! You got something against cherries? *grin*

Abby -- Sounds good to me. Well, except I love pineapple.

Karla -- Love how "character surprises" made both lists. I can totally understand that. And, yeah, I AM glad I asked. :)

Missy Olive -- Why, thank you! So do you. :)

Sarah -- Ugh on the diet, especially the no chocolate part. My profound sympathy.

Jennifer -- Yes on all counts. :)

Jen -- Oh noze! Blogger is being a b!tch. I had to fish your "anonymous" comment out of the spam folder.

Michele Shaw said...

Floaters: My kids making giant leaps in whatever they do. Awesome husband. Food. Sleep. Feeling full of energy. Doggie kisses. Candy. Cinnamon. Anything that smells good like bakery items, spices, and certains men's colognes.

Sinkers: Hard times for my kids. Husband traveling. Bad fruit. Fatigue. Doggie doo. Anything that smells bad like pine, trash, certain flowers and stinky people.

Linda G. said...

Michele -- You don't like the smell of pine? The Christmas season must be hell for you. Pine is everywhere!

Linda G. said...

BTW, thanks to my buddy Suzerooni who caught my embarrassing desert/dessert typo. Geez-Louise, I should NOT blog when I'm this tired...

Trisha Leigh said...

First of all, I prefer the phrase "whatever blows your skirt up" because it reminds me of Marilyn Monroe.

UP: Christmas morning at my moms, summers at the Lake, a sweet email from a friend, snuggles from my dogs, a really good piece of pizza, coffee on a chilly morning.

DOWN: Bad drivers, stupid people, snow, cold, not having money to travel, cleaning the garage, losing to my mom in tennis ;)

Carol Kilgore said...

Floaters: Smiles and tail wags.
Sinkers: Whiney people.

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss linda! happy camel day! ha ha floaters & sinkers. how cool is that! i like the crunch of leaves under my feet to. i got lots of floaters & sinkers. heres just some of mine…
floaters…sully who just got borned last night , remission, raccoon kits, my blogger friends, writing stuff, the smell of fresh cooked apple pie or cinnamon rolls, getting tucked in even if im to old for it
sinkers…forgetting to save my writing, ack!, mean people, homework, asparagus, bone marrow tests, people and animals getting abused
…hugs from lenny

Teri Anne Stanley said...

hmmm... today started off as a sinker, so I'm just going to skip right to the floaters (now that I'm over the hump, so to speak!).

Floaters: Matching Socks (this can be quite a mmiracle at my house)
Underwear that doesn't ride up
Bras that camoflage back fat (okay, that's more of a fantasy)...
Gee, do you think it might be laundry day at Casa del Stanley?

Diane Henders said...

Floaters: Good food, good friends, good books, good reviews

Sinkers: ...Nah. I don't think about those. :-)

Patsy said...

Lots of things float my boat - even boats!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Lots of floaters in this world. My favorites are nose kisses from my kitties, laughter from my grandchildren, and hugs from my husband.

Sinkers? Mean narrow-minded people, and injustice of any kind.

Steph Schmidt said...

I'm giddy when it gets really windy outside and I'm properly bundled up. Reminds me of the beach.

Sinker would have to be if there is a funky smell in a room. Like someone didn't take the trash out or a fellow student's BO. That smell won't leave my thoughts for hours.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Floats my boat = martinis, skiing, a gorgeous weekend at my mountain house, emails from people who read my book, a parent telling me I made a difference to their child as a teacher.

Sinks my boat = people who leave shopping carts in parking spaces, drivers who don't know what merge means, faculty meetings every day.

Beth said...

Floaters:

Gorgeous fall days (colorful leaves!)
Gorgeous spring days (colorful flowers!)
Snow (but not too much or too often)
A really good book
A really good movie
Really good food
Praise
Those moments when I really how truly blessed I've been in my family and my life

Sinkers:

Rude, condescending people
Criticism (if done unkindly)
Thoughtless drivers
Cruelty
Bad news of any kind

Now let's get back to floaters again:

mountains
horses
those moments when everything comes together in the writing...

OK, can't hardly top that. :)

Kimberly Sabatini said...

You are a camel photo genius. I don't know how you do it???? *grin*

Todays Floaters:
Launch of the Class of 2k12's web site.

Little girls rocking the rehearsal of their recital dance.

Middle son runs for student government even though he's afraid to lose-then loses and realizes that parents are just proud of the trying part.

Surprising littlest guy by being mystery reader.

Watching oldest play his best soccer game EVAH!

Running 4 miles when I was sure I was too tired to.

Breaking in the new crock pot.

Being friends with Linda. <3

NO SINKERS ALLOWED TODAY.

Bess Weatherby said...

Floaters and sinkers? This really sounds like it could be potty-humor.

Okay. Mind out of the gutter.

YOU float my boat, and never fail to make me laugh. Autumn also does. And writing my way out of a corner? BEST FEELING EVER.

But I'm sinking today because I'm sick. Your blog is like a buoy . . . and I've taken this metaphor way too far.

More meds for everyone!

Kelly Breakey said...

Okay, now I really must try a Manhattan. Soon.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I love your list of things that float your boat--especially the cocoa. Yum.

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

floats - a really good romance novel
sinks - so-called 'news' programs

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Visiting from Jennifer's site!
Too much to do and to many interuptions to get it done sink my boat.