Hump Day Hide-n-Seek

Everybody hides from something. Work, their feelings, another person, responsibility...you name it, somebody is hiding from it.

Photo courtesy of my Darling Daughter.

Right now, for instance, I'm hiding from the vacuum cleaner. And the snow shovel. (Oh, and my skinny jeans. I hope like heck they won't find me before this winter eases up and lets me get back to my walking routine. On a related note, I'm also hiding from ice cream. And succeeding about as well as my camel buddy above.) 

I was thinking about this the other day while I was writing. Characters hide, too, don't they? From their emotions, from other characters, from the bad guys. Pretty much from the same things real people hide from. As with real people, some of them are better at it than others. And therein lies a good source of conflict. Fiction falls flat without conflict. Anything that provides it is a good addition to a writer's toolbox, so hooray for hiding!

Okay, 'fess up. What are you hiding from? Do tell!* 

For the writers among you, are your characters hiding from anything?


*Unless it's from me. Then just make some sh!t up instead. 

WARNING: Post Contains Camel Toes (Really. Camel Toes.)

I got a picture in an email. There they were, big as day. 

Now, I've heard buzz about camel toes, but heck if I can figure out what the deal is. Why does there appear to be such a concerted effort to spot them on the internet?

Huh. Whatever. For those who seem obsessed, here ya go:

But, honestly, I don't see what all the excitement is about. ;)

Okay, okay...I'm kidding. Obviously I know what a "camel toe" is. But you really didn't think I'd be showing it here, did you? I mean, I do have some standards, you know. Not many, granted, and not high ones, but still. They exist. 

So, who would send me such a risque picture? Why, my darling daughter, of course! And she appears to be proud of it, too.

Yup, I'm afraid the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I couldn't be prouder. *beams*

She and my son-in-law visited the Gulf Breeze Zoo. Knowing my penchant for posting camel pics, they kindly added to my collection. (You'll be seeing more of them in the future.)

In the meantime, have a Happy Hump Day! And try not the think about camel toes. Go on. I dare you. 

[Photo credits for today: DD and Son-In-Law. Thanks, kiddos!] 
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(You're still thinking about them, aren't you?)
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(Still? Come on. You have to stop. It isn't seemly.)
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 (Really. Enough is enough. Try focusing on the humps instead.)
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 (No, wait. Scratch that--gah! Um, no, don't scratch that. Not in public, anyway. Just...)

Oh, hell. Have a nice day. 

Hump Day is for Flirting!

Hey there. *bats eyelashes* Come here often?

Photo courtesy of morgueFile.com.

What? She looks flirty to me. (How do I know it's a she? I don't. She just looks like a girl, all right?)

So. Flirting. How do you feel about it? 

Me? I like it. I'm flirting right now in another window. 

Now, before you get all "Why, that hussy!" on me, let me explain. I'm flirting with an idea. It's part of writing process when I'm working on a first draft. I get an idea. Kind of just see it in the corner of my mind. 

Some ideas bold. They march themselves right up to me and say, "Lady, you need me. I'm here. Let's do this thing!" (I do like an idea that can take charge.)

Others are a bit more bashful. They linger in the murky shadows of my imagination and dare me to notice them. Some of them are so goofy I just roll my eyes and tell them to go bother somebody else's muse. But some are...well, stickier, for lack of a better word. They hang back but don't go away. They play hard-to-get, flirting with me.

As much as I enjoy the sheer brashness of the bold ideas (let's face it--they make my job easier), I'm a real sucker for the sticky, bashful, hard-to-get ideas. They don't always work out, but when they do, the payoff is sublime. 

Do you flirt? With people? With ideas? Both? Do share! 

Oh, and Happy Hump Day!