Vicki Atkinson's Blog, page 9

Squirrels Gone Wild

Simple things delight me. Especially in the morning. Alone with my cup of tea, the BEST entertainment EVER came scampering in yesterday…a couple of squirrely bruisers stopping by for breakfast.

I know some folks are irked by the squirrels who eat their way through the pumpkins this time of year, but we love it. Their ability to bore holes through the flesh on the sides, like determined little miners, is amazing. Some pumpkins, however, seem to call for a ‘bottoms up’ approach. Such is th...

Smiling – “Real Big”

I’m not sure I’ll find the right words to share what’s in my heart today, but I’ve put my fingers on the keyboard, so let’s find out.

I found myself crying in the car the other day. Not from grief or sadness but the overwhelm that comes when joy invades. Straight to the heart. Reminding me that despite the pain my sweet sister Lisa’s endured in life, she is in full flower in her sixth and most significant decade. I’ll explain…

Lisa took the spotlight last week at her workshop for intel...

Draw Me a Picture

I love absorbing advice from fellow writers – hoping I’ll find a secret...

A shortcut that will make my process more fluid.

The truth? No such nirvana exists. Everyone who writes is cranking it out, one way or another. On occasion, I’ve experienced a mountain-top moment of clarity where the journey and the destination culminate in satisfaction.

A word or a phrase. A sentence or paragraph staring back at me with delight.

Other days? I rustle and hustle around at my desk feigning...

Me & Mariah

I would never have guessed that I had something…anything in common with Mariah Carey.

Talented songstress and chanteuse. Not my jam, but who can deny the upbeat, seasonal appeal of “All I Want for Christmas”?  A holiday anthem – a toe-tapper according to my dad.

But last week I discovered that I do, indeed, have something in common with Mariah. Nope. Not related to music, fashion or anything pop culture related. Not about fancy homes or lavish lifestyles. Certainly not a mutual love o...

Dreamy With a Purpose

The quiet in the morning speaks of promise and possibilities.

I know it sounds trite, but fresh starts put pep in my step. Daybreak has the power to upgrade my perspective.

Pointed wisdom from Rumi popped into my awareness yesterday as well-timed encouragement:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.

I’ve written before about my potent dream states and on occasion, pockets of problem-solving arrive. Sometimes long-forgotten quotes that are oh-so...

Six Questions 😉

I’ve never responded to a blogging prompt before, but who can resist an invitation from a dear friend who tagged me in?

The delightful Melanie McGauran wrote a beautiful post recently, prompted – literally, by the charming Pete Springer who invited Melanie to peel back the layers and tell us about her blogging life. It’s such a terrific piece – take a look!

Melanie’s lovely post inspired me to participate. I mean…it was only six questions and as I began to mull my responses, in my head...

When You Crack Yourself Up: Hubba Hubba Style

My sweet sister Lisa, despite her many disabilities is a walking, talking encyclopedia-like source of pop culture trivia. Especially if the vibe and music…and beefcake…appeal to her. (Sorry for the sexism…but come along anyhow. For Lisa’s sake. I promise there’s a smile coming thanks to a recent phone call.)

In the mid-eighties, Lisa and our dad, Sonny, bonded over their mutual love of “Miami Vice”. On the air from 1984 to 1989, the show parallelled our dad’s metamorphosis from stodgy mid...

New Reviews! “Surviving Sue”

I don’t think I’ll ever stop smiling when reviews of “Surviving Sue” come my way.

Whether it’s my own busy days heightening my awareness about the preciousness of time or a new wave of gratitude, I am delighted when I receive reader feedback. And that’s before I read the review!

Last week my ranking on Amazon bounced around a bit and I knew it was a sign of new readership. It’s pretty darn artificial, but when my book was at #23 and then #29 for more than a week, I won’t lie. I smile...

Asked & Answered!

I like the whole story. Details. Beginning, middle, end.

The problem? So many things in life are interrupted. Slices and segments. Unfinished business.

I’m thinking about projects, people, issues, incidents, stories. Loops that don’t close.

A wonderful writer friend shared a quote from author Lee Child that I can’t get out of my head; it got my wheels in motion about more than writing. Here’s the quote:

“The way to build suspense is simply to ask a question and then not answer i...

Seattle Surprises

“Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses… swapped back and forth and over again.”

-Michelle Obama

How much fun is this? Our daughter Delaney had a business trip recently…in Seattle…and knowing how much we adore Wynne…and Miss O and Mr. D, this fabulous foursome (plus Delaney’s friend Cole) had a joyful meetup on a sunny day in Seattle.

If ever there was a desire for teleportation, I felt it that day. Wishing I could pop in fro...