Lessons From My Dog

And now for 'a little something different'... 

Lessons From My Dog

Do you have one of those smug all-knowing dogs? Well, I kinda do. His name is Mulligan. He’s 12 and VERY wise, but he has more of a super chill vibe about him.  

In fact, he is the epitome of fantasticness and quite possibly the SWEETEST soul I’ve ever known. I like to think I’ve gleaned just a smidgen of his wisdom in our time together. Here’s the short list of things I’ve learned (in no particular order). 

1. Water is good for the soul. Get to it. Hang out around it. Find time to frolic and swim. 

2. Adventures start with getting in the truck. Anytime you’re on an adventure, you should stop for ice cream. 

3. Every time you step outside, pause and take a moment to delight in whatever you may find…sunshine, rain, snow, wind, hellish humidity, slicing cold… embrace it all. For a moment. 

4. Growing old is a bitch. Patience and willingness to adapt are essential to continuing to do the things you love. 

5. Always greet others in a friendly manner…a gentle nod, a slight smile, a quick kiss, a little sniff, or nose to the crotch (the last one is all him).

6. Fears (thunderstorms, fireworks, stairs…whatever they may be) are legitimate and real. One may not like them, but one can survive them.

7. Naps are a thing of beauty. Nap often. Nap hard.

8. Make the time to wander, smell the flowers and take the scenic route. The road less traveled is always better. 

9. Find joy whenever and wherever you can.

10. Old dogs can (and do) learn new tricks. All the time. No matter their age.

My Mulligan (aka…SWEETNESS, Sweets, Snuggie Buggies, McHandsomepants, Snugglies) lives life as a precious gift, a present. He amazes me every day. I’m honored to be his Lady. ☺️

And in case, you’ve never noticed god is dog spelled backward. Just sayin’.  😉🤷‍♀️🐾

Snippet Saturday: A Girl and Death

As a writer, I want to make the reader feel...

Check out this excerpt from... Ruby Hood, A Twistedly True Tale... the retelling of a classic fairy tale that takes a completely different path over the river and through the Wood...

Everything around her trembled, and then froze. People and trees stood still. The gray eyed raven stiffened in mid-air. There wasn’t even the slightest gust of breeze, leaving Ruby alone with a dying Kellan in her arms. Time had stopped. How had this happened? She shuddered slightly, and her chest heaved. A roulette of emotions spun inside her, and at the root of all of them, was one truth. She loved him.

Evoking Emotion in the Reader

As a writer, I always want to make the reader feel what's happening in the story. And that's no easy feat, but I've been working on it. 😉

An excerpt from... Ruby Hood, A Twistedly True Tale... the retelling of a classic fairy tale that takes a completely different path over the river and through the Wood.

Immersed in a moment of flux, Ruby hung in mid-nowhere before she landed with a thud. Blackness absorbed every inch of her space, and a deafening silence stifled her. Her senses roared into overdrive, and a panic rose in her chest. The empty nothingness of the room over-filled her lungs. Her pulse throbbed as she gasped for air. How could she have been this wrong? She was to die. Right here. Right now. 

Adding Sensory Details: The Storm

Image by Edward Lich from Pixabay

Can you feel the storm? 

...the weather shifted dramatically. The white clouds turned a dark grayish purple, sending the sun into hiding. The soft breeze sharpened into a cold pinprick pelting Ruby’s skin. Branches swayed, snapping in all directions. The thunder rumbled; Ruby steadied herself as the ground shook with the sky. Several bolts of lightning shot out of the heavens and cracked atop trees all around them.

Ruby screamed and reached for Grams.

“Oh my, Ruby! We need to get to shelter.” Grams, quite spry for 80, took off for the cabin. “Hurry.”

The thunder mumbled and groaned while lightning charged the air, just as the sky opened up. Big cold drops fell atop Ruby and Grams. They ran even faster.

When they entered the clearing, the storm continued to wage war in the stormy sky above. Ruby and Grams were soaked from head to toe, but that didn't stop them. They raced up the steps, two at a time, desperate to be dry and safe.

“Get in here, you two,” Grams shouted as she passed the two men waiting on the porch. “Don’t just stand there and get struck by lightning.”

Writing 'the KISS'

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Writing 'the KISS'

The FIRST kiss! I'm editing today and I realize my kiss scene is a bit of a flop...😂

So I did what all good writers do, I googled it! 😉

Once I found my way to wikiHow: How to Describe a Kiss, I knew I was in the right place. I had the basics. It was the actual kiss part that needed work. After a bit of practice, I am pleased with the current version (original available at the bottom). 💏💋💏

New KISS Scene

Ruby didn’t know what to do or say. At first, she hesitated, but then she stopped thinking. Giving his hand a soft squeeze, she leaned in to rest her lips on his cheek for moment. Just a quick gentle peck. Her hand slipped from his and she leaned back, more breathless than she expected.

Kellan turned. Taking her chin in his hands, he scanned every inch of her face, and gently brought her gaze to his. “Ruby, I want to kiss you. Not just right now, but I have...for a while now…you’re so…"

“Shhh, no argument here,” Ruby tried to breathe. Everything sounded muffled under the pounding in her chest, “I think you should follow your instincts.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that,” he teased and pulled her closer, “My god, you are breathtaking.”

With an exhale, Ruby closed her eyes. When their lips met, she went gooey all over, sending her entire being into sensory overdrive. It didn’t matter that his 5 o’clock shadow prickled her cheeks, his lips were soft and gentle. His touch was strong and warm. Plus, he smelled faintly of the Wood after a good storm. With little thought, she slid one hand to his chest while the other found the nape of his neck.

He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her deeper into the moment. His lips parted, but he froze. Rigid. Still.

Then Ruby did, too. Someone was here. Again.

The two pulled apart and jumped to their feet. With a swift tuck of his arm, Kellan guided Ruby behind him, out of harm’s way.

Hey, readers and writers...any constructive feedback? Leave a comment or email me at aspenhitewiter@gmail.com

Regards,

~Aspen Hite

***Original for comparison

Letting go of her hand, Kellan turned her and reached up to cup her chin in his hands. His eyes scanned every inch of her face, “I want to kiss you. I’ve wanted to for a long time…”

“I think you should,” Ruby whispered. Her own words muffled by the pounding of her heart.

Their lips met. It was soft and tender. Then Kellan tensed. Ruby did too. Someone was here. Again. Her eyes flashed as Kellan jumped to his feet, tucking Ruby was behind him, out of harm’s way.

Advice from Mulligan the Wise: Old Dogs and New Tricks

 

Does Your Dog Write Stories? Mine Does. 
Meet Mulligan, my 10 yr old black lab and one of my greatest muses. (***He's also pure perfection with the sweetest soul of any creature I've ever met, so there's that.💓 )

Well, he's been working on this story, and he's adamant I share it. He worked very hard on in, so please be patient. And remember...he's a dog.
Enjoy his story 😉📝🐕‍

Hello, my name is Mulligan. I'm also known as Muggies, Snuggies, Snug-a-bug, Snugtasticness, Sweet Boy, The Sweet Angel Baby, Big Silky, and in truth, the list goes on...my lady has an imagination and comes up with new stuff all the time. She might be a little crazy, but she's mine, and I love her.

Anyway, I'm the one who doesn't get as much screen time. I imagine you've all heard about Bo? It’s always ‘Bo this’ and ‘Bo that’…UGH! I call him Jerky (well, I have other names, but my lady said they weren't appropriate for a public story). And let me tell you... Jerky's no peach to live with. 🙄

When that guy arrived, my life was turned upside down! I lost my toys in the house for a looooong time because he couldn't play responsibly. He's rough. He's steals my stuff. He jumps on me. He takes my lady's attention. He's a menace. Yes, I know he adores me deep down in his odd socially inept way, but still!

Anyway, the point is not to wallow about Jerky's flaws, it's about sharing what I've learned. With my age has come some wisdom. Yes, he is younger and faster (...I mean seriously, have you seen him move? Sheesh! Like lightning ⚡ ), and he's way more agile, but I'm smarter. Plain and simple.

I want the toy Jerky is chewing on? No problem. I just sidle up to my lady, snuggle and give her a big wet kiss. She turns to goo and it drives Jerky wild. He dismisses everything in front of him and runs to her! This is great for me...I just got my snuggle on and now the Lovesac and the Kong are open...free...and ripe for the picking. Plus once I get to all the glory, my lady will never let him take it from me. Sucker. Too bad he's impulsive and obstinate. But he's learning, too.

In fact, we recently went on a road trip. Not only did my lady put Jerky in his place, but she showed me I'm really the boss. In fact, I've always been the boss...it was inside of me all the time.

So now, I'm here to tell you old dogs can learn new tricks. Totally. Sometimes all on their own. Sometimes with the help of others.

By Mulligan the Wise (aka Boss Man)

 

2020 Fictional Narrative Fun

A while ago, I wrote a futuristic story set in 2030. I haven't touched it in over three years, but lately a little voice in my creative subconscious has been screaming at me: "2020 is the PERFECT year to unleash the catalyst which propagates the setting for 'Modified'!"

So I picked-up the story the other day. And while it has a long (very long) way to go, it's got the bones of a intriguing tale. In my fictional narrative, the humans of Earth have much bigger problems coming in late 2020/early 2021. Never mind what's in store for them in 2030.

Photo credit

Prologue

The ground shook. Her legs wobbled underneath her. At first, she thought it was an earthquake, but it wasn’t just the ground shaking. It was the air all around her. Vibrating…glitching…pulsing…suffocating… sending shock waves through her body, like little pin pricks.

BOOM… she dropped everything, struggling to stand upright. BOOM…it thundered through her. BOOM…she shielded her eyes, looking up in time to see the sun burst. A tiny chunk ripped from the burning sphere. BOOM. A ball of fire sailed, screeching through the sky.