The secret to writing is a style, a lyric. A cadence that weaves in and out of your head, that traps your words like silken nets and spins a tale without you even noticing. Something that reaches deep inside of you with effortless ease and touches parts that you never knew you had, that awakens parts that had long been dead. Words and thoughts that drift to this subconscious rhythm. It pulls, but gently, insistent nonetheless until every moment and waking thought though of conscious machination is subtly influenced by the cadence that you read, the tale that is told, the story that unravels. When done right it flows from top to bottom, seeking escape from fingertips that tingle in action, in anticipation. Brain weary from the telling yet sliding, gliding, smoothly tilting downhill at high pace as more words escape, pen to paper, ink with which to jot. It flows.

Here are some of the strange things that I find at midnight on Craigslist:

1. A rug that features a lamb on a pink skateboard.

What? Why?! Why do you need that? Why does that even exist?

2. "Abstract" local art.

It's two colors. In a line. For $45.00. That is not art!

3. Why...why...are you selling a used breast pump for breast feeding?

4. "Original" sculptures.

Um, it...it's a rock. That has been sanded. Four rocks, actually. Sanded. And nothing else. Now, it is a rock without rough edges. For $200.00 each.

Can you believe it? I actually put in a request. A big time request at work that's going to change a lot of things in my life - namely, time.

I'm going to work part-time soon. 25 hours a week and nothing more. Why?

School.

I'm always putting school on the back burner when it comes to work and, frankly, that's why it has taken me so long to graduate with my first degree. I'm tired of waiting. So, I recategorized my priorities. School first.

Scary. I haven't had a part-time job as my only source of income before.

I'm going to have time soon to do my homework without rushing at the deadline and nearly killing myself from stress. I'll even have time to finish the two stories I'm working on and get them submitted to, hopefully, get published.

Exciting!

Pah! Gar! Argh! Eck! Eke! Yikes! Grrrrr!

My work day. And it isn't even halfway over yet.

I found a couple of more anthologies that are requesting submissions for short stories. So, it's back to another drawing board for me. I hope to have a short story that I started outlining tonight finished by the end of next week and submitted. I hope I get accepted for this anthology. I set a goal for myself of publishing at least twice this year.

A bulletined list of today's events and lessons learned (help me, help me now, I need a life):

1. Do not even take a biology class when you know that you're going to be stuck dissecting something that was once cute, cuddly and alive - especially when you're a vegetarian.

2. Do not grab the 2,000 dollar microscope and stroke it lovingly, while muttering over and over "I paid my lab fee, that means you're coming home with me".

3. Always remember that a "C" will not kill you - once. Try not to chew psychotically on your pencil when you find out that everyone in the class got a C or below on the latest exam.

4. The "Mediterranean Veggie" sandwich from Panera is vaguely tasty, but, most importantly, capable of causing your internal temperature to sky rocket to an extreme level that rivals that of the sun. Pain ensues.

5. I'm sure everyone knows how (at least on an intuitive level for some) a manual transmission for a vehicle operates. When you take it out of gear, one would also assume that the car should not operate under the impression that it is still in third gear while at a complete stop with the gear shift in neutral! It should not grumble, whine, moan and attempt to rocket off with you in it while in neutral. Nor should it remain in this stubborn state of gear denial until you are forced to turn the car off and then, fearfully, turn it back on again (resulting in a drive to school that is a combination of severe paranoia and rightly deserved fear).

6. I hate the phone. Not a new realization, but one that is perpetually reinforced at a helpdesk. End of story. I shall not pursue that line with details for fear of cracking my psyche and winding up attached to my monitor, teeth embedded in the LCD and growling maniacally.

End.

Oh, yes. And now a quiz.
Your results:
You are Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy 57% Riddler 56% Dr. Doom 46% Catwoman 43% Dark Phoenix 42% Apocalypse 41% Magneto 39% Green Goblin 37% The Joker 33% Mystique 29% Venom 28% Lex Luthor 28% Mr. Freeze 28% Juggernaut 25% Two-Face 25% Kingpin 12%

You would go to almost any length for the protection of the environment including manipulation and elimination.

Click here to take the "Which Super Villain am I?" quiz...