Tag Archives: domestics

Birthday Alarms

Posted on February 25, 2019 by PB Rippey

I was wide awake before Monday’s morning alarm chimed, plotting what errands I would accomplish, in what order– when my brain was hit with edits to my novel-in-progress. I threw back the covers and staggered for the dining room table, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, Writing | Tagged 2019, 4, Action dolls, birthdays, cats, Dogs, domestics, faction, fiction, kids, novel writing, RGB, writing fiction | 3 Comments

Hunting

Posted on October 29, 2018 by PB Rippey

230am, the dog’s nose a wet Q-tip on my ear, his drunk-carny’s breath. I rise, stumble to the patio door, let him out. Waiting, I realize my right foot is wet. I panic: blood? Cat vomit. I stumble to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, books, Fiction, Writing | Tagged 2018, bad guys, books, cats, chocolate chip pancakes, coffee, Dogs, domestics, faction, Family, fiction, insomnia, Inspiration, life, Literature, Mary Louise Parker, poetry, Tarantino, Tom Selleck, writing, WTF | Leave a comment

How It Is

Posted on May 2, 2018 by PB Rippey

There is only finishing my middle-grade novel. Getting my son to school, helping him finish his science project and get it to school; hurtling towards summer–school, science projects, math tests, helping at the school book fair, end-of-school-year requirements and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, Writing | Tagged 2018, books, domestics, Family, Inspiration, life, Literature, middle grade writing, writing | 2 Comments

Valley Chapbook

Posted on August 6, 2016 by PB Rippey

Part of our summer my son and I spent with family in my Ye Olde Hometown. We ate organic foods. Socialized con gusto. And my soon-to-be-3rd-grader attended a local summer camp. His hands were slobbered by the purple tongues of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2016, 5K Run, beach, domestics, Finishing Line Press, Funk Zone, heatwave, Los Angeles, Nite Moves, personal goals, poetry, Poetry Chapbook, Santa Barbara, shark warnings, West San Fernando Valley, writer, writing | 4 Comments

Breaks

Posted on April 6, 2015 by PB Rippey

What I love about Spring Break? For a week I am Fun Mama–instead of: get dressed, brush your teeth, grab your Spidey hoodie, let’s go, go, go, homework, karate, shower time!, etc. It’s nice to be all: Ooooh—let’s scooter around … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, Writing | Tagged 2015, beach, children's literature, domestics, fiction writing, life, Los Angeles, ocean, Parenting, poetry, writing | 2 Comments

All Schedules Thrown

Posted on June 12, 2014 by PB Rippey

And, suddenly, for a week, until summer camp started, the newly ex-Kindergartner and I were face to face over our morning pancakes, not an elementary school deadline in sight. “Let’s go to the beach!” he suggested. We did. “Museums!” We went there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Faction, Fiction, Writing | Tagged 2014, Balboa Island, beach, children's literature, domestics, Hurricane Harbor, middle grade writing, personal goals, writing, Yelp | 2 Comments

Discoveries (Balancing Edition)

Posted on March 26, 2014 by PB Rippey

The huge benefit of being thrown by a horse and not being able to exercise for over a week or lie down on the bed without screaming in pain or do anything in between carrying on as a mother except … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2014, chaos, children's literature, domestics, fiction writing, John Dos Passos, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer's retreat, writing | 2 Comments

Gobbling Towards Vegetarianism

Posted on November 6, 2013 by PB Rippey

It became November. Day Two, I said: OMG THE TURKEY! Because this year, we’re hosting the beloved horde. I navigated to the Whole Foods website. During the Diestel ordering process I was asked to choose: Hen or Tom. My bedroom … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, Writing, WTF | Tagged 2013, chaos, domestics, fiction writing, green bean casserole, poetry, San Fernando Valley, Thanksgiving, Tom Turkeys, writing | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Seriously Late Edition w/Rabbits)

Posted on May 20, 2013 by PB Rippey

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. —Anne Frank We tend to rotate which charities we give to monthly. Save The Children often tops the list. Also the Mae Tao … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, fish, Parakeet, Pets, Poetry, Writer quotes, Writing, WTF | Tagged 2013, Anne Frank, cats, dog, domestics, fiction writing, fish, Kahoots, labrador, life, love, Mae Tao Clinic, poetry, quotes on writing, Rabbits, Save The Children, writer's angst, writing | 2 Comments

Quote For The Weekend (The After The Turkey Edition With Cats & Corn Pudding)

Posted on November 25, 2012 by PB Rippey

What greater gift than the love of a cat. —Charles Dickens We returned to find the dummy comforter on our bed upchucked on, the real bedding beneath saved (mwahaha!), a puddle of cat pee under the slopsink in the laundry … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Pets, Quotes, Writer quotes, Writing | Tagged 2012, cats, chaos, chardonnay, Charles Dickens, Close Encounters, domestics, Edward P. Jones, fiction writing, quotes on writing, Richard Dreyfuss, Thanksgiving, The Known World, writing | 2 Comments

Deadline Mayhem

Posted on March 13, 2012 by PB Rippey

With a house full of in-laws, 1 out-of-his-brain-with-excitement preschooler, visiting dogs, horrified puking and peeing everywhere cats, a small crew installing the new dishwasher and ceiling fans and outdoor sensor lighting, much celebrating involving caramel cakes, Seuss stuffs and misbehaving golfclubs, 1 courtesy-of-kind-in-laws date night … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Me and Us, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2012, domestics, grant deadlines, Kinko's, personal goals, preschoolers, writer's angst | 1 Comment

Blog Break: Yes, Kony 2012

Posted on March 7, 2012 by PB Rippey

Click here for the movie. Scroll 1/2 way down their page. Watch. If you haven’t seen the film yet, it’s 27 minutes short and after the first 5 minutes you don’t care how long it is. If, like me, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, Writer's Angst, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2012, cats, domestics, Invisible Children, Kony 2012, preschoolers, writer's angst, writing, Yaks | Leave a comment

Notes From The Armchair

Posted on September 26, 2011 by PB Rippey

And how is it going, PB, in your newly rediscovered armchair? Are you working under favorable conditions? Or does the scent of cat pee distract you, just as you’ve made yourself comfortable, laptop on lap, glass of wine on the bookshelf next … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Fiction, Me and Us, Pets, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, creamsicles, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction writing, life, personal goals, writer's angst | 2 Comments

Quote For The Weekend

Posted on September 16, 2011 by PB Rippey

I’ve been so busy writing, I haven’t blogged this week—except for this about my armchair—and now this quote for the weekend. Preschool has started up again at last (which my son loves—who wouldn’t love fingerpainting with chocolate pudding?) and I’ve had the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Quotes, Writing | Tagged 2011, children's literature, domestics, His Dark Materials, middle grade writing, personal goals, Philip Pullman, preschoolers, writing | Leave a comment

Gypsy Sunset

Posted on August 22, 2011 by PB Rippey

Now that summer preschool camp has come to an end, life is extremely busy as I organize excursions that will benefit the small mind and help it to expand in positive, utterly enriching ways (I’m talking about the enrichment that … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2011, chaos, children's literature, domestics, fiction writing, life, personal goals, writer | Leave a comment

Reveries

Posted on August 9, 2011 by PB Rippey

I’ve been seeing so many people from my past lately—I mean the past past, hazy-rocketing back to elementary school and working up from there—and it’s affected my dreaming. I have hosted reunions in my dream homes, welcoming total strangers to parties … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, children's literature, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, life, personal goals, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Avoidance: 10:30a.m.

Posted on July 27, 2011 by PB Rippey

Terrified to read my latest revisions, terrified to admit terror to self-terrorized Self, I have: Vacuumed, cleaned the parakeet’s cage, vacuumed, watered outside, worked out (oh the lengths my terror shoves me), and almost resorted to brushing the dog. Made … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, middle grade, Parakeet, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, children's literature, dog, domestics, fiction writing, labrador, personal goals, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

When I Write

Posted on July 1, 2011 by PB Rippey

I might wake up many times during any night due to: Nightmares involving fedora-wearing aliens intent on making off with my son. The certainty that I have heard a loud noise, which means rising from bed and checking my son’s room and the rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, chaos, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, labrador, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's angst, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Piddlings

Posted on June 10, 2011 by PB Rippey

I printed out a “finished” poem and left it on the chair next to my bed desk. I left the room. When I returned, I discovered that fearless, scratches-inflicting, wild, out of control, great white shark-mouthed and terminally cute Diggory-The-Kitten had … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Me and Us, Parakeet, Poetry, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, chaos, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, labrador, poetry, toddlers, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Monday Tussle

Posted on June 6, 2011 by PB Rippey

Welllllllll…Soooooooooooo…It’s one of those mornings when you use that refrain as you do a Trader Joe’s run, a shoestore run for the little guy, a Target run and a Lowe’s run because you can’t live without knowing if they have … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, fish, Me and Us, middle grade, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged children's literature, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, great white sharks, life, ocean, personal goals, Trader Joe's, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

No Whining

Posted on May 6, 2011 by PB Rippey

No whining when it’s hard to write/revise because: 1. because a dog charged your cats at 6:00a.m. and in her haste to control her animal, the owner, lunging across your front yard and bashing into the wall below your kitchen … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged beach, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

There’s No Place Like Hush

Posted on April 7, 2011 by PB Rippey

It’s April. I’m quiet. I’m revising. Being a vigilant mother. Cooking for house guests (i.e. Costco-ing for house guests). Hulu-ing Parenthood (help me, Obi Wan—it’s my only vice). Typing in my quips on Facebook (help me, O.W.—it’s my only other … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Parakeet, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged aliens, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, dreams, Facebook, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, nightmares, toddlers, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Welcome Vibrations

Posted on March 31, 2011 by PB Rippey

A striking thing happened this morning after dropping my son off at his preschool. I returned home, did not check email, vacuum up dog hair, make a Trader Joe’s list, stare intently at Yahoo news while groaning at the spelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Parakeet, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, preschooler, toddlers, Trader Joe's, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Valuable Information

Posted on March 16, 2011 by PB Rippey

The ever helpful YA Muses blog has wonderful posts up on the writing process and revision and what the heck writers do to make novels make sense (including cutting mass portions, creating charts—oh, go see, go see). The YAM posts … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Fiction, middle grade, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, ocean, writer | 6 Comments

Fever!

Posted on February 28, 2011 by PB Rippey

I need the sort of writing fever that allows multi-tasking. I need to be able to be ill AND revise a novel and engage the 3 year old and toss the tennis ball for the dog, fold laundry, garden (i.e. yank … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, beach, chaos, cornwall, doc martin, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, flu, guilt, life, middle grade writing, multi-tasking, novels, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment