Clarissa Johal is the one of the coolest people I know. Don't believe me? See how she spends her free time!
My Top Ten Hobbies
by Clarissa Johal
Hobbies, those things you do before you have children. Most
of my hobbies took a back seat after my kiddos were born. They were replaced by
(in chronological order) washing cloth diapers and making baby food, cleaning
up after Polly Pockets and My Little Ponies, scheduling play-dates, and acting
as a taxi service to-and-from martial arts classes and swim lessons. Now that
my daughters have hit that ‘tween age however, my hobbies have been creeping
back, one by one. Here are some that I’ve managed to start up again.
1. Ballet
I’ve taken over 20 years of dance and I can safely say; I
think, live and breathe ballet. If I’m listening to music—I’m choreographing in
my head. If I have a writer’s block—I work on my pliés. I manage one class a
week when I’m not in the throes of writing.
2. Photography
My husband is the real “photographer” in the house. He can
tell you about apertures, shutter speeds and all that technical stuff. A couple
of years ago, he jokingly challenged me to join Project 365 (an online
community wherein you post a photo a day), which I did. A year later, I had
over 1000 followers and found that I LOVED taking pictures. I still can’t tell
you what an aperture is, but oh well, I take pretty pictures.
3. Taking in Strays
Do you want one? We have plenty. Haha. As a kid, I was never
allowed pets because we moved around so much. In fact, I remember bringing home
a half-dead cockroach. I named it Sticky. My mom was thrilled. Good thing I had
a pet rock as a back-up plan.
4. Fencing
Swords—how can you go wrong? In college, I joined the
fencing team. I was the only girl at the time, which was good and bad, but
loved it. I still fence but don’t have anyone to practice with these days. My
neighbors probably snicker at me when I’m practicing in our back yard, but hey,
it’s a great stress-buster.
5. Herb gardening
I wish I had a green thumb, I really do. I over-water
everything which means I’m continually replacing my basil plant with a “bigger
and better” plant that Can’t Possibly Die. My dream is to have a fully-stocked
herb garden growing in my kitchen. As of now, I have a very soggy-looking
peppermint plant and working on the death of basil plant #4.
6. Running with my dog
Three years ago, we adopted a very hyper Rottweiler/shepherd
at the local shelter. I love him to pieces but he needs exercise…constantly.
We’ll come back from an hour-long run and a minute later, he’s forgotten and
wants another.
7. Coffee drinking
Hey, it’s a hobby. Peet’s Sumatra: creamer, no sugar. I have
to keep up with my dog somehow.
8. Vegetarian cooking
I used to do more of this before kids. Now, I’m at the mercy
of their taste buds. Green vegetables receive little love in my house, even
when they’re hidden in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And yes, that’s
worked for me…once. My kiddos make their own sandwiches now and for the life of
me, I can’t figure out why.
9. Trampoline
I love my trampoline. Nothing beats that feeling of flying
up in the air.
10. Reading
The hobby of hobbies. What did you expect? Mythology is my
favorite genre but I read everything from classics by Gustave Flaubert and Theodore
Dreiser, to fantasy/horror from Neil Gaimen and Brom.
If you like reading (and I assume you do!) here’s a
paranormal read to check out.
BETWEEN
by Clarissa Johal
How far would you go
to redeem yourself?
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift
that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she
is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.
After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her
past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an
immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the
small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.
As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces
around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present
events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked
in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.
Excerpt:
A young woman
stood beside the bed, anguish on her face. She looked vaguely familiar, though
Lucinda couldn’t place her. The forgotten colors of her blousy dress had faded
into indistinct shades of grey. The woman grasped Lucinda’s hand and pressed a
key into it. Lucinda felt the jagged, metal edges pricking her skin. Somewhere
in the distance, a car engine roared to life. The woman’s lips moved but the
growling engine drowned out all other sound. The sound became louder.
Growling. Darwin was growling.
“Darwin?” Lucinda
woke with a start.
The shepherd growled again and hopped off the bed, padding
into the living room.
A quiet knock sounded from the front door. Lucinda rolled
out of bed to answer it.
Pushing Darwin aside to open the door, she peered sleepily
into the moonlit night. A breeze blew across the clearing, stirring the grass.
Confused, she shut the door before the breeze could make its way inside.
“Come on back to bed, Darwin. Nobody there.”
As she pulled the blanket up to her chin, the knocking
started again.
Lucinda slipped out of bed and walked back into the living
room. The sound clearly came from the other side of the door, faint but
unmistakable. She slid her hand quietly over the knob. At once, the knocking
stopped. Turning the knob slowly, she pulled the door open a crack, heart
pounding in her chest.
“Hello?” An icy breeze slipped by her thigh as the scent of
ozone assailed her senses. Her heart beat erratically. “Darwin, no!” The dog
tried to push past her, growling once more. Rattled, Lucinda closed the door
with a bang and locked it.
Lucinda lay in bed and shivered, unable to get warm. A chill
slipped under her covers, stealing up her spine. The smell of roses clung to
her blanket, the warmth from their scent seemed to be at war with the cold. An
hour passed and she finally dropped off to sleep.
For the remainder of the night, the two unseen presences in
her room remained at an impasse.
BETWEEN buy links:
Musa Publishing:
http://tinyurl.com/avnxerk
Amazon.com:
http://tinyurl.com/bp74a64
Barnesandnoble.com:
http://tinyurl.com/cc3bjfr
Bio:
Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant,
zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When
she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking
photographs of gargoyles.
Clarissa shares her life with her husband, two daughters and
every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a
wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author Blog:
http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/ClarissaJohal
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9
