Did Ya Miss Me?

June 9, 2010 | Writing, family

I can’t believe how much time has past since I last posted. Sorry, I’ve been buried around here. Hopefully, I’ve managed to get life under control again. Touch wood.

I hit a small snag with the WIP, but I’ve managed to fix it and move forward. One of the hazards of organic writing, unfortunately. With summer coming, I’m trying to get into the habit of writing at night. Last night I did rather well. Writing at night is tough for me. Usually, by the time the kid’s in bed, I’m zonked. But it’s amazing the difference a cup of coffee at 7pm can make. I’d love to be finished the first draft by the end of the summer, so I can start the sequel as the kid heads back to school in September.

I’ve also had to stop working in the attic. With such an unusually hot May, the temperature in the attic was creeping up to 85 degrees by 10 am. So I’ve taken over the family office on the main floor, and I get pretty snarky when catch anyone else in there. Since dh and the kid really only use the room as a catch all for stuff they don’t want to put away, I don’t feel the least bit guilty for chasing them out of there.

Mood: Good

Remember Those Old Christmas Specials?

December 11, 2009 | family, life

So, earlier this week, after we’d finished dinner, one of those old Christmas specials that DH and I watched as children came on. I think it was Santa Clause is Coming to Town. Anyway, we called the kid down to watch it, but he really had no interest and went back upstairs to play. I was surprised. When I was a kid, I could hardly wait to watch all the Christmas specials that came on during the season. This sparked a conversation between DH and I over which specials were our favorites, and which one’s had been an absolute must for us to see every year. In the end, I came up with three that if I missed, well, Christmas just didn’t quite feel the same.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer. Watching this is as an adult, I can’t help but cringe at the blatant sexism, and Santa is kind of a jerk but what would Christmas be without Rudolph rescuing all those misfit toys.

A Charlie Brown Christmas. Maybe it’s because there was a Peanuts special for every holiday from Valentine’s Day to Arbor Day,(and here’s the link lest you think I exagerate) but this one always seemed to mark the beginning of the holiday for me.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I still love this one. Oh, and I absolutely loathe the motion picture version, but I will spare you my rant. Dr. Suess’ classic story narrated by Boris Karloff, it just doesn’t get any better. Though, when I was young I always felt a little sorry for Max the dog.

So those are my top three. What Christmas specials did you have to see growing up?

Movie Rant

June 10, 2009 | Movies, family, life

Last night we went to the movies. Now before I go any further, I should explain that going to the movies is one of my least favorite things to do. If I’m going out, I prefer something with more social interaction, and I find theatres crowded and loud. So the only time I do go to the movies is if it’s something I really, really want to see, or if it’s something that DS wants to see. Last night it was the latter. We went and saw Night at the Museum 2. How was it? A lot of the same gags as the first one, but less story. Hank Azaria was quite funny, though.

Anyway, on to my rant. What is wrong with people these days? When did poor manners and inconsideration become the norm? I’m referring most specifically to the woman and her young child sitting behind me who constantly kicked and bumped into the back of my seat. Said child was really probably too young to be at the movie, and that was probably why she was standing up, walking around behind my seat and talking for the duration. Also when the woman would answer her daughter’s questions, she spoke as if she were sitting in her own living room and everyone wanted to hear what she had to say.

Which brings me to my next rant. What is it with people bringing infants to the movies? I can pretty much guarantee that they are not enjoying themselves as is proven by their crying from beginning to end. And why would they, really? Movies are loud. All that noise probably hurts their little infant ears.

 If your child is too young to really enjoy the whole big screen experience, wait for movie to come out on DVD or take them to the drive-in, then they can make all the noise they want. Less agravation for everyone.

Mood: Annoyed

Counting Down

June 9, 2009 | Writing, family, life

Well, the days are going by quickly and the end of month is only twenty-one days away. This may seem like a lot, but with the end of the school year fast approacing  it really isn’t. Especially when I have sooo much I want to get done before then. Last week, I was not terribly productive. I managed to get a some work done on the WIP, (which I’ll tell you more about tomorrow) but not much else. Kitchen, grumble.

So this week, I am determined to get through at least five chapters for Blood and Bone. I so want to have this pretty much finished by the time DS is finished so that all I’m working on over the summer is WIP. Keep your finger crossed for me. Also, I hope to keep plugging away with 1,000 words a day on the WIP. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.

The kitchen is coming along, but as dh and I are doing it ourselves (okay, dh is doing most of it) it’s taking a while. The chaos is starting to get to me a little, and even I’m starting to get sick of take-out for dinner. On the up side, we’re finished painting the walls, and the back splash went up behind the stove. WooHoo!! Next it’s the chair rail, then sanding and painting the trim.

Happy Tuesday!

May 19, 2009 | HellHound, Writing, family, life

Actually, it was the Victoria Day long weekend here so I keep thinking today is Monday.

Okay, we found wheels for the table, put them on and it looks awesome. Glad I did not smash it into firewood as I considered for awhile there.

Not a whole lot is new here. An old friend came to stay this weekend and we had a great time laughing and catching up. That was fun. Sunday and Monday, HellHound was a little upset by the fireworks so he sat beside my bed panting in my face into the wee hours of the morning both nights. Frustrating, but I tried to be patient.  

Writing is going well. I’m right on target with the WIP. Blood and Bone is not moving as fast as I’d hoped, but it is moving and I’m pleased about that. On the advice of some crit partners, I’ve had to rework a lot of scenes in the middle. The good news the pacing and tension is great. The bad news, it’s a lot of work, but it will be worth it I think.

That’s it for now. 

Music: Everybody Knows – Leonard Cohen

Mood: Focused.

Unwinding After the Weekend

May 4, 2009 | Books, Uncategorized, family, life

First, thanks to everybody who participated in the contests both here and on my editor’s blog. I really appreciated everyone taking the time to comment and all your kind words. And congrats to both winners. Also, my editor’s contest, where she interviews an author and gives away a book, continues until May 10th. So check in daily, you could win. 

Well, it’s Monday and I’m wiped. I had very busy weekend. Friday and Saturday morning, I wrote like crazy and got a lot of stuff done. I still feel a little like I’m playing catch-up from the bookkeeping, but at least now I see a dent in all the things I wanted to get done, and I’m feeling more organized. So to celebrate, I went book shopping Saturday afternoon. I picked up to new paperbacks (a J.R. Ward and a Carla Neggers) and a Killers CD.

Then Saturday night, we had my mom over dinner. Sunday we hosted a barbeque and I babysat my two-year-old neice. I had forgotten how much work goes into watching a toddler. So by nine o’clock last night I was ready for bed. Even today, I’m still dragging my butt a bit.

Still, it was a great weekend. Hope everyone else had a great weekend too!!

Mood: Good

Music: Losing Touch – The Killers

Friday Procrastination

March 20, 2009 | Writing, family, life

It’s Friday, DS is home from school and I’ll be watching a friend’s two kids this afternoon. Needless to say, I don’t expect to get a whole lot of writing done today. Bookkeeping, on the other hand, does not require the same concentration, so I should be able to do that while keeping an ear open to make sure all three kids aren’t doing anything too destructive or dangerous. And for those of you who are able to write with more than two children at home, you have my undying admiration.

Truth be told, after Wednesday’s rather lengthy post, I don’t have a whole lot to say. But with that post in mind, I found this cool link called The Writer’s Cave  on Paige Cuccaro’s website. Which just kind of illustrates my point. Writers need their own space.

And now some randomness…

I’m currently reading Vanish With the Rose, by Barbara Michaels. This is actually a reread for me, but it’s one of my favorites by her.

Lost is so good right now. Was I the only one thrilled to see Sun whack Ben in the head with a paddle? HeeHee.

Okay, I’m off to get some stuff done before chaos erupts.

Mood: Good

Music: 5 Days in May, Blue Rodeo (My favorite song of all time, incidentally.) 

A Room Of My Own

March 18, 2009 | HellHound, Writing, family, life

(First off, my email is working again. Yay!!! And I was right, it wasn’t my software. I am now in a much better mood. It’s a little scary just how dependent I’ve become on my email. I also finished rewriting chapter 10 and half of 11 for Blood and Bone. This too has improved my mood considerably.)

So the past few weeks, three to be exact, I had set laptop up in our family room while I worked on books (of the accounts variety, blech!) and my rewrite of Blood and Bone. I had initially started working there because of my cold, but even once I was better, I continued to set everything up on my coffee table, listen to music through the satellite on the T.V. and get to work. It was convenient. I could balance inventory, rework a scene, squeeze in a load of laundry and even do some vacuuming. Hmm, why hadn’t I done this before? I even toyed with the idea of starting to work in our families computer room. After all, sitting at a desk would likely be more comfortable than on the couch, hunched over the coffee table.

Yet while this was happening, a strange sort of shift took place. The day-to-day stuff crept in and the writing started to fall away. Then last Friday, after DS had gone to bed and hubby was out, I decided to work on some new stuff since the house was quiet. But while in the family room, nothing is ever really quiet. First, the dog wanted out. (He didn’t really, he’s just playing the in/out game, but I can’t concentrate when he’s staring at me) Now, I’m in the kitchen, and since I’ll only have to let him in in another ten minutes, I might as well wait for him. The dishwasher is done, I’ll put the dishes away since I’m here. Now, that I’ve done that, and HellHound still isn’t ready to come in, I’ll just fold the clothes in dryer. Save me from having to do it tomorrow. Oh, now Hubby is home and talking to me. At least, HellHound has come in with him. After chatting with Hubby for awhile, it’s now going on eleven. I won’t be writing anything else tonight. Sigh.

The next day, as I’m tidying the house, I go up to the attic put some stuff away and I am imediately struck by the quiet. The lack of sound and the muted blue walls seem to wrap around me. Instead of hurrying off to the next thing I have to do, I drop into my desk chair. Here there is no din from the T.V., no clutter of kid and dog toys, no old newspapers, bills to be paid or school newsletters to be read. In this room there are only my things for writing, organized the way I want them. The only sound is the steady tick of my desk clock. Even the black and white photos on my desk calendar are strangely soothing. This space is entirely mine.

Needless to say, I’m writing this post from the attic. I’ve always believed that the most importnat thing for any writer–more than a fancy computer and expensive software even–is a place that they can work undisturbed, shut off from the real world, where they can lose themselves in the story. The past three weeks just sort of proved my theory, don’t you think?

Mood: Much Better

Music: None  

Hamster Escape

March 2, 2009 | Living Lies, The Curse of Culcraig, Writing, family, life

Yesterday, my morning started with the discovery that ds’s hamster had somehow managed to escape from her cage. I had only just rolled out of bed when said discovery was made. So still half asleep, we tore his room apart searching for her. I was more than a little concerned that the cat might have already found her, Neurotic Kitty is quite the huntress, after all, but we soon heard scratching inside the wall. Not good. Hamster had managed to find a gap between the baseboard and floor in the closet. Fortunately we were able to lure her out with one of her treats. So happy ending for all.

Kind of sad that this was the most exciting thing to happen to me all weekend. I really need to spend less time at the computer, but I don’t see that happening for a while.

I received my galley for Curse last week and spent a fair amount of time reading through that. Very cool seeing the story as it will appear in print.

And speaking of print, Living Lies will be out in print in a mere two months, so between chapters of Curse I was working on promotion. Wow, that was time consuming. On the upside, I did manage to get a decent plan in place so putting it into effect should be easier. I’m certainly better organized than when the ebook came out.

Music: Mercy – Duffy
Mood: Up

It’s Been A While

October 27, 2008 | NaNo, family, life

Hey all, sorry to have been so scarce lately. The last week and a half has been crazy.

DS came down with a throat infection and just as he was getting over that, he had a reaction to the antibiotic he was taking. He wound up with a rash like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The poor little guy was half out of his mind with the itching. Still, we’re lucky the rash was the only reaction he had.

The rash is fading now, and while he’s still a little itchy, he’s definitely getting better. As for me, between fevers and administering Benadryl, I’m on a four hour a night sleep schedule. I’m zonked.

I have managed to squeeze in a little writing time here and there, but much. So with that in mind, I signed up for NaNo this year. Yikes!! I know, I’m a glutton for punishment. On the upside, 50k will be a great kick in the pants for the WIP. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Music: One Thing – Finger Eleven

Mood: Good. Tired, but good.