I’m In A Bad Mood Today

April 11, 2008 | Writing, life

It’s cold and rainy and miserable here today. The temperature fluctuations this week are wreaking havoc on my sinuses so now I’ve got a brilliant headache, (I’m writing this as I wait for the Advil to kick in) I’m out of coffee cream and one of my favorites got voted off American Idol last night.

I perhaps would not have minded so much if his exit had been the result of a poor performance, but it wasn’t. I do, however, think the nonsensical ramblings from the judges swayed the vote. So I’m officially going to stop watching the show. It’s just too aggravating.

Writing has been going well. Hard at work on a new WIP. I’ve set aside rewrites for Blood and Bone for now as I’ve started edits for Living Lies.

Advil is working. Yay! I think I’ll make a pot of vanilla chai tea (so tasty) turn on the fireplace in the attic, light some candles and let the dark, broody day get me in the mood to continue writing my dark, broody story.

Things are looking up

The Internal Clock

March 10, 2008 | Writing, family, life

I don’t know if it’s the five foot high snow banks surrounding my house like a medieval wall that’s throwing me off, but my internal clock is having a tough time recognising the time change. I suppose when we spring forward my mind assumes there should be at least some hint of spring outside. Sigh. Well it can’t stay winter forever, can it?

DS has started March Break and DH has most of the week off. I don’t expect to get all that much done this week. (Last week I was very productive so I’m not feeling too guilty about it.) I’m hoping to finish up my research for my WIP. I want to start writing once DS is back in school. I also hope to keep up on my rewrites, one chapter posted to my crit group and another to final draft. And I want to keep up on crits for the ladies in my critique group.

Hmm. Maybe this week will be more productive than I’d planned for.

Mood: Good
Music: The Seeker, The Who

More Snow

March 7, 2008 | Writing, life

Now, I have admitted that I’m one of those crazy people who actually likes winter. I enjoy the snow. But it’s March now, and winter’s charm is starting to wane. Especially with the weather network calling for yet another storm, bringing with it the potential for another 30 to 50 (yes, that’s right, 50!!!!) Centimeters. Blech!! DH is away and I still haven’t shovelled from the last storm we had. (Two days ago.)

On a happier note, I got my first peek at my cover for Living Lies. It’s gorgeous!!! As soon as I can show it off, I will.

Tagged…again.

March 1, 2008 | life

Gina Ardito tagged me for the latest blog virus. First, the rules:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six random things about you
4. Tag six random people at the end of your blog entry
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blog.

So six random things about me, hmmm. I did eight random things back in May, it’s going to be tough to come up with six more. Oh well, here we go:

1. I love the British soap Coronation Street. I started watching it while my mother stayed with me, now I’m hopelessly addicted.

2. Whenever I’m at the computer I must have either a cup of coffee or tea. I suspect this is a weird throw back from when I used to smoke as I tend to place my mug where the ash tray used to sit.

3. I hate mashed potatoes with a passion. Something about the texture…blech!

4. I have the same birthday as Stephen King.

5. There are two stores that I can’t leave without buying something; bookstores and office supply stores.

6. I will not read a book series out of sequence. Even if it really doesn’t have any effect on the story, I still can’t read them out of order.

That’s it. I was really reaching there at the end, could you tell?

Hez, Kath, Bella, Jerri, Karen and Zaynah, I’m tagging you.

Hump Day

January 16, 2008 | Writing, life

Progress this week has been sporadic. DS has been home with the flu since Monday. I thought he’d be ready to go back to school today, but he’s claiming his stomach is still hurting. I must admit, I suspect I’m being conned here. But even when I told him no video games, he stuck to his story.

WIP is coming along really well. I’m almost afraid to say so in case I jinx myself. I think I’ll be finished it by the end of the month. I wish I could say the same for my rewrite of Blood and Bone. This book is just dragging. I know a big part of that is because of having to set it aside while I rewrote The Witch’s Stone after my computer crashed, but I was still hoping to have it ready to begin submitting to agents this month. Not going to happen.

For this week: another 4k words on WIP
Make a list of what I need to do on Blood and Bone
Tie up loose ends with The Witch’s Stone.

There’s more stuff, but those are my top three.

After Christmas Catch Up

December 27, 2007 | family, life

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. Sigh.

I had a lovely holiday with family. It was hectic, but fun. Still, spending all of Boxing Day in my jammies and reading a book was well earned.

My favorite gift came from DH. He bought me an electric woodstove for my attic. No more dressing in layers or aching knuckles while I type. And it does add a coziness ambiance to the room.

DS’s big gift was Guitar Hero (I think that’s what it’s called) for his PlayStation. Truth be told, DH and I have been playing it more than DS. Last night we were up until 1 a.m. My wrist, forearm and fingers are killing me today.

I must apologize for being a touch absent lately. Between the bookkeeping (year end is nearly upon us) and the holidays, I’ve been buried. With Christmas is over, I plan to be much more active here starting…now.

Christmas Tag

December 7, 2007 | life

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Definitely hot chocolate, and topped with whip cream.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree?

Wrapped. Unless, of course, it’s something like a bike.

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house?

Colored.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

The first weekend of December. We put up the tree, listen to Christmas carols and eat yummy hors d’oeuvres. Once the tree is up, we watch Christmas Vacation. No matter how many times I watch that movie, the scene with the squirrel always makes me laugh.

6. What is your holiday dish?

LOL. I hate to cook. HATE it. When we host Christmas dinner, dh does most of the cooking. I do, however, bake, and at Christmas time I make empire cookies from my grandmother’s recipe.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.

This is a hard one for me. I have a lot of favorite memories. I guess the one that always sticks out is the year that we all stayed over at my grandparents’ on Christmas eve. There was my family and my aunt and uncle and cousins. I remember my brother, my cousins and I all lying on the floor watching A Christmas Carol for the first time. That was a fun year.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I was about nine or ten, and found out in a round about way. I had discovered the Easter chocolate for my parents had hidden for my brother and me in their closet. (Honestly, it was like they were begging me to find it.) When we went to my aunt’s, I mentioned to my cousin that I knew there was no Easter bunny. Then she said, “I guess you know about Santa too.” I had actually not yet made this connection, but she was six years older than me and I was forever trying to impress her, so I just nodded and mumbled yes.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Tons of colored lights, beads, ribbon. Neat old fashioned looking glass balls, ornaments DS made at school and then the sentimental ones we’ve put in each others’ stockings over the years.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?

Love it. Dh insists it’s ’cause I don’t have to go out in it. And he may be right

12. Can you ice skate?

I can, but I fear falling more than I use to.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

That’s an easy one. My grandfather made me a dollhouse. I think I was nine. It was gorgeous. It had bay windows, a balcony, he even cut individual wood shingles for the roof. My grandmother wallpapered all the rooms and made little rugs for the floors. I will never forget coming downstairs and seeing it next to the tree. I still have it. It’s packed away, but I don’t think I could ever let it go.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?

Being with family, and having a lot of fun.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Trifle.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

I have too many favorites to choose one, but I’ll tell you my silliest tradition. Log. Every year while we’re opening gifts we turn on the TV and switch to a station playing log. For anyone who doesn’t know, log is nothing more than an endless loop of a log burning in a fireplace with carols playing in the background. DH and I find the idea of television station airing six hours of this hugely amusing because..well, because we have demented senses of humor. AND I’ve actually seen stores selling log on VHS and DVD. I might buy it for DH as a gag gift for his stocking.

17. What tops your tree?

An old fashion Santa.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

Both! I love to find things for other people that I hope they’ll like, but I love opening presents too.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

The Little Drummer Boy. And anything sung by Bing Crosby.

20. Candy canes.

No thanks. I’m not a fan of hard candy or peppermint.

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

A Christmas Carol. It must be the old version with Alastair Sim, it must be black and white–none of this colorized nonsense–and it must be watched on Christmas Eve.

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Cookies.

Wow, that was a lot of questions. Kath, Heather , you’re up.

Snowed In

December 2, 2007 | Writing, life

Last night we got a good dumping of snow, then this morning the mounds of snow were coated in a layer of freezing rain. Today is one of those days where it’s just nice to be at home, all cozy and warm, with a hot drink. In my case, cranberry tea. We put up our Christmas tree yesterday so I’m feeling somewhat festive.

I must admit, I’m one of those strange people who love winter. And not because I enjoy participating in winter sports like skiing–in fact, ick! It’s such a pretty time of year. And I don’t know why, but I love writing on snowy days. I like writing on rainy days too. Must be something about precipitation that I find particularly inspiring.

Once I finish up here, I’ll return to Andy and Claudia. I’m about to write the first kiss. So much fun to write on a snowy evening.

I Have a Theme Song. Who Knew?

November 18, 2007 | life

Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC

“Back in black, I hit the sack, I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back” Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos. But each time you stage your comeback, it’s even better than the last!

Happy Hallowe’en!!!!

October 28, 2007 | life

Halloween Horoscope for Virgo

Eh, Halloween is not exactly you favorite holiday. You costume is usually pretty simple - if it exists at all. Costume suggestions: A scary mask or whatever you wore last year Signature Halloween candy: Tootsie Pops Scary movie you should celebrate Halloween with: The Exorcist