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Showing posts from 2005

For Mom & Dad

  The Daycare helped the boys make mom and dad a special gift. Notice the little handprints on bottom right-hand corner of the blanket. 

Presents!

  After singing and sitting on Santa's lap, it was time for presents! 

Santa's Lap

  Time to sit on Santa's Lap!

Singing

  The little guy sang his little heart out at today's Christmas skit. The kids (ages 1 to 5) sang Jingle Bells, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and Away in a Manger. 

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe I haven't posted since the 5th! Shameful. Let's see...what's been going on and what can I blame my lack of communication on that won't sound totally lame? Um. I really don't have a good excuse other than I've been busy. My youngest son turned five. We had a small party for him where he got spoiled rotten, as usual. His paternal grandparents got him Madagascar . My dad got him one of these monster trucks that jump . We spent way too much money on a karaoke machine and a couple of CDs he could sing along with. We did miss a few of his cousins that day, though. They had a play at church and couldn't be there to join in the celebration. On a completely unrelated topic.... I am nearly done with my Christmas shopping. Just a few minor things left to do. And everything is mostly wrapped! No all night wrapping spree for me on December 24th!! Another unrelated topic.... I've survived another semester of school. I wrote my last es

Mythical Creature

ELF You are an elf. An elf is like a human but much fairer and pure. Elves are usually tall, with pointed ears, and resemble humans very closely, but elves are usually much more beautiful. Elves are a distant race. They prefer to keep to themselves, because often, many of them feel that their race is superior to humans. Elves symbolize wisdom, prudence, love, and hope. They are very merry and happy. They are forever young and delight in music. They are natural artists as well. Which mythical creature resides in your soul? (11 Results + Pictures) brought to you by Quizilla

Daz Studio

As you can see I've been playing with some 3D software. It came with some freebies, just enough to allow you to experiment. In the pictures below you can see subtle differences between the photo. The only thing I did was adjust the lighting and reposition the camera. The characters and their environment are truly 3-dimensional. You can rotate the camera(s) around them and get a view of every side. If you're interested, you can download the software for free at Daz Productions . You should also be able to find a few freebies sprinkled throughout the site. I'm seriously considering joining their Platinum Club. For a small monthly fee, you can buy packages for the software program at a discounted rate. Since I really like the idea of being able to create my own book covers for short stories and novels alike, I'm very tempted indeed.

The Lovers (View Three)

  

The Lovers (View 2)

  

The Lovers (View One)

  

My First Attempt

  The title of the piece is "By the Faerie Ring" and I know it's got some flaws. Still, I'm pretty impressed with myself! lol 

Goonies

Remember that movie? I watched as it a teenager (I think). I thought it was great then and watching with my boys tonight didn't change my opinion. Of course, I am surprised the boys are scared by it. Totally unexpected.

Where to Start?

Maybe I'll just do a day-to-day summary since my last update. No fluff, just the facts. Wednesay 1. Worked a full day and then picked up the munchkins from daycare. 2. Went home, ate dinner, put a pie in the oven for Thanksgiving dessert. 3. Oldest boy complains about a stomach ache and refuses to eat his ice cream. 4. Oldest boy pukes all over little brother's bed. 5. Dad takes bedding down to the basement to be cleaned while I tend to the boy. 6. Boy passes out, totally freaking mom out and taking at least ten years off her life. (Never been so scared in my life.) 7. Turn off oven even though pie doesn't appear to be thoroughly cooked. 8. Take boy to ER (checked in around 9:00 pm thanks to a 45 minute drive on slick, slushy roads) 9. Boy is monitored and diagnosed with vasovagal syncope (loss of blood pressure due to vomiting) 10. Boy is given red popsicle, given permission to go home, and promptly pukes in the middle of the hospital corridor. 11. Home by 11:00 and the

Mom's House & Then the Store

Even though I spent 3 1/2 hours at my mom's house scrapbooking tonight, I only managed to get one two-page spread done. Of course, I was also helping her figure out why her scanner wouldn't work (ended up uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers and such). After I packed up my stuff I had to go grocery shopping. Yes, at 9:00 pm, I was walking into Kroger to pick up some more last minute Thanksgiving dinner supplies. Sadly, I'm sure we'll discover Thursday morning that we're missing something essential. Doesn't it always work that way?

Done!

Ha! Just finished the second paper I had to write for tomorrow's class. I thought this one would be so much easier than the first. Not even close. The first one, my commentary, was fun to write. I focused on the use of color in Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban . While others may be bored by it, I find the whole pyschological impact of color to be fascinating. Paper #2 was a bit more painful to write. We had to identify a community and focus on questions like whether or not women empower or undermine each other. I identified the unique combination of gender and ethnicity of the characters as their community. Then I addressed the issue of empowerment and whether or not I felt the two books in question handled the question in the same manner. Took for-flipping-ever! But the papers are done and I'm ever so grateful. The only homework I should have to worry about over the holiday weekend is reading the next book on our reading list...oh, the agony! lol

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The movie was wonderful. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Of all the books, has always been my second favorite (book 6 gets first place because it explained why the adults stood aside while Harry and company stood in the line of fire time and time again). Anyhoo...back to the movie. It's not often you can go to a movie on opening night and spend less than $20 for three people. It's unheard of, but I somehow managed it tonight. The University was sponsoring a movie night at my favorite theatre; all you had to do was show a student ID and you got two tickets free and two coupons for a medium drink and popcorn. I only had to buy candy and one ticket. The ticket cost me $10, which was fine because the show was sold out and only the University held tickets, and the candy cost me $6. $16.00 total. I can't get over it! Standing in line with a four-year-old and a seven-year-old for 30 minutes wasn't fun. Restless doesn't even begin to describe it. Event

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

I've nearly beat the game. I've already been inside the last maze leading to the climatic confrontation. A sneaking suspicion told me my characters weren't powerful enough to defeat the big boss--that's what they call the major opponents in these games--so I decided to go online and find a cheat sheet. Boy, oh boy. I missed so many little side quests! These side quests provide incentive for completing them, lovely little goodies to help your characters. Weapons, armor, and various other items of usefulness can be found or won. So, cheat sheet bookmarked and open for easy reference, I started to backtrack. I'm glad I did. I unlocked another fusion monster for Kurando and have powered up several other characters. Of course, having the cheat sheet means I now realize just how many things I've missed and how much more powerful my characters would be if I had only known! Ah, well. It's just a game, right?

I find this funny.

Mean and Green. Which B-Movie Badass Are You? brought to you by Quizilla Me, Godzilla? That's hilarious!

Meh

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I know I enjoy writing, but do I have what it takes to dedicate myself to it? I'm not sure. When I consider how often it's the last item on the priority list, I think perhaps not. I can't even say its the fault of the husband, children, job, or household chores. I watch too much tv to say such a thing. ~Reading doesn't count. It's part of the whole process for me.~ So then I ask myself if it's not a priority, what is it? A hobby? It's certainly not an addiction. I can go for days, even weeks, without writing a single word. It used to be. I remember when I couldn't get enough time on the computer, when I'd ignore television and even the people in my life, just so I could get the story out of my head and onto the screen. When did I lose that drive? Will I ever get it back? Then there's the whole publishing thing. Is it absolutely necessary to be published in the traditional sense? Lots o

Oh, The Things They Say

Last night was parent-teacher conference for my oldest son. We hadn't heard all that much from his teacher this year so we really didn't know what to expect. After last year's continual up-hill struggles I must admit I didn't have high expectations. While he didn't get all A s , he scored mainly between 89% - 70% on the majority of the scored areas. They don't award letter grades just yet. The grading scale is set up something like this: 1 = 100-90% 2 = 89-70% 3 = 69% or lower His report card had a few ones and a couple threes, mostly he scored right in that average range. I can live with that. What I really like is its evident his teacher likes him. She told us "there's not a mean bone in his body". She also told us he's quite the storyteller. Very creative. While most teachers would have labeled his exaggerations as lies, she complimented his public speaking abilities. "He's very confident and at ease in front of his clas

Because I'm Lame and Have Nothing to Post

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Good News (Let's Hope It Lasts)

The little man saw the surgeon as scheduled yesterday. It was pain-free and promising. If in four weeks time the cyst looks as flat as it did yesterday, we won't have to worry about surgery. However, if the little bump that has been there since birth reappears, the surgery is back on. Any and all of your prayers have made a difference. Thank you.

Ever feel this way?

From the archives of The Writer at Work : Picture When I saw this I couldn't help but to identify. It often feels as if most of my ideas are cliched, idiotic, pointless, or too chaotic to organize into anything coherent. But every now and again, there's a solid story waiting for me to find the time and inclination to write it. I've had a pretty good idea simmering for quite some time. I'm thinking I'll pull it out for Nano. Sadly, October is almost over and I've not done any of the preplanning I'd hoped to accomplish.

Little Man Update

My youngest saw the surgeon on Tuesday. It was horrific. Although our family doctor had lanced the cyst the week before, he hadn't gotten rid of all of the infection. The surgeon palpatated the still swollen and sensitive area and announced he had to get the rest of the infection out before he could even schedule the surgery. He also explained he couldn't numb the area--apparently anesthetic doesn't work on abscesses--and that he would just have to do what was coming next as quickly as possible. The Little Man was so brave but no one could have withstood what he went through without screaming and crying. The surgeon made an incision slightly larger than the one our family doctor had made and began pushing on the wound, much as you push at a zit to make it pop. The infection started to emerge in chunks. Once the surgeon had pushed as much out as possible, he grabbed a syringe (no needle) and filled it with saline solution. Twice he pushed the saline into the open woun

Tayln

Most of you probably don't know this but I won a copy of Holly Lisle's latest fantasy book, Tayln . (Many thanks to Michelle for the unexpected but much loved copy!) I started reading the book over the weekend. This is one of those books that makes you want to sit down and just read. Putting it down is damned difficult. I guess I should be grateful I had finished the last of my papers and classroom reading assignments before I started it, otherwise I'd be in serious trouble. While I haven't finished the book yet (I'm only about halfway through), I highly recommend it. Talyn is an amazing character. A-Maze-Ing. Honest, loyal, flawed, honorable, vulnerable, strong. The list of character attributes goes on. She's a woman and a warrior, a combination of strengths and weaknesses that create a vivid, breathing character. The plot is also brilliantly laid out. I don't want to give anything away, which means I really can't say much more. The plottin

Another View

   

The Cyst

   

Finished

I just finished writing the first paper for my Latina Literature class. I can't believe how long it took me to write 5 little pages. This is good news because it means I can focus on my Nano project. Tired. Must sleep. Later.

Picture Time

I love this picture of me and my little guy cuddling by the campfire, which of course you can't see. :) 

Is It Ever Going to End?

I would really like to stop missing work because of illness or injury. The last few weeks have been ridiculous! I thought we were finally past the worst but I was wrong. I worked for about three hours today and then had to come home because one of the boys needed to go the doctor's office. My youngest son has had a cyst on his upper chest near his collarbone since he was born. It gets fatty tissue in it every now and then but it's usually not an issue because a little squeeze and the thing pops just like a zit. Nice imagery, huh? But it's true. Well over the weekend the damn thing got huge, hard, and red. Clearly infected. We babied it through the weekend and I made an appointment for him tonight after work. I dropped him off at the daycare and got a phone call a few hours later. The thing had popped and drained a bit on its own but apparently it had only made matters worse because my son was crying and upset, complaining whenever he had to move his arm or whenever

NaNo

I will be participating in NaNo this year. If you're a writer but unfamiliar with the term, you may want to visit the official site . Basically, in one month's time you're supposed to produce 50K on a new story. I've signed up for the last two years and failed miserably. Won't stop me from trying again, though. If you want to keep track of my progress (or lack there-of), visit my NaNo blog . I've already started updating it with pre-writing goals and the like.

Long Weekend

Ick. That's the word that most accurately describes my weekend. I don't really feel like going into detail but here's a few sketchy details: I had been feverish for several days. I passed out Saturday morning. Littlest son found me bleeding on bathroom floor. I eventually got myself and the bathroom cleaned up. My face has looked better. I have felt better. Had a teenager stay the rest of the weekend at my house because hubby was up north. Watched lots of movies. Seen doctor on Monday. I am on antibiotics, which means I should be on the mend.

Scrapbook progress

I've really been scrapbooking a lot lately. At home, at my mom's, at my sister-in-law's, and at my mom's church. Several pages have been added to various albums. Last night was my night to scrapbook at my mom's. I worked on a page all about me. I answered a bunch of questions about myself and included them on the two-page spread, along with some pictures of me with my boys. I also did an adorable baby page featuring my youngest son. So, so cute. Okay, it might be that he was just too sweet for words. Those eyes! At home, I'm trying to catch up on the Halloween pictures. I've finally gotten to my 4-year-old's first Halloween, which means I'm only three years behind now. I'm hoping to catch up by the end of this weekend as I'd like to set the book out for everyone to look at over the holiday season.

Good News + Concert = Me Happy

My girlfriend and I have a tradition. It's a silly, totally-stuck-in-the-80s type of tradition but it's ours. Whenever Def Leppard offers a concert within a reasonable driving distance, we buy tickets. We tried adding up how many of these concerts we've been to and I must admit I'm embarrassed to admit how many of them we've managed to watch over the years. I think we agreed it was more than 10 but less than 15. Of course, that wasn't counting the numerous other concerts we've been to...just Def Leppard. Well, true to tradition, when we found out the band was going to be playing in one of our favorite venues, we purchased tickets. There's eight of us crazy enough to pay nearly $50 a ticket. Call us crazy. Everyone else does! The only fly in the ointment has been a babysitter issue. The concert is on a Sunday night (who was the moron who set that up?) and the kids have school the following morning. No big deal if the hubby hadn't planned a long weeken

Busy Week

Well, the kidlet is finally feeling better. He's been fever-free for two days now. This means he gets to go back to school on Monday! I'm grateful because that means the routine will be back in place. No more calling in sick or trying to figure out who can take care of him while we're at work. Speaking of work, the new job is going great. I really like everyone I work with and, although I still feel like a fish out of water, the job seems pretty stress-free. I'm sure it'll have its moments--what job doesn't?--but, if this last week was any indication of what a normal week in the office is like, it's going to be a very enjoyable place to work. Now onto a completely different subject. Writing. I did manage to write something during the week. It wasn't much but I figure any progress is worth mentioning. I'm hoping the return of routine and less stress will help me find the time and energy to make writing a priority again.

Kids Have the Worst Timing

So it's my first week in the new office right? Wouldn't you know one of the kids would get sick? My oldest started to run a fever Sunday morning. Monday the hubby stayed home with him but I had to stay home today. The doctor has said he won't be able to go back to school until he's been fever-free for 24 hrs, so the hubby is planning on staying home tomorrow. Fun stuff.

And That's That

I had envisioned my last day in the office to be one where my giddiness would drive everyone else to distraction. Instead, I worked my tail off and hardly socialized with anyone. I know my efforts will make a difference in the coming week but it sucked having to closet myself away in my office. Once I finished burdening my already overwhelmed coworkers with the last of my various duties, I turned off my computer and the lights in my office. How empty the room looked. No pictures or childish artwork on the walls. Nothing remained of me. My lava lamp, my plant, my radio...all gone. Just as I would be in a few minutes. I hugged everyone goodbye, determined not to cry (sSaying goodbye is never easy, not even when you're excited and anxious to begin anew elsewhere). Then I walked out the door with the last of my posessions tucked safely in my tote. Monday begins a whole new adventure. Wish me luck!

The Difference in Paper

I own a HP Photo printer and I love it. But you know when the manufacturer tells you buying their paper really does makes a difference in print quality? Well, you really should heed the warning. I wanted to print two five-by-seven prints on a piece of 8.5 x 11 paper. Unfortunately, the only paper I had in that size was not HP photo paper; it was Kodak. What a waste of ink! The difference in quality is amazing. I love how the printer works with HP photo paper but it totally sucks with non-HP brands of paper. Looks like I'm going to have to order some HP photo paper. Now, what do I do with all the Kodak and off-brand photo paper I have laying around? Ideas anyone?

Checking In

I don't really have anything to say. Hubby is watching football, kidlets are in bed, and I'm left with some time to myself. Today I managed to get the laundry down to manageable piles. I'd like to say it's all done but I can't. It's going to take more than one Sunday afternoon to catch up. I'll just have to be satisfied with clean towels and a variety of clean clothes to choose from for the upcoming week. I also mopped the floor. May not sound like much but believe me when I say you can't believe the difference! Once I had the house in order, I decided it was time to catch up on my journaling. I've been scrapbooking steadily over the last few weeks but none of the pages were complete because they were missing journaling blocks. I am a firm believer in journaling when it comes to my scrapbooks and do very few pages without at least a token entry to explain the who, where, when, and why depicted in my pictures. Historically this hasn't bee

Poetry

There are very few poems I like. The fault in many cases is not the author's but mine as a reader. How does one learn to read poetry? How to analyze it? Critique it? Appreciate it? Is it a developed skill or an instinctual one? The art of conveying so much with so few words is awe-insipiring. Of course, that feeling only occurs on those rare instances where a poem resonates deep within me. Most of the time I'm simply baffled by the meaning, the hidden agenda buried deep beneath the surface. Am I trying to search out what's not there? Or am I blind to references others would find obvious? I know very few poets. I tend to migrate toward other novel or short-story writers. These people speak to me on a level I can not only admire, but one I understand. While we may see things differently, I'm confident in my instincts. I know what good prose sounds and feels like, how it flows and ebbs. I can discuss point-of-view, themes, dialogue, monologues, plotlines, mot

Stuff

Let's see...I hate mornings but not as much as I used to. Over the weekend I got my hair permed. Yes, you heard me, permed. I've had straight hair for several years now and I've liked it, but the truth is it takes me fives times as long to get ready in the morning when my hair is straight. I have to blow dry it and curl the ends if I want to look presentable. Because my hair is so thick, it takes 15-20 minutes just to blow dry. When it's curly, five minutes is all I need. Wash, gel, scrunch, bobby-pin, and go! 'Tis fabulous! While we're talking about getting ready for work in the morning, I should mention I recently cleaned out my closet. I cleaned it so well, I threw away most of my wardrobe. (I still have the 40 gallon garbage bag...do you think there's a way to get these perfectly fine but out-dated clothes down to the Katrina victims?) I have a few pairs of pants and several shirts left but the pickings are pretty slim. I need more variety.

Katrina

Over the last couple weeks I've heard so many disturbing stories and seen such unbelievable footage. My heart aches for the men, women, children, and pets whose lives were lost or destroyed. I can only imagine what it must have been like to survive the storm only to discover the danger hadn't yet passed. And even though I can imagine, I'm sure reality far exceeds my imagination. I can't watch the news without becoming irate. Between the government, the rapists, the looters, the prejudice, and the racism, I find myself ranting and raving at the television. I also find myself questioning the nature of our civilization. The answers I'm coming up with are ugly. Yet, despite the depravity and incompetence, there are also stories of hope and happy endings. I try to weigh the good against the bad, to think of the people who have given money or supplies to help those in need.

The Job Hunt Ends

I gave my bos my two week notice this afternoon. I accepted a position in another office on campus today. The pay is slighty more than that of my current position but the best thing is going to be the change in job duties. I'm so relieved that I won't be dealing with the things I've been dealing with for the last four and half years (November would be my 5 year anniversay if I stayed). In my new position as an Administrative Assistant Senior I will be responsible for a variety things. Budget, project management, back-up to the help-desk employees, web pages, reconciling credit card expenditures, and much more will fall under my purview. I expect to be busy but I can't imagine the level of stress will be anywhere near what it has been over the last few years. My last day in my current office is September 23. I'll begin the new job the following Monday. Yay, me!

I think it's Monday.

I know it's Tuesday but it sure doesn't feel like it! My oldest son had a headache on and off all weekend. Although I'm not sure I believe him (he's acting fine at the moment), he didn't think he could handle going to school. Now, if he were the type to pull this stunt all the time, his little butt would be at school instead of upstairs in his bedroom. I did take him to the doctor, though, and I set up an appointment with the eye doctor. Now I'm waiting on the hubby to show up so I can go to work. I told my boss I would be there by 1:00-1:30. Oh, joy.

Katrina - Another way to Help

While I'd rather give money to help the relief effort, there are other ways people can make a difference. As anyone who owns a television, radio, or computer knows there are thousands who have been left homeless due to Katrina's merciless fury. Organizations are attempting to offer assistance in any way possible. This website provides a means for communicating a willingness to house individuals or families who have lost everything: tacitus.org . I realize this isn't something most people would be comfortable doing but if you can find it in your heart or means to help, please do.

They're Going Home

My sister and her three children are moving back to North Carolina. They've been living with my dad for the last 11 months and we've enjoyed having them so close. Of course, it's been difficult living with dad the clean-freak, putting up with Nutty, and not having their own space. Many nights my sister had to sleep in a bed with one or more of her kids. More difficult was the actual separation of their family. My sister had left her husband in North Carolina. Thousands of miles separated husband and wife, father and children. The problems they face as a couple and as a family cannot be fixed over thousands of miles. It's just not possible. So, after much deliberation and no small amount of emotional energy, my sister and her husband have agreed its time to work on their issues and give their family a chance. Thus, the move home. After work tonight I took my boys over to my dad's house so we could say goodbye to my niece and nephew. Over the holiday weekend

First Day of School

Well, my oldest started second grade today. Thanks to the bus garage it was not a smooth welcome into the school year. First, the bus came 15 minutes early. Early, people! So instead of getting on the bus at the quoted 7:15 am time, we're now required to be at the bus stop by 6:50 or so. However, the horrible timing wasn't the only offense committed. While my son wasn't there many of the children were but they didn't get to ride the bus either. She drove right on by because instead of being at the edge of the road they were standing on the driveway near the house. Mind you, this is the same spot they've stood in for the last two years and never had a problem. Since I was the only parent there, I volunteered to take my son and one of the other little boys into school. I dropped them off and went to the bus garage. Excuses, excuses. Bottom line: Have the kids there a little before 7 am and standing closer to the road because she's a new driver. Bleh. T

More Drama

Warning: Family rant ahead. Strong lanugage used. Proceed with caution. You know what I'd love to tell my dad? No need to guess. I'll just blurt it out here on the web for the entire blog-o-sphere to read. I'd love to tell my dad to get some damned self-respect or his head out of his ass, whichever works best for him. Maybe a clue would be a good thing to have, too. Why the sudden hissy fit of frustration? Apparently his psycho girlfriend --you remember her don't you? The alcoholic who has made it a habit to offend or alienate everyone in my family-- bitch slapped him this weekend. Any harder and he said he would have stumbled. Now, my dad isn't a twig or a weakling so this slap had to have some umph behind it. What did he do? He pretended to dial 9-1-1 and then acted as if he were talking to the operator. Of course, when psycho started hyperventilating, bawling, and mimicking heart attack symptoms, my sap of a dad told her he was sorry. The bitch hit
Me and my two boys. 
This was the only rollercoaster we could all ride on together. My cousin's daughter just turned three and they let her on the ride, too!  
My 7-year-old's first rollercoaster ride ever was the Corkscrew! I still can't believe he was big enough to ride the big rides!  

Bittersweet Family Reunion

Grandma's memorial service was today. The hubby dropped off the boys at daycare while I did my hair and makeup. He returned just as I was finishing up. Amazingly enough, we got there in plenty of time and didn't feel at all rushed. (I'm notoriously late for everything, so this was impressive.) . This particular branch of the family is quite spread out. We have relatives in Florida, Texas, Wyoming, New York, North Carolina, and some states I'm sure I've forgotten to include. It's sadly true that nothing brings the family together like a funeral. There were missing family members, of course, but the turn out was exceptional given the distances some of these people had to travel. The most surprising reunion was in finding my cousin, Duane. It seems he lives less than a half hour from me. His dad had tracked him down a few months back (long, convoluted family story there) and had been keeping him apprised of grandma's pending death. I don't hav

Deservedly Reprimanded

After dinner tonight the hubby mentioned to me that he reads my blog every now and then (which I already knew) . He was more than a bit concerned when he realized I had been telling people I was home alone while he was gone fishing in Canada. "Not smart" was a phrase I'm sure he uttered more than a time or two. And you know what? He's absolutely right. It was more than "not smart", it was downright ignorant. Despite my over-developed sense of paranoia I announced to the entire blog-o-sphere I would be all by my lonesome. What the hell was I thinking? Although I would guess anyone reading this blog is harmless and has no desire to actually track me down, the possibility of some computer-savvy psycho running across my blog is more than possible. So in the future I will keep such tidbits to myself until hubby is safely home again. Then I can post how my week or weekend alone went. Go ahead and scold me. I know I was bad.

Taking the Challenge

I joined Monica Jackson's Writers Write challenge. The goal is to write every day, six days a week. I did great Monday night with an added 700+ words to my WIP, Magic & Madness. I knew I wouldn't be able to write last night so I tried writing on my lunch hour. I got one and a half paragraphs before I got interrupted; Tuesdays will remain the most challenging day as they're my scrapbooking night at mom's.

An Unbelievable Weekend

This weekend was a roller-coaster ride of emotions. I think my current state of exhaustion is a mere side-effect. First, the good news. I'm an aunt once again. Nephew number 9 has arrived. He was born Saturday afternoon to my youngest brother and his wife. They named the little fellow Luke Jasper. Isn't that cute? Jasper is such an uncommon name but I love how it compliments Luke. They baby weighed in at 8lbs and 3oz and measured 19 3/4 inches long. A good sized little fellow, wouldn't you say? His mama only had to push twice to bring him into this world. When my brother called to say the baby had been born I didn't believe him. No one had even called to say "hey, we're on our way to the hospital" or "Jaime was just admitted to the hospital. We're having a baby today." So the shock of hearing he was actually here was a great surprise. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed we hadn't been informed but the feeling quickly pa

Writing Update

As you can imagine not much progress has been made this week. Considering the circumstances, I figure any progress is worth boasting about, though, so bear with me. :) Dragonborn: I don't know if I'm working on the rewrite of Dragonborn or simply creating a new story that parallels my first attempt at fantasy. The female MC and the antagonist have the same names and their backstorys are similar to those in DragonBorn but I'm not sure how much else will remain. Small pieces of worldbuilding still work but for the most part I think it's going to be completely revamped. I figure I have to write this story because it just won't leave me alone. But what, then, do I do with my first sad attempt at fantasy? Do I toss it? The urge to toss it onto the Internet as a pdf with copyright stamped all over it is there but then I worry about what that would do to my chances of getting the majorly revamped story published. How different do they have to be? The title no long

For Fun.

Your Hidden Talent You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words. You're never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel. People find it easy to empathize with you, no matter what your situation. When you're up, you make everyone happy. But when you're down, everyone suffers. What's Your Hidden Talent?

Grandma

I don't know if I've mentioned this or not but my Grandma is going to die in my mom's house. Several years ago my mom and her husband remodeled their house so my great-grandparents could come to live with them. They sectioned off their house and installed a fourth bathroom. Since the day they moved in they've had their own space: a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room. Within the last year and a half my mom and her husband also installed a "Michigan Room" for them. When my grandparents became too old and it became too dangerous to allow them to live on their own, they were moved into separate nursing homes. Why separate ones, you ask? Well, Grandpa had some serious health issues and dementia, whereas Grandma had her health but not her eyesight. They couldn't stay at the same place because their needs were so very different. Grandpa went into a nursing home and Grandma into assisted living quarters. Being separated was so very hard on the two of
After work tonight I stopped by mom's house where my great-grandma has been brought home to die. Hospice has been arranged and meds are being provided to help with pain management. The end started last week when she had a heart attack and the doctor's discovered some blockage in her heart. Refusing surgery, she merely wants to made comfortable as she passes from this world into the next. So, tonight I stopped by for a brief visit. I love her dearly but being there is very uncomfortable for me. So why am I going back tomorrow?

Missing Them Already

Well, the hubby left this morning at 6:00 am for Canada. I vaguely remember telling him to be safe and "I love you". Mornings aren't exactly my best time of day. The kidlets are at the campground with Grandpa and Grandma, which leaves me all by my lonesome. After I dropped them off I ran to the grocery store--I always spend more than I anticipate. The rest of the night was spent playing the PlayStation and watching TV. Yet, no matter how well entertained I was, I couldn't help missing them. The house is empty without my family around. I missed goodnight kisses and snuggling with my hubby before falling asleep. The dog even seemed lost. She kept going upstairs to the boys' bedrooms and then coming back downstairs like she was looking for her sleepig partners, which she was.

This and That. Again.

Let's see. Went to a jewelry party tonight. Spent $49 on a pair of earrings and a necklace . I realize they don't go together but separately they'll work with other pieces I own. I also used the JoAnn's gift certificate I had gotten for my birthday. I bought some metal glue, some embossing powder, a black staz-on ink pad, and some ribbon. All for scrapbooking, of course. My hubby is leaving on Sunday for a week long fishing trip in Canada. I think he'd be happier about it if he wouldn't have broken his favorite fishing pole last night. He's off to buy a replacement today but you know how it is. You can never quite replace the old tried-n-true with any real satisfaction. The boys are staying with their grandparents for three nights next week. I imagine the house will seem very empty with them and their daddy gone. Don't worry about me, though. I'll have the dog and cat for company. My great-grandmother, who is in her nineties, has been ho

Something for Fun.

The Keys to Your Heart You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored. You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily. What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

New Addiction

I have a confession to make. I'm addicted to the Playstation. It happened during the second week of my vacation. A few months ago I bought Shadow Hearts: Covenant , a role playing game. I played it now and again but could go weeks without even thinking about it. That's not the case anymore. I love playing that stupid game! LOL Of course, I'm spending so much time on the Playstation that I'm not writing. Strangely, I don't even feel guilty. I know I'll start writing again when I'm ready. I always do.

Progress

Well, it ended up that today was really my first day back to work. I walked into the office Monday morning and didn't last for 5 minutes. I hurt so bad I thought I was going to pass out. Literally. Things got fuzzy and my vision narrowed. As I have more than my fair share of experience at passing out, I knew this was bad news and sat down in the nearest chair. When I could stand up I told my boss I had to leave. I couldn't even drive myself home. My hubby had to excuse himself from work in order to get me safely home. I'm not sure what was causing the pain but it seems 1000mg of Tylenol and a three hour nap took the edge off. I woke up to tenderness but not pain, which meant I quickly cancelled my afternoon appointment with the doctor's office. Made a new appt with the OB/GYN who gave me the C-section 4 1/2 years ago. Don't know if it was the scar tissue causing the pain or an ovarian cyst but I'd rather have him deal with it. (Too much information?)

Huh?

Okay, so I go on vacation for a couple weeks and what happens? Michelle up and deletes her site. Hey you, you better email the link to your new website! And give me a clue as to what in the hell happened.

Goodbye Vacation

Well, tonight's the last night of my vacation. Tomorrow it's back to the ole grindstone. ~sigh~ I loved being home. I hate the thought of returning to work. But I love having a paycheck so come 5:45 tomorrow morning, I'll be dragging my butt out of bed and into the shower. Ick. I can't even imagine how much crap I'll have to sort through when I get into the office in the morning. Double ick.

Home

Well, I made it back from Wisconsin. The long drive home was made longer by a blown tire in Chicago. That was fun. I heard some funky sound and next thing I know we can see black chunks of tire flying through the air. Must admit to being impressed by how well the 5th Wheel drove with a shredded tire. The day had started out ordinarily enough. A few clouds in the sky and projected rain for the afternoon. My sister and I carried our lawn chairs down to the concert grounds in the morning. We had a great view. Much better than the one I had had for Tim McGraw. After watching the karoake contest and listening to a new artist we headed back to the campground (about a mile walk one-way according to my dad--I'm hopeless with distance). We had just finished lunch and tending to Little O (my two month old nephew) when the bad weather struck. I've never seen such a scary sky. I think it looked even more ominous simply because of our vulnerable location. Sitting in the middle

County Thunder USA

So I took this week off so I could get ready for Country Thunder USA . I'm packed and ready to go. At least, I hope I am. I guess I'll have to live without whatever it is I'm forgetting to pack. Nothing new there. We were supposed to leave tomorrow morning at 5:30 am. That was the plan. But who needs plans? Not my family. Oh, no. They decided spur of the moment to leave tonight. Of course, it's 10:30 here and they still haven't picked me up. I imagine it'll be closer to 11:00 before they pull into the driveway. I'm already tired. I hope they don't expect me to drive all that much tonight. My eyes are already doing the lazy blinks. But enough of my grouching. I'm going to get excited and enjoy myself. The concerts should be a blast. I'll be back in a few days to let you know how it all worked out.

Interesting

On July 10th The Times online posted an article about a Navy Seal operation gone bad. If you haven't heard anything about this and are interested in the continued search for Bin Laden or other terrorist leaders, give it a quick read.

Interpersonal Conflict

So there's a group of us who hang out pretty regularly in chat. A while back we decided to do a BN class. Once a week on Wedsnesday evenings those of us who are available--it varies from week to week--gather to offer our insights, perspectives, experiences, and ideas on a specified topic. Last week we discussed the three types of conflict found in fiction. We were asked to give definitions and offer examples. Once a definition was generally agreed upon we'd begin discussing various formulas for acheiving that type of conflict. Now, I've been a member of little group for a long time and I know we all tend to approach things differently. Writing is such a subjective endeavor it would be more bizarre if we didn't. So I go into these sessions knowing I'm probably not going to see eye to eye with my friends on every subject. I also have come to realize we tend to share a common ground and disagree mostly in the details, which is cool because it gives us lots to t

Don't ask me why.

I decided to take the book quiz again. I really didn't understand how I could possibly get my original results. So...I wasted a few minutes answering questions. Strangely...the questions weren't the same! Sure a few of them were but there were some new ones in there. I didn't get the intuition vs. reptuation question the first time or the one about which animal do you prefer. And I like the results for this one better. Those rabbits have always been dear to my heart. I read Watership Down when I was a wee teenager. Loved it! Still love it. I'm waiting a few years to introduce my boys to it but it's definitely on the "must read to kids" list. You're Watership Down ! by Richard Adams Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one o

Dealing with Doubt

Ever have those moments when you're certain you can't write? Where it seems as if all the hours you've invested into this story and these characters are a colossal waste of time? I have. But I figure these doubts are pretty normal for writers, which means I can usually push aside such nasty thoughts and keep writing. Lately I've been in a real funk. I'm not worried that what I'm writing is awful because I just can't seem to write. Every time I sit down to try the mind goes blank and the eyes glaze over. New ideas aren't sparking. Current stories feel dead. Past projects seem dismal failures. I don't like feeling this way. Not at all. It's not normal for me. Even when the writing isn't going well, the passion has always been there. Yet, it seems the passion has disappeared and only the need to write remains. Every thing I look at or consider feels forced or contrived. The characters feel flat. The conflict laughable. I refuse

Ohhh....

You're The Poisonwood Bible ! by Barbara Kingsolver Deeply rooted in a religious background, you have since become both isolated and schizophrenic. You were naively sure that your actions would help people, but of course they were resistant to your message and ultimately disaster ensued. Since you can see so many sides of the same issue, you are both wise beyond your years and tied to worthless perspectives. If you were a type of waffle, it would be Belgian. Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid .

Around the House

Hubby's gone fishing for the night so the kidlets and I are just hanging around the house tonight. I rented a couple of movies, a Playstation game for my oldest, and bought some frozen pizza for dinner. I haven't even cleaned my kitchen yet! ~gasp~ I read the most amazing book over Thursday and Friday. It hasn't hit the stands yet but you should pre-order it. It's bold. Daring. Somewhat startling even. The author is brutal with her characters and, while I can't promise you won't experience some discomfort, I can guarantee this book will haunt you for at least a day or two. Perhaps longer. I know I certainly haven't stopped thinking about it. The author? Tamara Siler Jones. The book? Threads of Malice. Go pre-order it now. That's all I'm saying on the matter.

Going Camping

I'll be MIA for a few days. We're taking the kids camping on the shores of Lake Huron for the holiday weekend. It's supposed to be warm, not quite as hot as it has been but not cool enough to keep us from the water. So...See you in a few!

Justifying the Time

Writing looks, in a lot of ways, like a very selfish enterprise. - Gail (chatroom buddy and writing pal) This little statement really hit home with me when I read it on the screen during a recent chat. When I consider my personal struggle with finding and taking the time to write, I invariably end up feeling guilty. Not because anyone says or does anything to make me feel bad but because I have a hard time justifying the time and effort. I've often dreamed of retiring from the day job and making writing my fulltime profession. In this little fantasy of mine I see myself dedicated to the computer while the kids are in school and the hubby is at work. I see myself succeeding because I've finally found guilt-free time to focus on the story. Distractions would be minimimal and yet I'd still manage to be wife, mom and housekeeper. I'd churn out the stories and start peddling them to agents and pubishers alike. Of course, I never quit the day job because that would be i
Me & Ken camping this weekend. 

Psycho-b-gone

Well, apparently my dad's girlfriend stepped over the line Saturday night. She had been drinking again and let her claws out. I guess they had been sniping at each other on and off during the evening because she was drinking again. Dad always believes her when she says she's quit and then he gets all bent out of shape when she shows up on his doorstep with a 6-pack. Well, long story short, my sister was bringing her three kids into the house (remember she lives with Dad while her and her hubby work out some issues) and heard the two of them arguing. So, she decided to turn right around and leave. She had the baby's carseat in one hand and a gallon of milk in the other. Using her hip and butt, she pushed out the door. Well, it slammed closed behind her. Not intentionally--her hands were full. Upon hearing the door slam shut, Nutty looked at my dad and said, "Your fucking daughter just slammed the door." That got her booted out of the house. Dad told her

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Font Issue

I don't know what happened but apparently it's some funky setting in internet explorer. I can't figure out how to reset to default so I'm just playing around with some settings until I can find something I can live with. This shouldn't effect anyone else.

Weird question...

...for my handful or readers. Does the text in this blog appear italicized to you? When I'm at work it doesn't but at home I can't get it to look normal! Is it my monitor or something funky about the blog? I just can't tell. Your input will help. I hope.

Busy, Busy

Evening schedule for the week so far: Monday - Baseball Tuesday - T-ball Wednesday - Baseball Thursday - Pack Camper for Weekend Away I've been busy! Unbelievably, I have managed to get a little bit written this week. Not a lot but I'm a firm believer that something is better than nothing when it comes to keeping the writing alive. I've managed to bump up the wordcount on Magic & Madness (the romantica story) to 6K. Not bad considering this story is only a couple weeks old. I also sat down the other night and began reworking Dragonborn . I'm still figuring out how to make this Ghislaine's story and not Danken's. While he still plays a major role, I never should have written with him as the MC. It's not his story! My only excuse is this was my first ever attempt at writing fantasy. I'm going to try to get another few hundred words on Magic and Madness before bed. The story is moving along nicely and I don't want to jinx it!

Totally crossing a line.

Okay. I usually post blah-blah entries about life beyond writing but today I'm going to give myself over to the Dark Side of the Force. My dad has been divorced for almost a year. This was his second marriage and it lasted 18 years; his marriage to my mom lasted for 11. My Dad is awesome. Seriously. I couldn't love him any more than I do. When my mom decided to end their marriage my dad fought for us and won costudy. This was nearly unheard of in the 80s but, with our help, he managed to convince the Judge that he would be the better choice for his four kids. Mom had an issue I'll refer to here as "Crazy, Wacko Boyfriend". I was ten then. I met my future step-mom a few months after my parents split. By the time the divorce was final, D and her one-year-old daughter had moved in. Wedding plans were underway. They were married the June after the the divorce was final. Now, although I love my dad, I know the man has faults. He's a clean freak. No,

Good intentions

After I got home from my son's baseball game tonight I booted up the computer. I then made the mistake of turning on the TV. There's this new show, The Closer , on FX. It's pretty good. I had watched the season premiere last week and had liked it well enough. Yep, you guessed it. I got suckered into tonight's episode. Next thing I know it's 10:00 and I've not written anything. Damn that box!

Father's Day

Didn't have time to post yesterday because we were on the roads most of the day. Poor hubby. I can't imagine it's much fun running from here to there trying please his dad and mine. After purchasing their gifts--yes, on Father's Day--we stopped by the campground where his parents were camping for the next few weeks. We went put-put golfing and on a horse-drawn wagon ride. After we left there we stopped for ice cream and then continued on to my dad's house. We didn't get anyone anything fancy for Father's Day. My dad loves StarBucks coffee so we bought him a big ole bag of StarBuck beans. His dad has a passion for Peppermint Schnapps and popcorn so that's what he got. Not very sentimental, eh? But we know they'll be put to good use. :-) My hubby insisted he didn't want anything more than the wash pail the boys had decorated for him at daycare. It has their little handprints immortalized on the sides with their names fingerpainted beneat