Castle in the Clouds

I have to admit this kind of behavior will make me think twice about taking my kids to Chuck-E-Cheese for a few hours of games and pizza. http://www.wnem.com/news/15153861/detail.html I can't believe the police had to resort to using pepper spray (although it's since been alledged that the pepper spray was actually in the hand of a civilian instead of a police officer). Now don't get me wroing, I don't fault the police for doing what they've got to do. They had to break the fight up somehow and restore order. No, I fully blame the "adults" who were involved. They should be ashamed of themselves. This isn't a bar or a club where you almost expect this kind of assine behavior. It's a children's resturuant, complete with mechanical puppets and everything! What was truly amazing was the people who called in to a local radio station a few days later to give a first-hand account of what had happened. One lady's newborn child had their head shove...

Okay, as promised in a comment I left on Joely's blog yesterday, here are some screenshots of my OneNote notebooks. I realize blogger may condense them beyond readability, which is why I've also put the images into a Word document and saved them under my Scribbed account.

So class was cancelled tonight. This turned out to be a very good thing because it meant I was able to search high and low for my missing cell phone. Not that it's done me any good, mind you. I still haven't found the blasted thing. I've asked my kickboxing instructor. I've asked the pharmacy where I picked up the kidlet's prescription on Friday. I've asked my sister-in-law whose house we were at on Saturday night. No one has seen the darn thing. When I called my number it rang and rang last night and this morning. However, it is now going directly to voice mail. I'm sure the battery has died. Hopefully the phone itself is still in working order. My only fear is that it slipped out of my coat pocket and into a snow bank. Luckily I didn't go many places this weekend so there's only so many places it could be hiding out. Unfortunately there are two parking lots and two driveways involved. Wish me luck in finding it. I have a feeling I'm giong to ne...

I know it's not Friday, but I've never been good with deadlines. Ask my husband. I'm notoriously late for everything. Things to know: -this scene is new, which means you've missed approximately 90K worth of material. This could result in some minor confusion or disorientation. -scene is from antagonist's POV -genre: paranormal romance -full of typos and errors of all sorts, but hopefully somewhat entertaining as well copyright 2008 Krista Heiser He started to turn back toward the pub when he noticed a small, well-insulated figure making its way down the street. Her rapid heartbeat told him how nervous she felt walking alone in downtown Flint at night. Wrapped as she was in scarf and mittens, he could not make out her features, but her fear excited him more than a pretty face ever could. He slipped the phone into his pocket and slid into the shadows. Her vulnerability sang to him. Every step brought her closer to his hiding spot, her anxiousness a sweet perfume to hi...

Yep, that's right. The kidlet stayed home again. That makes three days this week. Not good. Yet, I'm pretty sure they didn't want him there. Yesterday he puked again and last night he coughed like a madman. The doc says he's on the verge of bronchitis, which is why he got a prescription and some OTC medicine recommendations. Of course, this means the child is missing basketball tomorrow. If he can't go to school, he can't very well run up and down a basketball court.

Well, it's that time of year again. You know. The Big Game. Not that I really care all that much about football. Oh, alright, if I'm honest, I don't care about the football at all. It's not like that's a state secret. Me + televized sports = zombie-like trance of pure misery. However, I must admit I enjoy Superbowl Sunday. First, there's spending an evening with our best friends. Sure, some years we have other friends and family thrown into the mix, but there's always Ken and Terri. Take this year, for instance. It looks likeSome friends from work are coming out. There's another couple I'd love to invite, if only they were still a couple. Ah well, maybe next year this time that situation will have worked itself out. For now I need to keep the focus on this year and keep my wishful thinking in check. Since we're hosting the party, the hubby wants to plan a menu. Nothing big, mind you, just some snacks and such. I think I'm breaking out the cho...

Well, the meds didn't go all that well on Monday. The little guy got to school and promptly threw up. Nice. Of course, he says it was the grape juice that made him sick and not the medicine, but who knows? The doctor recommends waiting until this weekend to give it a trial run at home. We'll have to see how that goes. The littlest guy had a dentist appointment this morning. Although they tried a new technique that didn't involve needles, he ended up in a lot of pain and is now at his Aunt Kel's house watching cartoons. I'm hoping the Motrin she gave him will take the edge off.

So I took Amanda's advice and wrote out some possible scenerios for my WIP. I think I got seven different ideas. Many of them had words like "STUPID" and "PREDICTABLE" scribbled next to them, but a few might work. I haven't tried to write any of them out yet, but I'm definitely playing the scenes out in my head, sort of like how you try on a pair of jeans before buying them. I think I'm going to give the hero and heroine a break, though, and let the villian take center stage for just a little bit. Maybe that will also help jog something loose.

A little more than a year ago my oldest boy was diagnosed with ADHD. While I wasn't surprised, I must admit I had expected a learning disability to be diagnosised as well. After all, his struggles in school had been the sole reason we had had him tested. His continual challenges with reading and writing, not to mention his atrocious spelling, certainly indicated something wasn't quite working for him. In fact there was a period of time when I felt he might well have a touch of dyslexia. Instead we got ADHD with additional comments about his slow processing speed and impaired visuomotor integration skills. Following the recommendations of the testing facility at UM-Ann Arbor, we began working with the school to incorporate some teaching aids into his curriculum. This meant we had to work with the special education coordinator, his teachers and the school psychologist. We also had to follow up on additional testing recommended by the facility. He's since been tested by an Occ...

So, last weekend before last we had some little visitors come over to the house for a few hours. After they left my son discovered his Pokemon game had disappeared from his Gameboy. After making them clean their rooms, look under their beds, behind their dressers, and in their toy boxes, I had to at least consider the possibility the missing game and the children's visit might be related. My oldest boy - the one whose game had come up missing - talked to the oldest of the three boys that been to visit on Saturday. The child told my son his brothers had taken the game. That he had seen them playing it and passing it back and forth. So I called their Grandma, who they live with, and asked if she look into the situation. A few minutes later a little voice comes on the line and tells me they had taken the game outside and must have left it by the swingset. Okay. Not good. It's winter! It's been raining and snowing. And I feel like an ass for implying the kids might have taken i...

I'm stalled. I thought I'd work on the story at lunch today and didn't. Apparently my Muse has decided the corner I've boxed myself into is just punishment for my creative ignorance or, to be a bit more honest, my lack of foresight. Why am I sabotaging every rescue attempt? I DON'T KNOW! But I wish I'd stop. I'd like to move forward. I just need a sound and reasonable avenue for my hero and heroine to escape their current misery.

It must be the week for it. The day after the funeral we got a phone call from my in-laws. A friend of the family had lost his battle with cancer and had passed away. Just a few weeks ago he had been given several months to live, then just a handful of weeks. Apparently, the cancer had been even worse than they thought, because he didn't make it two weeks after the doctor's gave him their prognosis. That's two for three...and I really hate that death seems to visit in a threesome. It scares the crap out of me.

A dear family friend passed away unexpectedly two nights ago. I wasn't as close to him as my sister. I was a bit older than his two beautiful daughters, so I didn't hang out there on weekends or even after school. My sisters, on the other hand, were friends with both girls. The older of my two younger sisters became fast and forever best friends with his oldest daughter. Not too long ago I know my sister went and talked to her best friend's dad about an emotionally charged topic and got some insight and advice from him. He was, without a doubt, her second Dad. She loved him and I'm pretty sure he loved her, too. He offered her support and guidance, something every girl needs now and again. And now he's gone. He died instantly from a massive heartattack after spending a wonderful day with his wife. I hope my last day on this earth is just as idealic, if there can be such a thing when death is involved. He was a wonderful man. He will be missed by so many people. My ...

Last night my son's punishment for his poor progress report card was amped up a little bit. Now he's not only grounded from all his electronic games (computer, PS2, Wii , Gameboy ), but he is now grounded from the television, too. He's down to toys and books. I don't know why that makes me feel like a mean mom, but it does. Although, when I stop and think about it, those were my two main forms of entertainment as a child. Even when we had an Atari system and then graduated to the Nintendo, my parents limited our time. Mostly, I had my toys and I had my books. My self-entertainment was driven by my imagination, not a software developer's. I survived it. In fact, I think it made me the person I am today. Would I have been drawn to reading and writing if I had been able to focus all my energies on flashier things like computer games and such? I don't think so. And cartoons? Please. Saturday mornings only. I didn't have Cartoon Network and I managed not to with...

Still here as in still at work. Luckily, I am now officially off the clock and just waiting for my night class to start. I'm hoping it'll be one of those short "here's your syllabus, have a good night" type of classes. Of course, it won't be. I've been on campus since 8 AM, which is normal. Unfortunately, I had an orientation session I had to lead from 5:00-6:30, so I'm just now finding the time to grab some dinner (aka..multigrain mini cinnamon sugar rice patties). I am so tired. Exhausted really. Not only was today the first day of Winter semester, it was also our first full day in the new office. Might not have been so bad if we had had a chance to actually upack and settle in before opening the doors for business. Instead we were trying to work, unpack, and keep our sanity intact all at the same time. NOT FUN, but we somehow managed to survive. My office even looks like it's in working order! Wahoo! What else? I attended my first BIO class here...

I'm pretty sure my oldest is going to get his first failing grade. On his progress report he had a D+ in Social Studies. Everything else looked decent, he even had an A in one subject. A few Bs and a C made up the rest of the report. Considering how hard school is for him, I'm really proud of that A and those Bs. The C I'll accept, even if I'd like to see him do better. However, the D is completely unacceptable. We got the progress report the week before Christmas break. I had hoped the test he had to take in Social Studies that week would help bring the grade up into the C- range. Didn't happen. Despite studying for the test, the child managed to bomb the thing and got a nice, solid E. I can't even tell you how frustrated I am with him and this whole situation. Sometimes I think he tries so hard and fails anyhow. Then I have those moments when I think he's not trying at all, doesn't care, doesn't know he should care, and would really rath...

So, today is the first day back to work. I slept most of the way into work - not to worry, though, the hubby was driving. I really don't want to be here. I'd rather be on vacation still. Although we had eight days to enjoy ourselves, it went by too fast. There's so much more I'd like to have done. Especially if you consider playing the PS2, writing, and scrapbooking as so much more! Today also happens to be the first day of exercise and eating healthy. Ew. At least I have a couple days left to just enjoy my leisurely reading time. School doesn't start until next Monday, thank goodness. I'm not looking forward to taking two classes again. I know there's going to be a lot of work involved this time around. Of course, once these two are behind me, I'll be eligible to graduate! Yay, for that! Okay, time to get busy.