Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Spring is springing...

The trees are beginning to bloom and my back yard is almost a foot tall again. Time to get the kiddos on yard duty. We're supposed to get rain today and tomorrow and I wish it would just fall already. We need it and it suits my mood (gloomy). Of course that means the grass will grow even more. :(

The writing is going well. I wrote 400+ words last night, which is double my M-F daily goal, so yay me. Of course, it's bare bones, mostly dialogue with a random thought here and an action tag there. But that's okay.

My online class is going well too. I need to do/post the assignment for this week. It's on my to do list for today.

Another hectic weekend coming up--Jazz on the Hill, dinner and silent auction on Friday and a stadium event to work on Saturday and then visitation with my daughter on Sunday. Her birthday is Friday and this will be the first one we've celebrated with her in three years.

Speaking of birthdays, I've decided and informed my family that my birthday will now be celebrated in conjunction with Mother's Day. We only have to eat out or cook special once, but I still get twice the presents. June is a crazy month in our house as the men prepare to leave for the fireworks store. And for the past three years they've also participated in a paintball event known as D-Day in Oklahoma and which generally takes place the same weekend as my birthday. So as of this year I'm not missing out anymore.

And a reminder for those participating in Black March--it starts Thursday.

And last but not least, my friend and critique partner, Clover's latest book is now available in paperback. It's called Highland Sorcery and is a lot of fun. If you like hot Scottish men with magical abilities, you're bound to enjoy it. It's available for the Kindle and the Nook as well, if you're so inclined, but I'll let you search that out yourself. :)

Friday, February 24, 2012

Remember The Lorax???

Back when I was a kid, there was a TV movie that would air every now and again--the adaptation of Dr. Seuss's book The Lorax.

Not too long ago I remembered the show and wondered longingly if it were available on DVD or even YouTube. But life moved on and I forgot. And then yesterday, I heard the radio ad for the new movie coming out on March 2 (what would have been Theodore Geisel's 108th birthday).

I'm a little worried about this new version, because it seems like they always change things and after a bit of Googling this morning, I discovered I was right. I don't know that it's too awful, but I remember the original fondly, and if it ain't broke, why fix it??

So, if you have the time, here is the first half of the original made for TV version of The Lorax.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Do you want to play a game?

Is a famous line from a movie. I watched its sequel last night with Sonshine.

Can you name it?

I take back Monday's assertion that I have nothing going on on Friday. There's a band cookout for the HS band along with the three feeder middle schools. The band director has asked me to man a table to sell tickets for Jazz on the Hill and accept payments for the band trip in May. Oh joy. :)

Speaking of the band trip, she wants to know if I can go and act as a chaperone. I want to, and I get to go for free, except for food. Need to talk to hubby/boss and make sure there're no conflicts.

On a side note, I finally stopped letting myself be taken advantage of. Sonshine's girlfriend was asking me for a ride to school everyday. I get not wanting to walk a mile and a half to school. I really do, but she lives way out of the way and the cost of gas is rising. I finally said no more. I felt a little bad at first, but the last two days without that extra loop on my trip to school were very nice. Sonshine has not had a bad attitude about it, either, which is good.

All right, well back to my day. . . .

Monday, February 20, 2012

It's a brand new week!

And it shouldn't be quite as stressful or hectic. Well, except Saturday. Again. Another Cowboy Stadium event. Monster trucks this time, rather than motocross. But nothing else preceding it, so that's good. It's been awhile since I've worked an event and am I sore. Even the fingers of my right hand--the one I use to punch at the register--is sore. Thanks goodness it wasn't as crazy as a football game, but it was steady. And LOUD.

Friday, nothing.

Another Band Night at Cici's Pizza. On Thursday, I think. I don't have to do anything for that but show up, pay for and eat pizza.

Wednesday, nothing.

Tuesday, nothing.

Monday, nothing.

Whew.

All those nothings, other than work of course. And writing. I'm trying to get back on track with my time travel. And today, I start an online writing class.

So I suppose I ought to get to work and get this party work week started!

Friday, February 17, 2012

My kettle...

DD took its picture last night for posterity!



It might be hard to see but the toothpick is there, propping up the whistler flap.






Other than that, it's Friday!

Saturday is going to be a LONG day and I'm not looking forward to it at all. But Sunday will be nice and quiet. And Sonshine's girlfriend ain't coming over. DH will head to his mom's house as he has an appointment in Waco on Monday morning, so I will have my bed to myself on Sunday night. I can go to bed early and sleep right in the middle!

Happy Friday, y'all!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The end of an era...

Okay, not really, but it sounded good.

About 23 years ago, I received a set of Revere Ware pots and pans. And a kettle. A lovely shiny kettle with a copper bottom. Exactly like this one:



I still have that set of pots and pans, through a divorce, a remarriage, two additional children, and two semi-cross country moves. They still work great and I love them. Especially my kettle.

Except my kettle is on its very last leg. It's been acting funny of late, but still boiled water and whistled once it had. It's got a coating of grease and grime and the copper is no longer shiny, but it does the job.

Except...

The other day, the little pull mechanism under the handle that pops open the lid so you can pour water broke off.

So now, I have a toothpick propping open the lid so I can pour the water without burning myself.

And I'm very very sad.

I've put in my request for a new one for Mother's Day or my birthday, but I don't think I can hold out that long.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Can you say humid...?

So it's raining now, but supposed to get up to 77* today. Hmm...

Sonshine and the Jazz Ensemble played at a local retirement village last night. They were awesome. Sonshine, himself, had several solos and blew me away each time. I had to give the working camera up to the new website director of our chapter, so no pics or video unfortunately.

(I'll have to find mine and see if it's battery related or just plain dead and buy a new one. Oh, maybe for Mother's Day or my birthday, though I really don't want to wait that long.)

Not much work happening on the WIP this week. I did get an entry for the alphabet game written Monday evening, but that's on the new, in-planning story. Still, writing is writing, I suppose. Maybe tonight I will either open my WIP (since one of my FEB goals was to be in it everyday) or write another abc entry (I really don't feel like looking at the WIP yet after last weekend's marathon.)

After last evening's hectic activity (I hauled equipment so the band wouldn't have to rent a U-Haul.) I am feeling a bit muzzy this morning and with the rain, really wish I could curl up and go back to sleep for a couple of hours. Ah, well.

So back to work it is.

Happy Wednesday to you.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Potpourri

Had my annual physical this morning. The doctor said everything looks good and results of my PAP should be back in approximately three weeks.

I asked her about my achy knees and she's going to run a test for arthritis. She did say part of my knee pain could be foot related since I walk on the outer edges of my feet (the other thing I asked about). I have noticed since I started not wearing shoes at home and at the office that my feet hurt less, as do my knees. But I don't know if that's also because it hasn't gotten that cold here yet or because I have a space heater under my desk or because I've been exercising or a combination of all three. :)

She did recommend cinnamon (1/2 tsp w/ 1 tbs honey), apparently it's the world's second most perfect food and provides a LOT of other health benefits. So I guess I'll had cinnamon and honey to my plain oatmeal each morning.

This weekend I also completed an in depth revision of my current work in progress. It still needs a lot of work and several more scenes, (and then another revision or two) but hopefully I sufficiently addressed a murky plot point as mentioned by two of the three contest judges. I added some new scenes, tweaked some others, and generally added bits of dialogue or narrative throughout. It felt good, but was also very intensive and I was quite ready to be done with it by dinner time yesterday.

Now to get the week back on track--the change in my routine (drs appt) throws me out of kilter for a bit.

TTFN!

Friday, February 10, 2012

TGIF

Yes! It's Friday. I've been looking forward to today since about Tuesday. I'm normally not that bad about it, but it's been a hectic week and I'm glad to it over. One last event tonight--Band Night at Cici's Pizza for Sonshine--and then the weekend is mine.

I printed out my WIP yesterday afternoon and started reading it last night. Made a few notes on things to change. Mostly wording. I read through my judge comments too, trying to absorb and consider how to address the main issue two of three judges raised. I think, after I figure it out and implement the changes, I'd like to enter another contest. Get some more feedback.

In ten days, I'll be starting an online class. I have characters and some basic background information on them to go into the class with. I'm looking forward to it.

On a side note, I wanted something sweet last night. We stopped at the store on the way home from the band booster meeting to get Sonshine some oyster crackers. But I was good and picked out a banana and some craisins!

Time to get this day started--the sooner I start, the sooner I can go home!

Have a good weekend, y'all.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Contest Entry Returned

I received my contest entry back this morning times three--I had three judges, so three copies with comments. One judge was a published author.

Two of them agreed my main plot point was rather weak. Okay, good to know. I didn't think so, but I'm not that objective. The published author liked my writing style and voice. The third judge on the other hand, apparently didn't quite get my style as she marked me way down on the grammar section because of my use of incomplete sentences. Has she read a novel lately? Or listened to people talk or herself think? People use a lot of fragments in their speech and thoughts. Oh, well. That's fine.

So now I have some more work to do on this dratted WIP. Though I am going to wait until I have finished it completely. My goal is to have it complete, no matter how rough, by the 15th. Of course, now that I think about it, at the rate I'm going, that may not happen. But I have the weekend. I'll see how it plays out.

Fingers crossed!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Snoopy Dancing

Two of my critique partners finaled in our chapter's writing contest. Now they get to take a look at their first round critiques, make any changes they deem necessary and resubmit to the final round judge--an agent or editor.

I too entered the contest, Apparently no finalling for me, but that's okay. I wanted feedback more than I wanted to final.

On another exciting note, I helped one of my other CPs get her website up and published. It's probably not available yet, but the URL is www.lavenderdaye.com. (Just a warning, she writes erotic romance. There's nothing too erotic on the site, at the moment, except maybe the picture, but even that's tasteful. Well, I like it, anyway. :)

The weather is cloudy again and therefore warmer. My CP Lavender gave me a pedometer the other day and I wore it while I walked my morning blocks--@3740 steps yesterday and @4380 today. I read somewhere that you should take 10,000 steps a day. I wore the pedometer all day yesterday but only ended up with @5700, almost 5800 steps. And that was a busier than normal day for me. I guess I need to add that fourth block soon and the aerobics.

Well, time to get busy....

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Hmmm...

I'm thinking of copying my friend/critique partner Chrissy's idea in using the alphabet to inspire/generate blog content. It intrigues me.... I think her idea of posting extras about her fantasy book series is a fun exercise and is probably helpful to her in fleshing out characters. Though I know she'll say a) she got the idea from someone else and b) she already knows her characters really well as it is.

Immediate work crisis has calmed and as it is the 1st of the month I do have other administrative tasks to accomplish. It's a welcome change of pace.

Oh-I've just noticed that it's raining. YAY. We need rain so badly. It could rain for days on end and I wouldn't complain. (Well, only about the dirt the dogs would end up tracking into the house.)

My diet and exercise plan is progressing. I'm walking three full blocks most days, which takes me between 25 and 35 minutes to accomplish. I probably spend 10 to 20 minutes a day in 3 to 5 minute increments doing calisthenics in conjunction with my trips to the restroom. Over all, I feel pretty good physically.

As for the diet, I've given up starches: bread, biscuits, pasta (sob), tortillas, etc, and eating a lot more green veggies and proteins. Trying to cut back on my sugar intake, but I love, love, love my sweet tea, whether hot or cold, so that's a big challenge. With this work crisis, I haven't been trying too hard as sweet hot mint tea is my comfort food and I really needed a lot of calming comfort this past week.

I do feel as if I've hit a plateau. I don't have a regular scale to track actual weight loss, though I suppose I could get out the Wii. Then I could get the aerobics going too. Maybe that'll bump me over the plateau. (I think, though, I'll just be more hungry.)