Not Really Slacking...

I'm not. I've been editing my rear end off.
For real!
I am nearly ready to send it to my trusty crit partners, which is good since part of my monthly goal was to send it to them. Still have some chapter length's to mend and some content to add to the end. On the whole, I'm happy with it, though I know there are a few places that need a little work.
The thing about sending the book to people with fresh eyes is that they can see what's wrong, what doesn't make sense. Because to me it does. I've been immersed in this world for so long I know what everyone is thinking, even if it's not on the page. And it really should be on the page. So while I'm nervous about sending it out, I'm excited for it, too. I'm nervous because I've been working on this book for a very long time thanks to life and jobs and stuff.
That's all for Monday!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition...

What was good...
1. New Supernatural!! Whoot! That was awesome!
2. Hanging out on the mountain for the premier with the besties and wine!
3. Making it to Friday without serious injury or bodily harm.
4. Walking with that man I live with.
5. Scallop and shrimp stir fry for dinner.
6. Farmer's market shopping and produce!
7. A beautiful day.
8. Lunch with the kiddos.
9. Editing! Because I'm making progress!
10. Dr. Who!
Okay. That's the list. More tomorrow!
Behave!

What I Like About Wednesday...

1. Walking with that man I live with.
2. The week is half over.
3. Ghosthunters.
4. Having other adults in the house who can drive the heathens where they need to go.
5. Knowing my favorite comfy pants are clean and ready for me.
6. Payday is close.
7. Supernatural coming back on Friday!
8. Editing progress. A little, but some is better than none.
9. Barefeet.
10. My bed - because I need it.
That is all.
Behave!

Birthdays and Stink Bugs...

Happy Birthday to my daddy!
It only took me about 72-million tries to get him on the phone, but I finally suceeded!
***
Three live stink bugs in my house today. I don't think they're gone. I think we should be very, very afraid.
***
Editing is going well. It is, even though I don't feel like it is. I'm making progress, but it feels soooo slow. This book is going to kill me dead. Just sayin'.
***
New Supernatural in 3 days!
I have missed it! I have missed it more than I even realize!
***
Short and sweet tonight!
Behave!

Lack of Clever...

I had something clever and deep planned for tonight's post.
I forgot what I was going to say somewhere between 6th grade English and 6th grade Math. (Back to School Night)
I will do my best to remember for another night. In the meantime...some random.
* Wedding planning is stressful.
* Back to School nights are long, and while it's important to meet your child's teachers and find out classroom stuff, Back to School nights are long. I've done two in the past week and I'm glad we're done with them for this year.
* Editing is sometimes like walking down a dark tunnel without a flashlight. You can see the light at the other end, but it seems sooo far away.
Okay. I think it's time for bed.
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition

Here's the list from the week:
1. Despite me missing half of my brain all week, I managed to not wreck, make too many terrible mistakes, or hurt anyone.
2. Getting to the weekend, though I am sad it's almost over.
3. Editing and making progress.
4. Seeing my kid in his element.
5. Having the grandbaby tomorrow for a few hours.
6. Walking with that man I live with.
7. Trying new recipes and having them turn out wonderful.
8. The beautiful weather.
9. Sleeping in this morning.
10. One more week until new Supernatural.
That is all...
Behave!

Don't.

How would you feel if someone stole your paycheck every week?
That's what you do to authors when you pirate books.
And it's illegal.
So don't do it.
Behave!

Three Strikes, Making Progress, and Stupid Things I Do...

Remember when I posted about the rude clerk on her cell phone? I stopped there today to get gas and let's just say I'll never stop there again. First, they charge ten cents a gallon more if you use a card. Really? No one does that anymore. Second, the rude clerk. Third, and this one is totally on me - I had some kind of brain moment or something and couldn't seem to get my truck parked on the proper side to actually put fuel into it. And, of course, the place was packed so everyone inside saw my shame. The first two things are enough to cause me to never go back there. The third is just icing on the cake. (Number three also ties into the last part of this post...)
***
I'm doing well with my edits. I finished one pass last night and must go back for a major one before I read through it one more time and send to my trusty crit partners. While doing these edits I alternate between absolute love for the story and feeling like I suck something nasty. It's exhausting. The eye strain I've been dealing with this week does not help. At all. If my eye isn't twitching, then I feel blind, and I have a headache. Yes, I know the logical thing to do would be to take a break and give my eyes a chance to rest, but I must get this done. Must. There is only a little over two weeks before my next meeting and I made my goal rather steep this month. So...no break for me.
***
Stupid things I do...I know the only reason you're still reading is because you had to know what I have done.
The gas thing is one of them. I felt about two inches tall. I've been driving my truck and putting gas in for something like ten years now!
I was using the blender and instead of shutting it off to add more ingredients, I let it run. As a result, I am now sticky and smell like pineapples. The truly sad thing is that there is no liquor involved.
This morning I found an empty water jug in the fridge. Totally me since I was the last one to go to bed and had filled my water glass right before I went up.
I took that man I live with's vitamin by mistake. No harm done, and hey, my prostate feels great.
Usually I write the bills out Thursday or Friday and mail them the day after. Except this week. I forgot to stick them in the mail. They're still sitting beside the printer. Must remember to put them in the mail tomorrow.
Okay...that's enough stupid me. And yes, everything happened this week. I don't know. It's really been a weird week so far and it's only Wednesday! Yikes!
That is all.
Behave!

Moaning Monday...

A random Moaning Monday post. Because... a) it's Monday b) today was a moaning one c) I can.
Here's the moaning list:
1. I swear I'd only just fallen asleep when it was time to get up.
2. Shower jumpers. Dang it. (forgiven because I was the late one)
3. My driver side truck window not working right.
4. Busy, busy, busy day.
5. Eyestrain that includes an eye twitch and the constant wearing of my cheater glasses for computer work. (Yes, I'm getting off of the computer as soon as I'm done here)
6. K2's computer acting funky.
7. Pre-teen emotional roller coaster.
8. Not getting as far with edits as I wanted - see # 5.
Okay that's enough crap.
The good parts about today were:
1. A walk with that man I live with. It's the only chance we have to talk lately.
2. Getting through 30 tedious pages of edits.
3. Coming home to a clean house.
4. Not cooking.
5. Monday's over. (Shh. Don't remind me there will be more Mondays!)
Bring on Tuesday.  I have to go and close my eyes now!
Behave!

What?

I'm sure I posted yesterday!
I swear I did, but there is nothing here!
I don't know...We had K5 all day long, so maybe my brain was too fried and I posted it wrong. I don't know. And just so you know...my brain was fried because it was a long day - a good day - but a long one. She's a hoot, but she didn't nap. At all.
Okay. So now that you have my written excuse for the lack of a post, I'll be back later with Moaning Monday.
Behave!

Feed Good Friday

What a long, wet week!
1. The rain has stopped.
2. Friday! Whoot!
3. Not having to cook.
4. Editing going well. Though I almost cried when I cut an entire chapter.
5. Light weekend plans. I hope it stays that way. At least for me. Everyone else is running in ten different directions, but I am editing. At least tomorrow.
6. Looking forward to having our granddaughter Sunday.
7. Walking with that man I live with. It's the only time we have a chance to really talk.
8. Sleeping in tomorrow.
9. Movies I love.
Umm....I'm brain dead now so we'll stop at 9.
Behave!

Of Floods and Other Things...

You'd have to be living under a rock if you didn't hear about the flooding in PA this week.
We stayed dry - especially in our basement - thanks to the ingenuity of that man I live with. I certainly had no idea that one simple awkward drainpipe move would halt the flood of water into our basement. He's clever, that man. (though I am totally jealous that he got a day and a half off work thanks to the swollen and angry river.)
The pictures of the flood are incredible and the river hasn't even crested yet.
It's not raining anymore.
The humidity is insane though. Everything feels sticky and gross.
***
I made a quick stop at a local convenience store on my way home. The clerk was on her cell phone, speaking in a foreign language. She proceeded to stand in front of me - talking - while I was waiting for her attention. Really? I'm a paying customer. You can't get off the phone long enough to ring me up?
***
Water restriction sucks! I need to do laundry. And dishes. Not to mention, I'm really sick of cautiously flushing the toilet. Supposed to end tomorrow. Thank goodness.
***
I hate it when people call me "Hon".
***
That is all.
Feel Good Friday is next.
Behave!

Cake?

We are in the very early stages of wedding planning around here...
Good cake?
Or not...
I can't wait to show it to K2. Want to take bets on what she says?
Behave!

A Weekend List

What was awesome about this weekend:
1. My writing group meeting - new faces, new members, visitors. Lunch was fun, even though I will not be sad if we never go to the restaurant again. I got what I usually get and it had absolutely no flavor.
2. Saturday night and our journey to hear an old friend perform at a nearby bar. What a blast! He played songs only our table knew and the look on his face when we moved to the table closest to the microphone was priceless. It was a lot of fun - good music, great friends, good food, good adult beverages, great friends.
3. Potluck picnics.
4. Creek time! It felt really really weird not to camp this weekend. (We had way too much going on. Camping wasn't logical. And thank goodness after the storms we had last night. And today.)
5. Funny ventriloquist shows and copious amounts of (free!) italian ice. (though the dummies were creep-tastic!)
6. K5 all day today! She is such a hoot! We had a blast with her.
7. All four kids home today! What a riot!
8. A semi-clean house to start the week.
I'll stop there. It was a good weekend. And writing? Well, this was my weekend off. I got my first crit back tonight and while I have work to do on the story, I am bolstered by the fact that my crit partner thinks the story is awesome despite the work I need to do.
That is all.
Behave!

Feel Good Friday!

It's Friday! Holy crap, I didn't think it was ever going to get here! I always say it's been a long week, but I really mean it this week.
Here's the good list:
1. Writing meeting tomorrow!
2. Finishing the book and sending it for a first round critique. Still have work to do. I'm sure lots. But yay!!
3. Meeting my goal for #1. Yay!
4. Not having to shop or cook for tonight.
5. Long weekends even though our camping plans got trashed.
6. Saturday night plans.
7. Hearing my kid talk about his future plans and his excitement.
8. The first week of school going off without a hitch.
9. K4 meeting new friends who turned out to be our new neighbors.
10. Laughing with that man I live with.
That's is all for now.
Behave!

Answers!

Yeah, I'm way late. Sorry about that...It's been a long week.

Let's get a move on with the answers!
Which of the following are actual texts I've sent?
1. Okay? So what's your question? True. The reason I said that was related to 2.
2. I just bought a half gallon yesterday! True. K2 was asking about the milk. And we are always out of milk these days. Always.
3. There are bees... Nope.
4. Dentist appointments. True. 3 in one night. None for me.
5. Oh...crap. Okay then...True. But I can't quite remember why I sent that one.
6. Okey Dokey. True. That one is always on my phone.
7. Start spag sauce True. Actually a text sent to my email so I wouldn't forget. I do that a lot after I've gone to bed.
8. Listen you mf. Don't say that to me. Naw.
9. They don't have magazines? True. When K2 texted me while waiting for her grandmother to come out of her cataract surgery. I did tell her to take something to do...
10. Marco is a man, baby. Also true. We were at the store and K2 went to look for something. She texted me "Marco" and that was my response. Say it to yourself in the Austin Powers voice.
So there you have it.
Feel good Friday is next! Stay tuned!
Behave!