28 Oct. 2011

Oh, such a great day!

Spent last night up way too late, finishing a piece (rough draft), revising major and annoying misses in grammar and formatting -- Write first, Worry later! -- and searching for new publishers and pew projects.  Really, not bad for 6 hours' work.  It felt really good to be back in it again.  Forgot how much I missed short story publications.

Then, woke up and Mike made a wonderful breakfast.  He's really looking forward to me working again, more than once in a while.  This has been a truly great day.

Mike is going to read over the piece (free review) and I'm going to pour over the new projects I found while he went out and about.  Figured I'd be set until the end of the year.  One is due end of November; two in December.

One's not for pay, but, man, am so stoked about the requested content.  And what better way to simply enjoy writing than to take on a piece just for shits and giggles!

Other than that, Kenneth has been kicking up a storm... can hear him with a stethoscope now.  Even answers his daddy with kicks!  so cute!

Uncle has also been up and about.  I love it when he's here.  Sitting in the living room, in the recliner, I noticed someone (I was home alone) get up off the couch.  Saw the white shirt -- it's what he wears half the time -- but wasn't sure I saw it.  Shortly thereafter, I caught light out of the corner of my eye.  My office light was on.

Felt really bad when I went in there to turn it off.  Was like he was telling me to get back to work, I should be in my office, not out watching TV.  And the room felt rather lonely.  Wish I could have stayed, but I need the recliner to keep my feet up.  Also, yeah, my desk was (is) a natural disaster again.  It's my other project for the day.

17 Oct. 2011

How was your day?

Mine's gone almost nowhere.

LOL, but guess I'd have it no other way.  Spent all day outlining the piece for a publisher.  And it never got to the opening line until about half an hour ago.

okay, forgot I had the window up, now passed the word limit for scene: one.  Glad it's just a guideline, not the hard, fast rule.

Beginning the work was slow going at best today.  And, come as the words wouldn't, I shortened the word count for the opener.  Anything to make it feel more plausible to get writing.  The 400 words, I could allow to 800.

Only reason it's shortened, honestly, is that getting the piece on it's feet seemed impossible -- without combining the first two scenes in a way they touched.  down right smooched.  There is no line dividing them.

so, guess it's not all bad.  at least it's getting opened.  And, by the gods, have been second guessing myself sooooooo much tonight to get it this far.  Seems silly.  But, with the rust that has gathered on, not only me, but my writing of short pieces, has gotten quite thick.

It's coming off though.  And, it feels SOOOOOOO GOOD to be working again!!!  How I've missed it!!  Even the hard days and heartaches.  I've missed it all!

If anything, it's proved where I'm meant to be in my life: right here at the keys.  All I have to do is get published again. ;)

Will deal with that when I reach it.  First thing's first.  Write! Write! Write!

The rest will be as it's to be.  Am just glad to be working again.  And, for right now, words on the page, even less than perfect ones, are gold.  Revision will correct the rest. ;)

This blog did come off rather disjointed.  So was I when I began it.  And a 30+ minute gap, I see, didn't help.  Well, not for the post.  It did for the mood.  Work cures all. ;)

15 Oct. 2011

Yea, dry streak is over and I'm back to throwing up (in some inconvenient places)!!!  Oh, joy.  Only upside on this is that the sicker I am, the less likely it is of a miscarriage.  Would rather I be sick than Kenneth.

On the work front, I'm rather worried.  Have I forgotten what it is to be freaked out on Halloween?  For weeks I've tried and tried and tried to figure out the best parts of and what makes a good scary story.  I've gotten 2 written, and a 3rd nearly done, but . . . it's just the same as the old campfire tales we used to tell when the sun went down and scared ourselves silly.  I so miss those days.

Back then everything made a good tale and scares were a penny a thousand.  For a short story, I can't seem to find that feeling.  That innocent scare.

Have I lost touch?  Lost that untainted, unseasoned chill?  Have I forgotten the true fun and heart of Halloween?

I think it's time I got back to basics.

11 Oct. 2011

Been working on the piece for Halloween.  Not at all happy with it.  The eerie feeling I wanted in the pages is null and void. How can I miss so badly???  Ugh, fun, fun. NOT!

Need to go back over it after some down time.  Creepy music, ghost vids and horror movies aught to do it.  Will pick it up when the groove returns.  LOL.

Upside, found a new food item Kenneth lets me keep down: cinnamon rolls (without the icing).  Oh, so hard not to eat the entire batch in one sitting.  Oy, so much indulgence would not go well.  Too much food atop the little one and up it's sent.

Will continue/revamp the piece in the morn.  They asked for a piece and I want to make it good.  They're my friends, some I hold like family, they deserve my best.

10 Oct. 2011

New shirt, finally got pics that looked decent.  Our son's first costume. ROFL!

Felt Kenneth rocking and rolling this morn.  He had me so sick, I knew he had to be dancing up a storm.  Was nearly asleep when he shot a couple of good jolts to my innards.  Woke me right up!  Lol.  Was excited and concerned.... Still trying to wrap my mind around it.  That and being able to feel him shifting around when I pressed lightly on his house.

This is so weird, so... ...something else entirely...

Can't wait to meet him.

09 Oct. 2011

Dreaming so weird lately.  Must be hormones.  But, good news on the story front -- it's pretty much what my life revolves around (except family).  Been requested to enter a piece this year.  Wasn't 100% last I posted.  Really looking forward to doing so.  I take it as an honor, really.  Been doing this a while -- since my teens  -- and still glad to see that requests and compliments never get taken for granted.

Critiques I take with a an open mind and rooted feet.  Improvement, I'm happy to work towards.  Losing my voice and style, not so much.  Not that one can't live with a little give and take.  But being asked to submit, no matter where, still just astounds me.  In the best way.

Last time, it was for a publisher in the UK.  This time, from a friend.  Both delight me so.  Am happy to do it.

On the other front, received a great gift yesterday: a Halloween maternity shirt.  Shows an adult torso in X-ray with a little one's skeleton lower down.  Dude, it ROCKS!

Will be wearing it for as long as it fits!

Pic may follow.  Such a great shirt.  Which makes the rest of the selection rather sad.  There are not that many good options for pregnant women when it comes to Halloween.  99% of them revolve around pumpkin smuggling.  How lame.

At least, with a little digging, something good can still be found out there.  Hopefully, there'll be more to come, too.

03 Oct. 2011

Oy, fun, fun.  Not.  Mom wants the the kid baptized.  Neither hubby nor I are roman catholic.  Hope this is a battle we can avoid.  We want the kid to have a religion, but only one they find true to their hearts and soul.  It is a deeply person choice and we look forward to helping them find it.

That aside, have some GREAT news!  Halloween is coming! And the story board is gearing up for their annual story night in chat!  Woohoo!!  Now I'm so stoked!

Now, I'm itching to come up with another experience to share.  And, with working on another paranormal piece, this entry should be a bit smoother than last year's account.  Still won last year's contest (no clue if this one is).  Only want for this year is to chip in something worth their time.

So ready to begin!!!

By the gods, I LOVE this time of year!!

Also, found a cable pattern I like better for the gift.  It's part of a sock pattern, so, had to rewrite and modify the count to make it work for wrist warmers.  Took about one evening . . . minus needing to smooth out the gusset plan for the thumb.  If you're going to go, go big.

If they go over as well as they will look . . .  May end up having to make more.  Lol.  Mom is still asking for last year's wrist warmers and mitts I made for two of my aunts.


Really enjoying Terra Nova.  Hubby and I are working our week (and his weekends) around it and On Demand.  Hope they don't run it into the ground in the first season.  TV needs a good show.  And this definitely fits the bill - and so long over due.  Such a great show.

02 Oct. 2011

Well, did not get around to writing yet.  However, did get around to thinking about it. HAHAHA!  Found out we're having a BOY.  So, very, very cool!  We spent the rest of the day (hubby got almost no sleep before work, poor man) on cloud nine, looking at the ultrasound pics, and going through his photo album so I can put names to those of his family stopping by to visit.

As soon as we got home, his past family were popping in to look at the pics and hear the news.  His dad, uncles, granddad from his mom's side, his sister, they were all so excited!  It was great!! Do excuse the exclamation points, it's just been that kind of a whirlwind. HAHA.  Hubby made a comment about it being nice to know they are around.  His dad chimed in, in a way all fathers do, I guess, with, "you better know we're around."  Made us both smile.  Though, it did take hubby time to figure out who said it.

One tradition his dad had was, as soon as a grandchild arrived, he'd be there from day one and stay for the first month.  Helping out around the house, with meals and such.  Hubby is feeling right guilty that he'll miss this one (and any others we have).

Especially this one.  This is the son to carry on the name.  Which is why they all clamored in to see him.  Was such a wondrous day.  Even Unc stopped by to see.

Started planning out my short piece's opening.  But, have not quite gotten it to paper.  Will today, seeing how I'm not so ready to puke.  No writer wants to ruin a notebook. lol.

Started a Christmas gift for an aunt last night.  We'll see if I have a enough yarn.  It may get rather tight on the second half.