A Mini Rant...

People are very judgemental--I've noticed...at least in my immediate geographical area. Granted, I'm Christian and conservative, but I also believe that its not our business to judge others, you know?
I shop at the local Super Target a few times a week, and there is a guy who works there, and I'm not sure if he's transgendered, but he has long black hair, and he wears very heavy eye makeup and lipstick (no, he's not Goth--it's definitely female makeup) but he has stubble so you can tell he's a guy. He's very nice, (he's helped me a few times) and I don't think much else of it but yesterday, I was at Target, and he walked by me, we exchanged smiles, and I heard the lady walking behind me audibly gasp. After he passed by us I turned around and she had this horrified expression on her face. "What WAS that?" she asked, mortified.

I immediately thought of a few snide remarks, but I merely said "It's a person who works here." She looked at me as if I'd gone crazy and shook her head, and went into the checkout.

This really bothered me. I mean, sure, the very first time I saw him, I did a double-take, (his look is a bit extreme, even for a woman) but this would be a classic case of judging a book by it's cover.

I've been "heavier" in my life, and I noticed that people weren't as nice to me as when I was skinny. It definitely gave me perspective--and a determination not to judge by appearances.
I was a good person--just because I was covered with a layer of fat didn't mean I was "bad" or "less" worthy of speaking to. I've been on the receiving end of prejudice, and it isn't a fun place to be. People need to take the sticks out of their rear ends and accept people for what they are...people.

OK--rant over. I got 1700 words in yesterday, so that was progress--the only problem is, I'm being wishy washy on the premise. I have a great story, but I can't decide on certain elements of it, so I've been working on two separate drafts, to see which one I like better. Yesterday I decided that I liked the Second Draft better, so I'll stick with that. The only problem is, I've hyped the First draft in my submissions. UGH. I clearly should have waited until I made up my mind. Well, I HAD made up my mind, but then I went back to this draft and decided I liked it better, after the fact.

(Am I scaring you yet? ;-)

Well, it's off to school with the kids and off to Target to get Pride and Prejudice. I swear, I should just keep a toothbrush at Target. I LIVE there...

Till We Meet Again...

The closing ceremonies of the Olympics were good--almost poignant. I'm always sad to see them end. Four more years!
We had the LAZIEST weekend. Hubby's back is still bothering him, so he stayed home with Thing Three, who is sick, and I think he got a little touch of cabin fever, because he was SO ready to go to work this morning.
Of course Thing Three is STILL sick, I wish he'd get better. But I'm waiting for everyone else in the family to come down with his sore throat and cough (including myself) so we can be done with it.

We are having the Annual Family Reunion at our house this year. It was just decided. I'm off my head with joy. In fact, excuse me while I go and turn some cartwheels...


...OK, back. Whew, I can't do those as well as I used to! ;-) ANYWAY, we get to have about 30 people stay at our house over the 4th of July (Hubby's family doesn't believe in Hotels) and all I can think about is what I'll have to clean after they all LEAVE. UGH. But I can't think about that now. I think I will actually hire someone to help with that.

We are closing on our house in Wisconsin!! Done! Finito. Good Riddance. No more double bills. I'm telling you, though, these people got a DEAL. Only because we were desperate to get rid of it. Such is life. Good for them.

My heel is feeling better. I know, what an exciting thing to write about. But it's been so all-encompassing these last few weeks, I'm truly excited that it feels better than it has. I've been doing my stretches faithfully, and I think they're really helping. I see the Dr. again this Wednesday, so we'll see what he says. I hope I don't need another shot. :-(

Tomorrow Pride and Prejudice comes out on DVD!! I want it to be tomorrow! Funny part is, I don't know when I'll have time to WATCH the movie once I get it. Hubby hasn't traveled in a while, and he isn't traveling until next month. So I have to wait.

I'm going to stick to my guns and get some writing in this week. I really do need to edit the rest of EMMA, because I have chapters out on submission and if they want more, I'm going to have to give them the rest--so I'd better get on it.
I need more TIME!!!

It's FRIDAY!!!

Of course, Friday might have a different meaning because I stay home--but I love the weekends. Hubby helps with the kids and we get to spend quality family time, and we watch the kids' sports and lessons, and usually we'll go out to dinner, and a movie, if there's one out. And Sunday is a day to relax. So I like weekends.

Well I went to the Podiatrist. Apparently I have "Plantar Facsitis" a common ailment of athletes and runners. (Trust me, I'm no athlete yet--but I sure was trying for it!)
So the doctor gave me a steroid injection in my heel (that was fun) to reduce the inflammation so I could walk, and gave me a series of stretching exercises to do. He said that my achilles tendon on my right foot is too tight, and that's the problem. So if I stretch it out, three times a day, I should be fine. No surgery. Hooray!
HOWEVER--this has shot down my hopes of training for the Denver Marathon, it looks like I might have to heal first before I can do that. But hey, I could try for NEXT year!

I'm trying to nail down all of our plans for Disneyworld today--we have the Dining Plan so if I don't make reservations at certain restaraunts we won't get in anywhere. I have to say, I'm very excited--the last night we're there, we're spending the day in Magic Kingdom and I got us a table at Cinderella's Royal Table, which is nearly impossible to get into.

It's inside Cinderella's Castle, and apparently people reserve tables as much as 180 days in advance. Yikes. The lady said we were very lucky to get a table. So that should be a nice way to end the vacation.

Last time we went to Disneyworld (four years ago) we were greenies who'd never been there, PLUS we had children who really were too young. (1, 3, 4) Now that they're 5, 6, and 8, they'll enjoy it MUCH better. But Thing One still insists she won't (rather REFUSES VEHEMENTLY) to go on the scary roller coasters. I say she's never really "been on one" so she can't say until she's tried it. So, we'll do something small, and ease her into it. I mean, this is a girl who was openly sobbing during the log/coaster ride at Seaworld. We'll see if I can "covert" her into a coaster lover. But I won't force it. I don't need to screw her psyche up. :-)

So everyone have a wonderful weekend--I am going to try and get some writing in, but I usually can't. So Monday I'll be rearing to go!

Lara

Nervous...

Well, I get to find out what's wrong with my foot today. Let me tell you, I feel pretty stupid hopping and hobbling around. I probably look ridiculous, but thankfully Hubby isn't teasing me. I think he realizes how painful it is. I am just worried--what if I have to have surgery and I have to wear a cast? It's my driving foot and I won't be able to drive and I have to drive the kids to and from school every day, and I spend a LOT of time in my car! Then again, my Expedition has really high, big pedals so I could try...

I woke up at 3am this morning, stressed out. My brain just wouldn't turn off. I have SO much to do and my way of dealing with it is prioritizing, and not doing all of it at once, or I'll explode, like that guy in the Scanners movie. I'm not a multi-tasker by choice, I'm no good at it.

I have three novels that I want to work on at once, and the only way I'm going to be able to do that is by pacing myself. I have been too worried about my foot to write much, mostly it's been editing and research. Distraction sucks, for want of a better word.

Well, got to get the kids off to school. My doctor's appointment is this afternoon, and I'm the biggest Nervous Nellie...

OUCH.

Quote of the Day: (Stolen from Mik):

"If I had more time, I'd have more time."

I could barely walk when I got out of bed this morning. I think my workouts have aggravated my right foot to the point that I need to stop, until I see the Dr. tomorrow.
Until then it's Aleve (which doesn't really seem to work) and hobbling around. I am skipping the workout today. My right heel is seriously screwed up. I sure hope it's nothing serious. I mean, it kills to drive a car. This is getting ridiculous!

In happier news, Pride and Prejudice is coming out on DVD next week! Woo hoo! and the week after that, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is coming out on DVD! Hooray! Of course Things 1-3 are disappointed that they can't watch it--I just think it's too intense for them. Besides, we have the rule that they only can watch G and PG at their ages. So, they'll have to wait a while.

I am frustrated because all I want to do is write. Sure, I have a few hours a day I can write, but that's ALL I want to do. I don't want to cook and clean and take care of kids. I don't want to run 30 errands a day--I just want to sit in front of the computer and write.

But, for obvious reasons, this is not possible. I'm sure a time will come when I'll have more "time" but for now, I need to enjoy where I'm at. I think a lot of us don't do that--we're always planning for the future and thinking about where we're going to get--but of course Life is a journey, not a "destination", and I need to keep that in focus.

Back to School...

I love my kids to death. They are fun, and challenging, and they always keep me laughing. I love my kids!!!

But now they're back in school today, and I can breathe a sigh of relief. **ahhhhh**

I can't explain it, but a trip to Target is SO much better when I'm with one child or none, compared to THREE. The Peace factor is much better. I don't feel like I need to "break anyone up" or hiss in a mortified whisper for so-and-so to stopthatnoworI'llgiveyoutimeoutuntilyou'retwenty, etc.. etc..

So, today I can relax a little. Well, while I'm doing the 6723401 things I need to do this morning.

phhhbbttt.

We're Going to DISNEYWORLD!!

Not like you can tell if I'm excited or anything. *sheepish grin*

Hubby and I sat down on Saturday and thought about what we could do for Spring Break--this would be the "family" vacation for the year, and we thought it might be nice to go skiing, but then we decided we wanted someplace warm.
Then we both looked at each other and said "Disneyworld" and Hubby promptly got on the phone.

So, we're going to stay at the Boardwalk and hang out for a week at the Mouse's Place at the end of March--and it should be a lot of fun. Last time we went the kids were so little, they didn't understand a whole lot, now they're fun ages and it should be a blast.

So Hubby and I are starting a workout regimen--we have one month to get rid of the "winter insulation" that crept up on us during the holidays (at least in my case--Hubby is roughly the weight of a gnat) and I am PUSHING it. I am doing 45 minutes of cardio every morning, and 30 minutes of weight training at night. I'll probably kill myself, but I need to just go for it--I've been so sporadic with my runs, and it's been so blasted COLD outside lately--I just need to give myself a "kick in the pants" to get jumpstarted.
My heel is still bugging me, so Hubby got me a recumbent exercise bike--it's awesome. I am kinda spoiled, I think.

So today is President's Day! Lots of sales going on--I might have to drag the kids to Hobby Lobby (they're home today) and a few other places--but lucky for me they enjoy shopping. Well, at least Things One and Three do. Thing Two gets bored and starts "wigging out" (as I like to call it) and it ain't pretty.

Off to the races!

Jammies Day

Kids are home today and Monday, and we tried to get into the ski resorts, but they're all booked up. Every single one I tried. Oh well. We'll have a lazy weekend and catch some movies--Pink Panther, etc.

The kids and I hung around in our jammies until ten a.m.--and I made pancakes and we watched a movie. But now I have to clean clean clean and run around and frankly, it's ten degrees outside and I don't want to go anywhere.

I hope I can get some writing done this weekend, but I hardly ever do. My time is usually monopolized by family things. Weekdays are when I get my writing in.

Have a good weekend, all.

Arrrgghhh Snow!

Granted, the four inches we got last night are beautiful, but I shoveled my entire driveway at 6:30 this morning and when I pulled out to take the kids to school, you couldn't tell I did anything. It's all covered over again and STILL coming down, so I made a rude gesture at the snow and gave up.

Oh well, it is pretty...

Lots to do today, (cleaning) and I don't feel like it. I just want to crawl back into my feather bed and hang out...but Thing Three wants to play or ask questions or about 200 other things. I guess I'll get a nap in about 15 years--assuming we have no more children.

I got a lot of editing done yesterday. The floor people stayed way too long, so I couldnt get to Barnes & Noble, but I went through the first three chapters, line-by-line, and took out any words that I thought a thirteen-year old would never say. For instance, I would substitute "he was meticulous" with "he took it really slow" or "the phone was an unattractive avacodo green" to "the phone was an ugly green color" It's amazing how I miss stuff like that.

I have this exercise that helps--I read aloud to my 8-year old (in the closest thing to a 13-year old's voice I can mimic) and if a word or phrase sounds too advanced, I'll cross it out and simplify it.
The only thing I dislike about writing in a "tween's" voice is that my descriptive word choices are limited. A thirteen-year old just doesn't have the vocabulary that a 33-year old does. And I like my vocabulary better! :-)

But I'm really making progress, and I finished up about 75 pages yesterday. Now I just have about 120 more. But it's a snowy day, and the roads are treacherous. I'm not going anywhere.

Guess I'd better get editing!

A Grim Reality...

I know, this picture doesn't go with the post title. These are the roses my kids gave to me for Valentine's Day yesterday. It was a wonderful day, with only one low point.

I got a rejection yesterday, and I'm OK with it, but the comments really made me think hard. I am thinking that my writing style (I write Young Adult and Middle Grade) may have been good if I was trying to get published in 1980, but this day and age calls for edgier stuff, and a unique voice that I just can't simulate. I think what it boils down to, is that I have great story ideas, but I'm not able to convey them the way I want, (or the way I'm supposed to, according to today's YA market.)

Why the Blunt Honesty? Because I've just had this revelation about my work and it's grim, but I would rather be realistic about my work than deluded. I don't want to be like those American Idol Tryout Hopefuls who sound like a rusty tin can scraping against a washboard when they sing, but they've been told by their mommas and their friends their whole lives that they sound fabulous, so they truly think they "do." I mean, I watched some tryouts and cringed the entire time, and when the judges told them they were awful, the poor deluded souls looked at them like they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

I don't want to be like this about my writing. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm a bad writer. I think I'm a good storyteller. I just need to work on the delivery, that's all.

I think one way to figure it out would be to take a look at all the YA books that are hot right now. I need to know my competition. It's too bad I have oven and floor people coming today, otherwise I'd spend some time in my Sanctuary (Barnes & Noble) and check out the YA section while the kids are in school.

So, that's my grim reality. I have some revising and rewriting to do. And it's going to take some time. But hopefully it will be worth it.

Happy Heart Day!

Okay, I'm not bragging, seriously. This sentiment is only being expressed as a result of an overwhelmed feeling on my part.

Hubby did good this year.

He and the kids trooped in this morning, bearing gifts, that he'd actually bought beforehand. There wasn't any pretending to "stay late at work on Valentine's day" (as if I ever believed that one--I'm sure he was standing with all the other procrastinating men after work at the Hallmark store, flower store, jewelry store, etc.. grabbing at anything he thought I'd remotely like). No, not this year. He thought this one out. He got me stuff I LOVE.

Thus, the feeling of being overwhelmed. All I was planning to do was sneak into his car at work and fill it full of red balloons and a mongo sign from me and the kids wishing him happy Valentine's day. Which I'll still do, but WOW, I can't believe him! He is amazing.

I am one lucky lady.

I've been Tagged...

by my good friend Mik, so here goes:

Four jobs I’ve had:
1) Assistant Buyer for Mens Fragrances for Foley’s
2) Manager of Kids for Dillards Post Oak in Houston
3) Night Receptionist for JCPenney in Orem, Utah
4) Stay-home mom (My current and personal fave)

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1) A Room With a View
2) Pride and Predjudice
3) The Moon Spinners
4) National Treasure

Four places I have lived:
1) Houston, TX
2) Las Vegas, NV
3) Provo, UT
4) Germantown, WI

Four TV shows I watch:
1) CSI (Las Vegas)
2) CSI Miami
3) CSI New York
4) Crossing Jordan

Four places I’ve vacationed:
1) Disneyworld
2) Coeur d' alene
3) McCall
4) Florida

Four of my favorite dishes:
1) Penne with Italian Sausage
2) Sushi
3) Ribeye Steak
4) Chilean Sea bass

Four sites I visit daily:
1) My Writing Forum
2) The Leaky Cauldron
3) Ebay
4) Google
(And as Mik says: a whole mess of other blogs I don’t have room to list)

Four places I would rather be:
1) At my computer
2) At the Movies
3) In Florence, Italy at the Pensione Bertolini
4) Guatemala, searching for lost city ruins (with a VERY experienced guide...NOT by myself.)

Labels

I still find it amazing how three children from the same two parents can turn out so radically different from each other. Those of you with multiple children see where I’m coming from.

My three are, well…interesting. I have Thing One, who is eight, whom I like to call the “Responsible Whiner.” (No, that is not an oxymoron, that is just the way she is). She’s very responsible, and I can count on her for anything, and she’s always very calm and collected when situations go awry. But she whines like a mule. About everything.

Thing Two (who is six): I have labeled the Spastic Creative. He’s my “cerebral one” who prefers books and Legos and computer games to playing outside, when given the chance. And he’s highly intelligent and creative. But before he was creative, he was just Spastic. He’s one of those boys who has an overabundance of energy and one moment we’ll be at the market and he’ll be walking calmly, the next moment he’ll be doing a crazy jiggling/jumping thing I call his “Lord of the Dance” parody in the middle of the aisle, while making a repetitive noise and I have to hold myself back from running and doing a full-body tackle on him to stop him from behaving that way in public. Bless him...

Thing Three is easy: He’s the Hammy Actorboy. He’s always performing, always mugging, always thinking he’s “all that” and frankly, I’m scared to death of how that attitude will go over in High School. He’s my bulldozer, my star soccer player, and the Casanova of his preschool class. But for now, he’s five, he’s cute, and whatever.

Hubby and I laugh at our kids sometimes, Thing Three is a clone of him, Thing Two is a clone of me (sorry, Thing Two) and Thing One is a perfect hybrid of us both. And they keep me hopping, that’s for sure!

On the Writing front: I think I’m nearly finished with my research. I haven’t gotten as much written on my WIP as I normally would like, because I write a couple of sentences and realize that I have to THOROUGHLY research a certain thing, or the whole story would have to be changed if I was wrong. Such is the stigma of writing Historical fiction. You gotta get it right. No Exceptions.

But I have to admit, research is fun!! Especially when it’s about lost cities in the Yucatan…

Thing One is SO my Daughter...

I think I'm raising a little clone. A "mini me." Only she has silky blonde hair, and I have brown. I think that is the ONLY difference.

Case in point: We took Thing One, who is eight, to her annual ophthomology exam (she's been in glasses since the age of two) and they put those lovely dilating drops in her eyes.

Heh, she flat-out refused to wear those "old fogey" plastic shades on the way home because they looked "embarrassing" but as soon as she stepped out into the Denver sunshine, pride went down the drain and she practically begged me to put them back on her. (I love those little "Mother-Knows-Best/I-told-You-So" moments--I'll take them as I can get them.)

ANYWAY, (I digress) when we got home, she was all in a tizzy because I had bought her a brand-new Junie B. Jones book at the bookstore, and she couldn't read it. I told her to give it an hour, and try again, and she did, and she still couldn't read it. She told me everything was blurry. I told her it was the eyedrops, and to give it some time.

Well, she came to me at 8pm, visibly upset and on the verge of tears. I asked her what was wrong, and she said "I still can't read, Mom! I can't work on my Princess story either! Waahhhh!" And she collapsed into my arms, sobbing like her heart was broken.

As sympathetic as I was to her predicament (I gave her a big hug and a kiss and a cuddle) I found it amazing that she would get so upset because she couldn't read and work on her story.

Hence, she is SO my daughter! Writing and Reading are my Life's blood. I need them like I need air. How funny that our children can resemble us in so many ways. She is fascinated by History and things of the Past, like I am too. We're two peas in a pod. I love that we share that common bond.

Hopefully when she wakes up, she'll be able to delve into the world of Junie B. Jones once more. Not being able to read is a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone. Bless her little heart...

Forgetting Snow...

What a neat thing--we woke up to a few inches of snow this morning! It's been sunny and 50's for the last month, I swear, and the strange thing is, I was excited to see the snow! Now of course we have to dig through Mount Vesuvius (the mountain that is residing at the bottom of the foyer coat closet) and rediscover where all the scarves and gloves and hats and snowboots went, since we haven't needed them for ages!

I love Denver. I love everything about it. I love my house, our location, my ward at church, the mountains (breathtaking!) and I'm used to the altitude by now. I just love it here. It's my favorite place we've lived so far.

The kids want to see Curious George this weekend--Hubby is out of town and told me to go ahead and take them, (I suspect it's because he has no desire to sit through it.) I really don't either, I want to take the kids to Pink Panther--but they are the bosses with kid movies, and Curious George it is. Who knows, maybe I'll actually enjoy it.

I went to bed at 11pm last night. I didn't stay up all night writing because I have a lot to do today. But I did squeeze in a movie after the kids went to bed (the BBC version of Emma--I wasn't too keen on the actor they had play Mr. Knightley but oh well) and FORCED myself to go. But now we get to run around--can't wait for the weekend! I might even blog this weekend, because Hubby is out of town. (I don't blog in front of him, he gets nervous!)

Happy Friday, all!

Hmmmm...

I had an interesting day yesterday. I'm not going to go into specifics for now, but let's just say that today is a new day, fresh with possibilities. Today the choices are mine, and I don't have unwanted pressure. The pressure is still there, but it is different, and I am embracing it.

I'm a little scared and nervous about the outcome, but all I can do is persevere...

Valentines Suck

I have a great writing group. I was feeling a little frustrated yesterday, and they all had great suggestions. I prefer to be a "hands on" researcher, but clearly time and responsibilities hinder that kind of research, so thank heaven for the Internet. I find that when I search, I can pretty much find anything I need. Especially yesterday. I also discovered that I shouldn't be afraid to put wacky word combinations together in Google. Because there is usually someone out there who has posted something I need. Kind of reminds me what a big old world it is, out there. :-)

The Valentine's Day rush has begun! I literally battled with a lady yesterday (she won, because I'm nice) over the last bag of candy hearts at Target. Why in the HECK do those things always go first? UGH. So I went to Walmart. Sold out. Finally I went to a place I didnt' think I'd find them and voila, there they were! I shouted "YES!!" and lots of people were staring, but I didn't care.
I have to make valentines for three classes of 25 and frankly, I'm not going to want to see another valentine again after this. Hubby will probably wish me Happy Valentine's Day on the 14th, and I'll just growl at him.

I remember the days when a "valentine" consisted of a piece of colorful paper with a cute saying on it. NOWADAYS you have to attach a clear bag, cutely done up, with an assortment of candy in it. EVERYONE DOES THIS. It's like all the moms sat down and strategized on how they could "one up" each other in the valentine department. And every year the bags get bigger. Some people must have to take out small loans to support their candy sprees.
Therefore, I need to go and purchase enough candy to fuel a small principality in France, and if I don't go early, all the good stuff is sold out and all they have left are the cheap heart-shaped suckers that no one wants.

And of course I have to overbuy, because I have had some years where I've run out, ON THE DAY I'M MAKING THEM, which is usually the day of or the day before, and if I have to run to find candy I'm REALLY out of luck.

Oh, to be a kid again. When I actually enjoyed holidays...

Blood, Blood and more Blood...

Did a lot of research yesterday--and of course I got sidetracked by the Aztec and Mayan sacrificial rituals. Yikes--these peoples LOVED blood. And they ATE the victims, and did things with their body parts---we're talking mass carnage and blatant...yuckiness. Apparently they weren't "big" on the whole Human Rights issue. Not very nice customs, if you ask me. My personal favorite though, was the ball game where the winners (or the losers, it's up for debate) got their heads lopped off and they considered it an honor to die this way...
Puts a whole new perspective on the game of Basketball...

The books I ordered are trickling in--my next step is to start interviewing geologists and anthropologists and of course try and do some field work myself--I am stuck on a location for my city, because I want it to be somewhere probable, as opposed to "highly unlikely." Here's where I feel limited by my situation--mother to three young children, and Homemaker--I can't just "jet off somewhere" to do research. It's very frustrating.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly, but sometimes I wish I had a little more wiggle room that way. When the kids are older I want to take them to Europe and take them to Central America and give them some travel experience, but right now they're too young and they wouldn't appreciate it--therefore I'm grounded.
Hubby is definitely considering taking me to Mexico for our anniversary--but that is a few months off. It really sucks being an "I WANT IT NOW!!!" person...I need to calm down. :-)

I got the 72-hour kits put together yesterday. They're beautiful. We are SET. Of course it took up the whole day and now I have a really NASTY kitchen so I'd better get going on that. After I drop the kids off I'm heading to the local Barnes & Noble because apparently Thing One did nice enough artwork to be selected from her school to have it framed and hung inside the Starbucks in there--so I want to take a picture of it!
Way to go, Thing One! She's quite the little artist. We're very proud.

Poor Seahawks

Being from Washington state, the team to root for was a no-brainer. So, now that the bad calls and craziness of the game are a memory, we can all collectively sigh and say "Dang it!"

Oh well, there's nothing like an excuse to make a bunch of unnecessary (and highly bad for you) finger foods and crowd around a TV and scream and bang your chest for four hours, while washing everything down with near-lethal amounts of Stewarts Cream Soda. It was fun, and the kids were getting into it, too.

Of course now I never want to see Seven-Layer Taco Dip again, or anything that resembles a shrimp. Not for a looooooong while. UGH.

Back to normal today. I attended a church conference on Saturday and the stress was on "Being Prepared." My church is BIG into this stuff.
So I am now motivated to update our 72-hour kits. Frankly, I hate doing it, but it is always peace of mind to know we have them for any reason. Each family member has a backpack with basic necessities and nine small meals inside. I found out about some really cool websites that sell water packets and battery-less flashlights (you shake them and they glow, way cool) so my project this week is to get those backpacks updated.

I didn't get to write all weekend for obvious reasons, and I am nervous because when I stay away from my Writing Muse she tends to leave in a huff, and I'm always left scrambling, trying to remember what I didn't get a chance to write down. Hubby got a digital voice recorder for Christmas from my Dad--sorry Dad but I've all but outright claimed it as MINE and I've been using it a TON for times I can't get to a pen and paper. It's wonderful.

So, this afternoon I'll sit at the computer and see if the Muse has been waiting for me. One can only hope.

Obsessed.

**warning: serious post today **

I get obsessed easily. Especially with new projects, or new story ideas. Or hobbies. Whenever I get it in my brain that I want to do something, I have to do it all at once, and full throttle at that, I can't be "patient" and do it in bits and pieces.

Case in point: My "Under the Radar For Now" story has become my latest obsession. And I do mean obsession. I didn't do a smidge of housework yesterday, and Thing Three got babysat by the gamecube and the TV. I was a HORRIBLE mother yesterday. I spent all day on the computer, obsessively doing research and ordering books that I would need, and running to the store buying filing supplies and labels and highlighters, you name it--I am going FULL STEAM on this project.

But as I mentioned before, it's a delicate subject. It's not mainstream, like all my other works of fiction. It's unlike anything I've ever written before, but I'm driven to do it, like there is an invisible force pushing me, urging me on.

I'd like to say that my Muse is in full force as well, but I feel like it's something else. Things are falling into place too easily. I'm finding answers to my questions without effort. Non-feasible things are becoming feasible. It's really quite scary, how well everything is going. Yesterday was no exception. Part of my story requires something that could be a major stretch of imagination--and I was searching the internet all day, looking for a loophole--some way that it could work.

And I had a breakthrough. Just as I was about to give up and try something else, I found it--documentation that would make my idea less of a stretch, and actually believable. I was in shock. I sat before the computer screen, not knowing what to think, but jubilant because I'd found what I'd been looking for.

Also yesterday, the entire story came to me. Before then, I had a "rough" idea of what I wanted to do, but just thoughts and images. Yesterday morning, it arrived all at once...the entire story from start to finish. Almost like I'm not making it up--only dictating.

I don't want to get too "Twighlight Zone" or anything (for those of you currently hearing the music in your heads) but this is an extremely personal and delicate issue for me, and it takes a modicum of bravery to get it out on paper, but I feel like I have to. I need to.

That probably makes no sense at all.

Back to Quasi-normal...

This has been the weirdest flu ever. It's a harrowing 24 hours, but as soon as the 24 hours is over, TA DA, you're right as rain.

Hubby just went to work, feeling a little weak, but absolutely fine. He stayed in bed the entire day yesterday (at my command) and this morning, got up like nothing had ever happened. What a strange strain of Flu. Thank heaven it's short. That's the only good thing about it.

I got a lot of research done yesterday, but now I am determined to do some, IN PERSON. My tenth anniversary is coming up in April, I'm trying to talk Hubby into taking me to Cancun for a long weekend. (Not an entire week because we wouldn't wish that on the people watching our kids, heh heh).
I told him we could do the "beach" thing, but we'd stay at Chichen Itza, because I need to do a lot of research there. It will be a fun adventure.

I'm looking into an Alphasmart. My laptop is too cumbersome and expensive to lug around, I need something lightweight that I can type on, while I'm at my kids sports lessons, at the park, etc. I like Hubby's Blackberry, but I'm afraid that's too small. So I've been looking around, and Alphasmart is the closest thing I can find. We'll see.

Well, I have to sterilize my house from top to bottom today--I already go the kids rooms and bathrooms done yesterday, I gave them fresh sheets and towels and did an "in-depth" cleaning--I don't want any nasty Flu germs around. Ick. I still think it's amazing that Thing One was the only one who escaped it. She has been just fine.
Then again, the day is young.

Dum de dum dum...

Well What do you Know...

Apparently it WASN'T food poisoining. I've been up all night with Hubby, who's been violently ill.

It's the FLU. And a nasty strain, at that. Odd thing is, we've all had our flu shots! Thing One is beside herself, hoping she doesn't get it.

I'll write more when I have a chance.