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.)