Jul 11, 2008 | General, Rants |
more cat pictures
Random thoughts inspired by picture (and a few that aren't):
1. Oh if only. I am not as organized as I'd like. I haven't started my conference packing list. I haven't even considered all the clothes I will need for the various events. Editor meetings, agent meetings, a champagne reception, a retreat featuring agents and editors, etc. Yikes!
2. I bought a beautiful filing cabinet recently that I intended to organize with all my important papers, both writing and household. Uh, no, haven't done it yet. It's a purty thing, but it's disorganized as h*ll.
3. What the heck is that cat wearing?
4. How is it my husband can play World of Warcraft for three hours straight, but not be able to think of a single thing to talk to me about when he gets home from work?
5. Alabama is HOT. My yard needs rain. My sprinkler system costs too much to run on a regular basis.
6. I successfully talked the hubby out of declawing the cat at the last minute. She went for a spay only. I don't like declawing cats. I don't think it's natural and I didn't want to put her through the pain even though my vet does laser surgery. Regular trimming of nails, training to use a scratching post, and we're good to go. Besides, the cat who *really* could use his claws out is too heavy to get it done.
7. Waiting for news on submissions is HARD. Checking the mail is cringe-worthy. The relief one feels not to see a white self-addressed envelope is ridiculous.
8. I think all those people who for the last several years have been tolling the death knell of paranormal romance because it was over-saturated are WRONG. Wish I'd realized it 3 years ago. Vampires, while a bit overdone, are still appearing at an alarmingly regular rate.
9. Wish I knew what the next big trend was. Not just writing, but in general. It'd be nice to be on the leading edge of something for a change instead of running flat out crazy in an effort to catch the train.
10. What's on your mind?
Jul 8, 2008 | General, Life, Rants |
It was so successful last week that we need another Talk Back Tuesday today! (Well, okay, it made *me* feel better….)
Today, I'm complaining about my bug service. The technician drives up and sits in his car, then puts an invoice on my door. He did not spray anything. I am ticked. Still, not wanting to get him in trouble (I'm too nice), I call and explain that I'm pretty sure he didn't do what he was supposed to do (I *know* he didn't do it). The supervisor informs me he has never, ever had a call about this guy in the past. I said, “Well I'm sure he's a nice person, but he's also human. It's hot, and he did not get out of his truck. I can promise you that.” I felt like it was my word against the tech's, and of course it is, but still — why would I make this up? Who wants MORE chemicals sprayed around their house?
Anyway, the supervisor is sending him back out today to spray around my house. But how will I know he did it? I'm sure he will do it this time, having been caught red-handed, but how will I know that he'll do it in the future? Every time I see that invoice on my door, I'm going to wonder.
Would you change services? Or would you give them another chance? This is a known chain, not just a local company. What is your tolerance limit for stuff like this? Hubby thinks I'm too nice, but I think everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. Still, as we continue forward from this point, I'm not sure I trust this guy. *sigh*
Jul 7, 2008 | General, Life, Video |
Oops, I got sidetracked this weekend and never got around to writing a new post for the week. 🙂 We in Chez Harris were supposed to trek to the Big Easy over the weekend. There, we would attend a family reunion on my dad's side, tour New Orleans, and take a trip down the River Road where we would stop at plantations like Oak Alley and be amazed.
Alas, it never happened since, as I reported last week, my dad had a minor car accident. So what did we do instead? Nothing exciting. On the 4th, we went shopping for a bit, then went to my parents' house for a cook out (it rained, naturally). Saturday, home projects took center stage — and Saturday night, we trekked over to Decatur to see the Alabama Blues Brothers perform. They are AWESOME. If you like the Blues Brothers, these guys do an amazing job of bringing all the fun and liveliness of the movie and SNL performances to the stage. Great time.
Sunday, more home stuff — hubby put together some closet organizer things and I went shopping for flowers and groceries. Yeah, seriously exciting.
So now it's Monday, and I have that disorientation that a long weekend brings. You know the feeling, don't you? Where it's time to get back to work and all you can do is think about the laziness of the weekend?
I'll leave you with a little taste of the Alabama Blues Brothers. This is a promo for the concert we attended. I'd definitely see them again. Talented guys.
What'd you do this weekend? Anything fun?
Jul 2, 2008 | Books, General, Life |
I got nothing to talk about. You? Any big plans for the July 4th holiday? Mine involved New Orleans, crawfish, family, and sightseeing. Until mon pere had a tiny little car accident last night. Now, the trip is canceled until the fall. Ah well. Really, I need the time to prepare for SF anyway! Much shopping to do, lists to make, etc. (Everyone is fine — except the car, that is.)
I'm also reading Roxanne St. Claire's Then You Hide and feeling depressed. Rocki is SOOOO good. I've been wanting to read the book for a while, but deadlines and all that kept me from reading much of anything. And now I'm turning pages like my fingers are on fire and wondering if I'll ever be this good. I can only hope!
Any good books on your list this summer? Any cool trips planned?
Jun 26, 2008 | General, Life |
Not yet, but he's going to be. In the Harris house, we have a cat who likes to knock things over. He's very good at it, too. He's broken lamps before. Routinely knocks over water bottles. Do NOT leave a glass of wine out. He'll knock it over and then try to bury it. So what did he try to knock over that nearly got him killed?
I have a piano (nope, can't really play). On top of the piano I have some knick knacks. One is a lovely young lady playing a piano. I didn't think much of it until my mother said, “Uh, you might want to look that up. I think it's pretty valuable.” It's a Lladro, a piece of Spanish porcelain, and it's very beautiful.
Still, I wasn't thinking it would be like astronomical or anything. So, I find the cat on the piano with his paw on the Lladro. The figurine is making a sort of glassy chunking noise as it moves over the top of the piano. I yell and toss the cat into a room to chill. Then I research.
OMG, the twerp almost knocked $1200 onto the floor where it would have shattered and been worth ZERO. I'm thinking of killing him. Or maybe I'll just move the figurine.
So, have your kids or pets ever broken something valuable? Ever ticked you off severely because you CANNOT have nice things!? (Wasn't it Bill Cosby who said that? We can't have nice things because of you…) Has something gotten broken and then you realized after the fact that it was valuable? Grrrr.
Maybe tomorrow this blog will return to its regularly scheduled writing-type posts…. 🙂 Idiot cat.
Jun 12, 2008 | General, Life, Writing |
If it's summer break, I'm not having any of it. I'm working. I have a book to finish, and it's rolling along pretty good — so far.
I totally love it when a book starts to write itself. I love sitting down at the keyboard and knowing the only impediment will be how fast my fingers can keep up with what my mind creates. That's not to say it's all easy. No indeed. I still have those stretches where one set of ideas reaches a conclusion (at the end of a scene or chapter, maybe) and I need to figure out which direction to go for the next set.
Yes, I know, if I were a plotter who outlined extensively, I'd know where I was going. But chugging along is part of the process for me. I really love that enjoyment of discovery along the way. It's like getting on a train and going for a trip to a place you've never been. If I bought a video of the trip before I went, and then watched it through, it wouldn't be as exciting for me.
I love this part of being a writer. What I don't love is the pain of self-doubt, the misery of waiting for responses to submissions, the sheer terror of going to the mailbox. I could do without those bits, thank you.
Right now, I'm on the downhill slide. My goal is to be done before 1 July. Then I have a trip to New Orleans over the 4th, back home for shopping for National, then the National conference at the end of the month. Once I get home again and recover from that, it'll be September. Whew, this is a busy summer! Where's the break?
How about you? Any big plans this summer? Any writing plans?
