I'm Back

Back at work. Struggling to keep my eyes open. Got the kids to school ok. Made it to work at a decent time.

But my throat still hurts, still have a headache. But my lymph nodes don't hurt anymore, thank goodness, so I am making progress.

I simply couldn't stay at home another day. Driving me nuts! How long can you lay on the couch and watch movies? Not for very long.

Anxious to get back to the writing...can't wait, actually. With the three day weekend coming up, I hope to jump back into things.

I'm So Out of It...

...that yesterday I went to my daughter's kindergarten, twice, with only one hoop earring. I didn't even notice the one-earring status until last night when I prepared for bed. Imagine the rolling eyes on that one!

...for lunch, I nuked one of those nifty microwave dinners that I make all the time, forgot to vent it, and kept hearing these sounds like WWIII was going on in my microwave.

...I went to the store last night to stock up on soup, o.j., and get some medicine for my daughter (who is coughing and not feeling real wonderful, either). Driving home, I realized I forgot the medicine. And of course, she asked me if I remembered it. Nope! But I did buy her brownies.

...I just woke up from a nap - three hours long - and I can barely keep my eyes open.

I'M SICK OF BEING SICK!!!

Y'know, there's only so long you can lay around, watch movies, and sleep. But I'm too darn tired to go anywhere. My throat hurts still and my head hurts. And, of course, hubby is at work...and his truck broke down last night so he didn't get home until 9 p.m....and I wanted babying!!! *grin*

First Day of School and I'm Still Sick

You know that kid that's always crying on the first day of kindergarten? Hanging on to their mom, their eyes brimming with big, hot tears?

My daughter was that kid today.

Poor thing! I held up better than expected. I had to keep it together for her. Thankfully, there is another little boy in her class that is also in her daycare. But it wasn't enough to get her to perk up.

I finally had to sneak off. I know she'll be just fine after she adjusts. She did the same thing with daycare.

I ended up making a trip to the quick care place last night at about 9 p.m. They did a strep test on me that came back negative, and the doc thought it was something viral. So I paid $50 for a doctor to tell me to go home and take some ibuprofen!!!! GRRRRRRRR

At any rate, I'm not at work and I have to go pick up the kids in a few minutes. They get out of school an hour earlier this week. If I'm not significantly better in the next day or so, back to the doctor I go. Sigh...

And I really really REALLY want to write, but I think I will probably end up taking a long nap instead.

Thanks for all your good thoughts! I appreciate each and every one of you. :-)

What a Rotten Weekend

I've been sick all weekend. And by all weekend, I mean ALL WEEKEND.

It started out with a bad headache on Friday. I didn't go to work, but instead took a nap and tried to get over the darn thing. I woke up in the middle of the night on Saturday with a sore throat. This irritated me to no end because I don't get sore throats anymore. I used to get them all the time. But when I turned 21, I finally got my tonsils out. Weird to wait that long, I know, but I did.

I took a nap yesterday and still felt like poo. My ears hurt, my lymph nodes beside my neck are swollen, my head throbs, and I have zip energy. Last night I had a glass of orange juice by my bed and I'd wake up through the night with this darn sore throat. I finally got up, took some allergy/sinus medicine that knocked me out and I woke up feeling slightly better. That didn't last long and I took another nap this afternoon, then woke up to a tremendous thunderstorm raging outside. Hard rain, hail, and a barking dog were NOT pleasant ways to wake up from a relaxing nap. Hubby took the kids to the monster truck show at the state fair earlier, so I had the house to myself - plus Doobie.

I made the mistake of letting my dog in - Charlie - even though he was sopping wet. Our back yard looks like a small lake and where do you think he decided to get rid of his excess water? In my office - right by my bookcase. GRRRRRRRR.

Hubby called and asked me if I needed anything, anything at all.

"CHOCOLATE!!!!"

I wanted to yell it, but it ended up sounding more like a croak.

Tomorrow is the first day of school and I don't even feel like getting out of bed. I'm going to force myself to go to work tomorrow, though. Can't afford to take off too many days. If I'm not better...sigh...back to the doctor I go.

I did make it to the board meeting yesterday for my local RWA chapter. We got a lot accomplished and as I predicted, I was ready to write when I got back. That is, I WOULD have been ready to write had I not felt like road kill smashed in the middle of the highway.

Update: Grandpa Shorty

This is how I remember my grandpa the best. We used to play slapjack with him and no one wanted to get caught by grandpa because he always left a red mark on your hand. We had such a great time and I have so many memories...

Grandpa is in the rest home now, healing from a broken leg. I don't know that he will be able to go home. I worry about him not being at home, surrounded by pictures of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, of being in the home that has been full of love, warmth, and laughter, the place for so many family get-togethers. I don't know that my grandparents have ever lived apart since they've been married. It must be so difficult for them. I know it was a decision not easily made, but one that was necessary.

Why does old age have to be so difficult? Why must we return to the child-like state of our youth, where we must be constantly taken care of? It's not fair...it's just not. But that's how life is and we must deal with it.

I'm extremely blessed and fortunate that I was able to spend so much time with Grandpa Shorty (his real name is Albert, but he's always been Grandpa Shorty to me) and have all the memories that I do. I'm also so very glad that he knows my daughter. She has been such a light in his life.

The Power of Love

This is a picture of my grandparents before they were married. They've been married over 56 years now...and still as devoted as ever.

What a great reminder of why we write romance.

"I Think I'm Going to Like This School"

My daughter was pretty apprehensive last night when we walked to her school. But when she saw the kindergarten room, she perked up. And even though she responded in "yes" and "no" format to her new teacher, I think she's warming up to the idea of this whole kindergarten business.

We made sure and bought some pizza and pop in the gym and also had to get a "Leader flag" a.k.a. the American flag, shirt for her with the school mascot on it. I'm not sure where she got the whole "leader flag" thing, but isn't it adorable? *grin* But when she said, "I think I'm going to like this school," my heart just soared. Unfortunately, I already had tears in my eyes last night. What is Monday going to be like???

In Writing News...

I am missing my manuscript. A lot. I think after my board meeting with my local RWA chapter on Saturday, I'll be rarin' to go. Being around other writers always gets me motivated to tackle my stuff again. Last night I began sending out emails for our fall writing conference to newspapers across the state and that consumed quite a bit of time. I'm hoping we get a great turn-out.

So for my shameless self-promotion, check out www.nebraskaromancewriters.com to find out more details for our Deb Dixon "Book in a Day" workshop this October.

School Days

My daughter is not looking forward to kindergarten. This is completely contrary to me when I was her age. But I'm thinking that once she gets settled in, she'll be just fine.

But this morning, I reminded her of her daddy's promise. He said that if she's a big girl on the first day of school, he'll buy her a princess dress. Y'know, the Disney Princess dresses into Wal-Mart? Well, she's had her eye on them for a long time now and we've always balked because they're $20.

After I reminded her, she got SO excited. She says she wants the Snow White dress, but I'm hoping she'll go for the Cinderella one 'cuz it's blue and gauzy and pretty. :-)


We went to my stepson's open house last night as his new school. He's starting middle school this year at a brand new school, so we had to check it out last night. Then hubby went home while the two kids and I went out for supper. Had a good time.

Tonight is my daughter's open house. I'm excited to see her classroom. But I'm even MORE excited to finish school shopping this weekend! I might even have to buy a few new pens and notebooks for myself...

The Literary Ace

Hmmm....

This looks exactly like me right now.

Insert Sound of Head Beating Against Brickwall Here

Did you ever play with a remote control car, or watch your kids play with one? Remember when they would run into a wall and they'd keep hitting it, over and over, bam, bam, bam, never deviating from that spot until you would physically move it?

That's how I feel with my writing right now.

My wheels are spinning. I'm banging into an imaginary barrier that needs to topple into a big pile of rubble. And then I'll hire some construction guys to come pick it up...really cute, really HOT construction guys.

Sigh...

I think the vacation needs to happen before the wheels quit spinning.

A Really Fun Title Here...

I'm awful at coming up with catchy titles. When I have to write certain things at work that requir a title, I always put "catchy phrase here" and send it on to my boss, who is much better at these things than I am.

I didn't write any last night, but instead relaxed on the couch with hubby and a movie. Watched the new "Triple X" flick with Ice Cube. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either. I love action flicks and thrillers, but this failed in many aspects. Vin Diesel wasn't in it, for one - and they apparently killed off his character anyway. You can't kill off Vin Diesel! He's Vin Diesel!

But I digress. Here's the news of the day:

Grandpa

Grandpa made it through the surgery fine. Now to the recovery process. I guess the break was really high in his leg - right by his hip bone, in that area somewhere. He's going to go nuts just sitting around all day. Maybe I should get him some books on tape to listen to...

Is Summer Over?

No, summer is NOT over. And I'm TIRED of it. I want to lounge around in my pajama pants and t-shirt. And wear my Snoopy slippers. And huddle under a blanket in front of my computer.

School Starts Next Week!

My kids aren't ready to go to school. My daughter is not even excited about kindergarten. I wonder why that is? But I'm thinking that once she gets started, she'll love it. I hope.

Melissa Still Needs Vacation!

Maybe I can get away over Labor Day weekend. It's going to be harder to leave now that my daughter is in school. Yeah, I could leave the kids with hubby and take off for a few days...hmm. That's not such a bad idea!