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!

GRRRRRRRRRR

I found a WONDERFUL ad for a job today.

PROS:

1) Needs a BA or MA in history. CHECK!

2) Needs copywriting/editing experience. Good writing skills. CHECK!

3) Requires flexibility, attention to detail, ability to handle a multitude of tasks. CHECK!

4) Company has branch office in Oxford, England - BONUS!

5) Company is leading publisher of academic/school-related history textbooks. DOUBLE BONUS!!! (I can use my degree!!!)

CONS:

1) Office is located in Santa Barbara, California.

2) Office is located in EXPENSIVE Santa Barbara, California.

3) I'M BROKE.

4) Hubby won't move to California.

Sigh...

Why do I seem to be in the wrong place of the country at all the wrong times?

Grandpa

My dad called me last night and said my grandfather (the one that is not doing well) fell and broke his leg. I guess he is in a lot of pain and they think they might have to do surgery.

I tell ya...my poor grandpa. I don't know if he'll be able to survive the surgery.

And the way things are going at home, wow. This was the last thing I needed.

I'm hoping that maybe I can take off later this week - guess we'll see how things go.

I did get a bit of writing in over the weekend, but not nearly as much as I wanted to. Molly and I had a nice day yesterday - we went to church and then went out to lunch, just the two of us.

I NEED A VACATION

I used to really enjoy the long weekends of nothing - really enjoyed them. Lots of time to write and relax, do absolutely nothing, and not even think of work on Monday. Well, I still do enjoy weekends of nothing. But not this weekend.

I want out of the house. I want out of this city. I want to drive far away and look at new people and new places and new things. The last time I've been out of town was...hmmm...literally months ago.

That's the reason I'm stagnating. My writing is stale, my motivation to do any sort of housework is nonexistant, work drags on for hours upon hours, and my office is a complete mess.

I need new scenery. A change. Just for a few days - that's it. And I know I'd be rarin' to get back into life again.

I'm thinking Labor Day Weekend might be the best time to take a break, so I hope I can survive until then.

Meanwhile, I'm going to go write crap. I'm sure it won't be anything more than that - and really, it's okay. As long as I write and get words on the page that can be fixed later. Hubby is getting me some of my favorite lowfat frozen yogurt, so this afternoon won't be so bad after all.

Autumn, Where Are You?

One of my friends told me yesterday that I had things backwards. Most people get depressed and unmotivated during the long winter months. I'm just the opposite - I thrive on long winter months.

Lately I haven't been very motivated to do much of anything, and I think I know why. I am plain sick and tired of heat and humidity. It makes me miserable, cranky, and I don't even want to leave the house.

I can't wait for fall. I always love the beginning of fall - school starting, football season, cooler evenings...ah, yes. That is the life for me. I can't wait until it gets dark at 5 p.m. and I can spend all evening down in my office, typing madly away. I want to wear my Snoopy slippers, bundle up in a blanket, and drink a cup of hot cocoa.

For many people, the lack of sun puts them into a funk - it puts me into a terrific mood.

So what about you? Do you thrive in the summer months or fall and winter?

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Just for fun, a few of my daughter's memorable sayings...

On the way home from work...

"Mom, why do people die?"
"Well, because God wants them to live with Him in heaven."
"But God already lives with us!"

En route to the baseball game...

"Mom, can we bring Doobie to the baseball game?"
"I don't know if we can or not."
"Yeah we can. Everyone brings their dogs to the baseball game."

On a cloudy day...

"Mom, it's cloudy outside. The sun can't breathe!"

More Pics of Doobie

Doobie and my daughter

Announcing: Doobie

I knew when I took this picture, it would be cute. But I had no idea just how cute.

Homecoming

My stepson is home.

He always looks different when he comes back from spending time with his mom in Kentucky - older and, well, bigger. I swear he grows an inch or two while he's gone.

They spent a week in Florida before he returned, so the lucky kid has a nice tan. He's half Greek, so it's no surprise that he can tan so well. And speaking of Greece, it looks like that's where they will be going next year for vacation. Sheesh! What a rough life! I can't believe everywhere my two stepsons have gone. Since my husband lived in Germany for eight years (military) and married a Greek (she was born and raised in Germany - her parents emigrated from Greece), they went all over the place. The stepson that lives with me was born in Germany. He was exposed to three languages since birth - Greek, German, and English. For vacations, they'd go to Greece and Yugoslavia.

And get this - my husband's ex-mother-in-law actually came to visit us, from Germany, for a week a few years ago. Talk about awkward! But actually, it wasn't at all. Even though she barely spoke any English, we managed to communicate just fine. Of course, I didn't want my husband to stray far since he was the translator! She is a very gracious lady - always remembers me on my birthday, sends my daughter birthday presents and Christmas presents, and spoils my stepsons rotten. And she always sends German chocolate!!!

Anyway, my daughter stayed up way too late with her brother last night and I was late to work this morning. Ah well. It's good to have him back.

In Writing News...

Started Chapter Six last night. Yay! I haven't wrote for three or four days now and I felt quite anxious about the whole thing. But my characters have successfully pulled me out of my slump and now I'm ready to go. :-)

A New Blog...

I started a new blog to help me keep focused on my weight loss/exercise/healthy lifestyle journey. You can read it here: http://losingthepounds.blogspot.com

P.S. -

Blog Spammers: GO AWAY.

Monday Thoughts

Lots of things going on today. Well, maybe not lots, but let's just say I'm going to be busy.

My stepson returns from Kentucky today. We've been busy fixing up his room - new bed, new shelves, new carpet, etc., so I think he'll be quite pleased with the result. My daughter has been asking me when her brother is coming home, which is rather surprising considering all the fights they get into. I definitely haven't missed the tattletaling and fights.

I start my new exercise routine today! I joined Curves and I'm quite excited. It's right across the street from my daughter's daycare, so I can get off work, do a 30-minute workout, pick her up, and go home and have the rest of the evening free. I can't wait to get started - this is the first time I've actually been excited about exercising! But I need to get healthy and it's very obvious that I can't do it sitting around my house. I tried to rationalize not joining a health club or fitness place by saying that I could save money by working out at home. But it's so difficult to force myself to exercise when that couch is sitting there or the computer beckons, or my daughter wants to do something, or the puppy is biting my fingers. Now, I figure that I will already be out and about - no prodding needed.

One of my co-workers is gone for the week, so I'll be doing both of our duties. But I like to be kept busy. Makes the day go faster and keeps me from looking at the clock all day.

The wedding was great - the bride looked beautiful, the food tasted wonderful, and the conversation sparkled. My daughter informed me that she "wanted to get married." She looked at the bride in her gorgeous white gown and was just enchanted. I think she thought she was looking at a real live princess. :-)

Zippo Motivation

I've had no motivation to do much of anything the past few days. I hate it. I really and truly do.

I think the biggest problem is I need a break from work, a break from home, and a break from reality. Well...the last one probably won't happen! But it would be nice.

It's been awhile since I've gone on a road trip or at the very least, left the city for awhile. I think something like that is in order.

Last night I vegged on the couch and watched Mona Lisa Smile. Good movie. Julia Roberts is one of my favorite actresses. I had a few problems with the plot, but I'm a writer. Unless a movie is really good, I automatically dissect it.

The fridge made some weird noises this morning, but we unplugged it and let it sit for awhile, then plugged it back in. Seems to be okay. I really hope it's okay because we can't afford a new one or even a good used one right now.

I'm off to a wedding and reception tonight. Should be fun. And maybe it will get me in the writing mood being around all that romance!

"I Told You To Calm Down"

Let me explain the above quote, which I attribute to my very rational, calm husband.

Last night, just as I stepped out of the shower, I figured out what my little puppy, Doobie, had been chewing on. I'd found little bits of it all over the bathroom and (yuck, I know) in his poop. But for the life of me, I couldn't fathom what he'd gotten into.

And then I remembered.

Last winter, we had a lot of problems with mice. Yes, there was a mouse in my bathroom - and that's a story unto itself - and I had consequently put some mouse poison in the bathroom closet.

Yup, you guessed it. Doobie found the poison. And promptly ate HALF of it.

I panicked. I weeped. I wailed. (Yes, I really did). And my husband told me to calm down. Again and again.

Doobie could have cared less about my problem. He was asleep, peacefully dozing away on his special pillow. He'd exhibited no signs of being poisoned, didn't throw up, shake, rattle or roll, so I thought, maybe we were in the clear. The poison had been sitting in the closet for months, literally. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about it. And I am the one who is always so darn careful with everything!

Needless to say, he and I took a trip to the vet this morning. I had to run to the store and buy a package of the poison so the vet could read the contents and see what we needed to do. Turns out we just needed to give him 30 days of Vitamin K. Apparently that poison attacks the blood's ability to clot and as they took Doobie's blood and it clotted normally, we caught it in time. Either that or the poison was so old it had lost its potency. Everyone at the vet's office loved little Doobie,and he also got his first shots today. He's good to go!

I am very thankful and grateful to God for helping me get through this - I was a basket case. You see, I would have always felt responsible if anything happened to him because I was the one who put him in the bathroom to keep him safe while I was at work.

But when I called hubby on the phone later, he had that voice, y'know, that voice, and said, "I told you to calm down. Didn't I?"

Yeah, you did. And I didn't. But it all turned out okay in the end.

I hope to get the photos developed over the weekend and I should have them up ASAP.

In Writing News...

Finished Chapter Five last night. I'm up to approximately 20K. Yay for me! Even if what I wrote last night IS crap, I can FIX crap!

"Dishes Are Done, Dude!"

Do you remember that scene in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead where Kenny and his friends sit on the roof and shoot the dirty dishes with a shotgun? I love that line - "Dishes are done, dude!"

There is a point to this little slice of nostalgia.

I woke up this morning and my husband had done the dishes. I couldn't believe it because

1) these dishes have been sitting there since Monday night and have steadily accumulated over the week. (Hey, I've been BUSY. In my defense, I usually don't let dishes sit over night because I can't stand it. But this week, I just haven't CARED. I have been doing the laundry, though. *grin*)

2) hubby put together my stepson's new futon bed last night and he did the dishes before he went to bed - which was late since I was in bed by 10 p.m. and he was still clattering away downstairs.

Needless to say, I'm pretty darn happy I don't have to go home to a messy kitchen. Unfortunately, I bet I'll go home to a few little "messes" from the puppy. He's in his cozy little space in the bathroom right now (which has a TILE floor - better than carpet!), but that's not going to stop him from doing his thing. My daughter is thoroughly enjoying him now and she's consumed with him from the moment she gets home until she goes to bed.

Anyway, the dishes are done, I got a good night's sleep, and the weekend is only two days away. :-)

One More Thing...

Go read my "Writer's Journey" here: http://villaintuscany.blogspot.com

One Sentence

That's all I wrote yesterday - one sentence.

In the midst of puppy-sitting, I didn't get much done. My daughter loved the dog - as soon as his nails were trimmed. Little cutey had very sharp little nails and she wouldn't go near it until we trimmed them. After a trip to Pet Co and lots of new little toys, new shiny doggy dishes and premium dogfood, he settled in with my daughter and they had a ball last night.

Unfortunately, there's also the downside of having a new pup in the house - mainly poop. But I needn't dwell on it. :-)

*yawn* I'm tired today. Little guy woke up last night in my daughter's room and decided he wanted to rummage around in my trash can. He finally settled down on his new pillow and went to sleep. Since my camera is broken, my brother is letting me borrow his today, so I should have some pics up soon.

The New Addition

I went home at lunch and found a wonderful surprise: a half Basset Hound, half Rat Terrier puppy in my husband's arms.

This little guy is SO CUTE.

And wouldn't you know it...I don't have a digital camera. But I WILL get pictures up ASAP.

Hubby wanted to name him Fred after the Basset hound in the Smoky and the Bandit movies. I didn't like the name Fred. So we named him Doobie. I don't know why he came up with that name, but it seems to fit him.

He's black and brown, with long floppy ears, and a face so cute you just want to cuddle him all day long. I brought him to work with me and he was a big hit. Right now, he's asleep on my co-worker's lap. We're taking turns. *grin*

I can't wait for my daughter to see him... :-)

And Then I Crack Zee Neck!

En route to the chiropractor, my five-year-old daughter asked me where we were going.

"To see the doctor," I replied.

"What for?"

"Oh, he's going to crack Mommy's neck."

BIG MISTAKE.

I didn't think too much of it until we got to the doctor's office. After my car wreck in Feb. of 2004, I was at the chiropractor all the time and she came with me. So I figured, no big deal - I'll take her with me, then on to daycare and work.

When I tried to get out of the car, she started crying. Big, huge, fat tears. Gulps. Hiccups.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"The doctor's going to crack your neck!"

To make a long story short, she sat in the kid's area with her hands clapped over her ears to drown out any "cracking" sounds. After my neck adjustment, I laid on my stomach and had heat put on my back. My chiropractor is asking, "Is there anything I can do? Offer her a piece of gum?" (Nope, he doesn't have kids yet. *grin*)

Not only did my daughter NOT want a piece of gum, but she refused to move and come sit beside me. More gulps and hiccups. A few wails. "I want my daddy!"

Sigh...

Poor thing was worried about her Mommy. I think she's starting to develop a phobia of all doctors. Ever since she went to get her kindergarten physical and they surprised her with her immunization shots, she's been terrified to go to ANY doctor or dentist. I'm not sure how we're going to get her over this one...

In Writing News...

So I had a blinding headache all day yesterday and all night. I DID manage to make a few edits, and I wrote a page on Saturday. But not much else, unfortunately.

Under the Tuscan Sun

I suffered from a headache (again) last night and thought I'd relax on the couch and watch a movie. Friday nights are always a relaxing night for me - I love to just lounge, read a book, eat some ice cream, watch a movie - whatever it takes to ease me into the weekend.

I picked Under the Tuscan Sun as my movie of choice - I've watched it a few times already, but it's been awhile. I love to revisit my own personal "classics" and this movie falls under that category.

I absolutely love this movie. Not only does it take place in Italy (the land of my ancestors) but it's about a writer. And I loved this movie so much the first time I watched it that I actually wrote an article about it. If you missed it, you can read it here:
http://villaintuscany.blogspot.com/2005/06/find-your-villa-in-tuscany_01.html

So What am I Doing Right Now?

I'm writing.

Despite the dull throbbing in my head (I'm ignoring it) and the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, I'm writing. The soundtrack booming from my speakers comes from another of my classics, Chocolat. (Tthere are two VERY good reasons to watch Chocolat - chocolate and JOHNNY DEPP. Enough said.)

The weekend beckons. And so does my muse.

In the Mood

I love the weekends, as you all know. The last few days I've been battling a very tired brain, but I think I got enough sleep last night to be a halfway productive person today.

And that means I'm ready to write again.

I didn't write last night, which really bothered me, but at the same time, it didn't. I would rather not write when I know what I'm going to write is complete crap. Saves me time and heartache. I did read a few pages in my "crafting a plot book" (the title escapes me right now) and one sentence in particular jumped out at me:

"If you arrive at your crisis and it seems flat or dull, you probably haven't set it up sufficiently."

This is exactly how I felt with my last manuscript when I wrote my crisis moment - flat and dull. But since I made the changes, it feels so much better. Strange, that you take that long to get to the crisis moment and it's over in a matter of pages - or it should be, anyway. If you drag it out too long, it loses its excitement and momentum. As a writer, you often feel that if you're spending that much time preparing for the crisis moment, you better make it long and worth the reader's time. But that's the opposite of what you should do. It should be satisfying, but not drawn out.

A delicate balance must be achieved, grasshopper!

Almost, But Not Quite

We almost had a new addition to the family - a Basset Hound puppy. Hubby has wanted one for my daughter for quite some time. Yesterday at work, he had a customer bring in a litter. Since he was moving, he was giving the pups away. And like a good husband, DH called me FIRST before deciding to get one. With lots and LOTS of trepidation, I said yes.

But it turns out that by the time my husband got back to the guy, all the male puppies were gone. We really couldn't have a female since we have two male dogs.

So the pup will have to wait. I must say I was disappointed because I love puppies - but all puppies grow up. And in the meantime, there's that whole house-training experience that I really do not want to go through.

In Writing News...

A few paragraphs and that was it. Not much more because I was sooooo tired. But of course, that didn't stop me from staying up late and talking to hubby. It's Diet Pepsi for breakfast this morning again. I've really got to start going to sleep at night!

Wednesday - a.k.a. Hump Day

I always thought calling Wednesday "hump day" was cute until I realized what the other connotations for "hump" were.

But at any rate, to me, it's the middle of the week, which means I only have two more days left before the weekend. And I really really LOVE the weekend.

My head still hurts, so I'll be popping some aspirin here in a bit. Hubby told me last night to get my neck fixed, no matter what I need to do to accomplish that. He asked me, "What would it be like for you to not have to worry about headaches?"

I sighed in utter bliss. "A dream come true."

In Writing News...

Worked more on the manuscript last night. I'm excited for an upcoming scene, so hope that goes well. Little concerned with one of my submissions. I keep checking the post office website with my tracking number and according to them, it still hasn't been delivered. It's been over a week now. I'm thinking it got lost...and how the heck can that happen??? If it doesn't show up within the next few days, I'm calling to complain. :-)

Working at Home Today

My neck feels like it's been twisted in a vice grip and then run over by a tractor a couple of times for good measure. The result? A nice, blinding headache. Oh, the agony.

Still, I am a good little trooper and will work at home today instead of dragging my butt into the office. But my chiropractor isn't open today, so I'm hoping I can get through the day without too many problems.

Got another page and a half written last night (single spaced) and I didn't have much time to do it in. Time is truly the enemy on my weekdays. Gotta go to bed at a decent hour for that day job! I write the best at night, so getting up early is just not an option for me. I didn't want to stop writing once I started last night, but ah well. That will just insure that I get back to it soon.

A Long Weekend

We finished my daughter's bedroom this weekend. She now has a canopy over her bed, a Hello Kitty comforter, and space to actually play. I know she's growing up, though, because she told me that the lamp she's had in her bedroom since she was an infant "was a baby lamp" and that we needed to get a new one. Hobby Lobby is having a half-off sale on their lamps, so maybe we'll cruise over there after work.

We also bought a new entertainment center and hubby fought to put it together. Turns out the instructions were rather vague and they didn't include all of the parts. Needless to say, he was rather grouchy after he finished it. But it looks great in our living room!

I tackled the manusript a lot on Saturday and got quite a bit done. Pretty happy with that. Yesterday I wasn't as productive on it - but I did go through and make a list of things I needed to remember from my finished chapters so that I wouldn't mistakenly write something that didn't work with everything else.

Didn't sleep well last night - hubby was snoring and when I went out onto the couch and finally drifted off to sleep, the alarm on his watch went off. I climbed back into my own bed, because it was quiet, and as soon as I settled in, yup, you guessed it - hubby started snoring again.

I've already downed one Diet Pepsi this morning and will probably have another one shortly. My best friend called last night and said her sister got the job in England, so she will be living there for the next three years. She plans to go over once a year, but I'm going to try to make it at least once with her. Can't wait! Now I just have to start saving money. :-)