Quote Du Jour:
“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘My God, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’”
–Dave Barry

It’s quiet here. DH and DS went flying this morning, leaving me here at the house. All alone.

WOOHOO!

I did the dishes, started a load of laundry, made the bed, and showered. Now I’m going to put on some music and work on the chapter newsletter. I haven’t really started the one for July and I need to get busy with it.

Went to pick up DH at the airport last night. His flight arrived at 8 pm and it was a total friggin’ zoo. I had to park on the second level of the parking garage and then there was a gaggle of people pouring out of the airport. Some of them were so rude, it ticked me off. I’ve got my 3-yr-old by the hand and we’re trying to walk in and all the people with their enormous rolling bags are barreling through like they don’t even see me.

I gave them all the evil eye until they were forced to move over. Jackasses. Then as we waited for Hubby to deboard, lots of yowling could be heard. There were two cats, each in a carrier, making it known just how much they didn’t appreciate being in a carrier. They were two pissed off pussycats. Poor things. I can only imagine their trauma once they get wherever they’re going.

When I had my cat - a big fat orange tabby - I moved 40 miles west, about a one hour drive. I had two small Shih-Tzu’s at the time too, and drove a Chevy S-10 pickup. Well, the truck was completely full, as was the cab. The dogs rode up front with me, but I had no place for the cat. I knew I had to put her in the carrier. I secured her (in the carrier) in the truck bed.

Man, she was so ticked at me. When I got to my new home and released her, she disappeared. I didn’t see her for two weeks. I knew she was eating, though, because when I’d come home from work, her food dish would be empty.

Anyhoo… guess I better make use of this quiet time.

Your Taste in Music:

90’s Pop: Highest Influence

90’s Rock: Highest Influence

Classic Rock: Highest Influence

80’s Rock: High Influence

90’s Alternative: High Influence

Hair Bands: High Influence

Adult Alternative: Medium Influence

Alternative Rock: Medium Influence

Heavy Metal: Medium Influence

Progressive Rock: Medium Influence

80’s Pop: Low Influence

R&B: Low Influence

Got an email from a dear friend today who subscribes to my serials. She had this to say regarding one of the issues:

Good use of “feral scream”! That should happen more often in literature today, don’t you think?

It made me laugh out loud.

Quote Du Jour:
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas
–Rush, The Trees

Just two more issues done yesterday, but they were half-hearted attempts. I’m struggling with the dang adventure now! Sheesh. I guess it’s my lot in life. I set the keys on fire with one, but am stumped with the other. Not fair. Not fair at all.

I wonder if other writers have this sort of creativity block. Sometimes, I can get on such a roll with something and write 8000 words in one week (the jousting novel); other times, it’s like struggling with one. word. at. a. time. It’s awful.

Maybe I’m just not diverse enough to write on more than one thing at a time. Maybe I should just focus on ONE thing and go with it. But then when I get stumped on that ONE thing, I’ll sit and stare a blinking cursor forever.

No, it’s better to have 102983 projects going at once.

The funniest thing just happened. I’m sitting here at my desk here at work when my cell phone rings. It’s my in-laws, who also watch my son during the day. Only slightly alarmed, I answer it.

On the other end, however, I hear all the buttons in the world being pushed. I know immediately who is calling me, and it’s not my MIL or my FIL. Finally, I hear my son’s tiny voice say, “Hi!”

The conversation then goes something like this:

ME: “Where’s Papa & Grandmom?” (he calls her Grandmom)
DS: “Uh… in there.”
ME: “Well, take them the phone.”
DS: “Okay.” He says this all downtrodden. Then he says, “Hey, there’s someone on the phone!”

I’m starting to giggle. My MIL gets on the phone and I tell her that he called me. We have a good laugh. We figure that he must have hit the recall or something, since she said I was the last person who called them.

I guess now we have to have the phone talk again. We’ve been discussing how and when to call 911, so I think we may need to revisit that, just so he doesn’t call the operator or 911 or something by accident. I can just see him calling China…

Anyway… joined some new email loops. I think I’m up to 17 now. Sheesh. But, not complaining. There has been some great conversation on one of the PRO loops about websites and excerpts on your website.

I’m in the process of writing up the blurbs for the other two books in the trilogy. Sometimes I think that’s harder than writing the synopsis or the damn book itself. I’m struggling with it. But I’ve gotten some great ideas for Book 2 from fellow chapter members and I’m just going to run with it. Now, about the third book. Hm.. I have no idea! Originally, I wanted it to be about the daughters of my sisters, but now I’m not so sure. I need to have some sort of a plan, so I can be prepared. You know, in case the editor gives me a three-book deal. (Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?)

Okay.. gotta finish my cover for the proposal due out next week. I owe I owe…it’s off to work I go.

SWEET! I have cool drinking buddies! (Well, some of them are…)

Your Gemini Drinking Style

You can drink without changing your behavior much. You’re so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it’s just hard to tell sometimes. You amaze people by conversing with finesse and allusions, then doing something to belie an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. You possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and uninfuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. You like to order different cocktails every round — repetition is boring! You may create a drinking theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for your own amusement.

Your Signature Cocktails

Easily bored Geminis need some stimulation in their drinks — those with two parts, like a black and tan (or just a double), are particularly appealing. Otherwise, you’ll drink all over the map, ordering frou-frou drinks to add to you collection of cocktail monkeys or going for whiskey rocks because you’re feeling rather noir. Gemini rules the herb anise — home-infused anise vodka is sure to win you over.

Your Celebrity Drinking Buddies

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Minogue, the Olson Twins, Colin Farrell, Ice Cube, Natalie Portman, and Mr. T

Quote Du Jour:
“They’re the Norwegian team,” CJ whispered before I even had a chance to ask her. One of the men, a big blond Viking sort, shoved a bottle of beer in my hand and plopped down beside me. Moth flattened his ears at the man. “They’re very nice, but they do like their beer. Stay away from them after dark.”

“Why, do they get grabby then?” I whispered back.
–from Hard Day’s Night by Katie MacAlister

This book is so great. It has me giggling while I read and it’s very hard for me to put down at night and go to sleep. I was up until 11:30 last night reading. I had to force myself to shut out the light. The hero is so hot and she writes from first person so well. You really feel like you’re in Pepper’s skin. I love it. This is already a book that will be a keeper and on my re-read list.

Finally got a good night’s sleep last night! I feel rested and energetic for the first time in days. No, make that weeks.

Yesterday, the traffic was just stupid. As I was driving to the sitter, there was this young kid on a crotch-rocket (aka NOT a Harley) who nearly rear-ended me because (a) he was driving too fast and (b) he was in such a hurry he was trying to get around the traffic and not paying attention, hence the reason why he nearly rear-ended me. I was slowing down because a car was turning the corner in front of me and I just happen to glance up in time to see the idiot on the motorcycle come a screeching halt behind me. The nerve. Then when we get going again, he blasts around me only to do it again (to someone else) when we approach a red light. He slammed on the brakes so hard, the back tire came up off the pavement and slammed back down. Moron. Once the light turned green, he tailed the car in front of him until he could squeeze – and I mean literally squeeze – between two cars to get around them. He totally took his life into his hands as well as nearly causing an accident.

It annoyed me so much. So after I dropped off my son, off to work I go. I’m heading down my normal route and there’s this big truck next to me with this … thing … in the back. I have no idea what it was and I’m not even going to attempt to describe it. Anyway, it was like the guy was racing me. He stayed right with me the entire way down the road and it was just getting on my nerves. Without going over the speed limit, I decided I wasn’t going to let this creep in front of me. So as I approach a light, it turns yellow and I slow down to stop at it. The idiot next to me completely runs it. He doesn’t speed up, he doesn’t hit the brakes. He just keeps driving like it wasn’t even there! And it was red for a good long bit before he even got to the intersection.

Then I saw a near-accident when I got into downtown. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to make it to work in one piece. I was quite relieved when I pulled into my favorite parking space and shut off the engine.

Got four issues of the serials done and turned in. Three on the romance and one on the adventure. WOOHOO. Love that progress. I’m going to try to write more on the romance today but I’m not sure how far I’ll get. It’s on the agenda anyway.

Have done no writing on the jousting novel. My focus has been the serials lately because I have this fear of falling behind again. Plus, I’m trying to work toward finishing the romance (yes, I know I say that every day…). I’d like to be able to write two issues of that every day. I know for sure then I could finish it.

Leaving early today to deliver a proposal. While I’m there, I have to renew my car registration as well as the registration for the Harley. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, eh?

Quote Du Jour:
“Let me ‘splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.”
–Inigo Montoyga, The Princess Bride

I’m sleepy today. I stayed up until midnight reading my book last night. I had a hard time putting it down. For a book written in first person, the author really does a superb job of conveying the emotions of the other characters. I think I have a crush on the hero. There are some hilarious moments that make me laugh out loud.

The 6 am alarm came way too fast. I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. It’s only now that I’m having my first cup of java. And oh how I need it. It’s not Starbucks vanilla latte, but at least it’s caffeine.

I played around with graphics last night and just fiddled with making a new banner for my website featuring my pen name. I figured out how to do an add-on domain so I got it all set up with my web host. It’s not much yet, but you can visit it here: http://www.fionajudd.net. I’m excited about it. Since I’m going to use this for historicals, I want it to be something with that feel. I just haven’t figured out what that is yet.

I messed with frames last night, too. I’m trying to redesign my own website, but I don’t know what I want yet. I want something that is easy to navigate and doesn’t annoy the surfer and I want something classy and professional. I’m still thinking on that.

Talked with a friend for over an hour on the phone last night. Our conversation went from web graphics (I’m helping her learn how to do simple HTML – and I stress SIMPLE because that’s all I know), to writing, and to back to graphics.

In other news, a good friend of mine is getting married in Scotland in 2007. Big huge mighty congrats to you, girlfriend! I am so excited for you!

The really awesome thing is - I have been invited. HE-YAW. *beam*

Okay, being in 2007 gives me lots of time to save up some money for the trip. I am going. I will be there. I must be there. Scotland. My dream vacation. I will forego RWA Nationals in Atlanta for this. I will start saving now and then maybe by some miracle, I’ll be able to go.

On the writing front, I managed to eek out an issue for the romance. I’m working on an issue for the adventure, but I’ve been moving VERY slowly on this for some reason. I feel like I’m falling into this funk and I’m having a difficult time getting out of it. But I’ve also been having trouble sleeping at night so it makes me tired during the day and I just feel myself zoning out.

Anyway, I did some edits on the fantasy novel on chapter four. Read through chapters five and six. I tried to write blurbs for the second books, but I came up blank. I hoped I could get some of that done today.

Spent some time at the public library yesterday during lunch. I hadn’t been in a library in a long while. The regular card files have been replaced by computers. I was looking for books on tournaments in the late middle ages. Of course the one I wanted was checked out. But I found others and made some notes. When I got to the office, I ran a search on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Found two great books so I need to make a purchase here in the next few days.

And I ordered Patricia A. McKillip’s new release Od Magic from my book club. Really looking forward to that one as I adored her last book Alphabet of Thorn. In fact, I’m going to have to give that another read.

Quote du Jour:
When the going gets tough, the tough go to Starbucks.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Last night was bizarre, to say the least. I was excepting UPS to deliver a package to my house – DH’s new jump drive (thumb drive/flash drive whatever you want to call it). Got home and found it on my doorstep. However, to my horror, it was someone else’s package.

I ran upstairs to the computer and tracked MY package. It had been delivered yesterday about 20 minutes earlier. Location: Frnt Door. That’s what it staid. I’m freaking out.

Now, the thing about me is I freak out first and then figure out what to do. That’s just me.

Anyway, I immediately got on the horn to UPS to find out what the deal was. They were so confused. They couldn’t get what I was telling them. They didn’t understand what was up. I gave them the tracking number of the package (that wasn’t mine) that I had and they said, “I show that it was delivered at 3:40 pm and left at the front door.” By this time, I wanted to scream and yell at the dummy. But I remained calm. I said, “Yes, that’s right. BUT it’s NOT my package. It’s someone else’s.”

Meanwhile, my 3-year-old is crinkling paper in the background and going “Mom Mom Mom” over and over again.

I get transferred to the proper department. I get some dude who says, “We’ll be happy to pick that package up for you.”

And I said, “Great! But where is MY package?”

Huh?

Good golly. You’d think I was trying to draw blood or something. I explained to him that it was an expensive piece of equipment that I NEEDED right away (not really, but you know…) and I didn’t appreciate the driver just leaving it somewhere else. The light bulb must have finally snapped on because he took all my information and told me the distribution center would call me back within the hour.

As I hang up the phone, I hear the toilet flush. Thankfully, my son was just going potty and not flushing a toy.

Anyhoo… as I’m pacing back and forth and trying to decide my next move, I get an idea. I call information and ask for the phone number of the person whose package I have. It was a wrong number – a fax machine. So back to the computer I go. May I say that switchboard.com is the bomb? I look up the guy’s number through switchboard.com and WA-LA there it is. I call him up.

I tell him who I am and that I live about four blocks from him. I ask if he’s received a package addressed to me. Turns out, he has. I told him I had his.

“You wanna switch?”

I couldn’t get out the door fast enough.

Luckily, it all turned out okay. The guy was nice and didn’t rip me off.

So as my son is eating dinner, the phone rings. It’s UPS calling me back. The lady said she was confused and she didn’t understand what was going on. *heavy sigh* What is with these people? So I explain to her again what happened. She was mortified. At least, it sounded that way. Very apologetic. She said she would make sure her manager knew about the incident.

Personally, I think they should have offered to pay for my shipping after nearly giving me a heart attack, but that’s just me.

So now that the stress of UPS has settled down, I’m reading my book and my son is playing. He all of the sudden stops and looks at me and says, “Mom, my tummy hurts.”

I’m in the process of asking him if he needs to go potty (because we’re still learning THAT phase of potty training…urgh) and as the words escape my mouth, he throws up. All over the living room floor. Damn.

I rush him into the bathroom, get a wash cloth handy, feel his forehead. No fever. No nothing. He gets finished and says, “I feel better now.” Then runs away to play. Apparently because he ate his dinner so far, it made his stomach hurt.

So after cleaning the floor and the toilet (UGH!), the kid is fine and acting as if he was never sick. I give him some water to drink (because I’m just a little paranoid that he might do it again) but he’s fine. He takes his bath and I put him in bed. But around 9:30 I hear, “Mom, can I have some Star Wars crackers?” (Cheez-Its put Star Wars on their box, so to him they are Star Wars crackers.) I felt sorry for him because he was hungry. How could I tell him go to sleep?

I get him a banana and a piece of wheat bread.

Finally get him in bed and I collapse as well.

This morning I treated myself to Starbucks. Heaven in a cup.

Slow & Steady
Another 1000 words or so on the new WIP. Gaw, but it’s slow going. At least I got some words down.

Had no energy to work on the serials yesterday, so I must devote some time to that today. One issue each, that’s the goal. I have a partial on the romance, so that helps. I just don’t know where I’m going with the romance now so I’m stumped. And if I’ll just get going on the adventure serial, I can get on a roll and just go.

Went to PF Chang’s for lunch yesterday. Co-worker talked me into going and totally gorged myself. I had the lemon chicken (best I’ve ever had, IMO) and I was so full I could hardly keep my eyes open. And talk about miserable. OH MY GAW. I skipped dinner. Even Coke couldn’t pull me out of the sleepies.

Finally got on the RWA PRO loops. I had trouble before and my membership never went through, but I finally got on the Industry and Craft loop. I’m looking forward to being a sponge and absorbing as much info as I can from these loops.

This week, I’m getting my submission ready for Cindy Hwang over at Berkley. Why am I so nervous about it? I don’t know. Got some excellent feedback from the critique loop through my chapter. Got back several crits on chapter four. Haven’t had a chance to look at the comments yet, but that’s on the agenda for today too.

Guess I better get to it!

Quote du Jour:
Joan: “I’m a…romance novelist.”
Jack: “You’re a what?”
– Romancing the Stone

Why do the weekends go so fast? It seems like they fly by. It was a busy two days, that’s for sure.

Friday night we watched Day After Tomorrow. It’s a typical disaster flick. Not really great and the acting was subpar. They have the usual extras that get killed in the disaster. I found myself not really caring about he main characters, although there were some humorous moments. When Jake Gyllenhaal’s character and his friends are at the scholastic decathlon and he’s wearing a name tag that says, “Hello My Name is Yoda” I cracked up. And it was great to see Ian Holm. It took me a minute to realize who he was.

Saturday morning, DH and I went flying with the kiddo and our niece. There were low clouds, so we just stayed in the pattern at the airport and did touch-and-go’s. Well, DH did the touch-and-go’s, I just sat there and looked out the window. He said he could have filed IFR but since he hadn’t flown in a while, he was a little rusty on his skills.

Afterwards, I went over to a the chapter president’s house to give her some easy web design lessons. I showed her how to make simple graphics and build a webpage. I told her I was a lazy webmistress (and I don’t have a lot of time to devote to it) so I look for graphics I can use on the web (backgrounds, dividers, buttons, etc.). What I can’t find, I make myself. She was worried about taking up my time, but truthfully, it’s stuff I love doing. And it gave us time to chat about writing, too. I told her she could repay me by helping plot my trilogy.

I have this addiction to clip art and fonts. I own the Big Box of Art by Hemera (410,000 clip art) and find lots of fun stuff in there. I did a search for medieval and got some great pics of people dressed up in costume. My only complaint is the guys are ugly. Couldn’t they found better looking men? *grin*

Finished reading Karen Whiddon’s Soul Magic yesterday. Good book. I enjoyed it. It actually inspired me with my only fantasy trilogy. I started Hard Day’s Knight by Katie MacAlister and I’m just a little disappointed it’s in first person. I’m not big on reading in first person. However, I was immediately sucked into the book – it’s hysterical in places – and read until 11 last night. I had to stifle a chuckle a few times as DH was snoring loudly next to me.

Sunday was a good day. The family came over and we cooked burgers and brats on the grill. I fried up some bacon for the burgers and french fries. The burgers were awesome, the brats were great, and afterwards we have strawberry shortcake for dessert. I love Cool Whip. There’s nothing better than a big dab of Cool Whip with fresh strawberries. YUM.

Finally am getting the new (old) computer set up and personalized for me. DH built a new computer and I got his old one. Got my email set up and started copying over all my files from my old computer.

Got no writing done. This is typical of my weekends, so I try hard to write during the week so I can stay ahead with the serials. I just want to finish the romance! I’m about to start the last major plot thread and once that’s wrapped up, it’ll be finished soon.

But I never stopped thinking about the stories. I came up with titles for all the books in my trilogy, very excited about that. I even named the trilogy – I’m calling it High Magic. I named the sister for the second book and got some ideas for her story. I’m resurrecting and old short story I never finished to start the second book. The storylines are complex for the second novel because I want to focus on the romance between the sister and the guardian. But I also have the dark mage to deal with. Anyhoo, really love this trilogy and once it’s all complete, I’ll be sad to put to rest the characters.

Still thinking about the jousting novel and working out the details of it. I like the idea of having a romance with the maidservant and the brother as a subplot, but I’m trying to figure out how to merge the subplot and the plot. What makes them interconnected? I haven’t figured it out yet. So in the meantime, I’ll just continue to write.

Welp, best get to it. It’s time to work.

Happy Father’s Day!

Your Daddy Is Darth Vader

What You Call Him: Pops Why You Love Him: You don’t love him, you just love calling him “daddy”

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