Why does Monday always come so fast? It seems like you blink and it’s here.

This weekend was busy for me, seeing as how I didn’t have my kiddo with me. Saturday I had RWA. Good meeting, as always. Had lunch and then didn’t break from the group until nearly 2. I headed home… only to be stuck on 820 in bumper to bumper traffic. And being stuck in that kind of traffic in 102 degree heat, quite frankly, sucks. A normal 10 minute drive turned into 30.

That’ll learn me to ever get on 820 again. Ever. I will be taking the back roads from now on.

After I got home and out of the heat, I puttered around the house a little bit. I did end up going to Bed Bath & Beyond and made some purchases… which I ended up taking back on Sunday. I don’t know what I was thinking – the 4-tier shelf I bought had no home in my home, so back it went. When I returned it on Sunday, the store completely beat me down. There was this dumb woman in front of me who yakked on her bluetooth the entire time she was in line, didn’t bother to hang up when she got to the counter. And, incidentally, she was brining her coupon she “forgot” the day before to get her $10 back. It took FOR-EVER for her to get her discount and then this asshole butted in front of me in line.

I was highly agitated by the time I left that store. I may never patronize it again.

Anyway… went grocery shopping Saturday night, got home, unloaded grocersy, talked to my mom on the phone for at least an hour and a half. I guess we had a lot to say! While we talked, I managed to polish off a half a bottle of wine on an empty stomach. No wonder I was woozy by the time I hung up! I sputtered out some drivel in Word (i.e., yes, I wrote), emailed a few friends in my drunken stupor and then went to bed to pass out.

Sunday morning I awoke at 6:30 am… to the sound of the next door neighbor’s lawn mower. Yes, folks, you read that right. I was livid! SIX THIRTY AM!!! C’MON! At least wait until 7:30 when it’s somewhat a decent hour. I was ticked. Of course I get the neighbor wanting to get the yard mowed before it got hot (it was another scorcher today) but that’s just downright rude and inconsiderable. It’s Sunday for crying out loud!

My yard remains shamefully unmowed. Ask me if I care.

I finally managed to go back to sleep until nearly 9, though, at which point I stumbled out of bed for a cup of java.

I started laundry and rambled around the house a bit before heading to church. Got home, changed, ate lunch, and then ran errands (see above the BB&B story). Went to Lowe’s to pick up a few small things including a birthday present for my boy. He wants a flashlight, so I bought him his first maglite. Then I went to Walmart which was actually pleasant after the beating I took at BB&B. Got another birthday present for my boy.  It seems he wants to have his birthday at Chuck E Cheese which makes me throw up a little in my mouth at the thought…

After I got home from running around, I cleaned house and only collapsed at about 6 pm with my book. I read in peace and quiet until the kiddo came home and actually finished my book. Now I’m wondeirng what to read next.

I have another story percolating in my head. It’s another fantasy story and I am seriously starting to think my “calling” is YA fantasy fiction. I devour it every chance I get. I love reading fantasy. So maybe it’s time I choose this and just go with it. I’m still at the point of figuring out where I am and what I’m doing, but I feel like I’m getting closer to resolution. This whole last rejection thing has really turned me on my ear and made me do some deep thinking. It’s all good.

I had fully intended to have “me” time this weekend but ended up running all over creation and cleaning house instead. So much for that. However, I did something very important – I read, I cleaned, AND I vacuumed behind the bed and got up all the cat hair. Very important indeed!

I finished updating the sidebar on the blog! Yay!

Instead of having the books listed in the sidebar, they are now located on their own page. Isn’t that cool? The link is also at the top of the page of this blog. Also, I added an About section. I thought, you know, I should just in case someone from the outside world managed to hit my blog before hitting my website.

So what do you think of the new design? I have to say I really like it. It looks clean and tidy and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the coffee cups at each entry. It is SO CUTE!

This week was a monster. Monday and Tuesday were spent learning Flash in training – which was really great, actually. I thoroughly enjoyed the class. It was nice to get back to the office on Wednesday but I literally hit the ground running. I had to help get a proposal out the door and ended up working until 6. Raced home, cooked dinner on the grill, and then hung out with the kiddo the rest of the time. Thursday it was off to the dentist and then to work after. I got stuck in a meeting until nearly 7 so I didn’t get home until nearly 8! Man came over and we hung out until we both crashed. Well, I crashed, he managed to somehow stay up a while. Of course, he is a night owl.

Today…well, it was long. Had an excellent meeting today but didn’t get back to my desk until nearly 2. Then had lots of things to catch up on. After work, I got my hair cut. YAY! It feels – and looks – so much better.

This evening was quiet. I chatted on the phone for nearly an hour with Man (amazing, we see each all day yet we STILL manage to talk to each other for an hour on the phone!), and then chatted with a girlfriend for nearly an hour on the phone. I guess I was chatty tonight. Email chatted another friend for about an hour or so. And I still need to call my mother and chat with her.

Tomorrow morning is my monthly RWA meeting. And then sometime tomorrow I have to grocery shop (yuck) and THEN… I don’t know. The day is mine. I may do something wild like…go to the book store and get my free coffee. Yeah, I walk on the wildside all right.

Okay it’s off to bed now. Happy weekend!

Woke up with a sinus headache this morning.

Not much else to report and I’m late blogging today. Be back later…

I didn’t get home from work yesterday until nearly 7, which meant we were eating dinner at nearly 8. Blah. It was a way too fast evening for sure.

I finished reading the contest entries last night. Out of the four, two were fabulous. The other two…not so much. Hopefully my comments will help them make a stronger story.

I haven’t been writing. Right now, I have no interest in it. I think it’ll come back eventually but I’m really unhappy about the whole situation. I think it might be time to re-evaluate the situation and figure out where I’m going and how to get there.

Very short entry here today as I don’t have much to say. We’re off to the dentist for the kiddo here in a few.

Hey ya’ll – come on over the RomErotica today if you get a chance. You’ve probably already read this post. Since I was short on time this week, I let the Demons do double duty. LOL!

Anyway, swing by if you can. Just click here.

Okay – first… yes, I’m testing out some new layouts because I’m BORED with the other. What do you think of this one? This is NOT how I want the header to look. I’m trying to figure out how to change it but I ran out of steam last night.

I really get sick and tired of people being assholes just for the sake of being an asshole. It ticks me off completely. As I was driving home yesterday from class – on my way to get my boy – I exited the freeway, just like usual. There’s a stop sign, which I turn left at. Which ALSO has two left turn lanes – an inside and an outside. I turned left from the OUTSIDE. The Bitch in the POS car next to me turned left from the INSIDE.

To ME that means, you stay in your respective lanes when you turn. OH NO. Not this POS. She nearly hits me! She pulls into the lane I’m in (the right lane, mind you) so I honk. Quite a lot, actually. And then she has the nerve to wave to me in her rearview mirror.

There are some things that can send a person into a rage. THIS was one of those things. I was TICKED. I immediately called her every colorful metaphor in the book while flipping her off. Yes. I did it. I normally do NOT do that sort of thing, but I was completely angry at this point.

To make matters worse…the dumb bitch drives down the road a ways…and then casually moves over into the left lane…and turns left at the light.

I.wanted.to.dropkick.her.

I couldn’t believe it! She knew DAMN well what she was doing when she did it! It was like it was on purpose. Like she had conveniently IGNORED the sign that said you could turn left from both lanes. I was so angry at this point, I think I saw red.

And then… I thought, “Oh, screw her. She’s not worth my anger,” and blew it off.

Still. She totally had her asshat on.

Flash class was good. I learned lots. I actually had a good time and I asked LOTS of questions. At one point, I told the instructor to carry on. I’m not sure if he got my sense of humor or not. hehe There were only two other folks in the class, which made it very quick and kinda intimate. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the website and working out some things that were giving me headaches before. PLUS, I’ll be taking level 2 next month, so I’m really kinda looking forward to that too.

And, hey, if this writing thing falls through, at least I have a Fall-Back Career! *snort*

You really can’t write. You’re mediocre at best. You suck, girl. Give it up already.

NO! I will not. You can’t make me!

But you’re not that good. You know you’re not. You half-ass everything, even writing. Just quit while you’re ahead.

I don’t believe you! Stop trying to tear me down! I’m not half-assing it. Really!

You can’t do it and you know it. You’re fooling yourself into thinking you’re talented. Give it up!

NO! NO! NO! I won’t. You can’t make me!

This is the conversation I had with myself last night. I think it strikes us all from time to time but they have been really niggling at me a lot lately. Especially after getting yet another rejection.

Well, it was a positive rejection at least. I’m still deciding what to do with the manuscript because, really, I’m not sure if I agree with what the editor had to say. It’s one of those things I’m on the fence about and it’s probably just me being stupid. So, I’m going to sleep on it a couple of days before I make a decision. Either I’ll go for the revision and resubmit, or I’ll just pass altogether.

Still… It’s really hard not to feel like a failure sometimes.

My 12 year old niece has decided she wants to be an author when she grows up. I have to really stop myself from telling her the ugly truth – it’s a jungle out there and there are no guarantees. Instead, I encourage her and tell her she CAN write really wonderful stories people will want to read. I even bought her a craft book (Writing Magic – and I got one for myself, as well hehe). I don’t want to discourage her, becuase the world could always use more storytellers.

But then I sit back and I think… WTF? Why do I torture myself so? Is this something that I’m really cut out for? Is it really in my blood? Do I really drink, eat, sleep, breathe writing? Do I dare attempt to continue down this dusty, dirty, lonely road?

That’s when I realized… I’m not alone. In the shadows of the forest, there are others just like me. They’re walking there, silently, gripping their pens (or laptops) and furiously writing their hearts out. They’re writing the stories THEY want to write and they’re finding their way. They eat, drink, sleep, breathe it.

And, yes, so do I. It’s not something I will give up on. Not yet. I have to keep trying. I have to go forth and conquor.

SO OUT you demons, OUT! You haven’t defeated me yet! I will triumph! Even if it takes me till I’m old and gray (well, I’m gray already…so maybe just old…)

Well I ended up going to the BBQ AND hanging out with Man on Friday. It was a nice day.

Man came over at about 10:30 that morning. We went to lunch at On The Border and then did a little light shopping. We didn’t buy anything. It was just one of ther excursions where you’re killing time and looking at stuff. We went to Rooms To Go and checked out furniture. Plus it gave me a chance to look at kid’s furniture. I found a really cool bed for my kiddo there. Of course, they’re kind of expensive, but it’s something he can use until he’s old.

We split up about 5 so he could go to work and I could go to the BBQ. I made my 4th of July dessert – it’s a trifle with red and blue jell-o, cool whip, poundcake and strawberries. Very yummy. I stuffed myself again with hamburgers and yummy potato salad.

Met back up with Man at 8 pm and went to watch fireworks. He gave me this mocha energy drink which of course made me wide awake until 1 am. hehe We got up Saturday morning and did yard work. It was so domestic.

We went our separate ways that afternoon. My kiddo came home and we hung out all afternoon watching movies. I was exhausted and ended up napping on the couch while he watched Night at the Museum. After a while, we headed to Lowe’s and I did some pricing on materials for my bathrooms.

Sunday was church day and then I headed to my mom’s for dinner. We got home about 8:30, once again stuffed to the gills. There’s nothing like having dinner at Mom’s.

I have training class all day today and tomorrow. I’m learning Flash, so it should be good.

No writing this weekend. I was a bad girl. But I plan to get back to it tonight!

So. My really good friend shared her recipe for lemon bars with me. And last night, after dinner, I decided I would give it a try since I had all the ingredients. I got everything together and started to make them. My mouth was all set for yummy lemon bars.

I made the crust with no problems. But then as I made the lemony part, my son decided to start talking to me about his Wii game. He distracted me. Of course, I wasn’t paying attention either. I got it all mixed up and poured it over the crust… and then realized I had left out the baking powder! That’s kind of important…

I left it on the stove for a few minutes, trying to decide if I should just throw it out or not. Instead, I poured the batter back into the bowl, added the baking powder and mixed it up. Poured it back onto the crust and checked the recipe for how long to bake it. And realized I hadn’t beat it nearly long enough. sigh

I threw them in the oven anyway and waited the alotted 20 minutes.

I think part of my problem was I was extremely tired. By 9 pm, I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Well, the lemon bars came out of the oven and they looked okay. They tasted okay too, but I’m not sure they looked they way the were supposed to. hehe So I’m going to have to try again another day when I’m not so tired.

Tomorrow is the 4th and I’m not sure what I’m doing for that yet (here in the US it’s our Independence Day). Man is out of town today for work and he and I may end up hanging out together tomorrow. If not, then I’ve been invited to a BBQ at my sister-in-law’s sister’s house (if that’s not confusing enough – they’re kind of like extended-extended family for me LOL!).

If I end up at the BBQ, I think I’ll make my 4th of July trifle. If I don’t go, then Man and I are going to grill burgers.

Hope everyone has a great 4th!

Okay. I don’t have much to blog about today so I thought I’d to a Recipe Share. I’m sharing one of my all-time favorites that is super easy to make. Yes, it’s chocolate. And Yes, it’s dessert. Fudgy brownies – you can’t go wrong with that!

If you wish to share a recipe, email me!

Oh and PS. Yes! I got some words in! (Just in case you were wondering…hehe)

Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups butter or margarine, softened
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup baking cocoa
½ teaspoon salt
Confectioners’ sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 350°. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, cocoa and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until the top is dry and the center is set. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen.

I tried. I really did. I tried to watch it. I got through the first hour and was…bored. I was not entertained at all.

I think I had several factors against me, though. (1) My child didn’t want to go to sleep; (2) I was distracted by Man; (3) I was trying to keep it low so I wouldn’t disturb my child who wasn’t sleeping.

Oh well. Maybe I’ll try again. I had to return the movie this morning.

Now I must bitch. The parking situation at my office is deplorable. A new building for lawyers was built next door and they have literally taken over two full floors of our garage. Not only that, but now we have these MORONS who park their #@$*#$ Cadillac and not bother to pull all the way up, which means the rest of us have to SQUEEZE by. And it’s not like these lanes in the garage are wide anyway. I drive a small car so I can’t imagine those who have trucks and SUVs getting through that teeny space. I saw the person walking away from her car. I wanted to stop and tell her what a jackass she was. People really suck sometimes.

Anyway… I didn’t get any writing done. However, Sunday night I DID break the 10,000 mark. My goal is to try and finish chapter three this week on MAGIC.