Three Things

June 24, 2009 by

The other day as I was getting ready for work, it occurred to me the three things I absolutely could not leave the house without: my cell phone; my thumb drive; my iPod. I feel completely lost without them and naked. And if I do leave one of them behind, I always turn around and go back and get it (of course, if I’m already at the office then I suck it up and try to get on with my day without them, but it’s very hard, let me tell you).

I’ve come to depend on the iPod for my daily blockage of stupidity. It’s the only thing, lately, that keeps me sane from the outside world. Plus, I’ve started picking up those “free download” cards from Starbucks (because I’m in there nearly daily) and I actually sat and downloaded the free songs. Most of them aren’t really my taste, but what the heck. It’s FREE. And today, Starbucks had a little booklet of coupons for their products in the grocery store. And since I’m the coupon lady how could I refuse that?

Last night I managed to get home early, get dinner done and the dishes done by 7 pm! It was glorious. Then I caught up on emails and cleaned off my desk. Then I finished making the final changes on my Phoenix synopsis. And THEN I got this really fantastic idea for a dark fantasy and I quickly jotted down the notes for it so I don’t lose the idea in the dark chasms of my head.

I also watered both the front and the back before they burn up from the heat. We officially hit our first 100 degree day yesterday. Today, it will be another 100 degree day. And then we have about a 20 percent chance of rain next week. Right. We’ll see if that happens. I reprogrammed the AC so it would kick on earlier in the day. I originally set it to go up to 85 but being so hot, it’s taking the house way too long to cool down at night. So I bumped it back to 82. Let the thing have less of a work-out. It’s old, after all, and I can’t afford to have the thing replaces this year. It can break next year (now you watch, I’ve just jinxed myself!).

Anyway, I’m loving the HP Mini. Man installed some virus software for me and it’s working like a charm. Now I don’t have to worry about getting online and I’m SO SO SO excited to take it with me to Nationals. I had a little SNAFU with the hotel reservations – they LOST them essentially and I had no reservations for my stay – but I got it all sorted out and a new confirmation emailed to me. It’s all good. I’m all set. I have a few little things to get before the trip. Most notably LUGGAGE. Some new walking shoes and some black flats that aren’t beat up. I’m getting my hair done and a pedicure before I leave, too. So much to do. So many things to get ready. I’m really looking forward to the conference and to meeting all my online writing friends who are long-distance. Plus I have a fabulously fabulous red party dress for The Gathering (the FF&P party) on Thursday night AND some terribly hot red sexy shoes to go with. Note to self: wear them before the trip to get them broken in!

As soon as I get back, I’m driving to East Texas to my sister’s the next day to take the kiddo for the week. He’s dying to spend some time with his cousin who is only a year and a half older. I think they’re going to have a blast. I hope. He’s never been away from home for any length of time so this should be interesting. He said today he wanted me to stay with him. Which throws a bit of monkey wrench in the situation, seeing as how I’m not planning to take that week off too…

I have myself scheduled for a week and a day of vacation from work and that’s the longest stretch I’ve ever taken in my entire working career. EVER. I think I’m due. And I think I need it. Can you say Burn Out? Twenty years of working in Corporate America (not for the same company, mind you) and never having a lengthy vacation? Yeah. I’m due.

And before I forget – here’s a head’s up! I’ll be interviewed tomorrow night at my local chapter’s blog, so be sure and stop by if you get a chance! I’ll post a note on Facebook as well as Twitter as a reminder. :)

That’s it for me! Happy Wednesday, ya’ll! Stay cool.

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Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Other Blogging Activities Tagged With: , ,

Michelle’s Guide To Being Anal

June 8, 2009 by

So this weekend went by way too quick, as it usually does. Saturday was mostly a wasted day. Wasted for me, anyway. It was HOT. And so we stayed inside pretty much all day and I played with iTunes and my iPod. I’m in love. ;)

Because I’m anal … and I can’t stand when things are not just so I spent about four hours messing with iTunes and getting the songs the way I wanted them to list on my iPod. I know, right? Anal.

Organized is actually another word for it. :D

Anyway, most of my music came from CDs I had ripped long ago. And becuase of that, iTunes didn’t have the album art. And becuase I’m totally anal, I spent a good portion of the day getting said art and putting it my iTunes. And then I got really busy and resorted the tunes to group all my soundtracks into one “artist” group. See? Anal.

Of course this carried over a little into Sunday. But I think I finally have the iPod just the way I want it.

I also finally broke in my iTunes gift card that I got for my birthday. WOO! I bought an Evanesence album and a couple of other miscellaneous songs. I let the kiddo help me decide since, at the rip old age of 7, he knows what’s hip. Fancy that. I don’t feel so much like a fuddy-duddy anymore. I got a Shinedown song, something from Gnarls Barkley because that “Crazy” song is a big hit in my household and a song from Sixx AM (the new Nikki Sixx band). Oh, and Finger Eleven. See, now don’t I sound hip? haha

In other news – I started a new project that I’m kind of thrilled about. I mentioned it here on the blog a few days or so ago. It’s one of those where the characters started talking and I had no choice but to start writing. I’m about 4000 words and 13 pages in now. I’ve never started off a book with dialogue before – ever – but this is the way this one is dictating to me. I already know who my two main characters are. A smuggler and a bounty hunter. And I have this wild idea that it’s going to be an intergalactic treasure hunt. And my poor heroine has had a bitch of a day in the first 12 pages. Great fun!

Also very sad to report that all the baby birds died. I think it must have been too hot on the front porch where the mamma built her nest. That and she couldn’t keep them fed. Three died on Friday and by Saturday morning the other two were dead. I commissioned Man to dispose of them becuase I refused to even look in the nest another second.

BUT… there is some good news. I got 350 thread count sheets that actually fit my mattress on sale for $45 (regularly $100). I was SO excited. I emailed my mother immediately to tell her what a savvy shopper I was. :D I love finding deals like that. They rock.

Guess that’s it for me. Kiddo has a dental appointment this morning so we’re off to do that. Have a happy Monday, ya’ll!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: , ,