Have I been writing?
Yes.
Is my novel finished?
No. I have been somewhat distracted by my second passion: dog rescue. Most of my "spare" time is spent neworking homeless dogs. And in the process, I added a third dog to my own brood. She's a beautiful American Staffordshire Terrier named Bianca, and she is the perfect addition to my canine family. Angel and Chip both adore her.
Although I am only involved in virtual animal rescue, I can tell you that it is painful to lose a dog -- even if the dog is one you haven't met before.
That's how I met Bianca. She was homeless and in the shelter near me. I fell in love with her, but didn't think I could have a third dog dog. In truth, she was adopted by a young man who then had to give her up. I could not bear for her to go to the shelter. So -- I brought her home to rehome her. Forget that. She stole my heart and is now part of the family.
The dogs are wonderful. They are always happy to see me when I get home at night -- even if I am running late!
But this has been only a momentary distraction. I am back to taking care of the book. My goal was to have it finished by year-end, and I still intend to do that.
And I still want Nathan Fillion to play the lead role. Not sure who should play the female lead. I guess I need to finish the book first.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Thursday, September 8, 2011
We interrupt this program......
Who was it that used to start things with "Gentle Readers"?
I apologize for my unforgivably long absence. I do have a good reason, though. Well, not a good reason. Not long after I posted my last entry, I realized I wasn't feeling quite right. Some blood work resulted in a weeklong stay (practically!) in the hospital. And my life hasn't been quite the same since.
I've had to adjust to a new routine and make some significant lifestyle changes. Not easy for someone who loves comfort food and full-sugar Coke and Dr Pepper! That, coupled with triple-digit temperatures, resulted in a a roller-coaster ride of a summer.
Fortunately, the slab leak was the last major thing (knock on wood) that's happened this summer. It's probably a good thing, too, since I've been focused on building my strength back up and adjusting to the changes that will only be more constant.
The bad news? I've hardly had time to write. The good news? I've rewritten my book in my head! Now I just have to get it down on paper. Other writers are gearing up for this year's NANO -- I'm still focused on the result of last year's NANO!
Compared to my last submission, this post is probably pretty boring. The truth is -- my life is pretty boring. But that's OK.
Who am I reading?
Right now, I'm reading Krista Davis. I've read a couple of her books before, but I'm really enjoying this one more than the others (I'm sorry I don't remember the title -- it has a Halloween theme!)..... But the book is really good!
I've also downloaded Susan Lucci's "All My Life" and plan to read it next.
I recently finished reading "Sarah's Key."
I guess if I spent as much time writing as I did reading -- I'd have my book finished!
What gets you in the mood to write? How do you set the time aside to work on your writing?
I apologize for my unforgivably long absence. I do have a good reason, though. Well, not a good reason. Not long after I posted my last entry, I realized I wasn't feeling quite right. Some blood work resulted in a weeklong stay (practically!) in the hospital. And my life hasn't been quite the same since.
I've had to adjust to a new routine and make some significant lifestyle changes. Not easy for someone who loves comfort food and full-sugar Coke and Dr Pepper! That, coupled with triple-digit temperatures, resulted in a a roller-coaster ride of a summer.
Fortunately, the slab leak was the last major thing (knock on wood) that's happened this summer. It's probably a good thing, too, since I've been focused on building my strength back up and adjusting to the changes that will only be more constant.
The bad news? I've hardly had time to write. The good news? I've rewritten my book in my head! Now I just have to get it down on paper. Other writers are gearing up for this year's NANO -- I'm still focused on the result of last year's NANO!
Compared to my last submission, this post is probably pretty boring. The truth is -- my life is pretty boring. But that's OK.
Who am I reading?
Right now, I'm reading Krista Davis. I've read a couple of her books before, but I'm really enjoying this one more than the others (I'm sorry I don't remember the title -- it has a Halloween theme!)..... But the book is really good!
I've also downloaded Susan Lucci's "All My Life" and plan to read it next.
I recently finished reading "Sarah's Key."
I guess if I spent as much time writing as I did reading -- I'd have my book finished!
What gets you in the mood to write? How do you set the time aside to work on your writing?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Have I suffered enough?
Did you ever watch the show "Designing Women"? I loved that show because it showed Southern women as strong, independent thinkers -- not as weak-knees "Southern belles."
I'm reminded of a particular episode in which Gerald McRaney, who later married Delta Burke, was a guest star. Gerald played an ex-husband of Suzanne Sugarbaker -- and he was a writer. During the episode, his character -- Dash -- made the comment that he was surprised to be an author because he didn't think he had suffered enough. Of course, a wisecrack was made about being married to Suzannet should have been punishment enough! And it was passed off as a joke.
So, let's have a look at my week.
Last Monday morning, I ran out of hot water about 20 minutes into my shower. I was practically finished, but it was weird, so I called a friend, who is also a handyman, and asked his opinion.
He suggestion was that it was an old unit and that probably the heating element had gone out. Since this behaved exactly like the last time I had t replace a hot water heater, I agreed that was probably the cause. He promised to come by the next day to take care of it.
Only, that night, I had hot water. So, I was sure everything was fine.
Wrong again, Tuesday morning, I had no hot water. I stopped at my Big Box store and bought a new hot water heater. My friend picked it up and texted me later that it was working great. I was so happy! I couldn't really afford the expense, but I was so happy to have a hot water heater! Wednesday morning, I had hot water.
Thursday morning, I didn't. My friend was concerned about an electrical issue, so he contacted a licensed electrician friend of his to stop by and check it out. The electrical all checked out, so I found myself on the phone with technical support for the hot water heater.
They were great! Someone would be by on Friday morning.
Friday morning, I worked from home (I expected to be away an hour or so) so that I could get some much-needed work taken care of. The plumber informed me that before he could do anything to the hot water heater, he had to bring it up to code.
So -- ka-ching -- I paid for that. More expense. Way more. Still -- no hot water.
By then, I had reported back to work and finished my day up. It had been an exhausting week, so I was really glad to look forward to a calm, quiet weekend. I was sure that the next plumber to look at my hot water heater would be able to figure out why it wasn't working!
I ran home, relaxed for 10 minutes, then loaded Angel -- my 3-year-old Black Lab -- into the car and headed off to the vet. I crated 2-year-old Chip (Corgi mix) because I don't completely trust him at the house without Angel. And it's a good thing, because when we returned about 90 minutes later, I found several pools of water -- without a potential source. Then it hit me. My boss had mentioned the possibility of a slab leak. And it looked like she was right!
I called my regular plumber and was told he would be there as soon as he could, probaly around 10-10:30.
One friend came over with her husband and turned my water off -- the dial was spinning like a top!
Another friend came with her husband and brought gallons of water as well as a case of bottled water!
I love them all -- it saved my life!
When the plumber arrived, he determined that the leak was on the hot water side. He turned the water back on, but turned off the spigot at the hot water heater.
It's taken most of two days, but my hot water heater works. Of course, now it's raining, and the dirt dug out from my under house is probably disappearining down the street! I don't have a tarp to cover it with, and the excavation guys left it uncovered.
Back to Dash, when I heard him say he hadn't suffered enough, it really struck me. And I thought about it as I've gone through the events of this week. It has been incredibly stressful. But I have had supportive family and friends to help eme through it. Although my ups and downs of the week are trivial compared to the crises that so many other are facing right now, I have to wonder.
So -- my question is -- do you have to suffer to be a writer? And if you do, when will it ever stop?
Enough with the pity party! Thoughts, please!
I'm reminded of a particular episode in which Gerald McRaney, who later married Delta Burke, was a guest star. Gerald played an ex-husband of Suzanne Sugarbaker -- and he was a writer. During the episode, his character -- Dash -- made the comment that he was surprised to be an author because he didn't think he had suffered enough. Of course, a wisecrack was made about being married to Suzannet should have been punishment enough! And it was passed off as a joke.
So, let's have a look at my week.
Last Monday morning, I ran out of hot water about 20 minutes into my shower. I was practically finished, but it was weird, so I called a friend, who is also a handyman, and asked his opinion.
He suggestion was that it was an old unit and that probably the heating element had gone out. Since this behaved exactly like the last time I had t replace a hot water heater, I agreed that was probably the cause. He promised to come by the next day to take care of it.
Only, that night, I had hot water. So, I was sure everything was fine.
Wrong again, Tuesday morning, I had no hot water. I stopped at my Big Box store and bought a new hot water heater. My friend picked it up and texted me later that it was working great. I was so happy! I couldn't really afford the expense, but I was so happy to have a hot water heater! Wednesday morning, I had hot water.
Thursday morning, I didn't. My friend was concerned about an electrical issue, so he contacted a licensed electrician friend of his to stop by and check it out. The electrical all checked out, so I found myself on the phone with technical support for the hot water heater.
They were great! Someone would be by on Friday morning.
Friday morning, I worked from home (I expected to be away an hour or so) so that I could get some much-needed work taken care of. The plumber informed me that before he could do anything to the hot water heater, he had to bring it up to code.
So -- ka-ching -- I paid for that. More expense. Way more. Still -- no hot water.
By then, I had reported back to work and finished my day up. It had been an exhausting week, so I was really glad to look forward to a calm, quiet weekend. I was sure that the next plumber to look at my hot water heater would be able to figure out why it wasn't working!
I ran home, relaxed for 10 minutes, then loaded Angel -- my 3-year-old Black Lab -- into the car and headed off to the vet. I crated 2-year-old Chip (Corgi mix) because I don't completely trust him at the house without Angel. And it's a good thing, because when we returned about 90 minutes later, I found several pools of water -- without a potential source. Then it hit me. My boss had mentioned the possibility of a slab leak. And it looked like she was right!
I called my regular plumber and was told he would be there as soon as he could, probaly around 10-10:30.
One friend came over with her husband and turned my water off -- the dial was spinning like a top!
Another friend came with her husband and brought gallons of water as well as a case of bottled water!
I love them all -- it saved my life!
When the plumber arrived, he determined that the leak was on the hot water side. He turned the water back on, but turned off the spigot at the hot water heater.
It's taken most of two days, but my hot water heater works. Of course, now it's raining, and the dirt dug out from my under house is probably disappearining down the street! I don't have a tarp to cover it with, and the excavation guys left it uncovered.
Back to Dash, when I heard him say he hadn't suffered enough, it really struck me. And I thought about it as I've gone through the events of this week. It has been incredibly stressful. But I have had supportive family and friends to help eme through it. Although my ups and downs of the week are trivial compared to the crises that so many other are facing right now, I have to wonder.
So -- my question is -- do you have to suffer to be a writer? And if you do, when will it ever stop?
Enough with the pity party! Thoughts, please!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The only thing constant is change
So, I've already changed the name of my blog. I do live in a state of rewrite! Actually, the name "Gliding at the Speed of Sound" came to me suddenly when I was talking with a friend.
I guess that's kind of how I feel a lot of the time. The world is rushing by -- fast -- and I feel like I'm gliding through it all. Change is happening all around us. Not all of it is bad, but some of it is. But we can't hide from it. Change is here to stay!
Does anyone else feel that way? Like life is racing by? And that life is one big change after another?
When I write, I feel like life comes to a complete stop as I step into another realm. It isn't that I mind change, but I do feel like I'm on a rollercoaster a lot of the time!
Anyway, now you know where the name change came from!
I guess that's kind of how I feel a lot of the time. The world is rushing by -- fast -- and I feel like I'm gliding through it all. Change is happening all around us. Not all of it is bad, but some of it is. But we can't hide from it. Change is here to stay!
Does anyone else feel that way? Like life is racing by? And that life is one big change after another?
When I write, I feel like life comes to a complete stop as I step into another realm. It isn't that I mind change, but I do feel like I'm on a rollercoaster a lot of the time!
Anyway, now you know where the name change came from!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
My Writing Life
Welcome to my blog!
This has been an exciting year for me. I've finished my first novel. I've just attended my first ever creative writing conference. I'm looking for an agent.
And I've set up this blog. I'm excited to share my quest to become a published author.
See you later!
This has been an exciting year for me. I've finished my first novel. I've just attended my first ever creative writing conference. I'm looking for an agent.
And I've set up this blog. I'm excited to share my quest to become a published author.
See you later!
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