Archive for previous entries this month
June 1, 2006
Zoo picture
This journal is going to move in the next couple days. The current provider decided on some major changes, with only two day's notice, and I decided it wasn't worth sticking it out here with them. I'm setting up the new location, and I'll have link here when the move takes place -- probably tomorrow.
Had a good day today until I grabbed something to eat tonight and had a bad allergy attack.
I'm going to bed now.
June 2, 2006
Pretty
Two bits of news:
1. The service provider is going to close down all uploading for a few days, so nothing will change here for at least this weekend. I'll be over on my Weblog though, so if anything important happens, I'll be sure to post there. (Yeah, like my life is so full of such exciting things that they can't wait a few days to be told!). This post will be static until then, but I will still be adding to the template of it. I haven't missed a day yet, and the service provider is not going to ruin that record!
2. This journal is moving. I fear that I won't be able to get it before the close down for a few days, though. They are changing several things at the server, and with only two day's notice, which I consider just far too un-caring for their customers.
I may have the new site up before the weekend is out. If so, I'll post the link over at the weblog.
Beyond that, we're getting Muse done and ready for the print version. I have all the corrections for 2YN in hand as well, and I hope to have that done this weekend.
June 3, 2006
Odd Clouds
Long day. Lots of work done. Not much else to say, especially since I don't think this is going to upload anyway.
That's looking over at house number 2.
June 4, 2006
Black and white art
I really like this piece. And it was relatively easy to do, too.
I had intended to spend this weekend doing more art, finishing up my zoo stuff, doing a little writing... and not working much. But somehow I ended up working more than I did anything else. On the good side, though, I have very nearly completed all the rounds of edits for Vita's Vengeance. I'm doing the word clean up stuff -- checking the uses of that, just, only, even and was -- after which I will do one last run through. It could be out by the end of this week if all goes well.
I'm happy with the end novel. I think it's a good one, and well worth the additional work of this last major rewrite and edit.
I don't know if this is going to upload tonight. We'll see. I still haven't been able to move to the new site for some reason. Things are just not cooperating with me!
June 5, 2006
Fun stuff
Okay, this is another day of trying to figure out why I can't get this to upload properly. I get the feeling I'm just missing something obvious, and it's driving me a little nutty.
But, on the good side, I got Vita's Vengeance done today. Tomorrow I will do the edits on the 2YN book and with luck, it will be done within the week. It's wonderful to see things start to fall into place again.
Russ and I have been watching -- of all odd things -- 21 Jump Street episodes each night. I'm waiting for him to show up so we can do tonight's show. We're on season 1 and still in the Jenco episodes, though I think this might be the last one. It's interesting to see Depp so young -- but there is an occasional flash of Captain Jack Sparrow there. (grin)
Interesting show. I loved the Mod Squad and would be very happy to see those come out on DVD -- when we have money again -- and watch them again. I have almost all of them in very bad quality on vhs, so that's something at least.
And why am I writing more here when it won't upload anyway? Time to stop!
June 6, 2006
Pretty Places
Okay, so it's another day of writing this up, even though I haven't a clue how I'm going to get it uploaded. Oh sure, I could do a straight FTP, but that won't get me the counter and such.
In the good news, I've finished the edits on the 2YN book. I'm now in the process of trying to figure out what to do with it to make it right for a PDF and a print version. And I'm working on Cover Art, which I know has to be simple... but so far I haven't come up with anything I really like.
But still, it's good to have this stuff done. I'm working on a new nonfiction project as well, and I think it's going to go pretty fast.
At least I'm getting a few things done!
June 7, 2006
Great picture
Yes, another day of not being able to upload. But that hardly matters because if anything less exciting happens I don't think I'll be able to find a reason to post.
I am tired of editing. Really, very tired of it. I'm well over half way through the 2YN book, looking for the word 'that' and finding far too many. I want it done.
I would like to work on some new material again. Right now the best I can do is add a few more notes to Oak and Ash (a story I started on January 1 and abandoned not long afterwards). I'm going to need to really write soon or else I'll go crazy.
Right.
I should be done with the 2YN book tomorrow, so maybe I shouldn't complain quite so much....
June 8, 2006
Daz Work
Yes, I'm still at this spot. I will be moving just as soon as I get the other one to work.
I am within 100 pages of being done with the book. I'd have had it done already, but I've been ill most of the day. Stress mostly, I think. I need to get past this . I need, oddly enough. to just find something fun to do for a couple days. And it's not that I don't have fun things. I have lots of them. Unfortunately, when I hit a certain level of stress, nothing looks fun.
Anyway, I'm on page 400 out of 468 of the book from hell... the 2YN book. I will have it done tomorrow. I had a nice cover for it, but it seems to have disappeared. I'll have to remake it.
Other than that -- the kittens are eight weeks old. They've grown quite a bit this last week, and they're running all over the house. The older cats have been remarkably good natured about it. Kwi gets mad and hisses sometimes, but I found him and Zaphod sleeping on the table yesterday, so he must be getting better about it. I don't think Edmond is ever going to grow into his ears.
And that's it.
June 9, 2006
Today's Storm
Long day, lots going on, not much done. I am closer to being done with the 2YN book, but still not quite there. I'll make it yet! We did go out and look at some lovely clouds this afternoon. Hot though! It was still well into the 90's (f) when I took the picture above. It's finally cooled off tonight.
You know what I really want to do? I want to write something fun. Just fun. And I'm going to do it when I get done with this damned editing. Of course, after this one I realize that I have to do Glory for 'that, even, just, only' as well. But it won't be on the same time constraint. I might actually have fun doing it.
But I need a nice new fun project and I even have one in mind. Urban fantasy, LA, shapeshifting character.... Just kind of need to come up with a bit of a plot. I'm tempted to just run with this one, and not worry about an outline until I get stuck. I would really like something without strings right now, I think.
But first... must complete the 2YN book.
And I think I hear some really loud thunder!
June 10, 2006
Zoo picture
I think I'm going to do a zoo picture blog rather than try to set up a site right now. I can always take it down later and move the pictures elsewhere, but I can at least put some pictures up for now. This will get me past the feeling that I need to make an entire new web site, which just isn't happening at the moment. I think I have somewhere I can put the pictures, at least.
I'll have to think about it for a day or so.
Beyond that, the 2YN book is really, honestly done. Well, at least unless Russ finds something in it -- or Holly does after I give it to her. I want it out of my hands now....
Actually, I guess I do have one more step, and that's to put together the PDF file.
Unfortunately tonight I have a horrible earache. It's the damned weather. Yesterday it was nearly 100f and today it's not been over 50f. I've been cold all day.
June 11, 2006
Brenda
I am exceedingly tired right now. So much so that I'm having a hard time lifting my arms to type. I don't usually get that tired, and I suspect it's a combination of medications I took today. Sometimes it all hits me that way.
As soon as Russ comes back over, I'll go take a nice calming bath and think about the work on my current novel, Touched by the Wild. I talked to Russ about it today and he agrees that putting it up at one chapter a week might be an interesting experiment. I might start in July if I decide to do this. I'll be interested in seeing if it could be used for marketing.
And it's not like I don't have a lot of novels, so I can use one to do some testing and experimentation.
But right now, what I would really like to do, is sleep....
June 12, 2006
From the zoo last month
But... far more important --
The 2YN Book is done and up for sale.
Available through the Holly Lisle Bookstore
Holly did a wonderful job on the cover. I could not seem to get anything good for it, and I'm glad she came up with this really great, simple graphic.
And that, really is about all I have to say tonight. I'm very tired. I want to get this posted and go to bed. Yes, before midnight! It's been a very long day.
June 13, 2006
Lovely Flowers
I am trying to decompress from the insanity of the 2YN book and get back to... well, I can't say normal because everyone would laugh. Get back to the way things were before. I want this for as long as I can have it. I know the second year book will need written, but I want at least the rest of June for me.
And for all the other work that has piled up around me.
The kittens are running around the house like little crazed things. The older cats have all taken to higher ground. Edmond is just fired up tonight. I think it's the new baby kitten food we got them (Science Diet). I don't think the last one (can't remember the name now) was as good for them.
But I'm not certain any of us will survive this round of madness!
June 14, 2006
Pretty sunset
I am very happy to say that today I finished up the work on the DTF submission pile. I'd been reading through the material for a couple weeks again and finally decided that I needed to sit down and write out the rejections. I hate sending out rejections. But there. It's done. Now I can concentrate on getting the rest of the DTF work done, which means getting the books I have accepted into print. That work is going well, I think.
In the real world, Russ has an upcoming interview for a job... in New York. They will be flying him out about the 28th. We kind of hope that one of the Omaha jobs comes through before then, because all in all we'd rather he had a job closer to home. However, at this point, if the New York job is offered to him when none of the others have come through, that's what he'll take.
Gracie the dog went to our very kind 'you can pay me later' vet today. It looks as though she has pneumonia. It could be something worse, but that's what we're going to treat her for and hope she gets better. Poor puppy. She's just 12.
The crazed kittens have discovered their powers to be goofy and drive their human crazy while she's trying to work. I had to put them back into the bathroom a few times today or else I wouldn't have gotten anything done.
But there it is. I am done. Vision is next up on the list.
June 15, 2006
Lovely colors
I am leaving for the zoo in a few hours, so this is going to be short. I need to at least try to get some sleep! It looks as though it will be a good day for the zoo, too. They're expecting storms, so I think that's going to keep the number of people down. Since almost everything is indoors, it shouldn't be a problem. I am putting a plastic bag in my camera bag, though, so I can keep the camera and pocket comp dry.
And that's really about it for today. Time to get some rest!
June 16, 2006
Storm
I went to the zoo! Had a lovely time, though by the end of the day it had gotten very hot. This caused a couple problems for me, and I was very glad to see Russ parked right out front waiting for me at 5pm. I'd been there since 8am, by the way. Had a great time.
What we didn't realize until we were almost there was that it was College World Series, which is played right next door to the zoo. It was insane getting to the zoo -- but the zoo itself was not nearly as busy as usual.
On the way home we saw some bad storms blowing in, though, and it started to pour about two blocks from home. There are more storms, so I'm not going to upload this until tomorrow.
Had a nice day, though. I think I got some good pictures. Can't tell until the weather gets better!
June 17, 2006
The Guys
The guys are running around acting completely crazed at the moment. They'll be going back to the bathroom for the night before too long, so they might as well get all that kitten energy out of them.
I am running behind on everything, as usual. I'm trying to get some work done on Vision, but my brain doesn't appear to be engaged for it. Or for anything else, for that matter. I've barely gotten 500 words a day for the last few days, I'm having trouble answering emails, and I'm not getting much else done. I slept for about 18 hours last night, and I think I'm about to go head back in there again and sleep for a few more. And then hope that when I wake up that I'll have a brain back.
It's very uncomfortable in the house today. Damp. We're having odd weather here, and it's been giving both Russ and I headaches.
And I wish I had something interesting to say, but it's not going to happen tonight!
June 18, 2006
Stormy sunset
I haven't been getting much written in the last week, and I couldn't figure out why until tonight. The problem is that I can barely get 100 to 200 words typed at a shot before the two kittens are looking for attention again. They're both in my lap right now, and I've typed most of this with one hand.
This along with things like a trip to the zoo, has given me the longest stretch of less than 1000 words per day than I think I've ever had, outside of vacation days.
Okay, I put the little guys into the bathroom since they were both so tired anyway. They were adorable, sleeping in my lap, but I really do need to get some work done!
And I'm tired. Long day. Little done, but long day anyway!
June 19, 2006
More lovely clouds
(Didn't get this uploaded last night!)
The weather here has turned nice for June. Highs in the 80's, breezy, occasional rain. You can't ask for better than that this time of year. It's the kind of weather that makes it difficult to stay inside and do things. Well, that's the excuse I'm using for not getting much writing done, anyway. Although it doesn't hold up well when I realize I'm also not getting outside. Hmmmm.....
Part of the problem is my left leg. I've twisted it somewhere along the line and it hurts like hell the last couple days, from the hip all the way to the ankle. I've taken so many pills that I've made myself sick and have to stop. Neither the pain nor the pills are helping me write, either.
So, that's the entire scope of my world today. I need to get some writing done.
June 20, 2006
Yes, I do work this way
I run the optical mouse on my leg since Kwi loves the mouse pad. That's Wind beside him and Pip behind the keyboard. It's not always this crowded, but there's almost always someone sitting -- or stretched out -- in the area where Pip is.
And now for other news, since I'm posting this here and there on the web:
As some of you know, I take quite a few pictures at the Omaha Zoo and I keep a very popular website of those pictures, which is often used by teachers and students. That one has well over 1000 pictures on it -- most of them even properly labeled. (grin) This year I've had more chances to go to the Henry Doorly Zoo, but no time to make web pages of the shots.
I decided a blog, linked to the older site, was the best answer. So far I have about 78 pictures up -- out of somewhere around 400 that I have on hand.
There are a few different ways to look at the pictures. I have the blog set to show only four on the first screen so I don't overload some connections. Down at the bottom you can see a list of names of the latest entries and below that a listing according to the day I entered the pictures. Those day listings will usually have ten or more pictures posted.
At the top of the page is an Index of Images, which brings up a different page with all the pictures listed by kingdom (mostly). These links will bring up each picture entry on an individual page.
June 21, 2006
Zaphod
Tomorrow is our anniversary. We're going to take a nice drive down to one of my favorite wild life refuges in the morning. It should be fun!
Other than that, not much going on at all. Quiet day. Washed some floors and some dishes. Did a little work on Touched by the Wild. Worked on some zoo photos. Did dishes. Had kittens fall asleep in my lap a couple different times, and had one leap into the shower with me.
I have such an exciting life.
I'm going to be early so that I can get up and go on our great adventure tomorrow! There will be pictures, of course!
June 22, 2006
Heron at Squaw Creek Refuge
I am getting the feel of the camera, and the camera is showing me what it can do. I think we're starting to work out well together!
I had a wonderful day down at Squaw Creek. We came home to find that the smallest of the expected checks had arrived -- it was enough to have dinner and pay for my Internet Connection, which would have been disconnected tomorrow. So life is good tonight.
And you know, I only thought I was tired yesterday. Tonight I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Unfortunately, the kittens are very much fired up after having spent the day in the bathroom.
I want to sleep!
Run, little guys. Run faster. Wear yourselves out....
June 23, 2006
Frog
Somebody give me some time. And some energy. A little money would be nice, too, but I'll settle for the first two. Okay, some ability to concentrate, too.
I know it's nearly the end of the month. I know I have to get Vision stuff done. I can't bring myself to care this month. I will. I'll get to work on it this weekend. But right now I'd rather go pound my head against the wall rather than work on it.
Touched by the Wild is going along fine -- though slowly. Not a surprise there, since I'm experimenting in many ways this time, including editing each chapter as I get it done before I go on to the next one. It's going to make for a slow progress, but I'm into chapter 4 now, so I'm getting there.
Yesterday Russ and I talked about a new novel and I've done a lot of notes on it today. I think I might start it soon. I think it's going to be a fun story to write if I can just get the handle on the two main characters. I know who -- and what -- they are, but I need some key that makes them unique for me. I think it will come because, for the first time in months, I'm dreaming about a story again. This is generally a good sign. I don't get story ideas from dreams, but sometimes the characters reveal a little bit more about themselves.
I don't have a title yet. I have a name for one of the characters and not for the other. I know where the story takes place. I know basically all the set up and the kind of trouble that's going to happen in the story. I think I even have the opening.
But I'm not quite there yet....
June 24, 2006
Playing Games with the Gods
I got some writing done today and finished off chapter four. So far it's going pretty well. I just wish I was working a little faster.
I haven't made any new progress on the idea for the new novel. Russ pointed out that I haven't yet hit the 'that's it' odd piece that pulls the story together and gets me moving. Or it may be that I'm too tired to notice if I did.
I started a workshop for Vision today, but I haven't gotten very far on it, either. I keep forgetting to bring a couple books out from my office. It's not like it's such a horrible walk, all the way to the back of the house and all. But still... just not getting there.
I would like to get a bit more work done this weekend. Fun work, not work-work. But I have some county work that isn't going as well as I had hoped, so that's going to take time. And there is always Vision....
I'm already tired. Time for some sleep, I think.
June 25, 2006
Lovely birds
I've gotten work done today. Good work -- writing on Touched by the Wild, Vision work, DTF work. But just as I opened this program up, I remembered something I have not gotten done and I need to get going on it. There's always something more to do.
The kittens are running from one end of the house to the other. Silly little guys. At least they aren't leaping on my legs tonight, their little needle claws catching hold, and hanging there crying to be picked up. That really has to stop.
But they are such cute little guys!
I'm tired. I really don't want to do more work. And this damned site has to be basically rebuilt from scratch for these people. I'm not up to it tonight.
Gah. I need rest. But at least I got more done than usual!
June 26, 2006
Great Picture
I wrote an article today, but didn't get much else done. The vet says that Gracie the dog is not doing well at all, and he thinks she's probably not going to make it past Friday. She's still up and moving, but it's getting increasingly difficult for her. He suggested we put her to sleep now before she gets so bad that she's in pain and unable to breathe.
It's making a very hard few days here. Russ is supposed to go to New York on Wednesday, but he's doing his best to cancel the entire trip, especially since the people involved never confirmed the appointment or gave him a time and date.
This is just not a good time.
June 27, 2006
zoo picture
I have been very ill all day. This is the longest I've been up, and it's not going to go on for much longer. Time to rest, and hope I feel better tomorrow.
June 28, 2006
Nice Kitty....
Good thing I didn't care much yesterday. For reasons they can't explain, the cable company turned off my modem. It took Russ until 1 am to get it back on.
I'm still ill, but nothing like yesterday. I hope it keeps lessening. I have so much stuff to get done...and I'm falling farther behind. I think Vision is going to be late because I can't see how I could get it done now, when I can't even stay at the computer for very long at a time.
But we'll see.
June 29, 2006
Snyder's Bend
I felt worse for most of the day. I'm tired of it. This has got to stop now.
On the other hand, I finally saw Jurassic Park. Yes, I know -- a few years behind the times. It was a good show for tonight, though -- long, and exciting enough to keep my interest. It was a good thing. And I liked the show.
But it has not gotten me any closer to caught up on my work. I'm going to try and do some more of it tonight before I go to bed.
June 30, 2006
From the zoo
This is the last of June, and my worst writing month since April, 2000. Yuck. On top of that, Vision is not ready to go up. I'm not quite ready to do the first Chapter of Touched by the Wild, either. I did, barely, get my two submissions out -- have to remember to mark those.
At the moment I have several things unfinished: Two outlines, a novella, a novel and a short nonfiction book. That's not too much with half a year left to go, though it seems like a lot write now.
I'm still not feeling great tonight. I hope by tomorrow... who knows?
But I'm getting ready to go to bed.