Archive for previous entries this month
September 1, 2006
Cape Thick Knee
Here were are in September.
I got Vision done, finally, this afternoon. It fought me all the way. And it felt like a real battle, too. By the time I was done, I was almost too tired to do anything else. I wrote just barely enough to get over 30K on the novel today. I hope that tomorrow I'll feel more like attacking it and getting a good chunk done. Things are really starting to happen in the story, and it should be a pretty fun, wild ride from here to the end. I'm just not sure I'm up to anything too strenuous right now.
I think I'm going to sleep well tonight. And I even have the house partly cleaned up -- that happens when my brain can't focus on writing and I have to do something. It should obviously happen more often.
But now... off to read a book in bed for a while and then sleep!
September 2, 2006
Sometimes it's just hard to work....
Welcome to September. The temperature dropped so much that I had to turn on the heat today. Amazing how fast that changed. I expect we'll have some more hot weather before September is over, but it' still a sure sign that autumn is coming.
I wrote over 6000 words today. Good. I think I'm going to make it to 40k for the challenge, which ends tomorrow. Not as much as I wanted, but more than I would have gotten in other circumstances. And the story is pretty good so far, though I do have to remember to go back and add a small scene in somewhere early on. I should have remembered to put that into the outline.
Ah well. It's still doing well, even if I'm tired out!
Maybe it's the change in the weather?
As good an excuse as any, I suppose.
September 3, 2006
Because I said so (take 1)
Labor of Love is done! I made it over 40k, which really isn't bad for one week's work. Once I added up all the other things going on, I felt pretty good about it!
The story is good, too. I'm having a lot of fun writing it. I need another trip to Omaha to check out a couple things, but that can wait until I get a chance at it. Otherwise, it's just moving along very well.
And I've taken a break to play with Daz again. It was a really nice, fun little picture to do. Tomorrow I'm starting on the Animal Diversity Web stuff. And I'm going to have fun!
Not that Labor of Love wasn't fun, but being home alone for the week just made it kind of 'so what' in some ways. It did help to pass the time. And I got a lot of other stuff done around the house.
Really, the 'so what' was more because my favorite neighbor moved out. That was depressing. With Russ gone, it felt more depressing. But he'll be home on Tuesday -- yay! Of course, he has to get right up Wednesday morning and go teach, but at least he'll be home that night!
I have things to get done this month. I've started work on the 2YN book 2 stuff. It's going to take some work, but then so did the first book. I want it done before NaNo, if possible. I think I can do that, as long as there aren't a lot of other things that pop up.
You never know what's going to happen.
But right now... I'm going to go do some more fun stuff with Daz Studio.
September 4, 2006
Not Exactly Buffy....
I've done some writing, a couple Daz pictures, and some cleaning. And some reading. I shouldn't be as tired as I am, but it's hitting me pretty hard tonight, so I'm going to do this and go nap... probably until about noon tomorrow, the way I feel.
Russ says he'll be home about nightfall tomorrow night. It'll be good to see him. Talking to the cats can only take you so far....
Summer Storm is going very well still. I'm very happy with it. I think it's going to be a good story when I get it done! Which, the rate things are going, is probably going to be before the end of the month.
If I don't nap too much....
September 5, 2006
Pip contemplating our new novel
Russ is home! Yay! We even went out for a while tonight, and I drooled over stuff at Best Buy. I do need a new tripod, and I saw one there that I think I'm going to get. And Thursday I may be at the zoo. Yay!
I didn't write much on the novel today, but it is still moving along just fine. I really like this story, so it's fun to write. But I need to get other stuff done, too. I must start on the 2YN novel soon.
I need to get a schedule set up of things to get done. I'm losing track of stuff again. Must work!
Just not right now.
September 6, 2006
Cricket in the sunlight
We went to the bookstore tonight. I didn't buy anything, but I did look at a couple different digital photography art books that appealed to me. Unfortunately, the program I use doesn't have the tools I need to do some of the things. I can't afford Photoshop, but I might go for Photoshop Elements. We'll see.
In the meantime, Summer Storm is moving along, though a bit slowly right now as I try to get other things done and caught up. I also seriously started working on the second 2YN book again today. I plan to have it done by NaNo. Wish me luck, because it's not going to be easy.
I might go to the zoo tomorrow. I probably won't -- I feel like I have far too much stuff that I need to get done -- but it's calling to me, of course. And I won't have a chance to get out for more than a run to a store or maybe dinner for another week, I think. Or close to it. Russ is going to be far too busy. He does, however, have three days in a row of classes in Omaha coming up next week, so....
We'll see.
September 7, 2006
Playing with Black and White
Today started out iffy, got better for a while, and then turned worse... and now is going better again. I got up too early, but I couldn't go to the zoo because Russ had things he needed to do, and he came home very late. He couldn't have gotten me to the zoo and have enough time to get to his job, and he couldn't have picked me up when the zoo closes because he had another business meeting. I plan to go to the zoo next week. Maybe two or three times. I'm in that mood.
I read this morning, slept again for a while, found out I had locked a kitten on the porch (poor upset Edmond!) and then slept some more. When I got up I went to work on writing. It was going very well, too! I was in Writing only, and getting some good work done... and then problems at the site and in chat started popping up, and by the end of sorting all that out I had a bit over 1000 words and a raging headache. I decided to work on the zoo pictures for the Animal Diversity Web....
And that's when I started having computer problems. By the time Russ got home about 9 pm, I was ready to pull my hair out. Russ sat down and looked at the computer. Really, just looked at it. Turned it off, turned it on. (Which I had done.) Computer works fine again.
So then I spent the next two hours or so sorting out disks to get all the zoo pictures on the hard drive where it would be easy to work with them. I got one picture formatted.
Ugh.
On the other hand, I did finish reading Forgotten Heroes this morning, which was an interesting book. It leans heavily on women's rights and the people involved, but in an odd way since it shows the problems within the movement and the disagreements there. There were some extremely interesting people written up. Because the book is a compilation of many writers, I found it difficult to get through at times.
I have gone from that book to Michael Grant's A Social History of Greece and Rome. Grant is one of my favorite authors of history, and this is a relatively short book by him -- only about 120 pages. It's fascinating so far, with his look at the place of Greek Women in real life and in the Greek plays.
So that's it for me for today. I have my pictures copied over. I think it's time to do some work.
September 8, 2006
Siberian Tiger
I got some writing done on Summer Storm. I got some work done on the 2YN book. I am now working on the pictures for the ADW people.
We had a nice storm tonight.
And that's about all the news.
September 9, 2006
Macaws
I spent most of my day today with the kind of headache that made me think it was a different day -- my first post was on 9/11. (It's the 9th, you see....)
I think I'll just keep this one short and say that I got some writing done and I'm pretty happy with how things are moving on Summer Storm. I wish it was moving better on 2YNY2, but I'll get there.
I have to replace my old program that I use for pictures. It's just not doing well as digital stuff gets more complex. I know the program I want -- and no, it isn't Photoshop. Oh sure, if someone wanted to give me a copy, I'd leap at it. But I can't afford that kind of stuff. I'm going for Corel's Photo Shop Pro X (I think that's the name). It is much like the one I use now (which is also Corel), and I think I'll like it.
That's my big news. Now back to my headache.
September 10th
Leaves
Yes, I'm on a black and white kick. I'm sure I'll get over it soon.
Or maybe not.
Today I downloaded the 30 day free trial of Corel's Paint Shop Pro. I love it. And so far, unlike my beloved Photo-Paint 9, it hasn't crashed on me. I just think PP9 wasn't up to the work of the bigger digital photo files.
I'm having fun. I also got quite a bit of writing done, despite a true fight with an end of a chapter. I finally got the first week and intro done to the second 2YN book. It will go faster as I get into the material I've already written, but this early stuff is a little difficult.
And that's it! Time to get back to work on something... probably something fun! (grin)
September 11, 2006
Heron
I had a horrible allergy attack tonight. Rash that turned into hives before I got to the Benadryl. And now I feel horrible. Headache getting worse. Needless to say, I've gotten very little done.
I can't decide if I want to go back to bed or pound my head against the wall.
September 12, 2006
Zoo Day
I went to the zoo today. I'll let you know if it was a good idea. It was cold when I got there and I didn't bring my jacket, so I had to sit outside in the wind and drizzle for a while. I'll have a cold.
Then I screwed up the settings on the camera, and I think a lot of the pictures are not going to be as good as I hoped. But you know what? I don't care! It was a fun day, and some much needed 'get out of the house NOW!' time.
I am exhausted tonight, though. After yesterday's allergy-hives stuff and today's nine hours at the zoo, I think I'm about ready to fall over asleep right here!
Good thing I did some writing during he hour I waited for the zoo to open!
September 13, 2006
Zoo picture
Okay, I'm just too tired. I've worked all day today, and I got a problem worked out with a novel and did some writing on the 2YN book. I got some stuff cleaned up. I shouldn't be this tired... but I feel like I just can't get enough sleep. So that's where I'm heading in a couple minutes. I want to sleep and relax and get up tomorrow feeling like I have enough energy to do something.
Thunk.
I can't stop yawning. Makes it very hard to write!
September 14, 2006
Playing with Pictures again
The sleep last night helped, though I'm starting to wear down again now. but I did get some good work done on both Summer Storm and 2YNY2. And I played with photo programs and read quite a bit in a manual for Poser5. Interesting program. At some point I may even know what they're talking about.
Let's see... what else? Is there supposed to be something else? I'm sure there is, but I haven't tracked it, so it's lost again.
Summer Storm is picking up again. I've enjoyed this book, and I wish I had the time to just sit down and write it. But every time I start to work on it (or anything like it), I start thinking about all the other things I need to get done. Not that it helps. I eventually get so frustrated I go do artwork instead. (grin)
Okay, I think that's it for the night. I want to get a little bit more work done on other things.
September 15, 2006
More playing....
Today has been work on FM day. I'm getting ready for some major changes there. I'll be starting them in a few minutes, after I make a back up at midnight. The only problem is -- you guessed it -- I'm tired out now.
Other than that -- not a lot else going on. Most of my writing today was in tech stuff for the site and 2YN. I think I did a couple paragraphs on Summer Storm but not much more than that. I think, in fact, that I'll go work on it for a few minutes now while I wait for midnight and the new work.
I will have a new desk on Tuesday. This is really important because I've been having neck and back problems. It's a very inexpensive desk, but it's going to be wonderful -- lots of kitty sleeping room, and maybe enough for me to work as well! I can't wait!
September 16, 2006
Edmond
Just playing with some stuff tonight. I feel awful. The cold has come back and taken every bit of my energy away. I ache. I can't breathe. I'm tired.
Blah.
I'm hoping by tomorrow most of this will be past. I would like to be able to get up, do things, and not feel like I'm gasping for breath just walking from the kitchen to my computer.
Grumble. Grumble some more.
I'm going to bed. Tomorrow has to look better.
September 17, 2006
Still playing around....
I am feeling better today. Not great, but better. I'm working on pictures for the Animal Diversity Web people tonight. I'm up to about 70 pictures total so far, which is pretty good considering how little time I've had to devote to this.
Sigh.
But I'm not feeling my best yet, and I'm probably not going to stay up too much longer. I am getting hit by the massive 'must sleep now!' attack again. I don't know why I keep getting those lately.
I'm nearly done with Summer Storm. It's going well, but slowly. I'm editing Paid in Gold and Blood again, which is going somewhat batter.
But mostly... just tired!
September 18, 2006
Zelda and Edmond share a shoebox
It got a bit cool today. Cats were curling up together all over the place. I thought this was just too cute.
Tomorrow I should have a new desk. Russ and I both hope it will help me with some shoulder an neck problems I've had lately, and which may account for my drop in production. (Hey, I'll take any excuse right now.) Anyway, it should be delivered tomorrow. I need to put a sign up to leave it on the porch.
I'm going to do a little bit more work on FM tonight before I go to bed. It's another of those nights where I'm dead tired, and all I really want to do is curl up asleep for a few hours.
Did more work on Summer Storm today. It's coming along very well, if a little slower than I like. I hope the new desk changes that problem!
And that's it! I'm off to do more work!
September 19, 2006
Zaphod
My new desk is here. I'm going to try and get it set up tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to having a proper place to work again! I hope that it will help me get back into writing a lot -- just in time to work up to speed for NaNo. (grin)
I'm still working on Summer Storm. I had one fun scene to write today, and now we're heading into the last round of engagements. It shouldn't be too much longer, if I can just get the time to concentrate on it. I think the new desk will help because it will be more comfortable to write.
It's getting cold tonight. The leaves are starting to turn and it looks like autumn finally. I hope I get a chance to get out into the country and see some of it. I love the countryside this time of year.
And I have this lovely camera that's never been out in the autumn yet. I'm anxious to see how it does.
September 20, 2006
Rainy Day Painting
I am sitting at my new desk and typing for the first time. I like it so far, but the mouse is in the wrong spot. I'm going to have to come up with something for that. Zaphod is walking back and forth, but he's only once stepped on the keyboard so far. Yay! And there is room for him and several others to stretch out. This is a good thing. I usually have three or four on the desk at a time, and it was getting pretty crowded as the little guys got older.
My last spot was actually on a table, and it was not at the right height for the monitor or the keyboard -- a bad combination. This is very nice. It will take a little getting used to, but I hope it's going to help me get back into some serious work.
Other than that... not much going on. It took a bit to get the desk put together, of course, but all in all it went pretty well. Kwi came out to help us and gave a sign of approval by being the first cat on the desk -- before we had it all put together, of course. I had to put the two boys (Zaphod and Edmond) into the bathroom so we could work.
Okay, that's enough test typing. Time to get this posted and see what I can do for work.
September 21, 2006
Pretty Flower
The desk is working very well. I feel better already. And right now I have two cats on it and I don't even notice. What a nice change!
I didn't get as much done today because of some formatting problems for something else I needed to get done. But still, not bad. And the editing for Paid in Gold and Blood is going very nicely. I'm quite happy with how this story is going, though I'm considering adding more to the plot. Or maybe not. I'll see when I get it done. It seems to hang together very well right now.
Beyond that... not much going on today. Rained a lot. Raining again. Is probably going to rain for a couple more days. But at least I didn't see any sign of snow -- despite it dropping down in the 30's a couple times.
It's too early for snow. Even I think so.
And that's about it for me today. Maybe by tomorrow I'll have something interesting to say.
But I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
September 22, 2006
Pretty Flowers
A good writing day -- over 2000 words -- which means that the desk is working, I think. I got other things done, as well, and I think I'm on the road to getting my world back in shape. I have things to get done before NaNo, but for the first time I have the feeling that I can really participate.
Here it is the weekend again already, though. How odd. The weeks go very fast these days. And the weather has turned cool. I keep half expecting to see snow in the forecast. It's been down in the 30's. Oh, hold it. Russ is probably going to New York next week. His leaving almost always is a sign for bad weather to move in.
My new book will be out soon. Yay! I'm looking forward to holding that one. The publisher has the books in hand now.
And that's it. Still no real news here!
September 23, 2006
Storm Clouds
The only exciting thing to happen to day is that I fell. I think I could have lived without it, and I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be thinking that quite seriously. I took a long, warm bath to relax already sore muscles. I suspect it's not going to help as much as I would like.
Russ is leaving on Wednesday for New York again. He'll be home on Sunday. I really don't get to see much of him these days. I hope that things settle soon and maybe we can spend some time together away from the house. (Away from the house would be for me, of course. Russ, who spends far too much of his time away already, would be far happier with time here!)
I am writing the penultimate chapter of Summer Storm and if I hadn't taken the fall and my arm and leg didn't hurt so much, I might have it done. Probably not, though the fall is at least a reasonable excuse for it not being done this time.
I'll likely have to come up with something else for tomorrow.
Gah. I have some much to get done in the next few weeks....
September 24, 2006
Storm shot
Summer Storm is done. The first draft is finished, and I've already added a couple notes at the top for things to add in the next draft. Yay! I finished something!
I'm also within 75 pages of having the edit of Paid in Gold and Blood finished. Also a good thing! I really like this book. I'm having a great time editing it.
On the not so great side, Cricket is ill again. She'll be going to the vet tomorrow. And we're trying to prepare for Russ's strip to New York on Wednesday, but it's a bad time between checks, but lucky for me I've stocked up on some soup, so I won't need much in food.
What I do need is to get rid of this headache! And at least I don't ache as much as I did earlier today.
But I got the book done. So nothing to complain about there!
September 25, 2006
Summer Flowers
I am back to work on the 2YNY2 book. It doesn't look quite so daunting -- or at least it wouldn't if everything else didn't look so bad. I have well over half of it done, but the rest is going to take a lot of work. And then getting it all in shape....
But I did well today, so I'm not upset. Just. you know, tired.
At least there is a reason for it today, though. I went for a walk. Not a long one, and it was rather pleasant, except when I got home and realized I was breaking out in a horrible rash. Took pills, which -- of course -- make me drowsy for the rest of the day.
We think it might be the clothes soap. It would be nice to find the cause, because this is starting to drive me nuts.
And... new book for sale!
September 26, 2006
Koi Painting
We lost Cricket this morning. She'd been ill for a long time, but we still had hopes since she'd acted so much better yesterday when she came back from the vet. But she died early this morning. She was fourteen. Her sixteen year old mother and her sister are upset, too.
As you can guess, I'm not in much of a mood to work on anything or to write anything. I've done what I needed to today. And, by way of good news, my copies of Farstep Station arrived today. They look great.
Russ leaves for New York tomorrow. He'll only be gone for five days this time.
September 27, 2006
Deer
You don't want to know what kind of day I've had. Let's put it this way... Russ left for New York today, and that was the best part of the day. So you know it had to be pretty miserable.
I'm taking a day or two off. Or not. I can't decide if I'm ill or if the emotional stress of the last two days has just worn me down.
Russ will be back on Sunday, so it's a pretty short trip.
I wonder if I could just sleep through it all?
Probably not. I think the kitty guys would complain.
But I think bed might be a really nice idea right now....
September 28, 2006
African Egrets
I feel lousy tonight. I'm going to bed.
I did get some writing done and even enjoyed a lot of the day, but it seems like it doesn't matter what I eat, I get sick. I think it's still stress. So I am going to go unstress myself with a few hours of sleep.
September 29, 2006
Autumn Leaf
It's that time of year again. I love the leaves and the colors of this time of year. I've been out walking every day and taking a couple pictures.
I'd like to tell you that I feel better for it, but I don't -- at least not tonight. I'm going to take some aspirin and head to bed.
Russ will be home on Sunday. Yay!
I've not gotten much done the last few days, either. And going to bed early tonight won't help... but I'm going to anyway. Maybe I can sleep through most of tomorrow, too. Right now, that sounds like about as good as it would get.
So... off to bed and rest.
Maybe October will look better, right?
September, 29, 2006
Flower Painting
I'm feeling somewhat better tonight. I ate dinner and it didn't kill me (so far), and I've even gotten quite a bit of work done on both Paid in Gold and Blood and 2YNY2. Maybe I'm finally getting back to where I need to be for work. It's hard to say yet.
This journal will be eight years old tomorrow. There's been a lot of changes in my life in those eight years. But here I am, still typing away. I haven't skipped a day, even when some of the days were late.
I'm not really obsessive. Really.
Ugh. I was writing this about 7:30, intending to post early. Instead, I realized it was the end of the month and I had a ton of stuff to get done for Forward Motion. Now it's ten to midnight. Time to finally get this posted and go rest again for a while!
(Did I mess up and forget to paste in a day here?)