Archive for previous entries this month
July 1, 2007
Cicada
July! We made it to July!
I had a good writing day. I got Vision done. I have a great deal more to do at the site, but at least I got the header updated and the challenge and dares up for the month.
I hope this is a better month than the last one. Not that I should complain. We came out of it.
Let's see. What else can I tell you about? How about the Friday's Snippets that I'm part of right now. We put up a snippet of something we're working on each Friday. I missed a couple weeks when I was so ill, but I'm back at it. You'll see my posts on my blog: http://zette.blogspot.com/
I've also made it through an entire half a year of my picture a day blog. Maybe that doesn't sound so odd to anyone reading this one. After all, I put a picture up here every day. But the picture a day one is made up of pictures taken on that day. It's been interesting trying to get something new and different some days: http://zettepicaday.blogspot.com/
There. That's all my news.
July 2, 2007
Clouds through the window
I've spent most of the day cleaning up hard drives. Always an exciting pastime, but at least it helps get things sorted and saved off on cds. I hate having a couple months worth of pictures on a hard drive, because you never know when it's just going to fail you. Better to have back ups.
And sometimes I do back ups of the back ups.
I spent most of my writing time today working on an interview. If the person decides to use it, I'll post where it goes. It wasn't the usual sort of spot. Kind of interesting.
But, other than that, nothing really exciting going on!
July 3, 2007
Tonight's Sunset
About 2:30 this afternoon, I was leaning over when I felt a horrible tearing pain through my lower back. I hobbled to my office chair where I sat and cursed for a little while, then got up and made it to bed where I laid and whimpered for a while, and finally back to my office until Russ came home. At least at my desk I had things to take my mind off it for a little while.
It's somewhat better tonight, but still miserable, as I know it will be for a few days.
There are only two things that could have gotten me up out of my office chair and walking tonight. One would have been a kitten. Lucky for me that didn't show up. The other would be gorgeous sunset clouds. Yeah, I hobbled out to the street with my camera and took about forty pictures before I dragged myself back in.
Worth it, though. Lovely shots.
Whimper.
July 4, 2007
Fun on the 4th
Odd having a holiday like this in the middle of the week. You kind of forget that can happen over the years. Long weekends, holidays nudged to this day or that... but not the 4th, of course.
It's a couple minutes before midnight. People are shooting off the last of their fireworks. I didn't get any really good pictures this year, but that's all right. It was nice to just go out and see them.
We watched about half of 1776 (extended version), but Russ has to be up early tomorrow to go to work, so we'll have to wait for the other half.
And today we ate at a Sonic. I didn't know we had a Sonic in Sioux City, and Russ only found out by accident. It's been open a couple weeks. Sonic's are like the old-fashoned A&W's where they would bring the food out to the car. Same kind of food, too. Very tasty burgers and onion rings.
So, that was my day. My back is much better, but still hurts. I hope by tomorrow it will be cleared up.
July 5, 2007
Rocks
I've been doing something I never though I would do... put music on my computer. Just odds and ends from the collection. Russ has most of the rock over at his house, and I have classics and Celtic here. Every couple days I go over and raid more of 'his' stuff, which really does include a lot of my CDs. I just rarely listen to them.
I don't have a good set up for music on this computer, but it's been fun. Eventually, I'll just copy the stuff onto disks and play it in my regular CD player. That was my original intent. But I found that I've enjoyed letting the computer shuffle stuff around. I have over six hours of stuff on there now, and I'm no where near done... another reason it will go to CDs. No, I didn't do mpegs, because I thought I was going straight to CD and my old player wouldn't handle them.
My back still hurts. Not as badly as it did, but still enough to annoy me.
It's gotten hot here, but I'm hiding in my office, so it doesn't matter!
July 6, 2007
Thinking cool thoughts
I worked on my personal website today. It's not ready to go up yet, but I like the new look. Can't wait to get it done!
Russ and I had an interesting conversation tonight, and he convinced me to get moving and send out some short stories. In fact, he convinced me to rewrite, print and send out at least two this weekend.
I needed that push. I'm almost done with the rewrite of the first story. I'm at the point where I'm convinced that it's not really a good story... but you know what? I'm going to send it out anyway.
So, that's that I'm doing. Back to work! I'm running out of time!
July 7, 2007
Small Moth
So far, I have two short stories -- complete with cover letters -- ready to go out, and the third on the last rewrite. Amazing the sorts of things you can get done when you put your mind to it.
Next up is an important nonfiction piece that, because I was so ill, I could not even look at. Now that my body seems to have readjusted to the meds, I think things are far clearer again. So maybe I can get something done!
I will have three short stories in the mail tomorrow or Monday, though. That's better. I've been just floating along for a few months, not really feeling well, and overwhelmed with other work. Time to remember what I really want to do.
It's kind of exciting to send things off again. I'm not holding any real faith that they'll sell, but there is a sense of accomplishment, knowing you really have gone as far as you think you can, and it's time to let go.
I forgot how fun it is.
July 8, 2007
Zoo Pic
Quiet day, nothing much going on. I have the last of the material ready to go out, more or less. I guess that's good, even if I don't have any real hope for them.
We had a nice lightning storm tonight, but no rain. At least it cooled off! It was pretty miserable here for a few hours this afternoon! Even the cats were not happy about it.
And that's it for today!
July 9, 2007
Guarding the Princess, Black and White Version
This picture took days to complete. I used three different programs, several layers, and right at the end found a major flaw that meant redoing part of it. But I like the result -- both this and the color version, which I'll post on ArtZone.
I'm working on the 8th Dark Staff book again, and determined to get it done this week. It's been holding on too long. It may be a bit slow going, but I'm going to get there.
Why the hell is the dog across the alley barking again? it's 1:30 am. I'm tired of this dog barking all night. Yes, there are possums and raccoons. So what? He can't do anything about them anyway, because he's behind the fence. So he barks. And barks, and barks.
It might be music time.
And it is absolutely time to get back to work!
July 10, 2007
Fireworks
Maybe I should be celebrating. I think I've sent six things out for submission in five days. It's about time I get this stuff done. It will be better if any of it actually sells, of course, but it doesn't have a chance if I keep it home. So, off it goes with a little bit of hope attached. If I can get three more done, I'll be caught up to where I should be.
It's been fun. I've taken stories and rewritten them, which means I also have a good word count. Both help put me into a better mood, I think.
Unfortunately, I'm not feeling great. But still, it's better than it has been. I have stories out. I have work done.
I think I'll rest for a while.
July 11, 2007
We have woodle pooves....
I made that for cups to sell at the new Cafe Press store. I've mentioned the store, right? I have some FM stuff there and I hope to add some prints of pictures and such.
That took far more work than it should have, of course. But there it is.
Other stuff...not really much. Need to get some more writing done, though. So off I go to work again!
July 12, 2007
Phoenix
Oh my, it's late. I almost forgot!
The good news is that I was actually writing! Going Elsewhere is about half done, and the editing on Dark Staff 8, while not where I hoped, is going well, too.
All in all, not a bad day for writing. I didn't send anything out today -- the first time all week! -- but at the moment I have ten things out in submission, so I guess that's all right. I hope to get one more this weekend.
I really, really hope to get out of the house for a bit this weekend. Maybe I can talk Russ into the nature center. It's right here in town, and I think I could stand to walk through the woods for a little bit.
Poor Russ is just overwhelmed with work, though, so I probably won't bother him. I'll do the next best thing -- pull up pictures and start sorting them out. (grin)
And that's it, really! Time for me to head for bed. I'm really tired tonight!
July 13, 2007
Wind and Edmond
I took a bad picture and made that nice little painting-type picture above. I didn't even use Painter for this one -- did it all in Paint Shop Pro. I really like the way it turned out. I wish I had more time for this sort of stuff!
I have a fever tonight. I've felt off all day, and kept crawling back in bed and sleeping, and now I know why. Ugh. But I've felt worse, so I won't complain too much.
I have stuff I still need to get done tonight, so I'm going to cut this short. Just wanted to make certain I didn't forget! We're inching up to nine years without missing an entry (though most of them are deleted or safe on back up disks. Or both, I guess.), and it should be fun to get to that ten year mark. That will also mean over 3650 pictures.
Time to get the rest of this work done!
July 14, 2007
Pretty flowers
Oh, it's late. I don't care.
I got an idea for a new novel and I've been working on the notes tonight. No, of course I don't need a new novel, but there it is, just begging for me to think it through. And so far the things I've gotten have been a lot of fun.
This many be my primary NaNo novel. Yeah, months to go before I write it... but that means I can do all kinds of notes. And an outline. Maybe even a huge, phase outline with lots and lots of things noted.
Ah, what fun.
I am very nearly done with Going Elsewhere. In fact, if this story hadn't come up, I might have been pretty much done with it tonight. As it is, I'll be working on it a day or two more. That's all right. Plenty of time.
I even chanced on the theme song for this novel. That doesn't always happen, but the words were very nearly perfect. It's the combination of Light in the Tunnel/Human Race by Red Ryder. It may be a brave new world, but it's really not my home.
Ah, yes. Very nice.
I already have over 500 words in notes. I think this is going to be a strong story.
July 15, 2007
Summer green
I'm getting more notes on the new novel. I'm also going to outline the rest of A Plague of Rats so I can get it finished. Going Elsewhere is nearly done.
So, I guess I've been productive the last few days.
I hope I can keep it up after this, but I have to admit that tonight I'm really worn down! That's okay... except that I already had one sleep attack today. I'd like to spend a bit more time awake and constructive!
Oh well. Sleep isn't all bad!
July 16, 2007
Fly away
Even though I have been fighting the headache from hell tonight, I still managed to get my 3k words done. And I am within a few hundred words of finishing Going Elsewhere. I'm also up to about 1500 words in notes on Draw the Line. So, not bad at all.
I am going to try and get the PDF for Vision done tonight. I've got it set up, so there's not much more to do. It would get one more thing off my list.
The list isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. And I think I'm taking things much calmer, so that the work that is there doesn't look overpowering. Not bad at all, in fact.
So, off to work I go!
July 17, 2007
Jewel Box Flowers
I had an odd day. Just odd! I don't know if anything will come of the two different projects, but if they do... well, I'll be busy, if nothing else.
I was thinking about going to the zoo tomorrow, but it occurs to me that all my rechargeable batteries for the camera are very nearly really dead -- as in they won't hold a charge for more than three or four pictures. Since they're all over a year old, this really isn't a surprise. But until I can buy some new ones, going to the zoo would be an awful frustration for me!
We're having hot summer weather. I was out in it a couple times today, and really, I think hiding in my house is a much better idea.
The notes for the new book topped 2k today and they're still growing. I haven't gone anywhere near a plot yet. Mostly character creation and a little history of the place. It's fun so far!
Did I mention that I finished Going Elsewhere? I'm not sure if I did. It went well enough and it's off the list now. Only a few more pieces to get through!
Saw the very nice cover art to a book I contributed a couple chapters to. Unfortunately, they spelled my name wrong... but it's early enough to get that corrected, so all is well.
And there. That's all I have to say for the day.
I'm heading off to bed and to read for a while!
July 18, 2007
Fireworks in the rain
Got some work done today, but not enough. The new novel, Draw the Line, is coming together in the notes. I've had a couple interesting ideas there!
We were driving home tonight and by chance caught the local fireworks display while we drove by. It was raining -- not as hard as it would be a few minutes later! -- and it was really lovely! I got a few nice shots, though it was hard to do in a moving car and with rain on the windshield!
Then we came home and the storm hit. Pretty nice rain!
And that's it for today.
July 19, 2007
Zaphod
Long day.
Very little done.
But things are looking okay. I have a few things that have to get done, but I'm managing to keep most of the stuff in line. I think I can handle everything with a minimum of fuss, in fact.
And that would be nice.
Tonight I'm just very tired, though. So this is going to be short, and I'm going to get it posted before I forget.
And isn't that an adorable picture of Zaphod?
Oh, and Edmond goes to the vet tomorrow because he seems to have picked up a bit of a fever and we want to catch it before it gets worse.
There. That's really all my news.
July 20, 2007
Pretty
I am hard at work at my new job. I think I'm getting the knack for what they want, but it's going to be a few days still before I get the rest of my life back to normal. Still, it's kind of exciting, so I don't mind.
Writing is going to suffer for it, though. I've dropped from 3k a day down to about 500 words. Eeek! But I'll get back up there again soon!
Right now, though, it's time for me to get some sleep!
July 21, 2007
What cha' doin'?
And a good question that would be, too!
I'm working on the newsletter still. This first one has a few things that are taking me a bit longer, mostly because I don't trust myself.
And it doesn't help that the Harry Potter book arrived in the mail this afternoon, and I am determined to read it before I hear about it from anyone at all.
And I need to write.
Eeek! I'm busy!
But it's fun so far!
July 22, 2007
I'm so happy....
I am done with the newsletter for the moment. Yay! It is going to be under review, and I'll find out what I need to change. But it looks good to me!
This is a huge relief. After this first one, it should be a bit easier. And I'm catching on to some of the other things as well.
I read 410 pages of the Potter book last night before I finally had to give up and go to sleep, knowing I still had work today. I intend to finish it off tonight, but not until after I get some writing done. Which I am going to go do right now!
May 23, 2007
The bear and me got things to do....
No, no. I'm not tired and a little goofy. Not at all.
I read the HP book last night. Got done about 6 am. Got back up about noon, and I've been working pretty steadily since then. I finished the first newsletter, and I'm starting to see how it works. I'm already looking at work on the second one. If I can get a handle on it, I don't think it will take me much time to do at all.
Oh, everything else is falling behind, of course. I need to make a list of 'get this done TODAY!' stuff (as opposed to my usual list of far too many things so I never really get finished).
Writing is... well, not at it's best right now, but I'm holding on. I'll get everything sorted out soon.
But right now... thunk. I think bed might be in order soon!
May 24, 2007
A nice set of books....
I did finish the book on the 22nd. I won't say anything about it, except that -- as always -- it moved quickly. Some things annoyed me. Most of it did not.
This was the calmest day I've had since I started working at Daz. I think I'm starting to get the knack of it, finally. Of course, I'll probably get an email tomorrow explaining why I'm wrong in that assumption. (grin)
I just spent about an hour getting through a bunch of emails that had piled up. I am almost caught up with life. And I'm pretty tired, so off to bed I go!
May 25, 2007
Cafe Press Work
I have t-shirts up with this design on the front at the Cafe Press store. I really think that one is cute!
Other than that, I think things are starting to fall together better again. I'm working on newsletter #2 today. #1 came out today, too, and looks pretty good.
Writing though -- writing is still not going all that well. I'll fall back into that soon. On the good side, I just realized I've written more this month than I did last year in July, so I'm fine. The rest of the year hasn't been that great, but at least this month is going well. (grin)
I think I'm going to the zoo on Friday. Yay! I feared I was going to miss another month!
So, that's it. Time to get back to work and see if I can write another 500 words before bed.
May 26, 2007
Stray kitten in a tree
Tomorrow is zoo day. I haven't been there for about two months, so I'm really looking forward to it. I have batteries charging all over the place tonight, and I've been thinking through my strategy for where I want to go. It will be a short day which is fine because it's also supposed to be very hot.
And the good news is that I'm tired tonight. I only had about three hours sleep last night, which means that I might get to sleep early tonight and be less than dead on my feet tomorrow morning. It would make a nice change.
And that's it. Working on the new newsletter. Trying to get a clue on some other stuff. Mostly, though just ready to call it a day!
May 27, 2007
I went to the zoo!
I am so tired!
Good day, but a little too hot, and that made me ill at one point. I got over it. And I rested a lot through the day... but since I only had about three hours sleep last night after all, I am totally too tired to think tonight. Wow, look at all those t words in a row!
Anyway... will do a lot of work on newsletter tomorrow.
Oh, and I am now working with the newest version of Word. It does word count right there in the lower left hand side of the window, updated while you work! I loved this in the old WordPerfect versions. It's silly, but watching those numbers climb has always been fun to me.
Okay, time for bed. Really. And real work tomorrow!
July 28, 2007
Sunset on the Missouri River
The next newsletter for Daz 3D is very nearly done. Yay! And this with an entire day off for the zoo and a second day of being very ill. Yeah, I spent far too much of today in bed with cats curled up all around me.
I'm better tonight, though. I'm even getting some writing done. Tomorrow I'll finish up the work on the newsletter and rewrite some of the sections, and then off it goes to be checked out by others. So far, it's going well!
Other than that, I really can't say there's much going on. I hope to sort through zoo pictures tomorrow. I hope to get more than a few hundred words written, too. But overall, I'm pretty happy with stuff tonight.
It's about 1:30 am. I'm heading for bed soon!
August 29, 2007
Drawing of Fluff
The newsletter is now off being checked over. Yay!
I got about 1000 words written after I sent it off, which is another big 'yay' since I've been having trouble getting a chance to work at all! It's going well. Nothing spectacular, but sometimes it's important just to write and enjoy it.
I'm also trying to put together a monthly calendar with a list of everything I need to get done and at what date. That's kind of daunting when I look at it!
Right now, though, I'm working on some DTF stuff that I need to get sorted out. It's going better than I had hoped. I hope to get through the first run of it before I go to bed, which would make me feel a lot better.
So, lots of work done today, lots more to go... and then I start over tomorrow.
I wonder whatever happened to weekends?
August 30, 2007
Ground squirrel
I would like to believe that I'm actually getting caught up on things. I'm lying to myself, of course, but for the moment is sounds good.
I'm going to do a little more writing tonight and then I intend to go play with graphic programs, which I haven't hardly touched in a couple weeks. Kind of funny... the moment I go to work for DAZ, I lose the time to actually do anything with the stuff.
So this is short tonight. I sent off the latest newsletter, I've done a bunch of DTF work, and I got some writing done. Time, I think, to go load in the new version of DAZ Studio (tm), and see if I can have some fun with it!
July 31, 2007
Summer River
I got quite a bit of stuff done today. Yay! FM is updated for the new month. Writing went well. Cleaned a bit of the kitchen.
And it's late. I really don't have anything interesting to say tonight, so I'm going to drop this onto the site and call it good. Maybe I'll be more interesting next month.
But I really wouldn't count on it. (grin)