Archive for previous entries this month
June 1, 2008
Alien Princess and Guard
Hello and welcome to June!
May was far too busy. I need to focus on the non-fiction book for the publisher in Britain this month. I've been doing notes, putting various pieces together, and I'm about ¼ of the way through the book, but I need to focus better. So it's going to be my 'first thing' book for a while. If I can get a few hundred words a day on it, I'll start moving forward better. I really enjoyed working on it this afternoon, but I got sidetracked by some friends coming over to mow the lawn. That sure looks a lot better, too!
I have to do one little set of things to finish up the DAZ newsletter this week, so that's good. I've at least kept focused on it! I have been doing the newsletter for nearly a year, by the way. It really doesn't seem that long at all! I've got another to send off to them tonight, in fact.
I've started the rewrite of another novel. This is Touched by the Wild. I'm doing something a little different, though -- I'm adding pictures to it as well. No, the picture from today is not one of them! It's as much to make me practice a bit more with DAZ Studio as anything. The rewrite is going very well so far, though I'm only a few hundred words into it. More depth. I think that comes from thinking in terms of pictures.
And boy am I suddenly tired! So that's it for tonight!
June 2, 2008
Zaphod
Don't ask me about my day. Just don't.
Maybe tomorrow will be better, but I somehow have my doubts.
I'm going to bed now.
June 3, 2008
Pip and his favorite food
Note the ravioli all over his forehead. He gets it all over his paw, too -- but he just loves the stuff.
Yesterday was just not a good day, with so many things going bad -- and ending with the lovely big screen TV going bad -- that I have not been in a particularly good mood since. Okay, the TV is almost fourteen years old and it's seen some hard times -- but it did not have to go out NOW.
Lucky for me that I really don't watch much on it anyway. And as Russ pointed out, it would be much worse if the fridge or my computer or something like that died that we really need. But still... I could stand for things not to go wrong for a while.
So I had a can of ravioli for dinner tonight because I like the taste (especially with a couple pieces of toast sprinkled with garlic salt. Bad Zette -- but it was good), and because it's always so funny to watch Pip go at the can. That really was kind of fun.
and now I'm heading off to bed and hope that I'll be in a better mood tomorrow.
June 4, 2008
Three Heroes
I really like the way this picture turned out. It was part of my challenge where I draw three things at random and then make a picture using them. In this case, all three things turned out to be clothing, and the group together just seemed to scream 'comic book heroes.' I'm half tempted to write the story.
We're having storms tonight. They're not strong -- there are some bad ones to the south, it looks like -- but here it's just rain and a lot of lightning and thunder. The lights did flicker once, for no good reason , so I'm getting everything done and posted before I lose power. It would be just my luck.
Russ is in Indianapolis this week, where they have been having some really bad weather.
Ugh. Winds just picked up. I'm going to post and start closing stuff down.
June 5, 2008
Sunset
I had a long day watching the weather, which never did more than rain a bit and blow around a little -- not much at all. Things were much worse elsewhere in the area, so we got off easy again!
I have a sick cat on the porch. It's Guy -- he's been a stray here for several months. A couple days ago he came down with a bad cold, and then it got much worse last night. My wonderful vet people came by, looked at him and gave me some medication to give him. He's already doing better tonight. I'll keep him in until tomorrow, give him another dose, and then let him out and hope that he'll be around to get the rest of the medication over the next few days. Glad to see him looking better though. He's a very nice cat -- obviously belonged to someone before he wandered into my yard last winter. He has a very sweet nature. He'd be a house cat, but every time Edmond sees him, he just goes crazy.
I'm suffering from a weather related headache tonight, though. I got some work done and need to finish out the newsletter tomorrow. Right now, though,
June 6, 2008
Keeping watch
Today was newsletter day. I just now got it mostly done. I'm waiting for an answer to a question, but I think I can post what I have and call it good for now. Yay! Considering the headache I had today, this is no little... something. When you do something. You know. Ah. Accomplishment.
You see, when I get a headache like this, words just go away. Sometimes it takes me days to get them back. Makes writing anything witty kind of daunting, in fact. I'm pretty certain this was not my best newsletter -- but I still got it done, so that says something!
I have finished watching all the Cowboy Bebops (including the movie). Wow. What a great set! I don't know what I'm going to watch next, but that was sure a lot of fun!
Right now, though, I need to get the last of the newsletter stuff done and then get off to bed!
I'm going to shut down the work and relax for a bit.
June 7, 2008
Opening page to Touched by the Wild
This is an interesting little experiment. I want to do at least one picture per chapter. I may do more pictures after I do the entire book, but I think one picture to start it out is enough. It's proving to be a little more difficult than I expected it to be.
Oh, I can hear thunder. I expected it all day, and it's finally hit at midnight. I hope the storms don't get too serious! I don't like night storms all that much.
At least it's not as hot as where Russ is. That's horrible out on the East Coast. It was humid here yesterday, but it wasn't so bad today.
I've been working on odds and ends all day today, so I really don't have much to report. I think I'll just post this and get a few last things done for the night.
June 8, 2008
Pretty flower
Another long day with not nearly enough done! I don't know where the time went, but it's after midnight and I just want to go sleep for a while. I don't know what that's all about, either. Lately I've been very tired.
I think I'm coming down with a cold tonight, though. I keep coughing. Yuck. I hope that doesn't get bad.
So, tomorrow I need to get back to some serious writing work again. I've been playing around a little too much. I need to get focused on some of this stuff, which has been really hard since Russ left. I'm not certain why, since writing is a solitary occupation. I guess it's just the needed outside discussions, even when you aren't talking about writing.
Cough, cough, cough.
I need to get to bed, I think. Watch a show or two, and just relax and hit the work tomorrow with a good attitude.
What do you think will be the chance of that happening?
June 9, 2008
The Boys
I have one outdoor cat who is ill and going to the vet tomorrow. And now Zaphod is starting to sneeze and get congested too. If this spreads through the house cats, I'm not certain what I'll do. It doesn't help that I'm really run down already.
Let's just hope for the best.
Like that's going to work.
June 10, 2008
No, of course I wasn't hunting those delectable -- delightful --
little mice,
Mr. Very Large Mouse Wizard, sir.
Just a silly picture I did for a challenge. Not even certain I'll post it over there or not.
I now have three sick cats -- Guy (who is spending the night at the kitty hospital), Zaphod and Edmond. If the other four house cats get it, I'll just go pound my head against the wall until it all goes away.
And that's all the news I have.
June 11, 2008
Big branch down
We had a strong wind storm this morning and while I was sitting at my office, I saw the branch go down. Lucky for us it did little damage.
Zaphod and Edmond got very sick and they're at the kitty hospital tonight, but Guy is back and looking better.
That's about it for the day.
(And I forgot to post this again, so it's going up late!)
June 12, 2008
Moon and clouds
The boys are at the kitty hospital for a second night. One started getting better, but the other got worse, so he's keeping them and giving them another round of shots. They'll be home tomorrow.
I am suffering from a massive headache tonight. I'm going to bed now and hope that I can get up early tomorrow and get caught up on work. I'll maybe do a little writing in bed, too. I just need to rest.
So, up this goes!
June 13, 2008
Pip looking cute
No boys home today, either. Poor little guys! Russ assures me they're all right -- he's been talking to the vet -- and that they'll be home tomorrow. Zaphod is still very congested, so the vet wanted him for another night.
I, in the mean time, am getting increasingly ill.
(And I forgot to post this last night, so up it goes now!)
June 14, 2008
The Boys are Home
And we're all happier for it. Even the other cats don't seem particularly unhappy to see them back.
I was ill for most of the day, and I hope that it's starting to clear up tonight. I don't need this kind of trouble while I'm trying to get things done. Russ is still trying to get home next weekend, but -- just knowing how things go -- I really doubt it is going to happen.
Zaphod is still ill, but not as bad as he was. Edmond is much better. I have medication for both of them, and some stuff for Guy still. I hope they all get cleared up soon.
Writing is going okay. Nothing spectacular, but that's not surprising. With luck, I should have a chance to pick things up now.
June 15, 2008
Pretty sunset
That was the sunset from a couple days ago. I've hardly been out of the house at all the last two or three days. You would think that I would be getting things done instead, but it's just not happening. I did all right on writing today, but not on anything I really should have been working on.
The good news is that Russ says he will be home Friday afternoon! He tried to make it Thursday night, but couldn't get the connections. Yay! We get to have our anniversary together!
I hope that I'm feeling better by then. The boys are doing better tonight, though. Even Zaphod is able to rest on his side and back without choking now. Glad to have them feeling better!
I hope I have enough cat food to last until Russ gets here.
And that's it for tonight. I need to get some other stuff done.
June 16, 2008
Glass bird and cat
Kind of an interesting picture, isn't it? I had fun working with that one.
The cats both seem to be better now, though poor Edmond keeps having horrible sneeze attacks. I really feel sorry for him. Guy is still having trouble, too. But I give him medication every morning before I let him off the porch.
I hope everything clears up soon. A little less stress by the time Russ comes home would be nice. I'd like to think that we can have a fairly calm three days together.
Tonight, though, I'm trying to get caught up on various work and get ahead on a few projects, like the next newsletter. It's actually going okay!
I just realized why I am so tired tonight. I was still awake at about 5 am this morning, and then up a few hours later to do the last edits on the newsletter. I think I'm going to head to bed early tonight.
June 17, 2008
Watching the cats
Got a lot of work done today somehow. I'm amazed, to be honest. Cleaned stuff, wrote stuff, even did a little artwork and filled the bird feeders. I think the realization that Russ will be here in about two more days has really cheered me up.
There is a lot to get done, too -- mostly on the end of the month sort of things that I don't want to fall behind on. I will have a week after Russ leaves, though, so I'll have time to do a lot of the work then. I'm really concentrating on getting the next newsletter done early so I don't have to think about it while Russ is here. I want to have a nice, quiet couple days!
Though, really, since the cats are better, things have been pretty quiet anyway. So maybe what I want is a couple not so quiet -- someone to talk to -- days, without worrying about computer work.
I hope that we're all feeling good when Russ gets here!
June 18, 2008
Very old candle
Just a quick note tonight. It's late and I'm tired.
Guy is ill again. We're trying a different medication and we'll see how he is tomorrow.
Russ will be home on Friday. I am so looking forward to seeing him!
It seems very hot and uncomfortable tonight for some reason. I'm heading for bed and hope that things look better tomorrow.
June 19, 2008
Tonight's Sunset
For the first time in a week, I can say that all three cats are doing much better. Guy is still sneezing and is congested, but nothing like he was. He's been following me around a little again, and even tried to get in the house a couple times.
That's a real relief. I'll need more medication for him, though.
Russ will be home tomorrow afternoon!
And I'm tired and going to bed early tonight, which is just as well. It'll help me be more alert when Russ gets here.
Yay!
June 20, 2008
Storm over Sioux City
Russ is home! He'll be here until Monday.
We got a lot of things done this afternoon. Now we're both tired.
Tomorrow we have to get some things done around the houses -- though he did get the AC in to this house tonight, which made a big difference. Took a lot of the dampness out.
Sunday is our anniversary. We might go to DeSoto. We'll see!
Tired tonight, though!
June 21, 2008
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
That's where we went today for our anniversary trip! (Or anniversary is tomorrow.) It was a really nice cay, too -- not too hot, some lovely clouds, a few animals (not many birds though, which was odd). There was far more water at the refuge than I've ever seen -- areas where you could normally park were under water, and some of the trails had standing water as well.
We ran into a massive rainstorm on the way home -- it hit right at Little Sioux (the same place where the Boy Scout camp is that got hit by a tornado not so long ago), and drove out of it a few miles farther. It was really very lovely.
Here are pictures!
June 22, 2008
Roses
I'm late getting this up because we've been so busy running around the last two days. We had a lovely anniversary. We drove up north a little ways to deliver a book to someone. His father is well known for rose growing, so I took pictures while Russ visited. We came back home and ate at Sonic -- I know, sounds odd but it was fun. And we just did a lot of running around.
But here are the flower pictures! I think I would like to try a couple of these over in Painter and see what I could come up with!
June 23, 2008
Silly Wind
Russ is now back in New York already. Sigh. I wish he wasn't so far away.
I'm trying to focus back on work again, and had pretty good luck tonight. More so than I expected. I hope I can keep at it over the next few days and get a significant part of the book done. I need to focus on it and not work on anything else for a while.
Except for Vision, of course. And probably a couple other things.
So that's the news for tonight. Had a great weekend. Hope we can do it again soon.
June 24, 2008
Danger!
I've written about 5,000 words on the nonfiction book in the last two days, and I'm really happy with how it's going. I'm about 1/3rd of the way through it, and if I can keep this kind of writing up over the next few days, I think I can have the first draft done by the middle of July. Yay!
It's hard to get used to being alone again, even though Russ was only here for a little over two days. I get frustrated with my own company, and forcing myself to focus on this book is helping a little. It's not as easy to write nonfiction of this type as it would be to write a new novel, but I am enjoying much of the work.
The big problems I see are with the upcoming newsletter and the next issue of Vision. I need to get both of them done as well, of course. A shame I can't hand them off for this week and just keep working on the book. I fear that having to take any kind of long break from the book is going to cause the same problem I had getting back into it this time.
I guess I'll just have to work harder at it.
And get it done.
June 25, 2008
Patterns in glass
I have a headache. I have the kind of headache that makes getting anything at all done nearly impossible. I had to do some work for the county, and since I had the programs all open to upload and everything, I thought I should do this and get it done, too. That way I don't have to think about it. Not thinking about things is good.
I'm trying packs on the back of my neck, which eases it up for a little while. I've tried pills. I just thought of one more type of pill to try, though, and I think I'll go get one of them right now.
There. Let's hope that this one works. I need to get some work done. All kinds of work done. Haven't even written today and it's already 8:30.
I need my brain back.
June 26, 2008
This is Guy
Guy is an absolute sweetheart of a cat. I hate to have him outside at all, but until we have him checked for bad kitty diseases, I don't dare bring him all the way in. He does spend the nights locked on the porch, though. Far safer for him to be there than out where he could get hit.
I had my brain back for part of the day, at least. Even got some work done, but not nearly enough. I'll be working hard this weekend.
Ugh. Someone just pulled up in the alley behind my house at 1 am. I never trust that kind of stuff. Seems quiet now, though. And I think I've heard that car before, so it was probably just someone coming home drunk.
I'm tired. I'm going to post this and then get some rest. I have a lot of work over the next couple days!
June 27, 2008
After the rain
Despite feeling poor for most of the day, I still got some work done. Vision is coming along, though slowly. I fear it is going to be a little late this time, especially since I'm going to be at the doctor on the 30th. I'm already behind, and that's not going to help.
But I'll get there. I always do. I just have to focus on these things.
That's not happening tonight, though. I've now bounced around between four or five things since I started this entry. I think it's time to end it and head off to bed in hopes that tomorrow will be a little better!
June 28, 2008
It's a jungle out there
I am getting some things done, finally. I think I have a chance of having Vision just about on time, as long as nothing goes especially wrong on Monday. I have all the pieces in hand, I think.
This is the 47th issue. That's pretty neat! I'm looking for some neat things to do for #50, which is only six months away. How did we ever get this far?
The Vision stuff took all my notice, so I've not worked on the nonfiction book for the last few days. I'm going to get back to it as soon as possible. I'd hoped to have 20k on it by the end of this month, but I'm not sure I can do it -- though I am close. I don't see any real problem with having it done in July, as long as I can keep focus on it.
Other than that, nothing going on at all here. We had lovely cool weather today. Everyone seemed to like it.
And that's all of it for today. Back to work!
June 29, 2008
Lady Jane Having Fun
I don't know how I managed to get as far behind as I am right now. It's very odd. Usually I'm far more on top of things. But for some reason, this month I can't seem to keep anything on schedule.
I'll get it all done, but I get the feeling Vision is going to be a little later than I like. At least I got most everything written for it!
So, that's it for me for today. I don't know if I should try to get more done now or just give up and rest. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow -- bad timing, the last day of the month with all the rest of this going on -- and I think maybe rest would be the better idea.
June 30, 2008
Pretty Flowers
Well, that was pretty funny.
I let Guy off the porch in the mornings -- okay, afternoons -- when I get up. He usually just walks to the sidewalk and rests, basking in the sun, and not going very far. Today, I had to go to the doctor, so I grabbed him and put him back on the porch while I was gone. Let him back out later. Went out and visited with him a few times, too. I let him stay out later than usual since he'd been locked on the porch for so long.
Only when I went to get him, about ten when it was really getting dark, he wasn't there.
I called for him. I walked up and down the street. No sign of him.
I went back in. Went out at 10:30. Still no sign. 11 pm and no sign. Midnight and no sign. About 12:30 I went walking down the sidewalk a bit and leaned over to check if a clump of grass was him -- it wasn't -- but as I was leaning down I saw the huge shadow of a cat stalking up on me. Yup. I turned around, and there he was, tail up in the air, walking in the light from the lamp down at the corner. It was pretty funny to see that head and huge ears in the shadow. Not a sound of course -- cats are far too quiet sometimes.
It amused me. But he's on the porch now, so I can stop going out looking for him.
Doctor's visit went reasonably well. My blood pressure is up -- wow, what a shock, given the stress of the last few months -- but not as high as it has been in the past. Drawing blood turned out to be a real ordeal and I have a bruised hand to show for it. It's less sore now than it was earlier.
I will try to get the rest of Vision done tomorrow and maybe still have it up on July 1. I think I can do it.