Ireland Day 4 & A Reminder

Day 4 started out as another warm and sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Our first stop on the tour was St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was beautiful, especially the stained glass windows.



So much detail in each one and there were hundreds. The floor had Celtic designs right in the stone and they just amazed me. Again, so much detail for the entire floor of the cathedral.

The next stop was Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.



I admit I didn't know much about them when I signed up for the tour and I didn't think I'd care either way if I saw them or not, but after learning more about the books and seeing actual pages written so many hundreds of years ago, I was floored. They had a video set up to show you just how they made the books themselves and then another video to show the writing of the books. There were intricate details that blew me away. Oh, what patience it must have taken to put those books together!
The video show the men using a needle to actually sew the spine of the book together. Some of them made tiny dots of color in the paper an equal distance apart to make the letters and fancy designs. I can't even TRACE a straight line!!!

The rest of the day was ours to spend in Dublin as we liked. My friends and I walked around, shopped, ate and shopped some more. I took pictures of the Ha'penny Bridge, which crosses the River Liffey. This one is a picture of the river from the Ha'penny Bridge:



And this is the Ha'penny Bridge from just down the walkway:



It's official name is the Wellington Bridge, but everyone calls it the Ha'penny Bridge because people crossing this footbridge used to have to pay a ha'penny (or half penny) toll to cross it!

I found 2 T-shirts to buy, but I only got one this time. It was green with Ireland written across it in Celtic designed letters. I was kicking myself for the rest of the week for not getting the other one, but I found it in the airport when I left. It said Where's My Pint? in Gaelic. Look for it in Dallas! Most likely you'll see it and me in the bar!

I closed the hotel bar, but I was actually sitting there with my Guinness reading. I'd brought 2 books with me and I was so close to finishing this one. It wasn't as good as I expected, but I was already invested in over 100 pages before I realized that so I finished it.

So ended Day 4.

REMINDER-I guest blogged on Wednesday (June 27) on Mary Alice Pritchard's blog about my time writing in my happy place, the Highlands of Scotland. If you haven't checked it out, do it today and then leave me a comment. Then you'll be entered in the drawing for a Scottish surprise and some books. Odds are good right now. I've only got 3 or 4 names.

Guest Blogging

Today I'm guest blogging for Mary Alice Pritchard. Come on over and read about my experience writing in the Highlands of Scotland for 2 days last week! Plus, I'm having a drawing.

Days 1, 2 and 3

Day 1 was my travel day from Austin to Dublin. Since I like you guys, I won’t bore you with the heartache of that story. Just to sum it up-There was a lot of hurry up and wait. 23 hours after I left my house, I walked into the lobby of my hotel in Dublin.

Day 2- when I landed in Dublin, the weather was warm and sunny, so warm I panicked because of course I’d brought a bunch of long-sleeved shirts and a sweater. I was wearing the only short-sleeved shirt I had. But the sunshine was just glorious after so many hours on planes and in airports. As I stood waiting for the taxi to my hotel, I lifted my face to the sun and let out a sigh. I was here, I was safe and now my vacation could truly begin!

Of course, it was 4 in the afternoon and I was tired, so I went to dinner with my friends who had arrived before me. We walked around the streets by the hotel to find a restaurant. We found one that looked interesting, or maybe it was the name-Druids. Young locals hung outside drinking, smoking and laughing. Young, I say. They were probably college age. My friends and I went into the restaurant, but they had just opened and didn’t seem to care whether we stayed or not. They gave us 2 menus (there were 3 of us), told us to pick a seat while waving us off and the food was overpriced. So we left. On the walk back, we stopped in a store for some candy-gotta love that candy! My favorites are Mars bars (or glorified Milky Ways as I’m told) and Smarties (glorified M & Ms). I don’t care what other people think. If you haven’t tried the chocolate from England, Ireland and Scotland you can’t possibly understand the ecstasy of good chocolate! We ended up eating in the hotel, which was when I had my first Guinness in Ireland. And my 2nd. After, 2 of us went to the bar for a few more pints and to get caught up. After all my traveling, I made an early night of it.

Day 3- Today all the other people on the scheduled tour started to arrive. It was still warm, but I wasn’t too hot with my long-sleeves. In the afternoon, the tour went to the Guinness factory for beers in the bar that overlooks the city. Wow! What a beautiful view and the sky was so clear! I didn’t pay much attention to all the history of Guinness. Quite honestly, I just wanted my free pint and a chance to shop in the store. I was disappointed with the T-shirt collection and didn’t want to buy something just for the sake of having a T-shirt to wear in the abnormally hot weather. So I settled for a shot glass with the Guinness label.



After the Guinness factory, we went to the Old Jameson’s whiskey Distillery. We had a welcome drink of the good stuff as the official start of the tour. Then we watched a video about the history of the distillery. After, we had dinner and entertainment! The food was excellent and the entertainment was even better! We had 3 guys playing instruments and playing Irish drinking songs. We had a competition between the 2 sides of the room. Sadly, even though I and my lovely voice joined in, my side did not win the competition. We also had Irish step dancers there. They were phenomenal. Our table was right by the stage. The dancers brought tears to my eyes they were that good.




Toward the end, they pulled suckers out of the audience to teach them to step dance. Now that was funny! I thought about volunteering, but I didn’t have the nerve. As soon as it was over, I vowed not to miss an opportunity like that again. I would suck, but it would be so much fun!

And so ended day 3 of my trip.

I'm Home!

I'm jet-lagged, but so relaxed. I expect to share my adventures on a daily basis starting tomorrow. This way I won't overload you with information. Sorry, I won't have pictures to share until I learn how I can do that. Of course, since I have a 35mm camera I also have to have the film developed! But I promise you will see my pics at SOME POINT!

For now, I'll leave you with this. On Saturday night, I went into my favorite tavern in Edinburgh for dinner and a couple of pints of my favorite beer. I sat at the bar. The bartender looked at me and said, "A pint of Tennent's?" So, you know I must've had a great time if the local bar staff know me that well just after 6 days!

Still in Scotland

82 pictures so far.
50 pages of new material.
Only 2 1/2 days of rain so far.
2 nights in my happy place, Glenfinnan.

Priceless.

You Won't Believe It!

I'm here in Dublin. The trip across the pond was harrowing- 23 hours to get from Austin to the hotel lobby in Dublin. Lots of delayed/ missed flights, lots of running through airports and lots of confusion! But I got here and the weather is PERFECT! Sunny and warm, no clouds in the sky and it's been that way since Friday. (And of course I didn't bring any T-shirts or short sleeved shirts! Well, I'll just have to buy some, won't I?)

I've been to the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, Trinity College for a look at the Book of Kells and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Plus we've hit several shopping places around downtown Dublin. Just relaxing now and thinking of going to have another Guinness. Tomorrow we head out for the south of Ireland. The only stop I know for sure is Blarney Castle where I hope to kiss the blarney stone.

I'm Off!

Well, actually I have about another 10 1/2 hours before the shuttle picks me up. I've got lots to do in the morning and I should be abed, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep. I'm TOO EXCITED!

Oh, I went to the surgeon's Wednesday afternoon for my 1 month follow up. He says all is well, I seem like all is well and I don't have to go back. In 2 weeks I can start stomach exercises again, 2 weeks after that I could bungee jump if I wanted or whatever else tickles my fancy. (Although, being afraid of heights and having inner ear issues I think I'll keep my feet on the ground...or airplane aisle, as the case may be).

I doubt I'll be able to post again for some time, so I'll leave you with some links of my travels. I promise to update you when I can from the road (if I can). The idea of being away from a computer for a whole 17 days is kinda freaky after so much time in this chair over the last week and a half, but I'm soooooooooo looking forward to it!

My Scottish Highland Hotel (which is in the village that inspired my contemporary series)
The Ring of Kerry- A view of one of the places I'll go on my Ireland bus tour
and for those of you who share my passion for a good beer, check here!

While I'm gone, get lots done, stay out of trouble and keep me updated with a comment or two! (Okay, you don't have to stay COMPLETELY out of trouble. After all, what fun would that be?)

Book 1, Book 2, Book 3--Oh My!

Just so you're kept up to date on my manuscripts and the craziness that has overtaken my brain:

FP- The one that's "finished". The one that has won or finaled in 5 contests this year. The one that needs to be revised.

TCAFS- The current one. The one I expected to finish while I was laid up from surgery. The one I've barely worked on since surgery. (Although, a few people have commented that that's from the anesthesia. Go figure!) The one I'm now trying to reorganize and finish the rough draft during my vacation.

HC- The next one. Yeah, it was going to be something else, but this hero has quietly demanded that he be next. Him, I know pretty well. As for his heroine? I ain't got a clue. Luckily he's promised to talk to me during my trip so I can start brainstorming scenes and conflicts for him.

Almost There

My excitement for my trip continues to pick up speed now. I can't believe I'm really going to Ireland and then back to Scotland! I hope 5 rolls of film will be enough!

I got my business cards in the mail today from Vista Print. I LOVE them! I'm so glad I got them. There's already a stack in my carry-on luggage just in case I make some new friends on my travels.

As for packing, I'm just about finished. I've got a few odds and ends that I can't put in until tomorrow and then of course there are the odds & ends you have to wait to pack until the morning of travel. It's been kind of odd trying on, buying and packing long sleeved shirts and sweaters when it's 90+ degrees here. But I'm soooooooo looking forward to the cooler weather. I even packed my Texas winter pajamas! (Hey, the overnight temps in both Ireland and Scotland are in the 40's and low 50's. BBBRRR!)

I'm also trying something else new this trip. I haven't packed 1 T-shirt. I love T-shirts and I live in them as much as possible. I know I'll probably buy a couple there, but I decided to pack clothes that don't make me look like an American hood. So, no T-shirts. Only dressier clothes (but still comfortable) and 3 different pairs of shoes. I figured if I want people to take me seriously as a pre-pubbed author, then I better start looking more respectable when I'm out and about! Image. It's never too early to revamp.

I'm off to read a bit and work on FP revision ideas. Have a good night!

Shadow Hawk & Nessie

Shadow Hawk by Jill Shalvis-OMG! Go. Get. This. Book. I finished it in a matter of hours. I think this hero has knocked off my previous Shalvis hero. I can't say enough good things about it! Hawk will DEFINITELY stay in my mind for quite a while. Yeah, and that's really not a bad thing.

Nessie- My Scottish friend Meggie has her own thoughts on the latest sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. Have a peek at what she thinks.

A Trip To My Favorite Place

Well, THAT won't happen for another 2 weeks (Scotland), but I visited my favorite place here in town-Barnes & Noble. I was very good. I only bought 3 books and I was there for almost 3 hours. Jan Hudson was signing copies of her new book, The Texas Ranger. A bunch of us went to the signing and I ended up hanging around chatting with all our chapter mates who showed up. I also bought Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham. I've been following her blog for quite some time and it's great to get the chance to read the book that launched her career. Finally I bought Shadow Hawk by Jill Shalvis because I LOVE her books and her blog and well...the cover of Shadow Hawk. (Seriously check it out!)

Hot Damn! I'm only on page 18 of Shadow Hawk and I'm already all worked up! I want the hero and I want to be the heroine!

Celebrate With Me!

I got my scoresheet back from the Merritt judge today. It was good. She said, "The author has a distinctive voice and she sets up a compelling situation." She pointed out what needed work and then ended her comments with, "After some revision I would be interested in reading this book."

At first, I was disappointed because I thought, "How do I make those changes???? I can't do it! There's just no way!" But then reality set in. This is a request. This is a type of request I haven't gotten before. No one's ever made suggestions and said resend the same manuscript. Usually I get a "no" on what I send with a "please send something else". So, after sending a few e-mails to writer friends, I decided to view this as the good thing it is!

Now, I just have to buckle down and get busy....while I'm getting ready for my trip, finishing the rough draft of the 2nd book and brainstorming the 3rd. I don't have much pressing between now and when I leave and so I thought to throw myself into a revision hell so I could send it out to her before I go to Ireland, but that may not be possible. Oh well. Bottom line is I've got another request! And what was I thinking?! OF COURSE I CAN DO IT!

Happy Days

Yay! I'm getting stronger every single day.

Yay! I e-mailed the requested full on Tuesday and I LOVE the changes my CP suggested! The story is that much stronger. Usually I don't go back after a few months and revise anything. I'm too excited about the next story. But this time I reread the manuscript after being away from it for about 6 months and I was able to pick out quite a few more things that needed to be changed, things that I'd learned in the process of writing the current WIP.

Yay! I ordered my business cards for Nationals. I LOVE the ones I ordered. I went with Vista Print because it was easy, cheap and I've heard good things about them. The ones I got were listed under Premium business cards, but they seem to be having a sale right now. If you need cards, check Vista Print out! I'm hoping to get them before I leave on my trip, which reminds me...

Yay! One week from today I'll be boarding a plane to Ireland! I've got a kazillion things still to do before then, but I'm making lists and crossing things off as I get them done.

Yay! I'm sending off entries for two June contests. FP is pretty much retired from the contest loop now. It's done amazingly well and I may still enter it in a contest or two in the future, but I'm going to turn most of my attention on TCAFS. I love FP and believe in that wholeheartedly, but I really feel TCAFS kicks ass! I was rereading the opening pages for the contests I'm entering and it got me all fired up again to work on that story.

Yay! I'm on my 3rd Golden Claddagh entry. I'm hoping to return all 4 entries to the contest coordinator tonight or definitely by tomorrow. I read one entry that I absolutely LOVED. I got so caught up in the story I forgot I was supposed to be judging! I'll tell you which one it is once the finalists are announced because I'm SURE this one will final.

Recovery

Let me start by saying I'm forever thankful for my quick recovery. Today (yes, for me it's still Monday) marks 3 weeks since my surgery. I'm doing so well that I often forget I'm still recovering.

My CP and I have been rereading FP to send to the agent who requested the full. I contacted the woman last week saying it would be along soon. I'm hoping and praying that it will be ready to go tomorrow. It would have been sooner if not for this recovery. My mind is sharp, but my body can't handle sitting at the computer for long periods of time yet without cramping and aching. So, I revise a chapter on the computer, then I print out the next one to critique on the couch. Then I get back on the computer to make the changes and print the next one to critique. It's a very long process. My only consolation is the agent is probably used to waiting for submissions to some degree and the revisions are making it an even more well-rounded story. (Well, at least in my mind and my CP's mind!)

Other than that, I have to force myself to remember I'm recovering. My groceries are bagged light so I can carry them one bag at a time into the house. I take the garbage out every single day. My neighbor's offered to do whatever I need done. Oh! And I got on the scale today. Since this whole fibroid scare started, I've lost about 14lbs too! Another 5-10lbs and I'll be at my goal weight, a number I haven't seen in years! I feel so good and so like myself, it's a struggle to slow down and ask for help when I need it. Still, I also get tired and a bit weak (yet, not so weak anymore) pretty easily.

In the end, I'm thrilled with how my body and mind are dealing with the recovery. Even if I sometimes get frustrated that my body isn't able to keep up with my mind yet. That'll come. I just have to remember that, believe it. My doctor I visited today said the muscles of the stomach are still adjusting even after 6 weeks. I've got plenty of time to be all that I can be.

Okay, so that thing about being at the computer too long? It's now. So I think I'll go to bed.

Hee Hee Hee

My passport's coming! I only had to wait about 30 minutes to get a human being today. She said the address correction went through on Monday when I called and they shipped it out on Tuesday! I'm really going to Ireland and back to Scotland!!!!

Now I have to find a room in Edinburgh.

UPDATE: Guess what I'm holding in my hot little hands? Heeheehee! I can't wait to get on that plane!

I Could EASILY Get Used To This!

So, here I am alone. Mom went home yesterday. I've spent the last 2 days working on my writing and I have to tell you I love being home and working. This is something I could handle! Of course, I'd have to sell a few billion book copies before I could actually give up my day job. Either that or marry rich. Since there aren't any prospects, I'm left to my day job and my writing on the side...for now.

So, Sunday, as you know, I found out about the Merritt win. Monday, I got a full request from an agent I queried back in March. I'd sent a batch of agent queries around that time. When I didn't seem to get many bites, I decided to submit FP to Harlequin directly just before my surgery-only 2 weeks ago. So yesterday and today I've been rereading the manuscript (and crying in all the right places). I'm making sure all my i's are dotted and all my t's are crossed and my GMC's are lined up. It's a long process because I can't sit at the computer for too long yet without getting sore. But I'll take this over still being in the hospital or confined to the couch! I expect to mail this full tomorrow sometime. I'm psyched because this is the first time I've gotten a request for a full just off a query letter! Yay! I'll keep you updated.

As I'm working online today, I get an e-mail about another contest, the Black Diamonds Contest, and of course I now want to enter that one too. (I've been good. I've only got 2 planned for June!) But this one is cheaper, electronic and it's only the first paragraph of the book. Basically it's a chance to see if you can hook the reader with the first 150 words. Of course, my question is not whether to enter or not, but how many entries do I send? I'm definitely sending TCAFS. I LOVE that beginning! I'm thinking of RR too, my suspense.

Oh, and one more thing. As I've been rereading and strengthening FP, wouldn't you know I met 2 NEW CHARACTERS who expect to have their own stories? As of right now, I've got characters/ story lines for 10 manuscripts. You figure I can write 2 books a year, so we're talking 5 years of books! I really hope I get a contract soon!

God Bless the USA

After 45 minutes of trying to reach a human being on the National Passport phone number, I spoke to a lovely lady (truly) who told me that my passport was moving along smoothly. Then she realized they'd messed up my address.

I am the eternal optimist. I can find a silver lining in almost ANY black cloud. I still have faith in my government. I still expect to be on that plane to Ireland in 16 days.

I just may not have any fingernails left.

San Antonio Merritt

Woohoo! Fractured Paradise took FIRST PLACE in the Series Contemporary category! Come on, everybody! Do the "Happy Dance" with me!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my big brother! Today is his 42nd birthday. (Whew, I just made it in time!) Where he is it rained all day and it was cool. Where I am it was absolutely perfect weather. Mom & I went out to eat and had a drink for him.

Tomorrow (which is only minutes away) is the San Antonio Workshop day. I believe this is the day they'll announce the Merritt winners. If I wasn't recovering from surgery I'd probably be there. I'll let you know how FP & I did as soon as I hear.

Recovery has hit a snag. I'm feeling so good that I forget I'm still recovering and that I still need to take it easy. I think I've been overdoing it these last couple of days. Time to rein myself in so I'm well-prepared for my vacation in just under 3 weeks.

That's IF I get my passport in time. It's been almost 11 weeks now. It's a renewal, not a brand new one. I'm not a criminal, so why is it taking so long???? Of course, they already cashed the check. (Isn't that always the way?)

All Is Well

Hi there. Everything turned out fine. The surgery went well, the mass was not cancerous and I came home Wednesday. I'm up and walking a lot already. I've almost weaned myself off the heavy-duty pain killers. The surgeon checked in on me and showed me pictures of the mass. That sucker was 2lbs and UGLY! But he said everything was looking good and I don't have to go for a follow-up visit for 6 weeks.

I'm not quite up to spending large chunks of time at the computer yet, but I'll check in when I can. Thanks for all the well-wishes sent my way. I hope you're all working hard and keeping up with your writing.

One Day At A Time, One Page At A Time

My teaching year is over. I'm relieved, yet disappointed. I no longer have to stand in front of a class. I'll still grade papers, converse with the substitute and conduct a meeting, but the most difficult part of my job is over for the 2006-2007 school year.

Now there's nothing to stop me from thinking about my surgery.

Writing, I've realized, is the single most important thing for me right now. As this week has passed, I've found myself spending more and more time on writing related activities. At times, it feels like the only part of my life I can control. Churning out new pages, revising my business plan and preparing partials consumes the minutes of the days that I might otherwise spend dwelling on my health and the outcome of my surgery. Sometimes I want to scream. Sometimes I want to cry. Most of the time I shove the visions of hospital scrubs, OR lights, and IVs out of my brain to make room for the new scenes of Scottish contemporary #3.

Many of my current emotions will fit nicely with the plot I couldn't quite nail down four months ago. I'd set that manuscript aside so the story and characters could mature a little. Perhaps I just wasn't ready to handle the job. Now, it feels like the characters are begging me to pick up the pen and let them have as much free reign over my emotions as my own scars do...and will in the coming days and weeks. Maybe I should listen to them. Together we just might touch the minds and hearts of others with our tale of courage, strength, and love.

Yeehaw!!!!

I got a very lovely call from a lady with the Inland Valley Put Your Best Hook Forward contest. I double finaled with my two Scottish contemporaries! Fractured Paradise (the one I'm shopping around) and To Catch a Falling Star (the one I intend to finish during my recovery time). She told me too that she thinks she remembers seeing a couple of perfect scores. I'm so psyched, especially because this is To Catch a Falling Star's very first contest. So now the two entries will be judged by an editor from Harlequin and we should hear placements sometime in June. I'm off to plan how I'm going to celebrate. Oh wait. I already had a few cookies. Well, it WAS a double final. I think I can still plan another celebration. What do you think?

A Life Remembered

Ten years ago today I lost my father. Sometimes I still think to call him to share some tidbit of news, or I think about seeing him when I go home for vacations. Then my heart breaks all over again.

Robert John Keach, Junior

November 16, 1942-May 1, 1997

I'm sorry for all you've missed. I'm sorry for all you'll never see.

I'll love you forever.

Austin RWA's My Five

I'm submitting this for my local RWA chapter newsletter. We also put these on our website. The idea is the writer picks a topic that has to do with writing and lists 5 things about that topic. I was going to write about the my five top choices of heroes to run away with, but I couldn't explain why I liked each guy except to say, "He's hot!" So, I chose this topic and I thought I'd share:

My Five Most Important Writing Influences

1. Steven J. Cannell- I truly believe without this man’s talents of bringing colorful characters to the television screen as I was growing up, I never would have pursued a writing career. In sixth grade, I became addicted to The A-Team. Yes, you read that right. The A-Team. The first completed 100+-page story I ever wrote was based on the characters of that show. The antics of the characters inspired my love of storytelling, suspense and the good guys always winning. As I grew up, other shows of Cannell’s came and went. I got hooked on them all.

2. Diana Gabaldon- I remember devouring Outlander and loving everything about Jamie and Claire Fraser. My heart ached to be a part of that world Gabaldon had created. After all, I’d already invested so much emotion in every step of Claire and Jamie’s journey. After finishing that book I knew I wanted to pursue publishing no matter how much heartache I had to endure. I challenged myself to make my readers care as much for my characters as I cared for Jamie and Claire.

3. Suzanne Brockmann- Suzanne Brockmann is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. She has tons of fans, but whenever I’ve been fortunate enough to meet her, I’ve always felt like what I had to say and my support of her career were important to her. I’ve heard and seen people who forget their manners once they meet with success. Brockmann is a wonderful example of a successful author who appreciates the people around her and never seems to take her success for granted. I hope to be like her when I grow up.

4. Jill Shalvis- I love the way Shalvis allows the reader into the heads of her main characters. When reading one of her books, I always feel transported into that world, like I’m the best friend sitting at the table, experiencing the story alongside the main character. Writing in deep point of view has been a strength of mine and at times, a weakness. When I need some coaching on how to do it right, I pick up a Shalvis book.

5. Nancy Wales- This is not a famous author. This is my best friend. When I started writing, Nancy was the one who always told me I could one day be a published author. For years, she has cheered for me, encouraged me and prodded me onward when I’ve lost my way. She sent me flowers for my 1st ever contest win. Through the years, she’s sent me tons of books on craft and countless other inspirational presents tied to the story I was working on at the time. Before I had my own computer, she typed all my manuscripts. She’s made business cards for me and talked up my writing with anyone who’d listen. When bad news threatens to get me down, she refuses to let me even think about giving up. With good news, she’s the first person I want to call.

I Can Make It 7 More Days

I've 7 more school days with my little...angels. Some days I wonder why I'm a teacher. 7th grade broke my heart last week. They were just more cruel than usual. The 6th grade...ack! We'll not even get into that. The only consolation I have is 5th grade is pretty cool. And I only have 7 more school days with them all!

I've gotten myself into a situation that you'll appreciate. I got my GH scores back on my contemporary. They weren't very good. I'm not really concerned because the original category the story was in (Traditional) got canceled. I believe that if Traditional had been an option that I would have done better.

So, anyway. I'm just about done the rough draft of the current contemporary, TCAFS. I already feel it's a stronger story, so I fully intend to enter that puppy in the GH in November. CP agrees with that. THEN I started thinking, "Hmmm, I'll have TCAFS done by the time I go on summer vacation and then I'll be taking notes and brainstorming the next Scottish story while I'm in Scotland. Why not try to finish the draft of RR, my latest suspense (which took 3rd place in the Hook, Line & Sinker contest this year), and enter that in the GH as well?"

So brilliant woman that I am, I've decided to finish 2 books this year- TCAFS, a short contemporary, and RR, a category romantic suspense. While I'm putting the finishing touches on the suspense in the fall, I can be doodling, drafting and plotting the next contemporary.

Yes, people say I really should stick to one sub-genre until I'm well established, but right now I want the challenge of doing both. Suspense is ultimately where my heart still lies, yet these Scottish contemporaries are begging to be told too. Who am I to turn away a good story? For me, I need to take my writing life up another notch. If it'll help me reach my goals and dreams (and also gives me an escape from those crazy middle schoolers!!), then I'll commit to writing every single day, to organizing myself and taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

Lots O' Little Things

This morning I pulled together another contest entry for my current WIP, TCAFS, and mailed it off this afternoon. Yay! It's the second contest for this manuscript. I've got a feeling that this one might do well. The opening is much stronger that FP, which has done well itself. I'll keep you updated.

This afternoon I went to a workshop/ lecture with Julia London. She's such a nice lady! I also picked up one of her books, HIGHLANDER IN DISGUISE, another addition to my "to be read during recovery" stack.

If you're an aspiring writer and you're looking for an awesome contest to enter, consider Celtic Heart's Golden Claddagh. The deadline is May 1, it's an electronic contest and they have a few categories that are short on entries.

With the wisdom of those wonderful people around me, I've decide to go to Glenfinnan during the Scottish leg of my summer vacation. Check it out and you'll see why I can't wait to go back!

Lastly, if you're wandering around blogland, have pity on my friend Meggie. I talked her into starting a blog, which she finally did, but she doesn't get much traffic. Granted, she's only got a couple of posts up there, but I know she'll post more when she knows more people are passing through. If you're not not interested in Scotland, then don't worry about it, but if you know anyone else who might be interested in hearing about Meggie's remote Scottish village, please pass the word along. Meggie will greatly appreciate it!

This Is Why I Love To Write

The story has been flowing for a while, but the last 2 days it seems to have picked up speed. I can't write fast enough. Okay, I haven't written much new material. However, I've started to pull together my 140 pages and organize them into a fantastic story. I've written for myself my main characters' goals, motivations and conflicts. I've pinpointed my turning points, sketched my Big Black Moment, and written out my character arcs. Now all I need is a good chunk of time to work on it all. Hhhmmm, maybe in May during my recovery?

I'm psyched also because I'm pretty sure, even with surgery and recovery, that I can have my first draft done by the time I go on my trip in June. Which means while I'm in Ireland and Scotland I can seriously start a new story. Which also means that I can spend part of my summer putting the finishing touches on TCAFS and start submitting it in the fall. Which ALSO means that I will have finished that book in six months. With that record I could be a very prolific writer! Of course, one has to sell first...

Meggie & The Muse

Meggie- I'd like to invite all of you to check out the new blog of someone very dear to my heart. She lives in the Scottish Highlands and she's got a big mouth. (Sorry, Meggie, but we all know you're the town gossip!) I kept bugging her to set up a blog of her own and she's FINALLY done it. Yay, Meggie! Check her out at Meggie's Musings.

The Muse- Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said "the muse" but it sounded good. Basically I want to hear what you think about the side trip I'm thinking of including during my Ireland and Scotland vacation. (Thank you, Bonnie, for already giving your opinion.) Should I go up to the village that inspires my current manuscripts or not? For more details please read my previous post. Share with me, people! I know you have opinions!

Thursday Already?

And it's almost over! I can't believe how fast this week has flown. I've been keeping busy.

Tuesday I had my Austin RWA meeting, which was great. We had a speaker talking about "the Dreaded Synopsis" and she gave some great information. Oh, and the best part of the night was I got to meet and speak with a lady who writes for the Harlequin line I'm targeting. We talked about the line, books and the editors. She was very encouraging and I've decided that if I don't get any requests from the agents I've queried, then I'm going to send to the line directly. Oh, and I happened to have one of this woman's books that I'd just recently finished reading so I asked her to sign it for me.

Wednesday I went to the travel agency and booked my flights for my Ireland/ Scotland trip. I'm thrilled. It turned out to be the amount that I expected and it was nice having someone else handle all the work. I'll have 9 1/2 days in Ireland and 8 1/2 days in Scotland.

Tonight I have a PTO meeting-ugh, why did I volunteer to be the staff representative?

Tomorrow we have a very LONG staff meeting planned and then I volunteered for the PTO's Family Movie Night. What was I thinking?

This weekend I'm hoping to really get some time to work on TCAFS for those upcoming contests and I want to take a peek again at FP's opening chapters (in case I do end up sending it to the Harlequin line directly).

Okay, back to Scotland and Ireland. I'm having issues with something and I need other people's opinions. Feel free to give me yours. So I've got 8 1/2 days in Scotland. I'm definitely spending most of the time in Edinburgh, but I'm trying to decide if I want to spend 2 nights in Glenfinnan, which is the inspiration for my fictional village. I'd have to take the train (which is my absolute FAVORITE ride, even in rain!) and staying in the hotels will be more money than the average Edinburgh B & B. I'd have to stay 2 nights because of the limited train schedule. Some friends says I should do it because I'm already spending a chunk of money, what's a little more? Also, after all my medical drama, I'm thinking life is too short not to go to my happy place when I have the chance. Even my mom says I'll kick myself if I don't go when I'm so close. Plus, if I go, I could stay in the hotel that is the inspiration for my current setting and the owner has been helping me with details for the books. The cons to this leg of the trip-I'd have to walk to the hotel from the train station with my luggage (about 7 weeks after surgery) and it is a bit pricey.

So, what do you think?

Slicing & Dicing

May 7th. There's a slight possibility they'll be able to do it May 1st, but I'm not too hopeful for that. I asked the lady scheduling the surgery a whole bunch of questions. Of course, the most important one was 4-5 weeks after surgery will I be able to fly? I told her I booked my vacation back in January before all this came up. She said as long as everything goes according to plan, I should be ready for my trip. Of course my ever practical stepfather says I should still go to the travel agent to book the rest of my trip plans and I should also buy the insurance just in case I can't go in June. I'm hoping that I make a wonderful and fast recovery and that just the idea of recuperating in Ireland and Scotland is enough to get me there!

Now I can really start to wrap my head around the whole idea of being sliced open again. The thought is enough to make me sick to my stomach. And school. I have 19 days left with my kids. I have A LOT of work to do in those 19 days. Maybe that will help keep my mind occupied for a while so I'm not thinking of surgery every single second of every single day.

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Happy 16th Birthday to my nephew Jemas! (No, that's not his real name. It's a family joke.)

and...

Happy 35th Birthday to my youngest stepbrother, D!

and...

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it. Have a wonderful day with your families. I hope the Easter Bunny leaves lots of good treats for everyone. He stopped by here and left me some money. Part of it will pay for my next batch of contests. The rest will go into my "poor, prepubbed author needs a website" fund. Enjoy your day!

Yeehaw!

It's a 3 day weekend.

I've got no pressing plans.

I figured out how to add the cluster map at the end of my sidebar.

I'm amazed I even know what the terms "cluster map" and "sidebar" even mean!

My CP and friend Jenna Stuart is kickin' ass in contests!

My suspense is tickling my brain, but SO IS THE LATEST SHORT CONTEMPORARY! (I thought I'd have to take some time off from the contemporary, but I'm eager to get back to it.)

I've got about five more contests I want to enter. Now I just have to decide which manuscript to submit.

Happy Friday to all and to all a good night! (Oh, wait. I'm mixing up my holidays, huh?)

Yippee! I'm Cleared!

Cleared for surgery, that is. I know, it's not the best thing to be hopping up and down about, but considering how long it's taken me to get to this point, I'm gonna hop. Pressure was completely normal. I got my written consent for surgery. I told 2 of my 3 classes about their 3-week sub.

While waiting to see the doctor, I wrote in my little notebook that fits inside my purse. I wrote and wrote and came up with a wonderful, critical scene for the middle section of my suspense. Yes, I think switching to suspense for a bit of time will do me, my suspense and my muse some good. After all, I'd been living in my fictional Scottish village where there's very little danger for almost a year and a half. I NEED some danger! As one of my nephews used to say, "ME NEED IT!"

What are you craving right about now?

Tuesday Already

Time's a flyin'! Let's see. I don't know what to tell you. I'm exercising again. Yay. I feel pretty good. Tomorrow I go back to the doctor's to see if he'll clear me for surgery. I'll let you know. I'm not worried. I've been more relaxed since I left his office Friday than I have been in months. My ESL stuff is coming together. I have about 22 more school days with my kids and I'm not letting them get to me as much. After all, life's too short! I stopped my 100 words a day because it was no longer productive or fun. So I'm taking a week off to read and do work stuff. I'm pretty sure I'll get a lot written during my recovery time. I've got suspense withdrawal again-I might have to kill someone! Actually, I put a temporary halt on the short contemporary so I could play around with my next suspense. I'm also lining up a buttload of contests to enter in the coming months. Now, paying for those entries is another beast entirely. Until tomorrow...

Questions From Kelly

Kelly Boyce gave me five questions to answer about a week and a half ago. I've taken my time coming up with the answers, but here they are:

1) What was the first thing you wrote?
I know I wrote short plays in elementary school, but I don’t think I ever finished them. The first story I remember completing was called The Illusive Intruders and it was a writing assignment for 7th or 8th grade English. I was so proud of that story. It was about a group of kids who solved a crime with bad guys who “ran pretty fast for thirty-year-olds”!

2) Who is your favorite television hero and why?
Oh, there are so many! Okay, I’ll start with the men from The Unit. I think those guys are my current favorite TV heroes because they work so hard to protect our freedom and us. (And they remind me that there really are people out there doing these things for our country!)

I also love Don Epps of Numb3rs. I can’t explain it other than he seems like such a true character. He’s a great FBI agent, a good leader and yet he still screws up and struggles with that. AND he’s man enough to admit when he’s wrong. He doesn’t always make the right decisions, but he’s got a good heart.

3) If you could be one heroine from a movie, television show, or book, who would you pick and why?
This is a tough one. I think I’d want to be Maggie Sanger from Evelyn Vaughn’s AKA Goddess. (Vaughn wrote 3 books with this character for Bombshell.) She’s tough, she’s smart, she’s got a job I would love. She’s a kick-ass Bombshell heroine who wants to make the world a better place. Who wouldn’t want to be like that?

4) What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be the first female major league baseball player. (Until I realized I couldn’t hit a ball, couldn’t catch, couldn’t throw….) Then I wanted to be a singer. (Until I realized I HATE getting up in front of people.)

5) If you were a color of ink, what color would you be - and why?
Blue because that is my favorite color. It reminds me of the ocean and it always calms me.

Bad, Lexi!

Sorry it's taken me so long to blog. I fully intended to get BETTER about blogging. I promise to try again.

Updates- Monday I walked in the door from work to a message that I had to make an appointment for a renal ultrasound. Um, no one told me why so naturally, brilliant woman that I am, I decided to research on the Internet. BAD IDEA! Within five minutes I was sure I had kidney disease and would need a kidney transplant EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO PAIN OR PRESSURE OR ANY SYMPTOMS. So, I had that test Tuesday and had to wait all week to find out the results because the doctor who ordered it couldn't return my calls or tell me over the phone that it was routine. Friday I went back to the doctor's. Turns out my kidneys are fine, my heart's fine and my blood pressure is coming down. I'm almost cleared for my surgery. I'm in a good place now. I'm calm, happy and stress-free. Surgery is most likely going to be in the beginning of May and I'll miss the last 3 weeks of school, but I should be able to still go on my trips to Ireland and Scotland.

Work- In addition to all the medical stress, I had my busiest week with my ESL job. I loved it, but it did become a bit overwhelming for a day or two. Luckily we have another week before the deadline for all the paperwork, so I should be all set.

Merritt- With all the other crap going on around me, I completely forgot that I had to print my Merritt entry for the final round of judging. It's due to the coordinator by Tuesday. I sucked it up and sent it out today by Express mail. Man, that hurt. I'll be sure to stay on top of things so that doesn't happen again. That extra $10 could have been spent on a book or two for me to read instead of getting my own to the coordinator!

Plus side of doctors' visits- Over the last 6 weeks I've lost about 10 pounds, mostly from being terrified that something life-threatening would be wrong with one or more of my tests. I might actually make my goal weight by Nationals!

After the last doc's visit, I treated myself to a visit to the bookstore. I'm accumulating books that I know I'll enjoy during my recovery. I'm so psyched! I bought Lisa Gardner's Alone and Smart & Sexy by Jill Shalvis. Jill got the call last Sunday that she is a RITA finalist this year! I love her style of writing and pretty much everything I've read by her. She recently changed her website. Go check it out!

Okay, I'm off to relax a bit and have a cup of tea. Or do my 100 words. Yes, I'm still plugging away at my 100 words a day for 100 days. Today makes 9 weeks. Have a great rest of the weekend!

GH & RITA Finalists

Jill Shalvis and Julie Kenner, congratulations on your RITA nominations! Elisabeth Naughton, congratulations on your Golden Heart nomination! Celebrate, ladies, and I'll be cheering for you in Dallas!

FRACTURED PARADISE DOES IT AGAIN!

Woohoo! I just got word that I finaled in the Merritt contest with my series contemporary manuscript! The judges had really great things to say about it. Now it goes to an editor for final placement. Maybe I should check when the winners are announced.

TGIF

Keepin' busy? I am. Kinda. Or maybe the days are just speeding up.

I went to the doctor's yesterday. I'm still not cleared for surgery. I'm staying in limbo while we try some other tricks to get my blood pressure stabilized enough for my slicing and dicing. I'll let you know.

In the mail yesterday I got scores back from a contest that I thought would announce finalists in April. There were 2 judges. One was a published author who said some really great things about my writing and gave me good scores. The other was an unpublished person who also had good things to say (seriously), but she gave me crap scores. Um...what happened? Ah well. So goes the world of subjectivity. Moving on.

We've got the GH calls going out this weekend to the finalists. Good luck to everyone who entered. The Merritt contest (part of the San Antonio Romance Authors Chapter) also announces finalists this weekend. Wish me luck!!

After the doctor's visit yesterday, I rushed home, ate dinner and got ready to go see The Lion King on Broadway Across America. I've been talking about seeing this for years (although I'd planned to see it in NYC) and I finally got there. FANTASTIC SHOW!! If you ever get the chance to see it, it is definitely worth it. It brought tears to my eyes. The colors, the music, the costumes were all beautiful, and of course the storyline is timeless.

I fell off the proverbial writing wagon yesterday! My 100 words a day for 100 days reached Day 54 before I missed. Not bad. I thought about stopping at this point and just being proud of my accomplishment, but I really like the idea of disciplining myself to write every single day no matter what goes on in the "real world".

Enough about me. How are you?

Contests, Queries, Rejections...Oh My!

Contests--Just got word today that FP took 4th place in the Duel on the Delta Contest. The final judge apparently said this was the toughest contest she has judged in a long time. Minor points made the difference in the rankings. YAY! To keep you up to date, FP has won 1st in one contest, 4th in this one and 5th in another. I still have it out in a few more contests.

Queries--Haven't sent anymore out since last Tuesday, but I'm thinking I might in the next day or two. I've got 12 things still "out there" on 3 different manuscripts. One of these days...

Rejections--Um, got 2 e-mail rejections yesterday, but they were very positive. At least, I took them to be positive. It's just a matter of time. I can feel it in my bones.

Back to the Grind

Hello! I tried to post yesterday and wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day but blogger and AOL REFUSED to let me say anything. I hope everyone had a great day yesterday. I partied at my step-brother's. A good time was had by all.

My retreat was wonderful. The first day I wrote A LOT. The second day I plotted the book and even learned a thing or two about my hero and heroine. I also met a new character who is only 16 in this story, but she's already made it clear to me that she intends to stick around my head, pop up in other stories and eventually get her own story when she's older. She plays a very important role in this current book. A 16-year-old who is pushy and thinks the world revolves around her? Gee, I've never met anyone like that before. :)~ Anyway, she's proving to be very interesting. Oh, the rest of the retreat was relaxing. I shopped, I ate, I drank, I read, I ate some more and then ate some more! I almost didn't want to come home.

When I got home, I found an e-mail from one of the agents I had queried on Monday and Tuesday. She wants to read the 1st part of the book (FP)! I was thrilled, of course, and mailed it yesterday before the St. Patrick's Day party.

Today I ventured back into my classroom to prepare for this upcoming week. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO do not want to be back here, but it's only 10 weeks of school before summer and with my surgery I'll only have 7. Still no date set for that slicing and dicing, but I'm confident that I'll know something for sure this week.

Well, I better get back to my grading so I can go home soon. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Spring Break Continued

It's officially Wednesday. I haven't set foot in my classroom like I'd planned. Oh well. There's always Sunday before I go back.

I managed to send out 2 more queries on FP on Monday afternoon. Yay!

Later this morning I'm mailing my latest contest entry. This will be my first time to send out the latest story, TCAFS. I'm still writing it, but by the time the finalists are announced (June) I'll be in the revision stage. (That's only relevant if it finals, of course!)

Around noontime I leave for my unofficial writing retreat! Big yay! I say unofficial because it's not sponsored by any writing group. It's just me and my mom, sort of like a girls' only trip. My poor stepdad will just have to find some way to survive! My mom writes poetry and non-fiction but isn't published yet either. She could be. She's just got a lot of other priorities in her life right now.

Anyway, this retreat was her idea and we're both so excited! We're driving to a little town a couple hours away and we'll be gone until Friday. I just hope I can get lots of work done. Oh, who am I kidding? My muse has decided spring break is the perfect time to play! The creative juices are bound to continue in a place where I have NOTHING else to do. I'll let you know how it goes!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Hi!

Woohoo! I love vacations! A friend and I had lunch yesterday and spent over 3 hours playing games at Dave & Busters. It was awesome. Oh, and my friend also offered to help me make my business cards for Nationals AND put up a website. How cool is that? Today I slept later, got up to go to the doctors and then mailed 3 agent queries and another contest entry for FP. I'm working on a contest entry for TCAFS, but I don't know if it'll be good enough yet. Off to play some more and actually do a bit of cleaning. Yeah, I should get something done to the house.

Gimme a V! Gimme an A! Gimme a C!

Ah, that'll take too long. I'm on VACATION! (Maybe now my blood pressure will come down and I'll be cleared for my surgery.)

My 6th grade did a play for the PTO meeting on Thursday. It went extremely well considering 4 of the 9 actors didn't show up. So we rearranged parts and recruited some responsible 7th graders to read parts. Yesterday several of the staff members went out for lunch after we got rid of the kids. I tell you, I work with some amazing people and I'm so fortunate to have them around me.

I finished putting my partial together for the agent who requested it from the Romancing the Tome contest. I'm off to mail it in a few minutes. I also started my agent hunt again. I intend to put together a bunch of queries and partials to mail out on Monday. It's been a good year I think since I've done this (since UCOD was in the running), but this time just feels right. This time around I'm confident that I will get an offer of representation from someone.

This weekend I plan to also type up all my handwritten notes on TCAFS (from my 100 words a day) so that I can print the story and take it with me on my 2 night/ 3day writing retreat later in the week. I'm so psyched for this! I did so well during my last retreat. I'm confident that this one will be just as productive.

Of course, I'm going to drag my butt into work this week too to start planning the last 10 weeks of school and to start preparing for my sub. But I don't intend to go in early or to stay late.

And then there is the gym. I went 3 days this week and LOVED it. Unfortunately I did something to my ankle because it was swollen and sore yesterday, so I won't be in the gym today. Then again, I could go swimming instead.

Ah well. It's wonderful just knowing I have all these options and no commitments! Have a great weekend and I PROMISE to blog a bit more this coming week.

Feelin' Pretty Good

I finished reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor tonight. LOVED IT! Such a sobering way to explore the differences and the similarities between difference races. My only 2 regrets are that I don't have more time to teach this book as it should be taught and that I didn't read it sooner.

My 100 words a day challenge is now back to the short contemporary (TCAFS) and I absolutely LOVE the opening scenes that are flowing and coming together for me. I can already see and feel the conflicts this hero and heroine will have. I love them both, but they're going to drive me nuts. (And of course I will enjoy the ride!)

Just 3 more days before spring break! I can't tell you how excited I will be just to be out of the classroom for a week! Still, with my upcoming surgery, I think I'll miss the kids and being in the classroom too.

Oh, and speaking of health...I went to the gym today. Man, do I feel good! And just think. This is with the fibroid. Imagine how wonderful I'll feel when it's out and I've recovered enough to go back to the gym! I'll be a whole new woman!

How're you feeling?

Here I Am!

Hello, hello! No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I just got knocked upside of the head with a big rock.

Crisis-I went for a physical for the first time in about 14-15 years (Yeah, I know, not good) and within a week and a half I saw 2 other doctors, had lots of other tests and found out that I need to have surgery sometime next month. Yeah. That'll teach me. They found a mass in my abdomen. The tests and doctors all say that it seems likely that it's just a really big fibroid, but the word cancer came up and it scared the HELL out of me. Anyway, overall I'm pretty healthy so I'm not stressing so much anymore. The docs also said that I'll feel a lot better when it's out. Oh, and then my blood pressure was high. Gee, could it be from me thinking I was going to die???? Anyway, I'll keep you updated.

Work-One week until spring break. YAY! I'm pushing to get grading and grades done this weekend. I'm studying all the stuff I have to do for my ESL part of my job. Part of spring break will be spent on a writing retreat out of town with a friend. The other part will be spending time in my classroom planning for the last quarter and my 3 week sub. (Yeah, I'll be out of work with the surgery for 3 weeks--gee, all I'll be able to do is read and write. There's a positive in having surgery.)

Writing-Five weeks I've written at least 100 words a day. YAY! So far I've written 9,000 words. The interesting thing? I'm playing around with 3 stories. The main one I'm writing during the 100 words a day challenge is TCAFS, my next Scottish contemporary. Since the heroine of my other Scottish contemporary, ABR, has medical issues, I've started writing a bit more on that during the last 2 weeks. NOW I've got a craving for a good romantic suspense. PASSAGES (working title) is the suspense and the muse is drawing me to this one more and more. So I'm going with it. Whatever works, whatever keeps me writing. The thing is all 3 of these stories have about 100 pages of the rough draft so I could conceivably work on any one of them. BUT I think PASSAGES is the one with the most structured plot and character arcs.

Okay, I think I've given you enough to read for now. Thanks for sticking with me even when I'm not around!

We Interrupt This Blog...

...for a personal crisis. Lexi Connor has issues. (No, not those kinds of issues.) Drama has become the new code word in her world. The drama has nothing to do with writing. It is real life getting in the way of those most excellent books. When she is ready to share the crisis details with you, she will return with an explanation and a detailed synopsis of her last few days.

WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED...UM, NON-CRISIS?

A Quick Word

I guess I'm doing something right. Fractured Paradise took 1st place in the Romancing the Tome Series Contemporary category. I also got a request for a partial. Woohoo!

Stop To Smell The Roses

With all the crap that goes on around us, don't forget to stop along the way and smell the roses. Enjoy each and every day and be thankful for all that you have.

No news on the Romancing the Tome contest yet. I'm hardly thinking about it now. I've moved on.

Another day closer to spring break!

Visiting with my 15-year-old nephew who flew in for his February break. It's good to see him and spend some time with him. It's been a while. I don't ever want to lose touch with him.

Computers Are Our Friends And Other Stuff

So I go to log on and post to the blog when what appears? Blogger forces me to use the "new blogger" whether I want to or not. Fine. I switch to the new blogger. Then I can't post. Of course not! have a Mac and apparently that's almost outlawed. To post on my own blog, I have to download something, connect the dots and cross my cyber t's. I am SO NOT A COMPUTER person, but I download what I need and after an hour I try to post again. Nothing. Lots of colorful phrases fell off my tongue as I walked away from the computer before I hurled it out the window. After a couple of hours of watching taped shows form earlier this week, I felt pretty invincible and I decided to try again. After all, I don't want to post to the blog from work every single day. Obviously it worked this time. YAY! I guess I'm not a technology idiot like I thought. Well, not as much of one.

Work is work. 3 weeks until spring break, but who's counting? The middle schoolers had their Valentine's Dance last night. Oh what fun! My friend (another teacher who chaperoned) and I went out for margaritas after. Now that was worth it.

Still plugging away on the 100 words a day. Although I have a LOT of day job work to do that keeps haunting me (because I keep putting it off). Still, I've been ignoring it and playing. Tomorrow I'll do some work. Honest, boss.

Still no word from Romancing the Tome. The coordinator stated (when someone else asked) she's waiting on one judge. So it'll happen when it happens.

Not Feelin' The Love

Happy Valentine's Day to all those who are celebrating this evening. I am not. Although, please hear me. I do believe in true love! I do believe in the power of love at first sight. I still have hope that I'll find my own hero someday. I celebrated this afternoon with my students. That was enough mayhem and chocolate to last me a while. A few days, anyway. Wherever you are and whatever you do, I hope you had a great day.

Romancing the Tome. Um, somebody forgot to remind the coordinator to post/contact the winners. I would've been okay except that my students kept asking me things like "Did you win?" and "Have you heard yet?" Then, when I got home a couple of friends e-mailed asking if I'd found out the results yet. Truthfully I don't know why it wasn't announced tonight, but I'm sure they'll put us out of our misery as soon as they can. No, I'm not still thinking about it. I haven't had my computer online ALL NIGHT waiting for a posting. I haven't run up the stairs to check e-mails on every other commercial break during my shows. Ah well. Tomorrow's another day.

Don't Hate Me Because I Blog So Little Lately

Yes, I'm here. No, I didn't wait this long to blog on purpose. I just didn't think I had anything to say. I still don't, but I'm here.

Now it's only 3 days until the Romancing the Tome placements are announced. I'm not thinking about it, though. No, not at all.

We have tomorrow off from school. YAY!!! A whole day off and nothing pressing to do.

I got some catalogs from the Scottish Tourist Board and now I'm getting excited again about going to my happy place.

I'm on day 15 of my 100 words a day! Some days I want to write forever. Some days it's hard just to get to word 100.

Today I decided to be a little more daring in my life. After all, life is too short to be afraid to do things or to wait for things to happen. One of my 2 best friends was in San Antonio with her kids and her mom for the weekend (the boys had a soccer tournament). I didn't know if we'd get together. Finally I just grabbed my keys and peeled out of the parking space to go meet them. We only had a few hours together, but it did me a world of good to see someone who is so important to me. (The last time was the week before Nationals in Reno almost 2 years ago. They live in Las Vegas.)

I entered my Scottish contemporary in yet another contest. I'm aiming to have my query ready to be mailed by the end of this week. It's possible. Probable. Okay, it must be definite! I'm learning that I have to suck it up and just get my writing related work done. No excuses. If I want it badly enough, I've GOT to work!

Okay, I'm off to write my 100 words for Sunday.

24-7-69

24- There are NOT enough hours in the day for me to do everything I want and need to do! And I'm single!! I don't know how you married people and people with kids can still find time to write. I'm still working on my 100 words a day. I'm still getting something accomplished each day, although it's NEVER enough time for me to totally immerse myself in my fictional world. BUT I'm getting some great scenes, learning a whole bunch about my characters and just today I nailed down a bunch more information about my current hero and his goals, motivation and conflicts!

7- Only 7 days until the Romancing the Tome contest makes the final placement announcements. My contemporary is in there. I really shouldn't be allowed to enter contests. I get way too excited way too soon. I tell myself I won't spend much time thnking about it between now and then, but...

69- The number of school days left in the 06-07 school year. Although I'll be sad to see my kids go off for summer vacation (some more than others), I CANNOT wait for my own summer vacation! This has been a very challenging year, to say the least, and I'll be happy for some peace among the hills of the Scottish Highlands and the rich, green grasses of Ireland.

Gotta go!

Lost In The Highlands

I worried when this would happen, if it would happen again. I prayed that it would and now it has. I sat tonight after the Super Bowl (Yay Colts!) and wrote. I was only making sure I got my hundred words finished and then I was going to have a cup of tea and start mentally preparing for a new work week. When I next looked at the clock, it was 11:40. I wrote 6 1/2 pages and I'm leaving off in a great spot to pick up the adventure tomorrow. Hopefully this is the first of many days and nights where I lose myself in my fictional village!

Baby Steps

Congratulate me! I've written at least 100 words a day for a whole week! The muse is visiting more often. The fears and doubts are dormant for now. The new hero and heroine are ready to share their story, their pain. They're ready to find their happiness. More importantly, I'm ready to listen.

I got my scores back from the Hook, Line & Sinker contest. I was extremely pleased. 50 points was the highest I could get. My suspense (which took 3rd in the contest) got 50, 50, 49. My contemporary (which took 5th) got 50, 50, 43. I think this helped me get back on track too.

I played around with my query for the contemporary again this morning. It's closer to being ready and I'm closer to loving it. I think I've dealt long enough with my fear of failure (and success, for that matter) and I need to get it out.

When I started getting some personal rejections, I created a powerpoint presentation for myself and my stories. When I started my contemporary series, I created another PPT for Lexi Connor. This morning I pinned down the blurb for my newest manuscript. It's hard to explain, but doing that made me realize that I can do anything. I'm capable of telling a great story. I'm able to create characters that readers love (and hate sometimes!). Blurbs don't scare me so much anymore.

I'll still take baby steps, but I'm ready for the next phase of my writing career.

Tagged

Thanks, Nita.

1. Grab the book closest to you.
DONE

2. Go to page 123. Look down to the 5th sentence.
DONE

3. Post the text of the next three sentences in your blog.
"I'll catch you at the Cinq, Mag." And he disconnected, damn it. I unclenched my jaw, reminding myself that if I had the right to run around Scotland on my own without him complaining, he had the right to choose when to eat.

4. Include the title and the author’s name.
This is from Seventh Key (The Madonna Key) by Evelyn Vaughn. Oh! I just bought this tonight and realized that at least page 123 happens in Scotland! How cool. I can't wait to read it. But I digress...

5. Tag three people.
If you've read this far and you haven't done this yet, consider yourself tagged.

Still A Slacker

Yep, that's me. Nothing's been done. Well, I did write about 2 pages last night so that counts for something. BUT I'm nowhere near the output I'd hoped for at this point in the year and I can't seem to get out of this rut I'm in. I keep reminding myself that when I get published I'll still have to write even when I don't feel like it and I better get used to the feeling now. Still nothing is happening. I don't know why. I'm in such the early stage of the book that my creativity should be free to run wild. Yet, nothing sparks my interest. It's all very disheartening, especially when I know how much I love to delve into my characters and my fictional village.

I suppose I could suck it up, pull myself together and get to work. I'm not the only writer to face this and this is definitely not the last time I'll deal with it. Maybe I just have to show my muscle here and wrestle my creativity back into submission. Whatcha think?

Contest Update

Woohoo! My manuscripts took up 2 of the 6 top spots for the Hudson Valley RWA Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. RESISTING RYAN, my latest romantic suspense took 3rd place. FRACTURED PARADISE, my Scottish contemporary, took 5th place. This is quite an accomplishment since there were 76 entries! I'm off to have a celebratory drink. Or chocolate. Or chocolate drink. Well, you get the idea.

The Drought May Be Over!

The gates of heaven opened up and a chorus of angels began to sing Hallelujah!

I managed to work through the GMC issues I was having wth my current heroine. She is clear to me now and I cannot wait to see how she and the hero mix it up!

Aren't these moments worth all the heartache of a temporary block?

Back To Basics

Still no writing. Lots of reading--of really bad middle school essays.

My CP suggested I NOT send my query out just yet. She says this because I've been asking for critiques of it and although it is good (several people have said so, it's not just me), I still feel like something is missing. My CP agrees.

As I e-mailed my CP back, it occurred to me that my original query was written before the current draft of my book. You know, before it got good. Since finishing the book, I've been trying to fit my newer thoughts into the already written query. Obviously this won't work and I just realized it today.

So I've decided to actually reread FP from the beginning as a reader, remind myself why it's spectacular, and then rewrite the query from scratch. Oh, and I promise to only jot notes in the places along the way that I need to add/delete/fix something. It's been almost 2 months since I've read it all the way through. Maybe I'll fall in love with it all over again! Then that magic could follow my fingers along the keyboard and find its way into my query.

Wish me luck!

Shhh. Don't Tell...

...but I'm procrastinating. I'm sure I could make it an Olympic sport and yours truly would win the gold. After all those wonderful ideas floating through my head on Friday, I haven't written anything.

So, then I moved on and overhauled the blog. I love it, but when it was done I still didn't write anything.

Then last night, I decided to register my domain names for that website I keep promising myself. (I registered my pen name and my real name just in case.) As for the actual website, there's no immediate plan for getting that up and running.

After registering the names, I couldn't fall asleep and so I thought of another plan of action. When I become published, I know I'll have deadlines and I'll HAVE to write even when I don't feel like it. So, my brilliant idea from the wee hours of the morning is this. Write on all three books at once!

Okay, don't yell at me. I don't mean to actually try to write 3 books at once. I'm crazy, not stupid! I think I'm just overwhelmed because I have FP (which is finished and should be sent out in queries by now, so it doesn't even count in the writing aspect!), 2 more Scottish contemps (really rough drafts for both are halfway written) and then there's the poor, lonely suspense, RR sitting on the sidelines just waiting for a chance.

So the brilliant plan is to spend about a week writing on each one for half an hour each day. (FP will get a 1/2 hour of query letters or "final reading" time.) 30 minutes isn't too long to work on a story. Then I figure one of the stories will grab me and will move to the head of the pack. Great plan, huh?

So, why am I not writing yet?

Welcome To My New World!

No, nothing drastic has happened to my writing career. I've just been doing some serious soul searching about my writing career and it felt like the right time to make some changes.

Taking my cue from Bailey Stewart, I decided to switch to the name I hope to use when I start getting published. The name is special to me because it represents characters I love that first introduced me to the Scotland I know and love today.

In the coming months I'll be focusing more on my day job. Because I want to build a "presence" within that community as well, I decided I want my writing life and my private life to be separated a little. (Don't worry. If you know me as Chris, I'll still answer you!)

I expect good things for my writing career in 2007 and this change feels like a step in the right direction.

Now, though, I really should get back to the writing otherwise nothing will happen!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Back to work. Back to writing.

Last night I was tossing and turning in bed with a kazillion thoughts in my head. Maybe my current hero and heroine (for ABR) aren't right for each other. Maybe the conflicts are just too insurmountable. Maybe I don't have what it takes to tell this story. Whatever it was, I just couldn't seem to keep writing. I'd gotten to a point and then stalled. I had my critique group help and my CP gave me some AWESOME ideas. Still, I didn't feel the love.

Until midnight. That's when I found the love of another kind.

I decided that couple needs a little more time to mature as individuals. I need time to prepare myself for the emotional upheaval the heroine will go through. So instead, I decided that I'm very excited for an old flame, the treasure of my heart.

My 2nd manuscript was my 1st attempt at a romantic suspense. It was my 1st story ever set in Scotland and it was when my fictional village came into play. When the manuscript was finished way back in 1999, I had very little idea of what I was doing. Yet to this day I still think about the settings, certain scenes and the heroes. Yes, you read that right. I had 2 heroes in there and only one heroine. (Hey, I already told you I didn't know what I was doing back then!) So, when I got a clue about how to write, I promised my heroes that I would get back to them with a story they deserve when I knew what I was doing.

Fast forward 8 years and the time has come. I bolted out of bed at midnight and started jotting down notes about what I already know. A contemporary storyline popped into my head and wrapped around the excited Scotsman who will now get his happy ending. He should. He deserves it.

As for the other hero of that ill-fated 1st suspense? He'll get his story at some point in the future. I promised him that 8 years ago and I made the same promise last night.

What's Up?

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! Apparently she reached a certain age and started counting backward.

2. I haven't been out of the house since Saturday. It's Wednesday, people. There's ice everywhere and even snow in some spots. The city is shut down. Still.

3. I'm going to Ireland! I'm booked on a 9 day tour in June. I've wanted to go for so long and now it's going to happen! After Ireland, I'll be heading to Scotland as well. I haven't booked that part yet since I'm not sure where I want to spend my time-in Edinburgh or in Glenfinnan, the inspiration for my fictional village. Or both.

4. I've added a few new links on the sidebar. Some illustrator friends who are amazing, some Celtic Hearts writers who rock. Also, here's a plug. Go to Michelle Willingham's blog and check out the cover of her first Harlequin Historical coming out in May.

Well, I suppose I could make good use of this bad weather day and actually get some writing related activities done. Maybe.

Texans and Winter Weather

We're due for some ice over the next couple of days. I'm not going anywhere. Since they don't put up with this weather on a regular basis, Texans have no idea how to behave with ice, sleet and snow. The best place for any of us is in front of the fire with a good book.

I've done nothing on my own manuscript (ABR) since my cold/flu/allergy attack. I've worked a little on stuff for my CP and I've been reading Julie Garwood's Mercy. Other things should be happening-like me cleaning my office, bedroom, bathroom, or actually taking down the Christmas tree-but I can't seem to put the book down long enough to get anything else done. I do plan to enter another contest in the next week and then maybe I'll start those agent queries I keep meaning to send. Eventually I'll get back to writing ABR. If things go the way the weather guys keep saying, I may have Tuesday off to work on that.

Wherever you are I hope you stay warm and dry. And if you live in Texas, STAY INSIDE! Do not attempt to drive around tomorrow (or Tuesday, it seems). Icy roads are dangerous!

No, I Haven't Disappeared

My mom had a cold before I left RI last week. I got it when I got home. Been sick since and then the allergies attacked.

Work started again with staff development on Monday and the kids came back Tuesday. 85 school days until summer break.

Got a rejection from an editor who'd requested UCOD from a contest. She says good things about my writing, BUT she believes my story is 100% a category RS.

Why did I agree to judge GH? I find myself so badly wanting to comment, to offer my opinion and advice. Then there's the whole "how do I assign a number for this" question. What was I thinking when I agreed to do this?

100 words a day challenge stopped when I got sick. I managed 2 weeks. No time or energy to continue right now. I'm focusing on GH entries and the spring duties of the day job.

More at the weekend. I hope all is well in your world, writing and otherwise!

Happy 2007!

Welcome to a brand new year of fun and excitement, of deadlines and fresh new manuscripts, of queries and synopses. I hope you have a productive year no matter what that looks like to you!

For me, I intend to take my approach to my writing up another notch. I've already been considering myself a professional for a few years now, but 2007 brings a much more intense approach. I've got several things "in the fire" as we speak. Next week I intend to add 11-13 more. Now, these can be contest entries, WIP, agent/ editor queries, requests, etc. I hope to finish BR and get started on the next book as well. I will probably have a website by the end of this year. I'm going to Nationals, creating my business cards, putting a business plan together. This summer I'm heading to the village that inspired my current stories, Glenfinnan, Scotland, to do more research. I started another 100 words a day challenge without my local RWA group. So far I'm on day 10 and I'm rockin'! I've plotted and plotted my new book and I'm reading to help me reseach the markets AND to improve my skills. I intend to venture out on more blogs and websites and mingle with more people.

And I thank you for coming along on the ride with me! So raise your glass (okay, so it's a few days late!) and join me in toasting the year that will bring us good fortune, good friends and good fun!

On A Roll!

Got word yesterday that both FP & RR finaled in the Hook, Line & Sinker contest! I'm so thrilled with FP's successes. It's finaled in 3 out of 5 contests so far with 2 more waiting on announcements and 2 more that I'm going to enter in January.

An unbiased reader spoke with me about FP the other day. She liked it enough that it left her wanting to read the next book. She said it caught her attention right away and that she likes the tension between the heroine and the hero. What she regrets is that I didn't give her lots more details about the village and how the community interacts with the heroine. I explained that in a short contemporary I don't have a lot of space to do that. She said she felt like she was there, she just usually reads books that have tons more details.

2007 is going to be a spectacular year for my writing. I feel it in my gut. That may not take the form of a book contract, but there are good things in store for me and I feel that I cannot afford to slack off with any aspect of my writing business. So, I've started writing the next book and I'm already so in love with it!

Rounding Out 2006

The presents are all unwrapped, the candy is all eaten (or at least broken into), the Santa hat is packed away until next year. Christmas Eve and Day were wonderful. My brother and grandfather joined us (Mom, stepdad and me) for dinner on Christmas Eve and my best friend joined us for Christmas dinner yesterday. I got some wonderful presents and such peace within me. It's too hard to explain without sounding like an idiot. So, I'll not even try.

My thoughts now turn to New Year's Eve. I'm always the person pondering how my life and the world around me have changed over the last 12 months and I'm always making plans to improve in the new year. Where will I go? Who will be influential in my life in 2007? Will I make a difference to someone else?

Some questions are easy to answer. I'll go back to Texas to teach the 2nd half of the school year. I plan to go to Ireland for the first time and back to Scotland during the summer. I'll be in RI for my cousin's wedding next fall. For sure I'll be in Dallas for the RWA National Conference.

Some questions I can't begin to answer. Some I can only hope for the answer my heart wants me to give.

Will you reflect as we get closer to 2007?

An Early Christmas Present

As I struggled last night to pack too much crap into my too small suitcase, I got word that FP finaled in the Duel on the Delta Contest! Woohoo!!!!

Woohoo!!!

It's over! School is out. I'm officially on vacation until January 8th. I'm so excited! I can read, write, wrap Christmas presents. Of course, first I have to stuff all said presents in with my clothes and be able to zip my suitcase!

Wherever you are, wherever you go I hope you have a wonderfully exciting and restful holiday!

Ha, Ha, Ha!

I have beaten those sentences into submission! (Um, is that grammatically correct?)

Okay, no. I've merely finished my latest draft of my 2 page synopsis. I am sending it to the contest coordinator for the final round of the Romancing the Tome contest. I am not going to look at FP or anything to do with FP for at least another week. From writing, I am officially on vacation!

Now I just have to get through the next 2 1/2 days at school.

Poke My Eye Out With a Tree Branch

I guarantee that will be less painful than working on this synopsis. If you haven't already realized it, I HATE writing synopses. That's because I stink at them. I'm revising the 2-pager for the final round of the Romancing the Tome contest and it's killing me. I've got 2 pages and 8 lines. Yeah, I could change the font, but I'm anal about sending uniform entries. The manuscript pages are in Courier New so the synopsis HAS to be in Courier New as well.

In other news, I loved watching The Magic of Ordinary Days yesterday. Only watched once. I'm supposed to go with my sister-in-law to see Babel this evening. We're both huge Brad Pitt fans. I brought a whole bunch of stuff home to grade, but it's all still in the car. Oh well.

How is your weekend?

A Present For Myself

We got out of our staff meeting a bit early, so I packed up a bunch of stuff to grade, tossed it in the trunk and headed for the mall. Even though some nasty bug is trying to worm through my innards, I was bound and determined to continue Christmas shopping. Things were going along well and I realized I'd only have one more outing for gifts. I could've gone tonight, but traffic was already choking the highway. So, I decided to come home after my last stop in the Hallmark store.

Well, there I was searching for cute little gifts, when what should appear right before my eyes? A movie I've seen once that I absolutely LOVED and have wanted to own since it first aired. Even though the movie aired on the Hallmark channel, it never actually occurred to me to look for it in a Hallmark store. Yet, there it was whispering, "Here I am! Merry Christmas to you, Chris!"

I had a bunch of grand plans for this weekend to make it whiz by, but since this bug's messing with my stomach, I think I might just sit on the couch with a cup of soup and watch my movie, The Magic of Ordinary Days with Keri Russell and Skeet Ulrich. And maybe tomorrow I'll sit with a morning cup of tea and watch it again.

Life Is Good

I can't complain.

Yesterday afternoon, I and a couple other staff members took the 4th & 6th grades to volunteer for Blue Santa. We got to shop for needy families here in Austin. I had a better time than I thought I would and the kids enjoyed it too. It felt so good knowing I was doing something good for my community.

We had our Austin RWA party last night and it was great. I got to see some people I haven't seen in months and I got to know the names of some of the new faces that have popped into our meetings over the last few months.

My lesson plans for the rest of the days before winter break are pretty much finished. I'm hoping to get a lot of grading done this weekend. (Next week I'm planning to sketch out my January lesson plans & work on report cards.)

I finished that kids' book, The Cay. It's by Theodore Taylor and it was AWESOME!! On my prep period today, I took the book and my cloak (Scottish, with the colors of the Black Watch) and I sat out front in the garden and sunshine. It was perfect and I was so relaxed for the rest of the day.

Another round of Christmas shopping tonight and I think I can safely say I'm almost done. Except for 1 or 2 people, I either have everything or I know what I'm getting them.

Busy weekend ahead, but you don't need all the details. Let's just say lots more Christmas stuff, a peek with my sister-in-law at Brad Pitt's newest movie, grading, and applying for my new passport!!! The post office is having a Passport fair, so I can take care of it now and not have to worry about it anymore for my summer trip to the British Isles!

I hope you all are doing well, staying sane and enjoying every maddening moment of this holiday season!

Losing My Mind (Or What's Left of It!)

I was sure I'd written a post since last Thursday. Guess not. Maybe I meant to. Maybe I formed one in my head. Or not.

It's been a busy few days. Friday after work I went Christmas shopping. Saturday I went grocery shopping and worked on crafting a 2 page synopsis for my contemporary. Saturday night we had our staff Christmas party for the day job at the boss's house. A good time was had by all and I ate enough for three people. Come to think of it, I drank enough for 3 people as well. Sunday I slept on the couch for 11 hours and then it took me a few more hours to pull myself together enough to keep my eyes open. I stopped by my brother's house to give my niece her birthday present and we watched The Polar Express. Cute movie. Then, they gave me my Christmas present since I may not see all of them together before my trip up to the frozen north. They gave me 2 of my favorite things-chocolate and a Barnes & Noble gift card! When I got home last night, I finished my 2 page synopsis. (I had a 5 pager and an 8 pager, but for the final round of Romancing the Tome I need a 2 pager.)

Tonight I went Christmas shopping again and started getting frustrated so I came home. Tomorrow is my Austin RWA chapter Christmas party, so I'm really looking forward to that. Then Thursday is our school winter program. So much to do, so little time!

I'm still not reading. I've decided that the week of Christmas I'm truly taking off. No school stuff, no writing, no business. (Well, I might actually draft some notes for the next book.) The first week of January I'll get back into the business end of writing and I'll work on stuff for the day job. I can't imagine doing absolutely nothing but reading, watching mindless TV and hanging out with family and friends, but it'll be so much fun!

Movin' Along

I hope everyone took a minute to remember Pearl Harbor. I brought it up to my homeroom class this morning and we got into a great discussion about war and how there's never just one reason for it.

I'm feeling better about my non-finaling (in this latest contest) manuscript. A friend of mine made a comment that I hadn't even thought about. When I told her the judges' reactions to my characters, she said, "Great!" I just stared at her like she had five heads. She went on to explain, "Your job is to make the reader feel something. They got invested enough to dislike the characters." Kind of odd thinking, but I like it!

Oh! Another co-worker read my Author in Waiting page and asked to read one of my manuscripts over winter break. (I gave my co-workers Tami Dee's website address and told them all about it during our last staff meeting.)

I put the Christmas tree up last night and went Christmas shopping tonight. By no means am I finished, but when I got tired I just came home. That was pleasant. AND I only bought one thing for myself-a Celtic CD.

I'm grading, planning and meeting with parents. I'm not even thinking about writing. That much. I started a new book from one of the kids in my 7th grade class. It's called The Cay and it's interesting enough to keep me reading. I read about 60 pages today during study halls and while my other classes were reading their books.

Tomorrow is Friday and I've got 2 weeks left before winter break! Yay! I cannot wait. Plus, this weekend is my niece's birthday (she's 5 and the only girl, I've got 6 nephews) and our staff Christmas party. Then I also plan to finish my Christmas shopping.

Oh! All is well with the family drama, at least for now. Hopefully it will remain so through my Christmas visit.

Happy writing, reading and holiday preparing!

Annoyance

That's my word for the day. Or few days. I'm not reading, not writing, don't want to do either. I'm tired of mean kids. I'm trying to forget the judges' comments from my last entry (which didn't final) that said my hero was a jerk and my heroine whines too much. (CLEARLY those judges weren't from my target audience!) We've got some family drama that is hurting my heart and there's nothing I can do about it. I did manage to start my Christmas shopping and pull my decorations out of storage. After dinner I'm going to put the tree together and decorate it. Maybe that'll help me feel better.

Life is Good!

Tami Dee's Website Go there. Look me up. I'm the December Author in Waiting. I had a lot of fun preparing for this. You'll see a picture of me (since I can't figure out how to post one to the blog), you can learn a bit more about me, and you can read excerpts from my latest award-winning suspense AND my first ever contemporary that I'm so thrilled with! Check it out! You have no excuses not to. It'll be up for the whole month.

I woke up this morning at 8:17. Work started at 7:45. You do the math. The boss wasn't upset though. I think in 5 1/2 years I've been late 3, maybe 4 times.

Turns out my Christmas lights weren't stolen. When I got home today they were up waiting for me to plug them in. Guess there is some good in the world.

I'm really, really thinking about a website as a Christmas present to myself. Plus I've got this great fellow ARWA member who designs them and has already started explaining all the techno-crap to me.

I've got a weekend of Christmas cheer planned---shopping, decorating and hot chocolate drinking. I brought a bunch of stuff home to grade too, which I really want to do so that life will be easier next week.

I'm off to have a cup of tea and read, but tonight I think I'll read Merry Christmas, Babies instead of Catherine, Called Birdy. You should go to tamidee.com. Tami and I will love you for it!