Beware of Ranting

I suddenly really hate the word 'excellent'. I am currently on the phone with my cell provider and the man keeps looking at my account going, 'excellent, that's excellent'. It's not excellent. My account won't work. And I can't check on the shipping of the phone that ordered. Have I mentioned that I've been without a working for phone for almost a month now? I don't like it. However, if what the man says is the truth, my phone should be here today. I guess we'll just see about that. :/

How much of a nerd are you?

I just realized that, while I am quite a nerd in my own world, I have a long way to go before I reach true nerdome. Check out this post and the comments on Dan Wells' blog. Dan is one of my favorite authors, someone I might like to write like some day, but this entire conversation went completely over my head. The funny thing is that I wish I understood it. I like military tactics and the idea of this kind of gaming is actually quite interesting to me (my dad's military influence coming out), but I've never had anyone around who could teach me about it. But who knows? Maybe one day, right?

Nine years ago today I was in the throws of labor with my oldest child. The word 'surreal' comes to mind.

Here comes a day of celebration! I just have to get out of bed first. :)

Funny things my son says....

Scott was watching the Lord of the Rings with the kids and they got to the part where the group sees the elves and Adam pipes up with, "Those aren't Christmas elves."

Made me chuckle. :)

Thank you to Debbie for introducing me to Ludo. I love them! Can't get enough of 'Broken Bride'.

Not much writing happening in my life. Why is it that I use this blog as a way to air my frustrations so much? Oh well. Back to life. :)

Oh! Things I'm looking forward to:

Spring break in which Donna comes to visit and we take a road trip to Sacramento to crash Dan Wells' book signing. Hooray!

&

The day when my first book is done and I can move on to the next.

Okay, now back to life. :)

Venting

I'm taking two minutes out of my very busy day to present evidence that our government is made up of a bunch of idiots.

Exhibit A: New York Times Article

Wouldn't it make more sense for everyone involved to just print on the package the nutritional information for the entire package of food first. Then, underneath that, break it down into a serving size? That way, if you decide to down an entire bag of chips, you can see exactly how many thousands of calories you just ate. No confusion. I think it's funny, by the way, that the FDA is concerned about implementing larger portion sizes because "they think it might tell people that the government is saying they can eat more". Is it just me or is that a ridiculous argument?

Heading to San Francisco today.

And, in other news, I'm reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. It's been awhile since I've read anything so classically fantasy and I'm liking it a lot. His magic system is intriguing and his world is just craving a revolution that should be fun getting to. You just gotta hate those nobles!

Activity...

I took my two youngest kids and the dogs for a walk in the foothills across town from my house. Quite delightful! There is no end to how entertaining the dogs are to me. They barrel through the snow, race down the trail and bound happily back to me as if they've just accomplished the most amazing feats. Love them!

The kids are entertaining, but they take a lot more work......there's a lot more falling and not enough bounding. But they still managed to have some fun. :)

I am grumpy.

I should not be allowed near other human beings.

There should be a sign around my neck reading, "Approach at Your Own Risk".

Other than that, things are good. I managed to work on my WiP for about ten minutes today, plus five yesterday. So, yeah, things are good.

My Killer Dog

Yes, he killed another rat. This one was much more heart wrenching since we had the rat for almost a whole year. And she didn't die right away. AND Katie was holding her when she DID die. Needless to say, it was a morning of drama in my house.


I stayed up till after midnight writing last night. It's still coming along great. So, yay!

Manuscript Report

I'm happy to report that I'm getting into the writing of the idea I've alluded to. It's not going as fast as I'd like, but it is coming along. I'll post when I hit the halfway mark (coming up in a few weeks, cross my fingers). I want this, my first real manuscript, to be finished in time for Writing For Young Readers in June 2010. I hear a lot of good things about that particular conference and I hope I'll be able to talk to some veterans in the national market while I'm there. I know my chances of getting published with this one are slim to none, but a girl can hope. :)

I Love Writing

In the midst of my crazy life, I sometimes forget this detail. Then I put my priorities in order, come up with a great new idea and it comes to me--I love writing. I can't go into details about my story because that would ruin the thrill I get from actually writing, but I can say that this one is pure fun for me. I put my kids in bed at night, I veg with my other half and then, when everyone is asleep, I lie awake thinking about my characters. So, now instead of thinking about them, I just write about them until midnight. Good times!

In other news, I did my first review of a manuscript for Valor Publishing last week. It was a lot of fun and really helped me to be more critical of my own work. Of course, what I'm working on is a rough draft so I know there are major changes that might happen before I'm done, but I'm more aware about the points in my story that are important and the ones that are not. Hopefully, those will come through in the end.

Happy Writing. :)

Good Halloween

My Halloween wasn't nearly as exciting as Graham's, but it had it's moments. First, I got to stay in bed till almost 10 a.m. Therefore I started the day in a very good mood. (Bonus for my kids). I made doughnuts while watching Scott carve the most awesome jack-o-lantern ever. (Yes, that's it to the side there). Then I watched Scott eat a five scoop ice cream cone. I don't know why. Its like we didn't think the kids were going to get enough sugar in the next couple of weeks. They had to have ice cream, too. Then, of course, there was the actual getting into costumes and trick-or-treating. I was on duty this year, while Scott stayed home to hand out candy. It was quite entertaining watching my four kids race from house to house. After every door, my littlest would come to me and say things like, "I got lots of candy, Mom! I better eat my candy at my house." And, "I have to hurry to my friends, Mom." Her friends are her brothers and sister. I find it hilarious that she calls them her friends. Kind of like how she calls Scott 'her daddy friend'. She's just cute like that. So that was it. We trick-or-treated till they couldn't hold their pillowcases anymore. Then we went home and the gorging began.

Stupid People...

Has anyone else seen the nonsense in pop news about Taylor Lautner? How there's a double standard in Hollywood when it comes to what is or isn't appropriate to take off (clothing wise) for underage actors? The whole thing is really ridiculous. I spent, easily, twenty minutes reading an article about it and then reading the comments afterward and the whole thing made me disgusted (time I will never get back). Some people pointed fingers saying that anyone looking at underage persons sexually were pervs. Others thought Hollywood was in the dark ages by not allowing girls and boys the same amount of skin in the tabloids and on the big screen. And the whole time I just want to scream, YOU PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS! Doesn't anyone out there remember that the only reason we have underage anything is because someone in the past thought it might be prudent to make that distinction for the protection of said minors? Not that I'm for the ogling of teenagers, but those laws don't take away a teenager's innate sexuality. What I am saying is that its not about equal skin time, its about teaching young people that its not about the skin at all. Someone needs to tell young people to leave something to the imagination and to remember that what is in your head makes you much more appealing than finding out how much of your body you can show off without walking around naked.

Pull Over When Drowsy

I saw this sign both coming and going to Utah this last week. I find it interesting and useful to know that this principle is multifaceted, though not as widely accepted as it should be. I mean, what a concept. If you're tired you should sleep, as opposed to driving into the truck in front of you or swerving off into the desert at high speeds. Or, I don't know, when you're sick you should actually rest and recover before trying to go on with the heavy lifting of life. Also on that list is writing. Maybe its just me, but I think the person short on sleep, putting in fourteen hour days at work and then coming home to family obligations and regular life is up in the wind if they expect themselves to be writing 3000 words a day as well. Let's take it down a notch. Just ratchet it back a smidge. Get some sleep. Come at it from a different perspective in the morning. And with that...

Wasting time....blah blah blah....wasting time.

I had a great brain storming session with Donna today.

I shared an Oreo shake (from Jack in the Box) with my kids after practicing the organ at the church. They weren't exactly gems, but they didn't burn the church down either. So, they deserved it.

I haven't been to the gym since Tuesday. I'm gonna go ahead and chalk up this week to being either too a)busy, b)tired or c)out of town. I've lost 10 pounds since about August so I'm taking a well deserved break.

Humanitarian Aid

I find it both shocking and amazing that things easily found in our local stores, sold for mere dollars, are the things that are most needed by those in areas struck by disaster and war. Indeed, not just disaster zones and nations writhing in the grip of totalitarian dictators. Soap, combs, hand towels, tooth brushes, tooth paste. These simple items transform a person from "dirty transient stranger" to "human being". They bring those unfortunate souls who walk our streets, penniless and without shelter, back from the brink of hopelessness. These precious items can remind them of their humanity and worth. So, give a hand this year. This very minute if you can.

Here is a link on how to put together Hygiene Kits, Newborn Kits, School Kits to be sent to the Latter-Day Saint Humanitarian Center.

I wish I could put a listing up that says, "Here is the exact right place where you should help out." I can't. There are too many places that are in need. Homeless shelters, women's shelters, retirement homes, soup kitchens, shelters for transient families. Not to mention hospitals and hospices, drug rehabs and the ever-present schools in need of support. But with careful consideration and prayer, I'm sure you can find the right place where your services will be well received. We can't save everybody, but we can help somebody. Just do what you can, right?

I Love Books

I do. I love becoming immersed in the story, the magic. Even if it's just regular fiction (not sci-fi/fantasy) I get engrossed in the characters, their stories, the way they view the world. I love seeing things from different perspectives and I wonder where I fit on the scale. How do I see the world compared to everyone else? Maybe my perception is not unique, but I like to think that the way I feel about things...that's all my own.

Tired! Tired! Tired!

It's my own fault because I stayed up till 3 a.m. reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. It was absolutely outstanding! When does the next book come out?! For the record, I am shocked and appalled at how few people have read the Hunger Games or even know about it. (Catching Fire is the next book in the series). Aside from being a thrilling ride from start to finish, it addresses the confusion and woes of being a teenager from a completely different angle. Not to mention in a completely different light.

Imagine a society where the people have been tortured, belittled and virtually castrated into submission by the most ruthless dictator since Hitler. Balancing on that precarious edge of dictatorship is a girl, smack in the middle of puberty trying to figure out who and/or what she is and by what morals she should live her life. And it's by walking this tricky walk of being true to herself, family and those she cares about that she manages to unbalance the world she's trying preserve.

Provocative read. An absolute must read!

New Instruments

I have to learn how to play the organ by October. Handy that I know how to play the piano but really, they're not the same at all. Wish me luck because I will be practicing my guts out in the next few weeks as opposed to writing.