It's a zoo around here, as usual. The air conditioning went out--AGAIN--and Sadie's having real problems due to her lack of appetite, and we're dealing with that. Not to worry--she just got dehydrated and needs some TLC.
I'm well into the book, though, so I'm going to write--provided I don't roast first. :)
Have a good weekend, my friends.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Off and Running
Excellent writing day yesterday!
It's been hot as heck here lately; the houseplants are loving it, but the rest of us wouldn't mind a rainy day or two. :)
I'm reading another book recommended by friends--read for so long last night, in fact, that the battery on my Nook ran completely down. It's a memoir called "On Gold Mountain", by the novelist, Lisa See, about the immigration of her Chinese family to the United States, back in the 19th century. Fascinating history and such an inspiring account of human beings rising above bad odds and prejudice to build a lasting legacy.
I'm starting Chapter 10 of "Big Sky Country" today. Yeehaw! And I'm enjoying every word of it, too. Wait til you meet this crew of cowboys and spunky ladies. I'm in love with Slade Barlow, the hero of book one, already, and falling fast for Hutch Carmody, the rebellious hero of book two. :) Naturally, I've matched them with strong women who can hold their own, and now I'm just having fun watching what happens when they butt heads. :)
Worked a little in my art journal from the Teesha Moore workshop in mid-July, but I'm mostly saving the artist trading cards for weekends. No pressure. I like it that way. :)
How do I get caught up in these things, anyway? By that, I mean Swapbot, and the little hearts, and the kind of stress nobody needs. This cowgirl can't seem to do anything halfway--it's whole hog or none--a tendency I'm finally learning to control. And that's good news.
Sadie's appetite is still iffy, but I'm sure the heat is part of it. She's a senior citizen, at 11, but for a beagle, not ancient. Maybe I've been reading too many dog books lately, but I worry about her, of course. She has such a sweet, goofy spirit. Bernice, too, but she's fiesty, in that terrier way, and always warning us about the Schwan's truck, or the UPS guy, or the wild turkeys, who are, in her Yorkie opinion, plotting something dastardly. The cats take everything with a grain of salt, except for the occasional sister-spats, when they hiss and slap at each other and I have to say firmly, "No fighty cats!"
And if you think that's silly, the way I carry on conversations with the critters around here, well, you don't know the half of it.
:)
It's been hot as heck here lately; the houseplants are loving it, but the rest of us wouldn't mind a rainy day or two. :)
I'm reading another book recommended by friends--read for so long last night, in fact, that the battery on my Nook ran completely down. It's a memoir called "On Gold Mountain", by the novelist, Lisa See, about the immigration of her Chinese family to the United States, back in the 19th century. Fascinating history and such an inspiring account of human beings rising above bad odds and prejudice to build a lasting legacy.
I'm starting Chapter 10 of "Big Sky Country" today. Yeehaw! And I'm enjoying every word of it, too. Wait til you meet this crew of cowboys and spunky ladies. I'm in love with Slade Barlow, the hero of book one, already, and falling fast for Hutch Carmody, the rebellious hero of book two. :) Naturally, I've matched them with strong women who can hold their own, and now I'm just having fun watching what happens when they butt heads. :)
Worked a little in my art journal from the Teesha Moore workshop in mid-July, but I'm mostly saving the artist trading cards for weekends. No pressure. I like it that way. :)
How do I get caught up in these things, anyway? By that, I mean Swapbot, and the little hearts, and the kind of stress nobody needs. This cowgirl can't seem to do anything halfway--it's whole hog or none--a tendency I'm finally learning to control. And that's good news.
Sadie's appetite is still iffy, but I'm sure the heat is part of it. She's a senior citizen, at 11, but for a beagle, not ancient. Maybe I've been reading too many dog books lately, but I worry about her, of course. She has such a sweet, goofy spirit. Bernice, too, but she's fiesty, in that terrier way, and always warning us about the Schwan's truck, or the UPS guy, or the wild turkeys, who are, in her Yorkie opinion, plotting something dastardly. The cats take everything with a grain of salt, except for the occasional sister-spats, when they hiss and slap at each other and I have to say firmly, "No fighty cats!"
And if you think that's silly, the way I carry on conversations with the critters around here, well, you don't know the half of it.
:)
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
In a Good Place
I've made some important decisions lately; some of them are about starting something and some of them are about stopping something. :)
Have you ever quit a group, not because there was anything wrong with the people in that group, but because you didn't like who you were becoming in the context you found yourself in? I just deleted myself from the Swapbot site, where I've been swapping artist trading cards for the last few years, for exactly that reason. I was getting too worried about whether or not I got a heart when swappers rated my card. I began to feel angry--sounds silly, doesn't it?--and of course that took all the fun out of my reason for joining in the first place--making artist trading cards. It's a little like that old Marx brothers joke--"Doctor," one says, while perched on an examining table, "It hurts when I do that." (Lifting an arm or a leg, something simple like that). The doctor whacks the patient on the head and says, "Well, then, don't do that!"
Me: Doctor, it hurts when I spend hours making an artist trading card and the other person gives me a low rating.
Doctor: (With accompanying whack on the head.) Then don't put yourself in that situation!
Oh, the freedom. I had no idea how much all this was weighing on me. I can make artist trading cards for the original reason--because I love it. And now I'm off to do something I love even more than art--writing my new book.
Thanks for lending an ear.
Have you ever quit a group, not because there was anything wrong with the people in that group, but because you didn't like who you were becoming in the context you found yourself in? I just deleted myself from the Swapbot site, where I've been swapping artist trading cards for the last few years, for exactly that reason. I was getting too worried about whether or not I got a heart when swappers rated my card. I began to feel angry--sounds silly, doesn't it?--and of course that took all the fun out of my reason for joining in the first place--making artist trading cards. It's a little like that old Marx brothers joke--"Doctor," one says, while perched on an examining table, "It hurts when I do that." (Lifting an arm or a leg, something simple like that). The doctor whacks the patient on the head and says, "Well, then, don't do that!"
Me: Doctor, it hurts when I spend hours making an artist trading card and the other person gives me a low rating.
Doctor: (With accompanying whack on the head.) Then don't put yourself in that situation!
Oh, the freedom. I had no idea how much all this was weighing on me. I can make artist trading cards for the original reason--because I love it. And now I'm off to do something I love even more than art--writing my new book.
Thanks for lending an ear.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Yesterday Was...
An absolutely wonderful writing day! I did my timed "freewriting" exercise (10 minutes, just writing as fast as I can, the theme being what I want to happen in the story next), then I launched right into the chapter. Slade and Joslyn are practically writing the book for me!
Remind me how I kvetched about the cold and the rain. :) We're having a heatwave now, like most of the country, and the air-conditioner went kaput--again. I wrote upstairs yesterday, where it's cool, and will do the same thing again today.
Since Tuesday is new book day just about everywhere, I'm downloading some interesting stuff to listen to on my iPod and read on my Nook. As I said yesterday, I loved "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and I see there's a new one out, called "Copper", but I'm not ready for another dog book yet. I need time to assimilate Enzo's story. :) I'm reading David Baldacci's "One Summer" at the moment. Good story, though I like his legal thrillers better--they seem more polished somehow. Still, I certainly don't fault the man for wanting to try new things. That's what life is all about, as far as I'm concerned. Experiments. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't--but I think we're always better off for trying.
Sadie-beagle is still picky about her food, and she got down to 26 pounds. We never thought we'd see the day when we wanted her to eat MORE. She weighed 50 pounds when we started this journey a couple of years ago. Anyway, I guess the Cushings medicine affects her appetite. Maybe I should be taking it. :)
On another note, I often marvel at how well this country does, considering the antics of all those politicians back in Washington City.
"When you and I make a joke, it's just that, a joke. When Congress makes a joke, it's a law." (Paraphrasing the inimitable Will Rodgers.)
Keep smiling. Crying won't do a darn bit of good.
:)
Remind me how I kvetched about the cold and the rain. :) We're having a heatwave now, like most of the country, and the air-conditioner went kaput--again. I wrote upstairs yesterday, where it's cool, and will do the same thing again today.
Since Tuesday is new book day just about everywhere, I'm downloading some interesting stuff to listen to on my iPod and read on my Nook. As I said yesterday, I loved "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and I see there's a new one out, called "Copper", but I'm not ready for another dog book yet. I need time to assimilate Enzo's story. :) I'm reading David Baldacci's "One Summer" at the moment. Good story, though I like his legal thrillers better--they seem more polished somehow. Still, I certainly don't fault the man for wanting to try new things. That's what life is all about, as far as I'm concerned. Experiments. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't--but I think we're always better off for trying.
Sadie-beagle is still picky about her food, and she got down to 26 pounds. We never thought we'd see the day when we wanted her to eat MORE. She weighed 50 pounds when we started this journey a couple of years ago. Anyway, I guess the Cushings medicine affects her appetite. Maybe I should be taking it. :)
On another note, I often marvel at how well this country does, considering the antics of all those politicians back in Washington City.
"When you and I make a joke, it's just that, a joke. When Congress makes a joke, it's a law." (Paraphrasing the inimitable Will Rodgers.)
Keep smiling. Crying won't do a darn bit of good.
:)
Monday, August 01, 2011
Enthusiasm Makes the Difference
And after a rough 5 days, allergies, that bum knee, etc., I find that I have plenty of enthusiasm. I'm SO eager to get back to the book!
Over the weekend, I listened to a book I've been avoiding--"The Art of Racing in the Rain", by Garth Stein. Why would I, the consummate animal lover, avoid a book told from the perspective of a golden retriever? Well, because I'm still getting over "Marley & Me", which was one of the best books ever, but it tore me up emotionally. Still, Matt and Shirley Alling recommended the book so highly that I finally decided to give it a try. And it was wonderful--joy and heartbreak and all. I fell in love with Enzo the dog and his 'dad', Denny. The story was enthralling and well told--I just had to know how things were going to turn out for Enzo and the crew.
I also did some art work, and made runs to Hobby Lobby and the grocery store on Saturday. That was about all the adventure I had energy for, and I wanted to be ready to write this morning. Which I am!
Yea!!!!
And that's the news for Monday.
Over the weekend, I listened to a book I've been avoiding--"The Art of Racing in the Rain", by Garth Stein. Why would I, the consummate animal lover, avoid a book told from the perspective of a golden retriever? Well, because I'm still getting over "Marley & Me", which was one of the best books ever, but it tore me up emotionally. Still, Matt and Shirley Alling recommended the book so highly that I finally decided to give it a try. And it was wonderful--joy and heartbreak and all. I fell in love with Enzo the dog and his 'dad', Denny. The story was enthralling and well told--I just had to know how things were going to turn out for Enzo and the crew.
I also did some art work, and made runs to Hobby Lobby and the grocery store on Saturday. That was about all the adventure I had energy for, and I wanted to be ready to write this morning. Which I am!
Yea!!!!
And that's the news for Monday.
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