Archive for previous entries this month
August 1, 2008
Cardinal
So here we are in August. I am much closer to being done with the book, so that's good. I have hopes for this month. Russ might be home next weekend, just the day after his birthday. If not, he will be home over the Labor Day weekend. That's a bit longer than I like, but if that's how it works, we'll manage.
I think I'll have the book done this weekend. Then I'll set it aside and work on something else for a few days, then come back and do an edit -- and send it off to Russ to go over, as well. I hope to turn it in about mid-month, several weeks ahead of schedule.
Then, of course, we'll wait and see if the publisher likes it -- but that part is beyond my control. I just have to write the best book I can.
I'm pretty happy with it, though. I'm doing the last big steps -- dropping in the exercises every few pages and writing the intro and closing paragraphs to each chapter. I've also rearranged a few sections and I know there's at least one more section that I'll need to rewrite when I get to it.
So, off to get more work done before I get some sleep!
August 2, 2008
I am very close to getting the book done.
That's going to take all my attention for the next couple days. I really want this beast done. It's going far better than I hoped, finally, but it still requires all my attention.
Off to work I go....
August 3, 2008
Lovely flower
It got up to 98f today, with heat index way over 100. I'm glad to say I slept through most of it. I was up until after noon, mostly reading, and then I collapsed and slept for hours. I did go walking this morning, and it was way too hot even then. I probably won't do it tomorrow morning. Heat and I don't agree.
It's even too warm in my office. I hate weather like this. I can never decide if I hate extreme hot or extreme cold worse. I don't see the use for either.
But, in other news -- I am about 400 words from my 60,000 word goal. I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm close enough that I'm really very happy. I'll get those words tonight!
And that's what I'm going to do. Oh and post this now before I forget again. (Yesterday's un-posted entry is in the archives. I didn't have anything to say anyway!)
August 4, 2008
Morning Sky
I didn't go out walking this morning because we were having a storm. Instead, I TRIED to get some sleep. But I had barely gotten about an hour of sleep when another storm rolled in and awoke me. I went back to sleep. Then Zaphod spent about three hours just tormenting me -- jumping at the bedroom door and crying outside it, so that every time I drifted back asleep, he would wake me up again.
So I had a very odd few hours of sleep, and now I can't decide if I should be awake or asleep. I do know that I'm not getting a lot done.
But even so, the book is still going well today. I'm very close to being done. Then it goes off to Russ to help out with a couple problems, a final edit, and off to the publisher -- I hope by the end of this month.
I will be happy to be done with it. It's been a challenge!
August 5, 2008
Golden Sunrise
This was an excellent morning for pictures -- everything from a skunk (a good distance away!) to a little leopard frog. A flock of geese flew by, and even the sunrise itself was gorgeous. Well worth the walk today!
I wish I could say that the rest of everything went as well. I'm still moving forward on the work, but I'm tired and annoyed. I really want this book done!
I'll get there. I just hope that it is really soon.
August 6, 2008
Another sunrise from yesterday
I have gotten virtually nothing done today. I just can't get focused on any of it. I got a couple sections done on the book, but not enough. I'll be working on that after I get this done and the county stuff updated and uploaded.
I should just sit down and keep working on the book until I'm done. There really isn't that much I need to do -- at least in the main section. However, it's really not that easy with a nonfiction book. I have to double-check facts, rewrite sections to add in information, move things around... it's going well, just too slow for me. I suppose I should stop talking about it and get back to work!
August 7, 2008
Russ's birthday
Russ liked the picture. (grin)
And when I called to wish him a happy birthday, he was about to board a plane for Chicago, and then to Omaha -- and then home!
He'll be here in about three more hours!
I am so NOT prepared because I really didn't think he could make it this weekend. I have a bit of picking up to do yet. Lucky for me it isn't all that bad. I'd done a lot of cleaning the other day. Wouldn't want to look like a complete slob, you know!
I've got the newsletter done and the county work done. I think about everything else can wait for a while.
August 8, 2008
Sunrise, 08/06/08
Russ is home! We spent a busy day and I'm exhausted. He's off with a friend for a little while tonight. I declined and got some much needed work done.
Probably going to DeSoto Wildlife Refuge tomorrow. That's always fun!
Right now though, I really need to sleep!
August 9, 2008
De Soto National Wildlife Refuge
Had a great day, but I'm very tired. Russ leaves in the morning, unfortunately. I wish he could stay longer.
We had a nice time. We even got a lot of stuff done over the last couple days.
But that's all I have to say tonight!
August 10, 2008
Pretty clouds
Russ is back in New York. Sigh. I hope he can come back soon again. I hope we can even have a few days together where we don't feel like we have to rush to get so much done. It would be nice to just relax together again.
I am really tired tonight, so I'm going to post this and head for bed. I hope to wake up early enough to go for a walk, but if I don't that's all right.
I got quite a bit of work done on the book tonight. It's very close....
August 11, 2008
Zaphod, hard at work
Russ is back to Erie, PA after two horrid days of travel. I'm back to work on the book, and getting very close with it! However, I'm tired tonight. I am going to get some sleep and come back to it in the morning.
We seem to have a storm blowing in, too. Not a bad one, but it was still unexpected since the last time I checked the radar there wasn't anything but a few little scattered spots of rain. Suddenly there's thunder and lightning. If I wasn't so tired, I'd be heading out and trying to get a couple lightning shots.
Ugh.
But rest is a good plan!
August 12, 2008
Morning Reflections
I got lots and lots done today, but I'm so tired I can't even see straight. Really. These bouts of extreme tiredness are really getting annoying. I am almost done with the book. I thought I would finish it today, but I just can't get there.
We had a strange and interesting storm tonight. Very small and intense. Lovely for pictures!
Sleep. Must sleep now....
August 13, 2008
Foggy Morning
I ran into just a little bit of a problem with the book which requires a restructure of the last three chapters. It's going all right, but slowly. I think I'll have that part done tomorrow and maybe even the final piece as well. Yay!
This book has taken over my life for too long. I will be very glad to have it gone!
We had an absolutely gorgeous foggy morning this morning. Here are a few more pictures!
August 14, 2008
Roses
I have only one last section to write for the book. And then I will be done with it! Yay! Done! Finished!
Well, until I have to edit it. And change things. And add other things.
But really, very nearly done. I just want it away from me for a while!
Can't get it tonight. Almost there, but just can't stay focused. I need some sleep!
Tomorrow I will do the last of the main editing, create the bibliography and work on one last section. Tonight, though, I am going to go to bed!
August 15, 2008
Deer
Feeling very ill tonight. I'm heading for bed and hope that I do better tomorrow.
Yuck.
August 16, 2008
Thistle
I just finished the edit of the main part of the book from hell. All I have left to do is write about three to five pages of material to stick on the end and figure out how the publisher wants the bibliography done.
Yes, that means I am essentially done with the book. The last section I'm writing is somewhat optional, in fact. I just think it would be a good addition. If it doesn't come together the way I like, I'll cut it.
Pretty much done. Really pretty much done. The book is sitting at 67,652 right now. I remember when I feared I wasn't going to get over 25,000 words.
I am so relieved. And worn out. I've spent most of fourteen hours editing today. I think I'm going to go take my pocket comp to bed and work on the notes for the last part.
Oh, and I'm still not feeling great -- but I worked through it anyway!
August 17, 2008
Wind
I think there ought to be fireworks going off about now.
I finished the book and sent it off to Russ for help on a couple parts.
Done. Really. The stuff that is left is just minor.
I am so tired I can't believe it. All I want to do right now is go crawl off into bed.
But the book is done!
August 18, 2008
Sunrise
I finally got out and walked a bit this morning -- about three miles. It was a lovely morning, really, but I was just exhausted. I still am. I hope that a good sleep tonight will help.
Got all kinds of things done today, including Vision work! Yay!
I started the final edits on Silky 2 today. It's a bit late, but it shouldn't take me long to do it. I loved the first chapter. This is really good news, because I never know how I'll feel about a story -- especially the opening -- after I've set it aside for a while. So far, this one is good!
With the Vision stuff caught up (mostly), I feel like I have almost everything handled again. I am mostly in a better mood, though so tired that its hard to tell. Well, if I can get to sleep early tonight, it won't be so hard to get up and do the walk tomorrow, right?
So, going to get the last of this stuff done and get some sleep!
August 19, 2008
The Guards
These two doves are often on this light post. It's kind of funny to see them.
Had a good walk today. Got other things done.
And Now I'm tired. Again.
I'm going to bed.
August 20, 2008
Plot bunny working....
I am getting a good amount of work done. Silky 2 is moving along very well, and I hope to have it done by the end of this week. I still have to do the cover art, though, and I'm not certain how long that will take me.
I keep jotting things down on my little list of what I need to do. The list keeps getting longer instead of shorter, even though I keep marking things off. I'd like to one day get everything on the list marked off, and maybe even go into a second day with nothing on it. What a change in life that would be!
I probably wouldn't know what to do with myself.
But that's about all I have to say tonight. I didn't walk today, but I hope to be awake to do it tomorrow. I'm also going to put together a webpage with pictures from the walk. I think that would be fun!
But right now... off to get some other work done!
August 21, 2008
Sunrise
I am still working very hard to get things caught up, but I'm getting there! It was a strange day since there were people working in the yard all day (burying new power lines), upset cats, and general mayhem. I did get the newsletter done, though, and a couple other things.
One of the things I really want to do is put together a page for the pictures from my morning walks. I hope to get to that soon.
Mostly, though, I just need to get to work on all the things that really MUST get done!
August 22, 2008
Sunflowers
Another somewhat lazy day for me. I went to bed early and slept late, and I didn't go for a walk. I have been getting a few things done, but not enough. And I'm tired again, so I might go to sleep early tonight, too.
One of the things I did get done is an updated list of my work. I've been working on it for a few days. There are still some thing missing, but I think that's most of it.
Silky 2 is moving along just fine. I'm over half way through it, and the story is going very well. I should have it done very soon, if I can just stay awake long enough.
We're about to start Labor of Love/Unfinished Business at FM tonight. That means a lot of writing over the next few days if I join in. I really should. I added a section specifically because I looked at all the stuff I have unfinished and realized it would be fun to see how many I could get done. I thought others might be in the same mess. But now I'm so tired, I don't know if I want to do anything at all.
I'm going to post this and go back to work on something for a while.
August 23, 2008
Butterfly
I spent all day working on Silky 2, and I am now within 50 pages of being done. This is great. And the book is much better for the work I've done, too. I'll have it finished tomorrow, I think. That will be so nice!
I've been working on the new cover, too. I have something I really like so far!
But it's getting late, and I haven't walked for two days, so I want to get to bed, get up early and go for a dawn walk tomorrow. And then come back and finish the novel! Yay!
August 24, 2008
Pip gets his favorite food
Yes, Pip is a bit odd. But he's happy.
I'm just tired. But I got Silky 2 done tonight! I am so happy to have it finished! And the cover art, which I had been working on for quite a while, is looking very good too!
A shame I can't stay awake to really do more with it.
Time to go to bed!
August 25, 2008
Silky
Long day. Getting things done, but still... long day. And I can't seem to get a hold of Russ tonight, which always worries me. I'm sure his phone is just dead and he hasn't had a chance to get to his email yet, but still... wish he would write or call. (Looks at phone... checks email.)
Anyway, I have a long list of things to do today, so I thought I would get my journal updated and posted early so I don't forget it, since it is not on the list. There is surprisingly little actual writing on the list, in fact. I think I need to fix that part. But I am getting things done, and getting somewhat caught up for a change.
Today's picture is part of the Silky 2 cover, which I am really happy with. Oh, and I fixed one of those nagging little story problems from the novel, too. I knew something about it kept bothering me, and I finally came up with a plausible reason why something happened the way it did, instead of much worse.
So, things are mostly good.
But sure wish Russ would phone or write.
August 26, 2008
From De Soto a few weeks ago
Russ called last night just as I was uploading the entry, so that was all right. It was as I suspected -- the phone had gone dead after a particularly long stretch of work and he had only just gotten it charged and his computer hooked up to get email.
Long day today. The only good thing is that I finished Volume 12 of the Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia and I now have the last volume in front of me. I hope it doesn't take me long to get through it! I hope to be done with all of it by the end of next month.
Did some writing, did some work with Manga Studio, Painter, and DAZ.
And now I need to get to sleep. I don't think I'll walk tomorrow (I did today) because it's supposed to rain all day. We'll see what it's like whenever I finally wake up. I'm tired!
August 27, 2008
Morning Flight
I am actually getting things done. I'm sure it won't last, but it's good for the moment. Finished the workshop, most of the way through a short story, got things posted, worked on the DAZ stuff....
Boy am I tired!
But it is good to start getting to work on things that have been sitting around for too long. The short story is one of those things. Need to get stuff cleared off my list before it gets any later in the year.
Unfortunately, I really didn't get much done off my list for today, though. Oh well, I can work on it tomorrow. The workshop was probably one of the more important things listed anyway, so it's good to get it done. I will have to start putting the next issue together soon. That shouldn't be too bad.
Another storm. We've had one bad one tonight. I'm going to shut down this time!
August 28, 2008
Hand held moon shot
The DAZ newsletter is done and so is my writing. it's a bit early, but since I got so little sleep last night, thanks to the storms, I think I'll just go crawl off into bed early and try to get up for a walk tomorrow. Haven't done that for a couple days again.
I'm at the end of a short story, and I'm looking forward to having it done. I thought I would have it today, but I ran into a couple problems with the newsletter and that slowed me down. Still, things are going pretty well.
I need to go back to the Writing Comes First idea and get at least 500 words written before I do anything else. I need to post that on my computer desk where I can see it, because I so easily get sidetracked these days!
But now... sleep!
August 29, 2008
The morning walk
I am glad I got up and went for the morning walk today, even though it was rough to crawl out of my nice comfortable bed. I really didn't want to. I was so tired! And I came back, worked for a bit, and then slept again!
But the pictures were great, and I wrote over 5k and got some real work done, so all in all, it was a good day.
So here are some more pictures!
August 30, 2008
Bright
Only a couple thousand words today, but still good.
Now I'm really tired, though. I'm going to bed and hope to get a lot of stuff done tomorrow.
Running out of time!
August 31, 2008
Why are my seeds wet?
I thought I would get this done early today while I'm still mostly awake for a change. Not that I actually have anything to say, but it seemed like a good idea.
I'm getting Vision put together. That's the big job for today. You would think that after 46 issues, it would be easier. I guess it really is, but sometimes it doesn't seem like it some days. Usually on the days that I'm putting something together.
On the other hand, writing is going pretty well for a change. Sure wish I could get back to it rather than working on other things! (Looks at list.) Well, maybe I can slip in a few more hundred words between projects. (grin)
And that's really it for me. Weather is nice, cats are somewhat calm, and I'm getting things done. Can't really hope for more than that some days.