Archive for previous entries this month
March 1, 2008
Silky
Late. Almost forgot to do this!
I had a busy day. I got a great deal of work done around the house, and I started work on Silky, too. I did work on the DAZ newsletter, and I'm sure a few dozen other things.
And now I'm tired. It's 3:30 am. Time to sleep!
Oh, and I'm working on a picture of Silky. So far, it looks pretty good, doesn't it?
March 2, 2008
And the snow disappears
Really, it disappeared pretty much overnight. We might get a little snow tonight and tomorrow, but mostly, I think we're done with winter. Not a moment too soon! It's very windy tonight, though. And colder again, though not as cold as it has been.
I'm trying to get the DAZ newsletter done, so I'm just going to keep this short and get it posted, and then get back to work on it. I'm almost there, and I'm anxious to get it done!
March 3, 2008
Leaf on ice and snow
Well, not quite as warm as I had hoped, but still not freezing here (at least not in the house!). I have some work to get done tonight, but since I have to upload something for the county, I though I would get this done as well. It saves on that 'eek, 3 am haven't done it yet!' panic.
I am mostly going to work on Silky tonight. It's going well, though slowly. I'm enjoying it, though. And taking lots of notes so that I can get the second book aligned with name changes and things that I did in book 1. I know of at least one case where I cut something from book 1 that I mentioned in book 2. Really must clear that problem up when I get to it!
But all is well, really. I'm getting things done!
March 4, 2008
Making Friends
Today marks the three year anniversary that I seriously joined in the fun at DAZ3D. Funny to be working for them now, of course, but it's still fun. The picture above is my 3rd anniversary picture. I worked on it, off and on, for the last few days.
Other than that, not much to report except for a blinding headache that refuses to go away. I'm going to be happy to go to bed tonight, just with the hope that it will be gone tomorrow.
Nothing else to report. Move along.
March 5, 2008
Happy Zaphod
Odd day. Just odd. It snowed, but never enough to amount to more than a dusting on the ground. It's cold again, though, and I keep hoping for warmer weather. I don't know when that's going to happen. It's 14 tonight, which is right below that magical number where my office starts to get too cold.
I got quite a bit of work done on Silky today, so I'm happy about that part. Did some DAZ work, and even got some cleaning done. You can't do better than that, really. I think I'm going to crawl off to be early, though. I didn't sleep well last night, and it is catching up with me.
But the work went well. I'm happy for that part, at least.
March 6, 2008
Painting -- Black cat and shadow
Very tired and nothing new to write -- so I'm just going to drop this in here and head to bed. Did quite a bit of work on Silky today and got things cleaned in the house. I suspect tomorrow will be more of the same.
March 7, 2008
Visitor
Yeah, he was outside my window this afternoon. I just happened to notice him. Even the dogs across the alley weren't barking, which is odd -- they bark at everything.
It's about half an hour until my birthday. I'm going to be snuggled in my bed by then. It's way too cold -- 5f -- right now. It is supposed to get warmer tomorrow, though. Not that it is really going to matter much to me. Russ isn't home, and there's nothing I'm going to do. This is just not the year to even think about special days.
I did get a short story finished tonight, though. And I got the 2YN stuff posted. Did some work on the DAZ newsletter, too, and some more house cleaning. I'd stay up and do more, but it's just too cold.
March 8, 2008
Desert Hunt
That's what I did today -- the picture above. I also wrote a short story and started the third Silky novel. Not exactly the best birthday I've had, but I got some stuff done, so it's not all bad. I did talk to Russ this afternoon, and that was nice, too.
But all in all, not much of a birthday. I suppose I'll survive it.
March 9, 2008
Silly Zaphod
Long, busy day. I got the newsletter done and out. I know I got a few other things done, too, but I really can't remember what they were now.
And I am tired tonight! I'm glad to have the work done so I can go crawl off into bed soon. .//// (And that was from Zaphod himself, who is so tired his paw keeps falling onto the keyboard.)
I wrote a bit more on the new Silky book. We'll see how that goes.
Too tired to think of anything else....
March 10, 2008
Alien sunrise
Late.
Tired.
Pip was ill for a good part of the day, but he seems to be better now, so I'm going off to bed and I'm going to sleep for a few hours. Work is going well on Silky and Silky 3. Lost my list of 'things to do' and probably had a better day for it -- though I'll likely pay for it when the list does turn up.
Going to bed now. Will archive yesterdays stuff (below), later.
March 11, 2008
Flying
I've been working on that picture for the last few days. I really like this one. Simple and elegant. Getting the lighting right was very difficult.
The work on Silky is going VERY well. I am really enjoying the rewrite. I can't really call it an edit any more -- I've changed far too many of the words, though none of the scenes are at all different in what they present. It's just far clearer now. I'm close to halfway through the book and enjoying every moment of it. I've found it difficult to pull away, in fact, even when there are other things that I really should get done.
That's good. I love falling into stories, even older ones. Maybe especially older ones, because I can see actual improvements as I work.
I'm about 1500 words into the third Silky book, too. It's become my morning exercise. I don't have an outline for it, but I have thought about it for years, so I have some basic ideas of where it is going. If I need to, I'll write an outline for the rest of it later.
Spring is here. We had temps nearly to 60 today. There is still too many piles of snow and ice in the shadows to really go out walking, but soon I'm going to be getting out of the house for a while. I am especially looking forward to getting the back yard picked up again. It's looking more than a little scruffy out there, and since that's my main view for most of the day, I think I want it neater.
And that's it for today. I'm posting this early and getting back to work on Silky!
March 12, 2008
Wind
Long day, lots done, dead tired.
That about says it all.
I've added and changed a few more things in Silky. I'm over half way through the book. Today was a little more difficult because I had to work out some things I used to have notes on, but have long since lost. I think it worked well, though.
And I'm working on a map for the land. I'm creating it in Bryce, at least the base part. It's been a lot of fun to work with, in fact. I probably put more work into it than I should have, but I enjoyed doing the work.
I have been meaning to watch some Babylon 5's for days now, and I just haven't gotten to it. This might be the night that I start them. I think a break away from the computer is not a bad idea.
So, maybe I'll head off and do that, as soon as the map is done rendering and I can look at it in Paint Shop Pro and see about drawing the lines between the different estates.
March 13, 2008
Leaf in Ice
I am less than 100 pages from finishing the rewrite/edit of Silky. I think it's gone very well, and I'm really looking forward to having it done and to the publisher. I feel as though I've really made some good changes in the story.
The first thing I do each day is write about 500 words on the new novel. It's a great way to start out the day and I hope I keep up at it for awhile. Sometimes that kind of thing -- the stuff I do for myself -- slips away in the pile of other work. I'd like to change that this time.
The snow is pretty much gone. Just a few little spots of it here and there -- inconvenient in places, but not too bad. They say it might snow a little tomorrow, but it is not getting cold tonight, so I kind of doubt it will. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking?
That, I think, is all my news. I need to go get a bit more work done. I've been very tired today. I'd like to get some sleep again!
March 14, 2008
Zaphod
Yes, he is rather silly looking.
I'm nearly done with Silky. I don't know if I really want to finish since I've enjoyed this so much. It's been interesting work. I hope the second book is as much fun. I suspect, though, that it won't be as easy a rewrite since so much changed. No matter. I think I'll enjoy it.
And book 3 is just moving along quite nicely at about 500 words a day. Odd way to be writing it, but fun.
It's late, though, and I really want to get to bed while I'm tired and before I hit that point where I'm more awake again. Sleep sounds good right now!
March 15, 2008
Leaf under water
I am very nearly done with Silky. I'm kind of shocked that it won't be more than a day or two. I thought the book would take me longer, but I seem to be having good luck with just falling into the story.
I also spent a lot of time checking out the news on Atlanta. The weather this year has me worried. So much odd stuff happening. I keep thinking I ought to move over to the other house since it has a basement. The tornado season is going to start soon -- yeah, like the weather has been paying attention to seasons, right? I do wonder what kind of year we're going to have, though.
A quiet one, I hope.
And now I think I should get back to work on something!
March 16, 2008
Old Wood
I finished the rewrite of Silky. I'm quite happy with it -- at least tonight. Tomorrow, I may feel differently.
I think I'm going to go straight into the rewrite of Silky 2, which will be far more difficult to get done. However, with all the names and facts newly settled in my mind -- not to mention the notes I took -- it should be easier now than if I do it later. So, I think, tomorrow I'll start work on it.
We are supposed to have snow tonight. I'm trying to ignore that fact. And I am not looking outside. Much.
I guess that's really about it for me tonight. I wouldn't mind having more things to write, but my life has been kind of dull lately. I suppose that's not all bad.
March 17, 2008
A bit 'o green
I have moved into working on Silky 2. And yes, I'm enjoying it just as much as Silky 1. And I'm still writing the 500 or so words first thing each day on Silky 3. This seems to be a Silky month. Silky 2 is going to take considerably more work, though, but I'm ready for it now that I have done Silky 1 and have all the basic facts still fresh in my mind. I am still working on the cover art to the first book. It seems to be going pretty well, really.
What else? Got paid by two different places today, so that helps out quite a bit. I've put an order into Schwan's which should be here on Wednesday. It is so hard to stay clear of all their desserts. I'm trying to be good, though. (grin)
The snow is pretty much gone here now. The only patch I have left is by the gate to the back yard, so I still can't get back there. Probably just as well since it looks like a morass right now. I'll wait until it dries out a bit before I go back and try to clean up all the downed branches and stuff from this last winter.
Russ and I are talking about trading out houses when (if) he gets back here for a couple days. The other house has a basement, and considering the way the weather has been this year, I think I would feel safer in such a place. But it would mean giving up my lovely office, which would be kind of hard. Not to mention all the work of carrying stuff from one house to the other. We own two houses side-by-side. This house, which is in sad shape, is paid for. The other one still has about three to five years to go, depending on if we can do double payments when the other bills are all caught up or not. It's generally our second library -- we ran out of room here long ago -- and Russ usually uses it for his office when he works in town. However, with a full time job in New York now, the place as sat empty since last November. We didn't bother to heat it this winter, either -- but it has central air, which this place doesn't. Hmmmm. The washing machine is also over there.
But my office! How could I leave me office!
A lovely front porch and a small deck off the back....
Central air during the summer.
Hmmmm.....
March 18, 2008
Reflections
Long day, but got some things done. I need to get to bed soon, though. I'm starting to get very tired!
Need to get this and the county stuff uploaded before I got to bed! That's the last of the work, and then I can sleep for a few hours and start over tomorrow. It sure seems that way sometimes, doesn't it? It's not that I have hard work, or work I even dislike -- but I need to get a little more variety into it!
The Silky books are all doing well. I need to work on some cover stuff, too. That will make a nice break!
So, that's it. Time to get done and go rest!
March 19, 2008
Last Year's Leaves
Silky 2 is requiring a lot more work, just as I suspected. I rewrote a good amount of Silky 1, just to get the wording right, but Silky 2 is taking more than a change in the wording in some places. The story is there, but it's just somewhat lost in places.
I am working on cover art as well. That's going better than I expected, but taking time, of course. And there are always so many other things to get done!
And I really don't have anything to say. The snow is gone, except for a couple odd patches, but since it's not dropping below freezing at night, I suspect that will be gone by morning. I hope the ground dries out pretty soon. And I would like to see the temps move up into the 60's.
I don't think I'm really asking for much.
March 20, 2008
Turkey
Saw this guy crossing the street this afternoon. I grabbed the camera and followed him for a bit and got a couple nice pictures. It's fun when they show up right at your doorstep, so to speak. Possums, raccoons, turkeys.... It's been a good spring for pictures around here.
I am tired. I've been working all day and not getting much done, and I need sleep now. I might be a little more coherent tomorrow, but I wouldn't count on it.
And no, Russ is not coming home this weekend. Sigh.
March 21, 2008
Back again
Do I need to point out how unafraid of me this raccoon is? I finally got a huge glass of water and threw it at him. He (or more likely she) waddled away and went into the garage. Great.
I had strawberries with some sugar on them tonight. I haven't had that in years and years and years. So I ordered myself some strawberries with the last food order. And apples. No sugar on them.
Silky 2 is moving far slower than Silky 1 -- I knew it would -- but I've enjoyed it so far. I need to work out a problem I just hit, but other than that it is going very well.
I got something in the mail today that I ordered on Ebay a few days ago. It is a totally useless indulgence. This book probably had a more profound influence on my life than any I have ever read.
Yes. I know. But the cat and kittens, and... there it is. It not only explains my problem with cats, but why I have a strange urge to collect pinecones whenever I see them. (The children made cat toys out of them.)
I kept hold of this book until I was in my twenties when it suddenly disappeared. Finding it on Ebay made me laugh.
So there it is. I have it on the bookshelf behind me.
And I have two cats on the desk and another behind me on the heat vent. (Yes, it is getting a bit chilly in this room!)
March 22, 2008
Happy Easter
I really don't think I can add anything after a picture like that!
March 23, 2008
Bunnies
Almost 3 am. Very tired. I had trouble with the DAZ newsletter for no good reason. I think life is just messing with me.
I am heading off to bed. I got things done today, just not enough. Maybe I'll do better tomorrow.
March 24, 2008
Pip soaking up the sunlight
Good weather today. I wish I had gone out in it a bit more, but that's all right. I got things done, though I didn't get caught up. I don't know why I keep saying that as though I actually expect to get caught up at some time! It's not going to happen!
The two Silky books are going very well. I came up with a couple things for the new one that really have me excited. I think Silky is in for all kinds of trouble. Well, that's not really a surprise!
I started cleaning out kitchen cupboards today, so I have a ton of stuff stacked on the counter. And I had to keep fighting Edmond to keep him out. He thought it looked like the best place to go curl up and sleep!
I have been sneezing all day. I can't decide if it's a cold or allergies from the wind kicking up today. Probably both.
And now it's 2:30 am and I'm going to bed!
March 25, 2008
Too much cute stuff in one place
That's Edmond sitting with the bears. I've been bringing bears (and other stuffed things) out of various rooms and piling them up there. I'm not certain why.
Maybe this is my equivalent of spring cleaning? Coming out of hibernation? I do seem to be getting a few things done at least. I can't say that it's really helping anything in the long run, though.
And I still have to figure out what to do with all the bears.
March 26, 2008
Junco looking for last year's seeds
I am not feeling well today, so all that 'getting stuff done from yesterday' has completely disappeared. I have spent most of the last day curled up in bed and hoping that things just settle and I can mostly sleep through this.
I'm not feeling all that much better tonight, but I have things that must be done.
March 28, 2008
Aiieeee!
Every time I looked out the window today, it was snowing. Ack. We have a couple inches on the ground, but it won't last for long, at least.
The last two Dark Staff books are finally published! Yay! And I did the covers, too!
So that's the good news on that front. I have other news, but I need to get it sorted out first, and I'm still not feeling well.
At least I'll get this posted tonight, though.
March 29, 2008
Waiting for Transportation
I still have a cold. It has been up and down all day, and I feel a bit better tonight -- or rather this morning -- but I ache in general. I've sat here and forced myself to do silly work tonight, mostly on my DAZ Studio Database. It has been somewhat mindless work, which is what I need. The cold meds just make it difficult for me to think. Not good for writing, so I got what I had to do done, and just vegetated for the rest of the night.
I hope tomorrow to both feel better and have my brain back. This would be good since I have to do the newsletter this weekend and I've barely started it.
It's late, I'm tired and I think it time to see if I can get to sleep without sneezing and coughing so much that I keep myself awake.
March 30, 2008
Okay, so he's goofy
That would be Edmond. I don't know why he was resting like that. But it made me laugh.
Newsletter is mostly done (except for things I have to wait for) and posted. I'm behind on other things, but at least I'm feeling better today. That helps. I slept pretty well last night (although I didn't get to bed until about 4:30 am or so), and I didn't really want to get up this morning... but at least I got to work. Sometimes that helps. Far better than sitting around knowing you have work to do and avoiding it. I don't know why I do that sometimes. It's kind of useless.
Don't have anything else to say, I guess. It's 1:30 am and I have a couple more things to get done tonight!
March 31, 2008
Wet Weather
Today was one of those days where I was determined to get things done on my list.
And for once it worked. FM is updated, journals are updated. I need to add a couple things to my Lazette.net page, and that should be about all to do today, at least on the list of things that really should be done. Not bad at all, considering that I had a killer headache for far too much of the day.
I think, in fact, that I'll go to that right now and see if I can't have it all done by 1 am. That would probably be a record for me!