Archive for previous entries this month
February 1, 2008
Willow in the window
It's a much better day today, at least weather-wise. A shame I don't think it will last. But it is the first day of February, so I have to believe that we are closer to being out of this winter. Despite how it feels, it will not go on forever.
I have not seen Russ for a full month now, and it looks as though it will be a couple more weeks at least before he can come back. This is getting troubling.
I worked on the short story today. If I had clue where it was going and how it was going to end, I might actually get somewhere with it!
February 2, 2008
Wind and Willow
Yes, she really is that small!
I forgot to upload the little entry last night. Actually, I forgot to finish it, but here it is (below) today. It's after 4 am here, and I am about to head off to bed. I got quite a bit done on my worldbuilding /outline for Draw the Line, so I'm in a better mood. I wrote on the short story, too. I think I see how things are going to end, so that's good. Otherwise it might have just kept drawing out until it was a novel.
It's supposed to rain and snow over the next couple days. I could have stood for it to get warmer, but I guess I have a while longer to wait.
And now I have to go get some sleep!
February 3, 2008
Young Man
I did this picture a little earlier today when I needed to check out the clothing to see if they worked with this character. Looks good to me! I kept trying to put things in the background and then finally realized that it looked best just the way it is.
I got the newsletter done. I got something done for the County. I got a bit of writing and some reading done.
And now I'm waiting to see if the storm we're supposed to get is going to hit. The wind has been gusting a bit now and then -- it startles the cats sometimes! -- and I can see on the map that it's heading our way. Supposed to be freezing rain and sleet and snow. That doesn't sound like much of a good time.
And that's it for my day. Except that Russ and I spent some time on the phone tonight working out an order from Schwans (a very nice food delivery service) that we hope we can get delivered here. Russ hasn't been home for over a month, which means food supplies are starting to dwindle. I'm in no danger of starving, but I am very tired of soup and soup and more soup. Schwans delivers in the area, so that's not a problem. The only thing we may have trouble with is paying for it, since Russ is in New York.
If we can get this set up, though, it would mean a lot less worry about food in the future.
I wonder if we can find some place to deliver cat food, too.
February 4, 2008
A little plot bunny
I have a sore throat. It came on after dinner when I started coughing and couldn't stop. I hope that by tomorrow it will be pretty much gone, but I fear it will get worse before it gets better.
But even so, I got a lot of work done tonight. A lot of writing, some editing, some other work. I have even worked on a picture in DAZ and read several chapters in The Queen of Attolia -- Sequel to The Thief. I like the book better the second time through. The first time it was too much of a shock for me to enjoy it so much.
This time I can't seem to leave it sit for more than half an hour without picking it up and reading a few more pages. And even so, I still got things done tonight. I'm not sure how that happened.
But anyway, it's getting late. I need to get to bed soon!
I hope tomorrow goes as well!
February 5, 2008
Yes, it is snowing again
And I was without Internet for quite a while tonight. Annoying stuff, but it's back now -- just in time to show that I have some work I must get done for DAZ. They have some late stuff to put in the newsletter.
So, this is short tonight. Really not much to say anyway. About another ten days until Russ will be home for a couple days. I'm looking forward to seeing him.
Off to get some work done!
February 6, 2008
A fun picture I did
This one was for the challenge I do on DAZ where you pull three random things from your runtime and put them together in a picture.
I just did some work for the County, and since I have to upload it, I thought I would go ahead and do my journal entry as well. It's not like I'll have anything more interesting to say if I wait longer!
Besides, it's already starting to feel cold tonight, and I may not want to be here until all hours of the morning, trying to think of something interesting to say. I can do that much right now!
I do hope to work on a couple story things tonight, though. So if I can get all caught up on this stuff, that's what I'm going to do.
I wish I had had my camera in hand a moment ago. I just saw Edmond chasing Willow and Willow went under Wind and Edmond went over him. I don't think I've ever seen that maneuver before!
So, I need to get to some writing for the night. It's early. There's a chance that I might actually get something done if I actually go to it.
Or I could go do the dishes.
Nah. Just joking.
February 7, 2008
This is just an odd picture I did for a historical feel. I need to do more with the items later.
I am closer to being caught up with things again! Really, this time! And if I don't backslide, I should do all right. I might even get some housework done. There's an amazing thought.
Though I have been clearing the porch off a little at a time. The problem is that most of the stuff that comes off the porch just come into the house instead, so I'm not sure that's a real improvement. However, we had been using the porch to stack stuff for so long that it just got filled up and I want at least part of it cleared for this spring, so I can go out there and sit some days. We'll see if I get that far. The entire right side is stacked with boxes of paperback books and some of them are ruined, alas. But I'm working my way through them and trying to shelve them in the house instead. This would work, of course, if I had more shelves that were not already stacked with books.
Anyway, all is going well enough!
I did get the dishes done.
February 8, 2008
There's glass kitties in there!
My cats are so cute. That's Zaphod. What a doll.
We had a good day today. Temps up in the 30's and everything. It was comfortable in my office and I got a lot of work done!
So tomorrow we are getting hit by a major arctic blast, with wind chills of -20 to -30f. I am so NOT looking forward to this. I may stay in bed tomorrow. There's no reason to face it, right?
I had spaghetti from Pizza Hut tonight. That was such a wonderful change from the five weeks of mostly cans of soup. I will be so happy when the Schwan's order finally comes through and I have some real food here. And as soon as I can get a good amount of money in the bank, I can start having food delivered from Hy-Vee, too. That means I can have salads and all those things that would go bad if I tried to stockpile them.
And I won't have to worry if Russ is two or three weeks later getting back than he expected.
He should be home next weekend, though. I hope so!
February 9, 2008
The Boys (Zaphod and Edmond)
It's cold. I hate cold. I'm getting a sore throat. It's 4f right now and tomorrow it's only supposed to get up to 10f. I think I'll stay in bed.
Okay, now it's 3f. Seems to be dropping awfully fast there!
I discovered that my brain closes down when it gets cold. I have trouble getting anything done. So, for that reason, I'm going to get this posted and see if I can just copy a few more notes (not a lot of thought required for that work!) and then head for bed.
The cats aren't any happier than I am.
February 10, 2008
Ice
It's cold! I hate cold! It takes me forever to get something done. I get too cold and have to get up and warm up. Gah.
I want spring.
But I need to get this uploaded and get the newsletter uploaded so I can go crawl off into bed. Almost done for the night! Too bad the weather isn't going to be much better tomorrow -- or for the rest of this week.
February 11, 2008
No!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make it go away! I don't want to scoop any more snow! I want to be warm again!
AAAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
(In other news, I only have 14 more pages of edits to do on the book, and that's what I'm going to go do right now!)
February 12, 2008
Looking out my office window
Snow, snow, more snow. Cold snow. Heavy snow -- had to scoop it off today.
More snow on the way.
It really is cold here by the window tonight, so I'm going to just drop a few more pictures in here and call it good. I did finish the editing last night, and meant to have it all off to the publisher today, but other things came up again.
I'm tired!
And I just know that the weather is going to go bad and Russ won't make it home again this weekend. I just know it's going to happen.
February 13, 2008
Flowers from Russ
I have flowers from Russ! And a lovely little bear. They cheered me up right away. I sure hope Russ can make it home this weekend! I really miss seeing him.
Oh, and it's 33f right now, which is the warmest it's been in weeks. And it's 2 AM. It's supposed to drop down to about 17f today. I don't understand this weather at all.
I sent the book off to the publisher tonight. Yay! That's done and out of my hands. One left to do, and I'm going to start it tomorrow.
Other things? Not much. The work took almost all my attention. But everything is done and all is well. Tomorrow I need to do Vision contacts, too. Must remember to do that. (Writing note down where I will see it.)
Below are some pictures of the flowers. Expect to see more of them!
Oh, and at the bottom is something I made for Russ, too. Had it all ready before I got the flowers, so I was able to email him the link when I said thank you.
February 14, 2008
Another flower
Russ won't be home this weekend. The tickets got screwed up. He might be home for one day next weekend. Gee, won't that be fun? One day to rush around and take care of everything that's piled up for six weeks, and then I'll be back here by myself for another couple months.
No, I am not happy.
February 15, 2008
Zaphod
Let's see. . . .
Russ not coming home.
I ordered groceries that were supposed to arrive Friday afternoon. They didn't. Now I don't know if they are going to show up at all.
I didn't get paid.
I'm going back to bed now. I think the sooner we get through this weekend, the better.
February 16, 2008
Sunlight Captured in Ice
I got a good amount of work done today. Contracts are out for Vision, about 1/4th of the last Dark Staff book is edited, and I walked to the store to pick up a few things I had to have this week. It's now 4 am, and I'm just getting the last of the work done before I crawl off to sleep for a few hours.
After I get the Dark Staff books finished, I'm moving on to Silky. I hope to get it done in the next few weeks, too. I have the sequel to it written, and I want to edit it and then write the third book.
Maybe that's what I'll start on my birthday. I need to consider it.
But right now, I need to consider bed.
February 17, 2008
There's still snow out there
Yeah, and it's going to get cold again, too. I am not happy about that part.
I managed to get a considerable amount of work done tonight, but now I'm really tired. It's time to crawl off to bed and hope that the store delivers food tomorrow. I don't really need it as badly as I did at the beginning of the weekend -- and knowing that the other place is going to deliver on Wednesday -- but it would make life a lot easier if they did.
Right now, though -- time to get some sleep before I fall over at the keyboard!
February 18, 2008
Wind
The store delivered food today. We are saved. Schwan's is supposed to deliver more food on Wednesday, which will also be good. And Russ is supposed to be home on Saturday, but I'll believe that one when I see it. Not that I'm mistrusting or anything.
I have been editing for most of today, and working on the short story as well. It is cold tonight, though, and I'm going to take my lovely little HP IPAQ off to bed with me soon, where I can be warm and write. It's supposed to get up to 25f tomorrow (yay!) but then only up to 5f on Wednesday, which doesn't thrill me at all. I have found that the real break point for this house is about 15f. It will stay relatively warm up to that point, but once it drops below 15f, it starts getting far too cold. (It's 0f right now.)
Anyway, things are better, in some ways. Having food, and knowing I can get it delivered if I need more, takes a lot of stress off of both Russ and me. Now, if we could just get past winter, life would be really good.
Right now, though, I'm heading into the bedroom where I can get warm again!
February 19, 2008
Cold
That's ice on the inside window in the dining room. Not frost --ice. Gah.
Low tonight is supposed to be -15f and high tomorrow of 0. It's 0 now, so I guess I'm not going to get any warmer for a while.
I messed around too much today, to be honest. And now I need to get some work done, and I would much rather go crawl into bed and curl up for a while. I'll get what I can. I would consider sleeping through tomorrow, but that's when Schwan's is supposed to be showing up, so I better be ready!
Actually, I did the work rather than sitting here complaining about it. That's much better.
Except it is already -5, and the wind chill is -18. Gah.
I'm just going to go crawl off to my warm bed now. . . .
February 20, 2008
Cold
It's just too cold. That's all. I have gotten things done today, but it wasn't easy and it wasn't pleasant. I am heading to bed early in hopes that tomorrow's heat wave (20f) will be here all the sooner.
No one is happy.
On the other hand, Schwans delivered some really nice food today. That helps.
February 21, 2008
Why it is sometimes hard to work
That's Edmond, of course. He just gets silly and has to be held.
Russ is supposed to fly home tomorrow (Friday) and be home very late. Unfortunately, there is a major storm heading his way, and I get the feeling that we're going to get unlucky for another weekend.
There are times when I have to think the whole world is against us. I just know this isn't going to work. Why should it? He's been trying to get home for over a month now, I think.
Ugh. It just gives me a headache thinking about it. I'm going to bed.
February 22, 2008
My Abby Cup
Two bits of news -- Russ called from Chicago. Yes, he really is on his way here. He should arrive about two am -- around three hours from now! Yay! Finally!
And second, I just sent off the last of the Dark Staff Books to the publisher. That's all eight books, finished. I looked it up and the books were accepted on February 17, 2002. So that's six years and five days to get them all edited and rewritten.
It's odd to think about. I started the series back in the 80's. It's hard to believe that I'm done with them.
But I do have other work. I'm looking forward to it, in fact. Mirrors is going to get one more check before it goes off to the publisher -- should be very fast. Then it is on to Silky.
But tomorrow is a day with Russ. its not going to be nearly long enough.
DeSoto in Winter
Russ is home! I feel like we're doing the 24 hours of Le Mans -- he came home at 1 am on Saturday morning, and he'll be gone before noon on Sunday. We spent today (Saturday) running everywhere, including down to DeSoto for a much needed looked at the world outside of this house and the hotels where he's been stuck for the last seven weeks.
I am SO TIRED I can hardly stay awake to write this. I wish he was going to be home longer. I hope he can get home again soon. We had a good time today, but it's not nearly long enough.
February 24, 2008
Carrara Work
Russ is back in New York. He just called me a minute ago, so I know he's fine. Very tired, but fine.
And now it's back to the weeks of waiting for him to come home again. I hope that I'm getting better at it. At least we have a lot of the food problems sorted out this time. And the weather should be getting better -- never mind the Winter Storm Advisory for tomorrow.
And that's about it. I have the DAZ newsletter mostly done, and I need to upload it and get the links tested out. Then I can go get some sleep, too.
February 25, 2008
Zaphod and Friend
We had snow today. And wind -- but not as cold as it has been, so I'll count that as a win. I got quite a bit of editing done and not much else. Tomorrow I'll have to start seriously working on Vision. I keep forgetting how close it is to the end of the month, and that it is a short month besides.
It has been mostly a calm, quiet day, though. I'm tired tonight, of course, but I at least feel as though I got something done. Let's hope that tomorrow goes as well -- or maybe a little better. I need to get a lot of stuff done over the next few days.
February 26, 2008
Kitty face
Hello. Hope I can stay awake long enough to write and post this. Yeah, really tired. No good reason for it, but I am.
I have less than 100 pages to go on Mirrors. I thought I would be done by now, but that was because I really didn't think Russ would be able to make it home this last weekend. It sure was nice to have him here for a day.
I had a thought for a story for my birthday. I know, I keep bouncing around on things. But this one might work. We'll see.
But now. Sleep. Must sleep.
February 27, 2008
Mirrors
Tonight I finished and sent off the edits on Mirrors. It is now in the publisher's hands. I'm done with that one for a while!
I had been working on this picture, based on the story, for a while. It is not quite right, but it was a lot of fun to play with. It's amazing the things you can learn about a program when you are willing to just play around and see what you end up with. That picture was done first in DAZ Studio and then in several layers in Paint Shop Pro. I like the way the green seems to glow.
I must work more on Vision tomorrow, as well as things for FM. Next up on the edit list is Silky. I'm looking forward to working on it, partly because it really doesn't need much work at all. (grin)
But I am done for the day, and it's time to get to work on some other things again!
February 28, 2008
Painting of Pip in the Sun
It's nearly 1 am already. How did that happen?
At least I got a good amount of work done today, though not everything I need to get done. I'm getting kind of caught up, though, in a strange way.
Today I wrote out some of the last Vision material. Tomorrow, I'll try to get all the rest of it put together. Over all, it's going pretty well!
And the weather is certainly better. It got up to 40f today, and it's still 38f! It's going to be nearly 50 on Sunday! Wow -- of course they are calling for some snow after that, but at least the end is near.
Right now I need to get this and some county work uploaded, and then I'm going to sleep for a while! I don't know why I've been so tired lately, but that's all right. The bed is comfortable enough, at least!
February 29, 2008
Chaos
Chaos. That's about what life was like today, but I got a lot of stuff done, so I can't complain. Too much. Vision is up. FM is updated. I had to write quite a bit that I forgot about -- 44 Issues, and you'd think I would remember things like 'About this Issue' and 'From the Editor' wouldn't you?
But it's done.
And so am I. I still have one major thing to get done tomorrow -- and the new DAZ newsletter, too. But I am caught up on some stuff, so that's good. 2YN classes were even posted on time.
I want to sleep now. . . .