We've had a quiet day today. Lunch at Pizza Hut and back home to do some work. Russ will be leaving tomorrow, but he should be back in about six weeks. That's better than it has been. It's been wonderful to have him here.
I haven't gotten a lot done today, but there are a few more things I'd like to get finished up. Nothing too drastic. At least I haven't fallen far behind, though. That's good.
So, here we are in March. The months are going fast. I sure hope we get back to spring soon, because this weather is lousy!
March 2, 2009
Russ is on his way back to Long Island now. We had a wonderful weekend in which virtually nothing went wrong. Compared to the last time he was home, four months ago, this was very nearly perfect. The worst problem we had was that we took Edmond and Zaphod to get their shots, and Edmond had a reaction and had to go back this morning to get another shot. He's pretty much snapped out of it now.
The weather could have been a bit warmer, but we managed anyway.
We got very nearly everything done that we needed to do, which after four months was quite a bit. Now Russ is sitting in Chicago with a delayed and possibly canceled flight, but he has a friend there (who is visiting from somewhere else as well!) and they'll get together if it goes that way. (Just got a call... they're boarding and, one hopes, on their way!)
March 3, 2009
Russ is now back in Long Island and things are back to the same old stuff here. The agent turned down Ada Nish Pura, which wasn't a real surprised. I have a second novel to try, but it will take me a few days to get the query letter ready. I might even send it out on my birthday next Sunday.
I am working on Vision. It's late, of course, and still a problem because I'm having trouble with some of the things I'm trying to get from the old computer. It couldn't be easy!
But other than that, things are okay here. I just need to get caught up on stuff! (And, yeah, remember to actually post this today, unlike yesterday....)
March 4, 2009
Vision is finally posted. I've updated my Blog. I can't remember my LJ password, even though I knew it last week. I hope it comes back to me. My brain is just not focusing on it right now, though.
I am tired again tonight. But I at least got almost everything caught up, so I can go to sleep tonight without thinking about what absolutely has to be done in the morning. That's a nice feeling. I even got caught up on the writing tonight.
Russ and I talked via Skype and the little video cameras. That's fun, though I can't quite figure out where I want mine to be yet. I do have an idea to try out tomorrow, though.
Other than that? Not a lot going on. Tomorrow is set for getting the rest of the DAZ newsletter done. I'm not behind on it, at least! And that's about it. I need to get some rest!
March 5, 2009
I have the DAZ newsletter done. I have my writing done. I am actually on top of things, and that will last for all of about half an hour before I realize that I haven't done a dozen other things. But that the moment... Ha! I'm caught up!
(Goes shuffling through my piles of paper here, looking for the list of things I really should have done....)
Well, anyway, I'm MOSTLY caught up. And it's late and I need to get some sleep tonight. I think I'm getting old. I just can't stay up like I used to. (grin)
The weather here is at least momentarily better. That's something to feel better about. Might snow on Sunday, though.
Enough. Time to post this and get to bed!
March 6, 2009
There are some days when I just don't think I'm making any headway at all. This is one of them. Then I wonder if it would make a difference if I did make headway. What would I do with the extra time?
But stilll... too much to do. Too little time.
I'm going back to work now.
March 7, 2009
I got a few things done today. I can't say I'm really caught up, but I don't feel like I'm horribly behind, either. So that's good. We're looking at snow tomorrow night. And ice. Spring is so odd some years. I would just like things to warm up and stay that way. But not too warm.
I know, sometimes there is just no pleasing people.
I've been working on a picture in Carrara the last couple days, and I really like the way it has turned out. It is on what I hope is the last render right now. Down to the last few minutes of it, in fact. As soon as it is done I'll upload the couple pictures I took today. Really didn't do much. Should have gotten out more. But I really didn't feel like it. I slept. Then I slept some more. Then I did work, and got tired, and I'm going to go sleep some more soon.
I sure hope I'm a bit more awake tomorrow. Or maybe not. Just sleep for a few days. That doesn't sound so bad at all....
March 8, 2009
We had snow but it is mostly gone, I'm glad to say. Supposed to be back up in the mid 50's tomorrow. But on Wednesday, the high is supposed to be about 14. Yeah, this is just so much fun.
I think the birds are annoyed. The robins especially since they just showed back up again.
Anyway, today is my birthday. I played around with my website and art work mostly. I finally updated some of the Zette's World website. It was long overdue. Started a little short story. That's about it. I still have a couple things I want to do, and it's getting late...so off to work I go. Or not to work, for a change.
March 9, 2009
The weather is taking a turn for the worse again. My, this is a busy spring for weather. Ice and snow predicted, with weather advisories all over the place. It looks like most of it will be south of us again, though, so things should go all right. It's just now dropping down to freezing.
Writing is going well. Things are okay. Just... long winter. I hope the weather gets warmer soon. I want to get out again.
Really, nothing more to talk about. Need to get some things done for the night. Wish I had something fun to report, but it's just not going to happen tonight!
March 10, 2009
I have been working with Poser 7 today. It has some great bits, but a couple problems that I'm going to have to sort out... but overall, fun to work with. Now that I better understand what something is supposed to do, I don't get so frustrated when it doesn't. I just start looking for the proper controls. So far, I've done pretty well with them.
The writing is going well enough, too.
But... it is cold here tonight! I mean really cold. 6f with a wind chill of -12. I thought we were past this stuff, but it looks like at least two more days of it. I want spring. I don't think that's asking for too much since it is almost mid March. Enough of this weather!
Other than that? Got part of the DAZ newsletter done today, so I'm ahead on that stuff. That won't last for long. I'm about 35k into Kat Among the Pigeons and just about the same on Draw the Line. I need to finish the little short story for this month, but I think that won't be too much work. Need to do some more work on the class stuff, but it's going pretty well, too.
The big thing right now is that I want to play with picture stuff. And I'm tired.
Ugh.
Time to get some sleep, I think.
After I try one more thing with this new program... (grin)
March 11, 2009
I hate cold weather. It puts me in a bad mood. Snarl, growl, snarl. Once it warms up, it is supposed to stay warm. There should be a law about it. Once it hits the fifties, it is NOT allowed to drop down to single digits with negative wind chills until the next winter.
I should be in charge of this stuff. We'd have... well, not better weather, but interesting stuff. I like storms.
That's it. Not anything of any interest going on here except that Zaphod keeps leaping up in front of my monitor, which makes it hard to see what I'm doing. Even though I'm a touch typist, I've found that I do better if I can actually see what I am typing.
That's it. Time to get back to work on... something. There's bound to be something I need to do now!
March 12, 2009
I have been fighting a headache all day, and I think it is still getting the better of me. I'm taking a break now from my work on the newsletter -- which should have been done, but I'm still working on it -- and I can't really think clearly, which is never a good thing.
I'm closer to being done, though. I only need a couple things that I don't have yet, so I may have to wait until tomorrow to post this beast. That's all right. I think I need a little space so I can look it over again.
And that's it.
Except that it's warmer again, so there is one less thing for me to complain about!
March 13, 2009
This is the actual first full picture I've done with Poser 7. (King of the Hill for future reference) It's an interesting program to work with, and I think I will eventually get it all sorted out and have fun. There are things I like about it. There are things I like better with Carrara and DAZ Studio. I'll be working with all three.
I have finished the short story for March. Yay. Not a good ending line, but I can work on that later. Right now, I'm just glad to have it done. That's three short stories and one novel so far this year. And a couple articles. Not too bad, really.
And it is warmer. I am so happy to have better weather again. I was just not doing well before this.
I think by next week I may be out walking at dawn again. I hope so. That would be fun. It's still too cold in the mornings, unfortunately. I might do a little afternoon walking instead, but that's not nearly as much fun as first thing in the morning. You can see deer and stuff then.
But anyway, I got a lot done.
March 14, 2009
I have had one of those 24 hours that I really could have done without. I thought I had a broken water pipe at this time last night and I was stressed out over it ever since. I think it was just a lime chunk in the in the line that dropped the pressure down, since it only affected the bathroom sink, and it seems to be righting itself now.
But still... not the kind of thing I need.
And my lovely birdbath/bird feeder is broken. Sigh.
But I got quite a bit of writing done. It looks good.
Going to bed now. It's been a long day!
March 15, 2009
Okay, it's late and I'm tired, so this will be short. Got things done. Short Story class is posted. I'm caught up on most everything else right now, so I'm going to take advantage of it and sleep for a while. Seems like a good plan to me.
I wish they would make up their mind about the weather tomorrow. It had been listed as the 70s. Now it's the 60's again. Granted, that's better than it has been for quite a while!
Okay. Bed. I must go to bed. I'm tired!
March 16, 2009
My life has been pretty bland lately. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, you understand, just that it makes it difficult to come up with anything interesting to write about.
I did do my first walk of the year. I am so out of shape. That was pathetic. Just going to have to do more of it.
And that's it. Back to work.
March 17, 2009
I got quite a bit done on the DAZ Newsletter today, so I'm ahead in that respect. Yay! Work with Poser and DAZ Studio, too, just for the fun of it. That was nice. Writing is going okay. Tried to clean house and my back is killing me, but I'll survive it.
I don't think there is really anything else to report tonight. The weather here is very nice. Might sprinkle tonight, which is fine. Looking at thunderstorms on Saturday.
But right now... I'm looking at the idea of bed. Early. So that I'm not so absolutely dead tomorrow!
March 18, 2009
Nothing new.
Really, nothing new. I'm glad that the weather is better still. I'm glad to see the birds back at the feeders. It really is a sure sign of spring.
I suppose my restlessness is a sign, too, but I haven't been back out for a walk yet. I have been cleaning the house, though, so that's good! My office is looking much better now.
I'm going to work on the newsletter for a little longer and then get to bed early tonight. I've been tired for days!
March 19, 2009
I am going to get this done early today, in the hopes that my brain is working better and I'll come up with something interesting to say.
...
...
...
Well, that's not working.
I did just finish up the DAZ newsletter, though I am hoping for a couple more pieces for links that I need. Those are easy to do, though, and I don't have to actually mess with the newsletter itself when I get them. Though, a good idea to read through it again. I still found two more spelling errors and one extra word.
In other news, if things go well a friend will be in town tomorrow and I'll spend a bit of time in the morning and early afternoon with her before she goes on. This should be fun! I'll also be able to replenish my dwindling Diet Pepsi collection, I think. (grin)
I've let this sit for hours. Nothing new has happened. Time to upload and move on!
March 20, 2009
I had a very nice day. A friend (author Tamara Siler Jones) came into town and we spent the afternoon, mostly sitting at Perkins talking. Then she took me to the store so I could grab a few supplies, then past my beloved Taco Bell to pick up a bit more, then back to the house where she signed her books and off she went.
We hope to be able to do it again.
I got some good writing done this afternoon. I am exhausted tonight, though, mostly because I didn't sleep all that well the night before. I am looking forward to crawling into bed and getting a good sleep for a change. There is something to be said for exhaustion.
I have things to get done tomorrow. But right now...just time to relax.
March 21, 2009
Almost forgot to do this before I crawled off to bed!
Got quite a bit of writing done tonight. Yay! Not doing as well on other things, but I'll get there. Need to get caught up on some regular work tomorrow. Today was just not the day for it. I think I needed a little break to get my brain cleared and resettled.
We might have thunderstorms tomorrow.
And snow on Wednesday.
Yeah, looks like it's going to be that kind of spring.
Maybe I can go sleep through it!
March 22, 2009
I am having a hard time getting back to work on anything! My brain is not fully engaging, I'm afraid. I am getting things completed, but I don't think there is much really good there.
It doesn't help that Kat Among the Pigeons is giving me grief. I know I can make this section better, but it is still fighting me every step of the way.
I'll get there. Eventually.
March 23, 2009
Wow! Interesting weather. And I'm sure glad we don't have that huge amount of snow that they got out in the western part of the state. I sent Russ a note about a place where he used to live... they've closed down all the roads, and the drifts are three to four feet high.
Eeek.
And I think I saw that there were tornados in part of Nebraska also. That stuff can stay far away as well. We did get some high winds and thunderstorms, but nothing drastic.
I'm still fighting with the novel. I'm going to win.
Eventually.
March 24, 2009
Forgot to post the stuff again yesterday. Honestly, I don't know where my brain goes.
Except that I spent a lot of time watching the storm and that probably just took all my attention.
Tonight starts March Madness over at FM. I think I finally have a plan. I'm going to try and finish out Kat Among the Pigeons, since it has been giving me such grief. I was going to try and do something brand new, but I just think that's a bad idea right now. I don't need an excuse to walk away from Kat.
So, I'm getting prepared. Pages of the original printed and read. Ready to go in and do better this time around. I hope.
I only have a few more hours to go.
March 25, 2009
My decision to work on Kat Among the Pigeons has been a wise one. It's relatively easy, but even so, I had a hard time getting through the work for the day. I think it's going to be interesting to see how well I do this year. I'm already thinking of dropping down a level.
Other than that, not much to report. Write and write and write. That's about the best we can hope for!
March 26, 2009
I've had one of those days where things just are not falling into place properly. Just one problem after another, but nothing really horrible, just annoying more than anything. There are days like that, I suppose. I just hope it doesn't carry over into tomorrow, too.
I still need to get some writing done tonight, so that's where I'm headed next, and I'm going to ignore all the little things that have annoyed me all day.
It sounds like a good plan to me.
March 27, 2009
Ha! I am not going to forget to upload again tonight. Enough of this. I'm doing my journal early and I'm going to upload it right now. So there!
This is actually possible because there is nothing at all going on. It's getting cold, but we aren't going to get any snow like they are getting south of us. Eeek! At least they won't have it for long.
We're just getting cold weather. Down to about 20f tonight again. I want it to warm up a bit. Not a lot... but a bit would be nice.
Writing is going fine. That's helping. Kat Among the Pigeons is such a fun book to rewrite. I'm really enjoying the work. Great set of characters to play with. I might still do another book with them... maybe Kat Among the Penguins.
Except I think I would be too badly influenced by the Penguins of Madagascar. Do I dare admit that I love them? Just thinking about them (including the Penguin Christmas Caper) makes me laugh.
I think I may have to watch the second movie tonight. I've seen the first one twice in the last month, and the Christmas Caper at least one more time than that.
March 28, 2009
I am working on a picture. If it goes well, it will be used to illustrate my story, No Beast So Fierce, for Darwin's Evolutions. I'm happy with what I have so far, so things are going well!
The writing is going well, too. I'm about 20k short of finishing Kat Among the Pigeons, and since I'm entering it in a contest, it's going straight into major editing.
So, all is well.
Except it could be warmer.
March 29, 2009
Let's see... writing is going well Work on the next DAZ newsletter is going okay. Headache is there, but easing. Yes, I forgot to upload again yesterday, but it's there now.
Russ will be calling me soon, I think. He's on his way up to somewhere a bit south of Boston for the week. And he'll be coming home in about three weeks, so that's good.
Not much else I can say today. I think the big news is that I'm actually going to post this on time.
Unless I forget to.
March 30, 2009
I am determined to get two days posted in a row. I know I've been busy lately, but that's no real good excuse for not getting the posts up about every other day!
So I'll have to come up with another excuse.
Getting closer to done with Kat. I am not entirely certain what I'm going to work on afterwards, though. That's starting to play in my mind. But right now... it's going pretty well, really.
So, I'm going to post this. Just to show I can.
March 31, 2009
I am feeling lousy tonight, so I'm just doing a quick note and uploading so I can crawl back into bed and not feel like there's something I should have done.
It's cold here, but I don't think we're gong to get any snow. Fine by me. It will be a little warmer tomorrow.
Had a good month of writing, though I didn't do as well at March Madness as I had hoped to. And I'm behind on a couple things, but I don't care. I'm going to bed.