I’m thankful

I’m really, really thankful.

(I keep telling myself that every time I feel like I’m drowning in BS.)

I’m thankful.

Really, really thankful.

Best Mail E-V-E-R!

I’ve gotten great stuff in the mail before. Stuff like:

– acceptance letters

– contracts

– checks

– awards

But yesterday I got THE best thing ever.

A hand-written note from my nearest, dearest, and bestest friend Laura.

Which probably sounds like no big deal.

But it’s huge.

Because at the beginning of the month she was on a ventilator, and in a coma, and I was terrified I’d never hear from her again.

BEST MAIL E-V-E-R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which Whitney were these people watching???

First let me put out there that I’ve admittedly got terrible taste in music.

But also let me say that, as far as I know, my hearing is intact.

Last night I flipped on the tv just in time to catch Whitney Houston performing on the American Music Awards.

I’d like to congratulate her spin doctors because somehow they managed to convince a hell of a lot of people that her performance was good. Apparently they didn’t hear what I heard.

Don’t get me wrong, there was a time when Ms. Houston could belt out the tunes. That time is gone. LONG gone.

And yet she rec’d a standing “o” from the audience and glowing reviews from viewers.

Another example of style over substance.

Captive Audience

Pity Long Suffering who had to listen to me read from my WIP for over an hour while in the car.

(He did get brownie points for laughing at the parts I’d tried to make funny and for getting upset when things were going terribly wrong. He’s SUCH a good audience…even when he’s trapped.)

The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!

THUNK

goes Harlequin Horizons

(sorry, couldn’t help myself)

Musical chairs, pens, and pads

Over the past two days I haven’t been able to get comfortable. I switched desk chairs. I wrote on the couch in my office. I wrote at the kitchen table. I wrote from the couch in the living room. I wrote while at the dining room table.

I’ve written on my computer. On legal pads. In my journal. And even in one of those tiny little spiral notebooks I used to write down homework assignments when I was in junior high.

I’ve written with a black pencil, a pink pencil with silver hearts, a black pen, a blue pen, and a purple pen.

My output is creative and productive. So much for my post the other day about the importance of routine.

What/where/how do you write?

Apparently it’s not a good idea

to write while cooking breakfast

because the place fills with smoke

and the fire alarm goes off.

Sorry honey!

Back in the saddle

(for the record I would never willingly climb back into a saddle because I’m afraid of heights and terrified of oversized four-legged modes of transportation — I blame this on the trauma I suffered as a five-year-old when a camel spit in my face as I sat on his back)

But I digress. Yeah, I know, I digressed before I started.

For the first time in three weeks I had a “normal” day. I wrote quite a bit on the WIP (most of which I can’t read today as I try to type it up…that’s pretty standard for me) ran my usual Monday errands, and even went for a short run. (I can exercise for thirty minutes without coughing once, but the moment I start to eat or speak the coughing starts again — VERY annoying).

All of this has me thinking about how important routines are for productivity. Yesterday went just like a Monday should and I got more done on my story than I had in the entire week before (tho I must admit last week was emotionally trying/draining). So I’m back in the saddle.

Hi Ho Silver, Away!

Richard Castle’s book — Heat Wave

It’s been a miserable couple of weeks around here, but things are finally looking up.

This wknd I was in the mood for something light and fun, so I read Heat Wave by “Richard Castle”. (The entire book is part of a clever marketing scheme — Richard Castle, a wildly successful author, is a fictional character played by Nathan Fillion on the ABC show CASTLE. This book is supposedly the book Richard Castle has written about the detective he shadows on the show. It’s really not as confusing as I’m making it sound…)

Whoever actually wrote the book did an excellent job of capturing the easy, breezy tone of the show. I could believe that it reads like something Richard Castle could have written.

Is it a great book? Not exactly, but it did keep me mildly entertained for a couple of hours (and yes, I chuckled aloud a couple of times).

It was just what the doctor ordered.

And I’d definitely read the next Richard Castle book (assuming there’ll be one) the next time I’m emotionally exhausted.

Reading Material

I couldn’t freakin’ see while I was sick, but I did read a little.

No, I didn’t read the dozen or so novels I brought home from the conference I’d just attended.

Instead I read all about “Palliative Care and Pain Management at the End of Life”. Light, uplifting material to be sure.

Okay it was dense and depressing, but I found it fascinating. In case you needed further proof there’s something a little off about me…