And a good time was had by all.
Baked the pies and roasted the Turkey on Wednesday, so all I had to do today was make the mashed potatoes, the stuffing (stovetop) and set everything out. We had turkey sandwiches, which consisted of a slice of white bread (we usually eat wheat, so this was a treat) a layer of turkey, a thick layer of cranberry sauce, a layer of stuffing, a glob of mashed potatos, and then you cover the entire thing with gravy. Not just any gravy, but the best gravy on the face of the planet. It was a new recipe that involved cooking sherry, dijon mustard, turkey drippings and endless stirring and reducing. Let's just say it was worth it.
I don't think I'm ever going to make a traditional turkey dinner again. I'ts so much easier doing the turkey the day before. Gives me a chance to enjoy the day too.
But honestly, I ate too much.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Cascading List of Home Repair
We had a leaky sink and it has morphed into gutting the entire bathroom. Let me explain.
Monday, Dh, who is off for a week, decided to fix the minor leak under the bathroom sink. Finds out the pipes from the sink to the wall are rusted through. Discovers the seal on the sink is rusted. Chips the porcelain in trying to get it out. We decided to replace the sink because we have a two sink vanity. Then it just cascaded from there.
*If we replace one sink, we have to replace the other.
*The vanity is ancient and since we're replacing the sink, we might as well replace the vanity.
*If we're going to replace the vanity, we might as well replace the tile, which is also ancient.
*If we replace the tile, we might as well replace the toilet.
*As long as we're at it, let's go ahead and replace the ancient cedar siding the moron before us put in half the bathroom.
So that's why I have bits and pieces of the only bathroom we have in my living room the day before Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll use the vanity for a side bar and put the gravy in the one working sink. GAH!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, Dh, who is off for a week, decided to fix the minor leak under the bathroom sink. Finds out the pipes from the sink to the wall are rusted through. Discovers the seal on the sink is rusted. Chips the porcelain in trying to get it out. We decided to replace the sink because we have a two sink vanity. Then it just cascaded from there.
*If we replace one sink, we have to replace the other.
*The vanity is ancient and since we're replacing the sink, we might as well replace the vanity.
*If we're going to replace the vanity, we might as well replace the tile, which is also ancient.
*If we replace the tile, we might as well replace the toilet.
*As long as we're at it, let's go ahead and replace the ancient cedar siding the moron before us put in half the bathroom.
So that's why I have bits and pieces of the only bathroom we have in my living room the day before Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll use the vanity for a side bar and put the gravy in the one working sink. GAH!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Conversations Heard Around My House This Weekend
Key: Ds--dear son
Dh--dear husband
DD--dear daughter
Mom-- Me
DS: OMG I have to work forty hours this next week. Ima die.
DH: When I was 19...
DS: Save it, dad. You were never 19.
DH: I was too!
DS: No, you were born a fully formed forty year old and you worked harder than anyone has ever worked in the world.
Dh: That's true.
DD:We will too finish our homework!
Mom: You and your boyfriend are incapable of doing homework together. You always end up necking.
DD: Mom. We do not neck. That went out with the fifties and I know you're not that old. We make out.
Mom: AH HA! I told you, you wouldn't get your homework done.
DD: We do too! We work a little, then kiss a little and then work a little, then kiss a little...
DH: (Muttering) So that's why she always comes home with chapped lips and paper cuts.
(Telephone Rings)
Dh gets up from the computer to answer it:"Hello?"
Mom on the couch with her cell phone: "Can you let the cat in while you're up?"
Dh: DANG IT!
Dh--dear husband
DD--dear daughter
Mom-- Me
DS: OMG I have to work forty hours this next week. Ima die.
DH: When I was 19...
DS: Save it, dad. You were never 19.
DH: I was too!
DS: No, you were born a fully formed forty year old and you worked harder than anyone has ever worked in the world.
Dh: That's true.
DD:We will too finish our homework!
Mom: You and your boyfriend are incapable of doing homework together. You always end up necking.
DD: Mom. We do not neck. That went out with the fifties and I know you're not that old. We make out.
Mom: AH HA! I told you, you wouldn't get your homework done.
DD: We do too! We work a little, then kiss a little and then work a little, then kiss a little...
DH: (Muttering) So that's why she always comes home with chapped lips and paper cuts.
(Telephone Rings)
Dh gets up from the computer to answer it:"Hello?"
Mom on the couch with her cell phone: "Can you let the cat in while you're up?"
Dh: DANG IT!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thank you!
Huge thanks to the writing community. Thanks to many wonderful donors, I have the books I need for the book club. After I finish an article today, I am going to make out a year long schedule for the club, so I can begin getting books and donations early. The girls are seriously excited... I hope I can create a club that lives up to their expectations!
I'm not so much writing right now as I am thinking about writing. This would concern me, but I'm not really blocked, just busy and waiting for my next step to become apparent. I have three proposals ready to go and one almost ready, (am waiting on agent feedback), And really don't want to write more until I know the next step in my writing career.
But hey, it's not like I don't have things to keep me occupied!
I'm not so much writing right now as I am thinking about writing. This would concern me, but I'm not really blocked, just busy and waiting for my next step to become apparent. I have three proposals ready to go and one almost ready, (am waiting on agent feedback), And really don't want to write more until I know the next step in my writing career.
But hey, it's not like I don't have things to keep me occupied!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Speechless and book club.
Or should that be wordless?
Because I am screaming busy and can't find a decent topic to blog about.
One thing... I have started a book club at the low income community center where I work. I imagine it's going to be about eight or nine girls.We will read a book every month and then one night a month will discuss the book over cocoa and cookies. Once every three months we will take a trip to the starbucks at the mall and then next door to the book store. I am looking for contributors that will help get books into the hands of these girls. The library is well started, but I need eight or nine copies of whatever book we are going to be reading that month. I especially need them for the first month which starts on Tuesday December 2nd.
The first book I have chosen is, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. It's a lovely book in verse and since Lisa lives in the area, she agreed to come and speak to the girls in January. The girls are ages 10 to 14. I Heart You is a novel in verse and is both easy enough for the younger girls and compelling enough for the older ones. If you have any copies lying around you would like to give to a good cause, please leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you. We exist on a shoestring budget so all help is appreciated! If you want to check out the organization I work for see here
Thanks!
Because I am screaming busy and can't find a decent topic to blog about.
One thing... I have started a book club at the low income community center where I work. I imagine it's going to be about eight or nine girls.We will read a book every month and then one night a month will discuss the book over cocoa and cookies. Once every three months we will take a trip to the starbucks at the mall and then next door to the book store. I am looking for contributors that will help get books into the hands of these girls. The library is well started, but I need eight or nine copies of whatever book we are going to be reading that month. I especially need them for the first month which starts on Tuesday December 2nd.
The first book I have chosen is, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. It's a lovely book in verse and since Lisa lives in the area, she agreed to come and speak to the girls in January. The girls are ages 10 to 14. I Heart You is a novel in verse and is both easy enough for the younger girls and compelling enough for the older ones. If you have any copies lying around you would like to give to a good cause, please leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you. We exist on a shoestring budget so all help is appreciated! If you want to check out the organization I work for see here
Thanks!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday Retrospect
It's been a busy week. Of course, after Wordstock last weekend, it seemed pretty tame.
Monday-worked in the yard for about six hours. Realized that I'm a fab writer.
Tuesday-worked, scrambled for sources, had coffee with Kerry. Realized that I suck at writing.
Wednesday-worked, got my own word woman super hero, finished up Speed proposal.Am once again a fab writer.
Thursday- worked, polished Speed proposal, got my sources.
I don't work today so it's devoted to writing. One article due today, one due Monday. Have to find the glass cleaner so I can clean my house.
Oh, and a Huge shout out to my oldest baby who turns 19 today. Yes. 19. At some point I'm going to have to stop giving out my children's ages because wow, that makes me so old!
Last Halloween. I gave birth to a disco zombie?
Happy birthday buddy!
Monday-worked in the yard for about six hours. Realized that I'm a fab writer.
Tuesday-worked, scrambled for sources, had coffee with Kerry. Realized that I suck at writing.
Wednesday-worked, got my own word woman super hero, finished up Speed proposal.Am once again a fab writer.
Thursday- worked, polished Speed proposal, got my sources.
I don't work today so it's devoted to writing. One article due today, one due Monday. Have to find the glass cleaner so I can clean my house.
Oh, and a Huge shout out to my oldest baby who turns 19 today. Yes. 19. At some point I'm going to have to stop giving out my children's ages because wow, that makes me so old!
Last Halloween. I gave birth to a disco zombie?
Happy birthday buddy!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Talent
Woke up with a screaming headache so will keep this short. This is my super hero, drawn for me by one of the teens at my work. She did this freehand in about 25-30 minutes. I love it! Click on it to make it bigger. WOW.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wordstock!
What a weekend!
I spoke the first day... Which would have been fine except the guy I was speaking with was very popular, wore a dapper hat, had a great MG audience and a fab power point with the word POOP in it. A hard act to follow. Who can go after someone who uses POOP in a presentation? I did my best, and told everyone that my book has a few references to poop as well, though probably not in the same way. The adults laughed anyway. Then the question and answer period was great. We sat in chairs and played off one another so well I told him we should take it off the road. The Basye and Brown show. Vaudevillian writers. It was fun:)
Yesterday was my workshop and I think it went well. Once the latest trends power point was over they had questions on everything under the sun... took almost the whole hour! Plus, an editor from Darkhorse comics was there and I got some great info on graphic novels, as well.
After running down the street for a quick lunch at Burgerville (I'm sorry for all you people who don't live in the northwest to get a taste of what a burger place should be!), I went and saw my fellow class of 2k8er, Lisa Schroeder before she had to give her talk. I couldn't stay to watch her because I had to meet the fam out front so we could make it to the TSO concert on time.
So my speaking engagements are done for a while... though I have an idea for another one and need to get my brochure done so I can get it out to schools. But for now I can concentrate on my writing!
I spoke the first day... Which would have been fine except the guy I was speaking with was very popular, wore a dapper hat, had a great MG audience and a fab power point with the word POOP in it. A hard act to follow. Who can go after someone who uses POOP in a presentation? I did my best, and told everyone that my book has a few references to poop as well, though probably not in the same way. The adults laughed anyway. Then the question and answer period was great. We sat in chairs and played off one another so well I told him we should take it off the road. The Basye and Brown show. Vaudevillian writers. It was fun:)
Yesterday was my workshop and I think it went well. Once the latest trends power point was over they had questions on everything under the sun... took almost the whole hour! Plus, an editor from Darkhorse comics was there and I got some great info on graphic novels, as well.
After running down the street for a quick lunch at Burgerville (I'm sorry for all you people who don't live in the northwest to get a taste of what a burger place should be!), I went and saw my fellow class of 2k8er, Lisa Schroeder before she had to give her talk. I couldn't stay to watch her because I had to meet the fam out front so we could make it to the TSO concert on time.
So my speaking engagements are done for a while... though I have an idea for another one and need to get my brochure done so I can get it out to schools. But for now I can concentrate on my writing!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Excited for Wordstock!
I'm speaking twice this weekend at Wordstock. Saturday, I read, answer questions and sign books. Sunday, I have a workshop to give. Can I just say, I am seriously excited? Four years ago, I saw John Irving at a Wordstock event....one of the highlights of my life. Now I am speaking at it!
The list of authors attending is amaing and I feel so blessed to be counted amoung them. And I am excited about the workshop, too. Imagine getting paid to talk about YA?!!!
After my workshop, I will be going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert. I love this show. It's like nothing else out there.
Have a great weekend everyone!
The list of authors attending is amaing and I feel so blessed to be counted amoung them. And I am excited about the workshop, too. Imagine getting paid to talk about YA?!!!
After my workshop, I will be going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert. I love this show. It's like nothing else out there.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
A Win for the Ages
No matter where you stood on the presidential race, I think America won.
As a certified (Or is it certifiable?) Republican let me explain.
Whether or not Obama will be a good president remains to be seen. Goodness knows he has a mess on his hands. But... we have come a long way since the evil days of segregation. Slavery and the aftermath of hate and bigotry have long been a wound in our nation’s soul. It hasn't healed yet, but it's truly begun.
Martin Luther King had a dream.
Last night it came true.
Peace, love and prosperity to both the reds and the blues, the blacks and the whites and everything in between.
As a certified (Or is it certifiable?) Republican let me explain.
Whether or not Obama will be a good president remains to be seen. Goodness knows he has a mess on his hands. But... we have come a long way since the evil days of segregation. Slavery and the aftermath of hate and bigotry have long been a wound in our nation’s soul. It hasn't healed yet, but it's truly begun.
Martin Luther King had a dream.
Last night it came true.
Peace, love and prosperity to both the reds and the blues, the blacks and the whites and everything in between.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Wild Weekend
From start to finish this was an exhausting weekend. Some parts of it were fantastic, others were horrible. My dh took me out Friday night-- our kids were having a party-- and he wanted to plan the whole thing. He took me to a little Italian place downtown, plied me with wine, bread, Alfredo and tirimiso, then took me out for coffee and to my favorite bookstore. Then we went to that Woody Allen Film, Vicky Christine Barcelona, which was fabulous. Okay, so the everyone going to bed together kind of turned me off, but it was beautifully filmed, well written and genuinely funny.
That date was the highlight.
Saturday morning we had to attend a memorial for our friends twin babies. They were born too soon and couldn't make it. Horrible and sad.
The rest of the weekend was work, work, work. My daughter had a four page final she needed help and encouragement with. And a one page report. And I had an article due. And I wanted to finish a chapter in my WIP. And I had a crit due to a friend.
By last night I felt like I had never been away from the computer and would never get away from the computer again.
This week doesn't look much better. I have two different presentations to write for Wordstock next week. One a twenty minute talk and one hour long workshop.
I have two articles to research for. And a ton of fiction work to do. And I have to get my hair cut before the weekend... provided I can get an appointment with my hair magician.
Does anyone else hate making appointments by phone? Both kids need to go to the dentist. One needs a doctor's appointment. I have to call the school to excuse an absence... I am horrible about that kind of stuff. What is it about making a simple phone call that paralyzes me with procrastination?
That date was the highlight.
Saturday morning we had to attend a memorial for our friends twin babies. They were born too soon and couldn't make it. Horrible and sad.
The rest of the weekend was work, work, work. My daughter had a four page final she needed help and encouragement with. And a one page report. And I had an article due. And I wanted to finish a chapter in my WIP. And I had a crit due to a friend.
By last night I felt like I had never been away from the computer and would never get away from the computer again.
This week doesn't look much better. I have two different presentations to write for Wordstock next week. One a twenty minute talk and one hour long workshop.
I have two articles to research for. And a ton of fiction work to do. And I have to get my hair cut before the weekend... provided I can get an appointment with my hair magician.
Does anyone else hate making appointments by phone? Both kids need to go to the dentist. One needs a doctor's appointment. I have to call the school to excuse an absence... I am horrible about that kind of stuff. What is it about making a simple phone call that paralyzes me with procrastination?
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