Still here

I am not having a good week, obviously, but I'm still here. Russ will be home in a couple more days, and I think things will look better then. Right now I'm fighting to get anything done. And I'm not feeling well, which doesn't help at all. I suspect it's just stress.

I have been going for walks every day again, and I think that's helping somewhat. I'm almost nearly done with Paid in Gold and Blood, and I am happy about that part. The 2YNY2 book is figting me, but -- again -- I think it's stress more than anything else.

Today I feel lousy, so all the things I'd planned on doing are kind of sitting by the side and on hold again.

If I don't get things working soon, I'm going to drop NaNo this year. As much as I love doing it, there are just too many things piling up on my end, and not nearly enough time to do them as it is. 

Sad

We lost Princess Cricket, one of our fourteen year old cats, early this morning. She'd been ill for a long time, but she'd actually looked better yesterday after her visit to the vet. He even thought she would be all right. But I woke up at 4:30am and for some reason checked on her. She was having trouble breathing. I woke Russ up who decided to take her into the bathroom, where the other cats wouldn't bother her -- and she died there just a couple minutes later.

I've finished the first draft of Summer Storm!

Finally! It's a short first draft, but I don't care. I have it. I've already thought of one thread that I completely lost, even in the outline, so there's something to write up and settle. I want more with the main character's girlfriend, and probably a few more encounters with the bad guys before the end.

But, I have the basics of the story, and I'm glad.

Now it'll be back to work on the 2YNY2 book, after a short break. At least a few hours. And I need to get to work on the outline for NaNo.

But right now I'm just relieved to have the novel done.

Holly says the new writing book will be for sale tomorrow, too. Yay!

Right now, though... I think I want to rest for a little while! 

Playing with pictures

This is an older African Egret picture from the zoo. I decided to play with it over in Corel's Painter Essentials 3 -- and then back in Corel's Paint Shop Pro XI. I like the results! I really hope that I get a chance to pick up these two programs. Actually, I am lusting after the full version of Painter now, but it's out of my range. Although... there may be a way that we can get it, if a friend agrees. That would be so great.

I have sent the Workshop book off to Holly again, after another reformat. I hope that's the last I see of it for a while. Ineed to work on two projects and get them done -- Summer Storm and 2YNY2.

So I stopped and played with pictures instead. Actually, I need the little break after the Workshop book which gave me problems all the way to the end.

Oh, and I'm trying out Picasa's Web album:

The Orphan Kittens

Jun 13, 2006 - 24 Photos

I think that's about all the time I can waste now. It's already 6PM and I need to get some work done before the day is gone.

I keep saying I'm going to take the weekends off. I never quite figure out how to do it!

 

Friday? It's Friday?

I am having a hard time keeping track of days lately. So is Russ. That's not good at all.

Today I did the PDF version of the workshop book Holly and I will have out soon. I hope it worked right this time. If I have to redo that beast again, I may scream. Or something.

Edmond bit me on the arm today. He was playing with his brother and he reached over and caught hold of me. We had a very short and to the point, discussion about it. He didn't break the skin very much, but I am bruised.

And then he did it again a few minutes later. We had a slightly longer discussion that time. I hope he got the point this time.

So, now I want to get to work on Summer Storm, since I've barely written a couple hundred words today. And edit more of Paid in Gold and Blood, which is really going very well. I need to do more work at FM now that I have my computer almost working properly again since the move. I didn't dare mess with it for those days where we couldn't get my Internet Connection to work quite right.

And the new desk is great. Right now I have the computer, the printer a stack of papers and three cats -- and it's not even crowded. I think I'll be able to bring my scanner out and set it up, too. Great stuff! I even like the spot, too, which is clear up front with two windows to look out, giving a side and front view from the house.

Will it help me with writing? Yes, I think it will. I just have to get the time to get back into it.

And that's what I'm about to do now!