What have I been up to?

Well I took a road trip. Why? I turned a simple trip that could have been done in 2 days and turned it into a 3000 + mile road trip. Why?

I decided that using the car and driving I could get more done.

I left my home in NC and headed out for OK. I did have a traveling companion, Philip our kitten.

Philip had never been on a long road trip before, but he eventually adjusted.

I stopped in OK to see my Dad. The went on to Fort Riley in KS to help another Army wife.

After completing this I stopped in to see Dad once more before leaving OK. Then I headed down to San Antonio TX.

I was headed for the Soldiers Angels warehouse.

Here I dropped off the extra items we had from the drive for items for the barracks rooms of single soldiers returning from deployment, and picked up the blankets I needed to complete this task.

Sidetracked note this is just a few of the coins and other items that are proudly shown off at the Soldiers Angels warehouse.

With my van reloaded with 75 handmade blankets, I once again took to the road. Next stop Huntsville AL. I was stopping there to meet a soldier I had adopted through a few tours.

The next morning I took off for home, only to be struck by the desire to get my husband some of his favorite bagels. When I realized I would not make it to the bagel shop in time I had to call in the reinforcements.

My in-laws were more than happy to pick up my last minute order and meet me just off the interstate. Now having the bagels, and a few other goodies secured in my van I rolled for home.

I arrived tired but pleased with everything I had accomplished on this trip.

Now I need to get back to my Novel. Another chapter awaits, a freshly created one that was not in the original outline.

The day the lights went out

I was happily working on chapter 9 when the doorbell rang. I went to the door to find out that they were installing an electric meter and our power would be out for about 30 minutes. Okay 30 minutes is not that bad. Unfortunately something went wrong.

One on the breakers that controls the power to the house broke and needed to be replaced. The maintenance staff didn’t have the part in stock. They called around and eventually found the part. By this time I was antsy and wanting to back to my dear plot bunnies. This was not to happen until the power was restored. To make matters worse I had gone grocery shopping this very morning.

My new activity became pacing I wanted to write…..

My dear fur babies took the outage in stride, but then lack of electricity is no reason to stop a cat nap.

Finally 5 hours and 30 minutes after the power went out the part arrived. I watched them install it, having been all but abandoned by my dear plot bunnies. So I went about the job of restarting the numerous devices in the house.

Then dinner time arrived. I hope that after I have filled my tummy the dear plot bunnies will return.

The perfect day to write…. NOT

The day started as a promising day to write, especially when the weather turned bad. Yes it snowed here at my home in NC. This is not a common occurrence. Well unfortunately despite wanting nothing more than to settle in at my keyboard and get some writing done, life called.

We are having some friends over for lunch tomorrow. I still needed to shop for some of the food, but…. it was snowing. To say the least going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but… It had to be done.

I did get some comedic relief when I took our kitten Philip out on his leash. Yes our cats are leash trained, they also use the toilet there is no litter box at our house. I made the decision to take Philip out in the snow when he tried to get out of the door three times. So I grabbed his harness and leash and out we went.

I could not resist posting a picture of our dear Mr. Philip in the snow.

Cats don’t like to get wet, but it was snowing, and he was driving me nuts so out we went.
He kept lifting his paws and shaking them, and kept trying to get away from “that cold wet white stuff.”
Shortly after that it was off to the store, now I was the one not wanting to be out in that cold wet stuff. I sucked it up and we got the shopping done fairly quickly.

I think I need a hot cup of tea now.

He was not impressed

Attention to detail….

Observing many of the people around me I have noticed something. There are many who seem to pay little or no attention to detail. Now none of these people are writers, they are just your average person.

Perfect example: cashier and cigarettes

Customer: I want a pack of x brand 100’s, in a box.

Cashier: Ok, then walks to the display behind her to get them.

Customer: I asked for the 100’s

Cashier: oh sorry, returns to rack, comes back again

Customer: I wanted brand X 100’s in a box, this is a soft pack

I will said on the third try the cashier did get it correct, but the customer and everyone else behind him was totally frustrated at this point. What should have been a two minute transaction took almost six minutes. I was the person right behind this customer as all of this was going on.

When writers and others read a book or manuscript what do they love and pick apart when critiquing it?

The details.

Another great example, I volunteer at the local Airborne Museum. There is a real plane suspended from the ceiling. There are lights and sounds coming from the plane. I watch at least 10 people walk right under it and never notice it every time I am there.

One day after a tour a guest said “I thought there’d be more planes.” I responded: “did you see the one on the ceiling?”

“there’s a plane on the ceiling?”

Yes follow me.

I walk them back in and after a few feet point up.

Oh wow I never noticed that. I proceeded to walk with them through the museum pointing out various other items I find interesting and have taken the time to learn about.

At the end of this the guest thanked me and commented: “wow I never noticed half that stuff, I’ll have to come back again.”

All in all I am amazed at how many people go through life just not paying attention.

If there is one thing I’d like to see is people being more aware of their surroundings.

The plot bunnies

My dear sweet plot bunnies have decided to go on strike. I am not certain why they went on strike. Well they are striking on the manuscript I want to finish, but bouncing on the second one, they seem to want me to write.

I am trying to compromise with them, I will outline the second one and make it my Nanowrimo project for November. Until then I am insisting on polishing the first one.

I would simply use the titles, but just don’t want to give that away yet. They are only working titles anyway.

Does anyone know what plot bunnies like to eat?

If you have a suggestion feel free to leave a comment.

Working hard vs Hardly working

writing, lets make that clear. I spend hours at the keyboard every day. I just sent chapter 7 off to my dear Dad for his wonderful editing assistance. Why my Dad?

It’s simple he is a well respected foreign language professor, and willing to help me. He is also a published author in his own right, albeit in french.

Now back to the main topic is all this time at the keyboard work or am I hardly working?

Well since I love what I am doing, it doesn’t feel like work, despite the hours I am putting in. I think it’s the perfect mix of working hard without feeling the drudgery of work.

Does it ever feel more like work?

Yes if I said no I’d be lying. Those tend to be the days when I feel uninspired and needing motivation. What then? I turn to those around me, the veterans I volunteer with, the soldiers helped through soldier angels and many other sources.

Sometimes i find myself reading to my cats, yes I said cats. While they cannot give feedback, at least not the constructive or grammatical kind, they give support. They provide cuddles, snuggles, purrs and meows. Yes the felines of the house are often the first to hear my freshly minted prose, but I don’t want them to be the last to indulge in the stories I craft as I sit at the keyboard.

My thoughts on Valentines Day

In one week many people will be spending money on flowers, candy jewelry and the like. This one day has been made a focal point in numerous relationships. I think this is wrong. It should not be the one day of affection and love showered on a couple that sets the tone for their whole relationship. I think it’s the little things that one does every day for their partner or spouse that should set the tone.

I do countless small things for my husband on many days of the year. First if you don’t know me you must realize my husband is a member of the United States Army. I am very proud of him for wearing the uniform. Some of the small things I do for him are simple and take only a few moments others take a bit more planning.

Here is a list of some of them:

I get up after he leaves for PT, and lay out a clean uniform for his return.
I will make him breakfast, no not everyday, but some of them, especially when I know he has a rough day ahead of him
I have gotten up as early as 1am to make sure him and some of his buddies can get a hot home cooked breakfast before heading to the field for training for a few weeks.
I slip notes and his favorite snack, or poggie bait into his pockets or his assault pack.
I deliver food and other little things to him during the regular duty day or when he pulls a 24 hour shift.
I have been known to put together his dress uniform when he is too tired and worn out from his busy days.
I pick up various uniform pieces he needs, these are not always easy to find.
Having a hot meal ready when he comes home from the field
Waiting in a parking lot for 8 hours to see him for 2 minutes just because I knew he’d be there at some point.

This is just a partial list, I am sure there are more. I think these small acts show more love and caring throughout the year than anything I could do on that one day everyone wants to focus on.

Will I do anything for Valentines day? Probably but I tend to go with humor. Most likely I will get him a card from the cats and maybe a gift from me, but it won’t be huge, or if it is a large gift it was something we were looking at buying anyway.

Am I telling you to ignore this holiday?

No, not at all. Feel free to celebrate the 14th of February. I just want you to remember the other 364 days of the year. Find a way to show how much you love your partner or spouse every day.

David I couldn’t be more in love with you or prouder of you. I also love all of the little things you do for me.

With a few tears in my eyes I think it’s time to return to working on my novel…..

Juggling Act

I was chatting with a friend yesterday, we were comparing schedules trying to figure out when to meet in person for lunch. After she looked at my schedule she asked me “How do you keep all of this straight and stay sane?”

I smiled and commented there is method in my madness. I will let all of you in on the secret.

It’s planning!

I use my outlook calendar that gets synced with my iPhone, if it isn’t on the calendar don’t hold your breath, not likely to happen. I also schedule everything in 15 minute blocks of time.

I will start with the big picture, what do I need?

1. Sleep

2. Time with hubby

3. Time to write based on my goals.

4. Time for volunteer work.

So open up a digital calendar, I use outlook.

Block out time for sleep, I block out 8 hours a night, do I get all 8 no not every night.

Next I put 1 date night a week on the calendar, usually Saturday, then if you are religious block out the time for that.

If you have a job other than writing block out that time next, don’t forget commute time.

For me it’s volunteer activities I know when some of these take place well in advance. For me I go to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum every Tuesday morning.

Next add time for holidays if you didn’t include them with the religious items.

Okay I think you are getting the picture. You are essentially making appointments with yourself.

Now you have a frame, so we can add in time for writing, researching etc.

My calendar looks like a rainbow since I use a different color for everything.

I am currently doing a number of short term projects, so I add in time to work on them. The cat has an appointment I add that as well. No kids here but, you would schedule their activities the same way.

Am I ever double booked?

Once in a while, but, most of the time I avoid the confusion since I have that frame in place.

I have routines that I don’t even think about anymore for the daily things, such as housework. I try and plan meals in advance, and yes they get added to the calendar too.

When Mr. Murphy comes calling I know exactly what I can move with the fewest issues.

If you want to know more about the housework and how it comes together, I use Flylady. I adapted many of the things I learned from “flying” to help me structure my life and it works out well.

Now if I can just structure chapter 6 a bit better…..

Another Rewrite…..

I have spent a few days tweaking the first 2 chapters again. I am not making drastic changes mostly tweaking dialogue and tightening up some of the less important scenes.

I have also been working on chapter 6, yes working on two sections of the book at the same time. I have never done two different sections of the book at the same time, so it’s a new adventure. I have been enjoying the switching between the time frames in the book.

As if that wasn’t enough the plot bunnies are blessing me with the start of a new project. Not at all sure where it’s going but…. The foundation is being bounced out by the bunnies.

The bunnies, Mr. Jackrabbit, and the hamster in my head are all characters of mine and hubby’s creation. If I could only find an artist, the little stories he makes up would be a cool cartoon book, or a calendar.