Today's Post . . .

. . . is at Romance Worth Killing For! We're talking about sexual tension all this week, so come check us out!

Looking for My Thursday Thirteen?

Well, I had good intentions, but . . .

This has not been one of my better days, LOL. Not that it was a bad day, just a largely unproductive day. I did see a couple of former colleagues at our school's Open House tonight, so that was cool. I was going to grade during Open House (this is our s-l-o-w Open House where no one shows up -- vastly different from our August one where you can't catch your breath!), but I ended up getting nary a paper graded. I am behind.

I have to come up with a blog topic for my post over at RWKF tomorrow -- we're doing a theme week on sexual tension and what can I say that hasn't already been said?! Am wracking my brain, believe me!

I also have until tomorrow to post my next line in Karin Tabke's first line contest . . . and I haven't written the next line! Can we say procrastination? Technically, the line is written . . . it's just really, really, really bad and I need to fix it before I post it.

One of my colleagues told me today he didn't know how I got everything done, and I laughed. My secret? I don't. I do a handful of things very, very well, another handful of things at a decent rate of competency, and a lot of other things get half-done or fall by the wayside. I had this huge promo plan for What Mattered Most . . . and I think I did one thing. I'm trying, though! Maybe since my birthday is this weekend, I need to have a big birthday bash and give away debut prizes? What do you think?

Drive-by Posting

Busy, busy, busy, and I know I should be even busier, busier, busier promoting for What Mattered Most, due out a week from today.

My new excerpt, which is not posted anywhere else can be found here.

Over at Romance Worth Killing For this week, we're talking about sexual tension.

I'll try to be around more often this week, and maybe I have some goodies to give away . . . so check back often!

The Good, The Bad, The Ironic

The irony: I write romantic suspense and don't much care for Valentine's Day.

The good: My niece was discharged from the hospital today. She has viral meningitis, and thankfully, not bacterial meningitis.

The bad (for me, if I were single) and scarfed from Larissa:

Never Date a Cancer

Clingy, emotional, and very private - it's hard to escape a Cancer's clutches. And while Cancer will want to know everything about you, they're anything but open in return. Instead try dating: Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius

What Sign Shouldn't You Date?

Found this while at blogthings. It's totally me:

You Are 56% Control Freak

Generally, you are in control but not a control freak. You life is usually in order. However, sometimes you get too obsessed with making everything in your life picture perfect.

Are You A Control Freak?

Ah, It's Raining . . .

And pouring.

I have website issues, two weeks before What Mattered Most releases. I hope to have those fixed, um, shortly.

More seriously, and very scary, my niece has been hospitalized today with meningitis.

We're having icky rainy, stormy weather, seven years to the day since a deadly F4 tornado tore through the area in the middle of the night. (The DH called earlier, said the news was talking about New Orleans being hit by tornadoes earlier today.)

The electrical gnomes are acting up around here again.

Monster #2 left my good black pen out . . . and Sallie the Wonder Dog ate it.

There are positives, though -- I managed to check off everything on my TTD list today. Monster #2 has all his homework done. Monster #1 is being more responsible about homework. And What Mattered Most releases in two weeks!

Reading Obsessions

I love cookbooks. (And the Food Network, but that's a completely different post!)

I like food, I like recipes, and I love to read cookbooks. The weirdest thing about this is right now I don't actually have a kitchen (I have a microwave, a temporary counter, and a hot plate.). So I'm reading all these recipes I can't cook.

Obviously, I'm a glutton for punishment.

Do you have any strange reading habits?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Methinks I Need An Early Night . . .

I am so flippin' tired tonight. It's been a wicked long day in what's been a wicked long week. I'm not complaining, far from it, because I love my job, but I don't think I've stopped to breathe all day today.

All I really want to do is lie on the couch and veg.

What's your remedy for exhaustion?

Still Dreaming . . .

Not sure if I'm dreaming more lately, or if reading my student's research on dreams is making me more aware of what I dream.

Last night wasn't about being chased.

Last night was a Harlequin Presents dream.

I know, I know, get all your laughing out of the way. First, I love the occasional Harlequin Presents. I loved them all through high school, when I read every one the local library had. Alpha heroes, spunky heroines, exotic locales (hey, London is exotic!), Big Misunderstandings, the Other Woman, secret babies . . . what wasn't to love?

So last night, I had the whole exotic locale (some touristy beachy area with a historic district), the rich, powerful hero, the determined heroine . . . and a secret baby. Although the baby wasn't a baby, but a teenage boy. Not sure why the heroine had kept the child a secret . . . I think she didn't know where the hero was all those years (hey, it was a dream, okay?). Anyway, she had two other children, two daughters in the early teen years. I think they were adopted, but I'm not sure. The alarm woke me up before I got the whole gist of everything, but the feeling of the dream has stayed with me today.

How cool would it be to harness my dreams into novels?

A Different Kind of Dreamin'

No weird dreams last night (teacher dreams, but nothing completely weird -- no chasing, either).

I made round four of Karin Tabke's first line contest, so I had to dream up the next line. I really have to get to work on this manuscript!

Over at Romance Worth Killing For, we've not only been dreaming up fun new content and ideas, but we're in the middle of dreaming about our first round robin read! Go check it out and help us build the backstory for our hero and heroine!

More Weird Dreams for Me

I've been lazy today. Finished the laundry, but basically, I've been vegging on the couch. I think it's the cold weather -- I simply want to curl up with a throw and the remote. So I've been alternating between Ghost Hunters on SciFi and the Little House on the Prairie marathon on the Hallmark channel.

Had another "being chased" dream last night. I have a student who's doing her research project on the secret meaning of dreams. Maybe I should consult her. Again, the idea was one that could be possibly spun into part of a book plot, although this dream was scarier than the other. The first dream involved a woman taking her children and running from a very bad marriage-situation. She was hiding under an assumed identity. Last night's dream didn't make tons of sense, but I know there was a group of people traveling together (I was watching most of this "movie" dream, although early in it before it morphed, I was monitoring my ninth graders taking a test in it and my friend Mary and I were at the drive-thru window at KFC. Weird, huh?). In the dream, one woman was obviously the protagonist, and there was a lingering attraction of some sort (maybe a newfound attraction with an old acquaintance?) with one of the men in the group. I'm not sure why or where they were traveling, although there seemed to be something medical going on.

The location seemed to be tropical, kinda jungle-slash-coastal (does that make sense?). Anway, the latter part of the dream had a sense of doom and threat lingering over it. The group was hiding in some kind of village, with rough buildings, where people had already been killed. The heroine went into the ocean, swimming away from the threatening men seeking them.

Hey, I told you I dream weird. But I couldn't look away from the movie, and I woke up with it vivid in my head. Makes me wonder why I'm dreaming all this and if I'm seeing parts of future books or what.

How do you dream?

***
Edited to add: Did some research on "being chased" dreams. Supposedly, it's a sign of anxiety in real life. Gee, what would I have to be anxious about? Excuse me while I roll laughing on the floor.

Morning Musings

I had the weirdest dream last night. I've always dreamed of running and being chased in some manner, of hiding, even when I most needed to be found. Last night's dream was kind of along those lines and was very vivid. I tend to dream in movie format -- sometimes I'm in the movie, but often I'm watching the movie unfold. (This is a lot like my writing style -- my books run like films in my head. What can I say? I'm a linguistic and visual/spatial learner.)

Anyway, I woke up thinking about the dream and how it could be modified to work as a book plot. I need to take notes on that for a later date.

What I really need to do is kick Afterburn (Angel and Troy Lee's story) into gear. I've written all of three sentences, the same three sentences I have over at Karin Tabke's first line contest.

What's on my plate for today? Laundry, an errand, and cleaning. I need to return some emails. Do some planning for the nonfiction units I'm teaching next. And I need to draft a list of minute minders, the little wake-me-up-to-thinking questions I give my 9th graders along with their DOL sentences. I love the way they think. Maybe tomorrow I'll share with you some of their answers to this week's minute minders.

What's on your agenda for the weekend?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

And I'm back online! It's been a long, quiet week. ;-)

I'm Alive!

I've been at a conference and off-line, but I'm checking email now.

I have 337 unread messages in my inbox! Sob!

Back Among the Living

I feel more human today, although my voice sounds awful. My students are probably hoping I'll lose it. You know, some days, I can't blame them. Some days, I wouldn't like me either. (Have I mentioned training ninth graders for high school and the world beyond is hard?)

I should be writing on the new WIP, Afternburn, but I'm not. I'm making out a test (Romeo and Juliet, Act III), then I'm going to bed early again tonight. One thing I've learned from the last year is not to push my body too hard when I'm not feeling well. It tends to push back.

Do I want to do an extra credit ambush tomorrow or not? I follow the poor darlings around campus (break, lunch, etc.) and ask them review questions. If they answer correctly, they get bonus points to add to a test. They didn't get that last week for the Act II test.

I could do one question per kid. Let them pull them out of a cup or something.

Oh! I got the coolest thing from another teacher today. He's working on his master's in creative writing from Oxford (we won't discuss how envious I am!) and just returned from an Oxford visit. He had handouts featuring D.H. Laurence's and W. B. Yeats's revision processes. Too, too cool. Interesting to see where Laurence's "The Piano" began and where it ended up, as well as Yeats's "The Second Coming." See, Joan? Everyone revises . . . and may survive it!

Funsuckers 'R Us

Yep, that's me right now. I am not a joy to be around.

Aren't you glad you stopped by?

Actually, don't you feel sorry for the eighty-odd kids who have no choice but to hang out with me for an hour or more every day?

Why am I the world's biggest funsucker right now?

1) I caught Monster #1's cold.
2) Nine very looooooong days until payday.
3) Payday? Pshaw. It's already all spent.
4) Stress.

The bright spots?

I made the second round in Karin Tabke's first line contest.

And Larissa is my new publisher sister! I can't tell you how neat that is. :-)

See? I'm not a total funsucker.

Another First

I've turned in my first round of edits! The process wasn't as difficult as I'd feared (my editor complimented me on a "clean manuscript").

I loved reading through What Mattered Most again (especially formatted in book form with my Coming Soon page!).

We won't discuss how I had to email said editor and ask what I was suppposed to do with the edits -- I didn' t know how to make the electronic corrections. How sad is that?! I did assure her I was a quick study.

It's a little over a month until the book releases. I can't wait. :-)

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

A Little of This, A Little of That

It's been a loooooong day. A weird day. I'm tired. Early to bed is sounding good tonight!

I have edits, but I'm waiting for an answer from my editor before I begin. (It was a stupid question, too, but I want to make sure I do this right!) I think I need to buy a Chicago Manual of Style. My MLA comma rules aren't the same. Not putting a comma in "Oh God" is going to drive me nuts.

Only fourteen days (two weeks!) until pay day. I think I might survive January. There are new books out at Samhain (I really want Maya's book!), but there's that little lack of money thing. I may go on a Samhain glom in February.

Neat post over at the Samhain blog today -- an editor's take on the historical market.

We're planning new, big things at Romance Worth Killing For. Joan's been updating the site -- go take a look!

Finally, one of the most fabulous writer's resources ever is Charlotte Dillon's site and her lists for romance writers. Here's the info on her various lists, from Charlotte herself:

(Permission to forward to writing friends):

RWC - Romance Writers Community (The main list). This is where you ask how to questions, research questions, share news of a new sale or rejection, computer questions,get market info, and so on. (Writing topics only please.) We do allow promo type messages by active members about their writing, but on each Sunday only.To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWClist-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWClist

RWCcritique -- This list is for critiques only, nothing more. You may post chapters of your romance novel here, one at a time of course, and other members will critique the chapter and send it back to the list. You do have to critique two chapters for each one chapter you send in. There are moderators to make sure each members does two critiques per sub and that critiques aren't simply good job type posts, but real and detailed critiques. To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCcritique-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCcritique

RWCPrompt -- On this list a weekly writing prompt is sent out each Monday morning. Members write a scene, or scenes, fitting the prompt, and send it in to the list if they wish. It is free writing, fun writing, so critiques are not given and only positive comments may be posted.To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCprompts-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCprompts

RWCpromotion -- This is NOT a place to promote your novel or anything else, but a place to learn how totackle promoting your romance novel. Here we share hints and ideas on dealing with promotion as an author. This group might have been made with the published author in mind....but it's never too early to start learning the ins and outs of good promotion. So even if you haven't made that first sale yet....feel free to join.To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCpromotion-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCpromotion

RWC-Other -- Another branch off the RWC tree. The RWC-Other group is for those of us who do other writing along with our romance novels--or even for those who only do other writing. So if you write articles, non-fiction, children's books, poems, or anything else, this is the group for you to ask questions onmarket, how-to, or what ever else falls under that other writing.To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWC-Other-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWC-Other

RWCchallenge -- This is a list to push you on those pages and help encourage you to get them done. You can make your own challenge by writing in with a goal anytime you wish. Sometimes though, I make the challenge. That challenge might be for a weekendor two weeks, or sometimes even a month. During thechallenge members who wish to take part see how manynew pages they can come up with in that time frame.You get to set your own page count goals for thechallenge. Members are always welcome to post messages to the group about their goals, how things are going, or not going, and so on.To join send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCchallenge-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join at the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCchallenge

RWCsocial -- Since social subjects aren't allowed on RWC, RWCsocial gives members a chance to talk about subjects other than romance writing, as well as a chance to get to know each other and make new writing friends. So this is the place to chit chat and get to know each other.To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCsocial-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join through the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCsocial

RWCGetHealthy -- This is a friendly support group for writers of any genre who want to lose weight, eat healthy, or just get in better shape. Some of us might bestruggling with dropping a few pounds...or a pile of them. :-) Some of us just might want to do better at working out, or just at making healthier food choices by reaching for an apple instead of that candy bar. It doesn't matter what your path is, as long as your goal is to become a better more healthier you! To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RWCGetHealthy-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join through the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWCGetHealthy

RRC -- Romance Readers Community -- This list is for romance readers, writers or not. Here we drop our writer's hats and talk about books we like and books we didn't like, what we are reading now, and what's waiting in our to-be-read piles. We can talk about places to buy books cheaper, our favorite author, or anything that has to do with romance novels. To join, send a blank message to: http://webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=RRClist-subscribe%40yahoogroups.comYou can also join through the group's homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RRClist

Karin Tabke's First Line Contest . . .

. . . is up and running again. And the entries are fabulous so far!

Go look!

Why I'm Rich

I've been reading a lot lately on personal finance. It's a form of self-torture, I think, because it's January (the longest month known to teachers) and we're also dealing with some issues stemming from the DH's former employer's decision to not pay their employees.

But I digress.

After a friend and I watched an Oprah episode about poverty in America, I swore I wouldn't complain again about the status (or rather, non-status) of my renovations. Because even if it doesn't seem like it some days, the unfinished state of my home is temporary. For those on Oprah's show? Not so temporary.

While we were watching that show, we discovered that according to income statistics, my friend and I are rich.

Yeah, I thought. I'm rich. And the Pope is really a Southern Baptist.

Then I read up on net worth following a visit to Make Love Not Debt. My net worth? Not so rich.

Okay, so income level and net worth are two very different ways to define a person's wealth. It all depends on how one looks at wealth, right?

Right.

And I've decided that money issues aside, I am rich. Want to know why?

1) I can still call my mother.
2) I have fabulous, loyal friends.
3) I like my small-town life.
4) The Monsters don't go to bed hungry.
5) I'm educated -- although I'm still paying for said education.
6) I love my career, couldn't imagine doing anything else.
7) The DH adores me. (Why, I don't know sometimes. I can't be the easiest person to live with.)
8) I have a dog. And a cat. (Both of which, Larissa, we rescued as strays.) The dog actually minds. The cat merely graces us with her royal presence.
9) I've seen my name on a book cover. Well, a picture of said cover, but I should be able to hold said book later this year.
10) The Monsters adore me, too, and I'm able to offer them the things they need, even if I choose not to offer them everything they want.

And even though I'm pretty sure I've blogged on this before, I don't think one can ever count her blessings too often.

This Is Interesting . . .

Although it did lead me to really figure my net worth versus the average net worth for my age range. Let's just say I'm below the average and leave it at that, okay? 'Kay.

Make Love, Not Debt -- A Relationship Finance Blog

Today's Post . . .

. . . is at Romance Worth Killing For!

I need words, lots of words, so come on over!

Breaking News!

There Are Good Ones and Bad Ones

Yesterday? Pretty okay, despite the rain and yucky weather.

Today? Not a good one.

Oh, it had its good points. I made some headway on a situation at school that's been bothering me for months (Mary has created a monster, methinks . . .). Student government was productive.

But overall? Simply a crappy, horrible, terrible, no-good kind of day.

And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Because . . . tomorrow is another day.

Monday Already?

Oh, man, the weekend went by fast.

On the bright side, all the laundry is done. Got the final chapters of MOU back from my CP and she liked how I pulled the convoluted mess of that mystery together. She nailed what was bothering me about the final scene as well, so I'm going to work on that tonight. Then hopefully I can get it off to my editor to read and maybe she'll like it as well.

Cold weather blowing in today, after days of balmy temperatures. I'm not a happy camper. I don't like cold weather. But at least it's not snowing, right?

The first chapter of my online read will go up over at the newsletter group later today. I'll post the links here once it's there.

Happy Monday, everyone!

The First Blush of Love

I'm working on the prewriting for what may be my next WIP. I use a story bones sheet I inherited from Carol to flesh out my characters. I have to have photos, too.

So here's how I envision my heroine, Angel:

She's very much the small-town bad girl with an even worse reputation. She's pretty much earned that rep, but feels like no one would ever believe she's changed.

And her hero, Troy Lee:

He's younger than Angel. He's the youngest cop on the local force, considered a screw-up, feels like an outsider.

This is the second older-heroine, younger-hero book I've written (the first is TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES).

My working title is AFTERBURN. I have an overall idea of what the book is about -- I know what the opening scene is, I know what brings the two together, but I don't have the whole "movie" of my plot in my head yet.

I'm looking forward to delving into this one, though.

The Return is Real!

I woke up this morning thinking about the layers I need to add to the rough draft of MOU. This is a good thing, because I'd been afraid that my return to writing over the holiday break was a fluke, that when school kicked back in, I'd be mired in the land of not-being-able-to-write again.

This is a really good thing, because I need to kick the writing in gear this weekend. I'm working on an online read to offer potential readers, and I need to post the first chapter (of eight) Monday. I need to finish layering MOU, get it to the CPs so I can get it to my editor. And I really need to start plotting my next WIP. I'm thinking it will be the town bad-girl and younger, screw-up cop story. It could be the prodigal daughter and chicken farmer story. I could do the secret baby story I'd started, but I'm thinking it may finish it for another online read -- the plot line just reads short to me, for some reason.

Maybe I need a poll . . .

The DH and I watched a couple of episodes of Jake 2.0 on SciFi last night. It's an interesting concept, a rather geeky young tech support guy in the NSA who is infected by nanotechnology, which gives him "super-technical" powers. The thing is, by the end of the first episode, I'd figured out which woman would be his "he works with her and there's sexual tension" colleague, even while he's chasing after an ex-girlfriend. And by the middle of the second episode, I'd figured out how the plot of that show was going to go and I was yawning. I knew when he was brainstorming exotic undercover identities for a diplomatic party, what they were going to make him do -- pretend to be a waiter.

I knew the old girlfriend would turn up at said party.

I knew the double agent would turn on her ex-lover, the experienced agent who mentors Jake.

Too predictable. Make it different, I wanted to yell at the writers. Don't take the easy route. Make it exciting!

That's something I worry about in my own writing, that my twists and turns have been done before, that the characters are too stock, that the reader will see what's coming. I work hard to throw in those red herrings and make the twists and turns believable. I try to develop characters who, even though they may approach an archetype, are unique in presentation and come off as real people.

What movies and television shows have been too predictable for you? And which ones turn the predictions on their ear?

Today's Post . . .

On SMART goals, is at Romance Worth Killing For.

Thursday Thirteen: My Recurring Book Elements

1) A name that starts with a T (Tick, Tom, Tori . . .)
2) A name that starts with a C (Caitlin, Calvert, Cook, Celia . . .)
3) Someone is going to get hurt. Or dead.
4) A student's name (at their request only -- Sonny Buck, Casey, etc.)
5) A Southern drawl
6) People, in a car, talking about clues or a case
7) A secret
8) A hospital scene. See #3.
9) My poor DH's law enforcement expertise. He hasn't gone a book yet that I haven't peppered him with questions.
10) Coffee. (I have this in common with Steph)
11) Kissing
12) Sex
13) Cursing

Welcome to the Real World

Today was crazy. The kids were wound up. All. Day. Long.

I ran errands after school, took the Monsters to MickeyD's for supper. Came home, ready to work on my TTD list -- school, author, home.

Monster #2 threw a kink in the works.

Have I mentioned yet that parenting is flippin' hard?

You think it's difficult when they're babies and you have to get up every two hours at night. You really think the terrible two's are hard.

Hard, though, I've discovered, is your kids growing up. They develop different problems -- school, friends, etc., and you can't fix everything for them. You can't always kiss it and make it better. When you offer advice, they're not always going to take it or even be open to it.

Hard is knowing those problems will probably get bigger as they get older.

Hard is figuring out how to let them go at the right time.

All right, all of you who have been at this parenthood thing longer than I have . . . advice?

***
Edited to add:

I have positives today, though:

Dana's support. :-)
Monster #1's smile when he opened his birthday card from his aunt
Having Michele in my classroom. She's going to be an awesome teacher.
Only 27 more days until payday . . .

Two Words and a List

Know what two of an author's favorite words are?

THE END!

I just typed those on the rough draft of MOU. Now I have an author's least favorite words for you:

LAYERING.

I have lots and lots of layering to do on the chapters I wrote during Christmas break. I came in under my estimated word count, but after I layer, I should be there.

Here's a list of things I learned while writing this book:

1) My instinctive writing style is just weird sometimes.
2) My hero has a potty mouth when he's angry.
3) Sometimes, a convoluted plan does come together, even when the author thinks it won't.
4) I have a thing for character names that start with "T" and "C."
5) I can finish a book before a deadline.
6) Sometimes, video games can be a good thing.
7) I have great friends.
8) I didn't forget how to write, despite the nearly twelve-month break from doing so.
9) My hero tends to have a violent streak when the heroine is threatened.
10) My heroine has quite the potty mouth herself.
11) I haven't lost my urge to write, either. The excitement was there -- it was just hiding.
12) Sometimes you don't need a list of six to move on. A list of four can work.
13) The cat gets ticked off when I try to type instead of petting her.
14) Intimacy can move backward, rather than forward.
15) I still love to write.

By the way, I'll be chatting at Fallen Angels Reviews tomorrow night along with other Samhain authors! Come join us!

Music & Inspiration

I've blogged about this before over at Romance Worth Killing For, the link between music and writing inspiration. First of all, I love music. Just about all music. My students will ask what kind of music I listen to, and I honestly tell them a little of everything. I like classical and jazz, disco and 80's punk, country and alternative and rap.

I like music.

Music is powerful. It moves. It influences. It inspires.

I'm working on a "Behind the Scenes" page for my website, and as part of that, I'm putting together the song lists that make up the "soundtracks" for each of my novels. At the same time, I'm finding myself finding inspiration for what I think will be the next book in my writing life.

My heroine for that book is tough, a little rough around the edges, burned by life and love already. She's cynical, a little disillusioned. She's very much the songs "Kerosene" by Miranda Lambert and "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood.

My hero I'm still getting a handle on. He's younger than the heroine. He's finally, I think, coming in to his own as a man. I'm tending to link him to the music of Kenny Chesney, Gary Allan and Dierks Bentley.

For the arc of their story, I'm listening to "Baby, You Save Me" (Kenny Chesney), "Addiction" and "Made a Man Out of Me" (Gary Allan), and "Settle for a Slow Down" (Dierks Bentley).

Oh, and definitely "Your Man" by Josh Turner.

"Crash Here Tonight" by Toby Keith.

Yeah, lots of country for this book. Maybe because I've been listening to the top 50 country songs of the year . . .

I'm telling you . . . music . . . writing . . . inspiration . . . there's a link.

It's the Little Things

Like having a sparkling clean bathroom and all the dishes washed.

My DH and the Monsters detailing my Jeep as a late Christmas present (much better than jewelry or a sweater!).

Vegging out on the couch with Pam yesterday and talking about her baby-to-be.

Updating my website and not killing it.

Being two chapters away from finishing MOU.

Knowing what happens in those two chapters!

Learning that my new planner is in the mail.

Having my toes still look good two weeks after my pedicure.

The weather being warm enough to wear sandals so I can show off said toes.

What little things make you happy?

Today's Post . . .

. . . is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Electronic Babysitter

I'm a baaaad mom.

Since Christmas Eve, my Monsters have been immersed in an imaginary world, one controlled by a little square called a GameCube. They've played for hours.

And I've let them.

Normally, I limit television time, make sure they're outside, with their bikes and the dog and the sports equipment.

But I really need to finish this book, it's cold outside, and it's kind of like letting them eat too much on Halloween . . . I don't do it every day.

So, it's like we're on a virtual vacation, don't you think?

Whoo-hoo!

Current word count: 50,007!

Quick Update

The Monsters have new toys to play with. One would think this would make the whole writing thing easier, because the kids are playing, right?

Uh, yeah.

With Roboraptor, who roars and attacks.

With Scannerz, so the Monsters are taking the house apart looking for UPC codes to scan.

With the GameCube (a gift from my brother), so they fuss over what to play, how to play, etc.

But I am now at 46K+ and I hit my average of 2000+ words today. Rough draft words, definitely. I have lots of layering to do.

However, I'm excited about the manuscript and about writing again, so I'm happy.

Half-Way!

Total word count: 42,723

Percentage of goal: 50.26

Total words today: 2133

Last paragraph written:

“Who’s Turello?” A visible tremor shook her fingers as she recapped her pen. When she finally looked at him, her eyes were bleak, although a wry smile flitted around her lips. “I guess Bryan Turello is my Kathleen Harding.”

The Morning Of . . .

Gifts are opened.

Kids are happy.

Breakfast is eaten.

I'm already picking up the clutter because it makes me crazy.

Roboraptor is roaming the house. That thing is weird. Kitty Baby is hiding from it. Although I'm thinking I could get used to the whole virtual pet thing . . . very little upkeep.

It's very rainy and gloomy outside . . . perfect for hanging out at home. I may work a little on chapter nine (since I can't get near the living room because the Monsters are in there with the Gamecube their uncle gave them).

All in all, it's a Merry Christmas around the Winfree household.

Happy Holidays to you, too.

Update -- Word Count

I've finished chapter eight! In three days.

Today's total word count: 2199.

I'm 47.75% of the way to my targeted word count. I may come in a little short, but that's okay.

This feels good. Now if I can just keep it up!

Wish me luck.

One More Day . . .

Scarfed this from Steph:

You Should Spend the Holidays In

India - where your Christmas tree might be a banana or mango tree

What Country Should You Spend the Holidays In?

Can you say, huh? :-D

This is more me:

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Anyway . . . off to Mama's for Christmas Eve dinner. The Monster's have been up since, oh, six, I think. Monster #2 is way excited.

I'm finally hitting the zone, I think. My word count for the past couple days is only around 2500 words, but I have the rest of chapter eight outlined, the beginning of chapter nine laid out and I can totally see my movie and where it's going now.

Really wishing I could have another week of Christmas break . . .

Two More Days! (Thank God)

Don't tell Larissa, but I'm beginning to understand Steph's outlook on Christmas. I'm tired, people!

My shopping is finished. All the presents are wrapped and under the tree. I don't have to cook for Christmas this year, because that's my mom's gift to us.

But Monster #2, you know, Mr. "Makes the Energizer Bunny on Crack Look Sluggish"? He's bouncing off the walls. I don't think he stopped talking yesterday. I mean, at all. Not even to take a long breath.

Plus, the DH is home. This is good. I love the guy. However. He has this thing about watching movies over and over and over again. Normally, I can tolerate this. Sure, I know all the dialogue to The Mummy and Sweet Home Alabama by heart. I don't understand the desire to watch a movie repeatedly until you want to scream, but I can live with it.

But.

Couple that trait with an overdose of Christmas spirit. The man loves Christmas movies. Any Christmas movie. If it has Santa or elves or reindeer, he's there.

ABC Family is making him a very happy camper, because they're doing the 25 Days of Christmas. So I've been treated to every sappy, feel-good Christmas movie ever made . . .

Ad nauseum.

But he's happy. The kids are happy.

And that makes me happy.

Come Tuesday, I can make him overdose on Court TV again.

Happy Holidays, y'all.

Today's Post . . .

On the value of a good break and including contest information . . . is at Romance Worth Killing For!

The Thin Line

I'm back at work on Memories of Us. This, of course, is the manuscript that I both love and hate. I've tried to abandon it and simply can't. I'm in love with the hero and heroine. I want them to have a HEA. If anyone needs or deserves one, it's Tom.

Because the book was such a pain in the hindquarters, I've put off working on it forever. I mean, I didn't have to finish it. At the time I started it, my then-agent wasn't invested in reading it. I had other manuscripts to polish and shop. It was okay if I put Tom and Celia to the side.

Then I stupidly sent a partial to my editor.

She wants to read it when it's finished.

So now I have to finish it.

And I have nothing else on my plate, until I get edits for What Mattered Most.

Which means I have no excuses.

Sigh.

I'm headed back to work on the thing, then.

Wish me luck.

If you hear any weird ripping noises? That's just me. Pulling out my hair. :-D

***

Edited to add: I think I've made progress. I spent the afternoon reading through the seven chapters I have written (about 40% of my projected word count). Then I sat, thought about where the characters were and asked, "What next?"

Started making a list. So now I have a plot list that goes up to the climax (I have an idea of what it is, but I didn't like the way my list was going there -- what I envisioned for the final scene was too similar to the ending of another manuscript. So I'll end up playing with the end, I think, but at least I have something to put at the beginning of CHAPTER EIGHT!

From My Inbox, From MC

I have absolutely fabulous friends, for which I am truly thankful. MC somehow manages to ground me with the simplest observations. It's mind-blowing. Like the day I was griping about money (I have discovered I have major issues in terms of money ideas, LOL), and she said simply, "I have money, but I can't call my mother anymore."

Shut me up very quickly with the beautiful wisdom of that statement.

She sends me wonderful words from her "word of the day" list and passes on interesting links and tidbits and inspires me with her passion for getting kids to learn. She wows me with her passion for life.

Anyway, this was in my inbox this morning from MC, and I thought I'd share here:

A mass of Latin words falls upon the facts like soft snow, blurring theoutline and covering up all the details. The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhaustedidioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. In our age there is no suchthing as "keeping out of politics". All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.

-George Orwell, writer (1903-1950)

What's Worse Than Writing a Synopsis?

Writing a one sentence tagline.

And generating a list of key words.

Augh!

Jumping the Shark

I don't watch a lot of television series. I used to not watch a lot of television, period, but I've gotten addicted to MSNBC's "Doc Block" and I love Court TV. (Hey, I write romantic suspense -- it's research!). I like A Haunting on Discovery. I like Mythbusters.

I like non-fiction stuff.

Series?

Not so much.

At one time I was an X-Files addict. I lived for the original Law & Order series. But when people start talking about House and Lost and a host of other shows . . . well, I'm clueless.

This is fairly ironic to me, since I write books that are a series of loosely-connected stories (a la Rachel Lee's Conard County series from a few years back). Even in my head, I tend to 'watch' my books as a series of movies -- I know what happens after a book, off scene during a book, etc.

I've known for a long time what the "series finale" would be. That particular novel idea scares me, not only because of the story line, but because it signals for me the end of something that seems almost as real to me as my daily life. The other thing that makes me nervous? What if it isn't "The End"? What if I find something after that finale?

And what if my series "jumps the shark" before I get to the finale?

(And could I use any more quotation marks in this post?!)

It's not like there aren't enough questions to worry about in the writing business. So what does my neurotic self go and do?

Find something else to fixate on!

Do you read series? If so, which ones? And what happens when an author's particular world jumps the shark?

This Is How It Begins

I have actually tried not to write books that are connected.

Truth and Consequences? Not supposed to be a Hearts of the South book. Yet Kathleen and Jason insisted it was set in my fictional Chandler County, and of course, Tick followed. I don't think he can help himself.

Finally, I just gave in. Several related books followed. Yes, it's a series, but it's one of those where you could pick up one book and you wouldn't have had to read the others for the book in question to make sense. Stand-alone yet connected books.

And here's how I get sucked in.

I'm rereading two manuscripts, A Formal Feeling and Anything But Mine. There is a minor, minor, minor character in A Formal Feeling. She appears in one or two scenes, in which the hero makes a pivotal choice. She goes inside her house, closes the door, hero walks away.

Only as I'm reading tonight, I'm wondering what happens once she closes that door. Her actions in those scenes are out of character (or so she claims). What pushed her to the point that she'd act out of character?

I can almost see how another story could unfold from what goes unsaid in those two scenes.

Kinda like a weird, writer's version of Six Degrees of Separation.

Odd, huh?

A Snippet of Typical Winfree Conversation

10:00 A.M., Monsters playing outside, DH (who for some odd reason thinks the sun rises and sets in me) and I sitting on couch, still in pajamas, sipping coffee and reading the Sunday paper. I'm running through the Christmas list, what I've bought, what still needs to be purchased.

DH: I still have to get your gift this week.

Me: I really wish you wouldn't spend anything on me. January is always a tight month, you know that. Just tuck the money back, just in case you need it.

DH: We'll see.

Me: Rick, I'm serious. I really don't need anything and I'd rather the money went into budget.

Silence, as I sigh and realize what I'm saying is probably going in one ear and out the other.

A couple of minutes later, I show him a jewelry armoire in the Target salespaper.

Me: I think when we finish the house, I want something like this for the bedroom to hold my stuff.

DH: You know you're probably getting jewelry for Christmas, right?

Sigh. Maybe I should just give up?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Gifts, Unwrapped

First of all, wouldn't it be great if you could buy one of these for the man in your life? Mine would be thrilled. (Scarfed from mypregnantpauses.blogspot.com)

I've been working on my final gifts-to-buy list today. The DH and I shopped early this year (Thank God for ebay!), so I have very little left to do. Amazon assures me my order will be here by 12/22, I have photo gifts to pick up at Walgreen's later today, and the end is in sight!

I love shopping for others, adore the anticipation of seeing whether or not my gift will be enjoyed. Writing a novel holds the same allure. Sure, I write for me . . . I love the escape writing offers, the outlet for the stories that bounce around in my head. But don't we always write for others as well?

In On Writing, King talks of writing for his Ideal Reader (his wife). He anticipates her reactions. I have a real-life IR, but I also have an imaginary IR in my head. An IIR, maybe? ;-) My imaginary IR is my fantasy Ideal Reader, the unknown person who will buy my book, read it, laugh over it, cry over it, love it. That's why I have this sappy idea that each novel I craft is not only a gift to myself, but a gift I'm creating for someone else.

A gift I can't wait to see unwrapped.

The Book Habit

I've decided my book-buying habits are anything but normal. All around the blogosphere, I read about people who have huge "to be read" piles (and many of my friends have them as well.).

Maybe it's the way I buy my books, but I don't have unread books around my house. If it's in the office, on the bookshelf, under the coffeetable . . . I've read it. Probably more than once. Whenever I get a new book, I'm like a kid with a Christmas present -- I can't wait to open it and dive in.

Maybe it comes from always having limited funds, but I don't buy large numbers of books at any one time. I keep a wish list on Amazon, and I'm developing a serious habit of buying e-books from my publisher. Once a month or so, my best friend and I hit our local indie bookstore, and I browse until I find something that I just can't live without reading. I buy a lot of books.

But I don't have a huge "to be read" stack. I can't wait that long.

How about you? What are your book-buying habits? Do you own a towering "to be read" pile?

One Down . . .

Three and a half to go!

Days until Christmas vacation, that is. I'm ready. My students are ready. My fellow faculty members are ready (Connie has had a countdown clock running on her laptop since last Monday.).

Exams for three days and a half day on Friday. I can deal with that.

Homecoming last week was a blast. I'm hoping I'll have pics from that week to share with y'all soon.

Hmmm. Wonder where Connie got her countdown clock? I need one for WMM's release. Anyone know where to find one?

I Think I'm in Love . . .

I have cover art!

Contest Details

I'm keeping this really simple because I hate complicated contests!

Beginning January 1, I'll give away a Samhain gift certificate every other week until February 26, the week What Mattered Most debuts.

To enter, all you have to do is join my newsletter group. Also, beginning in early January, I'll post to the group a weekly chapter of Through a Glass Darkly, the companion piece to WMM.

To join, send a blank email to Linda_Winfree-subscribe AT yahoogroups DOT com.

And for even more contest fun, check out what Sharon, Larissa, Amy, Jan, and Steph are up to over at Writeminded!

Oh, Wow!

I received the preview of my cover art for What Mattered Most and I can't stop looking at it! I can't wait to share.

My homeroom is winning the spirit week competition by two points at this time. I hope we'll widen that lead as the week goes on.

Check back tomorrow for contest details!

Counting Down

Five days until Homecoming.

Ten days until Christmas Break.

Twelve weeks until WMM releases!

I need one of those little ticker things. Anyone know of a good place to find one?

Hmmm, I think we need a contest, too. Let me think . . . details to come!

Oh. My. GOSH!

Look what's UP!

It's real! It's really, really real!

Oh, Lord, I sound like Sally Field . . .

Hitting the Hard Stuff

My very bestest best friend Pam is pregnant. I'm giddily thrilled for her, because this is her first (and she says only) child, after nearly sixteen years of marriage. She's pretty giddy herself. Yesterday, we went shopping for maternity clothes (which are amazingly stylish compared to what was available when I had my babies *ahem* years ago). On the drive to the mall, Pam laughed and told me she was worrying about "crazy stuff."

"Like what?" I asked.

Like she's afraid the baby will date the wrong person. She thinks she should be more worried about the right preschool right now.

I laughed, because I'm having the same fears, and my "baby" isn't even in his teens yet. However, as he grows closer, I'm dealing with stuff that suddenly makes two A.M. feedings look like a walk in the park.

Stuff like helping him define what is and what is not a healthy friendship. I want him to know that manipulation is not okay, that it's okay to walk away when a "friend" becomes poisonous. I know it's just a fifth grade friendship, but I don't want that elementary friendship to set the tone for high school dating, if that makes sense.

Six more years and Pam will be sending her baby to kindergarten, which she has already dubbed "the hard stuff." She's right. It is. Raising a child is the hard stuff defined.

But I can't wait for her to realize that it's also the best stuff.

Habits

Monster #1 hates to floss. Too bad, because he's getting the braces in a couple of weeks and he's going to get into the habit of flossing if it kills both of us. Basically, my argument is this -- I never had braces, so I'm stuck with the overbite and slightly misaligned teeth. If I'm spending four grand or so on a beautiful, straight smile for him . . . he's going to take care of it.

I've let my grading nightly habit slide this week because I've been easing the Monsters into a new routine at home. I will definitely have to pick that back up next week (if not this weekend).

I'm trying to get back into the blogging habit.

Emailed my editor in a panic that my release date is looming (February) and I'm having nightmares about pages upon pages of edits to complete . . . she very nicely emailed back to talk me off that ledge. Told me I had nothing to worry about. Honest.

I will not make panicked emails to the editor a habit.

Honest.

Oh, Wow!

Received my blurb form from my editor to add key words . . . and I have an ISBN number! How cool is that?!

Next week is Spirit Week and Homecoming. Hate to tell the rest of the high school . . . but my homeroom is so going to win the overall spirit award! We have top secret plans!

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

What I'm Up To

Updating my blurb form for WMM, set for release in February. I have to come up with key words for a web search. This is hard.

Here's what I have so far:

suspense
hostage
reconciliation
deputy
detective
baby
southern
sultry

Any suggestions?

Today's Post . . .

On Why I Read, is up at Romance Worth Killing For.

Too Cool

Snatched from Sharon:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 14 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Who Fills Your Bucket?

Today's post is at Romance Worth Killing For. I'm taking a look at keeping a positive attitude!

Tools For Success

This year, I'm teaching a course called High School Transitions, and I'm always on the lookout for articles and strategies to share with my thirteen Transitions kids. I found this one over at Yahoo Finance today:

What It Takes to Be Great

It's an interesting read and very applicable to writers, teachers, and students, although it's targeted to the business individual.

Go check it out. And tell me what you think.

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Needing a Little Pre-Halloween Magic Here . . .

I am so incredibly tired tonight. I don't know if it's because this is our first "full" week after fall break, if it's because it's been a jam-packed week already, or if I'm just getting old . . . but I'm bushed.

Tomorrow does not promise to be a restful day. I found out this afternoon that grades are due on report cards (we handwrite those suckers, too . . . sigh) by the end of Thursday. Thursday night is PTO as well. My fear is that tomorrow will be day four that I don't have planning for whatever reason, and then how will I get report cards done?

After school, you say?

Um. Uh-huh.

It's eleven practice days until competition. I can't miss a practice, so my schedule for tomorrow pretty much looks like this:

Period One: 9th Writers Workshop
Period Two: 9th Lit/Comp
Period Three: 11th American Lit
Period Four: Planning. This week, it's been . . . helping with state reporting, an emergency conference, distributing student govt. forms.
Period Five: High School Transitions
Lunch: Hey. I could do them here. That could work. Hmmm, 83 grades X 2 copies, in 30 min.
Period Six: 11th American Lit
Period Seven: High School Study Skills
3:30 until: Play Practice
6:00: Fundraiser supper for the Spanish club
7:00: PTO

I'm doomed. So if anyone has a little magic for adding a twenty-fifth hour to the day, or one of those cool "time warp" watches from the movie Clockstoppers, I need to borrow it!

Keeping Up With the Joneses . . .

One thing I've spent the last year discovering is that the old adage about happiness equals being content with what you have is very true. Oh, sure, I always want another pair of shoes, and I can't wait until we finally finish the house-from-hell renovations . . . but I'm very thankful to have the house from hell, thankful that it's basically paid for, thankful that I can buy groceries and provide a handful of wants as well as the needs for my children.

Along those lines, I found this interesting article today over at Yahoo Finance. Go take a look. Tell me what you think.

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

In other news, I have tentative release dates for my four books coming out next year . . . looks like I'll have a release every three months or so. I'm excited (and scared to death)! More details as the dates are firmed up.

Point of Saturation

Hello, my name is Linda and I'm a news addict.

Actually, I prefer to think of it as being well-informed. I read the local metropolitan newspaper daily, I subscribe to two weekly news magazines, I read the Yahoo News headlines, and I watch Headline News, MSNBC, etc. pretty religiously. I like to know what's going on in the world.

However, I have no illusions about the media. I'm aware that all too often news coverage is influenced by more than the public's need to know.

This morning, I'm annoyed. There is yet another report of a school-and-gun incident on CNN. Last week, there was a rundown on the daily school-and-gun/bomb threat incidents throughout the United States. I have two issues with this.

1) Weapons at schools and bomb threats at schools are nothing new. They happen daily, weekly, monthly throughout the country. In ten years of teaching, I've been at schools at both ends of the economic spectrum. At those schools, I've helped evacuate students due to a bomb threat. I've witnessed a gun being found in a locker. At one school, a student was expelled for bringing a knife on campus. Another brought a ceramic pot with the intent to hit someone over the head (she knew she couldn't get a knife or gun through the metal detector). Every incident involving a school and a weapon is someone's tragedy. Lives are affected. Sometimes, the scale is so large that it becomes the nation's tragedy. Most incidents, thank God, end without anyone being physically hurt. There is always emotional fallout. But if you've tuned into the media lately, you would think our schools are under siege, that we live in a constant state of fear. Do we? Not really. Am I aware of where my classroom is located, of the routes an intruder might use to get to my room? Sure. I also teach with my door locked, and I mentally run through our GEMA training on safety every day. But once that door closes, it's all about English and all about the kids I teach. It's not about fear.

2) People, especially teens, are impressionable and some are easily influenced. Sure, you have those who are going to come up with the idea to take a gun to school on their own. But do some school-weapon incidents come about because of the increased (and somewhat morbid) media attention? I've taught teenagers too long not to think so.

So, I think today, I'm skipping the daily dose of CNN. Maybe I'll go sit on the porch and drink my coffee instead.

A Little of This, A Little of That

Larissa's new website is up and it's gorgeous! Check it out.

I'm cleaning this week while on fall break (I keep typing and saying "spring" break and having to correct myself -- I'm already planning our trip for that week and I'm obsessing a little). There's a lot going on in my life decision-wise, but there are some things I simply haven't been able to make a decision about yet. I don't have all the facts and there are things that are out of my control -- my sister calls this being "Jonah in the whale." I call it a holding pattern. A good friend of mine is in the same "stuck" position, and she doesn't like it any better than I do.

So getting rid of clutter makes me feel like I'm doing something. How weird is that? I guess it's a mind game for coping. The same way coming up with a solution for our study skills debacle at school made me feel accomplished. I'd much rather fix something than whine about it, or have to "live with it." Ugh.

I think I may have found a way to fix the "holding pattern" situation in my life. I think. I hope.

In other news, it's only three weeks until One Act competition. Very freaked about that. Very, very freaked.

I have about four months until my first release -- even more freaked about that. Scared, I think. I've been making a list of updates I need to do on my website and I'm working on a new MS, one I'm going to use as a free online read, giving out a chapter a week for several weeks before the release of WMM. I'm hoping it'll be a way to draw in more readers. What do you think?

Same Old, Same Old . . .

It's fall break, and I so needed this. For the past month, it's felt like I'd never catch my breath at school again -- that's finally started to ease up some. So I'm looking forward to having the next few days to relax a little.

Jaye is blogging about having too much going on, genre-wise, in her WIP. I'm fiddling with the MS that I'm planning to use as a free read for promo, and I feel like I don't have enough going on.

I haven't been very vocal here lately, merely because I've been swamped and I haven't felt like I've had much to say. I'll try to do better, although I still don't have much of anything new to talk about.

Maybe as the release date for WMM draws nearer, that will change . . .

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

And go congratulate Steph! She has FANTASTIC news!!!

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

A Woman of Many Hats

I think I'm wearing too many hats. I've been trying for days to stop and catch my breath, but it's not happening. Here's what I have going on:

1) Mom. Last week: kids sick. This week: I'm sick.
2) Wife. Trying to plan construction with DH.
3) Teacher. Four English classes (9th and 11th), one 9th grade High School Transitions class, one mixed level reading/study skills class.
4) Mentor Teacher.
5) Department Head. This a big joke right now.
6) One Act Troupe Coach: 26 practices until competition. Yikes.
7) Drama Club sponsor. Another big joke right now.
8) Student Governement co-sponsor. Working really hard on this.
9) CP. It's a wonder Carol and Kristi haven't both kicked me to the curb. Many crits I owe, I owe, I owe.
10) Chief Cook and Bottlewasher. My kitchen is clean!

I'm pretty sure there's more, but my head hurts, my throat hurts, and I still have a set of quizzes to grade, a calendar to finish, Monsters to put to bed.

How many hats do you wear?

Perception and Reality

We had a softball tournament at school this weekend. I worked the gate, watched my students play, talked with board members and parents. It was a beautiful day, cloudless, warm, breezy. We had many teams participating, from all over the state. While I was chatting with a friend, she mentioned that one of the girls from another school (a well-to-do private school in Atlanta, one large enough they choose to compete in GHSA athletics rather than the independent association program) had told our softball players we were a "poor school." I think our girls were a tad miffed and a little hurt.

Interesting, isn't it, the difference between perception and reality?

If you'd walked through our softball complex today, you'd have seen three fields surrounded by chain link and wooden fences, some portable bleachers, dugouts, a wooden concession stand, a tent at the entrace gate, a concrete block restroom building. You'd have seen that the parking area was under the pecan trees and that the entryway is a dirt path worn by many cars. You wouldn't have seen any score boards. We can't afford them yet and keep score on white boards.

Yes, looking around, you'd probably think we were a "poor school," too. We all know it's easier to write a check than give of your time and yourself. It's difficult to come from outside and look at the softball fields, where there used to be a pecan grove a few short years ago, and see how rich we truly are.

Those fields, those fences, those dugouts, that concession stand, the less-than-fancy restrooms -- all of that came from parent volunteer labor. Others look at our facilities, compare them to what fairly unlimited money can buy, and find us lacking. We look at our facilities, see the level of commitment and sacrifice that went into creating not only our softball complex, but our school, and we wouldn't trade it for anything money can buy.

The perception? Yes, I guess we look like a "poor school."

The reality? We're rich beyond our wildest dreams.

What are your intangible riches?

MIA, but Still Alive

The Monsters have been sick for over a week, so I've been playing Mommy and trying to catch my breath with school stuff at the same time.

I do, however, already have my Friday post up at Romance Worth Killing For. Go check it out!

Isn't It Fantastic . . .

. . . when awesome things happen to wonderful people?

Go congratulate Larissa!

Today . . .

Remember them.

Lazy Sunday Post

Scarfed from Larissa:

Skinny Jeans

You are classy and a bit formal when it comes to your personal style. Your look is feminine and well put together - and never trashy or too trendy.

What Style of Jeans Are You?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Progress . . .

I love my job. I mean, absolutely, totally, passionately love my job. Believe me, I know how lucky that makes me, because I know so many people who get up, go to work, and hate what they do.

The very thought of such an existence would make me want to slit my wrists.

Today, even though I took a sick day because Monster #1 wasn't feeling well, was one of those days when I really love my job.

See, last week, I gave back the most horrific set of essays you've ever seen. It wasn't that my kids don't know how to write -- they do. I guess, as one of them so eloquently put it, "everything we learned leaked out of our brains over the summer."

Anyway, no one was happy last week -- not me, not my students, not my administrators, not the parents.

Paper #2 is due Friday. We've been working hard to stuff some of that leaked-out knowledge back into their brains before then.

So I went by the school this afternoon to meet with a handful of students who wanted feedback on their rough drafts. Revised rough drafts. With notes on them. I was thrilled. Then, when I started reading the rough drafts?

Color me tickled pink.

The rough drafts I read today are loads better than the final drafts from last week. They're learning. They're improving.

How can a teacher not love that? And how could I ask for a better job?

Whoo-hoo!

I have electricity again!

And papers to grade. Some things never change . . .

Progress, of Sorts

Okay, still no electricity.

But I have emailed my art forms and my blurb forms to my editor.

Now I'm off to get caught up on teacher things.

What have you spent your long weekend doing?

Out of Practice

I've been a bad, bad writer. Writing, for basically the last year, has not been my priority. Now I'm trying to get back into the habit, and boy, is it hard!

I'm picking up the manuscript I'd pretty much abandoned around January. I've been reading, trying to immerse myself in the characters, the plot, the conflicts. It isn't easy. The closest analogy I can come up with is it's akin to not running for months, then trying to get back into condition. Already, I can see it's going to be a slow, painful process.

But I'm trying. And I'm getting there.

Slowly.

Painfully.

But I'm getting there.

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For.

FABULOUS SALE & CONTEST AT MBAM!

FABULOUS SALE & CONTEST AT MBAM!

Lots of prizes this week - all you do is make a purchase to be entered! Winners will be chosen to win a variety of print books!ALSO, from now until September 30, 2006, every purchase will count toward a drawing for an ebook reader! The winner may choose between an eBookwise, a Palm Tungsten E2, or an HP IPAQ rx1950!PLUS, you can enter the drawing without making a purchase by sending a postcard with your name, address, phone number, email address, and how you heard about MBaM to this address:My Bookstore and More2932 Ross Clark Circle #384Dothan AL 36301All postcards must be received by October 31st, winner will be announced on November 1st, 2006


Come see our SALE PRICES on ebooks! http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/


All Trade PRINT books are ON SALE too! 10% off cover price plus FREE Shipping!


Presented by Millennium Promotion Services, Inc. http://www.millenniumpromotion.com

I'm excited!

Got an email from my editor yesterday.

I SOLD THREE MORE BOOKS!

Whoo-hoo!

HOLD ON TO ME, TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES, and HIS ORDINARY LIFE all have a home at Samhain now.

Today's Post (And My News!)

Is over at Romance Worth Killing For.

Note to Self

Don't let the DH help Monster #1 with his homework.

They take forever. It's 12 minutes to bedtime, and are they near finishing?

Noooooo.

Weird, Isn't It?

I have fewer preps this year, fewer classes, fewer students.

I have one more planning period.

You would think I'd have plenty of time.

Noooo.

I'm less stressed teaching-wise than I was last year (I was really spread too thin), but all the department head duties are kicking in. And, man, does that take a lot of time.

I did manage today to get all of my filing done (that's a task I rarely get to -- I'd end up tossing papers in a file drawer to keep them out of sight, then have to sort them at the end of the year or when I needed something.). I'm setting my classes up in our computer program now. I made emergency bathroom passes (I have to handwrite the info on those, or the kids try to forge them). Still have to set up my gradebook. Make a list of kids without access to a computer or a printer.

Finally got all the ballyhoo from this weekend sorted out. DH took care of most of it, since it was his payroll department who basically screwed my entire budget for the month. I have to do some math, but I think they still owe us money, although not nearly as much as they did.

I'm off to make a form parent-contact letter.

What are you up to?

I'm Alive

Which is a positive.

It has not, however, been a good weekend. I'm a total control freak, and this situation is completely beyond my control.

I have to wait until Monday to see how it will play out. So instead of relaxing and getting recharged for school next week, I'm wound tight, my mind like a hamster wheel.

Keep your fingers crossed that everyone who made a promise Friday keeps it Monday.

A Little of This and That

What I'm reading: Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Or rather, I'm trying to read it. I know it's a classic and all, but I'm at chapter three, I don't like Holden, and I'm not all that impressed.

What I'm reading next: Gerald Graff's Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind.

What I'm listening to: Rain, my windchimes and distant thunder.

What I'm drinking: Diet Pepsi. Is there anything else?

What I'm working on: Knocking out my teacher TTD list, waiting on Kristi to send me something to read!

What I feel good about today: My English department meeting went well.

What I enjoyed most today: Lunch with my colleagues at the coffee shop. Joe, your homemade bread and the veggie sandwich were incredible!

What I'm doing next: Putting the Monsters to bed.

Sigh . . .

There's this episode of Little House on the Prairie that haunted me from the first time I saw it. As the show begins, a litter of puppies are being taken from their mother (to be drowned -- Laura or someone saves them, I don't remember it all, just that first scene). As the wagon drives away, with the puppies in a gunny sack on the back, the mama dog watches fornlornly, a sad expression on her little doggie face as she realizes she'll never see them again . . .

Well, tonight I'm the sack of puppies, whining a little, leaving the mama dog of my summer behind, with its shimmering freedom, not to be seen again. (Well, not this summer anyway . . . 190 working days, and whoo-hoo! A new summer!).

I'm packing my teacher bag (which has served as my beach bag all summer -- it's very versatile!), making my to-do list, trying to decide what I want to wear tomorrow.

I'm very aware that I have to be up at 6:00 A.M.

But I'm excited, too. I'm loving the way our high school faculty seems to be finally coming together as a cohesive unit, with the addition of some fantastic new people to an already strong group. I've been waiting four years to see this.

But I wouldn't mind just one more day to sleep in, either.

Goodbye, summer!

Gather Ye Memories While Ye May . . .

Today was a good day. Busy, but good. I have, alas, only one more day of freedom after today, and I was determined I would not show up at school today. I needed to spend my Vote for Sonny Money, plus I wanted to hit Penney's sale today, check the goodies at Old Navy, etc.

So I spent the day with my best friend Pam. After she got her hair cut (and I read part of The Memory Keeper's Daughter), we hit Office Depot. Teachers were everywhere (hey, we got ten million dollars worth of Vote For Sonny Money statewide -- that's a lot of teachers!). We went to the mall, met her DH for lunch at Applebee's (quesadilla burger, yummmm!), went back to the mall.

We will not discuss how many bras I had to try on to find the right one, but find one I did! I bought several in that style. I hate shopping for unmentionables. Picked up three tops at Penney's, two sweaters at Old Navy. Then I spent the remainder of my Vote For Sonny Money at Waldenbooks, buying books for my classroom library.

Tried to take a nap when I got home. Didn't happen.

The Monsters wanted to go fishing, so the DH and I loaded them up and took them to the river. They fished for a couple hours, didn't catch anything, but it was beautiful and quiet. Had a nice conversation with the local DNR officer. Sitting, listening to the river whisper, watching the sun set into the pine trees across the water, was a really relaxing way to finish off one of my last two days of summer. Definitely one of my favorite summer memories.

What about you? What won't you forget about this summer?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For.

Can You Say, "Awww!"

My great-nephew Porter with me, at my mom's. I think this was taken Mother's Day.

Still Here

I've been scattered lately. I thought maybe, in all the frenzy of Nationals and the resulting explosion of blogs (which are really fun to read), my absence would go unnoticed. However, Kristi says not so much. This is what I've been up to:

1) Unit plans. More unit plans.
2) Typing assignments.
3) Back-to-school shopping for the Monsters.
4) Took the Monsters and one of their friends out for the day, to lunch and to see Monster House. Loved the movie. Go see it.
5) Getting my room ready for school. Preplanning? Uh, yeah. I can't work on my room when there are other people around. Too many distractions.
6) Completing my application for grad school. I'm supposed to start working on my master's in Learning and Literacy *or* Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in October.

You'll notice there's no writing up there. I'm hoping to do a major push and finish chapter three of TAGD this weekend. We'll see. I have two manuscripts I want to send to my editor -- she hasn't had a chance to look yet at the two I've already sent, but she promised to get to them next week, said to send these on.

What have you been up to?