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The family arrived last night, within 5 minutes of each other. I had hugged Caroline, met Dan, and told them they had to move the car because Dad was coming with his RV, just as Dad and Sue turned the corner!

During dinner Sue said something about being glad her shows are over for the year so she can have her life back. I think she listed 4 shows.

Um.

I have 4 shows on Thursday night! What is this life of which she speaks? I admit, the pressure is off since the end of the regular season, but I still want my TV! I'm having True Blood withdrawal, too. Not sure when I'll get a chance to watch disc 5, which won't be here until tomorrow anyway.

Got my final line edits for Surface, so will be working on that when I can. Today's the bbq at 3, so probably won't get much done today.

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1) Go to grocery store
2) Keep company entertained
3) Have fun at party
4) Cry at graduation
5) Blog at Supernatural Sisters (where there will be a prize) and the Samhain blog
6) Do an interview for Jody Wallace
7) Write a script for a book trailer
8) Work on promo schedule for summer
9) Work on Texas revisions.
10) Work on paranormal.
11) Exercise
12) Keep up house

That is not a fun schedule. The promo stuff wears me out! But since I'll be working in small increments while company's here, it's best to get it out of the way now.

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I should finish reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth in the next few minutes. I have Pride and Prejudice and Zombies waiting for me at the library, but I think I'm going to read the new Nora first. Two zombie books in a row may be a bit much.

Need to sweep the front and back patios. I'm waiting until a bit later so I can run the leaf blower. Need to touch up the paint in the hallway.

The dh is on vacation for a week after today, so I need to see if he plans to go get a bed from his mom's for my cousin and her bf, or if we're going to swap out the ds's bed. If the former, I need to go get new sheets and a bedspread.

I haven't written at all the past few days. I'll try later today, but this AM I'm going to focus on blog posts for next week.

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Well, I said good-bye to my babies. I cried. I miss them already. Thought I'd get at least one phone call tonight ;) I've turned in my laptops, so no more email to occupy me at work. Tomorrow I need to cover my computers, finish packing my desk and make the class lists for next year. Then we go to lunch. Cindi is bringing me home so I don't have to drive downtown.

While I was turning in my permanent records, my phone rang. The maid service was late. They were supposed to be here at 2:30, but didn't arrive until 4. They were here until 8!!! We ate dinner outside, which was actually kind of nice. But it was a long day and I am wiped. The house looks great, though it was more of a big picture cleaning and some details I'd hoped they'd get kinda got skipped. I don't blame them....4 bedrooms and 2 baths is a lot. Still, I'd like to know a few secrets, you know?

I've been watching True Blood. I'm on disc 3. I'm really enjoying it! Still, wondering why the new releases are never available!!! I want to see TAKEN, and it has a very long wait.

Tomorrow, Mom is picking me up (she's taking me to school so Cindi can bring me home) and we're going to breakfast at Panera, a summer preview. After the teacher luncheon, I'm taking a big celebratory nap!

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We saw Defiance last night. Sad that I was so looking forward to it and was so disappointed. It was just meh.

Today's my last full day with the kids. We're playing board games in the AM and having a pizza party in the PM. Then tomorrow, movies until noon. My room is mostly packed. I hope to clean while the kids are playing.

The maid service is coming tomorrow. It was a gift from my dad and stepmom (though Baby Brother says I shouldn't say that, that they must think my house is filthy. It's not. Just needs some...detailing.) I feel compelled to say that it was a gift, I don't know why. It's not like I think it's frivolous, but it is a luxury.

I've never done this before, though, and I'll be home part of the time they'll be here. I'm not sure what to do with myself during that time. I mean, I feel guilty sitting on the couch while the dh does the dishes, though it's part of the deal if I cook. I thought of sitting in the backyard and writing, where at least I'll be out of the way, but...okay, here's the thing. I'm worried they'll judge me for not being able or willing to clean house myself. Sad, right?

Have you ever had a maid service come? What do you do while they're there?

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Another R, this one from Silhouette. I thought this one would break through for sure. She thought it was too depressing and overwhelmed the romance. Dude, I toned it down a ton, too. So I have 2 things out.

I am relieved that I don't have to push so hard on the paranormal. I emailed the other authors and they aren't as far along as I am. Whew! So I'm scaling back to 500 words a day on it, and will continue editing Texas and play with a short story.

2 1/2 more days with the kids. We're all kinda sad. I'll miss them a bunch. Today's our last day of doing work, and we should be done in the AM, so we can watch a movie in the PM.

Company arriving in 5 1/2 days. I bought new towels and welcome mats. The Molly Maids are coming day after tomorrow. Boy better have his room straightened by then.

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House
1) Paint bedroom
2) Do Fly Lady style declutter
3) Work on landscaping

Crafting
1) sew up fabric I have
2) find a small cross stitch project

Writing
1) Two short stories
2) Revise ghost hunters, Vampire Hunters and Texas
3) Write rough draft of RS
4) Promote!!!

Me
1) exercise every day
2) read 10 books
3) hang out with Mom/bro once a week
4) play a game once a week with the boy
5) TV only when dark/rainy/super-hot
6) nap as much as possible ;)

I think I know why I'm not so excited about summer! That's a lot of work!

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How can this be? This year FLEW! This is the first year in---ever that I haven't been counting down to summer. I love my class. I'll miss them.

1) Finish rough draft of paranormal
2) Revise 35 pages of Texas
3) Work on promo plan
4) Declutter house for maid service ;)
5) Survive the last 4 days with the kids/finish paperwork/pack room
6) Big grocery trip for graduation barbecue and family (At least I get a day and a half off before they descend—another teacher gets her family coming in on Wednesday.)
7) Get something for Healing Brother's bday--not sure when we'll celebrate.

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Once again I failed to send Trish a birthday card, so here's her card. It's more fun anyway, and we can all enjoy ;)











I hope your day's great, Trish!!!!

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Trippin'. I knew my blog anniversary was coming up. Had NO idea it was FOUR YEARS OLD!!!! Wow. So glad I got it a new outfit for its bday!

So, the reason for my R yesterday was that my editor couldn't connect with my heroine, in particular. Interesting, because I was having the same thoughts about the hero in my paranormal. I think there are a couple of reasons for this.

I don't think I built enough of a backstory for him. I pretty much just lifted his mannerisms and such from Jensen's portrayal of Dean (which I've done before--Adrian's mannerisms are Gerard Butler's, Gabe's are Clooney's), but I haven't gone deeply into his character. In fact, I have very few scenes in his POV.

He doesn't have enough of the qualities I admire. Yes, he's handsome and brave, but he's also impulsive and a con man.

I have too much plot for a 30,000 word story. Everything is compressed. I'm at 20,000 words and they just had their first kiss, and they haven't figured out why all this stuff is happening.

So my goal is to get the story written as I see it, look at the word count, see what I can take out. Then I need to build in more characterization and romance. This is not a good sign. Working from plot to romance is not a good fit for me. Gulp.

Today is field day in the morning, then in the PM, I'm showing a movie. I have a TON of paperwork. A TON.

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My Samhain editor told me she wouldn't get to STTA, the book that I love, my small town story, until my edits for Surface were done. Well, she got to it. And she passed.


:::whimper:::

She didn't connect with the characters. So now I'm feeling a little off-kilter about my books. Hot Shot, Surface and Smoke were all written years ago, and had all been through a number of revisions before they were even submitted. So I'm feeling like I can't judge my own writing, which makes me wary to write today, which bums me out because I thought today would be a good writing day.

I know I'll be over this soon. I just haven't been hit this hard by an R in a while.

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Forgot how much paperwork is at the end of the year. I have to fill out 6 pages per child this week, not including grades (which are mostly done, to be fair.) Gah.

I met my writing goals, which is good since I spent the evening looking for blogskins.

I have Benjamin Button and New in Town coming from Netflix. Boy, how different, right?

And I need new music. I haven't bought any music since the Veronica Mars soundtrack I bought last summer. I'm listening to a 10 year old Nine Inch Nails album because the song from the Terminator trailer is stuck in my head. I don't even know what I'm in the mood for. Something sexy, I think, intense. What are you listening to?

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I finished edits on Surface, I'm 1/3 of the way through the paranormal and feeling a little more in control. Here's what I've got going on:

In revisions:
Texas book
Vampire hunter

Partly written
Short story for TWRP
Paranormal novella for Samhain

Plotted
Short story
Road Trip story
Bodyguard story

Idea Stage
President story (RS)
New Mexico vet story (contemp)
Hostage negotiator story (RS)
Cruise ship story (RS)

Submitted
STTA
DLB
BD

What are you working on?

Have fun today. I'm off to work. I think we're the only school district in session today! 9 more days....

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HOW can it be the end of May already???? You'd think I'd be happier with only 9 days of school left, but instead I'm stunned that the year is almost over.

I finished my revisions on Surface, sent them back before my nap, and got another set (much much shorter) before the news. Finished those and sent them back just before my battery died. I also cleaned my bedroom and did a ton of laundry and watched the first disc of 30 Rock. I hope the rest of the week is as productive!

1) 2000 words a day on paranormal. I should be 2/3 done by this time next week.
2) Revise 5 pages a day on Texas (which WILL be done someday)
3) Survive field day/other end of year activities, as well as class time with no text books
4) Other end-of-year duties
5) Declutter house like a crazy lady, rearrange so it’s more company friendly.
6) Blog at SPN Sisters and Samhellion.

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Who knew going to a movie and sitting in the audience at the talent show would be so exhausting. Yet, it was. Today will be a normal day, thank goodness. The more normal days, the better the behavior.

I may find out my fate for next year today. Either the new teacher or I will be moved out of 4th grade, probably to 1st. :::shudder::: My scores were better, but I may pray to go to first grade, seeing the behavior problems coming up to 4th grade.

I've done galleys on my short story, am halfway through my read-through of Surface before I send it back, and am 1/4 of the way through my paranormal. One of my students asked why I'm always wanting to write something else when I'm writing. Isn't that a good question?

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My friend Charity's very first book is officially out today! It's a YA co-written with Darcy Vance, and these ladies worked very hard for this! My copy's on its way from Amazon. Where's yours?



We got our test results yesterday. The good news: every kid in my class passed at least one of the three tests, and I had 7 kids with "commended performance" on at least one, meaning they missed 2 or less questions. We also brought our grade level average up 18 points in math, and 4 in reading. The bad: 4 failed 2 tests. Of those, I already planned to retain 2 in 4th grade, and had assigned two to summer school. Six failed reading (2 were a surprise, the others were expected). 4 failed math, and 2 failed writing. We should be a recognized campus again this year, and we made gains, which is good. I'm just glad it's done.

Now to keep the kids busy for 13 more days!

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This weekend we watched THE WRESTLER.



It was certainly not the feel-good movie of the year, but it was excellent, and had a good message. Interestingly, the dh and I took different messages from it.

Mickey Roarke plays an aging wrestler, one who had a video game character modeled on him, as well as an action figure. He’s no longer at the top of his game, but every weekend wrestles at local events. He barely has money, works part time at a grocery store, and lives in a trailer park. He’s estranged from his daughter, and has a relationship with an aging stripper, played by Marisa Tomei. (I say aging, though she’s just a bit older than me, because it was an issue in the story.) She’s the only “friend” he has, other than the other wrestlers, who mostly just look up to him. Mickey Roarke has to make a few choices, and he makes good ones, and bad ones.

The lesson the dh took was that Mickey Roarke was living on past glories. He hadn’t accepted that his life had changed and moved on.

The lesson I took was that he isolated himself from others, including his family, in the pursuit of his dream, and when he needed others, no one was there for him. I need to be careful of the same, since my tendency is to be a hermit anyway.

The second movie we saw was STAR TREK.



I could have done without Spock and Kirk as kids, but once the crew were adults, the movie kicked into high gear. Pure delight. I only watched the show peripherally growing up, but my step-dad was a big fan, so I was aware of the characters, and how well Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban, in particular, absorbed their roles. Loved Scotty, too. The dh was more fans of the spin-off shows, so didn’t enjoy the movie as much, but I liked it a lot more than Wolverine, which makes me sad.

Have you seen either? What did you think?

I’ve cut 6000 words from the 7000 I’d done on the paranormal. I’m also rereading 30 pages a night on Surface before I type in the notes and send it back to my editor.

14 more days of school. Today is Awards Day and Thursday is a field trip and the talent show. How many movies can I show before the kids get restless??

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The kids are getting eager for summer. It’s hard to keep them focused. Centers aren’t even doing it!

1) Field trip, which is scheduled on the same day as the talent show, which means it will be short. Poor kids. At least my class got to go on a good trip. We’re just taking the kids to see Disney’s Earth
2) Go see Star Trek
3) Work on Surface revisions (doing a read-through before I send it back, am finding stuff to change on every page, almost)
4) Work on Texas revisions
5) Work on paranormal
6) SARA?
7) Work in yard
8) Get dh and ds to work in garage and the room next to it before the company comes.

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My Samhain editor is tough. The thing is, she's also good. I keep wanting to find fault with her comments, but you know, I never can. She has a great memory and a good eye for detail. She would NEVER let me get away with the stuff I'm reading right now (not the one pictured in the sidebar, btw. Haven't gotten around to changing it.)

In one paragraph, seven lines and seven sentences, there were the following cliches:

stopped her in her tracks
lose her cool
bigger fish to fry
duty called

In another, three sentences started with "It was."

I could never get away with that.

That said, I need to get back to work on Surface, give it another careful read (maybe even out loud) so I don't have to go through another round :)

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I dare you to look at that picture and not laugh.

::::::MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR LOST, HEROES, GREY'S ANATOMY:::::::

A few years ago, I spoiled an episode of Angel for a friend who lived in Las Vegas. As soon as the episode ended, I ran to the computer and wrote something like, "Poor Wesley!" Well, Las Vegas is an hour behind and she hadn't seen the episode yet. BOY, was she mad, and I completely understand. I've been very careful ever since.

However, I've been learning a painful lesson about spoilers the past couple of weeks. If you don't watch shows live, DON'T go on Twitter or Facebook. I was spoiled on Heroes when Nathan died and on the LOST episode when Daniel died while I was innocently cruising through Twitter updates. I didn't see LOST Wednesday night, and Trish kindly reminded me NOT to go on Twitter, where people were discussing it. I've also seen the results from American Idol spoiled for those who watch it. Eek! Last night I was watching Grey's, delayed, because I watched SPN at 9, and recorded the second hour of Grey's (but knew I couldn't go to school today without seeing the end.) A friend commented on my Facebook (while I still had half an hour in the show) about the ending. It turned out to be minor, but the rest of the show, I was like, "Dang!"

::::::NO MORE SPOILERS:::::

So my lesson SHOULD be to stay off the internet until the Tivo is clean, huh? Not much more to see, though, just 24, NCIS and The Mentalist, I think.

Trish is having a launch party for her new book at Romance Bandits. You can win a copy of her book (which is MUCH better than the title would have you believe!!)

5 minutes before Grey's, I got galleys on the short story. :::thud::: I need a nap when I get home!

Don't know why I'm using Jensen today. No WAY am I going to get to that story today.

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I'm up early early early to meet my goal because TONIGHT IS SEASON FINALE NIGHT!

Now, I haven't seen LOST because the gf was here and dh and ds didn't start watching until 9:30, which is already past my bedtime :) And tonight I might not see SPN because Grey's finale is 2 hours. UNLESS I take a nap when I get home, which I may do if I meet my goal before school. See?

Are you excited about any season finales? Did you see FRINGE? I watched that one last night and--whoa. Was stunned. Also, NCIS looks like the finale will be good, if this last episode was a hint. Of course, loved CASTLE.

Okay, off to revise!

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This is JUST how I feel.

The boy's award ceremony was last night. With a class as big as his, they have to do the awards separately or it will be interminable. He'll be graduating Cum Laude, which, considering he rarely did homework, is pretty good. I told the dh, just imagine if we'd pushed him. He got awards in newspaper and video tech, and is a National Commended Scholar.

What I noticed partway through the ceremony (we left during the Ms) was that the dh made a point of clapping for the kids who got the award that all the kids got, Texas Scholar Candidate. That's what they get for completing the recommended courses, and all the kids graduating have done that, obviously. But back to the dh. I realized that while I knew how hard it was for the kids to get through school from a teacher's perspective, he knew from a student's perspective. It made me even more determined to notice every kid. Sounds easy when you have 21 kids, but it's not always.

Today one of my VERY noticeable kids will be absent. His dad, who isn't even 30, I don't think, is going in for brain surgery. He has a tumor the size of a golf ball. I'm worried about this kid, who worships his daddy. So if you have a moment, send a prayer Carlos's way.

I have to be fingerprinted today. Yes, less than a month before I complete my 20th year, they decide all the teachers need to be printed. We've had THREE meetings about it. Fer realz. And you know what they wanted? Our WEIGHT. One teacher said, "They don't have a scale, I'm lying!" Love that. Because I'm NOT putting my weight on any documentation!

I'm blogging at
Supernatural Sisters today.