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I am irritated with Netflix. Out of the top 15 movies in my queue, only 3 are available now. Granted, six haven't released yet, but the rest all have waits, including TAKEN, which released, what, 2 months ago? I'm FINALLY getting SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, which released March 31. Yesterday I drove down to Blockbuster to get FRIDAY THE 13TH because I didn't want to wait "a very long wait." I wanted my Padalecki NOW.

The dh said it's because we haven't been members long, but I had the same problem with Blockbuster, and I'd been with them since the ds played video games (they'd have coupons for a free video game a month, when we started.) I left Blockbuster for this reason. I mean, hello, I'm on summer vacation, I want to see movies!!! My library is better at having them ready than Netflix.

Okay, just had to vent.

DLB is revised and resubmitted.

Texas is revised and with Trish.

The paranormal is a MESS.

I'm going to breakfast with Mom and baby brother in a few minutes, and the boy is not home from work yet. He left last night at 8. They said they might not be done until 8 AM. At least the boy can come home and sleep. My brother has to teach tonight, and his partner only had 3 hours of sleep yesterday.

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Yesterday was an incredibly productive day. I am ALMOST done with my Texas revisions---about 15 more pages. I met my writing goal for the paranormal, cleaned the rooms I was supposed to clean, went for a walk, made dinner and dessert from SCRATCH, and read 60 pages of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Also watched SLITHER on DVD and one episode of COMANCHE MOON, set 25 years after my historical, but hey.

Today does not look as promising. The ds worked until 3:30 last night (AC on a restaurant with my brother, coolest time of day), so dh and I slept a little later than normal. Also, may have to go get FRIDAY THE 13TH at Blockbuster since Netflix doesn't seem to want to send it to me and I NEED it. And ds's gf is coming over. Still, will get going on that walk as soon as I'm done here.

I have new favorite things this time of year.

1) Gold Canyon candle--pool towel scent. Yum!



2) Bath and Body Works White Citrus scrub

3) Off Mosquito Lantern--if only it would work for flies



4) Flavored lemonade---I had fresh-squeezed on Saturday, but this one's good, too.



5) Pledge Pet Hair Remover--especially now since the dh figured out how to empty it so I don't have to throw it away (!!!!!) when it gets full. You know, like after brushing one couch.



What are some of your favorite things this summer?

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1) revisions on DLB (looks like just the first couple of chapters)
2) finish paranormal
3) finish revisions on Texas
4) breakfast w/Mom
5) Get Father’s Day presents and birthday present for dh—only know what to get my dad.
6) blog at WNP and The Romance Studio
7) keep up house
8) exercise daily
9) nap daily
10) finish watching Samantha Who, 30 Rock and Comanche Moon
11) hit library
12) finish reading Visions in White and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

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So, the bad thing about having your house cleaned is that you see the things they missed. So I'm attempting to remedy that this week, one room a day. Except I'm already behind.

See, I am making writing the priority. I'm meeting those goals first, new pages on the paranormal and revised pages on the historical (yes, still. It keeps getting pushed aside.) Only then am I working on the house. Yesterday I had errands to run--library, post office, HEB. Then the boy took me to Borders. And the dh needed help finding proof of insurance so he could get his license renewed. The search took about half an hour.

Today, back to HEB (we went to the fancy one yesterday and I wouldn't pay their prices for meat and ice cream.) But I got a great strawberry lemonade which may be my drink this summer.

But now....writing.

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Dad and Sue drove out at 11ish yesterday. I was in nap-mode at noon, and slept until around 3, when the boy came home from work. Then we went to the bank (twice), picked up dinner and the dh and I vegged in front of SEVEN episodes of Rescue Me (the DVD is due at the library today.)

I finished my line edits and one interview, and cleaned my kitchen really well.

Today I need to get stamps, go to the library and the grocery store, and I plan to get back into the paranormal. I haven't written anything new in a week!

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We took the company sightseeing yesterday. We wanted to go to the Institute of Texan Cultures, but it appeared to be closed in preparation for the Texas Folklife Festival that starts this weekend. After paying $6 for parking, though, we didn't want to leave, so went to the Tower of the Americas. It costs $11 a person to go up there! YEOWCH! Then we went to El Mercado and did some shopping before coming back, feeding Caroline and Dan and seeing them off to the airport. Felt bad that they rented a car and only used it to come to the house and go back to the airport. Was not really a sightseeing trip, you know?

Today, after some good rest, it's back to line edits and an interview and a blog for Saturday!

The boy graduated last night. It was a pretty nice ceremony, but we strained to see him in a class of over 600 kids. We thought we knew which one he was, then when he walked to the front of the stage, the announcer said, "Attending University of Texas at Austin." Hm, maybe not the boy. Then they mispronounced his name!!! Grrrr. But he's graduated and he's happy and he's home safe and sound, sleeping.

The boy and his girl.



The boy, his grandpa and Sue.



The gf took our picture with the boy in his cap and gown, so we don't have a picture with him in his gown, but here's us after.



The boy, his grandmother, step-grandfather and uncle.



The boy, his godmother and her SO.




Today we're doing some sightseeing before the godmother and her SO head for the airport. Then catfish for dinner ;)

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Yesterday was the boy's grad party and was a success. Everyone seems to love my boy. Today was more low-key, thank goodness, because guess what? I'm getting a cold or something. After lunch and a quick trip to North Star so my step mother could get Crocs like mine, I got a nap. Now scrambling to get dinner on before the kid leaves. Oh, and Baby Brother took cousin and her bf sightseeing and they HAVEN'T COME BACK. ACK!

Writing today? Ha.

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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?