This is what I'm doing today. I took the day off because this is the Week from Hell. I have SARA, two testing days, one field trip, one carnival and one graduation. And yesterday we had a surprise party for my mom that went pretty well, considering my step-dad didn't follow The Plan. See, he was supposed to pretend to take her to dinner for Mother's Day. Instead, he left, saying he was going to Healing Brother's. Baby Brother left, ostensibly to go hang out with his friends. Then my stepdad called and told me to call Mom, tell her to come over because Cindi and her baby would be here.

Um, why would they come on Mother's Day? I needed a bigger incentive.

A plant sale.

Even that would be tricky because of the time, 4:30. My mom doesn't like to do things in the afternoon, and if she thought about looking up what time it closed, she'd know it was too late. But surprisingly, it worked.

My stepdad showed up just after I hung up, then she called him, and he went outside so she wouldn't know where he was. Then Healing Brother showed up, and Mom pulled in just then. The look on her face was priceless, but she almost started to cry when her brother and SIL showed up, and then finally Baby Brother. So it turned out great.





And today I'm kicking back. I need to do laundry and wash another load of dishes and take my Superromance package to the main post office, but that's it. I plan to write 5 pages, watch Black Hawk Down and read. I hope it's as pretty today as it was yesterday.

I wrote 3 pages, read a field guide to demons, did Weed and Feed on the yard, cleaned both bathrooms, went to WalMart (good bye, $235, hello new underwear), HEB (good bye, $120, hello dinners for the week and party stuff) and the post office (good bye, $30 and no IRCs - gah!), sent two more agent queries and watched 4 episodes of Point Pleasant. Just when it was getting good, I put in disc 3 and it was cracked! Bummer.

Today I have to sweep. The dh is barbecuing, and I need to make potato casserole, but that's easy. I also want to try to get in 3 pages.

Have a happy Mother's Day, all you mommies!

Today would be my grandmother's 95th birthday. I miss her.

Yesterday was Mom's 60th. We're surprising her tomorrow. I wanted to do it tonight, but Baby Brother has Commitments. Boy is way too social. So I'm running to WalMart and the grocery store now, then the post office, then cleaning. Fortunately, it's still mostly clean from my party.

I saw Grey's last night - bleh. If not for Alex, I'd be done. Watched last week's Supernatural again. Still love it.

My goal today is 5 new pages. The good news is I'm ITCHING to write!

The .500 streak for Beneath the Surface continues. I got a request for a partial and a rejection yesterday from the two equeries. Also, it didn't final in 4 Seasons, so I'm entering a different book in the Maggies ;)

Today's goal: prepare Maggie entry, get to the post office (3 partials and one contest entry to mail - if I hadn't given up contests while I was agented, maybe they wouldn't have had to have a rate hike!), get MIL's Mother's Day gift and Mom's bday gift. She's 60 today.

I took the kids out yesterday, took their pictures and planned to make picture frames for Mother's Day yesterday, but they took forEVER on their science, and then 11 of them went to decorate cakes for their moms, so I was left with 7. Those 7 did their science project, so that's what the rest will do today. We'll do one math assignment, then spend the rest of the day on Mother's Day, science and finishing up King Arthur. I want to take off Monday, but I don't know.....

It was a GORGEOUS day yesterday....till I came home. The clouds were rolling in, and as soon as the boy walked in the door, it started thundering, then rained like crazy! At least it's nice and cool this AM, though it's supposed to rain today and tomorrow, too.

I sent 2 agent equeries yesterday and have a partial printed out to send when I hit the post office. I also sent a query to The Wild Rose Press on one of my category books. Today's goal is to send something to my chapter's online critique.

Yesterday I had a meeting at my old school. I've only been back once in the three years since I left. The Princibitch isn't there anymore, but I had a knot in my stomach all day thinking about going back. I did get to talk to the secretary for half an hour - I always liked Betty.

But the weirdness is the Princibitch was at my school yesterday. My kids just happened to be working quietly, my door was open because of AC difficulties, and I heard Robert down the hall talking to someone. When he said something about his 5-year-old, and I heard the reply, I sent Jeremiah to close the door and I moved out of eye-shot of the door. The woman is pure poison, lemme tell you.

Onto lighter things.

Jericho's season finale was AWESOME. OMG. I don't get the anti-Emily bit, because she was great with Jake last night.

LOST surprised me, for the first time in a long time. And how did such a cute little kid grow up to be such an ugly bug eyed man? Can't wait for next week!

And tonight - SUPERNATURAL!!!

My goal today is to submit to 3 agents. GULP.

I have my Superromance packaged, but I went to Canada Post and I don't know what to buy. What stamp do you need to send it BACK to the US?

I blew off the Molly and PASIC. And I probably will only enter one book in the Maggies, though the question remains whether it will be DLB or Surface.

I didn't do well on timed writing last night, either. I got Trish's comments put into Ghost Hunters, and opened BD, and just sat there. I wanted to insert a chase/shooting scene, but I'd written through the scene break and then had trouble breaking it apart. I brainstormed with one of my cps and she had some good ideas that I'm excited about, but I've locked myself up. I need to trust again. We're supposed to try again on Friday, but I forgot it's my mom's bday.

Yesterday I was teaching math and got this sudden flash of Starcke Park, where we used to go swimming every summer when I was little. It just felt - summery all of a sudden. Tonight my stepdad sent me a picture. That's poor Healing Brother in the picture next to me. And that brightness - I think it might be something called SUNSHINE! (Yes, it's raining, AGAIN.)



Here's another vampire-y picture of Justin. I'm really liking him as my villain in the next book, even though he's the hero in this!

We got our preliminary TAKS scores yesterday. I had 3 kids fail writing, 4 fail reading and 5 fail math, out of 17 who tested. I expected 4 in each, so some kids surprised me in a good way - the girl I'm retaining passed writing, another girl who I'm sending to summer school passed writing and reading - and some in a bad way - an A-B girl failed reading AND math, and an A-B boy failed writing. It evened out in my class, but overall our math scores are bad. And believe me, we teach math more than reading. Gulp. I'm anxious to get the actual scores, to see how much they missed by.

Last night, Stacy and I spent an hour doing timed writing. You should have seen me before...dragging my feet to get to the computer. But once we said "Go," I didn't get up except to go find my Ghost Hunters notebook. I finished the synopsis on that, and got 553 words on Breaking Daylight. In our chat after, Stacy said she ALMOST got up at the 45 minute mark, but she stayed in her seat, knowing I was doing the same. I have to say, I'm a big fan of timed writing. We're going to try again tonight.

I got my Superromance submission ready, just need to get a stamp. That was today's goal.

I'm thinking about using Justin as my vampire in my vamp book, after seeing this picture.

My hibiscus bloomed yesterday. The flower is as big as my hand.I also discovered that one of the hibisus I threw out is coming back. It's growing at a 90 degree angle from where the remaining stems were.



Okay, here's my dilemma. I want to enter contests again. Here are the ones I'm looking at, the books I'm looking at entering, and the final judges.

Breaking Daylight - The Molly. It could either go in contemp or ST. Contemp judge is May Chen, who never judges contemp. ST judge is Sulay from Simon and Schuster. That's the same as Pocket, right? If it finals (and I've never been able to crack the Molly), do you think either of those judges would like it?

Ghost Hunters (I have a real title, but this one's just easier) - PASIC. Final judge is St. Martin's Press. I just don't know if this entry is strong enough, though.

Either DLB or Surface AND Ghost Hunters - Maggies. ST final judge is Laura Cifelli from NAL (who has Breaking Daylight from Fire and Ice, so no sense entering that one again), paranormal judge is Abby Zidle.

I'm also looking at Lone Star, but they haven't announced their final judge yet, though the deadline is June 4.

Breaking Daylight AND Ghost Hunters - From the Heart. ST final judge is Kerry Donovan from NAL and the paranormal final judge is Cindy Hwang.

Breaking Daylight - Melody of Love. Michelle Grajkowski is the final judge. I'm wishy washy about this one because there are only 3 categories..

So, any thoughts? I did finish BD's synopsis last night - yay!

My life had its ups and downs this week, and so did TV. Some nights I wondered WHY I was watching.

Monday:

Heroes was ABSOLUTELY awesome. Just excellent TV.

24 was POINTLESS. Jack escaped to talk to Audrey and was captured again. NOTHING was gained, but an hour taken up. Why didn't Nadia just let him talk to her?

Tuesday:

Americans got it right on American Idol. The four best are left. I've been singing Bon Jovi all week, though.

Wednesday:

I missed most of Jericho because I was on the phone with my brother, but why aren't they using the tank?

On Bones, the crime was needlessly complicated. Seriously, would you think of loading a chopped up guy on a plane and dropping him in the ocean? Gah. And there was no good chemistry with Booth and Bones.

My dh knocked off Locke's dad as Sawyer from the minute he arrived, so no big surprise on Lost.

Thursday:

Kinda liked Earl and Office.

Supernatural was incredible. Just incredible. Love Dean all over again.

Now, the big rant. What the HELL are they thinking on Grey's???? I wish I'd Tivoed that damn show and skipped all the California bits (and I LIKE Addison.) There is nothing different or special about it. The first time I saw Grey's, I was hooked. The writing was that good, but this - wasn't. How convenient was it that Tim Daly had chased off the former ob/gyn? And what was he? An herbalist? I didn't buy it. Most of the time I was trying to figure out who her friend was, then realized it was Francie from Alias. And Addison didn't seem to be such a good friend, if she didn't know Francie was divorced. The surfer boy - ick. The woman has been with McDreamy, McSteamy and Alex - she's going to drool over a teenager? I don't think so.

So I won't be watching Addison's new show.

What did you think of TV this week?

It's good to be loved!

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

8 random facts/habits about me ...

1. I have a messy car. Receipts, coupons, books, even some jewelry. I think there might also be a pair of shoes….

2. I’ve bought ONE CD that isn’t a soundtrack since grunge music went out of fashion.

3. I love to buy things online because I like getting fun mail. Got my new Clark sandals yesterday!

4. I keep meaning to scrapbook my GH stuff, but never do. It’s all in a drawer. Why am I surprised? I think those photo boxes are the best invention ever – all my son’s baby pictures are in there!

5. I don’t really like to drive. Especially now that EVERY route to my house has construction! It’s a conspiracy.

6. I count down to summer by how many more lunches I have to make.

7. As many crushes as I have, I only have sexy dreams about my husband.

8. I’ve only bought 4 bottles of hard liquor in my life, and 2 were for my brother’s Halloween party! The other two, I still have.

I tag Toni, Bonnie, Marianne, Mary Beth, Kelly, Michele, Colleen and Sarah!

So, Wednesday rejection, Thursday I find out I finalled in Spring into Romance with Breaking Daylight! It's going to --- guess where? Berkley! The same place I was rejected!!

So, Trish and I have made a pact to do one thing toward getting published every day between now and National. I was making my list (because that's what I do.) Here's what I came up with. Can you think of anything I missed?

1) query agents

2) contest entries

3) write synopses

4) market research

5) read writing-related books

6) actually writing ;)

I haven't seen Supernatural yet - the Astros game preempted it. Honestly, could they play on a night BESIDES Thursday, because this is the second time. I'm tempted to watch it before work! I did, however, see Grey's. Be prepared for a serious rant on that tomorrow. All I'll say today is, my brother (he of the broken back) WISHES doctors cared that much!

I got a doozy of a rejection on Beneath the Surface yesterday. I'd finalled in Contest Junkies with BtS in 2005 and had a request from Berkley. It took me more than a year to convince my agent to send it, and in February she said we had interest, but she sent me the R yesterday. My suspense plot wasn't strong enough. Sigh. I guess that's not totally unexpected, but since I'd had interest from them....

It doesn't help that we've had like five minutes of sunshine since before my birthday, and today is the Gilmore Girls episode where it all goes bad for Luke and Lorelei (yes, I identify WAY too much with this show) but now I have, I think, one submission out.

At least at school things are good, and I've gotten 2 of the 4 gifts I need for the month!

And, Supernatural's on tonight.

No, not a new crush. I'm in love with these:



They're Croc flip flops. Cindi had given me a pair of flip flops for my birthday 3 years ago and I loved them, but they were getting pretty ratty. I couldn't find any that were molded like them, though. When we had our make-up day that Saturday in March, one of the teachers had just what I wanted, so with my birthday money, I bought some.

They came yesterday. They're so COMFORTABLE I didn't mind standing around making dinner or cleaning up or anything! I do wish I'd gotten the smaller size (they run big) and a different color (I got turquoise/seafoam - should have gotten blue/khaki.)

I think I'm getting Mom some for her birthday.

I'm getting observed today in math. I am so glad I still have my Smart Board!

If only I could wear my crocs to school!

Looks like it's going to rain like hell here in a bit. I hope I can get to school first.

Didn't do enough writing this weekend, and am beating myself up. I need two synopses and a first scene for Ghost Hunters before I send to Trish.

I went to get my hibiscus with my birthday money, but didn't see the Sunburst one. I did see a Sunshower one but didn't know what the flowers would look like, so I came home, looked it up, decided I wanted it, and went back. This nursery is not particularly close, but the dh indulged me. This is the Sunshower hibiscus, so it's similar.



This week in TV (hm, WHY aren't those synopses done???):

Drive was soooo good, and now it’s gone! URGH! My ds looked up Fox’s mailing address to send them hate mail.

I already talked about 24. It may go the way of Prison Break for me.

American Idol was boring. I liked Lakisha, but the judges drubbed her. I thought Jordin was only okay but they loved her. Blake was boring – he really needs to pick it up this week!

Jericho was okay. Do you think they'll use the nuke or the tank against New Bern?

I loved the twist at the end of Lost, and loved Sun’s position between rock and hard place.

I could totally relate to My Name Is Earl, with the burned out teachers!

The Office was good, though I liked last week’s better, with the “un-shun” and “re-shun.”

Supernatural was TERRIFIC. I love John Shiban’s episodes, with the exception of one. I had some questions, but they didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the show, the brotherly moments, the butt-kicking, the scary ghost.

Grey’s was great, too. ALMOST a keeper, and would be if I had more room on my Tivo. I’m not real thrilled with the Addison-centric twist, but I can live with it for a couple more weeks. I LOVED when Cristina picked the cake, and how happy that made Burke.

There was a Gilmore Girls marathon yesterday and I was in heaven. I still have two to watch. Some were quite old, but you could still see the Luke/Lorelei chemistry.


What did you like on TV this week?

The other evening the dh called me, but I was outside and didn’t pick up. Later, I went to listen to messages, and heard several voices on one message. Turns out, after he called me, he didn’t hang up. So I got to eavesdrop.

One man, Alan (I recognized his voice), said that he didn’t know any happily married man who didn’t get together with the guys and complain about his wife, because, he said, “You know they’re doing it.”

My dh said something about me being on internet boards, apparently going to say I did my complaining there. He said something about me writing romance novels.

A third man repeated that, kind of surprised.

My dh was nonchalant about it, and Alan said something about me not being published yet but working very hard and writing well. Then my dh started telling the other guy about RWA and National and the GH.

The phone cut out then, but I was stunned that he speaks about my writing so often, apparently, that his co-worker was even proud of me.

You just never know.

Critique went really well. They liked this story a lot, just a few nitpicking things. Maybe now I'll be inspired to finish it. I have to go to the office supply store after breakfast, and I want to go to the nursery and get that hibiscus, if they still have it.

Last year my step-mother bought me a Kate Spade bowl and candleholder for my birthday. When she came in November, she said, “You know this is a candleholder, right?” Why? Because I hadn’t used it. I didn’t want to mess it up with the waxy soot, or the other by-products of candles. It was KATE SPADE, for heaven’s sake. How could I use it?

I have an unopened bottle of champagne in my fridge. We bought it a year and a half ago when I signed with my agent, thinking, Any day now...

Last night I ended up going to Dawn's after all. We sat on her patio and talked for 2 1/2 hours. The first thing I said to her when I walked in was, "Why did it take so long for us to do this?" We've both lived in the neighborhood 8 years, 3 houses down, we're the same age, our sons are the same age (and alternately bosom buddies and enemies), both teachers. We'd talk like crazy when we'd see each other, but never would seek each other out, sadly. We had so much fun last night, we vowed to do it again.

What have you put off doing that you wish you hadn't?

This is my last holiday of the school year, Fiesta Friday. All year I've looked forward to having NOTHING to do today.

But now everything's piling up and I don't know if I'll have enough hours in the day.

I just got back from the grocery store. Fortunately, little trip. Still took an hour.

I have 3 things to read for critique group tomorrow morning, including 60 pages from one. I feel bad, because I sent 60+ pages, too, so some people will be reading her 60 pp and my 60+ (though I did send mine last weekend.) CHECK IN: ALL READ. TWO ARE BRAINSTORMING. I SO SUCK AT THAT.

I want to write a synopsis for The Molly and query letters. QUERIES WRITTEN

The house hasn't quite recovered from last week's party. Need to remedy that. HOUSE STRAIGHTENED DURING GILMORE GIRLS.

You know I have to nap ;) NAP TAKEN ;)

I haven't seen Jericho or Lost. LOST WATCHED

I have two Point Pleasant DVDs to watch.

I have a ton of library books, and more waiting, though the library is closed today for Fiesta. STARTED READING TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE, A BOOK I READ WHEN I WAS A KID

Laundry. WHITES AND TOWELS FOLDED AND PUT AWAY, JEANS STILL NEED TO BE HUNG

I'm on a quest for one of these, which I saw at the nursery by my brother's house, but it was $24 and HUGE:



And I want to go down to Dawn's this evening! SHE'S BUSY TONIGHT

So I'm off to work on my day off!

PS - if you're writing Special Forces, The Company They Keep by Anna Simmons is brilliant!

I went to bed last night at 9:15 to finish reading Dresden. I'm still a few pages from the end - I just couldn't make my eyes focus anymore.

Then storms rolled in around 12:30. The power went out twice after they'd rolled out again, the second a matter of minutes after I reset my alarm.

I woke up this AM to see the last roll of paper towels on the counter in the bathroom, a can of upholstery cleaner on the kitchen counter and the dog was in the garage. I wonder what happened after I went to bed????

It's Fiesta week in San Antonio, and I have all my Fiesta gear out. It's also Play-offs, and the teachers will find any reason to wear jeans, so today is Spurs shirt/jean day. I don't have a Spurs shirt (I KNOW - blasphemy) so I'll be wearing my Fiesta-wear. Do I go to Fiesta events? Noooooo - the dh works them.

I've forgotten how to submit to Superromance. Do they still do IRCs, or what? I need to stop and get nice paper on the way home.

I think I know what my problem is....too many stories in my head, and most of them not my own. All these TV shows with overarching storylines have you thinking about them even when they're not on. They're playing out in my head when I'm trying to sleep.

I'm loving Drive, though. And Heroes was awesome last night.

I'm miffed with 24....what do these writers have against strong women? Last year we had the First Lady who took measures, but this year she was in an institution and stabbed her ex-husband, the ex-president. (What was the fallout from that, BTW?) Now they have Karen, the National Security Advisor GIVING UP HER HUSBAND to cover her own butt. UN cool. And stupid Audrey is back, more helpless than ever. And why is Nadia more qualified to take over than Chloe???

Plus, the writers seem so determined to push forward, they never look back. Remember the bomb? Don't you think there'd be more reaction to it than there is? The new president was left out of several episodes while he was in a coma, but no one remarked on it. Just....weird. And 5 more hours to go.

Still crazy about Gilmore Girls. Season 6 will end next week on ABC Family, and Season 1 will start next Friday.

Can't WAIT for the next two Supernaturals, naturally. I've had to delete some from my Tivo to make room (we have NINE Planet Earths we haven't watched), so I'm left with Croatoan, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things and Crossroad Blues. Yes, I deleted Born Under a Bad Sign just yesterday ::WHIMPER::

I watched Pursuit of Happyness yesterday and wasn't left very happy. I started watching Flags of our Fathers but wasn't REALLY watching and the timeline seemed confusing. Did you know Paul Walker is in that?

The boy and I both woke up miserable. So I took the day off after all, to take him to the dr.

This month I'm looking forward to – Friday’s a holiday and the results for two contests I entered are announced next week.

Not - the Molly early bird deadline is this week, and do I have a synopsis? What do you think?

Next month – Spiderman 3, Pirates 3, season finales of all my favorite shows. School being out, my mom’s birthday, Mother’s Day (which is kind of something to look forward to and something to dread, since it will likely be here.) Baby Brother’s graduation. The Supernatural comic book.

Not – 2 field trips, a carnival, all the stress of ending the year, my nephew’s confirmation. Also, the Maggie deadline is June 1. Again with the synopsis question.

What are you looking forward to?