more animals

-ate breakfast in another town

-visited the birthplace of your state

-had your mom read to you a book from your childhood

-drove over a weak bridge

-walked on the beach

-rode a ferry

-saw hurricane devastation

-followed the path of your characters

Mom picked me up around 7:30, we went to pick up my bro and stepdad and headed for Schulenburg, about halfway between here and Houston, for breakfast. Baby Bro and I teased that we couldn't make it. We ate the buffet, then shopped in their little store. They had a collection of Golden Books and Mom and I each bought one that brought back memories. Mom read hers to us, and Baby Bro read mine. Silly, I know.

We reached San Felipe about an hour later, and the park looked WAY bigger on the internet. But we toured the museum, took pictures, talked to the docent, who didn't know as much about the time period I needed as I hoped. He also didn't seem to want to listen, but I did get some info. Still, we saw the Brazos River and the area where my characters would come through. Very helpful. We left about 1 PM, and my stepdad asked where to. Well, we headed for Galveston, where the woman I'm basing my heroine on is from. Took us about 2 1/2 hours because of construction. But when we got there, it was beautiful! We saw some of the damage from the storm, saw some beautiful old houses, walked on the beach a bit, then rode the ferry to Port Bolivar.

Well. For one, we waited a long time for the ferry. Mom got itchy, but once we were on it was great.

Until some old guy started throwing crackers at the seagulls when the sign CLEARLY said, "Don't Feed the Birds." Ugh. Hate birds.

Once we got off the ferry, man. First thing you see is STACKS of cars that had been damaged by Hurricane Ike. Then PILES of debris from houses.

Then the long line of people waiting to get BACK on the ferry. Oops! I called the dh to see if there was another way off. Turns out it's not an island but a peninsula. Whew. Good. 40 more minutes on the road was nothing compared to the 2 hours, easy, wait to get back on the ferry.

Then...I saw the fort where Jane Long, the inspiration for my heroine, lived one winter. Wow. Very cool. We didn't stop, because we couldn't go in because of storm damage, but seeing it, and the land around it, was very helpful.

And then....the devastation. Wow. Ike hit this place full-on. You could see where houses and stores had been, you could see cement culverts that had been tossed around, roads still covered with sand, a house turned on its roof....just incredible damage. Sad but also really impressive, the power of the storm.

We got off the peninsula and onto I-10 between Beaumont and Baytown just as it was getting dark. I made notes of the rivers we passed and reasoned some things out for my story, which I'm now itching to write.

We ate dinner in Katy at 8 PM, got into my driveway at 11 PM, all tired, but we had fun. I'll post pictures when I can find my cord!

see more dog and puppy pictures

I'm posting my goals a day early since they're for all of Spring Break.

1) Finish historical, submit polished partial, go back and polish the rest
2) Finish judging Merritt
3) Taxes
4) Maybe see about maybe doing a booksigning
5) Get ready for critique
6) Guest blog
7) Query agents
8) library
9) Breakfast with Mom (I need to quit putting that because every time I do, something happens to stop it.)
10) Research trip with baby brother
11) Get some plants, play in the dirt
12) Clean house well enough that I can keep it up the rest of the school year.
13) Exercise-walk and ride exercise bike
14) Catch up on TV and with Blockbuster
15) Read 2 books.
16) See Watchmen!

Huh, ambitious for a week, aren't they?

I went to see Cindi in the hospital after school yesterday. They kept her another night because they're running more tests today. She's in good spirits, relieved because there was only a trace of fluid found around her heart. Her sister was there at the hospital with her, and her husband brought her oldest son to visit, but she misses her kids. Before I went, I called to see if she needed anything to stave off boredom, and she said she was fine.

I would be out of my mind, or at least begging for something to read or a notebook or SOMETHING.

This got me thinking how different she and I are. We've been friends for 20 years but have next to nothing in common.

She's a sports fan.
She doesn't read.
We don't watch the same shows except The Office (for that matter, no one at school watches the same shows I do...)
We don't like the same movies. If I love it, she's bound to hate it, and vice versa.
She's impulsive and I'm a planner. In fact, she and Robert were going to take the kids to Disney World this week. Good thing they HADN'T planned it.
She and her dh are ALWAYS together, working at the same school and all. That would drive me nuts.
When my son was little, she was not tied down, and now that I have more freedom, she has 3 kids.
She's a procrastinator (does her grades the weekend before they're due!)
She is not a fan of the computer.

Still, we can talk for hours.



On the other hand, Trish and I are very much alike. You know we even have the same sweater and pajamas, right?
We watch the same shows, often emailing each other throughout saying, "WHAT?" or "YUM!"
We've both been writing a long time, we're both great readers, though I read quicker.
She likes darker movies than I do, and different music, but we are both drawn to the same shows. She's gotten me hooked on several. I don't think I've returned the favor....yet.
We are both planners and love our calendars.
We have similar nerves, though she's way braver than I am.
We both love our computers.



I just thought it was interesting that my two best friendships are so different. What about you and your best friend? Alike or different?

more animals

I had hoped last night would be more relaxing, since I had the house to myself-the dh was at band practice and the boy went to his gf's before the midnight showing of Watchmen. Worrying about my son was pretty consuming-he'd be driving his gf home after the movie, putting him home around 4 AM. He'd napped when he got home, but he was tired, and he's only been driving on his own 2 months. So I fretted.

A few minutes after I got home, Robert called. Cindi was out Tuesday (state testing day) with a stomach virus. She NEVER misses school so it was a big deal. She came yesterday, but looked terrible. This AM Robert came to get stuff ready for their subs. She had a fever and they were going to the dr. He called around 5 to tell me they were at the hospital and Cindi was being admitted overnight. They think she has an infection in the fluid around her heart. So any and all good thoughts would be appreciated.

I also called my SIL, who had a biopsy done Wednesday. Still waiting on word from that. And SHE'S worried about HER friend, who works in my district and has been accused of serious fraud.

So, yeah, all the writing I was going to do? Didn't get done. I'm way behind and have dubbed myself official worrier.

more animals

Another day of no computers at school-5th grade is taking their math benchmark. On one hand, I'm sorry for them, testing again so soon. On the other hand, I'm jealous-they don't have to think about teaching.

Yesterday, just before the bell, one of my favorite students was withdrawn from school. I am just heartbroken. Yes, he was loud and full of energy, but he was funny and cheerful and the class will not be the same. Even the kids said that when they left.

Last night Baby Brother and I were planning our research trip to the Austin Colony. Mom decided she wants to go, too. I was thinking of going from San Felipe, the actual site of the original colony, to Angleton, where the museum is. It's an hour and a half drive from one to the other, which makes it a 4 hour drive home. Don't know if that will happen. I might get what I need from San Felipe.

Did anyone see LOST last night? I don't really like this direction. And Sawyer needs the scruffy look. In this episode he looked...old.

Maybe I've just been looking at this too long. (Take away the city background and this is absolutely Trace, my hero.)

more animals

I was so COMFORTABLE in bed, then I realized what time it was. One of the teachers thought Spring Break was another week away (HOW could you not know???) If it was, I'd so be taking today off. I'm wiped. Testing went well, everyone finished and wrote something. We'll see the scores in May, but it's out of my hands now. Today, we hit math REALLY hard.

I had weird dreams last night. We were visiting my dad in Alaska (he lives in MN) and twice almost got run over by moose. The second time the moose thanked my dad for his conservation efforts (he would so shoot a moose, so I don't know where that came from. Or where Alaska came from, either, unless my mind confuses Australia and Alaska.)

I had a nice evening with Baby Brother last night. We got Australia from Blockbuster online, and he really wanted to see it, so I told him to come over. We went to Subway to get dinner, came home and rearranged the living room for movie viewing, ate dinner and settled in.

The movie is REALLY good. JoAnn told me it was, but I had to see, you know. I'm going to buy it, and if I can find the soundtrack, I'll buy that, too. All I can find is an EP on iTunes.

Anyway, it was a beautiful movie. My dh complained it was a little unrealistic looking, but it was a Baz Luhrmann movie. The romance was predictable, but not in a bad way. The only complaint I have it that we were kept an arm's length from the characters. I didn't feel like we were shown so much as told, but all in all, it's a keeper for me. It just made me happy, you know? And not just because of this:













You gotta admit, it fills the well :)

more animals

Otherwise known as STRESSSTRESSSTRESSSTRESSBOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRREDDDDDDDDDD Day. Gotta get the tests, fill out a ton of paperwork, get the kids pottied all by 8:30. Then I wander around the room until I get dizzy, then I sit until I get bored, repeat. No computers, no ANYTHING all day.

Stopped at Payless yesterday because I liked the cork wedges they had in their ad and they were having buy one, get one 1/2 off. The cork wedges were not nearly as comfy as the wedges I bought last year and I couldn't find a second pair, so I left. Came home to my Chadwicks order, tried on the women sized capris. They fit terribly! Thighs way tight, waist snug, in between HUGE. They looked like very ill-fitting jodpurs (I know there's an "h" in there somewhere, not sure where.) The turquoise blouse was okay, and matched a bracelet I have, and the free tote is adorable. Everything else is going back.

I hope Australia comes today because I invited Baby Brother over to see it :)

Oh, and I've slid backwards into the story. Not sure my heroine should have revealed something yet. I did something I never do, though....I cut without saving as a different file. I hope I don't regret that.

I heart Evil!Sam.

more animals

My entry is up for vote at Manic Readers. I can't tell you which, but there are only 5. Odds are good you'll pick mine :P The winner gets a shot at a contract with NAL.

The good thing about being sick is that you can sit on the couch and watch movies and TV and read without guilt. I read Marianne's ONE LOVE FOR LIV this weekend. I wish it had been longer!!!! I loved watching Liv grow into her own skin, change from being "Lee Lee" to "Livvy." I loved her surprise at herself when she expressed her own thoughts. And the ending reminded me a lot of the end of "The Accidental Husband!" I can't wait to read Geoff's story!

I saw The Haunting of Molly Hartley, which was weird. No wonder it was available. (That's an issue I've been having with Blockbuster lately-the new releases aren't available. AUSTRALIA better be here Tuesday, is all I have to say.)

I caught up on Burn Notice (LOVE that show), NCIS (and dreamed about DiNozzo falling for Parker from Leverage), and watched Legend of the Seeker, BSG and DEA.

I made it through breakfast, and had the dh drive me out to the one Barnes and Noble that ordered my book. Still not in, so I talked to the manager, who reordered. Still the nicest B&N in town. Then the dh brought me home, I slept and he and the ds went to the grocery store. Win, right? Except they didn't bring home anything for dinner beyond tonight, and no chocolate and no Diet Coke. Fail.

more animals

I slept a TON yesterday, was very sick in the morning, better in the evening. Must…not….get sick…before testing.

Not sure if I’m going to see Watchmen this week or next. The ds is going to the midnight show Thursday night, and since I want to go on the road trip Saturday, and Friday will be crazy….we’ll see. Sunday sounds good.

1) Survive test without nervous breakdown
2) Get through 50 pages of historical
3) Give good feedback at the PRO Bootcamp
4) Write 3 guest blogs
5) Edits on short story (???)
6) Judge one Merritt entry
7) Take research road trip with Baby Brother
8) Do taxes
9) Exercise (this is actually becoming as much of a wish as finding time to read. I realized my reunion is this year and if I even want to think about going, I want to lose some pounds. The good news, I’ve been too tired to eat dessert.)
10) Keep up house
11) Grocery shopping and post office
12) Prepare room for testing-take down or cover anything that could possibly help them, rearrange the desks, etc.

Need to finish this book, running out of J Pad pics.

more animals

Not a particularly funny LOLcat, but it looks JUST like my Skippyjon.

Got an R yesterday on my straight contemp, Something to Talk About. I love that book, too.

I think I may be getting sick. I have a sinus headache and my ears are throbbing. Can't take off until after the test, though!

It's going to be 94 today. 94!!!! It's February!!!!! And we're having a pep rally in the gym for TAKS. Yay.

God, I hope something good happens today.

more animals

WHY IS IT ONLY THURSDAY?

I have no sense of concentration in the evenings this week, and I've had to be more writer than teacher, even after hours. I woke up at 3, the dh was asleep on the couch because he didn't want to wake me by coming to bed, so I finished reading Sugar Daddy. The ending was way rushed, IMO. Sad, because it was a really good book. I feel the same about SEP's latest-rushed ending.

We took the boy and his girlfriend out for dinner last night. He's chosen his college-in town. I'm very happy. After dinner we went to the library, where I picked up 4 audiobooks and 2 paperbacks, despite the fact that I've bought like 10 books this year already. We should have a Drop Everything and Read Day or something.....

Okay, running late.

My back is killing me, and I have a cough, so every cough is like a labor pain. TAKS writing test is next week and I STILL have kids failing the practice bits. Grades are due and I don't have enough for social studies because we've been getting ready for the test. Still can't get into my laptop and I haven't slept through the night all week.

One of my kids turned in an amazing composition this week-a month late. What he said sounded so familiar-"I want my work to be done, but I don't want to do it!" Does that ring a bell with you?

You've probably seen this. We've been quoting it for weeks.



This is a hilarious spoof.



Cindi showed me this video to play for the kids, with all the presidents.



The Boy's girlfriend showed us this one, not as up-to-date but more memorable.

see more puppies

I know, not Monday anymore, but this Monday will live in my memory awhile. It was awful!

I couldn't (still can't) find my leather coat. I know I had it Saturday night, so it's somewhere.

I stepped on Napoleon, hard, both feet. He was on the mat by the step and it was dark and I didn't see him. Couldn't find him for hours. Was certain I'd killed him.

Got to school after stopping for Starbucks (because I had traffic duty and couldn't find my coat.) Spilled Starbucks. Argh. Got to my hallway, and a sub told me some of the rooms had been broken into. Looked through the window of my door and saw my blinds were messed up....and the laptop from my desk was gone. Swore loudly, regardless of young ears in the vicinity. Walked in, saw the thieves had poured an entire bottle of green paint all over my desk, splashing some on the wall and floor, splattering photographs and the brand new school shirts for my class, which had been sitting on my desk. And I mentioned the laptop, right? GRRRRRRR. Cursed and stomped and cleaned the mess, foregoing traffic duty. Went to sign in to see a lovely drawing of a....well, one of the teachers asked who drew a tree on the computer monitor. Wasn't a tree.

About 8 classes had been broken into and damaged, a DVD player, 2 laptops and other stuff taken. They'd even stopped to EAT in 2 teachers' classes. Um, do we NOT have an alarm? I thought we did.

Apparently the thieves had caught, and were kids who used to go to our school, but the principal hadn't known about the missing laptop. HOWEVER, the laptops have tracking devices, and they were able to locate mine and another teacher's at the students' homes. Ha-take that, you little jerks. We're filing charges, and my laptop is home, locked carefully away this time. Little jerks.

I was asked to speak at SARA's Build a Book program in April on synopses. Not sure if I'll say yes or not. What do you think?

I'm blogging around again. I'm at The Samhelliontalking about music and looking for ideas, at Rose Marie Wolfand at Supernatural Sisters.

more animals


The Wild Rose Press is running their Sony E-Reader contest for 3 more weeks.
To enter; purchase a title from the sponsoring authors and send the order number, the title and the date of purchase to sonyreader@thewildrosepress.com. I will put all the emails in a random drawing, verify that the winner did purchase something from a sponsoring author and that's it, we announce the winner on March 17.

Details Here

Trish is still not home. I miss her.

I caught up to where I want to be in the Texas book. I need to work on my SPN blog....that's getting to be some work.

more animals

I managed to get some writing done yesterday, didn’t quite catch up to where I wanted to be. I also ran errands to the library (Julie Garwood’s latest on audio CD), cleaners, bank, Target (got a cool sign that says, “And they lived happily ever after”), Barnes and Noble, to see if my books are on the shelf yet (they aren’t.) I also wrote my Samhellion blog. Yay.

1) 50 pages on Texas story. Seriously, this time. I’m soooo tired, can’t stay up, can’t wake up early….
2) Blog on Samhellion, Supernatural Sisters, and with Rose Marie Wolf
3) Online chats Monday, Wednesday AND Friday
4) Judge one Merritt entry
5) Get grades in for 4th grading period
6) House
7) Exercise

Boring week. I like J

more animals

Why I haven’t been writing this week

1) Tired! Just exhausted when I finally sit down after dinner…can’t put two words together.
2) Being a promo ho…7 blogs in 6 days can take it out of a girl!
3) At a weird place in my story…a bridge scene within scenes I’ve already written. There will be a point where all words will be new words, but I need this scene first.
4) This scene isn’t playing out on the page the way it did in my head back when I was working on revisions for other stuff.
5) My confidence in the story is shaken since critique group…not their fault, mine. I need to remember I need distance before I send stuff out.
6) Uneven schedule-SARA, two early mornings at school, tutoring, people not being where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there.

I’m so mad at myself, because there’s other stuff I want to work on, and I didn’t write at all this week. And now I have 4 contest entries to judge, and am still waiting on revisions on my short story, which I’m sure will come the minute I get into a groove….

I need to get to the dry cleaners, library and bank today. Otherwise....

more animals

I bought a book for $25 last night. It was a children's book that I read repeatedly as a kid, called Flood Friday. It's been double the price, and I decided to get it. I look forward to reading it again. Of course, there's the chance it won't mean the same, like that ghost kids book I got a couple of summers ago. Then again, the best friends book was just as good.


And since I was too tired to write but had to stay up because the boy was out and the dh wasn't home to wait up for him, I played on Facebook. I found two of my elementary school crushes, and a couple of people who went to Catholic school with me. I want to approach them, but it's been so long, I don't know how weird it would be. I don't really keep in contact with those folks, and wonder if there's really a good way to get started again, you know? Have you reconnected with people from your past, out of the blue? Has someone come to you?

I'm guest blogging at I Do Not Want to Wait, I Want the Book Now. Was very lonely yesterday :( One of my buddies pointed out at neither blog was my name in the title, or anywhere other than the book cover. Hmmm, kinda defeats the purpose of promotion, yeah?

I'm terribly behind on TV. Watched Heroes and Lost with only one eye open. Tivo close to exploding again.....

more animals

I'm sooooo tired. SARA meeting last night after a lonnnnng day at work, tutoring today (I accidentally wrote "torturing.")

Also blogging around.

I'm at I Read Romance talking about layered characters (I think) and I'm at In Search of Heroes talking about what makes firefighters such great romance heroes.

I haven't written in 3 days. I've been in bed by 9:30, and before that barely coherent. I don't know why it's hitting me now...maybe after busting tail to do those revisions my mind doesn't want to push itself?

I also have my Merritt entries to judge. I have four, and they're due back the week after Spring Break. Good, I guess.

more animals

Our house is designed so the living area is in the back. When we first moved in, one of my favorite sights was our back neighbor's flag on his flagpole. He was a crazy old guy-we were pretty sure his dog's name was "Goddamnit." Anyway, he's gone now, and we have new neighbors.

Like us, their living area is in the back of the house, and they have a huge TV that faces their back door. So I can sit on the couce and see what they're watching. I love that.

Little Caesar's had a pizza deal last night. We got 2 pizzas for less than $10, and the boy went to get them. I can get behind that, too.

The fellas and I sat on the couches and watched W and Heroes. Lately the three of us are never all home, never all watching something at the same time. Tonight and tomorrow and Saturday we won't be. I need to enjoy it while I can.

I got a Sea Island Cotton candle and a Lavender Chamomile soap at Bath and Body Works. Smells gooood.

I got Panera bagels for school today. Cinnamon Crunch....yum.

My hair is long enough for ponytails again.

I have three magazines and a decorating book waiting for me when I finally meet my writing goals.

Sleep. I love sleep.

What's made you happy lately?

more animals

I’ve been to 6 bookstores to get them to carry my book-3 Borders and 3 Barnes and Nobles. The story is different at every one.

First Borders: I had to go twice because the first time no manager was there. When I returned, the guy was very nice, took my card with the info and mentioned if I wanted to have a booksigning, he could arrange it. He gave me his card. I’m still thinking about it.

Second Borders: The manager told me she couldn’t order the books at the local level and gave me the number to their corporate headquarters.

Third Borders: The kids at the help desk congratulated me. The manager took my card and said he’d take care of it, and he was thinking about getting a booksigning together.

So, different stories at each.

First Barnes and Noble: This is the one where the manager was discouraging until she recognized my name. After that, she talked about a booksigning, but that she needed each author to bring in 50 people. Dang.

Second Barnes and Noble: A few clicks from the manager and she ordered a couple of copies, told me they’d be in in a week. I should come find her and she’d give me some local author stickers to put on them. Less than 5 minutes and my book is ordered.

Third Barnes and Noble: The location is relocating, so not ordering books right now.

I’m wondering at the difference in reception at each place. Anyone know the real story? Are the 2 Borders guys just being nice, then tossing my info? Or is the woman at the second Borders right?

I’m going to start carrying my camera, though, in case I see my book on the shelf. That’s another first I’m looking forward to.

see more puppies

I had critique Saturday. My critique partners are on the board of my chapter, and were talking about needing more volunteers, especially people who have history with the group. Then they turned and looked at me.

I tried to explain my head almost popped off this last month with 2 manuscripts being revised, getting observed by my principal, getting kids ready for the state test and having a book coming out. If I added one more thing to my list….no. I can’t.

I came home to more such requests from my online chapter. I feel terribly guilty for letting the burden fall to others-yes, I know we’re all busy-but I know if I was coordinating the chapter contest now, say, or had one more responsibility outside my current ones, my head would pop off.

I admire the heck out of people who can, like one of my cps, who has a fulltime job, edits, writes, has a family, teaches online classes, runs the chapter critique group and is on the board. Can you imagine that being me? I would be bald.

It was easier for me when I was music teacher. I didn’t have papers to grade or progress reports to get out or parent conferences. I had programs to put on, but other than that and my scheduled classes, my time was my own, and relatively stress-free. I was able to do a lot more then.

So I feel guilty, but I need to protect my sanity, and my writing. I mean, I didn’t get into writing because I wanted to belong to groups, which sounds sad. I got in because I want to tell stories, and all that volunteer stuff takes away from it. I’m even thinking of not belonging to the groups anymore because I don’t want that extra guilt, you know?

Do you volunteer? How do you find time?

I’m blogging ALL over today.

I’m at Supernatural Sisters talking about 1967 Impalas.

I’m at The Romance Studio talking about keeper shelves.

And I’m at The Wet Noodle Posse talking about some of the best onscreen kisses.

Between that and two chats….I should have stayed home.