Questions...

1. If I hid the marshmellows from the kids, and now they're all gone, does that mean I ate them all myself?
2. Does a pickle count as a vegetable?
3. If the doctor is not calling me back, does that mean it's bad news he doesn't want to share? Or good news that can wait?
4. Ditto for editors...

Tuesday Tidbits

This building (in Pula, Croatia) is what my brain feels like. Scattered windows, random thoughts, lots going on but seemingly no organization. Oh yeah baby--that's my brain. In absolutely no logical order, here's what going on in my head:

1. I've been super busy trying to get caught up on architecture stuff. I submitted one case to the Historic Commission yesterday, have a case going before P&Z next Monday and a new project in schematic design. Yay for work!
2. I had a NENA meeting last night that lasted five hours. Five! That's just entirely too long for a neighborhood association meeting.
3. Still waiting to get the rest of the edits on The Invisible Sister. My editor says we'll start working on cover art very soon. *squeal*
4. No word still from the doctor on the results of the second brain MRI. Actually...I need to call him. I'll do that now.
5. I'm on hold...bad muzac...
6. ...still on hold...they replay the same song over and over...
7. I'm really excited about our regional SCBWI conference in September because... I've been invited to sit on a panel of debut authors for the event! :) I also get to have dinner with the guest speakers the night before, which will be very fun.
8. Ok -- back to the doctor call... The results on my MRI are in, but the doctor is unavailable. I left a number for him to call me back. The nurse said, "Do you want him to call you about them?" "Um...yes!" ???
9. I played soccer on Sunday for the first time in six weeks. It's so great to feel well enough to get out and run hard, and now I'm really sore. Amazing how weak your muscles get after six weeks of lying around, holiding your head.
10. Sadly, the US Men's team did not win the FIFA Confederation Cup. I did, however, have a great time at the Dutch Goose watching the game and munching tots with our soccer gang.

.

FRIDAY FAV: U ! S ! A !

GO TEAM USA!!

The USA Men's Soccer Team is my favorite thing this week. After a dismal start, they came back in a stunning upset of No. 1 Spain to land a spot in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup FINALS!! Sunday at noon (mountain time), you'll find me and the rest of the O-40 soccer team at the Dutch Goose watching the game and eating a big, juicy burger and tots. Gotta have the tots, man!

In other news, I had my first book signing last night at the Kuna Library. Only a few of the authors were there, but I signed a lot of books. And, I learned several valuable lessons which I'll share.

1. Bring a pen. Duh. I had to bum one off a fellow author.
2. Bring a good pen. The one I scavenged was ok, but not the best writing instrument. You want a nice fat line, kinda like a sharpie, but something that doesn't bleed through. Flair used to make black and red felt tip pens that weren't as wide as a sharpie and not as wet. I think they would be perfect. I have a trip planned to Office Max this weekend to search for the perfect book signing pen. With any luck, I'll have a Friday Favorite for next week!
3. Figure out something clever to write before you get there. I planned to just sign my name, but then I noticed everyone else (even the teenage authors) were addressing the books to the owners and writing a little note. I ended up writing "I hope you enjoy the book." Witty, I know. My creativity astounds me.
4. People are neat. I ended up talking to all the people there, and they told me little bits and pieces of their lives. When I left, I felt very connected. Of course, I'm on serious brain-altering medicine so maybe that was why. But I still think the fact that every person has a lifetime of stories to tell is way cool.

Wednesday News

Bird news: Look how big our ducks are! The chickens are growing too, and soon (we hope) we'll have fresh eggs. The boy has already decided he's going to have an egg stand in the front yard. I expect it will be a lucrative business.

Head news: my second MRI is today. I was happy to hear they're going to redo it at no cost.

Book news: I'm feeling good enough to move forward with editing now. My managing editor says I'm third in line for production and we'll be working hard starting next week.

Other news: I'm very excited about my first book launch. This Thursday at the Kuna Library! If any of you are in the Boise area, stop by. :) If not, you can check out Creek Kids at http://www.lulu.com/ Part of the profits go to the Friends of the Kuna Library to help with their children's reading programs.

Marketing news: If you're like me and are wondering if the entire publishing industry has taken the summer off, check out my new hub...about waiting.

Monday Updates

1. The medicine they gave me is working pretty well. I'm about 75% pain free and anxious to get back to 'normal'. Normal might be a little different for another couple months, until this episode of Trigeminal Neuralgia runs it's course, but hopefully the new normal will involve more blogging, editing and maybe even some new writing.

2. My first book launch party is coming up Thursday! No, The Invisible Sister isn't ready yet. I have a short story coming out in a compilation book published by the Kuna Library. It should be a really great group of short stories. Another woman in my critique group is featured as well, and I recognize many of the other names from SCBWI conferences. If anyone is interested, the book is called Creek Kids and can be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/ for $12.

3. I had a great critique from a famous author on my WIP last week. I'm still glowing...isn't that a nice feeling? On the other hand, I haven't written a word on that ms for 2-3 months. So much else was going on, and then my unforunate head problem occured. But that brings up a question that's been brewing in my unfortunate head. For writers who make their living full-time, how do they balance the time between editing (which they're probably always doing) and writing new stuff (which they obviously need to be doing)? With the edits on The Invisible Sister, and some revisions on another book, I had no time or inspiration for my WIP. How do they balance that?

4. Sunday was the Summer Solstice--the longest day of the year. (See our Wicker Man above). From now on, the sun will be with us less and the nights will grow longer. I like the idea of winding down, but the thought of winter at the end of it makes me sad. Fall is my favorite season. Quite predicament to love autumn knowing winter follows on it's heels.

Sisterhood of Gaffs

Today's blog is in honor of Tess, my fabulously talented writer-friend who posted a very funny blog today about embarrassing herself. We've all been there...

Case in point: Yesterday.

Yesterday I went back to the neurologist's office to have an MRI done. I walked into the lobby and headed for the elevator, but then remembered that the imaging place was on a different floor. I went to the listing board, checked the floor for SAGE imaging then went back to the elevator. I pushed the button and waited. Some other people came up. We pushed the button and waited some more. More people came and still no elevator. I pushed the button again. Finally, the doors opened and we all got on. I pushed the button for my floor, but it didn't light up. I pushed it again.
Someone behind me said, "Two please."
"Sure," I said. "But I can't get my floor number to light up."
"You're pushing Floor One," said a man.
"Yes, that's the floor I want," I said.
"But...you're on Floor One," he said.
"Oh..." I laughed weakly. "Right."

Duh!

I felt like telling them, "I'm here for a brain scan" but the doors were closing and...well...I'd made enough of a fool of myself for one day. Welcome to the Sisterhood of Gaffs.

As for the MRI, we're still waiting for the report. The receptionist told me the results were there, but the doctor hadn't had a chance to review them yet. Hoping to hear something later this evening.

Quick Update

It's been a worrisome week with a visit to the neurologist. Today I'm having an MRI of my brain. Tomorrow, we should hear something definitive about what's causing my headaches. Thanks for your patience with my blog silence.

Weekend Wander

It's the weekend. Yay. We all have a bit more time to spend on...whatever! If you find yourself with a couple spare minutes, you might wander over to this blog post by Agent Kristin Nelson. Excellent points she makes about the art of writing!

For those too tired for a wander, she says (to paraphrase her paraphrasing someone else) it's interesting that people never assume they can be a professional dancer, artist or musician without any training, but so many people attempt to be writers without any effort at honing their craft.

Thoughts?

Friday Favorite

FRIENDS

For checking in, for helping out. For well-wishes and candles lit. For critiques given and comments left. Thanks to all my friends who've helped me through my month-long headache. I'm scheduled with the neurologist next week, so hopefully I'll have some answers (and relief) soon! In the meantime, I'm very grateful for all of you, for all the things you do, big and small, near and far.

xo

Book Meme...

Ahh...meme's!! Salvation for uninspired bloggers and migraine-sufferers everywhere. No need to come up with a topic. Just steal a meme from a blogger buddy! (This one courtesy of ColoradoWriter. Thanks Steph!)

This can be a quick one. Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.Here are mine...

1. Mists of Avalon
2. The Secret Life of Bees
3. The Red Tent
4. Wrestling Sturbridge
5. The Relatives Came -- Cynthia Rylant
6. The Historian
7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
8. The Penderwicks
9. The Alienist
10. A Year in Provence
11. The Tiger Rising
12. Eat. Love, Pray
13. The Golden Compass
14. Women Who Run With The Wolves
15. Jarhead

Now, I tag Miriam, Tess, The Wad, and anyone else who wants to participate...or just needs a free blog idea.

Where's the magic you need it?

I need some magic. I've spent two solid weeks with a mystery headache, and after two courses of antibiotics, migraine medicine, muscle relaxers, ibuprofen, acetamenifen, vicodin and other related pain killers, I can't say I'm any better.

We're at our cabin this week, and I'm doing my best to enjoy it. It's hard though when it feels like pins and needles are pricking your face and someone is driving an ice pick through your temple.

In response to my negative state, I'm going to post some good news. First, the carnival is OVER! It was a great success, but I am mostly happy to be done with it and I'm never, ever, not at all going to do it again. Second, I managed a little progress on my WIP one afternoon when the pain lessened and the meds cleared...AND I had an inspiration for one of my other manuscripts. Third, I landed a good-size remodel project right down the street. Fourth, hubby had a good interview last week and will go in for a final round of interviews in July. (That's very good news, as the six-month contract he's working now will be over in August.) And fifth, my incredibly talented writer friend Tess Hilmo landed herself a big-name agent who loves her work! (This is old news, but I haven't been blogging so this is the first chance I've had to share it.)

So here's to Tuesday, Tess and trying to feel better. I hope to be a better blogger soon!

Friday Favorite

Last Friday, my favorite thing was amoxicillin. Bummer to say, the amoxicillin didn't work. The new antibiotic they gave me on Monday also does not seem to be working. I've had a pounding jaw/headache for eleven days now. The side of my face is black and blue from where I've been pushing on it to relieve the pressure. I haven't been able to get any work done. I did get a little writing done yesterday, before my eye started aching, but that's all I've accomplished. So, this week, my Friday Favorite is something I don't have right now:

Health

Hope everyone else has a happy, healthy weekend.

Sick Day

So the pounding headache of last week has turned into a resolute sinus infection. On my second round of antibiotics...hoping these will work.

So...call this week a blog break. Once my head stops pounding, I'll try to post something witty and wise.