Writer's blech

I believe I've mentioned once or twice how much I detest revisions. Well, that goes for writing the first draft, too. Usually I write pretty cleanly, able to get what I want down in a minimum of passes. Most of the time.
Not this time. I read a chapter tonight that I absolutely knew was not right, but couldn't put my finger on it. It wasn't until we talked at length about what went on in that chapter and (more importantly what did NOT go on) that I finally figured it out. Unfortunately, this new elucidation means that I get to cut 25 pages from the ms and start in the middle again.
Well, crap.
But at least I am still moving in the story and that's a darn good thing.

Wait a second, didn't I already pass the 8th grade?!

Why, yes, yes I did. Eons ago!! So, why is it that I'm always doing some sort of homework related type stuff?! This month's monster project is on the holocaust. I applaud the teacher's determination to get his students to really absorb this stuff. He's got them doing 6 different things for this project ranging from writing a song to writing a play to more mundane things like making a timeline.
All in all, very interesting.
Anyway, Connor did a good job on part one (I promise, I only helped a little bit! Mainly spelling and grammar )
No matter what, I absolutely refuse to go through high school again!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Okay, a day late and a dollar short, but heartfelt nonetheless. We celebrated Mom's bday last night with gads of presents and cards and rejoicing. It was fun! And no one even mentioned the fact that only "real" Paytons are born in the month of October. Yes, you heard it hear first. My brother tormented me relentlessly while growing up with the notion that only real members of our family were born in October (Um, I was born NOT in October). This, he assured me, proved his point that I was adopted or left by gypsies (which I believed until I was 9!) or that my parents felt sorry for me and took me in. I still believe it was all an elaborate payback from when I was like 15 months old and walked on his electronic football game and broke it!
Sheesh.
Anyway, happy birthday Mom, I love you!!! I hope you had a great day :)
Your REAL daughter, Jen

The "Classics"?

Has anyone's tween/teen suddenly discovered the joy of 80s sitcoms? And some 90s stuff, too. Thanks to Nickolodeon the kiddo has become enamored of Full House and Home Improvement. And ABC Family can be thanked for introducing him to The George Lopez show and Whose Line is it Anyway? I completely ignore the fact that he gets way too many of the jokes on Whose Line!!
To be completely fair, he does also like the original classics like the Andy Griffith Show, but really, there's nothing like listening to the Power Tool Hoedown!
So, I sit and listen to "Ar! Ar! Ar!" (Or however the heck Tim Allen does that) and crack up over Fresh Prince (cause yes, I still find Will Smith adorable and funny) all the while shaking my head thinking "Have Mercy" (and if you get that, you know what you watch, too!)

2 years of Ranger!

It was two years ago (on Monday) that we got our little puppy Ranger. Everybody say it with me: awwwww...
Now, it's been quite the up and down two years in between. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he went from sweet and biddable and absolutely lovey-dovey to skittish and biting at strangers to the house. Oy. Dog training helped somewhat. Two years of constant love and attention helped more and he hasn't bitten anyone in a looong time. Thank goodness. Now, in between all of THAT drama, was his health issues. Had him neutered (cause he was a shelter dog and it was part of the contract) and the vet was horrible. A chop shop if you ask me. Then I took him in to get his vax at Banfield and they had to do a heartworm test on him first. You guessed it - heartworms. Bless the people at Banfield cause they saved my sanity. I was able to get pet insurance through them and ended up only paying about $200 for the entire treatment - normally $1000 or so. To date, said insurance has saved me over $1500 for all his health stuff, including his pearly whites.
He's very much worth it, though!
Mwah, puppy dog, we're so happy to have you!!

Leaf-Thieving, a grand Texas sport!

Okay, so tonight I was intiated into the art of leaf-thieving. For those of you not in the know - and you know who you are - this is when you drive around your neighborhood - or the one a few streets over - and scope out bags full of leaves.
With the utmost of casual subtlety, you park your car near the bags of leaves, flip your hazards and nonchalantly start tossing bags from the curb into the back of your car or truck. Then, giggling like school kids and waving at the stumped neighbor across the street, you jump back ino the car and take off.
Once at home, you haul your booty - and the leaves - to the back yard where you fling them mightily over the 6-foot fence and hope they don't come back to smack you in the face. Ugh, tastes like dirt.
The purpose of leaf-thieving? Compost of course!!! Pour out the bags on the lawn, mow them into a fine mulch, add some grass clippings for good measure and you have a compost worth growing in!

Cutter is king!

Is it any wonder why I love the little rascal?!

With a bang! And hopefully some bucks

So, I decided if I was seriously going to get back into writing, I needed to go all the way. To that end I did several things in recent weeks which include finishing the revisions on a requested book and sending it in, plus entering the Brava Novella contest (hopefully my button shows up! A special thanks to Sylvia Day for it!) I have been writing faithfully and am about half done with the 2nd requested book and will be entering the RWA Golden Heart (Trust me, all of this stuff is muy bueno!). Anyhoo, wish me luck - someday you might get to say you knew me when... even if you don't get to read what I wrote!

Happy birthday Dad & Christopher!

Happy Birthday to Dad & Christopher! I hope you guys had a great one :)

There are lots of things to be grateful for and one of the most important is family. I've certainly been blessed with mine, so thanks for all the good raising and fun and always being there. I love you!!!