Stand Back - It Could Blow Any Minute

You may wonder how such massive amounts of hair can be safely tucked into a baseball cap. The answer is - very carefully.



I had hoped that baseball season might bring around a decision to finally cut the mop but apparently not yet. The only saving grace is that soccer season is just around the corner, and I don't think he will be able to see the ball through all that hair. He refuses to put it in a ponytail or do anything resembling a headband so I'm not sure what we're going to do. My clippers are ever at the ready.

Still waiting for word on the rerevision of Armadillo, so in the meantime I'm amusing myself writing freelance web content. So far, I've done articles on green burials, allowances, Victorian mourning jewelry, and tattoo removal among others. It's a blast, and I'm starting to earn a little pocket money as well. Until that big, six-figure, two-book deal comes through I think I'll keep it up. Plus, you never know how interesting container water gardens are until you do a little research.

On this date: In 1431 Joan of Arc was martyred.

Winter Ball at the End of Spring

We just got back from J's baseball game and I'm beginning to thaw. Baseball around here at the end of May is played down by the bay with a brisk wind blowing off the water. All the parents are bundled up like it's an ice skating party (I'm still wearing both jackets, but I've put the fleece blanket away). About halfway through I made T put a sweatshirt over his tank top and shorts because I was freezing. After the game (we won and J got a 3 run homer - go Braves), everyone was starving so we had to go and get burritos because the hot dogs at the game weren't enough. Now it's 9:25 and everyone is jacked up on adrenalin and carbs with no sleep in sight. Good thing DH is in charge of books tonight.

I've been working on my freelance stuff late at night lately, but I've decided that I have to cut down. Whenever I wake up in the night I have phrases from the article I'm writing running through my head and it gets distracting. Does that happen to anyone else or once again, is it just me?

On this date: In 1917, John F. Kennedy was born.

The Sounds of Silence

Do you hear that? What? You don't hear anything? That's the entire point - for the first time in ages it's quiet around here. DH took the boys to the batting cage, our guests have gone home (sniff) and the kids down the street are busy with their own families. It's been a lovely long weekend, but frankly, I'm looking forward to tomorrow when things will get back to normal and I can get back to work.

Shoot, the dog is barking and there's someone at the door. Got to go.

On this date: In 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge opened.

Too Many Screens

Quiet day today. Must be the pre-BEA and Memorial Day. That doesn't mean I necessarily got more done, just that more disappointment awaited me every time I logged onto my email.

Having a bit of a parenting dilemma. Oldest son is turning 10 soon and has been bugging for a Wii or Playstation or something. We've managed to make it this far without any videogames that hook up to the TV and I'm not sure I'm ready to cave. They both have handheld games, so we're not total luddites, and they can still manage to spend ungodly amounts of money on teeny tiny cartriges. The tide turned a little when he started asking for an Ipod this morning. I might be able to see my way clear to one of those (even though I don't even have one) instead. He was asking for a laptop, but that's not going to happen for a few years yet. At least he has lofty ambitions.

On this date: In 1977 Star Wars opened.

Official Geekdom

This is my new favorite book. I never thought I would be so geeky as to love a book about grammar and punctuation but here we are. My new freelancy thing requires that I actually know the ins and outs of the English language so I've been reading this cover to cover. With YA you can take liberties with how you write, but now I actually have to be accurate. Wouldn't you know that my biggest issue (it's vs its) is on page 1. Agent E should be thrilled.

On this date: In 1883 the Brooklyn Bridge opens.

It's a Personal Problem

Things are getting desperate when I start to annoy myself. DH has always said that watching TV with me is irritating because I tend to pick shows apart. I love CSI (Vegas only), but I have to admit I'm either guessing the ending or commenting on motivation and the convenient placement of evidence (come on, if they were to run a vacuum over my rug, there would be a lot more in it than one suspicious white fiber and a strand of the suspect's hair complete with follicle so that they can run it through DNA). Where is the ground up popcorn and pieces of bark that the dog is constantly bringing in from outside? Where are the stray retainer rubberbands or chewed up pencils? But I digress...

I'm starting to annoy myself because I can't seem to read like a reader rather than a writer. I love to read and I can still read adult books without much trouble. I'm reading the 6th No. 1 Lady's Detective Agency book by Alexander McCall Smith and Lisey's Story by Steven King. I enjoy the stories and it goes smoothly. Not so with YA or MG books. I was trying to sit back and enjoy a MG last night, but I found myself constantly editing it and thinking what I would have changed. At one point a relatively minor factual discrepancy got the better of me and I had to put it down. It's not that this book has any problems - its actually a great book that my son recommended. It's just similar to my mom - who was an O.R. nurse most of her life - watching any kind of hospital show. It drove you crazy because she was constantly critiquing the show (and I loved Emergency! - Randolph Mantooth anyone?) and nobody could enjoy it. The only hospital show which apparently bore any semblance to reality was M*A*S*H - which in itself is a bit frightening. I'm not sure what to do about this - I'm not sure that I can shut off the internal editor.

On a side note, the little kittea pig just came to sit in my lap. I'm sorry but she really is adorable. It's pretty impossible to have her scoot by you and not give her a shnuzzle.

On this date: In 1934, police kill Bonnie and Clyde.

A Little Something on the Side

I'm starting a new "day" job doing some freelance writing that is going really well. I've just started dipping into it and it's really fun and hopefully financially rewarding. I feel that I need to make some money aside from writing fiction so that hopefully the sense of urgency I always feel will back off a little bit and let me breathe. I'd so much rather sell something that is amazing and be able to wait until it is right rather than feel that I had to make a sale as soon as possible because my self-imposed financial deadline is hanging over my head. I had hoped to get my YA first draft done before the kids get out of school for the summer, but it's just not going to happen. Plus, I'm still waiting to see about Armadillo and it's hard to get all involved in the new project when I might still have to rererevise it in the next week or so.

Now I have to come up with a good, solid schedule that will allow me to tackle both. I'm allowing myself to run with the freelance stuff right now because it's new and fun but I could easily see it taking over and leaving no time for fiction. Some people might think that writers sit around waiting to be inspired and work on whatever is calling. Uh, no. If that were the case, my head would be filled with nothing but What Not to Wear reruns while I waited for inspiration to strike. What you do is, sit down at the laptop, open the appropriate file and say "okay, go!". Inspiration will then kick into gear and you're off. Well, there is actually that secret ritual involving sacrifices, candles and the secret handshake, but if I told you the details...well, you know what I'd have to do.

On this date: In 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is born.