Archive for March, 2006
March 19, 2006
5:28 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
Potty training hell, that is. Second child. Only daughter. Turned three last month. Very stubborn. Has a mind of her own. Not too sure about this potty stuff. Must. Breathe. Deep.
My first child, what a breeze. He was about two and a half, and I told him big boys used the potty. He lapped that up. He wanted to use it constantly. It wasn’t perfect, but within a couple of weeks of training him, he was pretty much on board.
Sigh…my daughter likes to be in control. We have almost daily power struggles. I think that’s what she’s viewing this as - a power struggle. But I’m persistent. I ask her *literally* every 5 minutes if she has to go. She was successful once today. Not bad for the first day of potty boot camp. And we have many hours to go, so I have a feeling there will be another success. But this stuff is hard. It calls for great patience, not my strongest suit.
What the heck does this have to do with writing? Uh…the fact that I can’t really do it? That I’m able to type up this quick blog and then hurry off to the bathroom for yet another round of sit on the potty and watch her NOT go - and that’s about it? That I was hit with a great tweak and idea for my current wip and I would love to work on it, but it has to wait til this evening, after children are in bed?
I hope this hell only lasts a couple of more days…
March 17, 2006
2:35 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
The title is in honor of St Patrick’s Day (notice the ‘o - that’s got a bit of Irish flavor don’t you think?), but really, I’m sick of the rain. It’s coming down right now as I type, filling up my pool that I’m longing to use once it gets warm again.
Come about August I’ll be complaining about the heat and how I’m sick of it, and how I can’t wait for it to start cooling down and raining again. It’s a no-win situation. At least I can admit it.
So we’ll be stuck in the house for most of the weekend (according to the weatherman, Sun. will be decent so I can let the kiddies run outside and burn some energy), but I guess that’s ok. I’ll clean house (ugh), catch up on the TiVo (am I the only one who lets that thing back up? I bet not), and write in the evenings. This wip is coming along, just did about 10 pages over two days and I have some great dialogue. But I need to delve a little deeper. It’s set in Hawaii ~ which I think is a sign that I need to get back there. It’s been almost 4 years! And it’s about a bride who walks out during her wedding ceremony (fiance is a cheating scum) and walks right into the arms of the man of her dreams.
Sounds corny? Well, maybe, since that whole “man of her dreams” bit can be a bit corny-ish (is that a word?). But I don’t care. I’m enjoying writing this story, I’m loving my characters and I’m putting pressure on myself to get it done soon. There are a few contests I would like to submit it to, and I would also like to submit it to the publisher! I need to set myself a deadline date…
March 15, 2006
2:12 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
So yesterday I said my goal was to focus. Never happened. What with all of the issues and waiting yesterday, my focus was shot to you know where. But that’s ok. I worked on the outline last night for my work in progress (wip) and went to bed early. Good thing too cos daughter decided to wake me up at 5:30. 5:30??? What in the world is wrong with this child? She’s been getting up at the crack of dawn ever since her father went out of town. It’s awful. At least little brother sleeps in til about 7. He hasn’t been thrown off like she has.
I got an email from my critique partner that threw me for a loop - a good loop. Gave me some ideas for my wip in directions I never planned. I’m going to have to make some changes on some of the work I’ve already done, but that’s ok cos I really liked some of her ideas. That’s the great thing about a CP - different eyes and different minds give you new ideas. Some of them you pass on, some of them you use. I did the same for her on her current wip. Gosh, the give and take of this process is great, huh?
Ok, I’m gonna go clean house for a little while and then hopefully get some writing done today!
March 15, 2006
1:43 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
Ok, I had to announce cos I’m excited - my brother and his wife had a baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!
She was born today (3/14) at 8:21 p.m. Her name is Leah Grace and she weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was 19 inches long.
I hope to have some pictures in the next couple of days. I wish I was there! But they live about five hours north of me, and it would’ve been impossible to go anyway w/ the munchkins. Hopefully I’ll get to visit soon.
Yea! I’m an aunt! I’m thrilled.
March 14, 2006
3:01 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
Crazy morning! Woke up about 4:45 a.m. to pitch black darkness, which means…no power. This is like the millionith (ok, I’m lying, but it feels like it!) time the power’s gone out since the beginning of the year. It was out for about six hours. Ugh. When your daughter keeps yelling “I want toast!” it’s hard to explain why she can’t have it. Though since the power has gone out a million times, she has a better understanding now than she did a couple of months ago.
Then I’m sitting here minding my own business at the laptop once the power came back on and up pops Cheetah the missing cat on the table that butts up against the house. Like no big deal. He’s been gone for 5 days in some terrible weather. Where the heck has he been? Jenna mentioned in a comment maybe he got taken in by a crazy cat lady. Maybe he did, and was able to make the great escape.
So I called my mom to tell her about the cat coming back (she cares about these things - her cat was kidnapped once for a week) and she’s like “I’ve been trying to call you.” My sister in law went into labor this morning! My new niece or nephew is on her/his way! So exciting.
It’s not even noon yet and I feel like all kinds of stuff has happened! What’s coming next? Well, I know a baby is. And maybe, if I can get myself together, I can start working again on the Modern Extra story I’m 14k words in. Life has been constantly interrupting, though. Makes it hard for me to focus.
My goal for the day, then? FOCUS!
March 13, 2006
7:38 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
myspace is an evil, evil thing.
Been there? If you’re 25 & younger, definitely. Hell, all kinds of people are on myspace. Including me! I blame my friend Linda - she “invited” me to join, and once you join, forget it, you can’t ever get out of it.
You can fancy up your page, add all kinds of cool and weird people as your friends (if they’ll have you), add songs on your page, post pics of your loved ones, post weird quizzes you took (I took the 7 deadly sins test - I am greed - that makes me feel awful!), etc., etc., etc.
Then you start taking self portraits, which I did yesterday (see pic on this blogger - self portrait). Then you’ll want to take the quirky self portrait, where you’re looking off to the side, rolling your eyes, looking sexy, whatever.
It takes up so much of your time that you don’t do what you’re supposed to be doing while on the computer - like writing! Which is what I’m supposed to be doing!
Damn Tom and his myspace. Jerk.
ps - My myspace url is:
http://www.myspace.com/kdid210
I’m so lame
March 11, 2006
3:39 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
What a week. Last night went out w/ husband & friends up to local casino for dinner and a little gambling (I don’t partake too much so it’s ok) & it snowed - we’re talking big time snow. We’re talking close the roads down snow, cars wrecked on the side of the road snow. It was crazy, but beautiful. Not as much snow at my house (I’m 1000 ft lower than the casino), but this morning had a 10 minute hail shower that looked like snow. Weather is bizarre…
But I’m not sad about the snow. I’m sad cos my cat is missing. Cheetah is an awesome cat, but he hasn’t been home for nearly 48 hrs. I’m thinkin’ he’s a goner. Which depresses me cos he was so cool. Good hunter, sweet, good w/ the kids. Just an all-around great cat. So I’m in mourning. I guess I should wear black.
I can hope he’s coming back, but I doubt it. Just minutes ago a bobcat was out walking around the pool fence. He was sooo close - & it clicked in my mind that maybe that’s the way Cheetah went. Sucks. I ran right out there and shooed him away, which usually doesn’t work (I always say they would flip us off if they could) but he ran like the devil was chasing him. I guess that shows how pissed I was.
Ok, it’s hailing again. Big time. This weather is freaky.
Gotta go. I just needed to get my sadness off my chest.
March 4, 2006
7:42 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
This is my first blog and this is my first time posting. Here I go…
My name is Karen and my goal this year is to write a fantastic romance novel and submit it to a publishing house. And hey, maybe even get it bought. Wouldn’t that be nice? I think so.
This writing stuff isn’t easy, though. Especially when you have 3 children - two of them ages 3 and 1 who are constantly in “your Kool-Aid” (a quote from my friend Linda) and hardly give me a spare moment to relax, let alone write. But I’m trying anyway.
Why didn’t I start this goal a few years ago when I only had my oldest and he was so easy? Eh, what can you do. I figure this will be a great way for me to vent, ramble, share the joys and share the pains of my life.
So join me on my journey of writing, living and being driven crazy by my children. I’m sure it will be a wild ride…
