Happy Holidays!
So my holiday lesson has been mostly about chicken pox. So Elise had chicken pox and got over it just in time for our family party on Christmas Eve. She's been such a trooper, no fussing, no crying, no scratching! If ever there was a time for a kid to get chicken pox I suppose that 6-7 month old time frame is ideal. Her sister, however, suddenly had spots last night. But they look different and are in different places. We're keeping our fingers crossed that its just an allergic reaction and will go away. Bring on the Benadryl!
In other news, I finished my third manuscript. A different main character and I found that the first two manuscripts have been great background help in developing this third manuscript. Now I am just going through and doing my edits, trying to keep myself from adding more to the storyline. Beefing up existing is one thing, adding more is a complete other issue and that is what I've found myself guilty of time and again. My goal is to keep it around 110,000 words. Yeah, I know, that's a lot of words. I've still got a LOOOONG ways to go to get myself down to that, but at this point I'd settle for 120,000.
And just a question for anyone - if anyone is out there . . . SpongeBob: Love or Hate?
Okay, well happy rest of the holidays to everyone! I'm off to chase away the wind monster that is outside Peyton's window.
By the way --HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!
Have a great day!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Snow Days and Chicken Pox
In light of my mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee ... I thought I'd pop in with some general updates ... It's been snowing pretty consistently on/off for about a week now, so I guess it is really safe to say that winter is upon us. Thanks to an extended maternity leave in the middle of the year, my three weeks of vacation has granted me extra time off now, so I've got some extra mommy-kid time. I have to say, that is awesome! I really miss the girls when I go off to work every day and this is great. It's also great to hear when our 3 year old tells me that she loves to stay at home instead of going to pre-school or to her grandparents' house.
On another note, the baby has chicken pox. At 7 months, she hasn't been vaccinated yet, and then when my husband went to give her a bath, he freaked out about all the spots that she had. We had a quick trip to the dr. who told us that what she had could possibly be chicken pox. Or not. What does that even mean? It would be nice to have a better answer, I mean, isn't that one of the many reasons we pay for their services? I don't really want to hear "well, it could be, but I'm not sure, so just keep an eye on her. If it is then do this and this, if not then don't worry." I could have just sent a picture from my cell phone and probably got the same answer. If they offered that service. Which actually ... hmmm that sounds like a good business idea....
Anyway ... back to the snow ... here's a couple pictures of Peyton enjoying the snow! Have a great day!
On another note, the baby has chicken pox. At 7 months, she hasn't been vaccinated yet, and then when my husband went to give her a bath, he freaked out about all the spots that she had. We had a quick trip to the dr. who told us that what she had could possibly be chicken pox. Or not. What does that even mean? It would be nice to have a better answer, I mean, isn't that one of the many reasons we pay for their services? I don't really want to hear "well, it could be, but I'm not sure, so just keep an eye on her. If it is then do this and this, if not then don't worry." I could have just sent a picture from my cell phone and probably got the same answer. If they offered that service. Which actually ... hmmm that sounds like a good business idea....
Anyway ... back to the snow ... here's a couple pictures of Peyton enjoying the snow! Have a great day!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
I know, I know ... I'm trying to be better about the whole blogging thing, but things have been crazy!! In all my purging and end of year clean up I stumbled on an email that was forwarded to me and I thought it was important enough to share.
* * * * * *
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked."It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Have a great day!
* * * * * *
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked."It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Have a great day!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Swimming Pools and Diving Boards
Firstly - IT'S BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY! I AM LOVING IT!
Secondly - did everyone go out and vote yesterday? Remember - you can't complain if you didn't make your voice heard. Okay, off my soapbox now and we're moving on. . .
I was driving home the other day and I had an epiphany. I called my sister and said something along the lines of "I know you've read all of my first manuscript and are working on reading my second, but I think these are things that are not meant to be published." Needless to say, she went on a rant about my leaving her hanging (even though she hasn't even read all the second one yet, so she doesn't even know if I've left her hanging).
So, yes, I'm done with two manuscripts. But they were more historical references for me for my future adventures with these characters. Like, I've designed the pool, laid out the tile/cement - whatever it is that you lay the bottoms/sides of pools with, built the diving board, and are now just about to leap on in. Except. . . I've been hanging halfway off the diving board for the last year, you know, even before it was built, because I now know what happened before what I started writing about a year ago. . . hmmm, did that even make any sense? lack of sleep must be wearing on me. . .
With two manuscripts under my belt now, I'm feeling pretty good, even if I only have a pile of rejection letters and two fans to show for it. My goal now is to be able to tell the stories I started out telling a year ago, now that I've built my diving board and swimming pool.
That's the update for now! Have a happy happy day!
Secondly - did everyone go out and vote yesterday? Remember - you can't complain if you didn't make your voice heard. Okay, off my soapbox now and we're moving on. . .
I was driving home the other day and I had an epiphany. I called my sister and said something along the lines of "I know you've read all of my first manuscript and are working on reading my second, but I think these are things that are not meant to be published." Needless to say, she went on a rant about my leaving her hanging (even though she hasn't even read all the second one yet, so she doesn't even know if I've left her hanging).
So, yes, I'm done with two manuscripts. But they were more historical references for me for my future adventures with these characters. Like, I've designed the pool, laid out the tile/cement - whatever it is that you lay the bottoms/sides of pools with, built the diving board, and are now just about to leap on in. Except. . . I've been hanging halfway off the diving board for the last year, you know, even before it was built, because I now know what happened before what I started writing about a year ago. . . hmmm, did that even make any sense? lack of sleep must be wearing on me. . .
With two manuscripts under my belt now, I'm feeling pretty good, even if I only have a pile of rejection letters and two fans to show for it. My goal now is to be able to tell the stories I started out telling a year ago, now that I've built my diving board and swimming pool.
That's the update for now! Have a happy happy day!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Two Minutes
So I have had something running in my head since ... well since before I woke up this morning. You know that feeling, when you're half awake and half asleep and arguing with the alarm clock because you absolutely DO NOT want to get up and ruin whatever is running in your head? Well that was my morning. And then, I get into the office and I have been on the phone non-stop. I haven't even had time to get it the brain buzz on paper yet! Just thought I'd swing by and say that... maybe it will turn into something. Maybe not. Okay, need to make the most of this two minute break! Have a good day!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Changes
Happy October, everyone!
Can't you feel the changes in the air? I love it! The season for scarves and sweaters is coming / here - depending on the time of day, you know, since this is Utah we're living in. Freezing in the morning, sweltering by noon, raining like a flood at 3:00 pm and then hot at night. You just never know!
Well, we did get childcare worked out -for anyone who was interested, but it sure is expensive when you're not family! The girls are excited for the new pre-school / daycare setup and we'll have to see how it all works out. In the midst of all of this, I've had to try to organize an office move at work and get everyone in my group across the building with their things. It was crazy! But now, sitting in my nice new digs... life's looking pretty good.
So my sister, my adorable little (but bigger than me) sister, came to me and said, you should "write a story from [so and so]'s persepective" and I turned to her and said, but I already started from this other character's. She said, I don't want to read about that. I want to read this. So, being that she's my sister and currently my biggest fan and not because I pay her to be, I thought, huh, that could be fun. So as I've been working to finish my second manuscript (nope, no takers on the first yet, but still have a few queries out there, we'll see - thinking positive), when I need a distraction I've started on the stories of a couple other characters. And well, who would have thunk I had such funny people talking in my head?
OK, that's it for now. Have a great day everyone!
Can't you feel the changes in the air? I love it! The season for scarves and sweaters is coming / here - depending on the time of day, you know, since this is Utah we're living in. Freezing in the morning, sweltering by noon, raining like a flood at 3:00 pm and then hot at night. You just never know!
Well, we did get childcare worked out -for anyone who was interested, but it sure is expensive when you're not family! The girls are excited for the new pre-school / daycare setup and we'll have to see how it all works out. In the midst of all of this, I've had to try to organize an office move at work and get everyone in my group across the building with their things. It was crazy! But now, sitting in my nice new digs... life's looking pretty good.
So my sister, my adorable little (but bigger than me) sister, came to me and said, you should "write a story from [so and so]'s persepective" and I turned to her and said, but I already started from this other character's. She said, I don't want to read about that. I want to read this. So, being that she's my sister and currently my biggest fan and not because I pay her to be, I thought, huh, that could be fun. So as I've been working to finish my second manuscript (nope, no takers on the first yet, but still have a few queries out there, we'll see - thinking positive), when I need a distraction I've started on the stories of a couple other characters. And well, who would have thunk I had such funny people talking in my head?
OK, that's it for now. Have a great day everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)