1/25/13

Posted on January 25, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

I said yesterday I wasn’t going to write as much today. Well, I followed through…only worked on the revision of one short story.

Not that I got a lot of cleaning done either — though I did run some errands, and I am ABOUT to go and clean up the MESS I made in the office today when I accidentally overbalanced my bead box as I was working on tweaking that piece of jewelry that needed work.

That could be a small problem or a large one, right? Hang on, I’ll show you–

I have two boxes o’ parts. This one:

First box o' stuff

which was not the one that spilled…being that there is no where for it to fall back to.

And this one:

Box o' stuff 2

which has all the beads in it. And made a stupendous mess. Especially as hard as it was to sort all those things in the first place.

Now, I have this to contend with:

spilled beads

and that’s only the ones you can see. There are more on the floor under that box…I just know it.

At least the piece came out nicely:

Drop

I was changing out that bead when I dropped the tear-shaped piece, and reaching for it, I hit the box o’ stuff. I am rearranging my office to make a safe space to work…or giving up and putting it back in the Studio. Where I guess it should be technically anyway…but there’s no TV in there. 😉

And I went and got the ingredients I was missing to make another Breakfast Souffle. This time I am trying Honey Wheat bread and putting bacon and broccoli in half of it. I am trying the set overnight version this time, since I got a late start. My eggs didn’t blend with the milk as well as last time either, so I have my fingers crossed it will all work out okay.

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― not really anything…but I’m about to…

Today I weighed ― 185.9 — WAY too far over on calories yesterday

Today I wrote/revised ― one short story

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1/24/13

Posted on January 24, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

We had doctor’s appointments this afternoon, so it was another “take my computer to Newell’s work” day. Still, I tweaked one story ONE LAST TIME (barring major feedback change requests) and expanded another enough to make the minimum count for a submission. That one may never work because it has some hot-button, disturbing subject matter…but I still like the story and want to try. Sometimes we write unpalatable things. It’s part of growing as a writer, I think.

Anyway, the day was not idle. Then I took Newell to dinner at Chuy’s then came home, put Adam Ant‘s Antics In The Forbidden Zone on iTunes and danced to part of it of as I loaded the dishwasher, sorted mail, and cleaned the living room litter box. (I’ve told you, haven’t I that the cats just let us live in THEIR house…?) That’s a REAL workout right there!

That makes at least four short stories I’ve worked on this week. Only one was from scratch, but all required a lot of work. I am considering a light writing day tomorrow with a possible long photo walk and/or jewelry building if the weather stays as nice as it was today.

I am also considering building some bookmarks for the convention next month. That might be fun.

The doctor gave me permission to put one of my medications down to “as needed” status, and we may cut another in half soon. Hooray!

The weight may not be coming off quickly, but I definitely feel more energy and positive outlook since I upped the water and cut the soda/caffeine.

Not a very long post tonight, but maybe I’ll make up for it with pictures tomorrow. 🙂

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― washed dishes, sorted mail (OLD mail), and cleaned cat box

Today I weighed ― 184.5 again on my scale — 187.6 😛 on Doctor’s scale — but that WAS dressed.

Today I wrote/revised ― two short stories

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1/23/13

Posted on January 23, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

Today was a go with Newell day, but that was okay. I took my computer.

But it STARTED with a cry of indignation from the other side of the bed as Sunshine decided to awaken Newell by peeing on him. Cat is old, but he’s pushing his luck for getting much older…

I set the oven to clean again. This time locking the door FIRST, so it actually began to clean. Yesterday, it did not.

Ran some errands while I was out.

And worked back and forth on two stories. One of which I think may be done — waiting on the feedback, and the other I expect to need more work.

I really feel like I am cranking these days. Probably too far the OTHER direction. I need to come to the center…

And I have been overdoing the calories a lot and it shows. Losing ground that I need to make up!

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― oven, errands, washed the sheets–TWICE

Today I weighed ― 185.9

Today I wrote/revised ― two short stories

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1/22/13

Posted on January 22, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

Got my first rejection of the year today…no big deal, it was for a poem I had submitted to a charity anthology. I thanked them for the response, sat down, wrote another poem and submitted it.

I also revised and submitted two short stories, worked on a third, and did a guest blog post for Wyndie that should go up this weekend. All in all, a pretty good writing day.

Also did a load of dishes, cleaned cat box, and “self-cleaned” the oven.

Then I steampunked myself up and went to Beer, Brass, and BS over at Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub and Grill. I had taken my jewelry to be vetted for possible vending and may have sold a piece! She wanted a couple of tweaks done, so we will see how it all turns out.

I may also be launching my Steampunk novel at a future gathering there. I get to set up editing dates now, so it won’t be long, hopefully.

Had a lot of fun and made some cool new contacts.

All in all — GREAT day!

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― dishes, cat box, oven

Today I weighed ― 184.5 — seeing how far over I went yesterday, I’m happy to take it!

Today I wrote/revised ― three short stories, one poem, one guest blog post

 

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1/21/13

Posted on January 21, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

So, didn’t clean much today…what else is new these days, right? Though I did do dishes, make doctor’s appointments, and get the trashcan in.

What did I do all day, you ask?

Well, I revised two short stories for potential anthology calls and typed the one I had started in the tablet into the “real” computer (btw, did I tell ya’ll yesterday that I went through and deleted all the games on that computer? Except the ones it came with. Freed up a lot of space!) and added a bit to it.

Since I had been so good, I asked Newell to meet me for dinner (where I blew most of TOMORROW’S calories…) and walked over to Kerbey Lane. On the way, I had the idea for another short story. I may actually get good at short again…

Now my newly finished babies are all out to readers to see if they are ready for submission. I want to hear back NOW, but that isn’t fair to busy readers, is it?

Not a productive day in some ways, but in the way I want to be productive, it ROCKED! 🙂

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― almost nothing…but did dishes

Today I weighed ― 184.5 — but that will probably change tomorrow

Today I wrote/revised ― 2 short stories, started a third, and had an idea for a fourth

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Let Me Entertain You!

Posted on January 20, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

At least, I hope I do. If you enjoy the blog, tell any friends you think might enjoy it too–we’ve got plenty of room for more. 🙂

So, today was a rather lazy day after the hectic running around of yesterday. Made for a nice quiet day. I did adhere to my Day-of-No-Excuses regimen, and submitted three poems, one of them brand new, to a site called Strong Verse. I really liked their current featured poem and the motto that “Good poetry is meant to be understood, not decoded.”

I would be honored to make their cut. We’ll see.

That wasn’t a great deal of writing, but it was something, so I also spent some time working on my jewelry and finished a couple of new pieces. Pleased to get some more done, since I have a couple of possible venues to vend at in the next few weeks.

Got to have one last piece of the souffle for brunch — the rest of it was already gone! I’m gonna have to make another one quick. 🙂 Next time I have been requested to add Morningstar Farms Bacon and baby broccoli to the mix. So there’s a trip to the store for me tomorrow.

As far as cleaning goes, I was lazy today. I got the trash rounded up and put out — and in the process let Firefly out and she won’t come back in. 😛

We don’t let the cats stay out at night, because we back up to the Green Belt, and there are coyotes out there. Newell says she’s missed the window and can never return, but I don’t think he means it. Especially since she is his baby…

As light as today was in cleaning and writing, I feel I owe you guys something…hmmm…

Here’s a poem that I am rather fond of. It can also be found in By Candlelight, my collection of dark poetry and horror stories:

Sliding Down the Night Road

 
Sliding down the Night Road,
headlights plucking at the ghosts
staring with empty eyes
at the jive steel mass
with the rolling thunder wheels.

Nine Inch Nails croon from the radio
and click on the steering wheel –
the tenth gone with the
finger it rode in on for a
lost bet in a nameless town.

Black diamond eyes glitter
in the green dash lights…
dreaming a madman’s dreams.
Humming along to the radio
with an off-key nails-on-chalkboard whine.

Everywhere nails…one kind or another,
like the coffin-nail dangling
from the rear-view mirror
or the door nail in the Lucite shift knob.
Nailed to the Night Road…

so he can’t escape
the Dark.

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― garbage cans, neatened bathroom some

Today I weighed ― 185.2 — at least I’m not going UP

Today I wrote/revised ― a new poem and submitted three

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1/19/13

Posted on January 19, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

So, as I said, I had a BUSY day today–not helped by the fact that it started at zero dark thirty when Sunshine began hoarking on the bed. I shoved him off in the dark, but not before he had ralphed all over my side of the bed. What fun!

I finally got back to sleep for a little while, but all too soon it was time to get up and moving.    9:30 is early for a Saturday, right?

I had a message already from Jim asking me a question about the story I sent him yesterday, and I told him he was nuts for expecting me to answer anything I got at 6:30 in the morning — especially on Saturday!

Off to Georgetown to meet the lovely Deb Grimsley for lunch, which was fabulous. We have such fun together. 🙂

Then to the Mystery Readers meeting, which was short and sweet with only 5 people there. Two of us went down to the Red Poppy Coffee Co. on the lower floor of the library to chat a little longer, and I was very good and had water. I SOOO wanted a soda, but after onion rings for lunch, I didn’t dare.

Next up was a trip to Cedar Park for the Steampunk LARP, which–sadly–didn’t happen. The poor woman who has been trying to start this game can’t get anyone to participate, so we sat around and had a nice visit, but no game. I was disappointed, but it did get me home by 8:00, which was refreshing. I was tired!

But, gentle reader, do not think that I shirked my writing duties today. No, sir, I did not. I started a new short story in a church parking lot when I was too early to go to Wendy’s house for the game on arrival in Cedar Park. I only had my tablet with me to work on. First time I’ve actually tried to write anything of substance on it, and I think it worked surprisingly well. Ever since I installed the Swiftkey apps on my phone and tablet, I’ve had a lot easier time typing on both.

So, recapping:

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― changed the bed 😛

Today I weighed ― 185.2 — AGAIN! argh!

Today I wrote/revised ― beginning of new short story

 

And I will leave you with a photo I took rambling about Georgetown today:

flag

 

I could have taken it without the branches — in fact, I did take one without the tree, but I like the effect.  Tomorrow, lovelies!

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1/18/13

Posted on January 18, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

Today was busy and semi-productive!

First of all, I cleaned the beveled glass in the front door, inside and out. I ran several errands. Washed two loads of laundry and hung everything up. And got all the dishes put in to wash.

Besides all that, I wrote a first draft of a short story for an anthology call and sent it off to my partner in crime for polishing. I also got iTunes to update correctly, FINALLY, and music to write by is a little more inspiring and less distracting than video. 😉

But, most importantly, I baked the souffle I posted yesterday, and it was YUMMY!

soufflebefore

Here it was before the liquid was added — my bread choice made it rather a jigsaw puzzle…

And I did find that beating the eggs by hand was plenty. It didn’t have to be by mixer.

Here it is fresh and poufy out of the oven:

souffleafter

 

Cheese got a bit toasty, but it didn’t hurt things any. Next time I might try the 50 minute end of the cooking time, because 55 seemed to make the outer edges a little over crispy too.

Now, tomorrow, I have three appointments, so I may not get anything posted at all–or at least very late, but I will give it my best. So looking forward to lunch at Burger University with my friend Deb, the Mystery Readers meeting, and then my first evening at a Steampunk LARP game. It will be a full, and fun day!

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― door, dishes, laundry, errands, and baked souffle

Today I weighed ― 185.2

Today I wrote/revised ― Short story “The Tooth Fairy” approx. 1700 words

 

 

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1/17/13

Posted on January 17, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

As usually happens when Newell is home sick, I didn’t get a lot done today, though I did do dishes and go to the grocery store.

I “cleaned” out my DvR of the rest of the Face Off marathon from Tuesday too, and we caught up on Castle and Elementary. So it was mostly clear going into tonight, when there was new Elementary and Suits was starting back up.

Cleaning can mean so many different things. 🙂

I worked on The Conn-Mann Chronicles II today, and was pleased to discover that a lot more of what I abandoned from NaNoWriMo dealt with the subplot that I decided to make the main plot than I had originally thought, so I get to use quite a bit of what I had already written. That will put me further ahead than I realized, though I still have to tweak it a bit here and there.

No sodas today except a ginger ale. In fact, no caffeine at all today. I’m a bit amazed I am still functioning…lol.

My mother makes a recipe that Newell wanted me to get from her, so I got the ingredients to make it today, and tomorrow we see how I do. It’s a really nice brunch-type casserole. I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing. 🙂

Breakfast Souffle

 Ingredients

 14 –16 slices day old bread (trimmed)

1 lb. sharp cheese (shredded)

6 eggs (beaten)

4 c. milk

2 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. salt

Butter bread well

Layer (2 layers) w/cheese in greased 9 x 13 pan.

Pour liquid (eggs, milk, seasoning)

—Let stand overnight (at least 4 hours) in refrigerator

—Let stand at room temp. 1 hour before baking.

Bake 50-55 min at 350.

Variations: Add

Chopped green pepper

onions, mushrooms, etc.

(If it suddenly disappears, she objected. ;))

 

That’s pretty much it for me tonight guys. See you tomorrow.

 

Tracking:

Today I cleaned ― dishes, went shopping, and to bank

Today I weighed ― 186.5 — up again  😛

Today I wrote/revised ― worked on 2 chapters of Conn-Mann II

 

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1/16/13

Posted on January 16, 2013 by RieSheridanRose

Little by little, slowly but surely, I try to get stuff done around here…

So today, I got my stove cleaned:

IMG_7326

 

Microwave was wiped out. Hand dishes finally done, and a load run in the dishwasher.

I actually cooked a real dinner tonight: mashed potatoes, peas, and Chick’n Scallopini.

I am going to have to try Whole Foods or Central Market for more of the Gardein variety meatless entries. Newell is liking these, and they have more flavor than most of the meatless meals do for me.

Worked some more on Conn-Mann II today, and found some interesting Calls for Submissions, so I may try to write some short stories for those tomorrow.

I drank my last diet soda today…and it was my only caffeine for the day. Tea for breakfast tomorrow, I guess. Or some of my Death Wish coffee…as coffee goes, it is pretty good. But I haven’t doctored any up since I gave up Sweet n’ Low (I only wish I hadn’t bought that 2500 packet box at Costco. It’s almost full. May have to Freecycle the rest.)

It does make me tired at the end of the day to have cut back so far on caffeine and be drinking mostly water at home.

Anyway, that’s the gist of today.

Tracking:

 

Today I cleaned ― stove, microwave, dishes

 

Today I weighed ― 185.6

 

Today I wrote/revised ― some on Chapter One of The Conn-Mann Chronicles II

 

What did YOU do today?

Oh! I almost forgot. I have more kitty pictures for you. 🙂

IMG_7322

Sunshine in the sleeping bag Elf was in yesterday…

IMG_7325

 

Elf in the Sunshine. 🙂

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