12/5/12

Posted on December 5, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

Today I cleaned out a minuscule area of my house — part of the Studio closet — but I feel like it was a big thing.

We have a group in town called AustinFreecycle, where people post things they are looking for or wanting to get rid of. Yesterday, someone posted that their family had decided not to do presents for Christmas this year, but they were looking for a tree and decorations.

Several years ago, Newell went out of his way to buy me a tree, because he knew it meant a lot to me, even though he isn’t really into Christmas decorations. It was a beautiful gesture — a lovely 7 1/2 foot artificial tree that really made me happy.

Looked through thousands of photos on this computer and couldn’t find a one of it up. Just goes to show… If I find one on the other computer, I’ll share it.

But I got to thinking about it. Most years, I haven’t out it up, because it is a lot of work for one person, and it can’t be out most places, because the cats attack. I have a little tree that doesn’t take any putting together that I can use if I really want a tree. It’s even fiber-optic, so it doesn’t need lights.

Little tree

So this morning I dug the big tree out of storage and took it across town to the mother who homeschools her four kids. She was most appreciative.

I also took her a copy of The Luckless Prince to share with her 16-year-old daughter who is a voracious reader. Who knows, maybe they will buy some of the other books. 😉

It did my heart good to make a family happy so easily. And that is what Christmas is really all about, isn’t it?

 

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12/4/12

Posted on December 4, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

So, despite my best intentions, I didn’t get a post yesterday. Needed to go to Georgetown for my weekly tutorial work, so I wound up going with Newell so I could have the car. Which means in the parking garage goofing off on tablet all day. And then came home to Borderlands and Castle.

No excuse, just what I did.

Today was a BIT more productive as I got dishes washed and grocery shopping done. In my defense, I did wash a load of clothes last night.

Tomorrow I must make a concerted cleaning effort though. It is time.

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12/2/12 —

Posted on December 2, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

Well, I was trying to think of a song and so far have been unsuccessful. I’m out of practice. 🙂

Got a bunch of the recycling and trash out today, which was my biggest cleaning project. Still not 100%, and I have to got to Georgetown in the morning, so I haven’t been pushing today. Still, that was more cleaning than has been done in quite a while around here.

Newell bought me a copy of the Lego Lord of the Rings video game on Steam, but I haven’t fired it up yet. Right now, I am debating on finishing the episode of Mad Men I was in the middle of last night at bed time or going to the DVR for tonight’s Once Upon a Time and The Walking Dead. Especially since both were fall finales.

And I am craving another soda, though I had tea for supper and one soda already today. I really shouldn’t have more caffeine until everything is completely back to normal, but I was a six to eight can a day person, not counting tea….

I got a really nice, detailed feedback email from one of my beta readers today that made me feel a bit better. Now if only the others I have heard nothing from would chime in…

The important thing is that I actually got posts up two consecutive days in a row. Let’s hope that trend continues. 😉

 

 

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12/1/12

Posted on December 2, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

Well, it’s actually after midnight, but I am going to date this one 12/1 anyway.

I’ve been really lax — missed the entirety of November, for one thing — but it’s been a crazy time around here lately.

I tried NaNoWriMo, but I hit the four days of camping for the Showdown, and totally lost momentum. And after that was done, and I was recovered, the last week I have been laid low by what appears to have been kidney stones (best guess.) I think they have finally passed, so now I can get back to work.

My goal is to post every day until the end of the world. 😉 And then some if the Aztecs were wrong.

My house has fallen apart again, so we have a lot to redo. But with a little cheering on from my friends, I think I can get back to productive now.

That is if I can make myself stay away from Netflix for any length of time. With that new TV, it makes it very tempting to just sit and watch it. And I have been engrossed in Mad Men for the last week or so — it’s really taken my mind off the pain. But it’s kind of like watching a train wreck. There aren’t really any characters in the main cast that are very likable. With the possible exceptions of Salvador and Kenny, but they are not major players all the way through. Mostly, I just keep watching and wondering if anybody can redeem themselves…

Anyway, I am halfway through Season 4, and need to go put in an episode or two before sleeping. 🙂  Till tomorrow.

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10/24/12

Posted on October 24, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

I really keep meaning to get back on schedule, but it is hard to do once you have slipped off…

The last week was spent revising my Steampunk romance so I could get it out to my beta readers. Now I am on pins and needles waiting for the feedback to come back. I really hope it is as much fun to read as it was to write.

I’ve started researching the sequel, which will be my NaNoWriMo project this year. It will be set involving the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, and reading about the fair is fascinating.

We got a new TV the other day — 55″ flat screen. It’s like a theater in your own home. And has prompted Newell to ask Time Warner for a DVR at last. This could be interesting.

Plan on working in my office some more tomorrow, trying to get it totally usable for November. I am already going to be hampered the first two weeks trying to get ready for the Showdown AND get my words in–at least it should be easy to work. So that is my goal for tomorrow. Aside from going and getting the DVR and watching more Kung Fu…

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10/14/12 — Checking in

Posted on October 14, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

It’s been crazy busy. Hopefully will get everything more organized to post  tomorrow.

I’ve been to two conventions in two states and started working on the Showdown at Unobtainium in the last month. Today they asked me to be prop mistress, and I think I will take them up on it, doing “theater” for the first time in more than  a decade.

Of course, I will have to write around it for NaNoWriMo, because I have a mission. I am hoping to get the first draft of the sequel to my Steampunk novel done while I work on revising the first.

I’ve got LOTS to do…besides clean house, but I will be working on that too. 😉

Though I do need to call that doctor I got the referral for. My fingers still get numb now and again. I’d like that addressed.

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10/2/12

Posted on October 2, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

Just a little check in. My back is screaming at me, and I have to take it easy so I will enjoy the weekend.

We have a hole in the hallway ceiling right now where the air conditioning leaked. Got the system flushed and new coolant added today, but the new sheetrock will be more difficult.

If it isn’t one thing, it’s another…

To make up for short, here’s a link to the first song Marc has put to music from out next album: http://soundcloud.com/marcgunn/the-first-melody-is-now. This is from the Captain Black Jack Murphy, Air Pirate: Pirates Vs. Dragons CD.

Hope to be back soon.

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9/29/12

Posted on September 29, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

I promised Newell I would get these pictures up so he could share the link with a friend. Minimal description today. I may add more later when typing isn’t such a chore. 🙂

You guys remember the old island and dish washer, right?

Just as a reference. Note dishwasher and sink fixtures.

Figuring out new faucet.

New disposal on left versus old broken one on right. More power….!

Taking everything apart from the old fixtures on the sink. My father came to lend Newell a hand since I wasn’t sure I could. (And he knows a lot more about plumbing than I do.)

New faucet and soap bottle in place. Working on the plumping.

(Cell phone camera) Trip to Home Depot for missing connectors…

Old dishwasher ready for pick up.

New dishwasher being made ready.

All finished! New island practically.

Also replaced, the outside light fixture — updated to LEDs:

and miniblinds in computer room that the cats had mangled:

Things are looking spiffy!

And now for something completely different…

We had a GORGEOUS sunset tonight:

And finally, I have to share my new release!

I’ve wanted to write a serious Jack the Ripper story for years. I finally have done it, and it is available from Mocha Memoirs. You can get a copy of Bloody Rain here. And isn’t this a wonderful cover?

 

I am so proud to have it.

Well, that’s it for today. Going to go rest my back now. See ya’ll later. I may be back to daily if I am careful…

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9/28/12

Posted on September 28, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

First, it’s the last 3 days of the Zumaya Publications Scavenger Hunt! Don’t miss out on the great prizes! All details can be found here – http://blog.zumayapublications.com/2012/09/the-2012-zumaya-trivia-scavenger-hunt.html.

Next, the doctor says I have degeneration between the C4 and C7 vertebrae in my spine, so as soon as I get back from Octopodicon, it’s time to go to the specialist he recommended and see what is next.

Still having problems in my left shoulder and hand, so not so much typing at the moment, but it WILL be fixed! Somehow. 🙂

While I was gone to Dallas last week, Newell bought me a dishwasher to be delivered today. Hooray! I don’t mind washing by hand, but it will be nice not to have to.

Hopefully, with all these things addressed, I can get back to my regular blogging. I’ve missed you guys as much as you miss me. 😉

 

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9/16/12

Posted on September 16, 2012 by RieSheridanRose

I can’t think of a song right now. If I do, I’ll edit tomorrow or something. The doctor I saw last Tuesday gave me Prednisone and Flexeril. That has kept things under screaming level most of the time, but I’ve been flat on my back and/or asleep most of the last week. I skipped the muscle relaxers today, and didn’t nap, so I am about to go lie down with Supernatural on Netflix. I’m almost through with Season One now. Lots more to catch up, I know.

Tomorrow, come hell or high water I am going to put together the coloring books. We leave for Dallas on Thursday, and I have a lot to get ready. FenCon is one of my favorite cons, and I get to meet C. J. Cherryh! So looking forward to that. She wrote one of my favorite trilogies of all time, Rusalka, Chernevog, and Yvgenie. I highly recommend them (though some of those Amazon prices are YIKES!) They are based on Russian folk tales, and so lovely and rich in description and detail.

So, this is short again, but I think I’ve pushed my luck as far as I better today. And my kitchen is a disaster after a week of not straightening up… *sigh*

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