October 31, 2005

I sit here, in front of my house. It is dark and a little windy. The temperature is perfect, about 80 degrees F, and I am in my shorts. I have my laptop, and am reading a book. Hubby commented from the house that I have a nice wallpaper. I told him, "Thanks, the boys are yummy, aren't they?" He stated that he had no interrest in them, so they were not yummy to him. I told him if he could have a mostly nekkid girl on his cell phone, I could have mostly nekkid, buff guys on my laptop. He concured and went back to what he was doing.

As I sit here, waiting for ghoulies, beasties, and plain old riff-raff, I drink water so as not to dehydrate, and munch on the candy I am supposed to be using as bribes to the dead. I feel slightly nauseous. LOL. Today was spent purchasing candy. Candy to go, candy to stay. The teens have stayed home tonight and the boy has a hard core sweet tooth. He says he is starting to feel nauseous as well, but who cares, keep on going! The girls are watching shows. One on the tv, one on the internet. Anime... I hope. I think hubby is playing Bejeweled on my Palm.

The Darth Vaders, Snow Whites, Bumble bees and horrible monsters are starting to trickle off. It IS a school night and this is a family oriented neighborhood, if you don't look at the gang symbols too closely, and I think I will be wrapping up my laptop cord, folding my folding chair, grabbing my water cup and bowl of candy (of which there is going to be a LOT around the house for a while) and moving the whole lot of it (minus the chair) to the bedroom to read in comfort.

Hope all have had a spooky All Hallows and OH!!! Jeigh kicked butt and got the newsletter out tonight! *wicked sidelong glance* You can always join the Newsletter group and check it out. There is an unedited excerpt of Midas' Treasure... The Society 2...

Muahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Brenda

Sunday Oct, 30, 2005

Sunday again.

Seems to come every week.

Today was an interresting one. Last night was the Homecoming dance for the high school. The senior attended. Looked very pretty even. I got to pick her up at 1 am so I was pretty tired. I am kind of a wuss. I like to be laying in bed going to sleep by 11pm. It was WAY past my bedtime. Not only that, but I hate to drive at night. Between the windshield and my glasses, the glare is horrid. But, like I said, she's a senior. I'll do what I have to to make it her best.

I spent the time between dropping her off and picking her up, working on Howling. I did pretty good. However, when I went to come back in the house, the garage door was locked and the lights out. LOL. My son didn't know I was out in the office and had locked up. Very concientious, but I told him next time to use the walkie talkie I bought for just such occasions. He sleeps with his window open so I was able to tell him to open up for me.

So, it's morning... ish. I get up late. Hubby is laying on me asking why I am still asleep. I tell him that I was out partying till 2 am, the second 2 am and danged if I'm not still tired. Darned men anyway. He told me it was time to get up. He even had coffee. Lucky man. He was allowed to live. He also handed me a toasted English muffin with too much butter (I don't use the stuff, or even eat muffins first thing. More of a Slimfast morning person with my coffee but he doesn't pay attention to these things) So I dab off most of the butter and chow down. Eventually, I am up and dressed. He shoots off to his friends house, leaving me with the teens. I force them to help clean up a little, then the oldest wants me to take her to a friends for a movie party. Halloween style. Cool. I drop her off, come home and work on her leg warmer (since only one is nearing completoin). During this crochet time, I check out a past radio show of the Flylady on World Talk Radio and got some motivation to restart my baby steps. I know it will work, I just have to do it. Tomorrow, I begin, wish me luck. I start over regularly, but this time, I want to succeed. I must remember that I can do anything 15 minutes at a time.

So, after the radio show, I get to wondering if there is an online radio station that plays the oldies shows. I love those old radio shows, and am always on the lookout for them. They are fun entertainment. I found a good collection of them at Radio Lovers. I spent quite a while there today. Had a great time.

Then it was time to go pick up the oldest from her party. Hubby didn't even know she was gone. LOL. He had come back while I was making dinner.

A clean kitchen and a shower later, I figured it was getting late and I need to share with YOU the reader, my exciting day. LOL. Hey, one day these journals will be read in the higher learning schools as a reference guide.

A guide to what? Well, I haven't figured that out yet.

Brenda

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005

Tonight is Homecomming dance.

I get to drive the Senior to another town and drop her off. I could probably drive home again and wait for her call, but I'm not going to. I will wait. I have plenty to do and the quiet will be nice.

Flu shots suck. I have mild flu symptoms and don't feel like doin much. I am working on a pair of leg warmers for the Senior because they are back in. Otherwise, I have been playing with my email, finishing up a proof job (of which I will be sure to promote,) and spilling my coffee on me. I smell yummy. Sticky, but yummy.

I have been reading Christine Feehan's Drake Sisters books this week. Have to finish up Ocean's Of Fire still, then I will go on and read something else. I also have to finish doing the rewrites on Howling. It has been some week. What with the 7 trips to the high school yesterday, and doctor visits, well, I haven't gotten a whole lot done on my story. That's ok, I am not on a deadline. LOL.

Still waiting for the first round of edits to come from my editor. Tick, tick, tick. Well, I can be somewhat patient. LOL

Otherwise, I think that's it. Somewhere, I have lost my mom ring. I went to sleep with it on, and woke up with it gone. Still looking for it. Not in the bed, so I am looking through the yarn piles beside the bed. Hopefully I can find it.

Ok, I am done for today. Catch yall tomrrow.

Brenda

Wednesday, Oct 26,05

I am kinda cheezed.

And here's why. I am sitting here, reading a Christine Feehan book on my laptop in Lit format, watching Halloween Resurection, (haven't seen it yet), and crocheting squares for the son's afghan. Working out my left arm because it feels a little stiff from the flu shot I got today. And what do I see???

I am sure I am imagining this, but damned if I am going to have to drag out my candles in a boycott of Glade. Yes, I will mention their name on my blog and if they don't like it, tough. So there. Glade's new commercial is personally offensive. Yes, I will say that too.

The commercial is touting their new, pretty, smelly thing and their big catch is that you don't need to cover it up, as in hide it. Cause it's pretty, see? What they use is a crazy old crochet lady. That's what I find offensive. I am a constant crocheter and always have a yarn project within reaching distance. I am fairly young... 38, (and if you are younger than that, wait until you are my age before you call me old), and I write sex. I hate stereotypes. I won't go up to Glade and say their owner/operators are money hungry, stinky house owners? Do I? I should say not.

So, if you have a picture of a slightly psycho, paranormal sex writing, teenager transporting, married to a hot dude, crocheter - well, that's me. A little old lady who's grandchildren never visit so she sends them sweaters when they are in their teens, more suitable for 3 year olds... Well, that's not me -- yet. I told the teens that if they try to ditch me, I will show up regularly to really embarrass them. And they know their father. He can get really em-bare-ass-ing... :)

Where was I going with this again? Oh yeah!

Boo Glade!

Buy candles!

Brenda

Monday, Oct 24, 2005

I love to play with yarn.

Except when it has knots in it. Then it's a pain. But I will spend hours unknotting a hank of yarn so I can weave it into something useful and toasty. Today has been a yarny day. I worked on the youngest's pillow cover, knitted, added several rows to a knitted afghan that is going to be super cool when done. While watching Monsterfest on AMC, I have made a couple of granny squares for the Boy's afghan that he asked for. A soft one he asked. No problem. Now, I am working on another afghan that I started months ago, but it got to hot to work on. It is cooling off now, so can get into the longer stuff. Oh, this one is crocheted.

On the writer front, I ignored my email all day and worked on rewrites of Howling in the Moonlight. I really do love this story. I am almost up to the sex. LOL. For some reason, I can't get a couple together and boinking thier brains out five pages into it. Sorry, I tried. I considered the character a slut and had to rewrite it. LOL. So, I try, try, try to get the sexual tention early in the game and make it last until the actual sex happens. Now you know my mind and why I do what I do when I do it. (I refuse to re-read the last sentence). Call it my morality. Then read faster so you can get to the booboo.

It was pretty chilly today and the clothes I hung on the line really tried not to dry. Overcast all day and under 70 degrees. Thought I would freeze. It was horrible. I wore my sweat pants and went looking for my light jacket but didn't find it. It was in the van. I keep it there in case I get stranded. You never know what can happen. But I digress. I do that a lot late at night which is why I write between 9am and 5pm. Excluding the time it takes to pick up the teens from school. Right now everyones schedules are riotous. One gets out at 2:30, one at 4:30 and one at 6. After school programs are going to kill me. Oh well. My chldren will be the better for it I am sure.

As for Monsterfest. I LOVE SCARY MOVIES! Really, I do. Big bugs, hacker/slashem's, ghosties, gimme em all. So, Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. AMC caters to weirdoes like me with at least 7 days of 24 hours of scary movies of one sort or another. My VCR gets way more workouts on this week before the end of the month, than at any other time of the year. Sure, I record the commercials too, but heck, that's what the remote and the fast forward button is for. The worst part is that they cut the movies up. I mean, all the curse words are gone, the actual hacking and or slashing is gone. So sad.

For an interresting twist, I don't watch the news. It's too violent. I don't mind movies because I know they are not real. However, the news is very, very real. Too damned depressing. I could never be a cop. Or an ER doctor. They see the dregs of humanity, and have to be the light.

Ok, what a depressing, thoughtful, inciteful... well, depressing anyway, blog.

I had a great day, busy and I created a new dish. LOL. Took coooked white rice, canned tuna, Cream of Mushroom soup and made a casserole. Grated cheese on the top and salt and pepper and it made a nice light meal for after all the heavy foods from yesterday. Everyone said it was edible. Which is high praise in this house. We also tried the new just add water bisquits. One bag of Three Cheese and one bag of Honey Butter. Three cheese was good, but Honey Butter was fabulous. Tasted like the high caloric buisquits at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Really yummy.

I figure, I have made yall either hungry or totally freaked out. Either way, enjoy it. All for free too! Who woulda thunk it.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. I am going to rewrite. LOL

Brenda

Sunday Oct 23, 2005

Happy Birthday Youngun!

Today is my youngests 14th birthday. I got up late. About 9:30, and strolled (stumbled) out into the kitchen looking for coffee. The youngest was awake so I mumbled "Happy Birthday, Shorty." and commenced waiting for the coffee to drip while she told me her dad got up for a little while and sang her a scary happy birthday song.

After I was sufficiently caffinated, we decided to go to the mall in search of one of those little boxes with the pins, that if you put your hand in it the pins will drop and retain the hand print. We never did find one. Everyone knew what we were talking about but didn't carry it anymore. But we could try... So we did. Picked up some other things though. Necessarys like Soap and a puzzle mat.

We ended up getting her a low priced keyboard. Got her the inexpensive one so if she never uses it, then I'm not out a couple of hundred dollars. LOL. And since her favorite desert is cheesecake, we stopped at the Cheesecake Factory in the mall and picked up a whole plain cheesecake for around $22. Dang, it was yummy.

She got her hair straightener with a curling iron ability which she really wanted, and some other things, so says it was a pretty good day.

Myself, I accomplished nothing but catering to my baby, and started reading Nora Roberts' Northern Lights again. Tomorrow, I get back to work. I did spend time on Howling In the Moonlight last night, and since it is a birthday day, I took it off. LOL

I wanted to mention that Laura Givens has done both of my Society covers and she has done a great job. I will be mentioning it on all fronts as my personal Thank You to Laura Givens.

Hubby's team Seattle Seahawks kicked a winning field goal at the last seconds of their game against Dallas Cowboys which has caused the hubby to encourage me to send gloating emails to Jeigh and her hubby who are Dallas fans. LOL. Jeigh has subsequently rebutted that the Seahawks kicker has obviously made a deal with the devil and is going to hell, to whit my hubby said that is where all the really good parties are going to be and he would save her a spot.

Good grief, those two!

Anyway, It is getting late, I have had 90,000 calories today because of the cheesecake and there is still 7 pieces left of it. Just call me Jumbo. Sigh.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, or at least fairly restful, or if you had to go to work like O and Hubby, it didn't suck too badly.

Night all.

Brenda

The Society 2:Midas' Treasure Cover!!!

The Society 2: Midas' Treasure Cover! Author Laura Givens, has done a wonderful job. Mykil looks just as I imagined him.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

New Pictures on the Craft Page!

I posted the shrug and caplet I grudginly made the SIL and the tote for the Newsletter group drawing, remember tell your friends to join so we can get 50 members.

Today was kind of lazily busy. As I told my group, I have lain in bed all day, proofing. Three short Christmas stories today. In my jammies, no shower yet. LOL
Been chatting with O on AIM all day too.

Now I am working on Howling in the Moonlight, the werewolf story, and thinking about taking a much needed shower.

That's about it for today. Didn't do much else. Even heated up leftovers for dinner. Teens didn't mind.

Tomorrow, though, is my baby's 14th birthday. She is getting so old. Pretty soon, she will be the same age as I am. Sooner, if I start subtracting years on my birthday.

Happy pre-birthday, H!

Brenda

Oct 21, 2005

Got my cover for Midas' Treasure.

Isn't that the coolest? You can check it out on my WIP Page of my site. Check it out and tell me what you think.

That was the highlight of my day. I am proofing a book now, but earlier I did read a good Stephanie Laurens book. The newest of the Bastion Club stories and while I did have a great time reading it, I did wonder, as is everyone in my critique group, what is with the POV changes and head hopping. It does seem as if it is becoming a trend. A trend that is bugging the bejeebers out of me as I actually learn to spot it. Oh, sure! you say, I am a nitpicker. Actually, I figure it's jealousy. If I can't do it, neither can they. So there! Fair's fair.

Everyone had a long and busy day here, so have konked out early. I mean, it's only about 11:30 pm here and the teens have been in the sack since 10:30. That's an oddity in itself. Normally, on school nights, I can't get them to unwind till about midnight. But on a Friday night? Well, guess they just aren't partiers.

I just wanted to tell you all about my cover, which as soon as I find out which author did the wonderful job, I will be listing that on the webpage as well. It's a great cover and I am very happy with it.

Just think. One day, I will have an office wall with my covers postered on the walls. Gotta get them made really big so I can fit it into a poster frame.

Wouldn't that be cool?

Oh, Jeigh had mentioned that my heater shouldn't have been used. Well, ding it, it was cold that morning. Must have been around 55 degrees f. I was freezing! Haven't used it since that morning though. But soon. Usually gets ridiculously cold here on Halloween. Every year. But I'm ready this year. I have several half made afghans just ready to be finished while it's cold and the heater. Have at thee.

I think I am going to finish up the proof job and konk out myself. Yall have a wonderful weekend.

Brenda

Topped 300!!!

WooHoo!!!

Thanks Everyone for checking me out!

Brenda

Wednesday Oct 19, 05

My boys are on tonight!

Mythbusters will be on in a while so thought I would give you the highlights of my exciting BrendaBryce day!

I got up early and mainlined my coffee. Took the teens to the high school and pushed them out of the van as I was driving by. Returned home and set up the dreaded ironing board.

Yes, I ironed early this morning. At least it's done for a few more days. Afterward, I was sweaty, grumpy and in need of more coffee. I actually thought hard about exercising, then decided I had had quite enough doing the ironing.

Took my laptop and went out to the office. Ah, the quiet space. Except for the neighbor banging on his engine and another mowing his lawn. So, I popped in a nice soothing cd, one that has piano and nature sounds, turned on the new space heater, and did I mention, Ah, I became very toasty as I knitted on a pillow cover and proofed a couple of books. I enjoyed the morning thuroughly.

Once the two stories were finished and sent of to the correct editor, I opened Howling in the Moonlight. Knocked out a couple of chapters, which I have suggestions from the intrepid O - and there are several - marking off six or seven from the list.

I get word that J.L. Langly got a contract with Loose-id. I am hoping this author does well, since I have been getting sneak peeks at their story, and congratulations! Check my link lines for J.L.'s blog.

This evening, I dealt with yucky traffic, got to yell at a guy in a truck who cut me off. Stopped off at a meat market, or Carniceria and got nearly four pounds of Asada. For those of you not in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, that is thinly sliced flap meat (beef) marinated in spices, onions and other yummies. Brought it home and cooked it up in the Foreman grill. Rolled it in warm tortillas and chomp. So, it wasn't very healthy, no veggies and no real starches except for the tortillas, and strictly meat, but heck. Once in a while you need a treat. Have I mentioned we are carnivours? We are.

Dinner was over, I ran out to the office, checked my email, downloaded two new proof jobs, and joked with JBuL. The critique group. Then it was time to come inside. Sigh. I unplugged my space heater, cause my books are out there and a fire would suck, turned out the lights and locked it up tight.

I even took out the trash. Tomorrow is trash day so made sure all the cleanup from the other day made it out of the back yard. However, I made a huge mess in the front that I will have to clean up during the sunlight tomorrow. Impossibly, I seemed to have tossed something in the trashcan that leaked all over the driveway when I was pushing the can around. GRR. It's always something. One mess or another. Oh well. S happens.

Now, I am blogging, instructing the teens that if they don't bathe, I will kill them, slowly, and waiting for Mythbusters to start. It hasn't yet. Fourty more minutes. Perhaps I will try to start another editing chapter on HITM. Whaddya think?

Catch yall tomorrow.

Brenda

Monday Oct 17, 05

Monday again!

Today, I had a lazy day. Hung a load of towels in the living room because my dryer has been dead a while and it was actually raining in Southern California. Do you believe it??? That is sooo weird. Also, I did a load of dishes. They sure accumulate with a family of 5. Mostly cups.

I had had enough house cleaning by this time and took off for the office. I spent the day in there not doing much. No work. Just messing around with a knit project I found in there yesterday, and read on my Palm. A Karen Marie Moning book. I am reading them all through again so I can read Spell of the Highlander. I have skipped the twins and have gone to Immortal Highlander. Cause I love Adam Black. LOL. I will go back to the twins after.

Other than that, well, not much. I picked up two of the teens after school. Went to the bank, went to the drug store and bought a space heater (electric, not fuel) payed the car payment, and went to the doctors. Nothing bad, just picking up my perscription. Since I was there, I ordered my oldest daughters perscription and picked up the youngests glasses. She has decided to wear them all the time because it makes everything clearer, not just close up stuff. They look cute, and she can't wait for school tomorrow. She wants to show them off, catch all the four eye crap, and get it over with. LOL

Here's something different: I stepped on a slug tonight.

It was really gross. I had to run into the bathroom, after making the hubby get rid of it, and wash my foot.

Really, really gross.

They come out when it rains, especially. I think they hate the nice acid rain we have here. And I have the back sliding glass door open just enough for a breeze. Well, they are squishy and can slide into just about any space. And they are really squishy when you step on one with your bare foot because you just stepped out of the shower.

I am still ewwing about it.

I may dream of it.

I think I will stay awake all night.

Last night, I finished the drawing tote for the Newsletter group. WOOOHOOO! And it is sooo cute. I was going to take a picture of it, but I found my camera on my youngests bed with a dead battery. The goal tomorrow is to charge the battery, take a picture or four and post them, here and on my website.

Currently, I am knocking out a caplet for the SIL. It is a poncho that barely reaches the nipples. It is just a shoulder cover. I have only been working on it about an hour and a half and should be done with it tonight.

If I get back to work on it.

Ok, will have to work on my tasks tomorrow, so better finish up this caplet so I can get some shut eye.

Night.

Brenda

Sunday October 16, 05

I am filthy.

Here's why. I have an office. It is a little room off the side of the house that the owner built for his wife to cut hair. The only access is outside and all the way around back. It faces the empty pool. I confiscated it last year or so, and painted it up and put my books and crafts in boxes into this room. A desk and chair went in too. So, I needed shelving. Never got around to that. Am working on getting that a little at a time now. I think I mentioned that.
The room became a catch-all for my crap. I have a lot of crap. Soon, my oldest daughter was looking for books that were out in the office. It became a disorganized mess. Until today.

Today, I came in and rearanged things. I won't be able to find anything, but all the books are stacked in the closet. The crafts are stacked in an alcove, the door is shut, and I have a path. Yay. Trash is bagged, and I can get to the desk. Yay. So, barring the spiders who have overrun the office, I have a workspace. I can't wait till the blinds are up in the sliding glass doors, but I am not going to do that today. I figure if they can wait for months on end since I bought them, they can wait a couple of more days. I wasn't stupid, I wore a mask. So the breathing is fine. No dusty lungs.

I am very excited about this. I really needed a workspace away from the phone. I hate the phone. And my children call my cell, so does the school. Hubby emails me. :)

Also, this morning I finished the shrug for the SIL. sigh. Gonna have to make a mini poncho for her, I don't think the shrug will work. Well, not everything comes out.

I need a shower now. I accidentally wiped my cheek on my white t-shirt shoulder and danged if I didn't leave a black smudge on the shirt. Gotta get out the stain remover. So, tomorrow I work on Alexi's book, tentativly entitled Enforcing Justice, and probably Howling in the Moonlight. I have a proof to do and still want to get to that author quote for an upcoming Loose-id story. That is my plans for the week. Aren't you glad I told you?

Brenda

Oct 15, 05 Update

Had to keep you informed cause I have to. It is a need I must fulfill.

I survived the stair stepping. I only lived through it because I distracted myself while I accomplished the task. I called my grandma and chatted with her while my timer ticked away. At one point, she asked me what I was doing. I sounded out of breath. LOL.

But I lived. YAY! My grandma is doing good, and her corner is a busy one.

Get your mind out of the gutter. She is an elementary school crossing guard.

Tomorrow is a no exercise day. I may sleep. If the cramps don't get too bad.

Thanks O for reminding me that I needed to let everyone know I lived through the gruesome act of kicking over my step stool, 4 times in 15 minutes. Sigh.

Brenda

Saturday Oct 15, 05

Call off the search parties!!!

I have located the wandering check. Well, my youngest found it. Apparently, it ended up in my hubbies car. Probably last weekend when I went to the craft fair. Since he never throws anything away, he must have found the envelope and stuck it in the center console with my inhaler. I have several inhalers, keep them stashed in strategic locations in case of emergency. So, I immediately took the check and deposited it. Then went shopping. LOL. Got a lamp for my office. 3 chairs for the teens' rooms so they can work at their desks. Some new sheets for their beds. Some miscellaneous items and a new wireless adapter for my laptop. Upgraded to 56g... woohoo!

Running around is about all I have done today. Went into my office that I haven't entered in months and months and killed a black widow. Set up the lamp and made a thorough mess looking for some painters tape that I never found. I need to just take everything out of the office and start fresh. And I will, just as soon as I get everything I need to put up the shelves. I now have 3 rack bars and a top flap thing. Need lots more bars and flap things, then the brackets and 6 and 8 inch wide wood planks. Then I will have shelves. May take a while. LOL

Told the hubby that he will need to go in there and ignoring the disaster area, to mark the studs. That way, when I have everything, I can go out there with the electric drill and put it all up at once. That will be fun.

I am going to read through Jeigh's ideas for her new book and maybe try to finish up the tote tonight. Hopefully, I can post a picture of it tomorrow.

Have fun everyone and a great weekend.

Brenda

Friday, Oct 14, 05

It is now really Friday night.

I may not make another blog. I may be dead.

Here's the deal. Being the Critique partner of a DANCER, (yes, I growl the word) and while she doesn't like to exercise, (I growl this word too.)does it anyway, caused me to go to ediets and get an exercise regimen.

I am two days into it.

Thursday, well, the whole jumprope thing. Today, strength training. Cool exercises, and not many reps. 1 round of 12 reps, for newbie fat people. That was good. I felt fairly exercised afterward, but then went shopping for yarn. That always cheers me up. Got some more lizard green to make another tote, cause the one for the Newsletter group is nearly done. Even put some fancy detail work on it. And got some brown yarn for the SIL. Had a great time.

The reason I may never blog again is: Tomorrow is stair step day. 15 whole minutes. I may die.

After the lovely time shopping I got some fruit and milk for lunch, being good, but forgot to eat it when I found out the payment, my very first check for writing, was... MISSING!!! Dang it. Somehow, it has gotten itself lost. Man am I cheezed about that. After thrashing the fairly clean house looking for it, I emailed the powers that be that it is MIA and to prepare for informing me the rules and regs to getting it reissued. Mostly, I wanted them to check if it had been cashed by a nefarious being. Haven't heard yet, but I will let you know.

Was going to see Wallace and Grommit too. Now I get to continue the trashing of the house. Well, we all have to have a hobby or four.

Not freaking out about it. That's the good thing about age. I know if it aint cash, it can be replaced. Though it may take up to 120 days at the worst. Freaking Bank who shall remain unnamed cause I bank with them and they have all my money.

Decided to unwind by working on the Lizzard tote. It really is going to be cool looking. Can't wait to finish it so I can show yall. Just remember 50 members will enable the drawing cycle.

O wants to win bad. Tells me so every day. Is willing to join under multiple id's so she has a better chance. So, get your friends in to pad it.

There is nothing on tv tonight, so am probably going to bed soon. As it's nearly 11 pm, that won't be early.

Everyone have a wonderful night and Saturday.

Brenda

Thursday Oct 13, 05

You don't have to tell me that it is actually Friday morning. I know. But I figure it is still early enough that I can get away with it.

Last night I got caught up in wanting to damage my greedy SIL (sure hope she doesn't read this). She has decided that she has to have TWO separate coverups. I emailed her and asked, "So, you want them sometime next year, right?" LOL

She is probably wanting me to pay for the yarn too. Sigh.

I am a NEW author. Not Nora yet. When I am, I am going to be just as much of a tightwad though. LOL

Ok, so anyway, last night I was watching Animal Planet Funny Animals and giggling. Teens say it is good that I am easily amused. Good thing too, it keeps me married.
I am nearly done with the tote for the drawing. It looks really cool. May have to make myself one afterward. While I am dawdling making the coverups sounds good.

I just have to make the pockets and details. Then it will be ready to go. I just need some more members in Nightsweats News (check my links bar).

Today... Gotta read Jeigh's outline for her story, and OH!!! She just finished reading through Midas' Treasure and says she loves it. Funnier than Regulating Archimedes, Sexier, and yes, Shiye is in it a lot.

hehehe, I'm glad.

What I am working on now is Howling in the Moonlight. Werewolf. It is already written, I just have to do some rewrites and resubmit. Yes, I have gotten rejections on this story, but since "I" love it, I am going to keep trying to get it to the readers. The first chapter has been gone through and redone. Now for the rest of the story.

On another note, I have to pay the car payment today. Then go to the yarn store and see what the first shrug is going to cost me. Maybe if I get her the first one, for a present on Christmas, she will get me the thread for the second one. That one is going to cost. LOL

Wondering what to make for the ladies in JBuL. I am a giving woman. LOL. They get little handmade things from me when I am trying something new. Such as knitting... One year, they got several handmade items. Crochet, knit, cross stitch. I can't think of anything else. Candles... LOL There were candles in the box.

I have got to do my excersizes... Yes, I have started a regimen. Yesterday, I was instructed to jump rope for 15 minutes. That worked well. I turned on the tv, National Geographic, and started jumping. Three minutes later, I considered stopping before I passed out, but I perservered. I stopped jumping and started marching in place. Three minutes later, I had caught my breath enough to think, and decided that a rotation of 5 reps of 5 hops on each foot, then marching for 3 minutes would get me through it. It worked. 15 minutes later, the timer went off and I slowed down the marching to a crawl. The rest of the day, my lungs felt a little tight, but I have to strengthen them somehow. Slowly.

Now, my calves hurt. They are moooing to beat the band. OWIE! But today is strength training. Easy excersizes where most are laying on the ground. LOL
Wish me luck.

Later all.

Brenda

Wednesday Oct 12, 05

And a Wonderful Wednesday to you!

I finally sent my editor Midas' Treasure so she can read it and see what needs to be changed. LOL Edits. The bane of my (and consequently my family) existence. Well, it has to be done. It is supprising how much better the story is once the pain and agony, tears and jeers are over. So, let's get to it!

Am spending the night watching food tv and working on the Tote... Gotta get it done.

I did write a short craft poem tonight. :)Snicker

Here it is:

Here I sit, all broken hearted,
Come to stitch but barely started.

So many patterns I want to try,
Not enough day, I think I'll cry.

I start a new project every day,
To get them done, I always pray.

Knit, plastic canvas, crochet and cross stitch,
Keeps me from turning into a WITCH!

BrendaBryce...2005

Ok, so it did end on a different word, but I am keeping this blog kind of clean.

I spent a while tonight chatting with O and she is fine. No aliens, no illegalities... Poor thing. And I had such high hopes for her. Well, maybe next time.

Mechelle has been visiting my blog I see. Thank you darlin' kindly. Love you too.

Jeigh has been a blogging fool. Go you! Check it out. Let her feel the love.

O has been commenting on all the cool stuff. Thanks. Lurve Ewe.

On the home front I have to hand the Senior $50 for homecoming. Dang. Have I mentioned that Seniors are expensive. They are. I will be mentioning this again. Just to push the point into the ground. I am good at that.

I just found Mythbusters so I have to watch it, even though it's half over. Gotta take my medicines too. Don't want the asthma to kill me just two books into a five book series. That would suck.

Yall have a wonderful night and I will catch you tomorrow for the 'EXCITING LIFE OF BRENDA!!!'

Brenda

P.S. I have been instructed by the Senior that I blew it the other day on the blog when I wrote the word @ss. Apparently, it should be @$$. My bad.

Tuesday Oct 11, 05

Congrats to Jeigh Lynn!

Jeigh has another book out. A short story in an anthology with Jet Mykles and Raine Weaver. The anthology is called Howl and Jeigh's story is a prequil to her Moon Series. Yummy Dash. He is based off stories of MY hubby. So, many sales, and super YAY!

Back to me... LOL. I cleaned house, did laundry, drank coffee, started a new knitted square and worked on Midas' Treasure. Almost done with the read through. Funny how I can read a really long book in an afternoon, but my own story takes upwards of three days. Someone explain it, please.

Teens had open house tonight. I didn't go because I would have had to visit 17 classes. I am not up to that kind of running. So, I will visit them as needed. LOL. The teens were there, hawking goods, and... um, drawing a blank as to why my youngest was there in her JROTC uniform. I will have to ask her. She didn't get much of a talking turn on the way home. She says she was an escort for lost parents.

It's finally 9:30 pm and the day is almost officially over. I think I will read some more on MT so I have less to do in the morning and at 11 pm, watch Most Extreme on Animal Planet. Such an informative show. Find out all kinds of neat, and occasionally barf inducing things.

Oh, wanted to mention that O is missing... I have decided that she is lost. I haven't heard from her in days and days and she hasn't even updated her blog. I have asked if she were taken by aliens who have landed illegally. We hope, as a group, that if she has been abducted that the abducters are nice and 'friendly'. So, if anyone hears from O, tell her to call home. If you know O, then you know who I'm talking about. If you don't... well, sheesh, you aren't in the right groups.

I started updating my booklist today. Putting the gold wolf howling at the silver B "moon" stamps in the new ones. The older books will have to wait their turn. I am way behind on my booklist updates. At least a year behind. That's when my last Palm died. My inhaler pressed against the screen and destroyed it. I was devastated. The one before had been just months prior. It committed suicide in the washing machine. The new one, a Tungsten E2, is being babied to death. It doesn't go in pockets or near water. I still need to get a hard case for it, but the electronics store locally (which I won't name because of it, well in this blog entry anyway) doesn't carry them.

Ok, I am killing time now... would rather chit chat to myself than do a read through. Oh sure, the story is great, I think, but sheesh, I have read it 7 times this month.

Back to work for me.

Brenda (slave woman)

Monday Oct. 10, 05

Peanut Butter Oreo's.

Love 'em. They are addictive. Oh heck, who am I trying to kid? I love all Oreo's. They are all sooooo yummy. I think I shall indulge in a few.

Ok. I feel better. Last night I busted @ss and finished the pre edits for Midas' Treasure. Today, I have spent the whole day reading through it. I am half done. Sigh.

I have put the horse pillow together. Gotta stuff it and do the last stitches. Then detail work. Then I can post it here.

I am very tired so am probably going to sleep early tonight.

Got another wonderful review for my book. Check it out on my webpage. It will be in the The Society 1:Regulating Archimedes Page.

Other than what I have mentioned, laundry and dishes, I haven't done much of anything else.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I'm going to take a night long nap.

Brenda

Sunday Oct 9, 05

I have recovered from the craft fair.

Had a great time too. My MIL, oldest daughter and I drove the hubbies car (it needed gas and it saved him a trip to the gas station). We got to ride a tram through the fairgrounds because there were two other fairs going on at the same time. The computer fair that is held every month and the off road fair. The daughter tried to convince me we had to go to one of those instead. See, the geeks went to the computer fair, and she is totally hot for geeks. They will be the ones to make the big bucks in the future, or the off road fair, which had lots of cool toys and hot guys.

I told her, "Great idea, but no. We are here to look at crafts."

Besides, I don't see my MIL hanging out in either of those places. She refuses to learn computers and off roading??? snort. It is to laugh. So we went past the off roaders, checked out a cool show they had going. They had a giant pile of rocks and were driving various four wheelers over it. I would liked to have stayed and watched that, but we shot past them at an astronomical speed of 20 miles an hour.

Arriving at the correct building, we exited the tram. I decided that I need a tram for town driving. I can charge riders and tool around in it. It was a fun ride.

We get our tickets and enter the building where an elderly gentleman was marking hands in case we exit the building for any reason, we wouldn't have to repay. MIL went through got her dash mark. I approached the man and held out my hand. "Mark me baby!" I said. He chuckled and drew a pretty red heart on my hand.

Oldest daughter smiled and got a flower drawn.

First stand was a stamp and stencil stand. Oldest found the perfect stamp. I had to purchase it immediately. I don't know what it means in common vernacular, but it applied to Me and Mine... It says...

It's a Society thing!

I about died. LOL.

We wandered around for four hours, checking out the different things one can do with cloth, yarn, beads, wood, ect. And spent some money.

At one booth where I was checking out the implements of small crafting - tools such as tweezers, sizzors, hemostats, blades, magnifying glasses, ect - a lady commented on my pretty heart. "Hey, all I got was this tick mark. How come she got a heart?" I looked at her and smiled. "I called him babe and he gave me a pretty. Just gotta know how to talk to a man." We all laughed and went our separate ways.

My feet were starting to hurt and we had seen everything we could see so went out front to wait for the tram back to the car. Well, the first one, we missed because it was full. Them ladies are QUICK!

The next, I was ready. I stepped forward when it stopped and subsiquently got elbowed out of the way by a 90ish four foot woman who jumped onto the tram. I was shocked I tell you. I blurted, "Holy crap! What was that all about?" Then moved three rows back and sat down. I was scairt of her...

Told the teen and the MIL about it and we all laughed. It was a day for laughing.

Going back by the off road exhibit, we saw more four wheelers, and hot off roader guys. I commented that you could tell which tram was going to which fair. LOL. And you could too.

Took the MIL back to her city, and stopped off at Michaels. I got a stamp pad for the stamp I got my mom for Christmas (hope she isn't reading this) and a couple of stamp pads for me. I also picked up a "B" Stamp and a howling wolf stamp for my book collection. If you find a book with a gold wolf howling at a silver B, then it's mine! Give it back!

About 5 pm, I rolled into the driveway, beat but bearing burgers. I was queen of the household. Apparently, the three left at home were starving. LOL

Hubby is a GOD! He got my laptop in operational order and I am now working away on MT to get it done. Less than 60 pages to go on this pre-edit.

Well, since you are all caught up, I will go back to work. Have a nice day!

Brenda

Saturday Oct 8, 05

Play day for me.

The MIL and I are going to a craft fair today. Yay! The teens and hubby are staying home alone!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a couple of days. My throat was hurting. I guess I had to get through the last of the ick so I could do my fun day. I have been plugging along on Midas' Treasure and WILL have it done by next week.

Going to go get me some coffee and hit the road.

I will be back on this evening to tell you all about the fair.

Oh, the laptop is reformatted, sort of. Having a little trouble getting Windows installed. Isn't it always something. Grr. Good thing the hubby used to be in IT.

Brenda

Wednesday Oct 5, 05

Happy Birthday Dian.

Today we celebrate my oldest daughters 17th birthday. Woohoo! Congratulations on surviving! She got a wireless connection for her desktop. Hubby is having a little problem with the install, but once he gets it, we may never see her again. sigh

Other than eating cake which was pretty good, and offering it to her to take to school tomorrow to send all her friends into sugar shock, we didn't do much.

I worked on MT for a long time today. Finished another afghan square and have fought the losing battle with the laptop. I just know I am going to have to reformat it. Luckily, I am fairly intelligent. I have been saving my corrections of MT on disk. LOL

This will be a short one tonight. I am kind of tired and it's late. The wind here has gotten me so dry, I am taking quickie showers. If I actually sit in a full tub of water, I will end up sucking up all the water like a sponge. My mouth is dry, my sinuses are dry, my skin is dry, my eyes are dry. Have I mentioned I am dry?

I am going to moisturize and hydrate, then bonk myself with the silver hammer. Catch yall in the morning.

Got my new glasses today. Aren't they great? My oldest took the picture after trying 5 times. This is the best she could do. :)

Monday Oct, 3, 05

Monday and Yahoo is playing havoc with my favorite pasttime.

My email is not pumping out the massive volumes it does normally. I am very, very sad. Ok, so it's really DT's. I NEED some email. Email me. Please. LOL

I did accomplish several things today though, while the email is tweaking. I got my eyes examined. My perscription hasn't changed much, but my old glasses are about shot. I was pointed to a pair that is what all the young people are wearing. I laughed and put on the small rectangular frames. I ended up with a pineapple head. I laughed harder. It was hillarious. Well, I did find out goth isn't my look. I went back to the same geeky types I always wear. I want light frames and ones I can't see when I look through them. Very important. I purchased new, un-hip glasses. I will take a picture of me in my new specs tomorrow.

My youngest also had an appointment. So we explained her operation at nine months to straighten out the crossed eyes. It did some good, but now she has a tracking problem at almost 14 years. They are giving her a nice set of frames with some interresting prism lenses for her new pair of reading glasses. One will be thick on the bottom/ thin on the top, and the other lens will be thick on the top/ thin on the bottom. Hopefully, this will cause her to get rid of the double vision when she reads. She is far sighted so won't need the glasses to walk, in fact, we were told walking with these glasses will cause her to fall over. As the supporting mother that I am, I immediately informed her that once she gets the glasses (in seven to ten working days) I wanna see her try it. Walking with glasses. TIMBER! HEHEHE. I'm a good mom. I just think that laughter is necessary in life.

I'm still laughing.

I get home, and since my email is nonexistent, I worked on Midas' Treasure. Yay! Got through two chapters of the edits. That will help getting it done.

Then it was time to get kids, dinner and a little down time. Dinner didn't go over real well. There was chunks of tomatoes in it. Apparently, I am unable to trick my family into thinking tomatoes are say -- potatoes or something. I have been informed that it has a distinctive taste and they will have none of it. Darn.%

Sunday Oct. 2, 05

It's Sunday again.

Monday is tomorrow, in case you didn't know. I have an eye doctor appointment in the morning and my youngest has one after school. Gotta get new glasses so I can write.

I am feeling a little better this evening. I spent the day with a horrible sore throat and headache, so dinner was crockpotted. I didn't even work on Midas' Treasure. I read the Janet Chapman books. They are all read now, so am wondering if maybe I should actually work on MT. Probably. I might feel better tomorrow after a good night's sleep though.

OH! Jeigh, my critique partner, now has a blog. Just check out my links bar and check it out. It is very colorful compared to mine. :) Congrats Jeigh.

I got my first paycheck on Saturday. I am very pleased with everyone who purchased my story and would like to thank them. THANKS! Great timing too. Gotta get my van registered. And in Southern California, that ain't cheep. :P And have I mentioned that I have a Senior in the house. Man, do they cost some major $$. Anyway, thanks for helping me meet my spending needs. It frees me up to write instead of worrying about where the money is going to come from.

Now, wasn't that personal?

I didn't even work on any crafts today. I lazed around, coughing, moaning, and reading. Most everyone left me alone. It was great. Would have been Nirvana if I hadn't felt so bad.

Tomorrow will be better.

And on that note...

Have a great night. May your Monday be productive and nothing blows up in your face.

Brenda

Saturday, Oct 1, 05

Cough-Cough.

I have it. Darn it. I am getting sick. Don't want it. I wish the kids at the high school would get rid of it, so I quit getting it. Grr. I have stayed in bed all day today, fighting the oncoming symptoms. Sore throat, headache in the eyes, sinuses stuffy/runny, tummy not feeling so hot. And I am sweating my butt off. I don't know why, I don't have a fever. But my youngest (with her germ mask on) says I look very red.

Today, I did up a proof for one of the publishers. I finished a strip for my Mile a Minute afghan (that's two strips done) and put them together. I have decided to call it the Mermaid ghan, because it looks like the fishy part of a mermaid.

Then I worked on the tote I am offering the Newsletter group when we get 50 members. We are at 19 now. Once I have 50, I will hold a drawing. Once the tote is finished, I will wash all the sick germs off it, wrap it up so it stays germ free, and have a hat drawing for it. It is a large tote. Will hold lots of stuff. Also, it's very sturdy. I use mine all the time. This one will be lizard green in honor of the Loose Id lizard.

I have been working on Midas' Treasure today. Been a good girl. I have to fix a couple of paragraphs because of POV shifts, but that won't take long once I finish the big stuff. I'll be going back and fixing that. But not right now.

Hubby laid on the couch today being sick, getting phone calls from work (the foibles of being the department head), watching videos. I was the one who had the privilege of running out and fetching these videos, but since I had to go out and take the youngest to the docs so the nurse could look at her TB test... Well, anything to keep him from straining himself.

I made a wonderful dinner in the crockpot. Love the thing. I toss in all the ingredients while waiting for the coffeepot to finish and many hours later, poof! a hearty dinner for five, with leftovers. Frozen chicken in, and yummy out. And I didn't have to breathe on it for long. Tomorrow we have a beef and bean crockpot meal. That reminds me. I have to make sure the crockpot is clean for tomorrow. Guess I will have to get out of bed for a few minutes.

Ok, I think that is all for today. Oh, for the comments... O, We are using the antibacterial gel regularly. Youngest put down the Lysol cause it was bothering HER. She has asthma too, that's why she doesn't want to get the germs. But she is sticking with the mask. She has mentioned repeatedly that it is a good thing her breath is fresh.

Wanted to get this done for tonight. I may just take some medicine and go night-night. Catch you all tomorrow for another exciting Brenda Day.

Brenda