I'm a light sleeper. Light sleeping and the orange cat are not always the best combination (to be honest, they're not EVER the best combination it's a bit worse lately as he's still being "I'm lonely" yowly more than usual lately).
Anyway, to combat this, I've been falling asleep with my iPod and headphones listening to audiobooks (which necessitates much remembering of where one actually was up to when one lies down as generally I fall asleep after just a few minutes and wake up hours later in the book lol), or music or some BrainSync tracks. Now, I have mutant ears and cannot wear ear buds, as they fall out as soon as I breathe or even think about moving, so I've got fairly slim old fashioned band over the top of the head head phones but even with my memory foam pillow, they're still not the greatest things to sleep in (not to mention moving around while sleeping is shredding the foam covers like nothing on earth).
So today, when an ad for SleepPhones popped up somewhere I was randomly surfing on the web, I thought "WANT!" and ordered some. And now I'm also lusting after the summer RunPhones version as they might be a bit cooler for summer sleeping plus good for exercising without headphones falling off (plus I tend to wear a headband anyway on the elliptical, so why not combine the two?). But I shall wait and see what I think of the SleepPhones first. But if anyone else out there is like me and likes to drown out the night noises (I'm thinking these will be good for hotel rooms too) I thought you might like to know about them.
I shall report back once they've arrived. US types can by them at ThinkGeek but TG has pretty expensive OS shipping, so for me, buying them direct from the website was cheaper (only $5 or so shipping). I wish more US sites would offer a basic shipping offer. Lots of us would be happy to wear the slower times delivery times and increased risk of something going astray, I'm sure vs being asked to pay more than the cost of the item in shipping as seems to happen quite a bit!
Showing posts with label girl's gotta shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label girl's gotta shop. Show all posts
December 11, 2010
November 30, 2008
Everything is better with cake
Over the last few months, thanks largely to the wonder of the crockpot, I've been getting back into the swing of cooking that had kind of fallen away when I took six weeks off.
And now, whether it's the time of year, or the recovering cook in me or a case of channelling my inner seventies housewife due to prolonged crockpot contact, I've been in an increasing mood to bake.
I've talked before about the fact that my Dad's dad was a baker and I've always liked baking. I grew up with Dad making bread and hot cross buns and, later on, muffins and Mum churning out chocolate cake and the christmas pudding and cake (which now we do together each year). Neither of them were fancy bakers but baked goods didn't come from packets in our house (I was horrified when someone at work told me she'd never made a cake from scratch!) I always liked helping (and licking the beaters). And I went to a high school that made you do home economics for two years and our home eco teacher was a firm believer in mastering the basiscs, so we learned scones and sponges and all sorts of goodies while we worked our way through the classic Cookery the Australian Way (though ours definitely didn't talk about sapodilla!).
So I'm a good basic baker (except I never really have mastered the touch for scones....my scones are edible but they never rise like my mum's or Keri's do...not exactly a party piece). When it comes to mains I'm pretty good at throwing things together and substituting ingredients to make something suit me and understanding techniques and doing some fancier dishes. But with baking, I've never really played around with it too much, sticking to what I know. Partly because of lack of time or really need to bake every week (because then I'd be eating the results all the time). But I want to step the baking up a notch and play around and get better.
I've been making do with mostly my little weenie food processor and an ancient pair of electric beaters that were Mum's before they were mine but yesterday (after using the scary beaters last weekend and realising the cord had reached the point known as "taking your life in your hands every time you plug these in"), I decided that, screw it, I need a proper mixer. A good mixer. Not your $100 Target job. Something I can get accessories for down the track if I want them. Which prompted the invariable KitchenAid vs Kenwood Chef decision (I don't like Mixmasters, I had an old one of my grandmother's at one stage and I HATE the spinning bowl thing - my spatulas always went flying).
KitchenAids sure are purty but they are also expensive and I've never used one. On the other hand, I grew up using a Chef. Kenwood now also make a stand style mixer like the KitchenAid but it is even more expensive than the KA. I decided that given I'm still being experimental and really, I'm only like to use the mixer every few weeks at this stage, that I couldn't quite justify spending $700 on a mixer just now. So I toddled off to David Jones and in a fit of serendipity they had a pile of the entry level Chefs (the top of the range Chef is now $1300!!!!!!!!! - that's some serious baking and grinding and every other thing you can think of going on daily to justify in my book) with a $50 cash back plus 20% of the purchase price back on a gift card plus a free mincing attachment. Sold. I am now the proud owner of a unsexy but good old square looking Kenwood Chef. Without too much virgo brain angsting. Go me.
It even magically fits in the one spare spot in my kitchen cupboard (which was an initial concern given my kitchen is small and I don't really have bench space to leave a mixer out all the time (though my mother helpfully suggested making a really big tea cosy to cover it. I pointed out I can't crochet so she'd have to do it). So long may it beat and maybe by the time I decide I'm ready for an upgrade they'll be making sexier versions : ).
And to celebrate my purchase I think I have to make cake this afternoon. After all, I have a half-zested lemon left over from my crockpot concoction of the day and it would be wasteful to not use it, plus my favourite fall back easy cake recipe has a lemon variation....of course, this reminds me that I really need to buy a new sifter and a ring tin but I shall make do.
And now, whether it's the time of year, or the recovering cook in me or a case of channelling my inner seventies housewife due to prolonged crockpot contact, I've been in an increasing mood to bake.
I've talked before about the fact that my Dad's dad was a baker and I've always liked baking. I grew up with Dad making bread and hot cross buns and, later on, muffins and Mum churning out chocolate cake and the christmas pudding and cake (which now we do together each year). Neither of them were fancy bakers but baked goods didn't come from packets in our house (I was horrified when someone at work told me she'd never made a cake from scratch!) I always liked helping (and licking the beaters). And I went to a high school that made you do home economics for two years and our home eco teacher was a firm believer in mastering the basiscs, so we learned scones and sponges and all sorts of goodies while we worked our way through the classic Cookery the Australian Way (though ours definitely didn't talk about sapodilla!).
So I'm a good basic baker (except I never really have mastered the touch for scones....my scones are edible but they never rise like my mum's or Keri's do...not exactly a party piece). When it comes to mains I'm pretty good at throwing things together and substituting ingredients to make something suit me and understanding techniques and doing some fancier dishes. But with baking, I've never really played around with it too much, sticking to what I know. Partly because of lack of time or really need to bake every week (because then I'd be eating the results all the time). But I want to step the baking up a notch and play around and get better.
I've been making do with mostly my little weenie food processor and an ancient pair of electric beaters that were Mum's before they were mine but yesterday (after using the scary beaters last weekend and realising the cord had reached the point known as "taking your life in your hands every time you plug these in"), I decided that, screw it, I need a proper mixer. A good mixer. Not your $100 Target job. Something I can get accessories for down the track if I want them. Which prompted the invariable KitchenAid vs Kenwood Chef decision (I don't like Mixmasters, I had an old one of my grandmother's at one stage and I HATE the spinning bowl thing - my spatulas always went flying).
KitchenAids sure are purty but they are also expensive and I've never used one. On the other hand, I grew up using a Chef. Kenwood now also make a stand style mixer like the KitchenAid but it is even more expensive than the KA. I decided that given I'm still being experimental and really, I'm only like to use the mixer every few weeks at this stage, that I couldn't quite justify spending $700 on a mixer just now. So I toddled off to David Jones and in a fit of serendipity they had a pile of the entry level Chefs (the top of the range Chef is now $1300!!!!!!!!! - that's some serious baking and grinding and every other thing you can think of going on daily to justify in my book) with a $50 cash back plus 20% of the purchase price back on a gift card plus a free mincing attachment. Sold. I am now the proud owner of a unsexy but good old square looking Kenwood Chef. Without too much virgo brain angsting. Go me.
It even magically fits in the one spare spot in my kitchen cupboard (which was an initial concern given my kitchen is small and I don't really have bench space to leave a mixer out all the time (though my mother helpfully suggested making a really big tea cosy to cover it. I pointed out I can't crochet so she'd have to do it). So long may it beat and maybe by the time I decide I'm ready for an upgrade they'll be making sexier versions : ).
And to celebrate my purchase I think I have to make cake this afternoon. After all, I have a half-zested lemon left over from my crockpot concoction of the day and it would be wasteful to not use it, plus my favourite fall back easy cake recipe has a lemon variation....of course, this reminds me that I really need to buy a new sifter and a ring tin but I shall make do.
And now I see
The other week I finally stopped resisting and admitted that perhaps I needed prescription sunnies (my close up vision is fine, I am in no way Mr Magoo but the street signs in the distance were getting fuzzy). Fortuitously I also received a voucher for quite a chunk off glasses or prescription sunnies at the optometrist so I toddled off and ordered a pair. These, if you're interested.
I picked them up on Thursday and I have to say I am LOVING them. Not just because of the fuzziness begone factor but also because I paid a little more to get polarized lenses. I don't think I've ever had a pair of polarized sunnies before (I tend towards the cheap sunnies because I lose them, hence the prescription resistance). I wear sunnies a lot because I'm really sensitive to glare and these are really good at cutting out the glare. Why has no-one told me this before? It's fabulous.
Now all I have to do is not lose them because even with the voucher they were still way more than I've ever paid for sunglasses.
I picked them up on Thursday and I have to say I am LOVING them. Not just because of the fuzziness begone factor but also because I paid a little more to get polarized lenses. I don't think I've ever had a pair of polarized sunnies before (I tend towards the cheap sunnies because I lose them, hence the prescription resistance). I wear sunnies a lot because I'm really sensitive to glare and these are really good at cutting out the glare. Why has no-one told me this before? It's fabulous.
Now all I have to do is not lose them because even with the voucher they were still way more than I've ever paid for sunglasses.
November 27, 2008
She shops, she scores!
For a few weeks now I've had the uncomfortable feeling that the world had sped up a lot and that it was going to be Christmas before I knew it. Not that I actually did anything about it but today I decided I should at least start. I have a lot of friends and rellys with late year birthdays so I hadn't even actually finished birthday shopping yet.
This morning I had something like 17 assorted people to buy birthday and/or christmas presents for. As of right now, only five of those presents are outstanding. One of which I know what I'm getting and will take me ten minutes next week, three of which I have a vague idea and will order online and get delivered (yay) and one of which I have no idea but plenty of time to ponder and/or ask outright what they want! Me for the shopping win! Plus I picked up my new prescription sunnies and suddenly all the street signs in the distance are less blurry. Go figure lol.
I still need a few cards and christmas paper (well, need to check the stash at least to see if that's true) but I'm suddenly feeling way more organised.
And now dinner then I'll see if I can coax my somewhat fried brain into ten pages of revision to leave me with 40 odd for the weekend, a very do-able number, I hope.
This morning I had something like 17 assorted people to buy birthday and/or christmas presents for. As of right now, only five of those presents are outstanding. One of which I know what I'm getting and will take me ten minutes next week, three of which I have a vague idea and will order online and get delivered (yay) and one of which I have no idea but plenty of time to ponder and/or ask outright what they want! Me for the shopping win! Plus I picked up my new prescription sunnies and suddenly all the street signs in the distance are less blurry. Go figure lol.
I still need a few cards and christmas paper (well, need to check the stash at least to see if that's true) but I'm suddenly feeling way more organised.
And now dinner then I'll see if I can coax my somewhat fried brain into ten pages of revision to leave me with 40 odd for the weekend, a very do-able number, I hope.
October 28, 2007
Even the weekends are going fast
So Friday there was a visit to the chiropractor which made me verrrrry sleeepppy the rest of the day and I ended up veging and napping before going to see the Indigo Girls (who rock) with the VT.
Yesterday there was shopping with the Mum which was fun but expensive.
Today I need to do my tax return. Which involves sorting the paperwork that hasn't been sorted in um, awhile. Plus daylight savings started today which means I'm running an hour later than I thought I was. Sigh. And also means I'll be tired and bumping into things at work. I'm not good with the first week of daylight savings (as evidenced by the fact that I got up when my bedside clock said 8.30, sat down at the computer to check email, checked the clock on the computer a little time later, say it said 9.47 and thought "man, that hour went fast" rather than "man, I forgot to put my alarm clock forward an hour".
Yesterday there was shopping with the Mum which was fun but expensive.
Today I need to do my tax return. Which involves sorting the paperwork that hasn't been sorted in um, awhile. Plus daylight savings started today which means I'm running an hour later than I thought I was. Sigh. And also means I'll be tired and bumping into things at work. I'm not good with the first week of daylight savings (as evidenced by the fact that I got up when my bedside clock said 8.30, sat down at the computer to check email, checked the clock on the computer a little time later, say it said 9.47 and thought "man, that hour went fast" rather than "man, I forgot to put my alarm clock forward an hour".
September 29, 2007
Warning - likely randomness
Brain status - still pretty much broken. So this may be a little scattered.
But first a big WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!! to the uber-talented Bron for selling her GH winning manuscript. She is clever! You must all buy her book when it comes out next year.
Other good things:
Not having to watch the Grand Final this afternoon (due to interest, none)!
It is the weekend!
Miss Doxie (funny, funny, funny).
Lemon cheesecake chocolate (though now that my mother has signed me up for some sort of wardrobe advice/style makeover thingy jiggy at the end of October chocolate consumption needs to cease and desist to give Operation Make Pants Less Tight a fighting chance).
Other things (may be symptoms of brain brokeness):
My hand is bruised. Method of bruising, you ask? Why, I stuck my hand in my letterbox to grab mail, then started to walk towards front door without performing essential step of removing hand from slot before moving feet. Net result, whack hand good on metal mailbox rim. Owie.
Losing ability to identify objects correctly. Proof - yesterday told orange cat quite sternly to stop sniffing the washing machine. Which would be fine except he was sniffing the sewing machine. Apparently they both do something with cloth and that is good enough for my brain.
Misinterpreting the word "September" as "Spend spend spend like a spendy thing-tember". Thank goodness for credit cards (this tune will likely change when I get my statements next month). I have increasingly demonstrated my unfailing ability to pick the most expensive variant of a thing at fifty paces and fall in love with it by acquiring a Pandora habit (I'm blaming Gwen for this one and the fact that I have already proven myself able to lose normal charms from normal charm bracelets with mysterious ease), new Jo Malone perfume (Red Roses, me smell pwetty) and er more fabric for quilts (more on this later). I did manage not to buy any of the three handbags I spotted in DJs and adored (the cheapest of these was $1935!!! so apparently even my spendiness has it's limits).
The quilt thing: I think I may have blogged about quilting (or my desire to someday have a go at the non-teeny tiny pieces and stitching variety) before. Because I like colour and pattern and quilting seems to require enjoying that sort of stuff. As I have pointed out my brain is broken and I cannot be expected to find the relevant posts. You may search if you wish.
Anyway, earlier this year I finally (as part of an artist's date) when to a quilting store and bought some fabric (demonstrating my expensive picking expertise nicely). Sadly things did not progress very far due to, you know, me trying to have a day job, write books and be treasurer for RWAus and occasionally prove to friends and relatives that I am still alive by seeing them in person. Not much spare time for coming to grips with quilting.
But seeing as I am now no longer treasurer, I theoretically have some time for some other creative outlets and so I pulled out the fabric and tried to cut some up (after Chris demonstrating how easy it was to do so). Let us just say it was not so easy for me and I may have whined to the VT about not knowing what I was doing (virgos do not like this). She, being brilliant and virgo-y promptly presented me with a gift voucher from the quilt shop as part of my birthday present, pointing out that they, duh, had classes. Who knew?
So yesterday I toddled off and signed up for a class, thinking I would do something simple as a class project then come back to my other quilt. So I explained this to the nice quilt lady and she helped me buy still more fabric (spendy, spendy, spendy, most expensive fabric in store picked withing five minutes, spendy, spendy, go me) for a squares quilt. Then she managed not to laugh too hard at me when I told her which quilt I was planning to make which she pronounced just as easy and I could practice on that. But no, practice quilt is smaller and will be done first. It is the Virgo Way.
Then she mentioned I needed to test my sewing machine before class (good point, said machine has lived in my wardrobe for several years since I inherited it from my mother. My sewing activities over this period have been limited to handstitching hems and buttons and the odd cross stitch. But I can sew. I used to make clothes and all). Then it occurred to me that, to test the machine I need more fabric, (as of course one cannot waste the expensive stuff on practice sewing). So I bought yet more fabric, pins and a rotary cutter so I can return Chris's spare at Spotlight. So now I have practice squares to practice on for my practice quilt. It's like a never ending spiral of fabric. And spendiness. And apparently after learning to machine piece I can do more classes in hand quilting (hmmm, maybe. I do hear tell that - ssssshhhhh- you can pay people to machine quilt for you), binding and I'm sure it just goes on from there. Go me.
Just in case that was all confusing I have:
Practice material to test machine.....
Practice quilt material (we shall dub thee Mel's soothing blue and white nap quilt)....
And original quilt we coveted material (Mel's quilt of brightness)
(Sorry, bad photos. Light not great today. Plus my camera isn't fab at close up.)
And I saw plenty of pretty fabrics in further quilt shop investigations with Chris yesterday and this morning when I was sleeping in and dozing in and out I kept seeing fabric patterns in my head and colour combos. Not even patterns I had seen in the stores. Help! The girls are obsessed. I'm assuming it's all story food and creativity fertiliser so let's see.
PS Apologies for long-and-ramblingness. You were warned. And now off to iron practice practice fabric as it has been washed. I don't even like ironing! Then there will cutting and sewing. Should be entertaining.
But first a big WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!! to the uber-talented Bron for selling her GH winning manuscript. She is clever! You must all buy her book when it comes out next year.
Other good things:
Not having to watch the Grand Final this afternoon (due to interest, none)!
It is the weekend!
Miss Doxie (funny, funny, funny).
Lemon cheesecake chocolate (though now that my mother has signed me up for some sort of wardrobe advice/style makeover thingy jiggy at the end of October chocolate consumption needs to cease and desist to give Operation Make Pants Less Tight a fighting chance).
Other things (may be symptoms of brain brokeness):
My hand is bruised. Method of bruising, you ask? Why, I stuck my hand in my letterbox to grab mail, then started to walk towards front door without performing essential step of removing hand from slot before moving feet. Net result, whack hand good on metal mailbox rim. Owie.
Losing ability to identify objects correctly. Proof - yesterday told orange cat quite sternly to stop sniffing the washing machine. Which would be fine except he was sniffing the sewing machine. Apparently they both do something with cloth and that is good enough for my brain.
Misinterpreting the word "September" as "Spend spend spend like a spendy thing-tember". Thank goodness for credit cards (this tune will likely change when I get my statements next month). I have increasingly demonstrated my unfailing ability to pick the most expensive variant of a thing at fifty paces and fall in love with it by acquiring a Pandora habit (I'm blaming Gwen for this one and the fact that I have already proven myself able to lose normal charms from normal charm bracelets with mysterious ease), new Jo Malone perfume (Red Roses, me smell pwetty) and er more fabric for quilts (more on this later). I did manage not to buy any of the three handbags I spotted in DJs and adored (the cheapest of these was $1935!!! so apparently even my spendiness has it's limits).
The quilt thing: I think I may have blogged about quilting (or my desire to someday have a go at the non-teeny tiny pieces and stitching variety) before. Because I like colour and pattern and quilting seems to require enjoying that sort of stuff. As I have pointed out my brain is broken and I cannot be expected to find the relevant posts. You may search if you wish.
Anyway, earlier this year I finally (as part of an artist's date) when to a quilting store and bought some fabric (demonstrating my expensive picking expertise nicely). Sadly things did not progress very far due to, you know, me trying to have a day job, write books and be treasurer for RWAus and occasionally prove to friends and relatives that I am still alive by seeing them in person. Not much spare time for coming to grips with quilting.
But seeing as I am now no longer treasurer, I theoretically have some time for some other creative outlets and so I pulled out the fabric and tried to cut some up (after Chris demonstrating how easy it was to do so). Let us just say it was not so easy for me and I may have whined to the VT about not knowing what I was doing (virgos do not like this). She, being brilliant and virgo-y promptly presented me with a gift voucher from the quilt shop as part of my birthday present, pointing out that they, duh, had classes. Who knew?
So yesterday I toddled off and signed up for a class, thinking I would do something simple as a class project then come back to my other quilt. So I explained this to the nice quilt lady and she helped me buy still more fabric (spendy, spendy, spendy, most expensive fabric in store picked withing five minutes, spendy, spendy, go me) for a squares quilt. Then she managed not to laugh too hard at me when I told her which quilt I was planning to make which she pronounced just as easy and I could practice on that. But no, practice quilt is smaller and will be done first. It is the Virgo Way.
Then she mentioned I needed to test my sewing machine before class (good point, said machine has lived in my wardrobe for several years since I inherited it from my mother. My sewing activities over this period have been limited to handstitching hems and buttons and the odd cross stitch. But I can sew. I used to make clothes and all). Then it occurred to me that, to test the machine I need more fabric, (as of course one cannot waste the expensive stuff on practice sewing). So I bought yet more fabric, pins and a rotary cutter so I can return Chris's spare at Spotlight. So now I have practice squares to practice on for my practice quilt. It's like a never ending spiral of fabric. And spendiness. And apparently after learning to machine piece I can do more classes in hand quilting (hmmm, maybe. I do hear tell that - ssssshhhhh- you can pay people to machine quilt for you), binding and I'm sure it just goes on from there. Go me.
Just in case that was all confusing I have:
Practice material to test machine.....
Practice quilt material (we shall dub thee Mel's soothing blue and white nap quilt)....
And original quilt we coveted material (Mel's quilt of brightness)
(Sorry, bad photos. Light not great today. Plus my camera isn't fab at close up.)
And I saw plenty of pretty fabrics in further quilt shop investigations with Chris yesterday and this morning when I was sleeping in and dozing in and out I kept seeing fabric patterns in my head and colour combos. Not even patterns I had seen in the stores. Help! The girls are obsessed. I'm assuming it's all story food and creativity fertiliser so let's see.
PS Apologies for long-and-ramblingness. You were warned. And now off to iron practice practice fabric as it has been washed. I don't even like ironing! Then there will cutting and sewing. Should be entertaining.
September 27, 2007
blurred
Whuh? Huh? Four days go by. Busy. Brain broken now. Must sleep.
To summarise: Pratchett good. Bujold good. Jo Malone perfume good (roses - smell pwetty!). IT projects bad. Melbourne spring weather crazy.
More when coher-er, brain unbrokeness is back.
To summarise: Pratchett good. Bujold good. Jo Malone perfume good (roses - smell pwetty!). IT projects bad. Melbourne spring weather crazy.
More when coher-er, brain unbrokeness is back.
August 13, 2007
A good weekend in words and pictures...
It started like this....aka Thursday night
Then Jenny Crusie gave a brilliant workshop which will hopefully help me whip Wolf 2 into some semblance of shape.
Then we progressed to this....aka Friday night (that's me in black, Trish Morey in red)
Photo courtesy of the fabulous Fiona Lowe
Then there were wonderful keynotes and workshops on Saturday.
Then this (yay! and congrats to Rachel Robinson who won the category category of the same award)...aka Saturday night
Photo courtesy of the fabulous Keziah Hill
And then there was a brilliant workshop by Anne Stuart on writing dark contemporaries (Anne has been added to my official pantheon of writing goddesses).
Then there was the Cherry lunch on Sunday where Anne and Jenny were unanimously voted honourary Aussies and we tried to convince them they should move here and come to conference every year...
(from left to right: Erica, me, Jenny, Amy Andrews, Anne, Robyn and Roben)
And then, I decided to spend part of my winnings on a new toy...pwetty! (and yes, I need one, it means my big iPod will no longer risk life and limb when I exercise : )...which I need to do).
And now I'm home...luckily I'm doing an online course to stave off the post conference blues.
Then Jenny Crusie gave a brilliant workshop which will hopefully help me whip Wolf 2 into some semblance of shape.
Then we progressed to this....aka Friday night (that's me in black, Trish Morey in red)
Photo courtesy of the fabulous Fiona Lowe
Then there were wonderful keynotes and workshops on Saturday.
Then this (yay! and congrats to Rachel Robinson who won the category category of the same award)...aka Saturday night
Photo courtesy of the fabulous Keziah Hill
And then there was a brilliant workshop by Anne Stuart on writing dark contemporaries (Anne has been added to my official pantheon of writing goddesses).
Then there was the Cherry lunch on Sunday where Anne and Jenny were unanimously voted honourary Aussies and we tried to convince them they should move here and come to conference every year...
(from left to right: Erica, me, Jenny, Amy Andrews, Anne, Robyn and Roben)
And then, I decided to spend part of my winnings on a new toy...pwetty! (and yes, I need one, it means my big iPod will no longer risk life and limb when I exercise : )...which I need to do).
And now I'm home...luckily I'm doing an online course to stave off the post conference blues.
May 04, 2007
May musings
Which must start with...MAY??? Already?? Oh dear. That's a third of the year done. Mind you, it's been a pretty exciting start to the year but still, a little slow down wouldn't hurt.
This week I have been writing the scene that won't end. It still won't end and it's kind of annoying. So I am going to work around it and skip to the next bit and come back and see if I can't finish it. I need to do something like 27 pages in the next three days to reach 60k by the end of the weekend. It's a busy weekend, so we'll see.
Apparently May also equals mail because things I've been ordering have been arriving (with more to come...yay!). I found a dress to wear to the GH ceremony so yay. At the moment it fits nicely but I'm joining the general lulu health kick and plan to be lighter in July. Luckily one of the lulus is a fabulous seamstress type as well as a fabulous writer so she can perform adjustments if required (only two months now...I'm so looking forward to it). Keri is back from RT and full of reports of adventures. I wanna go to RT. We shall see about next year.
I've also got my very own copy of Sunshine now, so I can read it again. After I get my pages done. Wednesday night turned into sit down and read Natural Born Charmer night. I blame House for being a repeat (stupid TV programmers) and well, the fact that Susan Elizabeth Phillips is fab.
This week I have been writing the scene that won't end. It still won't end and it's kind of annoying. So I am going to work around it and skip to the next bit and come back and see if I can't finish it. I need to do something like 27 pages in the next three days to reach 60k by the end of the weekend. It's a busy weekend, so we'll see.
Apparently May also equals mail because things I've been ordering have been arriving (with more to come...yay!). I found a dress to wear to the GH ceremony so yay. At the moment it fits nicely but I'm joining the general lulu health kick and plan to be lighter in July. Luckily one of the lulus is a fabulous seamstress type as well as a fabulous writer so she can perform adjustments if required (only two months now...I'm so looking forward to it). Keri is back from RT and full of reports of adventures. I wanna go to RT. We shall see about next year.
I've also got my very own copy of Sunshine now, so I can read it again. After I get my pages done. Wednesday night turned into sit down and read Natural Born Charmer night. I blame House for being a repeat (stupid TV programmers) and well, the fact that Susan Elizabeth Phillips is fab.
December 16, 2006
The waiting game
Still no babies. Two friends due. No news. Particularly not of the one I'm going to be attempting to help during the process. Though that one's not officially due for another day.
So I'm still jumping every time my mobile rings and carting around a bag of comfy clothes and hospital stuff with me.
One day to Robbie.
Four more working days till Christmas and 11 days off.
Lots of christmas shopping still to do, though I have now written my christmas cards. Except for the two families with the babies due. It seems a bit rude to write dear a, b, c and d and little mystery bump.
No days to Lulus. I'm off today to figure out how the heck to get to Keri's new place. The others are road tripping together but I need to take my own car in case of babies, so I get to get lost all by myself.
No news from agents yet. But that might be a good thing. I did find out the book has gotten through to the second round of RWAs Emerald ST comp, so that's heartening on its first comp outing. I'd love to final 'cos the final judge is an agent, so fingers crossed. Actually the other one I'm rewriting got through to the secound round of the Emerald category comp as well. In its un-rewritten form so not holding out hopes of it finalling. It will be interesting to see what the comments say though. I'm going to try some US comps with the ST. See what happens.
Writing wise it's been a quiet week. Busy at work and my Dad was in hospital so was visiting him and having Mum stay. I managed to get five pages down of a scene which I think might just be wolf book number 2, so taking that to lulus to see what they think. Which means I have to go get organised!
Hope your Christmas countdowns are going well!
So I'm still jumping every time my mobile rings and carting around a bag of comfy clothes and hospital stuff with me.
One day to Robbie.
Four more working days till Christmas and 11 days off.
Lots of christmas shopping still to do, though I have now written my christmas cards. Except for the two families with the babies due. It seems a bit rude to write dear a, b, c and d and little mystery bump.
No days to Lulus. I'm off today to figure out how the heck to get to Keri's new place. The others are road tripping together but I need to take my own car in case of babies, so I get to get lost all by myself.
No news from agents yet. But that might be a good thing. I did find out the book has gotten through to the second round of RWAs Emerald ST comp, so that's heartening on its first comp outing. I'd love to final 'cos the final judge is an agent, so fingers crossed. Actually the other one I'm rewriting got through to the secound round of the Emerald category comp as well. In its un-rewritten form so not holding out hopes of it finalling. It will be interesting to see what the comments say though. I'm going to try some US comps with the ST. See what happens.
Writing wise it's been a quiet week. Busy at work and my Dad was in hospital so was visiting him and having Mum stay. I managed to get five pages down of a scene which I think might just be wolf book number 2, so taking that to lulus to see what they think. Which means I have to go get organised!
Hope your Christmas countdowns are going well!
July 14, 2006
A good day
I have spent most of this week coughing and spluttering and fighting off the same virus that about 60% of the people in my office seem to be suffering from.
Net result - Wednesday and Thursday largely involved sleeping or lying on my couch.
This morning (my day off), I am feeling a bit better. Yay.
Plus it has been a great day.
1. I found out I finalled in the Clendon Award, run by the Romance Writers of NZ. This is a great comp, so I'm very chuffed to have finalled again.
2. A very nice man came to give me a quote on a skylight to transform my poky dark must-have-the-light-on laundry into one where I could see. The quote was in my price range and he installed it on the spot. Voila...I no longer feel like a mole in a cave while trying to do laundry. On the minus side, I can now see all the cobwebs in my laundry.
3. I bought a digital camera and it arrived today. It's a Canon Ixus 55 and I'm still figuring it out but here's an initial effort - the orange cat saying "Mrrrrowwww".
So far the grey cat is clearly saying "WTF? Why did you wake me up" in all her shots so we shall come back when she's in a more supermodel mood.
And now, more sanding of window frames.
Net result - Wednesday and Thursday largely involved sleeping or lying on my couch.
This morning (my day off), I am feeling a bit better. Yay.
Plus it has been a great day.
1. I found out I finalled in the Clendon Award, run by the Romance Writers of NZ. This is a great comp, so I'm very chuffed to have finalled again.
2. A very nice man came to give me a quote on a skylight to transform my poky dark must-have-the-light-on laundry into one where I could see. The quote was in my price range and he installed it on the spot. Voila...I no longer feel like a mole in a cave while trying to do laundry. On the minus side, I can now see all the cobwebs in my laundry.
3. I bought a digital camera and it arrived today. It's a Canon Ixus 55 and I'm still figuring it out but here's an initial effort - the orange cat saying "Mrrrrowwww".
So far the grey cat is clearly saying "WTF? Why did you wake me up" in all her shots so we shall come back when she's in a more supermodel mood.
And now, more sanding of window frames.
April 30, 2006
The days are just packed
This week has been a good week. There have been Amazon shipments (Don't Look Down, yippeeee), there have been Brain Sync shipments (the meditation stuff is going very well, great in fact, I can highly recommend them and the Walking Meditation one is freaky - I can go twice as long on my elliptical trainer when listening to it - so lots of thumbs up there), there have been Krispy Kremes, there have been nice dinners cooked by the VT and her hubby (proving once and for all he is a chef), there have been Spooks episodes, courtesy of Quickflix and there has been a full request.
Due to the last of these, there has also been writing. Go me.
Plus tomorrow is the start of May. That means only three and a half weeks until I go to Kara and have 11 days off. I refuse to think about the fact that I have to fit a months worth of work day job wise into the 14 working days I have. It will work out somehow. Holidays - yay.
Now all I have to do is figure out what to buy the folks for their wedding anniversay (40 years - that's a LONG time) and I'll be set.
Due to the last of these, there has also been writing. Go me.
Plus tomorrow is the start of May. That means only three and a half weeks until I go to Kara and have 11 days off. I refuse to think about the fact that I have to fit a months worth of work day job wise into the 14 working days I have. It will work out somehow. Holidays - yay.
Now all I have to do is figure out what to buy the folks for their wedding anniversay (40 years - that's a LONG time) and I'll be set.
March 13, 2006
Lost weekend
Not lost. But almost over. Three and a bit days have whizzed by. How did that happen?
So what have we achieved this weekend? Friday I wrote, did chores and some other must do tasks (like watch NCIS and Medium - but that wasn't until after dinner). Got some feedback on the partial that made me think that something I thought was true but had been hoping wasn't (I think this is called denial) was true. Further opinons have backed this up. No biggie, just some rejigging to be done. I also scored two pairs of jeans for $60. And a size smaller than I usually wear! Always the way to shop. Of course, all the junk I've eaten this weekend probably means I now won't be able to do them up.
Saturday was crit group day, meeting Freya's adorable new puppy Oliver (who is so cute, he's lucky he didn't wind up in my handbag and living with two cats who ain't keen on dogs), scored a second hand Bamix which I've been wanting, then the gals forced me to eat mexican food and drink pineapple margaritas. It's tough.
Yesterday was HOT. So I slept in, I lazed around. I chatted via email to my brother (who isn't Mr Chatty very often so when he gets that way, it's good. Even though we wind up talking about weird stuff like manuscript format and publishing realities - and he is NOT a writer), did some RWA stuff, I napped, I faffed around on the internet, I had some story insights for one of the books - including the name of a character that I dreamt. Not that I did anything more with them than note them down. Then I did some grocery shopping and then watched The Village. Which was okay but different to how I thought. It looked scarier in the trailers, that's for sure.
Today I will write, do RWA stuff, finish my grocery shopping (aka actually plan my food for the week, seeing as the Commonwealth Games are starting and I'll be working at home a bit), do more chores (as the grey cat and the orange cat continue to refuse to help out in that department). It's raining and cool today which means I don't have to water the garden but do have to use my dryer to dry the last load of washing. I'll call that environment neutral, given I have green electricity.
Writing goals for the rest of the month - get this partial into shape, ditto the synopsis and mail the sucker off. Then I just have to finish it. Then I'm playing with paranormal for a bit.
And yes, I am still reading Sebastian. This week I've been tired and pushed for time. So I've been re-reading other stuff (so far 3 Nora's, Lord of Scoundrels, Undead and Unappreciated) and saving Sebastian for when I'm awake enough to appreciate him.
I also read The Ruthless Groom by Bronwyn Jameson. Bron is a fantastic Aussie Desire author and when I want examples of how a category should work, I often turn to her stuff. She's also a lovely gal.The Ruthless Groom is her latest and, as usual, it was great. Clarified some structural issues for me. aka it's taking too long to get the h/h on the same page. Off to kill some darlings (or at least move 'em around, though one bit which I love will have to go unless it can reappear later in the book). Sigh. Writing is hard.
So what have we achieved this weekend? Friday I wrote, did chores and some other must do tasks (like watch NCIS and Medium - but that wasn't until after dinner). Got some feedback on the partial that made me think that something I thought was true but had been hoping wasn't (I think this is called denial) was true. Further opinons have backed this up. No biggie, just some rejigging to be done. I also scored two pairs of jeans for $60. And a size smaller than I usually wear! Always the way to shop. Of course, all the junk I've eaten this weekend probably means I now won't be able to do them up.
Saturday was crit group day, meeting Freya's adorable new puppy Oliver (who is so cute, he's lucky he didn't wind up in my handbag and living with two cats who ain't keen on dogs), scored a second hand Bamix which I've been wanting, then the gals forced me to eat mexican food and drink pineapple margaritas. It's tough.
Yesterday was HOT. So I slept in, I lazed around. I chatted via email to my brother (who isn't Mr Chatty very often so when he gets that way, it's good. Even though we wind up talking about weird stuff like manuscript format and publishing realities - and he is NOT a writer), did some RWA stuff, I napped, I faffed around on the internet, I had some story insights for one of the books - including the name of a character that I dreamt. Not that I did anything more with them than note them down. Then I did some grocery shopping and then watched The Village. Which was okay but different to how I thought. It looked scarier in the trailers, that's for sure.
Today I will write, do RWA stuff, finish my grocery shopping (aka actually plan my food for the week, seeing as the Commonwealth Games are starting and I'll be working at home a bit), do more chores (as the grey cat and the orange cat continue to refuse to help out in that department). It's raining and cool today which means I don't have to water the garden but do have to use my dryer to dry the last load of washing. I'll call that environment neutral, given I have green electricity.
Writing goals for the rest of the month - get this partial into shape, ditto the synopsis and mail the sucker off. Then I just have to finish it. Then I'm playing with paranormal for a bit.
And yes, I am still reading Sebastian. This week I've been tired and pushed for time. So I've been re-reading other stuff (so far 3 Nora's, Lord of Scoundrels, Undead and Unappreciated) and saving Sebastian for when I'm awake enough to appreciate him.
I also read The Ruthless Groom by Bronwyn Jameson. Bron is a fantastic Aussie Desire author and when I want examples of how a category should work, I often turn to her stuff. She's also a lovely gal.The Ruthless Groom is her latest and, as usual, it was great. Clarified some structural issues for me. aka it's taking too long to get the h/h on the same page. Off to kill some darlings (or at least move 'em around, though one bit which I love will have to go unless it can reappear later in the book). Sigh. Writing is hard.
February 18, 2006
Where did the week go?
First let me say one thing.
Dear Writers of Lost. No more gouging of bullets out of shoulders with fingers. It's gross. And let Sawyer wash his hair - you're spoiling my eye candy. Thank you. PS Get on with the story.
With that off my chest I can report not much at all. More family dramas which meant total writing done for the week approximately one page. So today will be a concerted effort to get everything else done so tomorrow can be a writing day. I know what I have to do to get these *@!&$(*& three chapters finished, I just need the time to do it.
During the week I acquired a Dyson (yay). It's sparkly purple, it's light, the handle extends so you don't have to do an imitation of Quasimodo to vacuum (apparently Dyson recognise the fact that people over 5 foot 4 vacuum), it was 30% off and the amount of stuff it's sucking out of my carpet makes me wonder exactly what my other vacuum cleaner has been doing all these years apart from scaring the cats. So Dyson rates three thumbs up from me (or would if I had an extra thumb). From the orange cat and the grey cat there are reports that it rates flattened ears and exiting the immediate vicinity at even faster speeds than those caused by the old vacuum. But given that they are the chief culprits in covering my house with fur, they do not get a vote. Even if they think they deserve one.
And now, back to chores. I leave you with this to brighten your day.
Dear Writers of Lost. No more gouging of bullets out of shoulders with fingers. It's gross. And let Sawyer wash his hair - you're spoiling my eye candy. Thank you. PS Get on with the story.
With that off my chest I can report not much at all. More family dramas which meant total writing done for the week approximately one page. So today will be a concerted effort to get everything else done so tomorrow can be a writing day. I know what I have to do to get these *@!&$(*& three chapters finished, I just need the time to do it.
During the week I acquired a Dyson (yay). It's sparkly purple, it's light, the handle extends so you don't have to do an imitation of Quasimodo to vacuum (apparently Dyson recognise the fact that people over 5 foot 4 vacuum), it was 30% off and the amount of stuff it's sucking out of my carpet makes me wonder exactly what my other vacuum cleaner has been doing all these years apart from scaring the cats. So Dyson rates three thumbs up from me (or would if I had an extra thumb). From the orange cat and the grey cat there are reports that it rates flattened ears and exiting the immediate vicinity at even faster speeds than those caused by the old vacuum. But given that they are the chief culprits in covering my house with fur, they do not get a vote. Even if they think they deserve one.
And now, back to chores. I leave you with this to brighten your day.
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