Thought Patterns

But at least it is progress.

I am working on BG3, tentatively titled Butch Girls and Stereotypes. Tentative is the key word here.

Actually, this is what the title will look like on the cover, if I have any say in the matter.

At any rate, I am closing in on 60K with a 90K goal. I'd like to go over that top mark to leave room for editing. We'll see.

I am also editing "Simple Sarah", book one of the Trilogy, and tentatively called The Blessed. Editing it is easy since the beta readers (mucho thankso to D and R!!) did such a great job of reading, editing, and commenting. I'm only about half-way with that and adding a lot as I go.

So I am working. I am trying to be a professional. I am still working on the Twelve Step program. I take 15 minutes each day and do filing in an attempt to clean up my work area (aka The Living Room). Lorna helped some yesterday but today was too busy reading. She's been reading Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel's Chosen. She read Kushiel's Dart last week and is in love with the writer.

Lorna's curiosity is overtaking her about these caterpillars. They're on someone's mailbox. Anyone know what they are? Most are around 2-3" but some are at least 4".

Lorna decided we needed to spend money on gasoline so we headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wonderful drive and scenery! We took the camera, three PB&Js, Sam, Joella, water for the dogs and a bug jug o' tea for us. We grabbed chips when we got gas.

We got on at about mile marker 382 and stopped by the Folk Art Center for a map and a newsletter. We continue north to the Craggy Gardens (MP 364). We get out to stretch a bit and take some photos as well as get information about the hikes in that area.

The Craggy Visitors Center is right on the side of the road, unlike most other places on the Parkway. Lorna crossed the road to take some photos of that side.

You can see the effects of the drought from the low water line of the lake below.

These are trees just beyond the parking area. They are twisted and leaning from the wind. It is around 5000 foot there, I think.

This is the view beyond them:

(more…)

I've said numerous times, here and elsewhere, that the world revolves around priorities. What is more important than something else at any given moment.

Life and Limits

Friend of mine is dying. Well, technically we all are, but Lew really is. The time line from the doc is "many months to a couple of years". Narrows it down. It is frustrating that he and Elena are so many hours away. Right at the edge of the "easy day drive" limit, you know?

Lew and Elena's priorities are way different than mine. Yours are different from the person next to you. Etc etc. It is what makes the world go 'round, that difference, that constant changing.

Life and Leisure

I have critters around me, some furred, some finned, some…shelled? I have three goldfish and a bunch of snails. I have Malaysian Trumpet snails (Thiaridae Melanoides tuberculatus), Red Ramshorns (Planorbidae), and "Mystery"/Apple snails (Pomacea pomacea bridgesii and Viviparus malleatus). One of the mystery snails, Crash, has laid two clutches (egg groups). Bridgesii lay their eggs above the water line so they are easy to find, observe, and/or remove. Her first clutch should be hatching soon. The other has a while to go yet.

I have so much fun watching the snails and the fish. Their priorities are much different than mine. Theirs are simple: eat, sleep, have sex, explore, then forget what we just did so that we can do it again as if for the first time.

Leisure and Limits

My body won't do what I want it to. I want to do some things and it says "Ha." Actually, it uses more complicated verbiage than that but I can't repeat it here. Yeah, the colorful metaphors are quite rough. Lew's body is tired from the chemo and the other stuff it has had to go through. Elena's body is arguing with her, too, although I'm sure its language is a little cleaner than mine. She's more sophisticated than me so I would assume her body is too.

We are getting ready to go to Atlanta for the GCLS conference. We are also planning how to not spend the money we don't have. Meals are going to be the biggest outflow of cash. Lorna wants to take milk and cereal. Eh, I guess.

Linkage:

Elena's Blog about Lew's cancer
Elena's "About"

My aquatic website
Aquatic Photo Gallery
All about apple snails

Golden Crown Literary Society
GCLS Con - Schedule

Some author-y stuff:

My bio over at Regal Crest has been updated. I like this version better.

Butch Girls Can Fix Anything (BGCFA) is on Regal Crest's best seller's list. (I heard a rumor it is the best seller for Jan. and Feb.) BGCFA has gotten two reviews, one thumbs-down and one thumbs-up, over at Amazon.

My publisher is chomping at the bit (better a bit than my ass!) for another book.

Irony lives: I had changed and hated the plot (of BG2) a year ago and I still hate it.

Some Real Life stuff:

We have three goldfish now - Sumo, Kiko, and Sake. They are in a 25 gallon tank and loving the space.

My friend Lew isn't doing so well with chemo.

All our critters (6 dogs, 3 cats, 3 fish, umpteen snails) are doing well. No more fights.

My voice is back; my cough is still around; my nose is clear; my ears still hurt; the nausea has decreased; and I am still on those horse choking anti-biotics.

Lorna had an MRI done to see what was causing the pain and tingling in her neck and hands. Arthritis in her lower neck, the nurse said. PT to start soon. We were sure it was going to be worse.

Getting ready.

Lorna has her recliner and is happy.

The dogs lost their couch but got to keep the cushions so they are kinda happy.

The cats have a lap to sleep in so they are happy.

I can't breathe through my nose but my ear isn't hurting any more, so I am kinda happy.

I caught Lorna's cold.

That asthma thing I had a few weeks ago left me with a cough. Then I managed to have another one the other day (cold air).

So I figured that I'd be stuck with a cough until spring. But then today I started getting all congested and now I am running a fever. Oh goody.

I did write some today. Not much, less than 1K but a little each day, right?

Tomorrow should be the worst of it. Just in time for the Super Bowl.

Speaking of Super Bowl, Lorna's recliner came in and we picked it up today. I'll upload a photo or two later. I may not be on much tomorrow. Maybe Monday.