Friday, November 28, 2014

Flashback Friday

Nov 2004:
This was a month of upheaval.  Stepdaughter decided to leave the baby daddy; SIL announced she was divorcing her hubby.  D and I began to have issues, since my mother announced she'd purchased tickets for all of us to fly to Ottowa over Christmas, in order to spend the holiday with my sister, BIL, and 1.5 y/o D,  But my spouse rebelled, saying he was NOT going anywhere over Christmas but to his mother's, since 'she might not be around much longer'.  The kids and I were free to go, but he was staying put.  And when he found out we were to leave Christmas Day?  OMG...the shit hit the fan.

I began having sleep issues.  I'd sleep two hours, then couldn't go back to sleep.  When four days passed and I'd only slept a total of 8 hours, I consulted Mom, who said it was stress, and for me to call the doctor.  She also agreed to see if she could switch our tickets to the next day.

The doctor called me in a prescription for Ambien.  I took one Friday night, and slept VERY well!  Mom called and said she'd managed to change our departure date, which calmed D down somewhat.  When we arrived at my MIL's for Thanksgiving, and she found out about our travel plans, she warned me some airports were strip-searching, and what about that?

"Maybe I'll get a cute security guard?"

She wasn't amused.

******
Present Day:
We had a very enjoyable T-day yesterday, with a 22 lb turkey, mashed potatoes, noodles, stuffing, peas and carrots, a  raw veggie tray, fruit tray, bacon-tomato cups, homemade biscuits, cheesecake, blackberry cream cheese pie, apple pie, and cake.  Friend Jackie and 6 y/o daughter/granddaughter Lily spent the day with us, and I was able to watch most of the parade this morning.

I also sang at the 8am service this morning at Old Cathedral.

Planning to drag out the Christmas decorations today and letting Ariel and Jaevon set things up.  S has to work 9-5, so maybe some of it won't get set up until later.

Karaoke Songs For Tomorrow:
Heart Like Mine-Miranda Lambert
Home Sweet Home-Motley Crue
Harden My Heart-Quarterflash
Birmingham-Amanda Marshall (if there's time; I have to leave at midnight, due to singing at 8 Sunday)

Friday, November 21, 2014

Flashback Friday

November 1994:
This was a somber month, since my mother took a leave of absence in order to care for my grandmother in Florida, who had been diagnosed with esophogial cancer.  My paternal grandfather passed away, so my sister and I supported our father, along with Granny, during the awful week.  We spent Thanksgiving with the spouse's parents, since we would be flying to Florida in December.  The kids were really too young to understand what was going on

**********
Present Day:
I was finally able to finish Kira's story this week!  It ended being 52,073 words:)  Now back to work on NiKoh's story!

I don't know if I'll 'win' NaNo this year or not, but if I can work on Niko's story every day, and average 1400 words, I should be able to make quite a dent in it.

Awesome news!
1)  I signed up for two slots for next year's Christmas Gift and Hobby Show, to be held Nov 11-15th.

2)  Kenzie's 2nd review arrived!  This one's from TRS:  "I enjoyed this paranormal romance story. This is a fast-paced story that is filled with action, and a lot of hot and steamy sexual encounters between the two main characters." To read the full review, go here.

Not-So-Awesome News:
Saw the eye doctor for another check of my eye pressure, and not only is it still elevated, it's higher.  So he's referring me to the Eye Care center for a full glaucoma work up.  Since I have ZERO history of it in my family (or so I thought....more on this in a moment), the Dr thinks it's merely occular hypertension and treatable with drops.  I just learned via my cousin Pam, my great-uncle had it.  Thanks, Uncle Mac....

Weekend Plans:
MDQ and ME are arriving tomorrow; all three little ones have the entire week off next week.  Since the grandkids couldn't come over Fall Break, we said they could come down over the holiday.  I plan to write most of tomorrow, then head to karaoke.

Songs:
Hold On To the Night-Richard Marx
Head Games-Foreigner
Hooked On A Feeling-BJ Thomas
Birmingham-Amanda Marshall
One Tin Solder-Joni Mitchell

Sunday:
Choir is singing at Sacred Heart at 10:30, so I'm VERY happy there is no CCD class!  I can take MDQ with me, if she wants, and the rest can stay home.

Amazing Race:
Thank GOD Tim and Tee-Jay were finally sent home!  I'm sorry; I found them very annoying.  Adam and Bethany used their Express Pass, which, from the previews of next week, they're going to wish they'd held onto it one more week.  We'll see what happens!

NaNo Word Count So Far:   20,933    2/5 of the way to my goal:)  

Friday, November 14, 2014

Flashback Friday: Catching Up...Again....

Yes, I know; I've been a bad blogger again.  Last week was just crazy, between the Christmas Gift and Hobby Show on Thursday (sold 4 books!) and the Christ Renews His Parish Women's Retreat over the weekend!  I was busy making cookies last Friday.

Nov 1974:
We celebrated at my Granny McIntire's house, with my cousin Michele.  At school, we were learning our Multiplication Tables, and I was very grateful for a wonderful Saturday Morning 'short' between cartoon, Schoolhouse Rock.  I loved the 'Three Is A Magic Number', 'A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing', 'I'm Just A Bill', and 'The Constitution' jingles the best.

1984:
TM and I kept advancing our relationship.  Finally, Nov 2nd, it went as far as it could.  I don't regret it; it was a wonderful experience.  My only regret is I didn't wait a bit longer.  But I can't see the future, and I had no idea my Soul Mate would arrive in just another year.

For Thanksgiving that year, I think we just had a quiet day at home.  I DID manage to make it into a picture in the 1984-85 yearbook.  There's a picture of the crowd at the State Band Finals, and while the main focus is two girls in the guard, in the background you can clearly see me, my dad, and my sister, as we cheered JHS to a 4th place victory:)

Fashion:  Layers was the rage.  I would wear a polo with a multi-colored collar, a white long-sleeved Oxford shirt, then pull my blue and green monogrammed sweater over everything.  Yes, this kept me warm!

*********
Present Day:
I'm currently in Lafayette, helping my mom with Phase #3 of the Great Decluttering Project of 2014, ha ha.....we need to 'find' the kitchen table, since Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up!  Today, we cleared the card table, only for Mom to pile two more stacks on it.  So that's tomorrow....then I'm off to Karaoke.

Saturday, I'm off to Indy Unmasked, and hope to meet Carly Phillips, Mahalia Levy, and Morgan Wyatt.  Don't think I'll be buying books, but I'll take pics and pick up swag.  Yes, I'm broke.  Then home and more karaoke.

Songs I Plan To Sing:
Friday:
Going to do a 'Heart' theme.....
Alone
What About Love
Never
All I Want To Do
Greatest Love of All  (want to get this on video)
You Haven't Seen The Last of Me (if there's time)

Saturday:
Birmingham
Better Dig Two
Edge of 17
ET
Magic Power
I Will Be

Saturday, November 1, 2014

November Reading Schedule

Looking Ahead To This Month:
1) It's Nano, and my project is on my dead laptop.  It's currently being checked to see if it is salvagable or data recovery is all I will get.  I HAVE to get this written this month, since I don't typically write during December.  Hopefully, I'll get to work on it this week.

2)  Christmas Toy and Hobby Show:  I was invited to participate, so Thursday the 6th, we're headed up to Indy for the day:)  I have print books; gift bags; candy; and blurb booklets for sale.  Anything to get my name 'out there':)

3)  Women's Retreat:  I'm a leader this year, so I've had monthly meetings this past year, and it's winding down:)  Next weekend, I'll be writing by hand in the evenings, and hoping for a successful retreat:)

4)  Helping Mom:  Planning to go up on the 13th, plus write.

5)  Thanksgiving:  I believe our choir will be singing at the church service, and I believe the grandkids will be here.  Hubby does most of the cooking.

6)  Christmas Shopping:  Lord, I don't know when I'm going to do it.

So yeah, this is going to be an interesting month!


Print:
The Weight of Silence Could NOT put this down last night!!  Page turner:)
Seeking Shelter-Morgan Wyatt  LOVED this!!  RR

E-book:
Marriage Minded Lord-Sandra Sookoo Discovered I HAD read this already:)  Very good!
The Troubles-Tricia Anderson
Shut Out-Liz Crowe Good story!
Irish Rising-Marie Rose Dufour  Enjoyable:)
Cowboy Up-Various
The Gentleman's Harlot-Natalie Dae
Slave-Sherri Hayes
Sticky Magic-Raine Delight
Lust On Tap-Liz Crowe
Blind Faith-Sandra Tilley
Laura Meets Jeffrey-Jeffrey Michaelson
Breathing His Air-Debra Kayn
Lawman-Regina Carlysle
Winning His Wife-Sandra Sookoo
Baby Stetson-Nikki Lynn Barrett, et al

Karaoke Songs:
Hold On To the Nights-Richard Marx Bleh...'valiant effort'
Head Games-Foreigner
Home Sweet Home-Motley Crue Not bad!  Was complimented:)
Hooked On A Feeling-Blue Swede (BJ Thomas??) Not bad...
Hard To Say I'm Sorry-Chicago
Harden My Heart-Quarterflash Had people clapping along and singing:)
Head Over Heels-Tears For Fears
Head Over Heels-Go-Gos
Heart Like Mine-Miranda Lambert Not bad for 1st time:)