Inspired by the Season

I'm not sure whether I've stated this, but I'm LDS aka Mormon. It's rare that I'll bring up a religious topic, but I mentioned my involvement with the recent nativity display. Our church set up hundreds of nativities in a room the size of a full basketball court. I did the silhouettes of the city you'll see in the background of some of these pictures. It worked out to be just a little over 100 ft of silhouettes sketched. I also helped set up seating areas and a section dedicated to pictures. Anyway, the nativities are amazing. There is a huge range of what is present, and it's all on loan from various people. It's a free event that draws in groups from all over--whether they're members of our church or not. Here are some of my favorite nativities.

Here is just an idea of how big it is--this is just a section of it--perhaps one-fifth of the entire display is visible:

I liked this one made from a log.

Here you can see the silhouettes I did:

The sign states this is from the 1930s:

This is made using nails:

This is my favorite:

The nativity in the foreground is made entirely of newspaper:

This nativity is made of husks, nuts, cobs, and other natural elements.

Penguins--gotta love penguins.

This is made of stone and from Ireland. This was probably my second favorite.

There were several made from olive trees. The husband and the husband's father are big fans of wood nativities.

I liked this glass one:

This was a wonderful experience. From a spiritual and artistic standpoint--it's unparalleled. If you ever get the chance to attend such an event, I recommend you move heaven and earth to be there. It's amazing. Anyway, it's meant long hours the last two years for me since they found out that I'm an artist that can free-hand and paint. (Last year, I did a stable for a live nativity--with painted animals on the back.) When it's all said and done, the hours are worth it. It's just for two days. In fact, it was completely gone today for church. There are few things that take that many hours that are worth two days worth of use. This is one of those things.

I hope everyone is having a good Sunday. I'll be back to writing-centric posts tomorrow.

Sometimes--we're laughing both at and with ourselves

From the chart site to the side:

see more Funny Graphs

Doctor, I believe we've discovered a normality.

So, I've been so busy this week that I didn't do any flash fiction.

GASP!

I know. It's not right. There should always be time set aside for flashing.

Today, I tried to accomplish:

1. Getting package mailed = done

2. Getting car tabs updated = closed on Fridays

3. Buying Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for friend's birthday--last week = sold out

4. Working on Honor Six = just got back to the house after having been gone for eight hours

5. Cleaning house --seriously, I was = see excuse--I mean--reason above

6. Worked in T's classroom = Yay! Did it.

I did accomplish several things not on the list. I went to the bakery and got a small cake for my friend and met up with Heidi and went to the Nativity thing and out to lunch.

Still, the one thing I was going to accomplish IF IT KILLED ME--was getting my tabs updated. What kind of licensing place is closed on Fridays? Wrong! So wrong! Grumble grumble. The sad irony will involve me getting pulled over for expired tabs before Monday arrives. (It's the car we rarely drive, but with our main vehicle out of commission. Le sigh.)

Anyway, I had a wicked migraine take me down last night, but the wonderful, stupendous, super husband took the kids out of the house and returned with Taco Bell food. It was so nice.

So, these is a boring post, huh? I did have nightmares last night about getting pulled over before I got my tabs renewed. Then, I also had a dream that someone was trying to notify me that someone close to me named "Mary" had just been killed in a car accident. I know like five or six Marys in real life, so I kept trying to get them to clarify and they kept saying, "It was Mary, you know--Mary." Awful. I was screaming by the end of it, yelling, "GIVE me more information." They said, "Okay. Okay. It was Mary..." and I woke up.

Doh.

Well, it's time for me to go pick up the kidlets at the bus stop. This is, of course, when any attempts to accomplish things will be null and void and reversed.

Such is life....

Tag--you're it!

I was tagged by Tina, so this is a two post day. I'm supposed to answer these uber personal questions and tag two other people. (What were the odds that I wouldn't tag Diana?) Diana--you're it! Hah! Girl with One Eye--you're also it. Neeners.

1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?

The last thing I wrote is Honor Six. I won a bunch of contests in creative writing in high school, so they were published in school-wide stuff. That the first "real" writing I did. This question is so vague. When I was young, my favorite first word I learned how to write was "pin." I don't know why, but I just liked the way it looked.

2. Write poetry?

Yes, some. I'm not a poet, though.

3. Angsty poetry?

Nah.

4. Favorite genre of writing?

Paranormal Urban Fantasy--both to read and write.

5. Most annoying character you've ever created?

I once wrote a story about a knight who went up against another and refused to joust because he was an affirmed coward. The council of wizards kept trying to get him to do it, but he just kept refusing before walking off the field. He was boldly cowardly--and there was just something so annoying and charming about him.

6. Best Plot you've ever created?

Umm, I really like the Honor book's plotline, but Scorched is pretty good too. I don't know--this might be a better question for people that have read my books.

7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?

I think the plot twist in the first Sarah book is still the best one I've come up with. I had my two protagonists stuck, safely hiding, in their apartment, and it was a challenge to get them out--when it wasn't logical at all. My villain managed a twist so cunning that I still rub my hands together a little when I read it. BAWAHAHA!

8. How often do you get writer's block?

Twice a month at least for twenty-four hours each time when my mind is fuzzy from girly hormones. It's a total black-out, and it terrifies me each time--I feel like I've lost any talent I might have. I've been struggling with writer's frustration with several of my stories, but I think it's because I had too many WIPs.

9. Write fan fiction?

No. I just find it weirder than weird myself.

10. Do you type or write by hand?

LOL. Type. My hands cramp up with even a little bit of writing. I've become a huge sissy. Plus, I'm dependent on spell-check and all the other wonderful things that come with technology.

11. Do you save everything you write?

Sure. Why not. My OCD would freak out if I threw anything out.

12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?

I never leave a good idea behind.

13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?

Umm, tough one. I really like "Stories and Magic" because it's first person written from the perspective of an agoraphobic person who never leaves her apartment. It was a challenge, and I liked it.

14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?

No idea. You'd have to ask them.

15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?

Abso-freaking-lutely. I love me some angst. Scorched--full of lovely angst. No straight romances, though--not in my opinion.

16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?

I set a bunch of stuff in either Vegas or Seattle. I've spent so much time in both places that I know them well. Scorched is in Vegas. Honor is in Seattle--but she's been all over. This may seem weird, but I keep track of the weather in the locations I use in stories. I don't know why, but it feels like I'm keeping track of my characters' lives that way. I'm fairly certain it's psychotic actually. So, I'm currently watching the weather in Miama, Houston, Seattle, Vegas, and L.A. No, I know. It makes no sense.

17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?

I have three I consider to be WIPs (listed at the bottom), but I have the Company of Him eleven and a book called Tables Turned that are there and waiting should I come up with enthusiasm for them.

18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?

In high school. Actually, like Tina, I just got passed over on a contest. Thanks for making it burn like a paper cut with lemon juice in it.

19. What are your five favorite words?

For right now: "Can I be your agent?" :) I'm so clever.

20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?

This may or may not shock the crap out of people that have read all my books. Johnna--without a doubt. Her voice is the closest to mine and it was easiest to write her dialogue.

21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?

I have no idea. I've heard both Stephanie Meyer and J.K. Rowling say that their characters seem to walk into their minds fully-formed (or something like that.) That's how it is for me. They seem as real to me as other people I meet. Jake seems particularly real for some reason.

22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?

Yep. My dystopian is based on a dream.

23. Do you favor happy endings?

I favor good endings that are happy. I don't like things tied up--nice and tidy. I like real endings where things are good and right. I don't like sad endings--at all. NO WAY. If something has a sad ending, I won't watch it or read it. It's my policy. Sometimes, I read the end of literary novels just to check. (That seems to be a common trend among literary novels.)

24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm obsessed with it. I double-check and triple-check. It's why my sister gets so excited about "Beta Easter Eggs" when she finds my typos.

25. Does music help you write?

Sometimes. Sometimes I need total and complete silence--which is why I write at night so much. Right now, our saltwater fish tank is way too loud for my comfort level, so I'm going to have to move to another room. (I have strong auditory aversions.)

26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.

"I think I might be able to drive with you on my lap." Reeve--Honor Within It makes me laugh every time I read it.

Priorities--Those are so cool. I wish I had some.

Well, since I'm not shy about talking about my OCD, I'll add now that I can't seem to grasp the concept of priorities. It's the obsessive part of OCD. Well, technically, I have a lot of priorities--I'm over-run with them--they just suck. So, I'm shuffling priorities around right now. I don't think I even feel like querying Honor this month. I feel like finishing Honor Six and getting it out to her fans for a "Christmas Present" for them. It's been a while since I finished an Honor book. I also intend to get Scorched to a few of my "hard copy only" betas.

I also promised to go back and help with the Nativity thing. I'm such a sucker when it comes to helping friends. Unfortunately, there is a lot of dust in the air from the nativities, and it's aggravating my asthma in a wicked, wicked way. It's making me sleepy not being able to breathe--so then I take asthma stuff which gives me insomnia. Bah! I was up late last night--really, really, really late. So, today, I'm only staying for three hours, and then they're cut off. I can't do more than that. I'm so tired.

Then, we get to cleaning, laundry, and the rest of that. Blech. Low priority. Very, very low priority. Hate it!

So, lack of sleep and frustration are really swamping my system today. I feel blah. I'm going to work on Honor Six for a while and then I'll shower and reapproach this thing we call life.

To Query or not to Query that is the question.

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the agents to enjoy their holidays or to take queries against a sea of NaNo writers and Holiday Abusers and by opposing--be lost among them. To Query or to sleep. To sleep perchance to dream of another novel. Querying--that undiscovered country from whose bourn none but rejections return. Aye. There's the rub. Who would something something something slings and arrows of outrageous fortune blah blah blah when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin. (That's a dagger--for all you creeps out there who assume something like "bodkin" must be skanky.) I can't remember the rest, though I once had it memorized. It's a Wednesday and my brain feels mushy. I think I may have even squished things into the wrong places. You get the point. I didn't cheat and look it up--so there. (Aye there's the rub indeed.)

Okay, so everyone loves Honor. That's what I'm getting from betas, from readers, from family. Out of two dozen or so people that have read portions or all of it--they've basically become addicts--and many have passed my hard copies off to others to read. People quote from it. No joke. It's bizarre. This may sound conceited, but I'm going with the insanity defense. Honestly, I feel so disconnected from the genius that is Honor because I swear that Honor writes it herself. I just type as fast as her character spills it. I read back through it after the fact and laugh and cry and feel like an insane person for not remembering the bulk of what I wrote or how it made it into the story. Honor is just like that. She is wicked awesome.

So, I just don't know whether to wait until January or query now. I'm excited about Honor again--especially now that I'm almost done with Honor Six. Plus, a few new people (including my Mom) just got the Honor books, and they're all excited about it. That makes me excited.

Should I query now--should I wait? Aargh! I'm thinking of picking like five or six agents and querying them and then being "done" for December. What do you think? Weigh in. Querying in December--bad idea? Enthusiasm for a project should be capitalized on--or stomped down until the holidays are over?

To Query or not to Query--that is the question.

I won't be around for a few hours--I stopped by the church to see how the whole nativity project is going, and Katie, my friend, looked desperate and said, "Please tell me that you're here to help." So, I'm home to take medicine, sneak in this post, and see if I can find our nativities to loan to them. (Usually they have hundreds of nativities, but I think the sign-ups and notifications weren't as well done this year. Everything looked fairly sparse.) Oh... my dog, Nanaimo is out there whining for someone to play with him. Okay, so I'm home to take medicine, write a dog post--no, blog post, and play with my dog. (In a hurry--brain just shut off.)

Ta, folks.

This is the end and some very nasty words will be said.

That's right. If you have sensitive ears, cover your eyes. (It's not like you'd be hearing this post--unless you read everything aloud--in which case you're a freak.) You have been warned. If you choose to read on, be it on your own head.

The first very foul word is head gasket. Well, that's two words--and anyone who brings that up will hear more filthy language. Anyone familiar with cars knows those two words don't come up when things are sitting pretty. No one says, "I bought this new car and the head gaskets are awesome." If you didn't shudder just a little when you read "head gasket" then you've clearly never had one blow or heard of the horror involved. The husband has narrowed it down to that.

He threw some car jargon at me about exhaust leaking from somewhere that it shouldn't be. He's the king of all mechanical in our house--I just am here for show. I'm the beauty--he's the brains. (Which is another scary thing considering I'm sitting here in scruffy pjs after a very late night.) If the husband can do it--which involves a lot of tearing into the engine and may require tools we probably don't have--it'll be $300. The husband is skeptical. I've come to realize that the husband can do anything--but the tools and time and frustration--that's a different story. In the shop--it'll take anywhere from $600-1500.

Cough* What? * cough

That's right. There is nothing like trying to come up with imaginary money in December. I've mentioned before how expensive raising two Autistic children is, but if you missed that--we're so much in debt that there is no relief in sight--and we're tapped out. There is no way on this earth or any other we can afford that.

Here is the next dirty word. Ready?

Bacterial infection. Okay. That's two words too. It's probably like serial killers--they require two word or three words/names to be truly evil. The husband went into Urgent Care last Friday because he had a bacterial infection in his chest. He's on antibiotics right now. It crept into my lungs yesterday. I couldn't lie down without coughing until the medicine finally kicked in. This morning--my throat feels wrong--really wrong. The plague is upon us.

This one is filthy and only one word. Theoretically, that should make it less evil if my above theory is correct.

Short. Honor Six's middle met my epilogue last night. I'd written the epilogue a long time ago, and I just connected it to the main plot. In theory, that means I've finished Honor Six. Before any rejoicing takes place, I'm only at 60K-- as in, at least, 15 K short of where it should be--and 20K shorter than the rest. It's a whopping 40K shy of Honor Among Thieves. Nightmare. I know that some parts need to be fleshed out. I burnt the midnight oil last night to blaze through the plot points. I think I finished at 2 am. Still--that is very, very, very short of where it should be. Nightmare. Nightmare. Horror.

The last foul word is both clean and dirty and my nemesis.

You know what it is--it plagues me. I even have nightmares about it. Laundry. I have clean clothes to put away. Dirty clothes to wash. Out-grown clothes to pack away for Heidi. Clothes. Clothes. Clothes. I hate it. It makes me want to go cry in a corner.

So, that's my sad Tuesday tale. We have no money for Christmas. We have a car that is about to suck our souls out--like a vehicular vampire. I'm coming down with something that is already easing into my weakened lungs. Honor six is short and her mother dresses her funny. Plus, there is always laundry. Damn laundry. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! A curse upon your growing family of outgrown jeans. A curse upon your stupid endless stray socks. A curse upon your towels that take ten years to dry in this damn cold, muggy weather. A curse upon that nasty, damp smell that you get if I leave you in the washer over night. I spit upon the fact that sometimes I must dry and rewash just to get that smell out. Do you hear me, Laundry???!!! I hate you more than anything!

Today sucks massive rocks. You were warned. If you read this post, you have only yourself to blame.

That is all.