April 25, 2008 | home life

I’m not only back, but finally over jet lag and such, just not over the back pain caused by horrible airplane seats. I had the best time - talked and talked with my amazing nieces, nephew-in-law, amazing sister and played with adorable Great Nephew. (I explained to him many times that I’m his Great Aunt - emphasis on the Great. I’m quite sure he understood, despite his only oral confirmation - the informative “Hudda” followed by flinging his rubber toy into the air).

We had a non-traditional Passover. All vegetarian, deliciously so, and a lot of very thoughtful discussions, including one on romance novels as subversive, feminist material. It was awesome.

I tried a GPS in my rental car, which got me lost on the first turn. I was in Manhattan, trying to get from La Guardia to the NJ Turnpike when I found myself heading to Staten Island at 10pm. I freaked mostly because I’ve only driven in Manhattan itself or to Long Island. By some miracle I made it onto the Turnpike, then realized at almost 1am that I’d somehow missed my exit entirely and gone almost 100 miles out of the way. (Pittsburgh. Sigh.) So I got a motel room and retraced my steps in the morning. The whole experience proved to be amusing to my family.

I now need to jump back into work despite the fact that I’m obsessing over my vegetable garden. Which I can’t even start until the end of May. I did, however, order my tomatoes and red peppers, but they won’t arrive until the end of May, either. And how in the world am I supposed to narrow down my flower garden choices? I have to plant in containers, and I can’t buy several hundred of those, so I must choose. It’s very difficult.

Reading: Catch of the Day by Kristen Higgens (wonderful!)
On Deck: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach

April 16, 2008 | home life

I’m off to New York for a week. Everyone be good. :)

March 24, 2008 | home life

Hope those of you who celebrate had a wonderful Easter!

Anyone know a clinical neuroscientist, or someone else who studies the brain? I’m needing some questions answered for a book, so I thought I’d ask here.

As for the books, they are inching along. Plotting is great, although until I have the characters’ journeys nailed, it all feels like a jumble.

The fun thing I’m doing at the moment is planning my garden, although the last frost here isn’t until June, but some friends are building me a 4X4 veggie patch which I’m so looking forward to. I’m also planting some heirloom tomatoes and I’ve got my nose buried in the Burpee catalog because oh, my! Veggies! In the front part of the yard it’s going to be one giant container of herbs then a bunch of butterfly-attracting flowers. I love it last year when I watered the herbs - the scent was heavenly. I’d grow them for that even if I never used them in cooking, which I do. For the 4X4, I’m planning a picking garden - fresh salad plucked moments before they hit the table. ::sigh:: happiness.

In the anti-happiness department, I’m putting together my taxes. Eeek.

It also looks as if I’m going to New York for Passover this year. Four days with my sister (the Rabbi) and her brood. I haven’t seen my family in ages so it’s going to be wonderful. Except for the flying part. I hate flying and wish they’d hurry up and get those Star Trek transporters up and running. Sheesh. At the very least, we should have had flying cars by now.

Reading: Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
On deck: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix

March 10, 2008 | home life

The book is done and sent and I’m a little worried because I actually liked it a lot. That never happens. But, we’ll wait and see what my editor thinks before worrying overmuch. I took an extravagant nap on Saturday, read, went to bed early. Yesterday, I finally saw Juno, which was good, but not fabulous, and again, went to bed early. It’s mostly like this after a book. The characters, however, are still swirling in my head. That will last for longer than one would think. Mostly until the next idea gels.

I’m also having a klutz day. Spilled coffee, then grabbing for cup spilled all the pills from my pill case and that was a royal pain in the ass. There’s a mouse who’s decided it likes our house, and chose the moment I was scrounging pills from the carpet to dash across the room. Can’t remember where we put the no-kill traps, so it looks as if I need to purchase more. Oh, and I really do have to have that root canal I’ve been putting off.

::sigh::

Not the best morning I’ve ever had.

I’m supposed to go plot new books with my writing buddy. I’m afraid I’ll somehow manage to blow up her house, though. I’m not usually this klutzy, but there are days when it hits like a ten-ton truck. I think I heard somewhere that there’s a hormonal thing going on that prompts this kind of nonsense. I hope it leaves before I take down the whole city.

Hope you’re all having a much better Monday!

February 5, 2008 | home life, Writing

This month, Turner Classic Movies is having their annual 31 days of Oscar, which means a bounty of fabulous films for these writers-strike days. I went to the monthly schedule and sat down with my DVR and programmed a whole slew of old favorites like Topper, I Married a Witch, the original Born Yesterday with Judy Holliday, The Awful Truth, A Thousand Clowns, My Favorite Wife….well, you get the picture.

I still haven’t finished all my RITA books yet, but some are very good. Then of course I have a book due end of Feb, and wouldn’t you know, that’s kind of occupying most of whatever brain cells that I have left. Oddly on this one, I seem to be in a weird pattern of writing the chapter, then dreaming revisions that night, then re-writing the chapter, and moving on to do the same thing with the next chapter. Usually I don’t dream my revisions (I actually don’t think it’s fully dreaming. It’s that space where I’m not completely asleep but not really awake) until I’m at the very end. Hm.

How’s it going with you guys?

January 31, 2008 | home life, Writing

I was missing from here for a bit while we went there, but now we’re here again. :) Went to the movies a bit - tried to watch Beowulf, but sadly it wasn’t something I could get into. I left, in fact, and went to the next-door theater and watched August Rush. The writing was execrable but the music was good, so there’s that. Then on another night, I saw Sweeney again, and this time, I sang. Softly, but I did my sing-along as there were only a few people in the theater. I was so glad I went again.

Interesting experience - I’ve been having difficulty with the tone on the WIP. I want it to be sarcastic and funny and hot, but it just isn’t clicking. So I dug out a copy of an older Temptation of mine called HOT AND BOTHERED. It was as if I was reading someone else’s book. I have almost no recollection of writing the words. It was a good thing to do as it has exactly the tone I’m after, so we’ll see if I can still write like that. Oh, and how very much I wanted to do another edit, even though I’m pretty pleased with how the book read. It’s hard to read older stuff.

Now it’s crunch time on the book, so I’m going to be setting timers and meeting page counts and deeply immersing myself in the world of the page. I’ve still got three RITA books left to read, so I need to finish those.

And I got new glasses. I adore them. They’re different. And kind of purple.

January 23, 2008 | home life

This is my great-nephew, Malachai who is 6 months old, and is more adorable than lolcats. Sadly, he lives far away, and I haven’t actually met him in person yet.

January 20, 2008 | home life

First, before anything else, I had a wonderful birthday yesterday and I thank all of you who wished me well! Dotes got me a gorgeous 3-D card and a simply wonderful painting of a green garden. It’s done in ceramic, like a big tile, and it’s stunning. It’s hung in the bedroom, and I love it. :)

Okay, on to Sweeney:

I feel so much better now. Months of anticipation. Listening to the original Broadway recording over and over again. Deep, ugly jealousy just knowing others had already seen Sweeney, while I had to sit on my heels and wait. Finally, I saw it. Uh, I mean we saw it.

I loved, loved, loved it. Not to say I didn’t have some quibbles (cough: helena bonham-carter’s voice) but mostly it was thrilling and wonderful and yes, I missed my chorus of ghosts and happy meat-pie customers, but mostly I was simply thrilled. The moment the score began on those big speakers, I actually shivered.

I didn’t even sing. Not out loud, at least. But I did mouth every syllable except for dialog that was not on the original cast CD, and in my head I was singing quite loudly. On the ride home I bored Dotes to the point of tears with my second-by-second analysis (I couldn’t help myself). I thought Depp did a masterful job. Truly awesome. I would have made some different musical decisions (alas, although I was at the ready to talk to Mr. Burton before and during the filming, he didn’t call) it was true enough to the original show that I was transported.

The minute we got home, I not only listened to the CD, but this time I did sing, quite loudly, and only then was I able to relax for the evening.

I have to admit that perhaps the truest mark of my admiration for the film is the fact that I didn’t finish my popcorn. Whoa.

January 2, 2008 | home life

We had a safe, uneventful holiday season, and I have to admit, I’m really glad it’s over. I don’t like the disruptions, which makes me rather a scrooge, I know. I just wasn’t into the season this year. I’m also very, very cranky about the tv strike and I’m going to pout until it’s put right. That’ll show ‘em. :)

I finished the last Harry Potter. I loved it. I keep thinking about it. Rowling is brilliant.

We also went to see Charlie Wilson’s War, which I loved. I was engaged every minute, and I think Phillip Seymour Hoffman should get an Oscar for his performance. I’m also totally buying the soundtrack.

Only 9 more days till Sweeney comes near! Whoo Hoo!

And I’ve been struggling like mad to come up with what my hero sounds like in this new book, and today in the shower it hit me. Yay!!! I simply can’t write until I hear them. Now, I can.

News? Presents you loved? Movies I should catch? Soundtracks to rec?

December 30, 2007 | home life

I spent yesterday reading HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. Wept like a child at the end. I don’t often do that. I believe the last book that made me blubber like that was THE GREEN MILE by Stephen King. ::sniff:: Today, I’m diving into HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. I simply can’t do anything else. It’s imperative. I haven’t read any spoilers, really, although I have heard a few things.

I just can’t say enough about how impressed I am with J.K. Rowling. I can’t begin to fathom the pressure she lived under. To have done this incredible task is akin to magic, only that’s not fair because she clearly worked her tail off. She deserves every inch of praise and thanks. Holy crap. I wonder if non-writers can even get an inkling of what a herculean job she not only did, but did fantastically well. Oddly, rather than making me feel like a tiny little bit of a writer, her accomplishment makes me want to give writing my all. Not that I believe I can write anything like her, but I can write pedal-to-the-metal like me.

Anyway, I hope you’re all doing something wonderful in the last days of the year. I miss egg nog.