No writing done, today. Instead, we sanded and patched and took out the sink and all the remaining cabinets and counter tops except the sink base. Then we had dinner with Ryan and Audrey (stir fry and apple pie), then off to the Science Museum for fireworks, rootbeer floats, and another peek at the Star Wars exhibit. (And now I'm all glum again about my lack of science degrees.) Tomorrow we try to take out the remaining base and get the walls and ceiling primed and painted. Sunday we start shopping for a lot of different pieces: microwave, fridge, stove, dishwasher (our current one is starting to leak), faucet, garbage disposal, knobs, and light fixtures. Ow, my wallet, I'm blind!

Did I mention that I signed up for an info session in August on the U of MN continuing eduction programs? I want to find out what kind of a degree I can get and how long it'll take (and how much math, etc. I'll have to relearn). Again, I need to take time to think about exactly what I'd do with said degree...

Yesterday, I played Phase 10 with my coworkers for an hour and a half whilst waiting around for cupcakes. I did actually get work done in the morning, but I still spent most of the day checking my e-mail. Still, in the last hour I was at work, I wrote 1,001 words and hit my goal for novel_in_90. Is anyone sponsoring me? I need to send you the first two chapters. I'm planning to write the first seven chapters, total, and see where I am at that point.

I also had my dentist appointment moved up by a day, and the dentist filled in the divot and the chip in my front tooth and built it up a bit. No more gap! Not that I minded the gap, but I do like the way it looks.

Today I've picked up books from the library (Visions, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Great Jobs for English Majors, How to Write a Thriller), picked up a prescription, taught myself a bit of Japanese (I'm really liking the Pimsleur CDs), picked up paint and other painting supplies, set up doctor's appointments, paid bills for the kitchen and the trip to Egypt, moved the stove to the living room, took down the curtains and blinds in the kitchen, taped the wood, and taped up the plastic drop sheets so the dust won't escape again. Also wrote 933 words, making a grand total of 3,007 + 2,709 = 5,716 words written on the novel thus far. Done with Chapter 2, moving on to Chapter 3.

Yawn. It's a good thing I'm only getting a few discs of Fullmetal Alchemist at a time, or I'd be getting no sleep until I found out how it ends. (Okay, looking at the cover of the movie, I know somewhat how it ends, but still, I want to know how they get there.)

Cleaned some more (scrubbed out the stove, which was full of dust and other ceiling residue, and vaccuumed), filled out forms for the trip, and stopped at the library. The library is a very dangerous place for me to be, right now. I go in and I'm like a kid in a candy store--I can have anything I want, and it's all free, and if I don't like it, I can get rid of it. Today, I picked up audiobooks of Michael Crichton's Prey, The Prophet, poets reading their own poems, and an all-audio Japanese class, as well as a book on writing action/adventure novels (I'm looking ahead to the next novel already). There are two more books I'm going to reserve tomorrow: Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century by Michio Kaku and Great Jobs for English Majors. (I'm also looking forward to the audiobook of Michio Kaku's Physics of the Impossible.)

Too many interests, too little time.

1. It's no secret, just a bit odd: I like MRIs. The ones you lie down in and are slid into. I feel like I'm about to be shot into space. Then I sit there and rock out to the rhythms of magnetic resonance, and/or end up in a trance state and feel a little disappointed when the loud noises stop. In general, it's really relaxing. And I started plotting a story where the main character wakes up hundreds of years early from cryosleep and has the computer tell them a story as it's gassing them, since they can't be put back under and they won't survive the remaining years.

2. Aren't my short stories happy-like? Generally, they all start out like this, and I slowly cut out the parts that would make numerous people want to slit their wrists.

3. The new round of novel_in_90 starts tomorrow. I'm getting a head start with my first chapter about Christopher.

4. Woo! One year of being married! Even the federal government sent us a present!

5. The main floor is dusted and rearranged so we'll have somewhere to put the stove. Tomorrow I'll do a bit more hardcore cleaning and taping.

6. To do tomorrow: pay bill, fill out forms, #5, write.

We decided to forestall finishing the sanding until Mike can get a better mask/goggles to deal with the dust. Instead, I'm going to be taking care of the dust that did escape, and we'll make sure to tape down the plastic, this time, so we don't have to do it again.

DIY = argh. I have one barked-up strip of tape that I'm obsessing over, because it's going to be hard to cover up. I really need to just let it go and accept that either we'll take care of it, or someone else will take care of it. It's okay. Just breathe.

As I mentioned, I got my passport and SS card in a week and a half. Good on you, bureaucracy! However, I would like my marriage certificate back, as was promised. Kthxbai!

I find myself describing the stories I want to tell and cringing because they sound done to death or because there's a lot of hand-waving. Many of the descriptions include, "and they have these super powers that somehow help them save the day!" Cringe. At the same time, I have a hard time completely getting rid of the fantastic element. Straight fiction (in several senses of the word) bores me unless it's done really well.

Pandora Love: Zeromancer, "Blood Music"; The Faint, "Hypnotised"

Write-a-thon Week 1 Goal: Accomplished! Chapter 1 of the novel is done. I didn't say it was good, I just said it was done, and everything happened in it that needed to happen. Now, on to row boats on a rainy day!

Other things I've done today: Taken too many trips to buy everything I needed, appreciated the fact that I already tore a lot of ligaments in my left ankle (hence, there weren't many left to tear when I twisted it), moved furniture from the living room to the garage, covered most of what was in the living room in a fine layer of dust (grrr!), finished The City of Ember and started another collection of classic ghost stories, mowed the lawn, weeded, and watered my raspberries and the hydrangea plant my mom gave me.

Things I need to do tomorrow: Call to reschedule my eye appointment, pay a bill, fill out the paperwork for the Egypt trip (I already got my new passport and SS card--in a week and a half!), get an MRI done on my jaw, buy goggles and a dust mask, eat dinner, sand the rest of the ceiling, start patching, eat cake & drink champagne, exchange gifts.

Tomorrow (6 minutes from now) is my 1 year anniversary. Mike survived an entire year of being married to me. Good on him. :-)

Started with the back-filling process, last night. Got through the first half (determined by the desire to have each chapter be about 3k words), and now I'm trying to decide how the second half is going to play out, and whether I'm going to need to add some more to the front in order to cut down on the blatant exposition. I also need to figure out the answer to "why him/why now?" before moving on.

My mantra for this novel is "Just write it and get it out of your system!"

Wearing the "my finger is a snake!" ring that I was accidentally given for my birthday. (The ring has two pearls set together that look like eyes.) It was an accident because it was unintentionally included in the box with the real gift. But it also wasn't an accident, because the ring probably belonged to Margaret, my grandfather's cousin, who always really encouraged my writing. She was a retired English teacher, and she loved to talk to someone who was interested in listening/learning. It's too big, but it's still inspiring. I wear my rings when I sleep, and I had great dreams the one time I've worn it to bed.

I really only dream about two things, anymore: travel and monsters. Make of that what you will.

Today I was turned away from getting my blood drawn for tests because the doctor who ordered it is no longer in the system--whether due to disciplinary action or because the database hadn't been updated, they didn't know. I think it's a sign that I really need to get off this medication.

Then I came home to find that the package I'd sent to occlusion last week was returned to sender. Bill, let me know your new address and when you get moved in, and I'll send it again. Grah.

I'm waiting for the inevitable rejection letter to come in my e-mail...any minute, now...

So we had our meeting with the people from the Displaced Workers Program and the Unemployment Office. I went online and checked how much I'll be getting if I sign up for unemployment starting in November, and it looks like I'll be okay until I find a job, assuming it doesn't take longer than 6 months. Whew.

The Displaced Workers Program got me thinking about what kinds of retraining I want to try to apply for. I thought again about the project management certification or the MiniMBA through St. Thomas, or the TEFL certification through Hamline (which I wouldn't be able to do until next year, so that's probably a no), or even just getting the training to be a CPA. I can get up to two years of schooling paid for, depending on how things shake out, so I'm going to be doing some serious thinking about that in the next few weeks.

Because I'm a tool, and because I'm bored, I offered to be on the company's DWP committee to get things moving. I'm pushing for more training/schooling options, because openings for editors are limited in our area.

And that's my day. Spent a bit longer plotting out Tinder and trying to convince myself to get some work done on the Write-a-thon novel, but that's for after work. In other words, now. Off to make dinner, then write.

And...go!

To do today:
Install podPress and the stat program on the Web site
Get blood drawn
Configure LeechBlock
Write like a maniac

Sooooooo sleepy. Is being this out of it worth it, if I don't grind my teeth at night? It makes it difficult to get going on writing, because all I really want to do is take a nap for 2-4 hours. I've been having terrific dreams, too.

I've been reading Where the Hell Is Matt?, and I keep getting "Alice....Where the f*#k is Alice?" stuck in my head. I blame Will and Vic.

Listening: The City of Ember
Reading: World War Z

I need to stop expecting so much of myself. Tonight I stayed later at work, worked out, made myself healthy dinner (chicken & salad greens, no dressing), watched an episode of Hex, and started emptying the cabinets so Mike can start removing them. It's almost 11, and I've done no writing. I think I give up on the contest, unless I can get my act together this weekend. Focusing on Write-a-thon. No, I cannot work on two projects (or walk & chew gum) at the same time. I try, and both suffer. Right, then. Back to Ian and the restaurant. ALIP, AT, and the mystery story will need to wait until the Write-a-thon is over, or until I have better momentum going.

Also, while reading World War Z on the treadmill, I started working on an idea for a novel called Tinder, which does not involve zombies. I need a better system for recording and cataloging my novel/story ideas. And finish a few more.

I'm one of those people who needs there to be a reward at the end of a task. So I'm trying to dangle Fullmetal Alchemist DVDs in front of myself in order to get the story out by Monday, and the t-shirt in order to keep up with my Write-a-thon goals.

What I really need to do is install LeechBlock so I can be more productive rather than doing my endless rounds of visits to the same sites over and again. (I'll be doing that this evening. Thanks, diatryma, for mentioning this to me.)

Then there's also the need to balance writing with exercise. I want to go walk, tonight, but I also want to sit down and finish reordering the events in my short story, as well as try to get more written on my first chapter. Stupid corporeal form.

Got everything on my list done (plus a few things I added throughout the course of the day) except the writing/editing. No cookies for me, though I think that's the healthier option. Tonight I'll be editing the short story and working on my novel chapter. (One of the guys in my writers group threatened to e-mail in a week and demand to know where the chapter was, which is inspiring. I've got until Thursday to deliver.)

Now that I have some distance from my story, I can see A) why people liked it (which really surprised me, at the time), and B) where sentences fall flat and where sentences work. Unfortunately, most of them fall flat about halfway through. This makes me think I should shorten my sentences. But I already knew that. Now I need to [plot points redacted]. And that should fix everything. (If only it were that easy!)

Site to check out: Where the Hell Is Matt?

I need to learn to be more productive during the day. Get everything I need to do out of the way, then work on the novel. Pretend it's the last NaNoWriMo I won all over again! (All the backfill I'm trying to do makes this somewhat more difficult, since I don't have the original text.)

Things to do on Monday (during the day):
Pay for Viable Paradise
Call Devin about scheduling kitchen work
Call about ferry reservations
Call/e-mail about bus reservations
Call to make Egypt reservations (!!!)
Call to make TMJ clinic appointment
Call to make blood test appointment (I love doctors who hold you hostage like this)
Call to make eye doctor appointment
Call to make tooth cleaning appointment
Call to make travel clinic appointment

Things to do on Monday (afternoon/evening):
Pick up reserved book
Work out
Fill out recipe cards
Get bus tickets
Measure/order harnesses
Start editing submission story (and remind self I need to send it out by the end of Friday, as I will be out of town next weekend, at least on Saturday)

If I get all of this done, I get a cookie. In fact, I will make myself cookies. I will also promise to buy myself a school year daily planner.

I bought plane tickets for VP, this evening. I must really love my husband, that I'm taking him along. :-) We are saving serious chunks of change by taking the bus to the ferry rather than renting a car, but travel is still expensive. I guess this is that rainy day I was saving up for, right?

Finished: The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
Started: World War Z
Listening: River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler (Soon to be interrupted by The City of Ember)

Note to self: The contest that is making Cherie Priest's eyes bleed is The 14th Chiaroscuro Short Story Contest. Submit something, already! You have 10 days remaining.

I already know which story is dark and closest to ready, so I'm going to focus on that rather than trying to get AT and ALIP ready to send out. What I'm noticing about it on this read-through is that the main character lacks emotional reactions to what happens. That, and the supernatural element doesn't really work, so I may cut that out and focus on the other disturbing aspects of what's going on.

The last Craft Talk ran this morning, ending my involvement in the Loft Mentorship Program for 2007-2008. I'll probably apply again next year, since it sounds like it's a lot more of a class (assigned readings, working one-on-one with mentors, doing a public reading with one of the mentors, etc.) than just a workshop, which I think would be extremely helpful. Now I need to write another multicultural fiction story, which is what it seems they're looking for.

After said Craft Talk, Mike and I went rollerskating/rollerblading around Lake Calhoun after perusing the Free Lunch Store (aka Whole Foods). We're currently ensconced at Dunn Bros Coffee, waiting for the evening's festivities to begin.

For those holding their breaths, yes, Mike did get cast in the radio drama-rama. He's going to be doing sound effects and bit parts. Here is the site for the production, for those interested in perusing: Cool Chills on a Hot Summer Night.

In addition to the writing podcast (working on it, working on it!), I'd also like to have a separate podcast for reading my great x 6 grandfather's poetry. I also want to put it out in a book format (I'll probably look to Lulu.com for that), but I think it's amazing stuff, and I'd like to get it out into the world. I would be reading the poems from his journals rather than the pieces that were published in Sylvicola, Or, Songs from the Backwoods.

Part of me wants to shift focus to the new novel, mostly because the writing I've done so far in the current one has been a little too confusing for the reader. But I decided that, if I'm good and meet all my Write-a-thon goals, I get this t-shirt.

This is for demonrapunzel:( Life update meme thingie )

As I had no presents, yesterday (Mike's presents didn't come in the mail, yet, and I'll see the rest of my family on Saturday night), I just gave myself a few from the development library: The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective People on CD, the first 110 years of National Geographic on CD-Rom, The Dictionary of Global Culture, and Roget A to Z. I also have some rather snazzy calculators I need to do something with...

I just had a completely amazing idea for a short story that quickly transformed into a novel. I may work on it concurrently with my CW novel, or I may work on fleshing it out at the same time and write it when I'm off work. It's currently called The Effigy, and it's a SF mystery.

I came up with it while thinking about transfer of consciousness and how that always bugs me in science fiction media (films, TV, etc.) ( Thoughts on the matter )

Anyway, yay for a novel I think I could write that doesn't include any characters from my rbls and their 14+ years of baggage!

The highlights of the past 30 years, bullet point format. ( rapid-fire time travel )

And here's today's Garfield comic strip, wishing us both a happy birthday. If you read the Wikipedia article, my actual date of birth is in the first paragraph.

People I share a birthday with: King James I of England, Lou Gehrig, Julius Schwartz (comic book editor), Salman Rushdie, Paula Abdul, and Doug Mientkiewicz (who used to play for the Twins)

I hear that 30 is the new 20, which is not particularly reassuring. Does that mean I'm still not an adult? Not really? (Probably true, on some level, though I did just make reservations for Viable Paradise lodging, so at least I'm a responsible non-adult?)

Today is gloriously without things to do. I have one thing I might want to get to, but "want" is a little too strong a word, especially when you've got the craptastic headache I have.

This afternoon, I did the following:
1. Applied in person for a new Social Security card
2. Filled out forms for a new driver's license
3. Returned my library books
4. Sent in my application for a new passport
5. Mailed a package

(I would have had 6. Made reservations for lodging during Viable Paradise, but the office was closed. I will do so tomorrow morning.)

All in the 4-5 hours I would have otherwise sat around surfing the Internet at work. This is going to be a good few months.

(I also watched the first four episodes of Hex, slushed my way through three stories, and watched all of the Lenore shorts once again, as we have them on DVD.)

The secret is, I'm relieved.

Yes, I'm wondering how long it will take to find a new job, especially when I'm extending the time between the end of my current job and when I can start the next one (due to travel in September and October), but the idea of 10 paid weeks off (with health insurance) sounds really nice. There will be a mad attempt at reading my entire bookshelf of "books to read", and a lot of little projects. And, for once, I may get enough sleep.

That, and all of the stress I'd been anticipating between now and next March just disappeared. And that's a nice early birthday present.

As for the job search, I'm trying to think of that as writing a story and trying to get it published. When I do that, it doesn't sound so daunting.

Of course, then we went and paid for the labor on fixing up our kitchen, last night, which stung a little. But there was ice cream afterward at Cup and Cone. Ice cream soothes all injuries, even those to the spirit and the pocketbook. Needs must go there more often.

As soon as Mike gets an okay for the vacation time, I'll be making reservations for the trip to Egypt. It's going to be the same trip we missed last year, in slightly cooler weather. By not waiting until 2009, we still get to go to Alexandria.

Waiting on some word on what we're supposed to be doing, today. Then I'll be heading out this afternoon to mail some stuff and continue the name change process.

Um. So. Worries about the current job and the Doomed Project are out the window, as I will no longer have a job with the company as of August 18th. They're closing our office. Go Corporate America! I find it extra ironic, as I finally decided on the gift I wanted for my 5-year service award yesterday.

I think I will celebrate by going to Egypt in October, right after Viable Paradise. Why the hell not?

I feel really, really bad for the coworker who I kept telling this wouldn't happen. And the coworker who left to have her baby, yesterday. And the coworker who'll be having a baby in September. And the coworker who is having knee surgery in a month.

This came completely out of the blue, and not even our managers knew until an hour before we did.

I'm recovering. I don't have particular money worries, for the time being, but the idea of applying for another job freaks me out. At least now I don't have to worry about sneaking around to request references from people I work with.