I Aten't Dead...

Just busy. Moving, remodeling, and recovering from a car accident, oh my. And painting, even though it's not my usual style, it's still paint on canvas :)
And gardening. Last year, I had a 4x4 foot garden; this year, two 4x20s and a 4x10. Yes, it has been mentioned that I am crazy, why do you ask? Sadly, I had to rip out and destroy the vast majority of my tomato plants, which were over five feet tall and gearing up to an epic harvest. Damned tomato blight!So, in the absence of deep and meaningful content, I found this meme here by googling "book meme" (yes, I am terribly original.)

1. What author do you own the most books by? Stephen King, followed by Terry Pratchett

2. What book do you own the most copies of? I have two copies of several books, like Lani Diane Rich's A Little Ray of Sunshine; Crusie / Rich & Stuart's The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes; Sarah Shankman's Digging Up Mama, and Stephen King's The Green Mile.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? Nope.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with? So many! Will from The Fortune Quilt. Brandywine from The Fortune Quilt. Cal from Bet Me. Burr from gods in Alabama. Gideon Westbrook, Viscount St. Justin from Ravished. ST Maitland from The Prince of Midnight. Jake Templeton from Manhunting. Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files. And so on...

5. What book have you read the most times in your life? I'm a chronic rereader, but maybe the Oz books by L Frank Baum? I think I've been rereading those for the longest.

6. Favorite book as a ten year old? Any Trixie Belden book.

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? Twilight. I did actually finish reading it, but was disappointed to find the heroine spineless and the hero stalker-y.


8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Nation by Terry Pratchett

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be? I'm not much for forcing people to do things. I make a lot of recommendations.

10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? Any of Lani's books. or Jenny Crusie's.

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. Very disturbing.

12. What is your favorite book? Too many to list, really. Kinsale, Rich, Crusie, Alesia Holliday, Chris Moore, Gaiman, Sarah Shankman, Barb/Caridad Ferrar, Lisa Gardner, Jim Butcher... so many authors writing books I just love.

13. What is your favorite play? Into the Woods.

14. Poem? Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. Wild Geese by Mary Oliver.

15. Essay? Jenny's essays are great. There are others I like, but those are the first to come to mind.

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? I don't know.

17. What is your desert island book? The source book from Angel Season Five Episode Seven - where you say what book you want it to be, and the words appear inside. Hey, if I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

18. And . . . what are you reading right now? Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World - edited by Kathleen Raglan.

Normally, I would hyperlink to all the books and authors, but it is 4:46 am and I am too tired.

Trey's Birthday

It seems impossible that you've been gone longer than I knew you.  There is not a day where you don't cross my mind, and when I don't wish you were still here, even just for a few minutes.

Happy 2009 (I think...)

So, the last several days have been heart-wrenching; the last several weeks have been discouraging; and the last several months have been pain filled. As usual, no resolutions, and I will weigh in on last year's best / worst list, and rate my successes and failures at the indulgence list; plus I will plan Indulgences for 2009.
"Lousy Things About 2007:

1. Same job :( Still.

2. And I worked Halloween, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Again, except for Halloween, when I was still on Medical leave.

3. I did not see several of my friends, even the ones who live near by. I'm sensing a negative theme here...

4. I missed Talk Like A Pirate Day AND Global Orgasm day. Barely remembered Pirate day, for like the last ten minutes.

5. I still am not blogging on a regular basis. Like I need to tell you all about this one.

6. There is something wrong with my digital camera. Sometimes, it signals that it is in focus, but the finished picture is blurry. Also, it's very temperamental in interior light situations - more so than before. (It's never really liked candle light or house lamps, but it now hates conference rooms now, too.)My camera is all better! I have a new "pocket" camera, as well.

Great Things About 2007:

1. New place

Really, this one has a subset of great things- terrific roommates (both of the guys cook and clean, as well as being great people to hang out with. How lucky am I?), three cats, home office, bedroom that I love... I moved again, this time back in with my mom due to the medical issues. I do have another totally kick ass room, and a new kitten.

2. I won at NaNo, and have a book I still want to finish writing as a result. Still haven't finished that, didn't make my goal at NaNo this year.

3. Will Write for Wine! Still great forums, but mostly they aren't podcasting anymore.

4. Cherry Con

Again, a subset of things to love- wonderful people, amazing giveaways, nice hotel, great roommate.

5. I learned how to crochet. (Pictures of December's accomplishments forthcoming...)"

Still crocheting, and I think I'm getting pretty good at it.
"Indulgences for 2008, as well. Indulgence #1: Crochet a queen size afghan for my bedroom. I have some yarn, an afghan I love that my mom promised to teach me how to duplicate the stitch on, and a newly discovered appreciation for crochet. Also, keep playing with different kinds of yarn and stitches. No afghan for me, but my gorgeous quilt is finally done and on my bed! Many star afghans for friends who've had babies, and much playing has been done.
Indulgence #2: Trip to California. RWA Conference, Vixen, the Drawing Club, maybe lunch with the amazing Doug, possibly some tourist activity... Cancelled due to vehicle issues and the need to get my camera repaired. Maybe this year...
Indulgence #3: Paint. I know, this is one from last year, but still very important to me. Are we counting the bodrooms? 'Cause once again, nothing on canvas.
Indulgence #4: Believe in my ability as a storyteller. Finish the first book, and start another - NaNo again, when the time comes. Well, I started, and I have a kick ass idea, but I'm just now starting to be able to sit at a desk and write for any length of time again.
Indulgence #5: Wine. Loving the Will Write for Wine podcasts, and trying new wines semi-regularly." A little. None since I had to ove back home (we live in the church parsonage, and "Baptists do NOT drink" Not that I have reconverted, just trying to go along to get along)

So, not all good or all bad.
Worst of 2008:
1. Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and D&C simultaneously. While all three procedures went well, and I am thrilled to be non-cancerous, there have been problems since I overdid about two weeks after the surgery that seem to be unresolvable. More doctors = more medical bills to pay.
2. Patches the cat died, and I had to leave Woody and Marty behind when I moved in with my Mom.
3. My truck has been slowly decomposing, and I'm having trouble holding it together long enough to have mechanical relatives patch it back up.
4. My Wolverine MVP fried its power source, and had to be sent in for repairs. About three weeks after I got it back, the new kitten knocked it off the desk, and now none of the data input ports work. I do have a techie friend looking into the problem.
5. Both my oldest nephew and niece are depressed and having a hard time of things. For a bit, things were starting to look up, because they moved in with us and we were getting them counseling and a stable life. Then, my self-centered jackass of an ex-sister-in-law threw a hissy fit and nsisted that the kids had to either move back in with her or with their dad. They chose their dad (um, duh?) which means changing schools mid semester and living about an hour and a half away from us, as well as having to find new therapists and all that.
Best of 2008:
1. Tina Turner in Chicago. I got to see her on the second night of her comeback tour, and she's been my hero for a long time. I cannot even count how many times I teared up, and the show rocked the house.
2. My finished quilt.

The Top Side

The Back Side

3. My new bedroom.

4. Cleopatra Slunk Butt, the crazy sweet kitten with vile gas.
5. Started gardening, and had an incredible square foot garden.

My first garden alone! I learned a lot (like, never let your lemon basil flower, it goes mad and will never stop)

Indulgences of 2009:
1. Smart phone. On Saturday the third I bought the LG Incite, and I am in love!
2. North American Discworld Con. I'm taking my nephew, who is also a huge Pratchett fan.
3. RWA Nationals in Washington DC? This is conditional on finishing the first draft of either book in progress, and may take second consideration to Discworld Con.
4. Actual vacation, hopefully seeing four friends in the south and possibily one in Michigan.
5. You know, I think I'm upgrading putting paint on an actual canvas to a necessity this year. I am being haunted by paintings, and really need to do something about it!