Is This Nuts?

I've ordered promo items.

Before I've even gotten a contract.

I guess with 4 books written and at least 3 more partials in the works, it's about time I ordered business cards? I've also ordered a free sticky note pad, a free pen, and return address labels. I want to go to the EC convention next year, and I'd like to attend the Romantic Times convention.

There's a grant I'm considering applying for, to help with expenses. If I'm awarded it, I can use the money for the EC conference. The RT is held in April, and the money is awarded in June. Maybe if our tax refund is enough next winter, I'll be able to use some of it for RT.

And hopefully, I'll hear some good news on my submission soon. I also need to get my fingers in gear and start working on the partials! I'm not going to kill myself during NaNo this year. I completed it last year; I've proven to myself that it can be done. So if I don't reach the 50K goal this year, so what? I've already done it.

In the meantime, the patience is firmly in place. Keep checking back for news:)

Quirks Tag

I was sort of tagged, so here's my 6 quirky things:

1) When I fill the ice cube trays, I do it one cube mold at a time. This way I get just the right amount of water in it, and I don't have trouble popping the cubes loose! This drives my family batty, by the way...

2) I open Twinkies length-wise, and then eat them.

3) I've got to chew gum when going up in airplanes, as well as taking a decongestiant an hour before lift-off. The pressure gets unbearable!

4) I made a tape of my favorite sing-out-loud-to songs, and it's my favorite thing to listen to when in the car by myself. Great for long trips!

5) I dip french-fries into ranch dressing.

6) Right now, am having horrible hot flashes, and can be found cooling off in front of the a/c, freezer, or any available fan. Why is this quirky? Normally I'm always COLD when the A/C is on!

Still Waiting...

Sigh. I hope the silence I'm hearing is actually the sound of my manuscript being mulled over, passed around, and being considered for publication! I was told two weekends ago that it was being looked at; I hope the reason it is taking so long is that SOMETHING about the story has grabbed someone, and they are trying to find a place for it in their lineup??? I'd rather have a thought-out acceptance than a simple, rushed, 'Sorry; not what we want.'

But in the meantime, I'm reading, I'm trying to write, and since the financial status in our household has been stressful, I'm spending considerable energy keeping my spouse happy. Not an easy job when he's convinced God is using him for a punching bag.

I thought I was on a roll, and then LIFE happens. And to top it all off? Another storyline popped into my head last night. I just wish I could go off by myself for a couple of weeks and finish SOMETHING! I'd like to get one or two more manuscripts finished by December...

Let's Have Some Fun:)

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Hit Forward, erase myanswers, enter yours, send it on to 10 people including the one thatsent this to you. Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of thefollowing. They have to be real places, names, things..nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.=====================================

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Kenzie

4 LETTER WORD: Kale

BOY NAME: Karl

GIRL NAME: Karen

Occupation: Krispy Kreme doughnut manager

A COLOR: Kelly Green

SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Kilt

BEVERAGE: Kahlua

FOOD: Kiwi

SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Kotex

A PLACE: Kenya

REASON FOR BEING LATE: Kept hitting the snooze

SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Knucklehead!

Some Good News:)

No, nothing on my submission or anything, although I did get a nice note telling me she was reviewing Wild At Heart and would get back to me soon:) That was neat; I've never gotten mail addressed to my new name before, and it was sort of like opening someone else's letter and reading it, while scratching my head and saying "Okaaaay..." And then it hit me. You're Kenzie, and this is good news!

Secondly, my friend emailed me and invited me to lunch! We weren't able to get together though, because I got her email thirty minutes after I'd sent it, and by the time we reconnected (I was having issues with my desktop...I could preview my mail, but couldn't OPEN it!), her boss had emailed her and she had to go into the office. So she told me to call her the next day. So I did, but a client had arrived earlier than expected, so she wasn't available.

"Let's try next week; I don't have a lot of appointments," was what she said before telling me to have a good weekend.

No, there was no apology for her snappy behavior, but the point is, we're TALKING! My patience has paid off, and when we do eventually get together face to face, everything will calmly be discussed. So I'm feeling pretty good about it, and hope our schedules 'jive'.

My son got a 'stupid sayings' calendar, and I thought today's was rather appropriate, given the Olympics are being played.

"I'd like to thank my brother Nicky, who's been like a sister to me."
-Australian swimmer Grant Hackett, after swimming the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

If I get any news over the weekend or early next week, I'll post it.

I also finally sent off both Appetite for Desire and All She Ever Wanted to Ellora's Cave. I don't really think I have a chance; there are a lot of wonderful EC authors out there, several of whom I communicate on a daily basis! But it's nice to know it's out of my hands; someone else is going to read my little stories and decide whether or not I'm publishable. And just learned my crit partner did not receive my 6th chapter of Head of the Class. Argghhh...I'll have to send it out again. More delays...I'd hoped to have it subbed by now. Sometimes I don't think electronics like me very much!

Have a great weekend:)

Update

Silence. Maybe she took my no-reply as an 'I-didn't-get-the-email/technology-failed-again' thing?

I did send a polite note stating my schedule this week, which includes being gone for 2 days. I mentioned Friday as being good for me.

That's all I'm sending her this week. If she chooses to call/email, then we'll see where we stand. Otherwise...I'll be patient and continue to do my own thing.

One thing's for certain: I REALLY want that contract now; it would sort of be an 'I Told You So' moment.

Petty, yes. But I'd really like to prove her wrong...

Friendship 101

I'm not the only one having friendship issues. Another author is having them as well.

Remember mine, the one who last year blasted me for my publishing efforts, and basically told me to get a 'real job'? The one who later mentioned something I said would 'make a great line in one of your books', and who later again told me not to invite her to my signings?

Yeah, I know...mixed message there.

I had not heard from her in 6 weeks, and suddenly I receive an email stating she basically could care less about what was going on in my writing life, or marital woes, or even about my kid's tonsillectomy. But she's coming into town today and wants to see me.

It took a great deal of willpower not to hit 'reply' and send a very sarcastic and snotty remark!

I even went back to my sent mail to see what, if anything I said might have been construed as whining or rude. Nothing. I basically had said, 'here's what's going on in my world', and 'hey, I finished that manuscript!' and 'oh, btw, I'm going to be in your town briefly...want to meet for lunch/coffee?'

She said, in large letters, she had a job and a kid to raise, and didn't have as much free time as I do.

Whaaaaat?

Free time?

Let's visit something here:

1) I have 3 kids, she has 1.
2) Yes, she has a job, and works mainly from home.
3) I have a 'job'...I'm a full-time mommy, and I also write.
4) I thought we were friends who CARED about each other. I offered love and support during her divorce; she's heard all about my trials the last 12 years, and we've commisserated on our idiot spouses. Hers decided to become addicted to alcohol and drugs; mine is just a royal pain in the ass. She also offered encouragement when I found myself pregnant again after 9 years, and listened while I cried on the phone! And who held me a year later and calmed me down when I had a 'what the hell have I gotten myself into' moment after the baby was born!

I have decided that IF she calls me today, I will pick up the phone. IF she emails, I'll reply back. IF she comes over, I will remain calm.

But I'm not replying to the snotty one; I will calmly remind her that I cannot get inside her head; I have NO IDEA what she's been dealing with the past 6 weeks, and I'M SORRY if my 5 emails last week was misunderstood as a 'high maintenance' moment. I had good news I wanted to share, and that was all!

I'll admit, I gave into my insecure, emotional side: I was wondering if a) after our chat she decided to not be friends anymore or b) technology was interferring and I wasn't getting the 'hi, how are you' emails she usually sends every couple of weeks. The rational side was telling me that a) she looked extremely stressed and just needed space, and b) not to push her or she'd take my head off again. So, I gave a gentle nudge and she snapped, via email this time.

We'll see what happens today. If I'm not careful, I'll insecure myself out of this long friendship. And after 22 years, you'd think we'd know each other better. But this divorce has changed her; I don't want to join the ranks of friends she's lost in the past 2 years; I'll just have to continue to pray for her. I don't think she anticipated this much stress last year, when she was venting at me once a month over this decision.

I applaud her courage at changing her life; she changed jobs and divorced her spouse, all in the course of 3 months. I've often thought of striking out on my own, but fear holds me back. I've not worked (steadily, that is!) in 14 years. If my publishing efforts were supporting me, I'd probably do it in a heartbeat. But I remember what I was like, working seven hours a day and coming home to clean the house, do my 'mommy' duties, and cook dinner for a tired husband who had worked 12-15 hours. I was tired; I was sleep-deprived; and cranky because I had no time to write. And when I was no longer full-time again after 8 weeks, the words poured from my pen for 6 weeks straight.

My hubby gripes when I'm not working, because I'm not earning any money, but yet when I do work, I hear 'the house is a mess! When are you going to clean it up?'

I finally yelled back, "What do you want, a clean house or a working wife? Apparently I'm incapable of doing both!"

He shut up.

Sorry for the rant; this just royally pissed me off. And I don't want to get into a yelling match.