A Change of Pace

Today is the last day of school for my kidlet.

--And my lazy life will not be mine any longer.

We have a few camps scheduled. The big one is Girl Scout camp where she will be gone overnight for five nights. Now, this is the kidlet who tends to get a little homesick when she spends the night at a friend's house, so this is a BIG DEAL. GS camp is her idea, so I think she'll do well . . . at least after the first night when the girls will be so exhausted they won't have time to get homesick.

Most of the other camps vary between 1-3 hours a few days a week: basketball camp, swimming camp and zoo camp. There are a few free weeks over the summer along with one surprise vacation.*shh*

There are a few free weeks throughout the summer allowing time for movies, reading, swimming in the pool, playing with friends, and working on 5th grade curriculum in preparation for school next year.

Summers also are a logistical nightmare. Trying to schedule playdates with her friends is nuts. My kidlet has various camps she attends, well, so do other kids and those don't necessarily coincide with our schedule, plus many of them stay with their grandparents for a couple weeks out of the summer. The kidlets grandparents live in town. *Drat!* I can't farm her out!

With the kidlet standing over my shoulder, I know I won't be able to get much writing done. And I managed to waste all of May . . . well, waste is a harsh word. I did a lot of work on FAERIE and it simply mentally exhausted me. I had intended to read over FOR WHOM THE BELL TROLLS and A MAZE OF MONSTER MIX-UPS (Halloween short story AND prequel to TROLL), but simply didn't have the energy. Both those stories need to be up by the end of September, at least MONSTER does, TROLL can wait until the end of October.

I have a lot of work on both those stories, but I think I've broken my addiction to Farmville and that should help with my focus. :-)

Maybe I'll actually get up early and start writing again. Hmm . . . I like that idea.

Later, Peeps!

Snow, Gnomes and Pictures

Well, I don't know about y'all, but I'm already tired of the white stuff.  Not that I've driven in it--I haven't . . . much.  I don't drive in bad weather and being a homebody, I really don't mind staying at home.  Besides, we all know the hubster won't be taking his 'Vette out of the garage anytime soon, I'll be carless in the interim.

What I do mind, is being cooped up with both my children.  Yes, the 46-year old and the 10-year old do get on my nerves at times, though they have been playing Donkey Kong in relative peace. 

Ever since I found out last Monday that Jabberwocky didn't want my GNOME story, I've been editing it for about the 9th or 10th time.  Emails have been fast and furious between me and my cover designer, the wonderful Laura Morrigan. Plus we've been searching for a distinctive 'look' for my series, which I'm calling, THE GOBLIN'S APPRENTICE.  And since the goblin wasn't introduced until book two, I'm having to rewrite some of Book One, GNOME. 

--and I just found out they cancelled school, which means my kidlet will be home AGAIN.  So here are a few pictures I thought I'd share.

The front door before

After shoveling

Sledding by the school

Rachel and Maggie 'frolicing'

A little more frolicing

Fire and comfort surrounded by the snow fort

Where's the swimming pool??

Pre-toasted marshmallow

Who needs a blanket when you have a fuzzy dog?

Later, Peeps!