Summer's Halfway Point

Only 37 more days.

37 more days until what, you ask.

Until school starts once again . . . and I have my shoulder surgery, but that's another topic for another day.

Can you believe it?

I have the supply list already. Today I plan to see what we have and what we need before heading out to Staples, coupon in hand. Last year we bought some very nice binders that managed to stay intact, so we can reused them this year--YAY! The kidlet is already planning on the wall paper she wants for her locker. It's time to bling it up!

Up until now, it didn't even feel like summer here in Oklahoma. The temperatures were mild and in the upper 80's instead of freaking hot of 100+ of the last two summers. Yesterday was the first day it actually felt like summer.

So, of course, our swim club hosted an outdoor Parks and Rec Swimaroo swim meet last night.

Cute fishy logo, huh?

It was fun for the kids . . . and fun for the coaches, since they could swim, too. It was broken down into age groups and the events were 50 meters in each stroke (fly, back, breast and free).

The kids had fun challenging each other . . . even though most of them had swum in the Stars and Stripes meet the previous two days. The parents had fun visiting, since it was far less stressful of a venue . . . besides we couldn't see much of anything.

Top three finishers got medals, 4-8 got ribbons. The kidlet did pretty good.
2nd in Fly'
4th in Back
8th in Breast
top three in Free-- we don't know how the times fell out, since we left before the sheet was posted, and it's not online yet.

Well, I need to get my rear in gear and go for a walk. I had almost talked myself out of walking this morning, but I think I need to get into walking shape if I plan to keep up with the family while at Disney World. . . . yes, even though I'm the one who walks daily, they manage to out walk me every single time when they have a reason to walk quickly, namely riding rides!

Remember now that the heat is on, drink plenty of water! Lay off the energy drinks because they can cause kidney stones. If you don't believe me, ask any emergency room nurse about the increased incidences of kidney stones during the summer!

Later, Peeps!

Summer Lethergy

I have been seriously slacking in the last few weeks. And according to my blog stats, so has my quiet army of blog hoppers. Summer has us in its grips of ennui.

The heat in the middle of this country is freaking ridiculous! We've had 100+ temps in June, most of July, and I don't think the meteorologists expect a break until winter rolls in. Almost all the yards are brown. Trees are killing off their leaves to remain alive. And no one wants to go outside. Heck, we have a swimming pool and we don't want to go outside. I've managed to scorch myself on the latex-coated pool mat! Yes, it's that bad.

Does that mean I've been writing like a fiend?

Uh, no. Remember, I have a kid at home--school starts on August 22!! Only a few more weeks to go. I think we have everything ready for the big day. I know I do! I have finally written down monthly goals for August. And it's a hefty list:

• Write bio for Susan--I'm giving a talk to Romance Writers Ink about REJECTION in November, which reminds me--I need to finish writing notes down for this!
• Write 25 pgs and 1 pg synopsis for FIRE--I need to this by August 12, since I want to enter a contest
• Write article for Amy's Author EMS site--Amy asked me to give a tutorial about how to set up Blogger as a website presence, due Aug. 12. I started this blog in 2008, I don't remember what I did! Oh, well, writer here. I can simply lie about it!
• Edit/format MAZE to publish Sept. 1--get on Laura's butt about my cover design. I also need to read up on the new guidelines for Smashwords and Kindle. They have something new with linking the chapters to the locations in the book, which means I'll need to REDO the three books already available! UGH!
• Edit TROLL for publication in October--I honestly don't see this happening! September, maybe. August, not so much.

Oh, yeah, we're also going on vacation in August, and we need to get everything ready for the housesitter. That way all she has to do is take care of the pool, dog and guinea pig.

Did I ever mention that I like lists?

I do. It helps the Virgo in me to keep track of everything going on. Are you a list maker? Or do you wing it? When I try to wing it, I always forget something. Well, gotta go and get started on my bio. Okay, I lied. I do have a shorty-short one on this blog, but I'm also writing a long one that's running about 1000 words.

Later, Peeps!