30 November PS&G

Added over 10K yesterday. Printed out requisite copies of first three. Still have a bit to go ere this POS is finished, but I'm still going---although I shall have to sleep soon. (Danged sinuses!) VA appt for dh today. Anything to cut into these last hours.

This was so much easier a couple of years ago. How did I get so old so fast?

29 November PS&G

It's not looking good for the Gipper, but I'm still going. Dh has a doc appt again tomorrow, so another bump in the road. But I'm still going. I WILL prevail.

28 November PS&G

It's time to sprint---and I have no energy. Dinner last night was fun but exhausting, and this sinus thing is draining me further. However, I'm going to push through. Too close to stop now. More words left than I'd like, but tenacity (and coffee and sinus pulls) is a good thing. I can sleep after Monday.

27 November PS&G

I hope you both ate too much and had a wonderful day yesterday!!!

Today is another cooking day for me. Years ago, my dh complained there were no Thanksgiving leftovers at our house (although I always made the pies and rolls to take to Mom's) and thus began a tradition. I cook Thanksgiving Dinner (pared down a bit, but not much!) on Friday. The kids always brought a "waif" or two home to share our meal and that hasn't changed. Somebody's friend always fills another chair or two at the table.

This year our Patty won't be here for the first time. Bound to happens sooner or later, but it leaves a hole. No matter where they were in years past, they made it home to eat. But times change, and so must we, so I shall take pleasure in what can be and try not to bemoan what was and can be no more.

Christine, hugs to you and your dear FIL. May God smile on you and yours.

Kate, same to you and your family, especially your daughter. May God send angels to protect, support, and encourage you this holiday season and into the New Year.

25 November PS&G

Today is pretty much a bust. Doc's (5 hours round trip), pies, and hopefully transcribing whatever work I managed to do while waiting.

Safe Journey to both of you.

24 November PS&G

Yesterday was pretty much a bust. I'm so scattered, I'm getting in my own way. Not good. Worse, I've lost track of things within the story---something that unsettles me because that has never happened before---and keep finding myself scrolling back to check things. Very time consuming.

Picked up the rental, and had some youngster trying to caution be about the size of the vehicle. I just gave him what my kids call "the LOOK." He actually stepped back. Then it dawned on him. I'd hit the deer with a TRUCK. Short of a semi, pal, chances are I can drive it. (And a couple lessons from my dad, and I could do the semi too!)

Anyway, some errands later, then it's back to work. Doc's Wednesday will shoot that, but I'll resort to tablet and paper to play with the synopsis.

Had my sweetie look into Fed-Ex. I really need to sleep, so that option may save my neck.

23 November PS&G

After today, I may have to change the title since both of the other ladies plan to mail their entries today. YAY!!

My dh is currently looking into a Fed-Ex location somewhere here in plaid-shirt heaven since, in my push to make deadline, I hit the hay at 7 a.m. and the phone started ringing at 7:25 (Son telling us about our rental car since his friend works for Enterprise.)

Promptly at 8, the phone rang again, the tow company. Fifteen minutes later, the rental car company (who was kind enough to inform me they didn't have pick up service at their location. So much for that ad campaign.) And it seemed to go on ever fifteen to twenty minutes until, at 10:30 I rolled out of the rack as surly as a hungry grizzly. (Trying to give direction to the towing service when you're half zonked and flat on you back is disconcerting to say the least.)

So, now I wait for our son who will take me to fetch the rental. I can't wait to see what other "bumps in the road" await me as I continue to push toward deadline.

It's been an adventure, that's for sure!

22 November PS&G

Well, it looks like, after Monday, I will be on my own, but I have to say I'm thrilled with the fact. Whether I can make it or not, both ladies who took the challenge will be safely entered.

Whew! Now to channel Yoda: There is no try. Just do or do not.

Time to get 'er done.

21 November PS&G

Managed to add another 6K to the manuscript despite my misadventure. Need some sleep now, though. Both physically and emotionally drained at this point.

Tomorrow I'll be pushing for 15K. Time has become the enemy.

20 November PS&G

So it's November, right? And three times yesterday I had to shut down my computer for THUNDERSTORMS! What's with that? Three hours of no production, but when we lost power at one point, I was so glad I didn't tempt fate.

Meeting sis and niece at Tannersville today for some shopping. It's nieces b-day. Because of the storms, I'm a little behind with goals, but family first in my world.

I told them I couldn't stay long, but I think the break might scrape the burnt bits off my fried brain.

Have a wonderful day, ladies.

19 November PS&G

This little crew of go-getters is on a roll! With Butter!!!

I am so pleased by the progress everyone (but me) is making. Actually, my progress isn't so bad, but I'm rueing the time I spent going over the first three so thoroughly. And I'm still not thrilled with them. But, with my mind set on speed, such is as it is.

We are running out of time, ladies. Home stretch and VICTORY here we come!

18 November PS&G

5200 new words today. Not great, but better. Still miles behind. I know I have commitments that will put a crimp in my writing time over the next two weeks, but gotta keep on keepin' on.

Right now, however, my tush hurts, and the ache runs down to me left knee for some reason. That means time to get up and do something or hit the hay.

Hay gets my vote. Gonna be another long one today, but sleep is a must. I hope I don't run out of clean duds before this is done. I keep putting off the laundry...

17 November PS&G

I know. I forgot the 16th, but I was writing until 4:30 a.m. and was falling asleep in my chair. Got a few hours sleep and dh said, "We have to go... (he can't drive yet)so off to the bank and the VA hospital. I never even got on the computer until late this afternoon. Still didn't hit me I'd forgotten to post the day, however. Sorry.

Too late to do the 16th now so onward and upward!

15 November PS&G

I'm so stoked!!! I have this really NASTY villain, the puppetmaster one, that I hate to write. He is so dark, getting into his head knocks me for a loop. HOWEVER, I introduced him tonight from the POV of one of his cohorts and it worked BEAUTIFULLY!! His basic motivation is evident---as his his reptilian nature.

14 November Progress, Status & Goals.

I'm so late putting this up. Sorry. Thought I'd done it before going to bed.

From now on, the title will be date PS&G. I know. Sounds like your local utility comapany, but typing it out, I have to refer back to see what order I used (you will notice, when I first started this, the order changed almost daily!)

Not as much done as I'd hoped. Have to take care of some chores today, too, but I won't be able to write if things are too disordered. (Danged dustbunnies cry without attention, dontcha know.) Still, will push forward. Gotta get 'er done.

13 November Progress, Status, & Goals

Not a lot of words today, but a lot of work done. I don't know that I've ever done this much "pre-writing" prep before, but I feel there will be fewer stumbling blocks as a result. Only one way to find out, however.

Need to get another 15-20K done between now and Sunday. If I can start rolling it out, then all will be well.

12 November Progress, Status, & Goals

Well, I had a major EUREKA (or, maybe, it was more like a DUH!) moment today; while working on my characters' GMC, to make sure all my ducks were in a row and packing howitzers, I realized my VILLAIN's needed work. I had absolutely no concrete reason for his behavior. How had that happened? And, since he shows up in three books (each book has its own primary villain. This guy becomes the primary in the third book,)it would be nice if he had, if not a method, a MOTIVATION for his obscenely obsessive behavior.

It's the synopisis' fault. All of it.

11 November Progress, Status, & Goals

My CP made only a couple of suggestions for my first three chapters! YAY!!! I printed them out and will let them sit for a bit before I take another look at them.

The synopsis is slow going, but I am making progress. If nothing else, I've discovered some shortfalls in character conflict before getting too far into the story. Not good news, but fixable and, since it's still early going, not too onerous.

10 November Progress, Status, & Goals

My first three are done and sent to my CP. YAY! The hook at the end is better than I could have hoped. I hope she agrees.

On to the synopsis. Waterloo. Good thing I'm not French!

9 November Progress, Status, & Goals

Mya and Kaycee went home. Thank heaven. I don't know which drove me crazier: having two more dogs in the house or dh hollering when Mya's and Wicket's playing included barks and growls and other things that interrupted his football viewing.

Am redoing the end of chapter three. It doesn't feel right, but I now realize why I had to write it. Necessitated going back and making a couple of other minor adjustments so here's hoping Laurie doesn't shoot me--she like the first two chapters just as they were.

Gotta write today. No excuses.

8 November Progress, Status, & Goals

Thought I was actually making progress today, despite the pups, only to realize the story took an unexpected turn that has left me asea. I know forcing my stories to go the way I want is usually a recipe for disaster, but do I have time to explore where this one is taking me? Seriously debating the wisdom of just going with it. So much at stake. Still, experience says to do so. Just what I need, more decisions.

7 Novermber Progress, Status, & Goals

It's 3 a.m. The pups are sleeping, and my secondary characters are asserting themselves. I know my CP will have thoughts about that, but I'm going to keep pushing forward. Perhaps the secondaries will be moved. Perhaps they are being so adamant for a reason. I don't know yet---one of the joys of "pantsing". One way or the other, what will be will be. And I have miles to go before I sleep...

6 November Progress, Status & Goals

Didn't get as much done as I would have liked. I took out a chicken, some sausage, and a chuck roast to thaw and forgot them. They thawed in the sink all night, so I had to cook them today. Not a lot of writing, but 12 quarts of Veggie Beef and Barley soup, one roasted chicken (that will make several meals before it, too, goes into the soup pot since the last batch of chicken soup is nigh gone), and sausage in tomato sauce (cheated a bit; used canned tomatos) so my dh had Ravioli and Sausage for dinner and is set for the next few days while I dwell in my office.

This would be so much easier if he could do for himself, but the inability to bend at the waist or pick up more than 5 lbs puts the kibosh on that! Still, when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and we're tough!

5 November Progress, Goals, and Status

Not much progress today. Forgot I had to blog over at Nobody Writes It Better. Had it written and posted in under three hours even fighting with putting in the pictures.

Laurie called about the two chapters I gave her. Good news across the board, thank heaven, since I haven't much time to play with it.

Well into chapter three, but the word count has me behind. Still, best to spend time on the "show" chapters. Can write like mad and not worry about the finer points to finish. Besides, that's what January and February are for---serious editing.

4 November Progress, Goals and Status

Not a good writing day yesterday. Trying to avoid too much "vomit" in the early chapters. Will spew toward the end so I can finish in time.

3 November, Progress, Goals, and Status

Sorry this is is late on. I've lost my mind and can't seem to find it!

Today I pay bills and finish the yard work and stuff I started yesterday so I can concentrate on getting words on the page without that annoying "You know this NEEDS to be done" whispering in my ear and flummoxing my concentration.

Onward and upward!

2 November Goals, Status, and Progress

1 November Goals, Status, and Progress