Monday, Monday...

This one's for all of you trudging to work this morning, or just starting another week.  I think Monday must be the worst day of all.  It doesn't matter of you're dragging your tired butt to school, work, or somewhere else...it's still Monday.

Now, yesterday that's more how I felt.  I got up at 7:30, staggered into the kitchen, got my coffee and groped my way down the hall to the Study.  And how upset was I when the first blog I read said cheerfully: "Did you remember to change your clocks?"  What?  Eyes swivel to computer clock.  Well, crap.  It's only 6:40am.  I just wasted my "free" Fall Back hour by getting up too early.

And, what's up with changing time anyway??  Why are "we" (and I use that word very, very loosely) messing with time?  Why can't we just leave well enough alone and save our sanity, sleep and biorhythms from this insane practice?

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I actually reached the 25% mark on the NaNo writing yesterday, no doubt because I wanted those Italian pastries.  When I was finished with the book for the day, I raced into the kitchen and began throwing the ingredients together so I could get the Zeppole made before dinner.

Here's how they look, bobbing in the olive oil, just beginning to puff up into heavenly little balls, right before your eyes.

This is how they look after being rolled in a cinnamon/sugar mix.  Mouth-watering.

Zeppole are super easy to make.  The hardest part of the whole recipe was trying to maintain the temperature of the oil.  I don't usually fry things--I'm more a "grill it, simmer on the stove, or shove it in the oven" kind of cook--so there's no reason to have one of those deep fat fryer deals.  Still, regardless of constantly fiddling with the temp dial, they turned out great.  Like little cinnamon/sugar puffs of air.

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Already today isn't shaping up too well.  We've got some things to do this morning down the mountain, the painter guys are back to prepare the garage floors for sandblasting, and I can't seem to get motivated at all, or figure out where in the scheme of things I will find time to write today. 

So...a typical Monday, then.

Rainy Sunday...

I love rainy Sundays.  Really, I do.  More than any other day of the week, a rainy Sunday seems perfect.  It makes me want to snuggle into the couch and read a book, or start a big pot of something that will simmer on the stove all day, making the house smell warm and cozy.

This rainy Sunday means I will be writing with wild abandon on the NaNo book.  I was on fire yesterday, and not only passed my daily quota, but made up for my zero word count of Friday.  I told Alan I was not going anywhere--other than Ozzy's walk--except into the Study to write.  I hung this on the door to make sure my intentions were perfectly clear:

If I can get in another solid round of writing today, I hope to take a break this afternoon, and make a batch of Zeppole: Italian donut balls of yummy deliciousness.  I've been waiting for ages to make them, and today seems like the right time--but only if I can get the main guy in the book to go where I need him to go, without hair pulling and screaming, (the hair pulling and screaming would be from me, not him).

Not much else to chat about on this soggy Sunday, so I'll stop blogging and get on with the writing.  My incentive will be those Zeppole calling my name, and believe me, that will be a major motivation.

One last photo, that made me laugh when I saw it this morning on a blog site I follow.  Have a great, laid-back Sunday everyone...just like this:

Via Miss Cellania

Planetary Alignments

What a crap day Friday turned out to be.  In the midst of it all, I decided to change my main Meandering photo, to cheer myself up.  It didn't work; in fact, just made me want to go home--as in go home to Scotland. (I know, I know...big baby, whingeing whiner, blah blah.  I don't care, I do).  How long does it take an ex-pat to readjust to their own country..??  Quite a bit longer than you'd think, as it turns out.

So, instead of exchanging a Scotland photo with something different for this month, in a fit of pique, or defiance, or rabid homesickness, I replaced the Crieff shot below, with another Scottish photo: Dryburgh Abbey.

The Borders are a beautiful, pastoral area in the far south of Scotland, and yes, bordering England, hence the name.  Lots of violence, turmoil, wars, etc., throughout the centuries for such a gentle land.  The main abbeys (the ones still standing after various and sundry historical upheavals) are Melrose, Dryburgh and Jedburgh.  All three wonderful, ancient and cool.

I didn't write one single word for NaNo yesterday, for the most part because we were all over town trying to find a frigging screen door, and order two Levelor blinds.  The traffic was outstandingly bad for small town America, which added to my frustration.  I could feel my brain starting to froth.  All I wanted was to stay home and write.  A simple trip down the mountain--I figured an hour tops--took four, and we only managed to accomplish one task, which ended up being a special custom order because the bloody screen door was not the standard size.  Of course it wasn't.  That would have made things easy, and less expensive.

We get back to the house at 3:30, the painters have left, but the house is completely finished, all touch-ups done, outside lights/lamps installed, finito.  (There's still the garage floor to seal, but that's minor in comparison to the whole house).  Glory, glory hallelujah.  We put light bulbs in all the new fixtures, discussed what color for the garage floor, then I took some photos, though the sun was setting and I only got a few worth looking at. 

How much do I love this green door..??

Another view of the door, and the new porch lamp.

This is a truly horrible picture of the house.  For the life of me, I can't get the colors to come out right, or the contrast between the body and the trim to show up properly.  Even the garage lamps look stupid.  In real life, everything looks great.  (So I suppose I should stop bitching and be thankful, right..??  Ha.  Too bad it doesn't work that way).

We hauled Ozzy around with us, mainly because I didn't want to leave him home alone after all his grass grazing earlier in the day, and he really likes being wheeled around in the trolleys at the stores.  By the end of the day, he was fed up and may never want to go anywhere with us again.

When everything was said and done, it was nearly 5:30 and too late for anything constructive--like writing--so I called my sister.  Turns out, her day wasn't any better than mine.  I think there must have been an evil planetary alignment in the cosmos.  A good thing that came out of our chat:  we ended up discussing my plot twist and she gave me some good feedback.  I am encouraged.  Slightly.  Maybe.  I won't know until I stop blogging and get to work.  I'm really falling behind and must get back on track or all will be lost.  Sort of like how my plans for yesterday played out.  Totally, irretrievably lost.

Figures...

I decided to start a new regime today.  Up early, blog and coffee, walk Ozzy, take a shower, then hit the writing.  Why, oh why do I bother to make plans..??  It's almost a guarantee that things will end up diametrically opposed to how I want, or expect them, to play out.

Ozzy was up at 5:00am, doing his sheep imitation: grass grazing.  Thank goodness he woke Alan up instead of me, because I tossed and turned for most of the night, fretting about the unexpected twist in my book plot.  Then, when I got up at 7:30, did I get my first cup of coffee..??  Hell no.  Barely dressed, it was outside with Oz for a walk in the heavy mist, then 20 minutes standing in the road watching him munch his way up the grassy slope.  He's had problems ever since his teeth cleaning, and subsequent antibiotic treatment in August, which I am convinced killed off his good bacteria along with the bad.  It also doesn't help that he has the most sensitive stomach on the planet.  The slightest thing can set him off--like going to the groomer's on Tuesday.  So, it's back to boiled chicken and rice for him, I think.

The guys finished the trim and doors yesterday, and wow, did that bring everything together.  I love, love, love the sage green on the three doors.  If the mist ever clears, I'll try to take some photos.  This morning they're putting up the outdoor lights, which look really good and again, that's tying things together.

Course, with this money pit house, once you fix one thing, another one bites the dust.  Tony installed the front porch light before they left yesterday, so last night I turned it on and went out to see how cool it looked.  Very.  Then, as I'm coming back into the house, there's this godawful snap and ping noise, and the bloody screen door breaks..!!  The compression thingy that prevents the door from slamming had snapped, sending shrapnel flying, and ruining the frigging door.  You hear that..??  Yep, the never-ending sound of ka-ching, ka-ching.

We now have to make a trip to Lowe's to buy a new screen door, which will complete the total annihilation of my feeble attempt at structure and order...on the very first day.  Maybe I shouldn't even be worrying about my unexpected plot twist.  At the rate things are going, I won't have time to write anyway.  Sigh.

Very Brief...

Very brief, because my BFF will be calling in a minute from LA, where she's been visiting her parents for the past week.

My word count is abysmal today, mainly because the plot took a total hairpin curve that I was NOT expecting, requiring a brain alteration.  Do I drag the plot back to where I expected it to go..??  Or just fasten my seat belt and follow these bossy characters in the direction they want to go..??  I'm taking the night off.  I seriously need to think this through.

I'm going to start posting on the blog in the mornings from now on.  I usually post in either late afternoon or evening, but I can't do that during NaNo,  So.  Mornings it is, at least for November.

That's all.  Phone's ringing......

Few Words, More Visuals

Mom sent me an email this morning with this video.  Short, sweet and too funny...

I've found the perfect place to write.  Uninterrupted, no distractions, just alone in the peaceful silence, freeing my mind to roam.  Now, if I just knew where on Earth to find this place...

Photo courtesy of Presurfer

I love this. I'm sure the person in charge of the beautiful planters doesn't share the same joy as I do, but I can't resist laughing at this gigantic dog, dead asleep, in his fragrant flower bed.

Photo of dog and kittens from Amo

Another dose of cute.  Aren't animals just the funniest creatures..??  Why would these kittens think a plant pot was a cool place to sleep...and then curl into it just like two peas in a pod..??

Hmmm.  I'm sensing a theme here with my photos.  Am I tired..??  Do I need a nap...two hours after I got up this morning..??  

Probably, though I don't have time.  I really want to follow a thread in my plot, and keep up the pace on the word count.  I know there will come a day (no doubt, in NaNo's dreaded Week Two), where I will have nary a thought in my head and will stare in horror at the laptop.  Been there, done that, so I'm trying to get a head start on that day.

A foggy, misty, buried-in-the-clouds morning on the mountain today.  The guys are painting the three doors, and when the sun comes out (crossed fingers), they will finish the trim work.  It will be great to have all this over and done, with the house looking fresh and painted.  I'm looking forward to getting things back to normal...whatever that means.

Jokes for a Wednesday...

Just a few jokes to liven the day.  Hope to spend most of it writing, though who knows how that will play out.  Painters are here, very bright and early, to start the trim, and expect to be done--or close to it--by this afternoon.  Cool.

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Joke One:

A married couple in their early 60s were out celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.  Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table and said, "For being such an exemplary married couple and for being faithful to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish."

"Ooh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband!" said the wife.  The fairy moved her magic stick and - abracadabra! - two tickets for the new QM2 luxury liner appeared in her hands.

Now it was the husband's turn. He thought for a moment and said: "Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this only occurs once in a lifetime, so, I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me."

The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish...

So the fairy made a circle with her magic stick and -abracadabra!- the husband became 92 years old.

The moral of this story:. Men might be ungrateful idiots, but fairies are...female!

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Joke Two:

A golfer is in a competitive match with a friend, who is ahead by a couple of strokes. The golfer says to himself, "I'd give anything to sink this next putt."  Little Johnny walks up to him and says, "Would you give up a fourth of your sex life?"

The golfer thinks the young boy is being silly and that any answer would be meaningless. At the same time he thinks this might be a good omen, so he says, "Okay," and sinks the putt.

Two holes later he mumbles to himself, "Boy, if I could only get an eagle on this hole."  Little Johnny moves to his side again and says, "Would it be worth another fourth of your sex life?"

The golfer shrugs and says, "Sure." He makes an eagle.

On the final hole, the golfer needs yet another eagle to win. Though he says nothing, Little Johnny approaches and says, "Would you be willing to give up the rest of your sex life to win this match?"

The golfer says, "Certainly!" He makes the eagle.

As the golfer walks to the clubhouse, Little Johnny walks alongside and says, "You know, I've really not been fair with you because you don't know who I am. I'm the devil, and from now on you will have no sex life!!"

"Nice to meet you," says the golfer. "My name is Father O'Malley."

Busy Tuesday...

Miraculously, I managed to write far more words today than I expected to, though how, I'm not sure.  It's been a very, very busy day, and I didn't even sit down at the laptop until 3:00 or so.

 

We dropped Oz off at the groomer's at 9:15 this morning, then headed for Costco.  Got there at 9:30, to find out they don't open until 10:00.  Honestly, the best laid plans, etc.  Spent most of the morning there--once we got in--and most of our bank account, though we won't have to buy food again for about a year.

Picked Ozzy the Handsome up around 12:30, then took him straight to the park.  The weather was amazing today, low 70s, clear, blue skies, just perfect, perfect weather.  We dinked around at the park until almost 2:00, then headed home to see how the painters were doing.  The body of the house is now totally painted, with the trim and doors slated for tomorrow.  I love the color, though can't wait to see the contrasting trim and sage green doors, or get all the plastic off the windows.  It has changed the whole appearance of the house, and its relationship to the landscape.  It now blends, rather than stands out like a big white whale.

After a very late lunch, a few trips outside to look at the house color, and even getting a preview of the trim--thanks to Kirk who painted one of the trim boards so I could see it--I finally sat down to write.  Course, I only wrote for a bit over an hour, when it was time to walk Oz to the mailbox--to placate the little bugger because he apparently felt the stop at the park after the groomer's didn't qualify as the real trip to the park.  A few more minutes writing, then a quick dinner.  Whew.  It's pretty amazing I actually accomplished what I did, all things considered.

So, now I'm beat, it's 9:00pm, and I need to sit down with my feet up, and wipe my hard drive (brain), in preparation for tomorrow.  Hope this weather holds...and my little gray cells.  So far, so good...on both counts.

What A Day

First, check out the Daily Word Count widget on the right there...yeah...that one.  The one that says I wrote 2,571 words today...!!  Yaaahooo...!!  And the writing was sandwiched between four loads of wash, numerous trips up and down the stairs to view the painting job on the house, taking photos of same, three Ozzy walks, lunch, dinner, and half the morning spent in Procrastinationville.  Wow.  Just think what I could do if I was holed up in a mountain cabin, far from the madding crowd.  Though, that might turn me into Jack Nicholson in The Shining, and wouldn't get the second book written, would it..??

The guys made great strides on the house today; the weather was 70*, with warm, dry winds.  They managed to get two coats, on two sides of the money pit house, and plan to do the other two sides tomorrow.  I can't wait to see how the trim paint will look against the beige-ish/brown-ish color that seems to predominate at the moment.  Also, the dark sage green doors should break that up a bit, too.

I took some photos, but the color isn't quite the same as in real life.  Still, you can almost see the difference between the new color and the pukey white cream of the old.  It was weird to have all the windows covered in plastic film, too.  When I would walk into the living area, I kept thinking there was a terrible fog in the valley.  (Shut up.  You weren't here.  The plastic was vaguely see-through, but like looking through smoke or fog.  Oh, never mind).

Kirk, using a very long spray gun...and doing an excellent job, too.  That ugly brown door will eventually become dark sage green.  Can't wait.

They got the second coat on, and were able to remove the plastic film from the side windows.  You can't quite make this out in the photo, but the black edging around the windows looks really good against the beige-ish/brown-ish color on the body of the house.  I'm not sure why these pictures are so crappy, but you can sort of get the idea how things look.

Though I did loads of writing today, I will not be able to keep up the pace, I'm sure.  Especially not tomorrow.  Ozzy has an appointment with the groomer, early in the morning, so Alan and I are going to take advantage of the early start, and hit Costco and the grocery store.  Then, home by lunch, followed by a walk in the park with Ozzy, and finally back to the NaNo writing by 2:30 or 3:00.  I don't expect I'll have a very good word count tomorrow, for sure.

Still.  It was a good day...both for writing, and for house painting.

And So It Begins....

It's really here:  November 1st, and NaNo has begun.  So have my butterflies.  I've managed to procrastinate the better part of the morning away, mostly trying to add the Daily Word Count widget to my sidebar.  (Hey, whatever puts off the inevitable, right..??)

I finished all the editing of Book One, pdf'd it perfectly, and sent it off to CreateSpace.  I should have a finished, beautiful copy in a few weeks.  What a relief to get that done before I started writing the next installment of the saga, and just in the nick of time...I hit the "send" button at 10:30 last night.

The painter guys are here today, masking the windows and decks, apparently in preparation for the house painting.  Weather is dicey, including a strong, warm wind.  Maybe that will help dry the paint...or maybe we will just have a cloud of paint drifting all over the neighborhood.

Time for my shower, then I totally have to start the writing ordeal process.  This part is really the worst.  Staring at a blank, white, empty computer screen.  Eeww.  Shivers down my spine just thinking about it.  With any luck--and divine inspiration on the plot--I will blog later today, with some progress to show on the word counter. 

Until then, does anyone have a butterfly net I could borrow..??