What Day is it?

I don’t know about you, but I’m losing track of days. It was easy when Hubby went to work. Now that he and our daughter are here all the time, I’m losing track. Maybe I should write what day it is on the white board. J

Daughter and I were supposed to leave for Vegas today. I was so excited for this trip when we made the plane reservations back in January. And the room reservations in February. And when we bought our tickets to the hockey games. So excited!

Now I’m bummed.

Hubby and I are supposed to go on our Transatlantic cruise in June. Take a European land tour after. Vacation all June long. Now I’m wondering if even that trip will go, or which part will get cancelled and we’re unable to make the other part.

What a mess.

I submitted my flight cancellation through Travelocity on the 12^th or 13^th after Daughter decided to cancel our Vegas trip. After I hit submit, a box popped up and said I’d hear back from someone in five days, but I never got any email confirmation the cancellation was received. I waited more than five days and still… nothing. So I called the number on Wednesday (since the flight was now less than 7 days away) and got cut off. Then the number wasn’t working. Tried again yesterday, same thing. I checked the website and it says the flight is still a go. Really? I tried their virtual chat—what a joke! I really hate those virtual chat rooms. They can NEVER help you. I went over to the FB page and finally found (in the comments) an e-mail address I could try (because heaven forbid Travelocity lists that on their website). At least I got a bot to respond to my email saying I’ll hear back in 48 hours. I probably won’t but at least I have SOMETHING! I’d really like to get some of my money back (or at least credit toward another flight).

So … today is Friday, right? I was going to post this last night, but finally (FINALLY) got the edits back for Finding the Perfect Mate and spent all day reading over the book (again) to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Now it’s in my formatter’s hands (that would be Hubby). I have to upload that book on Smashwords by Saturday to meet the pre-order date. I have a few extra days to upload on KDP and B&N, but man, it’s been stressful (and I can’t even blame the virus for this). I’ll be so happy when I finally upload the book and don’t have to worry about it any longer.

I think the next time I’m not going to set a pre-order date when I don’t have the book ready to upload. It’s too stressful. I need less stress in my life.

So… are you losing track of days? Finding life to be a little more stressful now? Maybe it’s a good thing my cardiologist put me on blood pressure medicine!

Happy Friday and keep your distance!

Stacy

What a Game!

I think the Penguins are trying to give all their fans heart attacks. What a game last night! I have a feeling this next round is going to be super stressful.

What am I saying? They’re ALL stressful.

I’m just so happy that the Penguins woke up and came from behind to win the first game. In Capitals territory. Bwahahahaha!

After the Penguins game, Daughter and I watched the Vegas Knights. Not quite as stressful. Scoring 4 goals in the first period might have helped in that regard. And since I wrote this during the game, I cannot share the outcome. Yes, I stayed up late to watch it!

Tonight Hubby and I will are going to a Dayton Dragons game. Then we do the same tomorrow night with some friends. I pray for dry weather, but have a feeling it’ll be a little chilly. I wish it would hurry up and get warmer.

So… What stresses you out? I think it’ll always be hockey for me. Okay, possibly football, too.

Happy Friday! And let’s go Pens!!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads

I might not have gotten much revising done while at RomCon, but by gosh, I read some books. Reading’s a lot easier than writing while traveling, that’s for sure. And after a hectic day in the convention (no matter how much fun they are they can be very stressful), reading is the best medicine. Here’s what I read the past week:

September 29: “Immortal Nights” by Lynsay Sands, #24 in the Argeneau Vampire series, a paranormal romance at 346 pages. Blurb from book: Abigail Forsythe’s life hasn’t been easy lately. Still, if there’s one thing guaranteed to take her mind off an empty bank account and abandoned dreams, it’s a naked man locked in a plane’s cargo hold. A very big, incredibly gorgeous naked man. And when instinct prompts her to free him, Abigail must rely on this stranger for survival…a stranger who leaves her thrumming with need every time they touch. Tomasso Notte knows he’s found his life mate in Abigail. Now he just has to hold on to her. They’re miles from civilization, hunted by his kidnappers. Abigail has no idea of Tomasso’s abilities, or of how intensely pleasurable their unique connection can be. But he’s about to show her, beginning with one wild, hot, immortal night… I really can’t get enough of this series. They’re just plain fun to read. Yes, even after 24 books!

October 3: “The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride” by Kristen Painter, #1 in the Nocturne Falls series, a paranormal romance at 212 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs and all. After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn't know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire. Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real. Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets... What a fun book, but I knew I shouldn't have read it. I know, why’d I get it, then? Because it was free and it looked fun. Well, it was, and now I want to read more of her work (even though the author closes the door whenever sex is in play—drat!). I really do need to finish the books I own, but--haha--that'll never happen will it?

October 3: “All I Need” by Eden Ashe, a paranormal romance novella at 48 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: When she inherits the ancestral manor she’d grown up in from her wily grandmother, Jilly is ready to settle down. Only problem—the manor has been willed to Luke Bannon as well. The bane of her existence, Luke is the one guy who can threaten her carefully erected walls. But not a man to be ignored, he has loved her forever. He just wishes he didn’t have to share the house with her. Once they’re alone in the old manor, it’s clear something isn’t right.... Doors locked tight, windows won’t budge... something—or someone—won’t let them leave. At least not until they admit they’re meant to be together. This story was a fun and sexy read, but way, way too short. Which I wasn’t expecting since the author stated it used to be 600 pages. 600 pages down to 48? Too much was cut (I would have liked to know more about the character’s motivations—heck I’d like to know more about the characters, period). Then again, it states it’s the first book of the series. Maybe the rest of the story will come out later. Unfortunately, there aren’t any other books out right now (or the hint of any). Boo.

So… What do you like to do to decompress?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Penguins and Stress Tests

Penguins are going to the finals! We’re playing for the cup!! Whoo hoo! What a game. So glad that’s over. Next: San Jose Sharks. I see more stress in my life next week!

Speaking of stress… I had my stress test yesterday (in more ways than one, if you also count the Penguins game). Doctor said there didn’t seem to be much of a change from last year. I, however, thought there might be. I lasted 9 minutes, 17 seconds on that treadmill last year. I’ve been exercising all year long, and I only lasted 9 minutes this time. Seriously? I feel like a total failure in the exercise circuit (I don’t run, but I do lift weights—thought that might count for something). Then again, it could be a symptom. But she said I was okay and to come back in 6 months. Who am I to argue with the doctor, right?

So… What are you plans this weekend? I think I’ll be smiling through most of mine. J

Have a great Friday!

Stacy

To Blog or Not

I can’t tell if I need a break from blogging or if being on Facebook has just drained me dry! At least my stint ends tomorrow. We’ll see how I feel after that.

In good news, I started working on my WIP again. I still need to make that a priority and I will. Soon.

Have a good weekend.

Stacy

 

Hodgepodge

Okay, so I really need to get back into writing. I can see that happening this weekend. Maybe.

I've got some critiquing to do for my writer buddy. So that's on my list of things to do.

I've gotten the presents that need to be delivered, ordered and/or delivered. I still have to get presents for those who will be with me on Christmas morning. That is also on my list to do this weekend. Not looking forward to those horrendous crowds, but I will get it done. I'm determined.

Of course, in order to do that, I have to inventory what I've purchased so far. That will probably happen tonight, since I'll need that information for Saturday.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again – I'm a procrastinator to the nth degree!

You'd think I'd learn by now.

In other news, something has happened to me and I'd like to pose a question out there for you. Have you ever gone on a vacation and not have your boss ask you how it went?

I've had plenty of bosses and I can't remember one ever not asking. Until now. In fact, I only saw him for a total of five seconds on Monday. Never stopped by and said welcome back or anything! Is that strange?

My place of employment has started making me question if something is wrong with me. I've never felt so out of place or alone. I sometimes wish I had never left the old job. Eventually that one would have gotten better – I just didn't know it at the time (and I know this because my husband and son still work there).

I'll just use this job as motivation to get published. And in order to get published, I need to write. Oh yeah… That will happen this weekend. I'll find the time if it kills me!

Stressed!

Yesterday I hit the 80,000 word mark on my current WIP.

I’d love to take some time off and just write, but I sometimes wonder if I work that way. I know how I want a certain scene and when I finish that one, I usually have to stop and think about the next one. Technically, I can do that at work (when I’m not bombarded, anyway). If I was at home, would I still stop and think or would I check e-mails and blogs? Oh, wait – I do that at work, too!

Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t matter. I’d just be happier (and less stressed about being caught). Yeah, that’s it.

The end is so close and I’m consumed. Thank GOD my husband understands. He has kept the TV off (for the most part). He’s even checked to make sure I’m writing and not “surfing” (something I need at times). He’s been a real trooper because he knows how badly I want this book finished.

And I want it finished this month. That will give me enough time to edit and have it critiqued before I start to go pitching it at Nationals (June 28-July 1). And now I’ve also signed up for Lori Foster’s Reader/Author Get Together, where agents and publishers are taking pitches. That occurs June 3-5. Not so sure I’ll be ready by then, but by gosh, I sure can try!!

And I said work was making me stressed? Ha! But I prefer being stressed with writing, because it’s more fun – that’s for sure! I guess there is such a thing as good stress and bad stress.