A Good Weekend

It was a good weekend.

That surprised me. I got myself all stressed out for nothing.

True, Saturday was busy. But it was productive, too. I met two wonderful people, people I hope become my critique partners. I even learned some more writing fundamentals, or at least, it was drilled into my head again. Maybe I’ll retain that information now!

And from that little class, my writing flowed. Well, my editing did, anyway. I went back to Chapter 1 and added the insight of my characters (along with their motivation). I hope to find out sometime this week if I finally “got” it.

I went from being stressed to feeling great. It didn’t hurt that I took SOME of the pressure off myself by only concentrating on the first three chapters. Then I’ll work on my synopsis and pitch. I think I’ll make it by the RT Convention. I’m feeling more confident, anyway.

Why Is It?

Why is it when you’re in a hurry to get to work (or anywhere for that matter), you get behind a slow driver and can’t get around him?

That’s pretty much how I’m feeling about my writing right now. I want to work on my book. I want to finish my current edit before the RT Convention (and my pitch to an agent). But commitments are in my way and I want to honk my horn.

Of course, I have no one to blame but myself. I got myself into this predicament. I need to get myself out of it. If it means less sleep, then maybe that’s what I need to do. I can always sleep in May!

Go Penguins!

Yesterday we drove to Pittsburgh to see the Penguins play. It’s their last season in the Igloo (Mellon Arena), and we just had to visit one last time (that's me with my daughter in the picture).

When we planned the trip (back in the fall), we knew we had to go on a Saturday, and the game had to be during the day, or else we would have to find a place to stay (since our dear friend moved from the area to Columbus, to be closer to us).

After checking tickets for every Saturday we were available, we finally found a game that wasn’t already sold out (their second to last home game). So for our second (and last) game at the Igloo, we were set to see the Penguins play the Atlanta Thrashers.

Our plans also included a visit to Peppi’s. They are the home of the Roethlisburger – in honor of Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a sub with hamburger, hot sausage, and egg, to name some of the ingredients, that my husband fell in love with (it didn’t hurt that it was named after his favorite player, either).

So, without our friend to guide us (we’d never driven into the city on our own; we’ve always been chauffeured), we managed to drive there and find a place to park without getting lost (which in itself is really a major feat for us, and we own a Garmin).

The game was great (Penguins won in over time: 4-3), and so was the meal. No, I didn’t have a Roethlisburger (not a fan of hot sausage - and egg & hamburger? No thank you); I stuck with the cheesesteak & mushrooms. YUM!

Our daughter is hinting (heavily) to get tickets next season so we can see them play in the new stadium (which is right next door to the Igloo).  Knowing us, it'll probably happen.  Right now I'll just watch them on TV (at least once the playoffs start - can't get them very often otherwise).  Go Penguins!!

Conventions

This year will be monumental for me. I’m going to my first convention.
 
The RT (Romantic Times) Convention is in Columbus this year. I have a friend who lives in Columbus (although it’s only an hour’s drive away). I truly didn’t see a better opportunity for me.

Sure, the cost was high. It’s what kept me from registering until the last minute. But my sweet husband encouraged me to go (and the fact I had a free place to stay helped, too).

The convention is only a month away. I’m scared and nervous. I’m also excited. This is my chance to meet other people like me. I hope it’s the first of many. It’s the first of two, anyway. I’m also registered for Dragon*Con this year.

Yeah, when it rains, it pours.

Is Looker-Outer a Word?

The other night my husband and I had dinner at Gold Star Chili. It’s a small restaurant and not very busy, so you can hear just about anyone’s conversation. Some Metro cops (actually Park Rangers – but it’s their new title) were at the register to pay their bill and talked with the girls that worked there (and none of the girls there had a quiet voice). The subject of speeding came up.

One girl wanted to know if the EMS or Fireman could pull her over for speeding. No, but they could radio in the speeder to the proper authorities. She didn’t think that was fair. Of course, she also didn’t think you could get a ticket if you had out of state plates (go figure!).

One girl bragged about how she speeds all the time and will “never” get a ticket. The Metro cop told her not to ever say “never”. She said the reason she would never get a ticket was because she was the “looker-outer” when her brother drove.

Looker-outer? I almost spit out my dinner! Is that a real word? Isn’t that usually the job of the passenger (at least in my family)? The cops had a good laugh. I told my husband I had to remember to use that word in my next book. I just have to figure out how to get it in there. Of course, the only way I’ll remember to use it, is to blog about it. So that’s what I’m doing!