I'm Looking Forward to...

A colonoscopy

Okay, I’m NOT looking forward to this. I’m looking forward to it being OVER! Ten years ago I had my first colonoscopy and told to come back in ten years. My doctor told me not to be surprised if I’m told this time to come back in five years, because apparently ten years between them is too long? Grrr… Yeah, I know, better to get checked often than wait too long and find something.

What I’m really not looking forward to is the prep I have to go through today and tomorrow morning for tomorrow’s procedure. Monday is usually pizza/TV with Son, but I cancelled that since I can’t eat anything after 9am today until after the procedure. Ugh…

Tomorrow’s procedure is going to happen on base this year (last time I went someplace off base—not a hospital). Last time I wasn’t completely out and remember a lot of it. I’m hoping I’m totally out this time. I don’t want to remember it. I don’t want to feel it!!! Wish me luck!

A book signing
Yay! Something good to look forward to this week. I’ll be at the Boone County (KY) Public Library this Saturday for their Author Event (you can see more information here: https://www.bcpl.org/undiscovered/local-author-fair-just-in-time-for-holiday-shopping/ ). I’m apparently going to be on a panel discussing self-publishing, but that’s about all I know. Well, that, and I get a table to sell my books. I don’t usually sell at library events, but it was free for me and publicity is publicity. Right? And if I actually sell a book (or even get a newsletter subscriber), SCORE!

I pretty much have all my swag in one room, just have to pack it up to transport (I have pens and bookmarks now!!). And my books are all set to go. Don’t know if Hubby will accompany me. I hope he does, but I won’t nag him about it.

Although, maybe if I give him the sad eyes… J

A finished short story
That’s right! I’m highly confident I’ll finish my short story this week (might have finished it Friday except I was at the hospital with Daughter—who is doing well by the way). Next I need to figure out the blurb and what kind of cover I want for it. The sooner I get that all done, the sooner I can get back to my WIP. I miss those characters.

So… Are you looking forward to anything this week?

Happy Monday! 

Stacy

Aaack! It Snowed!

Woke up this morning and came into the sunroom—which wasn’t all that sunny—and thought at first it was foggy outside. There was this softness on the rooftops. Upon closer examination (without my coffee, even), I noticed my mistake. It wasn’t fog. There is snow on the rooftops!

It snowed last night! Aaack!

Okay, not a lot of snow, but still… snow. It’s cold enough to snow out there. I am not amused.

Frankly, I thought the snow was supposed to show up sometime tonight, mixed with rain. Which was why I was kind of glad Wayne wasn’t playing tonight. We’d be sitting in that mess.


Stayed up last night

I stayed up watching the Steelers dominate the Panthers last night. Okay, I didn’t stay up THAT late. The game went by pretty quickly. And there was lots of high-fiving. I like those kinds of games!


Please send good vibes

This morning I have the honor of being my daughter’s driver. She’s going in for some minor surgery to remove a lump from her breast that isn’t cancer, but her doctor thinks it could turn into it. Best to get rid of it now and Daughter agreed (I think our new family history had helped her make that decision). Appreciate any good vibes you can send her way.

So… Did you wake up to any surprises this morning?

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Book Contests

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #47

Dates read: October 26-November 2
Title: Vampires Like it Hot
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  Argeneau #28
# of Pages: 372
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: “Vampires…” When Raffaele Notte pulls a barely dressed, disoriented woman from the ocean, the last thing he expects is for her to utter that word. The immortal has come to the island resort to help his cousin, but now, it seems, there are rogue vampires dining on unsuspecting tourists. And he soon realizes that not only is Jess a target, she’s also the life mate he’s been waiting for…
    Vampires are real. Jess would’ve never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There’s something about Raffaele that’s unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?
My thoughts: The twenty-eighth in the series and I’m STILL not tired of them. They’re so much fun to read. One of the best series out there if you’re looking for paranormal, romance, and a bit of comedy.

Book Contests

I debated on whether or not to enter Ghostly Interlude into the Ritas (RWA published book contest). In order to enter I have to judge and all the entries are on pdfs (plus, I can’t read my favorite genre because I entered my book in it). Ugh! I hate reading pdfs (and we all know how I feel about contemporary romances). But I caved and entered my book anyway. Figured I don’t get a new book out all that often, might as well enter it into all the contests it’s eligible for. Maybe one of these days I’ll actually final (and yes, I’d be happy just to do that).

So… What do you think about book contests? Good publicity (if you final) or a waste of time and money? I still haven’t figured out which it is, but I can’t seem to stay away. I always have hope.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

It Worked, Baby Steps, and Football

It Worked… Sort of

My short story is starting to take off. In fact, I may get that sucker finished this week! I was going to write the ending, hoping to generate something, when an idea struck me at night. One of those “What if”/“Ah-ha” moments. Yay! So while I didn’t write the ending yet, just thinking about it helped me figure out what was going on in my story. I even wrote this weekend! And when I’m actually writing on the weekend, you know it’s going well. J

Baby Steps

Hubby and I are trying to get the garage set up so that we can get both cars inside. At the same time. Very important with winter closing in on us. But thinking about everything that needs to be done can be overwhelming, so we’ve been taking baby steps.

Last weekend we moved shelving and figured out how to hang the bikes and golf clubs. Bought the materials and let it sit. This weekend we actually got the bikes hung!! And we bought one larger trashcan to replace the others we have (and will dispose of…slowly). I like tackling a problem and getting it done one problem at a time. It makes it so much easier to accomplish.

A lot of our storage problems will go away once we build a shed in the backyard, but until we sell the old house, we aren’t going to spend that kind of money on the new house. People are still seeing the house, but so far no bites. L

Football

Friday night actually stayed dry and the wind was slight. Good thing, because the temps were in the 40s. If there was any kind of wind… Well, we would have been colder than we were. Unfortunately the night didn’t end well, and it wasn’t due to the weather. The Wayne Warriors lost to the Hilliard-Davidson Wildcats, 28-21. It’s nice that the score LOOKS respectable. And if Wayne didn’t kill themselves with all the penalties, they might have come out on top. But, it wasn’t meant to be. They should be a team to reckon with next year. Most of the players will return.

Saturday was a good day for my football teams! OSU beat Nebraska, WVU beat Texas, and USC beat Oregon.

And Sunday was a mixed bag. Steelers beat those nasty Ravens (yay!), but the Rams lost their first (and toughest) game (boo!).

So… Have you ever had a what if/ah-ha moment? Didn’t you just love it?

Happy Monday!

Stacy

NaNo, Playoff Football, and Trick or Treaters

NaNoWriMo

No, I’m not doing NaNoWriMo (never have), but I went to a NaNo party/get together last night, hoping I could finish my short story. Didn’t have any luck in that department, but I did manage to get my words written (I set a goal of 500 words a day, but hope for more). Now if I can only figure out where this darn story is headed! Ugh. It’s so frustrating.

Maybe I should write the ending. I kind of have an idea about that. Think that might help me figure out the stuff in the middle? Hmmm… I’ll have to give that a try today. It certainly can’t hurt.

Are you doing NaNo? Do you enjoy it? I can’t imagine writing 50,000 words in a month. That just doesn’t sound like fun. But some of the parties can be helpful if you’re stuck on a project. Like I am. I really want this short story finished so I can go back to my WIP!! Someone kick my butt!

Football Tonight

Tonight we’re driving to Hilliard to watch Wayne play in the first round of playoffs. Hilliard-Davidson (apparently Hilliard has THREE Division I high schools!!) is the #1 seed. The last time we were the #8 seed, we made it to the finals (during my son’s senior year and daughter’s freshman year of high school). I’ll be shocked if we do it again. Heck, I was super shocked the first time! So anything is possible, I suppose.

I just hope it doesn’t rain. It rained constantly yesterday and the day before. Got a lot of soggy ground around here.

Trick or Treat

Would you believe the rain let up during the 6-8pm time slot the trick or treaters were out? We got quite a bit of kids around (although the neighbors said not as many as last year) and they were at it through 8pm (the few who came through our old neighborhood all came before 7pm). Hubby and I sat outside in the garage and handed out candy. It was fun seeing all the kids. I just wish they’d taken all the candy.

Or maybe I don’t wish that so much. Haha!

So… I’d ask if you have leftover candy, but I think you all said you didn’t have any trick or treaters. Ahhh, no temptations for any of you, right?

Happy Friday!

Stacy