M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 23

Goals for SEASON PREMIERE WEEK

 

My main goal? BE HOME! It’s not looking too bad right now, but you never know.

Monday: new HIMYM, new Castle, new Sleepy Hollow, which was REALLY creepy, and the premiere of Mom.

Tuesday: new Chicago Fire, not sure what else

Wednesday: new Modern Family and Middle

Thursday: new Grey’s Anatomy

A lot of my favorites, like Arrow, don’t start until October, but still, a fun week.

1) Jury duty. It will be my first day off since school started.  I like the way SA does it–you spend a day down at the courthouse and get called or not, and you’re done for a couple of years.

2) Parent night. Dang it, and on Grey’s Anatomy night, too! Forgot about that.

3) Guest blog for Julie Kenner.

4) Write Write Write Write

5) Exercise. Again last week, my schedule kept me from getting home at a normal time! And if I’m going to have fun snacks for my TV viewing, I need to burn some calories!

 

My Crazy Weekend

I did not eat one meal in San Antonio this weekend. I went to Castroville for breakfast Saturday, then Mom, Joe and I went to their market days, where I got an adorable purse. We stopped at a few shops, and most importantly, the bakery.

I came home, napped, and woke up to get ready to go to Gruene, to see Hayes Carll, a singer-songwriter, play at Gruene Hall. I love Hayes Carll–Fred got me listening to his CDs last year. Fred’s seen him twice, but I wasn’t invited. When I saw he was going to be at Gruene Hall, the oldest dancehall in Texas, I bought tickets.

Fred and I went up early to eat at The Gristmill. We thought the place would be packed on a Saturday evening, but I guess the two Texas games–UT v Ole Miss and Aggies v Alabama–kept them home. So we were seated right away, and could hear Hayes’s soundcheck while we ate.

After dinner we got in line to get into the dancehall, and got up close. We met a few other people around our age, which I thought was cool.

The opening act was Mike and the Moonpies, who were pretty good, very energetic. And then Hayes came on, around 10:30 (we’d already been standing about 3 1/2 hours at that point, in a hall with no AC and a few hundred people). But it was so TOTALLY worth it. This is how close we were:

He played for about an hour, almost all my favorite songs, and then he started talking about people knowing his songs, about us singing along, and he was talking about his duet, that he needed someone to sing it with him.

Now. I know this song. I sing it just about EVERY day. I KNOW it. And I’ve had 4 Shiners at this point, not drunk, but certainly not my usual self. My hand goes up, and he heard me say, “I know it!”

He meets my gaze. “You know it?”

“I know it,” I said, and he waved me up.

Now, I’m not graceful on the best of days, but climbing onto a stage after 4 beers, in front of hundreds of people? Hayes reached down and helped me up, and showed me where to stand. I thought I would be nervous, but I wasn’t. I mean, I’ve done karaoke, but this was different. I introduced myself only as Mary from San Antonio, and I could tell he wasn’t sure as he launched into the song.

Apparently I surprised everyone, especially Fred, for knowing this song as well as I did. I got a hug from Hayes and a big cheer, and Fred’s friends helped me off the stage. I still can’t believe I did that. The young crowd who’d been around us leaned over and high-fived me. It was hilarious.

After the show I got stopped a lot. One lady told me he’d tweeted that he needed someone to sing with him at the show the previous night, that she’d have to make her case. I wonder why he just picked someone out of the crowd Saturday.

I got in line to buy a shirt. Hayes was there, and Fred took our picture, and I got his autograph on my shirt. It was a blast, but I still can’t believe it happened. It’s one of those things out of a fantasy!

I barely slept Saturday night, finally falling into a good sleep around 6 AM, but the dog woke me at 9, and we went to the grocery store and went to Austin to declare Josh’s car DOA. Ugh. We took him out to eat, then took his friend back to San Marcos, and vegged on the couch Sunday night.

Honestly, I don’t know when I’m going to come down from this cloud!

New TV Season–What Are You Planning to Watch?

 

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know we’re coming up on one of my favorite weeks of the year.

Season Premiere Week

Tonight comes on Sleepy Hollow, which I’m very excited about.  Ichabod Crane is brought forward in time to…what? I don’t know. Don’t care. Will be watching it.

Tuesday comes on Dads, which is Seth Green and someone else living with their dads. I’m always fascinated by fathers and sons, so I’m giving this a shot.

Also Tuesday comes on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which EW seemed excited about, a cop comedy with Adam Samburg and Andre Braugher. I’ll give it a shot.

Nothing else excites me until next week, when Mom comes on, with Anna Faris. I like Anna Faris. She’s a recovering alcoholic, dealing with her mother, who also is. Doesn’t sound particularly funny, it looks good. Allison Janey from West Wing is in it, and I love her.

Then next Tuesday, the BIGGIE–Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Can. Not. Wait. Joss Whedon. Marvel. What more needs to be said?

I’m on the fence about new Thursday shows. I may check out the new Robin Williams and the new Michael J. Fox shows. I’m definitely adding The Originals, the Vampire Diaries spin-off, and I may put TVD back on the list.

The other new shows don’t start until October, and those include The Tomorrow People (no idea what it’s about, but it has the cousin of the actor from Arrow), American Horror Story: Coven (creeeppppyyy), Reign (though I’ve lost interest in The White Queen), Witches of East End, and Dracula. I love paranormal shows, but not paranormal books, weird, right?

This isn’t even accounting for returning shows: How I Met Your Mother, Castle, Chicago Fire, The Middle, Modern Family, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Hawaii 5-0, Supernatural, Arrow and The Walking Dead.

My TiVo is empty now, but it’s going to fill up fast! What are you looking forward to?

 

Goals of Week of Why Can’t I Keep My Mouth Shut?

 

Soooo, last week was crazy and LONG. This week looks to be crazy and LONG, and both things I’m dreading, I volunteered for! I got a jury summons and was actually excited because that’s a day of not corralling kids. Plus, kind of a break.

This week:

1) Go grocery shopping.

2) Head to Austin with Josh’s groceries, so Fred can look at his car. We’d love to be able to get it running JUST for a few more months.

3) Get ready for a United Way presentation at a faculty meeting Wednesday.

4) Get ready for my kids to sing at a local event, ALSO on Wednesday.

5) Work on Promo.

6) Exercise–so many late nights last week, I only exercised ONCE.

7) WRITE! My plan is to stay in Josh’s room and write while he and his dad are looking at the car.

8) Listen to audio book of Midnight Sun for review. EEK!

Goals for the Week the Crazy Begins

We had a faculty meeting last week and I came home a little overwhelmed by the schedule. We have a late night almost every week from here until Halloween. It’s not a terrible hardship, since I don’t have little kids to worry about, but it’s like going from 0 to 60, you know? Also got a notice that I’ll have a LOT of music interruptions coming up, AND I’m adding a 5th grade class, but losing a 1st grade class, so I need to redo the schedule.

This week:

1) Get a handle on this danged book.

2) A visit to the new Tech-Only library on Tuesday.

3) Faculty meeting Wednesday.

4) United Way meeting Thursday (I’m the coordinator again)

5) redo class schedule

6) Go see Hayes Carll in concert next weekend

7) Work on getting reviews for my books

I need a clone.

Jump-Starting a Book

I knew it would happen. I’ve been writing so many novellas, I’m having trouble committing to a book. I have started and set aside 2 related books because they really needed a lot more research than I’m able to do right now. Plus, they’re related stories and I want a stand-alone book to send to Carina so I can be an active author.

I’ve been working on this book for 3 weeks, and have less than 5000 words. Most of THOSE are notes about what will happen later in the story, which will be good, except that I have to get through the beginning first.

I had a great beginning, or so I thought, but it stalled. So I went to a second beginning. And back to the first, so I was toggling between them waiting to see which one took off.

So last night, I scrapped it all and opened a new document, with a new beginning, and changed the hero’s name. He was so hesitant before, maybe this will help.

I don’t remember EVER having this much trouble starting a book. Usually opening scenes are my favorites to write. I wonder if it’s just the wrong story to tell right now. But I think it’s the right one for Carina.

Have you ever had trouble starting? What did you do to get past it?

Goals for the Week of Labor Day

 

One week with the kids and a holiday already! Just a tease, because we don’t have a day off, or even an inservice, until Thanksgiving Break! Josh is here visiting his girlfriend and picking up a few things. We may see him a bit more this year that he’s seeing a girl who lives in SA.

I’m having a slow start with this book. My hero is being a bit of a wuss. I think if I get them on the same page together, it will take off, but I’m about 10K behind where I wanted to be!

This week:

1) Faculty meeting

2) Breakfast duty (but I get to leave early every day but faculty meeting day)

3) EXERCISE.

4) Cook. I do so much better calorie-wise when I make dinner at home.

5) Work on book and hope it takes off.

Goals for the First Week with the Kids

 

I know this week will kick my butt. It’s one thing going back and sitting in meetings all day. It’s a whole other thing corralling kids, and dealing with crying ones and ones that don’t want to be there. So my list will be short.

1) Work on new book.

2) Finish novella revisions.

3) exercise

4) Cook.

Yup, that’s all I’m asking myself to do!

Goals for the First Full Week of Work

 

Soooo, my first week was good, but I was so tired by Friday afternoon. It was only 2 days!!! Then we went to Josh’s apartment Saturday. It’s so cute and roomy. His closet is bigger than mine! His roommate gets in tonight. That kid doesn’t even have a bed! Oh, well, not my problem.

This week:

1) Get my classroom ready.

2) Present a lesson on Tuesday.

3) Finish my novella and send it to my editor.

4) Make some changes in my Alabama novella.

5) Start a new book.

6) Exercise. We’re going out to eat every day, so I have to counter that SOMEhow.

At least we still have a week before the kids come back.

 

Free for Kindle and Nook–my First Cowboy Book

For a short time, Taking the Bull by the Horns will be free on Kindle and Nook!