M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 58

Goals for the Week of Husband's Vacation (yes, again)

This week is going to Kick. My. Butt.

1)      Continue subbing for the fourth grade class. It's AMAZING how different procedures are this year than last. The math lesson plans are completely different and completely inscrutable. No social studies books (have you ever tried to teach history without books?) and all science is hands-on, but I don't have the materials. :::headdesk::: I will say, though, that if I didn't have to deal with the paperwork, I'd prefer the classroom to music. Maybe it's just that it's familiar.

2)      Continue working on Bluestone. This book is like pulling teeth, seriously. I was making good headway, but then just got exhausted.

3)      Start working with a group for Veteran's Day. We have a program in less than a month. I did it in music before, but haven't been to one in 8 years. Apparently it's a Very Big Deal.

4)      Faculty meeting

5)      Carnival

6)      Meet Mom at JoAnn's.

7)      Make newsletter for my new release.

8)      Write 2 more guest blogs, these for November.

9)      Take pictures of my crafts to upload to Etsy.

10)   House? Yeah….

I need a good 24 hours at home to get my act together! Maybe next weekend….

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Goals for the Week I Go Back in the Classroom

I didn't write at all this week. At. All. Feels weird. I didn't sew much, either, but I made 3 scarves. One is way too short and when I went to get more yarn, well, they didn't have any in that color, or in a complimentary color.

I tried to make a casserole carrier, but it is way too thick and even with the walking foot, I couldn't manage it. Not sure what to do next there.

This week I'm going back into the classroom for nine days. One of the fourth grade teachers is going to Turkey for 9 days, and we decided it's better for music to have a sub for 9 days. So I'll be working on centers and grading and such. I bet it will make me appreciate teaching music even more!

1)      Work on Bluestone 2. I'd love to be done with it before NaNo, though I'm not convinced I'll do NaNo this year.

2)      Work on more guest blog posts.  I think I need six or so. I have the number written down somewhere.

3)      Give a presentation during inservice—in addition to being music teacher, I'm the technology something-or-other, which means I go to meetings about technology and present them to the teachers.

4)      Go to dentist—it's going to be a real Monday, no lie.

5)      Sew, and possibly open an Etsy shop.

6)      Hang with family—doing a party today and a trip to farmer's market on Saturday

7)      Cook, keep house, exercise. Been bad bad bad about all those things.

 

A Book Trailer for A Ghostly Charm

This is the trailer Long and Short Reviews made for me for winning Book of the Week! LOVE it!

TV Report Card

I'm mostly caught up on the Tivo. I think I have a Ringer, and Persons of Interest. My husband doesn't care for Ringer, and I think he and the boy will enjoy Persons of Interest, so I'm holding onto those.

So far, here's my diagnosis.

The Great:

Revenge. I watched both Tivoed episodes on Saturday night and DANG. LOVED it. LOVED it. It's gorgeous, complex, intriguing…really awesome for a show I added because I liked the print ad.

Supernatural. It's tense and fast-paced and builds on last year's mythology. One of the best seasons yet.

Modern Family. Laugh Out Loud funny, absolutely.

Terra Nova: Based on one episode, this will be my favorite thing about Monday. Danger, dinosaurs, time travel, Jason O'Mara….

The Good:

How I Met Your Mother. I like how the new question is, "Who is Barney marrying?" Don't know how long they can keep that up, though.

Castle. The superhero episode was awesome!

Ringer: Sarah Michelle as two women screwing up each other's lives–awesome. As an aside, did anyone see her cameo on AMC? PRICELESS!

The Middle: Sue's in HS and driving Axl nuts. Too great. And Trouty Mouth is Brick's teacher!

Grey's Anatomy: REALLY good season opener, but I want to kick Derek where it hurts. He's being such a BABY. Yes, Meredith made a bad choice, but for a good reason.

Big Bang Theory: Last week's episode with Bernadette and Howard's mom was a scream. And Sheldon's JEALOUS!

Okay:

Hawaii Five-0. Honestly not sure I'd still be watching if not for Alex O.

Glee. A second Glee club? And if Sue is against the arts, what about the orchestras and bands that show up every time the Glee kids need a number? And really, what did Kurt think would happen if his bf came to his school? Of course they'll be in competition. Yeesh.

Suburgatory: I Tivoed this because I love the title. It's clever enough, but misses the mark sometimes.

Charlie's Angels: The second episode was better than the first, more reminiscent of the old series. I admit to not paying terribly close attention.

Pan Am: Very pretty and shiny. Not terribly compelling.

So what do you like this season? What don't you like? Agree with me or not?

Goals for the First Week of October

I survived that crazy week, which turned out even crazier. This week should be much calmer—my first normal week in awhile, and my last normal week in even longer.

1)      Go to SARA on Saturday

2)      Breakfast duty

3)      Finish beta read

4)      Work on Bluestone 2

5)      Sew

6)      Keep up house/exercise/make dinner (last week did a number on my schedule)

Good Writing Weekend

Not that I got a lot of writing done (but I did sew and clean a lot), but I got some good writing news.

First, Don't Look Back is an Epic Award Finalist in the romantic suspense category. I wasn't contacted, but saw the thread on my Carina Press digest. I thought I hadn't finalled as I scrolled down the list and passed historical (no Sunrise) and contemp (no Road Signs). And then, under Romantic Suspense, there it was! Woot! I think I've made maybe $100 on that book, but it does really well in reviews and contests.

Second, A Ghostly Charm is Book of the Week at Long and Short Reviews! I've never seen only 3 books up for Book of the Week, and the other two books were by big-name authors. So, cool! I get a book trailer!

Also, I found out Friday that Something to Talk About is going to print. I emailed my editor to see if it would so I could enter the Rita. A few hours later, I got an email saying, "You bet!" and then got galleys to proof. I had to do that twice this weekend. So it will be in print November 1.

I did get a two-star review for my October book, so that was less good.

Also, a shout-out to Mary Curry who is a Genesis winner!

What good happened to you this weekend?

Goals for the Last Week of September

 

Wow, ALREADY. September just STARTED!

This week is going to be rough, as far as keeping up my new schedule. Too many after-school events.

1)      Technology committee meeting Monday

2)      Faculty meeting Wednesday

3)      Baby shower Thursday

4)      Movie night Friday. I want to volunteer but…that's a lot of time spent after school.

5)      Finish edits on Feb. book

6)      Work on Bluestone 2. I'd really wanted to be done this week but not gonna happen.

7)      Work on a beta-read for a friend.

8)      Sew.

9)      Exercise

10)   Those guest blog posts I've been putting off, plus one and the SPN Sisters recap.

11)   Keep house.

Day Five of Season Premiere Week

My husband didn't want to see Charlie's Angels, so we watched Big Bang Theory and Grey's Anatomy. I was meh on BBT, but thought Grey's was pretty good, though I would have liked the conflict to go on a little longer, and I wanted to kick Derek where it counts. What a selfish ass.

Tonight: Supernatural, Fringe and Haven. My husband has band practice, so I have to wait on Fringe and Haven, so maybe I'll make SPN the meat in a Vampire Diaries sandwich. I haven't seen last week's episode yet.

Is anyone else watching All My Children? I've watched the show as long as I can remember (though not all the time. I do enjoy watching it during the summer while I eat lunch and sew.) It's been so cool to see all the people coming back! Sarah Michelle Gellar was HILARIOUS, and Maria, and Jamie and Adam and Brooke and Joe and not-Ruth. Only two more episodes. I sobbed at the Angie/Jesse centric episode.

Still crazy-behind, but determined not to drop exercising. I already feel better.

Day Four of Season Premiere Week: The Night the TiVo Explodes

We watched Alphas (OMG, Hicks–reminds me of Gerard Butler in Tomb Raider) and The Middle last night. If I'd known The Middle was going to be an hour, I would have watched Modern Family instead. I was too tired to stay up, though. Still haven't seen Hawaii 5-0, Ringer or Revenge.

Tonight: Charlie's Angels (LOVED that show when I was a kid), Big Bang Theory, Grey's Anatomy, Person of Interest (the one with Jim Cavizel, I think. I have no desire to see it but my son does), and Vampire Diaries. The NBC comedies are just going to have to wait. I don't think I'll watch The Office this year. I just don't like James Spader. He creeps me out.

Last night I was too tired to snack, to sew, to do anything! I've been exercising every day, though, and keeping up the house. I've also learned I cannot work on three different books and sew and work. Why aren't there more hours in the day???

Day Three of Season Premiere Week

So I went to the dentist yesterday and when I got home, I caught up on All My Children. Sadly, I should have watched the Jane Eyre DVD I've had almost a week, because when my son came home, I couldn't hear anything. I'll give it another shot tonight.

I sobbed like crazy during the AMC episode that aired Monday, with the Hubbards. At least they got their HEA. I watched that soap back when Angie and Jesse were teens, so it was meaningful to me.

I enjoyed Glee last night, but came to the realization I'd like it better without Rachel. She grates on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard (which the hygienist and I decided will be an obsolete term soon). I watched New Girl, which I didn't mind, but wonder how Damon Wayans Jr. will do that AND Happy Endings. And I watched Raising Hope for the first time, then added the first season to my Netflix queue. Can't believe I heard so much about it and never watched!

Tonight is just The Middle and Modern Family. Maybe we'll get to watch Alphas and Hawaii 5-0 too. Or Ringer. Those shows I have to wait for the dh to watch with me.

No smoothies last night–we got Panda Express–so hopefully tonight!

Did I mention my son has started getting up at 5 AM to exercise? Yesterday it was more of a distraction than today, but…..this is MY time!