Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 111

Wednesday Worthy

Happy Hump Day! I have a follow up doctor appointment for my cervical joint injections, then writing and then Wizard and I are meeting a friend for dinner. Busy day! But the good news is I’m almost out of my plot-ditch, I think.

Okay so today we’re going for a totally different style, because I’m bored with the usual assortment of candidates, and…cowboys!

 

So what do you think, is he worthy?

Weekend Roundup

We had a good weekend! I got a little writing done. I’m still climbing out of the plot hole, but I’m making solid progress. The good news is I’ve been able to read (books other than my own) a bit more than I have been, and I’m delighted about that! It feels like more progress. I read right through the third book in the Fifty Shades series. I only liked the first one, and was bored by the second so I never read the third. But I had a professional reason for reading it, and was surprised that I had the concentration level to sail right through it (still not my favorite, but I can see why others love it–to each his own). And now I’m reading a thriller that I’m able to focus on too. I suspect this is a half and half thing: Half from the treatments making my pain more manageable, and half from my brain slowly learning to cope with the tinnitus. Our brains are amazing if we give them the time and training to adjust

Father’s Day was really nice. Two of our sons were out-of-town, and called Wizard (he was happy with that). We went to breakfast, then took Maggie and went to visit Baby Slayer, and his mom and dad. We had so much fun! Wizard and CPA Boy picked up some lunch, and when they came home, Special K offered to take Baby Slayer so I could eat.

I may have pouted.

She took one look at my expression, cracked up, and said, “That’s not happening, is it?”

My daughter-in-law, totally gets me   But that’s okay, I get her. Later, she took Baby Slayer and he went right to sleep on her. She showed me, and said, “Sometimes he just wants his mom.” She meant that in a sharing-bonding, we’re both moms now, way.  Especially since I’ve been telling her that this would happen. They also gave Wizard and Baby James matching shirts, and a gave Wizard gift cards for the toll road. Trust me, it may not sound like an exciting gift, but it’s awesome present for Wizard. It’s both so he can get to his hobby easier once he’s able to do it again, and to see his grandson, and sons, easier. A very thoughtful gift! He was really touched.

Maggie was such a good girl too, despite stealing Baby Slayer’s tiny pair of rolled up socks from the shelf below his changing table. She’s a stealthy little sock thief But that’s about the extent of her mischief. Maggie’s just an easy dog for the most part.

That was my weekend, how was yours???

Friday Five

Happy Friday! Here’s five random things about my week:

There’s not enough hours in the day, and not enough coffee to keep me going! Also, insomnia sucks. And so does Wizard being bored and stuck on limited activity. Just under two weeks to go, then he’ll start physical therapy.
I had a good 24 and a 1/2 minutes of uninterrupted writing yesterday. I’ve backed up for the 844th time to try another detour, and at this moment, I think I’ve finally chosen the right path. But stay tuned, that could change! We all know I’m directionally challenged, both in real life travel and in writing my books.
I’m helping out with two wedding showers, which is a little bit of work and a whole lot of fun. Life is about celebrating the big moments of those we love, right? This goes in the good column!
I’m meeting Biker Witch for coffee today. I’m leaving Maggie home in charge of keeping Wizard out of trouble. She’d better succeed or there will be no more treats. Okay I’m lying, she gives me her sad look and gets pretty much whatever she wants
And don’t think you’re escaping Baby Slayer Time! First an update, he’s gained 2 lbs and grown 1 1/2 inches in a month! He’s just turning three months old this weekend. If you need a smile, here he is talking to his pony.https://jenniferlyonbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/James-talks-to-his-pony-June-14-2018.mp4

So that’s my five random things, now it’s time to share yours. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Worthy

It’s so hot in So Cal. Fires are breaking out, and I guess, summer is here. So I went through my files to find a guy who looks almost as sweaty as I feel:

What do you think, is he worthy?

Weekend Roundup

We had a pretty good weekend. Wizard and I went to the movies to see Bookclub. Eh, it was just so-so, but it did the trick as far as getting Wizard out of the house (he’s still on restricted activity), and to distract me from an post-procedure headache. Saturday, I did errands and some writing. Sunday I made these:

I had Special K and youngest’s fiance come over to talk about a family party thing we’re doing in a couple of months.  Of course,  CPA Boy and Baby Slayer, and Youngest Son came too. But I made the chocolate covered strawberries for the girls

Baby Slayer was hilarious when he got very interested in one of my couch pillows and chatted away with said pillow. LOLOL!! Babies are awesome.

My goal this week is to finally get out of a plot dip that I’ve been swimming around in so long that I’ve turned a “dip” into the Grand Canyon. So I realized it’s time to stop worrying about the whole book, and focus on getting out of this ever-deepening spot before I drown.

So that was my weekend, how was yours?

Happy Friday

Hi guys, I had another round of shots in my neck yesterday, so I’m bailing on Friday Five. Predictably after six shots into my cervical spine (into the facet joints specifically), I’m sore and tired. One note: I did have some mild anesthesia this time which made the series of injections easier. I was never asleep, just much more comfortable than the first time I had this done. I also ended up telling my recovery nurse allll about Baby Slayer, LOLOL!!

Anyway, I wanted to wish you all a Happy Friday, and a fabulous weekend!

Wednesday Worthy

Yesterday was one of those hit the ground running days. I walked Maggie, went grocerying shopping and then Wizard and I were on the road to see Baby Slayer by about 9:40 am. Baby Slayer is cute as ever!

But while Maggie and I were out walking, I saw a great example of why our kids seem to lack any self-control. We have an elementary school one street over from us. Typically that’s no problem, we know school times and adjust around it. Yesterday, I had to walk Maggie at school drop off time. So Maggie and I were walking on the sidewalk up a busy road with a long, slow snake of cars waiting to go around a corner, then drop off their kids at school. All of a sudden I hear shouting. Up ahead, a woman had gotten out of her car, and was screaming at a man in a truck behind her. The man, in turn, was calling her names (Spoiler Alert–he did NOT call her “a bucking witch…”). Finally she got back in her car, would move a couple feet and stop, blocking the man behind her and everyone else for a few minutes before moving again.

Both of these parents had kids in their vehicles with them, and there were dozens of elementary school-aged kids on the sidewalks close by.

Classy, people, real classy. Honestly, it was just sad and ridiculous.

Let’s move onto something more fun, here’s our Wednesday Worthy candidate for today:

What do you think, is he worthy?

Weekend Roundup

My website is back online, and on a new server. If this blog posts as it should, then all should be back to normal. However we lost all the comments on Friday’s post, I’m sorry about that, it just couldn’t be avoided. We really needed to move servers.

So my weekend was good. Wizard continues to heal and do a little more each day. Honestly, he’s doing so well, I sometimes hug him and forget, touching him in the wrong place. Things are pretty getting easier for me, and I’m really trying to focus on writing when I can. I’m working back and forth on a couple scenes, trying to set up the last quarter to third of the book. I’m going to lose two writing days this week–one to visit Baby Slayer (yay!!!), and one to get the facet joint shots in neck cervical spine. Although I might get a few hours work in before I go in for the shots, and that would really help. Well I might lose Friday if I’m sore, but I’m betting I can do at least an hour or two though–just enough to stay in the story.

Wizard and I couldn’t see Baby Slayer this weekend so we Skyped with him. That’s right, we Skyped with a baby, LOLOL!!! Yeah, it’s pretty hilarious, but that’s how awesome his mom is. She encourages Baby Slayer to have strong family relationships, and spends time making sure it happens with little things like a ten minute Skype (plus we chatted with her too). So what about Baby Slayer’s dad???? He stuck his head in the video and said, “Hi Mom, remember me, your son?” I had to reassure him I still love him   My kids crack me up.

Also, Youngest son and Fiance came over. Fiance’s mom made Wizard a delicious cake using sherry, and she made some incredible homemade skin products for me. So that turned out to be a win-win for me since I got cake and skin products. Wizard can’t possibly eat the cake by himself, and he’s not really into body scrubs and face serum By the way, that cake was amazing, it tasted a little like moist spice cake.

If I had any pride, I wouldn’t mention the oatmeal butterscotch cookies I made this weekend. Wizard is an enabler!! But I can stop all this baking anytime, people, I have willpower. Or maybe I can bake myself some willpower??? (FYI–I froze a lot of the cookies and cake.)

How was your weekend?

Friday Five

Hi everyone, and TGIF! It’s time to list five random things about our week. I’ll go first, since you know, it’s my blog

Here’s the week’s doozy for me, and the one that has Wizard and I grateful beyond words to the police department. So two of our sons, Oldest and Youngest work together. At 7:30 yesterday morning, a woman was attacked and held in a hostage or barricade situation in the building our sons work in. To be clear, the attack was in a separate business from my sons’ workplace, but in the same building–close enough for the employees who were there to see what was happening. The police were called, and arrived quickly (I believe it was under four minutes response time) and they swiftly “ended” the standoff. Our two sons hadn’t arrived at work yet when this occurred, and by the time they did, it was a crime scene. Everyone from their office was okay, although pretty shaken up. And…Baby Slayer still has his dad (and uncle!). Special K still has her husband. And my youngest son will still marry the wonderful woman he’s loved for years and years in 2019. We are grateful beyond words.
Maggie caught a lizard this week. Eww!! I was standing there, egging her on because I thought the lizard would run through the wrought iron fence and save himself. But nope, he doubled back and it was a CHASE. To my shock, Maggie caught him, and I’m screaming “DROP HIM! OH GOD, MAGGIE! DROP IT NOW!!” She did (probably more from my tone than obedience, plus she didn’t seem interested in killing him, just chasing) and looked at me like I’d lost my mind.  I knew Bailey Dog could catch Lizards, but I thought Maggie would lose interest after a few seconds. Lesson learned! (And also, I’m just not into torturing any creature for fun like that. I really thought the Lizard would easily escape.)
Baby Slayer Moment! (One day I’ll stop with the Grandma Madness…maybe)
Sometimes I wonder why I stay in RWA (Romance Writers of America) but today, they made we so proud and very happy I paid my dues for this year! If you’ve been following #Cockygate, regarding an author trademarking a single common word, then you know this is a big deal. RWA has stepped up to find and pay for legal representation for one of the authors who was targeted in a lawsuit. This lawsuit has wide ranging implication for freedom of speech for all authors. If interested, you can read RWA’s statement here.
Yesterday I did too much to keep Wizard from doing more than he should. But at the end of the day, I realized that my pain is not as bad is it would have been without any of the shots I’ve been getting. I’m making progress! It’s taking waayyy more time that I’d like (whatever happened to instant cures???), and I’m worried about all the readers I’ve let down, but that was a real lightbulb moment.  I’m definitely going in the right direction, and it gives me hope that the shots next Thursday will help even more. With luck, I’ll be able to finish the Savaged Devotion, write the other books I desperately want to, and avoid more drastic measures (surgery) at least for a while.

So that’s my five. My weekend will probably be low-key again, and that’s fine with me. Now it’s your turn to share you five.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Worthy

Today Wizard will get his stitches out, and hopefully, be able to resume some activities, like driving, as he feels up to it. That will free me up to work more!

Okay, now it’s time for our Wednesday Worthy Candidates. This has always been one of my favorites for a fun, sexy contemporary book. But as we all know, romance readers are an intelligent, diverse group with varying tastes. So what do YOU think?

Is he worthy?