Jamie DeBree's Blog, page 8
May 20, 2014
Serial Story: MacKenzie Saves the World, Episode 3I
This serial story is presented in draft (unedited) format. Each new installment will replace
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 10
By the time MacKenzie got back to her room, she was pretty sure she could swing a shovel hard enough to knock Nurse Amy out cold. Unfortunately, she’d probably fall down afterward, but it was a price she was willing to pay if someone else could dig the hole.
Lucky for the far-too-cheerful nurse, they weren’t near any shovels. Or likely burial spots.
Kevin was waiting in the chair beside her bed and must have noticed Kenzie’s growing impatience with her caretaker. After he helped her into bed, he asked the nurse for water, and then when she got back, asked for a snack. She left quickly after her second trip, probably afraid he’d ask for something else.
“Thank you,” Kenzie said, sitting up and eating her jello-pack. “I swear, people that happy shouldn’t be allowed to mingle with the general population. For their own safety.”
Kevin shrugged. “I’m sure she’s just trying to help. Can you think of a gloomier place to work?”
Kenzie frowned, images of her drowned shop coming to mind. “An underwater comic shop.”
The comment earned an eyeroll from Kevin before he glanced at the clock on the wall.
“I’m going to find your doctor, see when we can break you out of this joint, okay? Hang tight.”
“Because I have so many other options?” she quipped as he headed out the door. The fogginess was abating, but her head hurt like crazy and she wanted to go home, wanted Josh, wanted everything to be just like it was twenty-four hours before.
No, scratch that. She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed, picturing that moment when Josh had kissed her. And then just after when he’d looked into her eyes and declared his intentions...she nearly sighed aloud just remembering.
That moment. That was the moment she wanted to start over at. She would have told Josh she was tired of fighting too. That she wanted to be with him, no matter what. That they’d figure everything out as they went along.
That she loved him, despite all the months they’d spent avoiding each other.
Kevin came back with the doctor and she swiped a tear from her cheek.
“Are you okay?” Kevin frowned, taking her hand. “Is the pain worse?”
She started to shake her head and then stopped. “No. It’s just been a really long day.” She blinked fast, and then looked up at the doctor. “Can I go home now?”
He nodded, consulting his tablet again. “I don’t see anything terribly worrisome on your scans, so yes, I think home would be a much better place for you. Keep it quiet, nothing too stimulating, and don’t think too hard for awhile, and you should be fine, okay?”
He turned to Kevin, eyebrows raised. “You’re going to stay with her for the next twenty-four hours, right?”
Kevin looked away, but squeezed her hand. “I can’t...I’ve already missed a couple appointments today and I have somewhere I really need to be tonight. But I’ll make sure someone’s with her when I can’t be. She won’t be alone.”
“Fair enough.” The doctor held out a hand to shake Kevin’s, and then MacKenzie’s. “Come back in if your symptoms don’t get better in a week or so, okay?”
“Okay.” She waited until he left, and then turned to Kevin.
“Help me get dressed. I want to go see Josh.”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 10
By the time MacKenzie got back to her room, she was pretty sure she could swing a shovel hard enough to knock Nurse Amy out cold. Unfortunately, she’d probably fall down afterward, but it was a price she was willing to pay if someone else could dig the hole.
Lucky for the far-too-cheerful nurse, they weren’t near any shovels. Or likely burial spots.
Kevin was waiting in the chair beside her bed and must have noticed Kenzie’s growing impatience with her caretaker. After he helped her into bed, he asked the nurse for water, and then when she got back, asked for a snack. She left quickly after her second trip, probably afraid he’d ask for something else.
“Thank you,” Kenzie said, sitting up and eating her jello-pack. “I swear, people that happy shouldn’t be allowed to mingle with the general population. For their own safety.”
Kevin shrugged. “I’m sure she’s just trying to help. Can you think of a gloomier place to work?”
Kenzie frowned, images of her drowned shop coming to mind. “An underwater comic shop.”
The comment earned an eyeroll from Kevin before he glanced at the clock on the wall.
“I’m going to find your doctor, see when we can break you out of this joint, okay? Hang tight.”
“Because I have so many other options?” she quipped as he headed out the door. The fogginess was abating, but her head hurt like crazy and she wanted to go home, wanted Josh, wanted everything to be just like it was twenty-four hours before.
No, scratch that. She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed, picturing that moment when Josh had kissed her. And then just after when he’d looked into her eyes and declared his intentions...she nearly sighed aloud just remembering.
That moment. That was the moment she wanted to start over at. She would have told Josh she was tired of fighting too. That she wanted to be with him, no matter what. That they’d figure everything out as they went along.
That she loved him, despite all the months they’d spent avoiding each other.
Kevin came back with the doctor and she swiped a tear from her cheek.
“Are you okay?” Kevin frowned, taking her hand. “Is the pain worse?”
She started to shake her head and then stopped. “No. It’s just been a really long day.” She blinked fast, and then looked up at the doctor. “Can I go home now?”
He nodded, consulting his tablet again. “I don’t see anything terribly worrisome on your scans, so yes, I think home would be a much better place for you. Keep it quiet, nothing too stimulating, and don’t think too hard for awhile, and you should be fine, okay?”
He turned to Kevin, eyebrows raised. “You’re going to stay with her for the next twenty-four hours, right?”
Kevin looked away, but squeezed her hand. “I can’t...I’ve already missed a couple appointments today and I have somewhere I really need to be tonight. But I’ll make sure someone’s with her when I can’t be. She won’t be alone.”
“Fair enough.” The doctor held out a hand to shake Kevin’s, and then MacKenzie’s. “Come back in if your symptoms don’t get better in a week or so, okay?”
“Okay.” She waited until he left, and then turned to Kevin.
“Help me get dressed. I want to go see Josh.”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
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May 19, 2014
On Ice Meteors, Green Things & More Migrations...
Weekly To-Do's
So...it's
very nearly past Monday already. What can I say? I was tired (and lazy)
last night, and today's been a very busy day. I had to use my brain and
everything. I know. Life's not fair sometimes. We do what we can.
Yesterday
was actually a pretty good day...very relaxing, even though I kept busy
doing some yard/garden design planning, some much-needed houseplant
& fish tank TLC, and basic household chores. I did not feel like
being tied to my computer screen, so I wasn't. It was quite nice
focusing on green things and how to make them grow for nearly a full
day.
Then came the ice-meteors (or
as our weathermen calls it, large hail). One came right through one of
our storm windows, which was a bit shocking since I was standing around
3ft away at the time. It didn't make it all the way into the house.
Which is good in that the storm window will be easier to replace, yet
missing that "OMG a hailstone broke the whole window" factor. I know.
I'm sick. You'd know that too if you read my books.
I'm pretty sure
the roof is going to need replacing though, which isn't actually a bad
thing since insurance will pay. And I gotta say, even with all the
destruction (bye-bye, patio furniture cushions and what was left of the
greenhouse), it was a pretty cool storm to watch.
Lucy-dog
does not agree, and hopes it never happens again, poor thing. She's
lucky we rarely get the big stuff here...our hail is more likely to be
pea-sized or less in a normal year. I do feel bad for any animals that
happened to be out on the plains with no shelter. Painful, at the very
least.
In any case, the trees I
ordered last fall for the back yard came in this weekend - a Catalpa
tree and an Eastern Redbud - and they sent us a free Red Maple too. So
before the hail I was outside happily planning where to plant them, and
I'm really excited to get them in the ground and growing. We cut down
all our trees a couple years ago to put in the fence, and I really miss
them. Hopefully these will grow fast!
Last
week's blog migration went well...much easier than the first, but
someone informed me today that the comments don't work. Dang it. So I'll
be fixing that tonight. Once I get that fixed I'm going to start
getting things ready to migrate my second pen name's blog on Wednesday,
and then the whole kit & kaboodle that is JamieDeBree.com (including
this blog and my neglected but not forgotten Drafting Desk) this coming
weekend.
Alex's blog will be down for a little while late Tuesday night, and then back up again Weds, with full functionality by Thursday. The Variety Pages
(this blog) and my other sites will be down for a little while starting
Friday night, and I'll be spending my Saturday rebuilding and getting
them set back up, so just assume they'll be down for much of Saturday
too.
To that end, this week's normal Friday installment of Under His Wing will
be posted Thursday instead of Friday, to give readers time
to...well...read it, before I take the sites offline Friday night.
You won't need to change your bookmarks...the addresses will stay the same. And I will be moving blog subscriptions
over, so don't worry about that either. All in all, it should be pretty
uneventful, and by the end of next weekend I should be done with all
the site moving drama and back to a more normal schedule in the evenings
(thank goodness).
And that's pretty much all the news I have for the week...so...away we go!
So...it's
very nearly past Monday already. What can I say? I was tired (and lazy)
last night, and today's been a very busy day. I had to use my brain and
everything. I know. Life's not fair sometimes. We do what we can.
Yesterday
was actually a pretty good day...very relaxing, even though I kept busy
doing some yard/garden design planning, some much-needed houseplant
& fish tank TLC, and basic household chores. I did not feel like
being tied to my computer screen, so I wasn't. It was quite nice
focusing on green things and how to make them grow for nearly a full
day.
Then came the ice-meteors (or
as our weathermen calls it, large hail). One came right through one of
our storm windows, which was a bit shocking since I was standing around
3ft away at the time. It didn't make it all the way into the house.
Which is good in that the storm window will be easier to replace, yet
missing that "OMG a hailstone broke the whole window" factor. I know.
I'm sick. You'd know that too if you read my books.
I'm pretty sure the roof is going to need replacing though, which isn't actually a bad
thing since insurance will pay. And I gotta say, even with all the
destruction (bye-bye, patio furniture cushions and what was left of the
greenhouse), it was a pretty cool storm to watch.
Lucy-dog
does not agree, and hopes it never happens again, poor thing. She's
lucky we rarely get the big stuff here...our hail is more likely to be
pea-sized or less in a normal year. I do feel bad for any animals that
happened to be out on the plains with no shelter. Painful, at the very
least.
In any case, the trees I
ordered last fall for the back yard came in this weekend - a Catalpa
tree and an Eastern Redbud - and they sent us a free Red Maple too. So
before the hail I was outside happily planning where to plant them, and
I'm really excited to get them in the ground and growing. We cut down
all our trees a couple years ago to put in the fence, and I really miss
them. Hopefully these will grow fast!
Last
week's blog migration went well...much easier than the first, but
someone informed me today that the comments don't work. Dang it. So I'll
be fixing that tonight. Once I get that fixed I'm going to start
getting things ready to migrate my second pen name's blog on Wednesday,
and then the whole kit & kaboodle that is JamieDeBree.com (including
this blog and my neglected but not forgotten Drafting Desk) this coming
weekend.
Alex's blog will be down for a little while late Tuesday night, and then back up again Weds, with full functionality by Thursday. The Variety Pages
(this blog) and my other sites will be down for a little while starting
Friday night, and I'll be spending my Saturday rebuilding and getting
them set back up, so just assume they'll be down for much of Saturday
too.
To that end, this week's normal Friday installment of Under His Wing will
be posted Thursday instead of Friday, to give readers time
to...well...read it, before I take the sites offline Friday night.
You won't need to change your bookmarks...the addresses will stay the same. And I will be moving blog subscriptions
over, so don't worry about that either. All in all, it should be pretty
uneventful, and by the end of next weekend I should be done with all
the site moving drama and back to a more normal schedule in the evenings
(thank goodness).
And that's pretty much all the news I have for the week...so...away we go!
May 16, 2014
Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 19
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Each installment is available for one week until the next is posted. Miss one? Email me, and I'll hook you up. Enjoy!
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 19
Katie smiled as her best friend Sarah gathered her up in a big hug. No one knew exactly why or how they’d been friends for so long, considering they were complete opposites, but they’d met in grade school and been best buddies ever since.
“It’s a long, weird story,” Katie said. “I’m so glad to see you though. We could really use a ride back to town.”
Sarah pulled back to take in the robe and sandals Katie wore. The look of disgust on Sarah’s face was evident in the dim light from the car.
“What are you wearing? You didn’t join some sort of cult, did you?” She glanced over at Thomas and squinted, trying to get a better look in the dark. “And who’s this? Is he your leader or something? Because I swear to God, Katie, I’m not--”
“No.” Katie laughed, shaking her head. “Definitely not a cult. You know I’d never do that.” She moved back to stand beside Thomas, slipping her arm around his waist as she cuddled up close to his side. Somehow it didn’t feel nearly as...right as the kiss they’d shared earlier. Probably because this time, it was a lie. To her best friend.
“This is Thomas,” she said, irritated when her voice threatened to crack. “I...well, Peter took me to a party this weekend - a surprise, sort of. I got lost in the woods, and Thomas found me. We sort of just hit it off, I guess.”
That definitely hadn’t sounded as convincing as she’d meant, and judging from Sarah’s expression, she wasn’t buying it. Katie considered telling Sarah the whole truth right then and there, but she couldn’t figure out a good place to start. Not one Sarah would believe any more than the fake story, anyway.
“We’re still getting to know each other,” Thomas said, his arm resting easily over her shoulder, his fingers absently caressing her arm. “But I assure you, the attraction is real.” He reached over with his free hand and tilted Katie’s face up, bending down to place a soft, slow kiss on her lips. His first touch made her relax against him, and the second...well, she could happily have just forgotten about Sarah and Peter and everything else in her life if he hadn’t ended the kiss on a sigh.
When she looked back at Sarah, her friend had a goofy grin on her face.
“Yeah. I see what you mean about the chemistry bit.” She held up her keys. “So, what do you say we all head into town then? Katie, sit up front with me - I want to hear all the details, including why you two are walking on the side of the road this late at night. Don’t you have a car, Thomas?”
Katie slid into the front seat, wincing a little as the weight came off her feet and the blood rushed back down. Thomas got in the back while Sarah settled behind the wheel.
“The truck broke down, I’m afraid,” Thomas said as Sarah pulled back onto the road. “I’ll call a mechanic when we get into town.”
Sarah nodded. “Peter’s a mechanic. And I know you guys have this thing now, but he’s been really worried about you too, Katie. Called me every day you were gone, and even showed up at my house once. It’s a good thing he’s cute, or I’d think he was some crazy stalker dude...”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 19
Katie smiled as her best friend Sarah gathered her up in a big hug. No one knew exactly why or how they’d been friends for so long, considering they were complete opposites, but they’d met in grade school and been best buddies ever since.
“It’s a long, weird story,” Katie said. “I’m so glad to see you though. We could really use a ride back to town.”
Sarah pulled back to take in the robe and sandals Katie wore. The look of disgust on Sarah’s face was evident in the dim light from the car.
“What are you wearing? You didn’t join some sort of cult, did you?” She glanced over at Thomas and squinted, trying to get a better look in the dark. “And who’s this? Is he your leader or something? Because I swear to God, Katie, I’m not--”
“No.” Katie laughed, shaking her head. “Definitely not a cult. You know I’d never do that.” She moved back to stand beside Thomas, slipping her arm around his waist as she cuddled up close to his side. Somehow it didn’t feel nearly as...right as the kiss they’d shared earlier. Probably because this time, it was a lie. To her best friend.
“This is Thomas,” she said, irritated when her voice threatened to crack. “I...well, Peter took me to a party this weekend - a surprise, sort of. I got lost in the woods, and Thomas found me. We sort of just hit it off, I guess.”
That definitely hadn’t sounded as convincing as she’d meant, and judging from Sarah’s expression, she wasn’t buying it. Katie considered telling Sarah the whole truth right then and there, but she couldn’t figure out a good place to start. Not one Sarah would believe any more than the fake story, anyway.
“We’re still getting to know each other,” Thomas said, his arm resting easily over her shoulder, his fingers absently caressing her arm. “But I assure you, the attraction is real.” He reached over with his free hand and tilted Katie’s face up, bending down to place a soft, slow kiss on her lips. His first touch made her relax against him, and the second...well, she could happily have just forgotten about Sarah and Peter and everything else in her life if he hadn’t ended the kiss on a sigh.
When she looked back at Sarah, her friend had a goofy grin on her face.
“Yeah. I see what you mean about the chemistry bit.” She held up her keys. “So, what do you say we all head into town then? Katie, sit up front with me - I want to hear all the details, including why you two are walking on the side of the road this late at night. Don’t you have a car, Thomas?”
Katie slid into the front seat, wincing a little as the weight came off her feet and the blood rushed back down. Thomas got in the back while Sarah settled behind the wheel.
“The truck broke down, I’m afraid,” Thomas said as Sarah pulled back onto the road. “I’ll call a mechanic when we get into town.”
Sarah nodded. “Peter’s a mechanic. And I know you guys have this thing now, but he’s been really worried about you too, Katie. Called me every day you were gone, and even showed up at my house once. It’s a good thing he’s cute, or I’d think he was some crazy stalker dude...”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
May 14, 2014
Talkin' Books: May 14, 2014
Books Finished: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Books In Progress: Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Short Fiction: Once Upon An Heirloom by Kait Nolan
Comic Books:Harley Quinn #5Batman Eternal #1 & #2
Getting back in the reading groove, finally...I am about a quarter of an inch away from finishing Neverwhere .
Good stuff, that book - it's like pasta, a "stick-to-your-brain" kind
of meal, though I'm not entirely sure Gaiman would appreciate that
particular simile. Still, it fits. I honestly can put that book down for
days and when I pick it back up, it's like I never left. I think I
notice it because it's so very rare that I read anything that sticks
with me like that. In any case, if you get a chance, I highly recommend
it. I should be finished with it by next week, I'd think.
Obviously
I took a detour to read another Jill Shalvis romance, mostly because I
had a couple of very stressful weeks and I needed a good laugh (her
books are *hilarious*, seriously!). Instant Attraction was
fabulous and dealt with some fairly serious issues while still being
completely entertaining. Another highly recommended read, IMO.
I'm
enjoying Kait Nolan's Meet Cute romances too - they're short, so I can
start one at lunch one day, and finish it at lunch the next. Perfect for
when I need a quick feel-good pick-me-up, and also the satisfaction of
actually finishing something fairly quickly. Once Upon An Heirloom was a very sweet little snack romance. Another I'd recommend for romance readers.
Harley Quinn #5
is just fun, as all the Harley comic books are. The artwork is
phenomenal, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm waiting rather
impatiently for the next one to continue the story. And I finally got
started on Batman Eternal with issues #1 &
#2, and yeah. These guys aren't playing around...it's right into the
action and a whole heap of serious bad stuff happening. I have #3 &
#4 too...that's part of tonight's reading line-up!
Good
reading week, and I'm finally getting some balance back in my world, so
I expect that'll continue this week. I'm so far behind on my print
reading the books are seriously stacking up on my nightstand, so better
pick up the pace!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Books In Progress: Tatterdemon by Steve Vernon
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Short Fiction: Once Upon An Heirloom by Kait Nolan
Comic Books:Harley Quinn #5Batman Eternal #1 & #2
Getting back in the reading groove, finally...I am about a quarter of an inch away from finishing Neverwhere .
Good stuff, that book - it's like pasta, a "stick-to-your-brain" kind
of meal, though I'm not entirely sure Gaiman would appreciate that
particular simile. Still, it fits. I honestly can put that book down for
days and when I pick it back up, it's like I never left. I think I
notice it because it's so very rare that I read anything that sticks
with me like that. In any case, if you get a chance, I highly recommend
it. I should be finished with it by next week, I'd think.
Obviously
I took a detour to read another Jill Shalvis romance, mostly because I
had a couple of very stressful weeks and I needed a good laugh (her
books are *hilarious*, seriously!). Instant Attraction was
fabulous and dealt with some fairly serious issues while still being
completely entertaining. Another highly recommended read, IMO.
I'm
enjoying Kait Nolan's Meet Cute romances too - they're short, so I can
start one at lunch one day, and finish it at lunch the next. Perfect for
when I need a quick feel-good pick-me-up, and also the satisfaction of
actually finishing something fairly quickly. Once Upon An Heirloom was a very sweet little snack romance. Another I'd recommend for romance readers.
Harley Quinn #5
is just fun, as all the Harley comic books are. The artwork is
phenomenal, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm waiting rather
impatiently for the next one to continue the story. And I finally got
started on Batman Eternal with issues #1 &
#2, and yeah. These guys aren't playing around...it's right into the
action and a whole heap of serious bad stuff happening. I have #3 &
#4 too...that's part of tonight's reading line-up!
Good
reading week, and I'm finally getting some balance back in my world, so
I expect that'll continue this week. I'm so far behind on my print
reading the books are seriously stacking up on my nightstand, so better
pick up the pace!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
May 13, 2014
Serial Story: MacKenzie Saves the World, Episode 3H
This serial story is presented in draft (unedited) format. Each new installment will replace
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 9
MacKenzie was relieved when Kevin finally came back into the tiny room they’d put her in, and she thought the doctor looked relieved as well. Coming to her side, Kevin slid his hand around hers.
“Josh knows your here. He’ll be down as soon as he can.” He looked up at the doctor. “So what’s the verdict?”
The doctor glanced down at a tablet screen briefly, more out of habit than anything else, MacKenzie thought.
“Well, we’d like to do a CT scan just to make sure there’s no permanent damage. As long as that comes back okay, I think we can send her home, but someone will need to stay with her for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours with the confusion and nausea she’s dealing with. I’ve got a scan set up in half an hour for her, so a nurse will be here shortly to take her down.”
Kevin nodded. “Thank you. How long until the confusion goes away? She seems pretty out of it.”
MacKenzie shifted, uncomfortable with the two men discussing her like she was a child, but trying to think just made her head hurt worse, so she laid there quietly, grateful Kevin was there to help.
The doctor shrugged. “It really depends on her. Every person and every concussion is different, so we just have to wait and see, unfortunately. It could be hours or days or sometimes even weeks, depending on the damage. We’ll know more after the scan. I’ll be back to check on her when I get the results.”
Kevin nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
The doctor left and MacKenzie closed her eyes, only to open them again when Kevin gently shook her shoulder.
“Hey,” he said, lightly tapping her cheek. “Stay with me here. Can you talk?”
She tried to roll her eyes, though even the effort hurt enough to make her wince.
“I have a concussion,” she said. “I can talk, it just...hurts. Everything pretty much hurts right now.”
“Maybe I can help.”
She looked past Kevin to where Josh was standing at the foot of her bed and smiled, though it quickly faded as she remembered why he was here in the first place.
“How’s your dad? What happened?”
Kevin pulled back, heading for the door to make room for Josh.
“I’m just going to grab a cup of coffee,” he said. “I’ll be back later, K?”
MacKenzie nodded. “Thanks Kevin. For everything.” He shut the door behind him and Josh moved closer, taking her hand in his.
“Is your dad okay?” she repeated. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you...”
Josh shook his head, smoothing his free hand across her brow. “It’s okay. Dad’s in surgery right now - he had a heart attack and they had to open him up. Andrea’s with my mom, and she’ll call with any news.” He frowned, looking her over. “How did you hit your head? How are you feeling?”
She laughed, then winced. “I was looking for you and slipped on our wet floors, damn it. And I feel like I’m in a painful fog. It hurts to think, or move my head, or...anything, really. I think Kevin said something about a scan they want to do...it was hard for me to follow what the doctor said.”
Josh nodded, caressing her face again. “They probably just need to make sure that brain of yours isn’t bruised.”
A nurse bustled in and MacKenzie glanced at her, then quickly away from the brightly patterned print of her scrub top.
“Hello, hello!” she said, her sing-song voice sending rickets of pain through MacKenzie’s head. “I’m Amy. Ready for your CT scan?”
She looked at Josh, grateful for the sympathy in his somewhat amused eyes.
“I think she’s ready, but can I go with her?” he asked as the nurse took her pulse and blood pressure, logging her notes into a console to the side.
“Certainly!” Amy got a couple blankets from a cupboard and held them out to Josh. “There’s a wheelchair right outside the door. Why don’t you put one of these on the seat, and we’ll cover her up with the other. I’ll help her out of bed.”
MacKenzie leaned on her too-bright nurse and managed to walk to the wheelchair and settle in just as Josh’s phone rang. She watched him answer, saw his face go white. Wished she could do something, anything to make it better.
“It’s my father,” he said, giving her an apologetic look. “I have to go, I’m sorry. I’ll check in as soon as I can, okay?”
She nodded, the motion hurting less than it had before, which she took as a good sign.
“Go. I’ll see you later.”
Amy the nurse shook her head as they watched Josh jog away. “Men. You never can count on them to be there when you need ‘em.” She started pushing MacKenzie in the opposite direction, and Kenzie considered arguing, but decided it would be too much work, and remained silent as Amy chattered above her all the way to radiology.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 9
MacKenzie was relieved when Kevin finally came back into the tiny room they’d put her in, and she thought the doctor looked relieved as well. Coming to her side, Kevin slid his hand around hers.
“Josh knows your here. He’ll be down as soon as he can.” He looked up at the doctor. “So what’s the verdict?”
The doctor glanced down at a tablet screen briefly, more out of habit than anything else, MacKenzie thought.
“Well, we’d like to do a CT scan just to make sure there’s no permanent damage. As long as that comes back okay, I think we can send her home, but someone will need to stay with her for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours with the confusion and nausea she’s dealing with. I’ve got a scan set up in half an hour for her, so a nurse will be here shortly to take her down.”
Kevin nodded. “Thank you. How long until the confusion goes away? She seems pretty out of it.”
MacKenzie shifted, uncomfortable with the two men discussing her like she was a child, but trying to think just made her head hurt worse, so she laid there quietly, grateful Kevin was there to help.
The doctor shrugged. “It really depends on her. Every person and every concussion is different, so we just have to wait and see, unfortunately. It could be hours or days or sometimes even weeks, depending on the damage. We’ll know more after the scan. I’ll be back to check on her when I get the results.”
Kevin nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
The doctor left and MacKenzie closed her eyes, only to open them again when Kevin gently shook her shoulder.
“Hey,” he said, lightly tapping her cheek. “Stay with me here. Can you talk?”
She tried to roll her eyes, though even the effort hurt enough to make her wince.
“I have a concussion,” she said. “I can talk, it just...hurts. Everything pretty much hurts right now.”
“Maybe I can help.”
She looked past Kevin to where Josh was standing at the foot of her bed and smiled, though it quickly faded as she remembered why he was here in the first place.
“How’s your dad? What happened?”
Kevin pulled back, heading for the door to make room for Josh.
“I’m just going to grab a cup of coffee,” he said. “I’ll be back later, K?”
MacKenzie nodded. “Thanks Kevin. For everything.” He shut the door behind him and Josh moved closer, taking her hand in his.
“Is your dad okay?” she repeated. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you...”
Josh shook his head, smoothing his free hand across her brow. “It’s okay. Dad’s in surgery right now - he had a heart attack and they had to open him up. Andrea’s with my mom, and she’ll call with any news.” He frowned, looking her over. “How did you hit your head? How are you feeling?”
She laughed, then winced. “I was looking for you and slipped on our wet floors, damn it. And I feel like I’m in a painful fog. It hurts to think, or move my head, or...anything, really. I think Kevin said something about a scan they want to do...it was hard for me to follow what the doctor said.”
Josh nodded, caressing her face again. “They probably just need to make sure that brain of yours isn’t bruised.”
A nurse bustled in and MacKenzie glanced at her, then quickly away from the brightly patterned print of her scrub top.
“Hello, hello!” she said, her sing-song voice sending rickets of pain through MacKenzie’s head. “I’m Amy. Ready for your CT scan?”
She looked at Josh, grateful for the sympathy in his somewhat amused eyes.
“I think she’s ready, but can I go with her?” he asked as the nurse took her pulse and blood pressure, logging her notes into a console to the side.
“Certainly!” Amy got a couple blankets from a cupboard and held them out to Josh. “There’s a wheelchair right outside the door. Why don’t you put one of these on the seat, and we’ll cover her up with the other. I’ll help her out of bed.”
MacKenzie leaned on her too-bright nurse and managed to walk to the wheelchair and settle in just as Josh’s phone rang. She watched him answer, saw his face go white. Wished she could do something, anything to make it better.
“It’s my father,” he said, giving her an apologetic look. “I have to go, I’m sorry. I’ll check in as soon as I can, okay?”
She nodded, the motion hurting less than it had before, which she took as a good sign.
“Go. I’ll see you later.”
Amy the nurse shook her head as they watched Josh jog away. “Men. You never can count on them to be there when you need ‘em.” She started pushing MacKenzie in the opposite direction, and Kenzie considered arguing, but decided it would be too much work, and remained silent as Amy chattered above her all the way to radiology.
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May 12, 2014
On Palmtops, Mint.com & Spring Things...
Weekly To-Do List
Last
week was...well, still not all that great, though I did manage to be
fairly productive, especially toward the end. Keeping a smaller list
helped, and I managed to get most of it done, so this week's is smaller
as well. The weather wasn't nice enough to work outside, but I did get
the BSB catalog finished (for the most part), so I'm calling that site
done for now and moving on to one of my pen name sites for migration
this week. It's a much more simple site, so it should go much faster -
especially now that I more or less know what I'm doing. Helpful thing,
experience...
One exciting thing
happened last week (well, several actually, but the other two involve
getting money, not spending it): I got a new-to-me Galaxy Note 3 smart
phone to replace my Note 8 tablet. I have my MiFi sim card in the Note
3, so I have data pretty much anywhere now (so cool!), and I can use
Skype or other online services for calls/messaging. The important thing
though is that it's smaller than the Note 8 - just 5.7 inches, which is a
much handier size for shopping lists and taking photos out and about.
It also has a better camera, and a flash. While I freely admit that the
tablet is better for things like surfing, the Note 3 handles it well
enough, and the pros of going smaller outweigh the cons for me. Plus my
Note 8 isn't going anywhere...I gave it to hubby to use for
gaming/surfing, but I can always borrow it back if I need to.
It's
interesting to look back on the devices I've used since
palmtop/ultra-portable computing started to get popular. One of these
days I'll post a picture...kind of fun to see not just how things have
changed, but also how different devices dictated how I've organized my
life.
One of
the other things I didn't finish, but at least got started last week was
to get the information about my financial accounts in order and start
organizing an actual budget. I did a bunch of research and reading, and
the most popular financial manager out there seems to be Mint.com, so I
went ahead and signed up for an account. It's basically an aggregator -
you can't actually move your money or pay bills or anything like that
through it (I'd be really worried if you could), but it basically just
pulls in data from your bank accounts so everything is in one place, and
then analyzes your spending and debt to income ratio and suggests plans
for how to get or keep that going in the right direction.
I'm
not absolutely sure it will work for what I want it to yet (organizing
my bills according to my paychecks and reminding me to make the payments
on time), but it seems pretty handy so far, so I'll play around with it
more this week. I may still go back to just a plain old spreadsheet,
but gotta at least try the gadgety-option first, right?
As
for this week - lots to do, as usual. Since the BSB site migration is
done, I'm moving on to one of my pen name sites this week, and I'll
start that process tonight. I'll be working on that every night this
week in hopes of having it done by Thursday in time for the Friday
serial post there. Next Saturday is going to be busy busy with our local
Geranium Festival in the morning and a birthday party for one of
hubby's friends that night. I'm really looking forward to the Geranium
Fest, as long as it doesn't rain. Always fun to spend the morning buying
flowers and going through the zoo. I know it's finally spring once we
can start planting out flowers, and I have two baby trees coming for the
backyard too that I'm pretty excited about. Hooray for green and
growing things!
Hopefully
the rough streak I've been having (and a lot of others too, it seems)
will finally break this week and we can all get things done and have
enough time left over to enjoy life. I plan on making time this week, no
matter what happens...knitting, playing outside (weather permitting)
and the occasional digital jigsaw puzzle, at the very least.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Last
week was...well, still not all that great, though I did manage to be
fairly productive, especially toward the end. Keeping a smaller list
helped, and I managed to get most of it done, so this week's is smaller
as well. The weather wasn't nice enough to work outside, but I did get
the BSB catalog finished (for the most part), so I'm calling that site
done for now and moving on to one of my pen name sites for migration
this week. It's a much more simple site, so it should go much faster -
especially now that I more or less know what I'm doing. Helpful thing,
experience...
One exciting thing
happened last week (well, several actually, but the other two involve
getting money, not spending it): I got a new-to-me Galaxy Note 3 smart
phone to replace my Note 8 tablet. I have my MiFi sim card in the Note
3, so I have data pretty much anywhere now (so cool!), and I can use
Skype or other online services for calls/messaging. The important thing
though is that it's smaller than the Note 8 - just 5.7 inches, which is a
much handier size for shopping lists and taking photos out and about.
It also has a better camera, and a flash. While I freely admit that the
tablet is better for things like surfing, the Note 3 handles it well
enough, and the pros of going smaller outweigh the cons for me. Plus my
Note 8 isn't going anywhere...I gave it to hubby to use for
gaming/surfing, but I can always borrow it back if I need to.
It's
interesting to look back on the devices I've used since
palmtop/ultra-portable computing started to get popular. One of these
days I'll post a picture...kind of fun to see not just how things have
changed, but also how different devices dictated how I've organized my
life.
One of
the other things I didn't finish, but at least got started last week was
to get the information about my financial accounts in order and start
organizing an actual budget. I did a bunch of research and reading, and
the most popular financial manager out there seems to be Mint.com, so I
went ahead and signed up for an account. It's basically an aggregator -
you can't actually move your money or pay bills or anything like that
through it (I'd be really worried if you could), but it basically just
pulls in data from your bank accounts so everything is in one place, and
then analyzes your spending and debt to income ratio and suggests plans
for how to get or keep that going in the right direction.
I'm
not absolutely sure it will work for what I want it to yet (organizing
my bills according to my paychecks and reminding me to make the payments
on time), but it seems pretty handy so far, so I'll play around with it
more this week. I may still go back to just a plain old spreadsheet,
but gotta at least try the gadgety-option first, right?
As
for this week - lots to do, as usual. Since the BSB site migration is
done, I'm moving on to one of my pen name sites this week, and I'll
start that process tonight. I'll be working on that every night this
week in hopes of having it done by Thursday in time for the Friday
serial post there. Next Saturday is going to be busy busy with our local
Geranium Festival in the morning and a birthday party for one of
hubby's friends that night. I'm really looking forward to the Geranium
Fest, as long as it doesn't rain. Always fun to spend the morning buying
flowers and going through the zoo. I know it's finally spring once we
can start planting out flowers, and I have two baby trees coming for the
backyard too that I'm pretty excited about. Hooray for green and
growing things!
Hopefully
the rough streak I've been having (and a lot of others too, it seems)
will finally break this week and we can all get things done and have
enough time left over to enjoy life. I plan on making time this week, no
matter what happens...knitting, playing outside (weather permitting)
and the occasional digital jigsaw puzzle, at the very least.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
May 9, 2014
Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 18
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Enjoy!
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 18
Standing up on her tip-toes, Katie reached for Thomas, intent on pulling his lips back to hers. But he resisted, holding her back and shaking his head.
“I think that’s good for now. Come on. We should keep moving if we’re going to find a ride into town.”
Katie didn’t know what to say when he turned and started walking away. She felt the tug when he reached the invisible boundary and considered forcing him to wait until she could process what had just happened, but he was right - they did need to move.
Still, kissing Peter had never felt like...that. She licked her lips where the taste of him lingered and wanted more. Much more. Just how far would he go to sell their cover story, she wondered? With the boundary binding them together, they’d have to sleep in close proximity as well...
Stumbling over the apex of a small rise, she focused on her footing as she followed him down the steep slope on the other side that led to the shoulder of a two-lane backroad, paved but cracking in disrepair. They walked along the shoulder for awhile, the silence comfortable as the last vestiges of light slipped below the horizon.
“Doesn’t seem to be much traffic,” Katie remarked, trying to ignore her aching feet and legs. Zariah had given her a pair of sandals to wear with her robe, but they were basically just a thick leather sole with laces. They worked fine for keeping her skin intact, less so for providing any sort of cushioning.
“As I’d hoped,” Thomas replied. He was several steps ahead of her, his back still straight and strides still strong. Of course he had shoes on - tennis shoes, just like Katie normally would wear. It was just her dumb luck that no one her size had visited the manor in this century to leave clothing behind. Either that, or Zariah had lied, and this was another test.
“Hang on, Katie Watson. We won’t be walking much further.”
She perked up at the thought. “So we’re close then? It felt so much farther when I was in Peter’s trunk.”
Thomas stopped, standing totally still for a moment before he turned and moved to her side, tucking her under one arm as a lover might do.
“Our ride is coming. Just act normal and stick to our story, okay?”
She frowned as headlights appeared around a bend they’d turned a little ways back.
“We never did make up a good story. How did we meet? When? How did you steal me from Peter?” Looking up at him, she could just see his lips curving up in a smile as the headlights grew closer.
“I’m a friend of Peter’s,” he said, his tone calm and even as he stuck out his thumb at the driver. “There was a party three nights ago - that’s where Peter took you, and that’s where we met. You made me dinner. I fell for you in spite of it.”
Surprised to see the car actually stopping, Katie resisted the urge to punch him in the arm.
“I hope it’s not a mur--” stopping abruptly, she peered closer at the vehicle as they walked toward it. “Hey, I know this car! It’s--”
The driver, a slender young woman with hair falling around her shoulders like a shampoo commercial got out of the car and ran toward them, her arms open wide.
“Katie! Oh my God - where have you been? We’ve been so worried...”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 18
Standing up on her tip-toes, Katie reached for Thomas, intent on pulling his lips back to hers. But he resisted, holding her back and shaking his head.
“I think that’s good for now. Come on. We should keep moving if we’re going to find a ride into town.”
Katie didn’t know what to say when he turned and started walking away. She felt the tug when he reached the invisible boundary and considered forcing him to wait until she could process what had just happened, but he was right - they did need to move.
Still, kissing Peter had never felt like...that. She licked her lips where the taste of him lingered and wanted more. Much more. Just how far would he go to sell their cover story, she wondered? With the boundary binding them together, they’d have to sleep in close proximity as well...
Stumbling over the apex of a small rise, she focused on her footing as she followed him down the steep slope on the other side that led to the shoulder of a two-lane backroad, paved but cracking in disrepair. They walked along the shoulder for awhile, the silence comfortable as the last vestiges of light slipped below the horizon.
“Doesn’t seem to be much traffic,” Katie remarked, trying to ignore her aching feet and legs. Zariah had given her a pair of sandals to wear with her robe, but they were basically just a thick leather sole with laces. They worked fine for keeping her skin intact, less so for providing any sort of cushioning.
“As I’d hoped,” Thomas replied. He was several steps ahead of her, his back still straight and strides still strong. Of course he had shoes on - tennis shoes, just like Katie normally would wear. It was just her dumb luck that no one her size had visited the manor in this century to leave clothing behind. Either that, or Zariah had lied, and this was another test.
“Hang on, Katie Watson. We won’t be walking much further.”
She perked up at the thought. “So we’re close then? It felt so much farther when I was in Peter’s trunk.”
Thomas stopped, standing totally still for a moment before he turned and moved to her side, tucking her under one arm as a lover might do.
“Our ride is coming. Just act normal and stick to our story, okay?”
She frowned as headlights appeared around a bend they’d turned a little ways back.
“We never did make up a good story. How did we meet? When? How did you steal me from Peter?” Looking up at him, she could just see his lips curving up in a smile as the headlights grew closer.
“I’m a friend of Peter’s,” he said, his tone calm and even as he stuck out his thumb at the driver. “There was a party three nights ago - that’s where Peter took you, and that’s where we met. You made me dinner. I fell for you in spite of it.”
Surprised to see the car actually stopping, Katie resisted the urge to punch him in the arm.
“I hope it’s not a mur--” stopping abruptly, she peered closer at the vehicle as they walked toward it. “Hey, I know this car! It’s--”
The driver, a slender young woman with hair falling around her shoulders like a shampoo commercial got out of the car and ran toward them, her arms open wide.
“Katie! Oh my God - where have you been? We’ve been so worried...”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
May 6, 2014
Serial Story: MacKenzie Saves the World, Episode 3G
This serial story is presented in draft (unedited) format. Each new installment will replace
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 8
Josh paced the too-shiny white hospital floor, waiting for any news of his father. Andrea sat with their mother across the room, but he couldn’t stay still, though he knew the constant motion wasn’t helping anyone relax. But his father was on the operating table, possibly dying. Relaxing didn’t seem...right.
The big clock on the wall ticked down the seconds, an ominous sound even with the hustle and bustle of nurses and other assorted personnel swirling about. They’d been waiting nearly half an hour, and while he appreciated that open-heart surgery would require several, he didn’t understand why the one person he wanted by his side still wasn’t there.
He’d asked Kevin to find her. Been so sure she’d rush to his side. Selfish as it was, he wanted her there. Somehow he knew that if she was with him, everything would be okay. And after that kiss this morning...
Footsteps echoed down the corridor and he stopped pacing, hoping to see either the doctor or Kenzie come around the corner. When Kevin came into view instead, Josh felt something inside of him break.
She wasn’t coming.
“It’s not what you think,” Kevin said, shaking his head for emphasis as he reached Josh. He was out of breath, as if he’d been running.
“Where is she? You said she’d come. I need her.” Josh knew he’d spoken too loudly when heads turned toward him at his words, one nurse shaking her head, and a gasp coming from his mother’s vicinity. He didn’t care. “Where’s Kenzie?”
Kevin shook his head again. “She was looking for you back at the mall. Fell and hit her head. She’s here, but she’s got a concussion. She’s...” he hesitated, glancing in Andrea’s direction before lowering his own voice to a murmur. “She’s asking for you. I know you need to stay here, so I’ll go sit with her until you’re free. Just come find us when your dad’s out of the woods. Room 212.”
Kevin squeezed his arm, a gesture Josh assumed was supposed to be comforting before the man turned and went back the way he came. Josh watched him go, torn between his duty to stay and be with his family, and his need to make sure Kenzie - his soul mate - would be okay. He didn’t move, just stood frozen in an indecisive angst.
A hand curved over one of his forearms and he twitched, startled at the touch. Andrea stood beside him, her eyes glassy and her face lined with concern.
“I asked the nurse,” she said, gently rubbing his arm. “It’s going to be another hour before we hear anything about Dad. Go. Make sure Kenzie’s okay. I’ll call if there’s any change.”
Josh shook his head. “She’ll be okay. It’s just a concussion. Kevin’s with her. I should be here.”
“You are here,” Andrea said, giving him a slight smile. “And you can’t do anything for Dad except wait. Go. See MacKenzie. You can help her - she needs you.”
Pulling her into his arms, Josh gave his sister a big hug.
“Room 212. Call if there’s any change at all, and I’ll be back in a flash.”
She nodded and he hesitated just one more minute, then jogged toward the elevators.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
the one before. If you get behind, email me and I'll hook you up with the missing chapters!
"Fight Water with Fire" - Part 8
Josh paced the too-shiny white hospital floor, waiting for any news of his father. Andrea sat with their mother across the room, but he couldn’t stay still, though he knew the constant motion wasn’t helping anyone relax. But his father was on the operating table, possibly dying. Relaxing didn’t seem...right.
The big clock on the wall ticked down the seconds, an ominous sound even with the hustle and bustle of nurses and other assorted personnel swirling about. They’d been waiting nearly half an hour, and while he appreciated that open-heart surgery would require several, he didn’t understand why the one person he wanted by his side still wasn’t there.
He’d asked Kevin to find her. Been so sure she’d rush to his side. Selfish as it was, he wanted her there. Somehow he knew that if she was with him, everything would be okay. And after that kiss this morning...
Footsteps echoed down the corridor and he stopped pacing, hoping to see either the doctor or Kenzie come around the corner. When Kevin came into view instead, Josh felt something inside of him break.
She wasn’t coming.
“It’s not what you think,” Kevin said, shaking his head for emphasis as he reached Josh. He was out of breath, as if he’d been running.
“Where is she? You said she’d come. I need her.” Josh knew he’d spoken too loudly when heads turned toward him at his words, one nurse shaking her head, and a gasp coming from his mother’s vicinity. He didn’t care. “Where’s Kenzie?”
Kevin shook his head again. “She was looking for you back at the mall. Fell and hit her head. She’s here, but she’s got a concussion. She’s...” he hesitated, glancing in Andrea’s direction before lowering his own voice to a murmur. “She’s asking for you. I know you need to stay here, so I’ll go sit with her until you’re free. Just come find us when your dad’s out of the woods. Room 212.”
Kevin squeezed his arm, a gesture Josh assumed was supposed to be comforting before the man turned and went back the way he came. Josh watched him go, torn between his duty to stay and be with his family, and his need to make sure Kenzie - his soul mate - would be okay. He didn’t move, just stood frozen in an indecisive angst.
A hand curved over one of his forearms and he twitched, startled at the touch. Andrea stood beside him, her eyes glassy and her face lined with concern.
“I asked the nurse,” she said, gently rubbing his arm. “It’s going to be another hour before we hear anything about Dad. Go. Make sure Kenzie’s okay. I’ll call if there’s any change.”
Josh shook his head. “She’ll be okay. It’s just a concussion. Kevin’s with her. I should be here.”
“You are here,” Andrea said, giving him a slight smile. “And you can’t do anything for Dad except wait. Go. See MacKenzie. You can help her - she needs you.”
Pulling her into his arms, Josh gave his sister a big hug.
“Room 212. Call if there’s any change at all, and I’ll be back in a flash.”
She nodded and he hesitated just one more minute, then jogged toward the elevators.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
May 5, 2014
On Learning, Project Management & Being Realistic...
Weekly To-Do List
Last week was...well...either a colossal waste of time, or a huge learning curve (we'll just go with learning curve, shall we? It's less depressing.). I spent a lot of time (read: pretty much every night last week) rebuilding BrazenSnakeBooks.com under a "temporary" internet address only to find out that when I finally repointed the "real" address to the new site, it was nearly impossible to find every place in the code where the address had to be changed. And after spending several hours this weekend trying to find and replace said instances, I finally gave up, blew the whole thing away and started over (I did save my stylesheet changes...which helped a lot).
I may have been a little overtired and cranky at that point. I had other things and projects I'd committed to this weekend, and I really didn't have the time or inclination to spend hours rebuilding a web site I'd just spent an entire week building. So once I got the thing running again at a very basic "hello world" level, I walked away. I bought comics, and lunch, and crocheted for more hours than I care to admit (one of the other commitments I had), and cleaned house, and visited with a friend, and completely forgot about a serial scene due Friday that I never did get back to...
And then Sunday night, after everything had finally calmed down a bit (including my brain), I went in and started rebuilding page by page, plugin by plugin. It didn't actually take me very long, largely because of the stylesheet I'd saved, and also because I (sort of) knew what I was doing by that time. I still have to build the book catalog, but everything else is pretty well done and running again, including the Snake Bites blog.
Needless to say, I have a lot better understanding of what I'll need to do with the other sites now, including scheduling some downtime for each move and a little prep work on templates ahead of time. So one of the main things on my list this week is project management - breaking down each site move into task lists, and then scheduling them out for the next month and a half or so. The goal being, of course, to get them moved with a lot less stress and wasted time than I spent on the first one. I use Trello for breaking down and organizing projects - it's a great tool and does that one job really well.
If you looked at my to-do list this week, you may have noticed that there are only two tasks under each category, and one "getting organized" task to span them all. This week, I'm just going to focus on the most important things I need to get done, and if there's any time left over, I can do other things. I'm trying to be more realistic about what I *can* do, rather than what I *want* to do. Hopefully that will result in things being crossed off with less stress all around. We'll see.
Now it's nearly 2am, I have laundry wrinkling in the dryer (and it's going to stay there until morning too), and I'm falling asleep at the keyboard, so time for bed. Here's to a productive-yet-still-semi-sane week, if at all possible...and a lot of good writing too.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Last week was...well...either a colossal waste of time, or a huge learning curve (we'll just go with learning curve, shall we? It's less depressing.). I spent a lot of time (read: pretty much every night last week) rebuilding BrazenSnakeBooks.com under a "temporary" internet address only to find out that when I finally repointed the "real" address to the new site, it was nearly impossible to find every place in the code where the address had to be changed. And after spending several hours this weekend trying to find and replace said instances, I finally gave up, blew the whole thing away and started over (I did save my stylesheet changes...which helped a lot).
I may have been a little overtired and cranky at that point. I had other things and projects I'd committed to this weekend, and I really didn't have the time or inclination to spend hours rebuilding a web site I'd just spent an entire week building. So once I got the thing running again at a very basic "hello world" level, I walked away. I bought comics, and lunch, and crocheted for more hours than I care to admit (one of the other commitments I had), and cleaned house, and visited with a friend, and completely forgot about a serial scene due Friday that I never did get back to...
And then Sunday night, after everything had finally calmed down a bit (including my brain), I went in and started rebuilding page by page, plugin by plugin. It didn't actually take me very long, largely because of the stylesheet I'd saved, and also because I (sort of) knew what I was doing by that time. I still have to build the book catalog, but everything else is pretty well done and running again, including the Snake Bites blog.
Needless to say, I have a lot better understanding of what I'll need to do with the other sites now, including scheduling some downtime for each move and a little prep work on templates ahead of time. So one of the main things on my list this week is project management - breaking down each site move into task lists, and then scheduling them out for the next month and a half or so. The goal being, of course, to get them moved with a lot less stress and wasted time than I spent on the first one. I use Trello for breaking down and organizing projects - it's a great tool and does that one job really well.
If you looked at my to-do list this week, you may have noticed that there are only two tasks under each category, and one "getting organized" task to span them all. This week, I'm just going to focus on the most important things I need to get done, and if there's any time left over, I can do other things. I'm trying to be more realistic about what I *can* do, rather than what I *want* to do. Hopefully that will result in things being crossed off with less stress all around. We'll see.
Now it's nearly 2am, I have laundry wrinkling in the dryer (and it's going to stay there until morning too), and I'm falling asleep at the keyboard, so time for bed. Here's to a productive-yet-still-semi-sane week, if at all possible...and a lot of good writing too.
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May 2, 2014
Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 17
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Enjoy!
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 17
Katie made her way down the wide steps of the manor. There was no path, or manicured lawn, just scraggly tufts of wild mountain grasses, tiny purple and white wildflowers here and there and small bushes interspersed throughout. She took a few more steps and then stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas came up beside her, his tone impatient.
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know where we are, so I don’t know which way home is.”
He nodded, turning to the left. “It’s this way.” His voice was softer as they started walking over the uneven terrain. “I should have gone over the map with you - my apologies. It’s not uncommon for those who find us to forget how they arrived. The clearing where Peter held you is just over that small hill. It’s quicker to reach the road through this thicket though.”
“I was in the trunk,” she said, the comment feeling out of place even as she gave it voice. “I think he put something in my drink. When I woke up, I was tied up beside the fire, about to be roasted.”
“Take heart, Katie. He will soon know the same fear he inflicted on you.”
She frowned, staring at the long staff strapped to the back of his broad shoulders.
“We’re not going to burn him alive though, right? I mean, I want him to leave me alone, but I don’t think I could actually kill him. Or anyone. Not on purpose.”
“It will be his choice,” Thomas said. “He will decide his own fate - we will merely facilitate the decision.”
Not entirely sure she was comfortable with that answer, she knew it wouldn’t do any good to press him on it. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“Tell me what the second task to break your personal curse is, Thomas. What will it take for you to finally be free of the manor?”
She could have sworn she heard him growl, but he still didn’t turn to face her.
“I told you it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. What we really need to do is come up with a cover story for my presence in your life. Would you prefer I play your brother or your cousin if we run into friends or family?”
Katie chuckled. “Nice sidestep. But I don’t have a brother, and everyone already knows that. And a cousin who sticks as close as you do is just creepy.” She grinned, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say next.
“I think you’re going to have to be my boyfriend - the guy who stole me away from Peter. Or fiance, whichever you prefer.”
Thomas stopped at that, turning slowly as he shook his head.
“That is a very bad idea. Surely you have some sort of male family member whose role I could borrow?”
She shook her head and started walking again, brushing his arm with her own as she stepped by him.
“Nope. You’re my new pretend boyfriend. I know you’ve noticed the tension we’ve got going on - there’s no use in denying it. Others will notice too, and I won’t have people thinking we’ve got some sort of kinky incestual thing going on between us. Boyfriend. End of discussion.”
It felt good, teasing him like this. She could practically feel the chemistry ramp up between them, and even though she knew it was a really bad idea, she was starting to think maybe a short-term thing wouldn’t be so bad...”
His fingers closed around her wrist and she twirled around, falling against that yummy chest when she lost her balance. She looked up to question him just as he bent to meet her, taking her lips in a full-on open-mouthed kiss that kept her dizzy and made her knees go weak. It was all she could to do keep up as he held her tight to his body, ravaging her mouth with his own.
When he finally let her pause for air, she stared into those impenetrable dark eyes of his, speechless.
“If we’re to pretend we’re a couple,” he said, his voice husky and low. “We’ll have to act like it.”
Katie nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yeah. I can see that. We should practice some more.”
Enjoy
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Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 17
Katie made her way down the wide steps of the manor. There was no path, or manicured lawn, just scraggly tufts of wild mountain grasses, tiny purple and white wildflowers here and there and small bushes interspersed throughout. She took a few more steps and then stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas came up beside her, his tone impatient.
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know where we are, so I don’t know which way home is.”
He nodded, turning to the left. “It’s this way.” His voice was softer as they started walking over the uneven terrain. “I should have gone over the map with you - my apologies. It’s not uncommon for those who find us to forget how they arrived. The clearing where Peter held you is just over that small hill. It’s quicker to reach the road through this thicket though.”
“I was in the trunk,” she said, the comment feeling out of place even as she gave it voice. “I think he put something in my drink. When I woke up, I was tied up beside the fire, about to be roasted.”
“Take heart, Katie. He will soon know the same fear he inflicted on you.”
She frowned, staring at the long staff strapped to the back of his broad shoulders.
“We’re not going to burn him alive though, right? I mean, I want him to leave me alone, but I don’t think I could actually kill him. Or anyone. Not on purpose.”
“It will be his choice,” Thomas said. “He will decide his own fate - we will merely facilitate the decision.”
Not entirely sure she was comfortable with that answer, she knew it wouldn’t do any good to press him on it. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“Tell me what the second task to break your personal curse is, Thomas. What will it take for you to finally be free of the manor?”
She could have sworn she heard him growl, but he still didn’t turn to face her.
“I told you it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. What we really need to do is come up with a cover story for my presence in your life. Would you prefer I play your brother or your cousin if we run into friends or family?”
Katie chuckled. “Nice sidestep. But I don’t have a brother, and everyone already knows that. And a cousin who sticks as close as you do is just creepy.” She grinned, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say next.
“I think you’re going to have to be my boyfriend - the guy who stole me away from Peter. Or fiance, whichever you prefer.”
Thomas stopped at that, turning slowly as he shook his head.
“That is a very bad idea. Surely you have some sort of male family member whose role I could borrow?”
She shook her head and started walking again, brushing his arm with her own as she stepped by him.
“Nope. You’re my new pretend boyfriend. I know you’ve noticed the tension we’ve got going on - there’s no use in denying it. Others will notice too, and I won’t have people thinking we’ve got some sort of kinky incestual thing going on between us. Boyfriend. End of discussion.”
It felt good, teasing him like this. She could practically feel the chemistry ramp up between them, and even though she knew it was a really bad idea, she was starting to think maybe a short-term thing wouldn’t be so bad...”
His fingers closed around her wrist and she twirled around, falling against that yummy chest when she lost her balance. She looked up to question him just as he bent to meet her, taking her lips in a full-on open-mouthed kiss that kept her dizzy and made her knees go weak. It was all she could to do keep up as he held her tight to his body, ravaging her mouth with his own.
When he finally let her pause for air, she stared into those impenetrable dark eyes of his, speechless.
“If we’re to pretend we’re a couple,” he said, his voice husky and low. “We’ll have to act like it.”
Katie nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yeah. I can see that. We should practice some more.”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Contemporary Romance |
Horror | Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
