Alyssa Goodnight's Blog, page 21
April 28, 2011
Quoteable
Boys have been taking state standardized tests this week, and PFB finished yesterday. This was his first time using Scantron cards, and he was clearly intrigued. This was a conversation between the boys this morning on the way to school...
PFB: You know how there's that grey number on your Scantron card? When you get your Scantron, look and see what your number is so you can tell me.
GFB (belligerently): Why? So you can steal my identity???
I laughed out loud and reassured GFB that I doubted very much that that was PFB's intention. Then again, who knows? That kid's got all kinds of things up his sleeve...
In other news, I have a cold, with a bad sore throat. I solicited advice on Facebook on how to get rid of it, and someone suggested cayenne tea. A follow-up question confirmed she was suggesting I drink cayenne pepper mixed with hot water. Yesterday I balked. Today I just might try it... I'm going to try Hot Tamales first though.
PFB: You know how there's that grey number on your Scantron card? When you get your Scantron, look and see what your number is so you can tell me.
GFB (belligerently): Why? So you can steal my identity???
I laughed out loud and reassured GFB that I doubted very much that that was PFB's intention. Then again, who knows? That kid's got all kinds of things up his sleeve...
In other news, I have a cold, with a bad sore throat. I solicited advice on Facebook on how to get rid of it, and someone suggested cayenne tea. A follow-up question confirmed she was suggesting I drink cayenne pepper mixed with hot water. Yesterday I balked. Today I just might try it... I'm going to try Hot Tamales first though.
April 26, 2011
A Milestone
I finished the first draft of 'book three' today and am feeling pretty good about it. (I basically finished this one in six months, which, given my track record, is mind-boggling. I guess a little planning goes a long way...) My agent has already seen the first 200 pages and loved them, so I have high hopes that the revision process won't be too painful. After that, it remains to be seen whether my editor likes it...
This all seems so very strange...and not quite real. I sold last August; 'book two' is due October 1, at which time, AUSTEN-TATIOUS will still be four months from publication (January 31st release date for those of you keeping track...which I fervently hope is ALL of you!). It's hard to imagine starting work on a new book in just a few weeks, but that's the way it's going to have to be I guess.
I should be getting a glimpse of the cover for AUSTEN-TATIOUS in the next few weeks, so maybe it'll help keep things in perspective a little bit. Then again, maybe not.
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Either way, I feel a little like a diva right now!
This all seems so very strange...and not quite real. I sold last August; 'book two' is due October 1, at which time, AUSTEN-TATIOUS will still be four months from publication (January 31st release date for those of you keeping track...which I fervently hope is ALL of you!). It's hard to imagine starting work on a new book in just a few weeks, but that's the way it's going to have to be I guess.
I should be getting a glimpse of the cover for AUSTEN-TATIOUS in the next few weeks, so maybe it'll help keep things in perspective a little bit. Then again, maybe not.
[via]Either way, I feel a little like a diva right now!
April 25, 2011
Awww, man!
Yesterday was the first time in my life (that I know of) that I missed out on an Easter dinner. I had a sloppy joe and chips for lunch and takeout Chinese food for dinner.
We had big plans. We were going up to my in-laws lakehouse for the long Easter weekend, Butters' sister was coming into town, my brother and his wife and new baby were thinking of driving in from Austin, and my parents were going to drive up. Family get-together on the holiday, as usual. But then my brother decided he wasn't going to come, and then my parents (for understandable reasons), so it was just going to be my in-laws and us.
My MIL likes to cook--no, LOVES to cook and actually prefers to handle most meals by herself. (I do clean-up). So, I asked her what I should bring, and she told me she thought I'd have my hands full bringing foods suitable for GFB, so nothing else was necessary. Okay...
Well, the weekend went along merrily, and Sunday my family (minus the in-laws) went to church. When we got back at about 10:30, no food preparation was going on, which, if you knew my MIL, you'd know was downright weird. At 11:00 she said, "We need to decide what we're going to do about lunch." My head snapped around in dismay. Leftovers were mentioned. LEFTOVERS?? This was Easter Sunday! Where was the ham? the potato salad? the deviled eggs? the homemade rolls? Where was ANYTHING but a leftover sloppy joe??
There wasn't anything. And I have to wonder why nothing was mentioned. I would have planned an Easter dinner. At the very least I would have planned an Easter dessert... I just assumed. And assuming doesn't get you a deviled egg, apparently. I've learned my lesson.
I don't plan on missing out on an Easter dinner again anytime soon... So there.
We had big plans. We were going up to my in-laws lakehouse for the long Easter weekend, Butters' sister was coming into town, my brother and his wife and new baby were thinking of driving in from Austin, and my parents were going to drive up. Family get-together on the holiday, as usual. But then my brother decided he wasn't going to come, and then my parents (for understandable reasons), so it was just going to be my in-laws and us.
My MIL likes to cook--no, LOVES to cook and actually prefers to handle most meals by herself. (I do clean-up). So, I asked her what I should bring, and she told me she thought I'd have my hands full bringing foods suitable for GFB, so nothing else was necessary. Okay...
Well, the weekend went along merrily, and Sunday my family (minus the in-laws) went to church. When we got back at about 10:30, no food preparation was going on, which, if you knew my MIL, you'd know was downright weird. At 11:00 she said, "We need to decide what we're going to do about lunch." My head snapped around in dismay. Leftovers were mentioned. LEFTOVERS?? This was Easter Sunday! Where was the ham? the potato salad? the deviled eggs? the homemade rolls? Where was ANYTHING but a leftover sloppy joe??
There wasn't anything. And I have to wonder why nothing was mentioned. I would have planned an Easter dinner. At the very least I would have planned an Easter dessert... I just assumed. And assuming doesn't get you a deviled egg, apparently. I've learned my lesson.
I don't plan on missing out on an Easter dinner again anytime soon... So there.
April 20, 2011
Ten Things...
ten things that made me happy today...
* listening to the Anchor cd by Mindy Gledhill on my walk today
* reading Vixen while eating my two egg breakfast
* churning out both new pages and some promising edits
* getting all my ducks in a row before the robotics club showed up
* having them respond with 'Ma'am, yes ma'am!' and occasionally 'Sir, yes sir!' (their decision)
* adding one more thing to my Amazon cart (it's a sickness)
* spending a breezy evening at the park
* giggling at Happy Endings...a new comedy!
* debating whether I should go to a Surpr!se Party, for the research opportunities alone
* my can of Dr. Pepper
what about you?
* listening to the Anchor cd by Mindy Gledhill on my walk today* reading Vixen while eating my two egg breakfast
* churning out both new pages and some promising edits
* getting all my ducks in a row before the robotics club showed up
* having them respond with 'Ma'am, yes ma'am!' and occasionally 'Sir, yes sir!' (their decision)
* adding one more thing to my Amazon cart (it's a sickness)
* spending a breezy evening at the park
* giggling at Happy Endings...a new comedy!
* debating whether I should go to a Surpr!se Party, for the research opportunities alone
* my can of Dr. Pepper
what about you?
April 19, 2011
Short, short story. With picture.
A couple of ninja bunnies infiltrated a countertop of frosted Easter eggs.They're not quite so fastidious or quick-witted as your typical ninja...they're obviously still in training. They should stay on high alert, because there are two boys close by who are likely to attack...with teeth!The End.
April 18, 2011
Mexican & a Musical
I got the bike ride and the Mexican food, but I missed the beach. I did, however, squeeze in a Sunday afternoon show. It was Butters' suggestion that the boys would like CATS. I'd never been, so I couldn't form a true opinion, although I suspected that any musical would have trouble holding their interest for the duration. (I was correct.)
I've seen my share of musicals--not a ton--but certainly a respectable number, but I'd never seen CATS. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but assumed that since it's been running for more than thirty years, it had a little somethin' special.
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This is what I said to my husband after the first act: "This musical is all about cats."
Spot-on, right?
I guess I knew that, instinctively, but I didn't imagine it would be so very...catty. It didn't help that I somehow missed a part of the storyline early on...possibly due to not being able to understand the words of a few of the songs. All I could get was a lengthy ode to 'Jellicle Cats' and then some singing/dancing cat introductions.
I honestly think I needed to be a cat person to appreciate it. And I'm not a cat person. I think I've posted about that before. In fact, when the on-stage cats were rubbing up against each other, I had to suppress a full body cringe. What I did appreciate, very much, was that the musical was taken, almost in its entirety from a collection of poems by T. S. Eliot, written in the 1930's. I can only assume he was a cat person.
Let's just say I won't be going to see a production all about cockroaches either, and leave it at that.
I've seen my share of musicals--not a ton--but certainly a respectable number, but I'd never seen CATS. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but assumed that since it's been running for more than thirty years, it had a little somethin' special.
[via]This is what I said to my husband after the first act: "This musical is all about cats."
Spot-on, right?
I guess I knew that, instinctively, but I didn't imagine it would be so very...catty. It didn't help that I somehow missed a part of the storyline early on...possibly due to not being able to understand the words of a few of the songs. All I could get was a lengthy ode to 'Jellicle Cats' and then some singing/dancing cat introductions.
I honestly think I needed to be a cat person to appreciate it. And I'm not a cat person. I think I've posted about that before. In fact, when the on-stage cats were rubbing up against each other, I had to suppress a full body cringe. What I did appreciate, very much, was that the musical was taken, almost in its entirety from a collection of poems by T. S. Eliot, written in the 1930's. I can only assume he was a cat person.
Let's just say I won't be going to see a production all about cockroaches either, and leave it at that.
April 15, 2011
Ahhh...the weekend...
The beach would be nice, but I'm not sure if we'll make it down to Galveston this weekend.
If not, we'll settle for bike rides and walks in the park. If I'm lucky, there'll also be Mexican food. If I'm industrious, there'll be gluten-free roll-out sugar cookies decorated by the boys. We'll see...
Enjoy your weekend!
If not, we'll settle for bike rides and walks in the park. If I'm lucky, there'll also be Mexican food. If I'm industrious, there'll be gluten-free roll-out sugar cookies decorated by the boys. We'll see...
Enjoy your weekend!
April 13, 2011
Still Sheltered
Well, I've still yet to see the inside of a courtroom, and that's just fine by me. I spent about two hours waiting to see if I'd be called as a character witness (as did several other women), but I never was. The mystery of the courtroom will continue... And the lemon meringue pie didn't materialize. I was forced to settle for chocolate, and while good, it was a bit of a letdown. Huge sigh of relief that that's over. Of course I could still be asked to appear for the final hearing, but maybe not...
In other news, I think I may have a mini Bermuda triangle or jinx spot at the entrance to my little section of the subdivision. I walk through it virtually everyday to walk my dog and have never had an issue. However...the bird mentioned a few post ago was found right in the middle of it, and today as I walked through, the man walking his dog on the other side of the street stepped on a tennis ball, his legs flew out from under him, and he hung, suspended, arms out, legs out, completely horizontal for one freaky second. Then he went down hard and rolled.
His dog was standing there with no one holding the leash, so I tried to get my dog under control so she wouldn't spook his dog, while still trying to keep an eye on the man to see how he was doing. When he sat up, I asked if he was okay, and he confirmed that he was, and he got up to keep walking (now with a limp and a clearly hurt arm), but I was totally freaked. It was like a cartoon: seemingly physically impossible, and yet I saw it happen. Crazy.
I'm going to have to watch my step in the Triangle
In other news, I think I may have a mini Bermuda triangle or jinx spot at the entrance to my little section of the subdivision. I walk through it virtually everyday to walk my dog and have never had an issue. However...the bird mentioned a few post ago was found right in the middle of it, and today as I walked through, the man walking his dog on the other side of the street stepped on a tennis ball, his legs flew out from under him, and he hung, suspended, arms out, legs out, completely horizontal for one freaky second. Then he went down hard and rolled.
His dog was standing there with no one holding the leash, so I tried to get my dog under control so she wouldn't spook his dog, while still trying to keep an eye on the man to see how he was doing. When he sat up, I asked if he was okay, and he confirmed that he was, and he got up to keep walking (now with a limp and a clearly hurt arm), but I was totally freaked. It was like a cartoon: seemingly physically impossible, and yet I saw it happen. Crazy.
I'm going to have to watch my step in the Triangle
April 12, 2011
Maybe I'm Too Sheltered...
Today I have something on my agenda besides writing, volunteering, and the general minutiae of life. And I wish I didn't. I long for the calm, quiet days of working diligently, peacefully, with little human contact. (Sounds great, doesn't it??) But today, I must interact. Today I have to go to court.
I have never been inside a courtroom. All my expectations are being culled from Perry Mason, Legally Blonde, and other Hollywood creations. I'm anxious to see how the real thing measures up.
I didn't imagine picking an outfit for this project would be so difficult, but when I went into my closet last night, thinking to quickly pull something together, I realized I have no spring/summer dress pants. Really. I have jeans, courduroys, track pants, yoga pants, but no pants appropriate for court. I have capris, but they don't seem serious somehow. I really didn't want to wear a skirt or a dress, but I ended up in one anyway. I'm wearing a long black skirt with a subtle pattern, a black blouse and a black blazer. I feel very grim.
Luckily, they're looking for a character witness and not a fashionista.
I've already had the pre-game with the lawyer this morning, and that was relatively painless. He even indicated that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have time for me. That possibility thrilled me to pieces. I want to be helpful--I totally do--but I can see myself breaking under thes stress: The lawyer for the opposition asking me a question, and me saying, "No, but--" and him bellowing, "NO FURTHER QUESTIONS!" Maybe I'm working myself up for nothing. But this is a big deal. It's not my big deal, but it's a big deal for a friend of mine. So I'm tense with nerves and anxiety...and maybe a little nausea. And my heartbeat is crazy erratic. I need to calm down.
Good or bad, I will be treating myself to a theraputic slice of lemon meringue pie when it's all over.
I have never been inside a courtroom. All my expectations are being culled from Perry Mason, Legally Blonde, and other Hollywood creations. I'm anxious to see how the real thing measures up.
I didn't imagine picking an outfit for this project would be so difficult, but when I went into my closet last night, thinking to quickly pull something together, I realized I have no spring/summer dress pants. Really. I have jeans, courduroys, track pants, yoga pants, but no pants appropriate for court. I have capris, but they don't seem serious somehow. I really didn't want to wear a skirt or a dress, but I ended up in one anyway. I'm wearing a long black skirt with a subtle pattern, a black blouse and a black blazer. I feel very grim.
Luckily, they're looking for a character witness and not a fashionista.
I've already had the pre-game with the lawyer this morning, and that was relatively painless. He even indicated that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have time for me. That possibility thrilled me to pieces. I want to be helpful--I totally do--but I can see myself breaking under thes stress: The lawyer for the opposition asking me a question, and me saying, "No, but--" and him bellowing, "NO FURTHER QUESTIONS!" Maybe I'm working myself up for nothing. But this is a big deal. It's not my big deal, but it's a big deal for a friend of mine. So I'm tense with nerves and anxiety...and maybe a little nausea. And my heartbeat is crazy erratic. I need to calm down.
Good or bad, I will be treating myself to a theraputic slice of lemon meringue pie when it's all over.
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