Kate Collins's Blog, page 238
March 4, 2013
Switching Gears
by Maggie Sefton
We novelists are used to switching gears, especially if we publish with large New York publishing houses. I write the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries for Penguin Publishing, a HUGE publisher. I write the Molly Malone Suspense Mysteries for a medium-sized publisher Midnight Ink Books which is not headquartered in New York. So, like most of the Cozy Chicks, I write more than one series a year. Consequently, novels are constantly in the process of being created, written, revised, edited, copy-edited, published and released into the world, in print and electronically.
So, these past few weeks I was either 1) Finishing the 3rd in the Molly Malone Suspense Mysteries, or 2) Submitting the chapter outline for the 12th Kelly Flynn, or 3) Doing the copy exits for the 11th Kelly Flynn, or 4) Writing the 12th Kelly Flynn, or 5) Checking the galleys or what they now call "pass pages" for the 11th Kelly Flynn.
Confused yet? Believe me, sometimes we novelists wake up thinking, "If this is Tuesday, it must be mystery number . . . ". Don't get me wrong. I love variety. In fact, I think I've gotten addicted to it. I love having different characters dart in and out of my head, bringing scenes and dialogue. Most of my novelist friends are the same way. Of course, it could be we're all just "certifiable" and the men in white coats will be coming for us any day now. :) But until they come, we'll keep writing. And my schedule is nothing compared to our Ellery Adams/Jennifer Stanley's insane schedule. She writes even more.
The covers above are for the 1st Molly Malone Suspense, DEADLY POLITICS (August 2012) and the 11th Kelly Flynn Knitting Mystery, out June 2013, CLOSE KNIT KILLER.
We novelists are used to switching gears, especially if we publish with large New York publishing houses. I write the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries for Penguin Publishing, a HUGE publisher. I write the Molly Malone Suspense Mysteries for a medium-sized publisher Midnight Ink Books which is not headquartered in New York. So, like most of the Cozy Chicks, I write more than one series a year. Consequently, novels are constantly in the process of being created, written, revised, edited, copy-edited, published and released into the world, in print and electronically.
So, these past few weeks I was either 1) Finishing the 3rd in the Molly Malone Suspense Mysteries, or 2) Submitting the chapter outline for the 12th Kelly Flynn, or 3) Doing the copy exits for the 11th Kelly Flynn, or 4) Writing the 12th Kelly Flynn, or 5) Checking the galleys or what they now call "pass pages" for the 11th Kelly Flynn.
Confused yet? Believe me, sometimes we novelists wake up thinking, "If this is Tuesday, it must be mystery number . . . ". Don't get me wrong. I love variety. In fact, I think I've gotten addicted to it. I love having different characters dart in and out of my head, bringing scenes and dialogue. Most of my novelist friends are the same way. Of course, it could be we're all just "certifiable" and the men in white coats will be coming for us any day now. :) But until they come, we'll keep writing. And my schedule is nothing compared to our Ellery Adams/Jennifer Stanley's insane schedule. She writes even more. The covers above are for the 1st Molly Malone Suspense, DEADLY POLITICS (August 2012) and the 11th Kelly Flynn Knitting Mystery, out June 2013, CLOSE KNIT KILLER.
March 3, 2013
Did I Make a Wrong Decision?
by Kate Collins
I posted a piece on Facebook recently about columnist Charley Reese, who wrote a column way back in 2000. The article is now going around as his final column, but It's actually not according to Snopes. Regardless of when it was written or whether it's been amended since then, it has some good points.
I reposted it because it not only educated me -- and hopefully others -- but it was also apolitical. It had NO PARTY AFFILIATIONS that I could detect. I am very careful to post things that i consider apolitical because I don't like to offend people. I also don't like to take sides because i think both sides are at fault, which is pointed out in Charley's article.Apparently, some readers, one in particular, think that I erred, that I was being political and should use Facebook only to promote my books. To me, that would be boring. I like to share with readers things that are going on in my life and in life in general. As I said, I try very hard to be apolitical but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe readers don't want to see anything but promotional posts and fluff.
Here are a few things from that article that I loved. You decide if I took sides by posting this. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
See what I mean? It's more of a pep talk, not propaganda for one party or the other. What do you think? Should all of us authors only promote our books and post cartoons or do you like to hear our opinions once in a while --as long as we don't cross the line into poor taste?
I posted a piece on Facebook recently about columnist Charley Reese, who wrote a column way back in 2000. The article is now going around as his final column, but It's actually not according to Snopes. Regardless of when it was written or whether it's been amended since then, it has some good points.I reposted it because it not only educated me -- and hopefully others -- but it was also apolitical. It had NO PARTY AFFILIATIONS that I could detect. I am very careful to post things that i consider apolitical because I don't like to offend people. I also don't like to take sides because i think both sides are at fault, which is pointed out in Charley's article.Apparently, some readers, one in particular, think that I erred, that I was being political and should use Facebook only to promote my books. To me, that would be boring. I like to share with readers things that are going on in my life and in life in general. As I said, I try very hard to be apolitical but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe readers don't want to see anything but promotional posts and fluff.
Here are a few things from that article that I loved. You decide if I took sides by posting this. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
See what I mean? It's more of a pep talk, not propaganda for one party or the other. What do you think? Should all of us authors only promote our books and post cartoons or do you like to hear our opinions once in a while --as long as we don't cross the line into poor taste?
March 2, 2013
Pancakes in THIS Kitchen?
by Leann
We are living in an old house while we work on the plan for our new home. Old, OLD house. Same old oven and stove from 1963. No surprise this past week that the oven heating element died.
While we waited for a new element that we found online (YAY!) I was craving pancakes. Now, with only one small frying pan--the other frying pans are all packed in a box somewhere--pancakes are a little difficult. I did it once, but then kept them warm in the oven as I made each one.
Thank goodness a recipe on Pinterest (a link from justmarriedwithcoupons.com) caught my eye. Pancakes in the Crock-pot! But of course the recipe uses eggs and I am allergic to eggs. I do, however, buy an Arrowhead Mills pancake mix that does not require eggs and makes delicious buttermilk pancakes. I decided to make up a batch of batter and throw it in the Crock-pot on high for a couple hours.
Low and behold, it worked! The pancakes are thicker--sort of like a cake--but the taste is the same. Of course anything with real maple syrup and butter is delish! Try it sometime. (You do have to spray that Crock-pot good with cooking spray). The pancakes weren't all that pretty, but it solved a problem.
Why is it that when an appliance breaks, I always seem to crave something that requires that appliance? Ever happen to you?
PS--Heating element arrived and we now have an oven again. The internet is so great!
We are living in an old house while we work on the plan for our new home. Old, OLD house. Same old oven and stove from 1963. No surprise this past week that the oven heating element died.
While we waited for a new element that we found online (YAY!) I was craving pancakes. Now, with only one small frying pan--the other frying pans are all packed in a box somewhere--pancakes are a little difficult. I did it once, but then kept them warm in the oven as I made each one.
Thank goodness a recipe on Pinterest (a link from justmarriedwithcoupons.com) caught my eye. Pancakes in the Crock-pot! But of course the recipe uses eggs and I am allergic to eggs. I do, however, buy an Arrowhead Mills pancake mix that does not require eggs and makes delicious buttermilk pancakes. I decided to make up a batch of batter and throw it in the Crock-pot on high for a couple hours.Low and behold, it worked! The pancakes are thicker--sort of like a cake--but the taste is the same. Of course anything with real maple syrup and butter is delish! Try it sometime. (You do have to spray that Crock-pot good with cooking spray). The pancakes weren't all that pretty, but it solved a problem.
Why is it that when an appliance breaks, I always seem to crave something that requires that appliance? Ever happen to you?
PS--Heating element arrived and we now have an oven again. The internet is so great!
March 1, 2013
The New Name
By Heather
I have a new name! No, it’s not another pen name. Well, not technically. I didn't come up with this one...
Check it out. It’s the book on the left...
Foreign copies of TRULY, MADLYHeather Webberova! How cool is that? The book pictured there is actually Truly, Madly—the first book in my Lucy Valentine series, but it’s the Slovak edition (hence the Webberova).
American versionThe other two books are also editions of Truly, Madly. One is the German edition, and the other is the Complex Chinese edition (the Indonesian version is out but I never received a copy of it).
I love seeing the foreign copies of this book, the different covers and even formats. The Slovak edition is a hardcover, while the other two are trade paperback. It’s fascinating to see my words in another language, and to get a glimpse into another culture—the Chinese book is backwards (it reads back to front) and the text is top to bottom.
The French and Turkey editions should be out soon, and I can’t wait to see how those look...and if they change my name, too. And maybe one day I’ll get to visit some of those countries...
If you could visit any country—where would you go?
February 28, 2013
Sister Chef
by Lucy ArlingtonMy sister, Judy, is a Cordon Bleu certified pastry chef. She runs her own business (Decadent Cakes) in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and makes the most delectable and beautiful cakes and pastries imaginable. Other than the fact that she is one of my best friends, there are two reasons I am glad she’s my sister.
One is that whenever we have the opportunity to get together, she brings along a treat she concocted in her kitchen. (Perhaps it’s a good thing that we live in different countries—otherwise I’d weigh a lot more!)
The other reason I love having a pastry chef for a sister is that she shares her recipes, at least the ones that an untrained baker like me can manage. Recently she and I were chatting on the computer (using FaceTime) and she’d just made a batch of Frangipani Tarts for the shop. She was eating one when I called (claiming she had to test them!). Her description of the tart made me hanker for one, and I wished that the technology existed whereby I could reach into the computer screen to take it out of her hand and eat it myself.
Of course I asked her for the recipe and a few days later I made a batch. They were easy, so I’m sharing the recipe with you. I made them two ways—for half the batch I used drained and dried canned cherries and the other half I used raspberry jam. I still haven’t decided which one I like the best, as they were both scrumptious.
Do you love the flavor of almonds, especially when combined with fruit? Then you definitely need to try making these.
Frangipani Tarts (or Almond Tartlets)Crust:(You can use your own pastry crust recipe, or buy those little frozen ready-made tart shells, but this tart crust recipe is the best.)1 Cup flour 2 Tbsp ground almonds (sometimes called almond flour, or almond meal)1/4 tsp salt 1/3 Cup icing sugar 1/2 Cup cold butter1 large egg
1. In a food processor or mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment combine flour, ground almonds, salt, and icing sugar.2. Add butter in chunks and mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.3. Add egg. Mix until it's just starting to stick together. Turn out onto counter and frazier (which is pastry-chef-speak for pushing the dough on counter with the heel of your hand until it comes together).4. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and place in fridge for ten minutes.5. Roll out dough and cut and place in 12 small tart pans. If using right away stick the shells in the fridge while you make the frangipane. If not, they can be frozen, then use from frozen.
Frangipani Filling:1/4 Cup butter (room temp)1/4 Cup icing sugar1/4 tsp almond extract1 egg1 1/4 tsp flour1/3 Cup ground almonds
Raspberry Jam (preferably seedless) OR Canned Cherries, drained, dried, and cut in half1. In mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and icing sugar.2. Add egg and almond extract.3. Add flour and ground almonds. Mix until creamy. 4. Place a teaspoon of jam in the bottom of the tart shell, or four cherry halves.
5. Spoon or pipe the frangipane mixture on top, smooth evenly to the edge of crust. 6. Place a little dollop of the raspberry (or cherry) jam on the top and drag a toothpick down the centre from the top edge of the dollop and out the bottom to make a little heart. 7. Bake at 350 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown.TOO delicious!
February 27, 2013
The Cleaning Virus
by Julie
I've been talking about how we've been clearing out the basement, right? Well, the need to put tidy up and clean has turned into a sort of virus around here. Our home has always been clean, but cluttered. I like to leave things out where I can reach them, especially when I'm in the midst of a project. My husband likes to put things away immediately. For as long as we've been married, I've more or less gotten my way - which is why there's always a pile of paperwork on the countertop.
All of a sudden, however, I'm finding enjoyment in the less-messy look. Enough to put forth effort to keep things pretty. I have to tell you - the basement has done this to me. We donated so much and threw away so much that I absolutely do not want to bring another *thing* into this house unless it serves an important purpose....or is consumable. No more stuff!!!
Remember back a few months ago when all the Cozy Chicks posted photos of our desks? You may recall mine:
Pretty bad, huh? That's how it's looked for the past... oh... ten years or so.
That was before this cleaning virus hit. Take a look at all those notes. Every single one of them serves a purpose and every single one of them remained within my reach every single day. But did they need to be *that* accessible? I decided they didn't.
And... oh... if this is my *desk* you can imagine how bad the rest of the room looked! My husband often said that he was taking his life in his hands whenever he needed to get something out of the closet. There was barely a path to walk.
Look at the desk now!
And the rest of the room!
Awesome, isn't it? I'm tickled.
The big question is... can I keep it this way? I plan to, of course. It's such a pleasure to walk in here each morning. But I need everyone to put on their Heloise hats and give me suggestions for how to stay on top of things, especially when I'm working under a tight deadline (like I am now).
Any ideas?
I've been talking about how we've been clearing out the basement, right? Well, the need to put tidy up and clean has turned into a sort of virus around here. Our home has always been clean, but cluttered. I like to leave things out where I can reach them, especially when I'm in the midst of a project. My husband likes to put things away immediately. For as long as we've been married, I've more or less gotten my way - which is why there's always a pile of paperwork on the countertop.
All of a sudden, however, I'm finding enjoyment in the less-messy look. Enough to put forth effort to keep things pretty. I have to tell you - the basement has done this to me. We donated so much and threw away so much that I absolutely do not want to bring another *thing* into this house unless it serves an important purpose....or is consumable. No more stuff!!!
Remember back a few months ago when all the Cozy Chicks posted photos of our desks? You may recall mine:
Pretty bad, huh? That's how it's looked for the past... oh... ten years or so.
That was before this cleaning virus hit. Take a look at all those notes. Every single one of them serves a purpose and every single one of them remained within my reach every single day. But did they need to be *that* accessible? I decided they didn't.
And... oh... if this is my *desk* you can imagine how bad the rest of the room looked! My husband often said that he was taking his life in his hands whenever he needed to get something out of the closet. There was barely a path to walk.
Look at the desk now!
And the rest of the room!
Awesome, isn't it? I'm tickled.
The big question is... can I keep it this way? I plan to, of course. It's such a pleasure to walk in here each morning. But I need everyone to put on their Heloise hats and give me suggestions for how to stay on top of things, especially when I'm working under a tight deadline (like I am now).
Any ideas?
February 26, 2013
Mystery Conventions
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
Left Coast Crime is over for 2013. So is Love is Murder. But we still have some fine mystery conventions coming up this year. When I was a newbie, I went to as many as I could. And I met so many fine folks, made lasting friendships with other fans and even with some of the talented authors. The mystery community is the friendliest bunch you'll find anywhere. So if you go, walk right up to Sue Grafton and say hi. She will make time for you. So will Lee Child or Michael Connelly or Anne Perry. And the sleuth in you might even track down a Cozy Chick or two. Here's a short list of opportunities and the guest of honors.
Midwest Mystery Showcase - April 26-27 - Waukesha, WI - Raymond Benson
Malice Domestic - May 3-5 - Bethesda, MD - Laurie R. King and Peter Robinson
Crimefest - May 30 - June 2 - Bistol, UK - Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Sue Grafton, P.D. James
Thrillerfest - July 10 - 11 - New York City - Michael Connelly, T. Jefferson Parker
Deadly Ink - Aug 2 - 4 - New Brunswick, NJ - Hank Phillippi Ryan, Toastmaster - Rosemary Harris
Killer Nashville - Aug 22 - 25 - Nashville, TN - Anne Perry
Bouchercon - Sept 19 - 22 - Albany, NY - Sue Grafton, P.C. Doherty
Magna cum Murder - Oct 25 - 27 - Indianapolis, IN - Steve Hamilton, Banquet Speaker, Hank Phillippi Ryan
Did I miss any? Are you going to any? Which one is your favorite?
Left Coast Crime is over for 2013. So is Love is Murder. But we still have some fine mystery conventions coming up this year. When I was a newbie, I went to as many as I could. And I met so many fine folks, made lasting friendships with other fans and even with some of the talented authors. The mystery community is the friendliest bunch you'll find anywhere. So if you go, walk right up to Sue Grafton and say hi. She will make time for you. So will Lee Child or Michael Connelly or Anne Perry. And the sleuth in you might even track down a Cozy Chick or two. Here's a short list of opportunities and the guest of honors.Midwest Mystery Showcase - April 26-27 - Waukesha, WI - Raymond Benson
Malice Domestic - May 3-5 - Bethesda, MD - Laurie R. King and Peter Robinson
Crimefest - May 30 - June 2 - Bistol, UK - Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Sue Grafton, P.D. James
Thrillerfest - July 10 - 11 - New York City - Michael Connelly, T. Jefferson Parker
Deadly Ink - Aug 2 - 4 - New Brunswick, NJ - Hank Phillippi Ryan, Toastmaster - Rosemary Harris
Killer Nashville - Aug 22 - 25 - Nashville, TN - Anne Perry
Bouchercon - Sept 19 - 22 - Albany, NY - Sue Grafton, P.C. Doherty
Magna cum Murder - Oct 25 - 27 - Indianapolis, IN - Steve Hamilton, Banquet Speaker, Hank Phillippi Ryan
Did I miss any? Are you going to any? Which one is your favorite?
February 25, 2013
Where Are The Hounds?
by Maggie Sefton
Okay, Westminster Dog Show, I'm getting annoyed. Every year we tune in to see all the wonderful variety in Dogdom on display. I love it, and so do millions of other viewers who gleefully abandon regular TV programs to watch all these different dog breeds trot around the ring to be judged. All the entrants have already won the top honors for their breeds in order to be included in this "Cadillac" of doggie events. And at the very start of the evening, the announcer always starts by calling out: "Bring in the Hounds!". 
And in they come. Hounds of every description. I simply gathered a very few examples of the many breeds of long-legged, short-legged, tall, short, sleek coats and hairy hounds on display. Hunting dogs. They're all hunters. Going out in the field or water, Tracking, scenting, flushing, and pointing out game. What a beautiful assortment. My silly Max is a mix of Blue Tick Hound and Black Lab
And resembles this black spotted hunter on the right. So, with all that gorgeous display of Hounds all around every year, the Dog Show winds up awarding Top Dog honors To some furry little fuzz ball. :). Now. . .I have nothing against furry little fuzz balls or big hairy shaggies. I just think long and lean running machines (i.e. Hounds) deserve some recognition, too. They're SO good-natured.
Please, all of you who have adorable little fuzz balls, please don't get upset. I'm doing this tongue in cheek. I have a feeling my Border Collie/Black Lab mix Katy is going to get her nose out of joint once she sees this email. And I'm not kidding. She's scary smart, can read my mind, and I wouldnt be surprised if she's checking my iPad when I'm not there. Whatever pets you have, folks, give them a pat for me. :)
February 24, 2013
My Gruesome Homework
by Kate CollinsMy bookclub passed on my suggestion for this month's read. I figured I'd throw it out there, since I'm reading it anyway. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, no one thought it was a good idea. Not that I blame them. If it wasn't for research, I wouldn't have picked it up.
The name of the book is, "The Science of Cold Case Files," by Katherine Ramsland. It's full of the actual stories behind the TV series, "Cold Case Files." Gruesome is a good word for the contents, but because the mystery I'm writing now involves a long-buried body, I needed to know what bones would look like after 40 years of interment.
Let me tell you, it ain't pretty. And neither are the stories in the book. The most horrifying part isn't what happens when a body decomposes, it's that these are real cases. Real murders. Real torture. I can't pretend it's all going to be wrapped up neatly after 55 minutes. These stories didn't have happy endings.
I'm just appalled by what human beings are capable of, what one human, who was born a tiny innocent baby, can do to another. I'll be very glad to be done with this research. We watch these TV shows and grow insensitive to some extent because we know they're not real. Yet right now, in my hometown, there's a murder trial in progress involving a suspect who's a young man and a victim who was a young woman on the verge of going to college. It's all too real.
I write mysteries because I love solving puzzles, and even better, I love creating them. I write traditional, or cozy, mysteries because i hate gore. I would hate writing it even more. In "cozies" the murders happen off the page. We don't have to witness those gruesome scenes.
Why do you read cozies? Do you feel the murders on TV have desensitized us to the real life murders that occur every day?
February 23, 2013
Why All the Fighting?
by Leann
Seems as if 2013 has turned out to be the Year of the Fight for me. And just when I think one fight is over, up pops another skirmish.
First, there is my kitten Marlowe, whom I adopted in mid January. Less than a week later, I was fighting to save his life. He started having seizures, had a high white blood count and it was impossible to tell exactly why. It took several days to eliminate the seizures and only this past week did he finish up his antibiotics. But just when I thought he was on an even keel, he had another seizure. Right now, after an increase in his seizure medicine, he is acting fine and is seizure free. But I am watching him closely. (And I adore him, by the way!)
Since 2010, I have been trying to get my Cats in Trouble series sold to an audio producer. I kept bugging my agent and at times heard nothing but ... "we're trying." That fight, (after a lot more "bugging") might soon be over--I hope! Stay tuned. (Big smile.)
My medication. I have a list of fatigue based illnesses, asthma and a syndrome called Chronic Daily Migraine. Yes. I get a migraine headache every single day. I never know when it will hit, but imitrex takes care of it within 20-30 minutes. So, what's that the fight? My insurance changed prescription providers in September. I have been fighting them ever since because THEY decided (I'm talking to you, Express Scripts/Medco) that I only needed 27 imitrex for 90 days. (You'd have thought I was asking for heroin!) I have serious issues with prescription drug providers overruling doctors about what their patients need, but that's another story. I THOUGHT this fight had ended when I won an appeal (after a lot of work documenting all the medical tests I have endured). But after 3 hours on the phone this week TRYING to talk to a human being at Express Scripts, I discovered that though a committee had approved my medicine, the order just hadn't made it over to the pharmacy to be "processed." The woman said, "Do you want me to do that now?" DUH. YES. Now the website says it is "being processed." FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS.
Then there's the house plan fight. We are planning to build on the lake lot we have owned for 8 years. But my husband and I do things very differently. We have spent most of 2013 fighting over how to get a plan we both can live with finished. Finally, in the last week and a half, we found a new designer who works very fast. I am still holding my breath, however. I think you can tell why after all I have just written on this blog.
I need a spa day. I need peace. I need deep breaths. I need to feel like I don't have to fight. How about you? Ever had a span in your life where you felt like you were at war with the world?
Seems as if 2013 has turned out to be the Year of the Fight for me. And just when I think one fight is over, up pops another skirmish.
First, there is my kitten Marlowe, whom I adopted in mid January. Less than a week later, I was fighting to save his life. He started having seizures, had a high white blood count and it was impossible to tell exactly why. It took several days to eliminate the seizures and only this past week did he finish up his antibiotics. But just when I thought he was on an even keel, he had another seizure. Right now, after an increase in his seizure medicine, he is acting fine and is seizure free. But I am watching him closely. (And I adore him, by the way!)
Since 2010, I have been trying to get my Cats in Trouble series sold to an audio producer. I kept bugging my agent and at times heard nothing but ... "we're trying." That fight, (after a lot more "bugging") might soon be over--I hope! Stay tuned. (Big smile.)
My medication. I have a list of fatigue based illnesses, asthma and a syndrome called Chronic Daily Migraine. Yes. I get a migraine headache every single day. I never know when it will hit, but imitrex takes care of it within 20-30 minutes. So, what's that the fight? My insurance changed prescription providers in September. I have been fighting them ever since because THEY decided (I'm talking to you, Express Scripts/Medco) that I only needed 27 imitrex for 90 days. (You'd have thought I was asking for heroin!) I have serious issues with prescription drug providers overruling doctors about what their patients need, but that's another story. I THOUGHT this fight had ended when I won an appeal (after a lot of work documenting all the medical tests I have endured). But after 3 hours on the phone this week TRYING to talk to a human being at Express Scripts, I discovered that though a committee had approved my medicine, the order just hadn't made it over to the pharmacy to be "processed." The woman said, "Do you want me to do that now?" DUH. YES. Now the website says it is "being processed." FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS.
Then there's the house plan fight. We are planning to build on the lake lot we have owned for 8 years. But my husband and I do things very differently. We have spent most of 2013 fighting over how to get a plan we both can live with finished. Finally, in the last week and a half, we found a new designer who works very fast. I am still holding my breath, however. I think you can tell why after all I have just written on this blog.I need a spa day. I need peace. I need deep breaths. I need to feel like I don't have to fight. How about you? Ever had a span in your life where you felt like you were at war with the world?
